[Marius Tausk (1902-1990), influential endocrinologist and producer of medicines; a retrospect to mark the centenary of his birth]. / Marius Tausk (1902-1990), invloedrijk endocrinoloog en producent van geneesmiddelen; terugblik bij zijn honderdste geboortedag.

Marius Tausk, born in Sarajevo, studied medicine at Graz in Austria. In 1926, he attended a socialist youth rally in Amsterdam. Whilst there, he met Prof. Ernst Laqueur, a pharmacologist in Amsterdam, who offered him a position at Organon, a newly-founded pharmaceutical company in Oss, the Netherlands. He remained in the Netherlands and became the driving force behind this innovative company. Tausk made many contributions to new developments across the field of endocrinology, including the discovery of the adrenal steroids (together with T. Reichstein, Nobel Prize Laureate in 1950), and the development of oral contraceptive pills. He was astute enough to quickly patent the first corticosteroids. He could quickly extract the essential elements from an information source and disseminate this in five languages. His sharp judgment brought him friends and admirers, yet also those who feared him. In 1937 he was appointed as a private lecturer at the Medical Faculty of Utrecht University and in 1956 he was made Special Professor of Theoretical Endocrinology. He was awarded a number of scientific distinctions including two honorary doctorates. In 1949 he was honoured with the Knighthood of the Order of The Netherlands Lion.

Determination of hepatitis A antibody response to vaccination by an enzyme immunoassay.

The quantitative responses to vaccination with hepatitis A vaccine was determined in 113 volunteers using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for total antibodies to hepatitis A. Administration of vaccine or control preparation was carried out according to two regimens; at 0, 1 and 12 months (regimen I) and at 0, 0.5 and 12 months (regimen II). Seroconversion rates (concentrations of HAV antibodies > 50 IU/l) were between 94 and 97% at month 1 for regimen I and regimen II, respectively. The geometric mean titres (GMTs) fell gradually by month 12, and increased rapidly 10-100 fold 1 month after the booster dose at month 12. The GMTs of the groups receiving the control preparation remained below 50 IU/l. No significant differences were found between the antibody responses after regimen I or regimen II. It is concluded that the antibody test (Hepanostika HAV Antibody) can be used safely and adequately for quantitation of responses to hepatitis A immunisation.

Is oxytocin present in platelets?

For arginine-vasopressin (AVP) it has been suggested that about 90% of the total amount present in peripheral blood is platelet-membrane bound. Oxytocin (OT) and AVP are nonapeptides which are similar in many respects. We investigated the possibility that OT might be found in platelet-rich plasma samples from patients undergoing ovarian super-stimulation for in-vitro fertilization purposes. These plasma samples were treated with acid repeated freezing/thawing and sonification in an attempt to solubilize or expose the possible bound OT. No differences between OT concentrations in platelet-rich or -poor plasma samples were found. We conclude that plasma OT is not bound or confined to platelets.

Circadian rhythm of prolactin during the menstrual cycle.

Ten women with regular cycles volunteered in a study of the relationship between PRL diurnal rhythm and menstrual cycle. A PRL surge during the afternoon between 2:00 and 8:00 P.M. was observed in the luteal and periovulatory phases, but not in the early follicular phase. The authors advise PRL measurement in the morning between 10:00 A.M. and 12 noon for diagnosing hyperprolactinemia, because morning PRL levels seem to remain constantly low during the menstrual cycle.

Progesterone in saliva: pitfalls and consequent implications for accuracy of the determination.

The concentration of steroid hormones in saliva is believed to reflect the concentration of free hormone in blood. Because the assay for progesterone in saliva has not been rigorously validated, we investigated some of the analytical variables involved. Saliva samples were divided into two portions. One was centrifuged and the supernate used for extraction; the other was homogenized by sonication and used as such for extraction. Progesterone concentrations in homogenized whole saliva were double or triple those in supernates. By equilibrium dialysis we established that 85% of progesterone was in the free form in supernates but only 60 to 70% in homogenized whole saliva, depending upon the phase of the cycle of the subjects. Salivary flow was stimulated by crystals of citric acid; unstimulated and stimulated saliva samples were obtained from the same person. Progesterone concentrations were significantly (p less than 0.02) higher in stimulated samples than in unstimulated ones, particularly in samples collected during the luteal phase.

A luminescent label for the immunoassay of oxytocin.

