CELL PROLIFERATION KINETICS OF EPIDERMIS AND SEBACEOUS GLANDS IN RELATION TO CHALONE ACTION

Median S-phase lengths of pinna epidermis and sebaceous glands, and of epithelia from the oesophagus and under surface of the tongue of Albino Swiss S mice were estimated by the percentage labelled mitoses method (PLM). The 18.4 and 18.8 hr for the median length of S-phase for pinna epidermis and sebaceous glands respectively made it possible for these two tissues to be used experimentally for testing tissue specificity in chalone assay experiments. The 10.0 and 11.5 hr for oesophagus and tongue epithelium respectively made experimental design for chalone assay difficult when pinna epidermis was the target tissue. The results of the Labelling Index measured each hour throughout a 24-hr period showed no distinct single peaked diurnal rhythm for pinna epidermis and sebaceous glands. Instead a circadian rhythm with several small peaks occurred which would be expected if an S-phase of approximately 18 hr was imposed on the diurnal rhythm. This indicates that there may be very little change in the rate of DNA synthesis. The results are given for the assay in vivo of purified epidermal G₁ and G₂ chalones, and the 72–81% ethanol precipitate of pig skin from which they could be isolated. These experiments were performed over a time period which took into account the diurnal rhythm of activity of the mice as well as the S-phase lengths. Extrapolating the results with time of action of the chalone shows that the G₁ chalone acts at the point of entry into DNA synthesis and that the S-phase length was approximately 17 hr for both the pinna epidermis and sebaceous glands. This may be a more correct value since the PLM method overestimates the median S-phase length as it is known that in pinna skin the [³H]TdR is available to the tissues for 2 hr and true flash labelling does not take place. The previous reports that epidermal G₁ chalone acts some hours prior to entry into S-phase resulted from experiments on back skin where the S-phase is shorter and there is a pronounceddiurnal rhythm which could mask the chalone effect. The epidermal G, chalone had no effect on DNA synthesis even at different times in the circadian rhythm. Thus the circadian rhythms and S-phase lengths of the test tissues need to be considered when experiments are performed with chalones. Ideally, the target tissues selected for cell line specificity tests should have the same cell kinetics for the easier and more accurate assessment and interpretation of results. When the tissues have markedly different cell kinetics, experimental procedures and results need to be evaluated accordingly. The point of action of G, chalone can only be assessed if the effect is measured over the peak of incorporation of 13H]TdR into DNA. The results of the effects of skin extracts are analysed in relation to changes in the availability of i3H]TdR for the incorporation into DNA and to the possibility of there being two distinct populations of proliferating cells.     

CELL KINETICS IN THE SEBACEOUS GLANDS OF THE MOUSE. I. THE GLANDS IN RESTING SKIN

Cell proliferation, differentiation and migration have been studied in the sebaceous glands of DBA-2 mice in the resting (telogen) phase of hair growth. Cells labelled by a single injection of tritiated thymidine start to leave the glands of adult male mice 5 days later. About 80% of the proliferative cells in the basal layer have a cell cycle time of 40 hr or less. In 18% of the proliferative cells G₁ is at least 4 days long and 16% have a G₂ phase longer than 17 hr. The S phase is about 7.5 hr long and cells spend at least 21 hr in the basal layer before migrating into the differentiating cell region. The glands of mature female and immature mice are smaller than those of the mature male. They have fewer, smaller cells and a much lower labelling index.     

CELL KINETICS IN THE SEBACEOUS GLANDS OF THE MOUSE. II. THE GLANDS DURING HAIR GROWTH

The sebaceous glands of the mouse have been studied during hair growth initiated either spontaneously or artificially. The labelling index of the glands increases early in the spontaneous hair growth period. That of the epidermis is much lower and hardly changes during the growth period. After the initiation of hair growth by plucking, changes in cell proliferation in the sebaceous glands appear to follow those in the epidermis. The size of the gland and the number of cells in it also change after plucking. These variations can be related to the stages of hair growth.     

