Hepatocyte growth factor modulates migration and proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells in culture

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces tubular formation of cultured human omental microvascular endothelial (HOME) cells and EGF also stimulates cell migration as well as expression of tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA). Here we studied the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on cell proliferation, cell migration and expression of t-PA and other related genes. Migration of confluent HOME cells into the denuded space was stimulated by HGF after being wounded with razor blade, but at a reduced rate in comparison with EGF. HOME cells could be proliferated in response to exogenous 100 ng/ml of HGF at rates comparable to that of 20 ng/ml EGF. The chemotactic activity of HOME cells was significantly stimulated by HGF in a dose-dependent manner when assayed by Boyden chamber. HGF did not efficiently enhance expression of both the t-PA gene and a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase gene whereas it stimulated expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Our present study provides a new evidence that some of the biological effects of HGF on HOME cells in culture are similar to those of EGF.

The effect of physical restraint on IL-1 beta- and LPS-induced fever

The stress of physical restraint has been shown to cause an elevation in the body temperature of rats. In this study, we compared the febrile responses of restrained and unrestrained animals to the injection of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We found that, prior to injection, the body temperature of the restrained animals was about 1 degree C higher than that of the unrestrained rats. The restrained rats showed significantly smaller increases in body temperature in response to the injection of either pyrogen than did the unrestrained animals.

The effect of chronic exercise on the pituitary-adrenocortical response in conscious rats

1. This study was designed to investigate the effect of chronic exercise on exercise-induced changes in plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone in rats. Corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) and ACTH were injected I.V. in order to assess the responsiveness of the pituitary and adrenal glands after chronic exercise. 2. The concentrations of ACTH and corticosterone in the plasma increased significantly after acute exercise in both the control and the exercised groups but both responses were significantly smaller in the exercised group. 3. The ACTH response to I.V. CRF was also significantly smaller in the exercised rats. However, both groups of animals showed similar increases in plasma corticosterone levels after the administration of exogenous ACTH. 4. The ACTH response to CRF attenuated by repeated administration of CRF. 5. These results suggest that attenuated ACTH and corticosterone responses to acute exercise after chronic exercise result from reduced responsiveness of the pituitary gland to CRF.

The effect of prostaglandin E2 on the body temperature of restrained rats

We examined the effects of intravenous (IV) or intracerebro-ventricular (ICV) injection of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the rectal temperature of restrained rats. The IV injection of PGE2 (0.5 mg/kg) caused hypothermia in rats with high initial rectal temperatures, but caused an elevation in rectal temperature in those animals whose starting temperatures were low. In contrast, the ICV injection of PGE2 induced fever, regardless of the rectal temperature at the time of injection. We also examined whether temperature changes due to the IV injection of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS, 10 micrograms/kg) or interleukin-1 beta(IL-1 beta, 0.2 micrograms/kg) were dependent upon the rats' initial rectal temperatures. Rats with low rectal temperatures developed fevers in response to LPS, while animals with high starting temperatures showed hypothermia. In contrast, the IV injection of IL-1 beta produced fever regardless of initial rectal temperature. These data suggest that PGE2 acts centrally to cause fever and peripherally to cause hypothermia, and that following the injection of LPS, these opposing actions of PGE2 may act together to determine the thermoregulatory response.

Fever and acute-phase response induced in rabbits by intravenous and intracerebroventricular injection of interleukin-6

We investigated the effect of human recombinant interleukin-6 (IL-6) on body temperature and acute-phase response, including changes in plasma levels of iron, zinc, copper, and fibrinogen and in circulating leukocyte count. The intravenous (IV) injection of IL-6 (2 micrograms/kg) produced a monophasic fever. The intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of IL-6 produced a dose-dependent fever that developed gradually and remained elevated throughout the 5-h recording period. The IV injection of IL-6 decreased the plasma concentration of iron and zinc and increased the circulating leukocyte count. The ICV injection of IL-6 resulted in similar trace metal and leukocyte changes, and increased plasma levels of fibrinogen. These results show that IL-6 can cause fever when injected IV or ICV and induces some acute-phase responses through its action on peripheral target organs and in the central nervous system.

Prostaglandin E2 is involved in adrenocorticotrophic hormone release during swimming exercise in rats

1. We found that adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) release in rats induced by acute swimming exercise or by an intravenous injection of human recombinant interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) was significantly attenuated after chronic exercise. 2. Since involvement of prostaglandins in the ACTH response induced by IL-1 is well known, we investigated the effect of indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, on the ACTH response induced in rats by acute swimming exercise. Pretreatment with an intravenous injection of indomethacin significantly suppressed the ACTH response induced by exercise. The effect of indomethacin (1 and 10 mg/kg) on the ACTH response was dose-dependent. 3. The effect of chronic exercise on the exercise-induced changes in the plasma concentration of prostaglandin E2 was investigated. The plasma concentration of prostaglandin E2 significantly increased after acute exercise in both the control and the chronically exercised rats. However, the increase in the plasma level of prostaglandin E2 was significantly smaller in the chronically exercised group than in the control group. 4. Intravenous injections of prostaglandin E2 produced dose-dependent increases in the plasma concentration of ACTH in rats. 5. The present results suggest that an increase in prostaglandin E2 levels in plasma is involved in the development of the ACTH response induced by exercise.

[Two routes chemotherapy by CDDP and STS against liver tumor]

Nine (eight males, one female) patients with unresectable liver tumor (seven HCC and two metastasis) were treated by two-routes chemotherapy using cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) and sodium thiosulfate (STS). In these patients, 50-100 mg/body of CDDP was administered through the proper hepatic artery or right hepatic artery by one shot infusion or the balloon-occluded arterial infusion (BOAI) at 10 mg/min, and during administration, intra-inferior vena cava injection of STS (4 g/body) was given. None of 9 patients suffered nausea and vomiting during the treatment, 3 of 9 patients suffered nausea and vomiting to a mild degree after the treatment, none of 9 patients showed significant side effects, such as bone marrow suppression and/or renal disfunction. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the protection effect of STS injected in inferior vena cava against the toxicity of CDDP were well indicated.

