The co-carcinogenic activity of 4-nitropyridine-1-oxide (4-npo) and prevention of transformation by type-specific anti-viral antibodies

Summary Fischer rat embryo cells chronically infected with Rauscher murine leukemia virus, and known to be sensitive to transformation by potent chemical carcinogens, were transformed by the weak carcinogen 4-nitropyridine-1-oxide. Transformed cells grew in semi-solid agar and produced tumors in newborn Fischer rats. Transformation was inhibited by antisera specific for the ecotropic Rauscher murine leukemia virus, but not by antisera of equal toxicity specific for xenotropic Swiss mouse AT-124 virus. This work was supported by contract NO1-CP-43240 within the Virus Cancer Program of the National Cancer Institute.     

Effect of fetal bovine serum on 3-methylcholanthrene-induced transformation of hamster cells in vitro

Summary Eighteen lots of fetal bovine serum were tested for their ability to support clonal growth and 3-methylcholanthrene-induced morphological transformation of hamster embryo cells in vitro. Most of them supported cloning efficiencies of over 11%. However, cloning efficiency alone was an inadequate criterion for selecting serum for transformation studies, since no transformation was observed with some lots, even though their cloning efficiencies were over 16%. This shows the importance of pretesting serum for its ability to support morphological transformation before it is used in mammalian cell carcinogenesis tests. Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute under Contract No. N01-CO-75380 with Litton Bionetics, Inc.     

Production of reconstructed two-cell rat embryos after chemical inactivation of chromosomes in MII oocytes by etoposide

The application of etoposide for chemical enucleation of rat oocytes was tested. The reconstruction efficiency after chemical and mechanical enucleation was comparatively analyzed. The obtained data indicate similar viability of reconstructed rat embryos irrespective of the enucleation technique.     

Transforming activities of sodium fluoride in cultured Syrian hamster embryo and BALB/3T3 cells

The transforming activity of sodium fluoride was studied in the SHE and the BALBl3T3 cell culture systems. Initiating and promoting activities were then investigated by means of the orthogonal methodology. Sodium fluoride was found to induce morphological transformation of SHE cells seeded on a feeder layer of X-irradiated cells at high concentrations (75–125 g/ ml). When the cells were seeded in the absence of a feeder-layer, the transformation frequencies increased in a dose-dependent manner with the concentrations of sodium fluoride ranging from 0 to the highly toxic concentration of 200 g/ml. In the BALBl3T3 cell system, sodium fluoride was negative in the standard Kakunaga procedure, while through the experiment designed by table L₈ (2⁷) of the orthogonal method, an initiating-like effect and a weak promoting activity were detected within the concentrations ranging from a 25 g/ ml to a 50 g/ ml concentration which is highly toxic for BALBl3T3 cells. From these results, it is suggested that, besides a genetic mode of action, sodium fluoride could possibly act through a non-genotoxic mechanism.Abbreviations CE cloning efficiency - NaF sodium fluoride - SHE Syrian hamster embryo - TF transformation frequency     

Characterization of human cells transformed by chemical and physical carcinogens in vitro

Summary Several different classes of chemical carcinogens induced the transformation of human fibroblasts grown in vitro. Characteristics of the events that occur from time of treatment through the expression of neoplastic transformation are presented. The S-phase appeared to be the portion of the cell cycle most vulnerable to insult. Staging of the cells by blocking them in G₁ before releasing them to proceed through scheduled DNA synthesis (S) was required to induce reproducible transformation. Compounds such as insulin were added to the cells upon release from the block to sensitize the cells to the carcinogen that was added during S. Growth of the transformed cells as distinct from nontransformed cells was promoted by growth in medium supplemented with 8X nonessential amino acids. Carcinogen-treated cells in the early stage of transformation exhibited abnormal colony morphology and were able to grow at 41°C, in air atmosphere, and in medium supplemented with only 1% serum. In addition, the transformed cells were insensitive to KB cell lysate and exhibited density independent, as well as anchorage independent, growth (i.e., growth in 0.33% agar). Cells that grew in soft agar also produced undifferentiated mesenchymal tumors in preirradiated nude mice. This work was supported in part by National Cancer Institute Grant ROI-CA-25907 and Air Force Office of Scientific Research Grant F49620-77-C0110 and EPA-R806638. The hydrazine compounds were furnished by Ms. Marilyn George and Dr. Kenneth Back, AFSOR Toxicology Division, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH. The hydroxylate and phenyl napthylamines were furnished by Dr. Fred Kadlubar, Division of Chemical Carcinogenesis at the National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR.     

