Antisperm antibodies and lymphocyte subsets in semen—not a simple relationship

The significance of white blood cells in the ejaculate remains a matter of controversy. Several authors have suggested that such cells are important in the modulation of an antisperm antibody response, i.e. a predominance of suppressor/cytotoxic to helper/inducer T cells may prevent the development of antisperm antibodies. In order to examine this relationship further we have documented the white blood cell types, with emphasis on the T-lymphocyte populations, in the ejaculates of men from infertile couples with and without antisperm antibodies; the latter group was divided further into two groups--vasovasostomized men and idiopathic men. All seven of the men without antisperm antibodies had a predominance of suppressor/cytotoxic T cells to helper/inducer T cells in the ejaculate. However, only in some of the men with antibodies was there a predominance of T-helper/inducer cells. It is clear that the relationship between antisperm antibodies and seminal leucocytes is therefore not as straightforward as has been proposed.     

Lectin-induced increase in clonogenic growth of haematopoietic progenitor cells

Abstract: The galactoside-specific plant lectin, Viscum album agglutinin (VAA-I) increases cellular parameters of natural host defence. It also binds to a variety of haematopoietic cells, including progenitors. We investigated whether VAA-I has a stimulatory effect on haematopoietic progenitor cells. Peripheral blood progenitor cells from 7 healthy volunteers were cultured in a colony assay with VAA-I plus erythropoietin (EPO) and stem cell factor (SCF). At 50 pg/ml VAA-I induced a significant increase in the cytokine-dependent clonogenic growth (52% in median, p<0.05). In another set of experiments purified CD34+ cells were isolated from the bone marrow aspirate of 4 patients with non-metastatic breast cancer using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Binding to CD34+ cells was demonstrated by using directly fluorescence-conjugated VAA-I. Co-incubation with d -galactose significantly abrogated this effect. CD34+ cells were cultured in the presence of EPO, SCF, interleukin-3, granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. VAA-I alone had no measurable effect on the clonogenic growth of the isolated cells. However, at concentrations of 100 and 250 pg/ml VAA-I increased the cytokine-dependent proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ cells by a median of 75 and 85%, respectively. The results show that VAA-I binds to haematopoietic progenitor cells and has a co-stimulatory effect on their proliferation.     

人酪氨酸羟化酶基因真核表达载体的构建及在哺乳动物细胞中的表达

用限制性内切酶EcoRI从pKS(-)HTH_1切下全长为1.9 kb的人酪氨酸羟化酶基因,在T_4DNA连接酶的作用下连接在真核表达载体pCDNA_3的EcoR Ⅰ位点,构建成重组质粒pcD-NA_3HTH_1,该质粒转染COS-7细胞,免疫荧光组织化学染色证实酪氨酸羟化酶在其中的表达。     

Migratory, invasive and metastatic capacity of NCAM transfected rat glioma cells

A cDNA encoding a transmembrane 140 kDa isoform of the neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM, was transfected into the rat glioma cell line BT4Cn. Transfectants with a homogeneously high expression of NCAM-B showed a decreased capacity for penetration of an artificial basement membrane when compared to cells transfected with expression-vector alone or untransfected cells. However, when injected subcutaneously into nude mice, both NCAM expressing cells and control cells produced invasive tumors. Nude mice injected with NCAM positive cells developed tumors with slower growth rates as compared to those induced by NCAM negative cells. This implies that NCAM may not only be involved in adhesive and motile behaviour of glioma cells, but also in their growth regulation.     

用大肠杆菌CM89菌株对三种化学物抗突变作用的研究

本文以 E.coli CM891为靶细胞,用细菌内抗突变作用模式研究了肉桂醛,鞣酸,二烯丙三硫的抗4NQO 突变性及其作用机制。含质粒 pKM101的 CM891的高抗株(抗50μg/ml 氨苄青霉素)能提高该菌株的自发突变率和4NQO 诱发的突变率以及对鞣酸的杀伤抗性。肉桂醛的抗突变性不依赖质粒 pKM101效应,但与暂时性生长延搁有关。鞣酸及二烯丙三硫的抗突变机制可能包括质粒 pKM101介导的易误修复。上述三种化学物中每二种联合应用均显示抗4NQO 突变性的协同效应及对靶细胞的毒性杀伤作用。     

