Some Aspects of Melanin Formation of Melanocytes Cultured on Collagen-Coated Microcarrier Beads

Melanocytes cultured on collagen-coated Cytodex 3 microcarrier Sephadex beads caused remarkable pigmentation of the beads during the period of culture when optimal density was reached. Electron microscopy of melanocytes on the microcarriers revealed that the cells and their dendrites invaginate into the microcarrier surface layer. Removal of the cells by trypsinization showed that some pigment granules were left on the carrier surface and within the cavities present on the microcarrier surface. In order to investigate whether the pigmentation of the microcarriers could be a result of indole intermediates of melanogenesis present in the culture medium, extracts were studied by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the presence of these compounds. Two compounds (5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid and 6-hydroxy-5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid) so far have been identified in the medium extracts. Results indicate that microcarrier culture of melanocytes can serve as an interesting model for electron microscopy studies of melanocytes with regard to pigmentation and cell attachment.     

Analysis of the UV-Induced Melanogenesis and Growth Arrest of Human Melanocytes

Cultured human melanocytes derived from different skin types responded to frequent treatment with ultraviolet (UV) light with increased melanin synthesis, decreased proliferation, and morphologic signs of aging. These effects were augmented by increased frequency of irradiation with 15.5 mJ/cm² UV light. Stimulation of melanogenesis by UV light involved an increase in tyrosinase activity, without any change in the amounts of either tyrosinase or tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and a decrease in the amount of TRP-2, as determined by Western blot analysis. These results are different from the mechanisms by which other melanogenic agents, such as cholera toxin and isobutyl methylxanthine, stimulated melanogenesis, whereby the amounts of tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2 were increased. The decrease in the amount of TRP-2 might be significant in that it might alter the properties of the newly synthesized melanin. The UV irradiation protocol that was followed blocked melanocytes in G₂-M phase of the cell cycle without compromising cellular viability. Following three rounds of UV irradiation, melanocytes could recover from the growth arrest and resume proliferation. Treatment with 0.1 μM α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) postirradiation enhanced the melanogenic effect of UV light and stimulated the melanocytes to proliferate. The effects of α-MSH on the UV induced responses and their implications on photocarcinogenesis are being further investigated. Analyzing the mechanisms by which UV light exposure affects normal melanocytes might lead to a better understanding of how these cells undergo malignant transformation, and why individuals with different skin types differ in their susceptibility to skin cancers.     

Stimulation of Cultured Iridophores by Amphibian Ventral Conditioned Medium

That the ventral integument of adult frogs (Rana pipiens) contains factor(s) that stimulate iridophore expression (adhesion, morphologic appearance, proliferation) was demonstrated on iridophores derived from tadpoles of R. pipiens and Pachymedusa dacnicolor, and maintained in primary culture in a growth medium based upon Leibovitz's L-15. Experimental growth medium (VCM) conditioned by a one-hour exposure to pieces of ventral skin of adult R. pipiens induced iridophores to assume a broad and stellate appearance, to form confluent sheets, and to proliferate over a nine-day period. Iridophores in control medium assumed long thin profiles, detached easily, and exhibited no signs of proliferation. Unknown cells containing reflecting platelets and unusual other organelles appeared uniquely in chromatophore cultures of P. dacnicolor in VCM. The intense stimulation of iridophore expression in VCM is consistent with the known inhibitory effect of this medium on melanization and with its purported role in the determination of dorsal/ventral pigment patterns of amphibians. The results are discussed in terms of a prevailing theory about pigment cell origins and development.     

Demonstration of Voltage-Dependent and TTX-Sensitive Na+-Channels in Human Melanocytes

The electrophysiological properties of cultured human melanocytes were investigated using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. Depolarizations to membrane potentials more positive than -30 mV resulted in the rapid development (<1 ms to peak) of an inward current. The maximum peak current was observed at +10 mV and reached an average amplitude of about 270 pA. During the depolarizations, the current inactivated with a time constant of about 2 ms. The current was abolished by the addition of 0.3 μM tetrodotoxin, a blocker of voltage-gated Na⁺-channels, and disappeared when Na⁺ was omitted from the extracellular medium. In addition, the melanocytes contain at least two types of outward K⁺-current. The first type, observed in every cell, was highly sensitive (K_i 1 mM) to the K⁺-channel blocker TEA, required depolarizations beyond zero to be activated and did not inactivate. The second type was less regularly observed (10% of the cells). This current activated at more negative voltages (–20 mV), was resistant to TEA (20 mM) but was blocked by 2 mM 4-aminopyridine and inactivated rapidly during depolarizations. We conclude that human melanocytes are equipped with voltage-dependent Na⁺-channels, a delayed rectifying K⁺-current and a K⁺-current similar to the A-current in neurones.     