Chemiluminescent labels have been shown to be interesting alternatives to radioisotope labels. Disadvantages of the latter are preparation of e.g. labelled protein/peptides every four to six weeks, and problems with storage and disposal. Amino-Butyl-Ethyl-Isoluminol(ABEI) was attached to the alpha-amino function of the N-terminal amino acid residue of oxytocin; this complex was used in immunoassays for oxytocin. This non-isotopic label did not require heating at 60 degrees C for optimal light-signal development, a procedure usually required for chemiluminescent labels. Standard curves were set up employing the ABEI-label on the one hand and 125I-label on the other. Under identical conditions of final antibody concentration and amount of label, a comparison was made between the performance of the luminescent immunoassay (LIA) and that of the radioimmunoassay (RIA). We conclude that the LIA systems resulted in standard curves of high precision; in comparison with RIA, the sensitivity of the LIA curves is not yet sufficient for the determination of oxytocin concentrations in e.g. human biological fluids. Further improvements in sensitivity of the LIA systems are to be expected by selection of other luminescent labels or by the use of a more sensitive measuring device.

Reproduction in the vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops): II. Annual menstrual patterns and seasonality.

Menstrual patterns and progesterone levels were monitored for 5 years from a cohort of 28 female vervet monkeys that were individually caged indoors. Three distinct cycle types (short, normal, and prolonged) were defined according to cycle length. Mean length of the normal cycle (32.5 days) and menses duration (4.8 days) are in agreement with previous reports. Prolonged cycles (> 50 days) contributed 20% of the total, with a decreased incidence during the natural peak breeding period. Weekly progesterone measurements indicated that many prolonged cycles were associated with an extended luteal phase, while others were probably due to lack of ovulation. From these data it would appear that the vervet monkey, although not strongly seasonal, does favor a particular time of year for breeding in a colony housed indoors.

Reproduction in the vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops): I. Testicular volume, testosterone, and seasonality.

To test whether the male could contribute to the birth peak seen in both wild and captive vervets, testicular volume and peripheral testosterone concentration were measured monthly in nine adults throughout a 14-month period. Volume was an average of 15% greater during the months of June to September, the period of natural breeding activity in the wild, than at other times of the year. Testosterone concentration rose throughout the time period but did not correlate with testicular volume. Quarterly biopsies of the right testis in animals either used for or withheld from breeding revealed the presence of spermatozoa and the existence of spermatogenesis throughout the year. There was no correlation of testicular volume with breeding status or biopsy. If these results from individually caged animals are representative of group-caged and wild animals, then such small seasonal changes are unlikely to affect year-round breeding. Therefore, a physiological contribution by the male to natural birth peaks seen in the wild and captivity is not readily apparent.

Hormonal patterns during the menstrual cycles in healthy black Kenyan women.

PIP: 17 regularly mentruating young black Kenyan women were studied during a mentrual cylcle for their reproductive hormonal patterns. The serum concentrations of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Prolactin (PRL) were determined by World Health Organization Matched Reagent Programme Radioimmunoassay (WHO-MR-RIA). A biphasic basal body temperature (BBT) record was also noted. The hormonal patterns showed a mid-cycle LH surge and rise in plasma progesterone beginning with the LH peak and lasting a maximum of 6-8 days after the LH peak. Cycle lengths ranged from 25-32 days with a mean of 28 plus or minus 2 days. The follicular phase ranged from 10-17 days, and the luteal phase lasted from 13-15 days. When the mean LH and FSH concentrations and the mean BBT curve were synchronized on the day of the mid-cycle LH peak, the temperature elevation occured about 48 days after the LH peak. Along with the LH, the FSH showed a mid-cycle peak. The results of this study are consistent with those already documented for Caucasian, Asian and African females^ieng

Baseline studies on semen and hormonal parameters in fertile Black males in Kenya.

PIP: Masturbatory semen specimen from 49 fertile Black African males in Kenya whose wives were pregnant was obtained after at least 3 days of abstinence for the analysis of parameters which included volume motility, vitality, sperm concentration, pH, fructose and acid phosphatase levels. About 1/2 the spermatozoa was actively progressive in motility, while 40% was nonmotile. Vitality in the 1st hour revealed that 81.4% of the sperm was alive. About 90% of the semen specimens had more than 40% idea forms of spermatozoa. Spermatozoal abnormalities were a frequent feature. There was no correlation between age and the testicular volume, but seminal fluid volume and sperm density tended to decrease with age. Serum levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Luteinizing Hormone, Prolactin and Testosterone were determined in the subjects' sera, enabling the establishment of reference values for these parameters in African Kenyan males.^ieng

Early detection of pregnancy in rhesus and stump-tailed macaques (Macaca mulatta and Macaca arctoides). Evaluation of two radioimmunoassays and a hemagglutination inhibition test.

