Effects of gonadal steroids on follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone secretion by pituitary cells from castrated and intact male rats

The effectiveness of androgens in suppressing gonadotropin secretion declines with time following orchidectomy; however, the mechanism for this acquired resistance to androgen action is unknown. The role of the pituitary was studied by use of perifused rat pituitary cells and cells in monolayer culture. Pituitary cells from 7-wk-old intact male rats and rats that had been castrated 2 wk previously were treated with 10 nM testosterone (T) for 24 h; cells were then packed into perifusion chambers and stimulated with 2.5 nM GnRH for 2 min every hour for 8 h during which time T treatment was continued. T suppressed GnRH-stimulated LH secretion and LH pulse amplitude equally in both groups to approximately 60% of control values. Interpulse LH secretion was unchanged by T in either group. GnRH-stimulated FSH release was suppressed more (p less than 0.05) by T with cells from castrated rats than with cells from intact rats (76 +/- 4% vs. 90 +/- 2% of control; mean +/- SEM). By contrast, the action of T to increase interpulse basal FSH secretion was less (p less than 0.05) with cells from castrated rats (115 +/- 10% of control) than with cells from intact rats (146 +/- 6% of control). T treatment for 72 h also increased basal FSH secretion by pituitary cells in monolayer culture to a lesser extent with cells from castrated rats than with cells from intact rats (151 +/- 14% vs. 191 +/- 16% of control, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Glutathione and glutathione-related enzymes in human cataractous lenses

Glutathione and its related enzymes were measured for normal and cataractous human lenses. Glutathione decreased progressively with the development of cataracts. This decrease was more pronounced in the nucleus than in the capsule-epithelia of cataractous lenses. Glutathione reductase in nuclear extracts was relatively unchanged during cataract progress, while glutathione synthetase was significantly low in the advanced stages of cataracts. gamma-Glutamylcysteine synthetase was not measurable in the nuclei of cataractous lenses.

Structure of N-gamma-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine ethyl ester monohydrate

C10H18N2O5S.H2O, Mr = 296.39, monoclinic, P2(1), a = 19.600 (1), b = 7.480 (1), c = 5.061 (1) A, beta = 94.74 (1) degree, V = 739.445 (1) A3, Z = 2, Dm = 1.31, Dx = 1.331 g cm-3, Cu K alpha, lambda = 1.54178 A, mu = 21.4 cm-1, F(000) = 316, room temperature, R = 0.057 for 1263 reflections. The molecule adopts an extended form. The molecules are arranged so as to form double molecular sheets parallel to the bc plane through some hydrogen bonds.

Incidence and properties of renal masses and asymptomatic renal cell carcinoma detected by abdominal ultrasonography

Renal ultrasonography was performed in 45,905 adults, including 41,364 without any signs suggesting urinary tract malignancies, 1,667 with microscopic hematuria only and 2,874 with some signs of malignancy. Renal lesions were found in 355 adults (0.858%) in the asymptomatic, 39 (2.3%) in the microscopic hematuria and 75 (2.6%) in the symptomatic groups, respectively. Renal cell carcinoma was found in 35 (7.5%) lesions: 19 (5.4%) in the asymptomatic, none in the microscopic hematuria and 16 (21.3%) in the symptomatic groups. A total of 47 patients, including 12 other renal cell carcinoma patients transferred from related hospitals, was grouped into 28 without and 19 with symptoms. Primary tumor size and clinical stages were significantly smaller and lower, respectively, in the asymptomatic group than in the symptomatic group. Radical nephrectomy was performed in all but 2 asymptomatic patients. The 5-year survival rates after nephrectomy were 94.7 and 60.9% for the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups, respectively (p less than 0.01). The results indicate that ultrasonography is a useful tool to detect low stage asymptomatic renal cell carcinoma at low cost.

Effects of castration on luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone secretion by pituitary cells from male rats

