The protein kinase C inhibitor H7 blocks phosphorylation of stathmin during TPA-induced growth inhibition of human pre-B leukemia REH6 cells

The human pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line REH6 was used to analyze the regulation of a ubiquitous intracellular phosphoprotein stathmin (Mr 19,000, pl = 5.6-6.2). We demonstrated by 32P-labeling that the short (1 h) treatment of the REH6 cells with the tumor promoting phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), resulted in a rapid phosphorylation of at least three (P1, P2 and P3) stathmin isoforms without an alteration of stathmin isoform expression. Furthermore, Western blot analysis with specific antiserum showed that the prolonged period (48 h) of TPA treatment partially reduced protein levels particularly of two (N2 and P2) stathmin isoforms. The potent and relatively specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, 1,(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)2methylpiperasine dihydrochloride (H7), partially inhibited these TPA effects, whereas the specific calmodulin inhibitor R24571 (calmidazolium) had no effect upon these events. Our findings suggest that stathmin phosphorylation in REH6 cells could be in part mediated by PKC activation.

Localization of fibrillarin and nucleolin in nucleoli of mouse preimplantation embryos

The localization of fibrillarin and nucleolin in the nuclei of mouse two-cell, four-cell, and eight-cell embryos has been studied using immunofluorescent staining with specific antibodies. In all of these cleavage stages, both antigens were associated exclusively with the peripheral region of the nucleolus precursor bodies (NPBs). The original speckled fluorescent staining pattern in the early two-cell stage was progressively changed into a continuous fluorescent-positive layer localized in the cortex of the NPBs in the four-cell embryos. The compact central area of NPBs was never stained. Both proteins were colocalized in the same substructures of developing nucleoli. In order to analyze the interaction of chromatin with NPBs, DNA structures were specifically immunolabelled. At the time of resumption of nucleolar transcription (in the two-cell mouse embryo), DNA was detected at the periphery of, but not penetrating into, NPBs. Our results confirm the view that the cortical region of NPBs could represent a nucleolonemal area involved in the resumption of nucleolar transcription in the early mouse embryo.

Effects of healthy pseudopregnant milieu on development of two-cell subdiabetic mouse embryos

Female mice were injected with a single dose of streptozotocin (65 mg kg-1) 14-17 days before fertilization to investigate the significance of impaired insulin secretion induced by subdiabetic streptozotocin treatment on preimplantation embryo development. Subdiabetic mice (streptozotocin-treated) had significantly different glucose tolerance from that of control animals, despite similar basal glycaemia. Morphological analysis of preimplantation embryos collected on day 2 of pregnancy revealed no significant changes in the number of two-cell embryos recovered from streptozotocin-treated females compared with controls. Two-cell embryos were transferred into the oviducts of healthy, synchronous pseudopregnant females and recovered 24-28 h later. Morphological evaluation revealed a significantly greater percentage of degenerated embryos from streptozotocin-treated females than from control females. Morphological analysis of preimplantation embryos collected on day 2.5 of pregnancy revealed no significant changes in the number of two- to four-cell embryos recovered from streptozotocin-treated females compared with controls, but there was a significant increase in the number of degenerated embryos in streptozotocin-treated females that did not receive insulin therapy. Insulin (1-1.5 iu per 100 g) administered twice a day to streptozotocin-treated mice significantly improved the altered development of embryos in both experiments. It is possible that the impaired insulin secretion in female mice adversely affected the growth of preimplantation embryos. Almost half of the morphologically normal two-cell embryos isolated from subdiabetic females were incapable of development to the eight-cell stage even in a non-diabetic maternal environment. the morphologically distinct degenerative changes were first detected at the time of the second mitotic cleavage.

Induction of stathmin expression during liver regeneration

Stathmin is a 19 kDa cytoplasmic phosphoprotein proposed to act as a relay for signals activating diverse intracellular regulatory pathways. After two-thirds partial hepatectomy, the concentration of stathmin reached a peak between 48 and 72 hours, comparable to the levels observed in neonatal liver, at about 10 times the basal adult level. Stathmin then decreased to basal levels within 7 days, more rapidly than during postnatal tissue development (7 weeks), with no detectable change in its phosphorylation state. Interestingly, the mRNA for stathmin reached a peak much earlier than the protein, at 24 hours posthepatectomy, and decreased to a still detectable level until 96 hours after hepatectomy. Altogether, the present results further support the generatility of the implication of stathmin in regulatory pathways of cell proliferation and differentation during normal tissue development and posttraumatic regeneration.

