An investigation into the problems related to the adjustment of beginning-teachers leading to the development of an induction programme
- Authors: Algie, Rowan Craig
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Teachers, Probationary -- South Africa Teaching -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1411 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003074
- Description: There is little doubt that there is a widespread concern that the transition from the supportive environment of the training institution where mistakes are expected, self criticism is encouraged and both tutorial guidance and peer group friendship are readily available into a situation where professional and personal responsibilities are profoundly altered, where the methods used, the progress of the pupils, their parents' expectations, the working relationship with colleagues are now permanent responsibilities. This transition can be traumatic for some and a considerable ordeal for many.--Chapter 1, p. 10.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1983
An investigation of the shared experience of children's literature, with particular reference to the teacher reading aloud, in senior primary classes
- Authors: McKellar, David William
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Reading (Elementary) -- South Africa Teachers -- Training of -- South Africa Children's literature Children -- Books and reading
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1919 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007401
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1983
Aspects of prostacyclin in experimental hypertension
- Authors: Botha, Julia Hilary
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Prostacyclin Prostaglandins Prostaglandin endoperoxides Thromboxanes Hypertension
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3825 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006109
- Description: A new prostaglandin - prostaglandin X (later renamed prostacyclin or prostaglandin I₂ (PGI₂)), was discovered by Moncada, Gryglewski, Bunting and Vane in 1976. This unstable substance was shown to be produced by vascular tissue and to be a vasodilator and the most potent endogenous inhibitor of platelet aggregation known. Because of its properties, it appeared that a lack of it may be related to the development and or maintenance of hypertension, a disorder featuring vasoconstriction and an increased tendency to arterial thrombosis. The present studies aimed to investigate this possibility using a rat model. A bioassay for prostacyclin was first perfected. This consisted of a modification of the method used by Moncada, Higgs and Vane (1977): PGI₂ released by rat aortic strips, during incubation in tris buffer, was measured by assessing the ability of the incubate to inhibit adenosine diphosphate induced aggregation of human platelets, as compared to the inhibitory effect of standard prostacyclin sodium salt. The specificity of the assay for the detection of PGI₂ was tested. The abil ity of hypertensive rat aorta to release prostacycl in was investigated in two studies. The first compared aortas of Wistar rats of the New Zealand genetically hypertensive strain (GH) with those of matched normotensive Wistar controls. In the second study, hypertension was induced by wrappi ng the ri ght kidney with surgical silk and removing the contralateral kidney. Ten weeks later, aortic generation of prostacyclin by these animals was compared with that of matched sham controls which had received identical surgical manipulation but for the application of silk to the right kidney. Contrary to expectation, in both forms of hypertension, aortas of the rats with elevated pressure produced consistently more prostacyclin than those of matched controls. In order to discover more about the relationship between elevated pressure and elevated PGI₂ production, the effect of pressure reduction with hypotensive agents on the ability of GH rat aortas to produce prostacyclin, was investigated. After pressure had been controlled within normal range for one week (achieved by oral administration of furosemide, dihydralazine and reserpine for one month), aortic PGI₂ was reduced in comparison with matched GH controls. However, the reduction was not consistent and statistical significance was not reached. Because it was subsequently reported by other workers, that some of the hypotensive agents which had been employed may effect prostaglandin levels per se, no conclusions could be drawn from this study as to any possible direct relationships between pressure and aortic prostacyclin generating capacity. A further means of reducing elevated pressure (which had no inherent effect on prostaglandin levels) was thus sought. A mechanical method was eventually selected, application of a silver clip to the aortas of GH rats, just below the diaphragm, producing an immediate reduction in pressure distal to the constriction. Eighteen hours with later, PGI₂ production by these distal aortas those of matched sham GH controls and was was compared found to be consistently reduced. These results indicate that the ability to produce PGI₂ may be influenced by prior local pressure changes and that the increased capacity of hypertensive rat aortas to generate prostacyclin may be related to the increased mechanical transmural stress consequent on elevated pressure. Since haemostatic balance must be influenced not only by vascular PGI₂ generation but also by platelet sensitivity to PGI₂, the response of GH platelets to the anti-aggregatory effect of prostacyc1in was also investigated. As it had been shown by Sinzinger, Si1berbauer, Horsch and Gall (1981) that intra-arterial infusion of PGI₂ in humans decreased platelet sensitivity to the substance, the possibility existed that platelet sensitivity in hypertension might be reduced. This hypothesis was, however, invalidated as the sensitivity of GH platelets to the anti-aggregatory effect of PGI₂ was almost identical to that of normotensive controls. The shortcomings of the methodology and the possible importance of these findings in the hypertensive animal are discussed. The idea that elevated PGI₂ in hypertension may play a protective role both with respect to platelet aggregation and in attenuating further pressure rises is considered. It is finally suggested that it will be possible to draw more accurate conclusions as to the meaning of the increased PGI₂ generation in hypertension (both in relation to vascular tone and platelet function) only when details of production of, and sensitivity to, thromboxane A₂ are known. Thromboxane A₂ (TXA₂) is a vasoconstrictor and promotor of aggregation (Hamberg, Svensson and Samuelson, 1975) and it may be that, despite elevated vascular PGI₂ generation, the TXA₂/PGI₂ balance is still tipped in favour of vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation in hypertension.
