Secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor from human luteinized granulosa cells is human chorionic gonadotrophin dependent

Vascularization is a prominent event during corpus luteum formation, providing low density lipoproteins for steroid biosynthesis and enabling transport of secreted steroids. The process of vascularization is controlled by specific regulators. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), otherwise named vascular permeability factor (VPF), induces endothelial cell proliferation as well as angiogenesis in vivo and increases capillary permeability. Here we report the expression of VEGF/VPF mRNA by cultured human luteinized granulosa cells (GC) for at least 10 days. Without HCG VEGF/VPF expression declined after day 4 and by day 10 was reduced to approximately 30% of the value at day 4. However, after culture in the presence of 1 U/ml human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), expression of VEGF/VPF mRNA by GC was four times greater than control experiments by day 10, and increased 100% from day 4 to day 10. Simultaneously, HCG supplementation increased VEGF/VPF secretion by GC. Medium VEGF/VPF on day 3 was 13 pM without and 11 pM with HCG. Medium VEGF/VPF on day 10 was 6 pM without HCG and 29 pM with HCG. These results suggest that vascularization of the corpus luteum is induced by HCG-mediated effects of VEGF/VPF.      

RENAL TRANSPLANTATION – AN EARLY EXPERIENCE

Renal transplant (RT) is now a therapy of choice for end stage renal disease (ESRD). The Nephrology Unit, Asvini started functioning in Dec 90 and to date 1298 sittings of hemodialysis have been given to 45 patients. Of these, 35 were in ESRD and 11 patients underwent renal transplantation at this hospital during the period Jan 91 – Dec 93. One patient expired after 18 months of transplantation due to infection. Early experience in screening patients for RT, use of immunosuppression, management of rejection episodes and protocol are presented with special emphasis on its relevance to the Armed Forces.KEY WORDS: Transplantation, Renal Failure, Immunosuppression, Rejection     

F(ab')2 fragments of anti-Mo1 (904) monoclonal antibodies do not prevent myocardial stunning

To determine if inhibition of leukocyte adhesion and aggregation could improve postischemic ventricular dysfunction ("stunning"), a monoclonal antibody (904) that binds to the adhesion-promoting Mo1 glycoprotein on the cell surface of leukocytes was administered intravenously (0.5 mg/kg) to open-chest dogs before a 15-minute coronary occlusion. Ultrasonic crystals placed in ischemic and control myocardium were used to measure systolic wall thickening during a 15-minute occlusion of the left anterior descending artery and for 3 hours after reperfusion. Myocardial blood flow was measured with tracer-labeled microspheres before occlusion, after 10 minutes of occlusion, 3 minutes of reperfusion, and at 1 and 3 hours after reperfusion. Six animals receiving anti-Mo1 antibody had antibody excess demonstrated with immunofluorescence techniques at 5 minutes and 3 hours of reperfusion; this finding indicated saturation of binding sites. Five animals served as controls and received an antibody (murine immunoglobulin G) that does not influence neutrophils. The two groups did not differ hemodynamically during ischemia and reperfusion. Risk areas and myocardial blood flow were also not significantly different between the two groups. The main parameter used to define regional myocardial stunning, percentage systolic wall thickening in the ischemic/reperfused area, did not differ significantly between the two groups. Specimens from nonischemic myocardium were compared with ischemic specimens for myeloperoxidase content. There were no significant differences within or between groups. These data indicate that the anti-Mo1 monoclonal antibody (904) is not effective in improving the profound myocardial dysfunction that persists for 3 hours of reperfusion after 15 minutes of ischemia.     

The Antithrombotic Effects of CI-1028, an Orally Bioavailable Direct Thrombin Inhibitor, in a Canine Model of Venous and Arterial Thrombosis

Direct thrombin inhibitors represent a new class of drug that may offer a therapeutic alternative for the treatment and prevention of thrombembolic conditions, especially on the venous side of the systemic circulation. CI-1028 (PD 172524/LB30057) is a potent, highly selective inhibitor of thrombin that is orally bioavailable. The efficacy of this compound has been demonstrated in animal models in which intra-venous administration was used. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of CI-1028 after oral administration in a canine electrolytic injury model of venous and arterial thrombosis. CI-1028 was administered via oral gavage, and animals received either saline or 10, 15, 20, or 30mg/kg of drug. Fifteen minutes later, the dogs were anesthetized and a femoral artery and vein were exposed and instrumented to induce electrolytic injury and thrombosis while continuously monitoring blood flow in the vessels. Maximum blood CI-1028 concentrations of 0.88±0.27, 1.8±0.3, 2.2±0.5, and 3.2±0.5g/mL were generally achieved 15 to 30 minutes after administering the compound in the 10-, 15-, 20-, and 30-mg/kg groups, respectively. Administration of CI-1028 increased the time to occlusion (TTO), the principal efficacy end point, in a dose-dependent manner in both arteries and veins. The TTO in the control group (n=8) averaged 66±11 minutes in the arteries and 69±6 minutes in the veins. In dogs treated with 10mg/kg (n=8), the TTO was not significantly different from that of the control group. In the 15-mg/kg group (n=9) TTO averaged 140±27 minutes in the arteries (p=not significant) and 125±15 minutes (p<0.05) in the veins. In the 20-mg/kg group (n=8), TTO was significantly longer than controls in both types of vessels, averaging 168±30 minutes in the arteries (p=0.05) and 155±21 minutes (p<0.05) in the veins. Likewise, at 30mg/kg (n=8) both the arterial (179±17 minutes) and venous (188±15 minutes) TTO was significantly prolonged compared with controls. Surgical blood loss and template bleeding times tended to increase in a dose-dependent manner but a statistically significant elevation was detected for template bleeding time only at the highest dose. Dramatic changes in thrombin time were detected, consistent with the CI-1028 mechanism of action. Virtually no changes were detected in prothrombin time. Maximum activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and activated clotting time changes were detected approximately 30 minutes after dosing, and they were approximately twofold and fivefold baseline values, respectively, at the highest dose. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that CI-1028 provides dose-dependent antithrombotic efficacy after oral administration in a canine model of venous and arterial thrombosis.