Decrease of mast cells in W/Wv mice and their increase by bone marrow transplantation

Production of tissue mast cells was evaluated in genetically anemic mice of W/Wv genotype and was found to be abnormal. In the skin of adult W/Wv mice the number of mast cells/cm was less than 1% of the number observed in the congeneic +/+ mice. No mast cells were detectable in other tissues of the W/Wv mice. After transplantation of bone marrow cells from +/+ mice the number of mast cells in the skin, stomach, caecum, and mesentery of the W/Wv mice increased to levels similar to those of the +/+ mice. These results show that the W/Wv mouse is a useful tool for the investigations concerning the physiologic roles and the origin of mast cells.

Development of haematopoietic colonies on the macrophage layer formed in the peritoneal cavity of S1/S1d mice

The colony-forming ability of haematopoietic cells was examined on the macrophage layer formed in the peritoneal cavity of S1/S1d mice. The bone marrow cells of the congenic +/+ mice formed many macroscopic colonies on the macrophage layer of the S1/S1d mice although they did not form macroscopic colonies in the spleens of the same S1/S1d recipients. The size and the differentiation pattern of colonies on the macrophage layer of the S1/S1d mice were comparable to those of the colonies on the macrophage layer of the +/+ mice. There are two possible explanations for these results: (a) The microenvironmental defect of the S1/S1d mice has a more prominent effect on the development of spleen colonies than that of macrophage-layer colonies because 'Steel' locus may not be expressed significantly in the peritoneal macrophages or (b) because the cells that make colonies on the macrophage layer may be more differentiated cells than the multipotential stem cells that make colonies in the spleen.

Development of hematopoietic spleen colonies in nonirradiated genetically normal mice

The question as to whether prior irradiation or injection of cytotoxic drugs is essential for the development of spleen colonies was examined in genetically normal mice. Mixtures of lymph node and bone marrow cells from C57BL mice were injected into (C57BL X CBA-T6T6) F1 hybrid mice without pretreatment. Hematopoietic nodules were observed in the spleens of F1 hybrid mice killed 18 days after injection. The average number of nodules increased linearly with increased numbers of injected bone marrow cells. Hematopoietic stem cells (CFU-S) and dividing cells in the nodules were shown to be of C57BL origin. Histologic examination showed that erythroid cell colonies predominated over granulocytic cell colonies. These results suggest that any kind of treatment that causes the depletion of CFU-S in the spleen of hosts would provide a suitable environment for the production of colonies by transplanted CFU-S.

A study of hypertension: participation of central adrenaergic mechanism on the angiotensin II-induced hypertension

I. Interactions of angiotensin II and norepinephrine in the rat hypothalamus and other brainstem were studied by intraventricular perfusion or/and intravenous administration. (1) Intravenous administration of angiotensin reduced the hypothalamus norepinephrine content. (2) Intraventricularly perfused angiotensin reduced the hypothalamus norepinephrine but did not alter that in other parts of brainstem. Hypothalamus norepinephrine was reduced more by intravenous administration of angiotensin than by intraventricularly perfused angiotensin. II. The involvements of adrenergic mechanism in the central pressor effect of angiotensin II were studied through observation of blood pressure changes following injection of angiotensin II, phentolamine and propranolol into the rabbit lateral ventricle of rabbit brain.(1) Intraventricular administration of phentolamine suppressed the central mediated pressor respons of angiotensin. (2) Simultaneous intraventricular administration of propranolol enhanced the angiotensin pressor effect in anesthetized rabbits.

Sertoli cell junctions in the germ cell-free testis of the congenic mouse

Intercellular junctions between the Sertoli cells in the germ cell-free testis of the congenic mouse were studied during ontogeny. In freeze-fracture replicas, these junctions are characterized by a great number of parallel occluding junctions, in which the particles are preferentially located in the center of the grooves in the E face. These particles appear to be arranged in discrete rows in both P and E fracture faces. In the initial stages of junction formation, large gap junctions with hexagonally packed particle aggregates and particle-free regions are observed. In the later stages, short segments of the occluding junctions are found associated with gap junctions. In later stages, the gap junctions diminish in size and number. These junctions are quite similar to those between Sertoli cells in the normal mouse and rat reported previously. The Sertoli cell junctions develop in the absence of the spermatogenic cells of this congenic mouse.

Effect of angiotensin II on noradrenaline content in the rat hypothalamus

1. Intravenous administration of angiotensin II reduced the adrenaline content, increased the catechol-O-methyltransferase activity, and decreased the monoamine oxidase activity of rat hypothalamus. 2. Intraventricularly administrated angiotensin II reduced the noradreanline content to a smaller extent. 3. The change produced by intravenous administration of angiotensin might be indirectly caused by a response to angiotensin.

