Cross-reactive antibodies to BLV and HTLV in bovine and human hosts with retrovirus infection

Sera of 22 cattle naturally infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV), of 2 calves vaccinated with BLV, and of 22 patients with human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) infection were tested to BLV and HTLV-I by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting (WB). Sera of 22 healthy cattle and from 22 healthy persons, and mouse monoclonal antibody to BLV-gp51, to HTLV-I-p24, or to HTLV-I-p19 were also tested. Sera of virus-infected hosts gave significantly higher ELISA values than sera of healthy donors to both BLV and HTLV-I. The correlation between ELISA values of bovine sera to BLV and those to HTLV-I was r = 0.76, whereas that of human sera was r = 0.35. By WB and competitive WB assays, bovine sera that were ELISA-positive to BLV reacted with one or more of p12, p15, and p24 of BLV, and with only p24 of HTLV-I. Human sera that were ELISA-positive to HTLV-I reacted with p12 and p24 of BLV, and with one or more of p12, p15, p19, and p24 of HTLV-I. These results demonstrate that BLV and HTLV-I are capable of evoking cross-reactive immune response in at least some hosts under natural infection as well as by virus vaccination.

[Prognostic factors of common epithelial ovarian cancer treated by surgery and cisplatin based combination chemotherapy]

Retrospective analysis of prognostic factors in 171 patients who had common epithelial ovarian cancer (WHO) and treated by surgeries and cisplatin based combination chemotherapies were performed by survival assay and multivariate analysis. In FIGO stage 3, the estimated parameter values were in following order: residual tumour age grade performance status histological type. On analysing Stage patients, histological grading and histological typing had an effect on prognosis. Patients with grade 2 or tumours had a worse prognosis than did those with grade 1 tumours, and patients with clear-cell carcinoma or undifferentiated adenocarcinoma showed a poor prognosis.

Antigenic variations of retrovirus in Japanese cancer patients

Previously we demonstrated the prevalence of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTVL-I) infection among cancer patients in Japan. This study was carried out to examine antigenic properties of retroviruses prevalent among Japanese cancer patients. Sera of 126 Japanese patients with cancer of different organs and with no history of blood transfusion, 94 in adult T cell leukemia (ATL)-endemic area and 32 in ATL-nonendemic area, were surveyed for antibodies to HTLV-I and HTLV-II by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot analysis, and indirect immunogold electron microscopy. Among patients who were seropositive to HTLV-I, 39 of 56 (69.6%) in ATL-endemic area and 9 of 9 (100%) in ATL-nonendemic area were seropositive also to HTLV-II. Of 48 sera positive to both HTLV-I and HTLV-II, 34 (70.8%) showed stronger reactivities to HTLV-I than to HTLV-II. Among patients who were seronegative to HTLV-I, 3 of 38 (7.9%) in ATL-endemic area and 5 of 23 (21.7%) in ATL-nonendemic area were seropositive to HTLV-II. Antibodies appearing and disappearing in sera of patients examined during the clinical course reacted with peptide species of HTLV-I and/or HTLV-II not always consistent with peptide species cross-reactive between HTLV-I and HTLV-II. These results indicate the antigenic diversity of retroviruses prevalent among Japanese cancer patients.

Hyperthermia with simultaneous administration of interferon using established human renal carcinoma heterotransplanted in nude mice

Using human renal carcinoma heterotransplanted in nude mice, the effects of the combined use of hyperthermia and interferon (natural human interferon-alpha; IFN-alpha, and recombinant interferon-gamma; IFN-gamma) were examined. The hyperthermic device used was the Clini-Therm, Mark VII, 915 MHz, microwave. The administration of interferon was started immediately before hyperthermia and carried out on consecutive days. The combined use of hyperthermia and IFN was compared with hyperthermia and with IFN alone. The combined use of hyperthermia and IFN-alpha was shown to have significant anti-tumour effects compared with the former or latter alone. Of 10 nude mice (10 implanted tumours) used for the experiment, 5 showed complete disappearance of the implanted tumours and the others showed prolongation of survival. Combined treatment with IFN-gamma and hyperthermia showed no significant effect when compared with other treatment groups. Combined treatment with local hyperthermia and IFN-alpha may have some application to the clinical management of renal carcinoma.