A preliminary report on the establishment of pregnancies in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) programme at the University of British Columbia (UBC)

Between July 1982 and November 1983, two pregnancies were established using in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF and ET) procedures with three different schedules to induce follicular maturation. All women were cycling normally and had inoperable or absent fallopian tubes. Of 83 oocytes aspirated from 24 patients (31 cycles), 75% were considered mature and 25% immature by the morphological characteristics of the oocytes and cumulus cells. Oocytes were preincubated for 6–24 hours, and after insemination, 60% cleaved to the two-to-four-cell stage. The superovulation induction schedule employing hMG administered according to the individually adjusted treatment scheme established two pregnancies. This schedule was considered the superior regimen, as it gave the highest proportion of mature oocytes (89%) which cleaved (78%). The pregnancy-attaining follicle showed a high progesterone:estradiol-17β ratio (P₄/E₂) in its microenvironment of aspirated follicular fluid, culture media of granulosa cells, and oocyte-cumulus complex. Our observations indicate a high P₄/E₂ ratio in the pregnancy-attaining follicle, and thereby reflect a further parameter in influencing maturation of the oocytes most likely to implant.     

In vitro effects of Celiptium and MR 14504 on mature rat Leydig cell testosterone production

Percoll-purified mature rat Leydig cells have been used to evaluate the testicular toxicity of two highly potent intercalating agents (Celiptium and MR 14505). Testosterone secretion in the absence and in the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was measured to assess Leydig cell function. Celiptium and MR 14504 induce time- and dose-related inhibitory effects on the production of testosterone by Leydig cells, both in the presence and in the absence of hCG, whatever the concentration of hCG used. We have observed that MR 14504 is about 5 times more potent as an inhibitor of rat Leydig cell steroidogenesis than Celiptium without inducing any cell toxicity. The present study indicates that the Leydig cell is an additional potential site for the primary toxic effects of these drugs in the adult rat testis.     

Neoplastic expression in murine cells induced by halogenated hydrocarbons

Summary The neoplastic expression in mouse embryo fibroblasts exposed to 1,2-dibromoethane and its chloroanalogue, 1,2-dichloroethane in vitro, was examined. Both substances are widely used as fumigants for carpet and upholstery, as gasoline additives, and as organic solvents. Both are known to be highly toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic agents. C3H10T1/2 cells treated with these haloalkanes exhibited altered morphology and were selected further by cloning in soft agar. Soft agar clones were found to induced a 100% multitumor occurrence in the nude mouse model. These results suggest that this pair of mutagens have altered the normal phenotype of mouse embryo cells, and these cells have become neoplastic. These neoplastic cell lines will be useful as an in vitro model to study the role of genetic changes in the transformation processes induced by halogenated hydrocarbons.     

Induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis and micronucleus formation in Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts treated with cysteine S-conjugates of chlorinated hydrocarbons

S-(chloroethyl)-cysteine (CEC) and S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)cysteine (DCVO) have been proposed as intermediates in the metabolic transformation of the carcinogens 1,2-dichloroethane and 1,1,2-trichloroethylene. We have tested the ability of CEC and DCVC to induce DNA repair and genotoxic effects at the chromosomal level by comparative assessment of unscheduled DNA synthesis induction and micronucleus formation in Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts. CEC induced a potent and dose-dependent response in both assays, whereas DCVC treatment resulted in a comparatively weak induction of DNA repair and failed to raise micronucleus formation above control rates. Inhibition of cysteine conjugate \gB-lyase diminished the effect of DCVC, but had no influence on the genotoxicity of CEC either in the unscheduled DNA synthesis or micronucleus assay.Abbreviations AOAA aminooxyacetic acid - CEC S-(chloroethyl)-cysteine; \gB-lyase, cysteine conjugate -lyase - DCE 1,2-dichloroethane - DCVC S(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-cysteine - GSH glutathione - HU hydroxyurea - IBR IBR-modified Dulbecco's Eagle's reinforced medium - MN2 micronuclei/2,000 cells - 4-NQO 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide - SHE Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts; ³H-Thd, ³H-thymidine - TCE 1,1,2-trichloroethylene - UDS unscheduled DNA synthesis     

