Enhancement of the stability and activity of aspartase by random and site-directed mutagenesis

Enzymatic generation of mutant libraries for random mutagenesis of aspartase gene from E. coli J2 was made. A mutant enzyme with 4-fold increase in aspartase activity was found. It is stable at pH7.5-9.0 (wild-type: pH7.0-8.0); heat stability and alpha-helicity are higher than those of the wild-type. By using site directed mutagenesis, the aspartase was activated by replacement of Lys-126 with an arginine residue. The mutation produced functional alterations without appreciable structure changes. The optimum pH for the mutant enzyme is 8.5. The stable pH range is 7.0-9.0. Heat stability is higher than that of the wild-type one. Activity of the mutant enzyme is about 5-fold as much as that of wild-type one.

Intrathecal treatment with dextrorphan or ketamine potently reduces pain-related behaviors in a rat model of peripheral mononeuropathy

The therapeutic effects of dextrorphan and ketamine, two non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, on neuropathic pain-related behaviors were examined in rats with peripheral mononeuropathy induced by loose ligation of the common sciatic nerve (chronic constrictive injury, CCI). Four daily intrathecal treatments (beginning 1 h after nerve ligation) with dextrorphan or ketamine (12.5-100 nmol) reliably attenuated hyperalgesia to radiant heat and spontaneous pain-related behaviors in CCI rats. Thermal hyperalgesia also was reduced in CCI rats receiving a single intrathecal treatment with either dextrorphan or ketamine (50 and 100 nmol for each compound) on day 3 after nerve ligation when thermal hyperalgesia was well developed. Since both dextrorphan and ketamine are currently utilized in other clinical applications, the results suggest a new therapeutic utility of these 'old' compounds in treatment of neuropathic pain syndromes resulting from peripheral nerve injury.

Comparison between liver and serum concentrations of mannan binding protein

AIMS

To investigate staining patterns for mannan binding protein (MBP) by immunocytochemistry in liver biopsy specimens from patients with various hepatic disorders; to measure the serum MBP concentration in the patients at the time of biopsy; and to compare these to define further the role of MBP in disease.

METHODS

Fifty seven consecutive patients with a variety of types of liver disease were studied. Fresh liver biopsy specimens were immunostained with anti-MBP and graded for intensity of staining. Serum MBP concentrations were measured on samples obtained on the day of biopsy, as were a full range of liver blood tests.

RESULTS

MBP was only detectable in liver biopsy specimens from patients with morphological evidence of liver disease. MBP was most prominent in the livers of patients with severe alcoholic liver disease; livers harbouring metastases or showing biliary disease had moderate concentrations. Patients with liver disease were more likely to have raised serum MBP concentrations, but there was no correlation between these values and those found in the biopsy specimens. There was also no significant correlation between either of these concentrations and liver blood test abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with liver disease tend to have raised MBP concentrations in both the liver and serum, but the exact relation between the two is as yet undefined.

Mechanism of baroreceptor adaptation in dogs: attenuation of adaptation by the K+ channel blocker 4-aminopyridine

1. Increased arterial pressure increases baroreceptor activity but activity declines (i.e. baroreceptors adapt) as the pressure is maintained at the higher level. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of a 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-sensitive K+ current in causing baroreceptor adaptation. 2. Multi- and single fibre recordings of baroreceptor activity were obtained from the vascularly isolated carotid sinus in anaesthetized dogs during step increases in carotid sinus pressure sustained for periods up to 5 min. 3. Baroreceptor activity increased with the rise in pressure, declined markedly over the first minute, and continued to decline at a slower rate during the remainder of the 5 min period of elevated pressure. Exposure of the isolated carotid sinus to 4-AP (10(-5) and 10(-4) M) attenuated adaptation in a dose-dependent and reversible manner (P < 0.05). 4-AP attenuated the gradual decline in single fibre activity and also prevented derecruitment or dropout of fibres that occurred over time. 4-AP did not alter peak nerve activity measured within the first 2 s of the pressure step. 4. Ouabain (5 x 10(-7)-10(-6) M), an inhibitor of Na+,K(+)-ATPase, increased baroreceptor activity but did not attenuate baroreceptor adaptation. 5. Neither 4-AP nor ouabain altered the distensibility of the carotid sinus as measured with sonomicrometer crystals suggesting that the agents act directly on the nerve endings. 6. The results suggest that activation of a 4-AP-sensitive K+ current contributes significantly to baroreceptor adaptation with little or no contribution of Na+,K(+)-ATPase.

Low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins are altered in platelet hyperaggregation in IDDM

We examined the hypothesis that hyperaggregating platelets from patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) have an alteration in location and function of the guanine nucleotide (GTP)-binding proteins. Platelets from 10 IDDM and 12 age-matched healthy control subjects were collected and washed. Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation (0.025 and 0.05 units for 60 seconds) was increased in IDDM (8.3 +/- 1.8% vs 22.3 +/- 4.4%, P < .05 and 49.9 +/- 7.3% vs 70.9 +/- 7.0%, P < .05). Four small molecular weight GTP-binding proteins were identified by binding of [32P]-GTP on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in the cytosol and membranes of these platelets. Each showed specificity for binding [32P]-GTP by competitive inhibition with unlabeled GTP. The total of the 27/28 kDa proteins was decreased in the membrane fraction (414 +/- 30 vs 252 +/- 40 dpm micrograms-1 protein x min, P < .05) and increased in the cytosolic fraction (62 +/- 8 vs 129 +/- 21 dpm unit-1 LDH x min, P < .05) in IDDM. The 21 kDa protein (60.3 +/- 3.5 vs 45.4 +/- 2.9 dpm micrograms-1 protein x min, P < .05) was decreased in platelet membrane in persons with IDDM. In conclusion, increased platelet aggregation in IDDM is accompanied by an altered cellular distribution of a 27/28 kDa GTP-binding protein. These data suggest that the low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins of the 27/28 kDa range may play an important regulatory role in the hyperaggregatory platelets in diabetes.

