Activities of a soluble extract from lymphoid cells of MRL mice. Effect on B cell differentiation in vitro

Soluble extract (sEx) was prepared from lymphoid cells of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr(MRL/l) mice with early lupus nephritis and also of MRL/Mp-+/+ (MRL/n) mice. sEx from lymph node and spleen T cells of MRL/l mice had an activity for B cells to differentiate into immunoglobulin-producing cells but that of MRL/n mice did not show such an activity. sEx of MRL/l mice also enhanced the in vitro response of B cells to a suboptimal dose of lipopolysaccharide. Implication of these phenomena in the development of lupus nephritis is discussed.

Hyperglycaemic effect of glucagon administered intracerebroventricularly in the rat

The intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of 100 ng glucagon resulted in more prolonged and pronounced elevations of plasma glucose levels than the intravenous injection of 100 ng glucagon. Insignificant changes in plasma IRI and IRG levels after icv glucagon administration contrasted to marked increases in both IRI and IRG levels after the iv injection. Icv glucagon-induced hyperglycaemia was completely prevented by the prior administration of atropine, phentolamine or hexamethonium, and partially inhibited by bilateral adrenalectomy, but not by propranolol pretreatment. These findings suggested that the hyperglycaemic effect is brought about through cholinergic and alpha-adrenergic neural pathways and partly via the adrenal medulla.

Aberrant expression of Forssman and Paul-Bunnell antigens on lymph node cells of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice

Lymph node cells (LNC) of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice (MRL/1) and congeneic MRL/Mp-+/+ (MRL/n) mice were studied by means of flow fluorocytometry for the expression of heterophile Forssman (F) and Paul-Bunnell (P-B) antigens. The level of F antigen on LNC of MRL/1, but not on those of MRL/n mice, increased progressively with age and reached its maximum at 4 mo of age. No such increase in F antigen on LNC of age-matched C3H/HeJms, C57BL/6, and AKR mice was observed. In contrast, the level of P-B antigen on LNC of MRL/1 mice was significantly lower than that of MRL/n and the normal mice. F-positive LNC of MRL/1 mice were shown to be T cells with Thy-1.2 and Lyt-1 markers; those cells expanded in the lymph nodes and were responsible for the development of the massive lymphadenopathy. Studies on LNC of F1 hybrids between MRL/1 and MRL/n mice, and animals of the subsequent F2 generation provided evidence that the aberrant expression of F and P-B antigens was under the influence of the autosomal recessive lpr gene and was segregated together with the lymphadenopathy into the F2 generation. The aberrant expression of F and P-B antigens reflects the alteration of terminal carbohydrate structure of glycolipids and glycoproteins on the membrane of the LNC. It is tempting, therefore, to speculate that such alterations in the membrane structure might represent disturbances in cellular recognition resulting in unusual expansion of the T cells in the early life of MRL/1 mice.

Aberrant expression of Forssman and Paul-Bunnell antigens on lymph node cells of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice

Lymph node cells (LNC) of MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr mice (MRL/1) and congeneic MRL/Mp-+/+ (MRL/n) mice were studied by means of flow fluorocytometry for the expression of heterophile Forssman (F) and Paul-Bunnell (P-B) antigens. The level of F antigen on LNC of MRL/1, but not on those of MRL/n mice, increased progressively with age and reached its maximum at 4 mo of age. No such increase in F antigen on LNC of age-matched C3H/HeJms, C57BL/6, and AKR mice was observed. In contrast, the level of P-B antigen on LNC of MRL/1 mice was significantly lower than that of MRL/n and the normal mice. F-positive LNC of MRL/1 mice were shown to be T cells with Thy-1.2 and Lyt-1 markers; those cells expanded in the lymph nodes and were responsible for the development of the massive lymphadenopathy. Studies on LNC of F1 hybrids between MRL/1 and MRL/n mice, and animals of the subsequent F2 generation provided evidence that the aberrant expression of F and P-B antigens was under the influence of the autosomal recessive lpr gene and was segregated together with the lymphadenopathy into the F2 generation. The aberrant expression of F and P-B antigens reflects the alteration of terminal carbohydrate structure of glycolipids and glycoproteins on the membrane of the LNC. It is tempting, therefore, to speculate that such alterations in the membrane structure might represent disturbances in cellular recognition resulting in unusual expansion of the T cells in the early life of MRL/1 mice.

