Type II collagen distribution in the monkey ear

A possible role for type II collagen autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of Meniere's disease and otosclerosis was recently suggested by studies demonstrating anti-type II collagen antibody in the serum of humans with these disorders and by the induction of similar lesions in animals immunized with type II collagen. In light of these findings, we studied the anatomic distribution of type II collagen in the nonhuman primate ear by immunohistochemical techniques using defined monoclonal antibodies to type II collagen. Type II collagen was observed in the cartilage plate of the auricle and external auditory meatus, tympanic annulus, lamina propria of tympanic membrane (pars tensa), interossicular joints, stapes footplate, eustachian tube cartilage, enchondral layer and globuli interossei of the otic capsule, Rosenthal canal, cribriform base, osseous spiral lamina, spiral ligament, limbus, tectorial membrane, semicircular canal membrane and subepithelial layer of the ampullary crista, utricular and saccular maculae, and the endolymphatic duct and proximal part of the sac. Thus, type II collagen should be considered an important component of ear tissue.

Study of estramustine binding protein (EMBP): purification of rat EMBP and establishment of RIA

Estramustine binding protein (EMBP) was purified from the ventral prostate of the rat using DEAE-cellulose chromatography, concanavalin-A affinity chromatography and DEAE-sepharose chromatography. At the final step of the purification, two different peaks (Peaks A and B) of A280 nm were obtained. Peak A had a high binding activity to [3H] estramustine. On the other hand, Peak B had a low binding activity. On the analysis of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Peak A gave two protein bands, whereas Peak B gave a single band. The molecular weight of the markedly stained band of Peak A was approximately 27,000, whereas that of Peak B was 18,000, as estimated by analysis of Fargusson's plot. The antibody against Peak B was used for establishing a radioimmunoassay (RIA) of EMBP. The sensitivity of this assay system was sufficient to measure of 1 ng of EMBP. The dilution curve of rat prostatic cytosol was paralleled with the standard curve. As a result obtained from this RIA, the mean concentration of immunoreactive EMBP was 8.01 ng/mg cytosol protein in human benign hyperplastic prostate (BPH) and 4.28 ng/mg protein in human prostatic carcinoma (PC), respectively. These results here obtained indicate that human prostate has an immunoreactive protein to the purified EMBP obtained from the ventral lobe of rat prostate.

Urological complications in gynaecological diseases. Review of 18 cases requiring diversion or reconstruction of the urinary tract

In 18 gynaecological patients requiring diversion or reconstruction of the urinary tract, the relationship between the urological treatments and their influences on the renal function based on DIP were studied. Double-J catheterization and percutaneous nephrostomy drainage with Fr 8 catheter are easily obstructed due to infection of the urinary tract, so a thicker catheter should be used to maintain drainage. Ureterocutaneostomy is considered to be a suitable method to divert urine in cases of poor general condition and poor prognosis in order to preserve renal function for a longer time.

Type II collagen distribution in the ear of the guinea pig fetus

By using monoclonal antibodies to type II collagen and immunohistochemical techniques, we studied the distribution of type II collagen in the developing guinea pig ear. Type II collagen appearance and disappearance corresponded to cartilage development and resorption. Type II collagen was identified in Meckel's and Reichert's cartilages, the cartilage plate of the auricle and external acoustic meatus, the ossicles, eustachian tube cartilage, and the otic capsule. Type II collagen also appeared with the development of structures in noncartilaginous parts including the tympanic membrane, tympanic annulus, basilar membrane, spiral limbus, spiral ligament, and osseous spiral lamina, Rosenthal's canal, the maculae of the utricle and saccule, and the semicircular canal membrane, crista ampullaris, and endolymphatic duct. Type II collagen is distributed widely in the ear after the early stages of development. Thus, type II collagen should be considered an important structural component of the ear.

