The effect of continuous irradiation on cell proliferation and maturation in small intestinal epithelium.

Autoradiographic studies and scintillation counting of crypt material after pulse labelling with 3H-thymidine showed that during continuous irradiation with 290 rads/day a reduced proliferative activity is present in the crypts of rat small intestine after 1 day of irradiation and of normal activity during the remaining period (5 days) irradiation. After cessation of irradiation an increase in proliferative activity can be observed after 1 day of recovery. From the time (36-48 hr after starting of the irradiation) that the number of villus cells is reduced an expansion of the proliferation zone in the crypt was observed. Both effects last until 1 day of recovery after cessation of irradiation. The process of crypt cell maturation and of villus cell function has also been studied during and after continuous irradiation by micro-chemical enzyme analyses in isolated crypts and villi. It was found that the expansion of the proliferation zone in the crypt is accompanied by a decrease in activity of only those enzymes (i.e. non-specific esterases) which normally become active during crypt cell maturation. The activity of enzymes normally present mainly in the functional villus cells remained relatively unaffected by changes in crypt cell kinetics. A hypothesis of different regulation mechanisms of the proliferative activity in the intestinal crypt and a possible explanation of the different behaviour of various enzyme activities as a result of changes in crypt cell proliferation is discussed.     

THE EFFECT OF CONTINUOUS IRRADIATION ON CELL PROLIFERATION AND MATURATION IN SMALL INTESTINAL EPITHELIUM

Autoradiographic studies and scintillation counting of crypt material after pulse labelling with ³H-thymidine showed that during continuous irradiation with 290 rads/day a reduced proliferative activity is present in the crypts of rat small intestine after 1 day of irradiation and of normal activity during the remaining period (5 days) irradiation. After cessation of irradiation an increase in proliferative activity can be observed after 1 day of recovery. From the time (36–48 hr after starting of the irradiation) that the number of villus cells is reduced an expansion of the proliferation zone in the crypt was observed. Both effects last until 1 day of recovery after cessation of irradiation. The process of crypt cell maturation and of villus cell function has also been studied during and after continuous irradiation by micro-chemical enzyme analyses in isolated crypts and villi. It was found that the expansion of the proliferation zone in the crypt is accompanied by a decrease in activity of only those enzymes (i.e. non-specific esterases) which normally become active during crypt cell maturation. The activity of enzymes normally present mainly in the functional villus cells remained relatively unaffected by changes in crypt cell kinetics. A hypothesis of different regulation mechanisms of the proliferative activity in the intestinal crypt and a possible explanation of the different behaviour of various enzyme activities as a result of changes in crypt cell proliferation is discussed.     

Histophysiology of tissue basophils of the cerebral dura mater after laser irradiation

By means of the histochemical and morphometric methods the reaction of the tissue basophils of the brain dura mater has been studied to the one-time and varying-duration (0.5 sec.-3 hr.) irradiation by a helium-neon laser of the wave length 632.8 nm, power density 0.76 mvt/sm2. It has been found, that the laser irradiation had a biostimulating effect upon the tissue basophils; the first peak of activity is in the case of a 3-second continuous irradiation; the second--from 15 min. to 1 hr. In symmetrical parts of the right (irradiated) and left (nonirradiated) regions of the dura very similar changes of the functional activity of the tissue basophils activity were seen.     

Arachidonic acid metabolites mediate the radiation-induced increase in glomerular albumin permeability

Radiation-induced renal injury is characterized by proteinuria, hypertension, and progressive decline in renal function. We have previously shown that in vivo or in vitro irradiation of glomeruli with a single dose of radiation (9.5 Gy) increases glomerular albumin permeability (P(alb)) within 1 hr. The current studies tested the hypothesis that this early radiation-induced increase in P(alb) is caused by the release of arachidonic acid and by the generation of specific arachidonic acid metabolites. Glomeruli obtained from WAG/Rij/MCW rats and cultured rat glomerular epithelial and mesangial cells were studied after irradiation (9.5 Gy, single dose). Arachidonic acid release and eicosanoid synthesis by glomeruli or cultured glomerular cells were measured after irradiation, and the effect of inhibitors of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and cyclooxygenase (COX) on the irradiation-induced increase in P(alb) was assessed. Arachidonic acid release was demonstrated within 10 mins of irradiation of isolated glomeruli and monolayer cultures of glomerular epithelial and mesangial cells. Prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) and PGE2 release was increased after irradiation of isolated glomeruli. Blocking arachidonic acid release or COX activity before irradiation completely prevented the increase in P(alb). COX inhibition immediately after irradiation also diminished the radiation-induced increase in P(alb). We conclude that arachidonic acid and its COX metabolites play an essential role in the early cellular changes that lead to the radiation-induced increase in P(alb). Understanding of the early epigenetic effects of irradiation may lead to new intervention strategies against radiation-induced injury of normal tissues.     

