A postmortem study of malignant glucagonoma with heart muscle hypertrophy, including chemical, histochemical, immunohistological and ultrastructural observations

The autopsy findings in a 58 year old female with the typical glucagonoma syndrome with heart muscle hypertrophy are described. Despite remission of a skin rash and hyperglucagonemia following removal of metastatic liver tumors, the patient died of massive cerebral hemorrhage caused by uncontrolled hypertension and septic cerebral angiitis. On the basis of surgical and autopsy materials, the tumors in the pancreas and liver were defined as malignant glucagonoma by histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural studies. The pathohistological changes in several organs that might be related to the hypersecretion of pancreatic glucagon are discussed.

A case with glucagonoma syndrome--heterogeneity of glucagon and insulin

The heterogeneity of glucagon and insulin in plasma and tissue extracts from a 57-year-old female with glucagonoma syndrome with surgically and autopsy verified islet-cell tumors was studied by Bio-Gel P-10 filtration. The preoperative plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) level was 20.2 ng/ml, and plasma glucagon-like immunoreactivity(GLI) 25.8 ng/ml. The column chromatography of the preoperative plasma revealed three or four IRG components and four GLI components. Among these, peak II, the large glucagon immunoreactivity (LGI) peak, considered a candidate for proglucagon, was prominent, along with peak III. The resected metastatic liver tumor contained an enormous amount of IRG and an appreciable amount of immunoreactive insulin (IRI), indicating that the elevated plasma IRG was mainly of tumor origin. The IRG pattern of the tumor tissue extract revealed a small quantity of IRG in peaks I and II, and a large amount in peak III; control pancreatic tissue extract manifested a similar elution pattern. The IRI elution pattern of the tumor tissue extract revealed two major IRI peaks which migrated close to the elution volume of cytochrome C and insulin, respectively. This is a quite different pattern from the control pancreatic tissue extract in which the RI peak was localized in the elution volume of the insulin. We conclude that the present metastatic liver tumor produced not only enormous amounts of glucagon but heterogeneous peptides which contained immunological insulin determinants within their.

Immune response of man to Habu-venom toxoid

Immune response of man to various Habu-venom toxoids with different potencies was investigated. A linear relationship was observed between circulating anti-HRI and the amount of HRI toxoid used for the basic immunization. A highly purified toxoid was 2.5 times more effective in man than partially purified ones, when compared on the basis of the immunizing unit determined in guinea pigs. Out of 265 vaccinees, 202 (76.2%) produced anti-HRI exceeding 1 U/ml after two injections of the mixed toxoid and the rate rose to 96% after the booster immunization, when the preparation contained HR1 toxoid of not less than 9 ImU per dose. The rate fell to 58% and 28.5%, 12 months and 24 months after the last injection, respectively. Although booster immunization was effective to restore the declined antibody production, the level of anti-HR1 after the injection did not exceed that after the basic immunization in the groups primed with partially purified HR1 toxoid. Neither increased number of injection nor changed duration of intervals of successive injections for the basic immunization improved the immune response of man. Booster effect was slightly higher in the groups primed with a highly purified toxoid, but its magnitude was much smaller than that in the case of other kinds of toxoid (e.g. tetanus toxoid). Anti-HR2 was invariably higher than 1 U/ml, being more than 5-10 U/ml in many vaccinees. However, the behavior after the booster injection was similar to that of anti-HR1. Side reaction was not a serious obstacle in continuing immunization. The volunteers amounted to 8,206, but general reactions were rare, if any. However, allergic reactions of the vaccinees should carefully be checked, since repeated booster immunization may be necessary to maintain immunity.

