Indispensability of Iron-bound Chick Transferrin for Chick Myogenesis in Vitro

Myotrophic activity of highly purified chick transferrins (Tfs) to chick primary myogenic cells has been studied in a culture medium containing horse serum. Iron-binding to Tfs is indispensable for the activity. The removal of iron from Tfs gives rise to a complete loss of the activity and it is restored by iron-rebinding depending on the amount of bound iron. This result, combined with other physicochemical and immunological data, strongly, confirms that the myotrophic activity is exerted by the Tfs themselves, not by a contaminating material(s). It has been found that culture medium containing horse Tf which seems inadequate for the study of the biological effects of Tfs is, however, suitable for studies on chick Tfs, since horse Tf is inactive in promoting chick myogenesis. Terminal sialic acid residues are unrelated to myotrophic activity since Tfs with different numbers of residues (0, 1, and 2 moles/Tf molecule) are comprable in their activities. The mechanism of Tf action on cells and contradictions among previous papers as to the requirement of Tf for cell growth have been discussed from the viewpoint of an iron-donor with class-specificity.     

Monoclonal Antibodies Which Alter the Morphology of Cultured Chick Myogenic Cells

Two monoclonal antibodies that cause changes in the morphology of cultured myogenic cells are described. Antibody JG9 causes myoblasts to round up and causes myotubes to become thin, cable-like structures with multiple round swellings. Antibody JG22 causes both myoblasts and myotubes to become round refractile cells poorly attached to the substratum. The effects of both antibodies are reversible. Fab fragments of JG22 can cause the morphological change. A tentative identification of the antigen recognized by JG22 is made.     

Specific Insulin-Mediated Regulation of Glutamine Synthetase in Cultured Chick Astroglial Cells

The expression of glutamine synthetase (GS; L-glutamate ammonia ligase; EC 6.3.1.2) in primary cultures of chick astroglial cells and neurons grown in a chemically defined medium, with and without insulin added, was investigated. An inhibitory effect of insulin toward GS activity, and specific to chick astroglial cells, was observed. Neurons in culture were not sensitive to the hormone effect. Modulation of the activating effect of hydrocortisone on glial GS by insulin was also observed. The data suggest that insulin contributes to the regulation of the metabolism of amino acid neurotransmitters via its effect on GS.     

Appearance of Primordial Germ Cells in Young Chick Blastoderms Cultured in vitro

Appearance of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in young chick blastoderms was investigated by the cultivation of only the epiblast or hypoblast. Presumptive PGCs exist in the epiblast before primitive-streak formation. They translocate gradually to the lower layer during early stages of primitive-streak formation, though substantial number of presumptive PGCs remain in the upper layer. The existing primary hypoblast under the epiblast is dispensable for the further differentiation of the PGCs.     

Ion Levels and Membrane Potential in Chick Heart Tissue and Cultured Cells

Intracellular concentrations of sodium and potassium as well as resting potentials and overshoots have been determined in heart tissue from chick embryos aged 2–18 days. Intracellular potassium declined from 167 mM at day 2 to 117–119 mM at days 14–18. Intracellular sodium remained nearly constant at 30–35 mM during the same period. The mean resting potential increased from -61.8 mV at day 3 to about -80 mV at days 14–18. The mean overshoot during the same period increased from 12 to 30 mV. P_Na/P_K calculated from the ion data and resting potentials declined from 0.08 at day 3 to 0.01 at days 14–18. Thus, the development of embryonic chick heart during days 2–14 is characterized by a declining intracellular potassium concentration and an increasing resting potential and overshoot. Heart cells from 7- to 8-day embryos, cultured either in monolayer or reassociated into aggregates, were compared with intact tissue of the same age. The intracellular concentrations of sodium and potassium were similar in the three preparations and cultured cells responded to incubation in low potassium medium or treatment with ouabain in a manner similar to that of intact tissue. Resting potentials and overshoots were also similar in the three preparations.     

