Changes in the abundance of mRNA for type-I 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-->delta 4 isomerase in the human placenta and fetal membranes during pregnancy and labor

A local decrease in progesterone synthesis in the placenta and fetal membranes has long been proposed as a possible mechanism in the control of human labor. We have examined whether changes occur in the abundance of mRNA for 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-->delta 4 isomerase (3 beta-HSD), the enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone in human placenta and fetal membranes, by Northern blot analysis using a cDNA probe to human placental type-I 3 beta-HSD, the predominant isoenzyme in the placenta. The abundance of 3 beta-HSD mRNA (1.7-kb transcript) was about 10-fold greater in term placenta than in chorio-decidua, but undetectable in total RNA from amnion. There was no change in the abundance of 3 beta-HSD mRNA in either placenta or chorio-decidua obtained after elective cesarean section at term, after preterm labor, or after term or postterm vaginal delivery. We conclude that the abundance of 3 beta-HSD mRNA does not change in the placenta or fetal membranes with labor, consistent with the view that changes in 3 beta-HSD gene expression and decreased progesterone production are unlikely to effect intrauterine paracrine/autocrine regulatory mechanisms leading to term or preterm labor in women.

Cell proliferation in rat colon measured with bromodeoxyuridine, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and [3H]thymidine

Epithelial cell proliferation was studied in the normal colonic mucosa of 5-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, comparing [3H]thymidine incorporation (group 1) with two newer proliferation markers, bromodeoxyuridine (group 2) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (group 3). Microautoradiography (group 1) or immunoperoxidase assays (groups 2 and 3) were carried out. Cells were counted for positive reaction and position along 50 colonic crypt columns/animal. No significant differences were found in number or distribution of labeled epithelial cells in proliferative compartments in crypt columns of normal colonic mucosa; labeled cells were mainly in the lower 60% of colonic crypts. Thus, in this model, bromodeoxyuridine and proliferating cell nuclear antigens were comparable to [3H]thymidine as reliable markers of proliferating epithelial cells in rat colon.

Cloning of an ovine 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase complementary deoxyribonucleic acid: tissue and temporal distribution of its messenger ribonucleic acid during fetal and neonatal development

Glucocorticoids promote the development of many organ systems vital for extrauterine survival, and fetal cortisol provides the trigger for birth in sheep. The activity of glucocorticoids may be influenced at a cellular level by 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD), which is responsible for the interconversion of cortisol and cortisone. To examine 11 beta-HSD gene expression during fetal development, two overlapping clones which yield a 1.4 kilobase (kb) complementary DNA encoding sheep 11 beta-HSD from a liver library were isolated by using a rat 11 beta-HSD cDNA as the probe. This cDNA contains a 879 base pair open reading frame for a protein of 292 amino acids that has more than 70% sequence identity to rat and human 11 beta-HSDs. To define the tissue distribution of 11 beta-HSD messenger RNA in sheep, selected tissues were collected from one fetus at day 130 and term (approximately 145 days), and from a nonpregnant ewe. Cellular RNA was extracted and subjected to Northern blot analysis, and a single 1.8 kb transcript was detected in the fetal and adult liver, lung, hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and placenta. This was undetectable in adrenals and kidneys, but a smaller (1.5 kb) transcript was present in fetal and adult kidney RNA. The relative abundance of 11 beta-HSD mRNA was greatest in fetal and adult livers, and it was much higher in adult liver, lung, and kidney than in the corresponding fetal tissues. To examine whether 11 beta-HSD gene expression is developmentally regulated in the fetal sheep, liver, lung, and kidney tissues were taken from fetuses at day 60-70, day 100-110, day 125-130, at term, and from newborn lambs (24-48 h old). In the lung and kidney, the relative abundance of 11 beta-HSD mRNA did not change from day 60 to term but increased in the lungs of newborn lambs. In contrast, 11 beta-HSD mRNA levels in the liver increased between day 125 and term and rose further in the newborn. Collectively, these results demonstrate that 11 beta-HSD gene expression in sheep is regulated in a tissue-specific and developmentally programmed manner.

