Whole mouse measurement of paramagnetism-loss of nitroxide free radical in lung with a L-band ESR spectrometer

Paramagnetism-loss of nitroxide radical in lung of whole mouse was characterized using L-band ESR technique. The nitroxide, hydroxy-TEMPO, which had been injected trans-tracheally into mouse lung was confirmed to lose its paramagnetism in one electron reduction. The reduction activity remained even after lavage of lung. The reduction was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, a membrane-permeable sulfhydryl-blocker, though direct reduction of the radical by sulfhydryls was not observed in vitro. Sulfhydryl-blockers floating in membranes also inhibited the reduction, depending on their chain length. The results indicate that the reduction may be done within plasma membranes of alveolar epithelial cells.

[Clinical assessment of 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy in thoracic tumors]

99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amineoxime (99mTc-HMPAO) scintigraphy was performed in 15 malignant tumors in 11 patients and a patient with bronchopneumonia. A high 99mTc-HMPAO affinity for the tumors was observed on SPECT, however, the mean tumor/contralateral normal lung ratios of 99mTc-HMPAO activity (1.26) was lower than that of 201Tl-chloride (2.29). 99mTc-HMPAO uptake was seen not only in the tumors but also in the bronchopneumonia, atelectasis, and irradiated lung (containing radiation fibrosis). Moreover, a diffuse uptake in the lung was seen in a patient received repeated chemotherapy. Therefore, it is emphasized that there is a non-specific 99mTc-HMPAO uptake in those various pulmonary conditions.

[In situ hybridization: a principle and method]

We describe the principle and method of in situ hybridization (ISH), detecting neurotransmitters or neuromodulators and their related enzyme or receptor. Furthermore, we overview recent research reports focused on the gene expression of dopamine receptors. ISH technique has been applied and is one of the most powerful strategies in the biological research field of psychiatry.

Demonstration of inguinal hernia by means of peritoneal 99mTc-MAA scintigraphy with a load produced by standing in a patient treated by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

A 45-year-old man receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis developed scrotal swelling and edema which was aggravated in the standing position. Physical examination failed to find inguinal hernia and although ultrasonography revealed the patent had processus vaginalias, it failed to prove its continuity to the peritesticular space of the tunica vaginalis. Peritoneal scintigraphy with intraperitoneal instillation of 99mTc-Macroaggregated albumin followed by standing clearly demonstrated the connection. The use of the standing load makes possible faster visualization of a positive finding and more accurate diagnosis than examination in the supine position.

Altered regional clearance of 99Tcm-DTPA in radiation pneumonitis

99Tcm-diethylene triaminepenta-acetic acid (99Tcm-DTPA) lung scintigrams were investigated in 11 patients with radiation pneumonitis to assess the alteration of clearance of this small solute. Thirty minutes after the injection of 99Tcm-DTPA, all 11 patients showed abnormal accumulation. This uptake was seen in the areas with reduced 99Tcm-macroaggregated albumin activity. The curves of the lung/heart ratios obtained after 1 min after injection of 99Tcm-DTPA in areas showing abnormal accumulation were of three types. Comparison of the slope for the initial 5 min of the lung/heart curves between the abnormal accumulation sites and the contralateral non-irradiated lung revealed a significant difference. The uptake ratio (the mean counts of the last frame divided by initial peak count) was related to the degree of abnormal accumulation in the radiation pneumonitis. Moreover, study of rabbits with radiation pneumonitis revealed similar behaviour by 99Tcm-DTPA as observed clinically. This simple and rapid method may be useful in detecting and monitoring the altered regional kinetics of 99Tcm-DTPA in radiation pneumonitis.

[Experimental study on 123I-IMP kinetics in irradiated lung of rabbit]

Radiation-induced alteration of intra-pulmonary kinetics of 123I-IMP was investigated in 11 rabbits received a 50 Gy dose of radiation to the hemithorax. In all of these rabbits examined during 3-17 weeks following the irradiation, an abnormal accumulation was seen in the irradiated lung on the delayed image obtained 60 minutes after the injection of 123I-IMP. The time-activity curves in the irradiated lung following the injection had shallower downslopes of both the initial fast phase and the following slow phase than those of non-irradiated lung, and finally 123I-IMP uptake of the irradiated lung exceeded that of the normal lung. Chest radiographies all of 11 rabbits showed no abnormal shadow and histological studies in 6 of them revealed a relatively slight change or injury of the irradiated lung during 3-17 weeks. These results indicate that this agent may be useful for detecting and assessing relatively early and slight lung injury induced by irradiation.

Altered kinetics of 123I-IMP in irradiated rabbit lungs

Radiation-induced alteration of intrapulmonary kinetics of 123I-IMP was investigated in 11 rabbits receiving a 50 Gy dose of radiation to one lung. In all 13 examinations of these rabbits, 3-17 weeks following radiation, the delayed images of 123I-IMP lung scintigrams showed abnormal accumulation in the irradiated lungs. The time-activity curves of the irradiated lung following injection of 123I-IMP had shallower downslopes of both the initial fast phase and the following slow phase than those of the non-irradiated lung. Finally the radioactivity of the irradiated lung exceeded that of the normal lung. The altered intrapulmonary kinetics of 123I-IMP in the irradiated lung was clearly confirmed. 99Tcm-MAA lung perfusion scintigrams showed reduced uptake in the irradiated lungs; the uptake decreased with time following radiation. Pulmonary arterial perfusion was considered to influence the distribution and kinetics of 123I-IMP, however, those of 123I-IMP did not reflect only the pulmonary arterial perfusion observed by 99Tcm-MAA scintigrams. Chest radiography and histological studies revealed a relatively slight change or injury of the irradiated lung in these rabbits. These results indicate that this agent could be useful in detecting and assessing early lung injury induced by radiation, and will give us pathological information in addition to lung perfusion in the peripheral area where the large 99Tcm-MAA molecule cannot reach.

