Differential expression of acidic and basic FGF in the rat substantia nigra during development.

Both acidic (aFGF) and basic (bFGF) fibroblast growth factors have been shown to be present in the adult rat ventral mesencephalon and to exert effects on cultured mesencephalic cells. In the present study we have examined the expression of aFGF and bFGF in the rat ventral mesencephalon at various stages of development. bFGF was present at all ages examined [embryonic day 16 (E16) to postnatal day 90 (P90)]. In contrast, aFGF was not detectable at embryonic and early postnatal ages, but was observed at later (P20, P60, P90) postnatal stages. These data suggest that aFGF and bFGF may have functions in mesencephalic dopamine neurones in different stages of development.     

The MTT-assay as a rapid test for cell proliferation and cell killing: application to human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL).

The possibility to use the colorimetric MTT assay for measuring proliferation and cell death of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was studied. In a range from 100,000-800,000 cells/well a linear correlation between the optical signal (OD signal at 570 nm) and the cell number was found. It is necessary to incubate the cells with the MTT at least 2 hours. After stimulation by different PHA concentrations a very good correlation between [3H] thymidine incorporation and MTT assay was found. A comparison of daunomycin cytotoxicity, measurement by trypan blue exclusion and MTT assay, gave also a good correlation between both methods. It can be pronounced that the MTT assay is a suitable method to measure cell proliferation and cell death of human PBL. The assay is easy to handle, a large number of probes can be assayed in a relatively short time and no radioactivity is necessary. For the measurement of the colored product a common ELISA reader can be used.     

Beneficial effect of pharmacological modulation of the GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor on hepatic encephalopathy in the rat: comparison with uremic encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy is ameliorated by drugs acting on the central GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor complex. To investigate whether these effects are specific for hepatic encephalopathy or just reflect a nonspecific arousal reaction, various benzodiazepine antagonists like flumazenil or with inverse agonistic properties (Ro 15-4513, Ro 15-3505) were studied in uremic encephalopathy in rats after bilateral ureteral ligation (n = 20) and compared with hepatic encephalopathy caused by thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure (n = 33). As soon as the animals developed clear signs of metabolic encephalopathy, their motor activity was recorded in an animal activity meter for 10 min. Furthermore, a composite score was calculated by grading various behavioral signs from 0 = absent to 3 = apparently normal. Rats were then injected with coded preparations of Ro 15-4513 (0.5, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg body wt intraperitoneally), flumazenil (2.5, 10, 25 and 40 mg/kg), Ro 15-3505 (10 mg/kg) or vehicle, and the measurements were repeated. The code was broken after the completion of the study. Pretreatment motor activity was decreased both in hepatic and uremic encephalopathy (20.7 +/- 6.4 [S.E.M.] and 41.3 +/- 37.1 movements/10 min). In hepatic encephalopathy motor activity and the composite score were improved both by 5 mg/kg Ro 15-4513 (by 293%, p less than 0.05) and by 10 mg/kg Ro 15-3505 (by 509%, p greater than 0.01), whereas vehicle and flumazenil had no effects. In uremic encephalopathy neither drug was effective in improving the neurobehavioral status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A multivariate study of protective effects of Zn and Cu against nephrotoxicity induced by cadmium metallothionein in rats.

Factorial experimental design was used to study the protective effects of Zn and Cu on cadmium-metallothionein(CdMT)-induced nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats. In the factorial design two levels of Zn (0 and 25 mg/kg body weight), two levels of Cu (0 and 12.5 mg/kg), and two levels of CdMT (0.1 and 0.4 mg of Cd/kg) were used as varied factors. The factorial design was complemented with a center point with all three variables at an intermediate setting, i.e., Zn at 12.5 mg/kg, Cu at 6.25 mg/kg, and CdMT at 0.25 mg Cd/kg. Each of the nine combinations of settings was administered to one of nine groups with six rats in each. Zn and Cu were injected sc 24 hr prior to the injection of CdMT. The concentrations of protein and Ca in urine and Ca in renal cortex were used as effects. The relationship between the experimental design settings and the effects were modeled with multiple regression. The multiple regression analysis revealed that for the high dose of CdMT (i) the enhanced values of protein in urine caused by CdMT injection could be more efficiently reduced by Zn than by Cu, and (ii) excessive Ca in urine and renal cortex could be more efficiently reduced by Cu than by Zn. No significant synergism or antagonism between Cu and Zn was found. These models can be used to estimate the dose levels of Zn and Cu which will reduce the toxic effects of CdMT. The treatment of 20.4 mg/kg Zn, for example, will reduce the effects of 0.4 mg Cd/kg as CdMT on protein in urine, and 2.8 mg/kg Cu will reduce the Ca in urine to the levels of those caused by 0.25 mg Cd/kg (no Zn and Cu). Similarly, the effect of 0.4 mg Cd/kg on Ca level in renal cortex can be reduced to that of 0.28 mg Cd/kg as CdMT by 7.98 mg Cu/kg, which is three times as efficient as Zn. The obtained results might be of importance in understanding the mechanism of cadmium toxicity and the potential risk to the health of the population exposed to cadmium occupationally or environmentally.     

