Effective cell collection method using collagenase and ultrasonic vibration

This study proposes a novel cell collection method based on collagenase treatment and ultrasonic vibration. The method collects calf chondrocytes from a reusable metal cell culture substrate. To develop our concept, we calculated the natural vibration modes of the cell culture substrate by a finite element method, and conducted eigenvalue and piezoelectric-structural analyses. Selecting the first out-of-plane vibration mode of the substrate, which has a single nodal circle, we designed and fabricated the cell collection device. The excited vibration mode properly realized our intentions. We then evaluated the cell collection ratio and the growth response, and observed the morphology of the collected cells. The collagenase and ultrasonic vibration treatment collected comparable numbers of cells to conventional trypsin and pipetting treatment, but improved the proliferating cell statistics. Morphological observations revealed that the membranes of cells collected by the proposed method remain intact; consequently, the cells are larger and rougher than cells collected by the conventional method. Therefore, we present a promising cell collection method for adhesive cell culturing process.

A collagen network formation effector from leaves of Premna subscandens

As a part of the search for biologically active plant products, M cells, which form a collagen fiber network in vitro after a prolonged culture period, were used. The n-BuOH-soluble fraction of a methanol extract of leaves of Premna subscandens exhibited promotion of collagen network formation by M cells. Extensive isolation work guided by a bioassay afforded a phenylethanoid, acteoside, as an active compound.

Effect of KMD-3213, an alpha 1a-adrenoceptor-selective antagonist, on the contractions of rabbit prostate and rabbit and rat aorta

KMD-3213, (-)-(R)-1-(3-hydroxypropyl)-5-[2-[[2-[2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) phenoxy]ethyl]amino]propyl]indoline-7-carboxamide, a newly synthesized alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, has been shown to have potent action toward, and to be selective for human cloned and native alpha 1-adrenoceptors. In the present study, we characterized the inhibitory effect of KMD-3213 on the phenylephrine (alpha 1-adrenoceptor-selective agonist)-induced contraction of rabbit prostate, rabbit thoracic aorta and rat thoracic aorta to functionally confirm the tissue selectivity of KMD-3213. The mean pA2 value for KMD-3213 for the inhibition of the rabbit prostatic contraction was 10.05, whereas the values for the rabbit and rat aortic contractions were 9.36 and 8.13, respectively. The order of mean pA2 values for the inhibition of the rabbit prostatic contraction was KMD-3213 > or = tamsulosin >> prazosin, whereas that for the rabbit and rat aortic contractions was tamsulosin > KMD-3213 > prazosin and tamsulosin > or = prazosin >> KMD-3213, respectively. KMD-3213 produced a sigmoidal inhibition curve for single-dose phenylephrine-induced contractions of rabbit prostate, whereas it produced a non-sigmoidal curve for that of rabbit aorta. KMD-3213 had no effect on isoproterenol-induced chronotropic action in guinea-pig atria, and 5-hydroxytryptamine-, histamine- and acetylcholine-mediated contractions of rabbit aorta. These results indicate that the potency of the inhibitory activity of KMD-3213 depends on the tissue subtype expression and that KMD-3213 preferentially antagonizes prostatic contraction.

Pharmacological profile of KSG-504, a new cholecystokinin-A-receptor antagonist

Pharmacological effects of KSG-504, a newly synthetized compound, on the response induced by exogenous CCK-8 were investigated. KSG-504 inhibited 125I-CCK-8 binding to both rat pancreas and cerebral cortex with IC50 values of 2.0 x 10(-7) M and 8.0 x 10(-5) M, respectively. The selectivity ratio of KSG-504 for pancreatic CCK receptor (CCK-A) was estimated as 400. In the isolated pancreatic acini of rats, KSG-504 caused a parallel rightward shift of the concentration-response curve for CCK-8-stimulated amylase release with no change in its maximal response, indicating a competitive antagonism of the drug for the CCK-A receptor (Schild plot analysis; slope = 0.927, pA2 = 6.9). In addition, KSG-504 produced a significant inhibition of CCK-8-induced pancreatic amylase secretion when administered intravenously or intraduodenally to rats (ED50: 52 micrograms/kg/min by the i.v. route and 12.1 mg/kg by the i.d. route). KSG-504 had equipotent inhibitory effects on both CCK-8-stimulated pancreatic secretion and gallbladder contraction in dogs with ED50 values of 0.98 and 0.84 mg/kg, respectively. KSG-504 also inhibited the CCK-8-induced contraction of isolated guinea pig ileum in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 3.0 x 10(-6) M). These results demonstrate that KSG-504 is a competitive and selective CCK-A-receptor antagonist that is effective in vivo after oral administration.

Suppression of HIV-1 Replication by a 4-H-Quinolizine Derivative

A novel derivative of 4-H-quinolizine, 3-cyano-1-ethoxycarbonyl-4-imino-2-isopropyl-4-H-quinolizine (KAV-397), was discovered to inhibit replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in T-lymphocyte cell lines. HIV-infected T cells proliferated at the same growth rate as uninfected cells for at least 8 days when the cells were co-cultivated with KAV-397, while infected control cells died in 3 or 4 days. This compound inhibited reverse transcriptase (RT) activity of HIV-1 but did not compete with either deoxythymidine triphosphate substrates nor template-primers. It had no or little effect on RT activities of HIV-2, avian leukosis virus (ALV) and murine leukaemia virus (MuLV). Regarding eukaryotic DNA-dependent DNA polymerases, it significantly suppressed chicken DNA polymerase α and slightly suppressed γ but not murine DNA polymerase β.

