An assessment of morphometric indices, blood chemistry variables and an energy meter as indicators of the whole body lipid content in Micropterus dolomieu, Sander vitreus and Ictalurus punctatus.

The effectiveness of several non-lethal techniques as indicators of total lipid content in smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu, walleye Sander vitreus and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus was investigated. The techniques included (1) the Fulton and relative condition factors, (2) relative mass, (3) plasma indicators of nutritional status (alkaline phosphatase, calcium, cholesterol, protein, triglycerides and glucose) and (4) readings from a hand-held, microwave energy meter. Although simple linear regression analysis showed that lipid content was significantly correlated with several predictor variables in each species, the r2 values for the relations ranged from 0·17 to 0·50 and no single approach was consistent for all species. Only one model, between energy-meter readings and lipid content in I. punctatus, had an r2 value (0·83) high enough to justify using it as a predictive tool. Results indicate that no single variable was an accurate and reliable indicator of whole body lipid content in these fishes, except the energy meter for I. punctatus.

Surgical wound healing in radio-tagged adult Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus held on different substrata.

Radio-tagged adult Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus held in a raceway with Plexiglas-lined walls and bottom healed more slowly and retained sutures longer than fish held in an all-concrete raceway or one with Plexiglas walls and a cobble-lined bottom. On all substrata, healing depended on when sutures were lost, and fish that lost their sutures in <14 days post-surgery healed faster than those that kept sutures longer. Long-term suture retention led to tissue trauma, infection and poor survival.

WITHDRAWN: Profiles in Comparative Endocrinology: Carl B. Schreck Howard Bern Lecturer, Annual Meeting of Society of Integrative and Comparative Endocrinology, Seattle, January 5, 2010.

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Ascorbic acid and pyridoxine in experimental anaphylaxis.

Two vitamins, ascorbic acid (AA) and pyridoxine have been suggested by others as useful drugs for the treatment of bronchial asthma, although the views concerning AA or controversial. We have tested both vitamins in some models of histamine release and experimental anaphylaxis. AA does not inhibit mast cell degranulation induced by phospholipase A and histamine release from isolated rat mast cells induced by compound 48/80 or antigen (egg albumin). On the contrary, in the latter tests pyridoxine exerts inhibition in a range of concentrations from 10(-3)-10(-2) M. We conclude: 1. There is no experimental basis for considering ascorbic acid as a prophylactic antiasthmatic drug as is disodium cromoglycate. 2. Pyridoxine must receive additional basic and clinical investigations in this field.