Effects of chronic administration of somatostatin on rat exocrine pancreas

We studied the effects of somatostatin on synthesis of pancreatic DNA, RNA and protein and on pancreatic weight and contents of DNA, protein, amylase and chymotrypsinogen in rats. In short term synthesis studies, rats were injected with 100 micrograms . kg-1 somatostatin or 0.15 M NaCl (control) at times 0, 8 and 16 h. Eight rats from each treatment group were killed 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 h after beginning treatment. Incorporation rates in vivo of [3H]thymidine into DNA, [3H]uridine into RNA and [14C]phenylalanine into total protein were significantly depressed by somatostatin. In long term studies, four groups of 12 rats were injected every 8 h for 5 days with 0.15 M NaCl or 11, 33 or 100 micrograms . kg-1 somatostatin. Body weight was unaffected but pancreatic contents of DNA, protein and enzymes were significantly decreased by somatostatin. Administration of somatostatin inhibits DNA, RNA and protein synthesis in exocrine pancreas with resulting decreases in DNA and enzyme contents.     

Phospholipase A activity in the skin. Modulators of arachidonic acid release from phosphatidylcholine.

The distribution of the hydrolysis of 1-acyl-2-[1-14C]arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and the simultaneous biosynthesis of prostaglandins by subcellular fractions from human and rat skin membrane preparations were determined. The phospholipase A2 activity was distributed among the subcellular particulate preparations with the highest specific activity in the 105000g particulate fraction. The activity was optimal at pH 7.5 in the presence of 1.0 mM-CaCl2 and was inhibited by EDTA. The hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by the skin 105000g particulate fraction was inhibited by cortisol and triamcinolone acetonide and it was stimulated by histamine, bradykinin, retinoic acid and cholera enterotoxin (freeze-dried Vibrio cholerae). Furthermore hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by the skin phospholipase A was also enhanced by low concentrations of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha. These last results suggest that the amplication of the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine by prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha, with the consequent release of arachidonic acid (the substrate of prostaglandin synthesis) is likely a positive-feedback regulation of the arachidonic acid-prostaglandin cascade.     

Mechanisms of haemopoietic stem cell proliferation control

The control of stem cell (CFU-S) proliferation is mediated by short-range acting factors which can be detected by the proliferation modifying activities present in media conditioned by haemopoietic cells. A specific inhibitor of stem cell proliferation is obtained from haemopoietic tissue containing minimally proliferating CFU-S, whilst stimulatory material is obtained from cell suspensions containing rapidly proliferating CFU-S. Used competitively, these factors, which are detected in different molecular weight range fractions, manipulate the rate of CFU-S proliferation in a manner compatible with a physiological control mechanism. In addition, a long-term bone marrow culture system has been shown to provide an in vitro model of stem cell control. Fractionation of cell populations from haemopoietic tissues reveals marked concentration differences of the CFU-S proliferation modifying activities depending on the proliferative state of the CFU-S. However, irrespective of whether the tissue contains stem cells that are actively or minimally proliferating, both stimulatory and inhibitory activities are detected. From dose-response studies it is concluded that stem cell proliferation is controlled by an appropriate balance of stimulatory and inhibitory factors which, however, are not produced by the stem cells themselves.     

MEASUREMENT OF THE DURATION OF DNA SYNTHESIS IN ERYTHROID CELLS OF THE BONE MARROW USING A DOUBLE LABELLING AUTORADIOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR USE WITH HAEMOPOIETIC TISSUES

This paper describes a double labelling autoradiographic technique for use with haemopoietic tissues. In involves two photographic emulsions separated by a thin piece of mica on which the cells have been smeared. In this way the autoradiographic grains due to tritium and carbon-14 appear above and below the cells respectively. Applying the method to bone marrow normoblasts of young rats, the average duration of DNA synthesis (t_s) for the pro- and early normoblasts taken together is found to be 5.1 hr and the mean cell cycle time (t_c) to be 8.2 hr. For the intermediate normoblasts, the corresponding figures are 6.3 hr and 15.7 hr. Average values for all dividing normoblasts in the bone marrow are 5.8 hr and 12.8 hr respectively for t_s and t_c. The average duration of mitosis is 32 min.     

Immunotoxins: status and prospects.

Immunotoxins, which are conjugates of cell-binding antibodies and toxins, show considerable promise in the treatment of certain cancers. Genetic engineering is increasingly being used to refine and modify these conjugates, and it is now possible to design, express and purify completely recombinant therapeutic molecules.     

Identification and observation of alkyl proton resonances of the amino-terminal residues of bovine neurophysins. Evidence for conformational differences between neurophysin-I and neurophysin-II.

