Analysis of the postnatal growth of the mouse liver by estimating the hepatocyte count, their weight and ploidy

Changes in the total number of hepatocytes, their distribution by the ploidy classes, as well as changes in the protein content of the cells were studied in 0.5-6 month old mice. The data obtained made it possible to estimate quantitatively the contribution of different growth components: increase in cell number, hypertrophy and polyploidization of cells, to the total increase of the liver mass. From 2 weeks to 1 month, the liver mass is increased via polyploidization (by 70%) and hypertrophy (by 30%). From 1 to 2 months, the liver mass increases due to hyperplasia (by 65%) and polyploidization (35%). After 2 months, the liver growth is practically terminated. The calculated equivalent mass of the liver, i. e. derivative of all three growth components, coincides fairly well with the factual changes in the liver mass.     

Effects of dithiothreitol and thioredoxines on the in vitro activity of enzymes of the urea cycle in rats

The five urea cycle enzymes were studied in desactivated extracts of rat liver. After reduction by dithiothreitol (DTT) and in presence of Mg2+ ions, thioredoxines isolated from rat liver were able to activate carbamyl phosphate synthetase-I (CPS-I) and argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) respectively by 468% and by 370%. Thioredoxines were purified from adult rat liver and an antiserum was raised to these proteins. After immunologic quantitation, their level in adult rat was 0.103 mg/g liver.     

Effect of the lipid composition of liposomes on their clearance from the circulation and accumulation in the liver of mice

The effect of phospholipid and ganglioside liposome composition on the liposome clearance from the circulation and accumulation in the mouse liver has been studied. It has been shown that liposomes constituting of liver lipids are quicker removed from the circulation and accumulated in the liver. Liver gangliosides increased liposome uptake by the mouse liver and their clearance from the circulation.     

Interaction of Leptospira with the host's body in the infectious process in guinea pigs

In experiments on guinea pigs the pathogenicity of leptospires is manifested by their adhesion to liver cells, colonization of the surface of these cells, accumulation of leptospires in the renal interstice and their colonization of the nephrothelial surface of proximal convoluted tubules in the kidneys, by toxic microcirculatory disturbances, dystrophy and necrosis of nephrothelial cells. Then the primary toxic action of circulating leptospires, microcirculatory disturbances and hemorrhagic syndrome augment during the colonization of the surface of liver cells, accompanied by their dystrophy and dissociation, as well as by jaundice. The accumulation of leptospires in the renal interstice and their subsequent multiplication on the nephrothelium of the proximal convoluted tubules are responsible for the development of interstitial nephritis and necrotic nephrosis. The persistence of lesions in the liver and kidneys, occurring in some cases in spite of elimination of the infective agent from these organs due to increasing antibody production suggests the toxic action of immune complexes.     

Characterization of the proteolytic compartment in rat hepatocyte nodules

Persistent liver nodules (hepatocyte nodules, neoplastic nodules) were produced in rat liver by intermittent feeding with 2-acetylaminofluorene. Dense bodies (secondary lysosomes) were purified and characterized from the nodules. The purity of the dense body fraction was 90%. The levels of various lysosomal enzyme activities were lower in these dense bodies in comparison with dense bodies from control liver. Similarly, protein degradation was 50% lower in dense bodies from liver nodules than in control liver. The number of autophagic vacuoles (AVs) in the nodular tissue increased considerably after 3 h vinblastine treatment. We have taken advantage of this expansion in an effort to isolate these organelles from liver nodules. Autophagic vacuoles have been isolated recently from liver and kidney but not from putatively premalignant liver nodules. Fraction purity of AVs from liver nodules was 95%. As with dense bodies, AVs from nodular tissue displayed lower activities of proteinases and lower rates of protein degradation when compared with their counterparts from normal liver tissue. Accordingly, the lower rate of overall protein degradation in liver nodules can be ascribed to a decrease in lysosomal activity. A diminished autophagic sequestration capacity is the most plausible explanation for the decreased rate of proteolysis in cells. This could conceivably give these nodular cells a growth advantage and assist in their selective outgrowth as well as in their transformation from neoplastic into true cancer cells.     

