Hexachlorobenzene accumulated by dams during pregnancy is transferred to suckling rats during early lactation

The distribution of ingested stable, lipophilic environmental pollutants in dams and their transfer to fetuses and sucklings were investigated in rats fed a diet containing a small amount (35.1 nmol/100 g diet) of hexachlorobenzene (HCB). In the first experiment, we examined the distribution of HCB in pregnant and nursing rats fed the HCB diet during pregnancy and lactation. Its transfer to their sucklings was also studied. On d 16 after parturition, HCB concentrations in the blood, and subcutaneous and perirenal fat of nursing rats fed the HCB diet during pregnancy and lactation were approximately 1/3.5, 1/15 and 1/2.8, respectively, those of pregnant rats fed the HCB diet only during pregnancy. On the other hand, the HCB concentrations in the blood, and subcutaneous and perirenal fat of sucklings were approximately 6, 29 and 15 times higher than those of their dams. Therefore, a large amount of HCB apparently was transferred from dams to suckling pups through the milk. In the second experiment, we fed dams the HCB diet only during pregnancy and determined the distribution of HCB in the pregnant rats and fetuses as well as in the nursing rats and suckling pups. The estimated amount of HCB transferred from a dam to her fetuses corresponded to about 0.39% of her total intake during pregnancy. The amount of HCB detected in nursing rats on d 16 after parturition was much smaller than that in the pregnant rats, suggesting that a large proportion of the HCB that accumulated during pregnancy disappeared from the organs and fat tissues during lactation. The HCB concentration in the stomach contents of suckling pups fed by the dams who had consumed HCB before parturition was highest on d 2 after birth and decreased gradually during the 16 d after birth. In the blood, liver and fat tissues of suckling rats, the HCB concentrations increased until 7 d after birth and then decreased gradually. We conclude that the HCB that accumulated in dams during pregnancy was transferred to their suckling pups through milk in the early days after birth.

A facilitatory effect on the induction of long-term potentiation in vivo by chronic administration of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides against catalytic subunits of calcineurin

A rise in Ca2+ concentration at postsynaptic sites provides an initial step in inducing both the long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. LTP induction requires the activation of Ca(2+)-sensitive protein kinases following the rise in Ca2+. By contrast, the activity of protein phosphatase(s) appears to be critical to induce LTD. Here we demonstrate that inhibition of the synthesis of calcineurin A alpha and A beta, catalytic subunits of Ca2+/calmodulin- (CaM) dependent protein phosphatase, reduces the threshold of induction for commissural-CA1 LTP in anesthetized rats. In rats administered antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) against calcineurin A alpha and A beta intraventricularly for 7 days, a brief tetanic stimulation to the CA3 region, which in the control case was below threshold for the induction of LTP, now produced a long-lasting increase in both the EPSP slope and the amplitude of population spike recorded from the commissural-CA1 pathway. Western blot analysis of calcineurin showed that the threshold reduction was accompanied by a selective decrease in the protein levels in the hippocampus. Thus our study provides direct evidence that calcineurin per se has an antagonizing role in LTP induction. Complementary experiments with the selective calcineurin inhibitor, FK506, also showed the reduction of LTP threshold in a dose-dependent manner. These results, together with previous studies, support the hypothesis that the quantitative phosphorylation level of critical intracellular proteins determines whether the synaptic efficacy will increase or decrease after the activity-dependent rise in postsynaptic Ca2+.

The origin of SL family mice

The origin of SL family mice was studied by analyzing 100 microsatellite loci, the major histocompatibility complex, the Mx gene, murine leukemia provirus, and mammary tumor provirus. From the genetic profile of family members and their history, we assumed the existence of a proto-SL mouse, an ancestor of all SL family members. Many alleles were contributed to the proto-SL by the ancestors related to strains A2G and CF#1, and/or some wild mice. Among four existing family members, SL/Am and SL/Ni mice were almost identical and presumably closest to the proto-SL. The SL/Kh mouse was derived from a cross of the proto-SL and AKR mice, because SL/Kh mice inherited a considerable number of genes from AKR mice, the most outstanding of which were those of the provirus Emv-11 and Thy-1.1. The SL/QDj mice seemed to be a recombinant inbred strain between SL/Am and SL/Kh mice, because their alleles at all 100 microsatellite loci were shared by SL/Am or SL/Kh strains or both. All four SL family members shared the major histocompatibility complex haplotype q.

Changes in activity, antigenicity, and molecular size of rice bran trypsin inhibitor by in vitro digestion

Rice bran trypsin inhibitor (RBTI) was digested by pepsin alone or by pepsin and pancreatin with or without bovine serum albumin (BSA) to clarify the changes in trypsin inhibitory activity, apparent antigenicity, and molecular size of RBTI. In vitro pepsin digestion of RBTI in the absence of BSA caused the gradual loss of the trypsin inhibitory activity and antigenicity. This was mostly due to a progressive degradation of the native 14.5-kDa RBTI molecule to small molecular mass products. The presence of BSA in the digestion mixture prevented the RBTI degradation and was accompanied with a considerable protection of the activity and antigenicity. Similar results were also given by in vitro pepsin-pancreatin digestion. These findings suggest that RBTI may be present in its active form in the gastrointestinal tract when fed to animals, especially with a dietary protein.

