The site of action for the sleep-promoting effect of prostaglandin (PG) D2 was extensively examined in the brain of adult male rats (n = 231). PGD2 was administered at 100 pmol/0.2 pI per min for 6 hr (2300-0500 hr) through chronically implanted microdialysis probes or infusion cannulae. Among the administrations of PGD2 by dialysis probes (n = 176), only those (n = 8) to a ventro-rostral part of the basal forebrain by the probes implanted on the midline consistently increased slow-wave sleep (SWS), by 51 ± 6 min (mean ± SEM) above the baseline value (111 ± 11 min). Since this area is separated by a cleft into right and left regions, the results were interpreted to mean that, through this cleft, PGD2 diffused in the subarachnoid space over the adjacent ventral surface, where it had the effect ofpromoting sleep. When PGD2 was directly infused into the subarachnoid space (n = 55), extraordinary increases exceeding 90 min were consistently attained for the SWS at sites located between 0.5 and 2 mm rostral to the bregma and between 0 and 1.2 mm lateral to the midline defined according to the stereotaxic coordinates adopted from the brain atlas of Paxinos and Watson [Paxinos, G. & Watson, C. (1986) The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates (Academic, San Diego)]. Thus, we demarcated a "PGD2-sensitive, sleep-promoting zone" within this region in the ventral surface of the rostral basal forebrain. During the bilateral infusion of PGD2 into the subarachnoid space of this zone, the hourly mean SWS level of the nocturnal animals (n = 6) in the night reached the maximum at the second hour of the infusion period; this maximum hourly SWS level, corresponding to the daytime level of the same animals, lasted until the end of PGD2 infusion.Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) has been postulated as one of the endogenous sleep-promoting substances in rats and other mammals including humans (1). PGD2 has been implicated in the physiological regulation of sleep by the fact that sleep in rats was markedly suppressed by intracerebroventricular (2) or intravenous (3) administration of inorganic selenium compounds, which are inhibitors of PGD synthase (EC 5.3.99.2), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of PGD2 in the rat brain (4).The preoptic area (POA) has long been proposed as a sleep center since the experimental study by Nauta in 1946 (5). The site of action for the sleep-promoting effect of PGD2 has been postulated to be located in or near the POA since an increase in the amount of sleep was first demonstrated with PGD2 in 1982 by a microinjection study (6). Subsequent studies in monkeys (7) and rats (8) also supported the assumption that the site of action is located in a rostral and ventral region, adjacent to the third cerebral ventricle; however, the exact site of action has not yet been clearly defined.In this paper, the site most effective in promoting sleep with PGD2 administration was extensively studied by use of the microdialysis technique and the continuous infusion method. The results clearly define the site of action ...

Traditional AOAC colorimetric procedures for carotenoid analysis are known to lack specificity and accuracy. Newer HPLC methods provide the investigator with a more precise tool for carotenoid quantification in foods and tissues. In the present studies, reverse phase HPLC was utilized to evaluate the alpha- and beta-carotene content in raw and cooked leaves of lettuce, spinach and winged bean as well as in the carrot root. The vegetables were boiled or steamed and the true retention of alpha- and beta-carotene in the cooked products was determined. Boiling for 30 minutes resulted in a 53 and 40% loss of beta-carotene from lettuce and carrots, respectively. Full retention or even an increase in beta-carotene content in boiled winged bean leaves and spinach was noted. Steaming resulted in very good retention of alpha- and beta-carotene in all vegetables (83-139% retention). Thus, although cooking procedures (especially boiling) may result in oxidative loss of carotenoids in some vegetables, heat treatment increases the chemical extractability of alpha- and beta-carotene in others. The presence of carotenoproteins in some vegetables may affect the heat stability of extractability of alpha- and beta-carotene.

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Abstract.The significance of the 1890 tetanus antitoxin paper by von Behring and Kitasato in the development of a new discipline, immunology, is reviewed. The possible reasons why Kitasato lost the first Nobel Prize for medicine to von Behring are presented. These are as follows: (1) The Nobel selection committee literally interpreted Alfred Nobel's will to award the prize to "the person who has made the most important discovery." (2) In the late 19th century, diphtheria was a serious contagious disease which claimed many thousands of lives in the Europe and America; and von Behring's solely authored paper on diphtheria antitoxin clinched the award for him. (3) The merit of tetanus antitoxin to humans,

Despite high protein contents in its ripe seeds, tubers and fresh leaves (ranging from 29.3-39.0%, 3.O-15.0% and 5.0-7.6% respectively) and the high quality of that protein, the winged bean (Psopbocarpus tetragonolobus) remained an obscure food source until about 10 years ago. Recently, this legume has received increasing attention from scientists because of its potential multiple uses as a food protein source in the humid tropics. This article reviews the utilization and nutrition literature of winged bean published during the last 10 years. The following aspects are covered: classification of winged bean proteins, nutritional properties and antinutritional components of the protein, protein quality, functional properties, and protein-based food products. The oil content of winged bean seeds ranges from 15.0-20.4%, and use of the winged bean as a potential oilseed crop is discussed. Areas of needed research are identified and described.