Structural similarity between bovine conglutinin and bovine lung surfactant protein D and demonstration of liver as a site of synthesis of conglutinin

Conglutinin is a Ca(2+)-dependent, carbohydrate-binding, serum protein which contains an N-terminal collagen-like region and a C-terminal, C-type lectin domain. To date, conglutinin, which appears to play an important role in defence mechanisms, has been fully described, by protein sequence analysis, only in the bovine system. To allow comparison of lung surfactant protein D (SP-D) with conglutinin, within one species, a full-length cDNA clone for SP-D has been isolated from a bovine lung library. The derived amino acid sequence for bovine SP-D shows a higher (78%) level of identity to the sequence of conglutinin than to the sequence of human or rat SP-D (67 and 65% respectively). However, SP-D and conglutinin are known to have different carbohydrate-binding specificities, therefore some of the 16 residues conserved in the C-type lectin domains of all three species of SP-D, but which are not conserved in conglutinin, appear likely to be involved in determination of specificity. The use of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-derived DNA probe for bovine SP-D in Northern blotting studies yielded a signal from bovine liver mRNA as well as the expected signal from bovine lung mRNA. Since SP-D appears to be a lung-specific protein, it seems probable that the liver is the primary site of synthesis of conglutinin.

Isozyme variation and species relationships in peanut and its wild relatives (Arachis L. - Leguminosae)

Arachis hypogaea (peanut or groundnut) is an AABB allotetraploid whose precise ancestry is not yet clear. Its closest diploid relatives are the annual and perennial wild species included with it in the section Arachis. Variation in these species for 11 different enzymes was studied by starch-gel electrophoresis. Differences attributed to at least 13 genetic loci were found among eight enzymes, while three enzymes appeared uniform throughout the section. Values for Nei's genetic distance were calculated for all pairs of species and were used to estimate relationships. All diploid species, apart from two whose validity had previously been questioned, could be distinguished by their overall zymotypes, but few contained unique alleles. When species were grouped by their mean genetic distances, they formed two clusters, which agreed reasonably well with the division of the section into annual versus perennial species. The single B-genome species was an outlier within the annual group. A. hypogaea showed fixed heterozygosity at four loci (in ssp. hypogaea) or six loci (in ssp. fastigiata), which agrees with previous conclusions that the peanut is an allotetraploid. None of the diploids included in this survey could be conclusively identified as donors of either the A or the B genome to the tetraploids. The two subspecies of A. hypogaea differed consistently in two of the thirteen putative loci studied. This may call into question the simple hypothesis that A. hypogaea originated from just two diploid species.

Modified X waves with improved field properties

A method to obtain a good compromise between the depth of field and the lateral resolution of "X waves" is proposed. The original X waves are theoretically nondiffracting beams generated by a specially phased infinite transmit aperture. When generated by a finite aperture, X waves are diffracting beams but have a large depth of field, maintaining uniform lateral field profiles. The proposed modification of the wave equation solution for X waves replaces a constant parameter representing the propagation angle of ultrasound with a function of radial distance at the aperture surface, and results in modified X waves that have a larger depth of field than the original X waves. Computer simulations show that a proper choice of the modification function can produce a new beam with improved field properties compared with the original X waves, promising images with higher lateral resolution and increased contrast over a large depth of field in high frame rate medical imaging. Experimental results are presented to verify the simulation results of the proposed method.

Differential roles of NMDA and non-NMDA receptor activation in induction and maintenance of thermal hyperalgesia in rats with painful peripheral mononeuropathy

Central activation of excitatory amino acid receptors has been implicated in neuropathic pain following nerve injury. In a rat model of painful peripheral mononeuropathy, we compared the effects of non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists (MK 801 and HA966) and a non-NMDA receptor antagonist (CNQX) on induction and maintenance of thermal hyperalgesia induced by chronic constrictive injury (CCI) of the rat common sciatic nerve. Thermal hyperalgesia to radiant heat was assessed by using a foot-withdrawal test and NMDA/non-NMDA receptor antagonists were administered intrathecally onto the lumbar spinal cord before and after nerve injury. Four daily single treatments with 20 nmol HA966 or CNQX beginning 15 min prior to nerve ligation (pre-injury treatment), reliably reduced thermal hyperalgesia in CCI rats on days 3, 5, 7 and 10 after nerve ligation. Thermal hyperalgesia was also reduced in CCI rats receiving a single post-injury treatment with HA966 (20 or 80 nmol) or MK 801 (5 or 20 nmol) on day 3 after nerve ligation when thermal hyperalgesia was well developed. In contrast, a single post-injury CNQX (20 or 80 nmol) treatment failed to reduce thermal hyperalgesia or to potentiate effects of HA966 or MK 801 (5 or 20 nmol) on thermal hyperalgesia in CCI rats. Moreover, multiple post-injury CNQX treatments utilizing the same dose regime as employed for the pre-injury treatment attenuated thermal hyperalgesia but only when the treatment began 1 or 24 h (but not 72 h) after nerve ligation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Promoting effects of 6-mercaptopurine on carcinogenesis in various organs of F344 rats

Possible promoting effects of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) on carcinogenesis in various organs, including the hematopoietic system, were investigated in female F344 rats, using a 2-stage carcinogenesis model. 6-MP was given as a dietary supplement (50 ppm) for 35 weeks subsequent to wide-spectrum initiation with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). Various tumors were observed in the carcinogen-initiated groups. No significant influence of 6-MP on their development, including the occurrence of leukemia, was apparent. However, the incidences of some proliferative lesions in the lung, intestine and kidney were slightly higher in the ENU/6-MP group than the ENU group. Further studies may be needed on promoting effects of 6-MP, based on dose-effect relation using several 6-MP doses and/or other initiators.

Protein folding: assignment of the energetic changes of reversible chemical modifications to the folded or unfolded states

Reversible chemical modifications of a series of single cysteine-containing variants of T4 lysozyme combined with thermal denaturation studies have been used to study the effects of these modifications on the stability of the protein. This allows dissection of the energetic effects of the modification on both the native and denatured states of this protein. At some sites modifications with various chemical reagents have essentially no effect on the stability of the protein, while at others, substantial changes in stability are observed. For example, chemical modification of cysteine at site 146 by cystamine (+NH3CH2CH2SSCH2-CH2NH3+) to form the mixed disulfide lowers the stability of the protein by about 1.1 kcal/mol. The reduction in the free energy of folding caused by the chemical modification is attributed to the destabilization of native state (0.9 kcal/mol), with only a relatively small effect from stabilization of the denatured state (0.2 kcal/mol). Chemical modifications of T4 lysozyme at site 146 with various chemical reagents show that the stability of the protein is lowered by a positively charged group and is relatively independent of the size of the side chains. This approach allows the investigation of the thermodynamic consequences of the reversible insertion of a wide variety of chemical entities at specific sites in proteins and, most importantly, allows dissection of the contribution of the chemical modifications to both the folded and unfolding states. It can be applied to almost any suitable macromolecular system.