Stability of lipid oxidation products in the rat liver and pathways of their utilization

The ability of liver homogenates to utilize various lipid peroxidation products was studied. Conjugated dienes and TBA-reactive products of unsaturated fatty acid phospholipids and triglycerides were found to be more stable that the corresponding lipid hydroperoxides. It was shown that decomposition of lipid hydroperoxides in liver homogenates is due to their reduction to corresponding oxycompounds without activation of free radical reactions. The ability of lipid hydroperoxides to be reduced in liver homogenates is determined by their chemical structure and decreases in the following order: polyunsaturated fatty acids--phospholipids--triglycerides--cholesterol esters.     

Efficient Method for the Preparation of Escherichia coli Polynucleotide Phosphorylase Suitable for the Synthesis of Polynucleotides

The effects of astilbin in Kohki tea, which is produced from the leaves of Engelhardtia chrysolepis Hance (Chinese name, huang-qui), and of an aglycone of astilbin, taxifolin, on the serum and liver lipid concentrations, and on the erythrocyte and liver antioxidative enzyme activities were determined with rats fed on a cholesterol-free diet. The total liver cholesterol concentration tended to be decreased by feeding with astilbin, and significantly decreased by feeding with taxifolin. The liver phospholipid concentration was decreased by feeding with both astilbin and taxifolin. In addition, astilbin and taxifolin lowered the serum and liver TBARS concentrations, but did not influence the serum and liver antioxidative enzyme activities, suggesting the possibility that these compounds acted to lower the TBARS concentration by their direct antioxidative action in vivo, almost without influencing the antioxidative enzyme activities.     

CT与MRI对肝硬化背景下小肝癌检出率的比较

目的:分析比较CT与MR对肝硬化背景下小肝癌检出情况,探究CT与MR在肝硬化背景下小肝癌的诊断价值。方法:选择2010年6月~2015年6月期间,我院收治确诊为肝硬化背景下小肝癌患者91例为研究对象,病理及临床相关方法确诊102个病灶,其中小肝癌69个和微小肝癌33个,患者均在不同时期或序列下行多排螺旋CT与MRI检查,分析比较两者对小肝癌和微小肝癌的检出率。结果:多排螺旋CT检查发现肝癌小病灶91个,其中66个小肝癌,25个微小肝癌;MRI检查发现95个病灶,小肝癌67个,微小肝癌28个;69个小肝癌病灶,检出率最高的为CT动脉期(92.75%)与LAVA动脉期(92.75%),检出率最低的为CT平扫(76.81%);33个微小肝癌病灶,检出率最高为LAVA动脉期(75.76%),检出率最低的为LAVA平衡期(36.36%);CT平扫、门静脉期、动脉期、平衡期、MRI-IN-PHASE、LAVA平衡期、LAVA平扫对小肝癌的检出率显著高于对微小肝癌的检出率(P0.05);CT对小肝癌的检出率显著高于微小肝癌的检出率(P0.05),MRI对小肝癌与微小肝癌的检出率无显著差异(P0.05);MRI与CT对小肝癌的检出率不存在差异(P0.05),但MRI对微小肝癌的检出率显著高于CT(P0.05)。结论:MRI-LAVA的动脉期序列对小肝癌病灶与微小肝癌病灶的检出率最高;CT与MRI在对小肝癌的检出率不存在差异,但MRI对微小肝癌的检出具有更明显的优势。     

Characteristics of the interaction of Leptospira with the host organism in the infectious process in golden hamsters

The comparative evaluation of the interaction of L. icterohaemorrhagiae strain P, L. canicola strain CL and L. hebdomadis strain 650 with golden hamster liver and kidney cells is presented. Three variants of the course of Leptospira infection have been distinguished: (1) the hepato-renal (icteric) variant, caused by the adhesion of leptospires to liver cells with the colonization of their surface and the disaggregation of liver-cell complexes and by the accumulation of leptospires in the kidney interstice; as a consequence, parenchymatous hepatitis and nephroso-nephritis develop, which lead to the death of animals; (2) the renal (anicteric) variant, characterized by the absence of the infective agent and lesions in the liver, by adhesion of leptospires to and their colonization of the nephrothelium of the proximal convoluted tubules of the kidneys; in this case some of the animals die because of renal insufficiency and shock, while in the surviving animals prolonged carrier state develops; (3) the intermediate variant, characterized by the initial process of leptospiral adhesion and colonization in the liver and its subsequent progress in the kidneys.     

