[Effects of stimulation at different areas of nucleus raphe dorsalis on genioglossus and diaphragm activities]

Effects of electrical and chemical stimulation of the dorsal and ventral areas of the nucleus raphe dorsalis (dNRD and vNRD) on genioglossus and diaphragm activities were observed in 48 urethane-anaesthetized and vagotomized rabbits. (1) Long train electrical stimulation at the dNRD facilitated genioglossus and diaphragm activities. (2) Long train electrical stimulation delivered to the vNRD excited genioglossus activity but inhibited diaphragm activity. (3) Effects of microinjection of glutamate at the dNRD and vNRD were similar to the effects of electrical stimulation. The above results suggest that excitation of nucleus raphe dorsalis (NRD) increases genioglossus activity and reduces upper airway resistance. The dNRD and vNRD play different roles in modulating diaphragm activity.

Prolactin inhibition of FSH-induced tissue type plasminogen activator expression in cultured rat granulosa cells

This study was designed to investigate whether prolactin (PRL) affects coordinated regulation of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-I(PAI-I) gene expression in rat granulosa cells in vitro. Several methods, such as SDS-PAGE, immunoblot etc. were used to detect the effect of PRL on tPA and PAI-I gene expression. The results demonstrated: (1) PRL increases PAI-I mRNA production in cultured granulosa cells. Inclusion of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) with PRL has a synergistic effect on the increase of PAI-I mRNA levels. After 48 h culture in the presence of FSH with PRL, a 7.8-fold increase in PAI-I mRNA levels is observed as compared with PRL alone. The synergistic increase in PAI-I mRNA levels occurs in a dose- and time-dependent manner; (2) the increase in PAI-I mRNA synthesis in the cells by PRL alone, or PRL in combination with FSH, is well correlated with the changes of PAI-I activity levels in the conditioned media; (3) PRL in culture also decreases FSH-induced tPA activity level in a dose-dependent fashion. The decrease in FSH-induced tPA activity level by PRL is correlated with an increase in the amount of PA-PAI-I complexes in the conditioned media. This suggests that the decline of tPA activity is related to neutralization of tPA by the increased PAI-I activity in the media.

Prolactin delays gonadotrophin-induced ovulation and down-regulates expression of plasminogen-activator system in ovary

This study was conducted to determine whether prolactin (PRL) suppresses gonadotrophin-induced ovulation and disturbs the co-ordinated gene expression of tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) in rat ovary. Immature female rats were injected with 10 IU pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin to stimulate follicle growth, and 48 h received different doses of prolactin followed by 7 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). The oviducts were examined for the presence of ova, and the amounts of tPA and PAI-1 mRNA present in the ovary were measured at various times after the hormone treatment. PRL had no significant effect on ovarian weight but caused a dose-dependent decrease in ovulation number. In the control animals receiving HCG alone, 13.3 +/- 1.3 (mean +/- SEM) ova/oviduct were found; while in animals receiving HCG plus 50, 100 or 200 microg PRL, the ovulation number was dose-dependently suppressed by 53.6, 66.9 and 76% respectively at 18 h after treatment. PRL suppression of HCG-induced ovulation was time-dependent. By 24 h after treatment, the number of ova in the oviducts in HCG- and HCG plus PRL-treated groups was not significantly different. PRL also suppressed HCG-induced tPA gene expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. At all time points examined, tPA mRNA content of whole ovaries and granulosa cells (GC) in PRL-treated groups was lower than in the HCG-treated controls. The activities of PAI-1 in ovarian extracellular fluid (OEF) and PAI-1 mRNA in the theca-interstitial cells (TI) in the PRL-treated groups were higher than in the HCG-treated controls. The highest stimulation by PRL of PAI-1 activity in OEF and of PAI-1 mRNA in TI was observed at 9 h and 6 h after HCG treatment respectively. The localization of tPA and PAI-1 antigens in the ovaries was consistent with changes in the mRNA and activity levels. These data suggest that PRL temporarily delays, but does not completely inhibit, HCG-induced ovulation, which may be caused by a suppression of PA-mediated proteolysis.