Effects of physical training on febrile and acute-phase responses induced in rats by bacterial endotoxin or interleukin-1

1. We investigated the effect of physical training on febrile and acute-phase responses induced in rats by intravenous (I.V.) injection of bacterial endotoxin or human recombinant interleukin-1 beta (IL-1). Physical training was performed by swimming for 1 h per day, 5 days a week. After four weeks of training, animals were used in the experiments. 2. The I.V. injection of endotoxin produced a febrile response in the trained group but not in the control group. However, there were no statistically significant differences between febrile responses induced by the I.V. injection of IL-1 in the control and trained groups. 3. The I.V. injection of endotoxin significantly decreased the plasma concentration of iron and zinc and increased the plasma fibrinogen concentration in both the control and the trained groups. However, the decreases in the plasma iron and zinc concentrations in the trained group were significantly greater than those in the control group. The I.V. injection of endotoxin increased the circulating leucocyte count in the only trained group. 4. The I.V. injection of IL-1 significantly decreased the plasma concentration of iron and zinc and increased the plasma fibrinogen concentration and the circulating leucocyte count in both the control and the trained groups. However, between the two groups, no significant differences in the values of acute-phase reactants were observed. 5. The present results suggest that the ability to produce cytokine(s) to induce febrile and acute-phase responses is enhanced by physical training. However, physical training has no effect on the febrile and acute-phase responses induced by IL-1.

Functional and structural differences in febrile mechanism between rabbits and rats

1. Febrile responsiveness of rabbits and rats to intravenous (I.V.) or intracerebroventricular injection of human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), human recombinant interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and prostaglandin E2 was examined. 2. The I.V. injection of both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta produced dose-dependent fever over a range of 0.05-2.0 micrograms/kg. A small dose of IL-1 alpha (0.5 micrograms/kg) or IL-1 beta (0.5 micrograms/kg) produced a monophasic patterned fever in both rabbits and rats. A large dose (2.0 micrograms/kg) of IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta produced a biphasic fever in rabbits, but monophasic fever in rats. Febrile responses in rabbits induced by I.V. injection of IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta were significantly greater than those in rats induced by these same injections. Furthermore, in both species, the pyrogenicity of I.V. IL-1 beta was greater than that of IL-1 alpha. 3. The intracerebroventricular injection of both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta produced dose-dependent fever over a range of 0.2-20 ng. In rabbits and rats, the ventricular injections of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta produced fever with almost the same pattern--monophasic, regardless of injection doses. Although febrile responsiveness of rabbits to ventricular injection of IL-1 alpha was greater than that of rats, responsiveness to IL-1 beta was almost the same in both species. Pyrogenicity of ventricular IL-1 beta was greater than that of IL-1 alpha. However, febrile responses in rats induced by ventricular injections of several doses (2-2000 ng) of prostaglandin E2 were greater than those in rabbits. 4. The present results show that febrile responsiveness of rabbits to I.V. IL-1 is significantly greater than that of rats. However, fever sensitivity within the central nervous system (CNS) of rats is not lower compared with that of rabbits. Therefore, we considered that between the two species there exist structural differences in the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT), which is currently believed to be the pathway of pyrogen to the CNS and/or the site of production of pyrogenic prostaglandins. 5. Histological examinations showed that the rabbit's OVLT has two vascular components with capillaries, one in the layer near the third ventricle and the other in the layer near the subarachnoideal space. However, the rat's OVLT only has a single component, in the layer near the subarachnoideal space.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Leucocytosis induced in rabbits by intravenous or central injection of granulocyte colony stimulating factor

1. We investigated the effect of intravenous, intracerebroventricular and intrapreoptic injections of human recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) on body temperature and acute phase responses in the rabbit, including changes in the plasma concentration of iron, zinc, copper and fibrinogen and in circulating leucocyte count. 2. Neither intravenous nor intracerebroventricular injection of GCSF had any effect on the body temperature. 3. Both the intravenous and the intracerebroventricular injections of GCSF induced a dose-dependent increase in the circulating leucocyte count but neither affected the plasma concentration of iron, zinc, copper and fibrinogen. Furthermore, intrapreoptic injection of GCSF produced leucocytosis but had no effect on the red blood cell count. 4. The present results suggest that GCSF induces leucocytosis through its action on both the peripheral target organs and the central nervous system.

Suppression of cold-induced thermogenesis in full-term pregnant rats

1. Thermoregulation against cold exposure was studied in rats during pregnancy and early lactation, and compared with that of virgin rats. 2. When exposed to 0 degrees C for 60 min, rats which were within 24-48 h of parturition (pre-1-day rats) and those within 24 h of parturition (pre-0-day rats) showed significantly larger falls of colonic temperature (Tco) than virgin rats. The temperature decrease was greatest in the pre-0-day rats, being 4.1 +/- 0.4 degrees C (mean +/- S.E.M.) at the end of cold exposure, compared with a decrease of 1.7 +/- 0.3 degrees C in the virgin rats. The tail skin temperature fell to 0 degrees C during cooling in all virgin rats and in pregnant rats at each gestational stage. 3. During cold exposure at 10 degrees C for 30 min, pre-0-day rats also showed significantly larger falls in Tco (1.8 +/- 0.6 degrees C) than virgin (0.4 +/- 0.2 degrees C), pre-1-week (0.8 +/- 0.3 degrees C), post-0-day (0.3 +/- 0.3 degrees C) or post-1-week rats (0.4 +/- 0.3 degrees C). Although body weights in pre-0-day rats were far larger than those in virgin rats, the increase in oxygen consumption per animal during cold exposure was 50% lower in pre-0-day rats (2.2 +/- 0.5 ml/min) than in virgin rats (5.3 +/- 0.3 ml/min). There was no difference in basal oxygen consumption per animal between the late pregnant and virgin rats. 4. Within 24 h after parturition, both the decrease of Tco and the increase of oxygen consumption during cold exposure returned to the values observed in virgin rats. 5. The present results demonstrate clearly that cold-induced thermogenesis is significantly suppressed in rats at a late stage of pregnancy.

