Uroplakin I: a 27-kD protein associated with the asymmetric unit membrane of mammalian urothelium

The luminal surface of mammalian urothelium is covered with numerous plaques (also known as the asymmetric unit membrane or AUM) composed of semi-crystalline, hexagonal arrays of 12-nm protein particles. Despite the presumed importance of these plaques in stabilizing the urothelial surface during bladder distention, relatively little is known about their protein composition. Using a mouse mAb, AE31, we have identified a 27-kD protein that is urothelium-specific and is differentially expressed in superficial umbrella cells. This protein (pI approximately 5.8) partitions into the detergent phase during Triton X-114 phase separation. Pulse-chase experiments using cultured bovine urothelial cells showed that this protein is synthesized as a 32-kD precursor that is processed through a 30-kD intermediate, to the mature 27-kD form. In cytoplasmic vesicles containing immature AUM, the AE31 epitope is detected in patches on the cytoplasmic side, but in mature, apical AUM it is detected exclusively on the luminal side. This suggests an unusual translocation of the AE31 epitope during AUM maturation; more data are required, however, to substantiate this interpretation. Immunoaffinity purification of the 27-kD protein results in the copurification in approximately molar ratio of a 15-kD protein, as well as a small and variable amount of a 47-kD protein. Immunoblotting data indicate that these three proteins are immunologically distinguishable. This copurified 15-kD protein is relative basic (pI approximately 8.0). Like the 27-kD protein, it is urothelium-specific and is present mainly in the umbrella cells. Together, our data indicate that a 27-kD protein is urothelial plaque-associated (uroplakin I). Based on complex formation data, we provisionally name the 15-kD protein uroplakin II; additional data will be required to determine whether this and the 47-kD protein are integral parts of AUM. The identification of these AUM-associated and -related proteins, plus the availability of a culture system capable of synthesizing and processing some of these molecules, offer new opportunities for studying the detailed structure, assembly, and function of asymmetrical unit membrane.

New prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors--di-and triphenylacrylonitriles

16 triphenylacrylonitriles (TPE) or diphenylacrylonitriles (DPE) were synthesized by condensation of various benzophenones or benzaldehydes with various phenylacetonitriles. The pharmacological potency of these compounds was studied by incubation of bovine seminal vesicle microsomes and PG-RIA. The results showed that the potency of inhibition of PG biosynthetase of DPE was stronger than that of TPE. Compounds with electron-releasing functional groups were proved to be more effective than those with electron-attracting groups. Compound DPE-9 was the most active one, the potency of which was 40 times stronger than that of naproxen. The structure of some compounds has been analysed by X-ray diffraction. The relationship between structure and activity was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, UV and NMR.

The elastic modular changes of the rat uterine cervix under different physiological conditions

In this paper, the elastic moduli of the rat uterine cervix were measured under different physiological conditions. It was found that the moduli significantly changed with the sex cycle, being higher in diestrus than in estrus, and highest in early pregnancy. The results suggest that active changes occur in the function of the uterine cervix under the modulation of hormones.

Functional status of the pituitary-adrenal axis during treatment of RU486 for termination of early pregnancy in combination with PGs in Chinese women

Six pregnant women (below 49 days of amenorrhea) desiring pregnancy termination received 600 mg RU486 orally in a single dosage and 1 mg PG-05 or ONO-802 as vaginal suppository 48 h afterward. Plasma cortisol, corticosterone, aldosterone and ACTH were monitored at -0.5, 1, 2, 4, 10, 24, 48, 72 h as well as during the first follow-up visit at the 8th day. Cortisol increased during the treatment and the values returned to the pretreatment level by the first follow-up visit. The changes of corticosterone were similar to those of cortisol. ACTH was also elevated within first 2 h and returned to the basal level at 48 h. There was no notable change in aldosterone during the treatment. The results suggest that a compensation of the pituitary-adrenal function occurred during the treatment, which is probably associated with a decreased negative feedback mechanism of cortisol due to the antiglucocorticosteroid activity of RU486 at the hypothalamus level.

