The sensitivity and the specificity of two new commercial reagent tests, an indirect fluorescent antibody test (FAT) with a mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) RSV antigen detection kit, were determined by a comparison of results from these tests with those of tissue culture isolation and an indirect FAT with bovine polyclonal antibody (BPA). Of 251 nasal aspirates from infants with suspected RSV infection, positive results were found for 99 (39%) by the FAT-MAb, 93 (37%) by the FAT-BPA, and 87 (35%) by the ELISA; 69 of 240 (29%) were positive by cultures. The FAT-MAb was a more sensitive technique than cultures, with 87% sensitivity for the FAT-MAb and 84% for the ELISA. It was also more sensitive than the FAT-BPA, with 97% sensitivity for the FAT-MAb and 85% for the ELISA. This could be caused only by the distinctive volume of suspended specimens used in these tests. Of 171 negative culture specimens, positive (but not false-positive) results were found for 18% by the FAT-MAb and for 12% by the ELISA. Inversely, 13% of 69 culture positive specimens were FAT-MAb negative and 16% were ELISA negative, emphasizing the importance of tissue cultures for the maximum recovery of RSV, as well as for detection of other respiratory viruses. The FAT-MAb and ELISA were easy to perform and interpret, thus facilitating wider use.

A factor activating human platelets and liberated by the embryo was sought in the culture media of human embryos using two bioassays. The first bioassay demonstrated the existence of a thrombocytopaenic factor after the i.p. injection of culture media into splenectomized mice. This factor was found more frequently in media which contained an embryo compared to those which contained a non-fertilized oocyte. PAF-acether (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) was searched for with a specific bioassay, using washed rabbit platelets. This remained negative for all the media studied, including those which had contained an embryo giving rise to a pregnancy. In these experiments it was not possible to relate embryo-derived platelet activating factor (EDPAF) to PAF-acether. Neither were we able to use the detection of EDPAF to test embryonic viability, or attempt to identify those embryos which were susceptible to lead to a pregnancy after intrauterine transfer from among all the embryos transferred.

No abstract

The effects of an antiserum (anti-COC) against ovulated mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) on in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes were studied. Preincubation of ovulated COC with various concentrations of anti-COC led to dose-dependent impairment of fertilization rates as well as to a decrease in the number of spermatozoa attached to the zona pellucida. Anti-COC was used to probe Western blots of cumulus proteins. These cumuli were obtained from 2 experimental groups of mice corresponding to 2 different maturational stages (preovulatory immature COC or preovulatory mature COC). Two antigens (70 and 80 kDa) present in cumulus intercellular matrix from mature COC were only found as traces in matrix from immature COC. In addition, the protein pattern of the cumulus intercellular matrix was different from that of cumulus cells, whatever the COC maturational stage. These results indicate the appearance of new proteins in the cumulus oophorus during preovulatory expansion and are consistent with the contraceptive action of anti-COC.