Activation of Caspases in Human Spermatozoa during Cryopreservation – An Immunoblot Study

Cellular stress to ejaculated spermatozoa such as cryopreservation is known to induce caspase-derived, apoptotic signaling. Therefore, the proenzymes and active forms of caspases 1, 3, 8 and 9 were examined by western blot technique in unfrozen and frozen human spermatozoa of infertility patients and of healthy donors. Twenty-two semen samples derived from healthy donors and 26 semen samples of unselected infertility patients were divided into 3 parts, two of them were cryostored at -196 degrees C with 7% or 14% (v/v, final concentration) of glycerol. The caspases were detected by immunoblots with polyclonal rabbit-anti-caspases-antibodies after 15% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylgel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions. For evaluation of the differences between amounts of caspase protein the luminol/H(2)O(2) method was applied. A significant increase of activated caspase-1 in donors, of caspase-8 in patients and caspase-9 in patients and donors after cryopreservation were found, whereas, the application of 14% glycerol resulted in higher amounts of activated caspase than did 7% glycerol. Possibly, glycerol may also contribute to activation of caspases via direct toxic effects to mitochondria during cryopreservation of spermatozoa. This finding strongly supports an hypothesis of a higher mitochondria-derived apoptosis-sensitivity of spermatozoa in patients than in healthy donors during cryopreservation. Inactive caspase-3 was reduced subsequent to cryopreservation in patients (p<0.05) and non-significant in donors (p<0.05). Active caspase-3 was detectable in all samples but without significant differences between the three assays. It is concluded that mechanisms associated with apoptotic processes deserve attention in cryopreservation of spermatozoa in order to conserve vital sperm functions after thawing.

Mechanism of cell death of rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by serum depletion

Serum starvation has recently been shown to cause cell death of cardiac fibroblasts and increased synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins in the surviving cells. In the present study, events occurring in the dying cells were investigated. Cultured adult rat cardiac fibroblasts were exposed to serum-free medium. Cell number was measured using a Coulter Counter Channelyzer. The activity of the extracellular signal-regulated or mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK1/2, p42/p44(MAPK)), the p38 kinase (p38(MAPK)), the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (p46/p54(JNK)), and Akt kinase was assessed by Western blotting and phospho-specific antibodies. Caspase 7-cleavage was investigated by Western blotting and specific antibodies. Caspase 3 activity was measured by detection of its cleaved substrate. The appearance of necrosis was studied by inclusion of trypan blue. Apoptosis was assessed by DNA ladder formation. The mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was investigated by quantitative real-time PCR. Serum withdrawal led to the death of 26% of cultured isolated cardiac fibroblasts during the first 5 h. The activity of the p42/ p44(MAPK) as well as of Akt kinase was partially reduced. For p46/p54(JNK) and p38(MAPK), elevated phosphorylation was measured. Inhibition of p46/p54(JNK) and p38(MAPK) activity by SB202190 did not affect the decrease in cell number. Cleavage of caspase 7 was detected after 90 min. However, no activation of caspase 3 was measured. DNA fragmentation was not found after serum depletion. Trypan blue staining, however, was observed in 16% of the cells after 5 h. The mRNA levels of both Bax and Bcl-2 were increased after 30 min. These results indicate the appearance of necrosis during serum starvation in cardiac fibroblasts. However, some processes typical of apoptosis were also detected.

Norepinephrine-induced interleukin-6 increase in rat hearts: differential signal transduction in myocytes and non-myocytes

Continuous i.v. infusion of norepinephrine in rats has been shown to induce early interleukin (IL)-6 mRNA expression in the left ventricle (LV) which was followed by hypertrophy and fibrosis. In this study, two approaches were used. In the first, NE (0.1 mg/kg per hour) was infused i.v. in rats for several time periods, and freshly obtained ventricular myocardium was dissociated into myocyte (MC) and non-myocyte (NMC) fractions. Second, isolated adult MCs and fibroblasts were treated with NE (10 microM). NE infusion (4 h, in vivo) caused an 11-fold increase in IL-6 mRNA in both cell populations. In vitro treatment of isolated adult MCs for 2 h and of fibroblasts for 1 h with NE induced a 3.5- and 23-fold maximum increase, respectively, in IL-6 mRNA. After in vivo NE treatment, the expression of the mRNA of the transcriptional factor of IL-6, C/EBP-beta, was elevated earlier (after 45 min of NE infusion) than IL-6 mRNA (after 4 h) and was seen in MCs and NMCs. The mRNAs of both receptors of IL-6, the soluble IL6R and gp130, were increased subsequently to IL-6 mRNA. Gp130 was elevated after 24 h and, like IL6R, predominantly in NMCs. In contrast, the IL6R protein and the downstream regulator STAT3 were increased only in MCs after 24 h of NE infusion. The mRNA of C/EBP-delta, which is regulated by STAT3, was elevated only in myocytes.

