[Lipid metabolism in daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats (Part 6)]

Lipid metabolism in tissues and HDL were examined in daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats. 1) Daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats showed the decreased phospholipids, the increased cholesterol content in heart. Phospholipids, triglycerides and cholesterol content in brain, lung and spleen were similar in daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats and control rats. 2) Triglycerides content in hepatocytes was decreased in daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats. But, cholesterol esters content in hepatocytes was higher in daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats than control rats. 3) LCAT activity in serum was increased in daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats. 4) Apolipoproteins composition of HDL in daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats showed the increased apoA-I and the decreased apo E. These results show that the increased cholesterol esters in liver tissue are due to hepatocytes in daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats. The increased HDL cholesterol content may contribute to the increase of LCAT activity in daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats. The increase of LCAT activity in serum results in the increased apo A-I content in daunomycin-induced nephrotic rats. No direct evidence about the incorporation of HDL into liver is obtained from the present experiments and further study will be necessary to clarify this evidence.

Time course of dopamine-D2 and serotonin-5-HT2 receptor occupancy rates by haloperidol and clozapine in vivo

In vivo occupancy of dopamine-D1, D2 and serotonin-5-HT2 receptors by haloperidol 10 mg/kg and clozapine 20 mg/kg were studied. Rats were injected intravenously with [3H]-YM-09151-2, [3H]-SCH23390, or [3H]-ketanserin 10 min after the administration of the tested drugs. Fifteen to 240 min after the ligand injection, the receptor occupancy rates of the drugs in the striatum and frontal cortex were calculated. Clozapine demonstrated the higher 5-HT2 and lower D2 occupancies in the respective regions. A dose-response analysis of D2 and 5-HT2 receptor occupancy by the drugs consolidated the higher 5-HT2 binding affinity of clozapine in comparison with haloperidol. The present methodology may serve as an accurate tool to evaluate the peculiarity of various antipsychotics.

Intercellular localization of acid invertase in tomato fruit and molecular cloning of a cDNA for the enzyme

The localization of acid invertase (AI, EC 3.2.1.26) in tomato fruits was studied. AI was localized in the intercellular fraction (cell wall fraction). A cDNA encoding a wall-bound form of AI from tomato fruits was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The cloned cDNA was 2363 base pairs long and contained an open reading frame of 1908 base pairs which encoded a polypeptide of 636 amino acids. RNA blot analysis indicated that the mRNA for the acid invertase was about 2.5 kb in length. The levels of the mRNA were low at the mature green stage but increased during ripening of fruit.

Novel low immunosuppressive derivatives of the antitumor drug fluoropyrimidine, UK-21 and UK-25: effect on delayed type hypersensitivity and tumor immunity

Previously, we reported that two novel 5-fluoropyrimidine derivatives, 2',3',5'-tris-O-[N-(2-n-propyl-n-pentanoyl)glycyl]-5-fluorouridine (UK-21) and 1-(6-[N-(2-n-propyl-n-pentanoyl)glycyl]amino-n-hexylcarbamoyl)- 5-fluorouracil (UK-25), show potent antitumor activity with low immunotoxicological effects. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the effect of these drugs on delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH). Not only UK-21 and UK-25 but also tegafur (FT-207) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) produced no suppression of picryl chloride (PC)-induced DTH in mice but rather enhanced it. It is known that variation of the sensitizing antigen dose alters the effect of drugs on the immune response. Because it was difficult to control the antigen dose in PC-DTH, the sheep erythrocyte (SRBC)-induced response was used to examine the effect of drugs on delayed type hypersensitivity in the succeeding experiments. Either a therapeutic dose or an over-dose of the respective drug was given to mice sensitized with 5 x 10(5) or 5 x 10(7) SRBC. The suppressive effects of UK-21 and UK-25 on the DTH were lower than those of FT-207 and 5-FU. UK-21 and UK-25 enhanced Meth A tumor-specific DTH in BALB/c mice, but FT-207 and 5-FU did not. UK-21, UK-25 and FT-207 showed a tendency to enhance or restore the Meth A tumor neutralizing activity of spleen cells in mice bearing the tumor, but carmofur (HCFU) did not. These results indicated that the suppressive effects of UK-21 and UK-25 on the tumor immune response were also low.