Chorionic gonadotropin (mCG) in serum and urine of monkeys was determined by a radioimmunoassay and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI subhuman primate tube test for pregnancy). HAI-positive pregnancy tests coincided fully with the mCG excretion patterns as determined by RIA (oLH beta system). The least reliable system was the hCG-beta RIA. The HAI test allowed accurate prediction of the parturition date.

A radioimmunoassay for pregnancy associated protein, beta 1SP1: levels in pregnancy, trophoblastic and neoplastic disease.

A radioimmunoassay system for the glycoprotein beta 1SP1, one of the pregnancy-associated proteins, has been set up. beta 1SP1 levels in normal pregnancy have been established transversally. Clearance (t1/2) from the circulation postpartum ranged from 1.4 to 1.8 days. Several patients with trophoblastic disease, e.g., mola hydatidosa, choriocarcinoma and embryonic cell carcinoma, were followed longitudinally. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a highly reliable tumor marker in trophoblastic disease, has been determined concomitantly by radioimmunoassay. In all instances, hCG proved to be a better indicator of the presence of a tumor, because by the time beta 1SP1 became undetectable, hCG could still be detected. Samples from a large multicenter study on trophoblastic disease were studied: out of 100 positive for hCG, beta 1SP1 could be detected in 86; however, out of 21 samples in which hCG was not detectable, 1 was found to be positive for beta 1SP1. In a number of samples from patients with bronchial carcinoma, no beta 1SP1 could be detected.

Spontaneous dissociation of human pituitary luteinizing hormone in solution.

Aliquots of a solution of highly purified human pituitary LH (hLH) were incubated with variations in temperature and time. The incubates were chromatographed on Sephadex G-100 as well as on DEAE-Sephadex A25. The column effluents were assayed in radioligand assay and in specific hLH alpha- and hLH beta-RIA systems. The results indicate that there is spontaneous dissociation of hLH at elevated temperatures under otherwise "normal" conditions concerning, for example, pH and ionic strength. The degree of dissociation is both time and temperature dependent. This dissociation is not due to proteolytic enzymes. It is concluded that one should be alert when using hLH subunit RIA systems at elevated temperatures for measuring hLH levels, e.g. in clinical samples, because artificial high levels may be obtained.

Pseudohyperparathyroidism associated with perirectal adenocarcinomas in elderly female dogs.

In 8 elderly female dogs a syndrome of hypercalcaemia and hypophosphataemia was found in association with a perirectal adenocarcinoma. Following removal of the tumour the hypercalcaemia resolved within two days in four of the five operated animals.

Human thyrotropin and its alpha and beta subunits.

A new procedure is described for the isolation of human thyrotropin using ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration only. Thyroid stimulating activity of the final preparation of our human thyrotropin amounted to 0.5 IU/mg by bioassay. The alpha and beta subunit of the hormone were also obtained by a new procedure. In this method the native hormone was incubated in an acidified 8 M urea solution and the chains were then separated by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The amino-terminal residues of the alpha and beta chains were valine and phenylalanine respectively. The beta chain appears shorter at its carboxy-terminal end by one methionine residue than its bovine counterpart. Cross-contamination of the subunit preparations were measured by radioimmunoassay. The beta chain exhibited a contamination of about 3 percent of the alpha subunit by weight. The alpha subunit is contaminated by about one percent of the beta chain by weight.

The effect of gonadotrophin releasing hormone on pituitary-gonadal function in Klinefelter's syndrome.

The mean basal plasma LH and FSH levels in 8 patients with Klinefelter's syndrome were respectively 5 and 15-fold higher than in 8 eugonadal males, whereas plasma testosterone concentration were half the normal value. After an intravenous bolus injection of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (100 mug of LH-RH) the gonadotrophin increase in the Klinefelter patients was more marked than in the control subjects, but in both groups the plasma testosterone levels remained essentially unchanged. In contrast to the bolus injection, an 8 h infusion of LH-RH after the bolus elicited a significant plasma testosterone increase in both the eugonadal males (59%) and the Klinefelter patients (51%). These findings indicate that despite an impressive endogenous hyper-gonadotrophism, Leydig cells in Klinefelter's syndrome can still respond to a sustained further increase of these endogenous gonadotrophins and thus still have functional reserve.