Double-blind crossover controlled study on antiepilepsirine

Antiepilepsirine (AES) is one of the derivatives of a Chinese folk prescription. It is a new antiepileptic drug (AED) synthesized in cooperation by Chinese medical and pharmaceutical workers. Pharmacological experiments on animal models prove that its antiepileptic action is marked, but there has been little evaluation of its clinical effects. We used the double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study which is generally acceptable as a proper method for new drug study. This study covered 58 epileptic children treated with classical AEDs and observed 6.5 months. Every patient took AES and placebo for 3 months each by random crossover on the basis of add-on therapy. The blood levels of AES and other antiepileptic drugs were determined regularly. The results show that there are no significant differences in clinical effects between AES and placebo in pediatric epilepsies as a whole, but AES is effective in tonic-clonic seizures (P less than 0.05), the most common type of seizure in the series. There are no significant differences in AED blood levels between the AES effective and ineffective groups. AES has no effect on the blood levels of other AEDs. AES is very safe, children given large doses (10 mg/kg/day) demonstrate no serious side-effects. It is suggested that there is potential improvement in patient psychological and cognitive status. This article also discusses the evaluation of new drugs for clinical effects, subject sampling, the criteria for efficacy evaluation and relationship between animal information and human outcome. The AES chemical structure is different from other well-known AEDs, this is a unique advantage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Landau-Kleffner syndrome with unilateral EEG abnormalities--two cases from Beijing, China

We reported 2 cases of Landau-Kleffner syndrome from Beijing whose clinical manifestations were very similar to ones previously reported. The onset of symptoms in these 2 cases was at 3 and 4 years of age, respectively, and both were characterised by unilateral focal epileptiform EEG discharges, without remarkable clinical seizures. One patient had normal SPECT study in addition to normal CT scan, BAER and VER results; the other had a family history of epilepsy. Since this syndrome may involve a primary brain disturbance responsible for both the epilepsy and aphasia without clear structural brain lesions, we wonder whether it can be classified as one of the benign functional partial epilepsies with genetic factors.

Effects of lipid peroxidation on GABA uptake and release in iron-induced seizures

Intraventricular injection of iron causes seizures and lipid peroxidation in brain tissue. To determine the effects of iron-induced lipid peroxidation on GABA uptake and release, synaptosomal fraction was prepared from 30-day-old iron-treated and control Wistar rats. Our data demonstrated that GABA release was more severely damaged than GABA uptake by lipid peroxidation. This imbalance between release and uptake may reduce GABA inhibition, which could contribute to the neurochemical pathogenesis of iron-induced seizures.

The dynamic changes of several reproductive hormones during termination of early pregnancy by RU486 in combination with PG-05 in Chinese women

8 pregnant women (below 49 days of amenorrhea) were administered 600 mg RU486 orally in a single dosage, and 1 mg PG-05 as a vaginal suppository 48 h afterwards. The plasma beta-hCG, progesterone, 17 beta-estradiol and PGFM (13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha) were determined by RIAs throughout the treatment. In all 8 cases, beta-hCG and progesterone levels fell following the onset of bleeding, which happened in a mean time of 39 h after RU486 administration. In 7 women who experienced complete abortion, E2 dropped after 72 h and PGFM increased two-fold within 48 h. In comparison with these results of complete abortion, the concentrations of E2 in the woman experiencing incomplete abortion were much higher, while those of PGFM were much lower. The results suggest that the primary action site of RU486 is probably in the decidual tissue, because of the progesterone-antagonistic property of RU486, which in turn leads to the drop in beta-hCG, progesterone and E2. It also indicates that RU486 may facilitate the production of endogenous prostaglandins, which can be explained by the changes of decidual tissue induced by RU486.

