EFFECTS OF SARAFOTOXIN S6c ON RENAL HAEMODYNAMICS AND URINE FORMATION IN ANAESTHETIZED DOGS

1. The effects of sarafotoxin S6c (S6c), a selective endothelin ETB receptor agonist, on renal haemodynamics and urine formation were examined in anaesthetized dogs. 2. Intrarenal arterial infusion of S6c at a rate of 1 or 5 ng/kg per min produced a transient increase in renal blood flow (RBF), with no change in systemic blood pressure and heart rate; RBF then decreased gradually to below the basal value. There were significant and dose-dependent increases in urine flow and free water clearance and decreases in urine osmolality during S6c infusion, whereas urinary excretion of sodium and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) remained unchanged. Simultaneously, S6c administration elicited a marked increase in urinary excretion of nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, N0₂^? and N0₃^? (UNO*V). 3. In dogs simultaneously administered S6c (5 ng/kg per min) and iV^G-nitro-L-arginine (NOARG; 40 (jig/kg per min), a NO synthase inhibitor, the renal vasodilator effect of S6c was abolished and marked reductions in RBF and GFR were observed. The S6c-induced diuretic action was not affected by NOARG. In the presence of NOARG, there was a small amount of UNO_xV at the basal level and the administration of S6c did not increase UNOxV. 4. These results suggest that an intrarenal arterial infusion of S6c enhances the production of NO in the kidney and that this enhancement contributes to the peptide-induced renal vasodilation. In contrast, it is unlikely that S6c-induced water diuresis is related to NO production stimulated by this peptide.     

In vivo and in vitro anti-tumour response of selenium-protein polysaccharide extracted from rich selenium Agaricus blazei

In this study, the anti-tumour activity of selenium-protein polysaccharide (SPP), a water extract of the rich selenium Agaricus blazei, was tested both in vivo and in vitro. The results of in vivo experiments show that SPP at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg inhibits proliferation of implanted Sarcoma 180 by 22 and 37.69%, respectively, and promotes lymphocyte transformation and natural killer (NK) cells activity in tumour bearing mice. During the in vitro experiment, we treated the tumour and non-tumour bearing mice with SPP, and prepared serum treated with SPP (Serum_SPP). The results show that Serum_SPP, whether from tumour or non-tumour bearing mice, significantly inhibits K562 cells proliferation and induces their apoptosis, and also significantly increases caspase-3 activity of K562 cells. However, the difference in anti-tumour activity of Serum_SPP between tumour and non-tumour bearing mice is significantly different (p<0.01). The results, according to the studies both in vivo and in vitro, imply that SPP extracted from rich selenium A. blazei can inhibit growth of implanted Sarcoma 180 and promote lymphocyte transformation and NK cells activity in vivo. Additionally, Serum_SPP can inhibit proliferation and cause apoptotic morphological changes and the fragmentation of internucleosomal DNA, and increase caspase-3 activity of K562 cells in vitro, which indicates that apoptosis of K562 cells induced by Serum_SPP may be related to up-regulation of caspase-3.     

CO作用后大鼠肺血管细胞增殖和凋亡状况的研究

目的：通过研究CO和低氧作用后大鼠肺血管细胞增殖和凋亡状况，探讨低氧肺动脉高压的发病机制及防治措施。方法：应用免疫组织化学，原位末端标记及Western杂交等方法检测常压低氧大鼠肺血管壁细胞增殖，凋亡及c-myc基因的表达状况。结果：正常组，低氧和锡原卟啉组，低浓度CO和血晶素组大鼠肺动脉均存在增殖和凋亡的阳性细胞，两类细胞在肺内呈不均匀散在分布，低氧和锡原卟啉组大鼠肺血管增殖细胞数显著升高而凋亡细胞数显著减少，细胞增殖凋亡比值分别为对照组的5倍或4倍，而低浓度CO和血晶素组肺血管增殖细胞和凋亡细胞系数均显著增加，细胞增殖凋亡比值均为1．2，c-myc在低氧和锡原卟啉组大鼠肺内表达显著增加，在低浓度CO和血晶素组大鼠肺内表达减少。结论：增殖和凋亡现象共存在于正常和处理大鼠的肺血管细胞中，也许c-myc等基因的异常表达导致了细胞增殖和凋亡的失衡，进而调节了慢性低氧肺血管结构的改建。     

Chy-3 mice are Vegfc haploinsufficient and exhibit defective dermal superficial to deep lymphatic transition and dermal lymphatic hypoplasia.

