Clinical manifestations of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy with anti-cardiolipin antibodies

OBJECTIVE

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an autoimmune syndrome where certain autoantibodies define clinicopathologic subgroups. In the present study, serum anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated aCL in sera from 21 patients diagnosed with CIDP in our hospital between 1991 and 2001. The four CIDP patients with aCL (aCL+) were compared with 17 patients without aCL (aCL-).

RESULTS

All aCL+ patients displayed sensory-motor polyneuropathy, with severity and distribution of weakness resembling those in aCL- patients. Anti-nuclear antibody titer of aCL+ patients were significantly higher than those in aCL- patients. None of aCL+ patients presented clinical manifestations of primary anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS), such as thromboses or recurrent abortion. Although the aCL+ patients were older and had more complications and more severe pathologic features than aCL- patients, they responded well to steroid pulse or intravenous immunoglobulin.

CONCLUSION

The aCL in CIDP apparently differ from 'autoimmune' aCL in APS, instead being among the autoantibodies pathologically involved in CIDP subgroups.

Triterpenoid CDDO-Im downregulates PML/RARα expression in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells

The triterpenoid 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid (CDDO) induces differentiation and apoptosis of diverse human tumor cells. In the present study, we examined the effects of the CDDO imidazolide imide (CDDO-Im) on the NB4 acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line and primary APL cells. The results show that CDDO-Im selectively downregulates expression of the PML/retinoic receptor alpha fusion protein by a caspase-dependent mechanism and sensitizes APL cells to the differentiating effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). CDDO-Im treatment of APL cells was also associated with disruption of redox balance and activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. In concert with these results, CDDO-Im sensitizes APL cells to arsenic trioxide (ATO)-induced apoptosis. Our findings indicate that CDDO-Im may be effective in the treatment of APL by: (i) downregulation of PML/RARalpha; (ii) enhancement of ATRA-induced differentiation; and (iii) sensitization of ATO-induced APL cell death.

Sex and housing conditions affect the 24-h acetylcholine release profile in the hippocampus in rats

To examine the sex difference in the 24-h profile of the acetylcholine (ACh) release in the hippocampus, in addition to the effects of housing conditions on this profile, we performed an in vivo microdialysis study in intact male and cycling female rats that had been living in large (diameter=35 cm) or small (diameter=19 cm) cylindrical cages. Each rat was individually housed in a cage for 4 days. On the day of the experiment, the dialysate was collected from the dorsal hippocampus at 20-min intervals and sequential blood samples were simultaneously obtained at 2-h intervals, under the freely moving condition for more than 24 h. ACh in the dialysates was measured by the high performance liquid chromatography system, while the corticosterone concentration in the serum was measured by radiostereoassay. Although the ACh release showed a clear daily rhythm in both sexes of rats, the amount of ACh released in female rats was significantly lower than that in males. Furthermore, the housing in the small cage significantly attenuated the ACh release during the dark phase in male rats, but not in female rats. Conversely, the serum corticosterone concentration showed a clear daily rhythm and the mean concentration of serum corticosterone in female rats was significantly higher than that in male rats. Housing in the small cage did not affect the corticosterone rhythm in either sex. These results reveal a sex difference in the 24-h profile of the ACh release, which suggests vulnerability of the cholinergic system in male rats depending on its housing conditions.

Feeding with powdered diet after weaning affects sex difference in acetylcholine release in the hippocampus in rats

