Prosthetic rehabilitation of a young patient with Hypophosphatasia - A review and case report

Hypophosphatasia is a congenital disease characterized by deficiency of serum and tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase activity. The disease occurs due to mutations in the liver/bone/kidney alkaline phosphatase gene. Six clinical forms of hypophosphatasia are recognized. Systemic symptoms of the disease are respiratory complications, premature craniosynostosis, widespread demineralization and rachitic changes in the metaphases, stress fractures, chondrocalcinosis and osteoarthropathy. Characteristic dental symptoms include premature loss of deciduous teeth, premature exfoliation of fully rooted permanent teeth, severe dental caries and alveolar bone loss. This clinical report describes the prosthetic rehabilitation of a sixteen year old female patient with hypophosphatasia with partial anodontia and no occlusion. Patient was managed clinically by saving her remaining teeth, fabricating a maxillary overdenture and mandibular cast partial denture. This not only helped her functionally in biting and chewing food and achieving a good occlusion, but also restored her confidence and self image by improving the aesthetics.

Surgical repositioning of intruded immature permanent incisor: an updated treatment concept

Intrusion of immature permanent anterior teeth presents a great dilemma due to variety of treatment options. The ideal treatment option is the one with least probability of developing complications like external root resorption, obliteration of pulp canal, marginal bone loss etc. This paper presents a case report with treatment strategy of repositioning, splinting, successfully attempted apexification and obturation of a completely intruded immature permanent central incisor. Excellent healing with no post-operative complications even after 10 months of follow up.

Induction of thymidine kinase in mouse skin exposed to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate

Topical application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) exhibited an increase in the epidermal thymidine kinase (TK) activity in a dose dependent manner. Maximum induction of TK was observed at a TPA concentration of 2.5 microg per animal. The induction of TK by TPA appeared to be a function of time with the maximum TK induction between 4 and 16 h after TPA application. Repeated applications of TPA every 24 h did not show any cumulative effect rather TK activity appeared to be normal after two applications. However, repeated applications of TPA at an interval of 48 h exhibited increased TK activity even after 16 applications. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D, the inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis, inhibited the TPA induced activation of TK. Our results demonstrated that TPA induced the TK activity may be, by increasing de novo synthesis of enzyme protein and this induction might lead to increased de novo DNA synthesis after TPA application. DMBA was used as a reference compound. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first report on TK induction by topical application of TPA.

Subchronic oral toxicity of a combination of insecticide (HCH) and herbicide (ISP) in male rats

Rats were treated orally with technical hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg kg-1 day(-1)) and technical isoproturon (ISP 22.5. 45 and 90 mg kg-1 day(-1)) daily for a period of 90 days alone and in combination. Treatment with HCH alone showed mild to severe toxicity and death. Significant changes occurred in liver weight, clinical enzyme profiles, haematological parameters and pathomorphological changes. Treatment with ISP alone did not produce such changes. The combination of HCH and ISP produced changes not suggestive of synergism.

Effect of nicotinamide on 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate exposed mouse skin endonuclease activity and DNA synthesis

Nicotinamide (NA), a relatively nontoxic compound, has been shown to inhibit tumor development, induce differentiation, increase the sensitization of the anticancer drug resistant cancer cells and is being used in different skin ailments. But there are not many reports on its mechanism of action. Here we report that NA induced endonuclease activity. This endonuclease induction by NA appeared to be dose dependent and a function of time. As evident by the use of modifiers of DNase I, this endonuclease appeared to be like DNase type I. Increased [3H] thymidine incorporation in DNA in the presence of NA is possibly a consequence of increased 3-OH' nicks due to increased DNA fragmentation by increased endonuclease activity. The present results would be of help in the better understanding of the mechanism of NA action and its improved use in cancer control.

Effects of nicotinamide on mouse skin tumor development and its mode of action

Nicotinamide (NA), a naturally occurring vitamin and a protease inhibitor, has been shown to be effective in treating some skin ailments. It inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell differentiation. This report shows the effects of NA on mouse skin tumor development and on the critical events involved in this process. NA reduced tumor growth, inhibited the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induced ornithine decarboxylase activity, but induced the transglutaminase activity which was inhibited by TPA under different experimental conditions. The effects of NA on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and transglutaminase (TG) indicated that nicotinamide (NA) probably programmed the cells for their death in the natural course of time, i.e. programmed cell death. This observation indicates that NA might be a better agent for the detailed study and for the better use in prevention of cancer alone or in combination with other drugs.

