Arthur Flynn

ZINC STATUS OF PREGNANT ALCOHOLIC WOMEN: A DETERMINANT OF FETAL OUTCOME

The zinc status of 25 alcoholic and 25 non-alcoholic pregnant women was measured and correlated with fetal outcome. The volume index of alcohol consumption and the Michigan Alcoholic Screening Test were used to define alcoholic women. The alcoholic women had significantly lower plasma-zinc levels that the non-alcoholic women (50.7 versus 72.2 micrograms/dl). Fetal cord-plasma zinc levels were also lower in the offspring of alcoholic women (65.5 versus 81.3 micrograms/dl). Manifestation of fetal dysmorphogenesis appears to relate to zinc status.

Rapid serum-zinc depletion associated with corticosteroid therapy.

Abstract The administration of large doses of corticosteroids to major burn and surgical patients presenting with low-cardiac-output syndrome produced a rapid and sustained drop in serum-zinc. Cessation of steroid therapy was associated with an increased serum-zinc level. These findings support the hypothesis that the adenohypophyseal-adrenocortical system may be important in maintaining circulating zinc and in mobilising bodyzinc stores. The results may have important clinical significance, since maintenance of zinc levels has been linked with proper tissue repair.

Expression of Ia and the production of interleukin 1 by peritoneal exudate macrophages activated in vivo by steroids

The in vivo stimulatory potential of estrogens and progestogens on monocytes/macrophages was examined in peritoneal exudate cells from Balb/cBy mice treated with continuous infusions for 15 days. Mice received a daily dose of 6.6 X 10(-10) M of one of the following compounds: prednisone, testosterone, estrogens--17 beta-estradiol and diethylstilbesterol, progestogens--progesterone and ethisterone and the bile acid lithocholic acid. Although total numbers of peritoneal exudate cells and the percentage of macrophages within those populations did not change with any of the treatments, the number of Ia-positive cells did significantly increase with the two estrogens, the two progestogens and the bile acid given the mice. The production of interleukin 1 was also stimulated by the treatment of the animals with the two estrogens, the two progestogens, and the bile acid, but not the glucocorticoid or testosterone. The activation of Ia expression, therefore, correlated with the production of IL-1. Estrogens and progestogens appear to have a marked effect on in vivo activation of monocytes/macrophages and may relate to differences in females and males in developing immune responses related to the actions of monocytes/macrophages.

Browse quality and the Kenai moose population

The quality of moose (Alces alces) forage on the northwestern Kenai Peninsula, Alaska was evaluated by determining digestibility (as in vitro dry matter disappearance) and levels of fiber, protein, and minerals for 1 winter and 2 summer collections. There were significant changes in all parameters between summer and winter in the major browse species-paper birch (Betula papyrifera), aspen (Populus tremuloides), willow (Salix sp.), alder (Alnus sp.), and lowbush cranberry (Vaccinium vitisidaea) and significant differences among species within seasons. Considering all factors, alder and.willow ranked as the best summer browse plants and lowbush cranberry as the poorest; in winter, aspen and lowbush cranberry ranked best and paper birch poorest. However, since the different species provide different nutrients, sufficient quantities of all 5 species could better meet the needs of moose than any 1. The northern Kenai moose range, once multispecies habitat, is now dominated by paper birch; this is relatively poor winter forage, and the moose population is declining. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 41(3):533-542 The quality of plants that wild ungulates eat has been given little scrutiny. Yet, on both summer and winter range, quality is as important as quantity in maintaining healthy populations. In a study of moose forage Cowan et al. (1950) recognized the relationships between range quality, carrying capacity, and the successional stage of the forest. They noted specifically that fats (ether extracts), total carbohydrates, and proteins in the vegetation of a 6and a 20to 30-year-old forest were superior to those of a 70 plus-year-old forest; and that the most nutritious forage was found in the younger forests. Klein (1970) discussed the relationships between quantity of highquality plants and deer growth rate and body size, productivity and survival, and changes in age and sex ratio; he concluded that high-quality range is necessary for healthy deer populations. Dietz (1970) defined a high-quality plant as one that is palatable to the animal, has adequate levels of necessary nutrients in the proper ratios, has a high apparent digestibility, produces desirable proportions of volatile fatty acids, has adequate levels of minerals and vitamins, and is converted efficiently into components required by the consuming animal. Some researchers have looked at one or several of these components of quality, but no one has looked at all of them with respect to wild ungulates. This paper presents data we have collected to compare and define the quality of the important browse plants eaten by moose in summer and winter on Alaskas Kenai Peninsula. The characteristics we used to describe browse quality were: in vitro dry-matter disappearance (IVDMD), fiber content, protein content, and the concentration of 18 mineral elements. The study took place on the Kenai National Moose Range at the Kenai Moose Research Center, a cooperative research project of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Center is located in the northwestern lowlands of the Kenai Peninsula. About 40 percent of the lowlands were burned during a 125,455-ha fire in 1947. The land is rolling and covered by podsol soils that are glacially scoured and dotted with numerous lakes and bogs. Mature white J. Wildl. Manage. 41(3):1977 533 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.92 on Wed, 22 Jun 2016 05:11:59 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 534 KENAI MOOSE BROWSE QUALITY -Oldemeyer et al. spruce (Picea glauca), paper birch, and aspen remain as islands within the burn. Regrowth consists mostly of black spruce (P. mariana), paper birch, willow and aspen, with paper birch producing over 80 percent of the annual browse production. The major shrubs of the unburned stands are aspen saplings and highbush cranberry (Viburnum edule). Ground vegetation in both the burned and unburned stands is dominated by lowbush cranberry, bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), rose (Rosa acicularis), twinflower (Linnaea borealis), and fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium). Although woody browse is poorest in quality of the years food supply, it is the mainstay of the mooses winter diet. LeResche and Davis (1973) studied food selection by moose at the Kenai Moose Research Center and found that paper birch and lowbush cranberry were by far the most important species eaten during the winter on normally browsed range. Willow, aspen, alder, and dwarf birch (B. nana) are sparse and thus are not as important here as in interior Alaska (Coady 1973) or other parts of the range of moose (Peek 1974). We wish to thank V. L. Burton for in vitro and fiber analyses and G. R. Smith for crude protein determinations done at the Palmer Research Center of the University of Alaska, Institute of Agricultural Science. Parts of the study were financed by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Project W-17-R. A. Loren Ward, Ann H. Jones, and Charles P. Stone critically reviewed the manuscript.