Immunocytochemical localization of cyclin/proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in fertilized eggs of mice

Immunolocalization of cyclin/PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) was performed with monoclonal antibody using immunogold methods on ultrathin cryosections of fertilized mouse eggs. Immunolabeling in pronuclei was checked 20, 22, 24 and 26 h after HCG injection. A relation between onset of pronuclei migration (early S-phase) and appearance of colloidal particle clusters was found. Afterwards, (mid S-phase) the increase of labelling and the localization of cyclin/PCNA were found throughout the pronuclei, except in the nucleolar bodies. Lower labelling appeared at the time of close reciprocal pronuclei contact (late S-phase). It is concluded that bulk and distribution of cyclin/PCNA in pronuclei is closely related to the progression of first interphase after fertilization.

[Glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamine synthetase activity in the digestive tract in lambs in relation to age]

Developmental dynamics was investigated in the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH, E.C. 1.4.1.2.-4) and glutamine synthetase (GS, E.C. 6.3.1.2) in different parts of the digestive tract of lambs, in dependence on the age from 10 to 90 days; the goal of these investigations was to elucidate in greater detail the role of the above enzymes in nitrogen metabolism. The activity of GDH, and of the coenzymes NADH and NADPH, was followed in the digesta because simple organisms (bacteria, fungi, plants) have two glutamate dehydrogenases: they differ from each other by coenzyme specificity, unlike GDH from animal sources which can utilize both NADH coenzyme and NADPH coenzyme (Fahien et al., 1965; Frieden, 1964). The following activities of GDH and GS were found out in trials with lambs at the age of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 90 days, as to the different parts of digestive tract: in the tissues of rumen, omasum, reticulum, spleen, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, int. caecum and colon the activity of GDH (NADH) varied from 0.031 to 0.305 nkat/mg dry matter, in the digesta from 0 to 2.92 nkat/mg dry matter. An investigation of GDH (NADH, NADPH) dynamics in the digesta of lambs showed the relatively high activity of GDH (NADH) in the digesta of colon at the age of 10 days and that of GDH (NADPH) in the digesta of int. caecum. The activity of GDH (NADH) was also found to be high in the digesta of int. caecum at the age of 20 days. In that period the activity of GDH (NADH, NADPH) in the digesta of rumen, omasum and reticulum was zero.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Developmental tissue expression and phylogenetic conservation of stathmin, a phosphoprotein associated with cell regulations

Stathmin is a 19-kDa phosphoprotein presumably involved in regulations of cell proliferation, differentiation, and functions as an intracellular relay for extracellular signals activating diverse second messenger pathways. Antisera prepared against the whole protein or against two peptides (residues 15-27 and 134-149) recognized the two isoforms (alpha and beta) of stathmin in their different phosphorylated states on immunoblots. Also, the possible existence of a family of stathmin-related proteins is suggested by the detection with some sera of proteins of 17, 21, and 60 kDa in brain. Stathmin and its diverse molecular forms were detected in all mouse tissues tested, in varying concentrations. Depending on the tissue, it is 2-100 times more abundant in the neonate than in the adult. It is most abundant in brain at both developmental stages, the protein levels being paralleled by the expression of the corresponding mRNA as detected with a specific cDNA probe. Antibodies directed against the rat protein also reacted with stathmin-like proteins in the brain of other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some fish species, and the various isoforms could be recognized on immunoblots. In conclusion, our results suggest that stathmin is most likely involved in two distinct types of regulations: 1) "developmental" regulations, related to cell proliferation, differentiation, and maturation, and 2) "functional" regulations mostly at the adult stage, and typically in the nervous system. In addition, stathmin is also phylogenetically well conserved at least in vertebrates. Together, these observations support the proposed ubiquitous nature and general importance of stathmin in biological regulations.

A single cDNA encodes two isoforms of stathmin, a developmentally regulated neuron-enriched phosphoprotein

Stathmin, a 19-kDa neuron-enriched soluble phosphoprotein, has been recently proposed as an ubiquitous intracellular relay for the diverse extracellular signals regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and functions through various second messenger pathways (Sobel, A., Boutterin, M.C., Beretta, L., Chneiweiss, H., Doye, V., and peyro-Saint-Paul, H. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 3765-3772). Internal sequences of the protein from rat brain were determined after purification by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, electrotransfer onto Immobilon, and in situ proteolysis. Oligonucleotide mixtures based on these sequences were used to clone a cDNA for stathmin from a rat PC12 cell lambda gt 10 library. The deduced amino acid sequence reveals partial homologies with the coiled coil structural regions of several intracellular matrix phosphoproteins. Using this cDNA as a probe, we show that the expression of stathmin mRNA parallels that of the protein during brain ontogenesis, reaching a maximum at the neonatal stage. In vitro translation of the derived cRNA yielded all the known molecular forms of stathmin, namely its alpha and beta isoforms in their unphosphorylated and phosphorylated states. Thus, a single cDNA codes for both biologically relevant isoforms of the protein, indicating that they differ by co- or post-translational modifications.

