Torsion of an accessory spleen in an elderly patient.

Torsion of an accessory spleen is recognized as a rare cause of acute abdominal pain in childhood. A case is reported which, however, is unusual in that it occurred in a patient of 75, who had had no previous symptoms which might have suggested the presence of an accessory spleen.

Involvement of the vomeronasal organ and prolactin in pheromonal induction of delayed implantation in mice.

Pregnancy block caused by exposure of mated female mice to a strange male was significantly reduced by bilateral destruction of the vomeronasal organ. Treatment of newly mated females with alpha-bromocriptine also produced pregnancy block. Pregnancy block also occurred in mated females exposed to strange male odours, but the blastocysts which had failed to implant were still present in the uterus and were viable for up to 15 days after mating. Implantation was induced in such mice by administration of exogenous progesterone and oestradiol.