Functional implication of disulfide bond, Cys250 -Cys283, in bovine chymosin

The reduction, carboxymethylation and mercuration of disulfide bond, Cys250-Cys283, located on the surface of bovine chymosin molecule resulted in the loss of about 25% of enzyme activity, suggesting that Cys250-Cys283 is not intimately involved in catalytic mechanism. Cys250 and Cys283 were substituted with Asp. and Ser. by site- directed mutagenesis of the structural gene coding for bovine prochymosin B. All three mutants (C250D/C283S, C250D, C283S) failed to be activated to chymosin in acid, indicating that Cys250-Cys283 might have some contribution to the correct refolding of the unfolded prochymosin.

Characterization of an ovine glucocorticoid receptor cDNA and developmental changes in its mRNA levels in the fetal sheep hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal

Fetal sheep tissues possess glucocorticoid receptors (GR), and these change in number during the last two-thirds of gestation. There is, however, no information about developmental changes in tissue GR mRNA levels which might account for alterations in fetal GR content. We have therefore cloned and sequenced a 942 bp GR cDNA from a sheep liver cDNA library, and used it to study the relative abundance of GR mRNA in fetal and neonatal sheep tissues. Analysis of the cDNA revealed a partial sequence of the ovine GR which displayed over 80% identity with residues 143-453 in human GR and 163-472 in rat GR. Furthermore, the first zinc finger motif in these receptors was perfectly conserved among species. The relative abundance of GR mRNA was studied in hypothalami, anterior pituitary glands and adrenals in fetuses at days 60-70, 100-110, 125-130 and at term (approximately 145 days), and in newborn lambs. Total RNA extracts (20 micrograms) were analysed by Northern blot analysis. A single 5.6 kb transcript was detected in all three fetal tissues, and its relative abundance did not change significantly throughout gestation. However, in newborn lambs, levels of GR mRNA increased significantly in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland but decreased to undetectable levels in the adrenal. These tissue-specific changes in the relative abundance of GR mRNA did not correlate with alterations in GR content in fetal tissues, which suggests that the latter may reflect alterations in GR mRNA translation, subsequent modifications and/or GR turnover. In addition, the pattern of developmental changes in GR mRNA content of the adrenal differs from that of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in neonatal lambs, and indicates that tissue-specific factors may influence GR gene expression in neonatal sheep.

Microtubule-associated protein 2 levels decrease in hippocampus following traumatic brain injury

We examined microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) levels in hippocampal and cortical tissue 3 h following moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the rat. MAP2 levels were assayed by quantitative immunoreactivity in tissue fractions obtained from naive, sham-injured, or fluid percussion-injured animals. Tissues were homogenized in the presence of protease inhibitors (0.3 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, PMSF), a specific calpain inhibitors (0.1 mM leupeptin), and chelators (2 mM ethylene glycol-bis-tetraacetic acid, EGTA; 1 mM ethylenedinitrilo-tetraacetic acid, EDTA) to eliminate in vitro MAP2 proteolysis during tissue processing. Compared to naive rats, sham injury had no effect on soluble MAP2 levels in either cortex (105.0 +/- 4.4% of naive value) or hippocampus (106.6 +/- 5.2% of naive value). However, TBI caused a significant (p < 0.005) decrease in hippocampal MAP2 levels (55.7 +/- 5.9% of sham-injured controls). The effect appeared to be regionally selective, since the MAP2 decrease did not occur in cortex (89.1 +/- 1.4%). The degree of MAP2 decrease in hippocampus was similar in both membrane (57.8%) and cytosolic (55.7%) fractions, ruling out the possibility of partitioning artifacts. The data suggest that sublethal alterations of neuronal structure and function caused by MAP2 degradation may play an important role in the development of TBI-induced functional deficits. Since MAP2 is exclusively associated with the cytoskeleton in somal and dendritic compartments of neurons, the pathophysiology of sublethal magnitudes of TBI may also involve dendritic and somal dysfunction.