An assessment of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake with special reference to lipid metabolism in rats

In order to determine the appropriate intake of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA), the potential changes in lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense in serum and tissue as well as the changes in serum lipid levels were examined in rats by giving them diets containing graded levels of purified DHA (0, 1.0, 3.4 and 8.7 energy % in the diets) for 2 weeks. Serum alpha-tocopherol concentration decreased slightly but significantly even at the 1.0 energy %. Liver lipid peroxide levels as assessed by the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value and chemiluminescence intensity augmented at the 3.4 energy % and more, and the alpha-tocopherol content significantly decreased in response to the increase in lipid peroxide levels. In the kidney, a slight but significant increase in TBA value was observed even at 1.0 energy % and higher. All the serum lipid levels as analyzed by total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TG) and phospholipids (PLs) decreased as the dietary DHA level increased. These experimental results suggest that the dietary intake of DHA should be less than 1 energy % to avoid promoting deleterious influences such as serum and tissue lipid peroxidation and to ameliorate serum lipid levels.

Effect of boiled barley-rice-feeding in hypercholesterolemic and normolipemic subjects

Barley contains approximately 10% dietary fiber and is easily cooked with rice, the dominant cereal in Japan, to increase the intake of dietary fiber. This research involved three experiments to examine the influence of barley on blood lipids in human subjects. All subjects received a boiled barley-rice (50/50 w/w mix) supplement two times per day in place of rice for 2 or 4 weeks. In the normolipemic subjects, serum lipids were unaffected by the ingestion of barley for 4 weeks. In twenty hypercholesterolemic men aged 41 +/- 5 years, the ingestion of barley was associated with a significant fall in serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, phospholipids and LDL and VLDL-lipoproteins. In seven mildly hypercholesterolemic women aged 56 +/- 7 years, a significant improvement of serum lipid profiles was observed. The present study suggests the possibility that the ingestion of barley-rice could lower serum lipids in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Purification and characterization of thermostable maltooligosyl trehalose synthase from the thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

A thermostable maltooligosyl trehalose synthase was purified from a cell-free extract of the thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius ATCC 33909 to an electrophoretically homogeneous state by successive column chromatography on Sepabeads FP-DA13, Butyl-Toyopearl 650M, DEAE-Toyopearl 650S, Ultrogel AcA44, and Mono Q. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 74,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a pI of 5.9 by gel isoelectrofocusing. The N-terminal amino acid of the enzyme was methionine. The enzyme showed the highest activity from pH 5.0 to 5.5 and at 75 degrees C, and was stable from pH 4.5 to 9.5 and up to 85 degrees C. The enzyme activity was inhibited by Hg2+ and Cu2+. The Kms of the enzyme for maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose, and short chain amylose (DP 18) were 41.5 mM, 7.1 mM, 5.7 mM, 1.4 mM, and 0.6 mM, respectively.

Purification and characterization of thermostable maltooligosyl trehalose trehalohydrolase from the thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

A thermostable maltooligosyl trehalose trehalohydrolase from the thermoacidophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius ATCC 33909 was purified from a cell-free extract to an electrophoretically pure state by successive column chromatographies on Sepabeads FP-DA13, Butyl-Toyopearl 650M, DEAE-Toyopearl 650S, Toyopearl HW-55S and Ultrogel AcA44. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 59,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a pI of 6.1 by gel isoelectrofocusing. The N-terminal amino acid of the enzyme was methionine. The enzyme showed the highest activity from pH 5.5 to 6.0 and at 75 degrees C, and was stable from pH 5.5 to 9.5 and up to 85 degrees C. The activity was inhibited by Hg2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+. The Km values of the enzyme for maltosyl trehalose, maltotriosyl trehalose, maltotetraosyl trehalose, and maltopentaosyl trehalose were 16.7 mM, 2.7 mM, 3.7 mM, and 4.9 mM, respectively.

Urachal adenocarcinoma accompanied by a large spherical calcified mass

We report a case of urachal adenocarcinoma, accompanied by a large spherical calcified mass adherent to the bladder dome of a 63-year-old man. The patient underwent partial cystectomy including en bloc resection of the urachus, and remains free from the disease after a 32-month follow-up period.

Selective inhibition of gastrulation in the starfish embryo by albuside B, an inosine analogue

External application of 0.2-100 micrograms/ml albuside B inhibits gastrulation of the starfish (Asterina pectinifera) embryo. Treated embryos retain the late blastula morphology with the vegetal plate. However, the vegetal plate is unreactive to soybean agglutinin, a probe for observing the progenitor cells of the archenteron (mesendoderm) in a normal embryo. The effective period of the treatment is limited from 4 to 6 h after fertilization, a period immediately before the onset of blastulation. RNA synthesis is unaffected during the period of sensitivity. The selectivity of the inhibition shows that albuside B may be a useful tool for studying the mechanisms of mesendoderm differentiation.

