Lack of bladder carcinogenicity of dietary sodium saccharin in analbuminaemic rats, which are highly susceptible to N-nitroso-n-butyl-(4-hydroxybutyl)amine

A previous 1-wk study measuring the agglutinability of bladder epithelial cells by concanavalin A had suggested a high susceptibility of analbuminaemic rats to bladder carcinogenesis by sodium saccharin (Honma et al., Cancer Letters 1983, 19, 7). A long-term study was conducted to confirm the results of this short-term assay. Sodium saccharin was administered at 5% in the diet to groups of 35 male analbuminaemic rats and 36 male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain. No bladder carcinomas nor precancerous lesions were observed in any of the rats exposed to sodium saccharin. The discrepancy between the results of the agglutination assay and the long-term experiment might be attributable to a sharp increase in urine volume in analbuminaemic rats during the first week of treatment. The resultant distension of the bladder wall might make the epithelial cells more susceptible to concanavalin A agglutination. The results indicated no demonstrable bladder carcinogenicity of sodium saccharin in analbuminaemic rats and excluded the possibility that these particular mutant rats could be useful animals for shorter-duration screening for bladder carcinogens.

A case of insulin allergy: the crystalline human insulin may mask its antigenicity

We report an unusual case of insulin allergy. A 48-year-old man with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus receiving biosynthetic isophane human insulin (Humulin N) developed itchy wheal-and-flare reactions at the sites of injection. When Humulin N was changed to a semi-synthetic crystalline human insulin zinc (Novolin U), the allergic reactions completely disappeared. Evaluation of his serum showed a high level of insulin-specific IgE. Skin testing with all commercially available insulins showed immediate local reactions to all agents tested except for Novolin U. In addition, decrystallized Novolin U prepared by lowering the pH with acetic acid also induced a positive reaction. These observations suggest that the crystallized structure of human insulin may mask its antigenicity for allergic reactions.

Marked increases of two kinds of two-exon-skipped albumin mRNAs with aging and their further increase by treatment with 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in Nagase analbuminemic rats

Nagase analbuminemic rats (NARs) have a 7-base-pair deletion at the 5' splice site of the HI intron of the albumin gene. The level of immunohistochemically albumin-positive hepatocytes is about 1 per 10(5) cells in neonatal NARs, increases with age, and further increases with chronic oral treatment with 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB). The mechanisms involved in the increase in albumin-positive hepatocytes during aging of NARs and their treatment with 3'-MeDAB were analyzed. NARs were found to have four species of albumin mRNA: intact mRNA and those lacking the regions corresponding to exon H, exon G-H, and exon H-I. In 4-week-old NARs, the level of intact albumin mRNA was about 1/4000 of that in normal rats and mRNA lacking the exon H sequence was the major species. In aged and 3'-MeDAB-treated aged NARs, all four species of mRNA increased and the relative proportion of mRNAs lacking two exon sequences to mRNAs lacking one exon sequence was greatly increased, suggesting that aging is associated with changes of the splicing pattern and that 3'-MeDAB treatment enhanced these changes. In aged NARs and 3'-MeDAB-treated aged NARs, there was an increase in the amount of aberrant 60-kDa albumin. The 60-kDa protein could be a translation product of mRNAs lacking two exons, the amount of which increases in aged NARs and 3'-MeDAB-treated NARs.

Induction of intestinal adenocarcinomas by 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine in Nagase analbuminemic rats

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), the most abundant mutagenic heterocyclic amine in cooked foods, was examined for carcinogenic potential using Nagase analbuminemic rats (NARs), which are sensitive to various carcinogens. The concentration of PhIP in the diet was 0.04% at the beginning of the experiment, this being subsequently gradually reduced to 0.01% to avoid severe body weight loss. Ten of 13 treated NARs developed a total of 36 intestinal tumors within the 311-day experimental period. Among these, 22 were adenocarcinomas and 2 were adenomas of the small intestine, 4 were adenocarcinomas of the cecum and 8 were adenocarcinomas of the large intestine. The results suggest that PhIP could represent a significant risk to human populations exposed to foods containing heterocyclic amines.

