Renin-positive granulated Goormaghtigh cells

Summary It is difficult to distinguish between Goormaghtigh cells (G-cells) and media cells of the glomerular arterioles at the border of the Goormaghtigh cell field. Consequently, it has been unclear whether renin-positive G-cells are normally present and also whether renin-producing cells are recruited from the pool of renin-negative G-cells upon stimulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). In the present study, immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic experiments have been carried out on serially sectioned kidney biopsies from four patients with pseudo-Bartter syndrome. The results strongly suggest that with longlasting stimulation of the RAS all renin-negative (secretory resting) G-cells are ultimately converted into renin-producing granular cells.Synonymous with extraglomerular mesangial cells     

Immunohistochemical investigation of different cytokeratins and vimentin in the human epididymis from the fetal period up to adulthood

Summary The anatomical distribution of cytokeratins and vimentin was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry in the human epididymis. Epithelial cells of the ductuli efferentes and the corpus epididymidis were positive for cytokeratins and vimentin. The expression of epithelial vimentin decreased toward the cauda epididymidis, whereas cytokeratins remained unchanged. The epithelium of the ductus deferens was negative when antibodies against vimentin were used. With monoclonal antibodies to individual cytokeratins, the presence of cytokeratins 7, 8, 18, and 19 was demonstrated histochemically throughout the epithelium of the epididymis. Monoclonal antibodies specific for cytokeratin 17 allowed immunohistochemical differentiation between the ductuli efferentes and the ductus epididymidis.     

On the solution of mathematical models of herd immunity in human helminth infections

The general solution of the mathematical model of herd immunity to human helminth infections recently proposed by Anderson and May [3] is obtained. The numerical solution of a more accurate biological model is indistinguishable from the corresponding exact solution of a more tractable mathematical model. Computer simulations of some particular cases of this model support the notion that both ecological and immunological factors determine the observed convex patterns of age-prevalence and age-intensity curves of human helminth infections.This work was made thanks to the advise and support of Dr. Robert M. May while the author was Postdoctoral Fellow at Princeton University     

The occurrence and distribution of certain polypeptides within the human carotid body

Summary Both carotid bodies from 26 patients coming to necropsy were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin and sections 4 m thick were stained for various peptides by use of the immunogold technique. The results show that the human carotid body contains met- and leu-enkephalin, substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neurotensin and bombesin. The distribution of these six peptides within the carotid body differs. Thus met- and leu-enkephalin are both present predominantly within glomic chief cells but with a marked tendency to favour the dark variant of these cells. Substance P and VIP both show a weak immunoreactivity in comparison to the enkephalins and are present in all three variants of chief cell. Neurotensin shows the weakest immunoreactivity of all and is restricted to a few glomic chief cells in a minority of cases. Bombesin also shows a weak immunoreactivity in glomic chief cells but a strong reaction in glomic arteries and arterioles. In these vessels bombesin appears to be confined to smooth muscle cells in the media but we cannot say whether it is secreted by them or merely bound to receptor sites on their membranes. These findings are related to quantitative data on the concentration of peptides in the human carotid body from a previous paper with which we were associated.     

Extracellular matrix influences hormone and protein production by human chorionic villi

Summary Increasing evidence confirms that the extracellular matrix greatly influences cell behaviour and function. Collagen and fibrin are in contact with trophoblast throughout pregnancy. To investigate whether these two matrices influence hormon production by the trophoblast, explants from first-trimester chorionic villi were cultured for up to 30 days either a) in medium with agitation, b) embedded in type-I collagen (three-dimensional gels), or c) embedded in fibrin (three-dimensional gels). The supernatant culture medium was changed every 48 h and tested by radioimmunoassay for hCG, progesterone and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A. In addition, after 3, 7, 15, and 30 days of culture villi were fixed and studied by light and electron microscopy. Embedding in the extracellular matrix showed higher and longer-lasting production rates of all measured products and superior structural preservation as compared to cultures with agitation. Collagen matrix proved to be superior to fibrin. As established by several tests, this difference was neither due to thrombin used to polymerize fibrinogen, nor to differences in the diffusion rates through the two different matrices used. We conclude that extracellular matrix, particularly collagen, influences the synthesis of trophoblastic products. Embedding of the villous explants in three-dimensional gels constitutes a new method for long-term cultures of chorionic villi.This study was presented at the workshop Placental-and decidual-specific protein synthesis and secretion: regulation, role and interaction, Zemun, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 19–20 May, 1988 (Bischof and Castellucci 1988; see also J. Aplin 1989), and at the 11th Rochester Trophoblast Conference, Rochester, N.Y. USA, 9–12 October 1988 (Castellucci et al. 1988)     