An Ultrastructural Study of Melanocytes and Melanosomes in the Skin and Hair Bulbs of Rufous Albinos

We have examined hair bulb and skin melanocytes of rufous albinos from Southern Africa to further characterize this form of albinism. In the skin melanocytes we find both eumelanosomes and pheomelanosomes at various stages of melanization and, in addition, there appeared to be many aberrant incompletely melanized melanosomes. On average, rufous melanosomes are 30% smaller than normal black skin melanosomes. In the keratinocytes, the melanosomes are packaged into distinct aggregations, whereas in normal black skin, they occur singly. We suggest that the reddish skin color of these albinos is a consequence of an increase in the pheomelanin synthesis resulting in a raised pheomelanin/eumelanin ratio and that the aggregation of melanosomes results in a skin color slightly lighter than normal. In hair bulb melanocytes, only eumelanosomes were seen and these were mostly incompletely melanized. These findings correlate with our visual observations that the hair color of Southern African albinos is very pale (light brown or ginger). Based on our observations, we speculate on the possible cause of rufous albinism.     

异种动物血清对体外培养人肿瘤细胞生长的影响

目的观察不同种属来源和浓度的动物血清对体外培养的肿瘤细胞（A549、MCF-7、BGC-823）生长的影响。探讨血清药理实验中血清供体动物的选择及血清添加量的问题。方法设置5种血清（牛、人、兔、大鼠、小鼠）及血清量（10%、20%、40%、60%、80%）的培养体系,用MTT法检测细胞增殖情况。结果不同种属来源的动物血清对肿瘤细胞生长的影响作用各不相同。从总的趋势来看,牛血清更适宜人肿瘤细胞生长,小鼠血清适应性最差。且随着加入量的增加,大多数血清会对肿瘤细胞的生长产生负效应。结论在肿瘤血清药理学试验中,为排除血清本身带给试验的干扰,应测定正常动物血清对肿瘤细胞增殖的影响,且血清添加量以小于20%为宜。     

Up‐regulation of Tyrosinase Gene by Nitric Oxide in Human Melanocytes

Ultraviolet light (UV) radiation causes skin‐tanning, which is thought to be mediated by stimulating the release of melanogenic factors from keratinocytes as well as other cells. Nitric oxide (NO) has been reported to be generated after UV radiation and to stimulate melanocytes as one of the melanogens. In a previous experiment by another group on melanogenesis induced by NO, increases in both tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase protein levels were observed after daily stimulation of NO for 4 days. In the present study, we investigated tyrosinase gene expression within the first 24 hr of NO‐induced melanogenesis. Tyrosinase mRNA expression was found to be induced 2 hr after a single treatment with S‐nitroso‐N‐acetyl‐ l ‐arginine. An increase of tyrosinase activity was also detected time‐dependently within the 24‐hr period, accompanied by an increase of tyrosinase protein levels. The induction of mRNA expression was suppressed by a cyclic guanosine 3′,5′‐monophosphate (cGMP)‐dependent protein kinase (cGMP/PKG) inhibitor. These results suggest that the enhancement of tyrosinase gene expression via the cGMP pathway may be a primary mechanism for NO‐induced melanogenesis.     

灯盏花素含药血清对谷氨酸致原代海马神经元损伤的影响

目的:从细胞水平研究注射用灯盏花素对谷氨酸致大鼠原代海马神经元损伤的保护作用及其作用机制。方法:采用中药血清药理学方法,制备含药血清;原代培养大鼠乳鼠大脑海马神经元并经鉴定后,以谷氨酸复制损伤模型,以5%含药血清干预,在透射电镜下及经碘化丙啶和Hoechst33342双染后荧光显微镜下观察海马凋亡神经元的形态学变化,并进行检测:MTT法测定细胞存活率,生化法检测LDH漏出率、丙二醛(MDA)含量、细胞释放的NO量、细胞内tNOS活性和iNOS活性。结果:灯盏花素高、低剂量组均能明显增加海马神经元存活率,而LDH漏出率、丙二醛(MDA)含量、一氧化氮释放、总一氧化氮合酶活性和诱导型一氧化氮合酶活性(p<0.05,p<0.01)明显降低。结论:灯盏花素对谷氨酸致原代培养大鼠海马神经元损伤具有保护作用,其作用机制可能与其能改善能量代谢、稳定细胞膜、抗脂质过氧化、降低一氧化氮合酶的活性、减少一氧化氮释放有关。     

Keratinocytes Control the Proliferation and Differentiation of Cultured Epidermal Melanocytes from Ultraviolet Radiation B‐Induced Pigmented Spots in the Dorsal Skin of Hairless Mice