We have reported in the past that female rats fed a powdered diet showed better spatial learning and memory functions than female rats a fed pelleted diet. In the present study, we examined the effects of feeding with powdered diet on acetylcholine release in the hippocampus in both sexes of rats. After weaning (3 weeks of age), rats were fed either standard pelleted diet or powdered diet, and after maturation (9-12 weeks of age), they were used in an in vivo microdialysis study, in which no eserine (a cholinesterase inhibitor) was added to the perfusate. The dialysate was collected from the dorsal hippocampus at 20-min intervals under freely moving conditions for more than 24 h. Acetylcholine in the dialysate was measured by high performance liquid chromatography. As we reported previously, the acetylcholine release showed a clear daily rhythm in both sexes, and males showed significantly greater acetylcholine release in the hippocampus than females in rats fed pelleted diet. Conversely, in rats fed powdered diet, no sex difference in the acetylcholine release was observed, since feeding with powdered diet significantly increased the acetylcholine release only in females. To further examine the number of cholinergic neurons in the medial septum and horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca, immunocytochemistry for choline acetyltransferase was performed in both sexes of rats fed either standard pelleted diet or powdered diet. However, neither sex nor feeding conditions affect the number of choline acetyltransferase immunoreactive cells in the areas. These results suggest that powdered diet after weaning enhances spontaneous acetylcholine release in the hippocampus in female rats without changes in the number of cholinergic neurons in the areas. It is possible that this effect of feeding contributes to improve the performance in spatial learning and memory functions in female rats fed powdered diet.

Bottle choice tests for oxidized oil in rats

Bottle choice tests in rats are useful for the study of fat appetite. However, little is known about the feeding behavior of rats toward oxidized oil. In this study, 24-h two-bottle choice tests were performed in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 5 days. When rats were given a choice between thermally oxidized oil and fresh oil, they ingested more fresh oil. A choice test between vapor-added fresh oil and fresh oil showed that rancid flavor is involved in the avoidance of oxidized oil. Results with deodorized oxidized oil indicated that a nonvolatile product also influenced choice. In conclusion, rats could distinguish oxidized oil from fresh oil and preferred fresh oil.

PTEN immunohistochemical expression is suppressed in G1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus

PURPOSE

PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene that inhibits cell proliferation by regulating intracellular signaling pathways, and this activity can be abolished by mutations of the PTEN gene. This study was designed to examine the correlation of PTEN expression with the expression of cell cycle regulators and with clinicopathological parameters in endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus.

METHODS

Tissue samples of 117 endometrioid adenocarcinomas in addition to those of 19 normal endometria and 20 endometrial hyperplasias were used for the study. Immunohistochemical staining for PTEN protein was performed with the labeled streptavidin-biotin method on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples. PTEN expression was represented as the staining score.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemistry showed that the nuclei of cells were positive for PTEN. The PTEN staining score of normal endometrium was significantly higher in the proliferative phase than in the secretory phase. The scores of various endometrial hyperplasias were not significantly different from each other, regardless of the type of hyperplasia. The PTEN staining scores of endometrioid adenocarcinomas were 7.6+/-5.2 in G1, 9.6+/-5.2 in G2, and 11.9+/-3.7 in G3, and increased significantly as the histological grade increased. PTEN staining score was not significantly correlated with clinicopathological parameters such as FIGO stage, myometrial invasion, lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), lymph node metastasis or group, but was significantly correlated with labeling indices (LIs) of cell cycle regulators such as Ki-67, cdk2, cyclin A, cyclin D1, cyclin E, p27, and p53. The PTEN staining score of p53-wild cases was significantly lower than that of p53-mutant ones, but there was no significant difference of the score in cases with different PTEN gene status. PTEN expression was significantly lower in cases with both high levels of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor.

CONCLUSION

PTEN protein expression was decreased in well-differentiated and less growth-aggressive endometrial carcinoma with wild-type p53 gene and high levels of ER and PR. This suggests that disturbed PTEN expression occurs in an early phase of the tumorigenesis of well-differentiated endometrial carcinoma.

p-Nonylphenol, 4-tert-octylphenol and bisphenol A increase the expression of progesterone receptor mRNA in the frontal cortex of adult ovariectomized rats