Potent induction of human colon cancer cell uptake of chemotherapeutic drugs by N-myristoylated protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha) pseudosubstrate peptides through a P-glycoprotein-independent mechanism

Phorbol ester protein kinase C (PKC) activators and PKC isozyme over-expression have been shown to significantly reduce intracellular accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs, in association with the induction of multidrug resistance (MDR) in drug-sensitive cancer cells and enhancement of drug resistance in MDR cancer cells. These observations constitute solid evidence that PKC plays a significant role in the MDR phenotype of cancer cells. PKC-catalyzed phosphorylation of the drug-efflux pump P-glycoprotein was recently ruled out as a contributing factor in MDR. At present, the sole drug transport-related event that has been identified as a component of the role of PKC in MDR is PKC-induced expression of the P-glycoprotein-encoding gene mdr1. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that PKC can modulate the uptake of chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer cells independently of P-glycoprotein. We analyzed the effects of selective PKC activators/inhibitors on the uptake of radiolabelled cytotoxic drugs by cultured human colon cancer cells that lacked P-glycoprotein activity and did not express the drug efflux pump at the level of message (mdr1) or protein. We found that the selective PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) significantly reduced uptake of [14C] Adriamycin and [3H] vincristine in human colon cancer cells devoid of P-glycoprotein activity, and that PKC-inhibitory N-myristoylated PKC-alpha pseudosubstrate synthetic peptides potently and selectively induced uptake of the cytotoxic drugs in the phorbol ester-treated and non-treated colon cancer cells. TPA treatment of the cells did not induce expression of either P-glycoprotein or its message mdr1. In contrast with [14C]Adriamycin and [3H] vincristine uptake, [3H] 5-fluorouracil uptake by the cells was unaffected by TPA and reduced by the PKC-inhibitory peptides. These results indicate that PKC activation can significantly reduce the uptake of multiple cytotoxic drugs by cancer cells independently of P-glycoprotein, and that N-myristoylated PKC-alpha pseudosubstrate peptides potently and selectively induce uptake of multiple cytotoxic drugs in cultured human colon cancer cells by a novel mechanism that does not involve P-glycoprotein and may involve PKC isozyme inhibition. Thus, N-myristoylated PKC-alpha pseudosubstrate peptides may offer a basis for the development of agents that reverse intrinsic drug resistance in human colon cancer.

Differential effects of butyric acid on mouse skin tumorigenesis

We studied the effects of butyric acid (BA) on mouse skin tumorigenesis using chronic animal bioassays. Topical application of BA immediately after each treatment with 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) promoter-inhibited skin tumors. The effect was dependent on the dose of BA applied. BA showed no marked inhibitory effect on either skin tumor initiation or complete tumorigenesis induced by dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA). Since tumor promotion reportedly involves epigenetic events whereas tumor initiation or complete tumorigenesis takes place through genetic pathways, it is possible that BA exerts its antitumorigenic effects mainly by altering the epigenetic events responsible for tumor promotion. The results of the study could further be used to study the mechanism of action and modification of antitumorigenic effects of BA in combination with other substances.

Partial reversal of multidrug resistance in human breast cancer cells by an N-myristoylated protein kinase C-alpha pseudosubstrate peptide

The predominant characteristics of multidrug resistant (MDR) cancer cells are broad spectrum resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and a pronounced defect in intracellular accumulation of the drugs, in association with overexpression of the drug efflux pump P-glycoprotein. Protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylates the linker region of P-glycoprotein. Evidence has been presented that the isozyme PKC-alpha may contribute to the drug resistance phenotype of human breast cancer MCF7-MDR cells, PKC-alpha is markedly overexpressed in MCF7-MDR cells, and artificial overexpression of PKC-alpha in MCF7 constructs that overexpress P-glycoprotein significantly enhances the MDR phenotype of the cells in association with increased P-glycoprotein phosphorylation. Verapamil, cyclosporin A, and a number of other agents that compete with cytotoxic drugs for binding sites on P-glycoprotein can potently reverse MDR, but this is accompanied by severe toxicity in vivo. In this report, we demonstrate that an N-myristoylated peptide that contains a sequence corresponding to the pseudosubstrate region of PKC-alpha (P1) partially reverses multidrug resistance in MCF7-MDR cells by a novel mechanism that involves inhibition of PKC-alpha. P1 and two related PKC inhibitory N-myristoylated peptides restored intracellular accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs in association with inhibition of the phosphorylation of three PKC-alpha substrates in MCF7-MDR cells: PKC-alpha, Raf-1 kinase, and P-glycoprotein. A fourth N-myristoylated peptide substrate analog of PKC, P7, did not affect drug accumulation in the MCF7-MDR cells and failed to inhibit the phosphorylation of the PKC-alpha substrates. The effects of P1 and verapamil on drug accumulation in MCF7-MDR cells were additive. P1 did not affect P-glycoprotein expression. MCF7-MDR cells were not cross-resistant to P1, which suggest that the peptide was not transported by P-glycoprotein. Furthermore, P1 was distinguished from MDR reversal agents such as verapamil and cyclosporin A by its inability to inhibit [3H]azidopine photoaffinity labeling of P-glycoprotein. P1 actually increased [3H] azidopine photoaffinity labeling of P-glycoprotein in MCF7-MDR cells, providing evidence that the effects of P1 on P-glycoprotein in MCF7-MDR cells are not restricted to inhibition of the phosphorylation of the pump. P1 may provide a basis for developing a new generation of MDR reversal agents that function by a novel mechanism that involves inhibition of PKC-alpha-catalyzed P-glycoprotein phosphorylation.