Precancerous lesions of the human esophagus: multiparametric study of esophageal biopsies from a high-risk population in Linxian, China

Histopathology, morphometry, tritiated thymidine incorporation and immunohistochemistry were studied in 221 esophageal biopsies from subjects with cytologica hyperplasia in Linxian, China. A spectrum of 7 morphologic entities were found: (1) normal/near normal (NN); (2) basal cell hyperplasia 0 (BHO); (3) simple hyperplasia (SH); (4) mixed basal and spinous cell hyperplasia (MBS); (5) basal cell hyperplasia 1 (BH1); (6) dysplasia (D); and (7) non-proliferative lesion (NP). Forty percent of the biopsies had combinations of histologic types. The thickness of the epithelium was increased in SH, MBS, and BH1, but not in BHO and NP. Elongation of papillae was frequently seen in SH, MBS, BH1, and D. Papillary bleeding was very prevalent in the esophageal specimens studied. A variety of cellular changes were found in peripapillary areas especially when bleeding occurred. [3H]-thymidine labeling index was dramatically increased in the entire epithelium in dysplasia, and also increased in cell layer 3 of MBS, BH1 and D. Blood group antigen LeY and lectin WGA showed consistent positivity in cellular membranes of the squamous cells, and these changes occurred before gross morphologic alterations. These findings provide a hypothesis for the sequence of pathogenetic events leading to esophageal carcinoma, and define each step with corresponding biomarkers for cancer prevention studies.

Pro-opiomelanocortin messenger RNA levels increase in the fetal sheep pituitary during late gestation

Plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol in fetal sheep increase progressively during late pregnancy, providing the stimulus for birth. However, little information is available concerning either sources of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC, the precursor to ACTH) or changes in POMC gene expression, which may be responsible for the elevated fetal plasma ACTH concentrations. We therefore studied the relative amount of POMC mRNA in fetal sheep hypothalami, anterior pituitaries and adrenals at discrete times of pregnancy between day 60 and term (approximately 145 days) and from newborn lambs. Total RNA from these tissues was analysed by Northern blot hybridization using a human POMC DNA probe, and the amount of POMC mRNA was expressed relative to the signal obtained for 18S ribosomal RNA. A single 1.2 kb transcript was detected by day 60 in the anterior pituitary, and its relative amount did not change significantly until after days 125-130. Pituitary POMC mRNA levels increased significantly at days 138-143, remained elevated at term and increased further in newborn lambs. In contrast, POMC mRNA was undetectable in hypothalami and adrenal glands of fetuses at all ages. The results suggested that the prepartum rise in plasma ACTH concentrations in fetal sheep is due to increased POMC biosynthesis in the fetal pituitary. The increase in POMC mRNA occurs at a time when fetal plasma cortisol concentrations are elevated, indicating that the negative feedback effects of circulating glucocorticoids on the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary axis may be obscured by other mechanisms that increase pituitary POMC mRNA accumulation during the last week of gestation.

Characteristics and developmental changes of corticotrophin-releasing hormone-binding sites in the fetal sheep anterior pituitary gland

The responses of the fetal sheep pituitary to corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) change during gestation with maximum output of ACTH around days 120-130, and decreased ACTH output near term. However, there is no information available concerning the extent to which these responses may be modulated by alterations in the number of CRH receptors. Therefore we measured specific CRH-binding sites, and changes in binding characteristics in membrane preparations from fetal sheep anterior pituitaries collected at days 65-70, 85-88, 100-110, 125-130 and at term (approximately 145 days). Binding assays were carried out using 125I-labelled Tyr-ovine CRH (125I-Tyr-oCRH), incubated with crude membrane fractions for 90 min at 22 degrees C. Binding was time- and temperature-dependent, linear with protein concentration, saturable and specific for oCRH. Scatchard analysis of binding data for individual tissues revealed a single class of CRH-binding sites with high affinity (Kd congruent to 1 nmol/l) that did not change significantly with gestational age. However, the number of CRH-binding sites increased progressively from days 65-70 to a maximum at days 125-130, then decreased at term. These results demonstrate the presence of specific CRH-binding sites in the fetal sheep anterior pituitary. Furthermore, the change in CRH receptor number with advancing pregnancy follows a similar time-course to the changes reported previously in responsiveness of the fetal sheep anterior pituitary to exogenous CRH stimulation in vivo. These results suggest that alterations in CRH receptor number may contribute to changes in responsiveness of the fetal sheep anterior pituitary to CRH during gestation.