Localization of plasminogen activator and inhibitor, LH and androgen receptors and inhibin subunits in monkey epididymis

Epididymis is a site of sperm maturation and storage. Limited and directed-proteolysis regulated by plasminogen activator (PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) and other related factors may play an essential role in these processes. Our previous studies have demonstrated that rat epididymis expressed luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), tissue type (t) and urokinase type (u)PA, mRNAs, and tPA activity was stimulated in vitro by human chorionic gonoadotrophin (HCG). In the present study we further examined localization of mRNAs for tPA, uPA, LHR, androgen receptor (AR), as well as inhibin subunits alpha, betaA and betaB in rhesus monkey epididymis. Using in-situ hybridization with digoxygenin-labelled cRNA probes, we have demonstrated that tPA and PAI-1 mRNAs were localized in epithelial cells of adult monkey epididymis. uPA mRNA was localized in the same areas, but to a much smaller extent. tPA, uPA and PAI-1 mRNAs were greatly expressed in the caput and corpus of adult epididymis than in other regions. In-vitro experiments showed that both tPA and uPA activities in epididymal cells were dramatically stimulated by HCG, but not by follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). LHR (but not FSH receptor) and AR mRNAs were localized in the epithelial cells of the epididymis. However, LHR mRNA was detected in both adult and immature infant monkeys, whereas AR was found only in the adult. Inhibin alpha, betaA and betaB mRNAs were also detected in this organ, betaA mRNA being more strongly expressed in the caput than in other regions of the epididymis. We suggest that LH and androgen may be the key hormones in coordination with the PA-PAI-1 system in regulating epididymal differentiation and sperm maturation.

Temporal expression of urokinase type plasminogen activator, tissue type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 in rhesus monkey corpus luteum during the luteal maintenance and regression

Proteolytic activity generated by the plasminogen activator (PA) system has been associated with many biological processes. Using a pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced rhesus monkey corpus luteum (CL) model, we have studied how urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), are temporally expressed in CL of rhesus monkey at the luteotropic and luteolytic periods. Slot blot analysis and in situ hybridization were performed to analyze the expression and distribution of uPA and PAI-1 messenger RNA (mRNA). Fibrin overlay was used to detect uPA and tPA activities. We found that uPA is the dominating PA in luteotropic CL in the monkey. Abundant expression of PAI-1 mRNA was detected. The highest expression of uPA and PAI-1 mRNA was observed at the luteotropic period, while their expression decreased approximately 50% at early luteal regression defined by considerably decreased serum progesterone levels, and remained at very low levels at the late stage of luteal regression. We also observed an increased tPA activity at the time of luteal regression. Moreover, the exogenous tPA could inhibit the progesterone production in cultured luteal cells from 13-day-old monkey CL. We also used LH receptor mRNA expression as a mark for the luteal phases. A highly expressed, evenly distributed LH receptor mRNA was detected in CL during the luteotropic phase, while its expression decreased at day 13 coinciding with the reduction of progesterone production. We conclude that proteolysis mediated by uPA and regulated by PAI-1 may play a role in the luteal maintenance, while tPA may participate in the luteal regression in the rhesus monkey.

Dextromethorphan metabolic phenotyping in a Chinese population

AIM

To establish a phenotyping of dextromethorphan (DM) oxidation polymorphism in a native Chinese population.

METHODS

The urine concentrations of DM and its metabolite dextrophan (DX) were assayed by HPLC and metabolic ratios (MR) were calculated in 120 unrelated native Chinese subjects after ingestion of DM 20 mg.

RESULTS

The incidence of poor metabolizers was 0.8% (one in 120 subjects). There were distinct dimodal distributions which divided extensive metabolizers into 43 intermediate metabolizers and 76 very extensive metabolizers. The 0-8 h urinary recoveries of DM and DX were 0.4% +/- s 0.5% and 26% +/- s 13%, respectively. There was no difference in 0-8 h urinary recoveries between male and female subjects.

CONCLUSION

DM metabolic phenotyping provides a new information for debrisoquine 4-hydroxylation (CYP2D6) polymorphism in native Chinese.

[Studies on clinical epidemiology of Tsutsugamushi disease of the autumn-winter type in the easten suburbs of Jinan]

This paper reported the epidemiological characteristics of 154 cases under investigation for tsutsugamushi disease of autumn-winter type in the eastern suburb of Jinan. Results showed that the characteristics differed greatly from those in the southern part of China. Majority of patients had toxic symptoms due to infections but specific characteristics were less obvious. Eschars and ulcers appeared only in 14.94% of the cases and occurred only in autumn-winter season. Clinically mild cases constituted the majority. Cases not only distributed sporadically, but also had multi-organ lesions (MOL). Young peasants seemed to be most vulnerable. The pathogen of the disease belonged to low virulent strain. Serological typing belonged to the Gilliam type. The diagnosis and the treatment of the disease were discussed. Specific serum IgG of the disease was detected 6 years after convalescence.

