[Studies on the structures of two new alkaloidal glucosides of Nauclea officinalis Pierre ex pitard]

Three indolic alkaloidal glucosides were isolated from the polar fraction of the stems of Nauclea officinalis. Two are new, named naucleoside (Ia) and nauclecosidine (IIa) and the other is a well known alkaloid, vincoside lactam. The structures of Ia and IIa were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data (IR, MS, HNMR and CNMR) and chemical evidence.

Spatial and temporal expression of the period gene in Drosophila melanogaster

The temporal and spatial expression of the period gene of Drosophila melanogaster has been analyzed by examining the expression of a per beta-galactosidase fusion gene in transformants and by in situ hybridization experiments with wild-type flies. Several strains of Drosophila melanogaster, transformed with the fusion gene, have been generated. The gene is active in mid-late embryos in the midline of the nervous system. Thereafter, beta-galactosidase activity is undetectable until the pupal stage when the prothoracic gland-corpora allata and the optic lobes are beta-galactosidase positive. In adults a surprisingly large number of tissues stain positively, including antennae, proboscis, eyes, optic lobes, cells of the central brain, cells of the thoracic ganglia, gut, Malpighian tubules, and ovarian follicle cells. The temporal pattern of expression agrees well with previous estimates made from developmental Northern blots with RNA extracted from wild-type animals. We suggest that many of the tissues that express the per gene contain their own intrinsic oscillator activity.

[Isolation of a metastatic ascitic subpopulation from a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line in nude mice and studies on its biological properties]

An ascitic subpopulation (Anip) was isolated from human lung adenocarcinoma cell line AGZY-83-a through serial intraperitoneal passages in nude mice. Anip manifested a much higher metastatic potential than the parent line. Spontaneous lung metastases occurred in 95% of the mice xenografted intraperitoneally, and the diffuse pattern of the metastases in the lung was very impressive. Anip also differed more or less from the parent line in morphology, growth, rate, electrophoretic mobility, platelet aggregating activity and noticeably in the chromosome histogram. The present model may be used in the study of tumor invasion and metastasis, as large amounts of well dispersed metastatic human carcinoma cells could be reproduced by ascites and much information about the biology of invasion and metastasis of human tumor cells in nude mice could be obtained.

[Effect of sodium selenite on the chromosomal aberration of V 79 cells induced in vitro by MNNG and MNU]

Effect of sodium selenite on chromosomal aberration of V 79 cells induced by MNNG and MNU was studied. Na2SeO3 alone, at the concentration of 10(-7)-10(-4) M, increased the incidence of chromosomal aberration. However, Na2SeO3 at 10(-7)-10(-5) M, having been preincubated with the cells for 4 hours, could reduce the number of cells with chromosomal aberration induced by MNNG. Na2SeO3 at 10(-7)-10(-4) M inhibited mutagenic activity of chromosomal aberration induced by MNU. The same inhibition was observed even sodium selenite was added to the medium simultaneously with this carcinogen. The results indicate that sodium selenite alone, at the concentration range used in this experiment, is an aberration-inducing agent. But when combined with the carcinogen, anti-cancer effect is obtained.

[Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei of cultured peripheral lymphocytes in patients with lung cancer, miners and non-mining workers of the tin mine in Yunnan]

Determination of SCE frequency, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus rate of cultured peripheral lymphocytes in 32 patients with lung cancer, 33 miners and 40 non-mining workers in Yunnan Tin Mine was carried out. The results showed that the cancer patients had higher SCE incidence, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus rate, the non-mining workers had the least and miners on an intermediate level. There was a significant difference of SCE, chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus rate between patients and non-mining workers (P less than 0.05-0.01). We also found that miners had a significant higher SCE and chromosomal aberration rate but not micronucleus rate as compared with the non-mining workers. We proposed that some carcinogens present in the Yunnan Tin Mine be responsible for the genetic damages in the miners. Chemical drugs may be considered to contribute to the genetic damage in cancer patients who had a tendency toward an increased SCE, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus rate as compared to the miners, though without reaching a statistical significance. We suggested that combination assay of SCE with chromosomal aberration or micronucleus be an useful index for screening of the high risk population and monitoring the chemical drug prevention of lung cancers in Yunnan Tin Mine.

Bioavailability of selenium to residents in a low-selenium area of China

For 8 wk 5 groups of 10 men each were given 0.5 g/day DL-methionine, 150 micrograms Se/day as sodium selenite with or without methionine or 150 micrograms Se/day as selenomethionine with or without methionine. Twenty subjects received placebo as controls. Initially plasma Se rose more rapidly than RBC Se. Increases in Se levels were significantly greater with selenomethionine than with the selenite supplement. In the placebo and methionine supplemented groups neither plasma nor RBC Se varied significantly over the course of the study. Supplementation with selenium resulted in marked increases in plasma and RBC GSH-Px within 2 and 4 wk, respectively. Plasma and RBC GSH-Px activity did not differ significantly between Se-supplemented groups. These studies suggest that selenomethionine-Se was more effective in raising plasma and RBC Se than was selenite-Se. Methionine supplements may increase the bioavailability of selenium in severely deficient subjects.

Establishment of lymphoblastoid cell lines from Marek's disease primary tumors

Seven lymphoblastoid cell lines were developed from 15 Marek's disease primary lymphomas treated to remove adherent cells (46.7% success rate) and 1 cell line was developed from 15 untreated lymphomas (6.7% success rate). These cell lines are designated as MDCC-RP22 through MDCC-RP29. Tumor materials were from 151(5) x 7(1) chickens infected with either JM-111S clone or the GA-22 clone of Marek's disease virus. Factors contributing to the establishment of cell lines include, in addition to the removal of adherent cells at the initial stage of culture, the periodic adjustment and the concentration of viable cells, including the removal of dead cells. The cell lines bear T-cell surface markers and Marek's disease tumor associated surface antigen (MATSA). MDCC-RP22 and MDCC-RP23 are high virus producers.

Comb lesions and mortality patterns in white leghorn layers affected by Marek's disease

Marek's disease was diagnosed as the cause of prolonged high mortality in two commercial flocks of white leghorn layers by gross and microscopic examination of affected tissues and by immunofluorescent study of live tumor cells using anti-Marek's disease tumor-associated surface antigen, anti-immunoglobulin M, and monoclonal antibodies. The disease was characterized by swollen, necrotic, lymphomatous combs and mortality that rose above normal at 28 weeks of age, peaked at 35-36 weeks, and returned to normal by 45-46 weeks.