High efficiency gene transfer into murine T cell clones using a retroviral vector

To establish a gene transfer and expression system for murine T cell clones, we have introduced the neomycin phosphotransferase gene encoding resistance to the neomycin analogue, G418, into non-neoplastic inducer T cell clones by using a replication-defective retroviral vector. This method allowed highly efficient gene transfer (20 to 40%) into two inducer T cell clones. The level of viral RNA expression in G418r T cells was 0.1% of poly(A)+ RNA. The infected G418r cells retained physiologic responsiveness to specific antigen as judged by antigen-specific proliferation and production of IL 3.

High efficiency gene transfer into murine T cell clones using a retroviral vector

To establish a gene transfer and expression system for murine T cell clones, we have introduced the neomycin phosphotransferase gene encoding resistance to the neomycin analogue, G418, into non-neoplastic inducer T cell clones by using a replication-defective retroviral vector. This method allowed highly efficient gene transfer (20 to 40%) into two inducer T cell clones. The level of viral RNA expression in G418r T cells was 0.1% of poly(A)+ RNA. The infected G418r cells retained physiologic responsiveness to specific antigen as judged by antigen-specific proliferation and production of IL 3.

Urinary retention induced by estrogen injections in mice: an analytical model

Daily subcutaneous injections of pharmacological doses of 17 beta-estradiol (E2, 0.4 micrograms./gm. body weight) resulted in significant urinary retention in the bladder of castrated mice. Although the urinary retention developed in both male and female mice, the increase in urethral resistance to urinary flow and the dilatation of posterior urethra were observed only in castrated male mice receiving E2. Histological changes common to male and female mice were cornification and stratification of urethral epithelium and fibrosis of connective tissues surrounding the urethra, suggesting that these changes may cause the urinary retention. Although the exact mechanism has not been defined, the urinary retention produced by the present method may be useful as a model of human disease.

Stimulative effect of physiological doses of androgen or pharmacological doses of estrogen on growth of Shionogi carcinoma 115 in mice

It was generally accepted for 20 yr that the growth of Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115) is stimulated only by androgen. In the present study, the growth-stimulative effect of estrogen alone on SC115 tumors was examined in castrated mice. Daily injections of physiological doses of 17 beta-estradiol did not enhance the tumor growth. However, high doses of 17 beta-estradiol (10-100 micrograms/mouse/day) significantly stimulated the growth of tumors in a dose-dependent manner. Since high doses of diethylstilbestrol (10-50 micrograms/mouse/day), which does not bind to androgen receptor, could markedly stimulate the growth of tumors and since antiandrogen (cyproterone acetate) failed to inhibit the growth stimulation induced by high doses of 17 beta-estradiol, it is concluded that high doses of 17 beta-estradiol, which binds to androgen receptor with relatively low but significant affinity, enhance the tumor growth not via the androgen receptor system. The growth speed, histological type, content, and affinity of androgen, estrogen, and progesterone receptors and pattern of newly synthesized proteins labeled in vitro with [35S]methionine of tumors grown by high doses of estrogen were not significantly different from those of the original SC115 tumors grown in normal males. Furthermore, seed tumors from one to six generations grown by pharmacological doses of estrogen alone could rapidly grow only in normal males and not in castrated males. The present findings demonstrate that the growth of SC115 tumors in vivo is stimulated by physiological doses of androgen or pharmacological doses of estrogen.

Mechanism of estrogen enhancement in the growth of androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma 115

The mechanism of estrogen enhancement in the growth of androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115) maintained in castrated DS mice by low doses of androgen (10 micrograms of testosterone propionate or 4 micrograms of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone/mouse/day) is reported. Although the low androgen treatment slightly but significantly (P less than 0.05) stimulated tumor growth, concomitant estrogen (4 micrograms of 17 beta-estradiol/mouse/day) significantly (P less than 0.01) enhanced the tumor growth. The high growth rate, histological type (medullary carcinoma), androgen dependency, and high androgen receptor content of the tumor grown during estrogen plus low androgen treatment did not differ significantly from those of the original SC115 tumor grown in normal males or in castrated mice treated with high doses of androgen. On the other hand, the treatment with low doses of androgen alone induced the development of slowly growing spindle-shaped cells from the medullary SC115 cells. The spindle-shaped cells containing low levels of androgen receptor were shown to be androgen independent and were also induced from the SC115 cells in nontreated castrated mice. These findings demonstrated that low doses of androgen and estrogen synergize to maintain and increase the growth of SC115 cells, whereas low doses of androgen alone fail to maintain the SC115 cells.