Thromboxane A2 antagonistic action of a new anti-ulcer agent, azuletil sodium (KT1-32)

The TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonistic activity of azuletil sodium (KT1-32), a new anti-ulcer agent, was examined. KT1-32 competitively antagonized the contraction of canine gastric arteries induced by U-46619, PGF2 alpha, and PGE2, whereas it had no effect on the PGF2 alpha-, PGE2- and LTD4-induced contraction of guinea-pig ileum, which was not affected by U-46619. In anesthetized dogs, KT1-32 significantly reduced the U-46619-induced decrease in gastric arterial blood flow. Gastric contraction induced by U-46619 in anesthetized rats was markedly inhibited by KT1-32. KT1-32 showed no influence on TXA2 synthetase and cyclooxygenase activities. These results indicate that KT1-32 is a competitive TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonist, which may be important as to the effectiveness of KT1-32 against gastric ulcer.

Elicitation of bovine antibody to BLV-gp51 by BLV-vaccination

This study was carried out to demonstrate sequential changes of antibody response to gp51 of BLV in bovine hosts injected with BLV-vaccine. BLV vaccine was prepared from culture fluids from FLK-BLV cells by treatment with 0.1% formalin for 48 hrs at 4 degrees C followed by ultrafiltration and lyophilization. Sterile vaccine containing 300 mg protein/ml, 1 mg of which was reactive by ELISA with monoclonal anti-BLV-glycopeptide up to 1:256 dilution, was injected intradermally with Freund's adjuvant into two 1-month-old Holstein calves seronegative for BLV. The first and second booster injections were given without adjuvant 3 and 15 weeks, respectively, after the initial injection. Sera collected weekly from these animals were analyzed to monitor development of antibody to BLV-gp51 by Western blotting and immunoferritin electron microscopy, as well as by ELISA to whole BLV and to BLV-gp51 partially purified by column chromatography. Antibody to BLV-gp51 was detected in sera collected 2 weeks after the initial injection, increased 2 weeks after the first booster, maintained its level during the following 10 weeks, and increased again 2 weeks after the second booster injection. Infectious BLV was not detected by syncytium-formation assay of lymphocytes collected 15 weeks after the initial injection. This study demonstrated sequential changes of anti-BLV-gp51 antibody elicited in bovine hosts subsequent to injection of formalin-treated BLV. Further analysis of bovine antibody to BLV-gp51 may help develop improved BLV-vaccine.

[Radiotherapy for T1 and T2 carcinomas of the tongue: combination therapy using low-dose external irradiation and an interstitial implant]

Between January 1975 and October 1984, 114 previously untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue were treated by a radical course of irradiation at the Jikei University Hospital. Of these patients, eighty with T1 or T2 lesions are analyzed in this paper, some having been treated with an interstitial implant alone or with a combination of external irradiation and an interstitial implant. The two-year local control rate of the primary lesion reached 85% in T1 patients, and 68% for those graded T2. Late radiation injuries were seen in 18% of the cases with local control beyond one year. Most of these injuries, however, healed with conservative therapy. The cumulative 5-year survival rate was 75% in T1 patients, and 52% for those graded T2. The combination of low dose external irradiation (20-30 Gy) and an interstitial implant showed the same local control rate, the same incidence of late injury, and the same survival rate as those who received an interstitial implant alone. In cases that were given combination therapy, the sum dose of about 80 Gy was necessary for local control.

[Therapeutic gain factor of multiple fractions per day]

Treatment with multiple fractions per day would be expected to offer a significant therapeutic gain. Clinical benefits from the therapeutic gain, however, depend on the steepness of dose-response curves for the tumor control. We discussed the therapeutic gain factor of hyperfractionation and accelerated fractionation in head and neck cancer and malignant glioma, and also discussed the impacts of this factor on the local control of the tumors.