Histochemical localization and concentration of copper released from a CuIUD in the endometria of rabbits

Atomic absorption spectrophotometry and histochemistry have been employed to study the content and localization of copper released from a CuIUD in the endometrium of rabbits bearing the copper device for 30 days. The released copper was mainly accumulated in the luminal and glandular epithelial cytoplasm. However, if the succession of the epithelia was imperfect due to the impairment by the device, copper could be detected in the stroma cells, which appeared to be neutrophilic leukocytes or lymphocytes. The mean concentration of copper in the uterine tissue of the CuIUD-bearing horn (82.24 micrograms/g dry weight) was significantly higher than that of the contralateral one (14.48 micrograms/g dry weight), and also tended to be higher than that of the horn bearing the stainless steel device (32.97 micrograms/g dry weight) and its contralateral horn (18.03 micrograms/g dry weight).

Rett syndrome in China: report of 9 patients

This is the first report of Rett syndrome in China. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from 9 girls with Rett syndrome. In addition to the previously reported clinical manifestations (i.e., early deterioration of intelligence, microcephaly, peculiar stereotypic hand movements, and epilepsy), 2 other features were observed in these patients: abnormal evoked response audiometry and low content of the elements, copper and zinc in the hair. The cause of these associated phenomena is unknown.

Kindling phenomenon of hyperthermic seizures in the epilepsy-prone versus the epilepsy-resistant rat

A kindling-like effect was produced by exposing 30-day-old rats to repeated hyperthermia-induced seizures. Naive audiogenic seizure (AGS)-susceptible rats (P77PMC) were easier to be kindled than AGS-resistant rats (Wistar). This hyperthermic kindling model may be used to study the outcome and mechanisms of human febrile seizures. The mechanisms underlying hyperthermic kindling remain to be investigated.

Seizures induced by intraventricular microinjection of ionized cobalt in the rat--a new experimental model of epilepsy

A new animal model for epilepsy was successfully produced by microinjection of cobaltous chloride into the lateral cerebral ventricle of the rat. The median convulsive dose (CD50) and the median lethal dose (LD50) of CoCl2 was 0.45 microM/10 microliters (0.27-0.77 microM/10 microliters) and 1.07 microM/10 microliters (0.73-1.57 microM/10 microliters), respectively. The behavioral changes, electrocorticogram (ECoG), and the action of 5 classical anticonvulsants were studied using this new model. Seizures induced by cobaltous chloride are clinically similar to those produced by systemic administration of kainic acid and amygdala kindling. These are characterized by staring spells, wet dog shakes, mild convulsive movements, and stereotyped convulsions. ECoG findings demonstrated a unique epileptic burst during the wet dog shakes. Generalized epileptiform discharges were seen during typical seizures. The burst of spikes first occurred in the opposite temporal and frontal regions; and then became generalized. Among the 5 anticonvulsants studied, phenobarbital (30 mg/kg) and nitrazepam (3 mg/kg) completely antagonized the seizures; carbamazepine showed a moderate effect; and phenytoin as well as sodium valproate showed little effect. It is postulated that the seizures induced by cobaltous chloride may originate in the limbic system; and that cobalt ions are responsible for the seizure-inducing action. The mechanism remains to be investigated.

Long-term effects of febrile convulsion on seizure susceptibility in P77PMC rat--resistant to acoustic stimuli but susceptible to kainate-induced seizures

A new audiogenic seizure (AGS)-susceptible strain of rats (P77PMC) was evaluated as a possible model of human febrile seizures. The long-term effects of experimental febrile seizures were observed. All 30-day-old rat pups exhibited clonic seizures during exposure to an ambient temperature of 45 +/- 0.5 degree C. The mean latency from the beginning of the hyperthermic stimulus to the onset of convulsion was 16.9 +/- 2.2 min. The rats survived this hyperthermic seizure, developed a resistance to acoustic stimulations, but were more susceptible at the age of 50 to 60 days to kainate-induced limbic seizures than controls. The results of this study imply that febrile seizures of developing P77PMC rats can change later seizure susceptibility, and there may be some correlation between febrile convulsion and temporal lobe epilepsy.