Enzyme immunoassay of thromboxane B2

An immunoassay for thromboxane B2 was developed in which the hapten molecule was labeled with beta-galactosidase. The immunoprecipitate formed after competition between enzyme-labeled and unlabeled thromboxane B2 was subjected to a fluorometric assay of beta-galactosidase. Thromboxane B2 was detectable in the range of 0.1-30 pmol. Both enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay showed essentially the same cross-reactivities with other prostaglandins and their metabolites when the same antibody was used. Known amounts of thromboxane B2 were added to human plasma, and the sample was applied to an octadecyl silica column. The extract was analyzed by enzyme immunoassay to examine the correlation between the added (x) and measured (y) thromboxane B2 (y = 1.09x + 11.07 pmol/ml, r = 0.99). A satisfactory correlation was observed between radioimmunoassay (x) and enzyme immunoassay (y) (y = 0.92x + 4.64 pmol/ml, r = 0.96). The validity of enzyme immunoassay was also confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of a dimethylisopropylsilyl ether derivative of thromboxane B2 methyl ester. The method was applicable to the assay of thromboxane B2 produced from endogenous precursor during thrombin-induced aggregation of human platelets.

Suppression of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced chromosome aberrations in rat bone marrow cells after treatment with Sudan III and related azo dyes

Noninbred Long-Evans rats fed Sudan III at 24 hours before they were given an injection of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) displayed prominently suppressed DMBA-induced chromosome aberrations (CA) in their bone marrow cells. Rats fed Sudan III simultaneously with the DMBA injection showed no suppressed CA effect. The suppressive effect of Sudan III on DMBA-induced CA paralleled the dose rate of Sudan III when given in the range between 1 and 10 mg Sudan III/kg body weight; higher doses produced no additional suppression. The capacity of various Sudan III-related chemicals to prevent DMBA-induced CA paralleled their capacity to prevent DMBA-induced adrenal apoplexy and mammary cancer. Among the azo dyes investigated, Sudan III was most efficient in protecting against DMBA-induced CA. Polychlorinated biphenyl and phenobarbital, inducers of drug-metabolizing enzymes, also suppressed DMBA-induced CA.

Permanent cell culture lines of rat erythroleukemia and growth inhibition by dexamethasone in vitro

Four erythroleukemia cell lines were established in vitro from rats with primary leukemias induced by a set of intravenous injections of 7,8,12-trimethylbenz[a] anthracene (TMBA). These cell lines were grown in Dulbecco's medium with 20% inactivated fetal calf serum; they were characterized by specific consistent chromosome abnormalities, related to No. 2 chromosome, which were maintained in culture for more than 1 year. Addition of dexamethasone prevented the cell growth of 2 of the cell lines in this medium but failed to alter the growth rate of the other 2 cell lines. These findings are correlated with karyotype abnormalities involving chromosome No. 2.

Specific induction of erythroleukemia and myelogenous leukemia in Sprague-Dawley rats

The experimental induction of leukemias of two sorts by two powerful chemical carcinogens was investigated in rats of a single strain. In Sprague-Dawley rats a series of intravenous injections of N-nitroso-N-methylurea selectively elicited myelogenous leukemia in high yields, whereas erythroleukemia was not evoked. Conversely, a set of intravenous injections of 7,8,12-trimethylbenz[a]anthracene specifically elicited erythro-leukemia in high incidence in the rats, whereas myelogenous leukemia was not produced.

[Clinical effects of netilmicin]

In the present study, we used netilmicin for the postoperative complications and obtained the following results. 1. Netilmicin was used in totally 29 cases; 23 with localized peritonitis, 4 with generalized peritonetis and 2 with wound infection. Excellent effects were obtained in 2 cases, effective results in 24 cases and ineffective results in 3 cases. The effective rate was 89.7%. 2. Adverse reactions or abnormal clinical laboratory test results which might be attributable to the use of netilmicin were not noticed.

Trigeminal nerve: the possible origin of substance p-nergic response in isolated rabbit iris sphincter muscle

We determined the effects of trigeminal nerve denervation on the noncholinergic, nonadrenergic response to electrical transmural stimulation of the isolated rabbit iris sphincter muscle. The left ophthalmic nerve (first branch of the trigeminal nerve) was cut at the intracranial, peripheral site of the trigeminal ganglion and five to ten days later, the iris sphincter muscle isolated from the left eye (operated side) was found to produce a fast cholinergic contraction in response to electrical transmural stimulation and there was no evidence of noncholinergic, nonadrenergic contractions. On the other hand, in the iris sphincter muscle isolated from the right eye (control side), electrical transmural stimulation produced both cholinergic and noncholinergic, nonadrenergic contractile responses. Capsaicin and bradykinin produced noncholinergic, nonadrenergic contractile responses in the muscle from the control side, while in the iris sphincter from the trigeminally denervated eye there was no such response to application of these drugs. Exogenous substance P (SP) and carbachol produced a strong contractile response in both the trigeminally innervated and denervated sphincter muscles. Somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and enkephalin were without effects. These observations suggest that the noncholinergic, nonadrenergic responses to electrical transmural stimulation are derived from the trigeminal nerve and that the mediator involved is probably SP or a related peptide.