Characteristics and significance of albumin-positive hepatocytes in analbuminemic rats

Analbuminemic rats (NAR) are a mutant strain in which splicing of the albumin mRNA is blocked due to a seven-base-pair deletion in an intron of the albumin gene. NAR liver contains a few hepatocytes that react with anti-rat albumin antibody (Alb+ hepatocytes), and these cells increase in number during aging and on treatment with hepatocarcinogens. To characterize these Alb+ hepatocytes, we examine their albumin mRNA, the biochemical specificity of their albumin, and its intracellular distribution. Signals of albumin mRNA were observed in a few hepatocytes by in situ hybridization. Moreover, a small amount of cytoplasmic albumin mRNA was detected by RNA blot analysis in the liver of aged NAR and NAR treated with 3'-methyl-4-diaminoazobenzene (DAB). Immunoelectron microscopic examination revealed the cisternae of the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticula, Golgi complexes, and secretory vesicles of the Alb+ hepatocyte of NAR being filled with material that reacted with anti-rat albumin antibody. These facts suggested that albumin was gradually synthesized in Alb+ hepatocytes but that its secretion was disturbed. The albumin-like proteins of NAR were shown by Western blot analysis to consist of three species of 68 kDa, 50 kDa, and 25 kDa proteins. The 50 kDa albumin was thought to be formed by exon-skipping splicing of the albumin mRNA precursor, which was recently reported by Shalaby and Shafritz (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 2652-2656 (1990)). The 25 kDa protein was suspected to be formed by fragmentation of the 50 kDa protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Disposition of phenytoin in analbuminemic rats

The disposition characteristics of phenytoin were investigated in analbuminemic rats to study the effect of plasma protein binding on phenytoin disposition. Blood and plasma phenytoin concentration determinations, measurement of plasma protein phenytoin binding, and whole-body autoradiography were performed after intravenous bolus injection of 10 mg kg-1 of phenytoin. When plasma phenytoin was assayed, total body phenytoin clearance (CL) was faster and its apparent volume of distribution (Vd) greater in the analbuminemic rats in comparison to the controls. The plasma protein binding of phenytoin was significantly lower in the analbuminemic rats, suggesting the disposition characteristics of phenytoin were altered in the presence of low plasma albumin concentrations due to reduced plasma phenytoin protein binding. On the other hand, when blood phenytoin levels were analyzed, no difference in CL and a less pronounced difference in Vd were noted between the two groups of rats. The red blood cell-to-plasma phenytoin concentration ratios were greater in analbuminemic rats, suggesting that the distribution of phenytoin into red blood cells was greater in the mutant rats.

Genotypic differentiation of intrahepatically transplanted hyperplastic nodule cells of analbuminemic and normal rat origin by polymerase chain reaction

DNA fragments encompassing the region of the seven-base-pair deletion in the albumin gene, which is a characteristic abnormality of Nagase's analbuminemic rat (NAR), were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and we could differentiate the genotypes of normal rat, homozygous NAR and heterozygous NAR electrophoretically. This genotyping method was applied to the differentiation of hyperplastic nodules on immunostained tissue sections in the intrahepatic transplantation model. When the hyperplastic nodule cells of normal rat were transplanted to the livers of homozygous NAR, the donor cells were effectively differentiated from the host cells by the genotype.

