Infections by Renibacterium salmoninarum and Nanophyetus salmincola Chapin are associated with reduced growth of juvenile Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), in the Northeast Pacific Ocean

We examined 1454 juvenile Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), captured in nearshore waters off the coasts of Washington and Oregon (USA) from 1999 to 2004 for infection by Renibacterium salmoninarum, Nanophyetus salmincola Chapin and skin metacercariae. The prevalence and intensities for each of these infections were established for both yearling and subyearling Chinook salmon. Two metrics of salmon growth, weight residuals and plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, were determined for salmon infected with these pathogens/parasites, both individually and in combination, with uninfected fish used for comparison. Yearling Chinook salmon infected with R. salmoninarum had significantly reduced weight residuals. Chinook salmon infected with skin metacercariae alone did not have significantly reduced growth metrics. Dual infections were not associated with significantly more severe effects on the growth metrics than single infections; the number of triple infections was very low and precluded statistical comparison. Overall, these data suggest that infections by these organisms can be associated with reduced juvenile Chinook salmon growth. Because growth in the first year at sea has been linked to survival for some stocks of Chinook salmon, the infections may therefore play a role in regulating these populations in the Northeast Pacific Ocean.

Growth and endocrine effects of recombinant bovine growth hormone treatment in non-transgenic and growth hormone transgenic coho salmon

To examine the relative growth, endocrine, and gene expression effects of growth hormone (GH) transgenesis vs. GH protein treatment, wild-type non-transgenic and GH transgenic coho salmon were treated with a sustained-release formulation of recombinant bovine GH (bGH; Posilac). Fish size, specific growth rate (SGR), and condition factor (CF) were monitored for 14 weeks, after which endocrine parameters were measured. Transgenic fish had much higher growth, SGR and CF than non-transgenic fish, and bGH injection significantly increased weight and SGR in non-transgenic but not transgenic fish. Plasma salmon GH concentrations decreased with bGH treatment in non-transgenic but not in transgenic fish where levels were similar to controls. Higher GH mRNA levels were detected in transgenic muscle and liver but no differences were observed in GH receptor (GHR) mRNA levels. In non-transgenic pituitary, GH and GHR mRNA levels per mg pituitary decreased with bGH dose to levels seen in transgenic salmon. Plasma IGF-I was elevated with bGH dose only in non-transgenic fish, while transgenic fish maintained an elevated level of IGF-I with or without bGH treatment. A similar trend was seen for liver IGF-I mRNA levels. Thus, bGH treatment increased fish growth and influenced feedback on endocrine parameters in non-transgenic but not in transgenic fish. A lack of further growth stimulation of GH transgenic fish suggests that these fish are experiencing maximal growth stimulation via GH pathways.

Previtellogenic oocyte growth in salmon: relationships among body growth, plasma insulin-like growth factor-1, estradiol-17beta, follicle-stimulating hormone and expression of ovarian genes for insulin-like growth factors, steroidogenic-acute regulatory protein and receptors for gonadotropins, growth hormone, and somatolactin

Body growth during critical periods is known to be an important factor in determining the age of maturity and fecundity in fish. However, the endocrine mechanisms controlling oogenesis in fish and the effects of growth on this process are poorly understood. In this study interactions between the growth and reproductive systems were examined by monitoring changes in various components of the FSH-ovary axis, plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1), and ovarian gene expression in relation to body and previtellogenic oocyte growth in coho salmon. Samples were collected from females during two hypothesized critical periods when growth influences maturation in this species. Body growth during the fall-spring months was strongly related to the degree of oocyte development, with larger fish possessing more advanced oocytes than smaller, slower growing fish. The accumulation of cortical alveoli in the oocytes was associated with increases in plasma and pituitary FSH, plasma estradiol-17beta, and ovarian steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (star) gene expression, whereas ovarian transcripts for growth hormone receptor and somatolactin receptor decreased. As oocytes accumulated lipid droplets, a general increase occurred in plasma Igf1 and components of the FSH-ovary axis, including plasma FSH, estradiol-17beta, and ovarian mRNAs for gonadotropin receptors, star, igf1, and igf2. A consistent positive relationship between plasma Igf1, estradiol-17beta, and pituitary FSH during growth in the spring suggests that these factors are important links in the mechanism by which body growth influences the rate of oocyte development.

Comprehension and storage of four serially presented radio news stories by mild aphasic subjects

The present study investigated aphasic subjects' ability to comprehend and store serially presented discourse. Sixteen mild aphasic subjects, eight age-matched normals, and eight younger normals listened to four serially presented radio news stories and a single radio news story. Half of the aphasic subjects performed as well as age-matched normals in a single-news-story comprehension task. However, they demonstrated a drastic deterioration in performance when asked to listen to a series of four news stories. Age-matched normals, and aphasic subjects, to a lesser extent, showed an impairment in the comprehension and storage of the news story heard last in a series of four news stories. These results were discussed in terms of the comprehension and storage resources of working memory.