MITOTIC ACTIVITY IN THE CAMBIAL ZONE OF PINUS STROBUS

Mitotic activity in the cambial zone of 20-year-old Pinus strobus L. trees was determined quantitatively, using mitotic counts from serial tangential sections of sample pieces. Counts from nine cores 1.6 mm in diameter from each sample piece were averaged and expressed as the number of mitoses per core with the sampling error. Estimation of the number of cambial zone cells per core permitted calculation of mitotic indices. In the fourth internode from the ground the first mitoses were observed on April 15 and the last on September 15. The number of mitoses per sample piece was comparable throughout each internode at any one sampling, but the number was higher in internodes within the crown than in those below it. Mitotic index was not appreciably higher within the crown, but it decreased from 3.7 in spring to 2.0 in fall. An internode in the crown sampled May 11–13 showed afternoon peaks in mitotic activity, but an internode below the crown showed no peaks, nor did other internodes sampled later in the season.     

MITOTIC CONTROL IN ADULT MAMMALIAN TISSUES

Mitotic homeostasis: Mitotic control is maintained by the interaction of a tissue-specific mitosis-inhibiting chalone, which permeates the whole tissue, and a non-tissue-specific mitosis-promoting mesenchymal factor, which originates in the connective tissue and acts only on connective-tissue-adjacent cells. In the basal layer of the epidermis the mitotic rate is determined by the relative concentrations of these two substances; in the distal layers the chalone is dominant so that all cells must become post-mitotic, age, and die. Thus the perfect balance between cell gain and cell loss that is maintained equally in hypoplasia, normality, and hyperplasia is ensured by the fact that all cells forced distally by mitotic pressure enter a chalone concentration that is high enough to direct them into post-mitosis and so to their deaths. The mitotic rate of the basal epidermal cells and the ageing rate of the distal cells are both inversely related to the chalone concentration. A change in the mitotic rate is matched by an equal change in the ageing rate so that, within limits, epidermal thickness (or mass) remains constant. Epidermal thickness is determined by the tissue-specific ratio, mitotic rate: ageing rate; it is influenced by the mitotic rate only when this exceeds a certain critical level. Evidently all epithelial tissues, even when these form solid masses (e.g. liver hepato-cytes), have a similar control mechanism, the ‘basal cells’ being those that are connective-tissue-adjacent and the ‘distal cells' those that are not. Tissues that are not connective-tissue-based (e.g. erythrocytes and granulocytes) have specialized mechanisms involving differentiation from relatively undifferentiated stem cell populations, as also do the connective tissues themselves. Local tissue damage leads via local chalone loss to a temporarily and locally increased mitotic rate; chronic damage leads via chronic chalone loss to hyperplasia, the increase in tissue mass being limited by the reduced life-span of the post-mitotic cells. Compensatory hypertrophy When a tissue mass is so large (e.g. the hepatocytes) in relation to the total body mass that the escaping chalone forms a significant systemic concentration, extensive damage leads to compensatory hypertrophy. The reduced tissue mass (e.g. after partial hepatectomy) produces less chalone, leading to a reduced systemic concentration, and therefore a higher chalone loss from the surviving tissue. This results in a general mitotic response in that tissue, as the relative power of the mesenchymal factor increases, and thus to an increase in tissue mass. Growth ceases when the normal tissue mass is attained. When a large tissue suffers chronic damage (e.g. liver cirrhosis) the chronic chalone lack results in hypertrophy, which is limited by the reduced life-span of the post-mitotic cells. Tumour growth Mitotic control is lost when the chalone concentration falls so low that the ‘distal cells’ remain mitotic; cell gain then exceeds cell loss and a tumour appears. Such chalone loss is related to permanent membrane damage, which may be the central event in carcinogenesis. The evidence is that a tumour continues to produce and to respond to the chalone of its tissue of origin. As a tumour grows the systemic concentration of its chalone rises steadily so that there is an increasing mitotic inhibition, first, in the parent tissue, and second, in the tumour itself. Thus tumour growth may be described as an exponential process limited by an exponential retardation. This means that, if the host survives, the tumour growth will cease and the tumour mass will reach a plateau. This is a negative feedback mechanism which differs from compensatory hypertrophy only in that, at the plateau, the mass attained is greater than normal, and also in that, at any time, further cell damage may cause the tumour to ‘progress’. When this happens the new and higher plateau may be unattainable before the host is killed. Tumour growth is normally slower than would be expected if the mitotic advantage were the only factor involved; clearly tumour growth is usually inhibited by factors other than the chalone, in particular perhaps by the immune response to the altered cell membrane. It is an especial pleasure to acknowledge the constant help and encouragement that has been given by Johanna U. R. Deol.     

