Response of osteoblastic clonal cell line (MC3T3-E1) to [Asu]eel calcitonin at a specific cell density or differentiation stage

Clone MC3T3-E1 cells isolated from newborn mouse calvaria is an osteogenic cell line which retains an ability to differentiate into osteoblastic cell in vitro. The effect of [Asu]eel calcitonin (ECT) on clonal MC3T3-E1 cells was investigated at different stages of differentiation. ECT caused an increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. The stimulative effect was demonstrated to be dependent upon cell density or differentiation stage. At a cell density of 1.18 X 10(5)/cm2 cells were incubated with ECT for 2 days. The treatment by ECT caused an increase in ALP activity. A specific response to ECT dependent on the cell density was observed in a narrow range of cell density. Moreover this range of cell density responsible to ECT was found to be a rapid differentiation stage of MC3T3-E1 cells. These results suggest that calcitonin stimulates differentiation of osteoblast. In addition to these results, cellular adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) level was raised by ECT treatment at a cell density of about 1.4 X 10(5) cell/cm2 and this response was also specific for cell density. At cell density lower or higher than this density no stimulative effect by ECT was observed. On the other hand, N6,O2-dibutyryl adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (db-cAMP) and theophylline caused an increase in ALP activity in wide cell density range. These results indicate that an increase in ALP activity by ECT is mediated by intracellular cAMP and that the specific response to ECT dependent on the cell density is regulated in the process of cAMP formation and/or in the preceding process of cAMP formation.

Mutagenicity of some hydroxylaminotoluene derivatives towards Salmonella typhimurium in esterification systems

The mutagenicity of 2-hydroxylamino-4-nitrotoluene (2HA4NT), 4-hydroxylamino-2-nitrotoluene (4HA2NT), 2-hydroxylamino-6-nitrotoluene (2HA6NT) or 4-acetylamino-2-hydroxylaminotoluene (4AA2HAT) towards Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 was investigated in the absence and presence of uridine-5'-diphosphoglucuronic acid (UDPGA), acetyl CoA or 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) systems, or S9 mix. None of the hydroxylaminonitrotoluenes (2HA4NT, 4HA2NT or 2HA6NT) were mutagenic in both strains while 4AA2HAT was a base-pair substitution mutagen in the UDPGA and PAPS systems. The indirect mutagenic activity was markedly decreased by omission of microsomal fraction (MCF) or UDPGA from the UDPGA system and by addition of beta-glucuronidase to the system. Similarly, the mutagenic activity was markedly decreased either when 105000 X g supernatant fluid (S105), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or Na2SO4 was omitted from the PAPS system or when pentachlorophenol (PCP) or aryl sulphatase was added to the system. Moreover, the mutagenic activity in either system was markedly decreased by the addition of glutathione (GSH). These results suggested that two esterifications with glucuronic acid and sulfuric acid may play an important role in the appearance of mutagenic activity of 4AA2HAT.

A possible mechanism of cadmium-copper interaction in embryonic chick bone in tissue culture

Femurs from 9-day-old embryo were cultured for 4 days by the roller-tube method in the presence of Cd and/or Cu. The combination of both Cd and Cu caused a significantly interactive decrease in hydroxyproline (Hyp) synthesis as well as bone growth compared with that in the presence of Cd (1.1 or 3.3 microM) or Cu (1.1 or 2.2 microM) alone. The presence of both 2.2 microM Cd and 3.3 microM Cu also showed a significantly interactive decrease in the incorporation of [3H]proline (Pro) into collagenase-digestible protein (CDP), but it showed no interactive inhibition of the hydroxylation of [3H]Pro in CDP. The two metals were also interactive with respect to the inhibition of the synthesis of protein, RNA and DNA. Culture of epiphysis in the presence of both Cd and Cu resulted in higher content of Cd and Cu compared to those cultured in Cd or Cu alone. Subcellular fractions from epiphysis cultured in Cd plus Cu contained more Cd than those cultured in Cd alone. Cu was increased in two fractions, nuclei and cytosol, following co-incubation. The cytosol from epiphysis cultured in the presence of both Cd and Cu contained more Cd in both a metallothionein (MT)-like protein and a high-molecular-weight (HM) protein than cytosol from Cd-treated bones. The amount (nmol) of Cu in the MT fraction was nearly equal to the sum of the increased amounts (nmol) of Cd in HM fraction of cytosol and particulate fractions. This indicates that some Cd in MT-like protein induced by Cd is replaced with Cu and the released Cd redistribution to HM fraction and particulate fractions. Most of the Cd in the solubilized particulate fractions was detected in the HM fraction. A marker enzyme or component in each fraction was interactively inhibited by both Cd and Cu. Therefore, the interactive inhibition of bone metabolism by both Cd and Cu in the cultured bone is at least partly due to the increase in Cd content of HM fraction of cytosol and particulate fractions.

