Somatostatin- and enkephalin-like immunoreactivities are frequently colocalized in neurons in the caudal brain stem of rat

The medulla oblongata and pons of colchicine treated rats were analyzed with a double-staining technique using mouse monoclonal antibodies to somatostatin and rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against methionine-enkephalin. Numerous cells reacted with both antisera but cells reacting with only one antiserum were also observed. Double-stained cells were most frequently encountered at all levels of the nucleus tractus solitarii, in a well defined group in the caudal medullary reticular formation, along the lateral ventral surface of the medulla oblongata, dorsolateral to the inferior olive and in the nucleus raphe magnus. These findings provide further examples of coexistence of two peptides and indicate the possibility that somatostatin- and enkephalin-like peptides are co-released.

Assignment of resonances for 'acute-phase' glycoproteins in high resolution proton NMR spectra of human blood plasma

Broad resonances at 2.04 and 2.08 ppm in 500 MHz Hahn spin-echo 1H NMR spectra of human blood plasma are assigned to the N-acetyl groups of mobile carbohydrate side-chains (largely N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid) of glycoproteins such as alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. Their intensities in spin-echo spectra correlate with clinical conditions in which an elevation of the level of 'acute-phase' glycoproteins is expected, and so may be of value in the study of certain diseases.

High resolution proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies of human cerebrospinal fluid

One- and two-dimensional (correlated shift spectroscopy) high resolution proton n.m.r. spectra of human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are reported. The merits of water suppression by freeze drying or irradiation, and spectral simplification by spin-echo methods, are discussed. Well-resolved resonances for a range of low molecular weight metabolites such as lactate, 3-D-hydroxybutyrate, alanine, acetate, citrate, glucose, valine and formate were observed. Resonances for glutamine were observed only from freeze dried samples. Concentrations determined by n.m.r. were in reasonable agreement with those from conventional methods. The n.m.r. spectra of CSF were related to the clinical conditions of the subjects. No resonances for citrate were present in spectra of CSF from subjects (three infants) with bacterial meningitis; high lactate and lowered glucose levels were observed. Strong resonances for glucose and glycine were observed for mildly diabetic subjects. Both the aromatic and the aliphatic regions of the CSF spectra from subjects suffering from liver failure contained distinctive features characteristic for hepatic coma: Intense resonances for lactate, alanine, valine, methionine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and histidine. In some cases guanine was also present, which does not appear to have been reported previously. The two-dimensional spectrum suggested the presence of abnormally high levels of a number of endogenous metabolites. Such assignments were not possible using one-dimensional spectra alone because of signal overlap.

Effects of monoclonal antibodies to somatostatin on somatostatin-induced and intestinal fat-induced inhibition of gastric acid secretion in the rat

Cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies to somatostatin, designated S10 and S20, have recently been generated. The purpose of the present immunoneutralization study was to examine the ability of these antibodies to block the inhibitory effect of exogenous somatostatin on meal-stimulated gastric acid secretion in the innervated rat stomach and to use these antibodies as probes to determine if somatostatin is involved in intestinal fat-induced inhibition of gastric acid secretion. The plateau acid secretory response to a liver extract meal in this model was 28 +/- 2 mu Eq/30 min. Intravenous infusion of somatostatin at 2.0 micrograms/kg X h or intraduodenal oleic acid at 1.2 ml/h reduced this response to 12 +/- 1 and 14 +/- 1 mu Eq/30 min, respectively. The antibodies were given intravenously 1 h before the meal and either somatostatin or intraduodenal oleic acid infusion. S10 preinfusion returned the plateau meal responses to the levels seen with the meal alone: 25 +/- 4 and 26 +/- 1 mu Eq/30 min, respectively. S20 preinfusion had no effect, the responses being 14 +/- 1 and 16 +/- 1 mu Eq/30 min, respectively. These results demonstrate successful binding of exogenous somatostatin by S10 in vivo and reversal of intestinal fat-induced inhibition of gastric acid secretion by S10 preinfusion. It is concluded that the mechanism whereby fat in the small intestine inhibits gastric acid secretion may involve the release of somatostatin.

