Development and cytodifferentiation of C cell complexes in dog fetal thyroids. An immunohistochemical study using anti-calcitonin, anti-C-thyroglobulin and anti-19S thyroglobulin antisera

The development of C-cell complexes was investigated in dog fetuses by an immunoperoxidase method with three specific antisera: anti-calcitonin, anti-C-thyroglobulin (C-Tg), and anti-19S thyroglobulin. Ultimobranchial bodies joined with the thyroid anlage and then dispersed into the parenchyma to form large C cell groups. Sparse reaction products of C-Tg initially appeared in C cells with small amounts of cytoplasm. Later at about day 39 of gestation, when the immunoreactivity of calcitonin and 19S thyroglobulin appeared weakly in C cells and follicular cells, C-cell complexes were identified as large cell masses containing numerous undifferentiated cells without no immunoreactivity for any of the antisera. As development proceeded, the undifferentiated cells developed progressively the morphology of C cells. In addition, the undifferentiated cells developed 19S thyroglobulin immunoreactivity, that is, within some of the complexes small clusters of cells filled with material immunoreactive for 19S thyroglobulin. They were not organized into follicles during the fetal period, and were very slow in development. Depending on the degree of development of the undifferentiated cells, several features of the complexes were noted. The present study indicates that not only C cells but also follicular thyroid cells appear to be derived from the ultimobranchial bodies.

Immunohistochemical study of the medullary thyroid carcinoma with reference to C-thyroglobulin reaction of tumor cells

Twelve cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma were investigated ty the immunoperoxidase method using anti-calcitonin, anti-C-thyroglobulin (C-Tg, C cell-immunoreactive thyroglobulin) and anti-19S thyroglobulin antisera. Tumor cells as well as normal C cells revealed distinct immunoreaction for C-Tg besides for calcitonin. In contrast to normal C cells, the tumor cells were stained more intensely by anti-Ctg antiserum than by anti-calcitonin antiserum. Furthermore, there occurred several tumors or some areas of tumors which showed strong response to anti-C-Tg antiserum but weak or no response to anti-calcitonin antiserum. Thus, medullary carcinoma cells synthesized far greater amounts of C-Tg than calcitonin. The small follicles were occasionally observed mingled in typical cell solid masses. They stored colloid-like materials which were intensely immunoreactive to C-Tg but nonreactive to calcitonin. The specific immunoreaction patterns to anti-C-Tg and anti-calcitonin antisera were also obtained on the ground materials of the amyloid. On the histogenesis of amyloids of medullary carcinoma, the C-Tg could be the presursor of the fibrillar protein of amyloids and the component of the fibrillar protein also closely related to calcitonin.

A semiquantitative measurement of anti-nuclear antibody using immuno-microfluorimetry

1. Using microfluorimetry, the strength of fluorescence was measured on fluoresceinated anti-nuclear antibody of SLE sera. The indirect "Sandwich" method was applied using human peripheral lymphocytes as substrates tissue. 2. The results of using three FITC-labelled anti-human IgG conjugates of different types were compared with each other. 3. More specific and more consistent results were obtained with conjugates with a lower F/P ratio and lower antibody and protein concentration that those in the case of conjugates with a higher F/P molar ratio and higher antibody and protein concentration. 4. The immuno-microfluorimetric technique is very useful for the objective determination of the results of fluorescence microscopy and for the comparison of conjugates of different qualities.

Immunochemical and immunohistochemical studies on the 27 S iodoprotein of dog thyroid with reference to thyroglobulin-like reaction of the parafollicular cells