Electromagnetic field induced changes in lipid second messengers

Initial studies with a human hematopoietic cell line, TF-1, suggest multifarious effects of electromagnetic fields on lipid signal transduction. We have examined the effects of pulsed magnetic fields (2 T, 84 microseconds zero-to-peak haversine, 91 V/m induced electric field) on the cell cycle by flow cytometry. A 31% increase of cells in the G1 phase occurred concurrently with a 35% decrease of cells in S-phase, which suggests that doses of 30 or 40 pulses have an anti-proliferative effect. Changes in the lipid second messengers, diacylglycerol (DAG) and phosphatidic acid (PA) with stimuli of 2 T intensity were also dependent on the number of pulses. DAG production doubled with 30 pulses and tripled with 40 pulses, and PA levels were reduced to one third and one tenth of the original levels. Phospholipase D (PLD) up-regulation was assessed directly by the capacity of PLD to catalyze transphosphatidylation in the presence of alcohol. [3H]Phosphatidylethanol formed rapidly and continued to increase with concomitant decreases in [3H]PA and parallel generation of [3H]DAG. Propranolol, an inhibitor of PA phosphohydrolase, inhibited the formation of DAG in a dose-dependent manner with a marked increase in PA production. Examination of the kinetics of formation of [3H]choline and [3H]phosphocholine at different times after stimulation showed a rapid and consistent increase in [3H]choline, whereas [3H]phosphocholine increase was evident only 60 min after stimulation. Magnetic exposure also caused a shift in some molecular species patterns of DAG and PA which could be correlated with phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine molecular species decreases. Therefore, we propose that the PC-PLC pathway may be temporarily inactivated for a short period of time by exposure to pulsed stimuli, and the PC-PLD pathway is up-regulated based on: (1) cellular release of [3H]choline; (2) rapid intracellular formation of [3H]PA followed by [3H]DAG; (3)active transphosphatidylation; and (4) blockade of DAG formation by propranolol.

Dexniguldipine hydrochloride inhibits growth of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and expression of protein kinase C isoforms alpha and zeta

New therapeutic regimens are needed for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. In view of the importance of protein kinase C (PKC) in tumorigenesis, we evaluated the effects of dexniguldipine hydrochloride (DNIG) on the in vitro growth of CFPAC-1 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and the expression of PKC isoforms. DNIG is a potent antineoplastic drug with well-established anti-PKC activity and the ability to reverse multidrug resistance. DNIG (1.6-25 mu M) decreased the number of cells in culture in a time- and dose-dependent manner with an EC(50) of 4.9 mu M on day 1 and 2.8 mu M on day 3. When PKC isoform expression in CFPAC-1 cells was analyzed by immunoblotting, the predominant isoforms were identified as alpha and zeta. The expression of PKC alpha and zeta was inhibited significantly by DNIG (0.63-2.5 mu M). These results suggest that DNIG suppresses the proliferation of CFPAC-1 pancreatic cancer cells, possibly by inhibiting the expression of specific PKC isoforms.

Dexniguldipine hydrochloride inhibits growth of human ht-29 colon-carcinoma cells and expression of protein-kinase-C-delta and protein-kinase-C-zeta

Previous studies have implicated protein kinase C (PKC) in colon carcinogenesis, but a clear understanding of the role of PKC in colon cancer is lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dexniguldipine hydrochloride (DNIG) on the in vitro growth of HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells and the expression of PKC isoforms. DNIG is a selective inhibitor of PKC that binds specifically to the regulatory region and is also a potent antineoplastic drug with an ability to reverse multidrug resistance. DNIG (1.6-25 mu M) decreased the number of HT-29 cells in culture in a time- and dose-dependent manner with an EC(50) of 1.4 mu M on day 3. Predominant PKC isoforms expressed in HT-29 cells were identified as Delta and zeta by immunoblotting. The expression of PKC Delta and zeta was inhibited significantly by DNIG (0.16-1.25 mu M). These results suggest that the suppression of the growth of HT-29 colon carcinoma cells by DNIG involves the inhibition of the expression of PKC Delta and zeta.

In vivo and in vitro erythropoietin activities in cultures of a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line

The present studies were undertaken to characterize erythropoietin (Ep) production in an Ep-producing hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B) cell line. Hep3B cells which had been maintained in culture were transplanted under the renal capsule and subcutaneously in nude mice. The Hep3B xenograft doubling time is approximately 7 days. The mean hematocrit value of the Hep3B tumor-bearing nude mice was 33.2 +/- 1.1% (n = 8), which was significantly lower than that of control nongrafted nude mice (40.8 +/- 1.7%, n = 5). The Hep3B tumor-bearing nude mice showed significantly higher Ep levels in the sera (37.5 +/- 5.5 munits/ml, n = 8) than control nude mice (13.5 +/- 2.7 munits/ml, n = 5). Ep levels in the sera were correlated (R = 0.714) with the total Ep in the tumor extracts, whereas no Ep was detectable in any of the kidney extracts. On the other hand, an inverse linear relationship (R = -0.811) between the hematocrit values and Ep levels in the sera was demonstrated in the Hep3B tumor-bearing nude mice. The Hep3B cells recultured after growing in the nude mice were capable of enhancing Ep production in response to hypoxia, very similar to the original Hep3B cells which had been maintained in culture during the same time period. In addition, 15-methyl-prostaglandin E1 at a concentration range of 4-400 ng/ml produced significant increases in Ep secretion and cAMP accumulation in Hep3B cultures under hypoxic conditions (1% O2). The Ep produced by Hep3B cells expressed 3.7 times higher in vitro bioactivity than immunoactivity. The bioactivity of Hep3B Ep was completely neutralized by an antibody to highly purified human recombinant Ep. In contrast, the in vivo bioactivity of the Hep3B Ep was less than one tenth of its immunoactivity. These results indicate that the Hep3B tumor-bearing nude mice and the in vitro Hep3B culture system may provide a reproducible model system which should be useful for studies of the mechanism of Ep production.