Effect of gamma irradiation on brain enkephalin hydrolase activity in the rat

A study was made of the effect of different radiation doses on the brain enzymes degrading enkephalins. Enkephalin aminopeptidase activity decreased during the first 60 min following irradiation with a dose of 774 X 10(-4) C/kg and increased after a dose of 3096 X X 10(-4) C/kg; enkephalinase A exhibited opposite changes. 48 hr after irradiation, enkephalin aminopeptidase activity exceeded the normal level, and no significant changes occurred in encephaliase A activity irrespective of the radiation dose.     

Changes in lipid peroxide levels and activity of reactive oxygen scavenging enzymes in skin, serum and liver following UVB irradiation in mice.

The effect of acute UVB on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin and the induction of ROS scavenging enzymes in situ was examined. Lipid peroxide levels and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and D-glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-P-D) were determined in the skin, serum, and liver of ICR mice subjected to 1400 mJ/cm2 of acute UVB irradiation. In irradiated skin, lipid peroxides were increased at 3 and 24 hr after irradiation, whereas the four ROS scavenging enzymes were generally decreased during the first 48 hr after irradiation. In the serum, lipid peroxides showed an increase at 3 hr, but enzyme activities remained negligible. In the liver, lipid peroxides showed similar behaviour to that in skin. GSH-Px activity in the liver was decreased during the first 24 hr, whereas G-6-P-D showed substantial fluctuation and SOD and catalase activities showed no change. These data are consistent with a model in which lipid peroxides generated in the UVB-irradiated lesions are transported to the liver and there metabolized by the scavenging enzymes induced in situ.     

Induction of interferon and activation of NK cells and macrophages in mice by oral administration of Ge-132, an organic germanium compound

After oral administration of an organic germanium compound, Ge-132 (300 mg/kg), a significant level of interferon (IFN) activity was detected in the sera of mice at 20 hr and it reached a maximum of 320 U/ml at 24 hr. This IFN activity was lost after heat- or acid-treatment, suggesting that the induced IFN is of gamma-nature. The molecular weight of this IFN was estimated to be 50,000 daltons by gel filtration. The NK activity of spleen cells was increased 24 hr after the oral administration of Ge-132, and cytotoxic macrophages were induced in the peritoneal cavity by 48 hr. In the mice receiving an intraperitoneal (ip) injection of trypan blue or carrageenan 2 days before oral administration of Ge-132, neither induction of IFN nor augmentation of NK activity occurred, and X-ray irradiation of mice also rendered the mice incapable of producing IFN, all indicating that both macrophages and lymphocytes are required for this IFN induction. Both NK and cytotoxic macrophages appeared 18 hr after ip administration of the induced IFN with a titer as low as 20 U/ml. These facts suggest that both the augmentation of NK activity and activation of macrophages in mice after oral administration of Ge-132 are mediated by the induced IFN.     

Effect of UV irradiation on expression of membrane IL 1 by rat macrophages

The effect of UV-B irradiation on the expression of membrane-associated IL 1 (mIL 1) by rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) was studied. We found that although there was an increase in secreted IL 1 by PAM exposed to UV-B, the expression of mIL 1 was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, PAM that were allowed to express mIL 1 before UV-B irradiation had a faster decay of mIL 1 activity than unirradiated cells. These data suggested that mIL 1 expression is inhibited by UV-B irradiation, and that under normal circumstances, mIL 1 synthesis and degradation is at a steady state, with the half-life of mIL 1 activity being 24 hr when assayed in an IL 1-dependent cell line proliferation assay. These data indicate that secreted forms of IL 1 and mIL 1 are differentially regulated and that the therapeutic effects of UV irradiation may be due to its inhibition of mIL 1 activity.     

