The stainless steel cannula inserting method was used to observe effects of alpha-adrenoceptor agonists, 5-HT and KCl before and after cold storage (3-5 days, at 4 degrees C) in skeletal muscle branches of the simian deep femoral artery. Epinephrine (EPI), norepinephrine (NE), phenylephrine (PE), methoxamine (MT) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) induced marked monophasic vasoconstrictions in a dose-dependent manner. 5-HT induced a greater vasoconstriction in larger diameter vessels (old animals) than that in smaller ones (young animals), suggesting age-related responses. A selective alpha 2-stimulant, clonidine (CLO) or xylazine (XYL), produced only a slight vasoconstriction. Tyramine (TYR) also produced only a slight vasoconstrictor response. The order of potencies for inducing vasoconstrictions was EPI greater than or equal to 5-HT greater than or equal to NE greater than MT = PE much greater than KCl greater than CLO = XYL = TYR. The vasoconstrictor responses to all used adrenergic agonists and 5-HT were not significantly influenced by the prolonged cold storage. However, KCI-induced constrictions were significantly suppressed by the cold storage. These results suggest that the postjunctional alpha-adrenoceptor in simian skeletal muscle arteries is mainly of the alpha 1-type. Since cold storage caused a significant suppression of the KCl-induced response but not those of adrenoceptor agonists and 5-HT, it was considered that the mechanism of calcium entry to the vascular smooth muscle of skeletal muscle arteries might be significantly damaged by the cold storage.

Respiratory function was studied in a group of 29 soy workers exposed to soy bean dust produced after extraction of soy oil. The prevalence of all chronic respiratory symptoms was consistently higher in exposed than in control workers, although the differences were not statistically significant. During the Monday work shift there was a significant mean acute across-shift decrease in maximum expiratory flow rates at 50% and 25% vital capacity (FEF50: -6.4%; FEF25: -12.4%). Changes in vital capacity (FVC: -3.6%) and 1-sec forced expiratory volume (FEV1: -2.7%) were smaller, but still statistically significant. There were also statistically significant acute reductions in all ventilatory capacity parameters over the work shift on the following Friday, although the changes were in general smaller than on Monday (except for FEV1). An analysis of Monday preshift values of ventilatory capacity in soy bean workers suggests that exposure to soy bean dust may lead to chronic respiratory impairment in some workers.