Ovariectomy-evoked increase in gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor parallels its messenger RNA level, but does not correlate with stimulated gonadotropin release

The amount of gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor (GnRH-R) in the anterior pituitary changes during the rat estrous cycle; in addition, it is chronically increased for several weeks in response to ovariectomy. The present study was undertaken to investigate these changes in relation to the concentrations of GnRH-R mRNA, gonadotropins and luteinizing hormone-beta (LH-beta) subunit in serum and the pituitary gland, as well as hypothalamic GnRH. GnRH-R concentrations on the day of estrus were significantly lower than that at diestrus (30% lower during 2 d), its mRNA decreased even further (by 60%), but there were no significant changes in gonadotropin. Ovariectomy increased GnRH-R significantly (by 30% during 2 wk) in parallel with receptor mRNA and with pituitary LH and LH-beta, but induced an earlier increase in serum gonadotropins. Our results suggest that transcriptional activity is more intimately linked to the number of GnRH-R in the long-term increase after ovariectomy than in the short-term change during the estrous cycle, and that the increased GnRH-R is not a major factor in ovariectomy-stimulated gonadotropin release.

Keratinocyte growth factor and its receptor in the rhesus macaque placenta during the course of gestation

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is synthesized and secreted exclusively by mesenchymal cells, and acts through its receptor (KGFR) to stimulate epithelial proliferation. In vivo, KGF and KGFR comprise a mesenchymal-epithelial cell paracrine system that can mediate epithelial cell mitosis. In preliminary work, we noted that KGF was expressed in the rhesus monkey placenta, and we now report on the expression of placental KGF and KGFR mRNAs during the course of gestation in this species. In-situ hybridization revealed that during early gestation, KGF mRNA was strongly expressed in placental mesenchymal cells. These cells, which were also immunoreactive for vimentin, were mainly located on the periphery of the mesenchymal cores of both anchoring and floating villi. KGFR mRNA was expressed in the adjacent trophoblastic epithelium, which was immunoreactive for cytokeratin. In-situ hybridization revealed that KGF mRNA expression was very high in the youngest placentae (34-days gestation) and decreased gradually to minimal levels by late gestation (157 days). Northern blot analysis indicated also that the KGF MRNA signal was strongest in early gestation samples and weakest by late gestation. Analysis for KGFR mRNA by a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique showed that KGFR mRNA expression could be detected at all stages. However, in-situ hybridization indicated that KGFR mRNA expression was highest in early gestation placentae and least in the oldest placentae. Autoradiographs of frozen sections of placenta that had been incubated with [125I]KGF to detect receptor binding showed that grain density over the trophoblast was highest in the youngest and least in the oldest placentae. PCNA and Ki-67 expression followed this same temporal trend. We conclude that the KGF/KGFR system may be important in proliferation of the placental trophoblast during early- to mid-pregnancy in rhesus monkeys.

FR901483, a novel immunosuppressant isolated from Cladobotryum sp. No. 11231. Taxonomy of the producing organism, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activities

FR901483, a novel immunosuppressant, has been isolated from the fermentation broth of Cladobotryum sp. No. 11231. The molecular formula of FR901483 has been determined as C20H31N2O6P. FR901483 exerts a potent immunosuppressive activity in vitro and significantly prolongs graft survival time in the rat skin allograft model. This compound has an intriguing tricyclic structure possessing a phosphate ester in its molecule. The ester residue may play an important role in exerting immunosuppressive activity because the desphosphoryl compound is devoid of activity. It is thought that the primary target of immunosuppression by this compound is inhibition of purine nucleotide biosynthesis.