The effect of dexamethasone on the cytotoxic and enzymatic response of cultured endothelial cells to radiation

Experiments were conducted to determine (1) whether glucocorticoids directly protected endothelial cells (EC) from radiation and (2) if angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity, known to be increased by glucocorticoid, played a role in the EC response to radiation. Confluent monolayers of EC cultured from bovine aorta EC were treated with dexamethasone (10(-6) M); after irradiation (5.0 Gy, 60Co gamma), ACE and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, DNA and protein contents, and nuclei number were measured. Twenty-four hours after 5 Gy, there was increased cell loss (-40%, P less than 0.001), greater LDH release (greater than 100%, P less than 0.001), more LDH activity per cell (+40%, P less than 0.001), and unchanged ACE activity compared to sham-irradiated control EC. However, 48 hr after 5 Gy, ACE activity per cell was decreased (-24%, P less than 0.005). A 48-hr exposure to dexamethasone alone was accompanied by a slight cell loss (-10%, P less than 0.001) and increased cellular ACE activity (+40-140%, P less than 0.001), but a 24-hr dexamethasone exposure was not cytotoxic and did not change ACE activity. Dexamethasone exposure for 48 hr before and after irradiation did not attenuate cell loss or LDH release. However, combined dexamethasone treatment and radiation increased cellular ACE activity at a time when neither agent alone had an effect (24-hr dexamethasone exposure before 5 Gy and assayed 24 hr after 5 Gy). This interaction between radiation and dexamethasone treatment suggests that the glucocorticoid modifies the cell's response to injury. Although this interaction does not ameliorate radiation cytotoxicity, maintenance of ACE levels in injured vessels by hormones may have physiological significance in the hemodynamics of irradiated tissues.     

Effects of storage and incubation conditions on human granulocyte phagocytic, bactericidal, and chemotactic functions

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of different incubation conditions on human granulocyte (PMN) bactericidal, phagocytic, and chemotactic functions. Specifically, (1) how long may a patient's blood be held before assay and maintain original PMN function, and (2) how long may isolated PMNs be incubated for the purpose of exposure to various agents and still maintain original function? PMNs isolated following storage of whole heparinized blood at 4 °C for 24 and 48 hr phagocytized as well as fresh cells and their bactericidal activity was 96 and 85% of control values after 24 and 48 hr, respectively. Chemotaxis decreased to 62% of control after 24 hr. The bactericidal capacity of isolated PMNs stored at 4 °C for 24, 48, and 72 hr decreased to 85, 81, and 78% of controls, respectively. Phagocytosis after 24 hr storage was equal to controls. Chemotaxis was decreased to 59 and 34% of controls after 24 and 48 hr, respectively. Isolated PMNs incubated at 37 °C demonstrated impairment in phagocytic capacity after only 4 hr.     

Effect of the time before fixation on the yield of chromosome aberrations in a culture of human lymphocytes exposed to gamma rays at different stages of the mitotic cycle

A comparative study was made of the yield of chromosome aberrations in human lymphocyte culture exposed to 60Co-gamma-rays (2 Gy) at different mitotic cycle stages the cells being fixed after 52 and 60 hr. It was shown that with the latter fixation time (60 hr) the frequency of chromosome aberrations after irradiation in G1 stage was substantially lower than that with the former one (52 hr) and, vice versa, it was higher after irradiation in S and G2 stages. The authors discuss the probable causes of the distinctions observed.     

Effect of the administration of cycloheximide to thioacetamide-primed rats or partial-hepatectomized rats on the RNA polymerase I activity in isolated nuclei of liver

1. Twenty-four hours after administration of thioacetamide to normal rats, the activity and amount of RNA polymerase I in isolated liver nuclei were almost doubled. 2. When cycloheximide was administered to the drug-treated rats and normal rats 1 or 2 hr before death, the reduction in the activity was of the same degree, that is, about half of the activity of liver nuclei from normal rats. 3. Partial hepatectomy also caused about 2-fold increase in the RNA polymerase I activity in isolated liver nuclei after 16 hr, but the increased activity was almost completely abolished by injection of cycloheximide 1-3 hr before killing.     

