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 TaqI polymorphism in the 3'UTR of the IL-12 p40 gene correlates with increased IL-12 secretion

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a key cytokine for the induction of Th1 immune responses. We evaluated whether a TaqI polymorphism in the 3'UTR of the IL-12 p40 gene affects secretion of IL-12 in vitro, and whether this polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to Crohn's disease (CD). IL-12 p40 and p70 secretion by monocytes in relation to genotype was determined in 63 healthy donors. Genotype and allele frequencies of the TaqI polymorphism in 150 CD patients were compared with 145 ethnically matched healthy controls (HC). No significant association was found between genotype and IL-12 p40 secretion after stimulation of monocytes with SAC+IFNgamma. In contrast, increasing IL-12 p70 secretion was found across the categories of non-carriers, heterozygotes and homozygotes for the variant allele (median values+/-SEM: 147+/-27, 282+/-51 and 482+/-34 pg/ml, respectively; P<0.005). The allele and genotype frequencies of this polymorphism in patients with CD did not differ statistically significantly from HC. The presence of a TaqI polymorphism in the IL12 p40 3'UTR correlates with increased in vitro IL-12 p70, but not p40 secretion. While this polymorphism does not appear to be correlated with susceptibility to CD in the limited population of patients tested here, it could influence the occurrence of the disease in certain subsets of patients.     

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.     

RPG1: an essential gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encoding a 110-kDa protein required for passage through the G1 phase

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells a number of genes are required for progression through, or else to pass beyond, the G₁ phase. We characterized a novel gene, RPG1, which is also involved in this phase. RPG1 is an essential gene encoding a 110-kDa evolutionarily conserved protein. Elutriated or α-factor-synchronized cells of the rpg1-1 temperature-sensitive mutant were arrested in the first cell cycle when shifted to a non-permissive temperature. The cells remained unbudded and neither grew nor duplicated DNA. rpg1-1 cells synchronized in S phase completed mitosis and arrested as unseparated G₁ cells after a shift to a non-permissive temperature. Similarly, the asynchronous rpg1-1 cells accumulated in G₁ at the non-permissive temperature, but mother and daughter cells did not separate. A bulk of Calcofluor-stained material was localized in the region adjacent to the cell septum. Our data show that Rpg1p is required for passage through the G₁ phase and may be involved in growth control. Data published recently indicate that Rpg1p exhibits significant sequence similarity to a subunit of the mammalian translation initiation factor 3. Received: 6 October 1997 / 8 November 1997     

Analysis of the renal tissue of a woman chronically exposed to cadmium

Summary In a 61-year-old woman, who had been exposed for 20 years to cadmium in the production of Ni-Cd batteries, nephrectomy of the contracted kidney was performed. The removed kidney was examined histologically and the cadmium concentration was determined in the cortex (44.97 g g^–1) and in the medulla (7.71 g g^–1). The homogenates of the renal cortex and medulla were subjected to gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. In the cortex, as well as the medulla, cadmium was predominantly found in the low-molecular (metallothionein) fraction, but in the cortex, Cd content in this fraction was six times higher than in the medulla. The determination of SH groups and proteins in high- and low-molecular fractions indicates an induction of the metallothionein formation primarily in the renal cortex.     

Damage and repair of the immature rat cerebellum after cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum II (cis-DDP) treatment. An ultrastructural study

Summary The aim of this electron microscopy study was to further investigate the effects of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (cis-DDP) on the cerebellum of the immature rat. Ten-day-old animals were treated with cis-DDP subcutaneously and killed after 1, 7, 15 or 21 days. On postinjection day 1, cis-DDP effects were evident mainly in the external granular layer, with nuclear damage in many dividing cells, while their cytoplasm appeared to be less affected. Some binucleate cells were also present. On the contrary, in postmitotic or more differentiated cells, only cytoplasmic alterations were found. At later stages (postinjection day 7), the frequency of damaged cells in the external granular layer decreased, but there was a cellular deficit in the internal granular layer. Many postmitotic neurons underwent coagulative necrosis. Finally (postinjection days 15 and 21), the cellular deficit was partly compensated for by reactive structures, e.g., glial cell fibers, which underwent hypertrophy after initial edema. Moreover, packing densities of Bergmann astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were higher.This study is a part of the scientific exchange program Proliferation and differentiation of normal and tumor cells between the Italian National Research Council and the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences     

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.     

An outbreak of Plasmodium vivax malaria among heroin users in Spain

We report the first outbreak of induced malaria among heroin users in Spain, and the first one caused by Plasmodium vivax in Europe. Five drug addicts from Madrid, who had never travelled to endemic areas, were admitted to hospital with fever and splenomegaly. Four had P. vivax malaria with low parasitaemia, ranging from 1 to 3% red blood cells. The fifth case was considered a "seropositive contact" because he had fever and positive malaria indirect fluorescent antibody test but negative blood smear. The source of infection was a young drug addict, who had often travelled to Equatorial Guinea. Another heroin user with a diagnosis of malaria refused to be admitted to our hospital for further study. All had shared contaminated injection equipment. Treatment with chloroquine was effective and none had recrudescence of malaria during a mean follow-up of six months. Drug addicts with unexplained fever may have been infected by malaria transmitted by sharing injections.     

Central mediation of the conditioned taste aversion induced in rats by harmaline

The assumption that drugs used as unconditioned stimuli in conditioned taste aversion (CTA) studies act centrally was tested by comparing the effects of systemic and intracerebral injections of harmaline hydrochloride (H) in 340 rats. Intraperitoneal injection of 5–20 mg/kg but not of 2.5 mg/kg H administered 5 min after 15-min saccharin (0.1%) drinking decreased saccharin-water preference in a two-choice retention test, performed 48 h later, from 55% to 20%. Since CTA was not diminished when H (10 mg/kg) was injected into rats anesthetised immediately after saccharin drinking by pentobarbital (40 mg/kg), H (1.7–50 g) was administered intracerebrally to anesthetised rats fixed in the stereotaxic apparatus. Injection of 3–6 g H into the inferior olive elicited CTA comparable to that of systemic injection of 10 mg/kg H. Injections of 6 and 50 g H into cerebellum and bulbar reticular formation elicited weaker CTA while neocortical, hypothalamic and mesencephalic applications were ineffective. CTA could also be elicited when 50 g but not 6 g H was injected into the inferior olive 1 or 2 h after saccharin drinking. This delay-dependent effect and failure of non-contingent H administration to change saccharin preference indicates that the H-induced CTA is not contaminated by a non-specific increase in neophobia. It is concluded that H probably elicits CTA by activation of caudal bulbar structures, including the nucleus of the solitary tract, area postrema and lateral reticular formation.