Choriocarcinomatous change with immunocytochemically HCG-positive cells in the gastric carcinoma of the males

Gastric choriocarcinoma is a rare tumor and attracts interest because of its controversial pathogenesis. The present study reports a choriocarcinomatous change with immunocytochemically hCG-positive cells in the gastric carcinoma. The patients were males, one was 41 years old and the other 42 years old. The tumor of both cases consists of adenocarcinoma and choriocarcinoma. A sequential process of morphological transition of the adenocarcinoma to the choriocarcinoma can be traced. Indirect immunoperoxidase stain (PAP method) for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) demonstrates the localization of hCG in the syncytiotrophoblasts. Small number of cytotrophoblasts are weakly positive. None of the components of adenocarcinoma of both cases is positive for hCG. Human placental lactogen is not demonstrated in both cases. Stain for pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein is weakly positive in the adenocarcinoma of one case but not in the choriocarcinoma. In one case, the concentration of hCG was 19.9 mIU/ml in the preoperative serum and decreased to 1.2 mIU/ml after gastrectomy. HCG production by gastric carcinoma was discussed with regard to possible pathogenesis of gastric choriocarcinoma.

Diagnostic and prognostic significance of chromosome abnormalities in marrow and mitogen response of lymphocytes of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia

Chromosomes of bone marrow from 28 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) (26 with AML, 2 with AMMoL), 19 of whom had chromosome abnormalities, were studied; 11 cases exhibited previously unreported karyotypic abnormalities. The marrows of two cases had 8-21 translocations associated with an iso-X chromosome in the female patient and with 9q13- and a missing Y in the male patient. Usually, AML patients with a 8-21 translocation have been considered to have a good prognosis; however, our cases had rather short survival times. Therefore, the prognosis of AML with an 8-21 translocation but associated with other abnormalities is still not clear. Centromere spreading (CS), which was originally reported in marrow cells of megaloblastic anemia (B12 and folic acid deficiency), was detected in leukemic cells, disappeared during remission, and reappeared on relapse. These findings suggest that CS may be a new type of abnormality in AML. In two patients with atypical hypoplastic anemia and hemolytic anemia, chromosome abnormalities were detected at the anemic stage. One case with CS was associated with atypical hypoplastic anemia and developed AML after 1 year; the other with 48,XY,+i(1q),+3,/12 and -14 had hemolytic anemia and developed AMMoL 3 weeks later. Interestingly, identical clones were detected both before and after the clinical diagnosis of leukemia. These cases strongly support the concept that some chromosome abnormalities precede the clinical manifestations of leukemia. The present study also revealed that lymphocytes in ANLL respond poorly to PHA in the presence of high numbers of blasts but do respond well to mitogens during remission. Therefore, the response of lymphocytes to PHA may serve as one criterion for determining remission.

Effect of spinal ganglionectomy on substance P-like immunoreactivity in the gastroduodenal tract of cats

Bilateral ligation of the splanchnic nerves and spinal ganglionectomy from T5 to L2 both produced a profound decrease of substance P (SP)-like immunoreactivity in Auerbach's plexuses of the duodenum and the antrum of the stomach in the cats. As unilateral dorsal rhizotomy from T5 to L2 produced no such changes, SP is probably synthesized in the spinal ganglion and transported through the splanchnic nerve to the gastroduodenal wall.

Chemoreceptors for serotonin (5-HT), acetylcholine (ACh), bradykinin (BK), histamine (H) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on rabbit visceral afferent neurons

The somata of type 'C' neurons in rabbit nodose ganglion are endowed with receptor sites for 5-HT, BK, ACh, II and GABA. 5-HT and ACh application to type 'C' neurons in the nodose ganglion of rabbits produced a rapid depolarization associated with an increased membrane conductance, most likely to Na+ and K+. BK and H elicited slow depolarizations accompanied by a decreased membrane conductance probably to K+. GABA induced a rapid depolarization associated with an increased conductance to Cl-. In contrast, type 'A' neurons were insensitive to the four algesic agents but responded to GABA. d-Tubocurarine or picrotoxin at relatively low concentrations blocked ACh, 5-HT and GABA depolarizations without affecting membrane properties. Hexamethonium blocked ACh responses but not 5-HT responses. In addition, no desensitization occurred between the substances 5-HT, ACh or BK. The results suggest that the depolarizing effect of these agents on visceral neurons might be exerted via different receptors.