Molecular cloning and characterization of cDNA for insect biogenic peptide, growth-blocking peptide

Growth-blocking peptide (GBP) is an insect biogenic peptide that prevents the onset of metamorphosis from larva to pupa. A cDNA coding for GBP is described. Mixed oligonucleotides derived from a GBP peptide sequence were used to generate amplified DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Based on the sequence of the amplified DNA, a 41 bases oligonucleotide was designed for screening a cDNA library which was constructed from the armyworm Pseudaletia separata larvae parasitized with the parasitic wasp Cotesia kariyai. The cloned cDNA for GBP was 809 base pairs in length. An open reading frame of 429 base pairs encodes a pre-pro-peptide of 143 amino acid residues in which GBP is localized at the C-terminal region, and other three peptides including a putative signal peptide and appropriate processing sites for endoproteolytic cleavage precede the GBP sequence. Northern blot analyses demonstrate the presence of a 800-base mRNA transcript in fat body and 2.5-kilobase transcript in brain and nerve cord, suggesting the possibility that the transcription of GBP gene is regulated in a tissue-dependent manner. This interpretation was supported by isolating a GBP cDNA fragment from cDNA pool of brain-nerve cords. GBP mRNA is constantly expressed in both parasitized and non-parasitized last instar larvae and there is no difference in the levels of the mRNA between both larvae, thus indicating that parasitism may effect on translational or posttranslational level to elevate plasma GBP concentration.

Evaluation of the Mycobacterium leprae particle agglutination (MLPA) test as a tool in the epidemiology of leprosy in high prevalence village in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

This study reports on the usefulness of an IgM phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-1) Mycobacterium leprae particle agglutination (MLPA) test for serodiagnosis of leprosy in a prospective longitudinal community survey in a high prevalence village in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, IgM PGL-1 MLPA has simple and limited value as a screening method for detection of transmission of leprosy in the community. Many normal persons in the community in a high prevalence area had increased IgM anti PGL-1 antibodies, presumably as a consequence of early subclinical infection. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the MLPA test can only reliably detect anti-PGL-1 antibodies in the community and may be useful for follow-up study of subclinical infection of leprosy among individuals living the an endemic area.

[Uveitis in leprosy patients]

We examined 24 dermatologically cured leprosy patients with ongoing uveitis (UV+) and 22 age and type matched controls (UV-) to study the late phase leprous UV. All patients have been skin smear negative for more than 10 years. The history of chemotherapy, 5 years before and after a accomplishing bacterial negativity, was evaluated and represented by "SCORE". It was found that anti-PGL-I and anti-LAM-B antibodies were significantly higher in UV+ group compared to the controls. The mean SCORE of chemotherapy in UV+ group was significantly lower than in the controls. Iris pearls were seen in 10 cases or 42% out of 24 UV+ patients. No iris pearls were seen in control group. These results suggest that insufficient chemotherapy and consequent incomplete elimination of bacilli are the risk factors for leprous UV in the quiescent stage of the disease.

Graded exercise in three cases of heart rupture after acute myocardial infarction

Despite advances in the study of exercise for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients, few studies on exercise for post-AMI heart rupture patients have been reported. We assessed three cases of heart rupture (of the left ventricular free wall in two cases and of the ventricular septum in one case) in post-AMI patients who underwent three-graded exercise. Two of the three patients were operated on, whereas one patient was managed conservatively for heart rupture. Two of the three cases had also suffered cerebral infarction post-AMI. The exercise program was composed of three grades, slow level walking (grade 1), mild reconditioning and activities of daily living (ADL) exercises (grade 2), and optional endurance training using machines below 75% of predicted maximal heart rate (grade 3). Electrocardiograms and blood pressure were monitored during all exercises. All patients had muscle weakness, poor endurance capacity, as well as low cardiac function (28-47% of left ventricular ejection fraction). Two patients underwent grades 1 and 2 exercise programs, and the other performed grades 1, 2, and 3 exercise programs over a 3- to 10-wk period. We observed improvement in the double product, work capacity, and ADL without congestive heart failure, ischemic attack, or serious arrhythmias. However, the youngest patient, who underwent the grade 3 exercise program, died from a cardiac event 10 mo after onset of AMI. We conclude that post-AMI heart rupture patients should undergo delayed, gradual, low-level graded exercise (4-6 metabolic equivalents), with monitoring of blood pressure and electrocardiograms to improve work capacity, ADL, and the quality of life. However, daily activity and exercise intensity should be promptly supervised for those with severely deteriorated cardiac functions to prevent sudden cardiac event.