VARIATIONS OF MITOSIS-INHIBITING CHALONE ACTIVITY IN EPIDERMIS AND DERMIS AFTER CARCINOGEN TREATMENT

During regeneration and hyperplasia following a single application of a carcinogen to mouse epidermis, the rate of epidermal cell proliferation varied inversely with the content of mitosis-inhibiting activity (chalone). The main inhibitory activity was present within the epidermal cells, but a lesser activity was also found in the corresponding extracts of dermis. This supports the concept that chalones act as physiological regulators of cellular proliferation under pathological as well as normal conditions. The possibility that the dermis also takes an active part in this regulation is discussed.     

PERIODIC INDUCTION OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEASE ACTIVITY IN RELATION TO THE MITOTIC CYCLE

The behavior of developing anthers has been studied with respect to deoxyribonuclease. This enzyme, in contrast to related hydrolytic ones, is sharply periodic in its activity. Whenever a pool of deoxyribosides appears in situ, it is preceded by the appearance of deoxyribonuclease. The duration of pool or enzyme does not exceed and is generally less than 12 hours, even though the life span of the cells concerned is of the order of 25 to 30 days. The significance of periodic enzyme induction is discussed in relation to cell morphogenesis.     

MITOTIC ACTIVITY AND CELL PROLIFERATION IN PRIMARY INDUCTION OF NEWT EMBRYO

Mitotic activity and cell proliferation of newt ( Triturus pyrrhogaster ) embryo were examined with special reference to primary induction.
Mitotic activity of gastrula ectoderm gradually decreases during gastrulation. The ectoderm, which is isolated from mid-gastrula (stage 12b) and cultured in vitro , also shows gradual decrease in mitotic activity during cultivation and the mitotic activity steeply decreases after 48 hr.
The ectoderm cultured with heterologous inductor (GPL-extract) shows a temporal suppression in mitotic activity. The ectoderm of the whole gastrula also shows a regional suppression where it is in contact with the chorda-mesoderm.
The number of the ectodermal cells increases about 2 times after 24 hr culture and to more than 3 times after 48 hr culture. Accordingly it is certain that the majority of the ectodermal cells divides at least one time in the course of 48 hr.
Histological examination of the ectoderm cultured together with the inductor reveals that differentiation of undifferentiated ectoderm to neural tissues is accomplished at least within 48 hr after cultivation with the inductor.
The present examination shows the possibility that the mitotic activity of the ectoderm may be temporarily suppressed by the inductor and that it then decreases along with neural cell differentiation after recovery of the activity.
The results also suggest that the determination of undifferentiated ectoderm to neural tissues occurs before the second cell division after the contact with the inductor and the events occurring during the first cell cycle after activating by the inducing stimulus are critical for the primary induction.     