[Bone scintigraphy in two cases with cough related stress fractures of rib]

Two patients of unusual cough related stress fractures of the ribs are presented. Both patients complained of cough and chest pain with respiratory infection, and the initial chest radiographs showed only an infiltrative shadow due to bronchopneumonia in the lung field, however, failed to reveal any definite osseous abnormality of the ribs. Follow up chest radiographs revealed a callus formation in the fracture sites. In both patients, fracture sites were multiple and located at the axillary line, and radionuclide bone scan disclosed focal abnormal concentrations of activity in these characteristic locations of the lesions. Moreover, there were abnormal accumulation sites in the adjacent above and below ribs, and this finding also seemed to be characteristic of cough related stress fractures of the ribs.

Bone and gallium scintigraphy in sacral chordoma. Report of four cases

Bone scintigraphy with Tc-99m HMDP and gallium scintigraphy were evaluated in four patients with a primary sacrococcygeal chordoma. All lesions showed a photon-deficient or cold lesion corresponding to the tumor on bone scintigraphy, with no abnormal accumulation clearly observed on gallium scintigraphy. These findings led the authors to conclude that a midline sacrococcygeal tumor showing reduced uptake or a cold lesion on bone scintigraphy and no increased accumulation on gallium scintigraphy could be a chordoma rather than the malignant neoplasm suspected in this region.

Effects of inspired oxygen concentration on in vivo redox reaction of nitroxide radicals in whole mice

Effects of inspired oxygen concentration on metabolism of nitroxide radical were measured in whole mice by using in vivo ESR. Oxygen concentration influenced spin-clearance of nitroxide differently in abdomen and head, suggesting that either O2 concentrations or metabolic mechanisms of nitroxide in the two domains were different.

[A case of squamous cell carcinoma of urinary bladder with an ileo-vesical fistula detected on bone scintigraphy]

A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder with concomitant radionuclide uptake in the colon observed on bone scintigram in a 76-year-old female is presented. This finding reflected retrograde flow from the bladder to the intestine and suggested the presence of vesicoenteric fistula. The patient's pelvis had been irradiated with 23.4 Gy before the bone scintigram, she had been complaining only of diarrhea and not of any characteristic symptoms of vesicoenteric fistula, such as pneumaturia and fecaluria. Further examination including cysternography revealed a fistulous communication between the bladder and the ileum. The size of the tumor decreased markedly after radiation, tumor invasion to the ileum and the fistulous communication were verified at surgery.

Clinical and experimental studies on the mechanism of abnormal accumulation in lung scanning with 123I-IMP

To investigate the intrapulmonary kinetics of N-isopropyl-p-I-123-iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP), lung scanning with 123I-IMP was performed in patients with various lung disorders. Compared with the normal lung field, abnormal accumulation of 123I-IMP was detected in all patients in delayed imaging performed 24 h after 123I-IMP injection. These sites were within areas of absent or reduced perfusion observed by pulmonary perfusion scanning using 99Tcm-macroaggregated albumin (99Tcm-MAA). A similar phenomenon was seen in additional experiments in rabbits with regional pulmonary arterial hypoperfusion resulting from a balloon catheter-induced bronchial occlusion. 123I-IMP accumulation in areas where 99Tcm-MAA images are absent or decreased may be explained by the ability of 123I-IMP to penetrate significantly narrowed microvascular beds with reduced perfusion. Our clinical and experimental results indicate that pulmonary arterial perfusion, particularly hypoperfusion, influence the pulmonary kinetics of 123I-IMP. This compound is a potentially useful non-particulate agent for the assessment of pulmonary arterial perfusion.

Neural cell adhesion molecule mediates contact-dependent inhibition of growth of near-diploid mouse fibroblast cell line m5S/1M

A near-diploid mouse fibroblast cell line m5S/1M used in this study shows a high sensitivity to contact-dependent inhibition of growth, and the addition of EGF causes both morphological change and loss of contact-dependent inhibition of growth. The m5S/1M cell and its transformants obtained by x-ray irradiation have been used to search for the cell surface glycoproteins that are responsible for the growth regulation via cell-cell interactions. Lectin blotting analyses showed that the expression of the cell surface glycoprotein of 140 kD (140KGP) is highly sensitive to the transformation induced either by x-ray irradiation or by the EGF stimulation. We purified the 140KGP and found that it was composed of two glycoproteins. The major component of 140KGP was identified as neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) by amino acid sequence analyses of the peptide fragments and by the cross-reactivity with anti-NCAM mAb, clone H28.1.2.3. Monoclonal antibody against 140KGP (clone LN-10) recognizes all three isoforms of NCAM expressed on m5S/1M cell and showed that the expression of NCAM was highly sensitive to the transformation. Furthermore, the immobilized LN-10 strongly inhibited the growth of actively proliferating m5S/1M cells and the LN-10 in a soluble form showed a significant growth-stimulating effect on the confluent quiescent cultures of m5S/1M cells. The results show that NCAM plays a major role in the contact-dependent inhibition of growth of m5S/1M, and that NCAM might be involved in the regulation of cell growth during embryogenesis and formation of nervous systems.