Alkylphenols, such as p-nonylphenol (NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) and bisphenol A (BPA) are thought to mimic oestrogens in their action, and are called endocrine disrupters. We examined whether these endocrine disrupters affected progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA expression in the adult female rat neocortex. In one experiment, at 12.00 h, ovariectomized rats were given a subcutaneous injection of 10 mg of NP, 10 mg of OP or 10 mg of BPA, or sesame oil alone as control. Twenty-four hours after injection, the left side of the frontal cortex, parietal cortex and temporal cortex was collected. In a second experiment to study the time-course of the effects of BPA on PR mRNA, the ovariectomized rats were given a subcutaneous injection of 10 mg of BPA and killed 0, 6, 12 and 24 h after injection. In addition to the frontal cortex and temporal cortex, the occipital cortex was also collected. Northern blotting revealed that, in the first experiment, injection of NP, OP or BPA significantly increased PR mRNA expression in the frontal cortex but not in the parietal cortex. In the temporal cortex, BPA significantly decreased PR mRNA, but NP and OP produced no significant changes. The second experiment revealed that, in the frontal cortex, BPA induced a significant increase in PR mRNA expression at 6 h after injection, which lasted until 24 h after injection. In the temporal cortex, PR mRNA expression was significantly decreased 6 h after injection of BPA and was still significantly low 24 h after injection. No significant change was observed in the occipital cortex. These results suggest that, even in adult rats, endocrine disrupters alter the neocortical function by affecting the PR system, although the physiological significance of PR in the affected area is unknown.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor increases inhibitory synapses, revealed in solitary neurons cultured from rat visual cortex

To elucidate chronic actions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on GABAergic synapses, we examined effects of a long-term application of BDNF for 10-15 days on autapses (synapses) of solitary GABAergic neurons cultured from rat visual cortex. Solitary neuron preparations were used to exclude a possible contamination of BDNF actions on excitatory neurons in dissociated neuron culture or slice preparations. Neurons were confirmed to be GABAergic pharmacologically with bicuculline, a selective antagonist for GABAA receptors and immunocytochemically with antibody against glutamic acid decarboxylase 65, a GABA synthesizing enzyme. To evaluate GABAergic synaptic function, evoked and/or miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were recorded in the whole-cell voltage-clamp mode. The treatment with BDNF at a concentration of 100 ng/ml enhanced the amplitude of evoked IPSCs and the frequency of miniature IPSCs. In contrast, BDNF did not have a detectable effect on the amplitude of miniature IPSCs and the paired pulse ratio of IPSCs evoked by two, successive activations. To evaluate morphological changes, neurons were immunocytochemically stained with antibodies against microtubule-associated protein 2, to visualize somatodendritic region and synapsin I, to visualize presynaptic sites. The quantitative analysis indicated that BDNF increased the area of soma, the numbers of primary dendrites and dendritic branching points, the total length of dendrites and the number of synaptic sites. Such an action of BDNF was seen in both subgroups of GABAergic neurons, parvalbumin-positive and -negative neurons. To visualize functionally active presynaptic sites, neurons were stained with a styryl dye, FM1-43. BDNF increased the number of stained sites that was correlated with the frequency of miniature IPSCs. These results suggest that the chronic treatment with BDNF promotes dendritic and synaptic development of GABAergic neurons in visual cortex.

Sexual dimorphism of GABA release in the medial preoptic area and luteinizing hormone release in gonadectomized estrogen-primed rats

We showed marked sex differences in the GABA outflow in the medial preoptic area of intact rats. To further determine the sexually dimorphic effects of estrogen on the GABA outflow, an in vivo microdialysis study was performed in gonadectomized rats 3-5 days after the estrogen- or cholesterol-priming. Dialysates and sequential blood samples (150 microl each) were simultaneously collected under freely moving conditions. Serum estradiol concentrations at 72 and 84 h after the estrogen capsule implantation were approximately 75 pg/ml in both sexes. Ovariectomized estrogen-primed (OVX+E(2)) rats showed high GABA outflow from the late night through the morning, which was significantly declined until the onset of surge like secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the afternoon (N=7). Ovariectomized cholesterol-primed (OVX+C) rats consistently showed low GABA outflow and high serum LH concentration (N=8). Conversely, orchidectomized estrogen-primed (ORX+E(2)) rats showed high and episodic GABA outflow without any daily changes (N=7), which was significantly greater than orchidectomized cholesterol-primed (ORX+C; N=8) and OVX+C rats. Only OVX+E(2) rats showed significant daily changes in the GABA outflow and serum LH concentration. Fitting with the double cosinor method demonstrated that the acrophase of the GABA outflow in OVX+E(2) rats occurs in the early morning, whereas the acrophases in OVX+C, ORX+C, and ORX+E(2) rats occur at various times of day. The present findings suggest that sex-specific effects of estrogen on the daily GABA release in the medial preoptic area may be involved in the sex difference of LH release in rats.

