Studies on cell migration, adenylate cyclase and membrane-coating granules in the buccal epithelium of the zinc-deficient rabbit, including the influence of isoproterenol

Cell migration was slightly increased; cytochemical reaction deposits of adenylate cyclase and the area density of membrane-coating granules (MCG) were significantly increased. Upon isoproterenol stimulation, the MCG area density was significantly increased, whereas the cell migration rate was unchanged. Thus in zinc deficiency, there may be a simultaneous increase in the production and secretion of MCGs, in adenylate cyclase activity, and in cell migration. The non-significantly increased cell migration rate may not keep pace with the significantly increased cell-production rate, resulting in thickening of the epithelium.

HsaI: a restriction enzyme from human being

The HsaI restriction enzyme from the embryos of human, Homo sapiens, has been isolated with both the tissue extract and nuclear extract. It proves to be an unusual enzyme, clearly related functionally to Type II endonuclease. HsaI seems to be an isoschizomer of EcoRI, but it has a distinctive property of elution, differing from EcoRI. Upon SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the enzyme preparation showed Coomassie blue staining bands, having the molecular weight of 65,000 and 22,000 daltons in size, respectively.

Tinea infection histologically simulating eosinophilic pustular folliculitis

A biopsy taken from an annular eruption on the thigh of an infant boy showed features of Ofuji's eosinophilic pustular folliculitis, yet fungal hyphae were demonstrated in the lesion. This case is reported to illustrate that tinea infection can stimulate eosinophilic pustular folliculitis histologically.

Histodifferentiation and ultrastructure of oral squamous cell carcinoma in HMT rats

Seven oral squamous cell carcinomas developed in HMT rats were studied with light and electron microscopy. Two carcinomas in extra-oral sites were also described. Histodifferentiation of oral squamous cell carcinomas ranged from well-differentiated to poorly-differentiated, comparable to that of the same disease in humans. Ultrastructural features characteristic of human oral carcinomas were observed in the HMT rat carcinomas.

Influence of injected caffeine on the metabolism of calcium and the retention and excretion of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and copper in rats

Mineral metabolism was studied by the metabolic balance technique in rats with and without administration of caffeine. Caffeine was injected subcutaneously each day at either 2.5 mg or 10 mg/100 g body weight for 2 wk before the balance studies. Urinary volume excretion was higher in the group given caffeine than in the control group, but the creatinine clearance was not different. Urinary excretion of potassium, sodium, inorganic phosphate, magnesium and calcium, but not of zinc and copper, was also higher in the rats given caffeine. The rank order of the difference was the same as the percent of ingested mineral excreted in urine in the absence of caffeine. Caffeine caused a negative balance of potassium, sodium and inorganic phosphate. There was no significant difference from the control levels and in the apparent metabolic balance of calcium and magnesium. The urinary and fecal excretion of zinc and copper were found to be unaffected by caffeine. It is suggested that chronic administration of caffeine may lead to a tendency toward deficiency of those minerals that are excreted primarily in urine.

Autoradiographic study of cell proliferation in acanthotic buccal epithelium of zinc-deficient rabbits

A zinc-deficient diet for 3 weeks led to acanthotic, hyperparakeratotic buccal epithelium in which the labelling and mitotic indices were increased. The total cell-cycle time was greatly reduced due to reduction in the transit time of the GI phase and, to a lesser extent, of the S and G2 phases. The results cannot be explained by decreased activity of DNA synthesis. They may be due to loss of growth inhibition in oral epithelium.

Depletion of noradrenaline in the hypothalamus reduces the febrile responses induced by prostaglandin E2, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and beta-endorphin in rats

The effects of pretreatment of rats with an intrahypothalamic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine on the thermal responses induced by intrahypothalamic injection of noradrenaline, prostaglandin E2, thyrotropin-releasing hormone or beta-endorphin were assessed. Administration of either noradrenaline (2-10 micrograms), prostaglandin E2 (10-40 ng), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (0.5-2.0 micrograms) or beta-endorphin (1-3 micrograms) into the preoptic anterior hypothalamus caused a dose-dependent rise in rectal temperature in conscious rats at an ambient temperature of 22 degrees C. In addition, it was found that three intrahypothalamic doses of 10 micrograms of 6-hydroxydopamine at intervals of 2 days caused a significant depletion of noradrenaline in the hypothalamus to 26.4% of control while the concentration of dopamine in the hypothalamus was not significantly reduced at 95.3% of control. Furthermore, the hyperthermic responses induced by prostaglandin E2, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, or beta-endorphin were greatly attenuated after selective depletion of noradrenaline in the hypothalamus in rats. However, selective depletion of noradrenaline did not affect the noradrenaline-induced hyperthermic responses. The data indicate that either prostaglandin E2, thyrotropin-releasing hormone or beta-endorphin may act through the endogenous release of noradrenaline from the hypothalamus to induce hyperthermic responses in rats.

The effect of sodium selenite toxicity on tissue distribution of zinc, iron, and copper in rats

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to determine the effects of suptoxic and toxic concentrations of selenite in the drinking water on tissue distribution of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu). Se (as sodium selenite) was provided in drinking water at concentrations of 0, 2, 4, and 8 ppm. At 19 d, half of the rats in 4 and 8 ppm Sesupplemented groups were kept on drinking water alone for additional 13 d. All rats were sacrificed at the end of 32 d of experiment. Heart, liver, and kidney were analyzed for the concentrations of Fe, Zn, and Cu by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and of Se by a fluorometric method.Results indicated that rats receiving 4 and 8 ppm Se in drinking water showed a marked reduction in food intake and a reduced growth rate. These adverse effects were quickly reversed when high Se intake was discontinued. Se toxicity caused minimal change in zinc status, reduced tissue iron concentrations and caused a marked increase in copper contents in heart, liver, and kidney. The latter findings were only partly reversed after removal of Se in drinking water. The accumulation of Cu in the tissues of Se-toxic rats provides the evidence of some interaction between Se and Cu.

