[Determination of berberine hydrochloride in traditional Chinese medicines containing Coptis chinensis Franch by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography]

This paper reports a reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography method to determine berberine hydrochloride in Coptis chinensis Franch and in the traditional Chinese medicine containing Coptis chinensis Franch. The result shows that the mobile phase of 0.4mol/L ammonium nitratemethanol (52:48) can give a satisfactory separation. The extraction of sample with 1% H2SO4 solution using the ultrasonic vibration method is simple and easy to operate.

Duration of immunity following immunization with live measles vaccine: 15 years of observation in Zhejiang Province, China

The duration of immunity following measles vaccination of 2882 immunized children has been investigated in a closed region of China for 15 years. A total of 1002 of the children were treated as primary immunization subjects, and 1547 as reimmunization subjects. These two cohorts were not in contact with known wild measles virus over the whole observation period, and the results obtained probably reflected the antibody responses to measles vaccine alone. The remaining 333 vaccinees came into contact with wild measles virus, and this permitted evaluation of the protective effect of the measles vaccines tested: 4 children experienced very mild clinical measles, and 329 experienced subclinical infection, including 12 who had had undetectable haemagglutination-inhibition antibodies for 9-10 years. These results indicate that the immunity induced by successful primary immunization may persist for at least 15 years. Within this period, a second dose of vaccine only induces low antibody responses which decrease rapidly to their original levels. This provides strong evidence that the immunity produced by primary immunization is long-lasting. However, there were some indications that reimmunization might produce better effects if live attenuated measles virus were used with a longer interval between doses.

[Changes in cardiac function at rest and during exercise in mountaineers at an extreme altitude]

At extreme altitude of 5,620 m, cardiac function was examined with electrical impedance at rest and during exercise. Mountaineers as subjects of experiment were divided into two groups: 15 subjects were Tibetan natives, and 10 subjects were Han visitors of expedition (both were young healthy males). The results showed that no significant difference was seen between the two groups in cardiac pump function at rest. In the Han visitors during exercise, HR increase was restricted, SV and CO were decreased, and PEP/LVET ratio was increased. In the Tibetan natives, HR increased gradually with increased work load, SV tended to be stable CO increased significantly under higher work load, and PEP/LVET ratio decreased gradually. These results suggest that the Tibetan natives were adapted to hypoxic environment much better than the immigrants because their cardiac reserve capacity and maximal oxygen uptake were better than the immigrants at extreme altitude.

Prevalence survey of cytomegalovirus infection in children in Chengdu

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common worldwide perinatal infection. Although usually asymptomatic, it may cause deafness in up to 15% of these infants. A cross-sectional study was performed to determine the age-specific prevalence of CMV seropositivity in Chinese children and to determine if any risk factors for infection could be identified. In a two-stage sampling procedure, nine districts were randomly selected from 70 citizenship districts in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. Then, 1,950 households were randomly selected from 11,886 households and interviewed. Blood was obtained from all children aged less than seven years and assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. A subgroup of sera was retested at the research laboratory and also sent to the National Reference Laboratory in Beijing. Kappa values for the test agreement with the reference laboratory and retesting within the study laboratory were 0.94 and 0.86, respectively. Seropositivity averaged 52% in those aged less than one year and 60% in those between four and seven years. A higher rate of seropositivity was observed in urban versus rural children (odds ratio (OR) = 2.55), breast feeding in urban areas only (OR = 1.87), and day care versus home care setting (OR = 1.59). High CMV seroprevalence, even in the first year of life, was observed in this population of well children in Chengdu, China. An association was observed between seroprevalence and residence, method of feeding, and day care attendance.

