McGill University Theses and dissertations published in 1971

Murray J. Fraser, (Supervisor)  Read more

Bacteriophage-host relationships in the group A streptococcal system were investigated. Appropriate conditions for phage induction, propagation, and storage were studied. A set of sensitive streptococcal strains was established for lysogeny screening. The morphology of the temperate and virulent phages of group A streptococci was studied by electron microscopy and compared with that of the phages of group C streptococci. Computer image processing of the electron photomicrographs revealed subunit structures not otherwise evident. The lytic phage cycle including phage attachment to streptococci, intracellular development, and phage release was followed by electron microscopy. Observations were made on alterations in biological activity of …  Read more

The site of the vasopressor action and the distribution of angiotensin II have been studied in the mouse with physiological techniques and a new morphological method. The site of conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in the isolated lung has been studied with these methods. A comparison of the ratios of l4C angiotensin II and 3H inulin at the time of the pressor effect and the inactivation shows an extracellular location of the peptide. Angiotensin-enzyme complexes of either horseradish peroxidase or cytochrome c made with glutaraldehyde or difluorodinitrodiphenyl sulfone as coupling agents show patterns of behaviour which are similar …  Read more

The influence of starvation ketosis and ketone body infusions on renal ammoniogenesis was studied in man and dog. The stimulated ammonia production observed in fasting humans contrasted with the depressed ammoniogenesis reported in starving dogs. This discrepancy could not be ascribed to differences in hepatic ketogenesis between the two species but can perhaps be related to a better utilization of ketones by canine peripheral tissues. Owing to the complex metabolic adaptations that occur during starvation, the influence of ketones on renal ammoniogenesis could not be determined. However, the rate of ammonia excretion was depressed in both men and dogs infused …  Read more

Immunity to Salmonella typhimurium was investigated in a susceptible (C57BI/6J) and a resistant (A/J) strain of mice. Macrophages were compared for their phagocytic and bactericidal capacities. The effect of antibody on these activities was a also studied. Normal macrophages of both strains were equally phagocytic but those of the susceptible strain were twice as bactericidal as those of the resistant strain. Therefore, susceptibility in this instance did not result from inability of macrophages to phagocytize or to kill the organism. Macrophages from resistant animals intensively immunized with a phenol-killed vaccine demonstrated increased bactericidal activity in the absence of specific antibody. …  Read more

This thesis is an attempt to interpret the conception of authority that was predominant among the Central and Northern Arabs at the time immediately preceding the rise of Islam. Since that conception was not explicitly formulated, we have analyzed the role and influence of the different political and religious functionaries as well as the reactions of their "subjects" to their commands in order to discover the basis of legitimacy for that authority. As there exists an essential relationship between authority and society, we have presented the social and economic organization and the ideal values of the pre-Islamic Arabs which might …  Read more

Dans ce memoire presente en vue de 1’obtention d’une maitrise en administration, nous avons voulu explorer la possibility de determiner le taux optimal de reinvestissement des profits d’une entreprise par la connaissance de sa fonction de production. L’hypothese cruciale est celle qui veut que le taux du reinvestissement sur la valeur ajoutee soit une constante. Notre contribution principale reside dans la determination des chemins de croissance du modele utilisant une fonction de production a elasticity de substitution constante. Tout au long de notre travail, nous avons fait appel a des resultats obtenus par differents auteurs pour poursuivre notre demarche ou …  Read more

The toxicity of high concentrations of bilirubin in the plasma has previously been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. There are no methods presently available for removing bilirubin from plasma or other albumin containing solution. Techniques used to remove other toxic substances from the plasma of patients have had limited success in the removal of bilirubin. This lack of success is probably in large part due to the high degree of binding of bilirubin to albumin. The experiments described in this thesis were designed to test the bilirubin binding characteristics of several agents and to study the feasibility of using …  Read more

Human and murine immunocompetent cells when injected under the kidney capsule of Cyclophosphamide pretreated rats initiate a localized graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR). The cardinal feature of this reaction is the formation of tumorous mass of proliferating donor mononuclear cells that invade and destroy the host renal cortex. This xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction (XGVHR) is specifically inhibited by antilymphocyte sera (ALS) raised against the donor lymphoid cells. The degree of inhibition of ALS is proportional to the number of donor lymphocytes injected as well as the amount of antilymphocyte serum given to each recipient. In addition, it was found that the capacity of …  Read more

The sulfates of 11-deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, ll-dehydrocorticosterone, cortisol and cortisone, as well as the respective steroid alcohols were characterized in umbilical cord plasma, maternal plasma and amniotic fluid, by double isotope derivative assays and crystallization. Comparisons of concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord plasma indicated that these conjugates are mainly of fetal origin. The sulfates of ll-deoxycorticosterone (3.4 ± 1.1 microgram%) and corticosterone (2.6 ± 1.1) were predominant in umbilical cord plasma whereas the corresponding steroid alcohols were present in trace amounts. The sulfates of cortisol (3.4 microgram%), cortisone (3.0) and corticosterone (4.3) were the major steroid sulfates measured in amniotic …  Read more

The concept of delayed hypersensitivity is traced from the classical tubercular reaction to homograft rejection. Some of the mechanisms implicated are listed and special attention is given to migration inhibition. Prolongation of grafts by "tolerogenic antigen" is noted and it is speculated that such prolongation may be reflected in alterations of the migration inhibition phenomenon. A rat model for testing this hypothesis using peritoneal exudate cells is described. Problems in methodology are noted and discussed with suggestions of alternative techniques. The unrecognized non-syngeneic nature of recipient "Lewis" animals is noted as a major cause of experimental failure once the method …  Read more

When rat brain is homogenised in plain sucrose solution about 20-35% of tissue GABA, L-glutamic acid, L-aspartic acid, L-alanine, L-glutamine and glycine are found to be occluded by brain particles. An extra 30% for GABA and 10-15% for the other five amine acids are bound if the medium contains 40 mM NaCl. These sodium-dependent bound forms are in rapid equilibrium with the free amine acids in the medium. The binding characteristics of L-glutamine resemble that of GABA. Both ouabain and protoveratrine inhibit the binding (sodium dependent) of these amino acids to brain particles. Their effects are greatest on GABA. Exchange, …  Read more

Transplantation antigen was isolated in its soluble form by injecting ultrasonicated lymphoid tissue in rat using the principle of biological filtration. The effect of biologically filtered antigen was studied in localized graft-versus-host reaction (Elkins' reaction). It showed almost complete suppression of reaction. The mechanism of action is postulated with the historical review of the subject. It is suggested that soluble antigen or one that bypasses macrophages is capable of inducing tolerance and opens the possibility of selective immunosuppression.  Read more

La societe quebecoise au dix-neuvteme siade fait l'unanimite autour de l'idéologie de conservation incamee .. par le clerRe. Apres l'echec de la rebellion de 1837-38, les idees liberales representees par la bourgeoisie professionnelle trouvent de mains en mains d'echos dans la population. C'est presque seu! qu'Artbur Buies, dans des pamphlets violents, tente de denoncer la mediocrite culturelle de ses compatriotes. A tous les niveaux du systeme d'education, on retrouve la presence du clerge et de l'ideologie qutU soutient [...]  Read more