Prostaglandin synthesis by murine salivary glands

When submandibular-gland homogenate was incubated with radioactive arachidonic acid, three radioactive metabolites were detected by thin-layer chromatography; these were identical with the prostaglandins (PG) PGE2, PGF2 alpha and PGI2. Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and PGD2 were not found. The major cyclo-oxygenase products of the parotid and sublingual glands were also PGE2, PGF2 alpha, and PGI2. The PGE2 and PGI2 synthetic activities of the submandibular gland were the highest of any tissue examined. This PGI2 activity was about 1.5 times higher in male than in female mice.

Effect of environmental temperature on thermal response to chlorpromazine. I. Simulation of temperature regulation in rats

Using the basic equations for heat balance, a compartment model was constructed to simulate the physiological responses to heat and cold in rats. The model predicted steady-state situations of rectal temperature, skin temperature (pelt and tail), metabolic rate and evaporative heat loss.

Effect of adrenalectomy on the pancreas of db/db mice

Adrenalectomy has been performed in the diabetic mouse and the islet immunohistochemistry studied. Adrenalectomy restored blood glucose to normal. Mean islet size of diabetic animals was larger than that of either adrenalectomized diabetic animals or of lean controls. Adrenalectomy restored the immunohistochemical appearance of the islets to normal when examined with anti-insulin, anti-glucagon and anti-somatostatin antisera.

Report on a round-robin study of diffuse X-ray scattering

The diffuse scattering in a volume in reciprocal space from NbC0.72 was measured on an absolute scale at two synchrotron sources (in the US and in Japan) and with a high-intensity rotating-anode source (in Japan). The shape and actual absolute intensities agreed to a few percent. Special problems associated with such measurements at a synchrotron are noted, especially with an insertion device. The high resolution possible at such sources reduces the need for an evacuated sample chamber. Detailed measurements can be completed in 1–2 d, making such studies much more accessible than is possible with sealed-tube X-ray generation.

The adenovirus type 12 early-region 1B 58,000-Mr gene product is required for viral DNA synthesis and for initiation of cell transformation

An E1B 58K mutant of adenovirus type 12 (Ad12), dl207, was constructed by the deletion of 852 base pairs in the E1B 58K coding region. The mutant could grow efficiently in 293E1 cells but not in HeLa, KB, or human embryo kidney (HEK) cells. Viral DNA replication of dl207 was not detected in HeLa and KB cells and was seldom detected in HEK cells. Analysis of viral DNA synthesis in vitro showed that the Ad12-DNA-protein complex replicated by using the nuclear extract from Ad12 wild-type (WT)-infected HeLa cells but not by using the nuclear extract from dl207-infected cells. In dl207-infected HeLa and KB cells, early mRNAs were detected, but late mRNAs were not detected. The mutant induced fewer transformed foci than the WT in rat 3Y1 cells. Cells transformed by dl207 could grow efficiently in fluid medium, form colonies in soft agar culture, and induce tumors in rats transplanted with the transformed cells at the same efficiency as WT-transformed cells. Tumors were induced in hamsters injected with WT virions but were not induced in hamsters injected with dl207 virions. The results indicate that the E1B 58K protein is required both for viral DNA replication in productive infection and for initiation of cell transformation, but not for maintenance of the transformed phenotype.

An insertion mutation in the adenovirus type 12 early region 1A 13S mRNA unique region

An adenovirus type 12 mutant, in203S, was constructed to contain an insertion of two amino acids in the early region 1A (E1A) 13S mRNA-coding region and in the E1A 12S mRNA intron. in203S could not grow in HeLa and KB cells. Virus DNA replication was scarcely detected at a low multiplicity of infection, but was detected at a high multiplicity of infection. The transcription of early genes other than E1A was not detected at 13 h after infection, but became detectable after longer incubation. The transcription of the E1A gene was also reduced to about one-fifth of the wild-type level. The mutant induced fewer foci of smaller sizes than the wild type in rat 3Y1 and secondary rat kidney cells. The induction of cellular DNA synthesis was reduced in rat 3Y1 cells infected with in203S as compared with that in wild type-infected cells. These results show that the E1A 13S mRNA-derived polypeptide of adenovirus type 12 is required for activation of early genes, cell transformation, and induction of cellular DNA synthesis.