Genome-specific repetitive sequences in the genus Oryza

Repetitive DNA sequences are useful molecular markers for studying plant genome evolution and species divergence. In this paper, we report the isolation and characterization of four genome-type specific repetitive DNA sequences in the genus Oryza. Sequences specific to the AA, CC, EE or FF genome types are described. These genome-type specific repetitive sequences will be useful in classifying unknown species of wild or domestic rice, and in studying genome evolution at the molecular level. Using an AA genome-specific repetitive DNA sequence (pOs48) as a hybridization probe, considerable differences in its copy number were found among different varieties of Asian-cultivated rice (O. sativa) and other related species within the AA genome type. Thus, the relationship among some of the members of AA genome type can be deduced based on the degree of DNA sequence similarity of this repetitive sequence.

Prevention of chain cleavage in the chemical synthesis of 2'-silylated oligoribonucleotides

Strong aqueous ammonium hydroxide used to remove N-acyl protecting groups from synthetic oligoribonucleotides causes removal of some alkylsilyl protecting groups from 2'-hydroxyls and leads to chain cleavage. This problem is most severe when 30% ammonium hydroxide is used and substantially reduced but still detectable when 3:1 ammonium hydroxide-ethanol is used. We have virtually eliminated this unwanted cleavage by incorporating the labile phenoxyacetyl amino protecting group on adenosine and guanosine. The N-benzoyl protecting group remains adequate for cytidine nucleosides. Synthetic oligoribonucleotides containing these N-acylated nucleosides and 2'-t-butyldimethylsilyl or 2'-triisopropylsilyl protecting groups can be deacylated by room temperature treatment in saturated anhydrous methanolic ammonia (8-12 h) without causing any detectable chain cleavage.

Developing a breast cancer screening program for Chinese-American women

The Chinese, like other minority groups, often underuse cancer screening services because of language, cultural, and economic barriers. Nonattendance reduces the probability that cancer will be detected in its earliest and often most curable form. To improve use of cancer screening services among Chinese-Americans, a community-based coalition organized a one-day demonstration cancer awareness and screening program--the Breast Cancer Screening Day for Chinese Women. More than 100 women, many of whom did not speak English, attended the program. Six abnormal mammograms required follow-up and one breast cancer was detected. The planning process used to develop this successful project is described as are suggestions to improve future screening programs for ethnic minorities.

Synthetic parathyroid hormone-like protein-(1-74): biochemical and physiological characterization

PTH-like protein-(1-74) [PTHLP-(1-74)] was synthesized and purified. On the basis of chromatographic criteria and amino acid composition of the full-length peptide, direct amino acid sequencing of the N-terminus, and amino acid composition and internal sequence of proteolytic fragments of PTHLP-(1-74), the synthetic peptide appears to be of high quality and purity. Physiological comparison of PTHLP-(1-74) to [Tyr36]-PTHLP-(1-36) amide and bovine (b) PTH-(1-34) indicates that all three peptides are of equivalent potency in the fetal rat long bone and rat osteosarcoma 17/2.8 adenylate cyclase assays. However, as in earlier studies with native and N-terminal PTHLPs, PTHLP-(1-74) is considerably less potent (2%) in stimulating the canine renal cortical adenylate cyclase assay than is bPTH-(1-34). Further, PTHLP-(1-74) displayed only 12% of the activity of bPTH-(1-34) in inducing hypercalcemia when infused into rats in vivo. These studies support the possibility that subclasses of PTH receptors or varying PTH- and PTHLP-signalling transduction mechanisms may exist. In addition, they emphasize the need to precisely define the naturally occurring secretory and circulating species of this novel class of peptide hormones.

Synthesis of a gene encoding parathyroid hormone-like protein-(1-141): purification and biological characterization of the expressed protein

