Non-classical androgenic actions of RU38486 in androgen-responsive Shionogi carcinoma 115 cells in serum-free culture

Antiglucocorticoid and antiprogestin RU38486 (RU486) stimulated the growth of highly androgen- and moderately glucocorticoid-sensitive SC-3 cells (a cloned cell line from Shionogi mouse mammary carcinoma 115) in a dose-dependent manner. A maximal 8-fold stimulation of growth by RU486 has been observed at 10(-7) M in a serum-free medium and its potency has been found to be almost the same as that of dexamethasone (Dex). The growth rate of SC-3 cells treated by triamcinolone acetonide (TA) or Dex combined with RU486 at 10(-9)-10(-7) M was enhanced compared to cells treated by TA or Dex alone, indicating that RU486 had additive rather than antagonistic effects. Our previous study revealed that RU486 could compete with the specific uptake of [3H]testosterone in intact SC-3 cells at relatively low affinity and the present study showed that the stimulatory effect of RU486 on the growth of SC-3 cells was significantly inhibited by pure antiandrogen flutamine and that half-maximal inhibition by flutamine was achieved at 10(-6) M. Moreover, we demonstrated that the conditioned medium from RU486-stimulated SC-3 cells contained growth-promoting activity which caused a 3.5-fold increase in DNA synthesis by SC-3 cells in the absence of RU486 and which was abolished by treatment with heparin-Sepharose. These results indicate that RU486-induced growth of SC-3 cells may be expressed as an androgenic activity through androgen receptor and mediated by a heparin-binding growth factor.

Serum cholesterol concentration and coronary heart disease in population with low cholesterol concentrations

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relation between serum cholesterol concentration and mortality (from coronary heart disease and from other causes) below the range of cholesterol values generally seen in Western populations.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study based on 8-13 years of follow up of subjects in a population with low cholesterol concentrations.

SETTING

Urban Shanghai, China.

SUBJECTS

9021 Chinese men and women aged 35-64 at baseline.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Death from coronary heart disease and other causes.

RESULTS

The average serum cholesterol concentration was 4.2 mmol/l at baseline examination, and only 43 (7%) of the deaths that occurred during 8-13 years of follow up were attributed to coronary heart disease. There was a strongly positive, and apparently independent, relation between serum cholesterol concentration and death from coronary heart disease (z = 3.47, p less than 0.001), and within the range of usual serum cholesterol concentration studied (3.8-4.7 mmol/l) there was no evidence of any threshold. After appropriate adjustment for the regression dilution bias, a 4 (SD 1)% difference in usual cholesterol concentration was associated with a 21 (SD 6)% (95% confidence interval 9% to 35%) difference in mortality from coronary heart disease. There was no significant relation between serum cholesterol concentration and death from stroke or all types of cancer. The 79 deaths due to liver cancer or other chronic liver disease were inversely related to cholesterol concentration at baseline.

CONCLUSION

Blood cholesterol concentration was directly related to mortality from coronary heart disease even in those with what was, by Western standards, a "low" cholesterol concentration. There was no good evidence of an adverse effect of cholesterol on other causes of death.

Mannan-binding protein in human liver

Mannan-binding protein (MBP) is a Ca(2+)-dependent lectin which was first described in 1978 in rabbit liver, and subsequently in serum and liver tissue from humans and a range of animal species. MBP structurally resembles C1q, and may act both as a focus for complement activation on the surface of microorganisms and as an opsonin in its own right. Low serum levels of serum MBP have been described in a group of children known to suffer from severe recurrent infections. MBP has also been reported to behave as an acute phase reactant. This preliminary study has investigated the localisation of MBP in human tissues using material obtained both at post mortem and from diagnostic liver biopsies. Using the IgG fraction of rabbit anti-human MBP, immunoperoxidase staining showed no evidence of significant MBP in a wide range of normal tissues, including liver taken both at post mortem and needle biopsy. However, there was a significant degree of staining for MBP in liver biopsies showing a variety of different pathologies, in particular severely damaged alcoholic livers, and those harbouring metastatic tumour. Moderate degrees of staining were also seen in liver biopsies from patients suffering from chronic biliary disease. It is uncertain whether this localisation of MBP in abnormal liver is an acute phase response, or represents a more fundamental link with liver disease. This question could be the focus for future studies.

