Immunofluorescence studies on the effect of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate in tissue culture preparations of the cervicovaginal anlage from neonatal mice

Summary The authors have studied the production of antigenic material, specific for the cervicovaginal epithelium, in organ cultures of the cervicovaginal region from neonatal mice. In control cultures the antigenic material appeared at a time corresponding to the normal appearance under in vivo conditions. When cyclic adenosine 3, 5-monophosphate (dibutyryl derivate) was added to the medium, a strong increase of the fluorescent material was seen.This investigations was supported by grants from the Norwegian Research Council and the Norwegian Cancer Society (Landsforeningen mot Kreft).     

In vitro growth of the nasal septal cartilage of the rat in a serum-free culture medium. [3H]-thymidine incorporation studies

To evaluate the capacity for growth of cartilage in vitro, the cartilaginous nasal septum was cultured in a serum-free medium in short- and long-term incubation periods. The proliferative activity was assessed by relating counts per minute (cpm) obtained in the liquid scintillater after [3H]-thymidine incorporation with the DNA content of the tissue under investigation. Cell proliferation was interpreted as being synonymous with the DNA synthesizing activity or the cpm/microgram DNA ratio. Short-term incubation (24 h) tended to show the same proliferative activity which we have previously found in vivo and as autotransplants, showing that the presence of serum seems to be of little importance under these conditions. Long-term incubation in a serum-free medium tended to show a gradual loss of proliferative activity, emphasizing the need for either serum or other growth-promoting factors as necessary for continued normal proliferation of cartilage in vitro.     

Influence of progestins on serum hormone levels in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer--I. General findings

The influence of oral high dose progestin (medroxyprogesterone acetate, MPA and megestrol acetate, MA) treatment on serum hormone levels was studied in ten postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. The gonadotropins and ACTH were significantly reduced by greater than 50 and 23%, respectively. Serum cortisol, DHEAS, androstenedione and testosterone were all significantly reduced (mean reduction between 64 and 76%), while serum estrone, estradiol and estrone sulfate were significantly reduced by 20-30%. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and corticosteroid binding globulin (CGB) were reduced by 68 and 25%, respectively. Although the dose of MA used (160 mg/day) was only 1/6 of the MPA dose (1000 mg/day), the mean serum level of MA was 2-fold higher than the mean serum level of MPA. MPA treatment gave a more pronounced suppression of SHBG than MA treatment, while estrone sulfate levels were more suppressed by MA. These findings suggest a differential effect of MPA and MA on certain plasma hormones, possibly of importance for understanding the mechanism of action of the two drugs. The reduction of estrone sulfate may be beneficial for the action of MA against breast cancer.     

Influence of submucous septal resection on facial growth in the rat.

Submucous septal resections in young rats caused severe retardation of growth in the upper facial skeleton. These growth disturbances occurred regardless of whether the resections included both the cartilaginous septum and the corresponding mucoperichondrium, or only the cartilaginous septum. The degree of growth disturbance depends on the age when the resections are done.