Arachidonic acid metabolism in gill homogenate and isolated gill cells from rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss: the effect of osmolality, electrolytes and prolactin

An assay method based on thin layer chromatography to study the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in gill tissues was optimized and the effect of osmotically different incubation mediums on AA metabolism was evaluated. Rainbow trout gill tissues metabolize AA into PGE2 in highest concentration followed by PGD2, PGF2α and 6-keto-PGF1α (the stable metabolite of PGI2) among the prostanoids tested. Approximately 40% of PGE2 is synthesized within the first minute of incubation and is directly dependent on the substrate concentration (AA). As in mammalian tissues, PGE2 synthesis in fish gills is inhibited by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. PGE2 synthesis in gill homogenate and isolated gill cells incubated in trout Ringer was 0.45 and 1.9 ng/mg protein, respectively, and increased to 8.9 and 4.3 ng/mg protein, respectively, when incubated in KPO4 buffer, due to a ten-fold increase in the free AA. The hydroxy acid synthesis of the gill homogenate was higher (13%), and that of the isolated gill cells incubated in KPO4 buffer was lower (44%) compared to gill homogenate and cells incubated in trout Ringer. Gill homogenate incubated in 50 mM phosphate buffer with increasing sodium or potassium concentrations (up to 250 mM) exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in PGE2 synthesis (220% and 72%, respectively). Prolactin stimulated the PGE2 synthesis up to 30% while PGD2, PGF2α and 6-keto-PGF1α synthesis was not affected. This effect of prolactin was maximal when PGE2 synthesis was estimated 30 minutes after prolactin addition and diminished after two hours. These results suggest that rainbow trout gills possess the ability to metabolize AA through the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. PGE2 synthesis may be under the influence of ion balance and prolactin availability, indicating the probable involvement of AA metabolites in the regulation of ion balances across the gill membrane.

Increased erythropoietin secretion in human hepatoma cells by N6-cyclohexyladenosine

The present studies were undertaken to assess the direct effects of N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA), a stable adenosine analogue, on erythropoietin (Ep) secretion in hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Hep 3B). Ep levels in the medium of low density Hep 3B cells treated with CHA in concentrations of 10(-5) and 5 x 10(-5) M for 20 h under hypoxic conditions (1% O2) were significantly higher than that of hypoxic controls. In addition, CHA at the same concentrations produced significant increases in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels in Hep 3B cells after 1-h incubation under hypoxic conditions when compared with hypoxic controls. Dibutyryl cAMP (10(-5), 10(-4) M) also caused significant increases in Ep secretion when compared with control hypoxic cells. On the other hand, 8-phenyltheophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist, significantly inhibited the stimulatory effects of CHA on both Ep secretion and cAMP accumulation in the Hep 3B cell cultures in response to hypoxia. These data suggest that Ep secretion may be regulated by adenosine receptor-coupled activation of adenylyl cyclase and the generation of cAMP.

Polyamines in the anemia of end-stage renal disease

The improvement in the anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) suggests that dialyzable substances present in the sera of uremic patients either inhibit erythropoiesis directly or inactivate erythropoietin (EPO). In the present study predialysis sera from patients with ESRD inhibited erythroid colony (CFU-E) (N = 10) formation to a significantly (P less than 0.01) greater degree than granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) (N = 7) colony formation in mouse bone marrow (MBM) cultures. The polyamines spermine (SP) (18 to 560 nm/ml) and spermidine (SD) (4 to 648 nm/ml) exerted a more significant (P less than 0.05) inhibition of CFU-E (N greater than or equal to 5) than that of CFU-GM (N greater than or equal to 5) growth. Concentrations of 0.80, 1.0, and 1.5 nm/ml of putrescine (PU) were 92%, 85%, and 77% of erythroid colony (CFU-E) controls (N = 4) and 104%, 130%, and 127% of CFU-GM controls (N = 4). Putrescine (PU) at 1.5 nm/ml also produced a significant (P less than 0.05) inhibition of CFU-E, whereas CFU-GM were stimulated by PU. These data suggest that predialysis sera from uremic patients, as well as SP, SD, and PU, are selectively more inhibitory to CFU-E than CFU-GM growth. The immunoreactivity of EPO was not significantly changed when it was coincubated with SP, SD and PU and measured by radioimmunoassay. PU was found to inhibit noncompetitively the bioactivity of EPO in a CFU-E assay. These data support the hypothesis that polyamines may be important uremic toxins in the anemia of ESRD.