PTH-like proteins (PTHLP), which are associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, have recently been purified. Isolation of their corresponding cDNAs has revealed that they are derived from a single gene. In this report a synthetic gene encoding PTHLP-(1-141), a 141-amino acid protein corresponding to the most abundant PTHLP cDNA detected in human tumors, was expressed in bacteria and purified to homogeneity. Recombinant (r) PTHLP-(1-141) migrates with an aberrantly high mol wt on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, presumably as a result of its unusually basic pI. rPTHLP-(1-141), like PTH, induced hypercalcemia in rats, caused release of 45Ca from fetal rat bones, and stimulated the synthesis of cAMP by rat osteosarcoma cells and canine renal membrane preparations. A comparison of the abilities of rPTHLP-(1-141) and bovine PTH-(1-34) to stimulate cAMP synthesis indicated rPTHLP-(1-141) to be 5-fold more potent in the osteosarcoma assay, while nearly 30-fold less active in the renal membrane adenylate cyclase assay. Although 100-fold less potent than bovine PTH-(1-34) in promoting bone resorption, rPTHLP-(1-141) was a potent calcemic factor in vivo, inducing a rise in serum calcium from 10.4 to 14.5 mg/dl when infused into rats at 1.3 micrograms/h. These results support previous assumptions that PTHLP is the humoral factor responsible for humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. In addition, they suggest substantial differences between PTHLP and PTH in the regulation of calcium homeostasis.

Adenylate cyclase-stimulating, bone-resorbing and B TGF-like activities in canine apocrine cell adenocarcinoma of the anal sac

Canine apocrine cell adenocarcinoma of the anal sac (APO-AS) is a spontaneously occurring tumor that causes humorally mediated hypercalcemia in 90% of cases. To further define the nature of the responsible mediator in APO-AS, we examined tumor extracts from five APO-AS and four control tumors for adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity (ACSA). All extracts from APO-AS contained potent ACSA, whereas the four control tumors did not. The ACSA extracted from one tumor demonstrated a dose response curve parallel to that of synthetic bovinePTH-(1-34) and was 80% inhibited by Nle8,18,Tyr34 bPTH-(3-34)amide at a concentration of 10(-5) M. Extracts from three APO-AS and three control tumors were also examined for in vitro bone-resorbing activity (BRA). All APO-AS contained significant BRA, stimulating resorption 1.47 to 2.13-fold over basal, whereas none of the control tumors stimulated resorption. Purification of one extract using C18 reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) resulted in a single sharp peak of ACSA which was 400-fold purified compared with the initial extract. This pool also contained significant bone-resorbing activity, whereas none of the adjacent pools did. Purification of a second extract using sequential CN and C18 RP-HPLC followed by size exclusion HPLC resulted in material that was at least 10,000-fold purified, and showed co-purification of ACSA and B TGF-like activity.

Synthetic human parathyroid hormone-like protein stimulates bone resorption and causes hypercalcemia in rats

Parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating proteins (hACSPs) have been implicated as one of the calcemic, bone-resorbing agents in patients with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. We report the synthesis of an amino-terminal hACSP fragment, Tyr36 hACSP (1-36) amide. The synthetic hACSP is a potent agonist of renal membrane adenylate cyclase (Km, 1.7 X 10(-10)) and of bone cell adenylate cyclase (Km 1 X 10(-9)M). It is a potent bone-resorbing agent in vitro, stimulating 45Ca release from fetal rat long bones at a concentration of 10(-9) M. When infused via osmotic minipumps into rats, it is also a potent calcemic factor in vivo, inducing a rise in serum calcium from (mean +/- SD) 10.6 +/- 0.6 to 19.7 +/- 3.2 mg/dl when infused at 1.4 micrograms/h and from 9.9 +/- 0.7 to 11.4 +/- 1.2 mg/dl when infused at 0.14 micrograms/h. These findings indicate that biologically active hACSP fragments can be synthesized. One such synthetic peptide possesses the in vitro and in vivo bioactivities demonstrated in native, tumor-derived hACSPs. It is also a potent calcemic, bone-resorbing agent.