Chemoprevention of oral carcinogenesis by DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine, an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor: dose-dependent reduction in 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide-induced tongue neoplasms in rats

The modifying effect of three doses of DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) given p.o. during the post-initiation phase of tongue carcinogenesis initiated by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) was studied in male ACI/N rats. Animals were given 4-NQO at 20 ppm for 8 weeks in the drinking water to induce tongue neoplasms. One week after the stop of 4-NQO treatment, rats were transferred to the drinking water containing DFMO at concentrations of 100, 1000, and 2000 ppm for 25 weeks. The other groups consisted of rats given 2000 ppm DFMO alone or untreated rats. Thirty-four weeks after the start of the experiment, all animals were necropsied, and the incidences of neoplasms and preneoplastic lesions in the tongue, polyamine levels in the bloods and tongue tissues, and cell proliferation estimated by the number and area of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions in the tongue epithelium were compared among the groups. Feeding of DFMO at all doses significantly inhibited the incidence of tongue neoplasms compared to the group given 4-NQO alone. DFMO at levels of 1000 and 2000 ppm significantly reduced the incidence of preneoplastic lesions of the tongue. Results analyzed by the linear regression method suggested a dose-dependent inhibition in the incidences of neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions of the tongue with increasing levels of DFMO. Increased levels in polyamines in the blood and tongue tissue were significantly suppressed by the treatment of DFMO. Also, silver-stained nucleolar organizer region indices were significantly reduced by the DFMO exposure. These results indicate that increasing levels of DFMO in the drinking water inhibited 4-NQO-induced tongue carcinogenesis in a dose-dependent manner and such inhibition was related to reduction in the polyamine levels of blood and tissue and decrease in the cell proliferation.

Inhibitory effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, indomethacin and piroxicam on 2-acetylaminofluorene-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in male ACI/N rats

The modifying effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, indomethacin (IMC) and piroxicam (PC) on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) were investigated in male ACI/N rats. Rats were divided into 6 groups: group 1 was fed a diet containing 200 ppm AAF for 16 weeks, starting at 6 weeks of age; group 2 was fed an AAF together with 130 ppm PC-containing diet; group 3 received an AAF diet and IMC (10 ppm) in their drinking water; group 4 was fed a PC diet alone; group 5 was given IMC alone; and group 6 served as controls. The PC diet, or the drinking water containing IMC, was given to the rats starting at 5 weeks of age until 1 week after the carcinogen exposure. At termination of the experiment (week 36), the incidences of iron-excluding altered liver cell foci (24.2 +/- 5.2/cm2) and liver cell tumors (1/10, 10%), and the tumor multiplicity (0.10/rat) in rats of group 2 were significantly smaller than those of group 1 (foci incidence, 42.6 +/- 6.7/cm2; tumor incidence, 10/10, 100%; and multiplicity, 4.00/rat) (P < 0.05). Similarly, the incidence of iron-excluding hepatocellular foci (27.4 < 1.2/cm2) and liver cell tumors (1/10, 10%) and the tumor multiplicity (0.10/rat) in rats of group 3 were significantly lower than those of group 1 (P < 0.05). There were no liver cell lesions (foci and neoplasms) in rats of groups 4, 5 and 6. Thus, PC and IMC inhibited the hepatocarcinogenesis induced by AAF when administered concurrently with the carcinogen and the results may indicate possible involvement of altered arachidonic metabolism in the initiation phase of AAF-induced liver carcinogenesis.