Increased secretion of erythropoietin in human renal carcinoma cells in response to atrial natriuretic factor

The present studies were undertaken to assess the effects of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on erythropoietin (Ep) secretion in Ep-producing renal carcinoma (RC) cells using a sensitive radioimmunoassay for Ep. Human ANF produced a significant dose-related increase in Ep secretion at concentrations of 10(-7) and 10(-6) M when compared with vehicle controls. ANF (greater than or equal to 10(-9) M) also significantly increased the intracellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) concentration after 5-min incubation with the RC cells. Scatchard analysis of the human 125I-labeled ANF binding data indicated that the RC cells contain a single class of binding sites with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 93 +/- 1 pM and a binding capacity of 2,190 +/- 750 sites/cell. Incubation of the RC cells with 8-bromo-cGMP in concentrations of 10(-7)-10(-5) M also produced a significant dose-related enhancement of Ep secretion. These findings suggest that the increase in Ep secretion in response to ANF can be attributed, at least in part, to activation of guanylate cyclase, which is coupled to specific ANF receptors on the RC cell.

Enhanced erythropoietin secretion in hepatoblastoma cells in response to hypoxia

Erythropoietin (Ep) levels in spent culture media of a Hep G2 human hepatoblastoma cell line were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA), fetal mouse liver erythroid colony formation (FMLC), and the exhypoxic polycythemic mouse assay (EHPCMA). The Hep G2 cells at high density produced approximately 700 mU/ml Ep when measured with the RIA. On the other hand, the Ep levels when assayed in EHPCMA and FMLC were 50 and 2,600 mU/ml, respectively. The bioactivity in FMLC was completely neutralized by an antibody to purified human recombinant Ep, indicating that the erythropoietic activity in the Hep G2 spent culture medium was immunologically equivalent to Ep. Ep levels in the medium from low-density Hep G2 cells in 5% O2 and 1% O2 were 2.5- and 4-fold greater, respectively, than that of 20% O2. In contrast, hyperoxia (40% O2) significantly inhibited Ep production. A significant increase in Ep secretion was also observed when the cells were incubated with cobaltous chloride (2 X 10(-6) -2.5 X 10(-4) M). Tunicamycin (0.5 micrograms/ml), which inhibits N-linked glycosylation, significantly reduced the enhancement of Ep secretion induced by hypoxia (1% O2) without affecting cell growth. Forskolin and cholera toxin, each of which increased the levels of cyclic AMP in the Hep G2 cells by 40-fold, produced a significant (P less than 0.05) further increase in Ep secretion in the presence of hypoxia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A1 and A2 adenosine receptor regulation of erythropoietin production

The effects of adenosine (ADE) and ADE agonists on erythropoietin (Ep) production were determined using percent (%) 59Fe incorporation in red cells of exhypoxic polycythemic mice. The hemisulfate salt of ADE produced a significant increase in % 59Fe incorporation in response to hypoxia in concentrations of 400 to 1600 nmol/kg/day (i.v.). 5'-N-ethyl-carboxamideadenosine (NECA), a selective A2 receptor agonist, increased radioiron incorporation in a dose-dependent manner (10-100 nmol/kg/day, i.v.). In contrast, N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA), a selective A1 receptor agonist, did not affect radioiron incorporation in concentrations up to 1600 nmol/kg/day (i.v.). Albuterol, a beta 2-adrenergic agonist, enhanced % 59Fe incorporation in polycythemic mice and low doses of CHA (50 and 100 nmol/kg/day), which were not effective alone on % 59Fe incorporation in polycythemic mice exposed to hypoxia, inhibited the enhancement in radioiron induced by albuterol (25 and 100 micrograms/kg/day, i.p.) plus hypoxia. Theophylline (20 and 80 mg/kg/day, i.p.), a well-known antagonist of ADE receptors, blocked the ADE and NECA enhancement in radioiron incorporation at a dose of theophylline alone which produced only a slight enhancement of % 59Fe incorporation. These results suggest that ADE may both inhibit through A1 receptor activation and increase via A2 receptor stimulation the production of Ep.

Comparative effects of inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism on erythropoiesis

The effects of a variety of inhibitors of the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway have been tested on the growth of early erythroid progenitor cell-derived colonies (CFU-E and BFU-E) in an attempt to discern whether products of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway or lipoxygenase pathway are essential for erythropoiesis. Murine erythroid progenitor cells obtained from fetal livers were cultured in the presence of erythropoietin for CFU-E and of interleukin 3 for BFU-E colony formation in response to the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, aspirin or sodium meclofenamate, and the lipoxygenase inhibitors, BW755C, nordihydroguiaretic acid (NDGA), phenidone, and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). The most potent inhibitor of colony formation (both CFU-E and BFU-E) was the selective lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW755C, followed by NDGA, phenidone and BHA. Neither aspirin nor sodium meclofenamate (10(-4) - 10(-6)M) significantly (p less than 0.05) inhibited CFU-E or BFU-E formation. These results support the hypothesis that lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism may be essential for erythroid cell proliferation/differentiation.

Time warp operating system

This paper describes the Time Warp Operating System, under development for three years at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the Caltech Mark III Hypercube multi-processor. Its primary goal is concurrent execution of large, irregular discrete event simulations at maximum speed. It also supports any other distributed applications that are synchronized by virtual time.

The Time Warp Operating System includes a complete implementation of the Time Warp mechanism, and is a substantial departure from conventional operating systems in that it performs synchronization by a general distributed process rollback mechanism. The use of general rollback forces a rethinking of many aspects of operating system design, including programming interface, scheduling, message routing and queueing, storage management, flow control, and commitment.