Break of unresponsiveness of delayed-type hypersensitivity to sheep red blood cells by pertussis toxin

Effects of pertussis toxin (PT) on the unresponsiveness of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were examined in mice. DTH cannot be detected in mice injected iv with 1 X 10(9) SRBC. This unresponsive state was broken by 1 microgram of PT given iv to mice 1 or more days, even 21 days, after SRBC-injection and replaced by the development of high and persistent DTH responses with several days' lag after PT treatment. The restored DTH response was accompanied by the appearance of circulating DTH-mediating cells. In the non-PT-treated mice, DTH-mediating cells, which conferred DTH in syngeneic naive recipient mice by systemic transfer, were found in the spleen but not in the blood, whereas in the PT-treated mice, they were found both in the spleen and in the blood. On the other hand, the induction or the function of splenic suppressor T cells (Ts) for DTH in mice injected iv with 10(9) SRBC was inhibited by PT treatment. DTH-Ts, which appeared in the spleen around 4 days after SRBC injection and inhibited the induction of DTH response to SRBC in the syngeneic cyclophosphamide-pretreated recipient mice, failed to be induced in mice given PT 1 day after SRBC injection, and their ability was reduced when they were treated in vitro with PT immediately before transfer. These results demonstrate the possibilities that the reinforced migration of DTH-mediating cells from spleen to blood by PT is involved in the mechanisms by which PT break the unresponsiveness of DTH and that the interference with the induction or the function of DTH-Ts by PT may also be partly involved in the mechanisms.

Gene structures of low-neurovirulent vaccinia virus LC16m0, LC16m8, and their Lister original (LO) strains

Vaccinia viruses LC16m0 and LC16m8 are temperature-sensitive and low-neurovirulent variants derived from the Lister (Elstree) (LO) strain. Analyses of genome DNAs by digestion with restriction endonucleases and cross-hybridization of the digested fragments revealed that LC16m0 and LC16m8 possess a new XhoI site in addition to the 14 XhoI sites of LO. This new site is located at about 12 X 10(6) daltons from the right terminal end. There was no significant difference in the genome structures between the LC16 variants and LO except the new XhoI site and their terminal fragments which were not identified in LO owing to their heterogeneity. With HindIII digested fragments, there was no difference among the three viruses. This complete mapping raised the possibility that the putative gene responsible for temperature sensitivity and neurovirulence is located at the region of the XhoI site found in LC16m0 and LC16m8.

Double aortic arch: axial angiography with concomitant esophagogram: report of a case

A case of functioning double aortic arch in a 6-month-old boy is presented. The value of angled-view angiography with concomitant esophagogram is stressed, because it offers exact anatomical diagnosis and helps in determining the location of surgical division.

Pituitary response of growth hormone release in administration of hpGRF-44 to pregnant rats

To investigate the pituitary response to exogenous growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) during pregnancy, pregnant (from Day 7 to Day 16) and non-pregnant rats were cannulated through a femoral vein, then hpGRF-44 (1.0 microgram) or saline was administered intravenously under anaesthesia with pentobarbital sodium. An initial blood sample was drawn off before the administration and subsequent samples were taken at 5, 10, 15 and 20 min post injection for measurement of plasma growth hormone (GH) values by radioimmunoassay. In a group of pregnant rats (n = 9), a mean concentration of plasma GH was increased to a peak in 10 min, from 132.5 +/- 14.9 ng/ml (mean +/- S.E.) to 864.4 +/- 175.1 ng/ml after hpGRF-44 administration. The mean value for non-pregnant rats (n = 6) reached a peak in 5 min from 164.5 +/- 34.1 ng/ml to 921.2 +/- 257.2 ng/ml. The injection of saline produced no changes in plasma GH concentrations in pregnant (n = 4) or non-pregnant (n = 3) rats. Moreover no significant difference in plasma GH responses to hpGRF-44 was found between early (from Day 7 to Day 8, n = 5) and late (from Day 15 to Day 16, n = 4) pregnant rats. The data indicate that the plasma GH levels following the administration of hpGRF-44 were not different between pregnant and non-pregnant rats, though the pregnant pituitary responses to hpGRF-44 were delayed a little longer than those of the non-pregnant pituitary.