Tumour-promoting activity of ninhydrin on mouse skin

Ninhydrin (2,2-dihydroxy-1,3-indanedione; CAS No. 485-47-2) is widely used as a reagent for the detection of free amino and carboxyl groups in proteins and peptides. It is an irritant to mammalian skin. Various toxic effects of ninhydrin have been reported in laboratory animals; however, so far there has been no evaluation of its carcinogenic and co-carcinogenic potential in laboratory animals by long-term in vivo bioassay. Ninhydrin was found to induce the activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in mouse skin but it failed to alter the activity of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase when compared with animals treated with standard tumour promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In the present investigations, the tumour-promoting activity of ninhydrin (including both stage I and stage II of tumour promotion) was tested on Swiss albino mice in a multistage mouse skin model of carcinogenesis. The animals were initiated with a single topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenz-anthracene followed by four topical applications of ninhydrin biweekly as stage I promoter for 2 wk. Stage II promotion was twice weekly through topical application of mezerein. The results revealed that ninhydrin is a strong stage I tumour promoter and its efficacy was comparable with that of TPA at the dose level used in the experiment. However, ninhydrin failed to produce tumours when tested as a stage II or complete tumour promoter on mouse skin.

Dermal toxicity of hexachlorocyclohexane and pirimiphos-methyl in female rats

Technical hexachlorocyclohexane (100 mg/kg/d) and pirimiphosmethyl EC 50 (250 mg/kg/d) given individually and in combination to female rats for 7, 15 or 30 d by skin application caused poisoning, pathomorphological changes in vital organs, and significant enzymatic changes in liver and serum. The changes produced by the 2 compounds in combination did not suggest potentiation at the tested dose levels.

Altered fidelity of a nucleic acid modifying enzyme, T4 polynucleotide kinase, by safrole-induced DNA damage

Mouse liver DNA adducted with metabolites of the spice constituent safrole (1-allyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene), when analyzed via the bisphosphate version of the 32P-postlabeling assay, exhibits two major adducts, which had been previously identified as N2-(trans-isosafrol-3'-yl)2'-deoxyguanosine 3',5'-bisphosphate (adduct 1) and N2-(safrol-1'-yl)2'-deoxyguanosine 3',5'-bisphosphate (adduct 2). However, analysis of the same DNA preparation by the dinucleotide/monophosphate version of the assay gave two additional spots on PEI-cellulose TLC whose nature was clarified in the present study. Several enzymes (T4 polynucleotide kinase, nuclease P1, venom phosphodiesterase and spleen phosphodiesterase) were utilized to hydrolyze these compounds, and the products co-chromatographed on PEI-cellulose thin layers with radiolabeled and non-radioactive nucleotides of known structure. The additional spots were found to be adducted dinucleotides carrying 32P-label at both the 5'- and 3'-hydroxyls. T4 polynucleotide kinase-catalyzed 3'-phosphorylation was highly specific in that only dinucleoside monophosphate derivatives of adduct 1, with an unmodified purine in the 3'-position, were susceptible to both 5'- and 3'-phosphorylation by the enzyme. Thus, the structures of the two additional 32P-labeled safrole derivatives were pX1pAp and pX1pGp where X1 denotes N2-(trans-isosafrol-3'-yl)2'-deoxyguanosine. The official name of T4 polynucleotide kinase, ATP:5'-dephosphopolynucleotide 5'-phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.1.78), denotes the specific action of this enzyme as a 5'-phosphokinase. Although the enzyme has 3'-phosphatase activity at acidic pH, no 3'-kinase reaction has been previously reported. Possible implications for chemical carcinogenesis of the finding that carcinogen-DNA adducts can specifically alter the fidelity of protein-nucleotide interactions are discussed.