[Autologous bone marrow transplantation after purging by low molecular weight natural tumor suppressor in long-term marrow culture in vitro: report on 2 cases]

In the light of high sensitivity of fresh bone marrow blast progenitor of human myeloid leukemia (L-CFU) towards the action of low molecular tumor suppressor isolated from human fetal liver, massive bone marrow was aspirated from the patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia at the stage of first complete remission and cocultured in a long-term bone marrow culture system for 9 days. The purged marrow cells were then re-infused into the patients after preconditioning with large doses of cytotoxin and acute ionizing irradiation. Hematopoiesis was reconstituted due to the autologous transplantation in vivo. After the autologous bone marrow transplantation without chemical treatment, two cases are still survival with the time of more than 17 and 15 months respectively.

[Central norepinephrine and angiotensin II contents in the brain regions of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and the interaction between them]

The norepinephrine (NE) and angiotensin II (A II) contents in the brain regions of SHR and WKY (Wistar Kyoto) rats at different ages were determined by fluorospectrophotometry and radioimmunoassay. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the rats was measured indirectly with a tail cuff technique in conscious state. The results were as follows: There was no significant difference in the central A II and NE contents between SHR and WKY rats at 8-week age. Since 12th week age the SBP of SHR has increased gradually, up to 16th to 20th week and then maintained steady level. Whereas there was no significant change of SBP in WKY rats in the same span of age. In the early and late states of hypertension the A II contents in the medulla oblongata, pons, hypothalamus and nucleus caudatus of SHR were markedly higher than those of the age-matched WKY rats. But the change of NE content of SHR in the early stage showed a different picture as compared with that of WKY rats, i.e., NE decreased in medulla oblongata and anterior hypothalamus but increased in pons, posterior hypothalamus and nucleus caudatus. However, in the late stage there was no such significant difference between SHR and WKY rats. Consequently, it is suggested that the central A II and NE participated in the development of hypertension of SHR, and that the maintenance of hypertension is mainly dependent upon the increased A II content. Microinjection of captopril or 6-OHDA in the lateral cerebroventricle of SHR elicited a decrease of BP and reduction of both A II and NE contents in the medulla and hypothalamus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Preliminary infection source of downy mildew of Corydalis yanhusuo W. T. Wang]

The downy mildew of Corydalis yanhusuo caused by Peronospora corydalis usually brings about devastating harm in Anhui Province. In the past, it was generally held that the spores in diseased remains buried in soil were the main source of preliminary infection. But, according to our test, it is the mycelia in tubers that are mainly the preliminary infections source.

Effect of central RAS on one-kidney Grollman hypertension in rats and its mechanism

The effect of central renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on one-kidney Grollman hypertension during the maintaining phase and its mechanism were investigated in rats. The arterial blood pressure (ABP) and the content of angiotensin II (A II) and norepinephrine (NE) in brain regions was measured respectively. 4 weeks after operation the ABP was elevated significantly, and it sustained at high level 8 weeks post-operatively. However, ABP in the control group underwent no significant changes at the same period. The A II and the NE content in the brain regions of the operated group were significantly higher than in those of the age-matched control group. During the maintaining phase of hypertension captopril (150 micrograms/10 microliters) was injected into the lateral cerebroventricle at 0.5 h, 1.0 h and 1.5 h respectively, and ABP and content of A II and NE were determined at the corresponding time. The results showed that the above three parameters decreased consistently at 0.5 h and 1.0 h, and increased gradually at 1.5 h, suggesting that the central RAS might play an important role in the maintaining phase of one-kidney Grollman hypertension in rats.

Lectin soybean agglutinin: measurements in colonic epithelial cells of human subjects following supplemental dietary calcium

A biomarker of cell differentiation was analyzed in normal and abnormal colonic epithelial cells. Soybean agglutinin (SBA) lectin which binds to specific carbohydrate residues was studied in normal human colonic epithelial cells, in epithelial cells in transitional colonic mucosa adjacent to carcinomas, and in colonic carcinomas. Findings revealed that increased SBA binding occurred maximally in normal, well-differentiated colonic epithelial cells, and least in colonic carcinomas. Further quantitation of SBA lectin binding also was carried out before and after supplemental dietary calcium. Findings revealed that in subjects whose colonic crypt biopsies had normal SBA lectin binding before calcium supplementation, SBA remained unchanged after calcium supplementation. However, in subjects whose biopsies initially had reduced SBA binding, the SBA increased after calcium and became more characteristic of that observed in normal colonic epithelium. In subjects receiving calcium for less than 3 months, the increased SBA was not statistically significant; but when subjects received calcium for durations of 3 months or longer SBA lectin binding was significantly increased, changing towards that observed in normal mucosa containing greater numbers of well-differentiated colonic epithelial cells.