Effects of ovine prolactin in infant rats

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of ovine prolactin (oPRL) on body growth and the content of RNA, DNA and protein in liver, brain and heart muscle in rat pups. Suckling rats were daily injected from 3rd to 28th day of life with 1 microgram of oPRL/g body weight. Our results show that oPRL administration evoked higher body weight gain up to 8th day of life (p less than 0.05). There was significant (p less than 0.05) increase of DNA liver content and significant decrease (p less than 0.001) of RNA/DNA ratio in the hepatocytes. The findings suggest that prolactin influences growth rate of rats in the early postnatal period of life.

Plasma insulin and glucose in suckling and ruminating lambs after peroral administration of glucose and propionate

An identical volume of water solutions: 1) glucose 5.56 mmol/kg b.w., or 2) sodium propionate 5.56 mmol/kg b.w., was given perorally to sucklings (6 weeks) and weaned lambs (10 weeks). The maximum increase of glycemia and the highest insulin concentrations were observed 60-90 min after glucose administration in both groups of lambs. Plasma insulin of suckling and weaned lambs was increased within 60 min after propionate infusion. It can be concluded that propionate is a potent insulin secretagogue in sucklings as well as in ruminating ones. However, glucose is probably the most effective stimulus for insulin release in both groups of lambs.

Effects of bovine growth hormone in suckling lambs

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of bovine growth hormone (bGH) on body growth of suckling lambs. Suckling Merino lambs (fed on milk replacer from 4th day of life) were daily injected from 10th to 38th day of life with 80 micrograms bGH/kg b.w. Only insignificant increase of body weight was observed after 4 weeks of GH treatment. After 31st day of life body weight gain in the experimental lambs was significantly higher. It can be concluded that bGH increases body weight gain of lambs in 2nd month of life. It is probable that growth rate of sucklings is limited only by biological and biochemical capabilities of the organism and it can be hardly influenced by exogenous hormonal manipulation.

Effects of bovine growth hormone in infant rats from reduced litters

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of growth hormone on body growth and the content of RNA, DNA and protein in liver, brain and heart muscle in rat pups from reduced nests. Suckling rats raised in litters of 4 youngs were daily injected from 3rd to 28th day of life with 1 microgram of bGH/g body weight. Our results show that GH administration evoked higher body weight gain and increase of tail length after 23rd day of life. There was significant increase of liver content of nucleic acids and protein. This GH-responsivity of pups from reduced nests might be related to differences in their metabolic profile and accelerated somatic and psychosocial development in comparison to normal youngs.

Food intake of infant rats after intraperitoneal administration of insulin

The effects of intraperitoneal insulin on the food intake have been determined in infant rats up to weaning. It was found that intraperitoneal (IP) insulin reduced the milk intake of 13 and 17 day-old pups for three hours after treatment. In 5, 9 and 24 day-old pups the food intake was not significantly changed after IP insulin administration. Only in 28 day-old rat pups IP insulin induced an increase of food intake. Since subcutaneously (SC) administered insulin gave rise to short-term hyperphagia in 24 day-old rat pups we assessed the effects of SC versus IP insulin on the blood glucose level. Blood glucose was lower 3 hours after SC administration compared to the IP route. Results indicate that IP insulin causes a short lasting hypoglycaemia and consequently IP insulin increases food intake only after the 28th day of life.

RNA content of neurons in the ventromedial nuclei and lateral hypothalamic area relative to feeding status

The total RNA content of hypothalamic and cortex neurons in relation to the feeding status of adult male Wistar rats was studied. Experimental conditions including food deprivation (12 and 24 hours) and relative satiation (short-term refeeding, glucose or glycerol administration) changed in different ways the total RNA content of the neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei (VMH) and in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) with respect to fasting or satiety. Only the long-term absence of food (24 hours) significantly increased the total RNA content of the VMH cells, while the RNA content of the LHA neurons significantly decreased in both the 12 and 24 hr fasted rats compared with those fed ad lib. The sixty minute free access to food after 12 or 24 hours of fasting fully reversed these changes. The short-term food intake significantly increased the RNA content of the LHA cells of the 12 and 24 hr fasted animals while the total RNA content of the VMH neurons significantly decreased only in the 24 hr fasted rats. The effect of glucose and glycerol administration on the RNA content of the LHA neurons (in 12 hr fasted rats) was similar to the effect of refeeding. One hour after giving glucose (1 g/kg b.wt.) or glycerol (300 mg/kg b.wt.) the total RNA content in the LHA neurons significantly increased. No changes in RNA content were observed in the neurons of the cortex when comparing the experimental and control rats. The results demonstrated the close relationship between the RNA content of the hypothalamic neurons and the feeding status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Regulation of milk intake in young ruminants]

