Ultrastructural aspects of chondrodystrophia calcificans congenita (syndrome of Conradi-Hünermann)

Summary An ultrastructural study of chondrodystrophia calcificans congenita is reported. Foci of initial calcification of cartilage are characterized by coexistence of three different types of crystals, probably due to abnormal proteoglycan composition of cartilage matrix. The calcification process in chondrodystrophia calcificans congenita is apparently not related to matrix vesicles as it is in normal cartilage.     

大鼠再生肝对二乙基亚硝胺启动作用的敏感性

目的比较再生肝和正常肝对二乙基亚硝胺（ＤＥＮ）启动作用的敏感性。方法以２／３肝叶切除后８周末的大鼠为实验组,正常大鼠为对照组,作如下比较：肝重、常规组织学检查及３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ掺入试验;用修改的Ｓｏｌｔ－Ｆａｒｂｅｒ模型,通过对ＧＧＴ阳性癌前病灶的体视学测量,观察肝脏对ＤＥＮ的启动效应;在体内和体外（无血清原代培养肝细胞）经ＤＥＮ攻击后,以核酸原位缺口标记方法观察肝细胞ＤＮＡ的损伤程度。结果２／３肝叶切除后８周末的实验组肝脏的修复过程已完成,未见肝细胞继续增生的表现;经ＤＥＮ攻击后,实验组肝癌前病灶在数密度和体积密度上都显著高于对照组;无论在体内或体外接受ＤＥＮ攻击后,实验组肝细胞ＤＮＡ的损伤程度都显著大于对照组。结论即使再生过程已经完成,再生肝仍比正常肝具有较高的致癌敏感性,这与再生肝肝细胞在ＤＥＮ攻击后其ＤＮＡ损伤较重相关。     

Electron-autoradiographic study of RNA synthesis in epithelial cells of the renal tubules of albino rats poisoned with mercuric chloride

Department of Biology, Grodno Medical Institute. Department of Pathological Anatomy, A. V. Vishnevskii Institute of Surgery, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR D. S. Sarkisow.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 107, No. 3, pp. 357–360, March, 1989.     

Lectin binding and desmin expression during necrosis, regeneration, and neurogenic atrophy of human skeletal muscle

Changes in the cytoplasm of skeletal muscle fibres during necrosis, regeneration, and neurogenic atrophy have been studied in a wide range of human neuromuscular diseases with a panel of eleven biotinylated lectins and by immunohistochemical staining for the cytoskeletal protein desmin. Increased binding of several lectins was observed in both necrotic and regenerating fibres, with Concanavalin A the most consistently positive lectin. Staining for desmin was strong in the cytoplasm of regenerating and partially damaged fibres and was lost in necrotic fibres, although there were differences in the staining reactions of the two antidesmin antibodies used. In fibres which had undergone neurogenic atrophy, cytoplasmic lectin binding was seen only with Griffonia simplicifolia 1 lectin, and desmin was expressed more strongly than in normal fibres. Lectin binding and immunohistochemical staining from desmin can supplement the information obtained from muscle biopsies by conventional histochemical methods and lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of muscle damage.     

神经生长因子对周围神经损伤后再生和修复的实验研究

手术切除５ｍｍ兔的尺神经，在两断端间连接肌桥并套装硅胶管，形成一个封闭腔，向腔内注入神经生长因子。间隔不同时间取尺神经桥接区、桥接区近段、远段、尺神经的脊髓投射节段和相应脊神经节，用光镜和电镜观察神经溃变和再生情况并作图像分析；用酶标示踪和电生理方法检测神经通路的重建状况。结果显示，周围神经离断后，肌束桥接并用硅胶管套装后注入外源性神经生长因子，可明显地促进离断神经的再生和修复。     

肝再生增强因子对外原性抗原引起机体免疫应答影响的研究

目的 研究rALR对HBsAg及BSA免疫大鼠产生抗体、细胞因子和对脾脏细胞增殖的影响.方法 甲醇诱导表达rALR,测定活性并进行以下研究.①rALR对HBsAg免疫的影响:实验分为:生理盐水、HBsAg20 μg/只、HBsAg20 μg rALR100 μg/kg、HBsAg20 μg rALR 25 μg*kg、HBsAg20 v pPIC9K表达上清、HBsAg20 μg CsA10mg/kg,共6组;②rALR对BSA免疫的影响:实验分为:生理盐水、BSA25 μg/只、BSA25 μg rALR100 μg/kg、BSA25 μg pPIC9K表达上清、BSA25 μg CsA10 mg/kg,共5组.以上均皮下注射免疫大鼠,1次/周×4次,ELISA检测血清中相应抗体、IL-2和IFN-γ.③rALR对大鼠脾细胞增殖的影响:Wisar大鼠先皮下注射HBsAg(20 μg/只)1次,2周后处死,分离脾单核细胞,种板,再加HBsAg 1 μg/孔和/或相应处理因素(rALR、空质粒表达产物等),48h后加3H-TdR,12 h后收集细胞,检测cpm值.结果 rALR100 μg/kg HBsAg组的8只动物中,有2只出现抗HBs的抗体,空质粒对照组和单用HBs Ag组8只动物均出现抗HBs.rALR 100 μg/kg BSA组的8只动物中,有3只出现抗BSA抗体,空质粒对照组和单用BSA组8只动物均出现抗BSA的抗体.rALR 100μg/kg能明显抑制细胞因子IL2及IFN-γ的产生.rALR4μg体外能明显抑制脾细胞的增殖.结论 rALR能抑制HBsAg和BSA诱导大鼠产生相应抗体及IL-2、IFN-γ的产生;体外能抑制经体内致敏的脾细胞的增殖,说明rALR有免疫抑制作用.     

