Circannual fluctuations of the serum cortisol in the European ground squirrel, Citellus citellus L.

1. Serum cortisol levels were measured throughout an annual cycle in male European ground squirrels, Citellus citellus L. 2. A circannual rhythm of these levels in euthermic animals was found: the highest being in late October, November and December, the lowest in May, early October and March. 3. The levels varied in the hibernating period as well: strongly reduced during the first part (October-December) and significantly elevated in the second one (January-March). 4. A significant elevation of the cortisol levels was marked 18-20 hr after full arousal from hibernation in October.

Seasonal involution of gut-associated lymphoid tissue of the European ground squirrel.

Small intestine-associated lymphoid tissue of immature, male ground squirrels of the genus Citellus citellus L. was studied histologically throughout the annual cycle. Circannual morphological changes of the lymphoid cells in the lamina propria of the mucosa as well as of the Peyer's patches in the submucosa, were established. The changes consisted mainly in a gradual decrease in the proliferative activity of the cells in the autumn and in arrest of this activity in hibernating animals during the first phase of hibernation. An involution of the follicles and their germinative centres, as well as lymphocyte depletion in the Peyer's patche parenchyma, and a marked increase in the lymphocyte number of the lamina propria in hibernating ground squirrels were found. It was shown that the activation of the lymphoid cell proliferation in both compartments of the small intestine begins in hibernating animals in January.

Electron microscopic cytochemistry of adenylate cyclase in the ovarian compartments of ground squirrel during the annual cycle.

The ultrastructural localization and the activity changes of adenylate cyclase (AC) were studied in the ovarian compartments of sexually mature ground squirrels (Citellus citellus L.), during the both stages of hibernation (October to December and January to February), after awakening (March) and after gonadotropin (PMSG and HCG) intraperitoneal application during the both above mentioned stages. AC activity was found to be localized on the plasma membranes of theca interna, interstitial, and granulosa cells in ground squirrel ovary. The cytochemical observations presented demonstrate significant AC activity changes in ground squirrel ovary during hibernation, after awakening gonadotrophin treatment and lend support to the concept of AC-cAMP system participation in the gonadotrophin hormone action on the ovary.

Cytochemistry of nucleoproteids and some cathionic proteins in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with lung cancer.

In 40 patients with untreated lung cancer cytochemical studies of the peripheral blood leukocytes were conducted by means of a cytological method for the simultaneous staining of nucleoproteids (RNP and DNP) and some cathionic proteins (after Zvetkova and Zvetkov [60]). Changes were detected in the RNP cytoplasmic contents of lymphocytes, of which the most outstanding were the reduction and uneven distribution of RNP granules, their frequent extracellular expulsion by means of microclasmatoses, as well as changes in the staining of cathionic proteins of RNP accompanied by an increased nuclear chromatin condensation in the small and medium-sized lymphocytes. Parellel to reducing of the percentage of these cells in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced neoplastic disease an increased number of lymphoblastoid and monoblastoid cells is established with RNP diffusely stained, but reduced in quantity and localized in the cytoplasmic periphery and projections (compared to Downey type II atypical cells). By means of one of the variants of the method (modified type of Feulgen's reaction) a characteristic distribution and structuring of the nuclear chromatin is established in mono- and polymorphonuclear cells, most clearly expressed in the nuclei of monocytes and monoblastoid cells, as well as in nuclei of neutrophil granulocytes. In these cellular types a more specific nuclear modelling (microhypersegmentation) is observed resulting in multiple irregular nuclear projections on the nuclear surface, probably caused by subkaryolemal distribution of uneven chromatin thickenings. The changes are also recorded in the cathionic protein containing secondary cytoplasmic granules in granulocytes-neutrophils and eosinophils, probably associated with changes in the lysosomal and phagocytic functions of these cells in neoplastic diseases. The authors discuss the importance of the obtained results in connection with data on the participation of lymphocytes and neutrophils in the immune response to tumour antigenic stimuli during the course of the neoplastic process, as well as with data on the suppressive effect of antigenic (serum, viral) factors, possibly affecting the synthesis and the transport of cellular nucleoproteids (RNP and DNP) in leukocytes of cancer patients.

[2 new fluorochromation methods for blood smears and chromosomes using berberine sulfate following deoxyribonucleoprotein denaturation]. / Deux nouvelles méthodes de fluorochromisation des frottis sanguins et des chromosomes par la berbérine sulfate aprés la dénaturation des désoxyribonucléoprotides.

The authors reported a Berberine sulfate technique based on DNP-denaturation with modifications for the purposes of fluorescent cytochemistry in cytology of blood and vaginal smears. A similar fluorochromation technique for staining of metaphase chromosomes and chromosomes in meiotic division has been applied. The fluorescent specificities, probably due to the differences in the denaturation properties of the hetero- and euchromatin desoxyribonucleoprotein-complexes, are discussed in comparison with other fluorochrome techniques and in relation with differences in distribution of hetero- and euchromatin and amounts of proteins in DNP, as far as DNA denaturation and tinction properties are concerned. The weaker fluorescence of immature (or leucemic) nuclei in blood smears and certain chromosomal regions would be due to the greater amount of active euchromatin (DNA which is slow reassociating or unstable to denaturation), which obviously does not bind to a sufficient degree the fluorochrome applied. The differences established in the fluorescence of active euchromatin and inactive heterochromatin zones by post-denaturing fluorochromation with Berberine sulfate gave grounds to recommend the application of these techniques in haematological and cytological (normal and abnormal) practice and for the cytogenetical and microfluorimetrical analyses.