We studied the influence of the three main nutritive components of milk - saccharides, fat and amino acids - on milk intake in suckling lambs and on the role of insulin as a key metabolic hormone for the regulation of milk intake. The intake was slowed down after p.o. administration of milk fat (p less than 0.05), after i. v. administration of methionine (p less than 0.001) and after p. o. administration of glucose, lactose (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.001) and sorbitol (p less than 0.001). After i. v. administration of glycerol, lysine, threonine, arginine, glucose, and i. v. and p. o. administration of galactose the intake of milk did not change significantly (p greater than 0.05). The findings indicate that the short-time regulation of milk intake in suckling ruminant animals is not subjected to the specific effect of some of the milk components. Regarding the metabolic effects, the problem concerns the speed of resorption of easily metabolizable sources of energy from the digestive system to the liver and to the whole body. Neutral Zn-insulin administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 4 U X kg-1 increased the milk intake (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.001), in 8 to 22 hours after the administration only when the animals were on the low-fat milk diet (5.9%-11% fat in dry matter). We assume that the long-range hyperphagy can be related mainly with the fast metabolizing of energy-rich substances (glucose) into the body stores (glycogen, fat) accompanied by subsequent hormonal changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Food intake control and RNA content of hypothalamic neurons in infant rats

The influence of glycerol, glucose and lysine administration on the total RNA content in individual neurons of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and lateral hypothalamus area (LHA) in infant male rats was studied. Sixty minutes after administration, the total RNA content of the VMH neurons significantly decreased--from 13th day after glycerol and from 17th day after the glucose and lysine administration. The total RNA content of LHA neurons significantly increased from 17th day after glycerol and glucose and on 25th day after lysine administration. The noted changes of the RNA content, and especially the changes of the RNA proportion in these hypothalamic regions are well corresponding with the onset of the hypophagic effect of glycerol, glucose and amino acids in infant rats. The oppositional changes of the RNA content of VMH and LHA neurons are in conformity with the different role of these hypothalamic centers in food intake control.

Effect of subcutaneous and intraperitoneal administration of insulin on the milk intake of suckling lambs

Intraperitoneal or subcutaneous injections of Neutral Zn-insulin (4 U/kg b.w.) were given to suckling lambs. Milk intake was significantly increased 8 h and 22 h after intraperitoneal insulin administration; the subcutaneous injection was ineffective. Insulin levels and serum glucose changes were similar in both experimental groups, but we observed significant decrease in total lipids /2 1/2 h, 5 1/2 h), a rise in serum triglycerides (7 3/4 h) and increased serum thyroxine levels (5 1/2 h, 7 3/4 h) after intraperitoneal insulin administration. It is assumed, that intraperitoneal (not subcutaneous) insulin evokes specific biological responses resulting in long lasting hyperphagy in suckling lambs.

The effect of androgen and estrogen on food intake and body weight in rats--age dependency

The age dependency of changes in food intake and body weight in Wistar rats after androgen and estrogen treatment was followed. The 5 age categories of female rats were treated by androgen and the 6 age categories of male rats were treated by estrogen. The androgen treatment induced an expressive increase in weight gains in all age categories of female rats, except the 1st (after birth), during 25 days from the beginning of the experiments. The increase of weight gains resulted in significantly higher body weight on the 25th day of experiments in the experimental rats. The differences in weight gains among the individual experimental groups after androgen treatment show a rising effect with the age of the animals. There was only a slight increase of food intake in the older experimental groups during the androgen treatment. The estrogen treatment in male rats induced an expressive decrease in weight gains in the 2nd age category (after weaning) and losses of body weight in older experimental groups during 20 days from the beginning of the treatment. The body weight of experimental animals on the 20th day was significantly lower than in the control ones. The losses of the body weight after the estrogen treatment rose with the age of the rats. The food intake was also considerably decreased by estrogen treatments, approximately equally in all experimental groups. The comparison of magnitude of the changes in food intake and body weight after androgen and estrogen treatments indicates that the primary effect of these hormones is their anabolic or catabolic activity which secondarily induces the changes in food intake and its utilization.