Cyclo (His-Pro), a metabolite of thyrotropin-releasing hormone: specific binding to rat liver membranes

[3H]cyclo(His-Pro) bound with high affinity (59 nM) to a single class of sites in rat liver plasma membranes, without significant tracer degradation during equilibration for 60 min at 0 degrees C. Binding was specific and saturable (3.9 pmol/mg protein), and were increased by the addition of K+, Mg++ and Na+ at optimal concentrations, but not of Ca++ at all concentrations tested. In vivo administration of cyclo(His-Pro), but not thyrotropin-releasing hormone, to rats caused the downregulation of cyclo(His-Pro)-binding sites with decreases in specific binding numbers but did not change binding affinity.

Usefulness of monoclonal antibodies for detection of enzootic bovine leukemia cells

Monoclonal antibodies against tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) expressed in the leukemic cells of enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) were examined for their possible usefulness in detecting EBL tumor cells. The antibodies immunohistochemically reacted with EBL tumor cells and had cytotoxic activity against the cells but not against normal adult bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) even after activation with mitogens. The TAA-positive EBL tumor cells also had B cell surface markers. The TAA was also found in several samples of PBL taken from BLV-infected healthy cattle (8 positive out of 81 tested), as well as in PBL from 13 out of 14 cattle with lymphocytosis but no evidence of tumor. Thus, monoclonal antibodies directed against TAAs might be a useful tool not only for diagnosing EBL but also for screening of BLV-infected cattle with the potential to develop tumors in the future.

Muscle protein turnover in the perfused hindquarters of lean and genetically obese-diabetic (db/db) mice

The stability of the perfused mouse hindquarter was assessed for a period of 5 h, and the preparation shown to remain stable for metabolic studies over this time period. Muscle protein synthesis and degradation rates in lean and diabetic-obese (db/db) mice were measured using the in situ perfused hindquarter preparation. The rates of protein synthesis were 48% lower in the muscles of intact db/db mice than in the lean controls when expressed per gram TCA precipitable protein and 46% lower when expressed per gram dry weight. Adrenalectomy, which has been shown to restore the lean body mass of the db/db mice to normal, had the effect of returning protein synthesis rate in muscle of db/db mice to lean control values. Insulin at a dose of 1 mU/ml stimulated protein synthesis in lean mice only, showing that the process of protein synthesis in the db/db mice is also insensitive to insulin. Measurements of the rates of degradation of muscle protein showed no differences between lean and db/db mice. These findings suggest that the decreased lean body mass of db/db mice is the result of a defect in protein synthesis rather than due to altered degradation.

Atypical nervous lesion in Haemophilus somnus infection of cattle

Two cows affected with Haemophilus somnus were examined pathologically. Although manifested lesions were composed of fibrinopurulent meningitis without the usual parenchymatous lesions in the central nervous system, Haemophilus somnus was isolated in pure culture from the cerebral cortex of both cases. Presence of this atypical lesion in the nervous system should be kept in mind for the differential diagnosis of the disease.

Benzethonium chloride resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical lesions

The benzethonium chloride resistance of 341 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from Jikei University Hospital was determined. The distribution pattern of the susceptibility to benzethonium chloride clearly revealed two peaks, and the resistance was differentiated by 1000 micrograms/ml (0.1%) of benzethonium chloride. The frequency of resistance to benzethonium chloride was 51.6%. Furthermore, the frequencies of resistance to SM, TC, CP, KM, GM, PIP, Hg, Cd, As and chlorhexidine were 42.5, 15.8, 41.3, 29.6, 14.0, 8.2, 88.3, 97.9, 97.1, and 74.5%, respectively.

Survey of resistance to metals and volatilization activity of Hg-resistant R plasmids in Citrobacter isolated from clinical lesions in Japan

Clinical isolates of Citrobacter (277 strains) were studied for the resistance to four metals and four drugs. The distribution patterns of their susceptibility to Hg, Cd and As clearly revealed two peaks, but only a single peak of resistance to Pb. The frequencies of resistance to Hg, Cd, As, SM, TC, CP and KM were 31.8, 94.2, 57.8, 51.3, 44.8, 35.7 and 28.9%, respectively. And we selected 88 mercury resistant strains, and they were tested for their ability to transfer the resistance to the mercury and drug sensitive recipients of E. coli K12-ML1410-Nx and E. coli JE17-Rif. Among 88 strains of Hg resistant Citrobacter, 80 R plasmids with Hg resistance could be demonstrated. It should be noted that transferable R plasmids with Hg resistance were demonstrated in 91% of the Hg-resistant isolates. Furthermore, we tested the volatilization of mercury by strains containing these mercury resistance plasmids, by using radioactive 203Hg2+. All of these isolates of Citrobacter have volatilization activity of Hg2+. Also, all of these volatilization activity is inducible.