Studies on thermal adaptation in Tetrahymena membrane lipids. Changes in positional distribution of fatty acids in diacyl-phospholipids and alkyl-acyl-phospholipids during temperature acclimation

The positioning of acyl chains in both 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl- and 1,2-diacyl-phospholipids was analyzed at various time intervals for a thermotolerant strain (NT-1) of Tetrahymena pyriformis cells during cold acclimation. During the 10 h period of adaptation, cells were not able to grow but maintained the ability to divide. The content of palmitate (16 : 0) in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine was decreased after temperature-shift, with a concurrent increase of palmitoleate (16 : 1 delta 9) and gamma-linolenate (18 : 3 delta 6,9,12). An increase in gamma-linolenate at the 1-position and linoleate at the 2-position was observed in diacyl-phospholipids (phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and 2-aminoethylphosphonolipid). The 2-position of 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-phosphatidylcholine and 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-(2-aminoethyl)phosphonolipid was occupied mainly by gamma-linolenate together with cilienate (18 : 2 delta 6,11) and linoleate (18 : 2 delta 9,12). Cilienate and gamma-linolenate at the 2-position of 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-phosphatidylcholine were increased after temperature shift, with a small decrease of linoleate. There are little significant changes in alkyl ether lipid content of phosphatidylcholine and 2-aminoethylphosphonolipid after temperature shift. The results indicate that phosphatidylethanolamine, which is most abundant and present only in the diacyl form, would play a crucial role in thermal adaptation of membrane lipids, by replacing palmitate with gamma-linolenate at its 1-position, and also that hexadecyl/gamma-linolenoyl phosphatidylcholine would be an important molecular species in the acclimation.

Total enzymic synthesis of cholesterol from lanosterol. Cytochrome b5-dependence of 4-methyl sterol oxidase

Methyl sterol oxidase of microsomal synthesis of cholesterol from lanosterol is a mixed-function oxidase that is dependent upon reduced pyridine nucleotide. The methyl sterol oxidase, as well as NADH-cytochrome c reductase, in intact rat liver microsomes are inhibited by anti-cytochrome b5 immunoglobulin, but NADPH-cytochrome c reductase is not affected. There is a decreased time lag prior to onset of reoxidation of steady state levels of reduced cytochrome b5 when 4-methyl sterol oxidase substrates are present. Trypsin treatment of microsomes destroys cytochrome b5 with loss of methyl sterol oxidase activity. Activity is restored by addition of purified cytochrome b5 to trypsin-treated microsomes. Initial attempts to solubilize and purify 4-methyl sterol oxidase have been only partially successful due to the extreme lability of the oxidase. However, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography of a detergent extract of microsomes yields a fraction that contains the oxidase, lipids, and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase but is free of cytochrome b5. Oxidation of 4 alpha [30-3H] methyl-5 alpha-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol by methyl sterol oxidase in this isolated fraction can be fully restored by the addition of purified liver microsomal cytochrome b5. These results strongly support the suggestion that membrane-bound cytochrome b5 of rat liver microsomes is an obligatory electron carrier from NADH to 4-methyl sterol oxidase.

A case with glucagonoma syndrome--endocrine and metabolic studies

The results of clinical endocrine and metabolic studies on a 57-year-old female with surgically and autopsy verified glucagonoma syndrome were presented. All of the clinical manifestations of glucagonoma syndrome so far reported in the literature were noted but there was no evidence indicating the presence of multiple endocrine adenomatosis. The plasma IRG level was always more than 20 times above the normal, and the IRG response to insulin and tolbutamide injection was abnormal and the results of the other endocrinological studies revealed less remarkable features, if any. The surgically removed metastatic tumor of the liver contained an enormous amount of IRG and an appreciable amount of IRI, indicating that the elevated plasma IRG was mainly of tumor origin. These results clearly indicate that in glucagonoma there is some abnormality in glucagon release from the tumor. In addition to these findings, hypocalcemia, cardiac left ventricular hypertrophy and gastrointestinal dysfunction reportedly due to hyperglucagonemia were also seen in this patient.