[Survey of fungi and bacterinum of the conjunctival sac in Guangzhou area]

This paper presents the results of fungal culture from healthy conjunctival sac in 178 eyes. The rate of positive culture of the fungi was 25% in farmers, 11.1% in cleaners, and 8.8% in city residents respectively. Culture for aerobic was carried out in the samples from conjunctival sacs of 137 eyes. The rate of positive culture was 71.9% in farmers, 80.6% in cleaners, and 23.2% in city residents respectively. On the other hand, the rate of fungal positive culture was 9.7% and that of aerobic was 30% in the patients managed with steroid eyedrops for more than one month. The aspergillus and penicillium were the most commonly seen species among the isolated fungal strain, whereas the staphylococci and streptococcus pneumonia were the most common among the isolated aerobic. The results run parallel to the fact that the main pathogens of ocular infection seen clinically are fungi and aerobics. The authors emphasize that the conjunctival sac should be disinfected to prevent infections caused by opportunistic pathogens.

Establishment and characterization of immortalized non-transplantable mouse mammary cell lines cloned from a MMTV-induced tumor cell line cultured for a long duration

During the culturing of a mouse mammary tumor cell line, MuMT73, maintained in vitro for more than a decade, we found morphological heterogeneity in its cells; some showed contact inhibition in their growth, some formed domes and some grew criss cross and piled up. In trying to clone the cell line to isolate cells showing contact inhibition or dome formation, we were able to establish six clonal cell lines. These six cell lines were categorically divided into three groups according to their phenotypical behavior, Groups A, B and C. Group A (clones 1, 5 and 7) cells had a property of contact inhibition. They induced no tumor when injected into the subcutaneous tissue of the back, nor even when injected into the mammary fat pads or under the kidney capsule of syngenic or nude mice, and therefore were thought to be non-malignant in nature. They were positively stained by anti-keratin antiserum and had mouse mammary tumor viruses (MMTVs). Group B (clone 6) cells grew in a crisscross pattern and piled up, and they induced tumors when injected into the subcutaneous tissue of the back of mice. Group C (clones 3 and 4) cells formed domes in their growth and induced some tumors in the mammary fat pads and under the kidney capsule of KSN nude mice. In Southern blots with MMTV-env probe, numerous exogenous MMTV proviruses were detected in these cell lines. The insertion patterns of these proviruses in cells of non-malignant clonal lines (Group A) resembled those of malignant lines (Group B), except one band (about 26 Kb), but were considerably different from those of intermediate lines (Group C). On the other hand, no difference was detected in Southern blots with int-1 or int-2 probes among the non-malignant, intermediate and malignant clonal cell lines.

Immunodetection of thiol proteinase levels in various populations of Artemia cysts and during development

An immunodetection assay on Western blots has been used to determine the thiol proteinase content and composition in cysts from 12 populations of the brine shrimp Artemia. Our results showed no differences in the subunit composition of the thiol proteinase among cysts from eight bisexual strains and four parthenogenic strains, and confirmed an earlier finding that the proteinase is composed of two subunits of 25.9 and 31.5 kilodaltons. In contrast, we found that Artemia cysts from parthenogenic strains contain 17.1 ng/cyst of the thiol proteinase, while cysts from bisexual strains contain 8.2 ng/cyst of the thiol proteinase. Also, there was a good linear correlation (r = 0.863; p less than 0.001) between the thiol proteinase content and cyst mass. Embryo fractionation experiments showed that 82% of the thiol proteinase was in the cytosol, while 14 and 4%, respectively, were in the nuclei/yolk platelets and mitochondria/lysosome fractions. Measurements of the thiol proteinase content of developing Artemia embryos showed that the proteinase content was relatively constant during early development, suggesting that the activity of the thiol proteinase gene(s) may be constitutive and not developmentally regulated in Artemia embryos.