Analysis of the 220 MHz proton magnetic resonance spectra of bovine neurophysins-I and -II and of the effects of pH and succinylation of these spectra has allowed identification of the -CH3 proton resonances of the amino-terminal alanine of both proteins and of the -CH3 resonances of methionine-2 of neurophysin-II. The alanine -CH3 resonance of neurophysin-I is a sharp doublet at all pH values between 1 and 10.5 indicating relatively few restrictions on its mobility. By contrast, the -CH3 resonances of the amino-terminal alanine and methionine-2 of neurophysin-II undergo pH-dependent changes in broadening compatible with the formation of an intramolecular salt-bridge at neutral pH between the protonated alpha-amino and an unprotonated side chain carboxyl. The results suggest that differeces in the properties of the two proteins are partially mediated by conformational differences involving their amino-terminal sequences. The potential usefulness of the amino-terminal resonances as n.m.r. 'reporter' signals is additionally demonstrated by studies of the effects of spin labels on the neurophysin-I amino-terminal alanine resonance; these studies place the amino-terminus of neurophysin-I approximately 14 A from residue 3 of peptides bound to the strong neurophysin hormone-binding site.     

人体动脉血气波浪式变化特点的实验证据—同时间动、静脉血波浪式变化幅度的不同*

目的: 人动脉血来源是右心系统并在肺脏进行气体交换的静脉血,右心系统的静脉血是否存在波浪式信号目前尚没有证据支持,本研究旨在对比同时间动、静脉血中信号的连续变化特点。方法: 选择心功能正常,需要连续监测动脉血流动力学变化的患者6 例,4男2女,年龄（59.00±16.64） 岁,体质量（71.67±10.37）kg,左心射血分数（LVEF）（61.33±2.16)%。患者签署知情同意书后,选择心功能正常需要监测动、静脉血流动力学变化的患者6 例,连续同时桡动脉、颈内静脉逐搏取血,测定PaO₂。选取2个典型呼吸周期,用于分析同时段动、静脉血气的波浪式变化。分别比较患者血氧分压最高和最低值,以验证同时段动、静脉血气是否都存在周期性波浪式信号变化。此外,将患者动脉、静脉血气周期性波浪式信号的变化幅度进行统计学t 检验分析,比较有无差异。结果: 共6例患者,抽取动、静脉血液充满肝素化细长塑化管需要15~16次心跳,即取血需要15~16次心跳,全部覆盖超过2个呼吸周期。所有患者动脉血气中PaO₂均呈现明显的波浪式变化（P<0.05）,幅度是（9.96±5.18）mmHg,是均值的（8.09±2.43）%。患者静脉血气中PaO₂波动幅度并不明显,为（1.63±0.41）mmHg,是均值的（3.91±1.22）%,与动脉血气组相比有明显统计学差异（P<0.05）。结论: 采用同时连续逐搏动、静脉取血血气分析法证实,患者自主呼吸时动脉血气有明显的周期性波浪式变化信号,而静脉血气几乎没有周期性波浪式变化信号（很弱）,说明动脉血气波浪式信号主要是由于肺通气过程中吸气和呼气期产生肺泡中氧分压规律性上升和下降,通过离开肺毛细血管与肺泡氧气压力平衡的动脉化血液,经过左心室搏血进入动脉血管系统所致。     

新生儿首次呼吸前后脐带动静脉血液氧和二氧化碳变化探索呼吸调控机制的初步报告II—同一个新生儿同一时间的脐带动静脉血液氧和二氧化碳分压差值个体化分析*

目的: 为探讨新生儿自主呼吸产生机制,前文已对新生儿出生后自主呼吸开始前脐带动静脉氧气和二氧化碳差值进行了人群组间分析;而本部分则对相关信息进行个体化分析。方法: 在产前经所有胎儿父母签署知情同意书,新生儿出生后还没有呼吸之前在脐带动脉和脐带静脉分别连续逐搏取血,仅有3例同时采集到Pua和Puv血液样本进行血气分析测定,计算分析脐带静脉和脐带动脉的异同和动态变化。结果: 虽然准备了数十产妇,但仅有3例同时采集到Pua和Puv血液样本,同一时间的PuvO₂显著高于PuaO₂（P均<0.01）,平均相差（24.17±7.09） mmHg;而PuvCO₂显著低于PuaCO₂（P均<0.01）,平均相差（-7.67±3.70） mmHg。在同一时间的Puv-uaO₂显著高于Puv-uaCO₂（P<0.05）。结论: 新生儿出生后自主呼吸前,全部氧气供应由脐带静脉运输,只要胎盘开始剥离则新生儿的PuaO₂随时间（心跳次数）逐渐降低,当PuaO₂达到触发呼吸阈值（最低值）诱发第一次吸气开始其自主呼吸。