Circadian locomotor rhythms in the desert iguana. II. Effects of electrolytic lesions to the hypothalamus.

Desert iguanas, Dipsosaurus dorsalis, displaying freerunning circadian locomotor rhythms in conditions of constant darkness and temperature received electrolytic lesions to the hypothalamus. The locomotor activity of those lizards (N = 9) which sustained 80% or more damage to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) became arrhythmic whereas all animals that sustained less than 35% damage to the SCN remained rhythmic, even though they sustained significant damage to nearby regions of the hypothalamus and preoptic area. These results suggest strongly that the SCN plays a role in the regulation of circadian rhythms in the desert iguana. Taken together with other evidence, they support the view that this structure is homologous to the mammalian SCN, which acts as a pacemaker in the circadian system.

Circadian locomotor rhythms in the desert iguana. I. The role of the eyes and the pineal.

The pineal and the eyes are known to be important components in the circadian system of some species of lizards; their effects may be mediated by the hormone melatonin. We examined the role played by these structures in the desert iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis). Surgical removal of the pineal had no effect on circadian locomotor rhythms, even though this procedure abolished the circadian rhythm of melatonin in the blood. Furthermore, when the isolated pineal of Dipsosaurus was studied in organ culture, it showed no circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion, as do pineals of some other lizard species, although it did produce large quantities of this hormone. Bilateral ocular enucleation had only small effects on the freerunning period of locomotor rhythms, without affecting melatonin levels in the blood. Behavioral circadian rhythms persisted in desert iguanas subjected to both enucleation and pinealectomy. These data suggest that neither the pineal nor the eyes are central components of the circadian pacemaking system in Dipsosaurus, nor is melatonin critically involved in maintaining its organization.

Behavioural and physiological effects of prolactin in incubating ring doves.

The role of prolactin in the maintenance of incubation behaviour in ring doves was re-examined and the dose-response relationships for behavioural, target tissue and body weight changes induced by injections of prolactin were compared in doves tested during the incubation phase of the breeding cycle. Doves given injections of prolactin twice a day starting on day 4 of incubation, during a 10-day period of isolation from their mates and nests, showed a higher persistence of incubation behaviour than doves injected with saline vehicle. However, the prolactin treatment failed to maintain incubation behaviour to the same extent as that observed in non-isolated untreated breeding pairs. Liver and body weights were higher and testicular weights lower in birds treated with high doses of prolactin than in non-isolated birds which had been incubating for 14 days. Good dose-response relationships were established between body, liver, crop and testes weights and the dose of prolactin administered. However, only a weak dose-response relationship was observed between prolactin and the maintenance of incubation behaviour. Overall, females injected with prolactin displayed more quiet sitting behaviour, less body weight gain and more gonadal regression than males injected with prolactin. Males in untreated breeding pairs had higher liver weights and lower crop weights than females. It is concluded that prolactin plays a role in maintaining readiness to incubate in doves, but that other factors may also contribute to this response. Further, it appears that prolactin mediates several target tissue changes which are sex-specific during incubation.

Properties of hepatic binding sites for prolactin in ring doves (Streptopelia risoria).

Specific binding of 125I-labeled ovine prolactin (125I-oPRL) was detected in crude membrane fractions prepared from ring dove (Streptopelia risoria) liver homogenates. In characterization studies, specific binding was found to depend upon pH, incubation time, incubation temperature, and membrane protein concentration. Competitive inhibition of specifically bound 125I-oPRL was observed with human growth hormone, human and rat prolactin, and dove pituitary extract but not with turkey prolactin, human placental lactogen, and several nonlactogenic hormone preparations. Dove liver membranes showed high affinity (Kd = 3 X 10(-10) M) for binding to oPRL but had relatively low binding capacity (Bmax less than 20 fmol/mg protein). PRL binding activity in pooled liver fractions from breeding doves during early stages of incubation prior to crop sac growth did not differ markedly from that observed in doves sampled at the end of incubation when crop sac weight and serum PRL were elevated. However, binding activity was higher in pooled male liver fractions than in pooled female liver fractions at both reproductive stages. A two- to threefold increase in binding capacity was observed in pooled liver fractions from late-incubating doves following MgCl2-induced binding site desaturation. The MgCl2 treatment did not eliminate the differences in specific binding observed between male and female liver fraction pools, thus suggesting the possibility of sex-specific mechanisms of hepatic PRL binding site regulation in this species. It is concluded that the dove liver possesses specific binding sites for PRL with properties similar, but not identical, to those found in other vertebrate target tissues.

A computerized single entry system for recording and reporting data on high-risk newborn infants.

A computer-assisted system for data collection in an intensive care nursery is described. Maternal history, infant history, diagnoses, and treatment are sequentially identified on a single form and then entered in batches into a computer at the time of patient discharge. Computer production of a discharge summary and letters to referring and follow-up physicians from a single data-entry form account for an approximately 80% savings in physician record-keeping time per patient. Accuracy of the data is approximately two and one-half times greater than with existing methods of data gathering. Survey of disease occurrence and case fatality rates are rapidly available.