Effects of partial hepatectomy on hepatic insulinlike growth factor binding protein-1 expression.

Insulinlike growth factor binding proteins modulate the action of the insulinlike growth factors in various bioassays and may regulate the bioavailability of the insulinlike growth factors in vivo. Because the insulinlike growth factors may influence hepatic regeneration, we have examined the effect of partial hepatectomy on serum insulinlike growth factor binding proteins and on the abundance of insulinlike growth factor binding protein-1 messenger RNA in the liver. All rats were fasted before and after partial hepatectomy or sham operation to avoid the confounding effects of difference in food intake. Using a conventional protocol, 70% of the liver was removed, and groups of four or five rats were killed at different intervals after partial hepatectomy. Sham-operated rats served as controls. Pooled sera from each group of rats were analyzed by ligand blotting with 125I-insulinlike growth factor-I. Liver RNA from individual rats was analyzed by slot-blot and Northern-blot hybridization. A small decrease in the 39- to 42-kD insulinlike growth factor binding protein was apparent in sera from both the sham-operated and partial hepatectomized rats. In contrast, a dramatic increase (fivefold) in the 29-kD serum insulinlike growth factor binding protein (insulinlike growth factor binding protein-1) was apparent only in the partial hepatectomized rats. Hepatic insulinlike growth factor binding protein-1 messenger RNA abundance was significantly increased (1.99 +/- 0.18-fold; p less than 0.05) at 1 hr, reached a peak of 2.32 +/- 0.22-fold (p less than 0.01) at 3 hr after partial hepatectomy and returned to basal levels over the subsequent 6 to 12 hr.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The use of anticlusterin monoclonal antibodies for the combined assesment of human sperm morphology and acrosome integrity

Clusterin is an abundant protein in the human male reproductivetract which appears to be produced by the testis, epididymisand the seminal vesicles. Using monoclonal antibodies and anamplified immunoperoxidase technique, we have identified twoapparently biochemically distinct forms of clusterin on humanspermatozoa. Morphologically abnormal spermatozoa have an extensivesurface coating of conventional 80 kDa native clusterin, butthis form of clusterin is not detectable on normal spermatozoa.Normal spermatozoa, however, contain within the acrosomal capa different form of clusterin, reactive with an anticlusterina-chain antibody. Agglutinated spermatozoa, most of which aregrossly abnormal, were intensely labelled with the antibodyagainst conventional 80 kDa clusterin, suggesting that the ‘clustering’properties of this protein may play a role in the aggregationof abnormal spermatozoa. Anticlusterin monoclonal antibodiesmay be useful for semen analysis. Staining spermatozoa withanticlusterin monoclonal antibodies is a technically simplemethod which provides a visually obvious means of assessingspermatozoa morphology and acrosome status simultaneously. Thecurrent data also suggest that different functions of clusterinin the reproductive tract may be attributed to different molecularforms of the protein.     

Factitious decompression sickness

The diagnosis of decompression sickness is made largely by history; there are few physical findings and no radiographic or laboratory tests to support the diagnosis. We present three cases of factitious decompression sickness in which patients fabricated an appropriate history and underwent compression therapy. Due to the potential severity of decompression sickness and the relative safety of compression therapy, the initiation of therapy must not be delayed in a case of decompression sickness. Once therapy is begun, investigation into the particulars of a suspicious case can be made.