Growth-stimulative effect of estrogen on androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma 115

The stimulative effect of 17 beta-estradiol on the growth of androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma 115 and estrogen receptor in the tumor were studied. The incorporation of 17 beta-[3H]estradiol following a single injection of 17 beta-[3H]estradiol into tumor-bearing animals was 5- to 20-fold higher in the tumor than in the spleen and blood. Scatchard plot analyses showed that the tumor cytosol possessed a 17 beta-estradiol-binding site having a high affinity for 17 beta-estradiol [Kd 1.1 +/- 0.1 nM (S.E.)]. Competition experiments demonstrated that the 17 beta-estradiol binding was specific only for estrogenic compounds. Using sedimentation coefficient obtained by high-salt sucrose gradient (4.0S) and Stokes radius obtained by gel chromatography on Sephadex G-200 (46 A), the molecular weight of 17 beta-estradiol-binding component in the tumor cytosol was estimated to be 76,400. In castrated DS mice, a slight but significant increase in growth of s.c. grafted tumors was found by daily s.c. injections of either 17 beta-estradiol or 10 micrograms per mouse of testosterone propionate. Growth of the tumor maintained by 10 micrograms of testosterone propionate was augmented markedly by the addition of 4 micrograms of 17 beta-estradiol, and the growth approached the level induced by 100 micrograms of testosterone propionate. Simultaneous injections of bromocryptine inhibited an increase in 17 beta-estradiol-induced prolactin secretion but had no effect on the 17 beta-estradiol-enhanced tumor growth. These results demonstrate for the first time the stimulative effect of estrogen on the growth of androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma 115. The tumor contains typical estrogen receptor, which might be able to transmit estrogen signal to tumor cell nuclei with regard to tumor growth.

[Rapid measurement of estriol & estradiol by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)]

Measurement of Estriol (E3) and Estradiol (E2) within 25 minutes by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was achieved in this study and the values were compared with those of radioimmunoassay (RIA). A totally computerized HPLC method was developed for measuring unconjugated E3 and E2 in the sera of pregnant women. The sera samples were injected directly into the apparatus and transferred to a pretreatment column where estrogens were absorbed while hydrophilic components such as proteins and carbohydrates were excluded. The estrogens then passed through another separation column containing a new type of polymer gel. The mobile phase consisted of an acetonitrile/water mixture, and separation was achieved by means of a reversed phase mechanism. The eluent was monitored for fluorescence. All these procedures were monitored and controlled with a built-in microcomputer. The sera samples from 61 normal pregnant women at 20 to 41 weeks of pregnancy were simultaneously assayed by HPLC and RIA. The correlation of values obtained from HPLC and RIA was; E3: Y = 0.875X-0.172, the coefficient of correlation was 0.899, E2: Y = 0.972X + 6.791, the coefficient of correlation was 0.841 (Y = RIA values, X = HPLC values). The quick measurements of E3 and E2 by HPLC can be a useful method in evaluating the feto-placental function.

Effects of pertussis toxin (PT) on T-cell populations sensitized for delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice

Effects of pertussis toxin (PT) on sensitized T-cell populations for delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) were examined in mice. DTH was induced by sensitizing mice with ovalbumin (OA) and elicited by injecting OA into the footpad. DTH could be conferred on naive recipient mice by injecting sensitized spleen cells either intravenously into mice or locally into the footpad. When the sensitized mice were given PT at the time of DTH-elicitation, they did not express a high DTH reaction, with the maximum reaction 24 hr after elicitation. When the recipient mice were given PT just before intravenous injection of sensitized spleen cells, DTH was not conferred. In addition, when the sensitized spleen cells were treated with PT in vitro and then transferred intravenously, DTH was not conferred in recipient mice. However, DTH was conferred by local transfer of the sensitized spleen cells even after treatment with PT in vitro. Migration experiments using 51Cr-labeled, sensitized splenic T cells demonstrated that PT treatment of the T-cell population inhibited its accumulation in the DTH reaction site 24 hr after intravenous transfer. On the other hand, experiments on in vitro lymphokine production by the sensitized splenic T cells demonstrated that the PT treatment did not inhibit antigen-dependent production of a macrophage activating factor (MAF). These results suggest that PT suppresses the migration of the sensitized T-cell population from the circulation of the DTH reaction site but not their MAF production. Based on these findings, possible mechanisms by which PT affects DTH are discussed.