The fat body cell-free system for tissue-specific transcription of plasma protein gene of Bombyx mori

A nuclear extract was prepared for the larval fat body of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, and a homologous in vitro system was developed for the transcription of major plasma protein gene of B.mori. The gene for SP1, a storage protein of B.mori, and adenovirus 2 major late (AdML) gene were faithfully transcribed under relatively high template concentrations in the nuclear extract prepared from the fat body of female fifth instar larvae. Complete inhibition of gene transcription by a low concentration of alpha-amanitin indicated that the reaction is catalyzed by RNA polymerase II. At low template concentration (0.6 nM) the fat body nuclear extract transcribed the homologous SP1 gene with high efficiency, while AdML gene and larval cuticle protein gene were only barely transcribed in the same extract. The SP1 gene deleted upstream of the TATA box sequence showed little effect on transcription, whereas mutations that destroy TATA sequence totally abolished the gene transcription. These results suggested that the core promoter region of SP1 gene spanning between positions -44 and +16 is essential for the fat body specific transcription in vitro.

Cardiac resonant oscillations in terms of finite-dimensional group representation in atrial parasystole

In order to understand the variation of the atrial parasystolic cycle lengths and mutual interactions of sinus node and atrial parasystolic pacemakers, a representation theory for finite groups of invertible linear transformation on a vector space is considered. A quantitative description of manifest atrial parasystolic cycles can be provided by the mapping in the group multiplication with the use of numerical factors of 2, 4 square root of 2 pi, 2/ 4 square root of 2 pi and 2 4 square root of 2 pi. These represent operators of a linear transformation in matrix multiplication of the similarity transformation representing an isomorphism.

Molecular cloning of the complementary DNA for the mouse pyruvate kinase M-2 gene whose expression is dependent upon cell differentiation

A cDNA encoding M2-type pyruvate kinase from mouse was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The cDNA encoded a protein containing 531 amino acids, the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of which were 93.2% and 98.1%, respectively, homologous to those of rat M2 pyruvate kinase. Expression of the pyruvate kinase in mouse embryonal carcinoma P19 cells altered according to differentiation stages; high at undifferentiated and low at differentiated stages.

Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor messenger RNA in human colorectal carcinomas assessed by non-radioactive in-situ hybridization

No consensus as to the involvement of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in colorectal carcinomas has yet been attained, although they are assumed to play a role in the metastasis to lymph nodes and recurrence of breast carcinoma and bladder carcinoma invasion. Knowing that Dukes' classification of colorectal carcinoma is closely related to prognosis, we examined whether there is a correlation between Dukes' classification and the expression of EGF-R in colorectal carcinoma. If there is a positive correlation, the involvement of EGF-R in the processes may be assumed and the expression of EGF-R may be used as a marker of their prognosis. To this end, the expression of EGF-R mRNA and protein by non-radioactive in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively, were determined on histological preparations of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded colorectal surgical specimens. In 30 cases of colorectal carcinoma examined, mRNA and/or protein was detected in 33% (two of six) of Dukes' A, in 40% (four of 10) of Dukes' B, in 36% (four of 11) of Dukes' C, in 33% (one of three) of Dukes' D and in 0% of normal colon epithelial cells. Thus, there was no positive correlation between the Dukes' classification and the expression of EGF-R. It is concluded that the expression of EGF-R in colorectal carcinoma is not a promising marker of prognosis. However, the role of EGF-R in EGF-R positive tumours remains to be examined.