Dynamic aspects of thrombus formation in mutant analbuminemic rats

To elucidate the mechanism for thrombus formation in hypoalbuminemic and hyperlipidemic subjects, the experimental thrombus formation was analyzed in Nagase analbuminemic rats (NAR). The mutant rat reveals similar biochemical findings to those of NS, such as hyperlipidemia. When thrombus was induced in a small branch of the mesenteric artery by inserting a glass micropipette, thrombus formation was observed within 4 min in NAR and Sprague-Dawley rat (SDR). In SDR, the thrombus gradually grew up in size and detached from the inserted glass micropipette within 4 min after its formation. In contrast, the thrombus formed in NAR did not dissociate from the micropipette until 10-13 min after its formation. The maximum size of the thrombus formed in NAR was about 4 times larger than that in SDR. In the presence of fibrin, the plasma samples from NAR inhibited the activity of tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) 1.7 times more potently than did SDR plasma. Plasma gamma 2-plasmin inhibitor activity was significantly higher than that in SDR. Albumin significantly enhanced the t-PA-catalyzed activation of plasminogen, suggesting that the serum albumin might contribute, at least in part, to the plasma fibrinolytic activity. Thus, the higher thrombogenic potential in NAR than in SDR might be due to the reduced thrombolytic activity in NAR.

[An evaluation method for hematological and clinico-biochemical values in aged F 344 rats on chronic toxicity tests such as long-term inhalation studies on the effects of diesel exhaust]

To determine the chronic toxicity of diesel exhaust, 2,150 F 344 rats were made to inhale various dilutions of exhaust under specific pathogen-free conditions for 16 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 30 months. Ten experimental groups, each with 120 male and 95 female 5 week-old rats, were set up and 14 males and 9 females were usually sacrificed for measurement of the 51 hematological and clinico-biochemical parameters at 7, 13, 19, and 25 months of age, respectively. These parameters were also examined in all surviving rats after 30 months of exhaust inhalation. In this experiment, no remarkable change in any of the parameters was observed in the periodic examinations. Therefore, tendencies of change in parameters were examined by comparing histograms for control and experimental groups. For the reference histograms, we used the values obtained from 144 males and 116 females aged 13-31 months. The first histogram was based on data from 1,352 rats, and the range from the minimum to the maximum value was divided into eight parts. When almost all the values were centered on a peak in the first histogram, this peak was divided into a further eight parts in the second histogram. Histogram evaluation clarified the differences between the control and experimental groups better than general statistical methods such as Student's t-test.

Hypoglycemic action and disposition of gliclazide in normal and analbuminemic rats

The hypoglycemic action and disposition of gliclazide, an oral antidiabetic drug, was investigated in normal and analbuminemic rats. Orally administered gliclazide exhibited a stronger hypoglycemic action in analbuminemic rats than in normal rats. However, the plasma concentration of the drug in the mutant was much lower than that in the normal. This apparent discrepancy may be clarified by measuring the plasma concentration of unbound gliclazide. Analbuminemic rats gave larger values for the total body clearance and steady state volume of distribution of gliclazide than normal rats. The biliary and urinary excretion rates of radioactivity after intravenous bolus administration of [3H]-gliclazide were much greater in the mutant than in the normal. The binding of gliclazide to serum in analbuminemic rats was much lower than that in normal rats. Furthermore, the radioactivities of some tissues after oral administration of [3H]-gliclazide were found to be significantly higher in the mutant than in the normal. These results clearly indicate that albumin plays an important role in the hypoglycemic activity and disposition of gliclazide in rats.

Identification of a protein increasing in serum of Nagase analbuminemic rats bearing intestinal tumors as an isotype of T-kininogen

Increase in an unidentified protein was observed in serum of Nagase analbuminemic rats (NAR) bearing intestinal tumors induced by azoxymethane. This protein seemed to be a polymer of a protein of 73 kDa as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and so was tentatively named 73K-protein. The serum concentration of 73K-protein in NAR bearing intestinal tumors was 11.9 +/- 2.2 mg/ml (mean +/- SD, n = 5), whereas that in control NAR was 2.0 +/- 0.2 mg/ml. Increase of the serum 73K-protein level was also observed in Sprague-Dawley rats bearing intestinal tumors, skin tumors, subcutaneous sarcomas, or mammary tumors and in ACI rats bearing urinary bladder tumors. On double immunodiffusion analysis, the 73K-protein was not detected in mouse, guinea pig, pig, horse, or human serum. A cDNA clone bearing the sequence encoding 73K-protein was isolated from a cDNA library constructed from rat liver mRNA. The nucleotide sequence of the 73K-protein showed 98.8% and 96.9% homologies with the sequences of the 3'-proximal domains of the cDNAs for TI- and TII-kininogen, respectively. Therefore, the 73K-protein was concluded to be an isotype of T-kininogen.