Hypertension in rats does not potentiate hypercholesterolemia and aortic cholesterol deposition induced by a hypercholesterolemic diet

The effect of a hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD) on hyperlipemia and atherogenesis was investigated using normotensive Wistar/Kyoto rats (WKY), spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and stroke-prone SHR (SHRSP), with systolic blood pressures increasing in that order. Feeding an HCD diet containing cholesterol, cholate and suet induced hypercholesterolemia in all the strains examined as compared with a normal diet. The plasma cholesterol levels were significantly higher in WKY than in SHR and SHRSP fed the HCD diet. The HCD diet also induced hepatic fat deposition, particularly deposition of cholesteryl esters, a slight increase in aortic cholesterol deposition, and elevation of both monoenoic/saturated fatty acid ratios and linoleate/arachidonate ratios in tissue lipids. The changes induced in the three strains by the HCD diet were not positively correlated with blood pressures. The HCD diet affected hepatic acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase and plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase activities differently in WKY and SHR which, in addition to the induction of delta 9 desaturase, may partly account for the difference in the diet-induced changes in the fatty acid compositions of plasma cholesteryl esters. The results indicate that hypertension per se does not stimulate the development of hypercholesterolemia and arterial cholesterol deposition induced by an HCD diet, suggesting that other factors are involved.

Increased responsiveness of left ventricular apical myocardium to adrenergic stimuli

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to determine whether left ventricular apical myocardium has mechanisms to compensate for sparse sympathetic innervation.

METHODS

Contractile and metabolic responses to various adrenergic stimuli and beta adrenergic receptor density were compared between left ventricular basal and apical regions in 26 anaesthetised mongrel dogs, weight 12-28 kg.

RESULTS

Regional contractile changes in response to graded cardiac sympathetic nerve stimulation were compared among three basal (anterior, middle, and posterior) regions, and between basal middle and apical regions. There were significant differences in contractile changes among the three basal regions with distinct regions of innervation from right and/or left sided sympathetic ganglia, but not between apical and basal regions. Constant infusion of noradrenaline (0.2-0.4 microgram.kg-1.min-1) produced a greater response in normalised end systolic length in the apical myocardium than in the basal region, at 9.86(SEM 0.06) mm v 10.14(0.04) mm (n = 5, p < 0.025), and a greater increase in tissue cyclic AMP: 1.04(0.20) v 0.60(0.08) pmol.mg-1 (n = 5, p < 0.05). Giving a forskolin derivative (30 micrograms.kg-1, n = 5) produced a greater increase in cyclic AMP in the apical region than in the basal region: 1.26(0.18) v 0.88(0.19) pmol.mg-1 (p < 0.02). beta Adrenergic receptor density in the apical region was greater than in the basal region: 455(45) v 341(35) fmol.mg-1 protein (n = 5, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Greater beta adrenergic receptor density and/or increased myocardial responsiveness to adenylate stimulation in apical myocardium compensates, at least in part, for its sparse sympathetic innervation.

Effects of ACNU and cranial irradiation on the mouse immune system

The effects of ACNU and cranial irradiation on the immune system were studied in three groups of 90 mice: Group A, intraperitoneal injection of ACNU (30 mg/kg); Group B, single exposure of 10 Gy to the head; and Group C, intraperitoneal injection of ACNU (30 mg/kg) and single exposure of 10 Gy to the head. Peripheral white blood cell counts, spleen cell subsets, natural killer (NK) cell activity, lymphocyte blastogenesis, and production of interferon (IFN)-gamma were analyzed once a week for 6 weeks after treatment. In Group A, NK cell activity decreased between weeks 4-5, concanavalin A blastogenesis decreased during weeks 1-5, and the levels of L3T4 (CD4) and Lyt2 cells (CD8) and IFN-gamma production decreased during weeks 2-5. However, all tested parameters returned to the normal range at 6 weeks. In Group B, all parameters except for the L3T4 cell level and the IFN-gamma production decreased during week 1, and returned to the normal range thereafter. The concentration of L3T4 cells decreased during week 2 and between weeks 5-6. The IFN-gamma production increased during week 1, decreased during week 2, and returned to the normal range thereafter. In Group C, the suppressive effects were severe and continued for a longer period than in either Group A or B. Concanavalin A blastogenesis, L3T4 cell concentration, and IFN-gamma production were still suppressed after 6 weeks. Therefore, intensive radiochemotherapy for brain tumor may suppress the immunological function.

