The observation that the composition of the extracellular fluid is quite different from that of the intracellular fluid has stimulated much research on the mechanisms by which such differences can be established and maintained. The phenomenon of selective permeabtlity of cells has long been recognized as a question of fundamental importance and, indeed, the 'physiological permeability' of cellular barriers has been distinguished from their passive "physical permeability" by physiologists since early in the century. The early concept that the cell membrane is a static structure has been revised and it is now accepted that the cell membrane is an active part of the cell machinery and that the passage of solutes across it is effected by pump-like mechanisms. [...]

It was assumed until recently that adipose tissue was, to a large extent, metabolically inert so that the study of the metabolism of adipose tissue was more or less a "neglected subject," some twenty years ago (1). By 1948, there were enough data available to indicate that adipose tissue is not an inactive storehouse (2) as stressed by Wertheimer and Shapiro in their classic review. One of the most striking and the most studied functions of adipose tissue is the release of free fatty acids (FFA). The rate at which this occurs varies widely under the influence of numerous metabolic, hormonal, pharmacologioal and nervous stimuli. [...]

The volume of literature on the morphology and physiology of the vasculature is enormous. The concepts of the structure and activity of the blood vessels have changed greatly in the post fifteen years with the availability of revolutionary tools such as the electronmicroscope, and the tremendous advancement in the knowledge of physiology and metabolism. [...]

In holometabolic insects development proceeds through several larvaland a pupal instar.(l) The larva differentiates into the adult via the pupa. The transition from the fully grown larva to the adult organism is called matamorphosis. The change from each instar to the next involves moulting, during which the old chitinous exoskeleton is shed and a new one formed. [...]

A general survey of the literature on the mode of action, physico-chemical and toxicological properties of the halogenated hydrocarbons with special reference to the chloromethanes are presented below. [...]

Neuroinhibitory characteristics have been ascribed to a number of substances in the central nervous system (McLennan, 1959; McGeer, McGeer and Mclennan, 1961). However, there is strong evidence that all the activity of extracts or Factor 1 from the mammalian central nervous system, which block the sensory discharge of crazy fish receptor preparation (Florey, 1954, 1956; Florey and Mclennan, 1955, 1959), can be totally accounted for by gamma-aminobutyric acid (Bazemore, Elliott and Florey, 1956, 1957; Levin, Lovell and Elliott, 1961; Lovell and Elliott, 1963). [...]

Mystical books of ancient India written three thousand years ago describe an innate spiritual power asleep, in the shape of a coiled serpent or kundalini, at the base of the spinal column. Aroused by some sacred formula, the kundalini raises her head and ascends through a series of seven "centers" or "lotuses" representing the seats of the elements of the body. [...]

The synthesis of acetylcholine (ACh) was achieved by Baeyer (1) as early as 1867. However, there was complete lack of interest in this compound for almost forty years. Then, in 1906, Hunt and Taveau (2) displayed its marked depressor effects on the heart and blood pressure and they further showed that these pharmacological effects could be abolished by the administration of atropine. [...]

The work described in this thesis represents part of a large program of research on the preservation of blood. The investigation has been in continuous progress in the Department of Biochemistry under the direction of Dr. D.F. Denstedt since the outbreak of World War II in 1939. [...]

The erythrocyte is specialized for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and other body tissues. It is metabolically a relatively inactive cell. The mature human erythrocyte has no nucleus and is incapable of duplication. It is unique among the somatic cells in that little or no work is done in fulfilling its primary function of transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. [...]