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LAMB1 gene analysis should be considered for intellectually disabled patients with cerebellar cysts, white matter signal change, and cortical malformation. Muscular involvement is absent, in contrast to the α-dystroglycanopathy types of congenital muscular dystrophies.

Background: High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a monocyte-derived late-acting inflammatory mediator, which is released in conditions such as shock, tissue injury and endotoxin-induced lethality. In this study, we determined the plasma and hepatic tissue levels of HMGB1 in patients with acute liver failure (ALF). Patients and Methods: We determined the plasma levels of HMGB1 and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in 7 healthy volunteers (HVs), 40 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), 37 patients with chronic hepatitis (CH), 18 patients with severe acute hepatitis (AH), and 14 patients with fulminant hepatitis (FH). The 14 patients with FH were divided into two subgroups depending upon the history of plasma exchange (PE) before their plasma sample collection. The hepatic levels of HMGB1 were measured in tissue samples from 3 patients with FH who underwent living-donor liver transplantation and from 3 healthy living donors. Hepatic tissue samples were also subjected to immunohistochemical examination for HMGB1. Results: The plasma levels of HMGB1 (ng/ml) were higher in patients with liver diseases, especially in FH patients with no history of PE, than in HVs (0.3 ± 0.3 in HVs, 4.0 ± 2.0 in LC, 5.2 ± 2.6 in CH, 8.6 ± 4.8 in severe AH, 7.8 ± 2.7 in FH with a history of PE, and 12.5 ± 2.6 in FH with no history of PE, p < 0.05 in each comparison). There was a strong and statistically significant relationship between the mean plasma HMGB1 level and the logarithm of the mean AST level (R = 0.900, p < 0.05). The hepatic tissue levels of HMGB1 (ng/mg tissue protein) were lower in patients with FH than in healthy donors (539 ± 116 in FH vs. 874 ± 81 in healthy donors, p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining for HMGB1 was strong and clear in the nuclei of hepatocytes in liver sections from healthy donors, but little staining in either nuclei or cytoplasm was evident in specimens from patients with FH. Conclusion: We confirmed that plasma HMGB1 levels were increased in patients with ALF. Based on a comparison between HMGB1 contents in normal and ALF livers, it is very likely that HMGB1 is released from injured liver tissue.

[Background] Axilla surgery in node-positive breast cancer is dramatically changing from axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to sentinel node biopsy (SNB). From the results of ACOSOG Z0011, IBCSG23-01 and AMAROS trials, adjuvant therapy and regional node irradiation could reduce regional lymph node recurrence for sentinel node-positive breast cancer patients. However, optimal indication of SNB alone remains uncertain. Trial design: To evaluate the outcome of sentinel node-positive breast cancer patients, the Japanese Society for Sentinel Node Navigation Surgery (SNNS) conducted a prospective cohort study in 2013 (UMIN000011782, Jpn J Clin Oncol, p.876-9, 2014). [Eligibility criteria] For eligible patients, SNB was performed or scheduled after 1 January 2012. Then 1 to 3 positive micrometastases or macrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes are confirmed by histological or molecular diagnosis. Primary chemotherapy before or after SNB is also acceptable for registration. [Specific aims] The primary endpoint is the 5-year recurrence rate of regional lymph node in patients treated with SNB alone. The secondary endpoint is the 5-year overall survival rate of this cohort. Patients treated with SNB followed by ALND are also registered simultaneously to compare the prognosis. The propensity score matching (PSM) is used to make the distributions of baseline risk factors comparable. [Statistical method] Based on an estimated recurrence rate of 5% at 5 years among patients treated with SNB alone, 240 patients are needed to give a 80% power to reject the null hypothesis that the recurrence rate is 10% with a one-sided type I error rate of 2.5%. If we consider that some patients will be lost to follow-up or become ineligible, a total of 250 patients will be needed to comprise the sample. [Present accrual] Eight hundred and eighty patients who underwent SNB alone or SNB followed by ALND were registered from 27 participating institutes between 2013 and 2016. Data cleaning is being performed. Patient's background and PSM will be reported. Citation Format: Imoto S, Saito Oba M, Masuda N, Nagashima T, Wada N, Takashima T, Kitada M, Kawada M, Hayashida T, Taguchi T, Aihara T, Miura D, Toh U, Yoshida M, Sugae S, Yoneyama K, Matsumoto H, Jinno H, Sakamoto J. Observational study of axilla treatment for breast cancer patients with 1 to 3 positive micrometastases or macrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT2-01-01.

