Antibodies against rabbit red blood cells in murine serum and their effect on the activity of complement alternative pathway

Antibody content against rabbit red blood cells (anti-RaRBC) in murine sera of different strains (Swiss, CBA, C57BL/6, AKR, BALB/c) and activity of complement alternative pathway (AP) were investigated. In contrast to the CBA and C57BL/6, random-bred Swiss strain and inbred BALB/c and AKR strains are good producers of these natural antibodies. There is no correlation between AP activity and anti-RaRBC content. Isolated human anti-RaRBC antibodies, IgM and IgG classes, lead to the enhancement of APhu and APmo activity, contrary to the murine anti-RaRBC which belong solely to IgM class, and do not express this capability.     

Work-induced potassium changes in skeletal muscle and effluent venous blood assessed by liquid ion-exchanger microelectrodes

Using liquid ion-exchanger semimicroelectrodes with a side pore, we measured changes of extracellular potassium concentration (K_e ⁺) in adult rabbit and cat gastrocnemius muscles and in venous effluent blood flowing from the cat gastrocnemius muscle during various bouts of activity induced by sciatic nerve stimulation.

Der p-Phenylendiamin(PPD)-Oxydasetest als eine Laboratoriumsmethode zur Diagnostik der Hyperthyreose

Zusammenfassung Bei 31 unbehandelten Hyperthyreosekranken wurde die p-Phenylendiamin(PPD)-Oxydaseaktivität und die Kupferkonzentration im Serum und gleichzeitig der Grundumsatz bestimmt. Der Grundumsatz lag bei allen Patienten über der Normgrenze. Die PPD-Oxydaseaktivität und der Serumkupferspiegel sind signifikant erhöht gefunden worden. Demzufolge scheint die PPD-Oxydasebestimmung im Serum ein guter Hinweis für die Diagnose unbehandelter Hyperthyreosen zu sein.Weiterhin wurden dieselben Untersuchungen bei Hyperthyreosekranken vor und während der Therapie mit einzelnen Thyreostatica der Thiouracilgruppe durchgeführt. Dabei konnte eine Verminderung von PPD-Oxydaseaktivität und Kupfergehalt im Serum, parallel zur Grundumsatzverminderung, beobachtet werden, sofern die Thyreostatica in genügenden Dosen angewandt wurden. Die Bestimmung der PPD-Oxydaseaktivität erscheint daher auch zur Beurteilung des Therapieeffekts und zur Ermittlung der therapeutischen Dosis von Wert zu sein.     

Proliferative activity in benign and neoplastic prostatic epithelium

The increasing availability of means for the early detection of prostatic cancer has brought under scrutiny the criteria used for prognosis and emphasized our limitations in understanding what determines the rate of progression in these cancers. The rate of cancer cell proliferation has been under intense investigation, which, however, has yielded conflicting results. In this study we evaluated the proliferative activity of benign and neoplastic prostatic epithelium, using various existing methodologies. We first analysed the variability introduced by the methodological approach and then attempted to demonstrate whether determination of the proliferative capacity had any clinical consequence that complemented the histological grading. Tissue samples from patients, 88 with cancer and 46 with benign prostatic pathology, were studied using in vitro bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation as well as Ki67 and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) to estimate the proliferative activity. Increased proliferation was found consistently in inflammation and metaplasia, but not in hyperplasia. In contrast, cancers showed marked variability. Although average proliferation indices increased with grade, there was a wide scatter of values. Correlation was stronger with stage, but also depended on the methodology. Bromodeoxyuridine indices over 10 per mille had a positive predictive value of 79 per cent for cancers extending beyond the prostatic capsule and may prove particularly helpful for evaluating patients with grade 7 cancer. This observation is significant, since grade 7 cancers are the most frequent and the least predictable.     

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1) Strain HSZP Host Shutoff Gene: Nucleotide Sequence and Comparison with HSV-1 Strains Differing in Early Shutoff of Host Protein Synthesis

The UL41 gene of the HSZP strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) defective with respect to the early shutoff of host protein synthesis was sequenced and compared with the corresponding HSV-1 strain KOS and 17 gene sequences. In comparison with strain 17, nine mutations (base changes) were HSZP specific, five KOS specific and four were common for both strains. Nine mutations caused codon changes. Three of these mapped to the nonconserved regions and the others to the conserved regions of the functional map of UL4l gene. One KOS specific mutation mapped to the region responsible for the binding of the virion host shutoff (vhs) protein to the alpha-transinducing factor (VP16). The possible relationship between mutations and host shutoff function is discussed. The nucleotide sequence data of the UL41 gene of HSZP and KOS have been submitted to the Genbank nucleotide database and have been assigned the accesion numbers Z72337 and Z72338. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ultrastructure of the normal adult human female prostate gland (Skene’s gland)