Formation and persistence of safrole-DNA adducts over a 10,000-fold dose range in mouse liver

The spice constituent safrole (1-allyl-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene) and related allylbenzenes form DNA adducts and are rodent carcinogens. This study examined both dose and time dependence of hepatic safrole-DNA adduct formation over a 10,000-fold dose range up to 30 days after single administration. Female CD-1 mice were treated with safrole i.p. at 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mg/mouse in 0.2 ml tricaprylin or with vehicle alone. Liver DNA was analyzed at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 7, 15 and 30 days via the dinucleotide/monophosphate version of the 32P-postlabeling assay. An approximately 10-fold increase in total safrole adduct levels with each successive 10-fold increase in dose was observed, giving relative adduct labeling (RAL) values of 10(-9)-10(-5). Each dose elicited identical kinetics of adduct formation, showing peak levels at 2 days and only slight decreases thereafter. The time course of adduct persistence was independent of the dose (0.01-10 mg/mouse). An in vitro experiment established that the assay responded in strictly linear fashion to adduct concentration over a 10,000-fold range, and thus was suitable for in vivo dosimetry. DNA synthesis, as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation, was enhanced only for the 10.0 mg dose at 2, 3 and 7 days. These results indicate a linear response of safrole-DNA adduct formation and persistence in mouse liver following administration of minute (0.001 mg/mouse) to high (10.0 mg/mouse) doses of the carcinogen.

Ornithine decarboxylase inactivation by putrescine: involvement of lipid peroxidation

Effect of polyamines on 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced reduction of lipid peroxidation was studied. Putrescine protected this lowering of lipid peroxidation in a concentration-dependent manner, but spermidine or spermine could not do so. Putrescine also inhibited the TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and lowered the free sulfhydryl content of TPA exposed mouse skin. These observations indicate that putrescine inactivates ODC probably by lowering SH groups through lipid peroxidation.

Acute and subchronic oral toxicity of technical quinalphos in rats

The organophosphate insecticide quinalphos is extensively used in agriculture. Information on the mammalian toxicity of quinalphos is limited. The acute po LD50 of technical quinalphos was 19.95 mg/kg in males and 13.78 mg/kg in female rats. Administration of 0.75, 1.50 or 3.0 mg/kg/d technical quinalphos for 90 d po to rats produced poisoning and death. Male rats were more susceptible to quinalphos than female rats in the subchronic toxicity studies based on mortality, enzyme profiles and cholinesterase inhibition.

Interaction of technical hexachlorocyclohexane and oxydemeton methyl 25 EC to female rats after dermal application

Technical hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH, 100 mg/kg/day) and oxydemeton methyl 25 EC (125 mg/kg/day) to female rats for 7, 15 and 30 days individually and in combination through skin application caused pathomorphological changes in vital organs and significant enzymatic changes in liver and serum. However changes produced by the two compounds in combination were not suggestive of potentiation effect at the tested dose level in female rats.

Status of ornithine decarboxylase activity and DNA synthesis in mancozeb-exposed mouse skin

The effect of mancozeb, a fungicide, on mouse skin ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and DNA synthesis was studied. ODC activity was induced after topical application of mancozeb and exhibited a peak level at 5 h. This ODC induction was dependent on the dose of mancozeb applied. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, inhibited the mancozeb-caused ODC induction, indicating the effect on enzyme protein synthesis. The rate of DNA synthesis was also increased by mancozeb, as indicated by increased [3H]thymidine incorporation into skin DNA. Induction of ODC activity and DNA synthesis are among the events probably involved in the tumorigenic action of mancozeb on mouse skin.

Inhibition of mouse skin tumor promotion by tenuazonic acid

Tenuazonic acid (TA) was topically applied to the interscapular region of Swiss albino mice at different doses before the application of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Skin from the painted area was examined for ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) enzyme estimation. It was observed that TA inhibited TPA induced ODC activity. The inhibitory effect of TA was also found in mouse skin tumor promotion in the two stage initiation promotion protocol. There was a remarkable delay in the latency period and decrease in the number of tumors developed and the percentage of tumor bearing animals after TA treatment.

In vitro model for intrinsic drug resistance: effects of protein kinase C activators on the chemosensitivity of cultured human colon cancer cells

We investigated the effects that phorbol ester and diacylglycerol protein kinase C (PKC) activators had on the chemosensitivity of the human colon cancer cell line KM12L4a to Adriamycin (ADR), vincristine (VCR), and vinblastine (VLB) and on the intracellular accumulation of those drugs. Exposure of the cells to the PKC activator phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) (15 nM) during a 96-hr in vitro chemosensitivity assay significantly reduced the sensitivity of KM12L4a cells to ADR, VCR, and VLB, but not to 5-fluorouracil. Because a 96-hr treatment with 15 nM PDBu did not down-regulate PKC activity in KM12L4a cells, activation of PKC appeared to be responsible for the observed protection conferred by PDBu. PDBu-induced alterations in drug accumulation may account for its protective effects against these cytotoxic drugs, because both PDBu and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate significantly reduced accumulation of [3H] VCR and [14C]ADR in the cultured human colon cancer cells. Unsaturated diacylglycerols are structural and functional analogues of phorbol ester PKC activators that are present in the lumen of the colon. We found that treatment of KM12L4a human colon cancer cells with the diacylglycerol 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) significantly reduced [14C]ADR and [3H]VCR accumulation in the cells. The effects of OAG were dose dependent at physiological diacylglycerol concentrations and were completely reversed by the protein kinase inhibitor H7. OAG, which is rapidly metabolized in cultured cells, did not protect KM12L4a cells against the cytotoxic drugs in our 96-hr in vitro chemosensitivity assay. However, rapid metabolism of diacylglycerols should not limit their capacity to activate PKC in the colonic epithelium in vivo, because that tissue is chronically exposed to replenished supplies of unsaturated diacylglycerols in the intestinal tract. Our results provide evidence that unsaturated diacylglycerols may be environmental factors that contribute to the intrinsic drug resistance of colon cancer in vivo by reducing drug accumulation in the cancer cells.

