Transplantable argyrophilic gastric carcinoid of Mastomys natalensis secreting both histamine and serotonin

A transplantable strain of gastric carcinoids of Mastomys (Praomys) natalensis secreted not only histamine but also serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)]. Mastomys bearing growing transplants excreted 11.3 times more histamine and 4.4 times more 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) in the urine than did Mastomys in which transplanted tumors did not grow. Mastomys that developed primary gastric carcinoids also excreted 3.9 times more histamine than did those free from primary tumors, but the difference in urinary excretion of 5-HIAA was not significant in both groups. All transplantable carcinoids contained definite amounts of both histamine and serotonin, whereas the primary gastric carcinoids contained only histamine. We also confirmed that the histamine and 5-HIAA excreted in urine increased as the size of transplanted tumors enlarged. 5-HT was histochemically demonstrated in a small number of carcinoid cells of the transplanted tumors but not in primary carcinoids.

Effect of timiperone on 3H-spiroperidol binding to rat striatal dopamine receptors

The effects of timiperone, its metabolites and related compounds on specific 3H-spiroperidol binding to dopamine receptors in the rat corpus striatum were studied to clarify the affinity of timiperone, a new butyrophenone, for the receptors and whether timiperone itself was active in vivo. Timiperone had an approx. 0.6, 5 and 30 times greater affinity for the receptors than did spiroperidol, haloperidol and chlorpromazine, respectively. This affinity was observed specifically for antipsychotic drugs but not for diazepam and trihexyphenidyl. Timiperone metabolites had little or no affinity for the receptors. Radioreceptor assay values agreed well with the radiochemical assay for timiperone in the plasma and brain of rats after i.v. injection of the 14C-labeled drug. Thus, it is conceivable that timiperone itself exerts its potent antipsychotic activity by blockade of cerebral dopamine receptors.

An ascites form of human mammary carcinoma transplantable in nude mice

Mammary carcinoma cells from pleural effusion of a patient were inoculated into the peritoneal cavity of nude mice, and a large amount of ascites was produced about 120 days later. From the ascites, serial passages in the same form were successful in nude mice by intraperitoneal injection of 10(7) or more cells. The ascites cells retained the morphology almost similar to that of the patient tumor cells, whereas specific estrogen-binding proteins in the cytoplasm disappeared after growing in male nude mice. The results were compared with those of other established human cancer cell lines in nude mice.

Heterotransplantation of human stomach carcinoma in nude mice

Thirty-five primary tumors and 14 metastatic lymph nodes from stomach cancer patients were transplanted in nude mice. Successful transplantation was obtained in 16 cases of primary tumors and 5 cases of metastatic lymph nodes. The tumors growing in the nude mouse displayed histological features similar to those of the original human tumors. Eight cases of the successful takes have been maintained by consecutive transplantation. Nine cases have been stored in liquid nitrogen. The transplanted tumors were observed to spread to the distant lymph nodes in 3 cases out of the 17 successive transplants.

Dependency of transcoronary circulatory transport function on coronary perfusion pressure and flow

Transcoronary circulatory transport function was computed from the dye-dilution curves recorded simultaneously at the entrance (aortic root) and exit (coronary sinus) of the coronary circulation after the injection of dye bolus into the femoral vein in open-chest dog. The effect of coronary perfusion pressure and flow on the first (delta-t) and second (deltapi2) moments of the transport function was examined before and during intra-aortic angiotensin infusion. It was observed that the relative dispersion (deltapi2 1/2/delta-t) in the canine coronary circulation is the largest among the organ-circulations that have been examined by the investigators, suggesting that cardiac wall is highly heterogeneously perfused, and that the relative dispersion was variable depending on the coronary perfusion pressure and flow. It is concluded that sole measurement of the moment of transcoronary transport function such as -t cannot be a reliable indicator of the coronary circulatory disturbances. The underlying mechanisms for the dependency of the relative dispersion on the perfusion was discussed.

Properties of amylase-linked immunoglobulins

In this report, the properties of eight cases of amylase-linked immunoglobulins were gel filtration using Sephadex G-200 superfine. The class of heavy chain of amylase-linked immunoglobulins was proved to be gamma in four cases and alpha in three cases by immunoelectrophoresis followed by amylase activity staining. In one of the cases, the precipitin line against light chain lambda could be visualized only after treatment with 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol. Then, the type of light chain was determined to be exclusively lambda irrespective of heavy chain classes. In two cases, the immunoglobulin complexes were partially dissociated into normal amylase and immunoglobulin G at pH 8.6, and completely dissociated at pH 9.0. In three cases, the complexes were completely dissociated at pH 8.6. The precipitin line of papain treated amylase-linked immunoglobulin G against anti-Fc was not. This fact suggests that the binding site of amylase-linked immunoglobulins G was located in the Fab portion of immunoglobulin molecule and that the complexes are specific antigen-antibody complexes. Treatment with Con-A Sepharose caused the dissociation of the amylase-immunoglobulin complexes. It is suggested that the changes in the conformation of amylase-linked immunoglobulin causes the dissociation of this immuno-complex. Thus, it is elucidated that the complexes of amylase and immunoglobulins are specific antigen-antibody complexes, and that these complexes must be recognized as one of the circulating autoantibodies in plasma, and must be clearly distinguished from the other unknown macromolecular amylase complexes.