[The appearance of "lambda" and "panda" sign on Ga-67 scintigraphy in sarcoidosis]

The lesions of sarcoidosis generally show relatively high Ga-67 uptake and the usefulness of scintigraphy using this agent in the evaluation of lesion activity is well known. In this report, we assessed characteristic uptake of Ga-67 in intrathoracic lymphnodes, the shape of which resembled the Greek letter Lambda (Lambda sign) and a symmetrical accumulation in bilateral lacrimal and salivary glands which resembled a Panda face (Panda sign) in patients with sarcoidosis. Our review of Ga-67 scans obtained from 15 patients with sarcoidosis and 1,779 patients with other disorders during the past 3 years revealed that the simultaneous presence of both Lambda and Panda signs was specific to patients with sarcoidosis and was not found in patients with various other disorders, although one of these signs might be observed in patients without sarcoidosis. When Lambda-like sign was observed, chest radiogram or CT was necessary for the differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Panda sign was observed frequently among patients who had previously received irradiation of the neck. Our results confirmed that sarcoidosis must be suspected when both Lambda and Panda signs were observed.

Lymphoscintigraphic assessment of leg oedema following arterial reconstruction using a load produced by standing

Lymphoscintigraphy using a test involving standing from a supine position and performed following an intradermal injection of 99Tcm-human serum albumin (HSA) was developed to evaluate the function of the lymphatic system in the lower extremities of patients who developed lymphoedema following arterial reconstructive surgery. In normal subjects, the load produced by standing tended to increase lymphatic function as indicated by the frequent appearance of a large spiking wave and a rapid stepwise increase in tracer activity and, less often, a phase of decreasing tracer activity. However, there was either no or less activation of lymph flow following standing in the group which developed leg oedema postoperatively. These findings indicate that lymphatic disruption is responsible for the leg oedema seen in these patients. Performance of this test following an intradermal injection of 99Tcm-HSA is technically simple, requires no special apparatus, and can be completed in 30 min. Lymphoscintigraphy using our new method can provide useful information on abnormalities in lymphatic function.

Caffeine and D2O medium interact in affecting the expression of radiation-induced potentially lethal damage

Earlier work (Ben-Hur et al. 1980) has been extended to compare the killing of log-phase V79 Chinese hamster cells by ionizing radiation when they are treated immediately after irradiation with medium containing either caffeine or 90% D2O. The object was to determine if the enhanced killing due to post-treatment with caffeine, or D2O, resulted from action on the same sector of potentially lethal damage as appeared to be the case for hypertonic shock and D2O medium. The treatments by themselves were not toxic to unirradiated cells. We found that the enhanced expression of potentially lethal damage by post-treatment with caffeine or D2O medium is similar. For example, the kinetics of the repair of the potentially lethal damage expressible by either post-treatment was similar, and an additive enhancement of potentially lethal damage occurred when the two treatments were administered sequentially. These findings suggest that caffeine and D2O medium affect the same sector of potentially lethal damage. When the two treatments were combined, however, they competed with each other. That is, exposures to caffeine, which by themselves did not enhance killing (up to 1 mM for 2 h), decreased the enhanced killing due to D2O medium, Reciprocally, D2O medium reduced the enhanced killing due to high concentrations of caffeine (greater than 1 mM). Thus, although caffeine and D2O medium act on the same sector of potentially lethal damage they do so differently, suggesting that more than one pathway of the expression of radiation damage can result in the same phenotypic effect.

Bleomycin induces similar survival variations through the cell cycle as do X rays with and without hypertonic shock

In an earlier report [H. Utsumi and M. M. Elkind, Radiat. Res. 119, 534-541 (1989)], it was shown that the survival of V79 Chinese hamster cells treated with bleomycin was significantly reduced by a posttreatment with anisotonic phosphate-buffered saline in a manner that was qualitatively similar to what had been observed with X rays [H. Utsumi and M. M. Elkind, Radiat. Res. 77, 346-360 (1979)]. This similarity suggested that similarities might exist in the cyclic variation in the suppression of the repair of potentially lethal damage following treatment with bleomycin or X rays. Accordingly, the age-response variations of survival, with or without a posttreatment challenge with hypertonic buffer, were compared in the same experiment when cells were treated with either agent. Although a significant difference was observed near the G1/S-phase border, in general the damage induced by the two agents showed a similar dependence on cell age, and posttreatment with hypertonic buffer enhanced cell killing appreciably following either treatment. The results support the inference that bleomycin is a radiomimetic agent.

[The assessment of 99mTc-HMPAO tumor scintigraphy using VX-2 tumors in rabbits]

Tumor scintigraphy using 99mTc-hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) was performed in VX-2 tumors implanted in the muscles of the lower limbs of rabbits to evaluate the possibility that this agent could be used to estimate the blood perfusion of the tumor. The distribution of 99mTc-HMPAO in the tumor immediately after the intravenous injection of this radiopharmaceutical exhibited almost the same distribution on the static image 1 hour after administration. Tumor time-activity curve for 99mTc-HMPAO revealed initial peak after the injection followed by fading of 99mTc-HMPAO activity and subsequent gradual decrease in activity over the next 1 hour. The ratio of 99mTc-HMPAO activity in the tumor to that in normal muscle tissue during this next 1 hour was high and independent of time. These findings indicate that static 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy can provide qualitative but not quantitative data useful in the estimation of tumor blood perfusion. Moreover, comparison of distribution of 99mTc-HMPAO on the static images and angiographic, histological findings also suggest that static 99mTc-HMPAO images accurately reflect tumor blood perfusion.

[Experimental study on the mechanism of the intrapulmonary kinetics of 123I-IMP in a balloon occluded bronchus in rabbits]

To investigate the mechanism of intrapulmonary kinetics of N-isopropyl-p-123I-iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP), we performed lung scanning with 123I-IMP in 13 rabbits in which a unilateral bronchus was occluded by a balloon catheter. In 9 rabbits, on the delayed distribution images, an abnormal accumulation of 123I-IMP was detected in the hypoperfusion area of the peripheral lung field of the occluded bronchus, which was detected on lung perfusion images with 99mTc-MAA. Comparison of early (a summation image during 20 seconds immediately after injection) and delayed (a summation image from 70 to 90 minutes after injection) distribution images confirmed that during this period, 123I-IMP accumulated in the area of reduced distribution of 123I-IMP. Moreover, at the site of abnormal accumulation, washout of 123I-IMP from the lung was delayed compared with that in the normal lung field. We find this experimental study is similar to the results in 63 clinical cases, which we have reported previously, and confirm that pulmonary arterial perfusion, especially hypoperfusion, influences the intrapulmonary kinetics of 123I-IMP.

