A possible role for a low molecular weight peptide in regulation of testosterone production by rat Leydig cells.

Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of Percoll purified Leydig cell proteins from 20- and 120-day-old rats revealed a significant decrease in a low molecular weight peptide in the adult rats. Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin to immature rats resulted in a decrease in the low molecular weight peptide along with increase in testosterone production. Modulation of the peptide by human chorionic gonadotropin could be confirmed by Western blotting. The presence of a similar peptide could be detected by Western blotting in testes of immature mouse, hamster, guinea pig but not in adrenal, placenta and corpus luteum. Administration of testosterone propionate which is known to inhibit the pituitary luteinizing hormone levels in adult rats resulted in an increase in the low molecular weight peptide, as checked by Western blotting. It is suggested that this peptide may have a role in regulation of acquisition of responsiveness to luteinizing hormone by immature rat Leydig cells.

Outbreak of dengue fever in rural areas of Parbhani district of Maharashtra (India).

Outbreak of dengue fever in Chikalthana, Pimpalgaon and Waloor villages in Parbhani district of Maharashtra (India) were investigated. Clinically, the illness was typical of dengue fever except for the absence of maculopapular rash. A total of 42 acute, 14 late acute, 73 convalescent and 19 sera from contacts were collected. Of the 15 virus isolates, 12 were identified as dengue virus type 2 and 1 as dengue virus type 1. Serological tests confirmed the etiological role of dengue virus in the outbreak. House-to-house survey was carried out in Chikalthana and Pimpalgaon villages. Overall, 15.09 per cent of the surveyed population was affected during the outbreak and attack rate was higher at Pimpalgaon. A tendency of water storage was observed in the households and concomitant entomological studies proved Aedes aegypti breeding. Higher prevalence of dengue fever was noted among larger families and in families that had two or more patients, the commonest duration between the first and the last patient was often less than 5 days.