ACTH response induced by interleukin-1 is mediated by CRF secretion stimulated by hypothalamic PGE

We investigated whether hypothalamic prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) are responsible for the development of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) response induced by interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha). The present results show that ACTH responses induced by intravenous injection of IL-1 alpha were suppressed by systemic pretreatment with indomethacin and that intrahypothalamic injection of PGE2 stimulates the secretion of ACTH. Furthermore, systemic pretreatment with anti-CRF antibody significantly suppressed the ACTH response induced by intrahypothalamic injection of PGE2. These data suggest that the ACTH response induced by IL-1 is mediated by CRF secretion stimulated by hypothalamic PGE2.

Maternal thermal stimulation changes metabolic activity in fetal hypothalamus

To study whether the central nervous system in the perinatal fetal rat can operate during maternal cooling and warming, we examined the 2-deoxy-D-[14C]glucose ([14C]DG) uptake in the fetal brain. Full-term pregnant rats were placed at three different ambient temperatures of 35-37 degrees C, 24-25 degrees C and 0-10 degrees C. Saline containing 20 microCi/100 g of [14C]DG was injected into the superior caval vein in the pregnant rats. Forty-five min after the injection, the mother rats were decapitated and the fetal brains were taken out for autoradiography. The [14C]DG uptake was significantly influenced by maternal thermal stimulation in the hypothalamus and not in other brain regions examined such as the cerebral cortex, the basal ganglia and the limbic nuclei. Glucose utilization in the fetal anterior hypothalamus, paraventricular hypothalamus and dorsomedial hypothalamus significantly increased when the mother rat was exposed to heat compared to when the mother rat was in the thermoneutral condition. During maternal cooling, glucose utilization in the ventromedial hypothalamus and dorsomedial hypothalamus significantly decreased. There was no area activated by cooling and/or inhibited by warming. Compared to a similar study in adult rats (Am. J. Physiol., 248 (1985) R84-92), the present results suggest that although the perinatal fetal brain does not respond to thermal stimulation in terms of glucose utilization as fully as the adults, a few hypothalamic nuclei have already acquired thermal responses, which might be a possible neuronal basis for the thermoregulatory responses just after birth in rats.

Metabolic activation of the fetal rat brain

In the present study, we tried to examine whether the 2-deoxy-D-[14C]glucose (2-DG) technique is useful to investigate the metabolic activity of fetal rat brain in the maternal uterus. The result shows that metabolic mapping of the fetal brain was clearly obtained by means of the 2-DG technique.

Response of thermoresponsive neurons of rat's hypothalamus during intracarotid infusion of prostaglandin E2

We investigated the effect of intracarotid infusion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the single-unit activity of neurons in the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic (PO/AH) region. A total of 35 neurons in the PO/AH region were examined: 10 were warm-responsive neurons, 6 were cold-responsive neurons, and 19 were thermally insensitive neurons. In the warm-responsive neurons, the activities of 4 neurons were facilitated, while 3 neurons were inhibited and 3 neurons were not affected after intracarotid infusion of PGE2. In the cold-responsive neurons, the activities of 2 neurons were facilitated and 4 neurons were not affected by PGE2 infusion. Furthermore, 15 out of 19 thermally insensitive neurons were not affected by PGE2 infusion. These results suggest that thermoresponsive neurons of the PO/AH region respond well to intracarotid infusion of PGE2, compared with thermally insensitive neurons. However, the direction of neuronal response induced by intracarotid infusion of PGE2 could not be generally categorized based on the thermoresponsiveness of individual neurons.

Myosin heavy chain isoform changes in rat diaphragm are induced by endurance training

After rats were chronically exercised by endurance swimming, an augmentation of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in the diaphragm and the EDL muscle was observed. In addition, endurance training induced a decrease in the percentage of myosin heavy chain (MHC) IIb in the diaphragm, and a decrease in the percentage of HCIIb concomitant with an increase in the percentage of HCIId in the EDL muscle. These results indicate that endurance training induced not only an increase of the oxidative capacity but also an alteration in the expression of an MHC phenotype in the diaphragm and skeletal muscle.

Measurement of K vitamins in animal tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

A highly sensitive method for measuring endogenous phylloquinone and menaquinones in animal tissues was developed, based on high-performance liquid chromatography with coulometric reduction and fluorimetric detection, following extraction from tissue homogenate and purification on a Sep-Pak silica cartridge followed by thin-layer chromatography. The detection limits of phylloquinone, menaquinone-4, -6, -10 and -13 were 40, 40, 50, 70 and 80 pg/g in rat liver, respectively.

