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What is the central question of this study? Blockade of orexin receptors reduces blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) but not in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, suggesting that upregulation of orexin signalling underlies the hypertensive phenotype of the SHR. However, it is not known what causes this upregulation. What is the main finding and its importance? Using orexin immunolabelling, we show that SHRs have 20% more orexin neurons than normotensive WKY and Wistar rats in the medial hypothalamus, which is a good match to their blood pressure phenotype. In contrast, there is no such match for the orexin neurons of the lateral hypothalamus. Essential hypertension may be linked to an increase in orexin neurons in the medial hypothalamus. The neuropeptide orexin contributes to the regulation of blood pressure as part of its role in the control of arousal during wakefulness and motivated behaviour (including responses to psychological stress). Recent work shows that pharmacological blockade of orexin receptors reduces blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) but not in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. It is not clear why orexin signalling is upregulated in the SHR, but one possibility is that these animals have more orexin neurons than their normotensive WKY and Wistar relatives. To test this possibility, SHRs, WKY and Wistar male rats (6-16 weeks old) were killed, perfused and their brains sectioned and immunolabelled for orexin A. Labelled neurons were plotted and counted in the six best labelled hemisections (120 μm apart) of each brain. There were significantly more orexin neurons (+20%) in the medial hypothalamus (medial to fornix) of SHRs compared with WKY and Wistar rats (126 ± 4 versus 106 ± 5 and 104 ± 5 per hemisection, respectively, P < 0.05), which matches well the blood pressure phenotypes. In contrast, counts in the lateral hypothalamus did not match the blood pressure phenotypes (69 ± 2 versus 50 ± 3 and 76 ± 4, respectively). The results support the idea that orexin signalling is upregulated in the SHR and suggest that this is due, at least in part, to a greater number of orexin neurons in the medial hypothalamus. These medial orexin neurons, which are also involved in hyperarousal and stress responses, may contribute to the development of essential hypertension.

Laboratories engaged in secretory studies of rat pancreatic islets often encounter high baseline insulin secretion with poor secretory response to secretagogues, such as glucose. The specific morphologic abnormalities that accompany this unregulated release have not been described. We isolated islets comparing two approaches. Both used stationary digestion with collagenase. In method I, we distended the biliary duct extracorporeally with collagenase and minced the pancreas after a 28 min digestion (37 degrees C). In method II, we distended the pancreas intracorporeally and digested for 40 min without mincing. Both methods utilized a similar collagenase concentration (2 micrograms/ml in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS). Both methods yielded over 300 islets/rat. Islets from both methods appeared intact, when viewed under the dissecting microscope. We found that adequate secretion from incubated islets was evoked with method I, i.e., low basal insulin levels at low glucose (3.3 mM), tripling at 11.0 mM glucose, and nearly quadrupling in response to higher glucose (16.7 mM). In contrast, method II was characterized by high basal levels without response to higher glucose. Ultramicroscopic examination of islet B cells in method I revealed normal cytological features, while B cells in method II showed marked degranulation, profiles of swollen endoplasmic reticulum, and swollen mitochondria. Morphometric analysis of B cells confirmed quantitatively a decrease in secretory granule density and mitochondrial enlargement in method II compared to method I. Anatomic changes, largely confined to the B cells of islets may account for functional alterations of responses. Defects cannot be predicted from gross appearance of islets.

Oleochemical products and biotechnological methods are making equally important contributions to a chemistry of the future which - energy-saving and kind to the environment - has its foundations in regenerative raw materials. In the past, research results of biochemistry have only indirectly affected oleochemistry - for example through crop improvements in oil plants. Although biotechnological processes for the modification or production of fats (for example by fermentation) have been investigated, they have only been adopted in a few specialized fields. However, with the general advance of the bioreactor and genetic engineering, many new and interesting ideas for the biotechnology of fats have been developed in recent years, including for example the commercial application of lipases for splitting fats and the use of bioemulsifiers for secondary and tertiary oil recovery. Further innovations are likely and are being discussed. Biotechnologie von Fetten - Herausforderung und Chance Fettchemische Produkte und biotechnologische Methoden sind gleichermasen interessante Bausteine einer Chemie von morgen, die - energiesparend und umweltfreundlich - auf nachwachsenden Rohstoffen basiert. In der Vergangenheit haben die Forschungsergebnisse der Biochemie die Fettchemie nur mittelbar beeinflust - z. B. durch Ertragsverbesserungen bei Olpflanzen. Biotechnologische Verfahren zur Modifikation oder Herstellung von Fetten (z. B. durch Fermentation) wurden zwar untersucht, konnten sich aber nur in wenigen Spezialgebieten durchsetzen. Im Zuge des allgemeinen Aufschwungs der Bioreaktor- und Gentechnik entwickelten sich indessen in den vergangenen Jahren zahlreiche neue und interessante Ideen fur eine Biotechnologie der Fette, wie beispielsweise der technische Einsatz von Lipasen zur Fettspaltung und die Nutzung von Bioemulgatoren fur die sekundare und tertiare Erdolforderung. Weitere Innovationen sind wahrscheinlich und werden diskutiert.