Production of interleukin-1 and interleukin-2 in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte cultures under copper, magnesium and zinc deficient conditions

Abstract Copper, magnesium and zinc deficient in vitro conditions were established in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) between splenocytes of C57B1/6 mice and x-irradiated splenocytes of Balb/cBy mice. Cellular levels of copper, magnesium and zinc were significantly lower in respective single element deficient media. The monocyte derived helper factor interleukin-1 (IL-1) and the T “helper” lymphocyte produced helper factor interleukin-2 (IL-2) were measured in these MLCs over six days. IL-1 levels in the culture supernatants were kinetically different from control levels in the copper deficient and zinc deficient MLCs, and were not measurable in the magnesium deficient MLCs. Only magnesium deficient MLC levels of IL-2 were different from control IL-2 levels and kinetics (no detectable IL-2 increases were measured with allogeneic stimulation). Immunological “help” is comparable to control levels in copper deficient and zinc deficient MLCs when “helper” T cells are present, whereas a marked decrease in “help” is found in magnesium deficient MLCs even with normal numbers of “helper” T lymphocytes.

ZINC DEFICIENCY WITH ALTERED ADRENOCORTICAL FUNCTION AND ITS RELATION TO DELAYED HEALING

Abstract Bilateral adrenalectomy and long-term Summary corticosteroid therapy produced a sustained decrease in serum-zinc. In ten patients adrenalectomy resulted in serum-zinc deficiency within 1 week, and this decrease was maintained for at least 6 months. Six patients on long-term corticosteroids presented with delayed wound healing; they were given oral zinc supplements (660 mg. zinc sulphate per day) and wounds healed completely. These results are important clinically because corticosteroids are widely used drugs and because the maintenance of adequate zinc levels is essential for proper wound healing.

Mineral Element Correlation with Adenohypophyseal-Adrenal Cortex Function and Stress

A statistical correlationl was made between adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and four elements in rats under control, stress, and stress-recovery conditions. Blood serum zinc showed a strong positive correlation with the rise in ACTH during stress and its decline in stress recovery. Serum calcium, copper, and magnesium demonstrated little correlation with ACTH changes. The strong ACTH-zinc correlation points to an as yet undefined interaction between ACTH and zinc

Comparison of interleukin 1 production by adherent cells and tissue pieces from human placenta

Monocytes/macrophages from placenta have been reported to produce the immunological factor interleukin 1. In the present study both isolated adherent cells and tissue pieces produced interleukin 1, but the tissue piece culture supernatants also had colony stimulating activity. None of the following active factors were found in either culture supernatants: interleukin 2, interferon, erythropoietin and platelet-derived growth factor. Lysates of isolated placental cells contained interleukin 1, indicating that the factor was being produced in utero. Placentas from caesarean deliveries were likewise found to produce more interleukin 1 than placentas from normal term deliveries. The role(s) of placental-produced interleukin 1 is yet to be defined.

Interaction of alcohol and zinc in fetal dysmorphogenesis

The interaction of low doses of alcohol and marginal zinc deficiency during gestation was studied in pregnant mice and their fetuses. The combination of the two agents at subteratogenic doses was related to increased external and internal defects. Pregnant mice fed a diet containing 10 micrograms/g zinc were orally dosed with 2.0 micrograms/g of 50% ethanol for 18 days of pregnancy. Fetuses from these dams presented with more fetal defects than fetuses from control dams. Analysis of maternal livers showed a significant effect of alcohol on liver magnesium and zinc. Changes in fetal heart zinc levels were the only significant tissue effect of alcohol in the fetus.

Corticotropin dependency on zinc ions.

Summary The steroidogenic activity of corticotropin in rat adrenal slices in vitro has been studied with regard to the dependency of activity on zinc ion binding. Chelation of available zinc by diethyldithiocarbamate stopped the production of corticosterone, which was reversed by the addition of zinc. Corticotropin dependency on zinc ions is proposed, with the binding site of zinc being at the glutamate moiety, as suggested by thin layer chromatography.