Our earlier finding that the thyroglobulin-like material responsible for the immunoreaction of parafollicular cells obtained in peak I fraction of Bio-Gel A-5m was followed up in the present study by an investigation of the immunochemical and immunohistochemical reactions of 27 S iodoprotein which was the most prominent material in the peak I fraction. The antibody was raised against completely purified 27 S iodoprotein which was obtained as follows: Thyroglobulin was extracted from dog thyroids and chromatographed initially on Bio-Gel A-5m and then on Bio-Gel A-50m. The area of 27 S migrated as a single bank on polyacrylamide gel slab electrophoresis. This was cut and eluted. Anti-27 S antiserum showed the same immunochemical patterns to 27 S and 19 S as anti-19 S antiserum with three different immunochemical methods: double diffusion test, one dimensional and two dimensional immunoelectrophoresis. The immunoperoxidase reactions of the anti-27 S antiserum and anti-19 S antiserum were restricted to follicular cells and luminal colloids. No reaction of the parafollicular cells was obtained by these antisera. Thus, 27 S iodoprotein shared common immunochemical and immunohistochemical properties with 19 S thyroglobulin. It was concluded that 27 S iodoprotein was not responsible for the thyroglobulin-like reaction of the parafollicular cells.

C cell (parafollicular cell) -- immunoreactive thyroglobulin: purification, identification and immunological characterization

In relation to our earlier finding that the thyroglobulin-like material responsible for the cytochemical immunoreaction of C cells was obtained in the peak I fraction of Bio-Gel A-5 m, which included faster sedimenting components of thyroglobulin, the present study has identified the positive reacting component and clarified its immunochemical and immunohistochemical properties. 1. The peak I fraction of dog and hog thyroglobulin was chromatographed on a Bio-Gel A-50 m column. Antiserum to the faster eluted peak I'1 only immunoreacted with C cells. The peak I'1 was then refiltered on Bio-Gel A-150 m column. Antiserum to peak I''1 fraction of both species which was eluted in the first part had high immune specificity for C cells. 2. When 4-30% and 2-16% continuous gradient gels of polyacrylamide were employed, peak I''1 represented a single electrophoretic band corresponding to the component with the largest molecular weight in thyroglobulin. The protein was named C-thyroglobulin. The molecular weight was approximately 2,600,000, four times as large as 19 S, as calculated by relative mobility on the 2-16% gradient gel. 3. In double diffusion tests, anti-peak I''1 antiserum produced two immunoprecipitin lines with its own antigen. The reaction was different from that of anti-19 S antiserum which formed a single line. 4. On immunoperoxidase staining, anti-peak I''1 antiserum reacted to C cells in exactly the same way as anti-calcitonin antiserum. 5. When anti-peak I''1 antiserum was absorbed with calcitonin, the subsequent reaction of the C cells was greatly decreased. The absorption of anti-calcitonin antiserum with increased amounts of peak I''1 abolished the C cell reaction. On the basis of these observations, the possibility that C-thyroglobulin is a biosynthetic precursor of calcitonin exists.

Immunohistochemical study of a large molecular fragment of thyroglobulin in parafollicular cells

Thyroglobulin-like immunoreactivity of the parafollicular cells was studied by an immunoperoxidase bridge technique using antisera against dog thyroglobulin fragments. 1. The dog parafollicular cells were specifically stained by anti-peak I (27S and larger components fraction) antiserum absorbed with peak II (19S fraction). By this method, they were easily distinguishable from the non-reactive follicular cells and colloid droplets. More sensitive staining of the parafollicular cells was possible with anti-peak I'' (larger components fraction) antiserum. The staining reactions indicated that the antigenic material responsible for immunoreactivity of the parafollicular cells was due to larger molecular components of thyroglobulin corresponding to 32S, 37S or greater than 37S, and was not due to either the 19S thyroglobulin or to the 27S iodoprotein. 2. A conspicuous decrease of the immunoreactive material in the parafollicular cells occurred in the dog after both chronically induced hypercalcemia and antithyroid drug treatment. This coincided with movement of secretory granules containing calcitonin as shown by staining with silver impregnation, HCl-basic dye, and lead-hematoxylin. 3. The antisera against larger molecular components of dog thyroglobulin showed a high degree of cross-reactivity to the parafollicular cells of most of the mammalian species investigated; rats, rabbits, hamsters, mice, cats, lions, goats, cows, and human.