Transient enhancement of multidrug resistance by the bile acid deoxycholate in murine fibrosarcoma cells in vitro

Recent studies have implicated protein kinase C (PKC) activation in drug resistance in vitro. PKC can be activated directly by phorbol-ester tumor promoters as well as by the bile acid deoxycholate. In this report, we demonstrate that deoxycholate, at concentrations that are chronically present in the lumen of the colon in vivo, mimicked phorbol-ester tumor promoters by protecting Adriamycin (ADR)-sensitive and multidrug-resistant (MDR) murine fibrosarcoma UV-2237M cells from ADR cytotoxicity. Deoxycholate also enhanced the resistance of the MDR cell line UV-2237M-ADRR to the cytotoxic effects of vincristine and vinblastine. In contrast to cytotoxic drug-selected MDR phenotypes, deoxycholate-induced drug resistance was transient and required continuous exposure to the bile acid. The protein kinase inhibitor H7 completely reversed the protection against ADR cytotoxicity conferred on UV-2237M-ADRR cells by deoxycholate, providing evidence that deoxycholate exerts its protective effects by a mechanism that involves stimulation of protein phosphorylation and not merely by detergent effects on membrane permeability. PKC consists of a family of at least seven isozymes with distinct modes of activation and substrate specificities. We previously reported that MDR UV-2237M cell lines contain higher levels of PKC activity than the parental ADR-sensitive UV-2237M cell line (O'Brian et al., FEBS Lett 246: 78-82, 1989). The present report shows that PKC-III is a major PKC isozyme in ADR-sensitive and MDR UV-2237M cell lines. Thus, the resistance to ADR induced by the phorbol esters in UV-2237M cell lines provides strong evidence that PKC-III activation confers protection against ADR on ADR-sensitive and MDR UV-2237M cell lines. Furthermore, since deoxycholate is an endogenous molecule in the colonic epithelium, our finding that physiological concentrations of deoxycholate can render cells more resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs in vitro may have implications for the biology and therapy of intestinal cancers.

Site-dependent differences in response of the UV-2237 murine fibrosarcoma to systemic therapy with adriamycin

Murine fibrosarcoma UV-2237MM cells were implanted into different organs of syngeneic C3H/HeN mice. The resultant tumors were treated by i.v. administration of Adriamycin (ADR). Despite the high sensitivity of the fibrosarcoma cells to ADR in vitro, the established tumors growing in vivo exhibited marked differences in their responses to ADR. Tumors growing in the subcutis and the spleen were ADR-sensitive, whereas lung metastases were not. The resistance of lung metastases to ADR was not due to selection of a drug-resistant population since tumor cells isolated from lung metastases were highly sensitive to ADR under in vitro conditions. The responsiveness of skin and spleen tumors to ADR was due neither to increased blood supply nor to preferential accumulation of ADR, since both parameters were higher in lung metastases. Protein kinase C activity levels correlated with ADR resistance in the closely related murine fibrosarcoma cell line UV-2237 and its ADR-selected multidrug-resistant variants. However, nearly identical levels of protein kinase C activity were found in UV-2237MM tumors growing in the lung, spleen, and subcutis, indicating that protein kinase C activity levels did not account for the different responses to ADR. The present studies suggest that the organ environment influences the response of UV-2237MM to ADR administered systemically. This finding may have implications for the design of animal models for therapy of disseminated cancer.

Mouse skin ornithine decarboxylase induction and tumor promotion by cyclohexane

Cyclohexane, a frequently used solvent in industry, was assessed for its tumorigenic potential on mouse skin following multistage initiation-promotion protocols. The activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a marker of tumor promotion was found to be induced by the topical application of cyclohexane. This ODC induction was dependent on the dose of cyclohexane used and the duration of application. Effect of protein synthesis inhibitors and the modifiers of tumor promotion on the cyclohexane induced ODC activity was also studied. ODC induction was inhibited by cycloheximide and also, up to some extent, by actinomycin D. Inhibitors of stage II tumor promotion showed more effect on the ODC induction by cyclohexane as compared to the inhibitors of stage I tumor promotion. In chronic animal bioassay experiments topical application of cyclohexane to DMBA initiated mouse skin resulted in just 10% of tumor bearing animals while prior application of TPA for two weeks resulted in 45% of tumor bearing animals. Collectively, the present study demonstrates that cyclohexane is more effective as a stage II tumor promoter over mouse skin and possibly affects the biochemical events at the molecular level.