Two forms of parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein derived from tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

Tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) contain parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating proteins (hACSPs). We previously purified a 17,000 MW hACSP from an HHM-associated breast carcinoma. This report describes the characterization of hACSPs from three additional HHM-associated tumors: two typical HHM-associated tumors (squamous carcinomas) and a third unusual tumor type (pheochromocytoma). Each tumor was extracted in acid-urea/ethanol-sodium chloride, and adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity (ACSA) was examined following reverse-phase and size-exclusion HPLC and isoelectric focusing. Each tumor contained a high molecular weight form of ACSA which co-eluted with the 17,000 molecular weight breast carcinoma hACSP in each of the three separation procedures. Each also contained a lower molecular weight form(s) of ACSA (6,000-9,000 molecular weight). Both forms were inhibited by Nle8,18Tyr34bPTH(3-34) amide. The high molecular weight form was not changed to the lower molecular weight form by a reducing agent. Some HHM-associated tumors contain two forms of hACSP, one with a molecular weight of 17,000 and another with a molecular weight of 6,000-9,000, which appears to be an amino-terminal cleavage product of the larger protein.

A factor present in fetal calf serum enhances oncogene-induced transformation of rodent fibroblasts

Our previous studies indicated that addition of the tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or teleocidin to Dulbecco modified Eagle medium supplemented with calf serum enhanced T24-induced focus formation in both the murine C3H 10T1/2 and rat 6 embryo fibroblast cell lines. In the present studies we have found that fetal calf serum (FCS) is more potent than 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in enhancing T24-induced focus formation, in terms of the number and size of the foci, in both C3H 10T1/2 and rat 6 cells. Time course studies indicate that FCS can exert this enhancing effect when it is added several days after the transfection with T24 DNA. In rat 6 cells, an 11-fold increase in T24-induced focus formation occurred when the transfected cultures were maintained for only 1 day in 5% FCS, starting 4 days after the transfection. Several known growth factors, including epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factors alpha and beta, insulin, and platelet-derived growth factor, did not enhance T24-induced transformation in these cell systems. Fractionation studies indicate that the factor present in FCS has a molecular weight of about 1,300, is not lipid soluble, and is acid, base, and heat stable. These findings suggest that a factor(s) normally present in serum may enhance the emergence of tumor cells in vivo, by acting in concert with an activated oncogene, during the multistage carcinogenic process.

N-terminal amino acid sequence of two novel tumor-derived adenylate cyclase-stimulating proteins: identification of parathyroid hormone-like and parathyroid hormone-unlike domains

A 17,000 dalton human adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein has previously been purified from a human tumor associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. This report describes the purification of a related 7,000-9,000 MW protein from a second tumor, and provides N-terminal amino acid sequence of these two peptides. The sequences of the peptides are identical, defining the smaller peptide as an N-terminal portion of the larger peptide. The two peptides possess one region of strong homology with parathyroid hormone and a second divergent region. These structural similarities and differences may explain the similarities and differences which occur in patients with hyperparathyroidism and humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Identification of a novel 17,000-dalton parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein from a tumor associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy is a common paraneoplastic syndrome which is characterized by hypercalcemia resulting from secretion by tumors of a circulating bone-resorbing factor. Evidence suggests that in many instances this factor is an adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein which shares features with, but is distinct from, parathyroid hormone (PTH). The current report describes the purification to homogeneity from a humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy-associated tumor of a novel, basic, highly potent PTH-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein. This factor differs from previously described PTH-like factors with respect to size, amino acid composition, and specific activity.

The relative potency of a human tumor-derived PTH-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating preparation in three bioassays

Three bioassays are widely employed for the measurement of PTH-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating factors (ACSFs) derived from tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. These include renal cortical adenylate cyclase (RAC) assays, rat osteosarcoma (ROS) adenylate cyclase assays, and fetal bone resorption (FBR) assays. A previous study has suggested that the potency of one human tumor-derived ACSF, expressed in PTH equivalents, was 30-fold higher in the ROS assay than in the RAC assay, but no study has directly compared all three bioassays using a single PTH standard and a single ACSF preparation. We compared one partially purified ACSF preparation to a single lot of bPTH 1-34 in all three bioassays. The results indicate that the relative potency of this ACSF as compared to the PTH standard varied with the assay employed, with the ROS assay yielding a specific activity estimate 47.5-fold higher than the RAC, and the FBR 6.7-fold higher than the RAC but 7.1-fold lower than the ROS. These findings support the possibility that distinct subpopulations of PTH receptors exist on different PTH target tissues. Further, they underscore the importance of bioassay choice when estimating the specific activity of tumor-derived ACSF preparations.