Mosaic evolution of prepropancreatic polypeptide. II. Structural conservation and divergence in pancreatic polypeptide gene

We demonstrated that nucleotide and amino acid sequences in the carboxyl-terminal regions of rat, mouse, and human prepropancreatic polypeptide exhibit a high degree of divergence, whereas the amino-terminal domains are highly conserved. To understand the molecular basis of this divergence and conservation, we determined the nucleotide sequence of the rat pancreatic polypeptide gene from an islet genomic library and compared it with that of the human gene. Exon 2 of the rat gene encodes the signal peptide and pancreatic polypeptide, exon 3 encodes the carboxyl-terminal region, and exons 1 and 4 encode the 5'- and 3'- untranslated regions of the mRNA, respectively. Exons 1 and 2 of rat and human genes are well conserved. The rat and human genes, however, have exons 3 and 4 of different lengths and heterologous nucleotide sequences. Mutational accumulation in exons 3 and 4 and intron 3 of the rat gene appears to have caused splice junction sliding and translational frameshift, resulting in a structural divergence in the carboxyl-terminal region. Available evidence indicates that the mosaicism of structural conservation and divergence in pancreatic polypeptide genes may have been caused by a difference in the evolutionary rates of the genomic regions.

Phosphorylation of five histone H1 subtypes of L5178Y cells at the exponential growth and mitotic phases

Histone H1 of cells of L5178Y, a mouse lympholeukemic cell line, consists of five molecular species designated as H1-I, II, III, IV, and V. The phosphorylation of these H1 subtypes was examined at the exponential growth phase and during mitosis, by BioRex 70 column chromatography and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In exponentially growing cells, the degree of phosphorylation was different for each subtype. H1-II was the most highly phosphorylated, 1.8 phosphate residues per molecule, followed by H1-IV/V, 1.4, I, 0.8, and III, 0.5. In the mitotic phase, H1-II was also the most highly phosphorylated 6.0 phosphate residues per molecule, H1-IV/V, 3.5, I, 2.7, and III, 1.2. The phosphorylation started simultaneously among the subtypes after colcemid addition, and phosphorylated H1 subtypes accumulated linearly. The rate of incorporation of 32P into each H1 subtype was almost constant during colcemid treatment. During 4 h after colcemid addition, the phosphate residues incorporated into H1 did not dephosphorylated. The H1 kinase activities increased to six times higher during the colcemid treatment.

The inhibition mechanism of histamine release by N-(3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid

N-(3,4-Dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid (N-5') is an inhibitor of IgE-mediated histamine release from mast cells. To elucidate inhibition mechanism, effects of N-5' were examined under various conditions using peritoneal exudate cells and isolated mast cells of rats. N-5' inhibited histamine release induced by antigen, ionophore A23187, ATP, dextran and phospholipase A2. But the release induced by compound 48/80 or ionophore X537A was not inhibited. Influx of Ca++ into mast cells and ATP consumption were inhibited. Based on these results, it is presumed that N-5' interferes with the energy-requiring system and/or Ca++ influx resulting in the inhibition of histamine release.

Distribution of nucleosomes on reconstituted chromatin from cloned mouse beta-globin DNA

Relative abundance of nucleosomes on reconstituted chromatin was estimated with cloned mouse beta-globin gene DNA. Mononucleosomal DNA was isolated from reconstituted chromatin after digestion with micrococcal nuclease, nick-translated and used as a probe for blot hybridization. DNA fragments of restriction nuclease-digested globin DNA were transferred to DBM-paper and hybridized with mononucleosomal [32P] DNA probe. The results showed non-random distribution of nucleosomes.

Adenylate cyclase from Brevibacterium liquefaciens. III. In situ regulation of adenylate cyclase by pyruvate

In the presence of DL-alanine intracellular cyclic AMP in nonproliferating cells of Brevibacterium liquefaciens increased rapidly to the maximum level of approximately 180 muM, and extracellular cyclic AMP increased to 100 muM within 4 hr at 25 degrees . Adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) induction was not observed during this incubation. The concentration of pyruvate in the total culture increased concomitantly with that of cyclic AMP and reached approximately 20 mM after 4 hr of incubation. Since the activity of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase is extremely low in this bacterium, the accumulation of cyclic AMP with DL-alanine appeared to be due to the activation of adenylate cyclase by pyruvate. D-alanine was more effective than L-alanine in producing pyruvate, and a high activity of D-alanine oxidation was detected in the cell lysate of B. liquefaciens.Thus, adenylate cyclase in this bacterium appeared to be regulated in vivo by pyruvate which was formed, in this case, predominantly from D-alanine through the action of D-aminoacid oxidase (EC 1.4.3.3). Pyruvate, added extracellularly, also caused a rapid accumulation of intracellular cyclic AMP. Glucose did not change the level of cyclic AMP significantly. It also did not affect the intracellular accumulation of cyclic AMP with DL-alanine.