1-Acetyl-7-deacetylforskolin: a potential non-specific inactive analog of forskolin for estimation of its specific high-affinity binding and adenylyl cyclase stimulation in vitro

Labeled and unlabeled 1-acetyl-7-deacetylforskolin and forskolin were synthesized by acetylation of 7-deacetylforskolin with labeled and unlabeled acetyl chloride. The binding of 1-acetyl[1-acetyl-11C]-7-deacetylforskolin ([11C]1-acetyl-7-deacetylforskolin) and [7-acetyl-11C]forskolin ([11C]forskolin) to rat brain membranes was studied using filtration assay. The [11C]forskolin binding was decreased with an increasing load of unlabeled forskolin, whereas [11C]1-acetyl-7-deacetyl-forskolin binding was always very low, the level of which agreed with that of the non-specific binding in forskolin. However, binding of [7-acetyl-11C]1,9-dideoxyforskolin, which has been used as a non-specific inactive analog of forskolin, had a higher binding ratio than that of the non-specific binding of forskolin. The binding of [11C]forskolin was not affected by an increased load of cold 1-acetyl-7-deacetylforskolin. Forskolin activated adenylyl cyclase (AC) in cultured human endothelial cells, whereas 1-acetyl-7-deacetylforskolin did not. These data show that the 1-acetyl-7-deacetylforskolin lacks specific binding affinity and the ability to stimulate AC, while it has similar physical properties with forskolin. The compound 1-acetyl-7-deacetylforskolin would be a suitable "non-specific inactive analog" of forskolin with which to estimate its specific high-affinity binding capacity and to validate forskolin-specific AC stimulation in vitro.

Fish oil enhances pentachlorobenzene metabolism and reduces its accumulation in rats

To investigate the influence of dietary fats on the metabolism and excretion of pentachlorobenzene (PECB), rats were fed semipurified diets containing soybean oil, lard or fish oil (10 g/100 g diet) for 2 wk. Rats then received a single dose of PECB by intragastric gavage. Blood concentration of pentachlorophenol (PCP), a major metabolite of PECB, was higher after 5 h through d 3 and that of PECB was lower after d 5 in the rats fed fish oil than in rats fed the other fats. After d 5, the highest ratio of PCP/PECB in the liver was seen in the fish oil-fed rats. Furthermore, fish oil intake resulted in a markedly lower concentration of PECB in fat tissues, where a large amount of PECB is typically distributed due to its lipophilic property. These findings indicate that fish oil feeding enhances PECB metabolism, thereby decreasing PECB residues in the body. Fish oil-fed rats had a smaller epididymal fat tissue mass compared with lard- or soybean oil-fed rats. The small mass of the fat tissues apparently limited the accumulation of PECB in those tissues and thus accelerated PECB metabolism in the liver.

Behavioral impairment in radial-arm maze learning and acetylcholine content of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex in aged mice

Age-related changes in spatial learning performance were studied in relation to acetylcholine (ACh) content of brain regions in male aged (28-month-old) and young (5-month-old) mice of BDF1 strain. As there were large individual differences in the spatial performance of aged mice, the aged mice were divided into two subgroups, old A and old B. The old A group included the six best performers out of the 12 aged mice and the old B group included the remaining 6 worst performers. In a radial-arm maze task with 8 baited arms, aged mice in the old B group showed a marked deficit in acquisition performance and habituation to the apparatus. In the more difficult maze task with only 4 baited arms, the aged mice in the old B group exhibited marked impairment both in working memory and reference memory throughout training, whereas the aged mice in the old A group showed deficits in reference memory during the first 20 days of training and working memory during the last 20 days relative to young mice. Neurochemical analysis revealed significant decreases in the ACh content of the hippocampus and striatum in both aged groups, and in the frontal cortex and posterior cortex of the old B group as compared to the young group. Correlational analysis showed significant correlations between learning performance in the spatial task and ACh levels in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, and posterior cortex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Selective inhibition of exoplasmic membrane fusion in echinoderm gametes with jaspisin, a novel antihatching substance isolated from a marine sponge

A specific inhibitor of fertilization of the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus was isolated from the extract of the marine sponge, Jaspis species. Chemical and spectral data of the purified substance, which was designated jaspisin, showed that it is a novel substance with the structure of sodium (E)-5,6-dihydroxystyryl sulfate. Jaspisin at 15 micrograms/ml inhibited exoplasmic fusion of the plasma membrane of acrosome-reacted sperm with the plasma membrane of the egg; it did not affect either the acrosome reaction in sperm or the egg cortical reaction, both of which involve endoplasmic membrane fusion events. When a fertilized egg was cultured in jaspisin, the embryo developed through the mesenchymal blastula stage. However, it was unable to hatch from the fertilization envelope, and spiculogenesis, in which cell-cell fusion of primary mesenchyme cells is involved, was prevented. Jaspisin at 8.6 micrograms/ml inhibited half the activity of hatching enzyme, a kind of Zn(2+)-dependent metalloendoproteinases. Because Zn(2+)-activated metalloendoproteinases are suggested to be involved in both sperm-egg fusion and fusion of primary mesenchyme cells (Lennarz, W.J., and Strittmatter, W.J. (1991) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1071, 149-158), one of the possible explanations of the jaspisin effects is that the sulfate inhibits these cellular events through blockage of Zn(2+)-activated metalloendoproteinases that are involved in membrane fusion processes.

Differential inhibition of eukaryotic DNA polymerases by halenaquinol sulfate, a p-hydroquinone sulfate obtained from a marine sponge

Halenaquinol sulfate, a p-hydroquinone sulfate obtained from a marine sponge, inhibited the activity of eukaryotic DNA polymerases in varying degrees; the Ki values for DNA polymerases, alpha, beta, delta and epsilon were 1.3, 80, 17.5 and 2.0 microM, respectively, whereas it was less effective against E. coli DNA polymerase I. The inhibition occurred competitively with each of dATP and dTTP, but non-competitively with dCTP, dGTP and the template DNA. Thus, halenaquinol sulfate is demonstrated to be a potential inhibitor of DNA polymerases alpha and epsilon, and be a useful tool for analyzing the dNTP binding sites of DNA polymerases.

