Sensitivity of mouse,rat, and human embryonic lungs to the action of nitrosomethylurea in organ culture

In response to the direct action of nitrosomethylurea (NMU) in a concentration of 0.05 mg/ml on organ cultures of embryonic lungs of strain A mice, Wistar rats, and man, a varied degree of degenerative changes and hyperplastic proliferation of the epithelium developed in the cultures. In the early stages of the experiment the toxic effect of the cultures predominated. Tissue of rat embryonic lungs was most sensitive to the toxic action of NMU, mouse lung tissue least sensitive. The frequency of hyperplastic proliferation, on the other hand, was highest in cultures of mouse lungs and lowest in cultures of rat lungs. During culture the sensitivity of the human and rodent embryonic lungs to the toxic action of NMU decreased when the substance was repeatedly added to the nutrient medium. Meanwhile an increase in the survival of the experimental cultures was observed compared with the intact control.Department of Carcinogenic Agents, Oncologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR L. M. Shabad.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 9, pp. 349–352, September, 1977.     

Effect of benzo(a)pyrene on monolayer cultures of normal and malignant mouse liver cells

Cells of a monolayer culture of embryonic mouse liver, like cells of a culture of highly malignant hepatoma 22A, maintained by transplantation for 20 years, actively metabolized the carcinogenic hydrocarbon benzo(a)pyrene and are highly sensitive to its toxic action. Considering that liver tissue in vivo is resistant to carcinogenic hydrocarbons, the authors suggest that this resistance is due to factors acting at the organ or organism level but not at the cell level. The problem of the mechanism of preservation of the sensitivity of hepatoma 22A to the toxic action of benzo(a)pyrene also is discussed.Laboratory of Chemical Carcinogenesis, Oncologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR L. M. Shabad.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 9, pp. 346–349, September, 1977.     

Natural and synthetic cytomedines in nerve tissue culture

Effect of cortexin, epithalamine, and human cortical and pineal peptides on the growth of sensory neurons and the development of cortex and subcortical structures is studied in organotypic culture of chick embryo brain (embryonic days 10–11). In doses of 2–200 ng/ml these preparations exhibit stimulating effect on spinal ganglia, which is seen on day 3 in culture. Cortexin (100 ng/ml) and brain peptide (20 ng/ml) stimulate growth of cultured brain cortex explants. Epithalamine (200 ng/ml) and pineal peptide (100 ng/ml) stimulate the development of subcortical structures in culture. These peptides can be used as stimulators of neurite regeneration. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 3, pp. 332–336, March, 1998     

Hematopoiesis in human embryonic liver organ culture

It was shown by the method of multiple organ cultures on Millipore filters that hematopoiesis of predominantly erythroid type is maintained for a long time (over 1.5 months) in cultures of human embryonic liver. The general morphology of 7–50-day-old cultures was studied and described. The myeloid population of cells (the number of colony-forming units) was virtually exhausted by the 14th–16th day of culture.Laboratory of Bone Marrow Culture and Transplantation, Central Institute of Hematology and Blool Transfusion, Ministry of Health of the USSR. Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology, N. I. Pirogov Second Moscow Medical Institute. First Gynecological Department, No. 49 City Hospital, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, N. A. Fedorov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 4, pp. 460–462, April, 1977.     

On the mechanism of insulinotropic action of hepoxylins: Evidence of a direct,glucose-independent effect of hepoxylins B3 on insulin secretion

The effects of lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid, hepoxylin B₃ epimers, on insulin secretion by a culture of isolated islet cells were studied. The effect was assessed at hepoxylin B₃ concentrations of 0.2 to 5.0 μM and different glucose concentrations in the culture medium. Both hepoxylin B₃ epimers were shown to boost the stimulating effect of glucose on insulin secretion. This effect manifests itself at glucose concentrations of 5.5 and 11 mM and disappears at an above normal glucose content in the medium (20 mM). The capacity of hepoxylin B₃ to stimulate the secretion of insulin by a culture of islet cells in a glucose-free medium has also been demonstrated. This direct, not glucose-mediated, insulinotropic effect may serve as proof that the hepoxylins belong to the category of intracellular messengers. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 10, pp. 404–406, October, 1995 Presented by I. G. Akmaev, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Vital activity of bacteria is directly inhibitedin vitro by antibodies

The level of vital activity ofPseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria was determined according to the rate of pH decline in the culture mediumin vitro. The addition of immune serum to this medium initiated bacterial agglutination and lowered the level of vital activity of the culture. The aggregation of bacteria by centrifugation suppressed their vital activity in the same way as agglutination. Inhibition of microbial vital activity during agglutination and aggregation due to the centrifugal force may be attributed to a showing down of the rate of diffusion of nutrients and metabolites through the aggregates. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 6, pp. 662–664, June, 1995 Presented by D. S. Sarkisov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