Primary sensory neurons of the rat showing calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity and their relation to substance P-, somatostatin-, galanin-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide- and cholecystokinin-immunoreactive ganglion cells

By use of the indirect immunofluorescence technique the distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-like immunoreactivity (LI) has been analyzed in cervical and lumbar dorsal root ganglia of untreated and colchicine-treated rats. In addition, lumbar ganglia were examined 2 weeks after transection of the sciatic nerve. The occurrence of CGRP-positive cells in relation to ganglion cells containing substance P-, somatostatin-, galanin-, cholecystokinin (CCK)-, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/peptide histidine isoleucin (PHI)-LI has been evaluated on consecutive sections as well as using elution-restaining and double-staining techniques. CGRP-LI was observed in many ganglion cells of all sizes ranging in diameter from 15 microns to 65 microns. Thus, this peptide occurs also in the large primary sensory neurons. In contrast to the sensory peptides described to date, CGRP-positive cells constituted up to 50% of all and 70% of the medium-sized neurons, thus being the most frequently occurring peptide in sensory neurons so far encountered. Subpulations of CGRP-positive neurons were shown to contain substance P-, somatostatin-, or galanin-LI and some CGRP-positive neurons contained both substance P- and galanin-LI. In fact, most substance P-, somatostatin- and galanin-positive cell bodies were CGRP-immunoreactive. The coexistence analysis further revealed that galanin and substance P often coexisted and that some cells contained both substance P- and somatostatin-LI, whereas no coexistence between galanin and somatostatin has as yet been seen. VIP/PHI-LI was only shown in a few cells in untreated or colchicine-treated rats. However, after transection of the sciatic nerve numerous VIP/PHI-positive cells were observed, some of which also contained CGRP-LI. The present results indicate that a CGRP-like peptide is present in a wide range of primary sensory neurons probably not related to specific sensory modalities. Often this peptide coexists with other biologically active peptides. Taken together these findings suggest that CGRP may have a generalized function.

Somatostatin immunoreactivity in the cat adrenal medulla. Localization and characterization

Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was detected within the adrenal gland of the cat using specific monoclonal antibodies. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated a few somatostatin-immunoreactive nerve fibers within the adrenal medulla. In addition, a large population of chromaffin cells in the cat adrenal medulla displayed intense somatostatin-like immunoreactivity. Similar cells were not observed in rat or guinea pig adrenal glands, although they were found in human material. The somatostatin-positive cells in the cat adrenal medulla often possessed short immunoreactive processes similar to those seen in somatostatin-immunoreactive paracrine cells of the gut. Characterization of the somatostatin-like immunoreactivity of the cat adrenal by high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay indicated that somatostatin-28 may account for over 90% of the observed immunoreactivity. It is suggested that somatostatin-28 may have a paracrine or endocrine role in the feline adrenal medulla.

Comparison of the effect of somatostatin and an analogue, SMS 201-995, on gastrin and insulin secretion from isolated perfused rat stomach and pancreas

The effects of a somatostatin analogue, SMS 201-995, and somatostatin-14 on gastrin and insulin release from the isolated perfused rat stomach and pancreas were studied. Equipotent effects were observed on the inhibition of basal gastrin release from the stomach. SMS 201-995 was approximately 14 times less effective than somatostatin-14 (molar basis) in the pancreas. At a high glucose concentration (17.6 mM), neither the analogue nor the peptide inhibited insulin release, but at a glucose concentration of 8.8 mM, there was significant inhibition. In the presence of 10 mM arginine plus glucose at a concentration of either 8.8 or 17.6 mM, insulin secretion was reduced by both SMS 201-995 and somatostatin-14 to levels obtained with glucose alone. However, when gastric inhibitory polypeptide (10 ng/ml) in the presence of 8.8 mM glucose was used to stimulate insulin release, somatostatin-14 completely inhibited the insulinotropic action of gastric inhibitory polypeptide while SMS 201-995 was without effect. Studies with this analogue suggest that arginine and gastric inhibitory polypeptide stimulate insulin release via different mechanisms.