[Pharmacokinetic studies of a new oral cephem T-2588. Pharmacokinetics in gastrectomized volunteers and the renal excretory system in healthy volunteers]

According to the result of the pharmacokinetic examination of T-2588 (esterified prodrug of T-2525) administered to adult male volunteers who have undergone gastrectomy, it appears that the absorption of T-2588 is delayed in the hypoacidity or the anacidity and also the excretion ratio of T-2525A (an inactive metabolite of T-2525) showed a tendency to become higher in these subjects. Again, according to the result of the pharmacokinetic examination of T-2588 when it was administered together with probenecid to normal healthy volunteers, it appears that the T-2525 is excreted from the kidneys not only into the glomerular filtration but also partly through renal tubules.

[Human and animal studies on the pharmacokinetics of norfloxacin in renal failure]

The pharmacokinetics of norfloxacin (NFLX) was studied in 5 patients with chronic renal failure and rats with renal obstruction. The drug was orally given to patients on on- and off-dialysis days in a crossover fashion. Serum levels of NFLX showed a similar profile during both on- and off-dialysis days, and the hemodialysis treatment did not affect the elimination of the drug from the serum. The mean serum elimination half-life was 8.8 +/- 1.2 hours (standard error) for on- dialysis day and it was 7.0 +/- 0.8 hours for off-dialysis day. The urinary recovery of NFLX for 24 hours was less than 0.1% of administered doses in these patients. Rats with renal obstruction exhibited higher drug levels in serum for longer periods of time and elevated biliary excretion ratios in comparison to sham-operated rats, and no significant change in the fraction of biliary metabolites was observed. The biliary excretion of NFLX was likely to be enhanced in patients with renal failure.

The effects of cadmium on a clonal osteogenetic cell, MC3T3-E1: inhibition of calcification and induction of metallothionein-like protein by cadmium

To clarify the effects of cadmium (Cd) on bone formation, a clonal osteogenetic cell, MC3T3-E1, was used in the present study. After 24 h of culture, Cd at 1 ppm and above decreased DNA synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity, but Cd at 1.5 ppm caused no significant decrease in collagen content. The cells treated with Cd (0.03-1.0 ppm) for 24 h showed the dose-dependent effects on metallothionein-like protein synthesis. The marked increase of Cd content unbound to metallothionein (MT)-like protein with cadmium at 1 ppm may be responsible for the toxic effects of cadmium. After 10 days of culture, the accumulation of 45Ca to the cell layer decreased with increasing level of cadmium at 0.03 and 0.1 ppm. The cadmium-treated cell layer showed a weaker reaction to histochemical staining for mineral compared with control culture. This result suggests that Cd inhibits an initial process of calcification.

Effects of isosorbide-5-mononitrate on exercise-induced hemodynamic changes in angina pectoris

Hemodynamic effects of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (ISMN) were studied in 14 patients with effort angina pectoris. Hemodynamic and echocardiographic data were obtained by angina-limited supine multistage bicycle ergometer exercise testing before and 120 minutes after single oral administration of 20 mg of ISMN. Compared with control exercise testing, the ST segment at peak exercise showed less depression after administration of ISMN (p less than 0.001). At rest, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly after administration of ISMN (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.01, respectively). At rest and at peak exercise, pulmonary artery wedge pressure (both p less than 0.001), left atrial volume (both p less than 0.001) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (both p less than 0.05) decreased, whereas cardiac index, pressure-rate product and systemic vascular resistance did not change significantly after administration of ISMN. Average time to peak plasma ISMN concentration was 90 minutes and average peak plasma concentration was 460 ng/ml with an elimination half-life of 7 hours. These data suggest that the main mechanism of the antianginal action of ISMN is a reduction in left ventricular preload followed by diminution of myocardial oxygen requirements.