Capacity of making choices in the brain and its quantitative evaluation: an application to comprehension of incomplete sentences and semantic commitments

The natural language processor in the brain generates information when it disambiguates words while reading a text in which information generation refers to making semantic commitments. Contextual facilitation of disambiguation of words appearing in the perturbed text that is derived from the unperturbed and natural one by deleting words randomly, lets the language processor revise the previous semantic commitments continuously. As the frequency of revising the previous semantic commitments increases, the amount of information generated by the language processor also increases. Revising previous semantic commitments in a continuous fashion is the functional property intrinsic to the language processor in the brain.

Effects of androgen, fibroblast growth factors or other various growth factors on growth of Shionogi carcinoma cells in a protein-free medium

Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115) has been accepted for 20 years as an androgen-responsive mouse mammary tumor. We have recently established an androgen-dependent cloned cell line (SC-3) from a SC115 tumor. We found in the present study that the growth of SC-3 cells can be stimulated by 10(-8) M testosterone (up to 100-fold) even in a protein-free medium beginning from plating [Ham's F-12: Eagle's minimum essential medium (1:1, v/v)]. In the protein-free culture, the proliferation of SC-3 cells was also found to be stimulated by acidic or basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) alone (up to 50-fold) among various growth factors examined such as FGFs, insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, nerve growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha and TGF-beta. The testosterone (10(-8) M)- or FGF (10 ng/ml)-induced growth of SC-3 cells was abolished only by TGF-beta (greater than or equal to 1 ng/ml) among various growth factors examined. We show for the first time in this study an androgen-dependent growth of cancer cells (SC-3) in a protein-free medium. In the protein-free medium, growth of SC-3 cells is also stimulated by FGFs, and the androgen- or FGF-induced growth is inhibited only by TGF-beta.

Diverse forms of a receptor for acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors

We recently reported the isolation of a chicken cDNA clone encoding a basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor that has three immunoglobulinlike domains in the extracellular region. We have now identified four unique human cDNA clones encoding previously unknown FGF receptor variants which contain only two immunoglobulinlike domains. Two of the human clones encode membrane-spanning receptors, and two encode putative secreted forms. Both the three- and two-immunoglobulinlike-domain forms mediate biological responsiveness to acidic and basic FGF. Thus, the first immunoglobulinlike domain of the three-domain form may have a function other than binding of acidic and basic FGF.

[Nutritive physiology of Psoralea corylifolia L]

Our study has shown that P. corylifolia absorbs and accumulates N2 and K2O most speedily in the periods of branching, flowering and fruiting, while P2O5 in the period of full flowering and fruiting. P2O5 is accumulated mainly in the seed and K2O in the stem. The nutriment accumulation is positively correlated with that of dry substances. To produce 100 kg of P. corylifolia an absorption of 10.59 kg of N2, 3.68 kg of P2O5 and 10.21 kg of K2O is needed.

Growth stimulation by androgens, glucocorticoids or fibroblast growth factors and the blocking of the stimulated growth by antibody against basic fibroblast growth factor in protein-free culture of Shionogi carcinoma 115 cells

Shionogi carcinoma 115 (SC115) has been accepted for 20 years as an androgen-responsive mouse mammary tumor. We have established an androgen-dependent cloned cell line (SC-3) from a SC115 tumor. In a serum-free medium, testosterone (T) or fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) markedly stimulate the growth of SC-3 cells, and the T-induced growth was shown to be mediated through FGF-like peptide(s) in an autocrine mechanism. Since we used the serum-free culture including 0.1% bovine serum albumin (BSA), a partially serum-containing condition, putative roles of BSA- or serum-borne growth factors in growth stimulation of autocrine production of FGF-like peptide(s) could not be excluded. This paper reports findings performed in a protein-free medium including plating [Ham's F-12:MEM (1:1; v/v)]. In the protein-free culture, the growth of SC-3 cells was significantly stimulated by the addition of greater than or equal to 10(-10) M T (up to 20-fold), greater than or equal to 10(-7) M dexamethasone (Dex; up to 7-fold) or greater than or equal to 1 ng/ml basic (b) or acidic FGF (up to 10-fold); other various growth factors had no such effects. Furthermore, DNA synthesis of SC-3 cells induced by T, Dex or bFGF was similarly and markedly inhibited by bFGF neutralizing antibody IgG. Therefore, the present findings seem to demonstrate that androgens or high levels of glucocorticoids induce the production and secretion of FGF-like peptide(s) from SC-3 cells for their growth even in the absence of additional support by other factors.

