Preliminary observations on the feeding behavior ofPan paniscus in the lomako forest of central Zaïre

The feeding behavior and ecology ofPan paniscus was studied over a seven-month period in Equateur, Republic of Zaïre, during 1974–1975. Additional data were gathered during four weeks in 1979.Pan paniscus was found to be primarily frugivorous but bonobo foods also consist of leaves, flowers, pith, invertebrates and small mammals.     

Relation between diameter and flow in branches of the bronchial tree

Two methods are described for calculating the value of the exponentx in the equation flow =k×diameter ^x , as pertaining to a branch of the bronchial tree. In the lungs from three humans, two dogs, one hamster, and one rat mean values ofx between 2.419 and 2.903 were found. They lie within the range of 2.333 to 3.0 predicted by the analysis of Uylings (Bull. Math. Biol. 39, 501–519, 1977).     

TESTOSTERONE-INDUCED CELL PROLIFERATION IN THE ACCESSORY SEX GLANDS OF MICE AT VARIOUS TIMES AFTER CASTRATION

The proliferative response to testosterone in the accessory sex glands (seminal vesicle and coagulating gland) of castrated male Balb/c mice has been examined by pulse and continuous thymidine-labelling experiments, and by the fraction of labelled mitoses technique. Progressive reductions in cellularity followed castration, and by varying the time elapsing between castration and the initiation of testosterone treatment, it was clear that the size of the response depended upon the number of cells in the tissue, relative to the normal complement. Interpretation of FLM data was difficult in periods where proliferative rates changed rapidly. We have attempted to explain the cell kinetic events by postulating a G₀ compartment, from which cells are stimulated to enter the proliferative cycle before subsequently returning to an out of cycle state. It was thought unlikely that substantial changes in cell cycle time occurred. In both the accessory sex glands, the overall form of the continuous thymidine labelling curves showed that most proliferative cells entered DNA synthesis in a shorter time after stimulation at 14 days after castration than they did at 3 days after castration. The data were not consistent with cells moving deeper into G₀ with time after castration. In the seminal vesicle almost all epithelial cells were potentially proliferative by 3 days after castration. In the coagulating gland only 30% were potentially proliferative at 3 days, increasing to 85% at 14 days after castration. However, such proportional increases represented much smaller changes in terms of absolute numbers of cells, because of a concomitant decline in cellularity from 3 to 14 days after castration.     

The action of the adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase inhibitor, 3-deazaadenosine,on phagocytic function of mouse macrophages and human monocytes

An inhibitor of adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, 3-deazaadenosine, caused profound inhibition of phagocytosis of opsonized erythrocytes by mouse resident peritoneal macrophages $\text{in}\text{vitro}$. The inhibition was evident at concentrations as low as 2×10^?7M, and increased with increasing concentration and time of exposure to the analogue. It was not associated with detachment of the macrophage monolayers or with loss of cell viability. Although the inhibition was not reversible, progression of the functional impairment was interrupted by washing out the analogue. In striking contrast, phagocytic function of human blood monocytes was unaffected by 3-deazaadenosine.     

Preliminary observations on the birth and development ofPropithecus verreauxi to the age of six months

In this paper, preliminary observations are presented on the ontogency of one of the Malagasy prosimians,Propithecus verreauxi. Observations were carried out in the course of an eighteen-month study of the social organization and ecology of four, free-ranging groups. Parturition is described, together with data on the development of locomotor and feeding behavior, and on the changing nature of the infant's relationship with its mother and with other members of the group. The final section compares the results of this study with those of previous studies ofP. verreauxi and other lemur species. Tentative conclusions are drawn concerning aspects of social ontogeny inP. verreauxi and areas for future research are suggested which would clarify some of the remaining problems.     

Inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis by sulphasalazine and its metabolites

Sulphasalazine (SZ) inhibits prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis $\text{in vitro}$ with a potency comparable to that of aceylsalicylate. The metabolites of SZ, sulphapyridine and 5-aminosalicylic acid, were of considerably lower potency as inhibitors of PG biosynthesis in the synthetase preparations used. The inhibition of prostaglandin production by SZ could at least partly account for the clinical utility of sulphasalazine in ulcerative colitis. Sulphapyridine may help to maintain inhibitory concentrations of SZ by restraining bacterial breakdown of the active drug.     

Hydrolase and serum treatment of normal chick embryo cells: effects on hexose transport.

We have asked whether treatment of normal cultured cells with proteases, other hydrolytic enzymes, or serum can convert them into transient phenocopies of transformed cells with respect to the very high rate of hexose transport characteristic of transformed cells. Treatment of density-inhibited cultures of normal chick embryo fibroblasts with trypsin, plasmin, neuraminidase, or hyaluronidase stimulated their rate of 2-deoxyglucose uptake to a level only marginally higher than that seen in normal exponentially growing cultures, and only 35-45% of that seen in transformed cultures. Addition of the hydrolytic enzymes to growing cell cultures had little effect on 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Serum, however, could stimulate 2-deoxyglucose uptake all the way up to the transformed level. Even though the hydrolases and serum differed in their ability to stimulate 2-deoxyglucose uptake, both reagents were capable of stimulating cell division equally well. Evidence is presented suggesting that the hexose transport rate is controlled by serum factors, and that proteolysis can affect the response of the cells of these factors.