In this paper we review the mechanics of Time Warp, describe the TWOS operating system, show how to construct simulations in object-oriented form to run under TWOS, and offer a qualitative comparison of Time Warp to the Chandy-Misra method of distributed simulation. We also include details of two benchmark simulations and preliminary measurements of time-to-completion, speedup, rollback rate, and antimessage rate, all as functions of the number of processors used.

Problems with 20 or more blood transfusions in 24 hours

The case records of 128 patients receiving 129 transfusions of 20 or more units of blood within a 24-hour period at Detroit Receiving Hospital, between August 1980 and August 1985, were reviewed. In patients receiving 20 to 49 units of blood, without pre-existing disease or prolonged shock, the mortality rate was 36 per cent (15/42). In similar patients who had prolonged shock, the mortality rate was 61 per cent (27/44). If the patient had pre-existing disease and prolonged shock, the mortality rate with 20 to 49 units of blood was 92 per cent (12/13). All 13 patients receiving 50 or more units of blood died. Platelet counts were less than 50,000/microL in 50 per cent (51/102). The prothrombin time (PT) was prolonged by 5 or more seconds in 54 per cent (51/92). The partial thromboplastin time (PTT) was prolonged to more than 60 seconds in 45 per cent (42/94). There was no correlation between the PT, PTT, and amount of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) given. A coagulopathy was diagnosed clinically in 43 patients, but this did not correlate well with laboratory coagulation studies. The average core temperature of the patients was 32.9 +/- 1.7 C. Severe hypocalcemia with total calcium levels less than 6.0 mg/dL was found in 53 per cent (33/62). Ionized calcium levels Ca++ were less than 0.70 mmol/L in 56 per cent (24/43). Of the 82 deaths, 32 (38%) occurred in the operating room and 31 (38%) occurred within 48 hours from continued bleeding and/or shock. Twelve deaths (15%), from severe infections, occurred after 30 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Erythropoietin and inhibitors of in vitro erythropoiesis in the development of anemia in children with renal disease

The relative roles of erythropoietin and potential inhibitors of erythropoiesis in the development of anemia in children with renal disease have been studied. Thirty-five children with renal disease of varied origins and severity were compared with 30 children with anemia of similar severity and with normal renal function. Serum erythropoietin was measured by radioimmunoassay; erythroid (CFU-E) and granulocytic (CFU-GM) progenitor cell growth were assessed in fetal mouse liver cell and normal human bone marrow cell cultures, respectively. The degree of serum inhibition of in vitro CFU-E growth in children with renal disease correlated with both creatinine clearance (r = 0.59, P less than 0.001) and hematocrit level (r = 0.55, P less than 0.005). Serum from children with renal disease inhibited in vitro CFU-E growth in a dose-related manner. Normal serum did not inhibit CFU-E growth in culture. The mean serum erythropoietin concentration was significantly (P less than 0.025) higher in children with anemia of renal disease (32.4 +/- 2.4 mU/ml) in comparison with serum values in normal children (19.6 +/- 1.5 mU/ml), but serum erythropoietin levels did not correlate with hematocrit level, creatinine clearance, or serum inhibition of in vitro erythropoiesis. In contrast, children with anemia and normal renal function showed a significant (P less than 0.001) linear increase in serum erythropoietin concentration (range 28.7 to 327 mU/ml), increased reticulocyte count, and stimulation of CFU-E formation with decreasing hematocrit levels. Coincubation of human urinary erythropoietin in the presence of serum from patients with uremia revealed markedly less immunoreactivity in the radioimmunoassay and less biologic activity in the fetal mouse liver CFU-E assay for erythropoietin than when erythropoietin was incubated with normal human serum, suggesting some alteration of erythropoietin in the presence of uremic serum, which reduced both the immunologic and biologic activity of erythropoietin. Normal and uremic sera inhibited CFU-GM growth to the same degree in comparison with controls. In conclusion, relative erythropoietin deficiency, direct alteration in the biologic activity of erythropoietin by uremic toxins, and serum inhibition of erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow are probably important factors in the pathogenesis of anemia in children with renal disease.

Erythropoietin production in a primary culture of human renal carcinoma cells maintained in nude mice

The present studies report erythropoietin (Ep) production in primary cultures of a human renal carcinoma from a patient with erythrocytosis that has been serially transplanted to BALB/c nude mice. The levels of erythropoietin in the culture media were estimated using the exhypoxic polycythemic mouse assay (EHPCMA), fetal mouse liver erythroid colony-forming technique (FMLC), and a radioimmunoassay (RIA). The spent culture media of the exponentially growing cells contained less than 10 mU/ml of Ep measured by RIA. However, after the cells became confluent, Ep levels (RIA) in the spent media showed a marked increase to approximately 300 mU/ml. Ep levels estimated using the FMLC and EHPCMA were approximately 2/3 and 1/10, respectively, of those measured by RIA. Rabbit antiserum to highly purified human urinary Ep (70,400 U/mg protein) was utilized for immunocytochemical (peroxidase-antiperoxidase method) localization of Ep in the cultured cells. Very few of the cells in exponential growth exhibited Ep-like immunoreactivity, whereas intense Ep-like immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm of the cells maintained in culture for a prolonged period after reaching confluency. The most intense staining was observed in some of the cells forming domes. The domes developed after the cells reached confluency, and their numbers increased with increasing time in confluent culture, in parallel with the increase in Ep levels in the spent media. This primary cell culture system of a renal cell carcinoma maintained in nude mice, which produces immunologically and biologically active Ep, may provide a useful model for studies of the mechanism of Ep production.