Cytoprotective actions of 2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene anabaseine in differentiated PC12 cells and septal cholinergic neurons

The potential cytoprotective actions of a novel nicotinic agent 2,4-dimethoxybenzilidene anabaseine (DMXB) were investigated in differentiated PC12 cells and transected rat septal cholinergic neurons in vivo. In NGF-differentiated PC12 cells, removal of both NGF and serum led to cell loss, a reduced % of cells expressing neurites, the release of lactate dehydrogenase, and a decrease in total cellular protein. Cell loss was apparent within 24 h, and remained constant between 4–8 days post-NGF removal. NGF alone (100 ng/ml), DMXB (10 μM), but not nicotine (10 μM), prevented these cell and neurite losses. DMXB-induced cytoprotection was blocked by 1 μM mecamylamine. DMXB (1 mg/kg, ip) injected twice but not once per day protected cholinesterase-staining septal neurons from retrograde degeneration following unilateral fimbrial transections. The twice per day DMXB injection-protocol also decreased cell roundness among cholinesterase-staining cells in the lesioned septal hemisphere compared to saline-injected animals. These studies suggest that DMXB may exert cytoprotective activity in NGF-sensitive neuronal populations. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Chlormethiazole, dizocilpine and haloperidol prevent the degeneration of serotonergic nerve terminals induced by administration of MDMA (‘Ecstasy’) to rats

An investigation has been made into the effect of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘Ecstasy’) administration on the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), uptake of [³H]5-HT and [³H]paroxetine binding in rat cerebral cortex tissue. Four days after 2 injections of MDMA (20 mg/kg i.p., 6 hr apart) the concentrations of 5-HT and its metabolite 5-HIAA were reduced by 60%. The binding of [³H]paroxetine to the presynaptic 5-HT transporter was decreased and high affinity uptake of [³H]5-HT was reduced by a similar amount, indicating neurodegeneration of 5-HT terminals. Pretreatment with chlormethiazole (100 mg/kg i.p.), 10 min before each MDMA injection prevented the decrease in both [³H]parotextine binding and uptake of [³H]5-HT. The loss in 5-HT and 5-HIAA content was also attenuated. Pretreatment with dizocilpine (1 mg/kg i.p.) or haloperidol (2 mg/kg i.p.) also prevented the MDMA-induced loss of [³H]paroxetine binding and attenuated the loss of 5-HT and 5-HIAA content. All three compounds also decreased the degree of hyperthermia that follows MDMA administration, although previous studies suggest that the long term neurodegeneration is not associated with the acute hyperthermic response. These data support the findings of others that MDMA injection produces degeneration of 5-HT nerve terminals in the cortex, confirm that chlormethiazole, dizocilpine and haloperidol attenuate MDMA-induced neurotoxic loss of 5-HT and demonstrate for the first time that these compounds prevent the neurodegeneration of 5-HT nerve terminals that follows MDMA administration.     

汤岗子矿泉浴对大鼠血液皮质醇及甲状腺素日生物周期节律影响的实验观察

本文报告大鼠分别在6时、12时、18时、24时接受汤岗子矿泉38～39℃浸浴15分钟后,立即断头取血测定血液皮质醇及甲状腺素(T_4)。在6时、24时的矿泉浸浴组大鼠血浆皮质醇比对照组明显升高。在12时、18时矿泉浸浴组大鼠血清T_4比对照组明显升高。说明肾上腺皮质及甲状腺功能对全身矿泉浸浴热刺激的反应也遵循日周期节律。为矿泉治疗的时间生物学理论提供依据。     

New monoclonal antibodies reacting with bile ducts: further insights into the pathogenesis of bile ductular proliferation in biliary diseases.

We have produced a range of monoclonal antibodies which stain human intrahepatic bile ducts of different sizes. Amongst 26 monoclonal antibodies produced, five clones reacted specifically with bile ducts of different sizes, of which three have been maintained in culture and their viability following freezing and thawing confirmed. Staining patterns varied between normal adult liver tissue, normal fetal liver tissue and a variety of hepatobiliary diseases. The antibodies provide further evidence of the immunological heterogeneity of the human intrahepatic biliary tree and support the hypothesis that proliferating bile ductules are derived from periseptal hepatocytes. The preparation of the antibodies, their staining reactions in normal adult, normal fetal and a variety of liver diseases are described.