AE1 cytokeratin reaction patterns in different differentiation states of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Anticytokeratin antibody AE1 was studied immunohistochemically in 56 surgical specimens of esophageal carcinoma. Relationships between morphologic characteristics and AE1 reaction patterns were analyzed in carcinomas and adjacent epithelium. Infiltrating carcinomas had three types of AE1 patterns that paralleled degrees of differentiation. Type 1 pattern was present in well-differentiated carcinomas characterized by cytoplasmic staining of polyhedral cells. Types 2 and 3 were seen in poorly differentiated and undifferentiated carcinomas in different percentages, characterized by all cancer cells stained, with cellular membrane and cytoplasm stained or all unstained, respectively. In normal esophageal epithelium, basal cells were the major population that was AE1 positive. In hyperplasia basal cells showed two kinds of changes, either reduced/lost AE1 staining accompanied by AE1 expression in spinous cells or retained/increased AE1 reactivity. In dysplasia and carcinoma in situ, abnormal cells had reaction patterns in which they lost or increased AE1 expression. Findings indicate that different degrees of differentiation of infiltrating esophageal carcinoma cells have differing expressions of cytokeratins and that monoclonal antibody AE1 can serve as a biomarker identifying early abnormalities in esophageal epithelial cells having increased predisposition to malignancy. Molecular mechanisms of AE1 cytokeratin expression in esophageal epithelium are also discussed.

[Effect of the overactivated central renin-angiotensin system on the concentration of brain norepinephrine and epinephrine in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats and its significances]

The content of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) in the brain of spontaneously hypertensive rats has proved abnormal, but the cause remained unknown. It was shown in the recent work that NE content in pons, posterior hypothalamus, nucleus caudatus and E concentration in medulla oblongata, anterior and posterior hypothalamus of 12-week old stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were much higher than those of age-matched Wister-Kyoto rats (WKY). SHRSP also showed higher levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and brain angiotensin II (A II) than WKY. Intracerebroventricular (icv) perfusion of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril (20 micrograms for each time and three times for each day for four weeks) inhibited the synthesis of brain A II and reduced SBP and NE, E contents in all examined brain areas in SHRSP and WKY. However, the effects of chronically perfused captopril on SBP and brain NE, E levels in SHRSP were much more significant than in WKY. The results indicate that the modulatory effects of central renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on central adrenergic and noradrenergic system might be overactivated in SHRSP, which might partially responsible for the abnormally high levels of NE, E in some of the brain areas of SHRSP.

Weaning from mechanical ventilation

Although the majority of patients can be easily weaned from mechanical ventilation, a substantial minority pose considerable difficulty. These patients account for a disproportionate amount of health care costs, and they pose enormous clinical, economic, and ethical problems. The major determinants of weaning outcome include the adequacy of pulmonary gas exchange, respiratory muscle pump function, and psychological problems. Many of the physiologic indices that have been used to predict weaning outcome are frequently inaccurate. Several techniques of weaning can be used, and there are no data to suggest the superiority of one technique over another. Management of the problem patient should be directed at the underlying cause of ventilator dependency, and an organized plan should be followed.

[The X-ray characteristic feature of the multiple primary malignant tumor of digestive tract]

A study on the multiple primary malignant tumor of digestive tract (MPMTDT) was made in the period of 1984-1988 in our hospital. Twenty five cases are reported in this paper. All of them were examined by X-ray, endoscopy, and proved to be MPMTDT by surgery and pathological examination. Twenty three cases were double primary tumors and 2 cases triple primary malignant tumors. The characteristic X-ray feature of the site of predilection and manifestation in primordial period of MPMTDT are described in this paper. These criteria are important for the early detection and selection of treatment of the tumors.