Long‐term exposure of ultraviolet radiation B (UVB)‐induced pigmented spots in the dorsal skin of hairless mice of Hos:(HR‐1 X HR//De) F₁. Previous study showed that the proliferative and differentiative activities of cultured epidermal melanoblasts//melanocytes from UVB‐induced pigmented spots increased with the development of the pigmented spots. To determine whether the increase in the proliferative and differentiative activities of epidermal melanoblasts//melanocytes was brought about by direct changes in melanocytes, or by indirect changes in surrounding keratinocytes, pure cultured melanoblasts//melanocytes and keratinocytes were prepared and co‐cultured in combination with control and irradiated mice in a serum‐free culture medium. Keratinocytes from irradiated mice stimulated the proliferation and differentiation of both neonatal and adult non‐irradiated melanoblasts//melanocytes more greatly than those from non‐irradiated mice. In contrast, both non‐irradiated and irradiated adultmelanocytes proliferated and differentiated similarly when they were co‐cultured with irradiated adult keratinocytes. These results suggest that the increased proliferative and differentiative activities of mouse epidermal melanocytes from UVB‐induced pigmented spots are regulated by keratinocytes, rather than melanocytes.     

小肽营养素对断奶仔猪生产性能及血液生化指标的影响

本试验将40头21 d断奶的三元杂交猪随机分为4组,用4组不同日粮组成及营养水平的饲料(I:基础日粮+2%喷雾干燥血浆蛋白粉(SDPP);Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ组分别在基础日粮中添加1%,2%和3%小肽营养素)饲养21 d后称重、测定血液生化指标并进行统计分析.结果表明:添加小肽营养素对断奶仔猪的生产性能无显著影响;各处理组的血清总蛋白、血糖和血清尿素差异不显著,2%小肽组的球蛋白、免疫球蛋白含量显著高于其它组;小肽产品可以部分等蛋白取代断奶仔猪日粮中的血浆蛋白粉.通过了解小肽营养素替代喷雾干燥血浆蛋白粉对21 d断奶仔猪的生产性能和血液生化指标的影响,为肽类产品在断奶仔猪日粮中的应用提供了依据.     

Induction of Circadian Rhythm in Cultured Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Serum Shock and cAMP Analogs in Vitro

Circadian clocks have been shown to operate developmentally in mouse and human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in vivo, but little is known about their possible oscillations in vitro. Here, we show that repeated circadian oscillations could be induced in both cultured bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal‐ and adipose‐derived stem cells (MSCs and ASCs, respectively) by serum shock. In particular, the novel finding of rhythmic clock gene expression induced by cAMP analogs showed similarities as well as differences to serum‐induced oscillations. Rhythmic PER1 expression was found in serum‐shocked MSCs, suggesting the phosphorylation status of PER1 is important for its activity in circadian rhythms. Furthermore, immunofluoresent staining showed that the localization of PER1 was dependent on the level of PER1 expression. These inducible self‐sustained circadian clocks in primary cultures of human MSCs in vitro with rhythmic changes in expression levels, phosphorylation, and localization of clock protein, PER1, may be of importance for maintaining the induced oscillations in stem cells. Therefore, the established cell models described here appear to be valuable for studying the molecular mechanism driving and coordinating the circadian network between stem and stromal cells.     

Biochemical Constitution of Extracellular Medium is Critical for Control of Human Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cell Motility

Although voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) activity, upregulated significantly in strongly metastatic human breast cancer cells, has been found to potentiate a variety of in vitro metastatic cell behaviors, the mechanism(s) regulating channel expression/activity is not clear. As a step toward identifying possible serum factors that might be responsible for this, we tested whether medium in which fetal bovine serum (FBS) was substituted with a commercial serum replacement agent (SR-2), comprising insulin and bovine serum albumin, would influence the VGSC-dependent in vitro metastatic cell behaviors. Human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were used as a model. Measurements of lateral motility, transverse migration and adhesion showed consistently that the channel's involvement in metastatic cell behaviors depended on the extracellular biochemical conditions. In normal medium (5% FBS), tetrodotoxin (TTX), a highly specific blocker of VGSCs, suppressed these cellular behaviors, as reported before. In contrast, in SR-2 medium, TTX had opposite effects. However, blocking endogenous insulin/insulin-like growth factor receptor signaling with AG1024 eliminated or reversed the anomalous effects of TTX. Insulin added to serum-free medium increased migration, and TTX increased it further. In conclusion, (1) the biochemical constitution of the extracellular medium had a significant impact upon breast cancer cells' in vitro metastatic behaviors and (2) insulin, in particular, controlled the mode of the functional association between cells' VGSC activity and metastatic machinery.     