Expression of plasminogen activator and inhibitor, urokinase receptor and inhibin subunits in rhesus monkey testes

The expression and localization of mRNA's for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), urokinase PA (uPA), uPA receptor (uPAR) and inhibin subunits, alpha, beta A and beta B in monkey testes was investigated. Using in-situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labelled cRNA probes (dig-cRNA), we demonstrated that tPA and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) were expressed in testes of both immature and mature rhesus monkeys. tPA mRNA was localized predominantly in Sertoli cells. Expression level was low in immature testis, increased dramatically in the adult and varied with seminiferous cycle. PAI-1 mRNA was localized mainly in germ cells except late spermatids. uPA mRNA was expressed stage-specifically in Sertoli cells of adult testis. uPA receptor mRNA was localized in germ cells of mature testis but not in spermatogonia or late spermatids. Assayed by fibrin overlay technique, PA activity in conditioned media of purified Sertoli cells (Sc) was negligible, PA activity in media obtained from co-cultured Sertoli and Leydig cells (LS), however, was significantly increased, although Leydig cells alone were not capable of producing any PA activity. Addition of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to the incubation medium remarkably increased PA secretion in both Sc and LS cultures. Human chronic gonadotrophin (HCG) had no significant effect on PA activity in the Sc culture but dramatically stimulated PA activity in the co-culture system. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) did not mimic the effect of HCG. PAI-1 activity was secreted mainly by germ cells and did not differ between the two culture systems. FSH and forskolin inhibited PAI-1 secretion. Inhibin alpha, beta A and beta B subunit mRNAs were localized in Sertoli cells of adult monkey testes, with no obvious difference in the expression levels. These data suggest that PA/PAI-1 and other related factors are expressed in rhesus monkey testis under the control of various hormones, seminiferous cycle and cell-cell interactions through paracrine or autocrine regulation. Locally generated fibrinolysis may play an important role in the process of spermatogenesis.

Evidence that casein kinase 2 phosphorylates hepatic microsomal calcium-binding proteins 1 and 2 but not 3

We have extensively purified three of the hepatic microsomal intralumenal Ca2+-binding proteins, CBP1, CBP2, and CBP3, which were originally described by Van et al. [(1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 17494-17501]. These apparently homogeneous preparations showed only single 45Ca2+ binding bands. On the basis of the peptide sequence, CBP2 was found to be highly homologous with the previously described protein ERp72. Similarly, CBP3 was identical to calreticulin and CBP1 had some homology to calmodulin. Contrary to the report of Van et al. (1989), we found that CBP2 had little thiol:protein disulfide oxidoreductase activity. Of the three purified preparations, only CBP2 exhibited apparent intrinsic protein kinase activity. This activity was found to be due to contamination of the CBP2 preparation by an extremely low concentration of tightly bound casein kinase 2 (CK2). In line with this observation, the phosphorylation was inhibited by heparin, removed by antibody to CK2, and stimulated by spermine. Furthermore, CBP2 was readily phosphorylated in vitro by added CK2 but only slowly phosphorylated by several other protein kinases. Thus, the persistence of CK2 in a highly purified preparation of CBP2 along with several other lines of evidence presented in this study might suggest that the protein CBP2 is a physiologically relevant substrate for CK2. Furthermore, these data suggest that CK2 might be localized in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum and that the phosphorylation of CBP2 in the lumen may play a role in the chaperone activity attributed to this protein.