Dose response of insects to malignant transformed cells

Summary Graded doses of cell suspensions of an embryonic cockroach cell line in its 290th passage were injected into the hemoceles of hosts of the homologous species,Blattella germanica, of different ages. All insects injected with viable cells suffered paralysis, progressive loss of appendages, and premature death. The time of death depended on the number of cells inoculated. Histological studies of the afflicted insects showed that the injected cells were metastatic and invasive, producing tumors, especially in the fat body. Tumors were transplantable and malignant in secondary hosts. Tumors were not produced by cell-free spent medium, or homogenized or sonicated cell breis. The cause of paralysis and loss of appendages was not known, although large aggregations of the injected cells could be seen in the leg musculature in the thorax. Cells were recovered from the tumors and grown again in culture. The line was predominantly diploid (62%) with some heteroploid cells (38%). This work was supported in part by Research Grant AI 09914 from the National Institutes of Health. This is Paper 10,949, Scientific Journal Series, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.     

鸡胚胎原始生殖细胞的培养和传代

本文旨在探索鸡胚胎原始生殖细胞(Primordialgermcells,PGCs)培养、传代以及各种因素对PGCs培养的影响。实验结果表明,在添加10%的胎牛血清、2%的鸡血清、2mmol/LL谷氨酰胺、1mmol/L丙酮酸钠、5.5×10-5mol/Lβ巯基乙醇、10μl/ml非必需氨基酸、以及5ng/ml人干细胞生长因子(Humanstemcellfactor,hSCF)、10U/ml鼠白血病抑制因子(Mouseleukemiainhibitoryfactor,mLIF)、10ng/ml碱性成纤维生长因子(Fibroblastgrowthfactorbasic,bFGF)、0.04ng/ml人白细胞介素11(Humaninterleukin11,hIL11),10ng/ml胰岛素样生长因子(Humaninsulinlikegrowthfactor,hIGF)的高糖DMEM培养体系中,以多次离散法进行传代获得5-6代鸡胚胎PGCs,有效地维持了PGCs的未分化状态和正常二倍体核型,同时能够定向地诱导分化为神经细胞,具有作为多能性胚胎干细胞的特征     

A mouse embryo culture system for quality control testing of human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer media and fetal cord sera

Swiss white mice were superovulated, mated, and sacrificed to recover two-cell embryos that were cultured in Ham's F-10 supplemented with 15% fetal serum. In 16 experiments, media enriched with fetal bovine serum (FBS) supported blastocyst development from 80% ± 19% (mean ± S.D.) of two-cell embryos. Culture media + FBS was the positive control when 74 batches of heat-inactivated human fetal cord serum (hFCS) were tested. Statistical analyses indicated two distinct populations: 49 hFCS promoted blastocyst formation and 25 hFCS grew fewer blastocysts. In five studies, 35/47 two-cell embryos recovered from mice oviducts in media + FBS and immediately incubated formed blastocysts (75% ± 10%). In six comparison studies where the recovered embryos stood at room temperature for 30 minutes before incubation, only 18/57 (29% ± 21%) became blastocysts. When the colony was housed for 1 week in rooms with Shell No Pest Strips as treatment for mites, only 11/125 two-cell embryos became blastocysts (9%). In contrast, animals housed in quarters decontaminated with chlorine bleach had reduced breeding efficiency and produced fewer two-cell embryos. We conclude that (1) Ham's F-10 + FBS is an excellent positive control to test new batches of hFCS; (2) hFCS that supports blastocyst formation from ≥75% of two-cell embryos is adequate for human use; (3) pesticide treatment of breeding colonies and cooling of murine embryos during harvest both impaired in vitro blastocyst development; and (4) chlorine bleach cleansing of animal quarters reduced the number of successful matings.     