Effects of pertussis toxin on delayed-type hypersensitivity responses and on the activity of suppressor T cells on the responses

Experiments were performed on mice to investigate the effects of pertussis toxin (PT) on delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to ovalbumin (OA) and on the activity of suppressor T cells on the DTH (DTH-Ts). Mice immunized with alum-precipitated ovalbumin showed a transient DTH, which was determined as footpad swelling which disappeared 2 weeks after immunization. Maximal footpad swelling was observed 24 hr after DTH elicitation. On the other hand, when mice received PT (2 micrograms/mouse) at the time of immunization, the transient DTH became an enhanced and persistent DTH, which persisted for at least 4 weeks. In addition, the time of maximum footpad swelling was delayed from 24 to 48 hr after DTH elicitation. The immune spleen T cells from PT-treated mice showed a persistently high ability to transfer DTH into syngenic naive mice. DTH-Ts was induced in spleens of mice injected iv with OA-coupled syngeneic spleen cells. However, when these mice received PT at the time of suppressor induction, their spleen cells revealed considerably reduced suppressor activity. The activity of DTH-Ts was also reduced when DTH-Ts were either treated in vitro with PT or transferred into PT-injected recipient mice. From these results, interference with the suppressor function of DTH-Ts from PT was considered to be, at least in part, as an enhancing mechanism of DTH.

Effect of adjuvant endocrine and adjuvant chemoendocrine therapies on metastasis of androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma 115

Shionogi carcinoma 115 is an androgen-dependent tumor, defined by its failure to grow in either female or castrated male DS mice, and by its ability to grow in intact male DS mice as well as in female or castrated male DS mice given androgen. Since spontaneous lung metastasis was found in about 50% of intact male DS mice on the 40th day after s.c. transplantation of the tumor, we investigated the effect of various therapies on development of metastasis. Therapies were started on the 25th day after transplantation. Castration alone did not reduce the frequency of metastasis, and tumor excision alone reduced the frequency slightly. However, castration following the tumor excision showed an excellent effect. Chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, 80 mg/kg body weight, three times) with or without tumor excision also showed a beneficial effect, and the combination of the tumor excision, castration, and chemotherapy was the most effective among various therapies examined. These results indicate that the Shionogi carcinoma 115 tumor is a useful model for therapy against metastasis of human hormone-dependent cancers.

Effect of Bordetella pertussis leukocytosis (lymphocytosis)-promoting factor (LPF) on the physical lymphoepithelial-cell association studied with the use of an in vitro model of mouse thymus