Type II collagen distribution in the ear of the developing chick embryo

The localization of type II collagen was immunohistochemically studied in the developing chick ear using monoclonal antibodies. Type II collagen appeared under the basal lamina of the otocyst from developmental stages 14 to 16. In the otic capsule, endolymphatic duct, and semicircular canal membrane, type II collagen appeared in stage 23 or 24. From stages 28 to 29, type II collagen appeared in the primitive columella, endolymphatic sac, and fibrocartilaginous plate. Type II collagen was first observed in the crista ampullaris, basilar membrane, macula sacculi, and utriculi in stages 30 and 31. Type II collagen was not detected in the endolymphatic sac beyond developmental stage 37 and the amount of type II collagen in the otic capsule and columella decreased after stage 40. The wide distribution of type II collagen in the inner ear throughout the development of the chick embryo suggests that this collagen may act as a basic structural component of the ear.

Functional disturbances of the sympathetic nerve in experimentally-induced nasal hypersensitivity

Norepinephrine, alpha-1 and beta adrenergic receptors in the nasal mucosa of toluene-diisocyanate sensitized guinea-pigs were evaluated quantitatively at specific points in time during a pre-determined sensitization period. At 4, 8 and 12 weeks, the norepinephrine content was reduced. The concentration of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors significantly decreased in 8- and 12-week groups. A lower density of beta adrenergic receptors was shown in the 12-week group. Signs of a return to normalcy were observed by four weeks post-sensitization. These results led us to speculate that excess norepinephrine release, which may be promoted by allergy-inducing histamine, depleted the norepinephrine at the sympathetic nerve terminal and caused a lowering of the concentration of sympathetic receptors. Functional disturbance of the sympathetic nerve was suggested by clinical findings of nonspecific nasal hypersensitivity, congestion and nasal discharge.

Collagen components of bovine fetal and guinea pig cochlear bone and human stapes

Collagenous components were isolated chemically from fetal bovine or guinea pig cochlear bone and human stapes after stapedectomy, and the purified protein was characterized by immunoblot assay and amino acid analysis. The results of this study suggest that these are mixtures of type I and type II collagens. The presence of type II collagen in the human stapes also was demonstrated by immunohistologic methods using monoclonal antibody. The presence of type II collagen in these tissues is significant, since it has been postulated as an autoantigen in autoimmune inner ear disease.

Inhibitory effects of vincristine, ifosfamide and peplomycin on hormone-independent human prostatic carcinoma cell line

The sensitivity of a hormone-independent human prostatic carcinoma cell line (PC-3) to anticancer drugs was evaluated in vitro. The anticancer drugs used were vincristine sulfate (VCR), peplomycin sulfate (PLM) and 4-hydroperoxyisophosphamide (4-HIF), i.e., an form of ifosfamide (IFOS) in vivo. The inhibitory effect of 4-HIF alone and of the combination of VCR, 4-HIF and PLM (VIP) on the cell proliferation was almost the same. Furthermore, among the 6 groups treated with 2 of the 3 drugs mentioned above the most potent inhibitory effect was obtained in the group with combined treatment of 4-HIF plus PLM.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) in seminal plasma and prostatic gland: a radioreceptor assay

The binding ability of five different cells in culture to mouse epidermal growth factor (mEGF) was studied. A simple radioreceptor assay (RRA) using normal rat kidney cell (NRK-52E) as a source of EGF receptor was established. Maximal binding capacity and apparent dissociation constant of NRK-52E cell were 3.36 femtomoles of mEGF bound per 10(6) cells and 2.85 x 10(-11) M, respectively. EGF-like activity (EGF-LA) in seminal plasma and in cytosols of prostatic gland and seminal vesicle was 39.6 +/- 9.9 ng/ml, 0.67 +/- 0.10 ng/mg protein (mean +/- SE) and less than 0.2 ng/mg protein, respectively. The EGF-LA in seminal plasma was considered to be derived mainly from prostatic gland because the EGF-LA in cytosol of prostatic gland was higher than that of seminal vesicle.

