Urinary excretion of thyroid hormones in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Urinary excretion of the thyroid hormones (TH) L-thyroxine (T4), and 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) and their derivatives was studied in urinary-catheterized rainbow trout (mean wt. 227 g) fasted for 2 days under a 12-hr L:12-hr D photocycle in running water (12 degrees). Catheterized trout were intracardiac-injected with [125I]T4 (*T4) or [125I]T3 (*T3) and urine was collected as 2-hr fractions over 48 hr. The 125I corresponding to I-, TH conjugates (sulfates and glucuronides), or TH was separated by LH-20 column chromatography and HPLC. Urine production (daily mean, 72.5 ml/kg/day) was lowest during the scotophase and doubled at the start of photophase, causing acute fluctuations in excretion of 125I-labeled materials, and implying dependence on glomerular filtration rate. During the first 48 hr, 8.2% of *T4 (I-, 3.6%: TH conjugates, 1.7%; TH, 2.9%) and 6.7% of injected *T3 (I-, 1.8%; TH conjugates, 2.5%; TH, 2.4%) was excreted in urine; 32.6% (*T4) and 26.4% (*T3) was in the gall bladder; 45.5% (*T4) and 45.7% (*T3) were in the remaining carcass; and 13.7% (*T4) and 23.7% (*T3) were lost via other routes. We extrapolate that about 15% of *T4-injected and 12% of *T3-injected total radioactivity would be excreted ultimately in urine, with 8.4% (*T4) and 9.0% (*T3) as TH or their conjugates. Neither a T4 nor a T3 challenge (20 ng/g) influenced the amount of radioactive loss in urine over 48 hr. We conclude that the urine is a significant route for excretion of TH and their conjugates, and that urinary TH loss depends to a large extent on the rate of urine production.

ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-like 3, a new member of the ARF family of GTP-binding proteins cloned from human and rat tissues

The human and rat homologues of a new member of the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) family of 21-kDa GTP-binding proteins, termed Arl3, were identified as an expressed sequence tag (human) and as a product of polymerase chain reaction amplification using degenerate probes derived from conserved sequences in members of the ARF family (rat). Alignments of the full-length open reading frames of the human and rat homologues revealed the encoded proteins to be over 97% identical to each other and 43% identical to human ARF1. Northern blots of mRNA from seven human tissues and four rat tissues revealed the presence of a ubiquitous band of about 1 kilobase in length that hybridized with the corresponding Arl3 probes. A number of human tumor cell lines expressed Arl3, as determined by immunoblotting with an Arl-specific antibody, raised against a peptide derived from the human Arl3 sequence. The level of Arl3 expressed in these cell lines was on the order of 0.01% of total cell protein. Purified recombinant human Arl3 was shown to bind guanine nucleotides but lacks ARF activity and intrinsic or ARF GTPase-activating protein-stimulated GTPase activity. In contrast to ARF proteins, the Arl3 protein has reduced dependence on phospholipids and magnesium for guanine nucleotide exchange. Thus, Arl3 is a ubiquitously expressed GTP-binding protein in the ARF family with distinctive biochemical properties consistent with its having unique, but unknown, role(s) in cell physiology.

Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor in retinal ischemia

PURPOSE

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a 17- to 24-kDa protein known to be essential for the survival of neurons, induced fiber outgrowth of ganglion cells in cultures of rat retina and rescued photoreceptor cell loss in the retina of Royal College of Surgeon rats. The authors evaluated the efficacy of bFGF in rescuing the neuronal loss in rat retina after retinal ischemia.

METHODS

Retinal ischemia was induced in 29 eyes of 17 albino Lewis rats by increasing the intraocular pressure to 110 mm Hg for 45 minutes via an intracameral catheter. A total of 800 ng of bFGF was delivered into the anterior chamber at the time of induction of ischemia. Sixteen eyes of nine rats received bFGF, and 13 eyes of eight rats received heparin in phosphate-buffered saline as vehicle control. The animals were euthanized 7 or 14 days after reperfusion.