Age-dependent covalent DNA alterations (I-compounds) in rat liver mitochondrial DNA

Rat liver mitochondrial (mt) DNA was investigated for the presence of I-compounds, a recently discovered type of DNA modifications which is detected and measured via 32P-postlabeling. These DNA modifications were previously shown to accumulate in an age-dependent manner in total cellular DNA of various tissues of untreated rodents. In the present work, mt DNA of 1-, 3-, 6-, and 9-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats was found by 32P-postlabeling also to contain I-compounds that increase with age. Most of the I-compounds were identical for mt and nuclear (nu) DNA. A cluster of 2 non-polar I-spots (termed M-compounds) was mitochondria-specific and increased about 8-fold from 1 to 9 months, attaining a RAL value of 44 X 10(-9) or 1 modification in 2.3 X 10(7) DNA nucleotides at 9 months. Quantitative differences between chromatographically identical spots were seen mainly for a low-polarity fraction of I-compounds, which exhibited 2 times higher overall levels in mt DNA versus nu DNA over the age range studied. Total I-compound levels increased during this time 6.9- and 5.1-fold in nuclei and mitochondria, respectively. The M-compound level was close to 10% of total mt DNA I-compound levels. M-compounds may conceivably be derived from potentially DNA-reactive electron carriers of the mt electron-transport chain, while I-compounds common to both mt and nu DNA presumably originate in extramitochondrial sources. The similarity of mitochondrial and nuclear I-compound profiles and amounts implies possible regulatory mechanisms in I-compound formation and repair. Mt DNA maps showed additional 32P-labeled material which may have been associated with DNA damage caused by oxygen free radicals known to be generated by the mt electron-transport chain. Age-dependent increases of mt DNA modifications are potentially related to mt mutations and may be linked to age-related degenerative changes in mitochondria.

Acute toxicity of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in mice, rats, rabbits, pigeons and freshwater fish

Technical Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is a mixture of several stereo isomers, whose percent content has shown wide variation in different samples. In spite of its importance and extensive use over the last 3 decades, basic information on acute toxicity of HCH in various species of animals seems to be either lacking or very fragmentary. The present report with information on acute toxicity of technical HCH in mice, rats, rabbits, pigeon and freshwater fish therefore has significance. The study examines the role of modulating factors, such as chemical composition of technical HCH with different isomers, the sex of animals, route of exposure and nature of the vehicle or solvent, in the overall characterization of HCH-induced toxicity.

Dermal toxicity of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in rabbit

Application of HCH (25 mg/kg) on dorsal, ventral and thigh regions of the skin of male rabbits resulted in poisoning and mortality of animals. Morphological changes in skin, liver, kidney, testes and cerebellum together with highly significant alterations in serum and liver enzymatic activity and residue in blood suggested that absorption of HCH and its toxicity could be severe when the pesticide comes in contact with the skin of thigh region of body.

Effect of repeated dermal application of endosulfan to rats

Dermal application of endosulfan to male (18.75, 37.50 and 62.50 mg/kg/day) and female (9.83, 19.66 and 32.0 mg/kg/d) rats for 30 days produced hyperexcitability, tremor, dyspnea and salivation. There were no deaths. The signs of toxicity subsided after a week. Endosulfan produced no significant changes in the organ:body weight ratio. No significant changes were seen in the histological and hematological indices. However, a significant decrease in liver GOT and GPT and serum GPT activities and a significant rise in serum alkaline phosphatase and total protein were recorded in the endosulfan-treated animals. There were no changes in LDH. Residue analysis revealed higher levels of total endosulfan in fatty tissues of rats receiving the highest dose of endosulfan.

Effect of butyric acid on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-(TPA) induced mouse skin ornithine decarboxylase (ODC)

Butyric acid was topically applied on the interscapular region of Swiss albino mice before and after application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in various doses and at different time intervals. Skin taken from the painted area, 4 h after TPA application, was subjected to ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) enzyme estimation. It was found that butyric acid inhibited the TPA-induced mouse skin ODC activity. The effect was dependent on the dose and duration of the butyric acid application.