Anterior dislocation of the shoulder joint sustained through skiing. Arthrographic findings and prognosis

Over a period of 10 years we have studied 14,952 cases of skiing injuries. Of these, 660 cases (4.5%) were injuries to the shoulder with 291 cases (44.1%) being anterior dislocations of the shoulder. One hundred forty-three cases revealed an initial dislocation (49.1%), and 148 cases were recurrent dislocations (50.9%). We examined the arthrography of the dislocated shoulder in 89 cases. Of these initial dislocations, one-half of the capsular detachment type were redislocated, but no redislocation had occurred in the capsular tear type. In addition, almost all of the recurrent cases were of the capsular detachment type. Thus, through arthrography of the anterior dislocated shoulder, we have been able to discover the mechanism of the dislocation and decide upon the necessary duration and method of fixation of the shoulder after reduction.

Analysis of structural proteins from biopsied human myocardium with special emphasis on methodology

An analytical procedure for the quantitative determination of the structural proteins from a biopsied human cardiac muscle weighing approximately 1 mg was described to be applicable in clinical studies in 20 patients with various heart diseases. The principle of the method is glycerinization of heart muscle and analysis by SDS gel electrophoresis. In 6 control heart muscles obtained from patients having almost normal hearts, the pattern of the structural proteins was similar to that of the normal canine heart. Myosin heavy chain-actin ratio ranged 1.26 +/- 0.44. In 5 cases with secondary cardiac hypertrophy, the pattern of the structural proteins was the same as that of the control heart. In 4 cases with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an increase in myosin heavy chain was observed in 2 cases, while myosin heavy chain and alpha-actinin decreased in another 2 cases. Hypertrophy and severe disarray of myofibrils were noted in the former, and atrophy and degradation were done in the latter in electron microscopy. In 5 cases with dilated cardiomyopathies, the relative contents of myosin heavy chain and alpha-actinin was reduced in all cases together with atrophy and degradation of myofibrils.

125I-glucagon-degrading activity in acid-saline extracts of rat salivary gland

The antibody-binding ability of the glucagon-like substance in rat submaxillary gland acid saline extract was examined by affinity chromatography, and the biological activity studied using the isolated liver perfusion method. We found that the glucagon-like substances in acid saline extract could not be bound to anti-glucagon antibody and that the gel-filtration peak on ultrogel AcA 54 could increase neither glucose nor cyclic AMP output from isolated perfused rat liver. Furthermore, the radioactivity peak of 125I-glucagon on Bio Gel P-6 column chromatography moved from its original position and eluted in later fractions after incubation with an acid saline extract of the submaxillary gland. In consequence, there was 125I-glucagon degrading activity in the submaxillary gland, but no glucagon-related peptide. Therefore, it is suggested that the glucagon-like substance, which has been reported in acid saline extract of the rat salivary gland, may be an artifact due to tracer degrading activity.

Regional changes in mitochondrial respiration in acute myocardial ischemia. Comparison of the inner and outer heart muscles

Impairment of mitochondrial respiration in acute myocardial ischemia was studied in the inner and outer layers of canine heart muscle by the determination of oxidative phosphorylation and several respiratory enzymatic activities of isolated mitochondria. As early as 15 min after coronary ligation, the respiratory control ratio decreased as the result of a reduction in the oxygen consumption rate in state 3 to 72% of the control ratio in the inner layer. However, in the outer layer, it dropped to 74% after 1 to 2 hours. The oxygen consumption rate in state 4 and the ADP/O ratio were not significantly altered in both cardiac sublayers. In parallel with a decrease in oxygen consumption rate in state 3, Mg++-dependent ATPase and DNP-stimulated ATPase activities of isolated mitochondria reduced significantly in both sublayers, followed by a sequential increase in Mg++-dependent ATPase activity. Succinate dehydrogenase activity increased in ischemia for 3 hours in the inner layer, and for 6 hours in the outer layer, respectively; cytochrome oxidase activity reduced in both sublayers during the same period. Mitochondrial respiration is impaired in acute myocardial ischemia much earlier in the inner layer by a decrease in oxygen consumption rate in state 3, and there is a chronological delay in the development of ischemic mitochondrial changes in the outer myocardium.