Prostanoid activation of erythropoiesis

A model is proposed for the role of the kidney in the control of erythropoietin production in which the initial trigger is an oxygen deficit created by anemia, hypobaria or ischemia. It is postulated that hypoxia creates a decrease in the oxygen level in a critical renal sensor cell, perhaps in the glomerular tuft, which eventually leads to the production of prostacyclin. It is possible that the endothelial cell in the glomerular tuft responds to this oxygen deficit to produce prostacyclin to trigger erythropoietin production. Recent studies on prostaglandin synthesis by human isolated glomeruli indicate that the most abundant prostanoid synthesized by the glomerular tuft cells was 6-keto PGF1 alpha, a metabolite of prostacyclin (PGI2). PGI2 has also been reported to be produced by isolated vascular endothelial cells. The mechanism by which hypoxia may initiate the synthesis and/or release of prostaglandins and prostacyclin in the renal cell has not been elucidated. Significant to erythropoietin production is the production by hypoxia of prostacyclin which eventually leads to the production of the metabolite 6-keto PGE1. We further propose that 6-keto PGE1 is the prostanoid which activates a specific cell membrane adenylate cyclase, causing the conversion of ATP to cyclic AMP. This is a very critical step in that there must be a sufficient amount of ATP remaining to generate cyclic AMP in order for erythropoietin biosynthesis to occur with the reduced level of ATP which may have caused a perturbation of the cell membrane. The elevated cyclic AMP leads to the activation of protein kinases which are essential in phosphorylating the lysosomal hydrolases released by hypoxia into the cytosol of the cell and may be the precursors of erythropoietin. Neutral proteases and lysosomal hydrolases, documented triggers of erythropoietin production, have been demonstrated to be elevated in the kidney after hypoxia. The mechanism of labilization and release of these enzymes from the renal lysosomes has been postulated to be related to increases in cyclic GMP levels in a renal cell. Hypoxia causes the release of renal lysosomal hydrolases which then undergo phosphorylation through activation by protein kinases following prostanoid stimulation of renal adenylate cyclase to generate cyclic AMP, resulting in increased biosynthesis of erythropoietin.

beta-Adrenergic blockade of prostaglandin E2- and D2-induced erythroid colony formation

beta-Adrenergic receptors have been linked to the actions of beta-adrenergic agonists as well as that of other hormones on erythroid cells. In the present studies, arachidonic acid, the precursor for the endoperoxide intermediates for prostaglandins, was demonstrated to produce a significant increase in erythroid colony (CFU-E) formation in normal mouse bone marrow cultures. Meclofenamate, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor drug that inhibits prostaglandins synthesis, significantly inhibited the increase in CFU-E colony-forming cells produced by arachidonic acid, thus establishing that arachidonic acid was probably converted to some prostaglandin or prostaglandin metabolite in the bone marrow to trigger CFU-E. Prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and D2 (PGD2), both of which have been demonstrated to be produced in the bone marrow, were found in the present studies to increase the number of CFU-E colonies in normal mouse bone marrow cultures. DL-Propranolol, a beta 1, beta 2-adrenergic blocking agent, and D-propranolol, a non-beta-blocking isomer with nonspecific membrane stabilizing effects, both produced a significant (P less than 0.01) inhibition of the effects of PGE2 or PGD2 on CFU-E in murine bone marrow cultures. Butoxamine, a somewhat selective beta 2-adrenergic antagonist drug, also produced a significant inhibition of the effects of PGE2 on CFU-E in murine marrow cultures. These results indicate that the effects of beta-adrenergic blocking agents on prostaglandin-stimulated CFU-E are due to their membrane-stabilizing action rather than specific beta-adrenergic blockade.

Erythropoietin production in human renal carcinoma cells passaged in nude mice and in tissue culture

Renal cell carcinoma tissues from two patients, one with and one without erythrocytosis, were successfully transplanted into athymic nude mice. Transplantations of the erythrocytic tumor through six successive generations of nude mice produced a significant (P less than 0.001) elevation in mean hematocrit from 36.5 +/- 2.1% (range 32-42%) to 53.7 +/- 5.1% (range 40-63%), in comparison with a non-erythrocytic tumor which showed a progressive fall in hematocrit from 46.5 +/- 2.0% (range 41-50%) to 36.8 +/- 1.6% (range 33-40%). Non-grafted control nude mice maintained stable hematocrit levels from an initial level of 45 +/- 0.5% to 46.5 +/- 1.2% when studied over the same time interval. Similarly red cell mass values in the mice transplanted with the erythrocytic tumor (5.04 +/- 1.85 ml/100 g) were considerably higher than in both the non-grafted nude mice (3.39 +/- 0.81 ml/100 g) and the non-erythrocytic tumor-grafted mice (3.8 +/- 0.3 ml/100 g) after 6 generations of transplants. Plasma erythropoietin levels in the erythrocytic tumor-grafted mice (169.4 +/- 83.1 mU/ml) were significantly (P less than 0.02) higher than in the non-grafted controls (22.2 +/- 9.5 mU/ml), and furthermore the erythropoietin levels in the tumor extracts were significantly (P less than 0.02) higher in the tumors from erythrocytic mice (range 54.7 to 234.6 mU/g tumor) than in the tumors from non-erythrocytic mice (range 0.3 to 1.9 mU/g tumor). In vitro monolayer cultures of these tumors confirmed the higher erythropoietin levels in the erythrocytic renal carcinoma (138 mU/ml) as compared with culture media of non-erythrocytic tumors (15-91 mU/ml) using the fetal mouse liver assay (59Fe incorp. into heme). The present studies indicate autonomous erythropoietin production by human renal cell carcinomas both in vivo in nude mice and in vitro in tissue cultures.