The role of macrophages in the uptake of endotoxin by the mouse liver.

The purpose of this investigation was to analyse the macrophage subpopulations involved in the uptake of endotoxin in the liver. The results show that in normal B10.D2 mice the liver macrophages constitute a heterogeneous population of cells which, depending on their state of differentiation, are distinguished by their differential distribution in the liver acinus and by their ability to phagocytose latex. Following the intravenous administration of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide = LPS) from Salmonella abortus equi, endotoxin-carrying non-parenchymal cells of the liver (NPLC) were investigated immunohistochemically (in situ) and immunocytochemically (after isolation) between 1 h and 14 days after the injection. The endotoxin content of the blood and of isolated NPLC was also determined, using radioactivity labeled LPS. Following LPS injection, the total number of macrophages in the liver increased, reaching a maximum after 3 days. There was a striking increase in the ratio of mature to immature macrophages. After day 3, the number of macrophages decreased again, returning to the pre-injection values by day 14. 1 h after the administration of LPS, 41% of the isolated NPLC were already endotoxin-positive, a percentage which remained constant until the 3rd day. Thereafter, the number of LPS-bearing cells increased to a maximum of about 52% on the 5th day. This increase mostly involved macrophages which had taken up endotoxin. Concurrent with these changes there was a threefold increase in radioactivity-labeled LPS from the 7th h to the 5th day after injection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evidence for a second arylhydroxamic acid acyltransferase species in the small intestine of the rat.

The small intestine of the Sprague-Dawley rat has been shown to contain two species of arylhydroxamic acid acyltransferases. These enzymes were separable by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The smaller species had the mobility of rat liver acyltransferase and was precipitated with antiserum directed against the liver enzyme. The larger species was not precipitated with this antiserum. These species differ in their relative abilities to utilize N-hydroxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-hydroxy-AAF) and N-hydroxy-N-4-acetylaminobiphenyl (N-hydroxy-AABP) as substrates, and in their inhibition by non immune serum.     

Relation between the rate of cell movement under agarose and the positioning of cells in heterotypic aggregates

Single-cell suspensions prepared from 9-day-old chick tissues (skeletal muscle, liver, and neural retina) were used to investigate a possible relationship between intrinsic mobilities of different cell types and their positioning behavior in mixed (heterotypic) cellular aggregates. The relative mobilities of the three cell types, determined by comparing their ability to migrate under an agarose layer, was muscle greater than liver greater than neural retina. The gyratory shaker method was employed to produce heterotypic aggregates from mixed suspensions of muscle, liver, and neural retina cells and the tissue-specific positioning of cells after 24 h in culture was determined from histological and autoradiograph sections. The hierarchy for "inside" positioning of segregated cells was muscle greater than liver greater than neural retina cells, correlating with the rate of movement of these cells in the migration assay. The implication of the results is that relative speed of movement may determine the positioning of cells in heterotypic aggregates.     

Stereochemical aspects of the hydration of trans-anethole epoxide in the rat

Racemic trans-anethole epoxide [1-(4′-methoxyphenyl)-propane-1,2-oxide] was incubated with water, buffers, and rat liver microsomes and cytosol and the stereochemistry of the diols produced was determined by HPLC as their dicamphanyl esters. The diol metabolites were isolated by HPLC from the urine of rats administered [1′-¹⁴C] trans-anethole and their stereochemistry determined after derivatization to their camphanyl esters. The stereochemical course of the metabolism of trans-anethole by rat liver microsomes and cytosol is discussed. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

NK cells cause liver injury and facilitate the induction of T cell-mediated immunity to a viral liver infection