Possible involvement of ERK 1/2 in UVA-induced melanogenesis in cultured normal human epidermal melanocytes

UV-induced melanogenesis is a well known physiological response of human skin exposed to solar radiation; however, the signaling molecules involved in the stimulation of melanogenesis in melanocytes following UV exposure remain unclear. In this study we induced melanogenesis in vitro in normal human epidermal melanocytes using a single irradiation with UVA at 1 kJ/m2 and examined the potential involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) as UVA-responsive signaling molecules in those cells. UVA irradiation did not affect the proliferation of melanocytes, but it did increase tyrosinase mRNA expression, which reached a maximum level 4 hr after UVA irradiation. The amount of tyrosinase protein, as quantitated by immunoblotting, was also increased at 24 hr following UVA irradiation. Among the MAPK examined, extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) 1/2 was phosphorylated within 15 min of UVA irradiation, but no such phosphorylation was observed for c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) or p38. Accordingly, the activity of ERK1/2 was also increased shortly after UVA irradiation. These responses of ERK1/2 to UVA irradiation were markedly inhibited when cells were pre-treated with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, an antioxidant, or with suramin, a tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor. The formation of (6-4)photoproducts or cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers was not detected in cellular DNA after UVA irradiation. These findings suggest that a single UVA irradiation-induced melanogenesis is associated with the activation of ERK1/2 by upstream signals that originate from reactive oxygen species or from activated tyrosine kinase receptors, but not from damaged DNA.     

Possible role of hormones in the control of midgut amylolytic activity during adult development of Tenebrio molitor

Midgut amylolytic activity (MAA) increases spontaneously during adult development in isolated, unfed adults. Neck-ligation of adults applied at 0 to 1 hr and 18 to 20 hr after adult emergence exhibits a significant decrease in MAA 72 hr after treatment. MAA decrease was higher when 18 to 20 hr old adults were ligated than those 0 to 1 hr old. Injection of head extracts increases MAA considerably in young adults (0–6 hr) whereas in older ones (18–20 hr) the same dose of the extract does not change the activity of the enzyme examined. It may be supposed that amylase synthesis of the midgut epithelial cells in T. molitor adults is closely related to the cytodifferentiation of the midgut.     

The cell cycle of spermatogonial colony forming stem cells in the CBA mouse after neutron irradiation

In the CBA mouse testis about 10% of the stem cell population is highly resistant to neutron irradiation (D0, 0.75 Gy). Following a dose of 1.50 Gy these cells rapidly increase their sensitivity towards a second neutron dose and progress fairly synchronously through their first post-irradiation cell cycle. From experiments in which neutron irradiation was combined with hydroxyurea it appeared that in this cycle the S-phase is less radiosensitive (D0, 0.43 Gy) than the other phases of the cell cycle (D0, 0.25 Gy). From experiments in which hydroxyurea was injected twice after irradiation the speed of inflow of cells in S and the duration of S and the cell cycle could be calculated. Between 32 and 36 hr after irradiation cells start to enter the S-phase at a speed of 30% of the population every 12 hr. At 60 hr 50% of the population has already passed the S-phase while 30% is still in S. The data point to a cell cycle time of about 36 hr, while the S-phase lasts 12 hr at the most.     

The induction of interferon by levamisole in mice.

Viral inhibitor(s) with the properties of interferon (IF) was found in the sera of DDI mice injected intraperitoneally with 5 to 10 mg/kg of levamisole. A significant level of IF activity appeared by 20 hr and reached a peak by 24 hr after the injection. The induction was abrogated when the mice were pretreated with either whole-body X irradiation of more than 500 R or 2.5 mg of hydrocortisone acetate but was not affected by macrophage-specific depressors such as carrageenan and trypan blue. Also, no induction was detected in thymus-defective nude mice. These results suggest that thymus-derived lymphocytes in the mouse may be required for IF induction by levamisole.     