Coordinated expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 during corpus luteum formation and luteolysis in the adult pseudopregnant rat

Proteolytic activity generated by the plasminogen activator (PA) system is associated with many biological processes. Using an adult pseudopregnant rat model, we have studied how two components of the PA system, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), are expressed temporally and spatially during different developmental stages of the corpus luteum (CL). Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, in situ zymography, and fibrin overlay were used to analyze the expression and distribution of tPA and PAI-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) as well as PA activity in CL of different ages. We demonstrated that during the luteinization period (approximately days 1-2), tPA mRNA was highly and evenly expressed in newly formed CL, whereas PAI-1 mRNA was mainly detected in the central part of the same CL. In accordance with these findings, proteolytic activity generated by tPA was detected in the outer region of newly formed CL by in situ zymography. During the luteotropic period (approximately days 3-10), tPA mRNA expression was very low. PAI-1 mRNA expression was also low, but increased on day 10. As expected, proteolytic activity was very low during this period. During functional luteolysis (days 13-14) and subsequent structural luteolysis, tPA mRNA was elevated. PAI-1 mRNA was also expressed during this period. Moreover, the net PA activity, as determined by fibrin overlay, was relatively high during this period. Our studies indicate that tPA and PAI-1 are coordinately expressed in the CL, resulting in increased proteolytic activities during the luteinization and luteolytic periods. PA-mediated proteolysis may, therefore, play a role in both CL formation and luteolysis in rats.

Preliminary studies on the role of plasminogen activator in seminal plasma of human and rhesus monkey

Two types of plasminogen activators (PA), tissue type (tPA) and urokinase type (uPA), were identified in the seminal plasma of both the human and the rhesus monkey. We studied the possible relationship between PA activities in the seminal plasma and the sperm counts and motility and demonstrated that: (i) PA activity in human seminal plasma from infertile patients was associated with immotile spermatozoa; (ii) the treatment of fertile men with testosterone enanthate (TE) to induce azoospermia was accompanied by an increase in seminal PA activity; (iii) when monomer T4 (isolated from multiglycosides of Tripterygium wilforddi) was administered to fertile male rhesus monkeys to induce azoospermia, PA activities in seminal plasma increased considerably; and (iv) immunocytochemistry studies showed that both uPA and PAI-1 antigens were localized on the surface of human spermatozoa, indicating that human spermatozoa were capable of binding uPA and PAI-1 through their receptors or forming a complex. These data demonstrate that seminal PA activity may be related to azoospermia, and possibly, to the fertilizing capability of spermatozoa in primates.

Studies on the role of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 in rat corpus luteum of pregnancy

Luteal development and demise are characterized by substantial tissue destruction and remodeling, which is associated with local production of plasminogen activation. Recently we reported involvement of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) in luteolysis in rhesus monkeys. In this study, we further investigated changes in expression of both tPA and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) activity during various developmental stages of rat corpus luteum (CL) of pregnancy and their possible physiological roles in luteolysis. Rat CL or dispersed luteal cells in vitro are capable of producing both tPA and uPA, and a plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1, in a stage-dependent manner. However, only tPA activity significantly increases in late phases of CL development. Furthermore, the increase in tPA activity in the CL is well correlated with a sharp decrease in luteal progesterone production. Addition of exogenous tPA to the luteal culture considerably decreases progesterone production. In contrast, immunoneutralization of endogenously produced tPA activity by inclusion of tPA monoclonal antibody in the culture results in a significant increase in luteal progesterone production. It is therefore suggested that tPA may also be involved in suppression of rat luteal function. This hypothesis is further supported by the findings that interferon-gamma significantly inhibits luteal basal and hCG-stimulated progesterone production and also stimulates basal and hCG-induced tPA activity. On the basis of the data provided in this study and similar findings in monkeys, we conclude that endogenously produced tPA in late phase of CL development may regulate luteal regression through local autocrine or paracrine action.

Hormonal regulation of plasminogen activator in rat and mouse seminiferous epithelium

To elucidate the possible role of plasminogen activator (PA) in spermatogenesis and spermiation in mammals, we studied the hormonal regulation of PA secretion in cultured rat and mouse seminiferous tubules during defined stages of spermatogenesis. Results indicated that: (1) under basal conditions, segments of rat seminiferous tubules released primarily urokinase-type PA (uPA) at all stages of the cycle. The highest level of PA secretion occurred at stages VIIab, VIIcd and VIII. FSH, 8-bromo cyclic AMP and forskolin (FK) stimulated PA secretion, predominantly tissue-type PA (tPA). (2) In contrast, mouse seminiferous tubules secreted only tPA under basal conditions. In the presence of 50 microM MIX, seminiferous tubules at stages VII and VIII secreted higher levels of both types of PA than at the other stages. Both tPA and uPA secretion was enhanced by addition of FSH and FK to the organ culture media. (3) Segments of both rat and mouse seminiferous tubules at stages IX-XII in which the sperm residual bodies are absorbed into the Sertoli cells were also very sensitive to the addition of FSH to the organ culture. These results suggest that tPA in rat and mouse testes may play an essential role in the process of spermatogenesis and spermiation as well as in sperm residual body absorption.