The effect of highly purified leukocytosis (lymphocytosis)-promoting factor (LPF) of Bordetella pertussis on physical lymphocyte and reticuloepithelial (RE) cell association was studied in an in vitro thymus model. First, a simplified in vitro system to assess the lympho-RE-cell association was developed. A completely confluent layer of thymic RE cells was formed by cultivating trypsinized thymus cell suspensions from 2- to 7-day-old mice. When thymic lymphoid cells were seeded on this cell layer and cultivated overnight, a significant proportion of them were found underneath the RE cell layer. This physical lympho-RE-cell association was quantitated by counting the lymphoid cells underneath the RE cell layers. Second, the effect of LPF on this physical lympho-RE-cell association phenomenon was investigated. Addition of LPF to the culture markedly inhibited the formation of the lympho-RE-cell complex; that is, it inhibited the infiltration of lymphoid cells under the RE cell layer. LPF rendered a nearly maximal level of inhibitory effect at a dose of 0.1 ng/ml. Furthermore, LPF enhanced the liberation of lymphoid cells from preformed lympho-RE-cell complexes. On the other hand, LPF had no direct cytotoxic effect on lymphoid cells at doses below 1 microgram/ml. In order to investigate whether LPF produced the effect by acting on lymphoid cells, RE cells, or both, the following experiments were performed. When lymphoid cells were pretreated with LPF and added to normal RE cell layers, the lympho-RE-cell association was maximally inhibited above the dose of 1 ng/ml. Treatment of these LPF-treated lymphoid cells with anti-LPF antibodies failed to abrogate the effect of LPF. When RE cell layers were similarly pretreated with LPF and were cultivated with normal lymphoid cells, however, much higher doses of LPF, above 100 ng/ml, were required for maximal inhibition. Furthermore, treatment of these LPF-treated RE cells with anti-LPF antibodies abrogated the effect of LPF. Therefore, the apparent effect of LPF on RE cells was considered to be due to the carry-over by RE cells of LPF, which should directly act on lymphoid cells at extremely low doses. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that LPF acted directly on lymphoid cells without mediation of RE cells. These in vitro results appear to parallel the effects of LPF in vivo, where it induces a depletion of cells in the thymus. The model may be useful to study this phenomenon and the concomitant accumulation of blood lymphocytes.

Effect of Bordetella pertussis leukocytosis (lymphocytosis)-promoting factor (LPF) on the physical lymphoepithelial-cell association studied with the use of an in vitro model of mouse thymus

The effect of highly purified leukocytosis (lymphocytosis)-promoting factor (LPF) of Bordetella pertussis on physical lymphocyte and reticuloepithelial (RE) cell association was studied in an in vitro thymus model. First, a simplified in vitro system to assess the lympho-RE-cell association was developed. A completely confluent layer of thymic RE cells was formed by cultivating trypsinized thymus cell suspensions from 2- to 7-day-old mice. When thymic lymphoid cells were seeded on this cell layer and cultivated overnight, a significant proportion of them were found underneath the RE cell layer. This physical lympho-RE-cell association was quantitated by counting the lymphoid cells underneath the RE cell layers. Second, the effect of LPF on this physical lympho-RE-cell association phenomenon was investigated. Addition of LPF to the culture markedly inhibited the formation of the lympho-RE-cell complex; that is, it inhibited the infiltration of lymphoid cells under the RE cell layer. LPF rendered a nearly maximal level of inhibitory effect at a dose of 0.1 ng/ml. Furthermore, LPF enhanced the liberation of lymphoid cells from preformed lympho-RE-cell complexes. On the other hand, LPF had no direct cytotoxic effect on lymphoid cells at doses below 1 microgram/ml. In order to investigate whether LPF produced the effect by acting on lymphoid cells, RE cells, or both, the following experiments were performed. When lymphoid cells were pretreated with LPF and added to normal RE cell layers, the lympho-RE-cell association was maximally inhibited above the dose of 1 ng/ml. Treatment of these LPF-treated lymphoid cells with anti-LPF antibodies failed to abrogate the effect of LPF. When RE cell layers were similarly pretreated with LPF and were cultivated with normal lymphoid cells, however, much higher doses of LPF, above 100 ng/ml, were required for maximal inhibition. Furthermore, treatment of these LPF-treated RE cells with anti-LPF antibodies abrogated the effect of LPF. Therefore, the apparent effect of LPF on RE cells was considered to be due to the carry-over by RE cells of LPF, which should directly act on lymphoid cells at extremely low doses. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that LPF acted directly on lymphoid cells without mediation of RE cells. These in vitro results appear to parallel the effects of LPF in vivo, where it induces a depletion of cells in the thymus. The model may be useful to study this phenomenon and the concomitant accumulation of blood lymphocytes.