Differential stimulation of diphenhydramine, pethidine, morphine and aniline metabolism by chronic methaqualone treatment

In the present study, the effect of chronic oral methaqualone treatment (60 mg/kg/24 h for 25 days) was examined on the metabolism of diphenhydramine, pethidine, morphine and aniline in rat liver microsomes. Such chronic methaqualone treatment caused an enhancement of microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes catalyzed N-demethylations of diphenhydramine, pethidine, morphine and aromatic hydroxylation of aniline. A single oral dose of methaqualone (60 mg/kg) did not result in any significant change in the activities of drug metabolizing enzymes. Methaqualone inhibited drug metabolizing enzymes when used at final concentrations of 1 and 3 mmol/l in vitro. These observations led to suggest that the stimulation of drug metabolism noted in this study is possibly due to the induction of microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes. It was interesting to note that the induction of N-demethylases by repeated methaqualone intake was differential in nature since diphenhydramine and morphine N-demethylases were induced about twofold whereas pethidine N-demethylase was enhanced about fourfold. These results should be of extreme importance in understanding the biochemical mechanism of the specific and differential drug tolerance by continued methaqualone abuse and its possible interaction with other drugs.

Monoamine oxidase inhibition by substituted benzylideneamino guanidines and their CNS activities

The present study reports the synthesis and characterization of eight new substituted benzylideneamino guanidines. All compounds inhibited the monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity of rat brain mitochondria in vitro. The I50 values were determined and were found to be in the range of 10(-4) to 10(-5) mol/l. Preincubation, dialysis and kinetic studies carried out with isolated brain mitochondria by conventional Dixon plot revealed reversible and noncompetitive type of MAO inhibition. These compounds were also screened for anticonvulsant and antidepressant activities. In the present series of compounds only one compound -- 1-amino-3-(4-chloromethylbenzylidene-amino)guanidine hydroiodide -- was found to afford 20% protection against pentetrazol-induced seizures in mice. 1-Amino-3-(3,4-dichlorobenzylideneamino)guanidine hydroiodide which produced maximum inhibition of MAO activity, also produced reversal of reserpine-induced sedation and miosis into excitation and mydriasis in mice.

Lipid A fever in cats

In unanaesthetized cats the effect of lipid A on rectal temperature and on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) activity in cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f.) was examined. Lipid A was injected either intravenously or into the cerebral ventricles. 2. Lipid A injected intravenously in a dose of 1--4 mug/kg produced longlasting fever which was more often biphasic than monophasic. With a second injection a much shorter but usually hither monophasic response was produced. The cat was then for a time insensitive to I.V. lipid A but when the injections were repeated at 24 hr intervals brisk monophasic fevers were again produced. The threshold dose of I.V. lipid A lay between 0-1 and 0-3 mug/kg. 3. Lipid A injected into the cerebral ventricles in a dose of 100 ng or 1 mug produced long-lasting monophasic fever. No tolerance developed; the same or only slightly diminished responses occurred on repeated injections. The threshold dose was between 5 and 20 ng. 4. A cat rendered insensitive to I.V. lipid A gave its normal fever response to injection of lipid A into the cerebral ventricles. 5. The fever produced by lipid A injected I.V. or into the cerebral ventricles was associated with the appearance of, or a rise in PGE2 activity in c.s.f. 6. Both the fever and the PGE2 activity in c.s.f. produced by lipid A injected intravenously or into the cerebral ventricles were brought down and prevented by I.P. injections of aspirin, paracetamol, or indomethacin.

Further studies on the role of prostaglandin in fever

1. Experiments were carried out in unanaesthetized cats to find out if a prostaglandin is the mediator (a) for the long lasting fever which often follows injections of phsyiological salt solutions into the cerebral ventricles or into the cisterna magna, as well as their perfusions through the cerebral ventricles, and (b) for the sodium fever which occurs during a perfusion of the cerebral ventricles with calcium-free artificial c.s.f. A fever mediated by prostaglandin should be accompanied by an increase of prostaglandin activity in cisternal c.s.f., and be abolished or prevented by antipyretics like paracetamol or indomethacin which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. Both criteria were applied.2. The fever which follows injections or perfusions of physiological salt solutions appears to be mediated by a prostaglandin of the E series, probably E(2) (PGE(2)) because it was accompanied by increased prostaglandin E-like activity in the c.s.f. and abolished by paracetamol and indomethacin. During the first few days after pre-treatment of the cats with intramuscular chloramphenicol the injections were rarely followed by fever.3. The fever which occurs during a perfusion with calcium-free artificial c.s.f. appears not to be mediated by prostaglandin, because it was not associated with increased prostaglandin activity in the cisternal effluent, and not prevented by paracetamol or indomethacin, although these antipyretics usually attenuated the fever.4. A perfusion of the cerebral ventricles with artificial c.s.f. containing calcium in an abnormally high concentration (6.25 mM) brought down fever produced by PGE(1), or PGE(2), or bacterial pyrogen.