Percutaneous transhepatic drainage of the biliary tract: technique and results in 104 cases

A two-step procedure for percutaneous transhepatic drainage (PTD) of the biliary tract is described. This technique was applied on a total of 105 cases of obstructive jaundice, 84 with malignant and 21 with benign lesions, and was successful in 104. Decompression effect was adequate and reduction in serum bilirubin level was quick. Operative mortality, which used to be high in jaundiced patients with serum bilirubin levels above 10 mg per dl, has been significantly reduced with this procedure employed as the first step in a two-stage operation for malignant biliary obstruction. PTD proved to be very useful in the management of acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis and ensuing liver abscesses. Continuous drainage was also achieved by PTD in inoperable cases, and 1 patient with a hilar carcinoma was kept alive for 2 years and 1 month by PTD alone. With the improvement in the diagnosis of biliary tract disease this procedure will assume an important position in the management of obstructive jaundice.

Occurrence of immunoreactive thyroglobulin in the parafollicular cells of dogs

When the canine thyroid gland was stained by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase methods using undiluted thyroglobulin antiserum, a considerably stronger immunoreactivity was revealed in the parafollicular cells than in the colloid droplets and follicular cells. After induced hypercalcemia and antithyroid drug treatment, the immunoreactivity of the parafollicular cells coinciding with the movement of secretory granules containing calcitonin was conspicuously decreased. An application of diluted serum (above 1:10) produced a strong reaction in the colloid.

Hydrogen-Induced Cracking of Steels Under Wet Hydrogen Sulfide Environment

The hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) of as-rolled steels has been investigated. The specimens were immersed into the synthetic sea water saturated with H2S. Since the cracks initiated at the elongated MnS particles, the HIC susceptibility decreased with decreasing sulfur content. It was, however, often observed that the HIC occurred even in the steels containing extremely low sulfur. These cracks propagated along an anomalous structure, which consisted of low temperature transformation products. Such an anomalous structure arose from the segregation of manganese and phosphorus during the solidification of steels. As to the controlled-rolled steels, the effects of texture, residual strain, and the shape of inclusions on the HIC were examined. It was revealed that the rolling at lower temperature did affect the HIC susceptibility with elongating the sulfide inclusions, while little effect of controlled rolling was recognized in the extremely low sulfur steels. It was also demonstrated that the addition of small amount of copper markedly reduced the amount of hydrogen absorbed. This could be due to the interface reaction between steel and wet H2S environment. As the application of the foregoing results, the steel highly resistant to the HIC under the present experimental environment has been developed.

An immunofluorescent study of cornea development in the chick

The developmental pattern of appearance of a structural corneal antigenic determinant was studied by immunofluorescent methods. It was first detected in the primary corneal stroma at stage 23, and thereafter spread throughout the primary and secondary stroma. This antigen was absent from Bowman's membrane at its initial stage of development, suggesting that this membrane is a new structure in corneal morphogenesis, and not simply a modification of the primary stroma. This study also suggests that the antigenic determinant is a carbohydrate and is secreted by the corneal epithelial cells.

An immunofluorescent study of cornea development in the chick

The developmental pattern of appearance of a structural corneal antigenic determinant was studied by immunofluorescent methods. It was first detected in the primary corneal stroma at stage 23, and thereafter spread throughout the primary and secondary stroma. This antigen was absent from Bowman's membrane at its initial stage of development, suggesting that this membrane is a new structure in corneal morphogenesis, and not simply a modification of the primary stroma. This study also suggests that the antigenic determinant is a carbohydrate and is secreted by the corneal epithelial cells.

Phosphorylation in vitro of adrenal subcellular proteins by adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase: effect of ACTH in vivo

In vitro phosphorylation of protein from rat adrenal subcellular fractions by partially purified cAMP-dependent protein kinase isolated from rat adrenal and liver was investigated. Only proteins from microsomes were found to be a good substrate for the enzyme. Rates of phosphorylation of adrenal microsomal and cytosol proteins isolated from animals which received ACTH were significantly lower than those from untreated control animals. The results obtained in this study seem to indicate that the microsomal proteins are one of the major endogenous substrates of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase in rat adrenal glands.