Sequential analysis of zona thickness during in vitro culture of human zygotes: Correlation with embryo quality,age, and implantation

Zona pellucida thickness was measured daily in zygotes and cleavage stage embryos. Measurements were performed on a Nikon inverted microscope equipped with Hoffman modulation optics, using an ocular micrometer. Zona thickness of each zygote/embryo was measured four times, the zygote/embryo was then “rolled over,” and four more measurements were repeated for a total of eight. The zygotes/embryos were photographed daily and the measurements repeated on the prints. Subsequently, the mean zona thickness for each stage was calculated. A total of 81 patients (mean age 33.8 ± 4.2) participated in the study. A total of 427 embryos were evaluated. Categorical data differences between groups were evaluated by ANOVA and multiple linear regression. For nominal data, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied; when P < 0.05 the differences were considered to be significant. We found that the average zona thickness on day 1 of in vitro culture was 17.7 ± 0.14 μm; 16.3 ± 0.14 μm on day 2 and 14.9 ± 0.14 μm on day 3 (P < .0001). When the zona thickness was analyzed in relation to the number of blastomeres on day 3 of culture, there was a highly significant correlation with blastomere number (P < .0001). Similarly, there was a highly significant correlation with embryo grade (P < .005) and fragmentation (P < .001). The data were also analyzed for embryos transferred that resulted in a successful pregnancy, revealing that embryos in a pregnancy cycle had significantly thinner zonae pellucidae (P < .0001), when compared to embryos that were not transferred or from nonconceptual cycles. The average zona thickness also decreased with age, and was most apparent after 35 years. Changes in zona thickness correlated with the number of blastomeres, grade, fragmentation, age and were more evident in embryos transferred from cycles resulting in successful pregnancies. Therefore, zona pellucida measurements should be included in the overall assessment of embryo quality, since this information may be useful in the selection of optimal embryos for transfer. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 47:99–104, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Phenotypic changes and gene expression in human colon mucosal epithelial cells upon transfection of a SV40 DNA-GPT recombinant

Summary Phenotypic changes (increased longevity, decreased growth factor requirements, altered cell surface features, growth in semisolid agarose, and SV40 T antigen expression) suggesting in vitro transformation were displayed by human normal colon mucosal epithelial cells transfected with pSV3gpt, a pBR322 recombinant containing the SV40 “early” T antigen coding region and the dominant selectable marker bacterial gene, xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase. In contrast, control cultures which received neither DNA nor the recombinatn pSV2gpt (which is identical to pSV3gpt but lacks the SV40 T antigen region) were not phenotypically altered.     

Single in vitro bovine embryo production: coculture with autologous cumulus cells, developmental competence, embryo quality and gene expression profiles

Studies concerning oocyte quality markers, oocyte/embryo metabolism or commercial OPU settings treating donors with low oocyte yields, indicate a need for optimization of IVP protocols to culture single oocytes to the blastocyst stage. However, culture conditions for single oocyte usually impair development, although previous research showed that single oocyte culture on a monolayer of cumulus cells can lead to similar developmental competence than group oocyte culture. Aiming to develop a fully single IVP procedure, Experiment 1 and 2 revealed that individual maturation, fertilization and culture in 20 μL droplets, using a monolayer of heterologous (SSSm, Exp 1) or autologous cumulus cells in coculture (SSSa, Exp 2), resulted in 23.9% and 15.1% of blastocysts 8 days p.i., respectively, which is significantly less compared to regular group IVP (GGGc, 33.5% (Exp 1) and 26.2% (Exp 2), respectively). In a third Experiment, day 7 p.i. blastocyst quality was analyzed in four treatment groups: regular group IVP (GGGc), group IVP with coculture (GGGm), in group produced zygotes, singly cultured on a heterologous cumulus cell monolayer (GGSm) and individually matured and fertilized zygotes, singly cultured on a monolayer (SSSm). Mean cell number and apoptotic cell index, were similar for all treatment groups. Moreover, mRNA abundance relative to H2AFZ was equal for 9 qualitatively linked genes (TP53, BAX, SHC1 SHC, IGF2R, PTGS2, AKR1B1, PLAC8, SLC2A1, and MNSOD). Only GPX1, involved in detoxification and mtDNA protection to oxidative stress, was significantly downregulated (ANOVA, P < 0.05) in singly produced blastocysts (SSSm), compared to the other treatments. In conclusion, a valuable individual IVP system was established and autologous cumulus cells in coculture showed to partly neutralize hampered individual culture conditions. Additionally, to our knowledge this is the first report in which blastocyst quality, in terms of cell number, apoptosis and gene expression, of singly produced embryos was investigated and shown to be similar to in group produced embryos, implicating that the single IVP system can be applied as a tool in oocyte and embryo quality studies.     