糖耐康含药血清对高糖状态下大鼠肝细胞糖脂代谢的影响

摘要目的：研究糖耐康含药血清对高糖状态下大鼠肝细胞糖脂代谢的影响。方法：通过培养大鼠肝细胞,在高糖诱导肝细胞胰岛素抵抗状态下,给予高、中、低剂量的糖耐康含药血清共培养24h后,观察肝细胞增殖情况,用葡萄糖氧化酶法检测细胞的葡萄糖消耗量,培养基和肝细胞内TG含量,肝细胞糖原含量。结果：与正常组比较,高糖刺激下,肝细胞增殖显著受到抑制（P〈O．叭）、葡萄糖消耗量和糖原含量减少（P〈0．01）,TG含量增加（P〈O．01）;与高糖组比较,吡格列酮组与TNK各剂量上述情况有不用程度的改善。作用效果类似。结论：糖耐康含药血清具有改善高糖环境下肝脏糖脂代谢紊乱的作用,可能与增加肝细胞胰岛素敏感性改善IR有关。     

Growth Medium Containing Cyclodextrin and Low Concentration of Horse Serum for Cultivation of Helicobacter pylori

The growth of Helicobacter pylori, a Gram-negative microaerophilic bacterium, is often difficult and requires complex media with the supplementation of 5% to 10% blood or blood derivatives. We have found that Brucella broth supplemented with 1% heated horse serum and 0.1% β-cyclodextrin supports the good growth of H. pylori. The degree of growth and production of urease and vacuolating cytotoxin in this medium were equal to those in the medium supplemented with 5% horse serum. This medium was found to be suitable for both the routine laboratory culture and primary isolation of H. pylori from biopsy samples.     

Efficacy of Chromium(III) Supplementation on Growth,Body Composition,Serum Parameters,and Tissue Chromium in Rats

Chromium(III) is often claimed to have a positive effect on body composition, while the responses in researches with supplementation of different chemical form of chromium are various and inconsistent. We have studied the effects of 6 weeks of treatment with three different forms of chromium (300 μg/kg) as chromium chloride, chromium tripicolinate, and chromium nanocomposite (CrNano) on growth, body composition, serum parameters, and tissue chromium in rats. The supplementataion of CrNano significantly increased average daily gain, food efficiency, and lean body mass and decreased fat mass and body fat proportion and serum levels of glucose, urea nitrogen, triglyceride, and insulin. Chromium contents in liver, kidney, and hind leg muscle were increased significantly with the addition of CrNano in diet. The results indicate that chromium nanocomposite has higher efficacy on growth and body composition compared to the traditional chromium agents.     

Long-Term Survival of Leptospira in a Biphasic Culture Medium Containing Charcoal

A comparison was made of the survival of 28 leptospiral serotypes in Fletcher semisolid medium and in the same medium containing a basal layer of Fletcher medium plus 0.7% of agar and 0.5% of activated animal charcoal. A year after culture, more motile leptospires were observed by microscope examination in the biphasic medium. Two years after culture, 4 serotypes grown in the biphasic medium and 11 in Fletcher medium did not show motile cells. Nineteen of the serotypes maintained in Fletcher medium and 25 in the biphasic medium for 2 years grew on subculture into Fletcher medium. Subcultures from the biphasic medium showed the characteristic leptospiral ring growth earlier during the incubation period.     

一个血清抑制基因的克隆

比较血清培养细胞和血清饥饿细胞的基因表达差异,获得了一段血清饥饿细胞中特异表达的cDNA序列,以此序列出发,通过搜索表达序列标签(EST),拼接出完整的基因序列,通过PCR分段克隆获得全长cDNA序列.该基因全长5 429 bp,编码框预测有791个氨基酸残基.GenBank搜索,该基因与已有的细胞周期调控基因没有同源性.所以,该基因是一个新的与细胞周期有关的基因（GenBank接受号：AY050169）.由于该基因最初发现在无血清培养条件下表达,故叫血清抑制基因（serum inhibit gene,Si-1基因）.     

Senescence of Pear Fruit Cells Cultured in a Continuously Renewed, Auxin-deprived Medium

Auxins and cytokinins support cell division in tissue and cell cultures. In cytokinin-independent pear (Pyrus communis) cells, omission of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from the medium for two successive transfers leads to rapid cell lysis, unless the osmolarity is raised to 0.4 molar with mannitol. Use of this system (nutrients plus mannitol minus 2,4-D) for the study of cell senescence was explored both in batch culture and in a system designed to permit medium renewal without withdrawal of live cells.