Properties of cloned T cells that mediate delayed-type hypersensitivity against ovalbumin in mice

Cloned T-cell lines that mediate delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) against soluble protein antigen, ovalbumin (OA), were established in (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 mice and their properties were examined. They induced antigen-specific delayed-type footpad reactions, characterized histologically by a predominant mononuclear cell infiltration, when transferred intravenously into syngeneic mice. Morphologically, they were medium or large lymphoblasts with granules in the cytoplasm and expressed Lyt 1 cell surface antigens. One of them proliferated antigen specifically under the presence of both C57BL/6 and F1 accessory cells, while others proliferated antigen specifically only under the presence of F1 accessory cells. They also produced macrophage-activating factor (MAF) and substances which mediate a DTH-like footpad inflammatory reaction with a maximum 6 hr after injection into the footpad of normal mice, when incubated in the presence of specific antigen and specific accessory cells in a serum-free medium for 24 hr. These results demonstrate that cloned DTH-effector T cells, established here against soluble protein antigen, are Lyt 1-positive, large lymphoblasts and that they produce MAF and footpad-reactive inflammatory substances antigen specifically under the presence of specific accessory cells.

Analyses of optical time-domain reflectometry for single-mode fibers and of polarization optical time-domain reflectometry for polarization-maintaining fibers

Optical time-domain reflectometry for single-mode optical fibers has been theoretically discussed in terms of the Lorentz reciprocity principle and of a correlation function of the refractive-index fluctuation. Through an application of analysis to polarization-maintaining fibers, the properties of the polarization optical time-domain reflectometry have been made clear.

[Development of a fetoscope and its clinical application]

One of the major goals in modern obstetrics is to provide more detailed informations of prenatal fetal physiology. Since 1972, more than 200 amniocentesis were performed in our hospital and the importance of prenatal genetic diagnosis has been recognized. But amniocentesis has the limitations which are 1) the lack of expression of many single gene hereditary disorders in amniotic fluid and its cells, 2) the large percentage (90%) of nonviable fetal cells in any given sample, 3) the length of time required to culture fetal cells. Accordingly the necessity of development of other methods to obtain further direct data on the fetus from the uterine cavity has been indicated. Among gynecological endoscopies, fetoscopy which is direct visualization of the fetus by introduction of an endoscope into the amniotic cavity is expected to obtain direct information from the uterine environment in pregnant women. By our newly developed fetoscope, we investigated clinical indications and contraindications of fetoscopy as well as future possibilities of this endoscope. Our present study indicates that further developments and future benefits of fetoscopy entirely depend on the progress of laboratory techniques which can provide more accurate data through specimens obtained fetoscopy.

Adjuvant chemo-endocrine therapy for androgen-dependent mammary tumor in mice

About 500 male DS mice grafted with androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115) were used. When the tumor diameter reached about 20 mm (approximately 25 days after transplantation), excision of the tumor and/or castration were carried out. The injection of cyclophosphamide (80 mg/kg body weight X 3 at 7-day intervals) was started from the day after excision. In mice with excised tumor, adjuvant chemo-endocrine therapy was the most effective treatment examined; cumulative 120-day mortalities after transplantation of tumors in non-treated, adjuvant endocrine therapy, adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant chemo-endocrine therapy groups were 91%, 29%, 21% and 0%, respectively. Castration induced development of clusters of androgen-independent cancer cells in androgen-dependent SC115 tumor. In mice without tumor excision, the chemo-endocrine therapy was again the most effective treatment, though 86% of mice died by the 120th day after tumor transplantation. These findings suggest the usefulness of adjuvant chemo-endocrine therapy for achieving complete remission in hormone-dependent tumors.

Immunocytochemical localization of procollagen and fibronectin in human fibroblasts: effects of the monovalent ionophore, monensin

The monovalent ionophore monensin inhibits the secretion of both procollagen and fibronectin from human fibroblasts in culture. The distribution of these proteins in control and inhibited (5 x 10(-7) M monensin) cells has been studied by immunofluorescence microscopy. In control cells, both antigens are present throughout the cytoplasm and in specific deposits in a region adjacent to the nucleus, which we identify as a Golgi zone by electron microscopy. Treatment of cells with monensin causes intracellular accumulation of procollagen and fibronectin, initially in the juxta-nuclear region and also subsequently in peripheral regions. Electron microscope studies reveal that in such cells the juxta-nuclear Golgi zone becomes filled with a new population of smooth-membraned vacuoles and that normal Golgi complexes are not found. Immunocytochemically detected procollagen and fibronectin are localized in the region of these vacuoles, whereas more peripheral deposits correspond to the dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum, which are also caused by monensin. Procollagen and fibronectin are often codistributed in these peripheral deposits. Accumulation of exportable proteins in Golgi-related vacuoles is consistent with previous analyses of the monensin effect. The subsequent development of dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum also containing accumulated proteins may indicate that there is an additional blockade at the exit from the endoplasmic reticulum, or that the synthesized proteins exceed the capacity of the Golgi compartment and that their accumulation extends into the endoplasmic reticulum.

