Effects of prostaglandins on the adenylate cyclase activity of lungs from fetal rabbits

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and PGI2 stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in lungs from fetal rabbits (29 days of gestation) with EC50 values of 4.4 and 2.6 X 10(-7) M, respectively. PGE2, PGD2, PGF2 alpha, and 6-oxoPGF1 alpha are active only at much higher concentrations. The response of adenylate cyclase to PGE1 rises gradually from 16% to 60% above basal between days 21-26 of gestation. Between days 26-27 of gestation, there is a sharp increase in stimulated activity to 120% above basal (P < 0.001). This level is maintained until 3 days after birth. A further increase was observed 8 days after birth. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase by fluoride increases gradually from about 100% to nearly 400% above basal activity between 21 days of gestation and 8 days after birth. During this time there are no significant changes in basal activity. The increased response of adenylate cyclase to PGE1 between days 26-27 of gestation occurs at a time when unbound plasma cortisol and synthesis of pulmonary surfactant start to increase in the fetal rabbit. It is possible that cortisol sensitizes adenylate cyclase to prostaglandins, which could explain some of the its actions on surfactant synthesis.     

Estrogen and progesterone receptors in primary cutaneous melanoma

Using a variety of techniques, estrogen and progesterone receptors have previously been identified in variable percentages of malignant melanomas. We examined 10 primary superficial spreading melanomas (SSM) with a fluorescent hormone-binding technique for estrogen and progesterone cytoplasmic receptors. Of these 6 SSM were markedly positive for estrogen and progesterone binding. Patients with dysplastic nevus syndrome (DNS) or a family history of DNS were markedly positive for estrogen and progesterone binding. A single patient with lentigo maligna and another patient with lentigo maligna melanoma were negative for estrogen and progesterone binding. None of the 21 control intradermal nevi examined for estrogen and progesterone binding exhibited marked positivity.     

The effect of arteriovenous malformation resection on cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide

To investigate the cerebral hemodynamic changes associated with obliteration of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), we studied 26 patients undergoing total microsurgical AVM resection during isoflurane and N2/O2 anesthesia. Detectors were placed 5 to 6 cm from the margin of the lesion and in a homologous contralateral position. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured using the intravenous xenon-133 technique before and after AVM resection, during both hypocapnia and normocapnia at each stage. Intraoperative changes in CBF were related to a risk score system based on the patient's history and preoperative angiograms. Seven otherwise healthy patients undergoing spinal surgery were studied to control for anesthetic effects. Patient demographic and clinical data for the AVM group conformed to the expected strata of a large AVM population. The CBF increased after excision (22 +/- 1 ml/100 g/min before excision to 30 +/- 2 ml/100 g/min after excision; mean +/- SE, n = 25, P less than 0.002) without a hemispheric difference. CO2 reactivity increased slightly after excision (4.2 +/- 0.3% change/mm Hg before excision to 4.7 +/- 0.3% change/mm Hg after excision; n = 14, P less than 0.02). The baseline CBF and CO2 reactivity were not different from the control group. There was a weak correlation between the risk score and the percentage of change in the ipsilateral CBF, with a trend for the patients with the lowest risk to have the lowest CBF changes after resection. There was no relationship between CO2 reactivity and risk grade. None of the patients awoke from anesthesia with unexpected neurological deficits. The highest CBF increases were associated with postoperative brain swelling in one patient and fatal intracerebral hemorrhage in another. Both patients had normal CO2 reactivity before excision. One patient suffered postoperative intracerebral hemorrhage, attributable to technical problems, and had no increase in CBF. We conclude that, with an acute increase in the arteriovenous pressure gradient (and cerebral perfusion pressure) that results from shunt obliteration, there is an immediate global effect of AVM resection to increase CBF. Cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2 remains intact both before and after excision.     

Human islet cell adenoma: Metabolic analysis of the patient and of tumor cells in monolayer culture

Cell cultures were established from a benign pancreatic islet adenoma. Over 200 muU/culture/day immunoreactive insulin were found in culture media. Cultures with medium 199 released insulin for about 2 months; those with medium F12K were maintained for over 7 months, and have been successfully subcultured. Increasing culture medium glucose to 326 mg per 100 ml, alone or with leucine (10 mM) or theophylline (2 mM), failed to increase insulin release above baseline. Studies in the patient prior to surgery using oral glucose, leucine, beef meal, intravenous tolbutamide, and glucagon failed to increase plasma insulin and thus were consistent with cell culture responses. Extracts of tumor tissue contained 23% proinsulin-like material; high insulin containing samples of culture medium had 5% proinsulin and less than 40 pg glucagon/ml. Aldehyde fuchsin positive granulation was sparse in both cultured cells and the original tumor. These studies demonstrate long term viability, in monolayer culture, of cells derived from this islet cell adenoma, with retention of secretory characteristics consistent with data obtained prior to removal of the adenoma from the patient.     