Lipopolysaccharide inhibits luteinizing hormone release through interaction with opioid and excitatory amino acid inputs to gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurones in female rats: possible evidence for a common mechanism involved in infection and immobilization stress

Acute immobilization stress suppresses naloxone- and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced, but not gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-induced, luteinizing hormone (LH) release in ovariectomized oestrogen-primed rats. To explore whether a common mechanism may underlie inhibition of gonadotropin secretion by various stressors, we examined in the present study the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on LH release induced by progesterone, GnRH, naloxone and NMDA. The effect of LPS on Fos expression in GnRH neurones was also examined in association with its effect on steroid-induced LH release. Injection of progesterone (1 mg/rat) at noon induced an LH surge in the afternoon in ovariectomized rats pretreated with oestradiol benzoate. In these rats, the majority of hypothalamic GnRH neurones expressed Fos in the evening. Intravenous (i.v.) administration of LPS (10 micro g/rat) inhibited steroid-induced LH release and also reduced the Fos expression in GnRH neurones. In separate experiments, an i.v. injection of GnRH (50 ng/kg), naloxone (10 mg/kg) or NMDA (20 mg/kg) significantly elevated serum LH concentrations within 10 min. Pretreatment with LPS, which did not affect basal LH release or GnRH-induced LH release, inhibited naloxone-induced and NMDA-induced LH release. These results show that LPS has a suprapituitary site(s) of action to suppress the activity of GnRH neurones in female rats, and suggest that LPS affects the opioid, as well as the excitatory amino acidergic regulation of GnRH neurones. The similarity of effects of LPS and immobilization stress further suggests that a common mechanism is involved in inhibition of GnRH neurones by different stressors.

Bisphenol A increases progesterone receptor immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus in a dose-dependent manner and affects sexual behaviour in adult ovariectomized rats

Recently, we reported that bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupter, increased progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA in the preoptic area (POA) in adult ovariectomized rats. In the present study, we examined whether BPA also induced expression of PR proteins in both the POA and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), and whether those proteins were involved in the induction of sexual behaviour. Two weeks after ovariectomy, rats received a subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of BPA, 17 beta-oestradiol or vehicle. Twenty-four hours after the injection, the rats were killed and their tissues were examined by immunocytochemistry. Some rats that received a s.c. injection of BPA, E2 or vehicle alone on the day before were injected with progesterone at 15.00 h and examined for sexual behaviour 5-7 h later. As expected, injection of 10 microg E2 significantly increased the number of PR immunoreactive cells in both the POA and the VMH compared to the number after injection of vehicle alone. In both the POA and the VMH, injection of BPA at a dose of 10 mg also significantly increased the number of PR immunoreactive cells compared to the number after injection of sesame oil alone. Furthermore, BPA induced a dose-dependent increase in the number of PR immunoreactive cells in both the POA and the VMH, demonstrating that the number of PR cells was significantly increased by as little as 100 microg of BPA. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats that were primed with 10 mg of BPA, followed by 1 mg of progesterone, displayed mainly rejection behaviour, but not lordosis as typically observed in OVX rats primed with E2 followed by progesterone. The present study suggests that BPA influences reproductive functions, including sexual behaviour even in adulthood, by altering the PR system in the hypothalamus.