Influence of cytokinins and phytochrome on nitrate reductase activity in etiolated leaves of maize

Of the different hormones tested, cytokinins stimulated nitrate-induced nitrate reductase (NR) activity in the dark. The optimal stimulation was obtained at 16 hr and this was sensitive to tungstate, 6-methylpurine and cycloheximide. The cytokinin stimulation of NR activity was further enhanced by brief irradiation with red light, but this effect was not noticed when leaves were exposed to far-red light. Both kinetin and red light, when given together, or given with a darkness interruption, stimulated the NR activity more than with either of them alone.     

Phytochrome regulation of peroxidase activity in maize IV. Photosynthetic independence of peroxidase enhancement

The continuous far-red light mediation of the enhancement ofperoxidase activity was repressed only partially by inhibitorsof cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation. Under far-redlight the chlorophyll development was minimal and plastids weredifferentiated only partially. Isolated plastids from seedlingsgrown under far-red light developed photosystem I and II activityafter a lag of 4 hr, cyclic photophosphorylation after 8 hr,and non-cyclic photophosphorylation at 24 hr. These seedlings,however, failed to show CO²-dependent oxygen evolution upto24 hr of irradiation. The magnitudes of the various photochemicalactivities developed under far-red light were considerably lowerthan those developed under white light. Photosynthetic participationin the far-red mediated ‘high irradiance reaction’was excluded as it had a longer lag than the onset of the enhancementof peroxidase activity, and its magnitude was minimal. ¹Present address: School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad,Hyderabad-500001, India. (Received February 26, 1979; )     

Possible Involvement of ERK 1/2 in UVA‐Induced Melanogenesis in Cultured Normal Human Epidermal Melanocytes

UV‐induced melanogenesis is a well known physiological response of human skin exposed to solar radiation; however, the signaling molecules involved in the stimulation of melanogenesis in melanocytes following UV exposure remain unclear. In this study we induced melanogenesis in vitro in normal human epidermal melanocytes using a single irradiation with UVA at 1 kJ/m² and examined the potential involvement of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) as UVA‐responsive signaling molecules in those cells. UVA irradiation did not affect the proliferation of melanocytes, but it did increase tyrosinase mRNA expression, which reached a maximum level 4 hr after UVA irradiation. The amount of tyrosinase protein, as quantitated by immunoblotting, was also increased at 24 hr following UVA irradiation. Among the MAPK examined, extracellular signal‐related kinase (ERK) 1/2 was phosphorylated within 15 min of UVA irradiation, but no such phosphorylation was observed for c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases (JNK) or p38. Accordingly, the activity of ERK1/2 was also increased shortly after UVA irradiation. These responses of ERK1/2 to UVA irradiation were markedly inhibited when cells were pre‐treated with N‐acetyl‐l ‐cysteine, an antioxidant, or with suramin, a tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor. The formation of (6‐4)photoproducts or cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers was not detected in cellular DNA after UVA irradiation. These findings suggest that a single UVA irradiation‐induced melanogenesis is associated with the activation of ERK1/2 by upstream signals that originate from reactive oxygen species or from activated tyrosine kinase receptors, but not from damaged DNA.     

Induction of phenylalanine ammonia lyase and pisatin by photosensitive psoralen compounds

The psoralen compounds, xanthotoxin and 4,5′, 8-trimethylpsoralen, when activated, increased phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity and the synthesis of pisatin in excised pea pods. Pods presoaked 1 hr with 4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen and then irradiated 4 minutes with 366 nanometer ultraviolet light had twice as much PAL activity 3 hours after irradiation and 12 times as much PAL activity 20 hours after irradiation as the pods of the water-treated control. Increases in PAL activity and pisatin synthesis were not obtained with 4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen, xanthotoxin, or 366 nanometer light treatment alone. 4,5′,8-Trimethylpsoralen in combination with the irradiation treatment (366 nanometers) enhanced the rate at which l-leucine is incorporated into various fractions of soluble proteins in excised pods 8 hours after treatment. This treatment decreased the rate at which orotic acid is incorporated into RNA. The increase in PAL activity induced by irradiated psoralens was prevented when 6-methylpurine (0.5 milligram per milliliter) or cycloheximide (10 micrograms per milliliter) was applied immediately following the irradiation period. Possible functions of psoralen compounds in plants are discussed.