ESR measurement of radical clearance in lung of whole mouse

Clearance of the nitroxide radicals, hydroxy-TEMPO and carboxy-PROXYL, in whole-mouse lung was directly measured by in vivo ESR. After injecting a nitroxide radical, distribution of the nitroxide radical all over the lung was confirmed by ESR imaging. The ESR signal of hydroxy-TEMPO was reduced in the lung and the clearance obeyed first-order kinetics, whereas the signal of carboxy-PROXYL remained constant. Comparison of the clearance rates of live and dead mice indicated the presence of 2 different clearance systems in the lung: loss of its paramagnetism in the lung, and transfer from alveolar to the blood circulation system.

The role of gallium-67 imaging in the detection of foci in recent cases of fever of unknown origin

We have assembled data from patients with fever of unknown origin who underwent gallium scintigraphy during the past 5 years in order to obtain a more current sampling of patients, and evaluated the role of gallium scintigraphy retrospectively. Of the 36 patients studied, gallium scintigraphy was positive and contributed to the detection of the foci or fever origins in 17 (47.2%). The ratio of neoplastic diseases with myeloproliferative and with lymphoproliferative disorders was relatively high compared with previous reports. However, gallium scintigraphy did not contribute to the diagnosis of collagen disease. With the ability to detect both inflammatory and neoplastic lesions, gallium scintigraphy was useful in detecting the foci of fevers of unknown origin.

Determination of basal acetylcholine release in vivo by rat brain dialysis with a U-shaped cannula: effect of SM-10888, a putative therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease

A U-shaped dialysis cannula was implanted into rat frontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum, and after 1 day for surgical recovery the cannula was perfused with Ringer's solution without any acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor under freely moving conditions. With a highly sensitive assay method for acetylcholine (ACh), the basal ACh content in the dialysates were detectable in those brain regions for several hours. The basal levels in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum were 82 +/- 9, 72 +/- 4, 70 +/- 8 fmol/20 microliters (mean +/- S.E.M.), respectively. When SM-10888, a novel AChE inhibitor and putative therapeutic drug for Alzheimer's disease, was injected intraperitoneally, ACh in the dialysate of the cortex increased in a dose-dependent manner. Changes in the levels of hippocampal and striatal ACh release evoked by SM-10888 were similar to, but smaller than, that in the cortex. These data suggest that since the present assay method is able to determine in vivo basal ACh release in the dialysate without any AChE inhibitor, it is possible to study the effect of a novel drug such as SM-10888 in the brain regions.

Amsacrine-induced lesions in DNA and their modulation by novobiocin and 2,4-dinitrophenol

The cancer chemotherapeutic agent amsacrine, 4'-(9-acridinylamino)-methanesulfon-m-anisidide (mAMSA), is thought to effect cytotoxicity by inhibiting the ATP-dependent enzyme topoisomerase II in the act of its duplex strand-passing action. Upon protein denaturation, the arrested "cleavable complex" that results gives rise to double- and single-strand breaks (dsbs and ssbs) and DNA-protein cross-links (dpcs). Simultaneous cotreatments with 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) or novobiocin (novo) abrogates mAMSA cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster cells (H. Utsumi et al., Cancer Res., 50:2577-2581, 1990). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to estimate dsbs, velocity sedimentation in alkaline sucrose gradients for ssbs, and alkaline elution without protease digestion for dpcs. Although cotreatment with DNP or novo modulated somewhat the yield of DNA lesions due to mAMSA, quantitatively these changes did not correlate at all with, and therefore could not account for, the reduced lethality that resulted from cotreatments. For example, DNA cotreatment markedly increased the yields of dsbs, ssbs, and dpcs, even though cell killing was appreciably reduced. Furthermore, neither DNP nor novo cotreatment affected the rate, or the completeness of, the repair of mAMSA-induced DNA damage, and neither cotreatment lowered total cellular ATP. Hence, the arresting of the cleavable complex by mAMSA, made evident by lesions in DNA, did not correlate with cytotoxicity. However, cotreatment with either DNP or novo resulted in an enhanced recovery of the mAMSA-induced inhibition of replicative DNA synthesis. Because DNP and novo (transiently) slow down DNA synthesis, it is proposed that these compounds abrogate mAMSA killing of S phase cells by reducing the disorganization of the processing of replicated DNA by topoisomerase II.

In vivo ESR measurement of free radicals in whole mice

The in vivo measurement of nitroxide radicals in whole mouse was carried out by L-band ESR spectroscopy. Spectra were successively observed in hepatic and bladder domains of female mice after intravenous administration of spin-labeled compounds (CPROXYL or TEMPOL). The signal intensities from both domains decreased gradually. The kinetic constants of clearance in the hepatic domain were 0.09/min for CPROXYL and 0.71/min for TEMPOL. The clearance constants in the bladder domain coincided with those in the hepatic domain within experimental error, whereas the constants in collected blood were 1/7-1/10 of those in the hepatic or bladder domains. The mechanism of clearance of nitroxide radicals in whole mice is discussed.

Rat DNA polymerase beta gene can join in excision repair of Escherichia coli

Though DNA polymerase I (poll) of Escherichia (E.) coli is understood to play a role in repair synthesis of excision repair, it is still obscure whether DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) plays a similar role in eukaryotic cells. To estimate the role of pol beta in excision repair processes, we inserted the rat pol beta gene into several mutant E. coli defective in a diverse set of enzymatic activities of poll. UV resistance was seen only when the 5'----3' exonuclease (exo) activity of poll molecules remained. Therefore it is suggested that 5'----3' exo activity as well as pol beta activity are essential for repair synthesis of excision repair in eukaryotic cells.