Because the role of the pituitary in the testicular control of gonadotropin secretion remains controversial, we examined the effects of castration on the release of LH and FSH under basal conditions and in response to GnRH stimulation by dispersed pituitary cells in monolayer culture as well as by cells perifused with pulses of GnRH. These effects were compared to changes in LH beta, FHS beta, and alpha-subunit mRNA levels determined by Northern blot analysis. Pituitary cells were prepared from 7-week-old intact rats and rats orchidectomized 2 weeks previously. Castration increased basal FSH secretion from monolayer cultures, interpulse FSH release from perifused pituitary cells, FSH beta mRNA concentrations and serum FSH levels each approximately 2-fold, whereas pituitary FSH contents were similar in cells from intact and castrated rats. Pituitary LH content rose 3-fold, LH beta mRNA rose 5.6-fold, and basal LH secretion increased 6-fold, but serum LH levels increased 22-fold. Thus, the change in FSH synthesis inferred from the increase in FSH beta mRNA was proportional to the increase in FSH secretion both in vitro and in vivo. Whereas the basal release of LH in vitro was also proportional to the change in LH beta mRNA, secretion of LH in vivo exceeded these changes, underscoring the importance of increased GnRH to the serum LH castration response. Castration resulted in an increase in the sum of FSH content and secretion during 10 days in culture in the absence of GnRH, indicating ongoing FSH synthesis. Total LH declined in cells from intact rats, and this decline was prevented by castration; this effect may be due to a castration-related decrease in intracellular LH degradation or increased LH synthesis in the absence of GnRH. Castration also augmented the GnRH-stimulated release of LH and FSH from monolayer cultures 4.5- and 1.8-fold, respectively, and increased the amplitude of GnRH-stimulated LH and FSH pulses 5- and 2-fold in experiments with perifused pituitary cells. The EC50 for GnRH was unaffected by castration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Experimental investigations of the propagation mechanism and the nerve regulatory mechanism of the interdigestive migrating electric complex in intestinal movement]

Segments and Thirty-Vella type loops of the small intestine of dogs were prepared, and the excitation propagation pattern of the interdigestive migrating electric complex (IMEC) was observed by electromyography. The nerve regulatory mechanism in intestinal movement was investigated. The results indicated that first, the frequency of the basic electric rhythm (BER) is controlled so that a downward gradient is formed from the upper to the lower intestine, but this gradient continues to be controlled by a two-dimensional control mechanism involving parietal factors and extrinsic nerves due to transection of the intestines and damage to the extrinsic nerves in the dominant region. However, propagation of the IMEC in the small intestine appeared to be regulated by a combination of the two-dimensional control mechanism involving extrinsic and parietal nerves corresponding to the BER control mechanism. It was clear that the propagation mechanism of IMEC is related to the BER frequency, and propagation of the IMEC is downward in accordance with the frequency gradient of BER.

Changes in cerebral free fatty acids and triacylglycerols in focal cerebral ischemia

1. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in anesthetized rats by occluding the stem of the proximal middle cerebral artery. 2. The levels of free fatty acids, such as stearic and arachidonic acids, in the ischemic cerebral cortex increased progressively until 60 min after occlusion, but thereafter they decreased rapidly. 3. In contrast to the time-dependent changes in free fatty acids, the levels of triacylglycerol (TAG) in the ischemic cerebral cortex continued to increase for 120 min after occlusion. Increases in TAG-palmitate, -stearate and -arachidonate accounted for the increase in the triacylglycerol level. 4. The pattern of the lipid changes in focal cerebral ischemia differs from those reported in bilateral diffuse cerebral ischemia induced by arterial occlusion or in decapitation ischemia.

[Combination chemotherapy with ifosfamide, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin for stage D2 prostatic cancer]

Twelve patients with stage D2 adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated with the combination chemotherapy of ifosfamide (2 g/body, i.v., day 1-3), 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/body, i.v., day 1-5) and cisplatin (20-30 mg/body, i.v., day 1-5). The averaged age was 62 years (from 52 to 73 years) with mean performance status of 70% (from 40 to 90%). Six patients were refractory to prior hormone therapy or chemotherapy and the other six had received no prior treatment for prostatic cancer. Based on criteria of National Prostatic Cancer Project, 4 patients achieved partial response (PR) which was maintained from 11 to 23 months with the mean of 17.8 months. Two patients achieved objectively stable stage (NC). Response rate (PR + NC) was 50%. Response rate of patients without prior therapy was 80%, whereas that of hormone-resistant group was 30%. There was a trend toward unfavorable response in patients with prior therapy. Adverse effects were mild to moderate gastric problems and myelosuppression except in one case Adverse effects were mild to moderate gastric problems and myelosuppression except in one case with low performance status under 60%. IFP combination chemotherapy achieved favorable responses and toxicities were tolerable. Therefore, it appears worth while to study whether IFP combination chemotherapy could extend the life of patients with advanced prostatic cancer.

Accumulation of ceramide in ischemic human brain of an acute case of cerebral occlusion

An increase of ceramide, which is the major component of sphingolipids, was found in the ischemic human brain of an acute case of internal carotid artery occlusion. Amide-linked fatty acids in the ceramide isolated from the ischemic human brain were mostly non-hydroxy fatty acids, such as stearic acid (66.9%) and palmitic acid (20.2%). Other long-chain fatty acids, C24:0 and C21:1, were rare components in the ceramide. The ceramide contained C-20 sphingosine, and the ratio of C-20 to C-18 was 0.13. These findings indicate that an ischemic insult accelerates the degradation of gangliosides and causes an accumulation of ceramide in the ischemic human brain.