Facilitatory effect of thinking about movement on motor-evoked potentials to transcranial magnetic stimulation of the brain

Two experiments using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were undertaken to investigate facilitatory effects of thinking about a specific movement without voluntary discharges on motor-evoked potentials (MEP). First, surface electromyographic (EMG) responses from the abductor pollicis brevis were recorded with maximal stimulator output in the three conditions: the muscle being at rest, contracting with 10% of maximal muscle activity, and with the subject "only thinking" about thumb abduction (nine subjects). Median value of MEP amplitudes during "only thinking" was twice that at rest (P = 0.008) and one-half that during voluntary contraction (P = 0.008). Second, needle EMG responses from the first dorsal interosseus were compared at rest, during thinking about index finger abduction, and during TMS at threshold intensity. Four normal subjects were tested with stimulation of each cerebral hemisphere for a total of eight tests. The number of detectable MEP responses of 20 stimuli to one hemisphere was counted for each condition of rest or thinking. The mean MEP response rate during thinking (58%) was higher than that at rest (12%) (P < 0.005). These results demonstrate that thinking about a specific movement has facilitatory effects on MEP and that the degree of facilitation in thinking is smaller than in voluntary contraction.

Characterization of mitogenic substances in the hot water extracts of bupleuri radix

Bupleuri Radix is a commonly used medicinal plant in Kampo medicine, and its hot water extracts show mitogenic activity to murine lymphocytes. In this paper the mitogenic substances in the hot water extracts of Bupleuri Radix (Bup-HWE) were fractionated and characterized physicochemically and immunologically. Most of these substances were recovered from mol. wt of more than 200 kDA fraction (fr. C-13). Separation of fr. C-13 by phenol-water fractionation method gave water soluble and phenol soluble mitogenic substances. These substances showed the activity even in C3H/HeJ mice, and polymyxin B or lysozyme treatment did not abrogate the activity, suggesting that the active substances are not related to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Treatment of the mitogenic substances recovered from the phenol layer with NaCLO2, a polyphenol degrading chemical, significantly reduced the activity, but pronase and pectinase treatments were not effective. The mitogenic substances in the water layer were active even after NaCLO2 treatment. These findings suggested that the mitogenic substances of Bup-HWE are large molecular weight polyphenolic compounds and polysaccharide. The mitogenic substances are suggested to be B cell mitogens.

Fibrinolytic abnormalities following liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the fibrinolytic system after liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.

DESIGN

Seven patients were studied prior to, and for 4 days after, liver transplantation.

METHODS

Both activators and inhibitors of the fibrinolytic system were investigated in seven patients with fulminant hepatic failure who underwent liver transplantation.

RESULTS

alpha 2-antiplasmin and C1-inhibitor levels increased rapidly after transplantation (81 and 53% of normal on day 1; 106 and 99% on day 2, respectively). Plasminogen levels remained low throughout the 4-day study period. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was higher than normal before transplantation (21.0 compared with 7.4 U/ml) and increased further on the first day after operation (37.5 U/ml; P < 0.05 versus pre-transplantation). Tissue plasminogen activator levels remained normal (pre-operative, 7.0 IU/ml; Day 4, 0.2 IU/ml). D-dimer remained elevated during the postoperative period showing increased fibrinolytic activity. Thrombin-antithrombin III complex was also elevated during the study period. Antithrombin III was greatly reduced prior to transplantation (13.7% of normal) and plasma levels were less than 50% of normal values during the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Measures of fibrinolytic activity are raised after liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure. This is probably due to increased fibrin formation caused by a coexisting hypercoagulable state.