Acid-base changes in ischemic myocardium and intervention with hypothermia or bicarbonate

Effects of ischemia and reperfusion on acid-base changes in relation to myocardial contractility, and the effects of correcting H+ were studied by lowering PCO2 or increasing HCO3- levels. The hearts were perfused by working heart mode and whole heart ischemia was induced by use of a one way valve followed by myocardial warming (37 degrees C, normothermia), cooling (18 degrees C, hypothermia) or warming plus 2.1 mM NaHCO3 for 15 min. The hearts were then reperfused for 20 min. Coronary effluent was collected through pulmonary artery cannulation and used for the measurement of acid-base changes. There were close correlations between the decrease in coronary flow and LV pressure, LV dP/dt. Close correlations were also observed between the decline in LV pressure and the rise in PCO2, H+, and the decline in HCO3-. A highly significant correlation was seen between H+ and lactate production. Myocardial contractility decreased to the same extent in 3 groups during ischemia, whereas its recovery rate in both the hypothermia and HCO3- -treated groups were significantly higher than in the normothermia group. The increment of H+ was significantly less in both the hypothermia and HCO3- -treated groups than in normothermia. These results indicate that lactate production is the major H+ producing source and the correction of H+ could minimize the ischemic insult and at the same time contribute to the reperfusion injury.

[Analysis of tolerable radiation dose on the oral mucosa and mandibular bone--external beam and/or brachytherapy]

Cooperative study from six institutes was made for the late radiation damage of oral mucosa and mandibular bone. Analysis was made for the selected patients with oropharyngeal cancer for external beam alone and with tongue cancer for interstitial implant. All of them were followed at least two years without recurrence having no secondary treatment after initial radiotherapy. As for external beam alone, frequency of the mucosal ulcer was not increased with high dose level, but tolerance dose for the oral mucosa was limited from associated mandibular damage. Late damages were not likely after brachytherapy alone.

[The tolerance dose of the urinary bladder]

The tolerance dose of the urinary bladder was estimated by studying the late injury of the urinary bladder in 79 cases of the carcinoma of the urinary bladder treated by external irradiation, in 253 cases of the uterine cervix treated by conformation radiotherapy technique or two-axes arc therapy combined with low-dose rate intracavitary irradiation of small doses, and 55 cases of the carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated by low-dose rate intracavitary irradiation combined with whole pelvic irradiation with the center splitter. As a result, the tolerance dose in case of radiotherapy of the carcinoma of the urinary bladder was revealed to be as low as TDF 100. The tolerance dose in case of radiotherapy of the carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated mainly by conformation radiotherapy technique or two-axes arc therapy was proved to be TDF 110-120, and treated mainly by intracavitary irradiation 120 or over.

Effect of milk protein and fat intake on blood pressure and the incidence of cerebrovascular diseases in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP)

The intake of two milk protein-rich diets containing casein and whey protein attenuated the development of severe hypertension in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP), and extended their life span in comparison with SHRSP on a regular stock diet. Milk fat-rich diet intake reduced the incidence of cerebrovascular disease in SHRSP without a significant fall in blood pressure. These results suggest that certain milk components have a preventive effect on hypertension and cerebrovascular disease in SHRSP.

Lipoprotein lipase activity in ischaemic and anoxic myocardium

Myocardial lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity during ischaemia has not been fully understood, although it plays an important role in regulating myocardial fatty acid metabolism. In this experiment, the effects of ischaemia (Experiment A) and anoxia (Experiment B) on two distinct fractions of LPL, i.e. functional and nonfunctional forms were investigated in isolated, perfused rat heart. In Experiment A, hearts were perfused by Neely-Morgan working heart mode with Krebs Henseleit bicarbonate (KHB) buffer (95% O2:5% CO2), then whole heart ischaemia was induced by using a one-way aortic valve, simultaneously switching to the same buffer but containing heparin (5 mu/ml) for 20 min. In Experiment B, the hearts were perfused by Langendorff method with KHB buffer (95% O2:5% CO2) and the buffer was switched to KHB (95% N2:5% CO2) containing heparin for 20 min. Coronary effluent was collected at 5 min intervals and used for the measurement of functional LPL activities using 3H-glyceryltrioleate. The hearts were quickly frozen at the end of perfusion and homogenized. The suspension was used for the measurement of non-functional LPL activities. In Experiment A, functional LPL activities in ischaemia were significantly lower than in the aerobic condition. On the contrary, the nonfunctional LPL activity in ischaemia was significantly higher than in the aerobic condition. In Experiment B these values were also significantly lower than in the aerobic condition. However, there was no significant difference in non-functional LPL activity between the anoxia and aerobic condition. These results indicate that there is a conversion defect from the precursor of LPL to the functional form of LPL in ischaemia, whereas disturbed LPL synthesis might be involved in anoxic myocardium.