NEURAL STIMULATION OF MITOTIC ACTIVITY IN THE CRYPTS OF LIEBERKÜHN IN RAT JEJUNUM

The influence of nerve stimulation and sham-stimulation on the mitotic rate in epithelial cells lining the crypts of Lieberkühn in the jejunum of anaesthetized rats was studied. Administration of the anaesthetic and opening the abdominal cavity was without significant effect on the crypt cell mitotic rate. However, externalizing a loop of jejunum and applying sham-stimuli to its mesenteric nerves resulted in a significant decrease in the crypt cell mitotic rate in that loop. Application of electrical stimuli to the mesenteric nerves of another externalized jejunal loop resulted in a significant increase in the mitotic rate in the crypt cells of that segment. Similar acceleration of crypt cell proliferation by electrical stimuli applied to mesenteric nerves was also seen in chemically sympathectomized rats.     

A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF THE MITOTIC ACTIVITY IN THE SUBEPENDYMAL PLATE OF ADULT RATS

A quantitative study of the mitotic activity of the cells of the subependymal layer in the rat brain has shown that mitotic activity decreases with the increase in age of the animals. Mitotic activity is still found in rats 16 months old and in the case of animals of two strains of rats, of this age, the mitotic count is significantly higher in males than in females.
The relationship between a reduced rate of brain growth and the decline in mitotic activity and the significance and importance of the higher mitotic count in the subependymal plate of 16-month-old males compared with similar females is discussed.     

MITOTIC ACTIVITY OF VAGINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS FOLLOWING NEONATAL INJECTIONS OF DIFFERENT DOSES OF ESTROGEN IN MICE

In C57Black/Tw mice given injections of 1 μg estradiol-17β (E) for 5 days beginning on the day of birth, and killed a few days after the treatment, the vaginal epithelium showed estrogen-dependent proliferation and parakeratosis. In contrast, in the mice treated neonatally with 30 μg E for 5 days, the vaginal epithelium exhibited estrogen-independent proliferation and cornification or parakeratosis. Two peaks occurred in the mitotic rate in vaginal epithelial cells in the proximal and middle vaginae of the 1 μgE-treated mice, at 1 and 5 days of age, respectively, while the first peak was lacking in the distal vagina. The mitotic activity in 1 μgE-treated mice declined to the control level at 60 days. In the 30 μgE-treated animals also, 2 peaks were found in the mitotic rate at 1 and 7 days in both the proximal and middle vaginae. In contrast to the 1 μgE-treated mice, although the rate dropped once at 10 days, it increased again at 20 days and remained high thereafter. The second peak at 7 days of age coincided with the active proliferation of nodules appearing in the 30 μgE-treated mice. In the distal vagina, a peak occurred in the mitotic rate at 7 days without a preceding peak like that observed in the other parts of the vagina following the first injection of E on the day of birth.     

MITOTIC ACTIVITY AT THE SHOOT APEX OF AZOLLA FILICULOIDES

The mosquito fern, Azolla filiculoides Lam., was grown in a growth chamber on a nitrogen-free culture solution at 24 C under the following photoperiod: 16 hr light/8 hr darkness. Shoot tips were fixed every 2 hr for 24 hr to determine the mitotic index for the apical cell, immediate derivatives, and remaining cells to the level of the first leaf or lateral shoot primordium. Mitotic indices were 6.9%, 6.5% and 6.3%, respectively. The colchicine method was employed to determine the cell-cycle durations and duration of mitosis for the same populations of cells. The cell-cycle duration and duration of mitosis of the apical cell were 28.2 hr and 2.8 hr, respectively; for the immediate derivatives, 26.7 hr and 2.5 hr; for the remaining cells, 23.6 hr and 2.1 hr. Conclusions: the apical cell is as mitotically active as its immediate derivatives, and there is no evidence of a quiescent apical cell.     