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- Date Issued: 1983
Bawo wethu osezulwini
- Authors: Lumko Church Congregation , Composer not specified , Dargie, Dave
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Folk music , Sacred music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Lumko sa
- Language: isiXhosa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417051 , vital:71412 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , Dave Dargie Field Tapes, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , DDC149b-06
- Description: Catholic mass hymn, accompanied by the marimba.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1983
Bawo wethu osezulwini = Our Father who art in Heaven
- Authors: Lumko Church Congregation , Composer not specified , Dargie, Dave
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Folk music , Sacred music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Lumko sa
- Language: isiXhosa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417152 , vital:71423 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , Dave Dargie Field Tapes, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , DDC149b-16
- Description: Instrumental Catholic mass hymn.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1983
Behavioural methods for the control of examination anxiety : an experimental investigation
- Authors: Norton, Gary Kenneth
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Anxiety , Test anxiety
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2916 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002081
- Description: In 1982, it was reported that one in every three students who fail at South African universities, do not pass because of experiences of excessive anxiety resulting from university examinations. A survey conducted amongst student counsellors and counselling services on all South African university campuses, revealed a deficiency of group and individual therapy for this phenomenon of examination anxiety. The cause of this deficiency, was found to be the already excessive demands made on the time of student counsellors. Noting a similar situation at Rhodes University, the present investigation was initiated, with the aim of developing an economical group counselling programme for test anxious students on Rhodes campus. Sixty-four Rhodes students (who identified themselves as test anxious) volunteered for this investigation. These Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four treatment programmes (each divided into two groups, where Group A, N=6 and Group B, N=7) and a wait-list control group (N=12). Three of the treatments featured multicomponent programmes, each offering a cluster of behavioural interventions centred around: Study Skills Training/Counselling; Systematic Desensitisation (Using individually-constructed anxiety hierarchies); Systematic Desensitisation (Using group-constructed anxiety hierarchies). Included in addition, was a single-component treatment, featuring cognitive modification: a component much favoured by local test anxiety counsellors. Given adverse reports concerning the efficacy of single component programmes, when contrasted with multi component treatments, the cognitive modification package was included as a placebo. A battery of measures was used to assess test anxiety and progress made by Subjects to assuage its debilitative effects . The measures included: (a) Six Self-report measures (including a treatment evaluation schedule and the maintenance of a diary of experience by each Subject); (b) Two measures of physiological reactivity, viz. pulse rate and finger sweat print; and (c) One 'observable' measure, that of academic performance. Using these measures, an assessment of the performance gains or losses by each of the Subjects, was made on three occasions: at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 6-month follow-up. In support of the a priori hypotheses, the systematic desensitisation and study skills multicomponent programmes, realised significant gains on all measures over both the placebo and control groups (with exception of the higher score achieved by placebo subjects over that of the study skills group, on the treatment evaluation schedule) . This finding confirmed the superiority of multicomponent programmes over those with only a single component. The systematic desensitisation programmes proved to be the most effective, as measured on self-report and physiological measures. The superiority of group-constructed anxiety hierarchies over those individually-constructed was established. Study skills training helped Subjects to realise and maintain gains on the academic performance measure, although it took many of these subjects six months, before they had fully incorporated the study techniques taught, in with their own study habits. In discussion of the findings, the evident need to match test anxious students to programmes which "best suit" their characteristics, is presented, and solutions proposed. Weaknesses evident in the measuring instruments and research design, are also highlighted for discussion. As part of this experimental investigation, a discussion on the nature of test anxiety and its links with anxiety theory is introduced, together with a review of problems in measuring test anxiety; popular behavioural treatments used to relieve test anxiety; and a survey of test anxiety counselling on South African campuses. Advice for the therapist/counsellor, the academic, and the researcher, are posited in conclusion.
