Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy as an induction therapy in multidisciplinary treatment for locally advanced breast cancer. A long-term follow-up study

A multidisciplinary treatment including intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy as an induction therapy was administered to 55 patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Intra-arterial chemotherapy conducted preoperatively produced marked responses in primary and lymph node lesions with 78% complete + partial response (CR + PR), subsequently permitting extended radical mastectomy. Histologic examination of resected specimens also revealed that 33% of the patients had no viable cancer cells remaining in their lesions. Five-year and 10-year survival rates were 57% and 41%, respectively, compared with 24% and 18%, respectively for the 17 patients of historic control. Patients showing better local responses to intra-arterial chemotherapy had longer survival time with less frequent local recurrences. Intra-arterial chemotherapy is an effective modality for the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer.

Immunohistochemical localization of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase in adult bovine cerebrum and cerebellum

We have previously shown that 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP; EC 3.1.4.37) in rat central nervous tissues can be immunohistochemically stained with anti-bovine CNP serum. However, the anti-bovine CNP serum prepared in our laboratory has only weak cross-reactivity with rat CNP. Sections of bovine nervous tissues were found to be stained effectively with the serum, and the localization of CNP has been revealed in greater detail. We describe here the immunohistochemical localization of CNP in adult bovine cerebrum and cerebellum. CNP stained was localized in myelin sheaths, oligodendrocytes, and the processes of oligodendrocytes; astrocytes and neurons were negative. All myelinated nerve fibers appeared to be stained with the anti-CNP serum. Perineuronal and perivascular oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocytes extending their processes to isolated myelin fibers were stained. Interfascicular oligodendrocytes, however, did not react or reacted faintly to the anti-CNP serum; only their processes were reactive. Comparison with the stain for S-100 protein was helpful to distinguish oligodendrocytes from astrocytes particularly when both glial cells were situated together at the perineuronal and perivascular positions.

[Preoperative chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer]

Preoperative chemotherapy was initiated for breast cancer in an effort to decrease the number of viable cancer cells that were released into the blood stream during surgical procedure. This possibility was substantiated by several observations made in animal experiments and clinical studies. Preoperative chemotherapy was also given to render the advanced disease amenable to surgical intervention. In one report, systemic chemotherapy (CAF) for advanced breast cancer produced a response rate of 86% preoperatively, facilitating subsequent mastectomy and a postoperative 5-year survival rate of 52%. However no definite conclusion has yet been obtained as to the prognostic significance of systemic chemotherapy give preoperatively, and further comparative studies are therefore required. Preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy as an induction therapy was administered to patients with locally advanced breast cancer including inflammatory breast cancer, the treatment developed in Japan. In our institute, intra-arterial chemotherapy with ADR or MMC plus 5-FU resulted in a marked decrease in the size of primary and lymph node lesions with 82% CR + PR. Histological examination of resected specimens also revealed that 35% of the patients had no viable cancer cells remaining in their lesions. Five-year and 10-year survival rates were 57% and 41%, respectively, compared with 24% and 18%, respectively for historical controls. Patients showing better local responses to intra-arterial chemotherapy had longer survival time with less frequent local recurrences. Some other studies also indicated improved survival in locally advanced breast cancer as a result of preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy. Preoperative chemotherapy including systemic administration is a promising modality for advanced breast cancer.

Generation of mouse oocyte monoclonal isoantibodies: their effects and those of antisperm monoclonal antibodies on in vitro fertilization

Monoclonal isoantibodies to mouse oocyte antigens were generated by modified hybridoma techniques similar to those described for mouse sperm monoclonals. Following isoimmunization with mouse oocytes and cell fusion, hybrid cells were cultured initially in a semi-solid medium containing methylcellulose. Seven to ten days after cell fusion about 350 hybrid clones were recovered for subculture. By an indirect immunofluorescence assay using frozen or fresh mouse oocytes, twenty hybridomas were shown to produce antibodies that bind to various oocyte components including antigens of the zona pellucida. However, they did not cross-react with mouse spermatozoa or lymphocytes. A system was established to evaluate whether monoclonal antibodies to gamete-specific antigens have any inhibitory effects on the fertilization of mouse oocytes in vitro. A monoclonal antibody against zona antigen(s), ME 56, was shown to block fertilization of mouse oocytes via the inhibition of sperm binding to the zona pellucida. On the other hand, three out of four antibodies reacting with mouse sperm acrosomes were also inhibitory to mouse in vitro fertilization, perhaps mainly due to the inhibition of sperm acrosomal reactions. Using a sodium dodecylsulfate gel/protein blot radioimmunobinding method, the molecular weight of zona antigen(s) that react with ME 56 was determined to be in the range of 95,000, whereas that of the acrosomal antigen(s) reacting with the fertilization-inhibiting antibody, MS 207, was about 30.000. The results of this preliminary study suggest that monoclonal antibodies to certain gamete antigens can be a valuable tool for the analysis of sperm-egg interactions during the fertilization processes.

Tissue calmodulin levels in normal and Graves' thyroids

Calmodulin levels in normal human thyroids and Graves' disease thyroids were measured by specific radioimmunoassay in the presence of ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). The calmodulin levels in tissues from patients with Graves' disease treated with thionamide drugs were significantly higher than those in normal tissues from euthyroid patients with solitary cold nodules (normal: 484 +/- 50 ng/mg protein, mean +/- SE, n = 15; Graves': 901 +/- 54 ng/mg protein, n = 48, p less than 0.001). Such a rise in calmodulin levels in Graves' disease thyroids was also present even after the administration of 50 micrograms of T3 for 5 days before operation (828 +/- 137 ng/mg protein, n = 6, p less than 0.01). Calmodulin levels in Graves' disease thyroids were closely related to the cell height of follicular epithelium. Calmodulin levels in a columnar cell predominant group were significantly higher than those in a flat cell predominant or a cuboidal cell predominant group (columnar cell predominant: 1150 +/- 118 ng/mg protein, n = 13; flat cell predominant: 561 +/- 125 ng/mg protein, n = 3, p less than 0.05; cuboidal cell predominant: 596 +/- 40 ng/mg protein, n = 25, p less than 0.001). The increase in calmodulin content in Graves' disease thyroid could therefore possibly be attributed to the stimulation of the thyroid gland by the thyroid stimulating antibody. An immunofluorescence study demonstrated the presence of calmodulin immunoreactivity in the thyroid epithelial cells, particularly enriched in the apical border in the form of a granulated structure.

Estrogen induces secretary proteins in transformed mouse Leydig cell in vivo, but not in vitro

The estrogen-induced proteins were analyzed in one of estrogen responsive mouse Leydig tumors. The incubation of cells freshly prepared from solid tumors with [35S] methionine resulted in the demonstration of estrogen-induced secretary protein with a molecular weight of 34,000. The additional minor estrogen-induced secretary protein (36,000) was also identified. An exposure of these cells to the culture condition for 48 hr caused the loss of their ability to synthesize these secretary proteins even in the presence of estrogen. In contrast, minced tumor tissue was observed to sustain the ability to synthesize these proteins at least for 48 hr. These results would suggest that some cellular arrangement is required for the synthesis of estrogen-induced proteins.

Effects of tamoxifen on estrogen-induced enhancement or inhibition of tumor growth in mouse Leydig cell tumor lines

In order to avoid the complex dual effects of estrogen and antiestrogen, the attempt was made to establish the tumor lines in which estrogens show either stimulatory or inhibitory property in terms of the tumor growth. The administration of estrogen to host mice bearing one of the mouse Leydig cell tumor lines, called T 124958-R, resulted in marked enhancement of the tumor growth even at pharmacological levels of estrogen. On the other hand, estrogenization of host mice almost completely inhibited the growth of the other tumor line (T 22137) without detectable stimulatory effects. The physiocochemical properties of the cytosol estrogen receptor in both sublines were found to be similar in relation to the affinity toward ligands, steroid specificity, sedimentation profile, and the dissociation rate kinetics. Using these tumor lines, the action mechanism of tamoxifen on the tumor growth was examined. Daily administration of this compound (30 micrograms/mouse) led to enhanced tumor growth in T 124958-R, while the growth of T 22137 was inhibited by the same procedure. In the combination experiments, tamoxifen was found to be unable to antagonize estrogen-induced enhancement or inhibition of the growth in these tumors. In addition, both tumors contained similar levels of the antiestrogen binding sites. These results suggest that tamoxifen modulated the tumor growth through its estrogenic potency.

[The effect of Chinese drug therapy on the patients with male infertility. 1. Concomitant administration of ninjinto and hachimijiogan on patients with male infertility]

Ten patients (age range, 28 to 36 years with a mean of 32.3 years) with male infertility were orally given Ninjinto and Hachimijiogan concomitantly at a daily dose of 7.5 g each for 96 to 182 days (mean 116.8 days). Ten percent of these patients showed remarkable improvement in their volume of semen, 10% showed improvement and 80.0% showed no improvement. Thirty percent of these patients showed remarkable improvement in the number of sperm, 10.0% showed improvement, and 60.0% showed no improvement. Twenty percent of these patients showed remarkable improvement in their sperm mobility, 30.0% showed improvement and 50.0% showed no improvement. The fertility index was improved markedly in 60.0%, improved in 20.0% and not improved in 20.0%. The spouses of 2 patients became pregnant. Side effects were seen in only 30.0% (epigastralgia) of these patients. Laboratory examination of these patients revealed no significant change. These results suggested that concomitant administration of Ninjinto and Hachimijiogan is effective on patients with male infertility.

Abnormal calcium metabolism in hemodialyzed patients with diabetic nephropathy

Calcium metabolism was studied in hemodialyzed patients with diabetes mellitus nephropathy (HD/DM) and in hemodialyzed nondiabetic patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (HD/non-DM). Incidence of bone changes visible in X-ray films, assessed by changes in the lamina dura and trabecular patterns of mandibulae, was less in HD/DM than in HD/non-DM patients. Serum c-terminal parathyroid hormone was significantly lower in HD/DM than that in HD/non-DM. Serum calcitonin was higher in HD/DM than that in HD/non-DM. The lower level of c-terminal parathyroid hormone would be a reason that bone changes were less in HD/DM than in HD/non-DM patients.

[Effects of angiotensin-induced hypertension on cancer chemotherapy. Application to intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer]

In an attempt to enhance effects of cancer chemotherapy, Angiotensin II (AT), a vasoconstricting catecholamine, was applied to intra-arterial infusion of the drug for advanced breast cancer. Quantitative measurement of tumor blood flow was conducted with scintigraphic techniques (81mKr). Angiotensin II given continuously through the internal thoracic artery induced prompt responses in local blood flow with a decrease in normal breast tissue and a concomitant increase in tumor. Thus, the tumor/control ratio of blood flow with AT rose to 3 times as much as that without AT. In 11 patients receiving adriamycin (ADR) alone intra-arterially, 73% responded clinically with CR or PR in their lesions, while in 11 patients receiving ADR + AT, 91% responded. Histologically, as high as 45% of patients treated with ADR + AT underwent marked regressive change with no viable cancer cells remaining in their lesions, compared to 18% in patients treated with ADR alone. Angiotensin II combined with chemotherapy, therefore proved to enhance the anticancer effect of chemotherapy.

Steroid receptor forms and their interaction with cytoplasmic modulators

The cytoplasmic modulator affecting steroid receptor functions was studied. The diminution in the concentration of the low molecular weight substances in the cytosol caused the increased interaction of hormone-receptor complexes with nuclei (a step termed activation). Furthermore, dialysis of rat uterine cytosol in the absence of estrogens subsequently followed by incubation with isolated nuclei resulted in the demonstration of an appearance of unoccupied nuclear receptor which was found to be 4S form. The addition of the dialyzable compound into rat uterine estrogen receptor system caused the suppression of temperature-dependent activation while the already-activated estrogen receptor was not affected by the small molecules in relation to its nuclear binding ability. These results may indicate that this small molecule, so-called the low molecular weight inhibitor, is capable of interacting with nonactivated receptor. In one of the estrogen-independent Leydig cell tumor lines, unique low-affinity estrogen binder with a mol. wt approximately 36,000 was identified. This binder did not show appreciable nuclear binding ability even after conventional heat activation. However, removal of the small molecules from this cytosol resulted in a marked increase in affinity for estrogens with a concomittant alteration of the mol. wt to approximately 70,000. These changes also paralleled a dramatic enhancement of nuclear binding ability. This small molecule might be different from the low molecular weight inhibitor suppressing receptor activation, since this tumor cytosol containing unique estrogen binder had much less inhibitory activity against receptor activation when compared with those in the other cytosol containing usual estrogen receptor systems. In adult rat urine cytosol, a new modulator was identified to recognize only activated estrogen receptor but not glucocorticoid receptor and to induce receptor aggregation with a concomittant loss of its nuclear binding ability. These reactions were accelerated by the presence of physiological or higher KCl concentration and exposure to a relatively high temperature (20-30 degrees C). Interestingly, this factor was not identified in the immature rat uteri or liver.

Chronic estrogen treatment causes an alteration in uterine estrogen receptor dynamics of rats

Estrogen receptor content and dynamics in the uteri obtained from chronically estrogenized rats were analyzed. 12 day treatment with a subcutaneous implantation of a diethylstilbestrol pellet resulted in maximal stimulation of uteri with regard to wet tissue weight, DNA content, as well as progesterone receptor content without significant alteration of the estrogen receptor level. Estrogen receptor dynamics in just ovariectomized or ovariectomized and diethylstilbestrol-stimulated rats elicited by a single injection of estradiol were next examined using the exchange methods. The cytosol receptor content rapidly declined, with a small and temporary accumulation of the nuclear receptor in the uterus from rats continuously exposed to diethylstilbestrol during the preceding 12 days. A relatively rapid cytosol receptor replenishment was also observed in rats pretreated with diethylstilbestrol. This was accompanied by a rapid decrease in the nuclear receptor level to 70% of the preinjection value at 5 h after estradiol administration. These data are in contrast to findings on uteri of ovariectomized and nonestrogen-treated rats, in which a single injection of estradiol resulted in a prolonged nuclear receptor retention and a delayed cytosol receptor replenishment. Adrenalectomy did not result in a significant change of receptor dynamic patterns, suggesting that adrenal steroids do not play a role in the alteration of receptor dynamics elicited by continuous stimulation with diethylstilbestrol. These observations suggest that a continuous exposure of rat uteri to the estrogen causes an altered regulation of estrogen receptor dynamics by the homologous steroid compared to those in chronically estrogen-deprived rats.

Left-right cortical asymmetries of regional cerebral blood flow during listening to words

1. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured during rest and during listening to simple words. The xenon-133 intracarotid technique was used and results were obtained from 254 regions of seven right hemispheres and seven left hemispheres. The measurements were performed just after carotid angiography, carried out to exclude space occupying lesions. In all subjects the angiogram was normal. All were right handed. 2. Mean hemispheric blood flow of both left and right hemispheres increased 10% from the resting measurement during the listening task. This increase was due in part to activation of the entire hemisphere. The focal rCBF increases were localized to the superior part of the temporal regions, the prefrontal regions, the frontal eye fields, and the orbitofrontal regions. Significant asymmetries were found in particular in the superior temporal region with the left side showing a more widespread and intense increase, averaging 29% as compared to 18% on the right side. This left-sided dominance during verbal stimulation should be compared to the right-sided dominance of rCBF during nonverbal sound discrimination reported by Roland et al. (25, 26), who used precisely the same technique as in the present study.

A modulator which converts activated estrogen receptor to a biologically inactive aggregated form

The in vitro nuclear binding of rat uterine estrogen-receptor complexes has been studied. Heating cytosol from mature rat uterus at 25 C for various times in the presence of 0.15 M KCl resulted in a transient increase in nuclear binding activity, followed by irreversible loss of this activity. The molecular state of these complexes heated at 25 C in the presence of 0.15 M KCl was determined using Sephadex G-200 chromatography and sucrose density centrifugation at high ionic strength (0.4 M KCl). Gel filtration resulted in steroid-binding activity in the void volume. Sucrose density gradient analysis revealed a broad peak, ranging from approximately 5-20S. When cytosol was heated at 25 C in the presence of 10 mM molybdate to block the temperature-induced activation of receptor, nuclear binding ability was easily recovered by dialysis, while heating already activated estrogen receptor in the presence of 0.15 M KCl and 10 mM molybdate caused irreversible loss of nuclear binding ability. When cytosols prepared from immature rats (19-23 days old) were heated at 25 C in the presence of 0.15 M KCl, only a minimum loss of nuclear binding ability was shown. The radioactive peak in a high salt sucrose density gradient appeared almost exclusively in the 5S region. However, the addition of receptor-free mature uterine cytosol to estrogen-receptor complexes from immature rat uterus caused a marked loss of nuclear binding utility, with a resultant receptor aggregation, whereas rat liver cytosol had no effect on this reaction. Furthermore, heating liver glucocorticoid receptor did not cause a loss of nuclear binding ability even in the presence of receptor-free adult rat uterine cytosol. These observations suggest that there is a factor(s) in rat uterus which recognizes only activated estrogen receptor and induces receptor aggregation and a rapid loss of the nuclear binding ability of receptor in a KCl concentration- and temperature-dependent manner. Preliminary characterization indicates that this factor is macromolecular in nature and resistant to RNase and trypsin treatment, but labile at 100 C.

Immunohistochemical localization of 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase in the central nervous system

We describe the immunohistochemical localization for brain 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phospho diesterase (EC 3.1.4.37) by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Myelinated fibre tracts were immunohistochemically stained in 15-day-old rat cerebrum and spinal cord; at high magnification, myelinated nerve fibres and immature glial cells with their processes were shown to be stained.

Chemical, immunological and catalytic properties of 2':3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase purified from brain white matter

The amino acid composition, isoelectric point, specificity of the antibody raised and various catalytic properties were determined for 2':3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.37) purified from bovine brain white matter by a procedure involving solubilization with elastase (EC 3.4.21.11).

Hypothalamic obesity : The autonomic hypothesis and the lateral hypothalamus

Several lines of evidence support the hypothesis that derangements in the function of the autonomic nervous system play an important role in the development of hypothalamic obesity. Vagotomy below the diaphragm reverses the syndrome. In diabetic rats cured of their diabetes with transplants of fetal pancreatic tissue beneath the renal capsule, ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) lesions do not produce the characteristic rise in food intake nor do they significantly increase serum insulin. These observations indicate that the hyperinsulinaemia following VMH lesions is the result of neural connections rather than from a circulating humoral factor released following VMH injury. The smaller salivary glands, reduced level of glucagon and impaired mobilization of fatty acids during stress in VMH lesioned rats point to reduced activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The impaired mobilization of fat from retroperitoneal depots in VMH lesioned rats during fasting is similar to the effect of sympathetic denervation of the retroperitoneal fat pad. Similarly, unilateral sympathectomy caused an increased weight gain in rats almost as much as unilateral VMH lesions but significantly less than in bilaterally lesioned rats. These studies with fasting and feeding implicate the VMH in the control of the sympathetic nervous system. When atropine and epinephrine were given to VMH lesioned rats, there was a significant depression in basal and glucose-stimulated levels of insulin. Finally when VMH lesions were placed after lateral hypothalamic lesions, the effect of the VMH lesions did not seem to be reduced, suggesting that the two effects are independent. A model dealing with the effects of VMH lesions is presented in an attempt to integrate these findings.

Hypothalamic obesity. The autonomic hypothesis and the lateral hypothalamus

Several lines of evidence support the hypothesis that derangements in the function of the autonomic nervous system play an important role in the development of hypothalamic obesity. Vagotomy below the diaphragm, reverses the syndrome. In diabetic rats cured of their diabetes with transplants of fetal pancreatic tissue beneath the renal capsule, ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) lesions do not produce the characteristic rise in food intake nor do they significantly increase serum insulin. These observations indicate that the hyperinsulinaemia following VMH lesions is the result of neural connections rather than from a circulating humoral factor released following VMH injury. The smaller salivary glands, reduced level of glucagon and impaired mobilization of fatty acids during stress in VMH lesioned rats point to reduced activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The impaired mobilization of fat from retroperitoneal depots in VMH lesioned rats during fasting is similar to the effect of sympathetic denervation of the retroperitoneal fat pad. Similarly, unilateral sympathectomy caused an increased weight gain in rats almost as much as unilateral VMH lesions but significantly less than in bilaterally lesioned rats. These studies with fasting and feeding implicate the VMH in the control of the sympathetic nervous system. When atropine and epinephrine were given to VMH lesioned rats, there was a significant depression in basal and glucose-stimulated levels of insulin. Finally when VMH lesions were placed after lateral hypothalamic lesions, the effect of the VMH lesions did not seem to be reduced, suggesting that the two effects are independent. A model dealing with the effects of VMH lesions is presented in an attempt to integrate these findings.

Surgical adjuvant chemotherapy with mitomycin C and cyclophosphamide in Japanese patients with breast cancer

A controlled trial of surgical adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer was carried out using 551 Japanese patients. Single or combined treatment with mitomycin C (0.2 mg/kg i.v. three times within five days postoperatively) and cyclophosphamide (100 mg postoperatively daily for four months or longer) was used after radical surgery. In patients of the chemotherapy group with one to three lymph nodes involved in the axilla, the five-year cancer-free survival rate was 84.8% compared with 57.3% in the control group (P < 0.05), and the five-year cumulative recurrence in distant sites was 5.1% compared with 31.1% in the control (P < 0.05). The effectiveness of chemotherapy was much less marked in patients without nodal metastasis and with four or more nodes involved. Histologically, scirrhous cancer was the type that responded most favorably to chemotherapy, even in patients without axillary involvement. Premenopausal patients benefited more than postmenopausal patients from chemotherapy. A combination of mitomycin C and cyclophosphamide was more effective than their use singly. The present chemotherapy regimen was effective primarily in moderately advanced stages of breast cancer with decreased incidence of distant metastasis.

Effect of molybdate on activation and stabilization of steroid receptors

The effects of molybdate on activation and stability of glucocorticoid, androgen, and estrogen receptors were studied. The activation of steroid receptors by heating or dialysis was inhibited by molydate, but molybdate had no effect on the nuclear binding of previously activated steroid-receptor complexes. The inhibitory effect of molybdate on activation was concentration dependent and was reversed when molybdate was removed by dialysis or gel filtration on Sephadex G-25. The steroid-binding capacities of the unoccupied glucocorticoid and androgen receptors were markedly reduced by removal of a small molecular weight factor(s) from the cytosol by dialysis or gel filtration on Sephadex G-25, even at 0 C. Molybdate blocked both this loss of steroid-binding ability on dialysis and also the heat-induced destabilization of the receptors. The dialysate of rat liver cytosol and molybdate had synergistic effects in increasing the stability of the glucocorticoid receptor in the cytosol after gel filtration at 25 C. These findings suggest that activation and destabilization have a common mechanism which involves a small molecular weight component(s) and that molybdate has a specific inhibitory effect on this mechanism.

Spectrophotometric assay, solubilization and purification of brain 2':3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase

1. A spectrophotometric assay of 2':3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.37) based on the use of an acid-base indicator and a buffer having identical pKa values is described. The assay is simple and rapid; it was particularly convenient for monitoring the enzyme activity at various stages of purification. 2. Several proteinases were examined for their ability to solubilize 2':3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase from delipidated brain white matter. Trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) and elastase (EC 3.4.21.11) appeared to be more effective than the other proteinases examined. Trypsin, however, caused inactivation; elastase was therefore chosen to solubilize 2':3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase. When a partially purified preparation of 2':3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase was treated with elastase, 2':3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase was solubilized nearly quantitatively. Elastatinal, a specific inhibitor of elastase, specifically inhibited the solubilization with elastase. 3. 2':3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase was purified from bovine brain white matter by: (i) delipidation; (ii) solubilization with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide; (iii) gel chromatography on Sepharose; (iv) ethanol precipitation and resolubilization by digestion with elastase; (v) chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex; (vi) affinity chromatography on 8-(6-aminohexyl)amino-2'-AMP-Sepharose. 4. The purified enzyme migrated as a single protein band on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis at pH 4.3 and on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis; the estimated mol.wt. in the latter electrophoresis was 27000-31000. Gel filtration of the purified enzyme through Sephadex G-150 indicated a mol.wt. of 31000. Therefore the purified enzyme is a monomer protein with a mol.wt. of approx. 30000.

Evidence for a circulating ergostatic factor: studies on parabiotic rats

The effect of electrolytic ventromedial hypothalamic lesions or forced overfeeding through gastric cannulas was studied in parabiotic rats. In one experiment a ventromedial hypothalamic lesion in one member of the parabiotic union was associated with an increased fatness in the lesioned rat and a decrease in fat pad weight and a rise in body density (loss of fat) of the unlesioned animal. In the other two experiments a high fat or high carbohydrate diet was tube fed to one member of a parabiotic union. The average preinfusion intake per rat was 56 kcal/day. When 90 kcal/day were given through the intragastric cannula, oral intake of calories for the two animals fell to approximately 44 kcal/day. Body fat of the non-tube-fed animal was less than in the tube-fed controls. These studies suggest the presence of an ergostatic (energy stabilizing) factor that enters and is transported in the blood with passage from one animal to another.

Involvement of anti-Ig-activated serine protease in the generation of cytoplasmic factor(s) that are responsible for the transmission of Ig-receptor-mediated signals

Involvement of serine protease-activation in the generation of cytoplasmic factor(s) that induced NHP-specific protein kinase activity in nuclei in anti-Ig-stimulated cells was described. DFP or PMSF with anti-Ig inhibited the induction of cytoplasmic factor(s), whereas pretreatment of cells with DFP or PMSF without anti-Ig did not show any inhibitory effect on anti-Ig-induced generation of cytoplasmic factor(s). TAME or BAME with anti-Ig inhibited the generation of cytoplasmic factor(s) and the simultaneous addition of TAME or BAME with DFP protected the generation of cytoplasmic factor(s) against the inhibitory effect of DFP, showing the involvement of trypsin-like, arginine-type serine protease in anti-Ig-induced generation of cytoplasmic factor(s). Anti-Ig-stimulated membrane preparations induced cytoplasmic factor(s) in normal cytoplasm. The m.w. of precursor proteins present in resting B cells and active cytoplasmic factor(s) were approximately 150,000 and 45,000, respectively. These results showed that anti-Ig-activated membrane-bound serine protease split precursor proteins in resting B cells into active cytoplasmic factor(s) responsible for signal transmission.

Ventromedial hypothalamic lesions and the mobilization of fatty acids

We have explored the effects of ventromedial hypothalamic lesions on the mobilization of free fatty acids in rats exposed to several stresses. The rise in free fatty acids and glycerol in response to norepinephrine had the same time-course and dose-response characteristics in the sham-operated and lesioned animals, indicating comparable degrees of peripheral responsiveness to this hormone. Forced swimming significantly lowered insulin and increased glycerol and free fatty acids more in control than in ventromedial hypothalamic-lesioned rats. During fasting, the rise in glycerol and free fatty acids was smaller in the lesioned rats, but the fall in insulin was greater. Exposure to cold raised fatty acids and glycerol more in the control than in the sham-operated animals, but had no significant effect on plasma insulin or glucose concentration. Injection of 2-deoxyglucose was done on lesioned or control rats with intact or removed adrenal medullas. The rise in free fatty acids and glycerol was less in the lesioned rats than in the controls, and was not affected by adrenodemedullation. The rise in glucose, however, was completely blocked in the adrenodemedullated rats. Changes in insulin were small and not statistically significant. The reduced mobilization of fatty acids from adipose tissue depots after ventromedial hypothalamic injury is consistent with the hypothesis that the ventromedial hypothalamic region serves to modulate activation of the sympathetic nervous system.