Vigorous intake of oil emulsion caused by chronic food deprivation remains after recovery in rats

Oil emulsion intake over a 30-min period was compared under different dietary conditions (ad libitum feeding and chronic food deprivation) and at various concentrations of oil in rats. The pattern of intake for each dietary condition was extremely different. Food-deprived rats ingested more emulsion when the solution was thicker but intake amount became less at too high a concentration. Ad libitum feeding rats ingested less emulsion than deprived rats with no difference among the concentrations. Rats on a restricted diet clearly differentiated between concentrations, selecting the thicker emulsion when provided two-bottle selection between 10% oil and some other concentration. On the other hand, rats fed ad libitum differentiated between only extremely weak solutions. The vigorous intake of oil emulsion induced by chronic food deprivation was maintained after 2 weeks of normal feeding. Significant difference between prior dietary conditions was maintained at lower concentrations. Dietary timing for food-deprived rats affected little on emulsion intake. These results indicate that response to oil emulsion intake differs by concentration in rats.

Results of surgical treatment for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and clinicopathological factors influencing survival

BACKGROUND

The results of surgical treatment for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and specific factors influencing survival are still unclear.

METHODS

Between 1984 and 2001, 62 patients with ICC underwent laparotomy, with a 77 per cent (48 patients) resectability rate. The tumours in these 48 patients were reviewed retrospectively to examine the relationship between gross appearance (mass forming, periductal infiltrating, intraductal growth, and mass forming plus periductal infiltrating) and patient survival, as well as the manner of recurrence. In patients with mass-forming and mass-forming plus periductal infiltrating types, univariate and multivariate analyses of potential prognostic factors were performed.

RESULTS

The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 62, 38 and 23 per cent respectively. All patients with the intraductal growth type remained alive after intervals ranging from 8 to 72 months. Univariate analysis showed multiple hepatic lesions, liver capsule invasion, presence of cancer cells in the resection margin, and high serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level to be significant negative prognostic factors. Lymph node involvement, however, was not identified as a significant prognostic factor. With multivariate analysis, multiple hepatic lesions and high serum CA19-9 concentration were found to be significantly related to prognosis. The most frequent recurrence site was the remnant liver.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the intraductal growth type of tumour should be treated as a distinct entity compared with other types of ICC. Multiple tumours and high serum CA19-9 level were signs of dismal prognosis, whereas not all patients with lymph node involvement had a poor prognosis.

GABA release in the medial preoptic area of cyclic female rats

GABA is a potent regulator of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the hypothalamus. To determine the profile of GABA release in the medial preoptic area where the gonadotropin surge generator resides, an in vivo microdialysis study was performed in cyclic female rats. The microdialysis samples were collected and sequential blood samples (150 microl each) were also obtained, at 1-h intervals. During estrus and diestrus 1, GABA release in the medial preoptic area was relatively low. A small increase in the GABA release began in the afternoon of diestrus 1 and attained its peak in the morning of diestrus 2, but declined in the afternoon of that day. The GABA release markedly increased from late in the night of diestrus 2 through the morning of proestrus, when it attained its peak, and thereafter it declined sharply until the critical period of proestrus. A distinct preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge was observed in the afternoon of proestrus in all proestrous rats. From these results we suggest that the preovulatory elevation of the GABA release from the night through to the morning of proestrus, followed by a sharp decline, is closely associated with the onset of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge in cyclic female rats. The present study is the first to report the 4-day profile of GABA release in the medial preoptic area during the estrous cycle.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the lesser omentum: report of a case

We describe herein an extremely unusual case of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the lesser omentum. A 45-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with an intra-abdominal mass that was subsequently misdiagnosed as a submucosal tumor of the stomach. The tumor arose from the lesser omentum and was removed without difficulty. Histologically, the tumor was composed of spindle-shaped cells with an interlacing bundle pattern, and immunohistochemical examination showed that it was positive for myeloid stem cell antigen (CD34), but negative for HHF35 and S-100 protein. These findings were consistent with a GIST lacking myogenic features and neural attributes. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course, and was free of recurrence when last seen 11 months after his operation.