[Application of the regression orthogonal design to the fertilization of Psoralea corylifolia L. for optimum yield]

This paper probes into the determination of the optimum amount of fertilization by applying regression orthogonal design. After a significance test by regression equation, a regression equation can be set up, i. e. Y = 25.21 + 9.18 Xn + 15.68 Xp - 0.4 Xn2 - 0.98 Xp2 + 0.062 Xn Xp. This equation can be used to describe the relationship between yield and amount of fertilization.

Pulsed EPR studies of the type 2 copper binding site in the mercury derivative of laccase

The nuclear modulation effect in pulsed EPR spectroscopy was used to study the type 2 copper binding site in the mercury derivative of laccase (MDL) in which the type 1 copper is substituted by Hg(II). By comparing the three-pulse electron spin-echo modulations and Fourier transform spectra of MDL and several model compounds, we conclude that the imidazole groups of two histidyl amino acid residues are equatorially coordinated to Cu(II) in the type 2 site. Computer simulations of these data suggest that the remote nonbonding nitrogens of the two imidazoles possess nuclear quadrupole parameters e2qQ = 1.47 MHz and eta = 0.83. A(iso) values of these two nitrogens are not identical, being 1.5 and 2.0 MHz. We have also used samples of the enzyme exchanged with D2O to examine the coordination of the water to the type 2 copper site. The deuterium modulation that is resolved by taking the ratio of the time domain ESEEM data from native and D2O-exchanged enzyme indicates that there is an equatorial water ligand, and further data show that this water is displaced by azide.

Intrathecal GM1 ganglioside and local nerve anesthesia reduce nociceptive behaviors in rats with experimental peripheral mononeuropathy

Our previous experiments demonstrated that systemic treatment with GM1 ganglioside reduces nociceptive behaviors and spinal cord metabolic activity in a rat model of painful peripheral mononeuropathy produced by experimental sciatic nerve ligation (chronic constrictive injury, CCI). In the present study, we examined the effects of intrathecal (i.t.) GM1 treatment on thermal hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain behaviors resulting from nerve ligation in order to determine the locus of GM1 action. In addition, a local anesthetic agent, bupivacaine, given alone or combined with i.t. GM1, was applied to the injured sciatic nerve to determine if peripheral nerve anesthesia would influence post-injury nociceptive behaviors. Thermal hyperalgesia to radiant heat decreased in a dose-dependent manner when GM1 (10-80 nmol, i.t.) was administered once daily onto the lumbar segments of the spinal cord beginning 1 h after experimental nerve injury and continued for the first 9 days after nerve ligation. Moreover, this GM1 (80 nmol) treatment regimen reliably lowered spontaneous pain behavior rating scores in CCI rats suggesting the possible attenuation of spontaneous pain. The central site of i.t. GM1 action is located at the caudal (probably lumbar) spinal cord, since i.t. injection of 20 nmol GM1 onto the cervical spinal cord did not produce any protective effect. A single perinerve injection of a local anesthetic agent, bupivacaine (0.5%, 0.6 ml), on the 3rd day after nerve ligation reduced thermal hyperalgesia for at least 24 h following injection, a duration longer than that of the local anesthetic action of bupivacaine. Neither a single bupivacaine injection nor four daily i.t.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Post-injury treatment with GM1 ganglioside reduces nociceptive behaviors and spinal cord metabolic activity in rats with experimental peripheral mononeuropathy

In a rat model of painful peripheral mononeuropathy, this study examined the effects of post-injury treatment with a monosialoganglioside, GM1, on abnormal nociceptive behaviors and spinal cord neural activity resulting from loose ligation of the rat common sciatic nerve (chronic constrictive injury, CCI). Thermal hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain behaviors of CCI rats were assessed by measuring foot-withdrawal latencies to radiant heat and by rating spontaneous hind paw guarding positions, respectively. Neural activity within different regions of the spinal cord was inferred in both CCI and sham-operated rats by employing the [14C]-2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) autoradiographic technique to measure spinal cord glucose metabolism. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) GM1 treatment (10 mg/kg) initiated 1 h or 24 h after injury and once daily for the first 9 post-injury days reduced thermal hyperalgesia of the hind paw ipsilateral to nerve ligation and lowered spontaneous pain behavior rating scores in CCI rats. Sciatic nerve ligation reliably increased basal 2-DG metabolic activity of CCI rats in all four sampled regions (laminae I-IV, V-VI, VII, VIII-IX) of spinal cord lumbar segments (L2-L5) both ipsilateral and contralateral to nerve ligation 10 days after injury. Consistent with the drug's effects on spontaneous pain behaviors, 10 daily GM1 treatments (10 mg/kg, i.p.) initiated 1 h after nerve ligation reduced spinal cord 2-DG metabolic activity in laminae V-VI and VII ipsilateral to nerve ligation and in all four sampled regions contralateral to nerve ligation. This attenuation of the increased spinal cord glucose utilization that occurs in the absence of overt peripheral stimulation may reflect an influence of GM1 on increased neural activity contributing to spontaneous pain. Since gangliosides are thought to protect neurons from excitotoxic effects of excitatory amino acids, these results suggest that ganglioside treatment may result in attenuation of excitatory neurotoxicity that may occur following peripheral nerve injury. Thus, ganglioside treatment could provide a new approach to the clinical management of neuropathic pain syndromes following peripheral nerve injury.