Effect of serial passage in female nude athymic mice on androgen dependency of Shionogi carcinoma 115

When Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115, an undifferentiated medullary carcinoma showing a compact cell pattern and containing androgen receptor) was transplanted into male and female DS mice, it grew only in males. In contrast with this strict androgen dependency in DS hosts, SC115 tumors grew in male and female nude athymic (BALB/c-nu/nu) mice. Although most of the tumors developing in female nude mice were composed of spindle-shaped cells and did not contain androgen receptor, about 5% of tumors in female nude mice retained morphological and biochemical characteristics of the original SC115 tumor. Such a tumor was serially transplanted in female nude mice. Although no significant changes were detectable in histological and chromosomal features and in androgen receptor values, the growth speed in female nude mice accelerated and became comparable to the growth speed of the original SC115 tumor in intact male DS mice. However, this subline of SC115 tumor showed a marked androgen dependency when reinoculated into male and female DS mice after 14 passages in female mice nude mice in spite of its relative androgen independency in nude hosts. Therefore, the present results seem to suggest that the immunological status of the hosts may affect the hormone dependency of tumors.

Kinetic studies of the intracellular transport of procollagen and fibronectin in human fibroblasts. Effects of the monovalent ionophore, monensin

The monovalent ionophore, monensin, has been found to inhibit the secretion of both procollagen and fibronectin from human fibroblasts in cell culture. The kinetics of inhibition, as well as those for the release of inhibition, suggested that both proteins may be cotransported in the cell. In the present study, we have examined the intracellular translocation and release into the culture medium of procollagen and fibronectin, in the presence or absence of monensin. Pulse-chase studies were combined with subcellular fractionation of the fibroblasts to determine the rates of intracellular movement. We found that monensin did not significantly affect either the subcellular fractionation, or the distribution of organelle marker enzymes along the gradient, and that procollagen moved from a region of high buoyant density (primarily endoplasmic reticulum), through a mid-density region (primarily Golgi elements), to a region of low buoyant density before exiting from the cell. Monensin markedly decreased the rate of transit from one region to the other; kinetic analysis of the data showed a greater than 3-fold decrease in the rate constants for intracellular movement into the low buoyant density components and thence to the culture medium. The density gradient distribution of fibronectin was affected by monensin in similar fashion, indicating that it and procollagen probably follow the same intracellular route. Since monensin causes both proteins to accumulate in highest abundance in regions of the density gradient corresponding to Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum, the site of ionophore blockade appears to be within the Golgi apparatus. Thus, procollagen and fibronectin share a common intracellular route prior to entering the Golgi region of the cell.

Enhancement of cooling and rewarming by a jet water system in surface-induced deep hypothermia

To shorten the time of cooling and rewarming in surface-induced deep hypothermia, we devised a jet water system for hypothermia which was constructed within the water bath of the operating-table. In the clinical applications for open heart surgery under surface-induced deep hypothermia, we found that the time required for cooling and rewarming, particularly the later, was significantly reduced without any adverse effects.

Optimization of multimode graded-index fiber parameters: design considerations

The structural design of multimode graded-index fibers is described. Minimum optical loss and wide bandwidth of a repeater section are looked upon as design goals. The outer diameter is chosen as small as possible from an economic point of view while maintaining high quality in the transmission characteristics. The most suitably designed values for operation with a laser source in the wavelength region around 0.85 microm are o.d., 125 microm, core diam, 50 microm, and refractive-index difference, 0.015.