Differential regulation of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide receptor variants in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide is densely distributed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which functions as the circadian pacemaker. A receptor for pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide, denoted as PAC(1), exists in six variant forms. We used reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to identify the PAC(1) variants that are expressed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Dominant variant forms of PAC(1) in the suprachiasmatic nucleus were PAC(1)short, PAC(1)hip, and PAC(1)hop1. By in situ hybridization, we examined 24-h profiles of mRNAs for the identified receptor variants in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in constant darkness and during the light-dark cycle. In constant darkness there were clear circadian rhythms in PAC(1)short mRNA with a peak at circadian time 4 but no rhythmicity was observed in PAC(1)hip mRNA or PAC(1)hop1 mRNA. In light-dark cycles, on the other hand, PAC(1)hip mRNA displayed a bimodal rhythm with troughs at zeitgeber time 4 and 16 but PAC(1)hop1 mRNA stayed constant during the day. These results suggest that PAC(1) splice variants are differentially regulated in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Locally expressed CTLA4-Ig in a pancreatic beta-cell line suppresses accelerated graft rejection response induced by donor-specific transfusion

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

This study examined whether locally expressed CTLA4-Ig can suppress the accelerated islet allograft rejection that is induced by donor-specific transfusion.

METHODS

CTLA4-Ig-transfected or parental MIN6 cells were transplanted subcutaneously into the right flank of streptozotocin-induced diabetic C3H/Hej mice with or without donor-specific transfusion. For donor-specific transfusion, spleen cells from C57BL/6 mice were injected i.v. at the time of transplantation. In other experiments, CTLA4-Ig-transfected and parental MIN6 cells were transplanted separately into each flank, together with donor-specific transfusion. Rejection was defined as a blood glucose concentration of more than 300 mg/dl in two consecutive measurements, and graft survival was confirmed by hyperglycaemia after the grafts were removed. The effect of an anti-CTLA4 antibody on the survival of CTLA4-Ig-transfected MIN6 cells was also examined.

RESULTS

In 7 of 12 donor-specific transfusion sensitised mice, CTLA4-Ig-transfected MIN6 cells remained viable 20 days after grafting, whereas all parental MIN6 cells ( n = 10) were rejected promptly, within 14 days. The prolonged allograft survival was observed even in the absence of detectable levels of serum CTLA4-Ig, while the surviving allografts continued to produce CTLA4-Ig in situ. This protection was abrogated by an anti-CTLA4 antibody, but not by a control antibody. Furthermore, six animals that maintained normoglycaemia after the separate transplantation of parental and CTLA4-Ig-transfected MIN6 cells into each flank all showed abrupt hyperglycaemia after the CTLA4-Ig/MIN6 graft was removed, suggesting that this protection operated locally.

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

A beta-cell line genetically engineered to secrete CTLA4-Ig can protect a graft locally from the alloimmune response induced by donor-specific transfusion.

Butyl benzyl phthalate, an endocrine disrupter, inhibits pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion under an insulin-induced hypoglycaemic state in ovariectomized rats

Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) and bisphenol A (BPA), termed endocrine disrupters, are known to mimic oestrogen in their actions, and therefore there is concern about their effect on reproductive functions. Since it is reported that the inhibitory action of oestrogen on the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) is enhanced under insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, whether this also applies to BBP and BPA was examined in the present study. In adult ovariectomized (OVX) rats, the pulsatile LH secretion 24 h after subcutaneous injection of 10 mg BBP (BBP-treated), 10 mg BPA (BPA-treated) or 100 ng 17beta-oestradiol (E2-treated), all of which were dissolved in sesame oil, was not changed significantly compared to that after the injection of sesame oil only. Furthermore, in oil-treated OVX rats, the pulsatile LH secretion immediately after intravenous injection of insulin (1.0 U) was not changed compared to that after saline injection. In BBP-treated OVX rats, the injection of insulin (1.0 U) significantly decreased the number of LH pulses as in E2-treated OVX rats. The injection of insulin did not significantly affect the amplitude of LH pulses in BBP-, BPA- and E2-treated OVX rats. The results indicate that the oestrogenic action of BBP is significantly enhanced by insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and thus the pulsatile LH secretion is inhibited. We suggest that weak oestrogenic endocrine disrupters may become harmful to reproductive functions even in adult female rats, if acting under a low energy state.