Relationship of changing delta 4-steroid 5 alpha-reductase activity to [125I]iododeoxyuridine uptake during regeneration of involuted rat prostates

To elucidate the phenotypic expression of proliferating prostatic cells, rats were castrated, and the regenerating process of involuted ventral prostates during testosterone propionate (TP) administration was investigated by examining morphology, [5-125I]iododeoxyuridine (125I-UdR) uptake, DNA content, weight, acid phosphatase, and delta 4-steroid 5 alpha-reductase (5 alpha-reductase) activities. Morphologically, TP treatment initially increased the number of epithelial cells lining glandular lobules and subsequently restored the shape of epithelial cells. 125I-UdR uptake peaked on Day 3 of TP treatment and stayed at higher levels than for uncastrated controls until Day 14 of treatment. Prostatic weight, protein content, acid phosphatase, and DNA content returned to uncastrated control levels by Day 14 of TP treatment. TP administration markedly stimulated prostatic 5 alpha-reductase activity, which peaked on the Day 5 of treatment and decreased to uncastrated control levels by Day 14 of treatment. It is concluded that TP administration to castrated rats initially induced active mitotic division of the remaining stem cells, followed by formation of differentiated functional epithelial cells. Prostatic 5 alpha-reductase was highly active at the initial phase of active mitotic cell division. The major portion of the increased enzyme activity can be regarded as a phenotypic expression of stem or transient cells of prostatic epithelium.

[An undifferentiated carcinoma of the stomach--a report of 2 cases]

Two cases of an undifferentiated carcinoma of the stomach have been investigated by conventional histologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural methods. The patients were a 73-year-old man and 65-year-old man. A postoperative histological examination of the resected stomach of each patient disclosed large areas of an undifferentiated carcinoma which were relatively well demarcated from areas of the adenocarcinoma. In the undifferentiated carcinomatous areas, the reticulin fiber stain was epithelial in pattern, and mucin staining proved negative. Similarly both Grimelius and Fontana-Masson staining also negative. In like manner immunostains using cytokeratin , vimentin , IgG, IgA, s-100 protein, and NSE were all negative, and an electron microscopic study showed no neurosecretory granules or mucin secretory granules. Based on these findings, the diagnosis of either a malignant lymphoma or small cell anaplastic carcinoma could be excluded, and thus an undifferentiated carcinoma was the determination.

[Cytology of percutaneous aspiration biopsy of renal angiomyolipoma: a study of 4 cases]

Percutaneous aspiration biopsy of renal angiomyolipoma (AML) was carried out on four patients to investigate the cytological features of AML. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically after the removal of the tumor. The specimen was fixed in 95% alcohol and stained by the Papanicolaou's method. Cells obtained formed clusters in three of four cases. Cells originating from leiomyomatous element of AML varied in their size, but are usually small with small oval nuclei and rich cytoplasm of lacy appearance. The cytoplasm was fragile and the cell border was not clear. Nuclear chromatin was not increased and was distributed diffusely. Fat cells originating from fatty element of the tumor were mature type and obtained from all of three patients who had much typical lipomatous element in the tumor. In conclusion, cytology of aspiration biopsy is useful to establish preoperative diagnosis of AML in such occasions when there are difficulties in differential diagnoses between AML and renal cell carcinoma even by either computed tomography, angiography or ultrasonography.

[Surgical indication for extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass determined by cerebral blood flow study and neurological function--a retrospective study]

In order to establish more strict and objective indication for EC-IC bypass, a retrospective study on the surgical effect on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and neurological function was carried out in 37 cases. STA-MCA bypass was carried out on 20 cases with IC occlusion and 17 cases with MCA occlusion. Twenty-two cases with completed stroke, 9 cases with TIA and 6 cases with RIND. All patients were able to ambulate before surgery, and none of them were hemiplegic. CBF study by 133Xe inhalation method was carried out before and 2 to 4 weeks after surgery. Bypass was patent in all cases. Thirty percent of all cases showed more than 16% increase in CBF (++ group) on the side of bypass surgery and another 30% demonstrated 6 to 15% increase (+). On the other hand 30% of cases appeared to be unchanged (+/-), and 10% showed more than 6% decrease (-). The less the pre-operative CBF value was, the more the post-operative CBF was expected to be increased. Patients with pre-operative CBF less than 60% of normal value (ISI = 63 +/- 4) showed remarkable increase (++), and those with 60 to 70% showed moderate increase (+). Contrarily, cases with more than 70% of normal value showed either no change or decrease. Neurological change was evaluated as to disappearance of TIA attack and improvement of hemiparesis or mental dysfunction. Seventy-seven percent of patients in groups with (++) and (+) effect on CBF showed improvement in neurological function, whereas only 27% of patients in groups with (+/-) and (-) effect demonstrated improvement, which was statistically significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Early combined carcinoma and malignant lymphoma in the stomach associated with tonsillar malignant lymphoma--report of a case]