Regulation of norepinephrine-induced proliferation in cardiac fibroblasts by interleukin-6 and p42/p44 mitogen activated protein kinase

Norepinephrine (NE) is involved in many cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure. We have recently reported that NE had a comitogenic effect in isolated cardiac fibroblasts, and that it activated p42/p44 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). This study was designed to characterize a possible mechanism involved in the proliferative effect of NE. Isolated rat cardiac fibroblasts were exposed to NE (10 microM) for up to 8 h, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression was measured by Ribonuclease Protection Assay and Western blotting. The activity of p42/p44MAPK was analyzed by Western blotting. Cell number was assessed by use of a Coulter Counter. IL-6/GAPDH mRNA was increased by NE in a time-dependent manner reaching 23 fold stimulation after 1 h compared to untreated samples. Immunoreactivity to IL-6 was not found in controls. After 16 h of exposure to NE, IL-6 protein was detected. It further increased up to 48 h. The effect of NE on IL-6 mRNA was abolished by the beta-adrenoceptor blockers propranolol, metoprolol (beta1) and ICI 118.551 (beta2), but not by the alpha-adrenoceptor blockers prazosin (alpha1) and yohimbine (alpha2). The MAPK-inhibitor PD98059 suppressed the NE-induced MAPK activation in a concentration-dependent fashion after 5 min, attenuated the NE-induced IL-6 expression after 2 h, and suppressed the proliferative effect of NE from 53 to 18% after 48 h. Recombinant IL-6 caused an increase in proliferation by 31% after 48 h. Simultaneous application of the IL-6 antibody reduced the NE-induced proliferation to 34%, and completely prevented the IL-6 induced effect. These results suggest that NE induces proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts in part by increasing the expression of IL-6 through regulation of MAPK.

Catecholamine-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats is associated with the activation of p70 kinase and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase 2

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of intravenous infusion of adrenergic, hypertrophic agonists on the activity of the ribosomal S6 (p70(S6)) kinase and the c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase 2 (JNK2) in adult rat hearts.

ANIMALS AND METHODS

Noradrenaline (NA), isoproterenol (ISO), phenylephrine (PE), NA in combination with propranolol (NA+Prop) and NA in combination with prazosin (NA+Praz) were continuously intravenously infused in rat hearts for up to 72 h. The expression and phosphorylation status of JNK2 and p70(S6) kinase were investigated by western blotting and use of specific and phosphospecific antibodies. The activity of p70(S6) kinase was measured by incorporation of (32)P-labelled phosphate into the specific substrate S6 peptide.

RESULTS

The ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight was increased by NA, and by alpha- (PE, NA+Prop) and beta-adrenergic (ISO, NA+Praz) stimulation. Right ventricular weight to body weight ratio was higher only after beta-adrenergic stimulation (ISO, NA+Praz). p70(S6) kinase activity was stimulated predominantly through beta-adrenoceptors in parallel with left and right ventricular hypertrophy. Activation of JNK2 was mainly dependent on alpha-adrenoceptor activation, which led to hypertrophy of only the left ventricle.

CONCLUSIONS

The activation of p70(S6) kinase and JNK2 may be implicated in the development of catecholamine-induced cardiac hypertrophy in vivo.

Serum depletion induces cell loss of rat cardiac fibroblasts and increased expression of extracellular matrix proteins in surviving cells

OBJECTIVE

Since reduced nutrient supply is one component of ischemia, we have studied the effect of serum depletion on the survival of fibroblasts isolated from adult rat hearts and on the expression and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Furthermore, we measured the role of the cAMP-dependent pathway in these processes.