Hormonal regulation of tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 in cultured monkey Sertoli cells

Sertoli cells play a central role in the control and maintenance of spermatogenesis. Isolated Sertoli cells of mouse and rat testes have been shown to secrete plasminogen activator (PA) and a plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) in culture. In this study, we have investigated the hormonal regulation of PA and PAI-1 activities in cultured monkey Sertoli cells. Sertoli cells (5 x 10(5) cells/well) isolated from infant rhesus monkey testes were preincubated at 35 degrees C for 16 h in 24-well plates precoated with poly(D-lysine) (5 micrograms/cm2) in 0.5 ml McCoy's 5a medium containing 5% of fetal calf serum and further incubated for 48 h in 0.5 ml serum-free medium with or without various hormones or other compounds. PA as well as PAI-1 activities in the conditioned media were assayed by fibrin overlay and reverse fibrin autography techniques respectively. The Sertoli cells in vitro secreted only tissue-type PA (tPA), no detectable amount of urokinase-type PA (uPA) could be observed. Monkey Sertoli cells were also capable of secreting PAI-1. Immunocytochemical studies indicated that both tPA and PAI-1 positive staining localized in the Sertoli cells, spermatids and residual bodies of the seminiferous epithelium; Northern blot analysis further confirmed the presence of both tPA and PAI-1 mRNA in monkey Sertoli cells. Addition of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) derivatives or cAMP-generating agents and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist or phorbol ester (PMA) to the cell culture significantly increased tPA activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Effect of prolactin on gonadotropin-induced ovarian estrogen and progesterone production in mouse]

Immature mice (21-23 days old) were injected with 8 IU PMSG to stimulate follicle growth and followed 24 h later by either injection of 8 IU hCG alone or hCG plus 100 micrograms of prolactin (PRL). The animals were killed at 3, 12 and 24 h after hCG treatment. The ovaries and blood samples were collected. Granulosa cells were prepared for incubation. Progesterone and estrogen concentrations in both the serum and the culture medium were determined. The results showed that PRL significantly enhanced hCG-induced mouse serum progesterone content, while serum estrogen concentrations were considerably decreased by the co-injection of PRL. Prolactin was also capable of stimulating gonadotropin-induced progesterone secretion in the cultured GC. However, the aromatase activity induced by FSH and hCG was remarkably inhibited by the presence of PRL. These data suggest that PRL inhibition of hCG-induced ovulation may be due to its interference with the gonadotropin-induced estrogen production by the follicular granulosa cells.

[Preventive effect of quinacrine on the development of heat injury by stabilizing membrane phospholipids metabolism and beta-adrenoceptor]

Previous studies have demonstrated that the activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) during heat stress would caused disorder of membrane phospholipids metabolism, accompanied by a decrease in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidyl-serine and an increase in arachidonic acid. In heat stressed rats, a down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptor in lung tissue was observed due to activation of PLA2. In the present work, it was demonstrated that pretreatment of rats with PLA2 inhibitor, quinacrine (20 mg/kg, I.P.), 1 h before heat stress could block these membrane lipid alterations, and the tolerance of rats to heat exposure was enhanced. The effect of quinacrine on the thermotolerance of marching soldiers with 15 kg of load under hot environment was also investigated. The results indicated that in the soldiers taken orally 200 mg quinacrine 1 h before marching, their heart rate, body temperature, accumulation of blood lactic acid and the changes of index of heart function were significantly improved as compared to the control group at the end of 3 h marching. According to these data, it can be concluded that quinacrine is a useful drug to prevent derangement of beta-adrenoceptor and membrane phospholipids metabolism in the development of heat stress. So as to prevent heat injury, and to improve tolerance to heat stress.