RESULTS

Morphologic examination of the retinas at both time points showed that necrosis of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and thinning of the inner plexiform and inner nuclear layers were less severe in the bFGF-treated eyes than in the vehicle-treated eyes. On morphometric examination, 7 days after reperfusion, the mean thickness of the inner retinal layers and the RGC counts on flat preparations of retina in both the posterior and the peripheral portions of the retina were significantly higher in the bFGF-treated eyes than in the vehicle-treated eyes (P < 0.02). At 14 days, similar beneficial effects were noted in all morphometric parameters, except RGC counts in the posterior pole.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that bFGF partially protects the RGCs and other inner retinal elements from ischemic injury.

Intravascular leukostasis and systemic aspergillosis in a horse with subleukemic acute myelomonocytic leukemia

Leukemia is a neoplastic disease of one or more of the cell types of the hemopoietic system and is rarely diagnosed in the horse. This report describes a case of subleukemic acute myelomonocytic leukemia in an 11-year-old gelding. Preliminary cytological diagnosis was supported by two types of laboratory investigations. Cytochemical characterization of blood and bone marrow neoplastic cells was consistent with a myelomonocytic origin. Neoplastic blast cells in peripheral blood were labeled by monoclonal antibodies specific for cell surface molecules of horse granulocytes, but they were not labeled by antibodies to T- or B-lymphocytes or macrophages. Treatment was attempted but was unsuccessful. At necropsy, intravascular leukostasis was present in all tissues examined. Fungal hyphae were also found in lung interstitium and colonic submucosa, suggesting the presence of a systemic mycosis. Nucleated cells were isolated from peripheral blood and cultured in vitro; they survived for up to 2 weeks and had evidence of cell division that was not sustained. Frozen-thawed cells stored in liquid nitrogen were also successfully cultured in vitro, but no permanent cell lines could be established.

The proximate 5' and 3' ends of the 120-base viral RNA (pRNA) are crucial for the packaging of bacteriophage phi 29 DNA

In vitro mutagenesis was performed to identify the DNA packaging domain of the 120-base pRNA essential and specific for DNA encapsidation by bacteriophage phi 29 of Bacillus subtilis. All deletions and mutations targeted the 5' and 3' ends of the pRNA. DNA templates of a control or mutant pRNAs used for in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase were generated by PCR. Fourteen mutant pRNA molecules were synthesized from DNA templates either directly after PCR or after cloning the PCR fragments into the pCR II vector. Ten of the mutant pRNA species were inactive in packaging of the phi 29 genome. Mutation of base one at the 5' end did not affect the pRNA packaging activity. Mutation of the first two bases at the 5' end of the pRNA to noncomplementary bases in the predicted RNA secondary structure (U1 C2/A117G116 to G1 G2/A117G116) resulted in a pRNA with no detectable DNA-gp3 packaging activity assayed by either sucrose gradient sedimentation or agarose gel electrophoresis, and 10(5)-fold reduction in activity was found when measured by plaque-forming units with a new highly sensitive assay system. Changing bases 116 and 117 so that they were complementary to the mutated bases, 1 and 2, from the previous mutant (G1 G2/A117G116 to G1 G2/C117C116) generated an RNA molecule with restored DNA packaging ability. Our results show that, although not essential for procapsid binding, both the 5' and 3' ends of the pRNA were proximate and crucial for phi 29 DNA packaging.

Expression of plasminogen activator genes and enzymatic activities in rat preimplantation embryos

Plasminogen activator has been implicated in tissue invasion and remodelling because of its role in the degradation of the extracellular matrix. Its activity can be detected in mouse embryos as early as day 6 of pregnancy, suggesting that plasminogen activator is involved in the process of implantation. The present study determined the time course of expression of the genes encoding tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) during the preimplantation period in rats by the sensitive mRNA phenotyping procedure of reverse transcription-PCR. The tPA mRNA was present in rat oocytes and two-cell embryos, but was not detected between the four-cell and blastocyst stages. The uPA mRNA was first detected in two-cell rat embryos, and was present through to the blastocyst stage. In chromogenic assays, plasminogen activator activity was detected in oocytes and embryos between two-cell and blastocyst stages. Most plasminogen activator activity present in preimplantation embryos appeared to be uPA, as it could be inhibited by anti-uPA antibody and a specific uPA inhibitor, amiloride, but not by anti-tPA antibody. The present data demonstrate the expression of uPA gene and uPA activity in preimplantation rat embryos, suggesting that embryonic uPA may be involved in early embryo development and implantation.