Synthesis and immunological activity of 5,6,6a,8,9,11a-hexahydronaphth[1',2':4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles and 5,6,6a,9,10,11a-hexahydroanaphth[2',1':4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles

A series of 5,6,6a,8,9,11a-hexahydroanaphth[1',2':4,5]imidazo[2,q-b]thiazoles (17 and 20) and 5,6,6a,9,10,11a-hexahydronaphth[2',1':4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles has been synthesized with cis- and/or trans-1,2-diamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalenes as the key intermediates and subsequently evaluated for immunological activity (effects on antibody formation and delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction). Among the compounds tested trans-5,6,6a,8,9,11a-hexahydronaphth[1',2':4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole (trans-17a) and (+/-)-5,6,6a beta,8,9,11a alpha-hexahydro-8 beta-hydroxy-9 beta-methyl-8 alpha-phenylnaphth[1',2':4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole (20a) showed the largest immunological activity in mice with a magnitude comparable to that of levamisole and were found to be considerably less toxic than levamisole in acute toxicological study. The structures of 18a and 20a were determined by X-ray crystallography.

Studies on thermal adaptation in Tetrahymena membrane lipids. Positional distribution of fatty acid in diacyl- and alkyl-acyl-phosphatidylcholines and -(2-aminoethyl)phosphonolipids from cells grown at different temperatures

Phosphatidylcholine and 2-aminoethylphosphonolipid, major membrane phospholipids in Tetrahymena, comprise 1,2-diacyl and 1-alkyl-2-acyl moieties, whereas phosphatidylethanolamine is solely in diacyl form. The overall fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine and 2-aminoethylphosphonolipid fractions from 15 degrees C-grown cells mainly consisted of linoleic (C18 : 2 delta 9,12) and gamma-linolenic (C18 : 3 delta 6,9,12) acids, except for the large amount of an usual fatty acid, cilienic acid (C18 : 2 delta 6,11) in 2-aminoethylphosphonolipids. When compared with 39.5 degrees C-grown cells, the 1-position of phosphatidylcholine and 2-aminoethylphosphonolipid from 15 degrees C-grown cells undergoes a large increase in palmitoleic (C16 : 1 delta 9) and gamma-linolenic acids with a corresponding decrease of myristic (C14 : 0) and palmitic (C16 : 0) acids. At the 2-position of 15 degrees C-grown cells, linoleic and gamma-linolenic acids in phosphatidylcholine, and cilienic and linoleic acids in 2-aminoethylphosphonolipid increase with a large decrease of palmitoleic acid in both phospholipids and of gamma-linolenic acid in 2-aminoethylphosphonolipid. There was quite a similarity in fatty acid composition between 1,2-diacylphosphatidylcholine and 1,2-diacyl-(2-aminoethyl)phosphonolipid in 39.5 degrees C- and 15 degrees C-grown cells. However, a marked increase of gamma-linolenic acid at the 1-position of 1,2-diacyl-phosphatidylcholine, and of linoleic acid at the 2-position of diacyl-aminoethylphosphonolipid was observed in 15 degrees C-grown cells. The 2-position of 1-alkyl-2-acyl-phosphatidylcholine and 1-alkyl-2-acyl-(2-aminoethyl)phosphonolipid was occupied mainly by unsaturated fatty acids. In 15 degrees C-grown cells, the sum of linoleic and gamma-linolenic acids accounted for 79.9% in 1-alkyl-2-acyl-phosphatidylcholine and 87.1% in 1-alkyl-2-acyl-(2-aminoethyl)phosphonolipid. These data support the hypothesis that 2-aminoethylphosphonolipid and phosphatidylcholine would play an important role as acceptors of polyunsaturated fatty acids (C18 : 2 delta 6,11, C18 : 2 delta 9,12 and C18: 3 delta 6,9,12) for temperature acclimation. Furthermore, changes in the ratio of diacyl- to alkyl-acylphosphatidylcholine may also be involved in thermal adaptation by regulating the number of fatty acid acceptor.

