Serum thyroglobulin concentration in normal pregnancy

We measured the levels of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) in 52 pregnant females at various stages and compared them with those of 15 age-matched nonpregnant females. Serum Tg was measured by a solid-phase immunoradiometric assay. In pregnant females, mean serum Tg levels at the first, second, early third, and late third trimesters were 8.4 (range; 1.3-18.0), 9.2 (1.7-25.6), 10.1 (1.8-22.8), and 12.1 ng/ml (5.3-25.2), respectively. The statistical comparison was made after logarithmic transformation of the data. The mean value only at the late third trimester was significantly higher than that of controls (mean; 6.0 ng/ml, range; 1.5-23.6), but each value was within the normal range. Although serum Tg levels have been reported to be high at the end of pregnancy, our results indicate that the Tg levels in females could be clinically interpreted without regard to the coexistence of pregnancy.     

Termination of early pregnancy by ONO-802 suppositories (16,16-dimethyl-trans-Δ-PGE1 methyl ester)

ONO-802 was used in the form of vaginal suppositories for the termination of early pregnancy in 63 healthy volunteers. Fifty-four (86%) of the 63 cases had complete abortions and remaining 9 (14%) had incomplete abortions.One (1.6%) of the 63 cases complained of nausea and vomiting, and 3 (4.8%) complained of headaches. No other side effects were observed.These results suggest that ONO-802 is acceptable in the form of vaginal suppositories for the termination of early pregnancy.     

Basic steroid saponins from aerial parts of Fritillaria Thunbergii

From the aerial parts of Fritillaria thunbergii, three glycosidal Solanum alkaloids (basic steroid saponins) were isolated together with minor     

Spin-label studies of membrane-associated denatured hemoglobin in normal and sickle cells

A maleimide spin label (N-(1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidinyl)-maleimide) was reacted with oxyhemoglobin-free cell stromata of normal and sickle cells. The EPR spectrum of spin-labeled red cell membranes showed that the spin labels are attached to at least two different binding sites. There was a major signal, A, which characterized a strongly immobilized environment and a minor signal, B, which characterized a weakly immobilized environment. Quantitative EPR measurements using equal amounts of Hb AA and Hb SS red blood cells demonstrated that Hb SS red cell membranes had an approximately four times higher EPR signal intensity than Hb AA red cell membranes ((7.98 ± 1.14) · 10⁵ and (2.2 ± 1.2) · 10⁵ spin labels/cell, respectively). Moreover, the ratio of signal intensities A and B are different in these cells. Comparative spectrophotometric studies of membrane-associated denatured hemoglobins of Hb AA and Hb SS red cell membranes suggested that the EPR signal A is derived from spin labels attached to membrane-associated denatured hemoglobin, while signal B is mainly from spin labels attached to membrane-associated denatured hemoglobin, while signal B is mainly from spin labels attached to membranes. The combination of EPR spectrum of Hb AA membranes pretreated with N-ethyl-maleimide and that of spin-labeled precipitated hemoglobin further strengthened this conclusion.     

Synthesis of phospholipids. III. Synthesis of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-rac-glyceryl-3-phosphoryl-3′β-cholesterol and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-rac-glyceryl-3-phosphoryl-20′-(3β-hydroxy norpregn-5-ene)

The chemical synthesis of two new glycerophosphatide analogues containing steroid groups, i.e., 1,2-dipalmitoyl-rac-glyceryl-3-phosphoryl-3′β-cholesterol and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-rac-glyceryl-3-phosphoryl-20′-(3β-hydroxy norpregn-5-ene) is described.     

Molecular cloning of the DNA and expression and characterization of rat testes fructose-6-phosphate,2-kinase:fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase.

We have isolated and sequenced two overlapping cDNA fragments which could encode the complete amino acid sequence of rat testis fructose-6-phosphate,2-kinase:fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase. Northern blot analysis revealed that the major 2-kilobase mRNA isolated from rat testis hybridized with a cDNA fragment. A full length cDNA, which encoded a protein of 468 amino acids, was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed protein, purified to homogeneity, showed a Mr of 55,000 by gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, compared to the deduced Mr of 54,023. Fru-6-P,2-kinase:Fru-2,6-bisphosphatase with the same Mr 55,000 was also present in rat testis extract. The active enzyme was a dimer as judged by molecular sieve filtration. The expressed enzyme was bifunctional with specific activities of 90 and 22 milliunits/mg of the kinase and the phosphatase activities, respectively. Various kinetic constants of the expressed fructose 6-P,2-kinase were KmFru 6-P = 85 microM and KmATP = 270 microM, and those of fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase were KmFru 2,6-P2 = 21 microM and KiFru 6-P = 3.4 microM. The enzyme was phosphorylated by Fru-2,6[2-32P]P2 and also by protein kinase C, but not by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which is in contrast to the liver and heart isozymes.     

Role of glycosaminoglycans in the regulation of T cell proliferation induced by thymic stroma-derived T cell growth factor

The present study investigates the regulatory effects of glycosaminoglycans such as heparin and heparan sulfate on T cell proliferation induced by thymic stromal cell monolayer or its derived T cell growth factor (TCGF). A thymic stromal cell clone (MRL104.8a) supported the growth of Ag-specific, IL-2-dependent Th cell clone (9-16) in the absence of Ag and IL-2 by producing a unique TCGF designated as thymic stroma-derived T cell growth factor (TSTGF). The addition of heparin to cultures in which the growth of 9-16 Th cells was otherwise stimulated by the MRL104.8a monolayer or a semipurified sample of the TSTGF resulted in heparin dose-dependent inhibition of 9-16 Th proliferation. The dose of heparin required for inducing 50% reduction of TSTGF-induced proliferation of Th at a given cell number was found to be proportional to the magnitude of the TSTGF added to cultures, suggesting that heparin exerted its inhibitory effect by binding to the TSTGF rather than by acting on Th cells. A similar growth-inhibiting effect of heparin was observed in IL-7-dependent proliferation of pre-B cell line or Th, but not in IL-2-dependent T cell proliferation or IL-3-dependent myeloid cell proliferation. A strong affinity of TSTGF and IL-7 for heparin was confirmed by the fact that both TSTGF and IL-7 adhered to columns of heparin-agarose and were eluted by salt. When various glycosaminoglycans were tested for the heparin-like Th growth-regulatory capacity, heparan sulfate exhibited Th growth-inhibiting ability comparable to that observed for heparin. These results indicate that the activity of thymic and/or bone marrow stroma-derived lymphocyte growth factor (TSTGF/IL-7) but not of Th-producing TCGF (IL-2) is negatively regulated by heparin or heparan sulfate, which would represent major glycosaminoglycans in the extra-cellular matrix of stromal cells.