METHODS

Isolated cardiac fibroblasts were grown to confluency in 10% serum containing medium. Serum was then removed and cell number was measured by use of a Coulter Counter. The activity of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) was investigated by Western blotting and subsequent use of the specific antibody which binds to the active form of the protein. The expression of colligin, collagen I and III, matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) was examined by ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) and Western blotting. Zymographic measurements were done to investigate gelatinase activity of MMP-2.

RESULTS

Serum withdrawal caused the death of 36% of the cells during the first 8 h. CREB was strongly phosphorylated 5 min after serum removal. Activation persisted up to 8 h and decreased thereafter. The mRNA abundance of colligin, collagen I and III, MMP-2, and TIMP-2 started to increase after 5 and 10 h, respectively, reaching a maximum after 20-30 h and decreasing thereafter. Protein levels of collagen I, collagen III, colligin and TIMP-2 were higher after 24 h until up to 96 h. MMP-2 zymographic activity was elevated 15-fold after 72 h. Application of the protein kinase A (PKA) blocker RpcAMPS suppressed the increase in phosphorylation of CREB. The increase in collagen III and MMP-2 mRNA abundance and elevation of collagen I and III, and TIMP-2 protein was diminished by RpcAMPS. The rise of colligin protein was completely suppressed. The increase in MMP-2 zymographic activity was also attenuated. RpcAMPS improved survival rate from 56 to 84%.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum depletion led to cell death of isolated cardiac fibroblasts. Survival was associated with the increase in the expression of various ECM proteins. The transcription factor CREB was activated after serum removal. Inhibition of PKA improved the serum depletion induced decrease in the survival rate. The increase in collagen I, collagen III, MMP-2, TIMP-2, and colligin evoked by serum depletion was also diminished by PKA inhibition.

Cardiac remodeling after long term norepinephrine treatment in rats

OBJECTIVE

In this study we have tested the hypothesis that degradation of collagen by matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) precedes the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) after long term norepinephrine (NE) treatment.

METHODS

Female Sprague-Dawley rats received continuous i.v. infusion of NE (0.1 mg/kg.h) for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 14 days. Heart function and weight as well as expression of cardiac colligin and of collagen I and III were examined. Furthermore, we have assessed the degradation pathway of collagen by measuring the mRNA and activity of myocardial MMP-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) as well as the protein level of TIMP-2.

RESULTS

NE induced hypertrophy predominantly of the left ventricle (LV) in a time-dependent manner. It increased the mRNAs of colligin, collagen I and III, and of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 as well as MMP-2 activity in two phases: In the initial phase, at 3 and 4 days, the mRNA of colligin and of collagen I and III was elevated predominantly in the LV, MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA, as well as TIMP-2 protein and MMP-activity were increased in both ventricles. The second phase, after 14 days, was characterized by a less pronounced increase in colligin, collagen I and III and in MMP-2 activity which occurred exclusively in the LV. Finally, long-term treatment with NE induced a 37% increase in interstitial fibrosis which was shown to occur exclusively in the LV after 14 days.

CONCLUSION

NE treatment induced fibrosis exclusively in the LV which was associated with hypertrophy predominantly of the LV. The elevated MMP-2 activity seems to be necessary for the ECM to adapt to the enlargement of myocytes and to reduce overproduction of collagen.

Changes in extracellular matrix and in transforming growth factor beta isoforms after coronary artery ligation in rats

Extensive myocardial remodeling occurs after transmural myocardial infarction (MI). The infarcted myocardium is being replaced by scar tissue after gradual resorption of the necrotic tissue. The remodeling process involves both synthesis and degradation of collagens as major components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In the present study we have analyzed the time-dependent changes of the processes related to this fibrosis in the infarct area and in the non-infarcted left ventricle (LV) six hours to 82 days after occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in rats. We also examined whether changes occurred in the expression pattern of the transforming growth factor (TGF) beta isoforms, since this cytokine is known as powerful inductor of fibrosis. Elevation in colligin expression preceded the pronounced increase in mRNA expression of both type I and type III collagen after MI from day three onwards. The maximal increase in colligin protein in the infarct area coincided with the most pronounced expression of collagen I and collagen III mRNA expression. Also, the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 mRNA were increased predominantly in the infarct area. TGF beta(1)and TGF-beta(2)expression increased within the first days after MI, whereas TGF-beta(3)expression was elevated predominantly in the infarct area. This pronounced increase in TGF-beta(3)persisted up to 82 days and correlated positively with the parameters of ECM metabolism. Thus, the scar formation is an ongoing dynamic process in which TGF-beta(3)seems to play an active role in the complex ventricular remodeling.