Menstrual and circadian variations in time perception in healthy women and women with premenstrual syndrome

A time production test was performed in seven normal females and seven females with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). We used a time production test for six time intervals (6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 s). Time production tests were performed at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 h in the follicular, early luteal and late luteal phases (LLP), respectively. The results are as follows. (1) Normal females showed diurnal variations in time production only in the follicular phase (FP). In this phase, they overproduced time at 08:00 h suggesting that the interval clock in normal females was slowest in the morning. (2) Normal females showed menstrual variations in time production only at 20:00 h. They overproduced time in the LLP suggesting that the interval clock in normal females was slowest in the LLP. (3) Neither diurnal nor menstrual variation was found in PMS subjects at any menstrual stage or at any time of the day. These results suggest that the interval timing system in normal females is under the control of ovarian steroid hormones and the circadian clock, but the control of ovarian steroid hormone or the circadian clock does not operate in PMS subjects.

Destabilization of chromosome 9 in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder

The most frequent genetic alteration in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (TCC) is loss of chromosome 9 which targets CDKN2A on 9p. The targets on 9q are not confirmed. Here, 81 advanced TCC specimens were investigated for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and homozygous deletions (HD) on chromosome 9q using multiplex analysis of microsatellite markers. 41/81 tumours (51%) showed LOH on 9q, with LOH at all markers in 33 cases. Eight partial losses involved three regions in 9q12, 9q22.3, and 9q33- 9q34. No mutations were identified in the candidate tumour suppressor gene DBCCR1 in three tumours showing restricted LOH at 9q32-33. 22% of the specimens had HD at CDKN2A, but no HD was found on 9q. Two tumours had lost 9p only and five 9q only. 9q LOH was not related to tumour grade or stage and present or absent with equal frequency in recurrent TCC. LOH on 9q correlated with the extent of genome-wide hypomethylation (P < 0.0001) which extended into satellite sequences located in 9q12 juxtacentromeric heterochromatin. While the high frequency of chromosome 9q loss in TCC may reflect destabilization of the chromosome related to hypomethylation of repetitive DNA, the data are compatible with the existence of tumour suppressor genes on this chromosome arm.

Messenger ribonucleic acid for the mouse decidual prolactin is present and induced during in vitro decidualization of endometrial stromal cells

Although decidualization of endometrial stromal cells is crucial for blastocyst implantation and maintenance of pregnancy, its complex mechanism still remains largely unknown. To explore the mechanisms of decidualization, we have established an in vitro decidualization model in mice. Through extraction of mRNA from endometrial stromal cells for subsequent reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis, we found that two ovarian hormones, 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone, induced morphological changes and expression of mRNA for prolactin (PRL) and the decidual/trophoblastic PRL-related protein (d/tPRP) in cultured mouse endometrial stromal cells. The expression of mRNA for the decidual PRL was also detected in the mouse decidua in vitro. In conclusion, mouse mRNA for decidual PRL is present and induced by estradiol and progesterone through in vitro decidualization of endometrial stromal cells.

Intracerebroventricular administration of ghrelin rapidly suppresses pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion in ovariectomized rats

Ghrelin, an endogenous growth hormone (GH) secretagogue, is shown to increase food intake, which action is similar to that of orexin, also a hypothalamic peptide. Since orexin suppresses pulsatile LH secretion in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, the present study was undertaken to investigate whether ghrelin also suppresses LH secretion. Effects of intracerebroventricularly injected ghrelin (0.1 nmol/0.3 microl) were examined in OVX rats treated with a small dose of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)). After ghrelin injection, pulsatile LH secretions which were ongoing in these E(2)-treated OVX rats were significantly suppressed for about 1 h, whereas GH secretion increased, peaking at 30 min. The main parameter suppressed by ghrelin was the pulse frequency, not the pulse amplitude, suggesting the hypothalamus as the site of ghrelin action. This study provides evidence that ghrelin acts not only in the control of food intake but also in the control of LH secretion.