Ahch, the mouse homologue of DAX1: cloning, characterization and synteny with GyK, the glycerol kinase locus

We cloned the murine full-length cDNA encoding Ahch, the mouse homologue of DAX1 (DSS-AHC Region on Human X Chromosome, Gene1) which is the gene responsible for human X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH). Sequence analysis revealed that the murine and human cDNAs have 65% aa identity and 75% aa similarity overall. The cysteine residues in the putative DNA binding domain, which may interact with Zn2+ ions to form zinc fingers, are 100% conserved between the two species, indicating that the novel zinc-finger structures in DAX1 may be functional. In addition, mouse interspecific backcrosses show that the Ahch gene is closely linked to the glycerol kinase locus, GyK, on the mouse X chromosome, indicating that the order of the loci is conserved in this syntenic region between mouse and human.     

The post-suicide family and the family physician

It is estimated that there are 750,000 people each year who are intimately affected by suicide. Prominent among these are the family survivors and their family physician. This paper offers a time frame which divides the period following the suicide into three phases: Immediate (the first ten days after the suicide); Intermediate (after the first ten days through the first year); and Extended (from the first year until restitution occurs). It identifies the chief emotional reactions which occur in each phase, explores their psychodynamic origins, and proposes suggestions for appropriate management during each of the three periods. The goal of this plan of management is to enable the family physician to function in a supportive emphatic, and restorative manner for the post-suicide family.     

The posterior aortic wall echocardiogram. Its relationship to left atrial volume change

The normal posterior aortic wall echocardiogram shows anterior motion during left ventricular systole and predominantly posterior motion in three phases during left ventricular diastole. In six patients undergoing simultaneous left atrial angiograms and posterior aortic wall echocardiograms, there was excellent correlation between the posterior aortic wall motion and the change in the left atrial angiographic area showing the value of the posterior aortic wall echocardiogram in describing the left atrial volume curve. Left atrial and left ventricular pressures were measured with manometer tip catheters and correlated with simultaneous posterior aortic wall and mitral valve echocardiograms in four patients with atrial septal defects. These echocardiographic, angiographic, and hemodynamic correlations, as well as other evidence reported in this paper suggest that a major portion of posterior aortic wall motion is related to left atrial events and describes the left atrial volume curve.     

An animal behavior model for studying the actions of LSD and related hallucinogens

Cats injected with LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) exhibit a group of behaviors that appear to be specific to hallucinogenic drugs. Two of these behaviors, limb flick and abortive grooming, have an extremely low frequency of occurrence in normal cats, but often dominate the behavior of LSD-treated cats. The frequency of occurrence of this group of behaviors is related to the dose of LSD. The behavioral changes are long-lasting following a single injection of LSD, and exhibit tolerance following the repeated administration of LSD. They are not elicited by a variety of control drugs, but are elicited by other indole nucleus hallucinogens. Because the behavioral effects are specific, reliable, easy to score, and quantifiable, they represent an animal model that can be used in studies of the effects of LSD and related hallucinogens.     

Effect of hypophysectomy on immunocytochemically demonstrated gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the rat brain

The objective was to determine the effect of hypophysectomy on the store of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in certain parts of the brain as revealed by immunocytochemistry. The antiserum used was prepared against synthetic GnRH conjugated with limpet hemocyanin. No change was observed in the store of GnRH in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis or in the cephalic segment of the median eminence GnRH was depleted severely from the central and caudal (junction with the infundibular stem) segments of the median eminence. GnRH was not found in the axons of magnocellular neurons that regenerate during repair of the median eminence-pituitary stalk after hypophysectomy.