The objective of this study was to confirm electrophysiologically both the presence and course of uraemic neuropathy in haemodialysis patients. Nerve conduction studies of the lower extremities were done in 70 haemodialysis patients and 20 normal volunteers. Compared with that in normal volunteers, the distal motor latency in the tibial nerve of patients was prolonged significantly (p

Spinal cord compression is an extremely serious complication of hereditary multiple exostoses (HME). A case of HME with compression of the cervical spinal cord is reported. Complete recovery following surgery was achieved. A review of the relevant literature revealed 51 previous cases of HME with cord/cauda equina compression. Most patients were under 30 years of age with more men affected than women. The family history was positive in 60%. The cervical and thoracic areas were predominantly affected, with the symptoms usually developing slowly. Recovery following surgery is to be expected in the majority of cases. In patients with HME and suffering from neurological symptoms, the possibility of spinal cord compression should be considered. Prompt diagnosis and surgical excision provide the best prognosis.

OBJECTIVE--To examine mechanisms controlling the stapedial reflex in patients with amyotrophic sclerosis (ALS). METHODS--The stapedial reflex was examined using impedance audiometry in 38 patients with sporadic ALS and in 25 age matched controls. RESULTS--All patients showed normal reflex decay test results. There were no significant differences between patients with ALS and control subjects in reflex threshold, latency, amplitude, or contraction time (C50). Although each reflex variable in the patients with classic or progressive muscular atrophy types of ALS showed no significant difference from that in control subjects, the patients with bulbar type ALS showed significantly longer latency, C50, and retraction time (D50), and significantly lower amplitude than control subjects. Three types of abnormal reflex waveforms (polyphasic, abnormally delayed retraction, and abnormally early retraction) were noted in six patients. CONCLUSION--The subclinical involvement of the stapedius motor neurons or of the supranuclear stapedius motor system might be responsible for the abnormalities of the stapedial reflex in ALS.

OBJECTIVES: Vocal cord abductor paralysis (VCAP) is a life threatening complication which may cause nocturnal sudden death in patients with multiple system atrophy. However, the early diagnosis of VCAP is often difficult to make on routine laryngoscopy performed during wakefulness, as stridor, which is the sole symptom of VCAP in the early stage, develops only during sleep. The aim was to investigate laryngeal dysfunction in patients with multiple system atrophy while awake and asleep. METHODS: Seven patients with multiple system atrophy with nocturnal stridor and five control patients were studied. Vocal cord movement was analysed by laryngoscopy while the patients were awake and also during sleep induced by intravenous diazepam. RESULTS: When awake, for the seven patients with multiple system atrophy normal movement of the vocal cords occurred in three, mild abduction restriction in three, and paradoxical movement in one. When asleep, however, all showed obvious paradoxical movement with high pitched inspiratory stridor. In controls, there were no differences in the vocal cord movement between wakefulness and sleep. From these findings, VCAP could be divided into four stages: stage 0 (normal) with normal vocal cord movement during both wakefulness and sleep, stage 1 (mild VCAP) with normal movement during wakefulness and paradoxical movement during sleep, stage 2 (moderately severe VCAP) with abduction restriction during wakefulness and paradoxical movement during sleep, and stage 3 (severe VCAP) with an almost midline position for the vocal cords during both wakefulness and sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngoscopy during sleep can disclose subclinical VCAP, making an early diagnosis of VCAP in patients with multiple system atrophy. Stage 2 of VCAP seems to be a suitable stage for tracheostomy in patients with multiple system atrophy.

We investigated the postcaloric nystagmus that is related to positional change in 24 patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) and compared it with that in normal subjects. Six ears of 3 patients exhibited no evaluable caloric response. In 42 ears of 21 patients, the primary phase of caloric nystagmus was definitely observed. In 37 of 42 (88%) ears, postcaloric nystagmus was observed. The postcaloric nystagmus from a positional change in patients with SCD was significantly larger than that in control subjects. Furthermore, it was significantly exaggerated in patients with brainstem and cerebellar lesions in comparison with patients with pure cerebellar lesions. The degree of disturbance coming from visual suppression had only a limited correlation with the exaggerated postcaloric nystagmus. Also discussed are possible other factors affecting the exaggerated postcaloric nystagmus.