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- Date Issued: 1983
Catholic Prayer
- Authors: Lumko Church Congregation , Composer not specified , Dargie, Dave
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Folk music , Sacred music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Lumko sa
- Language: isiXhosa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/416943 , vital:71399 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , Dave Dargie Field Tapes, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , DDC149a-02
- Description: Catholic mass prayer, accompanied by the drum.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1983
Catholic Prayer
- Authors: Lumko Church Congregation , Composer not specified , Dargie, Dave
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Folk music , Sacred music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Lumko sa
- Language: isiXhosa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417041 , vital:71411 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , Dave Dargie Field Tapes, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , DDC149b-05
- Description: Catholic mass hymn, accompanied by the marimba xylophone.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1983
Cognitive structuring of residential environments in black Grahamstown: a political view
- Authors: Taylor, Beverley Mary King
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Black people -- Housing -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Political aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:4809 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004546 , Black people -- Housing -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Political aspects
- Description: This research project investigates black cognitive structuring of their residential environment in the Grahamstown location. A clinical psychological method (repertory grid method) was used to elicit the construct systems of residents. The associative construct theory formulated by Kelly (1955) was used in interpreting the data set from the liberal perspective. The radical perspective demonstrated an alternative interpretation. A focus of the study centres around the possible implications of this type of research for planning action. The results showed that the repertory grid did appear to accurately reflect people's construing systems regarding their circumstances and behaviour. However, Kelly's (1955) Personal Construct Theory proved inadequate as a theory of explanation as to why people construed in the manner they did. To enhance this explanation, the marxist approach to the theory of knowledge was investigated.
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- Date Issued: 1983
Comparative bioavailability of some locally manufactured betamethasone valerate containing preparations
- Authors: Meyer, Eric , Haigh, John M , Kanfer, Isadore
- Date: 1983
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6399 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006326
- Description: The bioavailabilities of three locally manufactured proprietary betamethasone- 17-valerate containing creams and ointments were compared by measuring their abilities to cause blanching of human skin after topical application. The preparations studied were Betnovate Cream and Ointment, Celestoderm-V Cream and Ointment and Persivate Cream and Ointment. Celestoderm-V cream displayed a significantly superior blanching activity over both Betnovate and Persivate creams in' the occluded mode, whereas Persivate cream displayed a significantly superior blanching activity over both Betnovate and Celestoderm-V creams in the unoccluded mode. Persivate ointment was found to produce a significantly superior blanching activity over Betnovate and Celestoderm-V ointments in both the occluded and unoccluded modes of application.
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- Date Issued: 1983
Conductivity profiles for a horizontally uniform earth
- Authors: Murrell, Hugh Crozier
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Coen, Shimon -- Criticism and interpretation Wang-Ho Yu, Michael -- Criticism and interpretation Algorithms
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5395 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001984
- Description: An investigation is made into the mathematics behind the noniterative inversion algorithm of Shimon Coen and Michael Wang-Ho Yu [1981]. The algorithm determines the conductivity profile of a horizontally uniform earth from surface measurements of apparent resistivity with a Schlumberger array. The algorithm is checked by performing the inversion on both artifical and raw field data
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- Date Issued: 1983
Continuous-flow dynamic dialysis and its application to collagen-ligand interactions
- Authors: Sparrow, Neil Arthur
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Collagen Ligands (Biochemistry) Ligand binding (Biochemistry) Protein-protein interactions Tannins
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4297 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004617