Ion etching of bacteriophage lambda: evidence that the right end of the DNA is located at the outside of the phage DNA mass

Bacteriophage lambda was etched in an Ar+ plasma under conditions in which the capsid and some of the DNA were eroded (by sputtering) from the particle surface. Analysis of the DNA remaining in etched phage demonstrated an enrichment in sequences derived from the left end and middle of the genome; sequences from the right end were selectively lost. The results suggest that the DNA in the mature phage is arranged with its left end toward the center and its right end toward the exterior of the overall DNA mass. Since the left end is the first to enter the phage prohead, the results are most compatible with the view that prohead filling also proceeds from the center to the exterior of the cavity. The suggested arrangement of lambda DNA is comparable to that observed in phage T4 and is consistent with the spiral-fold model of packaged DNA.

Somatostatin immunoreactivity in the entopeduncular projection to the lateral habenula in the rat

Many neurons within the ipsilateral entopeduncular nucleus were retrogradely labelled following the stereotaxic injection of the fluorescent tracer True Blue into the lateral habenula of the rat. These neurons also displayed somatostatin immunoreactivity when examined with a monoclonal antibody to cyclic somatostatin. Excitotoxic lesions of the entopeduncular nucleus resulted in a loss of the dense somatostatin terminal field normally present in the lateral habenula. These results indicate that the neuropeptide somatostatin is present in the projection from the entopeduncular nucleus to the lateral habenula.

Analysis of human aqueous humour by high resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy

High-resolution proton NMR spectra from nine samples of human aqueous humour extracted from the anterior chamber of the eye are reported. They were obtained within the order of 45 min from small volumes (ca 0.3 ml) of sample with minimal pretreatment and the method was non-destructive. Metabolites detected included acetate, acetoacetate, alanine, ascorbate, citrate, creatine, formate, glucose, glutamine-glutamate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, threonine and valine. Concentrations of lactate, valine, alanine and acetate were determined. These novel metabolite profiles may be of value in the study of clinical disorders.

A comparison of the inhibitory effects of somatostatin-14, -25, and -28 on motility of the guinea pig ileum

A number of studies have suggested that somatostatin-14 (SS-14) and somatostatin-28 (SS-28) exhibit a similar spectrum of biological activities but have different potencies. In the present study the effects of SS-14, SS-28, and somatostatin-25 on electrically induced contractions of the guinea pig ileum have been compared. All three peptides exhibited equipotent inhibitory effects. Inhibition was obtained at a threshold concentration less than 10(-10) M, with maximal inhibition at 10(-7) M and IC50 values of 6.0-6.5 X 10(-10) M. The N-terminal 14 amino acid fragment of SS-28 had no effect either on motility, when added alone, or on the actions of SS-28, suggesting that this region of the molecule is not critical for biological activity.

Effect of GIP on insulin release to intravenous glucose infusion in hyperthyroid rats

Triiodothyronine induced hyperthyroidism caused significantly elevated basal and stimulated glucose and insulin levels in rats. The release of Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide (GIP) following an oral glucose load was not significantly different between euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats. The insulin response, however, was significantly higher in hyperthyroid rats. Following intravenous glucose hyperthyroid rats showed a diminished insulin response when compared with euthyroid rats but intravenous infusion of glucose together with GIP caused a significantly higher insulin response in hyperthyroid rats. It is hypothesized that in hyperthyroidism there is an increased sensitivity to the insulinotropic action of GIP and that this mechanism could emphasize the importance of the enteroinsular axis in pathophysiological states.

Ion etching bacteriophage T4: support for a spiral-fold model of packaged DNA

Ion etching of bacteriophage T4 erodes virus components progressively from the outside to the inside while preserving the overall structure. The terminal portion of the T4 DNA molecule packaged can be specifically radiolabeled and was found to be eroded more rapidly than the remainder of the DNA. This strongly suggests that the first DNA to enter the prohead is condensed in the center of the capsid and is therefore shielded from the ion beam by the surrounding last packaged DNA. The results support a "spiral-fold" model for the arrangement of DNA within the icosahedral bacteriophage head. According to this model, phage T4 DNA strands run parallel to the long axis of the phage, with sharp (180 degrees) bends at the top and bottom of the capsid. The folds themselves are arranged radially about the long axis of the head in spirally organized shells.