Aplysia oxymyoglobin with an unusual stability property

Native oxymyoglobin was isolated directly from the radular muscle of Aplysia kurodai with complete separation from metmyoglobin on a DEAE-cellulose column. It was examined for its spectral and stability properties. The spectrum of Aplysia MbO2 , which lacks the distal histidine, is very similar to those of mammalian oxymyoglobins , the alpha-peak being higher than the beta-peak and the absorbance ratio being 1.03. Its stability, however, is quite different from those of the mammalian oxymyoglobins , and Aplysia MbO2 is found to be extremely susceptible to autoxidation. Its rate is one-hundred times higher at pH 9.0, and its pH dependence is unusual and much less steep, when compared with sperm whale MbO2 as reference.

Synaptosomal localization and release of glucagon-like materials in the rat brain

The subcellular localization of glucagon-like materials in the thalamus-hypothalamus and brain stem of the rat was investigated. Both glucagon immunoreactivity (GI) determined by C-terminal specific antibody and glucagon-like immunoreactivity (GLI) determined by non-specific antibody were enriched in the microsomal and synaptosomal fractions relative to the nuclear, myelin and mitochondrial fractions. Furthermore, the synaptosomal fraction of both the thalamus-hypothalamus and brain stem incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer with 55 mM K+ at 37 degrees C released GI and GLI in the presence of Ca++. These findings suggested that glucagon-like substances detected in the brain have a role in the synaptic function.

Electron microscopic cytochemical studies on acid phosphatase activity in acute myocardial ischemia

Alterations in the localization and the intensity of acid phosphatase activity were studied electron microscopically in acute ischemic myocardial cells in the dog, in relation to processes of cellular degradation. In normal myocardial cells, the acid phosphatase activity was concentrated in the terminal cisternae, the longitudinal elements and the subsarcolemmal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the primary lysosomes. Activity was moderate in the secondary lysosomes, residual bodies and Golgi apparatus. As early as 15 min after coronary ligation the intensity of acid phosphatase activity increased in the enlarged lysosomes and the sarcoplasmic reticulum of the ischemic myocardial cells. Fine deposits of the reaction product were distributed in the sarcoplasm around lysosomes and the sarcoplasmic reticulum after 30 min, and the activity began to decrease in lysosomes and in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. One to 3 hours after ligation, intramitochondrial dense deposits appeared, and the reaction product decreased both in lysosomes and the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The fine reaction product, which leaked from lysosomes and the sarcoplasmic reticulum, was scattered in the sarcoplasm and was accompanied by fine structural changes indicating cellular necrosis. From these findings it is strongly suggested that acid hydrolases in lysosomes and the sarcoplasmic reticulum are closely related to the necrotic process in ischemic myocardial cells.

Acid hydrolases in the initiation of ischemic myocardial necrosis

Alterations in myocardial acid hydrolases in acute ischemia were studied in relation to the evolution of cardiac cellular necrosis by the determination of cathepsin D, acid phosphatase (AcPase), and beta-glucuronidase activities of the myocardial fractions and by electron microscopic cytochemical studies on AcPase in the canine heart. In the normal myocardium, the same level of activity of acid hydrolases was found in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) as in the lysosome fraction. In electron microscopy, AcPase reaction products were observed markedly in SR and moderately in lysosomes, in residual bodies, and in Golgi apparatus. In the ischemic myocardium, at 20 to 30 min after coronary ligation, activation of these enzymes was observed in both SR and lysosomes, and at 60 to 90 min they were decreased in the particles and, in turn, increased in the cytoplasm accompanying the ischemic fine structural changes. At 2 to 3 hr those acid hydrolase activities in the cytosol were decreased, indicating the loss of enzymes from necrotic myocardial cells. Acid hydrolases are the most important factor for the evolution of ischemic myocardial necrosis by being activated not only in lysosomes but also in SR and by being released to the cytoplasm to disintegrate the cellular structures.