This report deals with a histologic demonstration of a combined tumor of early signet ring cell carcinoma and lymphoma of the stomach in a 52-year-old Japanese man. The Gastric carcinoma was found by a systemic work up for a tonsillar lymphoma. The relationship between the malignant lymphomas of the stomach and of the tonsil is not clear in this case. The carcinoma and lymphoma of the stomach were both small, and the depth of invasion was localized to the mucosa and submucosa, respectively. The lymphoma was observed just beneath the cancer and was a diffuse, large cell type, and of the same histologic typing as the tonsillar lymphoma. Based on the broader size of the carcinoma, it is considered that the carcinoma probably induced the lymphoma in the stomach. This of an early combined tumor of carcinoma and lymphoma of the stomach is, to our knowledge, the first to be reported in the literature.

[Gastric carcinoma with prominent reactive lymphoid hyperplasia; report of two cases with an immunohistological study]

An immunohistological study using a Leu 7 antibody, which is a marker for human NK and K cells, was carried out in two cases of gastric carcinomas with prominent reactive hyperplasia. The patients were a 72-year-old man and a 55-year-old man who had shown good postoperative courses in spite of the advanced stage of their tumors. There were many scattered Leu 7 positive cells in the lymphoid hyperplasia, predominantly in the germinal centers and the peri-follicles. The number of Leu 7 positive cells were even more pronounced in a patient whose condition was more advanced. These findings suggest that lymphoid hyperplasia, particularly with regard to the NK and K cell response, plays a significant role in the clinical benignity of the tumors.

[Electromyographical study on motor function of residual intestine after massive resection of small intestine]

Canine intestine 80% was resected, and the post-operative residual intestine was observed on its motor-function in time course by the use of electro-myographic test. The results are as follows. Post-operative frequency of electric discharge was reduced, and it was reduced at the residual jejunum in time course, while it was nearly constant at the residual ileum. Residual jejunum showed no significant change in the continuous time and amplitude of spike burst after operation. While residual ileum showed the post-operative increasing tendency. When the ratio of active phase, average of spike burst occurrences in one minute was regarded as index of intestinal excitability, the excitability was increased in both jejunum and ileum at earlier stage after operation. However, the ileum showed earlier recovery tendency. Electric discharge interval after resection became irregular, and the occurrence rate of antiperistaltic propagation was elevated. Residual ileum showed a longer tendency of one series of MMC after operation. Residual jejunum showed numerous occurrences of MMC up to 3 months after operation, there after, occurring interval of MMC was extended, and MMC-series showed the shortened tendency. Conduction velocity was higher after operation at the residual ileum, and it was not recovered even after 2-3 years, while residual jejunum showed a recovery trend with the peak at the 6th week after operation.

Curved laryngotelescope

The purpose of this paper is to report on a newly developed curved laryngotelescope whose shape allows for smooth insertion through the oral and to the laryngeal cavity. Its principle of image processing involves lenses and prisms, which results in the maximum magnification of x6. Therefore, it is very useful for microscopic examination. We can obtain a clearer picture by this device than by conventional laryngoscopes. Examination with this laryngotelescope is easily performed after only topical application of a local anesthetic and patients experience less pain.

[Pneumocephalus induced by bromocriptine treatment in male prolactinoma--a case report]

The authors reported a case of pneumocephalus induced by bromocriptine (Bc) treatment for a recurrent invasive prolactinoma. The patient was a 38-year old man, who had been treated for 12 years, with three times of craniotomies and two times of irradiation therapies. CT scan showed the recurrence of the tumor, which extended into bilateral middle fossa, left orbit and left cerebellopontine angle. Serum prolactin levels elevated to 35,200 ng/ml. Then Bc was administered in a dose of 5 mg/day. Serum PRL concentration fell to 2,090 ng/ml one month after the initiation of the treatment, when he complained of headache, nausea and vomiting. Since these symptoms were considered as the side effects of Bc, the dose was reduced to 2.5 mg/day. Three weeks later, plain craniograms showed marked pneumocephalus, while no tumor was found on CT scan. The administration of Bc was stopped and he was prescribed a complete rest for a month. The air was collected again when he began to walk around. Therefore, the transsphenoidal operation was performed in order to pack the sella turcica and sphenoid sinus with muscle pieces. Since the pneumocephalus could not be cured, the muscle, taken from the thigh, was spread throughout the left middle fossa by the front-temporal craniotomy. When Bc reduces the size of the invasive prolactinomas, the intra- and extra-cranial spaces may be communicated. The greatest care should be taken for pneumocephalus, CSF rhinorrhea and/or meningitis during the Bc treatment of prolactinomas.