[Effect of seed soaking in plant hormone and trace element fertilizer on the growth of Psoralea corylifolia L]

Our study shows that seed soaking in triacontanol, ammonium molybdate and gibberellin can promote the growth of P. corylifolia, reduce its premature flower and fruit drop, raise the fruit-bearing rate by 6.5-17.4%, and fruit-bearing number by 21.6-28.4%, so as to increase the yield per unit area by 31.5-34.8%. Seed soaking in naphthylacetic acid and boric acid does not give such a marked effect.

[Anti-ulcer effects of weiteling tablets]

The traditional Chinese medicine Weiteling Pain shows a marked anti-ulcer action when administered orally at a dose of 3g/kg. The drug has been found able to inhibit the formation of stress restraint induced ulcer and reserpine induced ulcer. A decrease of volume of gastric juice collected from pyloric ligated stomachs and a reduced level of gastric acid have also been observed. In addition, the drug can reduce the inflammatory reaction of the acute gastritis induced by salicylate.

Interaction of androgen-induced autocrine heparin-binding growth factor with fibroblast growth factor receptor on androgen-dependent Shionogi carcinoma 115 cells

Stimulation of a Shionogi carcinoma 115-derived cultured cell line (SC-3) with androgen resulted in secretion of heparin-binding growth factor. In this study, we analyzed cell-surfaced receptors for growth factors. Binding data of growth factors on intact SC-3 cells revealed the presence of low and high affinity receptors for epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin, and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). The dissociation constant values were 50 pM and 1.0 nM for EGF, 1.2 nM and 30 nM for insulin, and 34 pM and 7.5 nM for FGF. The numbers of maximal binding sites were 300 and 900/cell for EGF, 2,000 and 14,000/cell for insulin, and 13,000 and 810,000/cell for FGF. To examine the association of androgen-induced growth factor with one of these receptors, the conditioned medium prepared from androgen-stimulated SC-3 cells was fractionated through a heparin-Sepharose column. Growth factor activity adsorbed and eluted by 1 M NaCl from the column was comigrated with the activity inhibiting FGF-receptor association. In addition, basic 125I-FGF was cross-linked, using disuccinimidyl suberate, to the receptor with an apparent molecular weight of 130,000, whose labeling was inhibited when basic FGF, acidic FGF, or highly purified androgen-induced growth factor was present in excess. Furthermore, the highly purified growth factor-, basic FGF- or androgen-induced growth of SC-3 cells was significantly and similarly inhibited by anti-basic FGF antibody IgG. These results indicate that androgen-induced FGF-like factor acts as an autocrine growth factor via the FGF receptor in a process of SC-3 cell proliferation.

[Biological characteristics of Psoralea corylifolia L]

A study has been made on the biological characteristics of Psoralea corylifolia under general cultivating conditions. To search for the laws of growth and development so as to facilitate further studies on the cultivating techniques for higher production of Psoralea corylifolia.

Topographic variations in W-cell input to cat superior colliculus

Most of the retinal input to the cat's superior colliculus (SC) arises from W-cells of the contralateral eye and terminates just below the tectal surface. The goal of this study was to determine whether the strength of this input is uniform over the collicular map or, instead, exhibits topographic variations as has been reported for the retinotectal Y-cell projection (McIlwain and Lufkin 1976). Monosynaptic inputs from the principal W-cell projection mediate the late negative potential (LNP), a collicular field potential that can be evoked by shocks to the optic pathway. We assumed that the amplitude of the potential provided a measure of the strength of the W-cell input to the upper superficial gray layer. Using a fixed stimulus, we measured the maximal amplitude of the LNP at 90 topographically identified tectal sites in 5 cats. The amplitude of the LNP varied as much as 5-fold over the SC and was systematically related to the azimuthal position of the recording site. LNP amplitudes were consistently smallest in the representation of the area centralis and vertical meridian and largest in the representations of the contralateral hemifield periphery and the ipsilateral hemifield. There was little systematic variation in LNP amplitude as a function of elevation in the map. The observed variations did not result from non-uniform activation of retinal afferents or drift in properties of the recording electrodes, stimuli, or preparation. The results suggest that the principal W-cell input to the SC is weaker in the representation of the area centralis than elsewhere in the map.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Low levels of chromosomal mutations in germ cells derived from doxorubicin-treated stem spermatogonia in the mouse