A clinical case of Klinefelter's syndrome with various psychiatric symptoms

We present here a clinical case of Klinefelter's syndrome with various psychiatric symptoms. A 60-year-old male showed delusions of persecution, poisoning, and reference, auditory, visual and somatic hallucinations, depressive state and memory disturbance. These clinical symptoms except for memory disturbance were the characteristic clinical features of psychiatric symptoms in some cases of Klinefelter's syndrome reported so far. There has been no reported case of Klinefelter's syndrome showing memory disturbance. The memory disturbance of the present case is regarded as an amnestic organic brain syndrome (DSM-III) due to Klinefelter's syndrome.

Strain differences in susceptibility to 2-acetylaminofluorene and phenobarbital promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis: immunohistochemical analysis of cytochrome P-450 isozyme induction by 2-acetylaminofluorene and phenobarbital

Strain differences in the expression of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes (P-450s) during enhancement of hepatocarcinogenesis by 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and phenobarbital (PB) were investigated immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibodies against phenobarbital (PB) (APF3) or 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) (APH8) inducible P-450s. LEW, SD, WBN, F344, SHR, NAR, Wistar and ODS rats were studied, the first five strains proving to be less susceptible to 2-AAF induction of APH8 while responding strongly to the promoting influence of this chemical, as reported previously. The other three strains, NAR, Wistar and ODS, demonstrated greater inducibility, this correlating with an observed resistance to promotion by 2-AAF. PB administration was not associated with any strain difference in APF3 cytochrome P-450 inducibility except in the ODS rat, in which its effects were minimal. The results provide direct evidence that differential expression of cytochrome P-450 species plays a major role in determining responsiveness to hepatocarcinogenesis-promoting agents such as 2-AAF.

Strain differences in susceptibility to 2-acetylaminofluorene and phenobarbital promotion of rat hepatocarcinogenesis in a medium-term assay system: quantitation of glutathione S-transferase P-positive foci development

Strain differences in susceptibility to promotion by the liver carcinogens 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and phenobarbital (PB) were examined in the medium-term bioassay system initially developed in our laboratory using male F344 rats as the test animal and glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci as the lesion end-point. Numbers and areas per cm2 of induced GST-P-positive hepatocellular foci were compared in LEW, F344, NAR, SD, WBN, SHR, Wistar and ODS rats initiated with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and subjected to partial hepatectomy during subsequent administration of 2-AAF or PB. LEW, SD, WBN, and F344 rats were most susceptible to hepatopromotion by both compounds, with a hundred fold increase in lesion area being observed for 2-AAF in the LEW case. NAR and SHR strains demonstrated an intermediate response, while Wistar and, in particular, the related ODS rats demonstrated very low susceptibilities. The obvious strain differences could be expressed in terms of comparative indices of promoting effects of 2-AAF and PB as well as DEN itself regarding each of the 8 strains tested. The use of F344 rats for the bioassay model was validated by the relatively high sensitivity to both DEN and 2-AAF initiation as well as second-stage promotion stimulus exhibited.