In der friedvollen Edo-Zeit entwickelten die Japaner mit ihrem ausgepragten Sinn fur Reinlichkeit eine verfeinerte Badekultur und eine anspruchsvolle Schonheitspflege. Wahrend der gleichen Periode wurden in grosem Umfang Netsuke - winzige Schnitzobjekte aus Elfenbein oder Holz - verwendet, um Gegenstande des taglichen Bedarfs am Gurtel des taschenlosen Kimono zu befestigen. Viele dieser fein ausgefuhrten Miniaturkunstwerke zeigen die einfachsten Tatigkeiten des Alltags, manche davon auch Badeszenen und die Anwendung von Schonheitsmitteln. Diese Netsuke sollen Ausgangspunkt fur diese kleine Kulturgeschichte der Korperpflege von Kopf bis Fus im Japan jener Epoche sein. Japanese Bathing, Body Care and Cosmetic Habits in theEodPeriod In the peaceful Edo Period the Japanese developed along with their distinct cleanliness an outstanding bathing culture and a sophisticated beauty care. During the same time netsuke - tiny carved objects of ivory or wood - were used as accessory to the pocketless classical kimono to attach to the sash small articles of daily use. Many of the well executed carvings are showing the acitivities of people in their daily life, some also bathing habits and the application of toiletries. These miniatures are the background for a small cultural history of bathing, body care and cosmetic customs from top to toe in this period.

Netsuke sind kleine Schnitzereien aus Elfenbein oder Holz, die in Japan zwischen dem fruhen 17. Jahrhundert und dem spaten 19. Jahrhundert verwendet wurden. Als Gurtelknebel wurden sie gebraucht, um Gegenstande des taglichen Bedarfs wie Medizindoschen, Tabaksbeutel, Geldborsen usw. am Gurtel zu befestigen. Viele dieser fein ausgefuhrten kleinen Schnitzkunstwerke zeigen einfache Tatigkeiten des Alltags. Die asthetischen und meist humorvollen Miniaturplastiken bilden den Hintergrund fur eine kleine Kulturgeschichte des Waschens im Japan jener Zeit. Laundry Care in the Japan during Edo Period Netsuke are carved objects of ivory or wood used in Japan between early 17th and late 19th century. They were utilized to attach to the girdle small articles of daily use like medicine cases, tobacco pouches, purses and so on. Many of the well executed, tiny carvings are showing the simple activities of the families in their environment. The esthetical and humorous miniatures are the background for a small cultural history of laundry washing habits in Japan during this period.

Jahrlich werden auf der Erde uber 45 Mill, t naturlicher Fette und Ole verbraucht, davon der groste Teil fur die menschliche Ernahrung. Diese Zahl zeigt die Bedeutung der Fettchemie in volkswirtschaftlicher und chemisch-technologischer Sicht, aber auch ihren gesellschaftsbezogenen Aspekt. Mit Hilfe der Fettchemie, also der auf Fettbasis hergestellten Produkte, werden einerseits wesentliche unmittelbare menschliche Bedurfnisse erfullt, in erster Linie auf den Gebieten Ernahrung und Hygiene, andererseits mittelbare uber industrielle Fertigungsverfahren. Zum dritten dient sie der Steigerung der menschlichen Lebenserwartung und Lebensqualitat. Anhand konkreter Beispiele wird die Entwicklung der Fettchemie zu ihrem heutigen Stand aufgezeigt. Weiter werden die Schwerpunkte derzeitiger Forschungsaktivitaten dargestellt und Entwicklungsrichtungen skizziert. Fat and Oil Chemistry – a Vital Obligation At the present time the world consumption of natural fats and oils exceeds 45 million metric tons per year, the major part of which goes into human nutrition. This figure shows the significance of fat chemistry from an economical and chemo-technical viewpoint, as well as its social relevance. Products on a fat basis fill direct human needs, primarily in the area of nutrition and hygiene, as well as indirect needs by way of industrial manufacturing processes. Finally, fat chemistry can help promote human life expectancy and the quality of life. The development of fat and oil chemistry to the present is illustrated by practical examples. Focal points of present research activities are presented and developmental trends pointed out.

—Quantitative analyses performed on the lipids of cerebral grey matter from brains of a normal child and a child with Tay-Sachs (T-S) disease were compared with such analyses on the brain of a 6-year-old, non-Jewish male with systemic GM2-gangliosidosis of a late infantile type (GM2-LI). Analysis of gangliosides showed a 3·5-fold increase of total gangliosides in the GM2-LI brain and a six-fold increase in the T-S brain, compared to normal brain. Both pathological brains had similar distribution patterns for gangliosides, with the GM2-ganglioside component constituting more than 80 per cent of the total. Lipid components in the T-S brain were below normal values except for lecithin and cholesterol, while in the GM2-LI brain there were increases in sulphatides, cerebrosides, sphingomyelin and cholesterol. Approximately twice as much ceramide trihexoside was present in the T-S brain as in the GM2-LI brain, and none could be detected in the normal brain. The clinical, pathological and biochemical data support the conclusion that this case represents a new variant of systemic late-infantile gangliosidosis in which there is an accumulation of the GM2-ganglioside like that in Tay-Sachs disease.