Erythropoietin-independent erythroid colony formation in patients with erythroleukaemia (M6) and related disorders

In vitro erythropoietin (Ep) responsiveness of human bone marrow mononuclear cells was determined in 12 normal human volunteers and four patients with erythroleukemia (EL), two patients with refractory anaemia with excess blasts (RAEB), and one patient with de novo acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML). The bone marrow cells were cultured in a microtitre methylcellulose system containing 30% human AB serum and human urinary Ep in concentrations ranging from 0 to 2 units/ml. Erythroid colony growth from normal marrow cultures was Ep-dependent. It was augmented by added Ep and inhibited by Ep antiserum. Marrow cells from one patient with EL and one patient with RAEB after transformation to AML had no erythroid colony formation with or without added Ep. All of the remaining patients formed 'spontaneous' or endogenous erythroid colonies (EEC) without the addition of Ep. In three of these (two with EL and one with de novo AML), the erythroid colony formation was augmented by added Ep. In three other patients (one with EL and two with RAEB), erythroid colony growth was unaffected by added Ep or Ep antiserum, and thus appeared to be Ep-independent.

Mixed myeloid-Lymphoid colonies in a patient with polycythemia vera

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a patient with polycythemia vera were cultured in a methylcellulose system employing human serum. Electron microscopy documented the appearance of mixed colonies containing lymphocytes, granulocytes, megakaryocytes, and erythrocytes. In vitro culture characteristics were similar to those seen for other patients with polycythemia ver, ie, colonies grew in the absence of added erythropoietin or other pathway-specific regulators. Plating efficiency was linearly related to the number of cells plated, which supports the concept that each colony arose from a single cell. The appearance of mixed myeloid-lymphoid colonies points to the existence of a primitive stem cell capable of giving rise to multiple hematopoietic cell lines.

Effects of beta adrenergic agents and prostaglandin E1 on erythroid colony (CFU-E) growth and cyclic AMP formation in Friend erythroleukemic cells

The formation of erythroid colonies from bone marrow and spleen cells infected with the polycythemic strain of the Friend virus (FV-P) was characterized in an in vitro methyl cellulose colony-forming system in response to prostaglandin E1 and the beta-2 adrenergic agonist, albuterol. Both drugs markedly inhibited the formation of CFU-E colonies of FV-P-infected bone marrow and spleen in the absence or presence of erythropoietin. The albuterol-mediated inhibition of CFU-E colonies (FV-P-infected) was selectively blocked by butoxamine, a beta-2 antagonist. Adenylate cyclase (AC) activity was also determined in FV-P spleen membrane preparations in response to albuterol and PGE1. Both agents stimulated enzyme activity, and butoxamine blocked the stimulation seen with albuterol. The ability of albuterol and PGE1 to stimulate AC activity in the FV-P-infected cells suggests that the effects of these agents on CFU-E formation may be mediated by specific beta-2 adrenergic and PG receptors through the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system.

Decreased erythroid colony-forming cell response of XTfm/Y mice to testosterone and 5 beta-dihydrotestosterone

Although certain tissue of XTfm/Y mice are known to be deficient in androgen-binding sites, the defect has not been documented for bone marrow. To study the bone marrow response to testosterone and its metabolites, we compared the responses of the erythroid colony-forming cell (CFU-E) in these mice and their wild counter-parts, XTa/Y mice, using an in vitro methyl cellulose system in the presence of erythropoietin. Testosterone or 5 beta-dihydrotestosterone (5 beta-DHT) treatment (5 mg/kg) of Ta/Y mice in vivo before femoral bone marrow culture resulted in a significant increase in CFU-E colonies. However, similar in vivo treatment of Tfm/Y mice with testosterone or 5 beta-DHT had no effect on CFU-E colony formation. 5 alpha-DHT had no significant effect on Ta/Y or Tfm/Y mouse bone marrow. Testosterone or 5 beta-DHT added directly to Ta/Y marrow cultures caused an enhancement of CFU-E colony numbers compared with erythropoietin alone. 5 alpha-DHT inhibited colony formation at high concentrations. Testosterone had no effect on Tfm/Y erythroid colonies, whereas 5 beta-DHT and 5 alpha-DHT significantly inhibited colony formation. These results indicate that Tfm/Y erythroid bone marrow colonies may have an altered response to testosterone and its metabolites compared to that of Ta/Y erythroid colonies. We postulate that the pattern of androgen receptors in the erythroid progenitor cell compartment of Tfm/Y mice is different from that of Ta/Y mice.