[Preliminary studies on the relationship between the blood pressure and renin-angiotensin system in brain and blood vessels in SHRSP]

This work analyzed the relationship between A I concentration in aorta tissue and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) at different ages. The SBP of SHRSP increased progressively with the age until the age of 20 weeks, when the SBP of SHRSP no longer elevated but sustained at a relatively high and stable level. The A I concentration in aorta of SHRSP was much higher than that of Wistar Kyoto rats at all of the three different ages. Perfusion of captopril into the lateral cerebroventricle of SHRSP for four weeks evoked a considerable decrease of A I concentration in brain as well as a significant reduction of SBP accompanied by a decrement of A I concentration in aorta and concentration of norepinephrine and epinephrine in aorta tissue and plasma. The results further confirm the close relationship between the changed activity of renin-angiotensin system localized in blood vessels during hypertension and the pathogenesis of hypertension, and indicate the possible regulative control of A I generated from central nervous system over the production of A I from blood vessels by means of facilitating the activity of peripheral sympathetic nerve system.

Changes in glucocorticoid receptor number in the hypothalamus and pituitary of the sheep fetus with gestational age and after adrenocorticotropin treatment

The concentrations of ACTH and cortisol both rise in the plasma of fetal lambs during late pregnancy, reflecting maturation of the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and providing the stimulus for parturition. The failure of rising cortisol to suppress plasma ACTH may be due to altered sensitivity of glucocorticoid negative feedback. To examine the possibility that this effect might be mediated through changes in the number of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the fetal hypothalamus and pituitary, we measured changes in GR number in these tissues from fetuses at discrete times of pregnancy between day 60 and term (day 145) and from newborn lambs and adult sheep. We also determined the effect of intrafetal ACTH administration in amounts known to produce premature parturition on GR number in fetuses at days 125-130 of gestation. Binding of [1,2,4-N-3H]triamcinolone acetonide to dispersed cell preparations of fetal pituitary and hypothalamus was saturable, temperature dependent, glucocorticoid specific, and of high affinity (2-3 X 10(-9) M). The number of GR in the pituitary always exceeded that in the hypothalamus. In both tissues GR number rose between days 60-70 to highest values on days 100-110, then decreased until day 125. GR number in the pituitary rose again at term, paradoxically at a time of rising endogenous glucocorticoid levels. However, after ACTH administration, there was a significant decrease in GR number in both hypothalamus and pituitary. These results indicate that altered efficacy of glucocorticoid negative feedback in term fetuses is not due to a decrease in pituitary or hypothalamic GR number. The rise in GR number at term and the fall after intrafetal ACTH treatment raises the possibility that mechanisms exist in the fetus allowing normal autoregulation of GR to be overridden at term.

[Effect of the sympathetic nerve on the skeletal muscle blood flow at rest, during and after contraction]

The effects of the sympathetic nerve on the muscle blood flow were studied on the quadriceps muscles of anesthetized rabbits. The muscle blood flow was measured by heated thermocouple technique, electrolytic hydrogen clearance method and laser doppler flowmetry. There was significant correlation in the muscle blood flow measured by the above three methods. After blockage of the neuro-muscular junction with pancuronium bromide, the femoral nerve stimulations with pulse duration 0.1 msec, 6 V, at 2, 5 and 10 Hz caused no change in the muscle blood flow, while the stimulation with pulse duration 1 msec, 6 V, at 10 Hz caused reduction of the muscle blood flow. The higher the frequency of lumbar sympathetic trunk stimulation was, the lower the muscle blood flow became thus the longer the recovery time was. When femoral nerve and lumbar sympathetic trunk were stimulated simultaneously, increment of muscle blood flow during contraction became less prominent, especially, with a stimulation of 5 Hz, which caused a decrement of post-contraction hyperemia both in height and duration. These results suggest that sympathetic nerve activities have an influence on the muscle blood flow at rest, as well as during and after muscle contraction.