Further characterization of growth hormone from the chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)

This report describes the isolation of growth hormone (GH) from the chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) pituitary using gel, affinity, and ion exchange chromatography. Chum GH has an estimated molecular weight of 23,500 and an amino acid composition that is consistent with a vertebrate GH. The differentially charged forms of chum GH which are only apparent under alkaline conditions were separated by ion exchange and compared immunologically and biologically; Peak I, which consists of a single band (Rf = 0.35) under alkaline electrophoresis and Peak II which consists of two bands with Rf's of 0.41 and 0.45. Both forms were found to be immunologically identical by immunodiffusion and to have similar growth promoting properties in intact rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Chum GH was also active in the rat tibia test at a daily dosage of 70 micrograms/animal. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies with chum GH and other fish GHs.

Central somatostatin systems revealed with monoclonal antibodies

The distribution of central neurons displaying somatostatin immunoreactivity was studied using three monoclonal antibodies to cyclic somatostatin. The sensitive ABC immunoperoxidase technique was employed. A large number of positive cell groups including many previously undescribed populations were detected throughout the brain and spinal cord. Telencephalic somatostatin neurons included periglomerular cells in the olfactory bulb, mitral cells in the accessory olfactory bulb, and multipolar cells in the anterior olfactory nuclei, neocortex, amygdala, hippocampus, lateral septum, striatum, and nucleus accumbens. Within the hypothalamus, positive neurons were found in the periventricular, suprachiasmatic, and arcuate nuclei, and throughout the anterior and lateral hypothalamus. The entopeduncular nucleus and zona incerta contained many positive neurons, and the lateral habenula had a dense terminal field suggesting a pallidohabenula somatostatin pathway. Somatostatin neurons were also found in association with many sensory systems. Positive cells were present in the superior and inferior colliculi, the ventral cochlear nuclei, the ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, nucleus cuneatus, nucleus gracilus, and the substantia gelatinosa. Various cerebellar circuits also displayed somatostatin immunoreactivity. Golgi cells throughout the cerebellar cortex were intensely stained, and some Purkinje cells in the paraflocculus also showed a positive reaction. Positive fibers were present in the granular layer and large varicose fibers were present in the inferior cerebellar peduncle. Many nuclei known to project to the cerebellum, including the nucleus reticularis tegmenti pontis, the medial accessory inferior olive, the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi, and many areas of the reticular formation contained positive neurons. These studies demonstrate that these new monoclonal antibodies are of great value for the study of central somatostatin systems. Previously described somatostatin systems are readily detected with these antibodies, and in addition, many otherwise unrecognized somatostatin cell groups have been discovered.

Preparation and characterization of murine monoclonal antibodies that express both cold agglutinin and cryoglobulin activities

To obtain murine cold agglutinin (CA) and cryoglobulin antibodies, BALB/c mice were hyperimmunized with heat-killed type XIV Streptococcus pneumoniae. The spleen cells of these mice were fused with either the P3 NS1/Ag4. 1 or P3 X63/Ag.653 cell line. Several stable hybridomas were obtained that produced monoclonal antibodies (Mab) that reacted with rabbit and human erythrocytes only at temperatures below 37 degrees C. Three of these Mab were also cryoglobulins, as evidenced by their insolubility at reduced temperature. All of the antibodies studied were IgM(k) and reacted with purified type XIV S. pneumoniae polysaccharide at room temperature. With one exception, all antibodies were specific for N-acetyl-lactosamine, the immunodominant sugar residue expressed on type XIV polysaccharide. Inhibition experiments demonstrated that both CA activity and cryoprecipitation were inhibited by the same sugar compounds in the same order of efficiency. The data presented strongly suggest these CA antibodies are cross-reactive members of a S. pneumoniae-specific population. Cryoprecipitation persisted in antibodies purified under conditions that would exclude the presence of trapped serum antigens. It is therefore proposed that the cryoprecipitation observed is a result of the interactions of the antibody combining sites with carbohydrate residues of adjacent antibody molecules.