Morphine hyperglycaemia

1. To find the site where morphine acts when producing hyperglycaemia on injection into the cerebral ventricles in unanaesthetized cats, morphine sulphate was infused or injected through an implanted Collison cannula into different parts of the liquor space in an amount of 0.75 mg except on microinfusion into the posterior hypothalamus, when the amounts were 80 or 160 mug. The glucose was determined in blood samples collected from the inferior vena cava.2. Microinfusions of morphine into the posterior hypothalamus did not produce hyperglycaemia.3. Infusion of morphine into the liquor space at the entrance of the aqueduct or of the fourth ventricle produced hyperglycaemia. Any structures in the walls of the third ventricle as well as the peri-aqueductal grey are thus excluded as the site of action.4. Infusion of morphine into the subarachnoid space just above the corpora quadrigemina or below the ventral surface of the brain stem produced hyperglycaemia. With these routes the morphine does not enter any part of the ventricular cavities and the action would appear to be on structures at the ventral surface of the brain stem.5. Injection of morphine into the cisterna magna produces hyperglycaemia when the doses are larger than those already effective on injection into the cerebral ventricles. This also suggests an action on structures at the ventral surface of the brain stem, as this surface is reached more readily from the ventricles than from the cisterna.6. It is concluded that on injection into the cerebral ventricles, the morphine has to pass into the subarachnoid space, through the foramina of Luschka, in order to produce hyperglycaemia. It then reaches the ventral surface of the brain stem and probably acts there on structures in the upper part of the medulla oblongata.7. Infusion of morphine into the corpora quadrigemina near the caudal end of the superior corpora can produce profound hypoglycaemia.8. Anaesthesia depresses the morphine hyperglycaemia, but when the dose injected into the cerebral ventricles is increased four times or more, hyperglycaemia is also produced in pentobarbitone sodium anaesthesia.

Effect of pyrogen and antipyretics on prostaglandin acitvity in cisternal c.s.f. of unanaesthetized cats

1. Samples of cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f.) were collected from unanaesthetized cats while rectal temperature was continuously recorded. From the same cat, samples were collected during normal body temperature, during pyrogen fever and when the fever was brought down by an I.P. injection of an antipyretic. Fever was produced by injection of the bacterial pyrogen of Shigella dysenteriae either into the third ventricle, cisterna magna or I.V. The samples of c.s.f. were assayed for PGE(1)-like activity on the rat stomach fundus strip preparation rendered insensitive to 5-HT.2. In samples of c.s.f. collected during normal body temperature, usually either no PGE(1)-like activity was detected, or its activity was low. Higher values were obtained in only a few cats.3. In each experiment the PGE(1)-like activity increased, often many-fold, in samples collected during the pyrogen fever, irrespective, of the route of administration of the pyrogen. However, on I.V. injection, about 1000 times larger doses of the pyrogen were required than on injection into the liquor space to produce fever and the increase in PGE(1)-like activity of cisternal c.s.f.4. The antipyretic drugs indomethacin, paracetamol and aspirin, injected I.P. during the pyrogen fever, brought down temperature, and the PGE(1)-like activity of the cisternal c.s.f. again became low.5. When samples of cisternal c.s.f. were subjected to thin layer chromatography the prostaglandin-like activity was solely or mainly found in the zone corresponding to the prostaglandins of the E series.6. These findings support the theory that pyrogens produce fever by increasing synthesis and release of prostaglandin in the preoptic anterior hypothalamic area, and that antipyretics of the aspirin type bring down this fever because they inhibit this synthesis.7. It is concluded that pyrogen increases prostaglandin synthesis not only in the preoptic anterior hypothalamic area. When injected into the liquor space increased synthesis of prostaglandin probably occurs in many regions near the surface of the brain stem, and when injected I.V. may occur in other parts of the C.N.S. as well. But to produce fever the prostaglandin has to act on the preoptic anterior hypothalamic area.

Pyrogen fever and prostaglandin-like activity in cerebrospinal fluid

1. In the unanaesthetized cat, rectal temperature was recorded and c.s.f. was collected from a Collison cannula implanted into the third ventricle with its opening lying in close proximity to the anterior hypothalamus. Samples of c.s.f. were collected from the same cat, during normal temperature, during fever produced by Shigella dysenteriae injected into the third ventricle and during the fall in temperature which occurred when the antipyretic paracetamol was injected intraperitoneally during the pyrogen fever.2. The samples of c.s.f., when tested on the rat stomach fundus preparation, caused contractions which were not due, or at most to a small degree only, to 5-hydroxytryptamine, as they were resistant to BOL. They were therefore probably due to a prostaglandin-like substance.3. When assayed against PGE(1), the activity of c.s.f. collected from cats when their body temperature was normal corresponded to between 1.3 and 10 ng/ml. The values, whether low or high, rose over 2.5-4 times to between 4 and 35 ng/ml. in c.s.f. collected during pyrogen fever; they were again low, between 1.5 and 6 ng/ml., in samples collected when the fever had been brought down by paracetamol, but rose again with the return of fever.4. The results provide direct evidence for the theory that fever produced by pyrogens results from their ability to increase synthesis and release of prostaglandins, and that antipyretics bring down the fever because they inhibit the increased synthesis.