Calcium Transport by Primary Cultured Neuronal and Glial Cells from Chick Embryo Brain

The uptake of calcium was examined in primary cultures of pure neurons and of glial cells from dissociated hemispheres of chick embryo brain. Neuronal cultures took up calcium at a rate of 2.0 nmol per min per mg cell protein at medium concentrations of 1.2 mM-Ca²⁺ and 5.4 mM-K⁺. The rate of calcium entry into neurons was increased 2.7-fold by elevating medium potassium to 60 MM. The effect of high external potassium was to increase the V_max value for calcium transport from 5.5 to 13 nmol per min per mg; the Michaelis constant for calcium, 1.2 mM, was unchanged. The potassium-dependent component of calcium entry into the neuronal cultures was eliminated by addition of 0.1 mM-D-600 (a verapamil derivative) or by 1 mM-CoCl₂, but 0.5 μM-tet-rodotoxin had no significant effect. When choline replaced potassium in uptake medium no change in calcium transport was detected in neurons, nor was the entry of calcium increased when choline replaced sodium. Glial cultures took up calcium at 20% of the basal rate for neuronal cultures on a weight-of-protein basis. Uptake was not increased by potassium; during depolarization by potassium the calcium transport activity of glia was less than 10% that of neurons. It was concluded that cultured neurons contain a depolarization-sensitive, calcium-specific channel. A similar calcium transport activity was not detected in cultured glial cells.     

Peptides Released by Cultured Peanut Cells during Growth

Peptides released by cultured peanut (Arachis hypogaea) cells into their growth medium were examined by electrophoresis. A 2-dimensional separation showed that 27 peptides were detected. The majority of these have a cationic charge and they vary between 14 and 70 kDa. Glycosylation of these peptides, as expressed by staining, was most pronounced for some of the cationic ones. The release of peptides by plant cells is discussed.     

Factors Influencing the Growth and Maintenance of Tubed Cultures of Embryonic Chick Cells

An analysis was made of factors influencing the culture of embryonic chick cells. The procedures found to be optimal resulted in monolayers which survived for about 15 days.     

Supernatant from Cultured Intestinal Cells Inhibits the Growth of Gram-Negative Bacteria

Bacterial growth chambers of Transwell units bearing intestinal epithelial monolayers (C2BBe) was consistently observed to be stagnant during the course of transmigration studies with Salmonella typhi. This limitation could not be explained by varying the bacterial load in the inoculum. Conditioned media produced by cultured C2BBe cells would not support bacterial growth. Growth support of the media was restored by heating to 95 C for 10 min. C2BBe conditioned media had bacteriostatic activity for a large variety of gram-negative, enteropathogenic bacteria but had no effect on gram-positive bacteria.     

Effects of Myostatin and Growth Factors on Cultured Human Cells

A dedicated cell-based biological test system was used to study specific effects of myostatin and other human growth factors on the proliferation of cultured myoblasts and fibroblasts. Myostatin inhibited myoblast growth without affecting human fibroblasts. In this test system, human growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I acted as antagonists of myostatin, which indicates that these agents have a potential for blocking its effects in vivo.     

Changes in Triterpenoid Content during the Growth Cycle of Cultured Plant Cells

Similar changes in the pentacyclic triterpenoid contents wereobserved during the growth cycle of Datura innoxia, Luffa cylindricaand Lycopersicon esculentum seedling callus cells in batch culture.Triterpenoid contents decreased for several days after callusinoculation, then increased rapidly during the mid and lateexponential phases of growth. (Received May 28, 1984; Accepted September 13, 1984)     

Melatonin Biosynthesis in Cultured Chick Retinal Photoreceptor Cells: Calcium and Cyclic AMP Protect Serotonin N-Acetyltransferase from Inactivation in Cycloheximide-Treated Cells

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine the roles of membrane depolarization, calcium influx, and cyclic AMP synthesis in regulating the stability and inactivation of serotonin N -acetyltransferase activity (NAT) in cultured chick photoreceptor cells. NAT activity was induced by pretreating cells for 6 h with 1 µ M forskolin. Cycloheximide was subsequently added, and the rate of loss of enzyme activity (inactivation) was determined. After induction, in the presence of cycloheximide, NAT activity declined with a half-life of ∼30 min. The rate of inactivation was greatly reduced when depolarizing concentrations of K⁺, forskolin, 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine were added together with cycloheximide. The apparent increase in NAT stability caused by K⁺ was abolished by addition of EGTA or nifedipine and potentiated by Bay K 8644, indicating the involvement of Ca²⁺ influx through dihydropyridine-sensitive channels. MDL-12330A, an inhibitor of K⁺-stimulated cyclic AMP formation, blocked the effect of depolarizing concentrations of K⁺. This result suggests that the effect of Ca²⁺ influx on the stability of NAT is at least partially mediated by increased levels of cyclic AMP. Thus, depolarization-evoked Ca²⁺ influx and cyclic AMP formation have two roles in the regulation of NAT activity in chick photoreceptor cells. First, they stimulate the de novo synthesis of NAT or a regulatory protein required for NAT activity. Second, they increase the half-life of the enzyme, presumably by regulating the turnover of existing enzyme molecules.     