Apoptosis leads to photoreceptor degeneration in inherited retinal dystrophy of RCS rats

PURPOSE

To determine the pathogenetic mechanism of photoreceptor cell degeneration in the inherited retinal dystrophy in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats.

METHODS

The dystrophic retinas of the pink-eyed RCS (RCS-rdy-p) rats were examined for DNA fragmentation by agarose gel electrophoresis of retinal DNA and by TdT-mediated biotin-dUDP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) in paraffin sections. Rats ranging in age from 3 to 60 days were examined.

RESULTS

Agarose gel electrophoresis of retinal DNA isolated from animals 25, 30, 35, and 40 days old showed a ladder pattern of degradation with bands corresponding to multiples of 180 to 200 base pair subunits. TUNEL study showed increasing labeling of photoreceptor cells with progression of the retinal dystrophy of the RCS rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Apoptosis is the dominant mechanism of photoreceptor degeneration in the RCS rat, which has a genetic defect in the phagocytic activity of retinal pigment epithelium. The onset of the degeneration appeared to vary between rod cells in the different regions of the eye.

[The alteration of histidase catalytic activity and the expression of the enzyme protein in rat primary hepatomas]

The catalytic activity of histidase and the expression of the enzyme protein were investigated in rat hepatomas induced by diethylnitrosamine. The results indicated that the activities of histidase in the hepatomas were significantly diminished as compared with normal rat livers (P < 0.01). Western blot analysis revealed that enzyme protein levels in hepatomas were markedly reduced. It is thus inferred that some factors which control expression of histidase protein may be altered during carcinogenesis. These findings lay a foundation for studying the relationship between the regulation and expression of the histidase gene and hepato carcinogenesis.

Age-related human mtDNA deletions: a heterogeneous set of deletions arising at a single pair of directly repeated sequences

Deletions in mtDNA accumulate during the human aging process, arising from either intramolecular illegitimate recombination or strand slippage during replication, which results in subgenomic mtDNA molecules. We identify here two classes of mtDNA deletions--class A deletions, which are homogeneous at the breakpoints, with all subgenomic molecules therefore being identical in size, and class B deletions, which arise from a less stringent process that gives rise to heterogeneity at the breakpoints, with the subgenomic molecules being of slightly different sizes. A novel approach is described that offers a global overview of the populations of different deletions in individual tissues. It is based on PCR cycle-sequencing reactions that are carried out directly on mtDNA segments, amplified by PCR from total cellular DNA. The results show a clear size homogeneity of the subgenomic mtDNA molecules representative of class A, which carry a commonly detected 4,977-bp deletion occurring at a pair of 13-bp directly repeated sequences. In this case, precisely one copy of the repeat is retained in the subgenomic molecules. We then describe a class B situation comprising a family of at least nine closely related 8.04-kb deletions involving the same pair of 5-bp direct repeats. In this situation, the breakpoints differ at the base-pair level (8,037-8,048-bp deletions); the subgenomic molecules retain > 1 copy, 1 copy, or < 1 copy of the 5-bp repeat. In different tissues from either the same individual or among different individuals, there is a widely variable occurrence of particular deletions in the subgenomic mtDNA population within this class B set. Class B deletions offer a new approach for studying the accumulation of mtDNA deletions, thereby providing insight into the independent somatic origin of mutated mtDNA molecules, both in aging and in mitochondrial diseases. We also report a convenient method for ascertaining whether a given PCR product results from the amplification of a subgenomic mtDNA template, on the basis of the selective degradation of full-length mtDNA molecules prior to PCR.