Studies on intracardiac acid hydrolases in the ischemic myocardial necrosis

Activities and subcellular distributions of acid hydrolases, cathepsin D, acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase in myocardial subfractions were determined serially with reference to the initiation of myocardial necrosis in dog hearts with acute ischemia. The following results were obtained: 1) In the normal myocardium, respectable activities of three enzymes were obtained either in the sarcoplasmic reticulum or in the lysosome-containing fraction. 2) Thirty min after coronary ligation, an increase in the activities was observed in both lysosome and sarcoplasmic reticulum fractions of the ischemic heart muscle. After 60 to 90 min these activities were decreased rapidly in both fractions to about 70% of those of the normal myocardium with an increase in the cytosolic activity. Two to 3 hours after ligation, the reduction in the cytosolic activity was noted, indicating an escape of the enzymes from the necrotic myocardium. The subcellular distribution of these enzymes was further altered in the ischemic heart muscle for 12 to 14 hours reflecting an infiltration of the interstitial cells. These findings suggest that activation and release of acid hydrolases not only in lysosomes but also in the sarcoplasmic reticulum are one of the primary and the earliest factors for the evolution of ischemic myocardial injury which leads to necrosis.

Electron microscopic studies on the ATPase activity in myocardial infarction -changes in the early myocardial infarction

Ultracytochemical changes in ATPase activity of ischemic myocardial cells were studied in the dog heart by electron microscopy in the early stage of myocardial infarction and compared to the fine structural alterations in the ischemic myocardium. 1) In the normal myocardial cell, ATPase activity was observed intensely in the terminal cisternae (TC) of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), and moderately in the myofilaments in the longitudinal SR and around the gap junctions of the intercalated discs. 2) The most striking change in the ischemic myocardial cells was the reduction in the ATPase reaction product in the TC of the SR and along the gap junctions 60 min after coronary ligation, simultaneously with swelling of the TC and the appearance of mitochondrial dense deposits. The reaction product began to decrease at 30 min on the myofilaments, and for 3 to 12 hours no reaction product was observed except irreversible morphologic changes in 60 to 70% of the longitudinal SR in the ischemic subendocardial cells. 3) A decrease in ATPase activity was recognized in the early stage of myocardial ischemia simultaneously with the fine structural changes of myocardial cells and it is considered to be one of the signs of ischemic irreversibility.

Polyclonal antibody synthesis by bone marrow cells of New Zealand black mice. I. Assessment of activity in an adoptively transferred histocompatible host

The activity of polyclonal antibody synthesis (PAS) of bone marrow cells (BMC) was assessed by enumerating anti-trinitrophenyl (TNP) plaque-forming cells (PFC) or immunoglobulin-secreting cells (IgSC) generated in the spleen of BMC-reconstituted syngeneic or H-2-compatible hosts. BMC of NZB mice generated large numbers of anti-TNP PFC or IgSC as compared with those of C57BL/6 mice or H-2-compatible, nonautoimmune strains of mice (BALB/c, DBA/2 and B10 . D2 mice). Causes for the enhanced PAS activity were explored. Susceptibility to known B cell mitogens was examined and it was shown that spleen cells of the recipients of NZB BMC were refractory to the mitogens while PAS was apparent and acquired responsiveness after 15 days as those from nonautoimmune strains of mice. Furthermore, environmental factor(s) did not seem to be responsible for the enhanced PAS, since BMC from nonautoimmune BALB/c mice showed little PAS activity when transferred into heavily irradiated NZB mice and those of NZB mice showed enhanced PAS activity when transferred into B10 . D2 or BALB/c mice. It seems most likely that enhanced PAS activity of BMC of NZB mice is a genetically inherent phenomenon. PAS activity of BMC and spleen cells of NZB mice increased significantly with increasing age of mice.