Noncholinergic, nonadrenergic contraction and substance P in rabbit iris sphincter muscle

In the rabbit iris sphincter muscle, electrical transmural stimulation produced fast and slow components of contraction which were markedly attenuated by tetrodotoxin. The fast component was augmented by physostigmine and was abolished by atropine, while the slow component was little affected. Adrenergic and ganglionic blocking agents did not inhibit the slow component. Therefore, the fast component is probably cholinergic, while the slow one is noncholinergic, nonadrenergic in nature. Capsaicin did produce a considerable contractile response, but there was a gradual decline with repetitive application and a tachyphylaxis occurred. Under such conditions the slow but not the fast component was abolished. Substance P and acetylcholine produced the largest contraction, while ATP, histamine, serotonin and noradrenaline produced little or no response. In cold stored preparations, the responses to electrical transmural stimulation and capsaicin were either markedly attenuated or abolished, whereas substance P and acetylcholine produced considerable contractions. Baclofen and theophylline did not inhibit the slow response to electrical transmural stimulation or the response to substance P and capsaicin. Thus, electrical transmural stimulation produces cholinergic and noncholinergic, non-adrenergic contractions in the rabbit iris sphincter muscle and the latter response is considered to be mediated by substance P or a related peptide released from the neural component.

[Evaluation of pancreatic scintigram in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases (author's transl)]

The classification of accumulative patterns with the pancreatic scintigram findings of chronic pancreatitis and carcinoma of the pancreas were compared with endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP) findings and Pancreozymin-Secretin test (P-S test). I) The frequency of pancreatic cancer was 93%, whilst, the chronic pancreatitis was 88% in the abnormal pancreatic scintigram. II) In the scintigram the type II (localized defect shadows) of pancreatic cancer was comparatively high and it is proportional to evidence derived from ERP. Localized diagnostic certainty is helpful, although the two tests are related. The P-S test is only restricted to the carcinoma of head, whilst, scintigram is more useful to detect the carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas. II) As for the chronic pancreatitis, there are various accumulative patterns. This is resemblance to that of ERP findings, but in the P-S normal test, it showed discrepancy in part of the result. Particularly, in the type I (slightly generalized low uptake with density silhouette) and type II. Therefore in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis, it is essential to have both the P-S test and scintigram.

Chemical carcinogenesis in the rat: common mode of action of carcinogens at the chromosome level

The chromosomal distribution of chromosome aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) induced by various chemical carcinogens such as 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, 7,8,12-trimethylbenz[a]anthracene, 1-butyl-1-nitrosourea, urethan, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide, 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide, and the antineoplastic compound mitomycin C was studied with the use of noninbred Long-Evans male rat bone marrow cells in vivo and in vitro. The CA and SCE induced by these structurally different chemicals were distributed in a similar pattern among and along chromosomes when the chemicals were given a short time (6 hr) before the metaphase cells were harvested. The specific distribution pattern of chemically induced CA and SCE along chromosomes was attributed to the late DNA replication of the vulnerable chromosome regions. Conversely, X-ray-induced CA were distributed more randomly. Thus the different chemical carcinogens were shown to exert a similar genetic effect at the chromosome level.

Hormone dependency of chromosome aberrations induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in rat bone marrow cells: site-specific increase by erythropoietin

The frequency of chromosome aberrations (CA) 6 hours after iv injection of 50 mg 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)/kg was studied in bone marrow cells of the noninbred Long-Evans rat under various hematopoietic conditions. The percentage of metaphase cells with CA was enhanced by anemia and suppressed by polycythemia. The low incidence of CA in polycythemic rats was reversed by 6 U of sheep erythropoietin (EP) injected at the time of DMBA treatment. The interchromosomal and intrachromosomal distribution of CA indicated that hematopoietic stimuli, more specifically EP, greatly enhanced DMBA-induced CA in specific chromosomal regions.

N-Nitroso-N-methylurea elicits mammary cancer in resistant and sensitive rat strains

A single intravenous (i.v.) injection of the water-soluble mammary carcinogen N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU; 35 mg/kg of body weight) elicited cancer of the breast in young female rats of two strains in the following incidence: Long-Evans strain, 4%; Sprague-Dawley strain, 70%. In sisters of these rats, a set of 5 i.v. injections of NMU (35 mg/kg at biweekly intervals) evoked mammary carcinoma as follows: Long-Evans strain, 76%; Sprague-Dawley strain, 100%. In its effectiveness in evoking mammary cancer in Sprague-Dawley rats, the lipid-soluble mammary carcinogen 7,8,12-trimethylbenz[a]anthracene exceeded NMU in rapidity of development of cancer and in tumor yield.

Supravital observation of in vitro basophils in immunological reactions

The migration velocity and morphology of basophils in vitro were examined after the addition of anti-immunoglobulin (anti-IgE or anti-IgG). In atopic asthma patients with high serum IgE levels (more than 1000 i.u./ml) basophils showed increased migration velocity and showed pear-shaped and palmate processes after the addition of anti-IgE, but on the addition of anti-IgG, these basophils did not show increased migration velocity or morphological changes. In intractable asthma patients with low serum IgE levels, these changes occurred with anti-IgG but not with anti-IgE. These in vitro findings suggest a basophil reactivity to anti-IgE and anti-IgG in individual patients and support our previous differentiation of asthma patients according to basophil reaction.