Frequency and partial characterization of adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity in tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy

Parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity (ACSA) has previously been identified in small numbers of tumors or tumor-conditioned tissue culture medium derived from patients or animals with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM). We examined the frequency with which this ACSA occurred in a large group of tumor extracts derived from patients with HHM (n = 20), and compared this to three control groups: normocalcemia-associated tumors (n = 20), hypercalcemic control tumors (n = 7), and normal, nonmalignant tissue samples (n = 10). Eighteen of 20 HHM-associated tumor extracts displayed ACSA whereas only 4 of 37 controls contained detectable ACSA. ACSA in one tumor was partially purified, using sequential extraction steps and reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography. Highly purified ACSA (4800-fold) also contained potent in vitro bone-resorbing activity. The molecular weight as assessed by gel filtration was approximately 40,000 D. These findings provide strong support for the thesis that the humoral factor which is responsible for the syndrome of HHM is a parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein.

Oncogene-induced transformation of a rat embryo fibroblast cell line is enhanced by tumor promoters

Rat embryo fibroblast cell line 6 was transfected with plasmid pT24, which contains the activated human bladder c-Ha-ras oncogene, and the cells were grown continuously in the absence or presence of the tumor promoters 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or teleocidin. The presence of TPA or teleocidin led to a 6- to 14-fold increase in the number of morphologically transformed foci. No transformed foci were seen when rat 6 cells were transfected with the normal c-Ha-ras oncogene in the absence or presence of TPA, or in cells simply treated with TPA or teleocidin. Enhancement of pT24-induced foci was seen even when the addition of TPA was delayed until day 16. In transfection studies with the drug resistance genes gpt and neo, TPA and teleocidin did not increase the number of Gpt+ or Neo+ colonies. When rat 6 cells were cotransfected with pT24 and neo genes and grown in the absence or presence of TPA, the presence of TPA did not increase the yield of Neo+ colonies but caused a fivefold increase in the number of Neo+ colonies that displayed a transformed morphology. Southern blot analyses of DNAs obtained from these clones indicated that TPA treatment did not influence the extent of integration of either the pT24 or neo gene. DNA samples from all of the morphologically transformed cells displayed a characteristic 2-kilobase SacI fragment homologous to pT24 DNA and expressed relatively high levels of the corresponding mRNA. Our findings indicate that in this system tumor promoters do not simply enhanced the process of DNA transfection per se. Thus, this model system may be useful for analyzing synergistic interactions between tumor promoters and activated oncogenes during multistage carcinogenesis. It may also serve as a simple screening test for detecting new tumor promoters.

Monoclonal versus polyclonal antibody radioimmunoassay against the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin in patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

The level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in series of sera from eight patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia was measured by monoclonal antibody and polyclonal antibody radioimmunoassay. A comparative analysis was performed. Three commercially available monoclonal anti-beta-subunit of hCG (beta-hCG) antibodies were evaluated and the most specific and sensitive one was chosen to develop a quantitative beta-hCG radioimmunoassay. beta-hCG radioimmunoassay kits from Nuclear Medical Systems, Inc., and Clinical Assays served as polyclonal antibody assays. Results obtained with the monoclonal antibody radioimmunoassays demonstrated a high degree of correlation (r greater than 0.95, p less than 0.01) with those obtained by the polyclonal antibody techniques; however, the sera from one patient continuously demonstrated a low level of hCG in the monoclonal antibody radioimmunoassay while registering undetectable levels in the polyclonal antibody assays. Although the monoclonal antibody radioimmunoassay appears to be specific and fairly sensitive, the results indicate that, with current technology, there is no special advantage to employing this assay to measure hCG in patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Tamoxifen and 5-fluorouracil in breast cancer: cytotoxic synergism in vitro