[A case of thyroid storm associated with diabetic ketoacidosis (author's transl)]

A 31-year-old female was well until few years ago when she was diagnosed as having Graves' disease. Methimazole (MMI) and Lugol's solution were prescribed. But 7 months later, she stopped taking them arbitrarily. Three months later, thirst and general fatigue appeared. Therefore insulin (60u/day) and MMI (30 mg/day) were administered and continued for 40 days. However no remarkable effect was brought about. She was then transferred to the radioisotope ward of Kumamoto Univ. Hospital and was treated with regular insulin only. Ten days later, she fell into thyroid storm associated with diabetic ketoacidosis and was transferred to our ward. We began to administer large volumes of transfusion, regular insulin, MMI, Lugol's solution, propranolol, hydrocortisone and digitalis. In 24 hours, ketoacidosis disappeared and she became alert. For hyperthyroidism, the dosage of MMI was increased to 60 approximately 45 mg/day and was continued for a month; however, her thyroid function did not normalize and agranulocytosis developed. MMI was discontinued, and she was treated with 131I. About a year later, she became euthyroid. Her diabetes mellitus was difficult to control during the hyperthyroid state but it was under good control with monocomponent lente insulin (36u/day) when the euthyroid state was resumed.

Studies on temperature adaptation in Tetrahymena. Positional distribution of fatty acids and species analysis of phosphatidylethanolamine from Tetrahymena pyriformis grown at different temperatures

Phosphatidylethanolamine of 15 degrees C-grown Tetrahymena pyriformis (NT-I) cells contains more polyunsaturated fatty acids than 39.5 degrees C-grown cells. This increase in unsaturation is due to an increase in linoleic (C18 : 2) and linolenic (C18 : 3) acids, and a decrease in myristic (C14 : 0), palmitic (C16 : 0), palmitoleic (C16 : 1) and heptadecanoic (C17 : 0) acids. Compared with 39.5 degrees C-grown cells, the proportion of palmitic acid (C16 : 0) decreased in the 1-position as does at the 2-position in 15 degrees C-grown cells. On the contrary, there is a significant increase in linoleic (C18 : 2 delta 9, 12) and gamma-linolenic (gamma-C18 : 3) acids in the 1- and 2-positions, respectively. Phosphatidylethanolamine has been subfractionated into seven different diglyceride species. In 15 degrees C cells, the amounts of fractions 2 (1-linolenoyl-2-linoleoyl) and 3 (1-linolenoyl-2-palmitoleoyl, 1-linolenoyl-2-oleoyl) increased while there was a great decrease in subfraction 7 (1-myristoyl-2-palmitoleoyl, 1-palmitoyl-2-palmitoleoyl). Since subfractions 1 and 2 contain over 70% linoleic (C18 : 2) and linolenic (C18 : 3) acids, these fractions might be composed mainly of 1-linolenoyl-2-linolenoyl and 1-linolenoyl-2-linoleoyl molecular species at 15 degrees C. These data support evidence that phosphatidylethanolamine would play a principal role as an acceptor of acyl chains for temperature acclimation.

Alteration in binding of dexamethasone to glucocorticoid receptors in regenerating rat liver after partial hepatectomy

Changes in binding of dexamethasone (9 alpha-fluoro-11 beta, 17 alpha, 21-trihydroxy-16 alpha-methylpregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione) to its receptors in regenerating rat liver after 70% hepatectomy were examined. Specific receptors for dexamethasone in the liver remnants of adrenalectomized rats decreased significantly during the period of DNA synthesis after 70% hepatectomy; then, they increased to above the control values between Days 4 and 7 after partial hepatectomy and subsequently returned to the control values. During the period of DNA synthesis, decreased binding was observed in partially hepatectomized rats with or without adrenals, but later enhanced binding was not prominent in rats with adrenals.

[A case of accessory middle cerebral artery associated with internal carotid artery aneurysm (author's transl)]

A case of accessory middle cerebral artery associated with internal carotid artery aneurysm was reported. A 50-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with complaints of headache, nausea, vomiting and conciousness disturbance. Lumbar puncture showed bloody CSF. Right carotid angiogram revealed saccular aneurysm of the internal carotid-posterior communicating artery and accessory middle cerebral artery originating from the horizontal portion of the right anterior cerebral artery. No other vascular lesion was observed on other angiograms. Operation was performed 2 days after admission. The neck of the aneurysm was clipped. Postoperative aseptic meningitis was cured by frequent lumbar punctures, and her course was uneventful. The etiological hypothesis of these cerebral vascular anomalies was briefly discussed.