Molecular cloning and sequencing of porcine somatostatin receptor 2

The porcine somatostatin receptor gene was isolated from a porcine genomic library. Based on the deduced amino acid sequence, this gene encodes a 369 amino acid protein with seven hydrophobic segments, a characteristic of G-protein coupled receptors, and shows only 13 amino acid difference (identity 96.5%, similarity 99.2%) in amino acid sequence from human somatostatin receptor 2. The data indicate that the amino acid sequence is highly conserved in pig, human, rat and mouse somatostatin receptor 2.

Differential regulation of the two xGATA-1 genes during Xenopus development

Xenopus laevis provides an established developmental system to study the regulation of cell lineage establishment and the generation of tissue-specific patterns of gene expression. We have isolated from Xenopus erythroid cell RNA two distinct cDNA clones encoding the xGATA-1 transcription factor. We have identified, in erythroid nuclear extracts, the sequence-specific DNA-binding protein they encode. By characterizing the expression patterns for RNA derived from two distinct homologues, we find that the two xGATA-1 genes are differentially regulated. The xGATA-1a mRNA predominates in embryos prior to terminal differentiation of erythroid cells, while the differentiated cells contain RNA derived predominantly from the xGATA-1b gene. Both proteins activate a target globin promoter in transient transfection assays. During early development, GATA-1 transcripts are localized to ventral regions of the embryo. GATA-1 should therefore provide a useful early marker for studying signalling pathways which result in the generation of ventral mesoderm. The differentially regulated genes may be distinct markers for targets of ventral mesoderm induction.

Effect of albendazole on Ancylostoma caninum larvae migrating in the muscles of mice

When mice inoculated with 1,000 third-stage larvae of Ancylostoma caninum for 1 week were treated intragastrically (ig) with albendazole (Alb) 75, 150 or 300 mg/kg.d for 3 days, the mean larva numbers collected from the muscles of each group were 2.7 +/- 1.7, 2.0 +/- 1.5 and 1.0 +/- 1.0, respectively, being much less than that 205 +/- 68 of the control group. In mice treated ig with Alb 150 mg/kg.d for 3 days, the concentrations of Alb and its effective metabolite, albendazole sulfoxide (AlbSO), were determined in plasma and the muscles at different intervals after the last medication using high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that only low concentrations of Alb were detected in both plasma and the muscles. However, higher concentrations of AlbSO were found not only in the plasma (5.4-10.5 micrograms/ml), but also in the muscles (2.2-4.6 micrograms/g). The higher contents of AlbSO in the muscles would be helpful for killing the Ancylostoma larvae migrating in the muscles of mice.

[Synaptonemal complex analysis of 13/17 Robertsonian translocation in the domestic pig]

G and C-banding study of the chromosomes of several male pigs, indicate that all of these pigs carry rob(13;17). The karyotype is 2n = 37, XY, rob (13;17). In this paper, silverstained Synaptonemal Complexes (SCs) in surface-spread pachytene nuclei from these pigs are analysed by electron microscope. The result is as follows: Robertsonian translocation metacentrics rob (13;17) paired with homologous acrocentrics (13,17), forming a trivalent. All trivalents are in a cis configuration and there is delayed pairing in the trivalent. We measured every part of trivalent in the different stage of prophase (based on the morphology of XY-bivalent). It is shown that accompanying with rob(13;17) formation there has been a deletion in the proximal part of 13, 17 translocation chromosome. In the process of synapsis, the length adjustment phenomenon in the trivalent occurred: a. There is nonhomologous synapsis between the two short arms of the acrocentrics (13;17). The length of short SC varied. b. The position of the short SC, which is on the long SC(homologous synapsis of rob(13; 17) and 13, 17) moved, from one-fourth of long SC to one-tenth of it, near the end of 17 arm. These phenomenon is the result of a gradual length adjustment of lateral elements of 13,17 to the lateral element of the rob (13;17). We has discussed the mechanism of the trivalent synaptic adjustment, and it's important use to control the chiasmata and disjunction of the chromosomes.