Participation of autonomic nerve in tonsillar focal infection

Participation of the autonomic nerve in tonsillar focal infection was investigated by measuring neurotransmitters, receptors and microvibration. In focal infection patients, the volume of norepinephrine in the tonsil increased significantly and the number of a-adrenergic receptors decreased. These findings suggest that the focally infected tonsil exhibits a high degree of sympathetic nerve activity. The ratio of N-type in microvibration decreased systematically, which indicates some imbalance or immaturity of the autonomic nervous system in focal infection patients. Based on this data, the production mechanism of tonsillar focal infection was speculated from the point of view of the autonomic nerve.

Ectopic prostatic tissue in retrotrigone of the bladder

A patient with an ectopic prostate situated in the retrotrigone of the bladder is reported. To my knowledge this has never been described before. Hypotheses for the development of this entity are discussed and a review of the literature is made.

Double minutes and other chromosomal aberrations in malignant cell line of Shionogi carcinoma 115

G-banded karyotypes and structural abnormalities of chromosomes are described in two clones of the mouse mammary carcinoma SC 115 cell line. The cells showed multiple numerical and structural abnormalities. Structural anomalies, such as double minutes, acentric fragments, gaps or breaks, radials, ring chromosomes, endoreduplications, dicentrics, and elongated chromosomes were observed in varying proportions. Unstable chromosomal aberrations, such as breaks, gaps, fragments, and radials, frequently appeared without any particular pretreatment. Increased numbers of double minutes per cell correlated positively with the presence of elongated chromosomes, which did not contain homogeneously staining regions by the G-band technique.

Effect of diethylstilbestrol diphosphate on activity of 5 alpha-reductase in human prostate

Following the intravenous drip infusion of diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (DES-DP), the diethylstilbestrol (DES) concentrations both in plasma and prostatic tissue obtained from patients with prostatic carcinoma were measured by radioimmunoassay and the effects of DES on the activity of 5 alpha-reductase in the prostate obtained from BPH patients were determined in vitro. Further, the changes in the activity of 5 alpha-reductase in the prostate from the BPH patients who received DES-DP infusion were also determined. The plasma and prostatic tissue concentrations of DES rapidly declined from 2.3 micrograms/ml and 1.6 micrograms/g wet weight 1 h after DES-DP infusion to 0.8 microgram/ml and 0.25 microgram/g wet weight 3 h after DES-DP infusion, respectively, and decreased gradually thereafter until 24 h. In in vitro study progressed by BPH specimens, the 5 alpha-reduction rate was completely inhibited by an addition of 5 x 10(-4) M of DES and the DES concentration on the inhibition rate of 50% was 4 x 10(-5) M. In in vivo study, the mean production rate of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the control specimens of BPH without infusion of DES-DP was 14.0 +/- 3.4 nmol/15 min/mg protein and the production rate of DHT in the DES-DP infused specimens of BPH was 14.7 nmol/15 min/mg protein at 3 h and 15.2 nmol/15 min/mg protein at 12 h after the termination of DES-DP infusion. These results indicated that intravenously administered DES-DP did not act via the inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase in the prostatic cells for producing the clinical effects.

HCG and HMG treatment of male infertility with pituitary problems

A case is presented of a twenty-nine-year-old acromegalic man with sexual problems and fertility disturbance due to pituitary adenoma, who successfully fathered. Various endocrinologic studies, skill x-ray film, and computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed a pituitary adenoma. Testicular biopsy specimen also supported that the cause of sexual problems and fertility disturbance was secondary in origin. One month after transsphenoidal pituitary adenectomy, administration of human chorionic gonadotropin and human menopausal gonadotropin was started. His potency was improved immediately after start of the treatment, and his wife became pregnant five months later.

Immunochemical determination of the serum protein reacting with antibody against human urinary trypsin inhibitor by single radial immunodiffusion: use of polyethylene glycol

A single radial immunodiffusion method is described for determining the serum protein which reacts with antibody against the urinary trypsin inhibitor, but does not react with anti-inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor antibody. Since the amount of this protein could not be determined with an agar plate containing antibody alone, we first prepared an agar plate containing 4% polyethylene glycol 6 000 and 1 mg of anti-urinary trypsin inhibitor gamma-globulin and confirmed that the amount of this protein could be measured accurately from the sizes of precipitin rings after 72 h incubation at room temperature. Levels of this serum protein, alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-macroglobulin and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor were measured in normal human serum by the single radial immunodiffusion method, and it was confirmed that the level of this serum protein did not correlate with the levels of these 3 other proteins.