Role of the fly in the transport of Yersinia enterocolitica

Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated from flies collected from a piggery and a kitchen of farm and from ham hung in a piggery. The cultures were identified as Y. enterocolitica biovar 4 and serovar 3 by biochemical and serological characteristics. From these results it is suggested that flies may play an important role in food contamination by Y. enterocolitica. In this study, the probable donors of Y. enterocolitica to the flies were swine.

Striatal dopamine turnover and MIF-I

Because of conflicting reports of the actions of the antiparkinsonian agent L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycine amide (PLG, MIF-I) on the turnover of striatal dopamine (DA), this process was reinvestigated. In the present series of studies, it was found that neither our MIF-I (200 ng ICV) nor the MIF-I used by Versteeg et al. [25] was effective in altering the rate of decline of endogenous DA in the caudate nucleus of rats pretreated with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (300 mg/kg IP). In addition, our MIF-I (1 mg/kg IP) did not change endogenous dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) or homovanillic acid (HVA) in rat striatum. These studies indicate that MIF-I does not alter the turnover rate of DA in nigrostriatal neurons. It is possible that MIF-I or some substance released by MIF-I acts at a postsynaptic receptor site.

[Immunologic studies concerned with high dose radiotherapy for osteosarcoma (author's transl)]

The 5-year cumulative survival rate was measured in 28 cases of osteosarcoma treated with high dose radiation since 1969 is 48.8% in our clinic. It can be said that high dose radiotherapy has a significant survival effect compared to early amputation therapy for the patient with osteosarcoma. The difference of the prognosis between both therapies may be related to immunological reactions. In order to obtain further information on this possibility, experimental studies on mice suffering from tumors have been performed. Results revealed that spleen cell migration inhibition reaction, as a specific immunity, became negative and anti-tumor properties were eliminated as a results of the amputation of the limb bearing the tumor. Also, when BCG as well as irradiated tumor cells were administered to tumor-afflicted mice, an improved rate of survival among the mice was observed. As a result of the study of patients with osteosarcoma that has been treated with high dose radiation related to changes in their immunity, it was disclosed that there was a marked tendency to diminution in peripheral blood lymphocytes or T cells in cases with poorer prognoses. In cases of long survival, both showed high values. Lymphoblastgenesis by PHA and PWM showed higher values in cases with better prognoses than in those with poor prognoses. Furthermore, in many of the cases in which the tuberculin skin reaction became negative, a short survival period was noted.

The involvement of serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system as the possible mechanism for slow head-shaking behavior induced by methamphetamine in rats

Following the IV administration of d-methamphetamine (MA), rats showed slow head shaking (SHS) and stereotyped gnawing (SG) behaviors in a dose-dependent manner. Methysergide, cyrpoheptadine, and p-chlorophenylalanine given intracerebroventricularly (ICV) or systemically significantly blocked SHS behavior induced by 10 mg/kg MA. Combined administration of L-5-hydroxytryptophan and peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor (Ro 4-4602) enhanced SHS behavior. Tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor (H44/68) blocked SG behaviors, but dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibitors (FLA 63 and U-14, 624) and combined administration of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and Ro-4-4602 enhanced it. These drugs did not affect SHS behavior. Phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine, clonidine, isoproterenol, and propranolol given ICV or systemically showed no effect on either SHS or SG behaviors. These results suggest that SHS behavior is produced by the activation of seronergic neurons in the central nervous system and are consistent with the view that SG behaviors are mediated through the release of dopamine. Some neuroleptics inhibited SHS as well as SG behaviors, but the older of inhibitory activity of neuroleptics onSHS behavior was quite different from their effects on SG behaviors induced by MA or apomorphine.