[Therapeutic effects of epimeric glycyrrhizic acids on hepatic injury in rats]

The effects of the epimeric glycyrrhizic acids (GA), 18 alpha-form and 18 beta-form, on D-galactosamine (Gal)-induced acute liver injury and fulminating hepatic failure (FHF) in rats were studied. In rats of acute liver injury, extensive liver parenchymal cell damage was observed by the elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and confirmed by significant histopathological changes 24 and 48 h after ip Gal 450 mg.kg-1. Moreover, marked elevation in the liver putrescine levels occurred along with that of serum ALT. The spermidine and spermine levels did not alter significantly. GA 18 alpha-form 300 mg.kg-1 ip suppressed the elevation of serum ALT and liver putrescine levels, and improved all the histopathologic features. On the other hand, GA 18 beta-form 300 mg.kg-1, which exhibited inhibitory effects 24 h after ip Gal, showed no action 48 h after ip Gal. The ALT levels in the serum from GA 18 alpha-form, 18 beta-form, vs control groups after 24 h were 70 +/- 24 (P < 0.01) and 78 +/- 42 (P < 0.01) vs 155 +/- 57, and after 48 h were 74 +/- 25 (P < 0.01) and 258 +/- 99 (P > 0.05) vs 293 +/- 110. The putrescine contents (nmol.g-1) in the liver from GA 18 alpha-form, 18 beta-form, vs control after 24 h were 34 +/- 9 (P < 0.01) and 51 +/- 12 (P < 0.01) vs 139 +/- 29, and after 48 h were 16 +/- 3 (P < 0.01) and 150 +/- 11 (P > 0.05) vs 156 +/- 23.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Purification, characterization and cDNA cloning of human lung surfactant protein D

Human pulmonary surfactant protein D (SP-D) was identified in lung lavage by its similarity to rat SP-D in both its molecular mass and its Ca(2+)-dependent-binding affinity for maltose [Persson, Chang & Crouch (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 5755-5760]. For structural studies, human SP-D was isolated from amniotic fluid by affinity chromatography on maltose-Sepharose followed by f.p.l.c. on Superose 6, which showed it to have a molecular mass of approx. 620 kDa in non-dissociating conditions. On SDS/PAGE the human SP-D behaved as a single band of 150 kDa or 43 kDa in non-reducing or reducing conditions respectively. The presence of a high concentration of glycine (22%), hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine in the amino acid composition of human SP-D indicated that it contained collagen-like structure. Collagenase digestion yielded a 20 kDa collagenase-resistant globular fragment which retained affinity for maltose. Use of maltosyl-BSA as a neoglycoprotein ligand in a solid-phase binding assay showed that human SP-D has a similar carbohydrate-binding specificity to rat SP-D, but a clearly distinct specificity from that of other lectins, such as conglutinin, for a range of simple saccharides. Amino acid sequence analysis established the presence of collagen-like Gly-Xaa-Yaa triplets in human SP-D and also provided sequence data from the globular region of the molecule which was used in the synthesis of oligonucleotide probes. Screening of a human lung cDNA library with the oligonucleotide probes, and also with rabbit anti-(human SP-D), allowed the isolation of two cDNA clones which overlap to give the full coding sequence of human SP-D. The derived amino acid sequence indicates that the mature human SP-D polypeptide chain is 355 residues long, having a short non-collagen-like N-terminal section of 25 residues, followed by a collagen-like region of 177 residues and a C-terminal C-type lectin domain of 153 residues. Comparison of the human SP-D and bovine serum conglutinin amino acid sequences indicated that they showed 66% identity despite their marked differences in carbohydrate specificity.

Establishment of transplantable tumor lines and in vitro cell lines of malignant thymoma developed in a BUF/Mna rat

A spontaneous malignant thymoma was found in an 18-month-old female BUF/Mna rat and serially transplanted subcutaneously in both syngeneic BUF/Mna rats (designated as MTH-R) and KSN nude mice (MTH-NM) for more than 5 years. Both tumors shared the histological appearance of sarcomatoid carcinoma as seen in the original tumor. However, MTH-NM grew faster than MTH-R in the respective hosts. The MTH-NM grew in both KSN-nude mice and BUF/Mna-rnu/rnu rats but not in BUF/Mna rats, the host of the original tumor. Three continuous tissue culture cell lines (MTHC-1, MTHC-2 and MTHC-3) were established from the MTH-NM tumors at the 2nd, 15th and 17th transplantation generations, respectively. The MTH-NM tumors and latter two tissue culture cell lines carried one or more mouse chromosomes, probably acquired by cell fusion with mouse cells during passages in vivo. The presence of the mouse chromosomes was confirmed by the presence of mouse DNA and of antibodies to the MTHC-2 and MTHC-3 cells in the sera of BUF/Mna rats transplanted with MTH-NM.

Detection and characterization of an early folding intermediate of T4 lysozyme using pulsed hydrogen exchange and two-dimensional NMR

Two-dimensional 1H-15N NMR techniques combined with pulsed hydrogen-deuterium exchange have been used to characterize the folding pathway of T4 lysozyme. In the unfolded state, there is little differential protection of the various amides from hydrogen exchange. In the native folded structure, 84 amides of the 164 residues are sufficiently spectrally resolved and protected from solvent exchange to serve as probes of the folding pathway. These probes are located in both the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of the native folded structure of the protein. The studies described here show that at least one intermediate is formed early during refolding at low denaturant concentrations. This intermediate (or intermediates) forms very rapidly (within the 10-ms temporal resolution of our mixing device) under the conditions used and is completed at least 10 times faster than the overall folding event. The intermediate(s) protect(s) from exchange a subset of amides in the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the protein. In the final folded states these protected regions correspond to two alpha-helices and a beta-sheet region. These amides are protected from exchange by factors between 20 and 200 as compared to the fully unfolded protein. Protection of this magnitude is consistent with the formation of somewhat exposed secondary structure in these regions and could represent a "molten globule"-like or a "framework"-like structure for the intermediate(s) in which specific parts of the sequence form isolated secondary structures that are not stabilized by extensive tertiary interactions.

