Triterpenes and steroids in seeds of Solanum dulcamara

In seeds of Solanum dulcamara L. the 4,4-dimethylsterols cycloartenol, lanosterol, cycloartanol, 24-dihydrolanosterol, 24-methylenecycloartanol, and 24-methylenelanost-8-en-3beta-ol, the 4alpha-methylsterols 31-norcycloartenol, 31-norlanosterol, 31-norlanost-8-en-3beta-ol, lophenol, cycloeucalenol, obtusifoliol, gramisterol, and citrostadienol and the sterols cholesterol, 24-methylenecholesterol, campesterol, isofucosterol, sitosterol, and stigmasterol were identified by GC and GC/MS. The biosynthesis of these compounds is discussed. Additionally the spirostanoles tigogenin and diosgenin were isolated. The N-analoges spirosolanoles soladulcidine and solasodine were identified by TLC. The seeds contain 28% oil, of which the fatty acid composition has been examined. The predominant fatty acids are linolic acid (18:2) and oleic acid (18:1).     

Urinary Excretion of Cyanidin Glucosides and Glucuronides in Healthy Humans After Elderberry Juice Ingestion

In a pilot study with 6 females and 1 male, themetabolism of various cyanidin glucosides after oraladministration of elderberry juice was investigated. Theanthocyanin metabolites were detected in urinary excretion. Afteringestion of a bolus quantity of 3.57g total anthocyaninsin a 150mL elderberry juice concentrate, 0.053% of theadministered dose was excreted in urine as glucosidically boundcyanidins within the first 5 hours. Only 0.003% ofthe ingested anthocyanin glucosides was excreted as cyanidinglucuronide, suggesting that this conversion step might be ofminor importance in urinary excretion.     

Histopathologic characterization of mammary neoplastic lesions induced with 7,12 dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene in the rat: a comparative analysis with human breast tumors

CONTEXT: The dimethylbenz(alpha)anthracene (DMBA) breast cancer model induced in the rat is used for the study of mammary carcinogenesis because it closely mimics human breast disease. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the histopathologic features of mammary carcinomas induced in the DMBA experimental model, in a manner similar to that used in human pathology, to allow a comparative analysis between both systems. DESIGN: Three experimental series of 20 animals were used. At 53 days of age, a single dose of 5 mg of DMBA per rat was given. Mammary tumors were collected when the rats were killed. Several histopathologic parameters were studied. For grading, the parameters described in the modified Scarff-Bloom-Richardson scheme were used, adapted to rat mammary tumors. RESULTS: More than 50% of the carcinomas presented a pattern grade I, a nuclear grade I or II, and fewer than 10 mitoses/10 high-power fields (P <.05). Although the tumors were generally well differentiated, they showed a range of differentiation. More than 85% of carcinomas did not display tumoral necrosis (P <.05). This feature was observed mostly in high-grade carcinomas. There was no or scanty lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in more than 70% of carcinomas (P <.05). The degree of infiltration increased with the histologic grade. Microcalcifications were found rarely (P <.05). The carcinomas exhibited a mixed structural pattern, most with a predominant cribriform pattern (P <.05). No or light (+) stromal response was seen in most cases (P <.05). Some carcinomas, especially when poorly differentiated, presented a desmoplastic reaction. Most carcinomas presented scanty mast cell infiltration (P <.05), no features of secretion (P <.05), and absence of microcribriform pattern (P <.05). These features were seen more often in low-grade carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the presence of some structural differences, rat mammary adenocarcinomas and the most common human breast carcinomas share several morphologic similarities. Moreover, some features could be related to the aggressive behavior of the tumor. The analysis carried out in this study, similar to that done in human pathology, allows a more extensive understanding of mammary tumors in rats, as well as a more accurate use of this animal model, and has made it possible to develop an innovative classification of rat mammary lesions.     

Expansion and functional activity of Ly-1+ B cells upon transfer of peritoneal cells into allotype-congenic, newborn mice

Transfer of peritoneal cells from adult donors into newborn, allotype-congenic mice led to colonization of the recipient mice by donor-derived B lymphocytes expressing the Ly-1 surface marker (Ly-1 B cells). These cells not only persisted in the recipient mice for at least 5 months, but also increased in number. In contrast, bone marrow-derived stem cells did not or scarcely give rise to B cells after intraperitoneal injection into congenic newborn recipients under the same experimental conditions. Approximately half of the IgM in the serum of peritoneal cell-recipients was produced by donor-derived Ly-1 B cells, suggesting that high levels of serum IgM in a normal mouse are produced by this B cell subpopulation. The transferred Ly-1 B cells were able to respond in a normal fashion to alpha (1----3)dextran, but they did not participate in thymus-dependent and -independent (TI II) immune responses to the hapten (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP). In neither the immune response to alpha (1----3)dextran nor that to NP were we able to detect an influence of the transferred Ly-1 B cells on the selection of the idiotypic repertoire in the recipient mice.     