Recent advances in molecular lymphology and lymphatic phenotyping techniques in small animals offer new opportunities to delineate mutant mouse models. Chy-3 mutant mice were originally named for their chylous ascites, but the underlying lymphatic disorder was not defined. We now re-examined these mice and applied advanced genotyping and lymphatic phenotyping techniques to pinpoint the specific lymphatic defect in this mouse model. We demonstrated that Chy-3 mice carry a large chromosomal deletion that includes Vegfc and narrowed this region by monitoring the heterozygosity of genetic markers. We found that Chy-3 mice not only exhibited chylous ascites but also lymphedema of the hind paws and, in approximately half of the males, lymphedema of the penis. Visual lymphangiography and immunofluorescence staining showed a hypoplastic dermal lymphatic network, whereas the blood vasculature appeared unaffected. This hypoplastic lymphatic network was functional, and all adult Chy-3 mice exhibited a lateral lymphatic pathway directly connecting the inguinal to the axillary lymph node. The dermal superficial to deep lymphatic connections in upper limbs and in all cervical regions were intact and functionally drained the upper body. Lymphatic tracer was not transported from the dermal to the deep truncal lymphatic system in the lower limbs, even though the deep lymphatic vessels and nodes were present and patent. These findings further delineate the lymphatic phenotype of Chy-3 mice, identify a collateral lymph drainage pathway previously undescribed in other genetic models of lymphedema, and demonstrate a predilection for lymphatic abnormalities of the lower limbs.     

Editorial

Aim: Wall stress‐independent signalling pathways were studied for endothelin‐1 (ET‐1)‐induced c‐fos expression in rat intact mesenteric small arteries. Methods: Arteries were kept unmounted in Krebs buffer, equilibrated for 1 h and stimulated with vasoactive substances for 15–60 min. The c‐fos mRNA expression was determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Stimulation with fetal bovine serum (FBS), phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) and ET‐1 caused about a doubling of c‐fos mRNA. The ET‐1‐induced c‐fos expression was steady (15–60 min) and was inhibited by the inhibitor of the ET_A receptor, BQ‐123. Platelet‐derived growth factor‐B, angiotensin II and U46619 did not cause increased c‐fos mRNA levels. The broad specificity inhibitor staurosporine inhibited the response to ET‐1, but inhibitors of Rho‐A kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase had no effect. However, inhibitors to tyrosine kinases, the MAP kinases [extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c‐Jun amino‐terminal kinase, p38], and to conventional protein kinase C showed no inhibition. Consistent with these findings, ET‐1 did not cause activation of ERK1/2, a finding also seen in vessels held under pressure. In contrast, ET‐1‐induced c‐fos expression was inhibited by the calcium chelator BAPTA, suggesting a role for intracellular calcium. This possibility was supported by the finding that raising the extracellular K⁺ concentration caused increased expression of c‐fos in a concentration‐dependent manner. Conclusion: The results suggest that in the absence of wall stress, ET‐1 is able to induce increased expression of c‐fos independent of traditional growth pathways, such as MAP kinase. The mechanism appears to be calcium‐dependent.     

Multiple sites of action of ( +)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine (( +)-3PPP) in blood vessels

Functional effects of the σ ligand, (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(1-propyl)piperidine ((+)-3PPP), were explored in perfused rat tail and rabbit ear arteries in vitro. In the rat tail artery (+)-3PPP inhibited contractile responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation, an effect which was reversed to potentiation by the dopamine D₂ receptor antagonist sulpiride. In the rabbit ear artery, however, (+)-3PPP potentiated contractile responses to nerve stimulation, an effect which was unchanged by sulpiride. In the rat tail artery, blockade of norepinephrine uptake by cocaine and deoxycorticosterone in the presence of sulpiride revealed two additional actions of (+)-3PPP. First, an inhibitory action on the monoamine uptake site was confirmed by direct measurement of [³H]norepmephrine accumulation. Second, at higher concentrations, an action to inhibit contractile responses to adrenergic nerve stimulation was manifested at a still unidentified site. These studies demonstrate that the observed functional effect of (+)-3PPP results from its combined actions on three individual sites with the net effect dependent on the relative densities of these different receptor sites in each type of vessel.     