Brain regions involved in the development of acute phase responses accompanying fever in rabbits

1. The effects of microinjection of rabbit endogenous pyrogen and human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha on rectal temperature and acute phase responses were extensively examined in forty different brain regions of rabbits. The acute phase responses that were investigated were the changes in plasma levels of iron, zinc and copper concentration and the changes in circulating leucocyte count. 2. The rostral hypothalamic regions, such as nucleus broca ventralis, preoptic area and anterior hypothalamic region, responded to the microinjection of endogenous pyrogen or interleukin-1 by producing both fever and acute phase responses. 3. The microinjection of endogenous pyrogen or interleukin-1 into the rostral hypothalamic regions significantly decreased the plasma levels of iron and zinc concentration 8 and 24 h after injection. The circulating leucocyte count increased 8 h after injection. However, neither the injections of endogenous pyrogen nor interleukin-1 affected the number of red blood cells. 4. The present results show that the rostral hypothalamic regions respond directly to endogenous pyrogen or interleukin-1 with the consequent development of fever and acute phase responses.

Responses of thalamic neurons in rats to skin cooling and hypothalamic temperature

The responses of rat thalamic neurons to skin cooling were electrophysiologically examined. The responses of cold-excited neurons were classified into two types. One is a steplike response in which the activity abruptly increases with skin cooling, and the other is a graded response in which the activity gradually increases with skin cooling. The sites of these neurons were histologically identified in the ventrobasal complex of the thalamus, ventrolateral thalamus, and posterior thalamus. Two-thirds of them were found in a marginal region of the ventrobasal complex. There is no specific localization between the sites of thalamic neurons showing the steplike response and those showing the graded response. Furthermore, the effects of hypothalamic temperature on the thalamic neurons responding to skin cooling were observed. The response of thalamic neurons to cold stimulation of the skin was markedly suppressed during the hypothalamic warming. These results show that the steplike response is related to converting thermal analog signals to digital signals and that the graded response is related to relaying analog patterns of cold signals. Thermal afferent signals are modulated by hypothalamic temperature and subsequently cold sensation is modulated.

[Neurofibroma-associated left peroneal nerve palsy in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]

Peroneal nerve palsy developed in a patient with T cell-type acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is reported. In the fifth month after starting of chemotherapy against ALL, the patient, a 7-year-old girl, developed drop foot on the left. Three possibilities were considered as its pathogenesis; (1) VCR neuropathy, (2) neurotoxicity of intrathecal MTX, (3) leukemic invasion to the spinal canal. However, there was no evidence of leukemic invasion in any lumbar taps, and no improvement was obtained by cessation of VCR and intrathecal MTX. Examination by CT scan revealed tumors in the intervertebral (L5-S2) region, which was diagnosed to be neurofibromas by biopsy. The tumors compressed the left peroneal nerve and neurotoxicity of antineoplastic agents for ALL could be the cause of her drop foot.

Possible involvement of prostaglandin E in development of ACTH response in rats induced by human recombinant interleukin-1

1. Intravenous (I.V.) injection of human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) produced dose-dependent monophasic fevers in rats. Moreover, the I.V. injection of IL-1 alpha produced dose-dependent rises in the plasma concentrations of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) 30 min after injections with dosages of 5 micrograms/kg and 15 micrograms/kg of IL-1 alpha. 2. The febrile responses induced by the I.V. injection of IL-1 alpha (15 micrograms/kg) were completely abolished, and conversely hypothermia occurred, when the animals were pre-treated with a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (INDO). Pre-treatment with INDO also inhibited the increase in the plasma concentrations of ACTH induced by I.V. injection of IL-1 alpha (15 micrograms/kg), indicating that enhancement of plasma concentrations of ACTH induced by I.V. injection of IL-1 alpha is processed through the action of prostaglandins. 3. Intrapreoptic injection of prostaglandin E2 produced a dose-dependent fever with a rapid onset at doses of 25 and 100 ng. Moreover, the intrapreoptic injection of prostaglandin E2 increased the plasma concentrations of ACTH in a dose-dependent manner 30 min after injections. 4. The intrapreoptic injection of IL-1 alpha (20 ng) caused slow monophasic fever. However, no significant elevation of plasma concentrations of ACTH was observed 30, 90 and 180 min after the intrapreoptic injection of IL-1 alpha, as compared with the ACTH levels at each time in the control group which received an intrapreoptic injection of saline. 5. These results suggest that intrapreoptic prostaglandin E plays an important role in the ACTH response by inducing the release of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF).

[Dose requirement for caudal anesthesia in pediatric patient]

A series of 305 infants and children between 1 day to 14 years of age were operated upon using caudal anesthesia. We used 1% mepivacaine 1.2 ml.kg-1 to obtain a level of anesthesia above T10, 1.0 ml.kg-1 above L1, and 0.8 ml.kg-1 above S. Complete failure occurred in 4.3% of patients. We investigated the blood concentration of mepivacaine in 17 patients, and it ranged from 0.5 microgram.ml-1 to 5.0 micrograms.ml-1. In a two month old infant, weighing 6.7 kg, apnea and bradycardia occurred. This was managed by tracheal intubation and controlled ventilation. But there were no other severe complications. We also investigated the distance between C7 and sacral hiatus (D) in each case. The coefficients of correlation between D and height is 0.97, and high correlation existed also between D and body weight (r = 0.93). This confirms that body weight can be used as a parameter to determine the dose of local anesthetic agent. We conclude that this technique is a safe, reliable and simple way to produce surgical analgesia in infants and children.