Radioiodinated anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ferritin. Targeting therapy, tumor imaging and anti-antibody response in HCC patients with hepatic arterial infusion

Radioimmunoimaging and radioimmunotherapy with radioiodinated anti-(hepatocellular carcinoma ferritin) antibody (131I- or 125I-FtAb) have been applied in patients with primary liver cancer. A total of 41 patients with surgically unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and receiving hepatic artery ligation and cannulation during exploratory laparotomy were treated with this regimen by intrahepatic arterial infusion. Compared with the control group, a decline of serum alpha-fetoprotein (65.7% versus 42.9%) and shrinkage of tumor (68.3% versus 33.9%) were observed in the treated group, and a higher second-look resection rate (31.7% versus 5.1%) and longer survival (1-year: 61.0% versus 37.3%, 3-year: 25.0% versus 6.9%) resulted. The administration of antibody through a hepatic arterial catheter (n = 16) was compared with intravenous injection (n = 17) in terms of the tumor-imaging sensitivity in 33 patients with liver cancer. The results indicated that hepatic arterial infusion was superior to intravenous injection. The sensitivity 7 days after the administration was 100% in the i.a. group and 76.5% in the i.v. group, the uptake ratio of tumor to liver being 1.74 +/- 0.57 in the former and 1.34 +/- 0.29 in the latter. Furthermore, intrahepatic arterial infusion revealed a lower anti-antibody detection rate than intravenous injection (0/14 versus 4/11).

Detergents inhibit chloramphenicol acetyl transferase

Potent inhibition of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) by Triton X-100 and Nonidet P-40 was observed. The CAT activity was also moderately inhibited by sodium deoxycholate and sodium dodecyl sulfate, and least by Tween 20. Detergents should, therefore, not be used for cell lysate preparation when CAT activity is used as the reporter in a transient expression experiment.

Intrathecal MK-801 and local nerve anesthesia synergistically reduce nociceptive behaviors in rats with experimental peripheral mononeuropathy

The hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain that occur following peripheral nerve injury may be related to abnormal peripheral input or altered central activity, or both. The present experiments investigated these possibilities by examining the effects of MK-801 (a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate, NMDA, receptor antagonist) and bupivacaine (a local anesthetic agent) on thermal hyperalgesia and spontaneous nociceptive behaviors in rats with painful peripheral mononeuropathy. Peripheral mononeuropathy was produced by loosely ligating the rat's common sciatic nerve, a procedure which causes chronic constrictive injury (CCI) of the ligated nerve. The resulting hyperalgesia to radiant heat and spontaneous nociceptive behaviors was assessed by using a foot-withdrawal test and a spontaneous pain behavior rating method, respectively. CCI rats receiving 4 daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) MK-801 injections (0.03, 0.1, 0.3 mg/kg) beginning 15 min prior to nerve ligation exhibited less hyperalgesia (i.e., longer foot-withdrawal latencies) on days 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 after nerve ligation as compared to those receiving saline injections. Thermal hyperalgesia also was reduced when a single MK-801 injection was given intrathecally (i.t.) onto the spinal cord lumbar segments on Day 3 after nerve ligation. This effect of postinjury MK-801 treatment was dose-dependent (2.5-20 nmol) and lasted for at least 48 h after injection. Moreover, i.t. injection of MK-801 (10 nmol) reliably lowered spontaneous pain behavior rating scores in CCI rats compared to those in the saline group. The spinal site of MK-801 action is situated within the caudal (probably lumbar) spinal cord, since i.t. injection of MK-801 (10 nmol) onto the spinal cord thoracic segments did not affect thermal hyperalgesia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of temperature on cerebral metabolism and blood flow in adults during cardiopulmonary bypass

The effect of temperature on cerebral blood flow and metabolism was studied in 41 adult patients scheduled for operations requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Plasma levels of midazolam and fentanyl were kept constant by a pharmacokinetic model-driven infusion system. Cerebral blood flow was measured by xenon 133 clearance (initial slope index) methods. Cerebral blood flow determinations were made at 27 degrees C (hypothermia) and 37 degrees C (normothermia) at constant cardiopulmonary bypass pump flows of 2 L/min/m2. Blood gas management was conducted to maintain arterial carbon dioxide tension (not corrected for temperature) 35 to 40 mm Hg and arterial oxygen tension of 150 to 250 mm Hg. Blood gas samples were taken from the radial artery and the jugular bulb. With decreased temperature there was a significant (p less than 0.0001) decrease in the arterial venous-oxygen content difference, suggesting brain flow in excess of metabolic need. For each patient, the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption at 37 degrees C and 27 degrees C was calculated from the two measured points at normothermia and hypothermia with the use of a linear relationship between the logarithm of cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption and temperature. The temperature coefficient was then computed as the ratio of cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption at 37 degrees C to that at 27 degrees C. The median temperature coefficient for man on nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass is 2.8. Thus reducing the temperature from 37 degrees to 27 degrees C reduces cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption by 64%.

Validation of 133Xe clearance as a cerebral blood flow measurement technique during cardiopulmonary bypass

133Xe clearance to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF) was examined in 10 dogs during cardiopulmonary bypass. As a reference method, a continuous Kety-Schmidt technique (CBFKS) with 133Xe as indicator was used. Extracranial tissue was removed to directly place the 133Xe detectors on the skull, and the head was covered with a 3 mm lead shield to minimize contamination of the 133Xe clearance curve with extracranial radiation. 133Xe detectors for the Kety-Schmidt technique were embedded in a shielded brass block to minimize interference with radiation from the animal's body. 133Xe clearance data were analyzed using stochastic (CBF10, CBF15, and CBFINF) and initial slope methods (CBFIS), and the results were compared with CBFKS using linear regression. CBF15 and CBFINF yielded similar CBF values as CBFKS (CBFKS = 0.97.CBF15-2.08, r = 0.92, p less than 0.01; CBFKS = 1.13.CBFINF-1.21, r = 0.92, p less than 0.01). CBF10 slightly overestimated CBFKS but still showed a close correlation to CBFKS (CBFKS = 0.89.CBF10-2.58, r = 0.92, p less than 0.01) and CBFIS considerably overestimated CBFKS (CBFKS = 0.60.CBFIS-1.27, r = 0.87, p less than 0.01). With extracranial contamination of the 133Xe clearance curve minimized, all 133Xe clearance techniques used to measure CBF were consistently related to CBFKS in a constant, significant manner. 133Xe clearance therefore is a valid method to assess CBF during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Evidence for dorsal root projection to somatostatin-immunoreactive structures in laminae I–II of the spinal dorsal horn

In order to determine if somatostatin (SOM)-immunoreactive (I) cell bodies and processes in lamina (L) II of the rat spinal cord receive dorsal root input, the latter were anterogradely labeled by wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). SOM-I structures were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. Cell bodies labeled transscellularly or transsynaptically by WGA-HRP and immunohistochemically for SOM were present in L II. In addition, a L I cell was double labeled. These results suggest that some dorsal root axons innervate SOM-I neurons in L I-II of the spinal cord. In addition to confirming immunohistochemical observations in published reports, we have revealed SOM-I central terminals in the type II glomerulus. Further, a SOM-I CI-terminal, presumed to be of primary afferent origin, contacted a SOM-I dendrite in L II. Since SOM has been implicated in nociceptive function in the dorsal horn, it is possible that some of the SOM-I structures identified are involved in nociceptive processing.