An olfactory function test in 18 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and 10 age-matched control subjects was performed. Both detection and recognition thresholds were measured with five kinds of synthesized odorants (T&T olfactometry). Before each test, rhinoscopic inspections were performed to exclude subjects who could have respiratory hyposmia. Both detection and recognition thresholds in patients with PD were significantly elevated in comparison with those of control subjects. Auditory acuity of PD patients, however, was well preserved and there was no significant correlation between auditory and olfactory threshold. On the basis of the present study, the authors conclude that olfactory dysfunction is one of the characteristic symptoms of PD and it may be attributed to lesions in the olfactory neural pathway including olfactory neuroepithelium.

Disrupted imprinting is implicated in certain tumorigenesis. Since aberrant methylation has been described for a majority of microsatellite instability (MSI)-positive sporadic colorectal cancers, we have investigated alteration to the imprinting in 55 sporadic colorectal cancers with or without MSI. Loss of imprinting (LOI) of IGF2 and PEG1/MEST was observed in 42% and 35% of informative cancers, respectively. H19 expression was not detected in 24% of informative cancers. SNRPN and NDN retained monoallelic expression in all the cancers examined. These findings indicate no simultaneous disruption of the imprinted genes. LOI of IGF2 and PEG1/MEST was also observed in colorectal mucosa from almost all the patients with LOI in tumor tissue. Moreover, MSI-positive colorectal cancers exhibit LOI of IGF2 with a high frequency compared to MSI-negative cancers (P=0.013). These observations, consistent with a previous report, establish an association between LOI of IGF2 and MSI in colorectal cancers and provide insight into susceptibility of tumor development.

A high-resolution magnetoencephalographic mapping method using a 64-channel SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) system and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is described. The brain magnetic field is considered to be produced by current sources. The localization of current sources is performed via computation using Biot-Savart's equation based on MEG. After matching the coordinate of the SQUID system to the coordinate of MRI, each current source location is mapped into the anatomical MRI data. >

Background:The class I HOX gene family consists of 39 members with a shared highly conserved 61-amino acid homeodomain motif. HOX genes are important regulators of developmental processes, and their role in neoplastic transformation and tumor progression is increasingly recognized (Abate-Shen et al., Nat Rev Cancer, 2002; Cantile et al., Eur J Cancer, 2003). However, the molecular mechanisms by which HOX proteins promote tumorigenesis is not well understood. We recently, observed that HOXB9, a 9th HOX gene paralogue involved in mouse mammay gland development, is deregulated in breast cancer and enhanced expression correlated with high tumor grade. A role for elevated HoxB9 expression in breast tumor progression is demontrated by its ability to activate the ErbB and TGF-B pathways which influence tumor-associated phenotypes in cells.Methods and results:Overexpression of HOXB9 was found in 43% of primary breast cancer by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization (Figure 1A) and correlated with high tumor grade. Ectopic expression of HOXB9 in MCF10A mammary epithelial cells induced EMT, cell migration, invasion (Figure 1B, and 1C). It also increased the expression of angiogenic factors, which enhance the formation of new vessels in mouse dorsal air sac model. Conversely, genetic ablation of endogenous HOXB9 in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells suppresses their motility and angiogenic potential. Further, we confirmed that HOXB9-induced tumor phenotypes arise through the activation of both ErbB-AKT and TGFß signaling pathways. Finally, in mouse xenograft model, we observed that HOXB9 cooperates with activated H-Ras to transform mammary epithelial cells leading to large, vascularized and invasive tumors (Figure 2).Discussion:Our findings imply that overexpression of HOXB9 in human breast cancer contributes to tumor progression through activation of signaling pathways that alter both tumor-specific cell fates and tumor-stromal microenvironment, leading to increased invasion and metastasis. It is suggested that combined suppression of ErbB and TGFß signaling pathways to target breast cancers overexpressing HOXB9 may be effective in tumor inhibition. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 6145.