Marine natural products. XXXIII. Theonellapeptolide IId, a new tridecapeptide lactone from the Okinawan marine sponge Theonella swinhoei

Following the characterization of theonellapeptolides Ia-Ie (2-6), another new tridecapeptide lactone named theonellapeptolide IId (1) was isolated from the Okinawan marine sponge Theonella swinhoei. The structure of 1 has been determined on the bases of chemical and physicochemical examinations which included an HPLC-CD combined analysis of the amino acid composition. Theonellapeptolide IId (1) prevented fertilization of the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus at the concentration of 25 micrograms/ml or greater but did not affect early embryonic development of fertilized eggs up to the gastrula stage.

Viscous indigestible polysaccharides reduce accumulation of pentachlorobenzene in rats

To investigate an effect of indigestible polysaccharides (cellulose as control, sodium alginate, guar gum or lambda-carrageenan) on the accumulation of pentachlorobenzene, male Sprague Dawley rats were fed experimental diets containing 5 g/100 g of these polysaccharides for 2 wk. They were then given orally 80 mumol (20 mg) of pentachlorobenzene along with their respective diets and the residual pentachlorobenzene was determined after 7 d. The ingestion of the viscous indigestible polysaccharides resulted in significantly lower accumulation of pentachlorobenzene in adipose tissue, liver and kidney than that found in rats fed a cellulose diet. Soon (5 h) after pentachlorobenzene administration, its concentration in the blood of rats fed sodium alginate and guar gum was higher than that of rats fed cellulose, but lower in the groups fed all three viscous polysaccharides after d 3. These results indicate that pentachlorobenzene excretion was increased by the ingestion of viscous indigestible polysaccharides. Lower relative weight of adipose tissue, a storage tissue for pentachlorobenzene, was found in the rats fed sodium alginate and guar gum. The lower adipose tissue mass was likely the main contributor to the enhancement of pentachlorobenzene excretion.

Beta-carotene prevents x-ray induction of micronuclei in human lymphocytes

The effects of beta-carotene and ascorbic acid on spontaneous and x-ray-induced appearance of micronuclei (MNs) in human lymphocytes were studied. For 12 d, three groups of healthy volunteers were given beta-carotene-deficient meals containing 100 mg ascorbic acid. There was no supplementation in the first 6 d but, in the last 6 d, the respective groups were given beta-carotene (30 mg), ascorbic acid (300 mg), or placebo. Blood samples were drawn on days 7 and 13 before breakfast, exposed either to x-ray irradiation or left unexposed and were cultured. Lymphocytes containing MNs were then counted. On day 7 the three groups showed comparable MN frequencies. On day 13 lymphocytes containing x-ray-induced MNs became less frequent in the beta-carotene but not the ascorbic acid group. Both before and after the supplementation, the MN frequency of irradiated lymphocytes showed a significant inverse correlation with plasma beta-carotene. These results strongly suggest that beta-carotene protects human lymphocytes from x-ray-induced genetic damage.

Effect of beta-carotene on spontaneous and X-ray-induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells of mice

The effect of beta-carotene on spontaneous and X-ray-induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells of mice was studied. As a source of beta-carotene, dried Dunaliella bardawil (containing 6% beta-carotene) or oil suspension of Dunaliella beta-carotene was used. In Experiment 1, mice were given a basal diet, a 0.5% Dunaliella diet, or a 4% Dunaliella diet for four weeks. In Experiment 2, mice were given an oil suspension of Dunaliella beta-carotene (300 mg/kg body wt) by gavage for seven days while being fed a fat-rich diet. After beta-carotene treatment for the indicated time, spontaneous and X-ray (0.3 Gy, whole-body)-induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells was evaluated in terms of the percentages of micronucleated reticulocytes in their peripheral blood. The beta-carotene treatment slightly lowered the spontaneous and X-ray-induced chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells. Despite the higher doses of beta-carotene, the concentrations of beta-carotene in bone marrow, liver, and serum were much lower than those of vitamin E. In addition, the beta-carotene treatment markedly lowered the concentration of vitamin E in the tissues.

Synthesis and evaluation of (piperidinomethylene)bis(phosphonic acid) derivatives as anti-osteoporosis agents

Some (piperidinomethylene)bis(phosphonic acid) derivatives were prepared and their activity to inhibit a rise in serum calcium induced by parathyroid hormone in thyroparathyroidectomised rats was evaluated. Several (4-alkylidene-, 4,4-dialkyl-, or 4-alkyl-4-halopiperidinomethylene)bis(phosphonic acid) derivatives showed considerable inhibitory activity. But compounds having aromatic and polar substituents such as azido, hydroxy, amino and amido on the piperidine ring were generally inactive. In this study, two 4-alkylidene compounds (8a and 8b) and a 4,4-cyclic dialkyl compound (61) showed potent activity when administered either intravenously or perorally.