A sensitive fluorometric assay for reducing sugars

A simple and rapid fluorometric assay for reducing sugars that is sensitive to the nanomolar range has been developed. The assay involves the derivatization of a given sugar with hydrazine at pH 3 to form a hydrazone, which is reacted with fluorescamine following adjustment of pH to first 9.4 and then 7.4. The amount of sugar in a sample is quantitated by measuring the fluorescence intensity at an excitation wavelength of 400 nm and an emission wavelength of 490 nm. The assay is precise and reproducible, as indicated by intra- and inter-run variations of at most 3% and 4%, respectively. In addition to reducing sugars, the assay can also be used to measure aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, but not acetone. Compared with an existing fluorometric sugar assay, the assay reported here does not require chromatographic separation of the fluorescent derivative from unreacted fluorescamine. The assay can, however, be potentially adapted for postcolumn detection of aldehydes, reducing sugars, and hydrazones in HPLC.

Microinjections of norepinephrine within the superficial laminae of trigeminal subnucleus caudalis evoke increases in plasma adrenocorticotropin in the rat

To determine if local release of norepinephrine within the medullary dorsal horn influences autonomic responses often associated with nociception, microinjections of norepinephrine or of specific adrenergic receptor agonists were directed at the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Norepinephrine (20 nmol, 100 nl) evoked a significant increase (+ 233.8 +/- 89.5 pg/ml, P less than 0.01) in plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) after injections within the superficial laminae (I-II) of Vc, whereas mean arterial pressure or heart rate were not affected. Methoxamine (20 nmol), an alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, injections into laminae I-II also increased plasma ACTH (+ 90.6 +/- 32 pg/ml, P less than 0.025) without affecting arterial pressure or heart rate. Norepinephrine injections into the deeper laminae (III-V) of Vc caused a variable increase in plasma ACTH (+ 203.5 +/- 146.5 pg/ml, P less than 0.01) that was not mimicked by injections of methoxamine. Microinjections of alpha 2-(clonidine) or beta-(isoproterenol) adrenergic receptor agonists into Vc had no effect on plasma ACTH regardless of the laminar site of injection. The results suggest that norepinephrine acts within Vc to alter selected autonomic responses often associated with nociception. The involvement of an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor subtype within the superficial laminae of the medullary dorsal horn suggests a neural mechanism for norepinephrine-evoked increase in plasma ACTH that is distinct from the well known alpha 2-adrenergic receptor-mediated antinociceptive effects of norepinephrine.

[Phospholipid components of danggui]

This paper deals with the phospholipid components in Danggui (Angelica sinensis and Levisticum officinale) by using thin-layer chromatographic scanning and the corrective method of absorbance proportional coefficient. Seven known and two unknown phospholipid components were separated and determined. The authors have compared the composition of phospholipids for six Danggui samples.

Tissue distribution of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) antigens and new endogenous MMTV loci in Japanese laboratory mouse strains

The distribution of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) antigens was studied by the immunoperoxidase method in the II-TES and I-TES mouse strains as well as their progenitors, CS and DBA/2 strains. In the II-TES, I-TES and CS strains, and BALB/c mice foster-nursed with these strains, MMTV antigens were found not only in epithelial cells of the mammary glands but also in those of other tissues including the seminal vesicle, vas deferens, epididymis, prostate, parotid, submandibular, lacrimal, sebaceous, and urethral glands. In DBA/2 and BALB/cfDBA/2 mice, however, the MMTV antigens were found only in the mammary glands. Electron microscopic examination showed MMTV particles in these organs. When we examined the presence of Mtv-1 and 2 proviruses, which are known to be responsible for MMTV expression, in the genomes of the II-TES, I-TES, CS and DBA/2 strains by Southern blotting, Mtv-2 was not found in any of the mice and Mtv-1 was found in the II-TES and DBA/2 mice but not in the I-TES and CS mice. Instead, four new endogenous MMTV loci, which have never previously been reported in laboratory mouse strains, were detected in the genomes of the II-TES, I-TES and CS strains. One (designated Mtv-42) was common in the three strains and the other three (designated Mtv-43, 44 and 45) were common in the II-TEX and I-TES strains or the II-TES and CS strains. These results thus suggest that new endogenous MMTV loci may be responsible for MMTV expression in a variety of tissues of these three strains.

[Reversed-phase HPLC determination of dracorhodin in Daemonorops draco]

A reversed-phase HPLC method for the determination of dracohobin in dragon's Blood is described. The separation was performed on a Nucleosil C18 7 microns (4.0 x 15 cm) column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol-0.05 mol/L NaH2PO4(30:5:65). Detection was at 270 nm.

The human fibroblast growth factor receptor genes: a common structural arrangement underlies the mechanisms for generating receptor forms that differ in their third immunoglobulin domain

To determine the mechanisms by which multiple forms of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors are generated, we have mapped the arrangement of exons and introns in the human FGF receptor 1 (FGFR 1) gene (flg). We found three alternative exons encoding a portion of the third immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domain of the receptor. One of these alternatives encodes a sequence that is part of a secreted form of FGFR 1. The other two encode sequences that are likely part of transmembrane forms of FGFR 1. One of these forms has not been previously reported in published cDNAs. Also, we have determined the structural organization of a portion of the human FGFR 2 gene (bek) and found a similar arrangement of alternative exons for the third Ig-like domain. The arrangement of these genes suggests that there are conserved mechanisms governing the expression of secreted FGF receptors as well as the expression of at least two distinct membrane-spanning forms of the FGF receptors. The diverse forms appear to be generated by alternative splicing of mRNA and selective use of polyadenylation signals.