Modifying effects of benzyl isothiocyanate and benzyl thiocyanate on DNA synthesis in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

The effects of benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and benzyl thiocyanate (BTC) on two types of DNA synthesis were examined in hepatocyte primary cultures (HPC). Male F344 rats were fed BITC- or BTC-containing diets at a concentration of 400 p.p.m. Using hepatocytes isolated from these rats, DNA repair was measured by unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) for some genotoxic carcinogens, e.g. 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), methylazoxymethanol (MAM) acetate, 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) and diethylnitrosamine (DEN), and compared with that in the hepatocytes from rats without BITC or BTC treatment. Replicative DNA synthesis (RDS) was also evaluated in the hepatocytes of rats with or without thiocyanate treatment. Both BITC and BTC reduced UDS elicited by these carcinogens. The level of RDS in the hepatocytes of rats exposed to BITC or BTC was markedly lower than in the cells of rats without BITC or BTC exposure. These results indicate that in vivo exposure to BITC and BTC suppressed carcinogen-induced genotoxicity and cell proliferative activity and suggest that this assay may prove useful in detecting chemopreventive agents for cancer and in investigating the properties of carcinogenesis modifiers.

[A 24-year-old man presenting Garcin syndrome and paraplegia]

We report a 24-year-old man who presented unilateral multiple cranial nerve involvements followed by progressive paraplegia. The patient expired after developing DIC and pneumonia. Post-mortem examination revealed Ewing's sarcoma originated in the pubic bone with extensive metastases including the clivus which was responsible for his cranial nerve lesions. The patient was well until 24 years of age when he noted an onset of pain and a mass in the pubic region. The histology of the biopsy specimen of the tumor suggested Ewing's sarcoma. He was treated with chemotherapy and local radiation. A year after, he noted an onset of nuchal pain, difficulty in tongue movement, dysarthria, deafness in the left ear, and diplopia. On admission to our hospital in July 1990, neurological examination revealed an alert and intelligent Japanese male in no acute distress. The olfactory to the trigeminal nerves appeared intact. He showed complete abducens nerve palsy, facial weakness, mild deafness, and weakness of the soft palate, the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the tongue, all on the left side. The remainder of the neurological examination was unremarkable except for dysesthesia along the left C8 and Th1 dermatoms. Radiological examination revealed a 10 x 10 cm sclerotic mass in the public bone and a high signal mass lesion between the clivus and the pons in the T2-weighted MRI. His clinical course was complicated by acute paraplegia with anesthesia below the Th4 dermatom, DIC, and respiratory distress due to plural effusion. Post-mortem examination revealed a necrotic and hemorrhagic tumor in the pubic bone. The histology was consistent with Ewing's sarcoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lack of the carboxyl terminal sequence of tau in ghost tangles of Alzheimer's disease

Using seven independent antibodies against the amino terminal to the carboxyl terminal sequence of tau, we biochemically analyzed and compared the neuropathogenesis of two Alzheimer's disease brains from the viewpoint of abnormal processing on tau, the major constituent of paired helical filaments. One showed typical Alzheimer's disease with senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. The other showed advanced Alzheimer's disease with senile plaques and virtually the sole of ghost tangles without intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. We confirmed the previous observation that the carboxyl thirds of tau are tightly associated with paired helical filaments isolated in the presence of SDS. We found that biochemically, ghost tangles were abnormally phosphorylated and lacked the final carboxyl terminal sequence as well as the amino half of tau, unlike intracellular tangles. From these biochemical results taken together with the current evidence for ubiquitin in ghost tangles, we concluded that ghost tangles were extensively processed and irreversibly transformed into highly insoluble extracellular deposits.