Comitogenic effect of catecholamines on rat cardiac fibroblasts in culture

OBJECTIVE

We studied the ability of norepinephrine and of other catecholamines to affect the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts isolated from adult rat hearts. Furthermore, we investigated the possible adrenergic receptor involved in this process.

METHODS

Norepinephrine (NE), phenylephrine (PE), isoproterenol (ISO), forskolin (FO), epidermal growth factor (EGF), platelet-derived growth factor AA (PDGF-AA) and specific inhibitors of the alpha(1)-, alpha(2)-, beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenoceptors and of the protein kinase A (PKA) were applied to cardiac fibroblasts in culture. Cell number was measured by use of a Coulter Counter. Activation of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) was measured by Western blotting and subsequent use of a phospho-specific antibody. Activation of the p42- and the p44-mitogen activated protein kinase (p42/p44(MAPK)) was assessed by detection of phosphorylation shifts and by incorporation of 32P-labelled phosphate into myelin basic protein.

RESULTS

Fibroblasts isolated from hearts of adult rats were grown in 10% serum-containing media which induced an increase in cell number by 94%. After 48 h, treatment with 10 microM NE caused an even greater increase in cell number by 222%, i.e. another 128% (comitogenic effect). In contrast, NE alone had no effect on the growth of serum-deprived cells. EGF and PDGF-AA did not replace serum as the basic mitogen. After addition of NE to proliferating cells under serum conditions, there was a rapid, time-dependent significant activation of the p42/p44(MAPK) and of CREB for up to 60 and 120 min, respectively. In both cases, the maximum of activation was reached after 5 min. Application of FO (0.1-20 microM) caused a strong activation of CREB, while no increase in the phosphorylation of the p42/p44(MAPK) was detected. Treatment with 20 microM FO led to an identical increase in cell number as application of NE. Specific blockade of PKA with RpcAMPS prevented the activation of CREB and also the comitogenic effect of FO as well as of NE. The alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor blocker carvedilol (10 microM) normalized all NE-induced effects. Prazosin and yohimbine, inhibitors of alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-adrenoceptor activation, respectively, did not influence the NE-evoked increase in cell number. In contrast, the non-selective beta-adrenoceptor blocker propranolol (1 microM) completely suppressed the comitogenic effect of NE. A similar effect was obtained with the specific beta(2)-adrenoceptor blocker ICI 118,551 (5 microM), while the beta(1)-adrenoceptor blocker metoprolol did not influence the increase in cell number.

CONCLUSIONS

NE elicits a comitogenic effect on cultured rat cardiac fibroblasts which is prevented by beta(2)-adrenergic blockade. The activation of CREB contributes to the increase in proliferation. The p42/p44(MAPK) which was also found to be activated by NE might as well be involved in the regulation of the comitogenic effect.

Differential remodeling of the left and right heart after norepinephrine treatment in rats: studies on cytokines and collagen

Continuous intravenous infusion of norepinephrine norepinephrine (NE, 0.1 mg/kg/h) induced hypertrophy of the left ventricle (LV), but not of the right ventricle (RV) in rats, although RV systolic pressure (RVSP) was much more elevated than LVSP. After NE infusion, there was a time-dependent (20 min to 72 h) expression in the mRNA of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1 beta. The expression of IL-6 increased markedly and reached the maximum after 4 h with an 80-fold elevation. In the RV, the expression increased only 20-fold. The mRNA of IL-1 beta increased significantly after NE stimulation only in the LV and reached the maximum after 12 h with a 12-fold elevation. After 12 h of NE infusion, colligin mRNA was elevated for the first time with further progression until 72 h. The six-fold abundance of colligin mRNA seen after 72 h was significantly higher in the LV than in the RV. A similar increase was observed on the protein level (Western blotting). The expression of collagen I and III increased significantly after 24 h only in the LV. After 72 h, the mRNA expression of collagen I was increased 16-fold and that of collagen III 10-fold. This expression was significantly higher than that in the RV. Also the elevation in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) mRNA started earlier and was more pronounced in the LV than in the RV. The alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor blocker carvedilol normalized all functional parameters after 6 h and 72 h and prevented the development of LV hypertrophy that occurred after 72 h. The NE-induced increased expression of the mRNAs studied was either prevented (IL-6, IL-1 beta ) or attenuated (colligin, collagen I and III, ANP) by combined alpha- and beta-receptor blockade. The elevation of afterload which was associated with the NE effect was normalized by the calcium-channel blocker nisoldipin, but NE-induced LV hypertrophy and the increase in ANP and collagen mRNA were not affected.