Non-classical androgenic actions of RU38486 in androgen-responsive Shionogi carcinoma 115 cells in serum-free culture

Antiglucocorticoid and antiprogestin RU38486 (RU486) stimulated the growth of highly androgen- and moderately glucocorticoid-sensitive SC-3 cells (a cloned cell line from Shionogi mouse mammary carcinoma 115) in a dose-dependent manner. A maximal 8-fold stimulation of growth by RU486 has been observed at 10(-7) M in a serum-free medium and its potency has been found to be almost the same as that of dexamethasone (Dex). The growth rate of SC-3 cells treated by triamcinolone acetonide (TA) or Dex combined with RU486 at 10(-9)-10(-7) M was enhanced compared to cells treated by TA or Dex alone, indicating that RU486 had additive rather than antagonistic effects. Our previous study revealed that RU486 could compete with the specific uptake of [3H]testosterone in intact SC-3 cells at relatively low affinity and the present study showed that the stimulatory effect of RU486 on the growth of SC-3 cells was significantly inhibited by pure antiandrogen flutamine and that half-maximal inhibition by flutamine was achieved at 10(-6) M. Moreover, we demonstrated that the conditioned medium from RU486-stimulated SC-3 cells contained growth-promoting activity which caused a 3.5-fold increase in DNA synthesis by SC-3 cells in the absence of RU486 and which was abolished by treatment with heparin-Sepharose. These results indicate that RU486-induced growth of SC-3 cells may be expressed as an androgenic activity through androgen receptor and mediated by a heparin-binding growth factor.

Serum cholesterol concentration and coronary heart disease in population with low cholesterol concentrations

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relation between serum cholesterol concentration and mortality (from coronary heart disease and from other causes) below the range of cholesterol values generally seen in Western populations.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study based on 8-13 years of follow up of subjects in a population with low cholesterol concentrations.

SETTING

Urban Shanghai, China.

SUBJECTS

9021 Chinese men and women aged 35-64 at baseline.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Death from coronary heart disease and other causes.

RESULTS

The average serum cholesterol concentration was 4.2 mmol/l at baseline examination, and only 43 (7%) of the deaths that occurred during 8-13 years of follow up were attributed to coronary heart disease. There was a strongly positive, and apparently independent, relation between serum cholesterol concentration and death from coronary heart disease (z = 3.47, p less than 0.001), and within the range of usual serum cholesterol concentration studied (3.8-4.7 mmol/l) there was no evidence of any threshold. After appropriate adjustment for the regression dilution bias, a 4 (SD 1)% difference in usual cholesterol concentration was associated with a 21 (SD 6)% (95% confidence interval 9% to 35%) difference in mortality from coronary heart disease. There was no significant relation between serum cholesterol concentration and death from stroke or all types of cancer. The 79 deaths due to liver cancer or other chronic liver disease were inversely related to cholesterol concentration at baseline.

CONCLUSION

Blood cholesterol concentration was directly related to mortality from coronary heart disease even in those with what was, by Western standards, a "low" cholesterol concentration. There was no good evidence of an adverse effect of cholesterol on other causes of death.

Mannan-binding protein in human liver

Mannan-binding protein (MBP) is a Ca(2+)-dependent lectin which was first described in 1978 in rabbit liver, and subsequently in serum and liver tissue from humans and a range of animal species. MBP structurally resembles C1q, and may act both as a focus for complement activation on the surface of microorganisms and as an opsonin in its own right. Low serum levels of serum MBP have been described in a group of children known to suffer from severe recurrent infections. MBP has also been reported to behave as an acute phase reactant. This preliminary study has investigated the localisation of MBP in human tissues using material obtained both at post mortem and from diagnostic liver biopsies. Using the IgG fraction of rabbit anti-human MBP, immunoperoxidase staining showed no evidence of significant MBP in a wide range of normal tissues, including liver taken both at post mortem and needle biopsy. However, there was a significant degree of staining for MBP in liver biopsies showing a variety of different pathologies, in particular severely damaged alcoholic livers, and those harbouring metastatic tumour. Moderate degrees of staining were also seen in liver biopsies from patients suffering from chronic biliary disease. It is uncertain whether this localisation of MBP in abnormal liver is an acute phase response, or represents a more fundamental link with liver disease. This question could be the focus for future studies.

[Survey of fungi and bacterinum of the conjunctival sac in Guangzhou area]

This paper presents the results of fungal culture from healthy conjunctival sac in 178 eyes. The rate of positive culture of the fungi was 25% in farmers, 11.1% in cleaners, and 8.8% in city residents respectively. Culture for aerobic was carried out in the samples from conjunctival sacs of 137 eyes. The rate of positive culture was 71.9% in farmers, 80.6% in cleaners, and 23.2% in city residents respectively. On the other hand, the rate of fungal positive culture was 9.7% and that of aerobic was 30% in the patients managed with steroid eyedrops for more than one month. The aspergillus and penicillium were the most commonly seen species among the isolated fungal strain, whereas the staphylococci and streptococcus pneumonia were the most common among the isolated aerobic. The results run parallel to the fact that the main pathogens of ocular infection seen clinically are fungi and aerobics. The authors emphasize that the conjunctival sac should be disinfected to prevent infections caused by opportunistic pathogens.

Establishment and characterization of immortalized non-transplantable mouse mammary cell lines cloned from a MMTV-induced tumor cell line cultured for a long duration

During the culturing of a mouse mammary tumor cell line, MuMT73, maintained in vitro for more than a decade, we found morphological heterogeneity in its cells; some showed contact inhibition in their growth, some formed domes and some grew criss cross and piled up. In trying to clone the cell line to isolate cells showing contact inhibition or dome formation, we were able to establish six clonal cell lines. These six cell lines were categorically divided into three groups according to their phenotypical behavior, Groups A, B and C. Group A (clones 1, 5 and 7) cells had a property of contact inhibition. They induced no tumor when injected into the subcutaneous tissue of the back, nor even when injected into the mammary fat pads or under the kidney capsule of syngenic or nude mice, and therefore were thought to be non-malignant in nature. They were positively stained by anti-keratin antiserum and had mouse mammary tumor viruses (MMTVs). Group B (clone 6) cells grew in a crisscross pattern and piled up, and they induced tumors when injected into the subcutaneous tissue of the back of mice. Group C (clones 3 and 4) cells formed domes in their growth and induced some tumors in the mammary fat pads and under the kidney capsule of KSN nude mice. In Southern blots with MMTV-env probe, numerous exogenous MMTV proviruses were detected in these cell lines. The insertion patterns of these proviruses in cells of non-malignant clonal lines (Group A) resembled those of malignant lines (Group B), except one band (about 26 Kb), but were considerably different from those of intermediate lines (Group C). On the other hand, no difference was detected in Southern blots with int-1 or int-2 probes among the non-malignant, intermediate and malignant clonal cell lines.