Changes in beta-2 adrenergic receptor sensitivity with maturation of erythroid progenitor cells

Erythroid burst forming units (BFU-E) were much more sensitive to the beta-2 selective adrenergic drug, salbutamol, than erythroid colony forming units (CFU-E) in an in vitro study of erythroid progenitor cells.

Influence of albuterol on erythropoietin production and erythroid progenitor cell activation

The effect of albuterol, a potent beta2-adrenergic agonist, on kidney production of erythropoietin (Ep) was studied. Its effects on erythroid colony (CFU-E) formation in vitro in rabbit bone marrow cultures were also assessed. Albuterol produced a significant increase in plasma Ep levels in conscious rabbits following 7 h intravenous infusion (50 (microgram/kg)/min). This effect was blocked by pretreatment of the rabbits with butoxamine (5 mg/kg ip), a potent beta2-adrenergic blocker. Albuterol in doses of 10(-10) to 10(-8) M in combination with Ep was also found to produce a significant increase in the numbers of CFU-E in the plasma clot culture system of rabbit bone marrow. This effect was blocked completely by DL-propranolol (10(-8) M) and by butoxamine (10(-8) M). The data presented suggest that albuterol, a potent activator of beta2-adrenergic receptors, increases kidney production of Ep in vivo and also produces a direct effect in combination with Ep on the proliferation of the erythroid progenitor cell compartment.

Piccolyte investments for better section cutting

Piccolyte 115 (beta-pinence polymers) added to Tissuemat, Paraplast or Peel-Away embedding media is recommended for investment of infiltrated tissues. Mixed with paraffin at 3% and 10% and used for double embedding of paraffin infiltrated tissues, Piccolyte 115 permits good, complete sections virtually free of folds or wrinkles in less time and with less effort than with paraffin embedding alone.

Stimulation of osmotic water flow in toad bladder by prostaglandin E1. Evidence for different compartments of cyclic AMP

The effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on osmotic water flow across toad bladder and cyclic AMP content of the mucosal epithelial cells has been determined under basal conditions and in the presence of either theophylline or antidiuretic hormone (ADH); Under basal conditions and with PGE1 concentrations from 10(-8) to 10(-5) M no evidence of stimulation of water flow was observed, and with 10(-7) M PGE1 a significant inhibition was foundmcyclic AMP content under control conditions was 8 pmol/mg protein. It was 9 at 10(-8) M PGE1, 13 at 10(-7) M, 16 at 10(-6) M, and 23 at 10(-5) M. In the presence of theophylline, 10(-8) and 10(-7) M PGE1 inhibited the theophylline-induced water flow as expected. In contrast, 10(-6) and 10(-5) M PGE1 enhanced the rate of water flow. Theophylline increased cyclic AMP content from 8 to 18 pmol/mg protein. PGE1 in the presence of theophylline caused marked increases in cyclic AMP content; The content was 23 at 10(-7) M, 41 at 10(-6) M, and 130 at 10(-5) M; Thus PGE1 stimulates theophylline-induced water flow at cyclic AMP concentrations somewhere between 23 and 41 pmol/mg. Further evidence along these lines was obtained from experiments in which the effects of PGE1 on ADH-induced water flow were studied. Inhibitory effects of PGE1 were not observed at concentrations of PGE1 which raised the level of intracellular cyclic AMP to 30 pmol/mg protein or higher. These results were obtained despite the fact that all four concentrations of PGE1 tested were found capable of inhibiting ADH-induced water flow under appropriate conditions or, in other words, were inhibiting the adenylate cyclase controlling water flow, Thus the increase in cyclic AMP content in response to PGE1 is not derived from this enzyme. Thus the stimulation of water flow by PGE1 in the presence of theophylline is thought to be caused by cyclic AMP spilling over from one compartment to the water flow compartment. No evidence was obtained to directly suggest spillover into the sodium transport compartment. Furthermore evidence is discussed to suggest that most of the cyclic AMP generated in the tissue does not originate from the enzyme controlling sodium transport. As cyclic AMP-stimulated water flow and sodium transport are thought to occur in one cell type, the granular cells, distinct pools of cyclic AMP are thought to be present in one and the same cell type. Thus one pool controls water flow and one controls sodium transport. With high concentrations of PGE1 in the presence of theophylline or high concentrations of ADH, the adenylate cyclase responsible for water flow is inhibited; However, PGE1 can stimulate a tissue adenylate cyclase to sufficiently high levels that cyclic AMP spills over into the "water flow compartment" and thus stimulates water flow.

Studies on the mode of action of cholera toxin. Effects on solubilized adenylate cyclase

To gain further insight into the mechanism of action of cholera toxin, solubilized preparations of adenylate cyclase from control and toxin-treated rat livers were studied. Adenylate cyclase activity was measured in both particulate and solubilized form in rat liver under control conditions and after intravenous injection of cholera toxin. Cholera toxin caused a 3.3-fold activation of adenylate cyclase in the particulate preparation and a 5.8-fold increase in the solubilized preparation. Thus, the ability of cholera toxin to stimulate adenylate cyclase is present even when the enzyme membrane environment is disrupted. Furthermore, the solubilized enzyme, after treatment with cholera toxin, retained its ability to respond to catecholamines, but not to glucagon. In contrast, the control enzyme lost its responsiveness to catecholamines and glucagon after solubilization.