[Retrograde coronary sinus perfusion of cardioplegic solution in Jatene operation in neonates and infants]

The clinical benefits of retrograde coronary sinus perfusion of a cardioplegic solution were investigated in 7 neonates and 23 infants undergoing Jatene operation. After an initial infusion of albumin-containing crystalloid cardioplegic solution via the aortic root, 21 patients received additional solution delivered by retrograde coronary sinus perfusion (retrograde group) and 9 patients received by selective antegrade coronary perfusion (antegrade group) every 20 to 30 minutes. There were no differences in age, weight, and left ventricular preoperative pressure and morphology between the two groups. Aortic cross-clamping time was 130 +/- 18 minutes in retrograde group and 147 +/- 20 minutes in antegrade group. Postoperative assays of CPK-MB, GOT and LDH, and hemodynamic measurements immediately after cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were carried out in all patients. Although there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of enzyme indexes, retrograde group showed a greater variation of sigma CPK-MB from patient to patient than antegrade group. However, hemodynamic parameters of CVP, left atrial pressure and rate-pressure product at 20-30 minutes after CPB were similar in the two groups. Six neonates in retrograde group also demonstrated the similar enzyme indexes and hemodynamic state immediately after CPB to other older patients. We concluded, therefore, that retroperfusion of cardioplegic solution in neonates and infants provides satisfactory myocardial protection as well as antegrade perfusion, and it was a useful means of cardioplegic delivery in Jatene operation, because of its simplicity.

[An adolescent case of myelodysplastic syndrome following aplastic anemia]

A male with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) following aplastic anemia is reported. The patient had been diagnosed as aplastic anemia at 8 years of age, and treated with blood transfusions, anabolic and glucocorticoid steroid hormones. Over a period of subsequent twelve years, he had remission and deterioration. At the age of 21, the patient developed a sudden progression of severe anemia, when his bone marrow showed hyperplasia with prominent dyshematopoiesis and excess of blasts, compatible with MDS by the definition of FAB classification. He received low dose Ara-C therapy, which was ineffective. Nine months later he developed acute monocytic leukemia (M5b) and died. Chromosomal analysis revealed 46, XY at the onset of aplastic anemia, 46, XY, del (6) (q21 q27) at the MDS and 46, XY, -7, +21, 6q-/47, XY, +Y, -7, +21, 6q- at the acute leukemic stage.

Characteristics of fever and acute-phase response induced in rabbits by IL-1 and TNF

We investigated the effect of human recombinant interleukin 1 alpha (hrIL-1 alpha) and human recombinant tumor necrosis factor (hrTNF) on body temperature and acute-phase response, including changes in the plasma concentration of iron, zinc, and copper and in circulating leukocyte count. The intravenous injection of a smaller dose of either hrIL-1 alpha (0.5 micrograms/kg) or hrTNF (2 micrograms/kg) produced a monophasic fever, whereas a larger dose (hrIL-1 alpha, 2 micrograms/kg; hrTNF, 10 micrograms/kg) produced a biphasic fever. The intracerebroventricular injection of hrIL-1 alpha or hrTNF produced a dose-dependent fever. The intravenous injection of either hrIL-1 alpha or hrTNF decreased the plasma concentration of iron and zinc and increased the plasma copper concentration and the circulating leukocyte count. The intracerebroventricular injection of hrIL-1 alpha induced those responses, although the intracerebroventricular injection of hrTNF did not. The present results show that two kinds of monokines, hrIL-1 alpha and hrTNF, are intrinsically pyrogenic and induce the acute-phase response. Furthermore, it is suggested that hrIL-1 alpha induces febrile and acute-phase responses through its action on both the peripheral target organs and the central nervous system. However, hrTNF induces those responses only by its action on the peripheral target organs outside the blood-brain barrier.

Leukocytosis induced by microinjection of endogenous pyrogen or interleukin-1 into the preoptic and anterior hypothalamus

We investigated the effect of microinjection of endogenous pyrogen or interleukin-1 (EP/IL-1) into 40 selected brain regions on the circulating leukocyte count in rabbits. The results show that injections into the rostral region of the hypothalamus, especially the preoptic and anterior hypothalamus, induce leukocytosis.

Effect of prostaglandin E2 on thermoresponsive neurones in the preoptic and ventromedial hypothalamic regions of rats

1. We investigated the effect of microinjection of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) into the preoptic (POA) or the ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) region on rectal temperature in rats. Fever was induced by microinjection of PGE2 into the POA or the VMH regions. The febrile responses induced by PGE2 injected into the VMH region were significantly greater than those induced by injection into the POA region. 2. The effect of temperature on neuronal activity in the POA and the VMH regions was investigated by using slice preparations from rats. It was revealed that there exist many thermoresponsive neurones in the VMH region as well as in the POA region, and that the proportion of thermoresponsive neurones out of the total neurones examined in the VMH region was almost identical to that in the POA region. In addition, the warm-responsive neurones in the VMH region exhibited larger thermal coefficients than those in the POA region. 3. When PGE2 was applied in a recording chamber where the tissue slice was perfused, most of the neurones in the VMH region which responded to PGE2 showed a decrease in their firing rate, while those in the POA region showed an increase in their firing rate, regardless of their thermoresponsiveness. In the POA region, PGE2 began to affect the activities of the warm-responsive neurones in the range of 5 x 10(-7) to 7 x 10(-6) M, whereas maximum responses were obtained between the concentrations of 5 x 10(-6) and 5 x 10(-5) M. In the VMH region, PGE2 began to change the activities of the warm-responsive neurones in the range of 5 x 10(-8) to 5 x 10(-7) M, and the maximum effect of PGE2 on the VMH warm-responsive neurones occurred between the concentrations of 8 x 10(-7) and 4 x 10(-5) M. 4. The present results show that neurones exhibit different responsiveness to PGE2 and different sensitivity to PGE2 between the POA and the VMH regions. Nevertheless, microinjection of PGE2 into either the POA or the VMH region produces fever. Therefore, it is suggested that fever is produced by complex neuronal networks in the central nervous system.

Simultaneous determination of vitamin K1, vitamin K1 2,3-epoxide and menaquinone-4 in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

A highly sensitive method for measuring endogenous vitamin K1, menaquinone-4 (which is one of the K2 vitamins) and vitamin K1 2,3-epoxide in human plasma was developed, based on high-performance liquid chromatography with coulometric reduction and fluorimetric detection, following extraction from plasma and purification on a Sep-Pak silica cartridge. The detection limits of vitamin K1, menaquinone-4 and vitamin K1 2,3-epoxide were 5, 5 and 8 pg per injection for the standard substances and 30, 30 and 50 pg/ml in human plasma, respectively.