In many shrimp farms in the Kyushu and Chugoku areas of Japan, the so-called mid-gut gland cloudy disease of kuruma shrimp larvae(Penaeus japonicus) has occurred since 1971. The pathological changes associated with this baculoviral mid-gut gland necrosis (BMN) are extensive cellular necrosis, collapse of mid-gut gland cells, nuclear hypertrophy and finally karyorrhexis. Electron microscopic examination revealed the presence of virions and virogenic stages in the affected nuclei. Average length and diameter of the virions detected was 310 and 72 nm, respectively; nucleocapsids were 250 nm in size. Virions enclosing 2 nucleocapsids within a single envelope were rarely found. The spirally arranged capsomeres were at an angle of 37 to 38° to a horizontal line meeting at right angles with the long axis of the virion. Infectivity trials resulted in high mortality of healthy mysis and juveniles (2nd post-larval stage). Juveniles at the 9th post-larval stage showed no mortality, although they could be infected easily by the agent. Hypertrophied nuclei in squashed and stained preparations of the affected gland cells can be considered to be of reliable presumptive diagnostic character, and fluorescent antibody staining can be employed to confirm the diagnosis of BMN.

An immunohistochemical technique with decalcified frozen sections was used to study aminoglycoside ototoxicity. Decalcified guinea pig cochleas were cut with a fine blade parallel to the plane of the modiolus to facilitate the penetration of inclusion material and the manipulation of frozen sections. Light microscopy was carried out and additional frozen sections were employed for an immuno-electron microscopic study. Twenty-four hours after a single transtympanic injection of 10 mg gentamicin, there was a definite distribution of the drug in only type I hair cells of the ampullae as well as in both inner and outer hair cells along the length of the cochlea. In those animals treated intraperitoneally with 200 mg/ kg amikacin for 8 days, the drug was located in the outer hair cells of the cochlea, with a tendency to decrease from base to apex and in the inner hair cells towards the apex.

A 20-year-old man developed a malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the right maxilla 19 years after irradiation for bilateral retinoblastoma.The incidence of second tumours in patients who survived bilateral retinoblastoma treated with radiation was 8.5 per cent. Malignant fibrous histiocytomas which arise in a site of prior radiation are fatal. The present case is presumed to have the autosomal dominant retinoblastoma gene, not associated with deletion of the q 14 band of chromosome 13. The patient succumbed to the second tumour.

We studied the distribution of gentamicin in the inner ear, brain and kidney of the guinea pig following intraperitoneal administration or perfusion of gentamicin through the perilymphatic space. The resulting histopathological changes were examined by immunofluorescence using antigentamicin antiserum. After perfusion of gentamicin through the perilymphatic space, specific fluorescence was found in the cochlea, and was especially prominent in the outer hair cells, basilar membrane and basilar crest. Although no fluorescence was observed in the cochlea following intraperitoneal administration of high doses of gentamicin, type I hair cells in the vestibule were seen to be selectively stained with the antibody. Furthermore, some of the vestibular ganglion cells, Purkinje cells and unidentified nuclei in the brain stem were also stained. In particular, fine granules showing relatively intense fluorescence were recognized in the cytoplasm of the stained cells. In the cortex of kidney, only proximal tubular cells were stained with intense fluorescence. Our results suggest that the aminoglycoside antibiotics have two sites of action: one is the cell membrane of the sensory hair cells and the other is the cytoplasm.

At least 5–6 components have been demonstrated in highly purified human growth hormone (HGH) preparations (Li or Raben) by permitting the HGH to react with its antiserum, employing a modified technique of immunodiffusion on cellulose acetate. Tests were performed with varying ratios of antigen (HGH) to antiserum. The components (precipitation lines) were usually more numerous and better defined with relative excesses of the antiserum. Levels of HGH (Li) as low as 3 f*g still revealed the presence of 3 components. The same antiserum gave no detectable reactions when tested against varying amounts of ovine prolactin, likewise a protein hormone with a molecular weight similar to that of HGH. Control tests with normal rabbit serum were also negative.

A potent antiserum against rat pituitary thyrotrophic, gonadotrophic, and growth hormones has been produced in rabbits by their long term immunization with rat pituitary saline homogenates. The procedures used were similar to those we have previously employed with highly purified human and bovine pituitary growth hormones. The detection of antibodies to particular hormones was based largely upon results of antihormone tests performed in hypophysectomized rats injected with the antiserum. It was observed in such animals that the antiserum could neutralize the stimulating effects of the rat pituitary homogenates upon thyroid morphology and I131 uptake, gonadal development, and body growth. Evidence is thus presented for the production of antibodies to anterior pituitary hormones in their crude, natural, or near natural state. In order to strengthen the validity of the specific antihormone effects of the antiserum, particular emphasis is placed upon the control of non-specific or toxic influences of the anti...