The cytokinetic and cytotoxic interactions involved in combining tamoxifen, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil were studied in two hormone-dependent human breast cancer cell lines, 47-DN and MCF-7. These cells had measurable cytosol and nuclear estrogen receptor and cytosol progesterone receptor. Growth of the MCF-7 cells in medium containing gelding serum was stimulated maximally by addition of 10 pM estradiol. Both MCF-7 and 47-DN cells showed dose-dependent in vitro growth inhibition on exposure to tamoxifen, and toxicity from tamoxifen at concentrations up to 10 microM could be prevented by 1 nM estradiol. After exposure of 47-DN cells to 10 microM tamoxifen, cytosol progesterone and nuclear estrogen receptor levels were still detectable at 30 and 60% of control values. With this same concentration of tamoxifen, 47-DN cells in S phase declined 50% in association with a buildup of G0-1 cells. By clonogenic assay, tamoxifen enhanced 47-DN and MCF-7 cytotoxicity to 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluorouridine, but not to methotrexate alone. When given either concurrently or using a pretreatment-synchronizing schedule, tamoxifen enhanced markedly the growth inhibition of sequentially combined methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil. Isobologram analysis was used to prove that the cytotoxic interaction between tamoxifen and 5-fluorouracil was synergistic.

Cytotoxic activity of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine in cultured human tumors

The cytotoxic activity of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-ddFUrd) was established in six cultured human tumor lines: 47-DN and MCF-7 breast carcinomas, MG-63 osteosarcoma, HCT-8 colon carcinoma, Colo-357 pancreatic carcinoma, and HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia. Cells were exposed to a wide range of 5'-dFUrd concentrations (from 0.1 microM to 1.0 mM) for 3, 6, or 24 hrs, and then cloned using standard in vitro clonogenic assays. 5'-dFUrd exhibited its best activity in the 47-DN and MCF-7 breast cell lines and in the MG-63 osteosarcoma line (3-hr LD50 values of 32, 34, and 38 microM, respectively). Less activity was observed in the HCT-8 colon (LD50 = 195 microM) and Colo-357 pancreatic (LD50 = 155 microM) tumor lines, and ver poor activity was noted in the HL-60 leukemia cell line (LD50 = 465 microM). The metabolism of 5'-dFUrd to 5-FU (FUra) and FUra-nucleotides was determined and found to directly correlate with the potency of 5'-FUrd in these cell lines. These results suggest that: (a) there is a marked variation in sensitivity of human cancer cells of different tissue origin to 5'-dFUrd, (b) there is a direct relationship between the sensitivity of human cells to 5'-dFUrd and the ability of the cell to metabolize 5'-dFUrd to FUra, and (c) increasing exposure period of cells to 5'-dFUrd did not markedly alter 5'-dFUrd potency in all human cancer cells examined, with the exception of the 47-DN breast cancer cells.

False positive pregnancy tests in systemic lupus erythematosus

False positive, 'atypical ring' pregnancy tests were identified in 14 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. The abnormality was associated with heavy proteinuria in 8 patients, menopause or drug-induced amenorrhea in 4 patients, and actual pregnancy in one patient. Serum levels of human chorionic gonadotropin were normal in 13 patients and elevated in the single patient with a true pregnancy.