[Pathological and immunohistochemical study on anorectal melanoma]

Forty two cases of anorectal melanoma were studied which constituted 1.19% of all the anorectal malignancies collected in this series. 90% of the tumors located near by the dentate line. Grossly, the masses were nodular, fungiform or ulcerated. Histologically, pleomorphic tumor cells mixed together giving a feature somewhat like either carcinomatoid or sarcomatoid, with a predominance of one kind of the malignant cells. Histopathologic observation supported the idea that this tumor developed from the melanocytes and nevus cells located at the basal layer of the epithelium. Immunohistochemistry proved that melanocytes originated from the neural crest. S-100 protein was marker with high sensitivity but the specificity not ideal, so that, varied markers are recommended in order to improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

Sequence of the region downstream of the Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene: vgb is not part of a multigene operon

The 1668 base pairs (bp) downstream of the Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene were sequenced in the hope of finding related genes that might be part of an operon. Instead, a sequence was found that constituted an open reading frame (ORF) of 569 amino acids (apparently the carboxy-terminal part of a larger ORF), in the direction opposite to the hemoglobin gene. This sequence was found to have 64% similarity with the 1685 bp at the 3' end of the Escherichia coli uvrA gene. The inferred amino acid sequence of the Vitreoscilla DNA has 69% similarity with the corresponding sequence of the E. coli uvrA protein, with similarities of 90, 100, and 85% in the helix-turn-helix, C-terminal ATP binding, and C-terminal zinc finger domains, respectively. The distance between the 3' ends of the Vitreoscilla hemoglobin and uvrA genes is 63 bp.

[Degradation of the constituents in solubilization process of donkey skin]

Dry donkey skin, defatted in advance with hair scraped off, was separately solubilized by heating in sealed tubes at 130 degrees C for 2, 4, 6, 8h. The resultants were clarified and dried as Ejiao, whose yield appeared to reach maximum after 4h heating. Absorptivities of all four Ejiao preparations were in good approximation to standard gelatin. However, their intrinsic viscosity declined in order of prolonged solubilization process, indicating that depolymerization of donkey skin gelatin had taken place. In addition, significant degradation of dermatan sulfate, another constituent of Ejiao, was detected electrophoretically and photometrically.

[Effects of selective hepatic duct embolization on normal, cirrhotic livers and hepatocellular carcinomas]

Variant gross and pathology features were observed on effects of selective hepatic duct embolization (SHDE) in contrast to selective hepatic duct ligation (SHDL). Glue TH was used in SHDE that performed on normal liver, induced cirrhotic liver and hepatocellular, carcinoma. The results demonstrated that SHDL has weak effected, while SHDE causes the embolized liver lobes to acute ischemic necrosis, followed by atrophy and fibrosis, accompanied by quickly hypertrophy of the uninvolved lobes. All tumors on the embolized liver lobes also showed acute tumors on the embolized liver lobes also showed acute tumor ischemic necrosis, atrophy and fibrosis. The reason for the above variations is that pressure and tension of SHDE expand the embolized bile duct tree, especially the Hering duct, which will continuously obstruct the dual blood supply to the liver tumor. Effectively and thoroughly annihilating or restricting the tumor, SHDE may lead the tumors to "spontaneous excision", with the unoperated lobes hypertrophy to compensate liver functions simultaneously. These studies indicated that SHDE will be a new method in liver cancer clinic.

Secretion of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 by cultured ovarian cells obtained from gonadotropin-treated immature rats

It is demonstrated that i) theca-interstitial compartment synthesizes the majority of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) in the ovary before ovulation, and the follicular wall may therefore serve as a specific barrier with the presence of PAI-1 activity to prevent the secretion of tPA into the extrafollicular compartments; ii) granulosa cells secrete only a small amount of ovarian PAI-1, but synthesize the most of tissue-type plasminogen activator tPA involved in the processes leading to ovulation; iii) since only matured cumulus-oocyte complexes secrete a large amount of tPA and PAI-1, both tPA and PAI-1 activity in the conditioned medium may be used as reliable markers for evaluating oocyte quality for in vitro fertilization.

[Characterization and quantification of dermatan sulfate from donkey skin]

Dermatan sulfate (DS), a recently known antithrombotic glycosaminoglycan, was isolated and purified from donkey skin. Physiochemical characteristics of the glycan, including constituent analysis, electrophoretic behaviour, molecular mass, specific lyase degradations, IR and PMR spectra were described, using porcine skin-origin dermatan sulfate as a standard reference. Contents of DS in donkey skin and its gelatinized preparations (Ejiao) were also measured. Results indicate that the presence of DS may explain the long reputed clinical efficacy of donkey skin and Ejiao in treating serious symptoms associated with what has been called endogenous wind in traditional Chinese medicine.