Hair zinc, scalp hair quantity, and diaper rash in normal infants

Hair zinc concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 308 normal newborn infants and 199 normal infants aged one to twelve months. Hair zinc concentration declined from 204 micrograms/gm at birth to 112 micrograms/gm at age eight months, and then rose to 144 micrograms/gm at age twelve months. Diaper rash was significantly associated with reduced hair zinc, and infants with the least hair had lower zinc levels than infants with the most hair. The data indicate that hair loss and diaper rash found in normal infants is significantly associated with a reduction in hair zinc concentration.

The effects of dietary zinc deficiency on voluntary alcohol drinking in rats

The effects of dietary zinc deficiency on voluntary alcohol drinking in rats were examined in three separate experiments. Zinc-deficient rats showed a significantly greater voluntary alcohol intake as compared with the pair-fed controls. In the first experiment there were 14 male Sprague-Dawley rats with 7 controls and 7 who were begun on a zinc-deficient diet (below 2 ppm) at body weight 58-81 g. In the second experiment with 11 male Sprague-Dawley rats, the same diet was begun at 103-107 g. In the last experiment, 11 rats were begun at 120-199 g. Hair zinc measurements documented lower levels in the zinc-deficient rats after 6 weeks on the diet. The data indicate that a zinc-deficient state did increase voluntary alcohol intake in rats. In each experiment, the per cent alcohol consumed declined when a normal diet was given after the 6th week, and the difference was significant in experiments 1 and 3.

Growth hormone inhibition causes increased selenium levels in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a possible new approach to therapy

Nine children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were given Sanorex (mazindol), a growth hormone inhibitor, daily for 6 months. There was no significant change in their muscle function, but there was a significant reduction in weight gain and in levels of growth hormone, somatomedin C, hair zinc, serum zinc, and serum LDH. Selenium and glutathione peroxidase in the serum increased significantly. Thirteen other children with growth hormone deficiency had a significant reduction in hair selenium following growth hormone administration. These results show a significant relationship between growth hormone and selenium nutritional status and confirm our previous reports indicating an effect of growth hormone on zinc nutritional status. It is possible that prolonged therapy with a growth hormone inhibitor would attenuate the course and improve the longevity of patients with muscular dystrophy.

A study of 11C-benzoate as a radiopharmaceutical for renal imaging

11C-benzoic acid prepared in a radiochemical purity over 90% was studied radiopharmacologically in mice and rabbits. The uptake of 11C-benzoate in ICR mice increased quickly. The ratio of kidney uptake rate to that in other organs reached values between 9 and 55 with a maximum at 10 min after i.v. injection. Gamma camera imaging of rabbits showed that uptake in the kidneys began at 2 min after injection and that activity began to appear in the bladder 4 min later. Rabbits with left renal artery ligature showed no uptake in the left kidney but the right kidney was imaged to the same extent as that of a rabbit without artery ligature. The kidney imaging of 11C-benzoic acid may be a useful method for renal diagnosis.

Prognosis of mercury poisoning in mercury refinery workers

The prognosis of chronic metallic mercury poisoning in two groups of patients from the mercury refinery of a mercury mine was evaluated by reexamination which included an interview, physical and neurological examination and determination of urinary mercury. Group I consisted of 70 male patients, who had been exposed to metallic mercury for 1.6-17.8 years, 15 of whom had been diagnosed 10 years earlier as having severe chronic metallic mercury poisoning, and the rest moderate chronic metallic mercury poisoning. At the time of reexamination, they had been removed from mercury exposure for 2 months-17 years. None of them had been treated with any chelating agent. Group 2 comprised 84 male patients from the same mercury mine, who had been exposed to metallic mercury for 2-10 years after 1962 and had been previously diagnosed as having mild chronic metallic mercury poisoning. They were reexamined after 2 months of hospital admission and chelation treatment with unithiol or sodium dimercaptosuccinate (Na-DMS). Based on clinical evaluation, the condition of the patients in both groups had all improved, even in the severe cases. The overall prognosis of chronic metallic mercury poisoning in mercury refinery workers was encouraging after termination of mercury exposure. Chelation therapy with unithiol or Na-DMS was evidently beneficial for reducing urine mercury and some symptoms, but not for neurological and stomal signs.

Myxoid lipoma of oral soft tissue. A clinical and ultrastructural study

Myxoid lipoma is an unusual histologic type of lipoma. This article reports four cases of myxoid lipoma that arose in the mouth. In frozen sections stained with oil red O, the cytoplasm of tumor cells stained strongly positive. Intercellular mucoid material was PAS-positive and diastase-resistant. It also stained positively with alcian blue. Electron microscopic observations revealed that adipocytes were in different stages of differentiation, with lipid globules of variable size observed in the cytoplasm. Many pinocytotic vesicles appeared at the plasma membrane. Mature adipocytes were surrounded by a basal lamina. Fibroblasts, collagen fibers, and mucoid material were scattered among adipocytes. It appears possible that, in the histogenesis of myxoid lipoma, multipotent mesenchymal cells undergo multidirectional differentiation. Some cells differentiate to produce mucosubstance, while others differentiate to become adipocytes.

Hair zinc levels in infants

Hair zinc concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 308 normal neonates and in 119 normal infants aged 1 to 12 months. Hair zinc concentration declined from 204 μg/g at birth to 112 μg/g at age 8 months, and then rose to 144 μg/g at age 12 months. Breast-fed infants had higher hair zinc than formula-fed infants.