Immunodetection of thiol proteinase levels in various populations of Artemia cysts and during development

An immunodetection assay on Western blots has been used to determine the thiol proteinase content and composition in cysts from 12 populations of the brine shrimp Artemia. Our results showed no differences in the subunit composition of the thiol proteinase among cysts from eight bisexual strains and four parthenogenic strains, and confirmed an earlier finding that the proteinase is composed of two subunits of 25.9 and 31.5 kilodaltons. In contrast, we found that Artemia cysts from parthenogenic strains contain 17.1 ng/cyst of the thiol proteinase, while cysts from bisexual strains contain 8.2 ng/cyst of the thiol proteinase. Also, there was a good linear correlation (r = 0.863; p less than 0.001) between the thiol proteinase content and cyst mass. Embryo fractionation experiments showed that 82% of the thiol proteinase was in the cytosol, while 14 and 4%, respectively, were in the nuclei/yolk platelets and mitochondria/lysosome fractions. Measurements of the thiol proteinase content of developing Artemia embryos showed that the proteinase content was relatively constant during early development, suggesting that the activity of the thiol proteinase gene(s) may be constitutive and not developmentally regulated in Artemia embryos.

Capacity of making choices in the brain and its quantitative evaluation: an application to comprehension of incomplete sentences and semantic commitments

The natural language processor in the brain generates information when it disambiguates words while reading a text in which information generation refers to making semantic commitments. Contextual facilitation of disambiguation of words appearing in the perturbed text that is derived from the unperturbed and natural one by deleting words randomly, lets the language processor revise the previous semantic commitments continuously. As the frequency of revising the previous semantic commitments increases, the amount of information generated by the language processor also increases. Revising previous semantic commitments in a continuous fashion is the functional property intrinsic to the language processor in the brain.

Effects of androgen, fibroblast growth factors or other various growth factors on growth of Shionogi carcinoma cells in a protein-free medium

Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115) has been accepted for 20 years as an androgen-responsive mouse mammary tumor. We have recently established an androgen-dependent cloned cell line (SC-3) from a SC115 tumor. We found in the present study that the growth of SC-3 cells can be stimulated by 10(-8) M testosterone (up to 100-fold) even in a protein-free medium beginning from plating [Ham's F-12: Eagle's minimum essential medium (1:1, v/v)]. In the protein-free culture, the proliferation of SC-3 cells was also found to be stimulated by acidic or basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) alone (up to 50-fold) among various growth factors examined such as FGFs, insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, nerve growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha and TGF-beta. The testosterone (10(-8) M)- or FGF (10 ng/ml)-induced growth of SC-3 cells was abolished only by TGF-beta (greater than or equal to 1 ng/ml) among various growth factors examined. We show for the first time in this study an androgen-dependent growth of cancer cells (SC-3) in a protein-free medium. In the protein-free medium, growth of SC-3 cells is also stimulated by FGFs, and the androgen- or FGF-induced growth is inhibited only by TGF-beta.

Diverse forms of a receptor for acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors

We recently reported the isolation of a chicken cDNA clone encoding a basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor that has three immunoglobulinlike domains in the extracellular region. We have now identified four unique human cDNA clones encoding previously unknown FGF receptor variants which contain only two immunoglobulinlike domains. Two of the human clones encode membrane-spanning receptors, and two encode putative secreted forms. Both the three- and two-immunoglobulinlike-domain forms mediate biological responsiveness to acidic and basic FGF. Thus, the first immunoglobulinlike domain of the three-domain form may have a function other than binding of acidic and basic FGF.

[Nutritive physiology of Psoralea corylifolia L]

Our study has shown that P. corylifolia absorbs and accumulates N2 and K2O most speedily in the periods of branching, flowering and fruiting, while P2O5 in the period of full flowering and fruiting. P2O5 is accumulated mainly in the seed and K2O in the stem. The nutriment accumulation is positively correlated with that of dry substances. To produce 100 kg of P. corylifolia an absorption of 10.59 kg of N2, 3.68 kg of P2O5 and 10.21 kg of K2O is needed.

Growth stimulation by androgens, glucocorticoids or fibroblast growth factors and the blocking of the stimulated growth by antibody against basic fibroblast growth factor in protein-free culture of Shionogi carcinoma 115 cells

Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115) has been accepted for 20 years as an androgen-responsive mouse mammary tumor. We have established an androgen-dependent cloned cell line (SC-3) from a SC115 tumor. In a serum-free medium, testosterone (T) or fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) markedly stimulate the growth of SC-3 cells, and the T-induced growth was shown to be mediated through FGF-like peptide(s) in an autocrine mechanism. Since we used the serum-free culture including 0.1% bovine serum albumin (BSA), a partially serum-containing condition, putative roles of BSA- or serum-borne growth factors in growth stimulation of autocrine production of FGF-like peptide(s) could not be excluded. This paper reports findings performed in a protein-free medium including plating [Ham's F-12:MEM (1:1; v/v)]. In the protein-free culture, the growth of SC-3 cells was significantly stimulated by the addition of greater than or equal to 10(-10) M T (up to 20-fold), greater than or equal to 10(-7) M dexamethasone (Dex; up to 7-fold) or greater than or equal to 1 ng/ml basic (b) or acidic FGF (up to 10-fold); other various growth factors had no such effects. Furthermore, DNA synthesis of SC-3 cells induced by T, Dex or bFGF was similarly and markedly inhibited by bFGF neutralizing antibody IgG. Therefore, the present findings seem to demonstrate that androgens or high levels of glucocorticoids induce the production and secretion of FGF-like peptide(s) from SC-3 cells for their growth even in the absence of additional support by other factors.