Adrenalectomy increases norepinephrine turnover in brown adipose tissue of obese (ob/ob) mice

The hyperphagia and rapid body weight gain normally observed in young obese (ob/ob) mice were abolished by removal of their adrenal glands, whereas food intake and weight gain of lean mice were not significantly affected by adrenalectomy. Adrenalectomy lowered body energy density (kcal/g carcass) in obese mice more than could be attributed to reduced food intake per se, suggesting that their energy expenditure was also increased. In control obese mice, low stimulation of brown adipose tissue by the sympathetic nervous system, as indicated by the low fractional rates of norepinephrine (NE) turnover in their brown adipose tissue may have contributed to the reduced energy expenditure in these animals. Adrenalectomy increased the rates of NE turnover in brown adipose tissue of obese mice to rates nearly equal to those observed in lean mice without affecting NE turnover in this tissue of lean mice. Likewise, removal of the adrenals normalized the low rates of NE turnover in hearts of obese mice without affecting lean mice. Rates of NE turnover in two other organs, white adipose tissue and pancreas, of control and adrenalectomized obese mice were similar to rates observed in lean counterparts. The adrenal may thus contribute to both the hyperphagia and the low energy expenditure by brown adipose tissue that together cause gross obesity in ob/ob mice.

Adrenalectomy reverses insulin resistance in muscle from obese (ob/ob) mice

Glucose transport and insulin resistance in the skeletal muscle of the genetically obese (ob/ob) mouse has been studied in animals at 6-7 wk of age using an in situ perfused hindquarter preparation. Rates of glucose uptake and the uptake of radioactively labeled 2-deoxy-D-glucose were lower in muscles from intact ob/ob mice than in those from their lean littermates. Following adrenalectomy the basal rate of glucose or 2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake in the ob/ob mice was restored to normal. The uptake of 2-deoxyglucose was tested at two insulin concentrations. In lean mice, adrenalectomy had no effect on 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Adrenalectomy, however, restored the responsiveness to insulin in the ob/ob mouse to normal. The activity ratio of muscle glycogen synthase was elevated by insulin but the effect was greater in the lean animals with or without adrenal glands than in the obese mouse. Adrenalectomy in the obese mouse did not correct this defect.

Changes in the multiple components of rat pituitary TSH and TSH beta subunit following thyroidectomy

Heterogeneity of pituitary TSH was investigated in rats following thyroidectomy. Adult male rats were sacrificed at varying periods (2-28 days) after thyroidectomy. In another experiment, thyroidectomized rats were injected daily with various doses of L-T4 (0.3-7.5 micrograms/100 g body weight, ip) and sacrificed 2 weeks later. The homogenate of the pituitaries was applied on an isoelectric focusing column or a Sephacryl S-200 column. The normal rat pituitary contained 5 major components of immunoreactive (IR) TSH in isoelectric focusing, in which the isoelectric point (pI) ranged from 6.6 to 8.8. The multiple components of IR-TSH beta were observed almost in the same areas as those of IR-TSH. Following thyroidectomy IR-TSH components with more acidic pI, associated with IR-TSH beta, were evident. A large amount of IR-TSH beta in the pituitaries of thyroidectomized rats appeared near the void volume in gel filtration, suggesting the presence of big TSH beta. Supplement of L-T4 minimized these thyroidectomy-induced changes in isoelectric focusing and gel filtration. Furthermore, big IR-TSH beta was little affected by ultracentrifugation and was relatively stable after treatment with 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. We demonstrated that the rat pituitary gland contained multiple components of IR-TSH and IR-TSH beta, both of which became variegated after thyroidectomy. It is suggested that a discernible degree of heterogeneity of TSH, particularly of TSH beta, is dependent upon the increased rate of TSH biosynthesis at the pituitary level.