Alternative macrophage activation is essential for survival during schistosomiasis and downmodulates T helper 1 responses and immunopathology

Macrophage/neutrophil-specific IL-4 receptor alpha-deficient mice (LysM(Cre)IL-4Ralpha(-/flox)) were generated to understand the role of IL-4/IL-13 responsive myeloid cells during Type 2 immune responses. LysM(Cre)IL-4Ralpha(-/flox) mice developed protective immunity against Nippostrongylus brasiliensis accompanied by T(H)2 development and goblet cell hyperplasia. In contrast, LysM(Cre)IL-4Ralpha(-/flox) mice were extremely susceptible to Schistosoma mansoni infection with 100% mortality during acute infection. Mortality was not dependent on neutrophils and occurred in the presence of T(H)2/Type 2 responses, granuloma formation, and egg-induced fibrosis. Death was associated with increased T(H)1 cytokines, hepatic and intestinal histopathology, increased NOS-2 activity, impaired egg expulsion, and sepsis. IL-10 was not able to compensate for the absence of IL-4/IL-13-activated alternative macrophages. Together, this shows that alternative macrophages are essential during schistosomiasis for protection against organ injury through downregulation of egg-induced inflammation.     

Bihemispheric reduction of GABAA receptor binding following focal cortical photothrombotic lesions in the rat brain

Focal brain lesions may lead to neuronal dysfunctions in remote (exofocal) brain regions. In the present study, focal lesions were induced in the hindlimb representation area of the parietal cerebral cortex in rats using the technique of photothrombosis. Photothrombosis occurs after illumination of the brain through the intact skull following intravenous injection of the photosensitive dye Rose Bengal. This resulted in cortical lesions with a diameter of about 2 mm. Quantitative receptor autoradiography was used to study alterations in the density of []muscimol binding sites to GABA_A receptors seven days after lesion induction. A reduced GABA_A receptor binding (−13 to −27% of the control value) was found in layers II and III of remote exofocal regions in the ipsi- and contralateral cortex. The reduction was consistently more intense in the ipsilateral cortical areas than in those of the contralateral hemisphere. Using extracellular recordings, significant correlations between GABA_A receptor binding and paired pulse inhibition could be demonstrated. The present investigation demonstrates that focal brain lesions cause a widespread, functionally effective down-regulation of GABA_A receptors. These postlesional changes may result from lesion-induced alterations in cortical connectivity.     

Über die Wirkung von Koli- und Parakolikulturfiltraten auf den überlebenden Kaninchendarm

European Journal of Pediatrics - Prüfungen der Kulturfiltrate von aus dem Darm gewonnen Coli-und Paracolistämmen bezüglich ihrer Wirkung auf den überlebenden Kaninchendarm...     

Aminochrome Induces Disruption of Actin, Alpha-, and Beta-Tubulin Cytoskeleton Networks in Substantia-Nigra-Derived Cell Line

In previous studies, we observed that cells treated with aminochrome obtained by oxidizing dopamine with oxidizing agents dramatically changed cell morphology, thus posing the question if such morphological changes were dependent on aminochrome or the oxidizing agents used to produce aminochrome. Therefore, to answer this question, we have now purified aminochrome on a CM-Sepharose 50–100 column and, using NMR studies, we have confirmed that the resulting aminochrome was pure and that it retained its structure. Fluorescence microscopy with calcein-AM and transmission electron microscopy showed that RCSN-3 cells presented an elongated shape that did not change when the cells were incubated with 50 μM aminochrome or 100 μM dicoumarol, an inhibitor of DT-diaphorase. However, the cell were reduced in size and the elongated shape become spherical when the cells where incubated with 50 μM aminochrome in the presence of 100 μM dicoumarol. Under these conditions, actin, alpha-, and beta-tubulin cytoskeleton filament networks became condensed around the cell membrane. Actin aggregates were also observed in cells processes that connected the cells in culture. These results suggest that aminochrome one-electron metabolism induces the disruption of the normal morphology of actin, alpha-, and beta-tubulin in the cytoskeleton, and that DT-diaphorase prevents these effects.