[Left ventricular function during atrial fibrillation assessed by left ventricular function curve using ECG-gated blood pool scintigraphy]

Cardiac function is difficult to assess in patients with atrial fibrillation due to the widely fluctuating cycle lengths resulting in variable ventricular hemodynamics. With respect to ECG-gated blood pool scintigraphy, distortion of the time activity curve occurs due to a summation of irregular cycle lengths. Therefore, performing such a study has been regarded meaningless. To evaluate left ventricular function during atrial fibrillation using scintigraphic technique, a new processing algorithm was devised to make multiple gated images which are discriminated by the preceding R-R interval, and left ventricular filling and function curves were established. The left ventricular filling curve, obtained by plotting end-diastolic volume against the preceding R-R intervals demonstrated an impairment of blood filling in cases of mitral stenosis and constrictive pericarditis, which resolved after mitral commissurotomy in case of mitral stenosis. The left ventricular function curve, established by plotting stroke volume against end-diastolic volume, was analyzed according to indices such as "slope" and "position". Both of these indices were significantly reduced in relation to the severity of heart failure according to the NYHA's functional classification and cardiomegaly on chest radiography. On individual comparisons of underlying diseases, the indices decreased in the following order; lone atrial fibrillation, hyperthyroidism, aging, hypertension, mitral valve disease, ischemic heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy and aortic regurgitation. The indices correlated closely with ejection fraction. In cases of mitral regurgitation, however, the function curves were situated to the right and above those of lone atrial fibrillation and decreased in slope despite the fairly well-maintained ejection fraction. After treatment with digitalis and/or diuretics, the function curves shifted to the left and upward. In conclusion, left ventricular filling and function curves based on a newly-devised algorithm of ECG-gated blood pool scintigraphy are of considerable clinical value in evaluating cardiac performance in patients with atrial fibrillation. They are widely applicable to the assessment of therapeutic and interventional effects.

Functional and metabolic properties in hearts from aged spontaneously hypertensive rats

The effect of long-term pressure overload on myocardial functional and metabolic alterations was investigated in hearts from spontaneously hypertensive rats of 16 weeks (young SHR) and 44 weeks (aged SHR) and age matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto strain rats (young WKY, aged WKY). The hearts were perfused by working heart mode and whole heart ischemia was induced by one-way valve. Following 20 min of ischemia, the hearts were reperfused for 30 min. The heart-body weight ratio in both SHR groups was significantly higher than in the respective age-matched WKY groups. Coronary flow relative to heart weight in both SHR groups was significantly lower than that of the respective age-matched WKY during both preischemic and reperfused periods. There was no significant difference in the recovery rate of cardiac output between young and aged WKY, whereas the young and aged SHR revealed significantly less recovery than their respective age-matched WKY. Tissue creatine phosphate and energy charge in both aged groups were significantly lower than in the young groups. These results indicate that long-term pressure overload increases susceptibility to ischemia and decreases the myocardial reserve presumably resulting from relative ischemia, whereas deterioration was minimal in the normotensive aged rat heart.

[Radioresistant elements in adenocarcinoma of the uterus]

Radioresistant elements in adenocarcinoma of uterine cancer were studied using SKG-3a and HEC-59 cell lines as spheroids and monolayer culture. Dose-survival curves for monolayer cultured SKG-3a and HEC-59 cells were almost similar at acute exposure. On the other hand, as spheroids grown to 300 microns in diameter, dose-survival curves for SKG-3a cells were biphasic and those for HEC-59 were monophasic. The increased shoulder in survival curves proved the contract effect of both cells. Conventionally fractionated irradiation promoted shrinkage and disintegration of spheroids as the dose was increased. All SKG-3a spheroids were destroyed over 60 Gy, but some of HEC 59 spheroids survived over 68 Gy at the total dose. The total dose at disintegration-50% was 40 Gy in SKG-3a and 48 Gy in HEC-59 spheroids. In a comparison of single with 5-fractionated irradiation, fractionation induced an increase in radioresistance of adenocarcinoma cells. The maximum recovery-dose of HEC-59 cell as spheroids was 0.4 Gy and that of SKG-3a was 0.28 Gy. The magnitude of PLD-repair in HEC-59 cells was greater than that in SKG-3a. In conclusion, the PLD-repair and contact effect could be more important factors than the hypoxic element in the acquisition of radioresistance in adenocarcinoma cells as a solid tumor under fractionated irradiation.