Nanoscopic unequivocal analysis of twinned crystal structures with tetragonal or orthogonal unit cells by electron microdiffraction

In this study, a particular type of nanoscopic twinned crystal structure which can occur in any tetragonal or orthogonal crystal structure with a ratio of lattice parameters c/a=c/b=2 is presented. This type of twinning is characterized by twin components whosecaxes are oriented perpendicular to one another, by twin-habit planes parallel to {102} planes, and by a superstructure along the twin boundaries which is described by orthogonal unit cells with lattice parameters 2a, 2a,a. Furthermore, the suitability of electron microdiffraction, a diffraction technique of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with a moderately convergent beam, for the analysis of such twinned crystal structures is demonstrated. For this demonstration, electron microdiffraction is applied to the chalcogenide compound Cu2In3Se5, which indeed exhibits the proposed twinned crystal structure.

Late signals from the PDGF receptors leading to the activation of the p70S6-kinase are necessary for the transition from G1 to S phase in AKR-2B cells

Platelet-derived growth factor AB (PDGF-AB) has to be permanently present in the culture medium to achieve full proliferation (>90%) of AKR-2B fibroblasts. Upon removal after 1 h incubation time, only a small number of cells (<20%) entered the cell cycle. Concomitantly there was no increase in RNA- and protein-synthesis. The PDGF-receptor autophosphorylation reached a maximum after 30 min incubation with PDGF-AB. Tyrosine phosphorylation was no longer detectable after 2-4 h. The clustering of receptors into coated pits, analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence using a specific antibody against PDGF-beta-receptor, showed in contrast to autophosphorylation a biphasic kinetic. A first maximum was reached after 30 min, followed by a complete disappearance of coated pits, which regenerated in a second phase after 3 h and were long lasting. If PDGF-AB was removed after 1 h, the second phase was obliterated. The involvement of two different signalling pathways in these two phases was investigated in detail: (1) The ras-raf-MAP-kinase pathway and (2) the PI-3-kinase/p70(S6)-kinase pathway. PDGF-AB addition caused a fast (10 min) activation of MAP-kinase, which returned to background level after 1 h without any further activation later on. In contrast PDGF-AB led to a rapid (15-30 min) activation of the p70(S6)-kinase that persisted for 8-12 h just prior to the entry of the cells into S-phase. If PDGF-AB was removed after 1 h, the activation of this kinase ceased 3 h later. PDGF-AA, which is unable to promote division of AKR-2B cells, induced only a shortlasting p70(S6)-kinase activation. These observations add further evidence for the involvement of the p70(S6)-kinase pathway in the proliferation control of AKR-2B fibroblasts in the late G1 phase (4-8 h after growth factor addition). On the other hand, if the p70(S6)-kinase activation was prevented by the addition of 10 nM rapamycin, the cell division was not inhibited but only delayed by 4 h. Similar kinetics were observed when the PI-3-kinase was inhibited by 400 nM wortmannin. It is suggested that a regulatory element exists upstream of the p70(S6)-kinase and the PI-3-kinase. This regulatory element should be responsible for the transmission of late signals required for the progression through the cell cycle. This element is not involved in the immediate responses after PDGF-AB addition but must be stimulated within a second later phase of PDGF activation.

A 10-year experience in the use of air medical transport for medical scene calls

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this retrospective descriptive study was to evaluate the use of air medical services in response to medical scene calls for transport to tertiary care in the rural setting.

METHODS

This study is a retrospective descriptive review of all medical scene calls during a 10-year study period. The cases were analyzed for demographics, transport time, medical indication, procedures, role of ground EMS services, effects on community hospitals, and patient outcomes. A case-by-case review by emergency medicine (EM) physicians was conducted to determine necessity of air medical transport.