Successful canine bilateral single-lung transplantation after 21-hour lung preservation

A canine bilateral single-lung transplantation model was used to evaluate 21-hour lung preservation with low-potassium dextran glucose solution. Donor lungs were flushed with low-potassium dextran glucose solution (50 mL/kg), inflated with 100% oxygen (35 mL/kg), and preserved at 8 degrees C. Bilateral single-lung transplantation was performed without using cardiopulmonary bypass. The ischemic times to the right and left lungs were designed to be 3 and 6 hours, respectively, in group 1 (n = 5) and 18 and 21 hours in group 2 (n = 6). After bilateral single-lung transplantation, animals were maintained on a ventilator for 12 hours and lung function, including arterial blood gas and pulmonary hemodynamics, was measured. All 5 dogs in group 1 and 5 of 6 dogs in group 2 completed bilateral single-lung transplantation successfully and survived for 12 hours with excellent lung function. Arterial oxygen tension and mean pulmonary artery pressure were stable during the 12-hour assessment period in both groups and did not differ significantly from donor values. Twelve hours after reperfusion, mean arterial oxygen tension (inspired oxygen fraction = 1.0) was 590 +/- 18 mm Hg in group 1 and 604 +/- 8 mm Hg in group 2. After the 12-hour assessment period, the animals were extubated and immunosuppressed. Two dogs in group 2 survived for 7 and 8 days, respectively, with a mean arterial oxygen tension of 74 mm Hg on room air at 5 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Multilayer peroxidase-labeled antibody method: comparison with labeled streptavidin-biotin method, avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method, and peroxidase-antiperoxidase method

A new, extremely sensitive, "multilayer peroxidase-labeled antibody method" is introduced. This method utilizes peroxidase-labeled antibodies that immuno-react with their antigen, but also can be an antigen to other peroxidase-labeled antibodies. An example of this method is: use rabbit IgG as the first antibody, peroxidase-labeled goat antirabbit IgG as the second antibody, peroxidase-labeled rabbit antigoat IgG as the third antibody, peroxidase-labeled goat antirabbit IgG as the fourth antibody, and peroxidase-labeled rabbit antigoat IgG as the fifth antibody in succession. We compared the sensitivities of this multilayer peroxidase-labeled antibody method with that of commercially available immuno-peroxidase staining kits, i.e., avidin-biotin-complex method and peroxidase-antiperoxidase method, both by immunostaining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The generated signal and background in immunostained sections were determined by a computer-assisted image analyzer and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay spectrophotometrically. It was found that a maximum signal/background ratio was obtained with those sections reacted with the first four antibodies in succession by the multilayer peroxidase-labeled antibody method, and those reacted with the five antibodies in succession by the multilayer peroxidase-labeled antibody method in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thus, the multilayer peroxidase-labeled antibody method is more sensitive than the avidin-biotin-complex method and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method.

Vitellogenin gene of the silkworm, Bombyx mori: structure and sex-dependent expression

Vitellogenin of Bombyx mori is a precursor of major yolk protein synthesized in the female fat body at larval-pupal ecdysis. The gene for B. mori vitellogenin is composed of seven exons interspersed by six introns. Developmental profile of the primary transcript of the gene indicated that the biosynthesis of B. mori vitellogenin is regulated transcriptionally in a sex- and stage-dependent manner in the fat body. The Arg-X-Arg-Arg sequence, which conforms to the recognition site of mammalian furin, occurs in a region just upstream of the putative proteolytic cleavage site of B. mori previtellogenin.

Molecular cloning and sequencing of cDNA that encodes cysteine proteinase in the eggs of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori

We have isolated and sequenced a 1,486-base-pair near full-length cDNA coding for Bombyx egg cysteine proteinase. The cDNA encodes 344 amino acid residues containing a typical signal peptide sequence (16 residues), pro-peptide (104 residues), and the sequence for mature enzyme (224 residues). Sequence alignments show that the egg cysteine proteinase is similar to lobster cysteine proteinase (61% identity), barley cysteine proteinase, Aleurain (52%), rice cysteine proteinase, Oryzain (54%), and rat cathepsin L (59%). The amino-terminal sequencing of the egg cysteine proteinase indicates that the enzyme purified as an inactive form from eggs is a pro-enzyme. Pro-egg cysteine proteinase was detected in other silkmoth tissues such as ovary, fat body, hemocyte, and hemolymph by immunoblotting.