Fetal and adult sheep adrenal cortical cells contain glucocorticoid receptors

Specific receptors for glucocorticoids were identified in the fetal and adult sheep adrenal cortex by a whole-cell binding assay using [3H]triamcinolone acetonide ([3H]TA) as the radiolabelled ligand. [3H]TA binding sites were saturable and of high affinity, with dissociation constant (Kd) of 2-3nM. Scatchard analysis revealed a single class of binding sites with a binding capacity (Bmax) of 207 and 5 fmol/10(6) cells for d100 fetuses and adults, respectively. By single point analyses at saturating [3H]TA concentration, we found that glucocorticoid receptors (GR) were present in the fetal adrenal cortex as early as d60. Highest concentrations were found at d100-110. GR decreased to d125, then increased to term (approx. d145) before declining again in newborn and adult animals. This demonstration of glucocorticoid receptors in ovine fetal adrenal cortical cells provides a mechanistic basis for the concept that glucocorticoids may act, perhaps in a paracrine or autocrine fashion, to influence adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-induced activation of fetal adrenal function and the events leading to parturition.

Estrogen receptor and hormone responsiveness of medullary thyroid carcinoma cells in continuous culture

We have examined the estrogen responsiveness and estrogen receptor in medullary thyroid carcinoma using a model of an established human cell line, TT. TT cells bind [3H]estradiol with high affinity. Scatchard analysis reveals a single class of binding site with a concentration of 173 fmol/10(6) cells and a dissociation constant of 2.1 x 10(-9) M, values which are comparable to those of a well established model cell line for estrogen responsiveness, MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. Estradiol in physiological concentrations moderately stimulated TT cell proliferation, whereas in pharmacological concentrations it markedly inhibited cell growth. [3H]Thymidine incorporation into acid-insoluble material was also stimulated following a 5-day treatment with 5 x 10(-9) M estradiol. Tamoxifen at a concentration of 1 microM reduced cell proliferation by 43-48% after 5-7 days of treatment. The growth suppression induced by tamoxifen was reversed by addition of 10 nM estradiol. This is the first report of estrogen growth stimulation and tamoxifen growth inhibition of a tumor cell line derived from human medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Ovarian steroid hormone involvement in endogenous opioid modulation of LH secretion in mature ewes during the breeding and non-breeding seasons

The opioid antagonist WIN-44441-3 (WIN-3, Sterling-Winthrop) caused significant increases in LH secretion in ovariectomized ewes treated with progesterone but not in ovariectomized animals treated with oestradiol-17 beta. In the non-breeding season, plasma LH concentrations in ovariectomized ewes without steroid therapy, given oestradiol-17 beta or oestradiol-17 beta and progesterone together were not affected by treatment with WIN-3 on Day 6 after ovariectomy (there was a significant increase in LH as a result of WIN-3 treatment 13 days after ovariectomy in sheep given no steroid therapy). However, WIN-3 treatment of ovariectomized sheep given progesterone resulted in a significant increase in plasma LH. WIN-3 was ineffective when given to intact ewes treated with progesterone during the non-breeding season. With ovariectomized sheep during the breeding season there was again no response to WIN-3 at 6 days after ovariectomy in sheep given oestradiol-17 beta, but significant LH elevations in animals given no steroid, those given progesterone and those given progesterone + oestradiol-17 beta. The lack of an LH response to WIN-3 in ovariectomized sheep treated with oestradiol-17 beta did not result from a reduced pituitary response to GnRH since such animals responded normally to exogenous GnRH treatment. Overall, these results are consistent with the idea that, irrespective of the time of year, progesterone exerts negative feedback upon LH release at least in part through an opioidergic mechanism, whereas oestradiol-17 beta exerts negative feedback through steps unlikely to involve opioids. Progesterone can override the effect of oestradiol-17 beta during the breeding season only. Further, there appears to be a steroid-independent opioid involvement in LH suppression, operating at both times of year.

Chronic intractable pain: an atypical presentation of multiple sclerosis

Both acute paroxysmal pains and a variety of chronic pain syndromes have been described in multiple sclerosis. These usually occur in the setting of well-established disease. Although paroxysmal pain has been recognized as a rare first symptom in this disorder, presentation with severe, continuous dysesthesias of long duration has not been previously appreciated. We report the cases of three patients in whom refractory continuous pain signalled the onset of demyelinating disease. These observations further define the clinical spectrum of multiple sclerosis and have implications for the evaluation of patients with chronic neuropathic pains of unknown etiology.