[Prostaglandin and luteinized unruptured follicles: the follicles of gilts treated with the inhibitors of prostaglandin production (author's transl)]

The inhibitors of prostaglandin (PG) production (indomethacin, etc.) block ovulation. But little is known about how the inhibition of PG production effects cell function in the follicle. This study was done to clarify the morphological changes and steroidogenesis in the follicles treated with the inhibitor. Fifteen gilts treated with PMS and hCG were administered with indomethacin of 7.6 mg/kg (enough for a complete block) 24 hrs. after hCG. The morphological study of the follicles was done by serial section. The levels of estradiol-17 beta, testosterone, 17 alpha OH progesterone and progesterone were estimated by RIA in the follicular fluid, ovarian vein and peripheral blood. A histologic section of the treated follicles revealed the presence of entrapped oocytes surrounded by heavily luteinized granulosa-theca cells. No morphological changes were found in the luteal cells at any stage of the luteal phase except for retention of fluid in the central cavity of the corpus luteum. The life span of the corpus luteum (18 days) was not affected by indomethacin. No differences in steroid levels were detected in the peripheral and ovarian vein blood or in the follicular fluid at any time compared with the control. Inhibition of PG production results in the luteinized unruptured follicle without interference with steroidogenesis.

Inhibition of superovulation in immature female rats by the antiserum to cyclooxygenase

In order to investigate involvement of prostaglandins (PGs) in ovulation, we examined whether the antiserum to cyclooxygenase was able to inhibit superovulation in immature female rats as indomethacin did. The antiserum to cyclooxygenase was raised in rabbits using as antigen the solubilized cyclooxygenase extracted and purified from bovine seminal vesicles. The in vivo administration of the antiserum inhibited superovulation in female rats dose-dependently at doses of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 ml but did not affect production of progesterone. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase in the follicular cells due to the antiserum causing no effect on steroidogenesis was observed in organ cultures of the follicles excised from rats primed with PMS-hCG and the antiserum. In contrast to this, no inhibition of cyclooxygenase was detected upon adding the antiserum to the culture medium. The present study showed PG is as indispensable a factor in ovulation as are the steroids.

In vitro production of prostaglandins E, F, and 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha by human pregnant uterus, decidua and amnion

The production of prostaglandins (PGs) E and F and 6-keto PGF1 alpha was investigated by using human decidua, amnion, and pregnant myometrium obtained before and after onset of labor, and human nonpregnant myometrium collected during luteal phase. PGs produced were measured by radioimmunoassay developed in our laboratory. The radioimmunoassay for 6-keto PGF1 alpha is specific and accurate. PGE was formed at an almost constant rate regardless of the condition under which the three tissues tested were obtained, with the amnion showing the highest activity compared with decidua and myometrium. PGF production increased remarkably during labor in the myometrium and decidua but not in the amnion. In the myometrium during labor, PGF levels were three times higher than before labor. The pregnant myometrium produced more PGs than the nonpregnant myometrium. The production of 6-keto PGI1 alpha, a stable, non-enzymatically formed derivative of PGI2, was observed to be much higher in the pregnant myometrium than in decidua, amnion, or nonpregnant myometrium. Contrary to the pattern of PGF production, 6-keto PGF1 alpha was lower during labor. The physiological significance of PG production by decidua, amnion, and myometrium in relation to parturition is discussed.

[Significance of prostaglandins (PGs) in ovulation (author's transl)]

In order to investigate involvement of prostaglandins (PGs) in ovulation, it was examined whether inhibitors of cyclooxygenase, such as indomethacin and mefenamic acid, and the antiserum to cyclooxygenase were able to inhibit superovulation in immature female rats and gilts. Indomethacin and mefenamic acid were dose-dependently effective in inhibition of superovulation in the two animals. The antiserum to cyclooxygenase was raised in rabbits using the solubilized cyclooxygenase extracted and purified from bovine seminal vesicle as antigen. The in vivo administration of the antiserum inhibited superovulation in female rats dose-dependently at the doses of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 ml but did not influence production of progesterone. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase in the follicular cells by the antiserum with no effect on steroidogenesis was observed in organ culture of the follicles excised from the rats primed with PMS and the antiserum. On the contrary, no inhibition of cyclooxygenase was detected in case of the addition of the antiserum to the culture medium. The present study showed PG is one of the indispensable factors in ovulation as steroids are.