Changes in hypothalamic temperature modulate the neuronal response of the ventral thalamus to skin warming in rats

1. The influence of hypothalamic temperature on the activity of warm-excited neurones, which responded to skin warming with an increased firing rate, in the ventro-basal (VB) complex of the thalamus of rats was examined electrophysiologically. 2. The warm-excited neurones were classified into three types: hypothalamus-cold neurones in which the firing rate increased with hypothalamic cooling, hypothalamus-warm neurones in which the firing rate increased with hypothalamic warming and hypothalamus-insensitive neurones in which the firing rate was not affected by hypothalamic temperature. The majority of hypothalamus-cold and hypothalamus-warm neurones increased their firing rate at hypothalamic temperature below and above 38 degrees C, respectively. 3. The threshold temperature at which hypothalamus-warm neurones responded to skin warming was lowered by hypothalamic warming. However, hypothalamus-cold neurones responded to lower skin temperatures during hypothalamic cooling. 4. These results show that the neuronal activity of the VB complex in the thalamus, responding to skin warming, is affected by hypothalamic temperature. Thus thermal information from the peripheral thermoreceptors is modulated by hypothalamic temperature at the level of the relay nuclei of the thalamus.

Pattern differences in experimental fevers induced by endotoxin, endogenous pyrogen, and prostaglandins

To distinguish pattern differences in experimentally induced fevers, we investigated febrile responses induced by intravenous (IV), intracerebroventricular (ICV), and intra-preoptic/anterior hypothalamic (POA) administration of bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS), endogenous pyrogen (EP), human recombinant interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1), and prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha (PGE2 and PGF2 alpha). Intravenous LPS, EP, or IL-1 in high concentrations caused biphasic fever. In low concentrations, they induced only the first phase of fever. Latency to onset and time to first peak of fever induced by IV injection of LPS or EP were almost the same as those after ICV or POA injection of PGE2. Fever induced by ICV or POA administration of LPS, EP, IL-1, or PGF2 alpha had a long latency to onset and a prolonged time course. There were significant differences among the latencies to fever onset exhibited by groups that received ICV or POA injections of LPS, EP, or PGF2 alpha and by groups given IV injections of LPS or EP and ICV or POA injections of PGE2. Present observations indicate different patterns of fever produced by several kinds of pyrogens when given by various routes. These results permit us to consider the possibility that there are several mediators or multiprocesses underlying the pathogenesis of fever.

Ventromedial hypothalamus is highly sensitive to prostaglandin E2 for producing fever in rabbits

1. The febrile responses induced by intraventricular or intrapreoptic (bilateral) injections of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were investigated in the same group of rabbits. Both injections produced dose-dependent fever over a range of 100-2000 ng. However the magnitude of febrile responses induced by ventricular injections was significantly greater than those by intrapreoptic injections. This indicates that there exist regions more sensitive to PGE2 than the preoptic region for producing fever. 2. To explore the regions sensitive to PGE2, the effects of microinjection (1 microliter) of PGE2 (50 and 100 ng) on the rectal temperature were extensively examined in the forty regions of the brain stem. The results showed that the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic region, and the ventromedial hypothalamic region are highly sensitive to PGE2 for producing fever. 3. The febrile responses to PGE2 (50-1000 ng) microinjected into the preoptic region were compared with those induced by injection in the ventromedial hypothalamic region. Fever induced by injection in the ventromedial hypothalamic region was significantly greater than that by injection into the preoptic region. 4. Fever induced by PGE2 injected into the ventromedial hypothalamic region was due to increased heat production in the cold environment (10 degrees C), while in 24 degrees C environment heat losses were reduced without significant changes in heat production. 5. The present results show that the ventromedial hypothalamic region is the most sensitive region to PGE2 for producing fever.

Multiple control of fever production in the central nervous system of rabbits

1. The effects of microinjection of prostaglandin D2, E2 and F2 alpha and of endogenous pyrogen on the rectal temperature of rabbits were extensively examined in sixty-eight brain regions and in the third cerebral ventricle. 2. Intracerebroventricular injection of both prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha produced dose-dependent fever over a range of 100-1000 ng. The selective brain regions, the nucleus broca ventralis, preoptic area, anterior hypothalamus and the ventromedial hypothalamus, responded to microinjections of a small dose (less than 200 ng) of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha by producing fever. Furthermore, the lateral hypothalamus, ventral thalamus, substantia nigra and the trigeminal nucleus were also sensitive to high concentrations of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha, fever being produced. It is likely that prostaglandin D2 is not involved in fever induction. 3. The ventricular injection of endogenous pyrogen also produced fever. However, brain regions sensitive to microinjection of endogenous pyrogen were exclusively localized to regions near the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT), such as the nucleus broca ventralis and the preoptic area. In contrast to the monophasic fever induced by prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha, about 30 min after ventricular or cerebral injection of endogenous pyrogen the rectal temperature gradually started to rise and the fever was prolonged over 4 h. 4. We investigated the effect of an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, sodium salicylate, on biphasic fever induced by intravenous injection of bacterial endotoxin. The microinjections of sodium salicylate into the bilateral regions near the OVLT suppressed the second peak but had no effect on the first peak. 5. The present study clarifies that there exist two separate mechanisms of induction of biphasic fever. Correlating with the first peak of biphasic fever, prostaglandins synthesized outside the blood-brain barrier act on multiple sites in the central nervous system to induce fever. Correlating with the second peak, endogenous pyrogen acts on regions near the OVLT to synthesize and release pyrogenic prostaglandins.