In vitro embryonic axis and seedling shoot tip culture of Juglans nigra L.

Embryonic axes and seedling shoot tips of Juglans nitra L., Black walnut, were cultured in vitro. Significant variation existed among progeny from individual trees for growth of radicles and epicotyls and production of callus and axillary shoots from embryonic axes. The concentration of 6-benzyladenine influenced the growth of the radicle and epicotyl and production of callus and axillary shoots of axes. Axes generally initiated growth quicker on solidified woody plant medium than on Driver and Kuniyuki's walnut medium, but axillary shoot proliferation and elongation were eventually better on liquid Driver and Kuniyuki's walnut medium than on woody plant medium which required an etiolation treatment for microshoot elongation. The concentration of BA also influenced both callus growth and axillary shoot proliferation from seedling shoot tips. Axillary shoots which formed in Driver and Kuniyuki's walnut medium rooted best in sterile vermiculite following a 15 s dip in 10 mM indole-3-butyric acid. Micropropagated plants are growing in the greenhouse.     

The characterization of bovine embryos obtained from prepubertal calf oocytes and their viability after non surgical embryo transfer

We have previously shown that the addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) during in vitro maturation was capable of stimulating the cytoplasmic maturation of cow and calf oocytes. The aim of the present study was to compare calf and cow blastocysts produced in the presence of EGF in terms of total cell number and cell distribution between trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM), pattern of protein synthesis, and ability to establish pregnancy after embryo transfer to recipients. For all experiment, embryos at Day 7 were obtained from IVM/IVF/IVC oocytes. No significant differences were noted in total cell number (cow= 138±46 vs CALF= 142±59; mean±SD) or ICM and TE cell number between calf (ICM= 35 ± 19, TE= 107± 52) and cow (ICM= 38± 21, TE= 99 ± 32) blastocysts, nor in the ICM/total cell number ratio (cow= 0.27± 11, CALF= 0.25 ± 12). No differences were noted in the constitutive and the neosynthetic protein profiles between cow and calf embryos obtained in vitro. The results of embryo transfer, showed that there was higher pregnancy loss following transfer of calf compared with cow embryos. After Day 35, the rate of pregnancy decreases, with only 22% of calf embryos maintaining pregnancy until calving compared with 39% for cow embryos. In conclusion, it would seem that embryos originating from calf oocytes are less capable of establishing pregnancies than embryos obtained from adult oocytes, althrough this difference was not significant. This low viability cannot be explained by differences in cell number or by the protein profiles identifed between these 2 groups of embryos.     

In vitro characteristics of metastatic variant subclones of restricted genetic origin

We have studied several metastatic variant cell lines derived from a common clonal origin and their transformed and untransformed parental cell lines. A number of in vitro characteristics were examined for each tumor line and these properties were correlated with the ability of the tumor cells to form pulmonary nodules in an experimental metastasis assay. Direct correlations with metastatic behavior in the lung colony assay were found to exist with the amount of cell-bound Concanavalin A and the procoagulant activities of cell lysates. In vitro parameters that did not correlate with the metastatic phenotype were: population doubling times in culture, saturation density achieved in culture, the number of colony-forming cells shed from confluent cultures, rates of cellular attachment to homotypic or heterotypic cell monolayers, plasminogen-activator production and procoagulant activity produced in serum-free conditioned medium.