Influence of dietary vitamin E on the 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels in rat liver DNA

Rats were fed either a low vitamin E (VE) diet (-VE), a basal VE diet (+VE, 4.5 mg%), or a high VE diet (+VE, 45 mg%) for 7 weeks. VE content, oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxide levels in their livers were measured. When purified lard was used as a dietary fat, VE content decreased in the low VE group to one-thirtieth of that in the basal VE group; in the high VE group it increased to 4.5-fold that in the basal VE group. Corresponding to the VE levels, lipid peroxide levels increased to 2.7-fold in the low VE group and decreased to two-thirds in the high VE group. The level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in DNA, a marker of oxidative DNA damage, was about 0.6 per 10(5) deoxyguanosine in the basal VE group and comparable values were found in the low VE and the high VE groups. When either soybean oil or safflower oil was used as a dietary fat, VE content and lipid peroxide levels in the liver were also markedly changed in both the low VE group and the high VE group. 8-OHdG levels in DNA of the low VE with safflower oil group tended to be higher than that of the basal and high VE groups. However, no significant difference was observed among them. These results suggest that the change in VE has little influence on the level of oxidative DNA damage in the liver.

Endocytosis in Adult Eel Intestine: Immunological Detection of Phagocytic Cells in the Surface Epithelium

This study was undertaken to isolate groups of eel (Anguilla japonica) intestinal cells undergoing active endocytosis in vivo and to localize these cells within the intestinal epithelium. A monoclonal antibody (8F1) of the immunoglobulin M class containing kappa light chains was raised against such endocytic cells. Ninetythree percent of the 8F1-positive cells absorbed fluorescent isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran from the intestinal lumen in vivo during a 30-min incubation, and they retained the ability to absorb dextran in vitro. The 8F1-positive cells constitute about 15% of the whole dissociated, macromolecule-absorbing cells. This suggests that other types of endocytic cells exists in the epithelium. The 8F1-positive cell can internalize fixed Vibrio anguillarum in vivo. Immunohistochemical observations demonstrated that 8F1-positive cells are very few in number and are located exclusively in the surface epithelium of the intestine. Thus these cells may well be specified phagocytic cells, different from those playing a basic nutritional role.

Effects of restricted feeding on the absorption, metabolism, and accumulation of pentachlorobenzene in rats

To investigate the effect of restricted feeding (RF) on the absorption, metabolism, and accumulation of pentachlorobenzene (PECB), rats were fed either ad libitum (AD) or a restricted diet (at 25 or 50% of AD) for 15 days. On the 7th day (day 0), PECB (15 mg/rat) was orally administered. Daily fecal weight and the total amount of PECB excreted into feces were decreased by RF, indicating an increase in PECB absorption due to its prolonged retention in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the amount of PECB excreted was only 4.8% of the dose given to the AD group, and 2.1 and 2.4% of that given to the 50 and 25% restricted diet groups, respectively. The concentrations of PECB and pentachlorophenol, and major metabolite, in blood of the restricted diet groups were higher on day 2 and day 4, while lower on day 6 and day 8 than those of the AD group. On day 8, PECB in liver, kidney, brain, and fat tissue were also lower in the restricted diet groups; the PECB levels in such tissue in the 25 and 50% restricted diet groups were 10-40 and 5-11% of that in the AD group, respectively. These results indicate that PECB metabolism was increased by RF. As PECB is lipophilic, it is most likely that the fat tissue mass, which was markedly decreased by RF, contributed to the enhancement of PECB metabolism. The mechanism seemed to be as follows: as fat tissue mass accumulating PECB decreased, the concentration of PECB in the liver increased, thus the amount of PECB metabolites formed was increased.

Age-related changes in radial-arm maze learning and basal forebrain cholinergic systems in senescence accelerated mice (SAM)

Age-related changes in learning performance and the brain cholinergic system were studied in a senescence accelerated mice-prone series (SAM-P/8) and a senescence accelerated mice-resistant series (SAM-R/1, control) bred under specific pathogen-free conditions. In a radial-arm maze task, SAM-P/8 mice at 4 and 12 months of age showed virtually no significant impairment in working memory or reference memory compared with SAM-R/1 mice at the same age, although they needed more time to complete a trial than SAM-R/1. In contrast, in a passive avoidance task, SAM-P/8 showed a marked age-accelerated deficit in acquisition performance relative to SAM-R/1. Also, SAM-P/8 showed an age-accelerated decrease in locomotion and rearing in an open-field box. At the end of these behavioral tasks, neurochemical analyses showed that there were no differences in the concentrations of acetylcholine (ACh) in the cortex, hippocampus, striatum, midbrain, or cerebellum between SAM-P/8 and SAM-R/1. Although SAM-P/8 mice did not demonstrate any age-accelerated decline in radial-arm maze performance, they showed a normal age-related decline particularly in working memory, equal to that observed in SAM-R/1. Also, ACh levels in the aged groups of SAM-P/8 showed a significant decrease related to normal aging in the hippocampus and striatum, and a slight decrease in the cortex compared to the young group of the same strain. Thus, we found that SAM-P/8 show dissociative effects of aging in spatial learning and passive avoidance performance.

Selective inhibition of membrane fusion events in echinoderm gametes and embryos by halenaquinol sulfate

Halenaquinol sulfate, a hydroquinone sulfate obtained from the sponge Xestospongia sapra, prevented cell membrane fusion events of echinaderm gametes but did not affect early embryonic development of fertilized eggs up to the gastrula stage. However, halenaquinol sulfate inhibited secretion of hatching enzyme, resulting in the formation of gastrulae that were surrounded by the fertilization envelope. Therefore, the use of halenaquinol sulfate offers a unique opportunity to analyze the role of secretory events in complex populations of cells without affecting other cellular functions.