Polyclonal antibody synthesis by bone marrow cells of New Zealand Black mice. II. Cellular basis of PAS activity of NZB bone marrow cells

In the preceding report, enhanced polyclonal antibody synthesis (PAS) activity of bone marrow cells (BMC) of NZB mice was shown. Cells involved in its activity among BMC population were explored in this report. Antibody-forming cells (AFC) already existing in the bone marrow were not responsible for this activity since depletion of AFC by passage through a Sephadex G-10 column did not affect the numbers of anti-TNP AFC and immunoglobulin-secreting cells (IgSC) in the spleen of BMC-reconstituted mice when assayed 7 days after the transfer. Thy-1-positive cells among BMC population and host thymus were not relevant to PAS. Suppressor cells seemed to play little role as observed in transfer of mixed BMC population from NZB and BALB/c mice. PAS activity was prominently observed in surface immunoglobulin-positive cells. Significance of enhanced PAS activity was discussed with reference to autoantibody production.

Increased resistance to effector cell blockade in antibody-producing cells of NZB mice

Susceptibility of B lymphocytes fo 'effector cell blockade', i.e. in vitro inactivation of antibody-forming cells by specific antigen, was studied in NZB and C57BL/6 mice. Mice were immunized either with dinitrophenylated dextran (DNP-Dex) or DNP-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNP-KLH). It was shown that both direct and indirect anti-DNP plaque-forming cells (PFC) from older NZB mice were less affected by the preincubation with the corresponding antigen than those from age-matched C57BL/6 mice or young NZB mice. The increased resistance of B lymphocytes in aged NZB mice to the effector cell blockade may play a significant role for generation of autoantibody-forming cells in the presence of excess amounts of corresponding antigens.

Studies on the Na+-K+-ATPase in myocardial infarction

Changes in the cardiac sarcolemma in myocardial infarction were studied by both determination of Na+-K+-ATPase activity and SDS gel electrophoretic analysis of sarcolemmal proteins in the canine heart. Ninety minutes after coronary ligation, Na+-K+-ATPase activity in ischemic myocardium was decreased significantly to approximately 36% of that of non-ischemic myocardium, and it remained at the lower level for 28 days. By SDS gel electrophoresis, reduction of the protein band with molecular weight of 111,000, which is suggestive of the main component of ATPase, was observed simultaneously with the reduction of Na+-K+-ATPase activity. These results indicate that ischemia for 90 minutes produces substructural changes in the sarcolemma indicating irreversible myocardial changes.

Genetic and clinical patterns of heritable cerebellar ataxias in adults. II. Clinical manifestations

Clinical data on 244 probands with spinocerebellar types, 163 with late cortical cerebellar atrophies (LCCA), and 180 with olivopontocerebellar atrophies (OPCA) were analysed. Spinocerebellar cases were divided into three according to their estimated genetic mechanisms: recessive, dominant, or sporadic. Ages of onset were identical in sporadic spinocerebellar types, LCCA, and OPCA, the average being about 50. They showed highly correlated clinical patterns. In the light of other evidence, these diseases may represent a premature aging process in the central nervous system, probably determined multifactorially. Recessive spinocerebellar cases were very few. There were 127 cases of spinocerebellar types with dominant inheritance, characterised by age of onset around 33, colourful ocular signs, and spasticity. A large family with this disease was described in which 34 patients were affected through five generations. The computed tomograms showed an almost normal cerebellum and electronystagmograms indicated patterns of vestibulocular impairment. No necropsied case was available among the present material, but in pathological reports of similar cases, major lesions were found in the ventral and the dorsal spinocerebellar tracts, Clarke's columns, and the posterior columns in the spinal cord. This disease, or hereditary spastic ataxia, represented a fairly well-defined entity inherited dominantly among a group of cases with spinocerebellar types, and it was separable from LCCA or OPCA, not only on clinical and genetic grounds, but by a predominantly spinal involvement.