Tumor-associated expression of a serum protein, termed aX protein (alpha 1-inhibitor III), and its mRNA in rat liver

A cDNA clone bearing the mRNA sequence for rat alpha X protein (alpha X) was isolated from a cDNA library constructed from rat liver mRNA. The nucleotide sequence of alpha X protein cDNA showed 97% homology with that of the 3'-proximal domain of alpha 1-inhibitor III cDNA. The amino acid sequence deduced from that of alpha X cDNA also exhibited high homology with the primary sequences of alpha 1-inhibitor III and alpha 2-macroglobulin. K231 ascites hepatoma cells were transplanted into male ACI rats, and the level of alpha X mRNA in the liver of the tumor-bearing rats was determined by RNA blot hybridization with the cDNA probe. The serum concentration of alpha X decreased to about 30% of the control value with time after transplantation. The amount of alpha X mRNA in the liver of tumor-bearing rats was proportional to the serum concentration of alpha X. The serum concentrations of transferrin and albumin in the tumor-bearing rats also decreased to about 30 and 60% of the normal levels, respectively. However, the amounts of mRNAs for transferrin and albumin in the liver of tumor-bearing rats did not decrease. These findings indicate that the mechanisms of tumor-associated decrease in the concentrations of different serum proteins in tumor-bearing rats may differ.

Fluorometric assay for polyamines in urine and tissues using electrophoresis on Titan III cellulose acetate

A simple, rapid assay method for polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) in urine and tissues using electrophoresis on Titan III cellulose acetate was developed. In this procedure, polyamines are preliminarily extracted from a hydrolysate of urine or from supernatants of tissue homogenates by use of a Bio-Rex 70 minicolumn. After electrophoretic separation, polyamines are fluorometrically detected by the reaction with o-phthalaldehyde and 2-mercaptoethanol. Six extracts and two external standards of polyamines can be separated and detected in 11 min on a cellulose acetate strip. This method permits the determination of polyamines in a range of 0.1 mM (25 pmol) to 1.0 mM (250 pmol).

[Methylguanidine synthesis by active oxygen generated by stimulated human neutrophils]

In previous papers, we have reported that methylguanidine (MG), a known uremic toxin, was synthesized from creatinine (Cr) by active oxygen generated not only by chemical reagents but also by isolated rat hepatocytes. In this paper, we studied whether or not active oxygen generated by stimulated human neutrophils produces MG from Cr. MG was measured after incubating 2 x 10(6) human neutrophils for 2 h in 1 ml of Hanks' balanced salt solution (pH 7.4) containing 100 mg/dl Cr at 37 degrees C after the addition of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). MG was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography followed by reaction with 9, 10-phenanthrenequinone. MG was synthesized by the stimulated neutrophils and not by the unstimulated ones. MG synthesis reached a plateau (1.11 +/- 0.03 nmol/120 min/2 x 10(6) cells) at a concentration of 0.125 microM PMA and reached a maximum value (1.95 +/- 0.03 nmol/120 min/2 x 10(6) cells) at a concentration of 100 mg/dl Cr. MG synthesis increased depending on the concentration of neutrophils between 1 and 8 x 10(6)/ml and increased depending on the duration of incubation up to 4 h. MG synthesis was strongly inhibited by superoxide dismutase, by the scavengers of hypochloride (taurine and methionine) and by sodium azide. Catalase and the scavenger of the hydroxyl radical (dimethyl sulfoxide) inhibited MG synthesis less effectively. The effects of the scavengers of active oxygen suggest the participation of active oxygen in MG synthesis from Cr in this system. Among the active oxygen species, superoxide anion and hypochloride play an important role in this system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Elevated activity of pancreatic type amylase in the urine as an early indicator of pancreatic tumors in hamsters

Levels of amylase isozymes in the urine and serum of Syrian hamsters during pancreatic carcinogenesis, induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP), were investigated. BOP was injected subcutaneously (sc) into female Syrian golden hamsters at a dose of 10mg/kg once weekly for 6 wk and amylase activities in urine and serum samples were measured every other week from the first treatment of BOP. Although total amylase in the urine showed no remarkable changes, the pancreatic type isozyme demonstrated only very low levels for the first 6 wk and then from wk 8, became elevated showing continuously high levels in all animals thereafter. Animals were sacrificed at wk 10, 14, and 18. Dysplastic lesions of the pancreas developed in all the hamsters investigated. Furthermore, pancreatic adenocarcinomas were also observed in all animals sacrificed at wk 18. Thus, the results suggest that measurement of pancreatic isoamylase in the urine might allow early indication of pancreatic tumor development in hamsters.