癌基因c-fOS和c-jun在肝细胞型肝癌中的表达及临床意义

目的:研究癌基因c-fos和c-jun在肝细胞型肝癌中的表达及临床意义.方法:采用免疫组化技术检测10例正常肝组织、23例癌旁异型增生肝组织和31例肝细胞型肝癌组织的癌基因c-fos和c-jun表达,并对两者相关性进行分析.结果:在正常组织中c-fos和c-jun弱表达或不表达;在癌旁异型增生肝组织中c-fos和c-jun的阳性例数分别为15(65.2%)和14(60.9%),染色强度与正常肝组织相比差异有显著性(P＜0.05);在肝细胞型肝癌中c-fos和c-jun阳性例数分别为17(54.8%)和16(51.9%).c-fos和c-jun表达水平与癌组织分化程度有关(P＜0.05),而且二种癌基因在肝细胞型肝癌中表达的协同性较强.结论:c-fos和c-jun癌基因的异常表达可能在肝细胞型肝癌的发生发展中起重要作用;c-fos和c-jun表达水平与肝细胞型肝癌的分化程度有关,可作为判定肝细胞型肝癌恶性程度的重要指标之一.     

Conduction studies in peripheral cat nerve using implanted electrodes: III. The effects of prolonged constriction on the distal nerve segment

Electrophysiological properties were monitored in detail in chronically constricted peripheral nerves by implanted, multicontact nerve cuff electrodes and correlated with morphometric histology in selected cases. The physiological and histological responses in nerve to a range of constricting cuffs of standard sizes were readily graded. The initial response to any significant constriction was a transient, focal conduction slowing or block at the constriction, followed by more protracted distal effects; the latter ranged from loss of excitability consistent with "dying-back" degeneration to reductions in conduction velocity consistent with histologically observed atrophy. Smaller myelinated fibers tended to have similar but less pronounced changes than larger diameter fibers. Recordings from ventral and dorsal roots showed that distal degeneration was more pronounced in motor than in sensory fibers of similar caliber. Electronmicroscopical measurements showed that basal laminas were relatively preserved around even the most atrophic and demyelinated axons. Perimeter measurements of the basal lamina could be used to estimate the diameter of the original nerve fiber.     

运动应激对大鼠胃肠道5-HT免疫反应细胞的影响

目的　探讨力竭游泳对大鼠胃肠道 5 HT免疫反应细胞 (5 HTIR细胞 )的影响。方法　本研究以力竭游泳大鼠为运动模型 ,游泳后即刻取大鼠胃窦、十二指肠、空肠和回肠用免疫组织化学SP法检测 5 HT ,用图像分析系统测定胃肠 5 HTIR细胞数和平均灰度。结果　 (1)游泳后胃窦 5 HTIR细胞数虽与对照组无明显差异 ,但阳性细胞的平均灰度却明显下降 (P <0 .0 5)。 (2 )十二指肠、空肠、回肠 5 HTIR细胞数都明显下降 ,与对照组相比有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5) ,但只有空肠 5 HTIR细胞平均灰度明显增加 ,与对照组间有明显差异 (P <0 .0 5)。结果　胃肠道不同区域 5 HTIR细胞以不同的反应方式应答运动应激。     

Urofacial (Ochoa) syndrome

Between 1965 and 1986 we saw 36 children with enuresis and urinary tract infection in association with “inversion” of facial expression when laughing. Urologic work-up of these patients disclosed characteristic findings of mild neuropathic bladder in all cases, with severe urinary tract damage in most of them. The clear association of distortion in facial expression and neuropathic bladder with resultant damage to the genitourinary tract should prompt urological evaluation of individuals with “inversion” of facial expression. About two thirds of the patients also had moderate to severe constipation. We suggest the term urofacial syndrome for this disorder. The occurrence of the disorder in multiple sibs, normal parents, increased parental consanguinity, and equal sex ratio indicate autosomal recessive inheritance.