Effects of BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccines on immune responses in mice. I. Possible effect of BCG on helper T cells

The effects of killed and living BCG on antibody production against hamster erythrocytes (HRBC) and the 2, 4, 6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) group were studied in SL mice. Killed and living BCG, each in doses of 0.008 mg, 0.08 mg, 0.8 mg and 8 mg per mouse, were intravenously inoculated 7 days prior to primary immunization with HRBC. Secondary immunization was carried out 28 days later with TNP-HRBC. Anti-HRBC and anti-TNP antibodies were estimated by a hemagglutination test. The results showed that pretreatment with killed or living BCG enhanced the antibody production against both HRBC and TNP. Comparing the effects of these two BCG preparations, it was noted that killed BCG augmented the anti-HRBC antibody production more effectively than living BCG. In regard to the anti-TNP antibody production, living BCG exhibited a greater augmenting effect than killed BCG. This difference in the modes of action of killed and living BCG was remarkable when two groups given 8 mg of killed and living BCG were compared. In addition, it was shown that living BCG at a dose as high as 8 mg was able to augment the anti-TNP antibody production, even in the absence of preceding immunization with HRBC.

Progesterone metabolism in vitro by testes from germ cell-free mice of different ages

Androgen biosynthesis in vitro by testes from (C57BL X WN)F1-WV/Wn (congenitally germ cell-free) and +/+ (normal) mice of different ages was investigated using [3H]progesterone as substrate. At all ages examined, the seminiferous tubules of the WV/Wn genotype were largely devoid of germ cells. However, the age dependent pattern of progesterone metabolism by germ cell-free testes were similar to that by normal testes. Conversion of progesterone to 5alpha-reduced 17-hydroxy-C21 and C19-steroids such as 3alpha,17alpha-dihydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one, androsterone, 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol and 5alpha-androstane-3beta,17beta-diol was high in testes of 28- and 35-day-old mice of both groups. However, these 5alpha-reduced metabolities were found to be formed in very small amounts or not formed at all in testes of 20-, 120- and 150-day-old mice of both groups, in which conversion of progesterone to 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone was observed. It appears that in the absence of germinal cells, there is a normal increase and reduction of 5alpha-reductase activity in one or more classes of remaining cells during maturation of the testis.

The response of the renal vasculature to prostaglandin E in man

Fifty micrograms of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) dissolved in 10 ml of physiologic saline solution were injected into the renal artery of 33 hematuria patients. The serial films obtained before and after the injection of PGE1 were compared. The administration of PGE1 promoted the entry of the contrast medium into the renal artery as early as 0.5 sec after its injection. There were cases in which the time of the appearance of maximum arterial phase was shortned, even observed at the 0.5-sec interval. The maximum nephrogram appeared earlier after the administration of PGE1, and enlargement of the major axis of the nephrogram was observed. The time of appearance of the maximum venous phase was also shortened by the administration of PGE1. Thus, the increase of the renal blood flow with PGE1 was suggested roentgenologically. The mechanism of action and the clinical applicability of prostaglandin are discussed.

Range of xenogeneic donors whose hematopoietic cells can form colonies on macrophage layer of mice

The colony-forming ability of hematopoietic cells derived from 18 species of rodents was examined on the mouse macrophage layer which formed on a cellulose acetate membrane inserted into the peritoneal cavity of mice. Bone marrow cells of 12 xenogeneic species made a considerable number of colonies on the mouse macrophage layer. However, there was no parallelism between the colony-forming ability of the cells and donor's taxonomic relationship to the mouse.

Factors which influence development of macrophage-layer and spleen colonies in mice

Irradiated mice infused with bone marrow cells developed colonies both in the spleen and on the macrophage layer of the cellulose acetate membrane which had been inserted into their peritoneal cavity. Factors influencing the ratio of spleen to macrophage-layer colonies were examined. The ratio of the colonies depended on the condition of the recipients rather than the condition of the injected cells provided there was no marked histoincompatibility between donors and recipients.

Colony-forming ability of bone marrow cells of W anaemic mice on macrophage layer formed in peritoneal cavity of mice

The colony-forming ability of haematopoietic cells of W anaemic mice was examined on the macrophage layer formed in the peritoneal cavity of mice. Bone marrow cells of W anaemic mice formed a considerable number of colonies on the macrophage layer, notwithstanding they did not form any colonies in the spleen of the same recipients. As the colony-forming ability of the bone marrow cells was not reduced by the incubation with 3-H-thymidine, most of the cells which formed colonies on the macrophage layer seemed to stay in G0 state. The interrelationship between the spleen colony-forming cells, the macrophage-layer colony-forming cells, and in vitro colony-forming cells was discussed.

[A trial for electromyography of the detrusor muscle (author's transl)]

The author developed a new electromyography of the detrusor muscle which is applicable also for clinical examinations and obtained the following results: 1. In the normal bladder no action potential appeared when the organ was not full yet. 2. When the intravesical pressure was raised by introducing saline into the bladder, spikes appeared. 3. Spikes of high frequency appeared with the onset of voiding. 4. In the normal bladder no action potential appeared by administration of 5 to 7 mg mecholyl. 5. From some muscles of the dome of the bladder was obtained spontaneous spike potential consisting of spike burst of about 10 spikes. In an animal experiment using adult dogs the spikes of the simple type appeared. The discharged interval was about 5 seconds. 6. In the bladder with damaged nerve, spikes appeared during veridical quiescence. 7. In the bladder with damaged peripheral nerve, spikes of high frequency appeared by administration of 5 to 7 mg mecholyl.