RESULTS

A total of 8106 medical flights were conducted during the study period. Of these, 103 were scene calls for which 85 charts were available for review. The breakdown of medical scene calls is cardiac (29%), poisoning (17%), co poisoning (11%), neurologic (11%), and other (32%). Ground EMS was involved in 80% of the cases; ground advanced life support (ALS) was present in 58%. In 86% of the flights reviewed, an EM resident was aboard the helicopter. Of the 85 patients whose charts were available, 41 required admission to the ICU, five required hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment, and 14 died before admission.

CONCLUSION

Evacuation of the rural patient with a medical emergency accounts for an extremely small percentage of an air medical service's use. ALS services, including emergency procedures at the scene and rapid transport to a tertiary care, were provided. Seventy-one percent of the flights reviewed required transport to a tertiary care facility, indicating that air medical transport was appropriate. Physician guidelines to ensure effective and cost-efficient use of these services should be developed. Responding for victims in cardiopulmonary arrest appears to provide little benefit with respect to outcome.

Okadaic acid induces cellular hypertrophy in AKR-2B fibroblasts: involvement of the p70S6 kinase in the onset of protein and rRNA synthesis

At low concentrations (50 nM), okadaic acid (OA), an inhibitor of phosphatases 1 and 2A, inhibits platelet-derived growth factor-induced cell proliferation in late G1 (A. Simm et al., Exp. Cell Res., 210: 160-165, 1994). This inhibition is caused by the interference of OA in the induction and activation of the cell division protein kinases cdk1 and cdk2. OA alone has no effect on cell number, but induces a pronounced increase in cell size. The OA-induced hypertrophy can be divided into two phases. The first phase is characterized by a swelling of the cells. This increase in cellular volume is not accompanied by a change in the level of cellular macromolecules, i.e., protein and RNA. Inhibitor studies indicated a possible role of the Na+/H+ antiporter and Cl- channels in this process. In the second phase, an increase in the cellular protein and RNA content was observed along with a minor change in cell volume. To delineate a possible signaling pathway, the involvement of numerous protein kinases was analyzed. Low concentrations of OA lead to pronounced and sustained activation of the p70S6 kinase. There was little or no effect on various other kinases that can be activated by extracellular signals, e.g., mitogen-activated kinase, ribosomal S6 kinase, or other S6 peptide kinases. Likewise, at these concentrations, OA did not activate the genes for fos, myc, or ornithine decarboxylase. At very low concentrations (ED50, 0.5 nM), rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of the activation of p70S6 kinase, reversed the activation of the p70S6 kinase and the enhancement of RNA synthesis and partially the increase in cell volume and protein synthesis. The OA-induced hypertrophy of AKR-2B fibroblasts may serve as a model system for investigations aimed at the identification of signaling pathways leading to hypertrophy of differentiated nonproliferating cells.

[Treatment of anemia in pregnant women with an animal blood preparation, "Livex"]

The animal blood preparation Livex obtained from the Agricultural Academy in Wrocław was used for treatment of anaemia of pregnancy. During four weeks of treatment (3 x 7.0 g of Livex added to diet) a statistically significant increase was found of anaemia parameters such as haemoglobin level, value of haematocrit, red blood cell count, and mean corpuscular volume. Other parameters such as mean corpuscular haemoglobin mass, and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were also increased but statistically insignificantly. Livex is an effective and safe preparation causing no side effects in view of the presence of certain trace elements in it, especially iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, and selenium. The use of this preparation in the treatment of anaemia of pregnancy is a natural and effective method of erythropoietic process stimulation.

Sequence homology and structural comparison between the chromosomal human alpha 1-antitrypsin and chicken ovalbumin genes

The human chromosomal alpha 1-antitrypsin gene has been cloned. This gene is approximately 5 kilobase pairs long and contains three intervening sequences in the peptide-coding region. DNA sequences coding for the amino and carboxyl termini of a alpha 1-antitrypsin have been identified. Human alpha 1-antitrypsin and chicken ovalbumin show significant sequences homology and belong to a common protein super-family. Yet the number, position and size of intervening sequences reveal that the two genes are dissimilar.