Neutral endopeptidase from nuchal ligament of fetal calves

The nuchal ligament of unborn calves contains a neutral endopeptidase that is biochemically and immunologically similar to the neutral endopeptidase (NEP), or enkephalinase, from human kidney. Enzymatic activity was inhibited more than 90% by phosphoramidon (1 microM). The specific activity in membrane fractions, as determined by hydrolysis of the dansylated substrate, DAPGN, was similar in tissue from fetuses of gestational ages ranging from 100 to 280 days. NEP activity in adult ligament tissue, however, was less than 10% of that in fetal tissue. Fibroblasts dissociated from ligament tissue by collagenase displayed less NEP activity than did preparations of intact ligament, and activity was even lower in cultured cells. By contrast, fibroblasts cultured from fetal calf lungs had NEP activity comparable to that in the ligament tissue. When ligament fibroblasts were cultured on subcellular matrices derived from fetal lung fibroblasts the NEP activity increased relative to those cultured on plastic alone. These studies confirm the presence of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) in the nuchal ligament of the fetal calf. The consistent activity through a range of gestational ages and the influence of the subcellular matrix suggest that this enzyme might be involved in growth of the ligament during fetal life.     

Alterations of human erythrocyte membrane fluidity by oxygen-derived free radicals and calcium

Two possible reasons for the structural alterations of cell membranes caused by free radicals are lipid peroxidation and an increase in the intracellular calcium ion concentration. To characterize the alterations in membrane molecular dynamics caused by oxygen-derived free radicals and calcium, human erythrocytes were spin-labeled with 5-doxyl stearic acid, and alterations in membrane fluidity were quantified by electron spin resonance oxidase (0.07 U/mL) decreased membrane fluidity, and the addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase inhibited the effect on membrane fluidity of the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system. Hydrogen peroxide (0.1 and 1 nM) also decreased membrane fluidity and caused alterations to erythrocyte morphology. In addition, a decrease in membrane fluidity was observed in erythrocytes incubated with 2.8 mM CaCl₂. On the other hand, incubation of erythrocytes with calcium-free solution decreased the changes in membrane fluidity caused by hydrogen peroxide.

These results suggest that changes in membrane fluidity are directly due to lipid peroxidation and are indirectly the result of increased intracellular calcium concentration. We support the hypothesis that alterations of the biophysical properties of membranes caused by free radicals play an important role in cell injury, and that the accumulation of calcium amplifies the damge to membranes weakened by free radicals.     

中国九个人群耵聍的遗传多态性

报道了九个人群的耵聍位点基因。计算表明中国各族人群在耵聍位点上的遗传分化程度非常大,固定指数F_(ST)=0.22。本文根据耵聍基因频率在我国和邻近地区的分布趋势,认为亚洲东北地区应是干型基因的起源地,目前世界上耵聍位点基因频率分布格局主要是基因扩散的结果,而非选择作用造成的。     

中国3个地区汉族人群补体C6的遗传多态性研究

运用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶等电聚焦(PAGIF)和免疫吸引技术,研究了3个地区汉族人群的C6多态性。得到的基因频率如下:漳州市——C6*A:0.4634、C6*B:0.5000、C6*R:0.0366(C6*B2:0.0317);成都市——C6*A:0.4975,C6*B:0.4484,C6*R:0.0545(C6*B2:0.0395);哈尔滨市——C6*A:0.4708,C6*B:0.5219,C6*R:0.0073(C6*B2:0.0073)。蒙古人种的C6*A频率一般都低于0.5,高加索人种的C6*A频率一般都高于0.6。黑人则介于两者之间。蒙古人种与高加索人种的另一个区别在于前者的C6*B2频率在0.03到0.07之间,而后者几乎没有C6*B2。     

Coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin in Rathke's cysts of the human pituitary gland

Summary Immunohistochemistry with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies revealed the presence of cytokeratins in epithelial cells of Rathke's cysts in the pars intermedia of the human pituitary gland. With monoclonal antibodies specific for individual cytokeratins, the expression of CK 18, CK 8, CK 7, and CK 19 could be shown in these cells. Within the hypophysis, CK 19 and CK 7 were restricted to Rathke's cysts and a few epithelial cell clusters in the pars tuberalis, whereas other cytokeratins were also present in endocrine cells of the pars distalis. Furthermore, vimentin and, focally, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected in the cystic epithelia. By double labelling, coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin, GFAP and cytokeratin, and GFAP and vimentin could be demonstrated. Compiled data of all known cases of coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin in normal cells reveal physiological correlations and suggest a functional significance of this rare type of coexpression of intermediate filament proteins.