- Description: Studies undertaken to investigate the binding of low molecular mass analogues of polyphenolic vegetable tannins to collagen have prompted the development of a new method to investigate protein-ligand interactions. This method, the continuous-flow dynamic dialysis method (CFDD), differs from conventional dialysis procedures used for protein-ligand binding studies. In this method, the ligand concentration in the diffusate is monitored automatically at successive closely spaced time intervals while being continuously eluted from the dialysis cell. The primary data obtained by this method consists of a series of spectrophotometric absorbance measurements representing the ligand concentration in the sink compartment of a dialysis cell. This primary data is recorded by means of a data logging device onto a punched paper tape for subsequent computer processing. Two original methods are presented for analysing the primary data to extract the protein-ligand binding isotherm. The first of these is a direct analysis which relies on Fick's first law of diffusion. In this method it is necessary to establish, by means of a control experiment, a value for the ligand permeation constant. This is used in a subsequent analysis to establish a relationship between the measured rate of diffusion of the ligand from a protein-ligand mixture and the concentration of unbound ligand which is in equilibrium with the protein-ligand complex. The protein-ligand binding isotherm is obtained from parametric equations which give the quantity of ligand bound to the protein and the concentration of unbound ligand in the sample compartment as functions of time. The second method, which is more general, utilizes the same primary data but is based on establishing a system transfer function to characterise the dialysis and eluting processes. This analysis depends on the linearity of the system and utilizes numerical laplace transforms of the primary data sets obtained from control and protein-ligand dialyses. Laplace transforms are used to effect a deconvolution of the transfer function from the primary data and yield the concentration of ligand in equilibrium with the protein-ligand complex. This procedure yields, simultaneously, both the total ligand concentration and the concentration of unbound ligand in the protein compartment of the dialysis cell. These quantities are used to establish the binding isotherm for the protein ligand system. Numerical inversion of the laplace transforms in this analysis is effected by their reduction to Fourier series. The experimental reliability of the continuous-flow dynamic dialysis method, and validity of the two analytical methods used to derive a binding isotherm from dialysis data are evaluated from studies of the binding of phenol red to bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 15⁰, 20⁰ and 25⁰ C, as well as from simulated binding curves generated by the numerical solution of the differential equations used to describe the dialysis and elution process in terms of a two-site Scatchard binding model. The method is used to investigate the binding to collagen of a series of low molecular mass phenolic compounds which can be isolated from Wattle and Quebracho vegetable tannin extracts. These compounds can be considered as monomeric precursor analogues of the polymeric vegetable tannins. The binding of these ligands to collagen is shown to be characterised by high capacity, low affinity binding in which the uptake of ligand by the protein increases linearly with increasing ligand concentration. Collagen exhibits no indication of site saturation for these ligands over the experimentally accessible concentration ranges investigated.
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- Date Issued: 1983
Corporate financial reporting: history, development and future directions
- Authors: Prinsloo, K S (Keith Stephen)
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Corporations -- Finance , Financial statements , Accounting
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:902 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007055 , Corporations -- Finance , Financial statements , Accounting
- Description: KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1983
Creed
- Authors: Lumko Church Congregation , Composer not specified , Dargie, Dave
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Folk music , Sacred music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Lumko sa
- Language: isiXhosa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/417135 , vital:71422 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , Dave Dargie Field Tapes, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , DDC149b-15
- Description: Catholic hymn performed by marimbas.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1983
Determination of phenylpropanolamine in serum and urine by high performance liquid chromatography
- Authors: Dowse, Roslind , Haigh, John M , Kanfer, Isadore
- Date: 1983
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6361 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006056
- Description: A high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of phenylpropanolamine in human serum and urine without prior derivatization is presented. Using direct UV detection the method is sufficiently sensitive to detect 25 ng of drug/ml of serum or urine; the coefficients of variation at 25 ng/ml and 500 ng/ml were 5.16 and 2.12, respectively, in serum. The method involves serum and urine extraction at a basic pH with chloroform, a single back-extraction, and chromatography on a reverse-phase column. Serum and urine data following administration of a single 150-mg sustained-release tablet of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride in 6 healthy volunteers demonstrates the suitability of the analytical method.