The effect of interleukin-2 on the release of gonadotropin and prolactin in vivo and in vitro

To evaluate a possible physiological role of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the control of Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Prolactin (PRL) release, conscious, ovariectomized (OVX) rats were given injections of IL-2 into the third ventricle. The third ventricular injection of IL-2 induced a significant decrease in plasma LH levels when compared to values in control animals (P < 0.05). Plasma LH concentrations were significantly decreased within 5 min after the injection of IL-2 and remained decreased for 1 h. In contrast, injections of IL-2 had no effect on plasma FSH or PRL levels. To evaluate a possible direct action of IL-2 on LH, FSH and PRL release from the anterior pituitary gland, the cytokine was incubated with dispersed anterior pituitary cells for 4 h. IL-2 in the dose range between 10(-1) and 10(-3) unit stimulated the release of LH and FSH into the culture medium (P < 0.05, P < 0.025 vs. control, respectively). The release of PRL from incubated anterior pituitary cells was not affected at any dose of IL-2 tested. These results indicate that IL-2 possibly plays an inhibitory role in the control of gonadotropin secretion, via hypothalamic action, although it acts directly to stimulate the release of the gonadotropins at the level of the anterior pituitary gland.

Decreased beta-amyloid and increased abnormal Tau deposition in the brain of aged patients with leprosy

We examined the brains of 37 leprosy patients (mean age, 76.3 +/- 7.8 years), 5 patients with Alzheimer-type dementia (mean age, 79.0 +/- 9.5 years), and 23 age-matched non-dementia controls (mean age, 77.6 +/- 5.4 years). The frequency of beta-amyloid (A beta)-positive cases was lower (27.0%) in leprosy patients (n = 37) than in controls (47.8%; P = 0.05, Z = 1.49). When senile plaque subtypes were examined, type III (classical) plaques were significantly fewer (P < 0.05) in leprosy subjects compared with controls. Interestingly, neurofibrillary tangles in the temporal cortex were much more frequent in leprosy patients than in controls (P < 0.05). However, hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons in leprosy patients were well preserved. These data indicate that 1) leprosy patients have a low risk of A beta deposition but a high risk of abnormal tau deposition, 2) abnormal tau deposition is unrelated to A beta deposition in leprosy, and 3) neuronal loss is unrelated to abnormal tau deposition. It is not clear at present whether the result is related to the disease process itself, antileprosy treatment, environmental factors, or the genetic background in leprosy patients.

A defective non-LTR retrotransposon is dispersed throughout the genome of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The presence of long repetitive sequences is demonstrated in the genome of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Members of this BMC1 family reveal several features typical of the L1 (long interspersed sequence one) family of mammals, except for species specific elements. The number of BMC1 elements is estimated to be approximately 3500 per haploid genome. Elements containing the full length unit of 5.1 kb are dispersed throughout the genome and their restriction sites are conserved, although most members are preferentially truncated to varying extents at their 5' ends. DNA sequencing indicates that this element contains six tandem repeats of 15 bp CpG-rich sequence in the 5' proximal region. It terminates with a 3' oligo(A) stretch, and is flanked at both ends by a 7-10 bp target sequence duplication. In addition, there is significant evidence for amino acid sequence homology with reverse transcriptase domains of other L1 families, especially F, Doc and Jockey of Drosophila melanogaster. No large open reading frame is present. The BMC1 element is suggested to be dispersed in the genome by a transposition mechanism involving RNA intermediates.

Introduction of oxygenated functional groups into 3-carene and 2-pinene by cultured cells

The biotransformation of the monoterpene hydrocarbons 3-carene and 2-pinene by cell suspension cultures of Nicotiana tabacum and Catharanthus roseus was investigated. The cultures have the ability to regio- and enantioselectively introduce the oxygenated functional groups into the C = C double bond and the allylic positions of the substrates.