Is the central arachidonic acid cascade system involved in the development of acute-phase response in rabbits?

1. In the present study, endogenous pyrogen (EP), prostaglandin E2 or arachidonic acid was injected into the cerebral ventricle to investigate whether central arachidonic acid metabolites are involved in the development of the acute-phase response. The central effects of a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, and of a lipoxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguairetic acid (NDGA), on the acute-phase response induced by an intracerebroventricular injection of EP were also examined. 2. The ventricular injection of EP decreased the plasma concentrations of iron and zinc, while increasing those of copper and fibrinogen and the circulating leucocyte count. However, ventricular injection of prostaglandin E2 affected neither of them, indicating that prostaglandin E2 does not contribute to the acute-phase response production by itself. 3. Both the ventricular injections of indomethacin and NDGA had no effect on the changes in the plasma concentrations of iron, copper and fibrinogen which were induced by ventricular injection of EP. In addition, when arachidonic acid was administered into the cerebral ventricle, the changes in the plasma levels of iron, copper and fibrinogen were not induced. 4. In contrast, EP-induced hypozincaemia was observed upon pre-treatment with NDGA, but not upon pre-treatment with indomethacin. However, plasma zinc increased after the ventricular injection of arachidonic acid. Ventricular injection of EP alone and of EP with NDGA increased the number of circulating leucocytes 8 and 24 h after the ventricular injection, while ventricular injections of arachidonic acid, and of EP with administration of indomethacin induced leucocytosis 8 h after injections. 5. These results suggest that arachidonic acid metabolites do not participate in the genesis of the acute-phase response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Restraint induced stress elicits acute-phase response in rabbits

We investigated whether a restraint induced stress elicits an acute-phase response which includes changes in the plasma trace metals, fibrinogen and the circulating leucocyte count. The present results showed that restraint-stress induces significant increases in the plasma concentrations of copper and fibrinogen and decreases in those of iron and zinc in rabbits, indicating that some of acute-phase response are produced without fever mediated by endogenous pyrogen.

Fever and acute phase response induced in rabbits by human recombinant interferon-gamma

1. Intravenous (I.V.) and intracerebroventricular (I.C.V.) injections of human recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) produced dose-dependent fevers in rabbits. The fever induced by I.V. injection was monophasic and the maximum elevation occurred 80-110 min after injection. The fever induced by I.C.V. injection was observed from about 20 min after injection and was remarkably prolonged over 4 h. 2. The development of pyrogenic tolerance to IFN-gamma was observed when rabbits were given I.V. injections on 3 successive days. Furthermore, the pyrogenicity of IFN-gamma was significantly attenuated by heating at 60 degrees C for 40 min. The I.V. injection of IFN-gamma enhanced the febrile response induced by endotoxin but had no effect on that induced by endogenous pyrogen. 3. The I.V. injection of a large dose of IFN-gamma (6 x 10(6) units/kg) induced an acute phase response, which included a reduction in plasma concentration of iron and zinc. 4. The present results suggest that IFN-gamma released from lymphocytes is one of the endogenous mediator proteins responsible for producing fever and acute phase response.

Fever induced in rabbits by intraventricular injection of rabbit and human serum albumin

1. Intraventricular injection of rabbit and human serum albumin, and rabbit endogenous pyrogen produced dose-dependent fevers in rabbits. The pyrogenicity of albumin was less than one-twentieth of the pyrogenicity of endogenous pyrogen. 2. Fevers induced by ventricular albumin were significantly suppressed by intraventricular injection of indomethacin which is a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. In contrast, subcutaneous injection had no effect. 3. Ventricular endogenous pyrogen induced several of the acute phase responses, i.e. decreases in the plasma concentration of iron and zinc, and increases in both the plasma concentration of copper and the white blood cell count. Albumin induced none of these responses. 4. It is concluded that fever induced by ventricular albumin is processed by prostaglandins synthesized within the central nervous system. However, ventricular albumin does not activate the central mechanism to induce acute phase responses.

Effect of PGE2 on preoptic and anterior hypothalamic neurons using brain slice preparation

In the present study, effects of prostaglandin (PG) E2 on the hypothalamic neurons were investigated using slice preparations of rats. Warm- (57%) and cold-responsive (33.3%) and thermally insensitive (42.3%) neurons were facilitated by PGE applied in a culture chamber. Some neurons (5.1%) showed inhibitory response to PGE2. The remaining neurons did not show any responsiveness to PGE2. Moreover, we also examined the effects of PGE2 on the hypothalamic neurons both in normal Krebs-Ringer solution and synaptic blocking medium (low Ca2+, high Mg2+). Most of the neurons (12/15) retained their responsiveness to PGE2 in the synaptic blocking medium, indicating that PGE2 has a direct action on the hypothalamic neuron. Therefore, it is conceivable that neurons in the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic region that respond to PGE2 might play an important role in the development of fever. However, characteristics of neurons responding to PGE2 were not determined based on their thermoresponsiveness.

Effects of endogenous pyrogen and prostaglandin E2 on hypothalamic neurons in guinea pig brain slices

To investigate the direct effects of endogenous pyrogen (EP) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the activity of neurons in the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic (PO-AH) region, single-unit activity was recorded from brain tissue slices prepared from the PO-AH region of guinea pigs. When EP was applied into the perfusate 18% of warm-responsive neurons decreased their activity, and 23% of warm-responsive neurons increased their activity. Most of the thermally insensitive neurons did not respond to EP. PGE2 inhibited 29% of warm-responsive neurons and facilitated 15% of them. Moreover, when EP and PGE2 were applied to the same neurons at different times, the same directions of changes in neuronal activity were observed in 72% of total neurons examined. These results suggest that EP and PGE2 change the neuronal activity of the thermoresponsive neurons in the PO-AH region involved in fever induction. However, by these results, the direction of neuronal response induced by these substances could not be generally categorized based on the thermoresponsiveness of the individual neuron.