Intercellular transport through a partially denuded arterial endothelial monolayer. Effect of platelets and PGI2

Fluorescein Dextran (FD) was shown to be transported at increased rates through partially denuded endothelial monolayer. Platelet binding to the partially denuded monolayer lowered transport rates to those comparable with intact endothelium. Inhibition of transport by platelet binding was not affected by the addition of isocarbacyclin (a stable derivative of PGI2). This result suggests that adherent platelets at the partial denudation site are sufficient to suppress transport of FD.

Immunological Survey of Planktonic Embryos and Larvae of the Starfish Asterina pectinifera, Obtained from the Sea, Using a Monoclonal Antibody Directed against Egg Polypeptides

A monoclonal antibody, K1, specifically recognizes polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 56 and 58 kDa, in the egg of the starfish Asterina pectinifera. The K1 antibody reacted with extracts prepared from ovaries, oocytes, morulae, blastulae, gastrulae, and bipinnariae. Brachiolariae, testes, pyloric ceca, body walls, and tubefeet did not contain K1-reactive antigenic molecules. Extracts of eggs of the starfish Asterias amurensis and several sea urchin species did not react with the K1 antibody. Among the members of the genus Asterina, extracts of brachiolariae of A. batheri and A. minor were not reactive, whereas blastulae and brachiolariae of A. pseudoexigua pacifica did contain an antigenic component. Unlike the antigenic peptides in A. pectinifera eggs, the apparent molecular mass of the antigen molecule in embryos and larvae of A. pseudoexigua pacifica was 41 kDa, which represents a remarkable phylogenetic variation of antigen molecules. Using the K1 antibody, we have developed an assay system that detects embryos and larvae of A. pectinifera in complex mixtures of biological specimens obtained from the sea.

Transplantation of ventral forebrain cholinergic neurons to the hippocampus ameliorates impairment of radial-arm maze learning in rats with AF64A treatment

Two types of cholinergic neurons were transplanted into the hippoccampus of adult rats chemically damaged by lateral ventricular administration of AF64A, a cholinergic neurotoxin, and the effects were compared with respect to their ability to reinnervate the hippocampus and to repair behavioral deficit. Pieces of brain tissue containing the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) or the striatum were taken for grafting from 17-day rat fetuses. About 3 months after transplantation, the rats with bilateral NBM grafts showed significant amelioration in radial-arm maze performance and habituation to a novel environment in an open field box, although they had not recovered to the control level. In rats with NBM grafts that showed a good performance, there were surviving grafts and many ingrowths of AChE-positive fibers in the hippocampus. By contrast, rats with striatal grafts showed hardly any significant improvement in these behavioral measures. The AChE staining revealed poor outgrowth of the striatal grafts into the hippocampus. These results indicate that grafting of NBM cholinergic neurons, which are anatomically similar to septal neurons, into the hippocampus produces a partial restorative effect on the cognitive impairment associated with hypofunction of the septohippocampal system.

Effect of viscous indigestible polysaccharides on pancreatic-biliary secretion and digestive organs in rats

Effects of viscous indigestible polysaccharides on the pancreas exocrine function were investigated in growing rats. Rats were fed a nonfiber diet or a diet containing approximately 5% of one of the following fibers: apple pectin, lambda-carrageenan, locust bean gum, gum xanthan, guar gum or sodium (Na) alginate. Pancreatic-bile secretion was found to be elevated in rats fed for 2 wk the highly viscous polysaccharides, sodium alginate, locust bean gum, gum xanthan and guar gum. The polysaccharides may have interfered with the digestion and absorption of nutrients, resulting in a decreased digestibility and an enlargement of digestive organs. When alginic acid and calcium alginate, insoluble polysaccharides that did not contribute to viscosity, were given to rats, they had no effect on pancreatic and biliary secretion compared with sodium alginate. The results demonstrate that consumption of viscous indigestible polysaccharides leads to changes in the exocrine pancreatic-biliary function and may depress the process of digestion and absorption. Rats may compensate for the inefficiency of digestion and absorption with a hyperplasia/hypertrophy of digestive organs and an increased secretion of digestive juice.

Blocking of cytotoxic T-cell function of MOLF/Ei mice by anti-Ly 35.1 monoclonal antibody

Ly 35.1 antigen is an alloantigen expressed only on T cells of Mus musculus molossinus-derived inbred strains. Previous findings indicated that the genetic locus coding for Ly 35 antigen was closely linked to Ly 2/3 on chromosome 6 and that epitopes detected by Ly 2.1 and Ly 35.1 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were closely associated, as shown by binding inhibition assay. In this study, we examined the blocking effects of anti-Ly 2.1 and anti-Ly 35.1 mAb on cytotoxic T-cell function of MOLF/Ei mice generated against BALB/c. MOLF/Ei cytotoxicity was blocked by Ly 35.1 mAb, but not by anti-Ly 2.1 mAb. Additional tests showed that cytotoxicity was blocked by Ly 3.1 mAb, but not Ly 3.2 or Ly 2.2 mAb. These results suggested that MOLF/Ei mice express Ly 3.1, but not Ly 2.1 antigen at a functional level, and that Ly 35.1 may be a functional epitope of Ly 2 antigen in the MOLF/Ei strain.