The mutagenic effects of doxorubicin (Adriamycin, ADR) on mouse spermatogonial stem cells were examined by analysis of spermatocyte chromosomes and of dominant lethality transmitted through the spermatozoa. The effects of ADR on mutations, cytotoxicity, and sperm head abnormalities were compared with those of radiation. The cytotoxic effect of 6 Gy of gamma-radiation on stem spermatogonia was equivalent to about 4-5 mg ADR/kg. Chromosomal translocations were observed in 0.6% of the spermatocytes of mice treated with ADR (2-6 mg/kg). In contrast, 6 Gy of radiation induced translocations in 11.1% of spermatocytes. No increase in dominant lethality was observed after treatment with ADR at doses up to 6 mg/kg, while the frequency after 6 Gy of radiation was 3.6%. Based on these results, ADR would be expected to be only a weak inducer of balanced chromosomal rearrangements. Because ADR at 4.5 mg/kg was much weaker than 6 Gy of gamma-radiation at inducing chromosomal translocations, but just as effective at inducing sperm head abnormalities, the level of sperm head abnormalities is not indicative of balanced chromosomal rearrangements induced in stem spermatogonia by cytotoxic agents.

A model for urbanizing rural population and development measures: survey of a large specialized market in Xiliu town, Liaoning province

The authors present an urbanization model using the example of Xiliu town in Liaoning province, China. Xiliu has developed from a rural commune into a large-scale clothing market during the period since 1979. "The purpose...is to show, by means of a survey conducted in the town, the characteristics and formative factors of the model and to discuss the prospect of and measures for furthering this development."

Adenomatous hyperplasia and adenomas in the lung induced by chronic feeding of butylated hydroxyanisole of Japanese house musk shrew (Suncus murinus)

A carcinogenicity study on butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) was carried out in Japanese house musk shrews (Suncus murinus) (suncus), which have no forestomach. BHA was mixed with the basal diet and was processed into pellets. One hundred and twenty-two female and 130 male suncus were maintained with a diet containing 0, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0% BHA for 80 weeks. All of the suncus of the 2.0% BHA groups died of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract within 8 weeks after the commencement of the treatment. The majority of the animals in the other groups survived for greater than 52 weeks. Adenomatous hyperplasias of the lung were induced in suncus of both sexes of the 0.5 and 1.0% BHA groups at significantly higher rates than in the control groups. Lung adenomas were also induced in three suncus of the BHA groups. Pilosebaceous and musk gland tumors, mammary carcinoma, kidney hemangioma and other tumors developed in a few suncus, with no significant differences between the groups. The present study indicates that BHA induces adenomatous hyperplasia of the lung in the suncus.

Association of low levels of mannan-binding protein with a common defect of opsonisation

Failure to opsonise bakers' yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is a defect found in 5-7% of the general population. In this study, the presence of the defect was linked with low levels of mannan-binding protein (MBP), a calcium-dependent serum lectin. Purified MBP corrected the defect in a dose-dependent way in an in-vitro assay measuring the deposition of complement moieties on a mannan-coated surface. There was a highly significant correlation between the serum MBP level and the generation of C3b opsonins in a population of healthy blood donors. The median MBP level of ten children previously shown to have the functional opsonic defect was 4.9 micrograms/l (range 2.5-35.0 micrograms/l) compared with 143 micrograms/l (range 2.5-880 micrograms/l) for a paediatric control group.