Properties of the amylase produced in carcinoma of the lung

The properties of the amylase produced by carcinoma of the lung were studied. The abnormal amylase recognized in the serum of a patient with carcinoma of the lung had a mobility with beta-position and showed reduced migration to the cathodic side after neuraminidase digestion. This abnormal amylase had a close affinity for Concanavalin A and this affinity was not retarded by the neuraminidase digestion. However, the purified, tumor-extracted, amylase from the same patient had the same electrophoretic migration as normal human salivary amylase and was not affected by neuraminidase treatment. The abnormal affinity for Concanavalin A was not observed in this purified tumor-extracted amylase. It is suggested that some transglycosidation steps are needed for the appearance of the abnormal amylase in the patient's serum, and that the terminal sialic acid is independent of the affinity for Concanavalin A. The dissociation constants of the tumor amylase for several substrates were smaller than those of normal pancreatic or salivary amylases. Moreover, maltotriose had no affinity for the tumor-extracted amylase and it was not digested to maltose and glucose by the purified tumor extracted amylase. These differences in the kinetic properties and in the mode of digestion were of interest in the study of tumor-produced amylases.

Graphic analysis of osmotic fragility of erythrocytes

A precise and highly reproducible method for analyzing the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes with a minute amount of blood (less than 10 mul) is described. The osmotic fragility curves are recorded with a coil planet centrifuge with accessories and a scanning photodensitometer. The recorded curves are transcribed by a DuPont Curve Resolver and their components are analyzed. Normal fragility curves obtained from healthy adults revealed slightly skewed Gaussian curves and they were resolved into several typical Gaussian components which differed according to the physical and clinical conditions of subjects. Each resolved component is supposed to correspond to the population of erythrocytes having a nearly identical osmotic fragility. The method is proved to be useful for the detection of altered membrane properties of erythrocytes in various diseases.

Characteristics of changes in the intracellular potential associated with transport of neutral, dibasic and acidic amino acids in Triturus proximal tubule

(1)Introduction of L-alanine and L-lysine into the lumen of the proximal tubule of Triturus kidney evoked an immediate and sustained depolarization of the peritubular membrane potential (Epm) and a small increase in the transtubular potential (Ett). L-Aspartate had no effect. (2) The alanine-induced depolarization was absolutely dependent on the presence of Na+, whereas the lysine-induced one was partially dependent on Na+. In the absence of Na+, alanine usually evoked a transient hyperpolarization of the Epm, while lysine evoked a diffusion potential-like PD change. (3) Addition of alanine or lysine to the peritubular fluid did not cause any immediate change in the Epm, but the cells depolarized with a marked time delay. The delayed depolarization could be ascribed to the entrance of amino acids into the lumen through the nephrostromes and the paracellular pathways. (4) Cellular uptake of alanine and lysine was partially dependent on Na+, while that of aspartate was completely dependent on Na+. (5) Characteristics of the observed electrical events were explained in terms of the differences in the charge transfer associated with transport of these amino acids across the luminal membrane.

Studies on triglyceride lipases from rat adipose tissue

A new assay procedure for triglyceride lipase [EC 3.1.1.3] was developed in which radioactive triolein was dissolved in ethanol and directly added to the reaction mixture in the absence of serum and albumin. In the rat adipose tissue there appeared to be a triglyceride lipase measurable with this assay in addition to the two previously defined lipases, lipoprotein lipase [EC 3.1.1.34] and hormone-sensitive lipase. The enzyme was active in the absence of serum and was strongly inhibited by albumin. The molecular weight was estimated to be about 42,000. Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase [EC 2.7.1.27] was unable to activate the enzyme. The three species of lipases mentioned above behaved differently upon chromatography on a Sepharose 4B column, and were distinguishable from each other in their physical and kinetic properties. The physiological roles of the new species of lipase remain to be explored.

Syntheses of estetrol monoglucuronides

Four possible monoglucuronides of estetrol (estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,15 alpha, 16 alpha, 17 beta-tetraol) have been prepared from appropriately protected estetrol by the Koenigs-Knorr reaction employing cadmium carbonate as a catalyst. Condensation of methyl acetobromoglucuronate with estetrol 15,16,17-triacetate provided the 3-glucuronide acetate-methyl ester in a satisfactory yield. Introduction of the glucuronyl residue into C-17 was similarly attained by the use of estetrol 3-benzoate 15,16-acetonide. When estetrol 3,17-diacetate and acetobromosugar were stirred in anhydrous toluene in the presence of cadmium salt, the reaction occurred at C-16 and C-15 yielding two isomeric monoglucuronide derivatives in a ratio of ca. 5 to 2. Removal of the protecting groups in the four glucuronide acetate-methyl esters gave the desired estetrol glucuronides, respectively. These synthetic substrates underwent readily enzymatic hydrolysis with beef-liver beta-glucuronidase to afford estetrol.

Sialic acid containing abnormal amylases in human sera

The properties of abnormal amylases with unusually fast electrophortetic mobility from five patients were studied. These abnormal amulases showed markedly reduced electrophoretic migration to the cathodic side by digestion with neuraminidase. It was suggested that these five abnormal amylases contained sialic acid in their molecules, and the increased electrophorectic mobility resulted from sialic acid, which is not present in normal human amylases.