Environmental factors are implicated in increased incidence of human testicular germ-cell cancer (TGCC). TGCC has foetal origins and may be one component of a testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS). Certain phthalates induce TDS in rats, including effects on foetal germ cells (GC). As humans are widely exposed to phthalates, study of the effects of phthalates on foetal rat GC could provide an ins...

Elephants have the longest pregnancy of all mammals, with an average gestation of around 660 days, so their embryonic and foetal development have always been of special interest. Hitherto, it has only been possible to estimate foetal ages from theoretical calculations based on foetal mass. The recent development of sophisticated ultrasound procedures for elephants has now made it possible to mo...

Multiplication of Toxoplasma gondii was examined in vitro in murine erythroid cells at different stages of development. Toxoplasma gondii multiplied in nucleated erythroblasts and enucleated reticulocytes from the foetal liver, and in immature reticulocytes and yolk-sac derived erythrocytes from the foetal circulation. However, the rate of multiplication was lowered as erythroblasts matured, an...

1. The activity of thymidine kinase in rat liver supernatant decreased with development to a value in the adult that was 1% of that in the 17-day foetus. 2. The foetal enzyme was more stable than the adult to gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 at 0 degrees . 3. The greater stability of the foetal enzyme to incubation at 45 degrees was attributable to the presence of higher concentrations of nucleo...

1. A precocious development of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity (EC 2.4.1.17) towards o-aminophenol is demonstrated in 15-17 day foetal rat liver in utero after dexamethasone administration to the mother. 2. This stimulation of liver transferase activity in utero is directly proportional to the dose of dexamethasone infected. 3. Precocious development of transferase activity in utero can al...

We have previously reported that foetal and adult fibroblasts display distinctive migratory phenotypes when cultured on three-dimensional collagen gels. Both skin and tumour-derived fibroblasts from a significant proportion of patients with breast cancer were subsequently observed to display foetal-like migratory behaviour. In the accompanying paper concerned with the biochemical basis of these...

Sex-related differences in lipid availability and fatty acid composition during swine foetal development were investigated. Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in the mother were strongly related to the adequacy or inadequacy of foetal development and concomitant activation of protective growth in some organs (brain, heart, liver and spleen). Cholesterol and triglyceride availabi...

Thymosins beta 4 (Tβ4) is a member of the beta-thymosins family, a family of peptides playing essential roles in many cellular functions. Our recent studies suggested Tβ4 plays a key role in the development of human salivary glands and the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to analyse the presence of Tβ4 in the human adult and foetal genitourinary tract. Immunoloca...