Factors influencing collagen-induced autoimmune ear disease

In 1981, the authors described a type II collagen-induced autoimmune ear disease (CIAED) model. The purpose of this study was to gather further evidence that this is a sound animal model to use in evaluating inner ear diseases. The temporal bone lesions of CIAED in Lewis and Wistar rats were characterized by the presence of sensorineural hearing loss with mild atrophy of the organ of Corti and spiral ganglion degeneration, vestibular dysfunction with vacuolar degeneration of the crista ampullaris, otospongiosis-like lesions in the tympanic annules, cochlear vasculitis, and eustachian tube disease. Both cellular and humoral immune responses to type II collagen were demonstrated. The induction of ear lesions depends on many factors. In general, animals immunized with antigens in complete Freund's adjuvant showed relatively more severe lesions than animals immunized with antigens in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, but the duration of the immunization seems to be a more important factor in reproducing severe lesions. The strain and the source of the animals are also important factors in autoimmune inner ear diseases, as is the condition of the host animals. Subclinical or clinical mycoplasma infection in the rat markedly reduced the incidence and severity of lesions in type II collagen-induced arthritis. Many researchers did not consider sialoductal adenovirus, widely present among laboratory rats, a lesion-producing factor in rats. Although many factors influence the induction and severity of CIAED, these animal models provide an excellent new avenue of inner ear research.

Histamine H1 receptors and affinity analyses in human nasal mucosa in cases of nasal allergy

An increased number (density) or sensitivity (affinity) of histamine H1 receptors could cause an increase of allergic symptoms. Using the specific H1 receptor blocker 3H-mepyramine, we have demonstrated for the first time an H1 receptor number (Bmax) and a binding affinity (Kd) in guinea pig and human nasal mucosa. H1 antihistamines inhibited that 3H-mepyramine binding sites represent H1 receptors in nasal mucosa. Bmax and Kd values were not significantly different among the nonallergic sinusitis, vasomotor rhinitis, or the nasal allergy group, suggesting that H1 receptors do not change quantitatively and qualitatively in allergic nasal mucosa. There was no significant correlation between H1 receptor number and clinical data (IgE, peripheral eosinophils, RAST). These data suggest that H1 receptor number and affinity are not main etiological and pathophysiological factors in nasal allergy.

A case of prostatic carcinoma with skin metastases

The 30th case of metastatic skin carcinoma of prostatic origin was presented. The cytosolic R1881 receptor was detected moderately in the metastatic nodule of the skin, however, the measurement of this receptor had a limited value for the purpose of treating the patient with antiandrogenic agents.

Type II collagen mediated autoimmune middle ear disease: eustachian tube disease, otitis media with effusion and tympanosclerosis

Intact Eustachian tube and tympanic cavity functions are essential for normal middle ear physiology. Type II collagen is an essential component of ear tissue. Autoimmune response to this type II collagen produces sensorineural hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction, endolymphatic hydrops, otospongiosis-like lesions, Eustachian tube inflammation and Eustachian tube chondritis. In addition, these autoimmune responses occasionally produce otitis media with effusion (not infectious). Tympanosclerosis, which is a frequent sequelae of otitis media with effusions, was also induced by type II collagen immunization together with surgical incision of the tympanic membrane. The exact mechanisms of this type II collagen autoimmune mediated middle ear disease are not clear. However, the animals thus induced have higher antibody titers and cell mediated immune responses to type II collagen. The tympanic membrane showing tympanosclerosis also had C3 and Ig deposits. All the animals with otitis media with effusion induced by type II collagen immunization also had Eustachian tube disease. This could be due to a malfunction of the Eustachian tube. Thus, this model might provide a rational approach for the study of otitis media with effusion associated with vasculitis. Further studies are needed to elucidate the immunologic mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion.