Intranuclear differences in the response of Purkinje cell DNA of the rat cerebellum to bleomycin. A microphotometric and autoradiographic study

A single dose of the DNA-binding cytostatic agent bleomycin (100 micrograms/g body weight, subcutaneously) was given to 10-day-old rats to study unscheduled repair DNA synthesis in nucleolar and in bulk nuclear chromatin of postmitotic Purkinje neurons. The Feulgen reaction and Hoechst 33342 staining were used for quantitative evaluation of nuclear DNA content and chromatin structure. The repair synthesis of DNA was detected by 3H-thymidine autoradiography. The data showed a lesser staining of Purkinje as well as granule cell DNA by Hoechst 33342 in bleomycin-treated animals than in controls, but there was no difference in staining with the Feulgen reaction. The mechanisms of DNA staining by both cytochemical methods suggest that bleomycin reacted preferentially with AT-rich and single stranded DNA in cerebellar cells in vivo. Weak 3H-thymidine labelling was found in Purkinje cells of both control and treated rats, but in the latter group the labelling was more pronounced near or over the nucleolus. The enhanced unscheduled DNA synthesis in the nucleolar region of Purkinje cells of treated animals may be due to greater damage of DNA in this region or may indicate a greater ability of the nucleolar chromatin to repair its DNA.

Neuroimmunomodulation in cancer patients: correlations between melatonin and beta-endorphin blood levels and T helper/suppressor ratio

The pineal gland and opioid peptides play roles in the neuroendocrine control of immunity. Both neuroendocrine and immune dysfunctions have been observed in cancer but the importance of the altered secretion of neurohormones in the immunoincompetence of cancer patients has never been investigated. This study concomitantly evaluated neuroendocrine and immune functions in 40 patients with early or advanced neoplastic disease. In each patient, melatonin and beta-endorphin blood levels and lymphocyte subtypes were determined on venous blood samples collected during the morning. Metastatic patients had lower melatonin levels and a lower T4/T8 ratio than patients without metastases but no significant correlation was found between melatonin and the T4/T8 ratio. beta-endorphin levels appeared to be normal in all patients. These results suggest that melatonin and beta-endorphin secretion have no role in determining immune dysfunctions in cancer.

Relation between lymphocyte subpopulations and pineal function in patients with early or metastatic cancer

It has been demonstrated that melatonin and other pineal hormones play a role in the neuroendocrine control of immunity. Anomalies of both pineal and immune functions have been reported in cancer. Pineal and lymphocyte functions, however, have never been simultaneously evaluated in oncologic patients. This preliminary study was carried out in order to analyze the melatonin-lymphocyte relationship in human neoplasms. In a first investigation, we evaluated melatonin serum levels and lymphocyte subpopulations on venous blood samples collected during the morning from 46 healthy controls and from 27 cancer patients, 13 of whom had metastases, while the other 14 were without metastases. Moreover, melatonin levels were high in 10 oncological patients and within the normal range in the other 17 cases. B lymphocyte (B), total T lymphocyte (T3), T helper/inducer (T4) and T suppressor/cytotoxic (T8) mean percentages and T4/T8 mean ratios did not significantly differ, either between patients with high and normal melatonin levels, or between metastatic and nonmetastatic cancer patients. In a second study, we evaluated the effects of a prolonged treatment with melatonin (20 mg/daily intramuscularly at 3:00 p.m. for 2 months) on 8 patients with advanced cancer, in whom conventional antitumor therapies had failed. Mean percentages of B, T3, T4, T8 lymphocytes and T4/T8 mean ratios were not significantly different before or after melatonin treatment. In only one patient did the T4/T8 ratio decrease after therapy; in this case only, a stabilization of the disease was obtained, while in all 7 other patients the neoplastic disease progressed also during melatonin treatment, even if an evident improvement of the performance status was seen as it was in most cases. These results seem to exclude that melatonin may influence lymphocyte functions in cancer. Longitudinal studies and further data, however, will be needed to clarify this question.

Evidence for altered opioid activity in patients with cancer

Endogenous opioid peptides have been shown to be involved in the regulation of tumour growth. At present, however, no data are available about the secretion of opioid peptides in cancer patients. To draw some preliminary conclusions on opioid brain function in human neoplasms, we evaluated hypophyseal hormone responses to the administration of a met-enkephalin analogue, FK 33-824. The study included 14 patients affected by early or advanced neoplastic disease, 12 healthy subjects and 7 patients with a chronic medical illness other than cancer. FK 33-824 was given intravenously at a dose of 0.3 mg. Venous blood samples were collected at zero time, and 30, 60 and 120 min after drug administration. In each sample, PRL, GH, LH, cortisol and beta-endorphin levels were measured by RIA. In all normal subjects and in patients with non-neoplastic chronic illness, FK 33-824 induced a rise in PRL and GH levels, and a decrease in LH, cortisol and beta-endorphin. A normal endocrine response to FK 33-824 was seen in our cancer patient only, while in the other cases with tumour no hormonal changes or a paradoxical response were seen after FK 33-824. Based on the fact that an abnormal endocrine response to FK 33-824 has been described in hypothalamic-pituitary disorders, in which anomalous brain opioid activity has been demonstrated, these results suggest the existence of an altered function of the opioid system in cancer patients, the clinical importance of which remains to be determined.

[Concomitant therapy with cisplatin and radiotherapy in locally advanced tumors of the cervico-facial area]

Nineteen patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer were treated from November 1983 to January 1986 with standard loco-regional Radiotherapy: 2 Gy for 5 days/week up to a total dose of 70 Gy and simultaneous Cisplatinum 20 mg/m2 weekly. All patients achieved a response: 10 (52%) obtained a complete remission (CR) and 9 (48%) a partial remission (PR). Four of 9 patients in PR after chemoradiotherapy were disease-free after radical resection of the residual masses, while another patient was completely cured after second-line chemotherapy. The overall CR was then 79% (15/19). The results were analyzed according to the nodal status and showed that: 92% (11/12) of patients with initial nodal involvement (N1-2) achieved a CR and 75% of them were disease-free after a median follow-up of 23+ months, while only 57% (4/7) of patients with advanced nodal involvement (N3) obtained a CR (p greater than 0.05; NS) and 28% (2/7) of them were alive without evidence of disease (p less than 0.05) after 4+ and 30+ months. Toxicity was moderate: nausea and vomiting (grade 2-3) occurred in about 50% of patients, mucosal toxicity (grade 1-2) in 58%. Myelosuppression was negligible. No patient developed renal failure. Weekly cisplatinum administration during radiotherapy deserves further study especially in the management of patients with advanced primary tumor and minimal lymph node involvement.

Effects of radical mastectomy on prolactin blood levels in patients with breast cancer

The role played by PRL in human breast cancer is still obscure. Several observations, however, demonstrated that antitumor therapies for breast cancer are associated with changes in PRL secretion, clinical significance of which remains to be determined. The present investigation was carried out to further clarify the effects of mastectomy on PRL levels in breast cancer women. The study included 34 patients at clinical stage T1-2N0-2M0 treated with radical mastectomy. In each patient, venous blood samples were drawn before, and 15 days, 1 month, 45 days, 2 months and 3 months after surgery to determine PRL serum levels. As controls, 14 women surgically treated for reasons other than neoplastic disease were included in the study. Mastectomy was followed by hyperprolactinemia in 18 of the 34 cases (52.9%). PRL remained elevated for at least 1 month, and it became normal within 2 months. On the contrary, no PRL increase was seen in controls. Among breast cancer women, PRL increase was irrespective of the type of surgery, the histology of the tumor and the menopausal status. In contrast, PRL increase was significantly higher in patients without node involvement and with negative hormonal receptors, with respect to that observed in cases with node involvement and positive receptors, respectively. The mechanisms by which mastectomy induces enhanced PRL secretion are still obscure. They might depend, however, on changes in feed-back systems operating in the regulation of PRL secretion, due to the removal of a target organ for PRL itself. Longitudinal studies, by evaluating the percentage of relapse either in patients with surgery-induced hyperprolactinemia or in those with normal hormonal values, will be needed to clarify the prognostic significance of the enhanced PRL secretion induced by mastectomy.

Nuclear changes and morphology of the epidermis in the hibernating frog

Cytochemical changes of chromatin and DNA in frog epidermal cells were correlated with some morphological features to investigate the skin physiology during hibernation in comparison with the active period. The epidermal cells of hibernating frogs showed less condensed chromatin in all the layers; a greater loss of DNA was found during the transition from the middle to the superficial layer. In the germinative layer, a lesser frequency of hyperdiploid cells and a remarkably low amount of mitoses were detected; this is accompanied by the increase of epidermal thickness and the presence of two layers of cornified cells. The slowing of tissue differentiation and cell renewal kinetics during hibernation can be related to lowered activity of the frog skin. Further, the smaller intercellular spaces as well as the scarcity of puffed ER and vacuoles may be indicative of a lower ion transport in epidermal cells during hibernation.

Electron-cytochemical localization of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity in Purkinje neurons and hepatocytes of the rat

A method is presented for the ultrastructural demonstration of succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) activity in cerebellar Purkinje neurons and liver hepatocytes; SSADH is an enzyme involved in the degradation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Incubation media originally used for light microscopy were considered. Reaction products were mainly detected when fresh tissue was used. In Purkinje cells, grains ascribable to SSADH activity were localized on the mitochondria (especially on the outer membrane); some extramitochondrial formazan deposits were also found. After brief fixation by immersion or perfusion, only a few formazan granules were detected in the cytoplasm. A similar distribution pattern was observed in hepatocytes, in which extramitochondrial grains and grains on the nuclear membrane were frequent. The actual existence and the possible meaning of extramitochondrial SSADH activity is critically discussed on the basis of the data in the literature.

The annual cycle of Erinaceus europaeus L. as a model for a further study of cytochemical heterogeneity in Purkinje neuron nuclei

The cytochemical heterogeneity of nuclei in Purkinje cells, which reflects differences in metabolic states within the population, has been studied by comparing cerebellar hemispheres of the hedgehog during periods of activity and hibernation. Cerebellar granule cells and hepatocytes served as controls for diploid cells. Three different cytochemical stains (Feulgen reaction, Propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342 fluorochromes) were used in order to evaluate by microdensitometry and microfluorometry how much the heterogeneity is dependent on the variations in DNA content and degree of chromatin compaction. In the active period, Feulgen-DNA values of Purkinje cells were more widely dispersed than in control cells. Some values (18-40% of the population) exceeded (hyperdiploid) the diploid value. With Propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342 (under conditions for quantitative evaluation of DNA), a few values also exceeded the maximum value for control cells. We conclude that there is nuclear heterogeneity (diploid-hyperdiploid) in the Purkinje neuron population during normal activity. The percentage of hyperdiploid nuclei changes according to the technique used; in particular, the comparison of the different stains indicates that a different chromatin compaction is mainly responsible for hyperdiploid Feulgen-DNA values, but in a few hyperdiploid cells there is an actual surplus of DNA. In view of the modalities of detection of DNA by the different cytochemical approaches utilized, this may be mainly single-stranded DNA. During hibernation nuclear heterogeneity is still present in Purkinje neurons, but with a shift of the distribution towards lower values; hyperdiploid nuclei were not detected with all the procedures used. Moreover, when Propidium iodide is used at the concentration suitable for qualitative studies, the dye intercalation is lower than during activity. Data suggest that both decreased DNA and increased chromatin compaction occur in Purkinje cells, thus pointing to a lower metabolic activity of these neurons in hibernating animals. The changes in diploid granule cells were always less than those in Purkinje neurons and could be ascribed to a further increase in chromatin compaction only, not requiring changes in DNA content.

Morphohistochemical changes in hepatocytes during the life cycle of the European eel

The comparative analysis of morphological, histochemical and cytochemical patterns of eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) hepatocytes reveals clear differences between two stages of its life cycle, i.e. the trophic stage (yellow eel) and reproductive stage (silver eel). The storage of glycogen prevails in the yellow eel, whilst lipids appear to be remarkably increased in the silver eel, in which some hepatocytes also show glycogen-rich areas. Generally, in the silver eel dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase activities seem greater and different distribution of the reaction products is present; on the contrary, a lower G6PDH activity is observed. The electron microscopy characteristics and distribution of both cellular organelles and reserve materials reflect the modifications found at light microscopy. The ultrastructural patterns provide further evidence for the heterogeneity of liver parenchyma in silver eel. In particular, the coexistence of nuclei showing a different degree of chromatin compactness is also accounted for by the quantitative cytochemical data on the nuclear DNA after Feulgen reaction and intercalation with propidium iodide at low and high concentrations. With regard to the DNA content, the hepatocytes in the silver eel as well as in the yellow eel are mainly 2c. However, some 4c values are also found, which according to the literature can be ascribed to cells in G2 phase. The present data may express the onset of different functional requirements during the reproductive stage in comparison with the trophic one. Moreover, our results are consistent with modifications found by other authors as a consequence of interruption of nourishment and during gonad maturation, i.e. two phenomena characterizing the transition from yellow to silver eel.

Comparative aspects of circulating erythrocytes in the trophic and reproductive phases of European eel. Ultrastructure and cytochemistry

Different cytochemical and morphological parameters were used to compare the functional patterns of the erythrocytes in the transition from the trophic (yellow eel) to the reproductive (silver eel) phases of European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.). Data on the nucleus were obtained by microdensitometric (Feulgen reaction) and cytofluoremetric (propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342 fluorochromization) evaluations of DNA staining intensity. In the silver eel, chromatin condensation was more heterogeneous and chromatin also appeared to be looser. The fluorochromes provided information on the different degrees of organization of the chromatin filament, with regard to both primary and higher order DNA structure. In the silver eel, the fine structure showed a higher number of erythrocytes with large euchromatinic areas and the heterochromatinic component was occasionally present in scattered clumps. As for the cytoplasm, in the silver eel a positive correlation could be established between the presence of intact cytoplasmic organelles (mitochondria, Golgi complexes, ribosomes, etc.) and the high fluorescence intensity. This aspect is revealed through the detection of definite membrane components such as glycoconjugates and primary amino groups (PAS reaction and fluorescamine staining, respectively). All these findings allowed us to establish that the transition from the trophic to the premigratory reproductive phase is marked by a higher heterogeneity of the erythrocytes, due to different cell maturation levels. This fact can be ascribed to different metabolic requirements as well as to a more intense erythropoiesis, typical of the most active phase of the eel's life.

Cytochemistry of cell surface sialoglycoconjugates in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Effects of medroxyprogesterone therapy

Ferritin- and rhodamine-conjugated Limulus polyphemus agglutinin was used to localize, by electron microscopy, and to quantify, by microfluorometry, the cell surface sialoglycoconjugates in human endometrial adenocarcinoma before and after medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy. In the untreated tumor the lectin labelling was irregularly distributed on the cell surface, with a maximum density at the apical area and at the intercellular border; high values of the density-binding sites on cell surface were also detected by cytofluorometry. The binding pattern in both electron microscopy and microfluorometry on normal tissue and on tumor tissue submitted to medroxyprogesterone acetate stimulation appeared clearly modified; the lectin labelling concerned the apical areas only (also after treatment with chelating agents), with low fluorometric values of the reactive site density. The differences found in the lectin binding to the cellular sialic acid residues may be due to sialoglycoconjugate quantitative changes and/or to their different reactivity resulting from alterations of the cell membrane architecture. The data appear also correlated with a different proliferative activity and ploidy level of the three situations analyzed.

Methodological problems in the histochemical demonstration of succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity

Methodological aspects of the histochemical technique for the demonstration of succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity (EC 1.2.1.24) (indicative of the degradative step of gamma-aminobutyric acid catabolism) have been analysed in rat Purkinje neurons, where gamma-aminobutyric acid has been shown to be a neurotransmitter, and in hepatocytes, where it is metabolized. During a histochemical incubation for the enzyme, artefacts of succinate dehydrogenase activity and the 'nothing dehydrogenase' reaction are produced. Inhibition of these artefacts by the addition of two inhibitors, malonate and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, revealed specific reaction products. Formazan granules, which can be ascribed only to specific succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity, are obtained by adding malonate to the incubation medium in order to inhibit both succinate dehydrogenase activity and nothing dehydrogenase. The formation of these granules is completely inhibited by p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, an inhibitor of succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity. Different levels of succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase activity were noted in Purkinje neurons. This activity was also found in hepatocytes, mostly in the portal area, but with a lesser degree of intensity and specificity. Indeed, non-specific formazan granules were still produced, because of the 'nothing dehydrogenase' reaction, even in the presence of malonate. Thus, a malonate-insensitive 'nothing dehydrogenase' reaction seems to be present in neural and hepatic tissues.

[Contents of nuclear Feulgen-DNA in carcinoma of the breast. Cytophotometric analysis]

The frequency distributions of the nuclear Feulgen-DNA, obtained with cytophotometric technique, in different types of female mammary carcinomas (invasive ductal carcinoma, papillary and mucinous ductal carcinomas and invasive lobular carcinoma) were correlated with the histological diagnoses and with the age of the patients. The highest and broadly scattered values of nuclear Feulgen-DNA content, in agreement with the cytomorphologic pictures, were observed in the invasive ductal carcinomas, above all in the youngest subjects (values from 2c to 16c). Papillary and mucinous ductal carcinomas from subjects of the same age, showed lower values; the cases of invasive lobular carcinomas exhibited more homogeneous values with a higher number of cells in the 2c region. The tissue with histological normal patterns showed 2c values of Feulgen-DNA contents with some values near 4c. The general situation point out a different complexity of the tumor population which can be related to a mosaic composition and/or to a multifocal origin with presence of cycling, non-cycling, euploid, aneuploid and polyploid fractions. Then, the Feulgen-DNA content can be correlated to the tumor type and the patient age; it is useful for diagnostic and prognostic problems in the oncological field.

Effects of diphenylhydantoin on postnatal ontogenesis in the rat. Ultrastructural analysis of Purkinje neurons and hepatocytes

An ultrastructural analysis of Purkinje neurons and hepatocytes was carried out at several stages of postnatal ontogenesis in rats born from dams administered diphenylhydantoin (DPH) during pregnancy and nursing. After DPH administration the signs of immaturity in the neurons both at cytoplasmic and nuclear level were particularly evident between the 4th and 17th day of postnatal life, while at the end of histogenesis the normal situation was recovered. Such delayed morphological maturation of the neurons is in agreement with the data showing that anticonvulsant drugs given during pregnancy slow down postnatal growth and mental development. At all stages examined, modifications, mainly concerning the distribution of glycogen and the increase in rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes, were also observed in hepatocytes. The examination of the placebo group revealed some signs of delayed maturation in Purkinje neurons at early histogenetic stages and some modifications of the normal pattern in the hepatocytes. The rôle of gastric tube in drug administration needs to be verified further.

Cytofluorometric study of the erythrocyte glycoconjugates content in different species of vertebrates

The PAS-positive material was measured by cytofluorometry in peripheral circulating erythrocytes of 22 species from different classes of Vertebrates. The following parameters were considered: total fluorescence intensity per cell, concentration index, fluorescence fading. The highest variability of concentration indexes was found in Fishes with a minimum in the more active swimmers (Scylliorhinus and Salmo); this fact may be related to a more intense erythropoiesis. The values were more homogeneous in the Amphibians, Reptiles, and Birds, the difference never exceeding 1/2 between the maximum and minimum values. The lowest concentration indexes were found in Mammals, a class with very specialized and enucleated erythrocytes: the data appear rather heterogeneous with a minimum in Macaca. The patterns of fluorescence fading suggest a biochemical homogeneity of the PAS-positive erythrocyte material in the species considered. This fact might indicate the presence of a fundamental biochemical component possibly linked to different structures of the red cells.

Impiego Combinato della Laparoscopia e Della Biopsia Ossea Nella Determinazione Dello Stadio Del Carcinoma Indifferenziato a Piccole Cellule del Polmone. Valutazione di 116 Casi Consecutivi

116 consecutive patients with small cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung had laparoscopy with multiple liver biopsies and bone marrow biopsy, performed as a staging procedure. Bone marrow biopsy was positive in 13 patients (11.2 %); no significant rise in percent was seen when bilateral specimens were obtained. Laparoscopy was positive in 17 patients (14.6 %); one patient had extrahepatic involvement only. Liver scan did not show high correlation with laparoscopy: 6 patients out of 11 had negative liver scan with metastases demonstrated at laparoscopy. Only 6 patients had laparoscopy positive along with bone marrow biopsy (5.1 %). At determination of the stage, 12 patients out of 78 (15.3 %), with apparently localized disease had diffuse disease after the two procedures. Laparoscopy and bone marrow biopsy were positive in 12 patients out of 38 (31.5 %), when the disease was diffuse at diagnosis. 7 patients had liver metastases at diagnosis, which were excluded after laparoscopy. Laparoscopy and bone marrow remain valuable procedures in assessing stage in small cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung, because of their high rate of stage modifications due to their combined employment at diagnosis.

Propidium iodide as a probe for the study of chromatin thermal denaturation in situ

The possibility of using propidium iodide, a phenanthridinic fluorochrome specific for double-stranded nucleic acids, for the study of chromatin thermal denaturation in situ has been examined. Smears of lymphocytes and hepatocyte nuclei from 15-day-old rats were fixed in acetic acid--ethanol (1:3 v/v), treated with RNAse and submitted to different protein extraction procedures, namely, incubation with pepsin, trypsin and sodium chloride. Denaturation experiments were performed in Sörensen buffer at pH 7.4 containing 10% formamide at temperatures between 27 and 95 degrees C. The samples were stained with propidium iodide and mounted in buffer or glycerol. Measurements were performed with a microfluorometer at a wavelength of 446 nm. The results indicate a higher thermostability of lymphocytes as compared to hepatocytes. The denaturation pattern suggests a certain organization complexity of chromatin, better emphasized by the derivative curves which show the presence of at least three fractions with different melting points. After protein extraction, the denaturation curves exhibit a somewhat simplified pattern, with the disappearance of the most stable peak in the derivative curves. The samples mounted in glycerine exhibit a better stability of staining with time, and an increased quantum efficiency of the fluorochrome with regard to those mounted in buffer. These data confirm the importance of protein--DNA interactions in the organization of chromatin and point to some differences, depending on the cell type and on functional activity.