Effects of oxygen on the membrane structure and the metabolism of lipophilic nitroxide in rat liver microsomes

The effects of oxygen on the metabolism of lipophilic nitroxide and the membrane structure of microsomes were investigated with an ESR spectrometer equipped with a hand-made gas-permeable sampling tube. The half life of gas change in the membrane was confirmed to be 48 s by the line-width of the ESR signal. The signal intensity of lipophilic nitroxide in microsomal membranes decreased with NADPH under N2 and increased under O2. The change of signal intensity was reversible, suggesting that lipophilic nitroxide can be used as an indicator of the redox state in membranes for in vivo ESR imaging.

Novobiocin inhibits the repair of potentially lethal damage but not the repair of sublethal damage

Because of the critical role of the DNA topoisomerases in the synthesis and conformation of DNA, and the well-known observation that radiation inhibits replicative DNA synthesis, we have examined the possibility that inhibitors of these enzymes might influence radiation lethality. In particular, using protocols involving the administration of either fresh or conditioned medium, we examined the ability of intercalative and nonintercalative inhibitors to affect the expression of potentially lethal damage and/or sublethal damage. The inhibitors examined were amsacrine, teniposide, etoposide, and novobiocin; only the latter compound was clearly effective in a selective way at nontoxic concentrations, and this was observed specifically in reference to the repair of potentially lethal damage effected by incubation in conditioned medium. These results are another example of differences between the repair of sublethal versus potentially lethal damage that further support distinctions between the two. At a mechanistic level, these and other data suggest that the property of novobiocin that is relevant in the foregoing is its metabolic inhibition of replicative DNA synthesis, a process which may be more important in the repair of potentially lethal damage as opposed to sublethal damage.

Abrogation by novobiocin of cytotoxicity due to the topoisomerase II inhibitor amsacrine in Chinese hamster cells

Using cultured V79 Chinese hamster cells, we found that novobiocin (or 2,4-dinitrophenol) can abrogate, almost completely, the cytotoxicity due to the topoisomerase II inhibitor amsacrine (mAMSA). V79 cells were sensitive to mAMSA killing at all stages in the cell cycle but mainly in S phase followed by late G1 phase; however, novo rescued cells of all ages. The properties of two kinds of radiation-sensitive Chinese hamster cells were also examined, i.e., the line of V79 cells that can be rescued by caffeine, designated S-10 (H. Utsumi and M.M. Elkind, Radiat. Res., 96: 348-358, 1983); and Chinese hamster ovary cells (P.A. Jeggo and L.M. Kemp, Mutat. Res., 112: 313-327, 1983) which are also sensitive to other DNA-damaging agents. As is the case for exposure to radiation, after mAMSA treatment caffeine rescued V79/S-10 cells. Although Jeggo's Chinese hamster ovary cells were more responsive to mAMSA, novo still abrogated mAMSA toxicity in the mutant cells as well as in the parental Chinese hamster ovary cells 2,4-Dinitrophenol acted similarly to novo with respect to mAMSA killing, but neither compound reduced the ATP content of V79 cells. We propose that one reason for the rescue from mAMSA killing of at least S-phase cells by novo or 2,4-dinitrophenol is their ability transiently to inhibit replicative DNA synthesis.

Effect of unilateral nucleus basalis lesion on cortical and striatal acetylcholine and dopamine release monitored in vivo with microdialysis

Cortical and striatal extracellular acetylcholine (ACh), choline (Ch), dopamine (DA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels were estimated in samples collected with microdialysis in halothane-anaesthetized rats which had received 0.6 microliter of ibotenic acid (5 micrograms/microliters) into the left nucleus basalis magnocellularis (microdialysis experiments were performed 3-4 weeks after the lesion). Samples were collected under basal (Ringer or Ringer including 10 microM neostigmine) and KCl (100 mM)-stimulated conditions. In the intact frontoparietal cortex and striatum, basal ACh (only detected under neostigmine perfusion) was in the 30 and 300 nM range, respectively. In the same conditions, Ch was in the 0.7 microM range in the cortex and in the 0.2 microM range in the striatum. The inclusion of KCl in the perfusion medium strongly enhanced cortical (greater than 7-fold) and striatal (greater than 10-fold) ACh. KCl only moderately increased striatal (65%) but not cortical Ch. In the lesion side, both basal and stimulated ACh were significantly reduced in the cortex (greater than 60%), but not in the striatum. Ch was not significantly changed in the cortex and striatum. The nucleus basalis lesion also produced a drop in extracellular levels of cortical and striatal DA (40% and 55%, respectively). Neither cortical nor striatal ACh levels were modified by a unilateral DA deafferentation (6-hydroxydopamine lesion into the medial forebrain bundle). However, the destruction of the intrinsic cortical ACh by injection of kainic acid into the frontoparietal cortex produced a 30% decrease in ACh.