[Combination therapy of radiation and schizophyllan (SPG) in C3H mouse squamous-cell carcinoma NR-S1]

The efficacy of schizophyllan, a beta-1, 3-D-glucan with a beta-1, 6-linked D-glucose residue isolated from Schizophyllum commune Fries, in combination with local radiation therapy was investigated using C3H mouse squamous-cell carcinoma NR-S1. Male C3H/He mice were implanted with 10(5) cells of NR-S1 tumor on day 0. On day 9 after implantation, mice received electron irradiation with a dose of 5,500 rads. Intramuscular injection of SPG (1.0 mg/kg and 5.0 mg/kg) was then started from the day following irradiation and repeated 15 times at one-day intervals. The antitumor effect was measured by the tumor size and survival time. Significant tumor growth suppression and prolongation of life-span were observed in the group given radiation and SPG (5.0 mg/kg) in comparison with the group which received radiation alone. In histopathological examination of irradiated tumor sites, stromal reactions accompanied by a much greater degree of cellular infiltration consisting of mainly lymphocytes were observed in the group given combined radiation and SPG (5.0 mg/kg).

Virus production and surface marker expression in human lymphocytes immortalized following dual infection with human T-cell leukemia virus and Epstein-Barr virus

By co-cultivating peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal male donors with cells from a line designated Lma-66VP, established from a female donor and simultaneously producing both HTLV-I and EBV, 2 continuous culture lines were obtained. Normal male lymphocytes were considered to be immortalized by co-cultivation because they were of male karyotype and lacked the 3q+ chromosome that was observed in all Lma-66VP cells. These immortalized cultures were designated Co-culture 1 and Co-culture 2. After prolonged cultivation, chromosome abnormalities characteristic of each co-culture line were observed in all cells examined, indicating their clonal origin. Immortalized cells initially produced both HTLV-I and EBV. Although production of EBV was not seen in the co-culture lines after prolonged cultivation when all cells examined had the characteristic chromosomal abnormality indicating their clonality, EBNA+ cells persisted. Thus, clonal cells were doubly infected by HTLV-I and EBV. While the majority of clonal cells in Lma-66VP, Co-culture 1, and Co-culture 2 lines expressed a surface marker of B-cells, small numbers of cells expressed a T-cell surface marker. These findings demonstrate that human lymphocytes immortalized following dual infection by HTLV-I and EBV exhibit chromosome rearrangement, resulting in expression of surface markers inconsistent with their differentiation lineage.

[Results of radiation therapy of nasopharyngeal cancer]

The results of irradiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in 49 patients treated at the Department of Radiology, Jikei University of Medicine, between 1968 and 1981 are reviewed. The CR rate increased in proportion to increased dosage, especially in well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The five-year cumulative survival rate was 40% in all stages. Severe late radiation injury occurred in two patients.

Clinical application of NMR-CT for idiopathic cardiomyopathy

The accuracy of a newly developed nuclear magnetic resonance-computed tomography (NMR-CT) technique in diagnosing idiopathic cardiomyopathy was assessed and compared with other procedures such as echocardiography, coronary angiography, left ventriculography, myocardial biopsy, and electrocardiography. In case 1, the NMR-CT clearly revealed thickening of the lateral ventricular free wall and ventricular septum, which strongly suggested hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Catheterization showed a pressure gradient of 54 mm Hg and this patient was diagnosed as having hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. In case 2, the NMR-CT showed dilatation of the ventricular cavity indicative of dilated cardiomyopathy. This was confirmed by echocardiography, which revealed the enlarged cavity of the ventricle and poor movement. In case 3, the patient had marked hypertension; the cardiac silhouette was enlarged, but the NMR-CT revealed that the ventricular free wall and septum were of normal thickness. This study shows that NMR-CT is of value in the differential diagnosis of idiopathic cardiomyopathy.

Oncocytic carcinoid of the lung. An ultrastructural observation

A case of a 55-year-old female patient with an oncocytic variety of carcinoid tumor of the lung is reported. Electron microscopic observation of marked hyperplasia and increase in number of mitochondria in the tumor cells suggested it to be of oncocytic variety and membrane bound electron dense granules were characteristically found in the tumor cells which were histologically diagnosed as carcinoid.