家蚕(Bombyx mori)末龄幼虫前胸腺内蜕皮素20-单氧酶活性(英文)

应用无细胞放射实验技术,逐日测定了家蚕末龄幼虫发育期间前胸腺和脂肪体匀浆液内蜕皮素20单氧酶(E-20-M)的活性。结果发现前胸腺内E-20-M活性特点是:从蜕皮到第3天幼虫前胸腺缺乏或具较低水平E-20-M活性;第4天前胸腺E-20-M活性开始升高;到第5天前胸腺E-20-M活性达到高峰。然而,与前胸腺相比,脂肪体E-20-M活性要高的多。     

THE CYTOPLASMIC CONTROL OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITY IN ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT

1.This article reviews the occurrence, mechanism, and functional significance of the cytoplasmic regulation of nuclear activity during cell differentiation and especially during early animal development. 2.Nuclei from brain, and from other kinds of adult cell normally inactive in DNA synthesis, are rapidly induced to commence DNA synthesis by components or properties of intact egg cytoplasm. The components of egg cytoplasm which induce DNA synthesis are not species-specific and they are likely to include DNA polymerase. It is known that DNA polymerase exists in egg cytoplasm before it becomes associated with nuclei in which it is effective. The induction of DNA synthesis in brain nuclei by living egg cytoplasm is always preceded by a pronounced nuclear swelling, a dispersion of chromosomes or chromatin, and the entry of cytoplasmic protein into the nucleus. 3.RNA synthesis can be experimentally induced or repressed by living cytoplasm. The cytoplasm of unfertilized and fertilized eggs appears to contain components which can reversibly and independently repress the synthesis of ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA, and heterogeneous RNA. RNA synthesis can be induced by introducing nuclei inactive in this respect into the cytoplasm of cells very active in RNA synthesis. The induction and repression of RNA synthesis is preceded by a marked swelling of the nucleus and the dispersion of its chromosome material. 4.The cytoplasmic control of chromosome condensation before division has been demonstrated by introducing sperm or adult brain nuclei into the cytoplasm of oocytes undergoing meiotic maturation. 5.The evidence that regional differences in the composition of eggs and other cells are associated with changes in nuclear and gene activity is reviewed in Section 111. While it is certain that these regional differences are of great importance in cell differentiation, evidence that they have a direct effect on nuclear activity has been obtained in a few instances only. In some species it has been shown that the cytoplasmic components related to germ-cell differentiation include RNA and, frequently, granules. 6.It is concluded that whenever nuclei are introduced experimentally into the cytoplasm of another cell, they very quickly assume, in nearly every respect, the nuclear activity characteristic of the host cell. In many instances, altered function has been demonstrated in nuclei which subsequently support normal development. The induced nuclear changes are therefore regarded as normal and it is believed that they are achieved through the same mechanism as that by which the host cell nucleus originally came to function in its characteristic way. Examples are cited to show that changes in gene activity very frequently arise immediately after mitosis. The changes induced experimentally in transplanted nuclei resemble in very many respects those undergone by nuclei which are naturally reconstituted after mitosis, and it is argued that the two processes are functionally equivalent, It is suggested that during telophase of mitosis, chromosomes are reprogrammed in respect of potential gene activity by association with cytoplasmic proteins. Inter-phase nuclei seem not to show changes of gene activity except when they undergo a pronounced enlargement after entering a new cytoplasmic environment.     

HORMONAL CONTROL OF PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY IN CULTURED PELARGONIUM PITH

Freshly excised Pelargonium pith tissue lacks peroxidase activity toward guaiacol or benzidine, but it develops such activity within 24–36 hr in aseptic culture. All the activity is manifested as a single enzyme moving toward the cathode during electrophoresis on starch gel at pH 9.0. This development of peroxidase activity is at first (up to ca. 50 hr in culture) inhibited and later (ca. 100–150 hr in culture) promoted by IAA. This dual effect of IAA resembles that previously reported for specific isoperoxidases in tobacco pith cells. Kinetin alone also inhibits peroxidase formation, but in the presence of IAA those concentrations which enhance growth enhance peroxidase formation as well.