Comparison of in vivo energy metabolism in the brain of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri and bullhead catfish, Ictalurus nebulosus during anoxia.

1. Rainbow trout and bullhead catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus) were exposed to anoxic water inside a plastic tube until death (12 min for trout; 62 min for catfish). Immediately upon death, the brain was removed and analyzed for metabolites, high energy phosphate compounds, and metabolic fuel while the blood was analyzed for metabolites. 2. Control bullhead brains had higher concentrations of glycogen, ATP, creatine phosphate (CrP), and glucose than control trout. 3. After anoxia bullheads showed a significant decrease in ATP, CrP, and glycogen while lactate more than doubled in concentration. 4. After anoxia trout showed a doubling in brain lactate and a decline in glycogen, but no decline in ATP or CrP. There were no changes in brain glucose, ketone bodies, or alternative anaerobic end-products in either species although an elevation in blood isobutyrate was noted. 5. Brain death in the catfish may be due to depletion of fuel for anaerobiosis and a subsequent loss of ATP. In the trout there may be other causes such as a greater permeability of its neuronal membranes and alterations in intracellular free calcium stores.

Lung tumor-associated antigens: thin layer immunoassay.

Six hundred eighty-four rapid, sensitive thin layer immunoassays (TLI) were performed using an adapted visualization of condensation on plastic surface (VCS) method, for testing squamous cell and adenocarcinoma monospecific (TAA) and monoclonal antibody derived lung tumor-associated antigens (TAA epitopes) against small amounts of coded human test sera. The TAA epitopes selected for VCS-TLI were more specific, but both forms of TAA gave positive tests in 94% of lung cancer test sera of the appropriate histological types. The four antigens (adeno TAA and TAA epitope, squamous TAA and TAA epitope) did not react in VCS-TLI with coded sera from preselected normal individuals with known medical histories. With both TAA epitopes, 5% of non-lung cancer test sera were positive. There were indications that such tests may be useful in aiding pathological evaluations and in detecting precancerous conditions in patients with asbestosis. Cross-reacting (with other non-lung cancers) and specific peptide sequences of TAA were indicated in the comparative tests with the corresponding TAA epitopes, suggesting the tests for probing and analyzing portions of the antigens. Of immediate use is VCS-TLI for monitoring patients on specific active TAA immunotherapy.