Myelination and remyelination in the regenerating visual system of the goldfish

Summary The remyelination of regenerated optic axons was investigated in goldfish following either optic nerve crush or ouabain retinal intoxication. Axons grown after nerve crushing acquire thinner myelin sheaths than axons originating from reconstituted ganglion cells. If axons of reconstituted ganglion cells are crushed and allowed to regenerate, the subsequent myelination is weaker than that of control axons not interrupted by crushing, but stronger than that of axons of preexisting retinal ganglion cells.The present results suggest that a neuron is capable of inducing a normally developed myelin sheath when its axon contacts an oligodendrocyte the first time, whereas a neuron whose axon contacts an oligodendrocyte the second time is not capable of forming a normal myelin sheath in the adult animal. The present results also support the notion that the oligodendrocyte requires a neuronal signal for myelin sheath formation.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Wo 215/5)     

Fibroblast growth factor-hedgehog interdependence during retina regeneration.

The embryonic chick is able to regenerate the retina after it has been removed. We have previously shown that proliferating stem/progenitor cells present in the ciliary body/ciliary marginal zone (CB/CMZ) of the chick eye are responsible for regeneration, which can be induced by ectopic fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) or Sonic hedgehog (Shh). Here, we reveal the mechanisms showing how FGF2 and Shh signaling are interdependent during retina regeneration. If the FGF pathway is inhibited, regeneration stimulated by Shh is inhibited. Likewise, if the Hedgehog pathway is inhibited, regeneration stimulated by FGF2 is inhibited. We examined early signaling events in the CB/CMZ and found that FGF2 or Shh induced a robust Erk phosphorylation during the early stages of retina regeneration. Shh also up-regulated the expression of several members of the FGF signaling pathway. We show that ectopic FGF2 or Shh overexpression increased the number of phosphohistone 3 (PH3)-positive cells in the CB/CMZ and inhibition of either pathway decreased the number of PH3-positive cells. Additionally, both FGF and Hh signaling are required for cell survival in the CB/CMZ, whereas Hh and not FGF signaling plays a role in maintaining the identity of the retinal progenitor population in this region. Combined, our results support a model where the FGF and Hedgehog pathways work together to stimulate retina regeneration.     

Plasminogen modulation of IL-1-stimulated degradation in bovine and human articular cartilage explants. The role of the endogenous inhibitors: PAI-1,α 2-antiplasmin,α 1-PI,α 2-macroglobulin and TIMP

The studies described here examine the involvement of the fibrinolytic cascade and its endogenous inhibitors in the regulation of activity of matrix metalloproteinases and cartilage degradation related to non-inflammatory joint disease, like osteoarthritis. An interleukin-1-induced model of degradation using [³⁵S]-labeled bovine and human articular cartilage explants was utilized. One goal of these studies was to compare the responses of bovine and human articular cartilage. Degradation was not inhibited by ₁-PI, PAI-1, ₂-macroglobulin, ₂-antiplasmin or TIMP-2, when IL-1 alone was added. Addition of human plasminogen to bovine explants, at concentrations found in human synovial fluid, increased degradation by three to fourfold. Under these conditions, the degradation was inhibited effectively by all of the endogenous inhibitors tested, indicating the presence of a cascade where activated chondrocytes are a source of u-PA. Plasminogen activated by u-PA gives plasmin, which is known to further activate pro-stromelysin. Stromelysin is essential for activation of collegenase. Not only TIMP, but also inhibitors at earlier steps of activation like PAI-1, ₂-antiplasmin, ₁-PI and ₂-macroglobulin inhibited degradation, and could provide cartilage protection in vivo. An experiment with human articular cartilage explants showed that very little or no degradation occurred when human articular cartilage explants were stimulated with interleukin-1 alone. Addition of human plasminogen (at physiologically relevant concentrations) resulted in significant degradation, which was inhibited in the same manner as in bovine explants, by inhibitors of the fibrinolytic cascade and TIMP. TIMP is much more efficient in human explants, indicating the limited participation of human plasmin in the degradation of human cartilage. Although speculative, it is possible that in vivo, cartilage degradation could be promoted not only by TIMP/MMP imbalance, but also accelerated by decreased levels of certain serpins in synovial fluid (e.g. PAIs, ₂-antiplasmin and ₁-PI).accepted by W. B. van den BergWork supported by OsteoArthritis Science Inc., One Kendall Square, Bldg. 200, Cambridge, MA 01139, USA.