Transplantation of septal cholinergic neurons to the hippocampus improves memory impairments of spatial learning in rats treated with AF64A

Embryonic septal neurons were transplanted into damaged hippocampus in adult rats which had received lateral ventricular administration of AF64A, a cholinergic neurotoxin. About 3 months after transplantation, the rats with bilateral septal grafts showed significant improvement in the radial maze and T-maze tasks. Many ingrowths of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive fibers originating from the grafts were observed in the hippocampus of the rats which showed good performance in these learning tasks. These results indicate that transplantation of septal cholinergic neurons into the AF64A-treated hippocampus may induce at least partial recovery in learning tasks believed to involve the hippocampus.

Recovery of hippocampal cholinergic activity by transplantation of septal neurons in AF64A treated rats

Embryonic septal neurons were transplanted into the hippocampus of adult rats which had received lateral-ventricular administration of AF64A, a cholinergic neurotoxin, and the effects on hippocampal cholinergic activity were studied. One week after AF64A administration, we injected dissociated septal cell suspension into the dorsal hippocampus, unilaterally. About 3 months after the transplantation, acetylcholine (ACh)-rich septal grafts formed extensive acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive fibers into the host hippocampus, recovering choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) level only in the grafted side. These results indicate that septal implants can produce a partial recovery of the cholinergic activity in the chemically damaged hippocampus.

RNA synthesis in starfish embryos: developmental consequences of its inhibition by formycin

Embryos of the starfish Asterina pectinifera were examined with regard to their ability to undergo the early events of embryonic development in the presence of formycin, an analogue of adenosine and a reported inhibitor of RNA synthesis. It was shown that in normal embryos the pool of ribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates increased during the period of blastula formation. The increase of the UTP pool was blocked nearly completely by 25 micrograms/ml formycin, and that of the CTP pool was inhibited partially by the same concentration of the drug. On the other hand, the pools of ATP and GTP were the same for both control and formycin-treated embryos. The development of embryos cultured in the presence of 25 micrograms/ml formycin stopped at the early blastula stage. Addition of 100 micrograms/ml each of uridine and cytidine to cultures of embryos that had been placed in 25 micrograms/ml formycin at the onset of blastulation allowed gastrulation to occur, suggesting that the developmental arrest produced by formycin is due primarily to the inhibition of pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthesis.

Mouse Ly-31.1 is an alloantigenic determinant of alkaline phosphatase predominantly expressed in the kidney and bone

The mouse lymphocyte surface alloantigen, Ly-31, defined by monoclonal antibody N1.10 (IgG2b,k) and controlled by a gene locus closely linked to the Akp-2 locus on chromosome 4, was biochemically investigated. By employing a quantitative immunoassay system, it was found that the Ly-31.1-specific antibody detected an allotypic determinant of mouse alkaline phosphatase. Ly-31.1, i.e., mouse alkaline phosphatase, was expressed predominantly in kidney and bone and was also detected in placenta, lung, and testis. Concerning tumor cell lines, they varied in the amount of antigen present, with both T and B lymphoid lineages selectively possessing the antigen. In normal lymphoid tissues, lesser amounts of antigen were detected. The binding of mouse alkaline phosphatase to Ly-31.1-specific monoclonal antibodies was specific in nature. The Ly-31.1 antigen was immunoprecipitated from the lysates of surface-radiolabeled YAC-1 moloney leukemia cells, and appeared as a single band of about 78,000 under both reduced and nonreduced conditions on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, treatment of tumor cell lines with phosphatidylinositol-specific-phospholipase C resulted in the removal of Ly-31 antigen from the cell surface. These results suggest that a gene cluster containing the Ly-31 and Akp-2 loci which control the alkaline phosphatase is formed on mouse chromosome 4. The Ly-31 antigen is the first enzyme demonstrated to be a lymphocyte surface alloantigen.

Biochemical similarity of Ly-19, Ly-32, and Lyb-2 alloantigens encoded in the gene cluster on mouse chromosome 4

Mouse lymphocyte alloantigens Ly-19 and Ly-32 are controlled by the genes tightly linked to the Lyb-2 locus on chromosome 4. Despite the similarity in mouse strain distribution patterns, Ly-19 and Ly-32 antigens which have been detected on both B- and T-cell lineages are distinct from Lyb-2 antigen whose expression is restricted to the B cells. In this report, the close linkage of these three loci was confirmed by the typings of three sets of recombinant inbred mice including BXD, CXS, and OXA. Furthermore, the biochemical characterization of these Lyb-2-linked proteins, i.e., Ly-19, Ly-32, and Lyb-2, demonstrated their similarities on a molecular level. Two polypeptides of 45,000 and 95,000 were the components of these three alloantigens. Furthermore, sequential immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that the three alloantigenic determinants were located on the same molecular components. These findings may provide insight into the complexities and functional roles of Lyb-2 gene-cluster products.