Pituitary Adenylyl Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide and Nerve Growth Factor Use the Proteasome to Rescue Nerve Growth Factor-Deprived Sympathetic Neurons Cultured From Chick Embryos

Abstract: Removal of nerve growth factor (NGF) from sympathetic neurons initiates a neuronal death program and apoptosis. We show that pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) prevents apoptosis in NGF-deprived sympathetic neurons. PACAP (100 nM) added to culture medium at the time of plating failed to support neuronal survival. However, in neurons grown for 2 days with NGF and then deprived of NGF, PACAP prevented cell death for the next 24–48 h. Uptake of [³H]norepinephrine ([³H]NE) was used as an index of survival and decreased >50% in NGF-deprived cultures within 24 h. PACAP (1–100 nM) restored [³H]NE uptake to 92 ± 8% of that of NGF-supported controls. Depolarization-induced [³H]NE release in neurons rescued by PACAP was the same as that in NGF-supported neurons. PACAP rescue was not mimicked by forskolin or 8-bromo-cyclic AMP and was not blocked by the protein kinase A inhibitor Rp-adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphothioate. Mobilization of phosphatidylinositol by muscarine failed to support NGF-deprived neurons. Thus, PACAP may use novel signaling to promote survival of sympathetic neurons. The apoptosis-associated caspase CPP32 activity increased approximately fourfold during 6 h of NGF withdrawal (145 ± 40 versus 38 ± 17 nmol of substrate cleaved/min/mg of protein) and returned to even below the control level in NGF-deprived, PACAP-rescued cultures (14 ± 7 nmol/min/mg of protein). Readdition of NGF or PACAP to NGF-deprived cultures reversed CPP32 activation, and this was blocked by lactacystin, a potent and specific inhibitor of the 20S proteasome, suggesting that NGF and PACAP target CPP32 for destruction by the proteasome. As PACAP is a preganglionic neurotransmitter in autonomic ganglia, we propose a novel function for this transmitter as an apoptotic rescuer of sympathetic neurons when the supply of NGF is compromised.     

Vero细胞在不同微载体固定化培养中的生长和代谢

目的:比较Vero细胞在不同的商品化微载体中固定化培养的生长和代谢。方法:以Vero细胞在含1%新生牛血清的DMEM/F12中培养的细胞形态、活细胞密度和细胞活力为指标,考察Vero细胞在2D MicroHex、Biosilon、Cytodex1和Cytopore1微载体固定化培养的细胞生长;以葡萄糖比消耗速率(qglc)、乳酸比生产速率(qlac)、谷氨酰胺比消耗速率(qgln)和谷氨酸比生产速率(qglu)为指标,考察Vero细胞在不同微载体固定化培养的细胞代谢。结果:Vero细胞在2DMicroHex、Biosilon、Cytodex1和Cytopore1微载体固定化培养7d的活细胞密度分别为18.4×105cells/ml、21.9×105cells/ml、23.9×105cells/ml和16.2×105cells/ml,生长在Cytodex1表面的Vero细胞分布均匀、形态清晰;Vero细胞在不同微载体固定化培养的代谢指标基本相同。结论:Vero细胞在Cytodex1微载体固定化培养的效果优于其它商品化微载体,可作为目前用于病毒疫苗生产的Vero细胞固定化培养的首选微载体。     

Changes in Endogenous Gibberellin Contents during Growth of Cultured Tobacco Cells

Changes in the contents of endogenous gibberellins (GAs) wereexamined in three kinds of cultured tobacco cells; a crown gallcell and two cultured cells derived from normal tissue of Nicotianatabacum. The relative amounts of the GAs were analyzed by systematicchromatographic purifications followed by GC-SIM. In all thecell lines examined, the content of GAj was the highest duringthe logarithmic phase of growth, indicating that GA₁ has a physiologicalrole in the growth of dedifferentiated cells. ³ Present address: College of Agriculture, Chonnam NationalUniversity, Kwangju 500, Korea. (Received April 11, 1984; Accepted July 10, 1984)     