Effect of restricted caloric intake on the development of the azoxymethane-induced glutathione S-transferase placental form positive hepatocellular foci in male F344 rats

The modifying effect of 30% caloric restriction on the occurrence of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive hepatocellular foci was investigated in male F344 rats. Starting at 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed ad libitum a high-fat (23.5%) semipurified diet. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except the vehicle-treated groups were s.c. injected with AOM (15 mg/kg body wt., once weekly for 2 weeks). Four days after the second injection, groups of animals were continued on high-fat diet and fed ad libitum (ad libitum group) whereas other groups were restricted to 70% of total calories (calorie-restricted group) consumed by the ad libitum group, but received the same amounts of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Thirty-two weeks after AOM injections, all animals were necropsied and livers were sectioned and stained for GST-P by a immunohistochemical technique for quantitative analysis of enzyme altered foci of the liver. Comparing AOM treated groups. The density and the unit area of enzyme altered foci were significantly lower in the calorie-restricted group (3.84 +/- 1.55/cm2, 7.96 +/- 5.43%) than in the ad libitum group (10.14 +/- 3.62/cm2, 28.11 +/- 12.33%). The size of foci was also reduced in the calorie-restricted group (17.15 x 10(-3) mm2 vs. 32.36 x 10(-3) mm2). The incidence and density of hepatocellular foci in rats fed calorie restricted diet were significantly lower than those in rats fed ad libitum, comparing vehicle-treated groups. These results indicate that calorie restriction inhibited the occurrence of both of spontaneous and AOM induced GST-P positive foci in rats.

Association between severity of alcoholism and the A1 allele of the dopamine D2 receptor gene TaqI A RFLP in Japanese

The allelic association of TaqI A restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the dopamine D2 receptor gene with alcoholism was examined in 78 Japanese alcoholics and compared with Japanese controls. A significantly higher frequency of the A1 allele (0.42) was found in 100 Japanese unscreened controls compared with those reported in white populations. Among 70 alcoholics whose severities were determined, the A1 allele was present in 77% of 43 more severe alcoholics and in 59% of 27 less severe alcoholics. The A1 allele was present significantly less frequently in the alcoholics at the age of 60 or older (42%), compared with those under the age of 60 (74%). In the subjects under the age of 60, the A1 allele was present in 83% of the 35 more severe alcoholics, being significantly more frequent than in 60% of the 35 nonalcoholic controls. All of the 7 alcoholics homozygous for the A1 allele were classified as severe. The average severity of alcoholism increased in the order A2/A2, A1/A2, and A1/A1 genotypes. These data suggest that the A1 allele is associated with severe alcoholism in the Japanese population and that the effect is related to or has a linkage disequilibrium with a genetic factor that has a small but not negligible additive effect on alcoholism.

Cloning and sequencing of cDNA for glycolate oxidase from pumpkin cotyledons and northern blot analysis

A cDNA clone for glycolate oxidase (EC 1.1.3.1) was isolated by an immunochemical method from a cDNA expression library constructed from poly(A)+-RNA of green pumpkin cotyledons. The analysis of in vitro transcription-translation products of the cDNA insert revealed that the cDNA clone contained the complete coding region for glycolate oxidase. The entire insert of the cDNA was 1,440 nucleotides in length and encoded 367 amino acid residues, equivalent to a molecular mass of 40,353 daltons. The amino acid sequence of the C-terminal tripeptide was Pro-Arg-Leu, which is slightly different from the proposed signal for targeting to microbodies, Ser-Lys/Arg/His-Leu. Characteristic hydrophilic domains observed in the C-terminal regions of most microbody proteins were found in the deduced sequence of glycolate oxidase by hydropathy analysis. Immunoblot analysis showed that the amount of glycolate oxidase was low in dark-grown cotyledons and increased during greening of pumpkin cotyledons. Northern blot analysis showed that the probe could hybridize with a single 1.5-kb species of mRNA from pumpkin cotyledons and that the amount of the hybridizable mRNA increased dramatically during greening of the cotyledons. This observation indicates that the induction of glycolate oxidase during greening of the cotyledons is due to an increase in the level of the mRNA.

[Rate of in vitro degradation of vecuronium in plasma of patients with renal failure and pregnancy]

The half-life of vecuronium in plasma by spontaneous desacetylation is about 120 minutes. We have to consider this degradation for examining the cause of prolonged duration of action of vecuronium. Therefore the rate of in vitro plasma spontaneous desacetylation of vecuronium bromide was measured in healthy women (n = 10), patients with renal failure (n = 10) and pregnant women (n = 10). There were no significant differences between three groups. It was concluded that the rate of spontaneous desacetylation was not responsible for the cause of prolonged neuromuscular blockade of vecuronium in patients with renal failure and pregnancy.