NK cells are a relatively rare cell population in peripheral lymphoid organs but are abundant in the liver, raising questions as to their function in immune responses to infections of this organ. To investigate this, cell-mediated immunity to viral liver infection induced by a type 5, replication-defective, adenovirus was examined. It is shown that NK cells in the absence of T cells cause hepatocyte apoptosis in virus-infected livers associated with an increase in liver enzymes in the serum. Concomitantly, NK cells induce production of IFN-gamma, inhibitable by their elimination before infection. NK cells are shown to be necessary for optimal priming of virus-specific T cells, assessed by delayed-type hypersensitivity response and CTL activity, consistent with their ability to secrete IFN-gamma. The conclusion is drawn that NK cells mediate two important functions in the liver: they induce cell death in the infected organ and concomitantly stimulate the induction of T cell-mediated immunity by release of IFN-gamma.     

Immune proteasomes in the development of the rat immune system

The dynamics of the expression of LMP7 and LMP2 proteasome subunits during embryonic and early postnatal development of rat spleen and liver was studied in comparison with the dynamics of chymotrypsin-like and caspase-like proteasome activities and expression of MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class I molecules. The distribution of LMP7 and LMP2 immune subunits in spleen and liver cells was also evaluated throughout development. The common tendency of both organs to increase the expression of both LMP7 and LMP2 subunits on the 21st postnatal day (P21) was found. However, the total proteasome level was shown to be constant. At certain developmental stages, the dynamics of immune subunits expression in the spleen and liver was different. While the gradual enhancement of both immune subunits was observed on P1, P18 and P21 in the spleen, the periods of gradual increase observed on E16 (the 16th embryonic day) and E18 gave way to a period of decrease in immune subunits on P5 in the liver. This level did not reliably change until P18 and increased on P21. The revealed changes were accompanied by an increase in chymotrypsin-like activity and a decrease in caspase-like activity in the spleen at P21 compared to the embryonic period. This indicates the increase in proteasome ability to form antigenic epitopes for MHC class I molecules. In the liver, both activities increased compared to the embryonic period by P21. The dynamics of caspase-like activity can be explained not only by the change of proteolytic constitutive and immune subunits, but also by additional regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, it was discovered that the increase in the expression of immune subunits during early spleen development is associated with the process of formation of white pulp by B- and T-lymphocytes enriched with immune subunits. In the liver, the increase in the level of immune subunits by P21 was also accompanied by an increase of their expression in hepatocytes. While the decrease of their level by P5 may be associated with the fact that the liver has lost its function as the primary lymphoid organ in the immune system by this time, as well as with the disappearance of B-lymphocytes enriched with immune proteasomes. In the spleen and the liver, MHC class I molecules were found during the periods of increased levels of proteasome immune subunits. On E21, the liver was enriched with neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS); the level of nNOS decreased after birth and then increased by P18. This fact indicates the possibility of the induction of expression of the LMP7 and LMP2 immune subunits in hepatocytes via a signaling pathway involving nNOS. These results indicate that compared to the rat liver cells, splenic T cell immune response develops in rats starting around P19–P21. First, a T-area of white pulp is formed in the spleen during this period. Second, an increased level of immune proteasomes and MHC class I molecules in hepatocytes can ensure the formation of antigenic epitopes from foreign proteins and their delivery to the cell surface for subsequent presentation to cytotoxic T-lymphocytes.     

Fractionation of the nucleotides of the acid-soluble liver fraction of rats

A method for separation of rat liver acid-soluble nucleotides was developed including ion exchange polyethyleneimine cellulose chromatography, followed by rechromatography of the separate fractions on Dowex 1 and Aminex MS resins. It is simple, reproducible and does not require expensive reagents and devices. The sensitivity of the method in respect to orotate is 100 pM in a sample. Data on the content of liver basic 5'-ribonucleotides and their derivatives were obtained by the proposed method.     