SUMMARY Antiserum prepared by the immunization of rabbits, with homogenates of rat anterior pituitary gland according to a procedure previously outlined, was absorbed with homologous serum proteins and tissues to remove various non-specific antibodies. Varying levels of plasma from gonadectomized male rats, containing high levels of gonadotrophic hormone activity, were injected into hypophysectomized, immature female rats. The simultaneous injection of antiserum resulted in complete neutralization of gonadotrophic hormone as judged by the inhibition of ovarian and uterine weight responses and the extent of follicular development in the ovaries of the rats used for the bioassay. The degree of inhibition was dependent upon the relative amount of antiserum employed. Normal rabbit serum did not have any inhibitory effect. No detectable non-specific or toxic effects were noted in the animals injected with antiserum.

The Number of out-patients having gastric symptoms has in recent years remarkably increased. Many of them, though free from pathological findings when examined by upper 'G-I X-ray series including the biliary tract and by gastrofiberscope, were found, on illness, to have abnormal habit of defecation, full sensation of the lower abdomen, or other various :subjective symptoms all of long duration.A total of 1335 such cases have been subjected to barium enema examination of the colon (Aoyama's method). With the exception of 27 cases having organic diseases of the colon, organic in the narrow sense of the word such as its tumors. 1308 cases were further investigated.As a result, a close correlation has been found between the X-ray findings such as abnormal location, course and so-called membraneous lifting-up of the colon, together withits traction or stenosis due to mesocolitis, and the patient's subjective symptoms and defecation habits. Based on this study, the authors attempted to designate those symptoms and radiological sighs, including kinking of the splenic flexure or the descending colon, the socalled detour sign, cicatric mesocolitis of the splenic flexure or cicatric mesosigmoiditis, as"colon syndrome" for the purpose of differentiatiating it from the" irritable colon."One of the authors, Hayashida, attempted to remedy this syndrome by surgical intervention: one stage modification of abnormal course kinking, cicatrices and so no of the colon together with left hemi-colectomy. In 150 cases thus treated, 84.9 percent have been free from any subjective symptoms six months after operation.

Quantitative echography using A-scan equipment is one of the most effective procedures which have ultrasonic tissue differentiation more precise. In Ossoinig’s method applicable to intraocular membranous structures, level of amplification of echoes from the target tissue is compared with those from the standard tissue, the sclera. The relation between histopatho-logical findings and the value of dB has been investigated by many. However, the sclera as the standard tissue in quantitative echography has been scarcely studied. As the first step the scleral reflectivity was measured as the readings of the sensitivity control dial of the equipment, Kretztechnik 7200 MA, at the time when the peak of the spike reached to the marker line of 50% display height. The measurement was done in four direction of 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock meridians. The standard deviation was the smallest in the nasal meridian. No significant difference between the right and left eyes was found statistically in the superior and nasal meridians. From these results is was indicated that the scleral sensitivity in quantitative echography might be measured along with the nasal and superior meridians. To confirm these results the pattern of processed RF signals is to be studied.

In 7 eyes with posterior vitreous detachment and 4 eyes of familial exudative Vitreoretinopathy, echography and vitreous fluorophotometry were done. In the former group, no correlation between echographic findings and the midvitreous values was found. In the latter group, the midvitreous values in the advanced eyes containing more distinct abnormal echographic findings were higher than those in the less affected eyes showing minimal echographic changes.

Guinea pig antisera to human growth hormone were tested for their ability to recognize the two biologically active fragments of the hormone produced by human plasmin digestion and a synthetic active fragment. A precipitin line was obtained with native human growth hormone, plasmin-treated human growth hormone, and its NH 2 -terminal fragment (residues 1–134). In the microcomplement-fixation and radioimmunoassay experiments, the NH 2 -terminal plasmin fragment (residues 1–134) showed a greater immunoreactivity than the COOH-terminal plasmin fragment (residues 141–191). This, in turn, was more active than the synthetic fragment (residues 95–136).