Flat wart of the urethra caused by human papillomavirus type 16

A rare case of urethral flat wart caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 was reported. A 34-year-old male consulted our department with a complaint of urethral bleeding. A pair of symmetrical white flat warts combined with ulcer at the urethral meatus were found. Microscopic examination of the specimen demonstrated koilocytosis of the epithelium. In immunohistochemical study it was positive for HPV and HPV type 16 was detected by polymerase chain reaction.

Preventive effect of magnesium hydroxide on carcinogen-induced large bowel carcinogenesis in rats

Preventive effect of magnesium hydroxide on carcinogen-induced, large bowel carcinogenesis was examined in three experiments using F344 rats. Experiment I: Rats received dietary administration of magnesium hydroxide at concentrations of 500 or 1,000 ppm after treatment with methylazoxymethanol (MAM) acetate (25 mg/kg, 3 times). These rats had a lower incidence of large bowel neoplasms than animals given MAM acetate alone. Reduction of the tumor incidence was especially significant at a dose of 500 ppm. Experiment II: Rats given magnesium hydroxide (250, 500, or 1,000 ppm) together with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) (20 mg/kg, 10 times) showed a lower multiplicity of large bowel tumors than those given DMH alone. Experiment III: The labeling indices of the cryptal cells of the large bowel (cecum or proximal colon or distal colon) or rates given magnesium hydroxide for 4, 6, or 8 weeks after treatment with MAM acetate (25 mg/kg, 3 times) were smaller than those of animals given MAM acetate alone, indicating that magnesium hydroxide suppressed, carcinogen-induced epithelial cell (large bowel) proliferation. The results of the three experiments suggest that magnesium, one of the essential metals, is a promising chemopreventive agent in humans.

Identification of a basic glycoprotein induced by ethylene in primary leaves of azuki bean as a cationic peroxidase

Ethylene causes the accumulation of seven different proteins (each designated AZxx according to its molecular mass, xx in kD) in excised primary leaves of azuki bean (Vigna angularis) (F. Ishige, H. Mori, K. Yamazaki, H. Imaseki [1991] Plant Cell Physiol 32: 681-690). A complementary DNA encoding an ethylene-induced basic glycoprotein, AZ42, from azuki bean was cloned and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. Characterization of the cDNA was accomplished by monitoring expression of an immunoreactive protein in Escherichia coli that harbored the cDNA and by the identification of a partial amino acid sequence that was the same as that determined from the purified protein. An open reading frame (1071 base pairs) in the cDNA encoded a protein of 357 amino acids with a molecular mass of 39.3 kD. The amino acid sequence contained three regions that are highly conserved among peroxidases from eight different plants. Purified AZ42 exhibited peroxidase activity. The basic glycoprotein induced by ethylene was identified as a cationic isozyme of peroxidase. The corresponding mRNA was not present in leaves that had not been treated with ethylene, but it appeared after 1 h of treatment with ethylene and its level increased for the next 15 h. Accumulation of the mRNA was also induced after wounding or treatment with salicylate. The wound-induced increase in the level of the mRNA was suppressed by 2,5-norbornadiene, but the salicylate-induced increase was not.

Morphological changes in spiral artery of the mammalian ovary with age

Morphological changes which take place in ovarian arteries at different ages in human and monkey, were investigated by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The ovarian arteries in both species were characterized by a spiral configuration throughout their course. The hilar and medullar arteries were especially convoluted. In the pubertal monkey, the hilar and medullary arteries exhibited some intimal thickenings in which smooth muscle cells of a synthetic phenotype were longitudinally arranged. These arteries in adult monkeys had considerable intimal thickening. In a 30-year-old woman, arteries with intimal thickenings were detected in the hilus and medulla. Around 40 years of age, the intima of the arteries were considerably thickened with a diameter usually equal to half of the wall. In women after menopause, the tunica intima of these arteries was approximately two-thirds or more of the total artery wall thickness. Spiral arteries of the ovary were also thickened with advancing age.