Mitogenic response of near-diploid mouse cell line m5S/1M induced by epidermal growth factor

A nonmalignant near-diploid cell line m5s/1M, established by Sasaki and Kodama (J. Cell. Res., 131:114-122, 1987), was shown to respond to the epidermal growth factor (EGF). The m5s/1M cells showed high sensitivity to post-confluence inhibition of cell division and formed a uniform monolayer after the cells had become confluent. The addition of EGF resulted in loss of contact-dependent inhibition of growth and caused a massive piling up of a multilayered array of cells after they had become confluent. When EGF was removed from the medium, the cell number decreased rapidly, and the cells formed a uniform monolayer at the density observed in the absence of EGF. m5S/1M cells have high- and low-affinity receptors for EGF (approximately 40,000 receptors per cell), and the apparent dissociation constants of the EGF-binding reactions were 3.3 nM and 0.15 nM, respectively. The effect of EGF on the intracellular mobilization of Ca2+ and the formation of inositol phosphates was studied by using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent indicator fura 2 and [3H]inositol. EGF had no effect either on the mobilization of cytosolic free calcium [( Ca2+]i) or on the formation of inositol phosphates in m5s/1M cells, whereas bradykinin induced a rapid increase in both [Ca2+]i and inositol phosphates. Analysis of the glycosphingolipid (GSL) composition of m5S/1M cells showed that globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer), which is known to be a Burkitt lymphoma-associated antigen, is specifically expressed in the EGF-treated cells. The expression of Gb3Cer is dependent on the presence of EGF, with a reversible shift in GSL composition being observed in the presence or absence of EGF.

Alpha-tocopherol-induced hexagonal HII phase formation in egg yolk phosphatidylcholine membranes

The effect of alpha-tocopherol and its acetate on the membrane structure of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (egg PC) dispersions was investigated using phosphate-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) and small-angle X-ray diffraction. The incorporation of alpha-tocopherol into egg PC dispersions induced a change in the 31P-NMR spectrum from a multilamellar bilayer line shape to a hexagonal HII one. The phase transition by alpha-tocopherol was also confirmed by small-angle X-ray diffraction analysis. The amount of hexagonal HII phase increased with increase in concentration of alpha-tocopherol. Egg PC dispersions containing a molar ratio of 0.8 of alpha-tocopherol gave a 31P-NMR spectrum of an approximately hexagonal HII type at 37 degrees C. The amount of hexagonal HII phase increased with increasing temperature, indicating that the alpha-tocopherol-induced phase transition is thermotropic and that the transition temperature of egg PC membranes from the lamellar to the hexagonal HII phase is lowered by alpha-tocopherol. The incorporation of alpha-tocopherol acetate did not induce any phase transition. This fact indicates that the hydroxyl group of alpha-tocopherol may play an important role in the hexagonal HII phase formation of egg PC dispersions.

Scoliosis in rats with experimentally-induced hemiparkinsonism: dependence upon striatal dopamine denervation

Rats suffering from experimental hemiparkinsonism induced by a unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the left area ventralis tegmenti showed a strong ipsilateral deviation and scoliosis-like skeletal deformity. The rats often showed single rotatory curves affecting the thoracic and lumbar regions, although cases with multiple curves were also found. The severity of the scoliosis was closely related to a decrease in extracellular striatal dopamine measured with microdialysis and to the development of postsynaptic dopamine receptor supersensitivity, functionally evaluated with rotational behaviour elicited with apomorphine. Indeed, rats with the strongest dopamine depletion (greater than 95%) and the strongest rotational responses showed the sharpest spinal deviation and skeletal deformity. These findings agree with the clinical observations that scoliosis occurs in patients with Parkinson's disease and its direction is correlated with the side of the major signs and symptoms of parkinsonism.

Amino acid sequence of monkey erythrocyte glycophorin MK. Its amino acid sequence has a striking homology with that of human glycophorin A

A major sialoglycoprotein, glycophorin MK, was isolated from monkey erythrocyte membranes by extraction with lithium diiodosalicylate and partition in aqueous phenol. Chemical analysis of glycophorin MK revealed that the glycophorin consists of 51% protein and 49% carbohydrate by weight, and contains no N-glycosidic oligosaccharide units. Only N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) was detected as sialic acid. The amino acid sequence of glycophorin MK was determined, which demonstrated that the glycophorin consists of 144 amino acid residues and 18 oligosaccharide units linked O-glycosidically to the peptide backbone through serine or threonine residues. The molecular weight was estimated to be about 35,000 based on the amino acid residues and carbohydrate content. By comparison of the amino acid sequence with those of human, equine and porcine glycophorins, a striking sequence homology was observed between monkey and human glycophorin. Glycophorin MK demonstrated both M and N blood group activities.

ESR study on synthetic glyceroglycolipid liposomal membranes

We previously reported that glyceroglycolipid liposomes without cholesterol activated mouse peritoneal macrophages in vivo and in vitro, whereas glyceroglycolipid liposomes containing equimolar cholesterol did not. In order to characterize the properties of the glyceroglycolipid membranes, ESR spectroscopic studies were carried out with an acyl spin-labeled galactosyl ceramide (SL-GC) or a headgroup spin-labeled phospholipid (SL-6-DPPA) in 1,2-dipalmitoyl[beta-cellobiosyl-(1'---3)]glycerol (Cel-DAG) liposomal membranes. The ESR spectrum of the SL-GC in the Cel-DAG liposomes at 37 degrees C was a single broad line, indicating that the SL-GC molecules were excluded almost completely from Cel-DAG domains and formed clusters in the membranes. The spectrum of SL-6-DPPA in the Cel-DAG liposomes at 37 degrees C showed broad resonance lines with the central peak being the highest, while that at 60 degrees gave narrow lines with the low-field peak being the highest. This observation and rotational correlation time analysis showed that the molecular motions of spin-label moiety of the SL-6-DPPA were extremely restricted at 37 degrees C but not above Tc. These results suggest that below Tc the Cel-DAG molecules are packed tightly and restricted in motion in the membrane. Incorporation of cholesterol into the Cel-DAG liposomal membranes gave (1) the spectra of the SL-GC triplet, and (2) the spectra of the SL-6-DPPA narrow resonance with the low-field peak being the highest. These results suggest that cholesterol disturbs the rigid-packed structure of the Cel-DAG membrane and increases the molecular motions of the Cel-DAG. The DSC analysis of Cel-DAG with and without cholesterol agreed well to the results of the ESR technique. Thus we assume that peritoneal macrophages recognize the rigid-packed carbohydrate residues which are restricted in motion on the Cel-DAG membranes.