Comparative studies of dose-response curves for recessive lethal mutations induced by ethylnitrosourea in spermatogonia and in spermatozoa of Drosophila melanogaster

Induction of recessive lethal mutations by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) was studied for the second chromosome of spermatogonia and spermatozoa in Drosophila melanogaster. ENU (0.03, 0.3, and 1.0 mM) was given to flies by dissolving it in feeding sucrose solution. Since flies are known to show increased avoidance of the feeding solution with increase in ENU concentration, the absorbed doses of ENU by flies were estimated from the previously determined empirical data for relation of ENU concentration in the feeding solution and the intake volumes of the solution by flies as measured indirectly via intake radioactivities of 3H-labeled sucrose added to the solution. When plotted against absorbed doses of ENU, the observed frequencies of recessive lethals showed a linear relationship for induction in spermatozoa but a sigmoidal relationship for induction in spermatogonia. These results suggest that in spermatogonia ENU-induced mutational damage is more repairable in a lower dose range of ENU. Mosaic lethal mutations were induced by ENU but not in spermatogonia.

Functional morphology of the pineal gland in young chickens

One and two-month-old chickens were killed at mid light and mid dark under the experimental photoperiod (LD 12: 12). The pineal glands of the young chickens are composed of parenchymal cells and large follicles, presenting a tubulofollicular arrangement. The sensory-like pinealocytes are pear-shaped and have a cilium with 9 + 0 axial configuration projecting into the lumen. Their cytoplasm has cell organelles, small granulated vesicles about 100 nm in diameter and synaptic ribbons. The concentric lamellar complexes like myelin sheaths are frequently observed in the follicular lumen. The secretory-like supporting cells have irregular-shaped microvilli and some granulated vesicles about 200 nm in diameter in the vicinity of the apical surfaces. Occasionally, a few nerve cells are found in the pineal parenchyma. It was found that the sensory-like pinealocytes of the young chickens have many mitochondria, well-developed Golgi complexes and large lysosomes in solid type in the light period, whereas they have a few cell organelles and somewhat smaller rod-like lysosomes with some vacuoles in the dark period. On the other hand, the sensory-like pinealocytes have more synaptic ribbons in the dark period than in the light period.

The relationship between lethal mutation yield and intake of ethylnitrosourea (ENU) in Drosophila melanogaster

To estimate the absorbed dose of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) ingested in Drosophila melanogaster, males were fed with sucrose solutions containing various concentrations of ENU plus 3H-labeled sucrose for 24 hr. Flies showed decreasing intakes with increase in ENU concentration when monitored by intake 3H radioactivity. Absorbed dose, D, per male can be estimated by the following formula: D = v . C, where v is intake volume per male of sucrose solution at concentration C. Estimating the v value for each ENU solution from 3H radioactivities in male flies, and using the above formula, we reached the conclusion that average absorbed doses of ENU were 0.064, 0.221, and 0.302 nmol, respectively, for the ENU concentrations of 0.03, 0.3, and 1.0 mM. Sex-linked recessive lethals were measured for males exposed to these sucrose solutions at three different ENU concentrations. Their frequencies increased nonlinearly with increasing exposure doses--ie, ENU concentration C--but linearly with increasing absorbed doses estimated in the above-mentioned way.

[Evaluation of prognostic factors in hepatocellular carcinoma using multiple regression analysis]

We analysed the relationship between 19 prognostic factors and the life span of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Among 52 patients who had been admitted to the Gifu Prefectural Gifu Hospital, in 46 the pathological diagnosis was confirmed. We selected 9 of 19 variables by the stepwise forward regression method. These were Arels Classification, ascites, HBsAg, performance status, method of therapy, sex, GOT, albumin and bilirubin. Results of multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the presence of ascites is the most important factor; other significant factors are Ariel's Classification, performance status, positivity of HBsAg, method of therapy, and GOT. These parameters were paralleled with the survival curves, most of which had been categorized. Although intra-arterial infusion of ADM was considered the most favourable treatment method, the survival curves suggested that other methods were equally effective.

[Clinical evaluation of pivmecillinam in the maintenance therapy of chronic urinary tract infection (author's transl)]