Affinity chromatographic identification and quantitation of blood group A-active oligosaccharides in human milk and feces of breast-fed infants

The finding of large quantities of blood group A-active oligosaccharides in the feces of a blood group A breast-fed infant motivated a search for the origin of these compounds. Using an affinity chromatographic technique, the nature of A-active oligosaccharides in human milk is demonstrated. The amounts of A-active tetrasaccharide (A-tetra) and the Lewis b-active lacto-N-difucohexaose I (LND-I) varied between 19-375 mg/L for A-tetra and 14-710 mg/L for LND-I. Using the same technique, the amounts of A-tetra and LND-I in milk samples from five women of different blood groups were compared with those in the feces of their breast-fed infants. The A-tetra was present only in feces from infants of blood group A or AB mothers and the amount per 24 h corresponded roughly to that in a I-L portion of milk. One of the milk samples was also analyzed for the presence of larger A-active oligosaccharides (A-pentasaccharide, A-hexasaccharide, and A-heptasaccharide). Their amounts were much less as compared to the amounts present in feces. These results indicate that milk is a possible source for the smallest A-tetrasaccharide found in the feces of breast-fed infants, while the larger A-active oligosaccharides might be the result of an intestinal metabolic modification.     

Hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome--E. coli as etiological agent. II. Clinical aspects and epidemiology

In the last few years a group of verotoxinogenic E. coli bacteria has been defined as a causative agent of hemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uremic syndrome. The corresponding toxins (verotoxins, Shiga-like-toxins) released from these bacteria play a key role in the pathogenesis and are responsible for the severity of the respective illness. Therefore, besides the clinical and other paraclinical investigations the detection of SLT-producing E. coli or of the corresponding toxins directly in the stool as early as possible has to be included into strategies for diagnostics and therapy. Moreover, it is necessary to avoid the release of huge amounts of toxins (e.g. by antibiotic therapy) and to take care for suitable measures to neutralize or eliminate the toxins. First isolations of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC, VTEC) in stool samples from patients suffering from diarrhoeal diseases and HUS in the vicinity of Wernigerode demonstrate the necessity for further bacteriological and epidemiological investigations in order to evaluate frequency and importance of these EHEC bacteria in the pediatric praxis.     

Ocular motility in thalidomide embryopathy

Twenty-one individuals, aged 28 to 29 years, with documented thalidomide embryopathy were examined in Sweden. The most noteworthy ophthalmologic finding was the high prevalence of incomitant horizontal strabismus, primarily of the Duane syndrome type. Less frequently seen were cases of both marked abduction and adduction limitation similar to a gaze paresis with no observable fissure changes, as well as a few cases of isolated abduction weakness or inferior oblique under-action. There were many examples of aberrant lacrimation, facial nerve palsy, and ear anomalies combined with horizontal incomitant forms of strabismus. Ear and facial nerve palsies are known to occur with ingestion of thalidomide early in the sensitive period (approximately days 21 to 26 after conception).     

Cervicobrachial syndrome--work and disability.

The subjects in the study were 114 persons receiving a disability pension or referred for disability assessment. They were placed in two groups of 57 persons each, one with marked cervicobrachial syndrome and the other without. The latter group was chosen by the method of equivalent pairs with regard to sex and age. All subjects underwent a clinical examination and a standardized questionnaire was completed. The questionnaire pertained to the state of health, focussing on the amount and type of physical burdening at the workplace and on activities outside the workplace. Sixty-five percent of the subjects were aged from 51 to 60 years. A statistically significant difference was established between earlier occupation and cervicobrachial syndrome. Cervicobrachial syndrome was found in 31.6% of unskilled workers and 12.3% of the controls (P < 0.05). A forced body posture during work was recorded in 74% of the subjects with the syndrome and in 50% of the control subjects (P < 0.05). Repetitive movements at work were reported by a large number of subjects with cervicobrachial syndrome (71.9:49.1%; P < 0.05) who also claimed to strain the arms (84.2:61.4%; P < 0.05) and burden the cervical spine (68.5:40.4%; P < 0.05) during household activities to a significantly greater extent than the controls. A possible preventive approach to the occurrence and progression of cervicobrachial syndrome is discussed.