The compounds (V) and (VIa) are synthesized starting from the naphthalene derivative (I) via the common intermediate (IV).

EVIDENCE for the neutralization of pituitary gonadotrophic hormone activity in mammals by immunological procedures has been reviewed in several articles. The specificity of the hormone neutralizing (antihormone) effect of the antiserum has been suggested by many of the investigations reviewed, but there has been some question as to the specificity of this effect, because of the possible role of impurities or trace antigenic contaminants in the hormone preparations used1–4. A recent report5 describes the successful inactivation of a purified pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH); the marked follicular stimulation obtained by the injection of sheep FSH into immature hypophysectomized female rats could be completely inhibited with rabbit antiserum to the homologous FSH. This inhibitory effect was found to be dependent on the dosage of antiserum used. Other recent studies have reported the neutralization of endogenously secreted pituitary interstitial-cell stimulating hormone (ICSH) in the normal immature6–8 and mature8 male rat and in the immature female rat9, with the use of antiserum prepared against purified sheep ICSH.

It recently has been demonstrated by several investigators (10–14) that highly purified human growth hormone (HGH) possesses significant lactogenic (prolactin) activity. In the present investigation, it was shown by the local crop sac test in immature pigeons that a 6-μg daily dose of HGH (Li) elicited a good lactogenic (crop sac stimulating) reaction, and that this response could be eliminated by prior treatment of the hormone with anti-HGH (Raben) rabbit serum, whereas treatment of the hormone with an equivalent amount of normal rabbit serum did not have any effect on this activity of the HGH. Results of agar diffusion tests (Ouchterlony) with crude human pituitary extracts demonstrated that anti-HGH (Raben) serum contained antibodies to at least 2 closely related antigenic components other than serum proteins and also a small amount of antibodies to human serum albumin. However, agar diffusion tests, including immuno-electrophoresis, showed the presence of only one antigenic component in highly purifie...

Similarities and differences in the antigenic structures of pituitary growth hormone (somatotropin, STH) from various species were studied by means of anaphylactic shock experiments in guinea pigs, precipitin ring tests and agar gel-diffusion studies with antisera to highly purified bovine and human STH. Antihormone tests in hypophysectomized rats were also performed, with the same antisera. The results of the above studies have suggested that the antigenic structures of pituitary STH from man and monkeys are very similar to one another, but are clearly different from those of the whale, hog, sheep, ox, horse and fish; and, furthermore, that the antigenic structures of sheep and ox STH’s are closety related, but quite different from STH of all other species tested. It was also demonstrated that antiserum to either the bovine or human purified STH could not only detect minute amounts of the homologous purified STH in saline solution and neutralize its biological activity, but could also detect STH in a cru...

SummaryThe antibody content of sera from rabbits treated intermittently with free glucagon or glucagon conjugated with ovalbumin was measured at intervals during a 2-year period. Circulating nonprecipitating antibody, capable of binding glucagon-I131, was detectable within one month, and was still detectable after 4 to 5 month periods during which no antigen was administered. Glucagon-I131 injected into an immunized rabbit was rapidly bound to antibody, remained chromatographically intact and was only slowly cleared from the circulation. Glucagon-I131 could be dissociated from its antibody at acid pH. The preferential salt precipitation technic used for immunochemical assay of insulin proved applicable to measurement of minute amounts of glucagon.The authors are indebted to Dr. Otto K. Behrens, Eli Lilly & Co. for supplies of recrystallized glucagon and for tests of antibody inhibition of glucagon activity in cats. We wish to acknowledge the technical assistance of Miss Angela Lee.

WE have previously reported the relatively high degree of species specificity in the interaction of pituitary growth hormone (GH) from several mammalian species with rabbit antisera to bovine or human growth hormone (BGH or HGH), on the basis of precipitin reactions in agar and hormone neutralization studies in vivo1. These findings were subsequently confirmed by others. In contrast to earlier reports, Tashjian et al.2, using micro-complement fixation, recently reported that rabbit antiserum to HGH would cross-react with bovine, ovine and porcine GHs. We report here studies in which monkey antiserum to rat pituitary growth hormone has been used to investigate the immunochemical relatedness of GH not only among mammals1–4 but also among birds, reptiles and amphibians, down to the fishes.