Effect of furosemide on serum clearance and renal excretion of digoxin

Serum turnover and urinary excretion of digoxin with or without oral furosemide were studied in six healthy subjects who received 0.006 mg/kg body weight digoxin intravenously. During furosemide treatment, the total amount of urinary digoxin did not change but the digoxin clearance during the diuretic phase and the digoxin excretion after the diuresis decreased significantly. The average serum half-life was prolonged from 37 hours in the control period to 86 hours in the furosemide period. Decreased glomerular filtration rate by volume depletion might have been responsible for the decreased excretion of digoxin, but there was no significant difference in urine volume after diuresis between the two periods, suggesting the possibility of inhibition of tubular secretion of digoxin by furosemide. It is also possible that serum digoxin concentration may be elevated if furosemide were given more frequently.

Further evidence for changes in the level of palmitoyl-CoA desaturase during thermal adaptation in Tetrahymena pyriformis

Palmitoyl-CoA desaturase activity in microsomes was increased up to about 4-fold within 2 h after temperature shift from 39.5 to 15 degrees C. Compared with control cells, cycloheximide-treated cells indicated no induction of palmitoyl-CoA desaturase by a decrease in temperature. The results suggest that temperature acclimation requires an increase in the level of the desaturase enzyme content.

A novel Tetrahymena sp. with unusual membrane lipid composition, with special reference to iso fatty acyl chains

A novel Tetrahymena sp. is similar in appearance to four classical strains (WH-14, GL, W, NT-1) of T. pyriformis except for a larger width. The phospholipid and acyl chain compositions of membranes of this novel species are significantly different from those of other strains. The Tetrahymena sp. has a much higher content of ethanolamine phosphoglyceride and a lower level of glyceroaminoethyl phosphonate. Major fatty acids of this strain are iso 15:0 and iso 17:1, which are, if present, usually minor components in the classical strains of T. pyriformis.

Studies in Tetrahymena membranes substrates for desaturation of fatty acyl chains in Tetrahymena pyriformis microsomes

[1-14-C]Palmitoyl-Co A was incubated with Tetrahymena microsomes containing the complete enzyme system for desaturation during various time periods. The level of [1-14C]palmitoleoyl-CoA increased to a maximum during the 1--3 min incubation time, while [1-14C]palmitoleic acid in the phospholipid reached a maximum level during 6--7 min incubation time. The radioactivity of [1-14C]palmitoleic acid in free fatty acid and the triglyceride fraction was not significantly observed upon 3 min incubation. Incubation of [1-14C]palmitoyl-CoA with microsomes in the absence of NADH produced [1-14C]palmitoyl lipid without desaturation. Radioactive palmitic acids in the microsomal lipids were not converted to palmitoleic acids after addition of NADH by the complete enzyme system. When microsomes prepared from cells labeled with [1-14C]palmitic acid or [1-14C]stearic acid were incubated alone in the presence of O2 and NADH, no significant increase in [1-14C]palmitoleic acid in the phospholipid was observed, wherease an increase in [1-14C]linoleic acid and gamma-[1-14C]linolenic acid did occur at the expense of [1-14C]oleic acid in the phospholipid. From these results it can be concluded that the enzyme involving desaturation of palmitic acid to palmitoleic acid requires palmitoyl-CoA as the substrate. However, the possibility of oleoyl and linoleoyl phospholipids being substrates in the desaturation of Tetrahymena microsomes was suggested.

Effects of benzodiazepines and pentobarbitone on the gaba-ergic recurrent inhibition of hippocampal neurons

The actions of benzodiazepines and pentobarbitone on GABA-mediated recurrent inhibition of hippocampal pyramidal neurons were investigated in the immobilized unanaesthetized cat. Extracellular action potentials of single neurons were recorded in regions CA1 or CA2 with 4 M NaCl-containing glass micropipettes. Bicuculline (0.1 mg/kg i.v.) reduced the period of inhibition induced by stimulation of the fimbria and the septum, but fludiazepam and diazepam (0.3--1.0 mg/kg i.v.) and pentobarbitone (15--30 mg/kg i.v.) prolonged the inhibition. The prolongation produced by these compounds was antagonized by the administration of bicuculline (0.3 mg/kg i.v.). The results suggest that these two classes of compounds potentiate GABA-mediated recurrent inhibition in hippocampal neurons in a similar way.