Adenosine induces dormancy in starfish blastulae

External application of 50 micrograms ml-1 adenosine inhibits development of the starfish Asterina pectinifera at the 256-cell stage when all the embryonic cells differentiate to epithelial cells. Intracellular concentration of adenosine in the adenosine-treated embryo is 2.7 times higher than those of the normal embryo whereas the contents of ATP, ADP, AMP and adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate are the same for both embryos. Adenosine causes more than 95% reduction in the rate of protein, DNA and RNA syntheses. By returning the embryo to normal sea water, macromolecular synthesis restarts and the embryo develops to the bipinnaria stage.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies detecting disialogangliosides on mouse and human T lymphomas

Six monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (4 IgG3 and 2 IgM) were produced by hybridomas obtained from A/J mice immunized with EL4(C57BL/6 derived-T lymphoma). They were found to react with antigens expressed on both mouse and human T-lymphomas but not on B lymphomas or normal cells. All of these antibodies reacted with the disialoganglioside GD2, GalNAc beta I----4(NeuAc alpha 2----8NeuAc alpha 2----3)Gal beta I----4Glc-Cer, by 3 different assay systems including the immune adherence inhibition test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and enzyme immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography. The binding specificities of these MAbs to disialogangliosides differed. Four MAbs (AI-201, AI-287, AI-410, and AI-425) showed restricted specificities, detecting only GD2, whereas the other 2 (AI-245 and AI-267) had a broader specificity, recognizing GD2, GD3, and GDlb. No evidence was obtained for the presence of the antigenic epitope in glycoproteins of mouse and human tumor cells. The ganglioside content of EL4 was low in comparison with that of M14 (a human melanoma cell line).

Different reactivities of monoclonal antibodies to ganglioside lactones

Six murine monoclonal antibodies were found to react with ganglioside GD2 lactone as well as purified ganglioside GD2. However, the reactivities of these antibodies to various ganglioside lactones were found to differ from each other. Four antibodies only reacted with GD2 lactones, while the other two cross-reacted with lactones of other gangliosides such as GD1b and GT1b.

Coupled transcription-translation of silkworm cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus injected into oocytes of the frog, Xenopus laevis

The cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, contains a ten-segmented, double-stranded RNA genome and five species of polypeptides, V1 (Mr 146,000), V2 (Mr 140,000), V3 (Mr 128,000)), V4 (Mr 62,000), and V5 (Mr 32,000). The virus contains an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase that transcribes the duplex genome RNA to form mRNA either in the infected animals or under appropriate conditions in vitro. We co-microinjected the virus, [alpha-32P]GTP and actinomycin D into oocytes of the frog, Xenopus laevis, and found that at least eight species of mRNA were formed in the oocytes. Virus-injected oocytes were labeled with [35S]methionine and cell extracts were treated with rabbit anti-cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus immunoglobulin G. Analysis of the immunoprecipitates by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that V1, V2, and V3 were produced in the virus-injected oocytes whereas V4 and V5 were not. By injecting the separated double-stranded genome segments immediately after heat-denaturation into oocytes, it was found that V1 was coded for by segment 1 with a chain length of 4.2 kilobase pairs, V2 by segment 2 or 3, whose chain lengths are both 4.0 kilobase pairs, and V3 by segment 4 with a chain length of 3.2 kilobase pairs. These results demonstrate that the Xenopus oocyte is a very useful system for the coupled transcription-translation of double-stranded RNA viruses.

Effect of PGI2 on transcellular transport of fluorescein dextran through an arterial endothelial monolayer

The effects of prostacyclin (PGI2) and stable derivatives of PGI2, such as isocarbacyclin (PGI2 deriv. (A] and isocarbacyclin methyl ester (PGI2 deriv. (B)), on junctional transport of fluorescein dextran (FD) through cultured porcine arterial endothelial cells were investigated. These PGI2S inhibited the transcellular transport dose-dependently. After the elimination of PGI2, its inhibitory effect persisted for at least 1 hr. A good correlation was found between increase of cAMP and the potency of inhibition. Increase of cAMP after PGI2 treatment seemed to be involved in the inhibition of FD transport.

Sequential instillation therapy with mitomycin C and adriamycin for superficial bladder tumors

From October 1983 to September 1985, 84 patients with superficial bladder tumor (Ta, Tl, Tis) were treated with sequential instillation of mitomycin C (MMC) and adriamycin (ADM). Doses of 20 mg MMC on day 1 and 40 mg ADM on day 2 were instilled into the bladder and retained for at least 2 h; this was repeated once a week for 5 consecutive weeks. Patients who achieved complete response (CR), were randomized and underwent prophylactic treatment taking the form of either intermittent instillation of MMC or daily oral administration of 5-fluorouracil. Of 79 evaluable patients, 72 (91%) had received prior treatment for superficial bladder tumors, 69 (87%) had high-grade tumors, and 18 (23%) had non-papillary Tis. The overall response rate was 68%, made up of CR in 43 patients (54%) and partial response (PR) in 11 (14%). Patients with either five or more tumors or tumors larger than 1 cm showed a significantly lower response rate than those with fewer than five tumors and tumors smaller than 1 cm, respectively. There was no correlation between tumor growth pattern, tumor grade and response rate, though non-papillary Tis appeared to respond better than papillary tumors. A history of prior instillation therapy or of toxicity to this treatment had no significant influence on the response rate. Although no systemic toxicity was observed, 62 patients (74%) experienced cystitis and the treatment had to be discontinued within 4 weeks in 13 of 33 cases with severe symptoms. The preliminary conclusion of prophylactic treatment was that intermittent instillation of MMC was superior to 5-FU medication in reducing the recurrence rate for at least 2 years after the treatment.