Study of different phases in growth cycle of human bone marrow cells and their growth speed, using rat-human cell hybridization, premature chromosome condensation, and sister chromatid differentiation techniques

The cytokinetic activity of bone marrow cells is an indication of hemopoietic status. In the routine examination of bone marrow smears, only M phase can be identified, whereas the different phases of the remainder of the cell cycle are not possible to determine. However, by using premature chromosome condensation and bromodeoxyuridine differential staining techniques, cell stage and cell kinetics can be easily determined. Ninety-eight samples of human bone marrow were collected, cells were hybridized with mitotic M3 cells, and 5016 randomly selected hybrid cells were analyzed for cell stage. Our data demonstrated that 80.37% of the cells were in G1 phase, 12.66% were in S phase, 5.29% were in G2 phase, and 1.68% were in M phase. In specimens that had been cultured for 48 h in the presence of bromodeoxyuridine, 57.46% had completed at least two rounds of DNA replication. In 72-h specimens, 69.27% of the cells had completed at least two S phases. In 96-h specimens, 2S and 2S+ cells occupied 74% of the cell population. The use of cell hybridization techniques, premature chromosome condensation, and bromodeoxyuridine-dependent differential staining revealed the phases of the cell cycle distinctly, as well as the kinetics of cell growth.

Mechanism of the therapeutic effect of anisodamine in disseminated intravascular coagulation: study of platelet adhesion and aggregation, malondialdehyde, thromboxane B2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, and microcirculation

Acute disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a life-threatening condition that may be encountered in many situations, especially in cases of shock with uncontrollable hemorrhage. Anisodamine, an alkaloid extracted from a Chinese herb, is well known for its dramatic therapeutic effect on DIC. Sixty male rabbits were used to establish an acute DIC model. A total of 240 blood samples were taken for laboratory assays of changes in blood coagulation factors, platelet count, platelet adhesion, platelet aggregation, malondialdehyde (MDA), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha). Changes of the microcirculatory status and the rate of the blood flow in the conjunctival capillaries of 60 rabbits were observed with WXS-II microcirculation microscope. Pathological sections of the lungs and kidneys were studied. Our investigation showed the presence of microthrombi in the microvasculature. After treatment with anisodamine, the prothrombin time stayed in the normal range, fibrinogen consumption was lessened, adenosine-diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited, thromboxane B2 and malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly lower than in the control group, and the elevated quantity of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was spared. We concluded that the anti-platelet-aggregating, microcirculation-facilitating, thromboxane-B2-inhibiting, malondialdehyde-inhibiting, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha-sparing effects of anisodamine are the important mechanisms of its dramatic therapeutic effect on DIC.

An intrinsic membrane glycoprotein of the lens

A major glycoprotein of relative molecular weight of 130,000 daltons of chick lens cell membranes was identified by Concanavalin-A staining and enriched for by Con A-Sepharose chromatography. Using both Con A binding and immunological analyses with a specific polyclonal antibody, the glycoprotein was detected in chick lens epithelium, annular pad, cortex and nucleus. Localization to the plasma membranes of lens cells was demonstrated by immunofluorescence. A similar protein, which cross-reacts with the antibody to the chick protein and also binds Con A was demonstrated in human and bovine lenses.

Electrophysiological studies on the termination sites of double projection spinal dorsal horn neurons in the cat

Some projection neurons in laminae III, IV and V of the feline lumbar dorsal horn have been found to be antidromically driven from stimulation of both the ipsilateral cervical dorsal and dorsolateral funiculi that are well-dissected and insulated from one another. No detectable responses can be evoked from these neurons when stimulation is applied to sites rostral to the lateral cervical nucleus and the dorsal column nuclei, suggesting that the dorsal and dorsolateral funicular branches of these neuron's axons terminate in the lateral cervical nucleus and the dorsal column nuclei, respectively. The results indicate that these neurons are an intersection set of the spinal cervical tract (SCT) and dorsal column postsynaptic (DCPS) neurons and have been thus named spinal cervical tract-dorsal column postsynaptic (SCT-DCPS) neurons.

The 3,4-catechol derivative of propranolol, a minor dihydroxylated metabolite

The O,O-dibenzyl ether of the 3,4-catechol derivative of propranolol (11) was prepared to determine whether the catechol is a product of metabolic hydroxylation. 4-(Allyloxy)-1,2-naphthoquinone (5) was reduced with sodium dithionite and alkylated with benzyl chloride to produce ether 7. Osmium tetroxide oxidation of 7 afforded glycol 8. Subsequent monotosylation, oxirane formation with KOH, and opening with isopropylamine afforded benzyl ether 11. Although hydrogenolysis was successful, catechol 3 was rapidly oxidized to the corresponding o-quinone (12). Reduction of 12 with sodium bisulfite afforded 3, which was derivatized with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) to serve as a standard for the metabolic experiments. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the Me3Si ethers of the products of metabolism of pseudoracemic propranolol (made up of equal molar (2R)-propranolol-d0/(2S)-propranolol-3',3'-d2) in the presence of the rat liver 9000g supernatant fraction showed four dihydroxylated metabolites, of which catechol 3 was in smallest amount, approximately 9% of the sum of dihydroxylated metabolites. Each of the four dihydroxylated propranolols arises stereoselectively from the 2R enantiomer of propranolol (by 1.15- to 2-fold), as determined by parent ion intensities at m/z 507 vs. 509. Quinone 12 was a nonselective competitive beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, being about 16-fold less potent than propranolol in both beta 1 and beta 2 assays.