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- Date Issued: 1983
Discussion about the song Nondel' ekhaya
- Authors: Dywili, Nofinish , Dargie, Dave
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Folk music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa City not specified sa
- Language: isiXhosa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/325307 , vital:60879 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , Dave Dargie Field Tapes, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , DDC293a-10
- Description: Song performed by Nofinish Dywili to be used for assistance in analysing songs from Dave Dargie's tape no. 43
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1983
Discussion on Xhosa terms in music
- Authors: Dargie, Dave , Dywili, Nofinishi
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Folk music , Sacred music , Field recordings , Africa, Sub-Saharan , Africa South Africa Lumko sa
- Language: IsiXhosa
- Type: sound recordings , field recordings , sound recording-musical
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/352812 , vital:64167 , International Library of African Music, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , Dave Dargie Field Tapes, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa , DDC072-03
- Description: Dave Dargie discussion on Xhosa terms in music with Nofinishi Dywili
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 1983
Economic geology of sulphide nickel deposits
- Authors: Harrison, P A
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Nickel sulfide , Ore deposits , Geology, Economic , Silicate minerals , Geochemistry
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5022 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006349
- Description: From Chapter 1: It has been a long standing belief that many nickel sulphide ores are derivatives of magmatic processes in ultramafic and mafic rocks, and that they segregate from these magmas as immiscible sulphide droplets which are then concentrated into an orebody by gravitational settling either during intrusion or extrusion, or during the early stages of crystallization of the magma (Naldrett, 1981). Some geologists however, have suggested alternative mechanisms to explain the concentration of nickeliferous sulphides in the mafic and ultramafic hosts. These include hydrothermal replacement (Fleet, 1977), exhalative volcanic processes (Lusk, 1976), or major metamorphic upgrading of low grade, initially magmatic deposits (Barrett et al., 1977). It is not the purpose of this study to verify or disprove these hypotheses, but in so far as the initial concentration of sulphides in most deposits is concerned, these effects are relatively unimportant (Naldrett, 1981). The nickel sulphide ores associated with these mafic and ultramafic host rocks, invariably consist of nickeliferous pyrrhotite as the dominant phase, together with lesser, but variable, amounts of magnetite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, cubanite, and platinum group elements (Reynolds, 1982).
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- Date Issued: 1983
Economic sanctions and South Africa
- Authors: Cooper, John Howard
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Economic sanctions -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:1045 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006137 , Economic sanctions -- South Africa
- Description: From Introduction: There are few more emotive and contentious contemporary issues of enduring nature than the subject of economic sanctions and South Africa. The controversy surrounding this issue has implications for the structure of international social, political and economic order. The threads of the debate are woven into the historical fabric of the past two decades, during which the acrimony of arguments both for and against sanctions on South Africa has increased. Indeed, for each argument in the debate can be found a counter-argument and "lies, damned lies and statistics" abound. The complex and widespread nature of the question has elevated a practical issue into the realm of theoretical analysis. This thesis is neither purely descriptive nor purely theoretical. It has essentially two focal points, firstly, an attempt at a systematic and reasoned investigation of the many claims and counter-claims, designed to put these arguments into a broad economic framework. There is generally a greater volume of pro-sanctions literature than anti-sanctions literature, some of which is freely available in South Africa, while some is restricted and some not available at all. However, this partial lack of accessibility would seem to pose no material problem of omission: as much of the literature is repetitive, the unavailable material is usually adequately "represented" by material which is available. Also a great part of the literature contains little or no economic analysis since it focuses more on political issues. In this respect the thesis tries to represent the main points of the broad arguments concerned rather than individual nuances and personal viewpoints. It is concerned with sanctions of an economic nature rather than wider sanctions that may affect South African citizens more generally, for example, sport and diplomatic boycotts, bans and restrictions on international travel, etc.
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- Date Issued: 1983
Effect of anticonvulsant agents on pineal gland indole metabolism
- Authors: Morton, Dougal John
- Date: 1983
- Subjects: Pineal gland -- Metabolism Anticonvulsants
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3844 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1009518
- Description: Preface: The general indications that the pineal gland might be involved in homeostasis, and more specifically the evidence suggesting a role in amelioration of seizure states warranted further investigation . No reports had examined a possible link between anticonvulsant drug administration and pineal gland function, and few enabled any type of presumption to be made as to possible effects. This study was an attempt to evaluate in which ways anticonvulsant drugs might alter pineal gland indole metabolism, with a view to increasing understanding of the role of the pineal in modulation of epileptic discharges. In order to make the study as meaningful as possible extensive preliminary investigations were necessary. Pharmacokinetic determinations gave an indication of tissue concentrations of the drugs, which could then be related to observed effects. As far as possible, where existing information was lacking, the catalytic behaviour of the various enzymes was characterised in order to explain any observed effects at a molecular level. An attempt was also made to characterise the regulatory mechanisms controlling indole metabolism, again in order to define the pharmacological effects exerted by the drugs used. The complexity of the system made it impossible to suggest a single uniform regulatory hypothesis, although some significant observations were made. Finally, the studies involving the anticonvulsant drugs were conducted on intact animals, isolated organs and individual enzymes in an attempt to determine whether the observed effects were occuring at a molecular, local or central level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1983