Acute and subacute toxicity tests of onion coat, natural colorant extracted from onion (Allium cepa L.), in (C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 mice

The toxicity test of onion coat colorant (OC), a food colorant extracted from onion (Allium cepa L.), was undertaken using (C57BL/6 x C3H)F1 mice of both sexes for the safety assessment of this product. The acute toxicity test was performed by administration of OC suspended in corn oil by gavage at doses of 2500, 5000, 7500, and 10,000 mg/kg body weight to groups of 5 or 6 males and 6 or 7 females, maintained for 14 d. Six of 12 females dosed at 10,000 mg/kg body weight and 3 of 11 females dosed at 7500 mg/kg body weight were dead before the end of the study, indicating that the tolerated dose of OC was between 7500 and 5000 mg/kg body weight. The subacute toxicity test of OC was examined using 123 mice of both sexes (62 males and 61 females) by feeding a diet mixed with OC at concentrations of 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.6, and 0.3% for 90 d. All mice tolerated these doses of OC well. The body weight gains of male and female mice were not affected by the treatment. Histopathological examinations showed that hyperplastic changes in the esophagus, forestomach, pancreas, cervix, and endometrium of mice were found in treated and control mice. However, their incidences were not related to the dose of OC. Moreover, only a spontaneous ovarian teratoma was found in an OC-treated mouse. These results suggest that OC has no acute and subacute toxic effects in mice.

Cloning of a complementary DNA that encodes an acidic chitinase which is induced by ethylene and expression of the corresponding gene

A complementary DNA encoding an ethylene-inducible acidic chitinase of azuki bean (Vigna angularis) was isolated, and its complete nucleotide sequence was determined. The nucleotide and deduced amino-acid sequence were very similar to those of an acidic chitinase from cucumber leaves that had been infected with tobacco necrosis virus. The mRNA for the acidic chitinase was not detected in leaves of azuki bean that had not been treated with ethylene, but it appeared 3 h after initiation of treatment with ethylene and its level gradually increased over a period of 19 h. The mRNA also accumulated in response to salicylate or wounding. The expression of the gene in response to wounding was suppressed by 2,5-norbornadiene, but that in response to salicylate was not affected by this inhibitor.

Extrarenal Wilms' tumour

Extrarenal Wilms' tumour is rare and its imaging has received scant mention in the literature. We describe a 2-year-old boy with a firm mass in the right flank. CT, MRI and ultrasonography showed an inhomogeneous solid mass located in the retroperitoneum, which was separate from the right kidney. Angiography showed an enlarged right gonadal artery and irregularly tortuous vessels in the tumour similar to intrarenal Wilms' tumour ("spider leg" or "creeping vine" appearance). Histopathological examination confirmed an extrarenal Wilms' tumour.

Interaction of interferon gamma and CPT-11, a new derivative of camptothecin, in human endometrial carcinoma cell lines

The anti-proliferative effects of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and CPT-11, a new derivative of camptothecin, both singly and in combination, on two human endometrial carcinoma cell lines, HHUA and ISHIKAWA, were examined in vitro. The HHUA cells were responsive dose-dependently to IFN-gamma, while the ISHIKAWA cells were unresponsive to IFN-gamma. Both cell lines were responsive dose-dependently to CPT-11. In both cell lines, IFN-gamma at clinically achievable concentrations (10 and 100 U ml-1 enhanced the anti-proliferative activity of CPT-11 in the range of concentrations where CPT-11 showed more than 10% cell growth inhibition. Sequential treatment with CPT-11 followed by incubation with IFN-gamma resulted in significant cell growth inhibition, but not vice versa. Flow cytometric studies indicated that the combined anti-proliferative effect did not correlate with cytokinetic alterations. Treatment with IFN-gamma did not change the extractable topoisomerase I activity of the HHUA and ISHIKAWA cells. The combination therapy of IFN-gamma and CPT-11 could provide a new approach against endometrial cancer.