Further observations on the disposition characteristics of salicylic acid in analbuminemic rats

The disposition characteristics of salicylic acid (SA) were investigated in analbuminemic rats after intravenous bolus injection of 10 and 173 mg kg-1 of SA to study the effects of plasma protein binding on drug disposition. Following the administration of 10 mg kg-1 of SA, total body SA clearance (CL) was markedly faster and its apparent volume of distribution (Vd) significantly greater in the analbuminemic rats in comparison to the controls. Further, the apparent elimination rate constant (kj) was two-fold greater and the corresponding elimination half-life (t 1/2) shorter in the rats with low plasma albumin. Whole body autoradiograms obtained following the administration of 14C-salicylic acid demonstrated that the tissue distribution of SA was greater in the analbuminemic rats which was in agreement with the larger Vd observed in this group of rats. After the administration of 173 mg kg-1 of SA, no differences in CL, Vd, kk or t 1/2 were noted between the analbuminemic and control rats. Dose-dependent SA disposition was observed in both the analbuminemic and control rats with the effects being more pronounced in the rats with low plasma albumin. The results suggested that the disposition characteristics of SA were markedly altered in the presence of low plasma albumin concentrations due to reduced plasma SA protein binding.

Acute phase response of plasma proteins in analbuminemic rats

In healthy Nagase analbuminemic rats (NAR), the highest degree of relative increase in serum protein concentration was found for alpha-2-macroglobulin, the most prominent acute phase protein in rats. Its levels were about 30- and 60-fold higher in males and females, respectively, than those in the control Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In terms of absolute concentration, however, alpha-1-inhibitor 3 (also called alpha-X-protein or murinoglobulin) showed the most conspicuous change, its levels being higher by about 7 mg/ml than those in SD. When the acute phase reaction was induced by subcutaneous injection of turpentine, the levels of alpha-1- and alpha-2-macroglobulins, alpha-1-cysteine proteinase inhibitor, alpha-1-antiproteinase, and alpha-1-inhibitor 3 in NAR changed in essentially the same way as in SD: alpha-1-inhibitor 3 decreased markedly while the rest increased further. These results suggest that mechanisms responsible for the elevation of serum globulins in healthy NAR are not directly related to those involved in the acute phase response. On the other hand, the antithrombin III levels in healthy NAR were about twice the control values and changed little during the inflammation. In contrast, this protein in SD doubled during the acute phase, its maximal levels being close to those in healthy or inflamed NAR. This suggests that the antithrombin III level in healthy NAR is regulated by a mechanism similar to that in SD maximally reacting to the acute phase stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mapping of the hooded, Gc protein, and albumin gene loci in linkage group VI of the laboratory rat

Crosses to determine the position of the three gene loci, h, Gc, and Alb, in the sixth linkage group of the rat used three strains, the TM strain, the ACI-alb analbuminemic congenic strain, and the abh-alb tester strain established by crossing the abh coat color tester strain and analbuminemic rats. Their genotypes were [C/C, h/h, GcB/GcB, Alb/Alb], [C/C, hi/hi, GcA/GcA, alb/alb] and [C/C, h/h, GcA/GcA, alb/alb], respectively. Determination of genotypes was performed by coat color and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE of serum protein for the Gc and albumin genes. The positions of the three gene loci in the VI linkage group were calculated from the recombination values from the phenotypes of progenies. According to this data, the three gene loci were in h-Gc-Alb tandem and the distances were 15.5 +/- 1.0% in h-Gc, 15.8 +/- 1.0% in h-Alb, and 0.32 +/- 0.16% in Gc-Alb. These data confirmed the relationship among the Gc, Alb, and Afp genes in the rat as well as in humans.