In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pivmecillinam (melysin tablet, PMPC), PMPC was administered to 78 chronic UTI cases in the field of obstetrics and gynecology (posthysterectomy infection, chronic cystitis, chronic pyelonephritis and etc.). In principle, daily 400 mg of PMPC was administered for 2 weeks. (1) Overall clinical efficacy judged by doctor was evaluated in 78 cases and the result was; excellent in 17, good in 37, fair in 10, poor in 13 and unknown in 1 case with the effectiveness rate of 69.2%. (2) Overall clinical efficacy judged by 'criteria for clinical evaluation in complicated UTI' recommended by UTI study member was evaluated in 54 cases and the result was; excellent in 15, good in 20 and poor in 19 cases with the overall efficacy rate of 64.8%, the result of which was similar to that of doctor's judgement. (3) Efficacy on pyuria was evaluated in 72 cases and it was cleared in 27, decreased in 25, unchanged in 20 and unknown in 6 cases. Efficacy on bacteriuria was evaluated in 72 cases and it was eliminated in 44, decreased in 9, replaced in 8, unchanged in 8 and unknown in 9 cases. (4) Side effect, considered by doctors to be caused by PMPC administration, was noticed in 3 out of 78 cases (3.8%), all of which was mild gastrointestinal disturbance and the administration of PMPC was continued. Abnormal change of laboratory finding considered by doctors to be caused by PMPC administration was noticed in 1 out of 78 cases, which was slight elevation of GOT and GPT values. It is therefore considered that PMPC appear to be useful drug for the maintenance therapy of chronic UTI in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Effects of various osmotic solutions on membrane properties of smooth muscle cells of the guinea pig ureter

Effects of various osmotic solutions on membrane properties of smooth muscle cells of the guinea pig ureter were investigated using the microelectrode and double sucrose gap methods. In Krebs solution, the mean membrane potential was -53 mV, chronaxie was 104 msec, length constant of the tissue was 1.03 mm, time constant of the membrane was 65.8 msec, and conduction velocity of excitation was 19.2 mm per sec. Hyperosmotic solution (1.5, 2.0, or 2.5 times the normal osmolarity) depolarized the membrane, generated the spike activity, reduced the length constant of the tissue, increased the time constant of the membrane, prolonged the chronaxie, and reduced the conduction velocity. Hyposmotic solutions (0.85 and 0.67 times the normal osmolarity) produced opposite changes on the passive and active characteristics of the membrane compared to findings in hyperosmotic solution except that the time constant of the membrane was increased in both hyper- and hyposmolar solutions. Increase in the time constant of the membrane and reduced length constant of the tissue in hyperosmotic solution can be explained by an increase in the internal resistance, including the cell to cell junctional resistance and shrinkage of the cell diameter (from 6.2 to 3.0 micrometer).

TSH and prolactin secretions in Hashimoto's thyroiditis following withdrawal of thyroid hormone therapy

Changes in the pituitary-thyroid axis in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis following withdrawal of thyroid suppressive therapy were analyzed. The group of patients with thyroid adenoma served as control (group I). Patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis were divided into 2 groups on the basis of serum TSH levels 8 weeks after discontinuing the exogenous thyroid hormone (group II, less than 10 microunits/ml; group III, more than 10 microunits/ml). During treatment with L-T4(200 micrograms/day) or L-T3(50 micrograms/day), there was no significant difference in serum T4-I and T3 levels among the three groups. Following L-T4 withdrawal, basal serum TSH levels were higher at 2 to 8 weeks in groups II and III than in group I. Serum TSH response to TRH was greater at 4 to 8 weeks in groups II and III than in group I. Following L-T3 withdrawal, basal serum TSH levels were higher at 1 and 2 weeks in group II than in group I, while those of group III were consistently higher during the study. Higher TSH responses to TRH were observed at 1 to 8 weeks in groups II and III. Neither basal nor TRH-induced prolactin (PRL) secretion differed significantly among the three groups. We have demonstrated that pituitary TSH secretion in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis is affected more by withdrawal of thyroid hormone therapy than in patients with thyroid adenoma. In addition, the present findings suggest a difference between the sensitivity of thyrotrophs and lactotrophs in Hashimoto's thyroiditis after prolonged thyroid therapy is discontinued.

[Clinical studies on cefoperazone in gynecological and obstetrical field (author's transl)]

Fourteen patients suffering from female genital organ infections including mastitis and urinary tract infections were treated with cefoperazone (CPZ). CPZ was administered intravenously or by drip infusion at a dose of 2.0-4.0 g/day for 3-7 days. Clinical results obtained were as follows: Of 8 patients with genital organ infections, excellent responses were seen in 2 patients, good responses in 5 patients. Of 3 patients with mastitis, good responses were seen in all the patients. Of 3 patients with pyelonephritis, excellent and good responses were seen in all the patients. No adverse effects and abnormal laboratory findings were observed. From the above results, we concluded that CPZ was an effective and safe antibiotic against infections in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.