The predominant cells of female prostatic glands lining their lumen were found to be tall cylindrical secretory cells with short stubby microvilli, protuberances of the apical cytoplasm, and with bleb formation. Abundant secretory vacuoles and granules, rough endoplasmic reticulum, developed Golgi complexes and numerous mitochondria are characteristic of their active secretory configuration with apocrine (apical blebs) and merocrine (secretory vacuoles and granules) type of secretion. Basal (reserve) cells were seen to be located between the secretory (luminal) cells and the basement membrane. Their ground cytoplasm is dense with rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Their nuclei, unlike those of secretory cells, possess more peripheral condensed chromatin, denser dispersed chromatin and sporadic nucleoli. Besides the two basic types of mature prostatic cells intermediary cells were also seen, located between the basal and secretory cells or in their close vicinity. Their cytoplasm exhibits numerous profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes. Secretory vacuoles and granules were mostly practically absent (type 1 intermediary cells) so that they resembled basal (reserve) cells. In some of them, however, as in secretory cells, such secretory elements do gradually appear (type 2 intermediary cells). The finding of intermediary cells in the lining of prostatic glands supports the role of basal (reserve) cells in the renewal of cells in glands of the female prostate. The first ultrastructural analysis of the normal female prostate performed by transmission electron microscopy showed that, as in the postpubertal male, the prostatic glands in the adult female display mature secretory and basal cells. The results of the presented study further corroborate the contemporary concept of the female prostate as a functional genitourinary organ.     

A recombinant vaccinia virus expressing hepatitis B virus middle surface protein Restricted expression of HBV antigens in human diploid cells

Summary Several vaccinia virus recombinants inducing the synthesis of the middle surface (M) protein of hepatitis B virus (HBV) were constructed. One of them, denoted vl37, was examined in some detail. The virus replicated nearly to the same extent in various cell lines, viz. human embryo diploid fibroblast LEP and MRC-5 cells, rabbit embryo fibroblast REF cells, TK^– rat RAT-2 cells, and green monkey CV-1 cells. However, the production of M protein was found considerably lower in the human LEP and MRC-5 than in the other cells examined. In addition, the kinetics of M formation were different in these two cell systems, LEP cells lagging significantly behind CV-1 cells. The low-level production of M protein in LEP cells was not increased by repeated vl37 passages in LEP cells, nor by a passage in a laboratory worker accidentally infected with the vl37 virus, nor by shortening the leader sequence preceding the translation initiation codon. The greater part of the M antigen was found to be cell associated, more so in the cells of human than monkey origin. From the major HBV S antigen (HBsAg) isolated from the plasma of chronically infected subjects, the antigen released by cell destruction differed by binding to polymerized human albumin. This property was utilized in ELISA to detect anti-preS2 antibody. Rabbits inoculated intradermally with the vl37 virus developed antibodies reactive in this assay as well as with a synthetic peptide corresponding in the amino acids 14–34 of the NH₂terminus of the HBsAg preS2 region.     

Effect of insulin on sex differences in the intake of glucose solutions in rats

Adult male and female Wistar rats maintained on ad lib diet were given a choice between tap water and a solution of glucose in the concentration of either 5 or 12%. Both sexes exhibited a marked preference for glucose solutions. With the 5% solution the volume intake was similar in both sexes and the total calorie intake was normal. With the 12% solution the volume intake was higher in females than in males, while in both sexes the total calorie intake was increased to a similar (maximum acceptable) level. Treatment with Protamine Zinc Insulin (PZI) in a daily dose of 40 U/kg b.w. markedly increased the intake of the 5% solution in both sexes, but significantly more in females than in males, thus revealing sex differences which were not manifest in untreated rats. PZI treatment had little effect on 12% glucose solution intake, presumably because with this solution the total calorie intake was increased to a maximum already in untreated rats.     

Partial purification and characterization of anhydrotetracycline oxygenase of Streptomyces aureofaciens

Anhydrotetracycline oxygenase was purified both by affinity chromatography and by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Molecular weight of anhydrotetracycline oxygenase was determined to be 115,000 by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. Using preparative isoelectric focusing the isoelectric point of the enzyme was estimated to be 5.3. The enzyme showed a sensitivity to thiol-specific inhibitors. During the hydrophobic interaction purification step, the activity dropped considerably. Reactivation occurred when a heat treated crude extract was added to the reaction mixture.     

Effect of dihydroergosine (DHESN) on the serotoninergic system and behaviour: Is DHESN a new antidepressive agent?

Acute (50.0 mg/kg) and repeated (0.1–10.0 mg/kg) administration of dihydroergosine (DHESN) to rats over 5 days lowered the concentration of 5-HIAA in the brain. DHESN given acutely increased the brain 5-HT in p-CPA-treated animals and diminished the probenecid-induced increase in brain 5-HIAA. In pargyline-treated rats DHESN enhanced the 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio. DHESN administered to rats repeatedly over 5 days decreased the level of 5-HT in blood platelets, and in vitro at concentrations of 10^-4 M and 10^-3 M inhibited the uptake of [¹⁴C]-5-HT in platelets. DHESN (10.0–100.0 mg/kg) potentiated the 5-HT syndrome produced in rats by pargyline and 5-HTP. This potentiation was blocked with cyproheptadine but not with haloperidol. DHESN (1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) lowered the locomotor activity of rats and 10.0 mg/kg DHESN also reduced the duration of immobility in rats forced to swim in a restricted space. The results indicate that DHESN, like antidepressants, decreases the turnover of serotonin in the brain and potentiates the 5-HT-mediated behaviour. This might suggest that the drug should be further investigated for its potential antidepressive properties.