Effect of host lattice on antigenicity of glycophorin in membranes

The influence of the host lattice on the antigenicity of glycophorin in membranes was confirmed by complement-dependent immune lysis of liposomes with two rabbit antisera, which were prepared by immunization with either human red blood cells or isolated glycophorin A. The immune lysis by either antiserum depended on the kind of phospholipid in the liposomes. Anti-glycophorin antiserum more strongly recognized glycophorin in egg-lecithin membranes than in dipalmitoyl-lecithin membranes, as did anti-red blood cell antiserum. Cholesterol in the liposomal membranes influenced the antigenicity of glycophorin. The relationship between the state of glycophorin in membranes and recognition by antibody is discussed.

Bleomycin-induced potentially lethal damage and its repair

The dependence of the survival of V79 Chinese hamster cells which were treated with bleomycin on a post-treatment with anisotonic phosphate-buffered saline and/or conditioned medium was examined. In qualitative similarity to the effects of these post-treatments on survival following exposure to X rays, it was found that: anisotonic saline, both hypo- and hypertonic, significantly enhanced cell killing; the degree of enhancement increased with time and temperature; and incubation in conditioned medium resulted in the rescue of cells whether or not they were challenged with hypertonic saline after treatment with bleomycin. Based upon the qualitative similarity of these findings to those which we have observed following X irradiation, and observations of others on the site of action of bleomycin in cells and the ability that it has to break DNA, we propose that both bleomycin and radiation (X rays and fast neutrons) act on similar sensitive sites which are probably contained in or close to the envelope and/or the protein matrix of the nucleus.

Sublethal and potentially lethal damage repair on thermal neutron capture therapy

Tonicity shock or caffeine postirradiation treatment makes evident fast-type potentially lethal damage (PLD). Caffeine expresses fast-type PLD more efficiently than tonicity shock in X-irradiated B-16 mouse melanoma cells, compared with V79 Chinese hamster cells. The survival curves of thermal neutrons for either V79 or B-16 cells exhibit no shoulder. Neither V79 nor B-16 cells show the sublethal damage (SLD) repair of thermal neutrons. Caffeine-sensitive fast-type PLD repairs exist in X-irradiated B-16 cells, as well as V79 cells. The fast-type PLD repair of B-16 cells exposed to thermal neutrons alone is rather less than that of X-irradiated cells. Furthermore, an extremely low level of fast-type PLD repair of B-16 cells with 10B1-paraboronophenylalanine (BPA) preincubation (20 hours) followed by thermal neutron irradiation indicated that 10B(n,alpha)7Li reaction effectively eradicates actively growing melanoma cells. The plateau-phase B-16 cells are well able to repair the slow-type PLD of X-rays. However, cells can not repair the slow-type PLD induced by thermal neutron irradiation with or without 10B1-BPA preincubation. These results suggest that thermal neutron capture therapy can effectively kill radioresistant melanoma cells in both proliferating and quiescent phases.

The immunopotentiating property of lipophilic muramyl dipeptide and its molecular state in liposomal membranes: plaque-forming cell responses and ESR studies

The immunopotentiating property of spin-labeled lipophilic muramyl dipeptide (SL-MDP) in liposomes was studied as to the plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to glycophorin, as an antigen, in membranes. The effect of SL-MDP depended on the densities of both SL-MDP itself and the antigen. The addition of the optimal amount of SL-MDP to liposomes containing a low density (0.016 mol%) of the antigen increased the PFC response by three times, whereas the presence of SL-MDP in optimal antigen density (0.032 0.127 mol%) membranes was rather inhibitory. In these liposomes, the amounts and molecular states of SL-MDP were determined from ESR spectra and are discussed in connection with its immunopotentiating property.

Adenylate kinase bound to the chromatophore membranes of Rhodobactor spheroides G1C

Transformation of adenylates (AMP, ADP and ATP) by washed chromatophore membranes of Rhodobactor spheroides G1C in the dark and in the light indicated the functions of ATPase (ADP + Pi in equilibrium ATP) and of an adenylate kinase (2ADP in equilibrium AMP + ATP). The activity of adenylate kinase of the chromatophores was not inhibited by AP5A, and persisted even after sonication in the presence of EDTA or CaCl2; the results suggested the presence of an adenylate kinase bound to the chromatophore membrane. In search of the enzyme, the supernatant after sonication of the chromatophores in the presence of EDTA was subjected to a molecular sieve and then to ion-exchange HPLC; a fraction with high specific adenylate kinase activity, containing a very sharp peak at 55 kDa, was isolated. Preliminary characterization indicated that it is different from the well-documented water-soluble 33 kDa adenylate kinase.

Mesencephalic dopamine innervation of the frontoparietal (sensorimotor) cortex of the rat: a microdialysis study

Results obtained in a study using an in vivo microdialysis technique show that dopamine is detected in perfusates collected from the frontoparietal (sensorimotor) cortex of control rats (dopamine = 0.7 +/- 0.2 nM, n = 10) or of rats with cortical lesions produced by the neurotoxin kainic acid (0.9 +/- 0.2 nM, n = 4). However, cortical dopamine levels were strongly reduced (0.07 +/- 0.06 nM, n = 4) following deafferentation induced by mesencephalic 6-hydroxydopamine injection. Dopamine levels, but not its metabolites could be increased by local KCl application, supporting the idea that extracellular dopamine collected by microdialysis reflects a pool of releasable neurotransmitter.

[Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) in a patient with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia]

A 60-year-old man with a one-year history of agnogenic myeloid metaplasia was admitted to the hospital because of fever and a skin eruption. He had fever, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, and a raised painful erythematous plaque in the face. The same kind of skin lesion developed thereafter at a venipuncture site in the left forearm. Bacterial cultures were negative. There was no response to antibiotic treatment. A biopsy specimen of the skin lesion revealed a dense dermal infiltration with mature neutrophils. A diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome was made. Fever and skin eruptions responded rapidly to prednisolone (PSL). Although the disease frequently recurred on rapid tapering of PSL, skin lesions cleared without scarring on a prolonged course of PSL. Four months after withdrawal of PSL, Sweet's syndrome recurred. A high dose PSL was given without benefit. He died of disseminated candidiasis.

Localization of the active center of nitroxide radical reduction in rat liver microsomes: its relation to cytochrome P-450 and membrane fluidity

The properties and localization of the active center of NADPH-dependent nitroxide radical reduction in rat liver microsomes were investigated with the following five spin-probes as substrates; tetramethylpiperidinol-N-oxyl (TEMPOL) and four spin-labeled stearic acid derivatives with a nitroxide radical at the 5th, 7th, 12th, or 16th position of the hydrocarbon chain (abbreviated as 5SLS, 7SLS, 12SLS, and 16SLS, respectively). The ESR signals of these spin-probes in microsomes decreased on the addition of NADPH, and the decay was inhibited by pretreatment with SKF-525A. Experiments with various microsomal preparations induced by phenobarbital (PB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), or 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) revealed that the reduction rate was correlated to the concentration of cytochrome P-450 but not to that of NADPH reductase. Thus, the nitroxide radicals of the SLSs and TEMPOL seem to be reduced by the combined action of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome P-450. The decay showed a lag time, but no distinct correlation was observed between the lag time and the spin-probe species. On the other hand, the initial velocity of the nitroxide reduction depended strongly on the spin-probe species. Among the five spin-probes, 7SLS was reduced most quickly, followed by 5SLS, 12SLS, TEMPOL, and 16SLS in that order. The reduction rate varied from 0.18/min for 7SLS to 0.08/min for 16SLS. There was a linear relation between the cytochrome P-450 content and the reduction rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structure of the major O-glycosidic oligosaccharide of monkey erythrocyte glycophorin

Sialic acids and the major O-glycosidic oligosaccharide of glycophorin MK from monkey (Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata) erythrocyte membranes were characterized. N-Glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) was found as the major sialic acid, which was confirmed by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry as the trimethylsilyl methyl ester. Three O-glycosidic oligosaccharide units were obtained from a tryptic glycopeptide that contained all of the carbohydrate units in glycophorin MK by mild alkaline borohydride/borotritide treatment. Carbohydrate analyses of the oligosaccharides revealed that they were composed of Neu5Gc, galactose and N-acetylgalactosaminitol in the molar ratios of 1:1:1 (trisaccharide), 2:1:1 (tetrasaccharide) and 3:1:1 (pentasaccharide). The content of oligosaccharide units was estimated to be 1:12:5 for penta-, tetra- and trisaccharide, respectively, based on the yields, the molecular weight, and the number of oligosaccharide attachment sites in the amino-acid sequence. The tetrasaccharide was the major oligosaccharide and its structure was proposed to be Neu5Gc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3[Neu5Gc alpha 2-6]GalNAcol.

Alkali-labile oligosaccharide units of a sialoglycoprotein from rabbit erythrocyte membranes

Two glycoproteins (apparent molecular weights 120,000 and 70,000) were extracted from rabbit erythrocyte membranes, and only one (Mr 120,000), which is a sialoglycoprotein, contained O-glycosidically linked sugar chains. Alkali-labile oligosaccharide units of the sialoglycoprotein were released as reduced oligosaccharides by NaOH-NaB3H4 treatment, and then purified by gel filtration on a Bio-Gel P-4 column followed by ion-exchange chromatography. From the results of methylation analysis, mass spectrometry and chromium trioxide oxidation, the main oligosaccharide unit was determined to be a linear trisaccharide (85% by weight), NeuNGc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)GalNAcol. In addition, small amounts of a tetrasaccharide (11% by weight) and a disaccharide (4% by weight) were found, which were determined to have the following structures, NeuNGc alpha(2----3)Gal beta(1----3)[NeuNGc alpha(2----6)] GalNAcol and Gal-GalNAcol, respectively.

7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene plus near-u.v. light initiates DNA damage and repair in Chinese hamster cells

Earlier results on the photodynamic action of several carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and particularly 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), have been extended to determine if DMBA + near-u.v. light produces damage to DNA. DMBA by itself (30 min, approximately 24 degrees C) introduces relatively few breaks into genomic DNA. The addition of near-u.v. light, however, inserts large numbers of single-strand breaks in a dose-dependent way. Incubation following exposure initially results in the rapid repair of these breaks. A primary role for DNA damage in photodynamic cell killing is not supported by other observations, however. First, caffeine, an inhibitor of radiation-associated DNA repair processes, has only a minor effect on the oxygen-dependent killing of cells exposed to DMBA + u.v. light. Second, along with the repair of DNA breaks, the insertion of additional breaks becomes evident leading to a massive breakdown of genomic DNA due to an endonucleolytic-like attack. And third, lethally affected cells rapidly lose their surface attachment. Because light induces damage in DNA when DMBA is present, it is likely that DMBA becomes closely associated with DNA. Thus, a starting point for mutagenic and carcinogenic action in the absence of light is suggested although activation of DMBA by a P-450 system does not appear to be a prerequisite of DMBA-DNA association. Still, DNA as such may not be the initial or the primary target for light-induced cell killing. In addition to interacting with DNA, DMBA is sequestered by membranes, suggesting that killing results from an oxygen-dependent release of catabolic enzymes. These enzymes, which may come from lysosomes, degrade DNA but concomitantly release surface-attached cells into the medium.