成纤维细胞在壳聚糖/PHEA水凝胶膜上的粘附与生长行为

水凝胶是一类广泛溶涨于水 ,呈三维网状结构的聚合物具有很高的生物相容性 ,广泛地用于生物材料 ,如眼球的晶状体、人造脏器以及人造皮肤等。高含水量的水凝胶不利于细胞粘附 ,研究能使细胞粘附并生长的水凝胶是开发其在组织工程材料领域应用的关键 ,细胞易于粘附的水凝胶可用于细胞培养基材和组织工程移植支架材料。一般来说 ,由于细胞表面带有负电荷 ,带正电荷的基材表面 (如 ,多熔素 (Ｐｏｌｙｌ ｙｓｉｎｅ) )有利于细胞粘附 ,而带有酸性或中性基团的材料不利于细胞粘附[1 ] ,而且带高负电荷密度的基材会导致细胞新陈代谢的紊乱并抑制细…     

Trifluoperazine Stimulates Acetylcholine Receptor Synthesis in Cultured Chick Myotubes

Acetylcholine receptor appearance rate in the presence of the phenothiazines trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine was measured in cultured embryonic chick myotubes by means of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin. At drug concentrations of 5 to 10 X 10(-6) M, receptor appearance rate was significantly enhanced while receptor half-life, cellular protein, net protein synthesis rate, and acetylcholinesterase levels were not similarly affected. The sulfoxide derivatives were without effect. At concentrations of 3 X 10(-5) M and above, both trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine caused myotube contracture and cell loss. Drug combination experiments revealed that receptor stimulation caused by phenothiazines is overcome by low concentrations of veratridine and ryanodine, but not by membrane depolarization with 20 mM KCl. These results lend support to the role of calcium as an intracellular messenger in acetylcholine receptor synthesis regulation, but are difficult to reconcile with the notion that cytosolic calmodulin serves as the calcium receptor in this signaling pathway. Since the trifluoperazine effect resembles that caused by the calcium antagonist D-600, phenothiazines may stimulate receptor synthesis by blocking a voltage-gated calcium channel.     

Enhancement of Apoptosis in Developing Chick Neural Retina Cells by Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor

Abstract: To evaluate the role of various growth factors in naturally occurring cell death during development of the neural retina, we examined the effects of such factors on the nuclear morphology and the size of DNA in cultured chick embryonic neural retina cells. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) increased internucleosomal cleavage of DNA and nuclear fragmentation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The effect was inhibited by anti-bFGF antibody, suramin, and cycloheximide. Epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, nerve growth factor, tumor necrosis factor-α, and dexamethasone had no effect. These results provide evidence that bFGF may eventually act as a lethal factor inducing apoptotic cell death during the development of the neural retina in chick embryo.     

Iron Uptake in Blood-Brain Barrier Endothelial Cells Cultured in Iron-Depleted and Iron-Enriched Media

Abstract: Iron is essential in the cellular metabolism of all mammalian tissues, including the brain. Intracerebral iron concentrations vary with age and in several (neurological) diseases. Although it is evident that endothelial cells lining the capillaries in the brain are of importance, factors governing the regulation of intracerebral iron concentration are unknown. To investigate the role of blood-brain barrier endothelial cells in cerebral iron regulation, primary cultures of porcine blood-brain barrier endothelial cells were grown in either iron-enriched or iron-depleted medium. Iron-enriched cells showed a reduction in surface-bound and total transferrin receptor numbers compared with iron-depleted cells. Transferrin receptor kinetics showed that the transferrin receptor internalization rate in iron-enriched cultures was higher, whereas the transferrin receptor externalization rate in iron-enriched cultures was lower than the rate in iron-depleted cultures. Moreover, blood-brain barrier endothelial cells cultured in iron-enriched medium were able to accumulate more iron intracellularly, which underlines our kinetic data on transferrin receptors. Our results agree with histopathological studies on brain tissue of patients with hemochromatosis, suggesting that at high peripheral iron concentrations, the rate of iron transport across the blood-brain barrier endothelial cells is to some extent proportional to the peripheral iron concentration.