The effect of nerve growth factor on a selective increase in the cell body size of rat brain septal cholinergic neurons in a cell culture

The addition of nerve growth factor to the culture medium increases the size of the bodies of three- and four-dendrite polygonal cholinergic neurons, but not of two-dendrite spindle-shaped neurons. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 1, pp. 102–104, January, 1994 Presented by O. S. Adrianov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Study of trophoblast cell culturesin vitro

A culture of the trophoblast was obtained from an early human embryonic chorion. Trophoblastic cells of four main types are described: giant, branched, fibroblastlike, and round. All the cells were rich in RNA and glycoproteins and had the complement of enzymes for the Krebs' pentose cycle, but had low succinate dehydrogenase activity. A marked cytotoxic effect of the lymphocytes of the healthy pregnant woman on allogeneic cells of the trophoblast culture and no interaction between neonatal lymphocytes and these trophoblastic cells were found.Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Immunology, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 4, pp. 467–470, April, 1977.     

Cytopathogenic action ofEscherichia coli cells containing heterologous human type O(H) antigen on human cells in culture

The character of interaction between two enteropathogenic strains ofEscherichia coli of serotype 055K59 with human HeLa cells containing O(H) isoantigen was studied. On the addition of strainE. coli No. 5789, containing heterologous type O(H) antigen to a culture of HeLa cells, a cytopathogenic action was discovered on the third day of interaction in the presence of doses of bacterial cells of 2·10¹⁰, 2·10⁵, and 2·10⁴. A dose of 2·10³ bacterial cells ofE. coli did not give this effect. Strain No. 3827, not containing heterologous antigen of ABO type, had no cytopathogenic action in maximal, average, and small doses of bacterial cells. It is suggested that the cytopathogenic action of strain No. 5789 is connected with the presence of an antigen in this strain which is identical with the group antigen of the human cell culture studied.Research Laboratory of Experimental Immunobiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of medical Sciences of the USSR N. N. Zhukov-Verezhnikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 7, pp. 70–72, July, 1977.     

Investigation of the action of aflatoxin B1 in vitro andin vivo

The direct and transplacental action of aflatoxin B₁ was compared in organ cultures of embryonic lung tissue of strain A mice, BD-IX rats, and golden hamsters. It was shown to have a toxic action on the culture but no carcinogenic effect. In experiments on mice transplacental penetration of aflatoxin B₁ led to an increased frequency of mammary gland tumors only in the progeny.Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR.Department for the Study of Carcinogenic Agents, Oncologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 11, pp. 1349–1352, November, 1976.     

Ultrastructural reorganizations of synaptic contacts in an organotypic culture of the brain cortex in the presence of ethanol

The effect of various ethanol concentrations (0.5 and 1%) on the ultrastructure of interneouronal contacts is studied in an organotypic culture of the brain cortex from newborn rats. It is shown that ethanol in the culture medium causes geometric complications in the synaptic contacts. Morphometric analysis of synapses reveals an increase of the area and perimeter of axon terminals and of the length of the active zone of the contact, as well as a decrease of the coefficient determined by the ratio of the number of synaptic vesicles to the length of the active zone of the contact. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120 N ^o 7, pp. 99–102, July, 1995 Presented by V. Ya. Semke, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.     

Cytotoxicity of carotenoid preparations in human epidermoid carcinoma cell culture

Effects of various β-carotene preparations on the viability and proliferation of A431 cells were studied. Colloid water dispersion of β-carotene stabilized with proxanol and containing the minimal number of components was shown to exhibit the highest level of incorporation in the cells, to be nontoxic, and to weakly inhibit cell growth. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii I Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N№ 11, pp. 515–518, November, 1995 Presented by A. I. Archakov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Ability of thermo- and acid-stable serum serine protease inhibitor to inhibit mitogen-stimulated transformation of lymphocytes

The ability of a thermostable and acid-stable serine protease inhibitor from rabbit blood serum (TASPI) to inhibit the transformation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or concanavalin A (con A) was demonstrated. The degree of inhibition depends on the concentration of the inhibitor and its specific activity. The maximal degree of inhibition was 50–70%. TASPI has no cytotoxicity. Stronger inhibition of transformation is observed if TASPI is added to the culture 24 h after the addition of PHA. Data on the antiprotease activity of human blood serum, either native or inactivated under different conditions, are given. The results suggest that TASPI participates in the control of the biological activity of lymphoid tissue cells.Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Institute of Transplantation of Organs and Tissues, Ministry of Health of the USSR. Laboratory of Biochemistry and Pathochemistry of Vasoactive Polypeptides, Institute of Biological and Medical Chemistry, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. N. Orekhovich.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biology i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 5, pp. 569–572, May, 1978.     