Inhibition of the transforming ability of cigarette smoking condensate-treated human fetal lung DNA induced by oltipraz

Rat-1 cells transfected by genomic DNA of human fetal lung explants treated with 100 micrograms/ml of oltipraz (5-(2-pyrazimyl)-4-methyl-1, 2-dithiol-3-thione) for 14 hr or 100 micrograms/ml of cigarette smoking condensate for 6 hr formed 0 to 8 transformation foci, respectively. If 100 micrograms/ml of oltipraz was added to culture of human fetal lung explants 8 hr prior to the treatment of cigarette smoking condensate, the Rat-1 cells transfected by genomic DNA of human fetal lung explants formed only two foci. In addition, the growth speed of Rat-1 cells transfected by genomic DNA of human fetal lung treated with both oltipraz and cigarette smoking condensate was lower than that transfected by cigarette smoking condensate-treated human fetal lung DNA. Our results indicate that oltipraz can block the irreversible change of human fetal lung DNA caused by cigarette smoking condensate, and the results suggest the possibility of using oltipraz as control in the experimental initiation of human lung carcinogenesis.

[Effects of arsenic on the offspring development in mice]

Effects of arsenic exposure on offspring development were studied in pregnant mice. The results showed arsenic contents of the body and brain tissue increased and the structure of neural cells in cerebral cortex became abnormal after exposure. The offspring neurobehavioral development appeared retardant and the proportion of their peripheral lymphocytes with alpha-naphthalene acetate enzyme (ANAE) declined in a mice group with exposure to 0.75 mg/kg arsenic, and the offspring body weight gain slowed after weaning, blood cholinesterase activity and serum level of haemolysin declined significantly in a group with 4.50 mg/kg. It indicated arsenic could affect embryonic and offspring development in mice through pregnant exposure.

Transactivation of the early SV40 promoter by avian infectious laryngotracheitis virus in avian hepatoma cells

An avian hepatoma cell line has been reported to be suitable for the cultivation of avian laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) (Scholz et al. (1993) J. Virol. Methods, 273-286; Guo et al. (1993) Am. J. Vet. Res., in press). To provide information for the establishment of avian expression systems and for the construction of avian recombinant viruses, five expression plasmids were constructed to test two avian viral and two mammalian viral promotors for their suitability and strength for gene expression in this cell line. Chicken hepatoma cells were transfected with plasmids carrying the bacterial beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) gene as a reporter gene. The beta-gal gene of three plasmid constructs expressed in both E. coli and avian hepatoma cells, while the beta-gal gene of two other constructs expressed only in avian hepatoma cells. The beta-gal gene expressed independently of any viral infection when under the control of the early Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) promoter or the immediate-early cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. However, expression of beta-gal gene under the control of the SV40 early promoter/enhancer and the ILTV TK promoter was greatly potentiated when the transfected cells were co-infected with ILTV. This finding provides a system for the enhancement of gene expression in avian cells, especially when ILTV is used as vector.

[Experimental study on bone formation induced by porous HA-beta-TCP bioceramics]

Three types of HA-beta-TCP active bioceramics which have various porosity and porous diameters were implanted into femurs and muscles of dogs. Histological and biomechanical tests proved that the porous HA-beta-TCP could make the active stage of bone formation moved up in bones and induce new bone formation in muscles. The pores were easily filled with new bones in samples which had smaller porous diameter than samples having larger porous diameter. The final strength after accomplishment of repair process was closely related with porosity. In samples with lower porosity, the proportion of organic bone and the strength were also lower, but in samples with higher porosity the proportion of organic bone and the strength were also higher. Up to the fourth month postoperatively, the strength of HA-beta-TCP with proper porous diameter and porosity which had been implanted into bones was as high as that of organic bone.

Position dispersion and optical limiting resulting from thermally induced nonlinearities in Chinese tea liquid

We employ the z-scan method to distinguish thermally induced nonlinearities from others by varying the beam waist radius and to determine the thermo-optic coefficient of materials. One can attribute the origin of optical nonlinearities of Chinese tea liquid to laser-heating-induced nonlinear refraction while one irradiates the media with a cw He-Ne laser. We also analyze the influence of position dispersion on optical limiting.