Metalloprotein-dependent decomposition of S-nitrosothiols: studies on the stabilization and measurement of S-nitrosothiols in tissues

The stabilization of S-nitrosothiols is critical for the development of assays to measure their concentration in tissues. Low-molecular-weight S-nitrosothiols are unstable in tissue homogenates, even in the presence of thiol blockers or metal-ion chelators. The aim of this study was to try and stabilize low-molecular-weight S-nitrosothiols in tissue and gain insight into the mechanisms leading to their decomposition. Rat tissues (liver, kidney, heart, and brain) were perfused and homogenized in the presence of a thiol-blocking agent (N-ethylmaleimide) and a metal-ion chelator (DTPA). Incubation of liver homogenate with low-molecular-weight S-nitrosothiols (L-CysNO, D-CysNO, and GSNO) resulted in their rapid decomposition in a temperature-dependent manner as measured by chemiluminescence. The decomposition of L-CysNO requires a cytoplasmic factor, with activity greatest in liver > kidney > heart > brain > plasma, and is inhibitable by enzymatic proteolysis or heating to 80 degrees C, suggesting that a protein catalyzes the decomposition of S-nitrosothiols. The ability of liver homogenate to catalyze the decomposition of L-CysNO is up-regulated during endotoxemia and is dependent on oxygen, with the major product being nitrate. Multiple agents were tested for their ability to block the decomposition of L-CysNO without success, with the exception of potassium ferricyanide, which completely blocked CysNO decomposition in liver homogenates. This suggests that a ferrous protein (or group of ferrous proteins) may be involved. We also show that homogenization of tissues in ferricyanide-containing buffers in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide and DTPA can stabilize both low- and high-molecular-weight S-nitrosothiols in tissues before the measurement of their concentration.     

柴达木盆地唐古特白刺籽油保护肝损伤作用研究

对柴达木盆地唐古特白刺种籽油保护化学性肝损伤作用进行了研究.将小鼠按体重随机分为白刺籽油高、中、低剂量组,另设空白对照组和联苯双酯、藏茵陈阳性对照组.小鼠连续灌胃给药15 d后,用CCl4进行肝损伤,测定小鼠血清谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）;肝脏过氧化脂质（LPO）降解产物丙二醛（MDA）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）的含量.结果显示,白刺籽油对血清ALT、AST具有显著的抑制作用,显著拮抗肝脏MDA的升高,显著提高肝脏GSH-Px含量.表明白刺籽油具有明显的保护化学性肝损伤的保健作用.     

Regulation of the expression of the serine dehydratase gene in the kidney and liver of the rat

Serine dehydratase was induced in the kidneys of normal rats by the administration of either glucagon or dexamethasone. The increase in enzyme activity was associated with an increase in both enzyme protein and its mRNA, which were determined respectively by Western blot and RNA blot analysis. No apparent differences were observed between kidney and liver in the molecular weights of serine dehydratase proteins and the sizes of their mRNAs. Although kidney serine dehydratase was dramatically induced by either glucagon or dexamethasone, the liver enzyme was induced by glucagon but not by dexamethasone alone in the intact rat. On the other hand, liver serine dehydratase was induced in starvation, diabetes mellitus, and a high-protein diet. The kidney enzyme could not be induced under any of these conditions.     

Sneaking in through the back entrance: the biology of malaria liver stages

Malaria infection is caused by sporozoites, the life cycle stage of Plasmodium that is transmitted by female anopheline mosquitoes. The inoculated sporozoites migrate in the skin, enter a capillary and use the bloodstream for the long haul to the liver. Here, the parasites invade hepatocytes and differentiate to thousands of merozoites that specifically infect red blood cells. Hepatocytes, however, are not directly accessible to sporozoites entering the liver sinusoid. The liver phase of the malaria life cycle can occur only if the parasites first cross the layer of sinusoidal cells that line the liver capillaries. Experimental observations show that sporozoite entry into the liver parenchyma involves a complex cascade of events, from binding to extracellular matrix proteoglycans via passage through Kupffer cells and transmigration through several hepatocytes, until the final host cell is found. By choosing the liver as their initial site of replication, Plasmodium sporozoites can exploit the tolerogenic properties of this unique immune organ to evade the host's immune response.