Androgenic steroids increase atherogenesis, thrombogenicity and endothelial dysfunction when administered in high doses, however their effects on NaCl sensitivity of the brain anteroventral area of the third ventricle (ΔV3V) have not been explored. Sprague-Dawley male rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (40 mg/kg) and the femoral intra-arterial blood pressure and heart rate monitored through a strain-gauge blood pressure transducer and tachograph. ΔV3V microinjections of (2 µl) 1.5 mol/l NaCl solution were done according to brain coordinates: AP = 7.0 mm, L = 1.0 mm, D = 7.5 mm through a 0.2-mm diameter stainless steel needle. The injection site was verified with 1.0 µl neutral red solution. Basal systolic blood pressure increased 37.6 and 39.6 mm Hg after testosterone (1 mg/kg/day for 20 days) and nandrolone (1 mg/kg/day for 20 days) treatment respectively; diastolic blood pressure also increased upon testosterone and nandrolone treatment in 36.4 and 53.1 mm Hg, respectively; basal heart rate did not change. Vasopressor response to 1.5 mol/l NaCl ΔV3V microinjection was higher in testosterone-treated rats; systolic blood pressure increased 56.0 vs. 28.3 control mm Hg; diastolic blood pressure increased 54.0 vs. 25 control mm Hg. This hypertensive response was 29% longer lasting in testosterone compared to vehicle-treated rats. The same pattern of ΔV3V sensitization to hypertonic NaCl was observed in nandrolone-treated rats. Blood lipid profile changed to a proatherogenic fashion upon testosterone and nandrolone long-term treatment; the plasma-free testosterone concentration increased from 4.9 ± 0.9 to 36.0 ±7.1 pg/ml with the same testosterone treatment schedule. In conclusion, long-term androgenic steroid treatment sensitizes the brain ΔV3V region to hypertonic NaCl which in turn conducts into a sympathetic vasopressor and heart rate-stimulating action.

Some corrections related to the date of publication of descriptions of species of Periglischrus are made and a discussion on the validity of the genus Cameronieta Machado-Allison is given. RESUMEN En este trabajo se describen cuatro nuevas especies del genero Periglischrus Kolenati (Acarina, Mesostigmata, Spinturnicidae) procedentes de Venezuela. P. ramirezi, sp. n., colectada sobre Rhinophylla pumilio; P. paracutisternus, sp. n., sobre Trachops cirrhosus; P. gameroi, sp. n., sobre Lonchorhina aurita y P. dusbabeki, sp. n., sobre Mimon crenulatum. Algunas correcciones sobre la fecha de publicaci6n de descripciones de algunas especies de Periglischrus son efectuadas y se discuten las caracteristicas del genero Cameronieta Machado-Allison concluye"ndose en sostener la validez del mismo. Official publication date is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year.

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