Preparation and characterization of murine monoclonal antibodies that express both cold agglutinin and cryoglobulin activities

To obtain murine cold agglutinin (CA) and cryoglobulin antibodies, BALB/c mice were hyperimmunized with heat-killed type XIV Streptococcus pneumoniae. The spleen cells of these mice were fused with either the P3 NS1/Ag4. 1 or P3 X63/Ag.653 cell line. Several stable hybridomas were obtained that produced monoclonal antibodies (Mab) that reacted with rabbit and human erythrocytes only at temperatures below 37 degrees C. Three of these Mab were also cryoglobulins, as evidenced by their insolubility at reduced temperature. All of the antibodies studied were IgM(k) and reacted with purified type XIV S. pneumoniae polysaccharide at room temperature. With one exception, all antibodies were specific for N-acetyl-lactosamine, the immunodominant sugar residue expressed on type XIV polysaccharide. Inhibition experiments demonstrated that both CA activity and cryoprecipitation were inhibited by the same sugar compounds in the same order of efficiency. The data presented strongly suggest these CA antibodies are cross-reactive members of a S. pneumoniae-specific population. Cryoprecipitation persisted in antibodies purified under conditions that would exclude the presence of trapped serum antigens. It is therefore proposed that the cryoprecipitation observed is a result of the interactions of the antibody combining sites with carbohydrate residues of adjacent antibody molecules.

Doxorubicin plus cisplatin in the treatment of apudomas

Twelve patients with advanced apudomas--six with carcinoid tumors, two with chemodectomas, two with pancreatic islet cell tumor, and one each of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid and paraganglioma of unknown primary--were treated with a combination of doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 and cisplatin 50 mg/m2 every 3 to 4 weeks. Biochemical markers were present in 8 of the 12 patients. Five of the 12 patients (3 with carcinoid and 2 with chemodectomas) responded with more than 50% regression of tumor size measured as hypothetical area. Three others (two with islet cell tumors and one with carcinoid) had clinical and/or biochemical improvements. A median duration of response was 6 months. Nausea, vomiting, and alopecia were universal. Mild or moderate leukopenia was the most frequent toxicity. No sustained nephrotoxicity was seen. The combination of doxorubicin and cisplatin provides a new palliative therapy for patients with APUD tumors.

The effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on the enteroinsular axis in the rat

The effect of 6 days of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on the enteroinsular axis was studied in vivo and in vitro in the rat. During the TPN period, blood samples were taken from control and TPN animals to determine the comparative pattern of GIP release. Glucose, insulin and GIP responses to oral glucose (OGTT) were compared in TPN and control rats. The effect of glucose and GIP on insulin release from the isolated perfused pancreas of the same animals was investigated to determine if TPN altered the sensitivity of the beta cell. In conjunction with these studies the number and distribution of GIP-containing cells were compared in control and TPN animals. TPN resulted in no change in basal levels of glucose, insulin and IR-GIP. An exaggerated insulin response to OGTT occurred after TPN whereas the glucose response was reduced. The IR-GIP response to glucose was normal following TPN. The isolated perfused pancreas showed a 30% increase in insulin release in response to GIP after TPN. The insulin response to glucose appeared normal as did the number and distribution of GIP cells. Fluctuations in GIP and insulin levels in control animals were diurnal in nature, whereas IR-GIP levels in TPN animals remained near fasting levels. It was hypothesized that the increase in beta cell sensitivity to GIP may be causally connected to the exposure of the pancreas to chronically low levels of GIP during TPN.

Site-specific maturation of enveloped viruses in L cells treated with cytochalasin B

Treatment of infected L cells with 10 micrograms/ml cytochalasin B (CB) was found to promote a rapid relocalization of viral glycoproteins on the cell surface. Whereas the vesicular stomatitis virus G protein and the influenza virus hemagglutinin were uniformly distributed on the surface of untreated cells, in CB-treated cells, they were strikingly concentrated at cell extremities in the regions of clustered blebs. Glycoprotein concentration at cell extremities was accompanied by preferential maturation of virus particles from the same sites; both vesicular stomatitis and influenza viruses budded predominantly from the vicinity of clustered blebs. This effect of CB was completely reversible. Removal of CB from the cell growth medium resulted in a return of viral glycoproteins to the uniform distribution characteristic of untreated cells and to uniform virus budding. The results of this study are interpreted in terms of a model that suggests that preferential budding of viruses from the regions of bleb clusters is due to the concentration of viral glycoproteins at these sites.