Antitumor and Radiosensitizing Effects of Withaferin a on Mouse Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma in vivo

The antitumor and radiosensitizing effects of withaferin A (WA), a steroidal lactone from Withania somnifera, was studied on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in vivo. The acute LD₅₀₍₁₄₎ for WA in Swiss mice was ∼ 80 mg/kg. Twenty-four hours after i.p. inoculation of 10⁶ tumor cells, WA was injected i.p. at different dose fractions (5 or 7.5 mg/kg × 8, 10 mg/kg × 5, 20 or 30 mg/kg × 2) with or without abdominal gamma irradiation (RT, 7.5 Gy) after the first drug dose. Increase in life span and tumor-free survival were studied up to 120 days. The drug inhibited tumor growth and increased survival, which was dependent on the WA dose per fraction rather than the total dose. Combination of RT with all the drug schedules increased tumor cure and tumor-free survival, the best effect seen after 2 fractions of 30 mg/kg each. In another experiment WA was given as 2 (40 mg/kg × 2), 3 (30 mg/ kg × 3) or 4 (20 mg/kg × 4) fractions at 5, 7 or 10 days after tumor inoculation with or without RT after the first drug dose. At 7 and 10 days after inoculation the drug was effective only at 40 mg/kg × 2, but with RT 30 mg/kg × 3 produced an equal effect (20% survival) on 7 day old tumors.     

Thrombospondin 1 and its specific cysteine-serine-valine-threonine-cysteine-clycine receptor in fetal wounds.

Thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1), an adhesive glycoprotein, plays an important role in platelet adhesion, inflammation, cell-cell interaction, and angiogenesis. TSP-1 is expressed by endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages. The unique cysteine-serinevaline-threonine-cysteine-glycine (CSVTCG) binding domain of TSP-1 also plays an important role in cell binding and modulation of cellular processes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate histologically and quantitatively TSP-1 and its CSVTCG receptor in fetal skin wounds over time. Pregnant ewes underwent laparotomy and hysterotomy. At 65 days gestation (term, 145 days), incisional and excisional wounds were created on the fetal back in a similar position on each animal. The uterus and laparotomy were closed. The wounds were harvested on days 1, 3, 7, 21, and 28. Expression of TSP-1 and its CSVTCG receptor was evaluated immunohistochemically and quantitated by computer image analysis in units of absorbance. Immunoglobulin G (negative) controls were performed and subtracted from the TSP-1 sample to eliminate background absorbance readings. Serum (negative) control was used for the CSVTCG receptor. Platelet concentrates were used as the positive control: TSP-1, 63.43; CSVTCG, 58.72. Results are expressed as absorbance+/-SEM. Results of TSP-1 are as follows: day 1, 33.02+/-0.26; day 3, 22.21+/-0.14; day 7, 20.56+/-1.07; day 21, 7.76+/-0.40; and day 28, 5.99+/-0.03. TSP-1 displays an early peak during fetal skin repair, followed by a steep decrease over the viewed time period. Results of CSVTCG receptor are as follows: day 1, 26.19+/-2.43; day 3, 30.20+/-0.64; day 7, 24.56+/-0.80; day 21, 24.70+/-0.40; and day 28, 21.65+/-1.39. Thus, CSVTCG receptor displays a slowed decrease in expression over time during fetal repair. No significant differences were noted between incisional and excisional samples. Temporal and histological differences exist in the localization and expression of TSP-1 and its CSVTCG receptor during fetal wound repair. TSP-1 is upregulated in tissues early. This corresponds with the known role of TSP-1 in cell-cell interaction, including potentiation of growth factor activity. TSP-1 also modulates matrix, allowing scar-free provisional matrix in the earlier stages of repair deposited by platelets. The potentiation of cell-associated protease activity by TSP-1 can support tissue and matrix turnover. This activity of TSP-1 may contribute to the formation of a scarless wound. TSP-1 destabilizes extracellular matrix contacts, and facilitates mitosis and migration. The action of TSP-1 as an adhesive protein allows numerous different cells to adhere to the extracellular membrane. CSVTCG receptor expression decreases during fetal repair as the cells migrate to the epithelial surface, suggesting a significant role of the CSVTCG receptor in keratinocytic maturation, differentiation, and epithelization.