Effects of endogenous pyrogen and prostaglandin E2 on hypothalamic neurons in rat brain slices

We investigated the effects of endogenous pyrogen and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic (POAH) neurons using brain slice preparations from the rat. Partially purified endogenous pyrogen did not change the activities of most of the neurons in the POAH region when applied locally through a micropipette attached to the recording electrode in proximity to the neurons. This indicates that partially purified endogenous pyrogen does not act directly on the neuronal activity in the POAH region. The partially purified endogenous pyrogen, applied into a culture chamber containing a brain slice, facilitated the activities in 24% of the total neurons tested, regardless of the thermal specificity of the neurons. Moreover, PGE2 added to the culture chamber facilitated 48% of the warm-responsive, 33% of the cold-responsive, and 29% of the thermally insensitive neurons. The direction of change in neuronal activity induced by partially purified endogenous pyrogen appears to be almost the same as that induced by PGE2 when these substances were applied by perfusion to the same neuron in the culture chamber. These results suggest that partially purified pyrogen applied to the perfusate of the culture chamber stimulates some constituents of brain tissue to synthesize and release prostaglandin, which in turn affects the neuronal activity of the POAH region.

Suppression of antipyretic response in rabbits by intraventricular protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin

Fevers induced by intravenous injection of endogenous pyrogen (EP) and intraventricular prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were significantly prolonged when protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin was administrated intraventricularly 30 min before or 1 hr after injection of EP or PGE2. The present results show that protein synthesis in the central nervous system is involved in the development of antipyresis.

Evidence for separate mechanisms of induction of biphasic fever inside and outside the blood-brain barrier in rabbits

1. Intravenous bacterial endotoxin, or endogenous pyrogen, in high concentration both caused biphasic fever in rabbits. In low concentration they produced only the first phase of fever. 2. Subcutaneous indomethacin suppressed the first phase of fever produced by high concentration of intravenous endotoxin or endogenous pyrogen, but not the second phase. 3. Intraventricular cerebral injection of indomethacin reduced the second phase of fever produced by high concentration of intravenous endotoxin or endogenous pyrogen, but not the first phase. 4. Intraventricular cerebral injection of endotoxin or of endogenous pyrogen caused slow monophasic fever. This was suppressed by intraventricular, but not by subcutaneous, indomethacin. 5. It is concluded that the first phase of biphasic fever is caused by pyrogen acting via structures outside the blood-brain barrier, presumably peripheral nerves, and the second phase by pyrogen acting via structures within the blood-brain barrier, presumably hypothalamic neurones.

Fever in rats during normal and dehydrated conditions

The effect of endogenous pyrogen (EP, from rabbit) and endotoxin (Salmonella typhosa) on rectal temperature (Tre) was investigated in normal and dehydrated rats of both sexes. Intraperitoneal injection of either EP or endotoxin did not affect body temperature. In addition, no changes in Tre were observed when endotoxin was injected intravenously in normally hydrated male rats, but significant falls in Tre occurred in normal female rats. However, intravenous injection of EP produced fever in both sexes, but females generally showed smaller responses. A second intravenous injection of endotoxin, given 3 days after the first injection, always produced fever in normally hydrated rats. The pattern of this febrile response was monophasic. In contrast to the response in normal rats, intravenous endotoxin produced significant fevers with a biphasic pattern in dehydrated rats of either sex, but the febrile responses of male rats were greater than those of female rats. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between febrile responses to intravenous EP exhibited by normal and dehydrated animals. These results show that rats of both sexes possess physiological mechanisms capable of producing a fever following intravenous injections of EP.

Suppression of non-shivering thermogenesis in the rat by heat-seeking behaviour during cold exposure

Changes in rectal temperature (Tre) during cold exposure (0 +/- 1 degrees C) were observed in three groups of rats: heat-seeking, no-behaviour and semi-restrained groups. Significant increases in Tre were observed in the no-behaviour and the semi-restrained groups during cold exposure. In the heat-seeking behaviour group Tre remained constant during cold exposure. The increased Tre in the semi-restrained group during cold exposure was markedly attenuated by the systemic injection of beta-blocker (propranolol: 10 mg/kg, I.P.), indicating that this increase of Tre was caused by activation of non-shivering thermogenesis (n.s.t.). Furthermore, the rise in Tre in the semi-restrained group was preceded by a greater increase in the temperature of the interscapular brown adipose tissue. Using the autoradiographic [14C]deoxyglucose technique, it was revealed that the enhanced n.s.t. in the no-behaviour and the semi-restrained groups was accompanied by a significant increase of metabolic activity in the anterior part of the ventromedial hypothalamus. We conclude that during cold exposure motionlessness of slightly restrained animals increase n.s.t. when thermoregulatory behaviour to gain heat is not available. This increased n.s.t. is mediated by activation of hypothalamic function.

Activation of brain regions of rats during fever

The central nervous structures involved in febrile responses were investigated in conscious rats by means of the 2-deoxy-D-[14C]glucose autoradiographic technique. An intravenous injection of endogenous pyrogen prepared from rabbit white blood cells induced a significant rise in the rectal temperature of rats accompanied by a decrease in the skin temperature. According to autoradiographs, significant increases in metabolic activity were observed in the lateral preoptic area, posterior part of dorsomedial thalamus, posterior hypothalamus and the red nucleus during an induced fever. Because of the close relationship between metabolic activity and brain function, these regions are considered to compose the neural components directly or indirectly related with the febrile responses.