Proliferation of esophageal epithelial cells among residents of Linxian, People's Republic of China

Histopathologic and tritiated thymidine labeling subjects were carried out on esophageal biopsy specimens of 44 human subjects with cytologic evidence of dysplasia from Linxian, People's Republic of China, a high-risk area for esophageal cancer. With the use of histopathologic criteria, 10 cases showed evidence of dysplasia, 20 hyperplasia, and 14 a near-normal morphology when compared with 21 normal cases studied previously from Jiaoxian, a low-risk area for esophageal cancer in the People's Republic of China. Significantly increased labeling indices were found in the esophageal mucosa of the dysplasia and hyperplasia subjects. There was a gradient of increased expansion in the basal layer of proliferating cells progressing from normal to hyperplasia to dysplasia, with the expansion twice as high in the epithelial cell lining in dysplasia when compared with the findings in the normal and near-normal groups. The correlation of proliferative abnormalities with the severity of precancerous lesions of the esophagus indicates that labeling studies may provide a sensitive adjunct to evaluate risk status and any modifications that might result from nutritional intervention.

[Prognostic factors of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the stomach--clinicopathologic study of 21 cases]

Clinical, X-ray and pathological materials of 21 cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the stomach were reviewed. According to NHL classification--working formulation for clinical usage sponsored by NCI, USA, there were 13 (61.9%) intermediate grade, 6 (28.6%) high grade and 2 (9.5%) low grade malignant lymphomas. By X-ray manifestations, they were classified into 5 types: multinodular type (4 cases), infiltrative (4), ulcerative (3), giant rugal (1) and mixed (9). Clinically, 10 lesions were stage I, 4 stage II, 1 stage III and 4 stage IV, 2 unclassified. The median survivals were 101 months for stage I, 15 months for stage II and less than 6 months for stages III and IV. The 5 and 10 year survival rates were 70% and 40% in stage I patients. The prognosis is related to clinical stage, depth of the tumor infiltration and histology type but not related to the tumor size or X-ray manifestations.

Comparative data on cytophotometric DNA in malignant lesions of the esophagus in the Chinese and Japanese

Cell DNA content was microspectrophotometrically determined in tissues of advanced esophageal carcinoma of 50 Chinese and 82 Japanese subjects. DNA distribution patterns were classified into Types I, II, III, and IV, according to the degree of dispersion and the peak value on the DNA histogram. The proportions of high ploidy (Types III and IV) in Chinese and Japanese patients were 68% and 81.7%, respectively. Overall 5-year survival rates of the Chinese and Japanese were 25.3% and 19.8%, respectively. Five-year survival rates of patients with Types II, III and IV were 45.7%, 23.8% and 0% in Chinese patients and 57.1%, 16.1%, and 0% in Japanese patients, respectively. Thus, differences in nationality were not related to the prognosis. The incidences of high ploidy group in those with an advanced esophageal carcinoma were high and were associated with a poor prognosis in both races. DNA distribution pattern of esophageal carcinoma reflected the outcome and malignant potential in the Chinese and the Japanese.

Strontium phosphate transfection of human cells in primary culture: stable expression of the simian virus 40 large-T-antigen gene in primary human bronchial epithelial cells

Strontium ion formed DNA-phosphate precipitates analogous to those formed by calcium but lacking the lethal and differentiation-inducing effects of calcium on many epithelial cell types in primary culture. Human primary bronchial epithelial cells were transiently and stably transfected by using strontium phosphate; the frequency of stable transformation with a plasmid carrying the simian virus 40 large-T-antigen gene was greater than 10(-4).

[Verrucous carcinoma of the cervix]

An extremely rare case of verrucous carcinoma of the uterine cervix is reported. The most outstanding pathologic feature of this malignant tumor is the benign picture of the proliferative squamous epithelium, with remarkable hyperkeratosis and dyskeratosis. Therefore it is difficult for the pathologist to make an accurate diagnosis on the basis of the biopsy material. Surgery may be best treatment of this special tumor for its behavior of slow invasiveness and rare metastasis.