Effect of androgen depletion on postoperative regrowth of androgen-dependent and -independent Shionogi carcinomas in mice

About 350 castrated male DS mice given testosterone propionate (TP, 100 micrograms/mouse/day) were grafted with androgen-dependent SC115 tumor or androgen-independent tumors (NHD with positive receptor; NHF with negative receptor). After 20 or 15 days, most of the developed tumors were excised and the mice were divided into 3 groups. TP injection was continued in one group and TP was stopped immediately or 20 days after the excision in the other groups. The cumulative 120-day mortality after transplantation of SC115 tumor into mice was significantly lower in the immediate androgen removal group (10%, 6/59) than in the androgen-injected group (59%, 51/87) or the delayed androgen removal group (42%, 19/45). The cumulative mortalities in mice with androgen-independent NHD and NHF tumors in the immediate androgen removal groups (97 and 91%, respectively) were similar to those in the androgen-injected groups (90 and 95%, respectively). All non-operated and TP-injected mice grafted with SC115 and androgen-independent tumor died due to the tumors within 50 and within 30 days after the transplantation, respectively. These findings suggest the usefulness of adjuvant endocrine therapy for preventing the recurrence of hormone-dependent tumors.

Undersulfated proteoglycans are secreted by cultured chondrocytes in the presence of the ionophore monensin

The monovalent ionophore, monensin, inhibits secretion of many different proteins from a wide variety of cells. The site of blockage is at the golgi complex. We have exposed chick embryo chondrocytes in suspension culture to monensin, at concentrations ranging from 10(-8) to 10(-6) M. At the higher concentrations, between 10(-7) and 10(-6) M, monensin inhibited secretion of type II procollagen, which accumulated in the chondrocytes. At these concentrations of the ionophore, proteoglycan synthesis was inhibited, as measured by radioactive serine incorporation into core proteins and by radioactive glucosamine or SO4 incorporation into glycosaminoglycans. However, at a monensin concentration of 3 x 10(-8) M, the incorporations of serine and glucosamine were close to normal while SO4 incorporation was at 30% of control values. The ratio of glucosamine to serine in pronase-released glycosaminoglycans from culture media was unaffected by 3 x 10(-8) M monensin but the sulfate to serine ratio decreased to 29% of control values. Examination of the glycosaminoglycans by gel filtration showed a progressive increase in Kav values as sulfation decreased. Undersulfation was demonstrated by radiochromatographic analysis of the digestion products following incubation with chondroitinase ABC. The composite results show that monensin interferes with sulfation of newly synthesized proteoglycans.

Spatial technique for measuring modal delay differences in a dual-mode optical fiber

A simple spatial method using a coherent light source and an interferometer is proposed for measuring the group delay time difference between the LP(01) and LP(11) modes in a dual-mode optical fiber. Experimental results obtained by this method are in good agreement with those obtained by the swept-frequency and pulse methods. Moreover, a group delay time difference of 4 psec is measured. Results suggest that this spatial. method can be applied to a short fiber less than 1 m in length and/or small time differences around 1 psec by using a laser diode with a short coherence length.

Frequency characteristics of graded-index fibers

Frequency response of graded-index multimode fibers, whose index profile parameter alpha deviates from the optimum value, is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The frequency response of the fiber with optimum alpha diverges periodically. However, that of the fiber with nonoptimum a does not exhibit periodic divergence but has periodic curvature changing points whose period is inversely proportional to the amount of alpha deviation. The period is about a fifth of the divergence period of the fiber with optimum alpha when the alpha deviation is 0.1. The optimum a difference between lambda = 0.82 and 1.27, microm is found to be 0.07 for GeO(2)-P(2)O(5)-doped silica fibers by measurement of frequency responses at these wavelengths.

Intra- and postoperative autotransfusion in open heart surgery under simple hypothermia in children

A new autotransfusion unit was developed by the authors and the favorable results of 21 operations of open heart surgery under simple hypothermia were described. The patients were all children with simple congenital heart diseases. The amounts of autotransfused blood ranged from 2.8 to 15.5 ml/kg. Intraoperative autotransfusion proved to be an effective means of minimizing blood loss during surgery (range 3.2 to 12.8 ml/kg) and performing open heart surgery without donor blood transfusion. Postoperative autotransfusion (range 0 to 14.3 ml/kg) served as a supplementary means of avoiding homologous blood transfusion. Among the 21 autotransfused patients, there were no complications, while two patients developed hepatitis out of 19 patients who received homologous blood in the control group.