Insulin treatment and myocardial function in isolated, perfused heart from diabetic rat

Difficulty of some patients to maintain adequate cardiac output following the termination of cardiopulmonary bypass remains a significant problem in cardiac surgery. The patients with diabetes mellitus frequently fail to respond to therapy after the cardiopulmonary bypass. However, little is known about the relationship between the control of diabetes mellitus and myocardial performance. The purpose of the present study was to look at the effect of diabetes and insulin treatment upon ventricular function and myocardial microcirculation in isolated perfused rat heart. Experimental diabetes was induced by injecting streptozotocin and some of them were treated by insulin injection. Severe form of ischemia was induced in heart from acute form of diabetes and functional recovery was compared among the control, diabetic and insulin treated groups. In chronic form of diabetes, myocardial function and microcirculation which was measured by local H2 generation method were studied during aerobic perfusion and mild form of ischemic perfusion. The hearts from experimental diabetes were more susceptible to ischemia and insulin pretreatment protected the functional alterations. This beneficial effect of insulin was associated with improved glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Myocardial microcirculation in hearts from diabetes was significantly less than in control, however, this was not correctable by the insulin treatment.

[Tumor immunity induced by local radiotherapy]

The tumor-specific immunopotential was obtained by local X-irradiation to tumor under certain condition. This radiation-induced tumor-specific immunity did not effectively manifest in in vivo system due to suppressor cells. Combined effect of radiotherapy and cyclophosphamide, which reduced presuppressor cells, was examined in the murine tumor system. C3H/He mice with transplantable Fibrosarcoma was used. Tumor was locally irradiated by 8MeV Electron beam (LMT-15). Tumors were treated when they grew at 8 +/- 1 mm in size. Tumor growth curve and tumor regrowth time were studied. Suppression of tumor growth was noticed in the combined treatment group of irradiation and cyclophosphamide. Treatment of cyclophosphamide after irradiation was effective to tumor.

Decomposition of PCB's in the radio-frequency glow discharge plasmas of oxygen, hydrogen, and water vapor

A study was made on the decomposition of PCB's in a radio-frequency glow discharge plasma. PCB's were completely decomposed in plasmas of a few Torr of oxygen, hydrogen, and water vapor. Gaseous products from PCB's in an oxygen plasma were carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, hydrogen chloride, chlorine, and chlorine dioxide. Hazardous compounds such as phosgene and vinyl chloride were not detected by gc–ms analysis. The total quantity of oxygen flowed past the sample was only about three times the stoichiometric oxygen required for the perfect oxidation of PCB's. In a hydrogen plasma, PCB's gave ethane and isobutane as major gaseous products and several higher hydrocarbons as minor products. Almost all of the chlorine in PCB's was converted to hydrogen chloride. Major products from PCB's in a water vapor plasma were carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen chloride. No other products were detected. The mechanisms for reactions occurring in plasmas are discussed. The importance of the wall effect for the formation of solid products is discussed.

Effect of dietary level of sulfur-containing amino acids on liver drug-metabolizing enzymes, serum cholesterol and urinary ascorbic acid in rats fed PCB

Effects of dietary level of sulfur-containing amino acids (S-AA) on liver drug-metabolizing enzymes, serum cholesterol and ascorbic acid metabolism in growing rats fed diets containing 300 ppm of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) were investigated. Maximum gain in body weight was observed with 0.5% S-AA diets with or without PCB addition. Metabolic parameters increased by PCB were liver weight, activities of hepatic aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase, serum total cholesterol, serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum corticosterone and urinary metabolites of the glucuronic acid pathway including ascorbic acid, glucuronic acid and glucaric acid. In the PCB-treated animals, maximum values of liver weight, aminopyrine demethylase activity, serum cholesterol, serum corticosterone, urinary ascorbic acid and glucaric acid were obtained with about 0.8% S-AA. For the maximum induction of these metabolic responses, 0.5% S-AA was not enough. Urinary glucuronic acid and the ratio of lower density lipoprotein cholesterol versus high density lipoprotein cholesterol were decreased with a supplement of S-AA to PCB-containing diets.