Assessment of the toxic and protective effects of initiators and inhibitors of free radical reactions using a wild-type strain ofEscherichia coli and a strain deficient for superoxide dismutase

The toxic effects of H₂O₂, paraquat, and oxidized low density lipoproteins are more expressed on superoxide dismutase-deficientE. coli strains than on its wild-type strains, and the effect of tert-butyl-hydroperoxide is less dependent on the presence or absence of this enzyme in the bacterium, whereas that of bleomycin does not depend on it at all. The toxicity of the agents increases in the following series: H₂O₂<oxidized low density lipoproteins<tert-butyl-hydroperoxide <paraquat≪bleomycin. A culture ofE. coli strains AB 1157 and JI 132 may be used for assessing the toxic effect of prooxidants, and anE. coli JI 132 culture with oxidative stress induced by prooxidants as a test system for detecting the potential antioxidants and assessing the mechanism of the action. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o , pp. 74–79, January, 1996 Presented by A. I. Archakov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Implantation growth of nephrogenic tissue and tubular epithelium of the renal nephron culturedin vivo

Implantation growth of nephrogenic tissue of a 17-day rat embryo and of the epithelium from the nephron of animals aged 1 month was compared. Nephrogenic tissue in implantsin vivo showed appearances characteristic of its histogenesis. The tubular epithelium from the nephron of month-old animals showed manifestations of tissue growth and formed atypical kidney structures, reflecting its ability to undergo tissue and organotypical differentiation. It is concluded that the epithelium of the renal nephron has a wide range of reactive and plastic properties and is capable of organotypical determination.Department of Histology and Embryology, Tyumen' Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR I. V. Toroptsev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 10, pp. 477–480, October, 1977.     

Reactive properties of epi- and perineurium: Experimental and morphological basis for nerve suture technique

Epi- and perineurium were examinedin vitro and during regeneration after mechanical damage. Epithelial type of culture growth and reparative regeneration of the perineurium were established, connective tissue of the epineurium served as the substrate and trophic factor in these processes. We used histogenetic method of coaptation and of epi- and perineural micosutures in a damaged nerve trunk. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 8, pp. 211–215, August, 2000     

Reexpression of cytokeratin-19 in a primary human hepatocyte culture

Isolated human hepatocytes cultured in liver biomatrix express cytokeratins 8 and 18. By the end of the first and during the second week in culture, hepatocytes, express these cytokeratins and react with antibodies to cytokeratin-19. Cytokeratin-7 was found in individual cholangiocytes contaminating the culture. The presence of cytokeratin-19 in hepatocytes during the second week of culturing can be regarded as its reexpression. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 7, pp. 118–120, July, 1998     

Age-specific effects of insulin on the secretion of somatotropic hormone

It is shown that insulin is able to alter the secretion of somatotropic hormone directly at the level of the pituitary. The direction of the regulatory effect of insulin depends on the age of the animals donating the pituitary cells, while the intensity of the effect of insulin is largely modulated by glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, № 3, pp. 304–306, March, 1994 Presented by Yu. A. Pankov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.     

Stability of minisatellite loci in the genome of cultured hela cells

The stability of minisatellite loci representing DNA with the tandem organization of repeats is studied. DNA profiles of 194 HeLa clones are identical to the parent culture. They exhibit 36 bands detectable by the minisatellite probe Red4. Since the method ensures the record of changes in minisatellite loci appearing during the first two divisions of parent cell, mutations are assessed in 27,936 locus tests. Hence, the incidence of mutations in the culture is not higher than 3.5×10⁻⁷ per locus/per mitosis, providing that the number of generations in parental homogenous culture is taken into account. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimetal'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 9, pp. 311–313, September, 1996     

Effect of a suboptimal temperature on the mitotic regime

Keeping Chinese hamster cells for 2 h at a suboptimal temperature (21°C) leads to a fall in the mitotic index and delay of division at the metaphase state. Cooling cause a sharp increase in the number of pathological mitoses, mainly as a result of injury to the mitotic apparatus: C mitoses and dispersion of the chromosomes in metaphase. After transfer of the cells to optimal temperature conditions the mitotic regime is completely restored after 1 h, but at this time the number of pathological mitoses is still appreciably greater than in the control.Laboratory of Cytology, Institute of Human Morphology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 2, pp. 216–218, February, 1977.