Recent progress in x-ray stereoscopes

An improved reconstructed stereoscopic x-ray image display system, based on the principle of binocular parallax, is described. Pulse-synchronized operation of two triode x-ray tubes and one plumbicon TV camera is employed to separate the left and right images for presentation to the two eyes, respectively. The principle of binocular perception, quantitative characteristics of the stereoscopic depth, the overcoming of the inertia problem of the single-camera scheme, and a way to achieve low x-ray dosage and enhanced contrast of image are presented. Experimental results and applications are discussed.

Immunoelectrophoretic analysis of the porcine zona pellucida

Antigens of the porcine zona pellucida were evaluated by 2-dimensional and line immunoelectrophoretic techniques. Zona antigen preparations studied included heat-solubilized isolated zonae pellucidae (SIZP), a purified 60 000 Mr glycoprotein (PPZA, purified pig zona antigen), and two fractions of this 60 000 Mr zona component which had been exposed to SDS (ZP3-E1C and ZP3-E2C). Antisera were raised to intact zonae pellucidae (IZP), SIZP and PPZA. Collectively, electrophoretic data revealed that the porcine zona system is antigenically complex with each zona antiserum tested detecting numerous antigens in the various zona preparations. These antigens, however, all had similar electrophoretic mobilities, and this limited the resolution of these techniques. The 60 000 Mr pig zona macromolecule (ZP3) appeared to be the most immunogenic of the three major pig zona glycoproteins since antisera prepared against IZP or SIZP reacted primarily with this component. However, the 60 000 Mr component does share antigenic determinants with the other major zona glycoproteins as revealed by cross-reactions of the antisera with the various zona preparations. Electrophoretic studies also suggested that the various zona antisera could distinguish, with different degrees of sensitivity, multiple antigenic determinants on the individual zona macromolecules. These studies also indicated that SDS treatment of zona glycoproteins does alter the antigenicity of the macromolecule, both with respect to the total number and individual identity of antigens detected.

Derivatives of beta-adrenergic antagonists. N-Nitrosopropranolol and N-hydroxypropranolol and its aldonitrone

Potential precursors to chemically reactive species derived from the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol were synthesized and tested for mutagenicity in the Ames Salmonella assay. N-Hydroxypropranolol (1), the corresponding aldonitrone, 3-(1-naphthoxy)-2-hydroxypropionaldehyde N-isopropylnitrone (2), and N-nitrosopropranolol (3) were prepared and tested. N-Hydroxypropranolol (1) was obtained by direct alkylation of 3-(1-naphthoxy)-1-bromo-2-propanol with N-isopropylhydroxylamine and isolated as its neutral oxalate or HBr salt. The aldonitrone (2) was obtained by mercuric oxide oxidation of the hydroxylamine. N-Nitrosopropranolol (3) was prepared by treating propranolol with nitrous acid. None of the compounds was mutagenic in the Ames assay with Salmonella typhimurium TA-98 and TA-100 strains, either in the absence or in the presence of the S-9 liver fraction from Arochlor 1254 treated rats. None of the compounds was significantly toxic to the bacteria, except for slight toxicity of the oxalate salt of 1.

Mapping, quantitative distribution and origin of substance p- and VIP-containing nerves in the uvea of guinea pig eye

VIP- and substance P-like immunoreactivities were found in considerable concentrations (VIP: 17.3 +/- 4.8 pmol/g, mean +/- SEM; substance P:11.1 +/- 1.8 pmol/g) in the uveal portion of the guinea pig eye. Immunocytochemistry localised these two regulatory peptides to nerve fibres found principally in a plexus in the iris (substance P) and in an extensive network surrounding the blood vessels of the choroid (VIP). A remarkable anatomical demarcation of the two types of peptide-containing nerves was established by the staining of substance P-containing nerves, which stops at the level of the ciliary body. This uveal area is known to be involved in the ocular responses to nociceptive stimuli. At the ultrastructural level, immunoreactivity for both peptides was localised to distinct subpopulations of p-type nerves, distinguishable by the size of their large dense-cored vesicles. Those immunoreactive for VIP were significantly larger (p less than 0.0005) than those immunoreactive for substance P (95 +/- 7 nm and 82 +/- 9 nm respectively; mean +/- SD). Interruption of the trigeminal pathway produced a remarkable decrease of substance P immunoreactivity in the anterior portion of the uvea (9.1 +/- 1.5 pmol/g, mean +/- SEM, control; 5.3 +/- 1.3 pmol/g, denervated), but not of VIP immunoreactivity in the choroid. Following colchicine treatment, VIP-immunoreactive neuronal cell bodies were localised in the choroid. The separate anatomical localisations and distributions of the two uveal peptides appear to be related to their different origins and functional roles in the response of the eye to noxious stimuli.

High-resolution analysis of chromosome markers in Burkitt lymphoma cell lines

Using a high-resolution chromosome banding technique, which provided more elongated and distinctly banded chromosomes, some new evidence was obtained for localization of break points in Burkitt lymphoma marker chromosomes. As a result, the characteristic translocation between chromosomes 8 and 14 was designated as t(8;14) (q24.1;q32.5) and the deletion of chromosome 15 was designated as del(15) (q13q15).