Effects of 9-deoxo-16,16-dimethyl-9-methylene PGE2 on muscle contractile activity and collagen synthesis in the human cervix

The in vitro effects of a stable PGE-analogue (9-deoxo-16,16-dimethyl-9-methylene PGE2 (9-methylene PGE2) on human cervical tissue was investigated. The influence of the analogue on collagen biosynthesis was studied by measuring the incorporation of 3H-proline, while smooth muscle effects were evaluated by isometric recording of contractile activity. The specimens were obtained by needle biopsy from women in early and late pregnancy and from nonpregnant women of fertile age. 9-methylene PGE2 compared with controls increased the incorporation of 3H-proline in the secretory phase and before the 9th week of pregnancy, whereas radiolabelling was decreased in the follicular phase, in the 9th-12th week and at term. With respect to incorporation of 3H-proline,9-methylene PGE2 was equipotent to PGE2. 9-methylene PGE2 inhibited spontaneous contractile activity in early as well as in late pregnancy but increased muscular activity in nonpregnant patients. The inhibitory effects of the analogue was similar to that of PGE2 but the natural compound was considerably more potent in this respect.     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对大鼠心脏成纤维细胞增殖和胶原合成的影响

目的：通过观察N-乙酰半胱氨酸（NAC）对大鼠心脏成纤维细胞（CFs）增殖和胶原合成的影响,探讨NAC对心脏重构的作用。方法：以培养的新生SD大鼠CFs为实验对象,给予不同浓度的NAC进行干预,48小时后用MTT比色法检测CFs增殖水平,用3H脯氨酸掺入法测定总胶原合成。结果：与对照组相比,不同浓度NAC作用下的CFs增殖水平和3H脯氨酸掺入量均比对照组低,且具有浓度依赖性（p〈0.05）。结论：NAC能够抑制SD大鼠CFs增殖,并降低其胶原合成,因此NAC对心脏的病理性重构可能具有保护作用。     

Stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis by oxytocin and the mechanism by which oxytocin controls prostaglandin synthesis in the ovine endometrium.

Slices of caruncular endometrium from steroid-treated ovariectomized sheep were incubated with myo-[2-3H]inositol to label tissue phosphatidylinositol. Effects of oxytocin were determined on the rate of incorporation of radioactivity into phosphatidylinositol and on the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides to inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol. Incorporation of radioactivity into phosphatidylinositol was linear during 2 h incubations; 10(-7) M (100 nM)-oxytocin caused a 2.8-fold increase in the rate of incorporation. In the presence of Li+, addition of 10(-7) M-oxytocin to slices in which phosphatidylinositol was pre-labelled caused mean increase of 40-fold in the incorporation of radioactivity into inositol mono-, bis- and tris-phosphates. Inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate was quantitatively the major trisphosphate formed. The action of oxytocin on phosphoinositide hydrolysis was dose- and time-dependent, occurring at concentrations within the range observed in plasma during episodes of secretion in vivo, and with a time course comparable with that of the action of oxytocin on uterine prostaglandin production. The effect of oxytocin on incorporation of radioactivity into inositol phosphates was not affected by inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis. Diacylglycerol 1- and 2-lipases in caruncular endometrium converted up to 72% of added 2-[3H]arachidonyldiacylglycerol into [3H]arachidonic acid during 30 min incubations at pH 7.0. Caruncular endometrium contained 1.49 mumol of phosphatidylinositol/g, representing approx. 0.2 mumol/g of phosphatidylinositol arachidonic acid. It is proposed that the stimulation of endometrial prostaglandin synthesis by oxytocin is accounted for by increased hydrolysis of phosphoinositides to diacylglycerol and inositol phosphates with subsequent release of arachidonic acid from diacylglycerol.     

Autoradiographic and liquid scintillation assessment of beta-amino-propionitrile-induced inhibition of collagen maturation using 3H-proline and 3H-lysine

BAPN (0.1 mg/day) was injected into chick embryos for 4 days starting on the 7th day of incubation. On the 11th day, the embryos were administered either 3H-proline or 3H-lysine. 36 h later, the incorporation of each isotope by the periosteal osteogenic cells as well as into bone matrix was investigated by autoradiography. The incorporation of the two isotopes into whole bones was assessed by liquid scintillation counting. 3H-proline incorporation into the cellular or matrical compartments was unaffected by treatment. As compared to the controls, 3H-lysine label in BAPN-treated embryonic bones was significantly higher in the cellular compartment but was reduced over the bone matrix. The data provide the first direct morphological evidence that BAPN probably induces certain changes in the maturation of collagen involving lysyl residues which result in an inhibition of cross-linkage formation in collagen.     

Investigations of alkaline phosphatase Ca+2-ATPase and Na+, K+-ATPase during beta-APN-induced initial bone mineralization inhibition

Tibias of 6-day-old white Leghorn chick embryos treated with beta-aminopropionitrile (beta-APN; 0.1 mg/egg/day) for 4 days and injected with 3H-proline or 3H-tetracycline on the 11th day were analyzed for incorporation of 3H-proline and 3H-tetracycline. The incorporation of 3H-proline was comparable in the controls and beta-APN-treated embryos. However, the incorporation of 3H-tetracycline was significantly lower in beta-APN-treated embryos. The bone ash contents were also lower in the latter group. Alkaline phosphatase and Ca+2-ATPase were found to be significantly lower in beta-APN-treated embryonic bones. There was, however, no difference in the activity of Na+, K+-ATPase. The histochemical examination showed the alkaline phosphatase to be present on osteoblasts and matrix vesicle plasma membranes at the periosteal surface. The chick embryonic liver tissue showed no significant differences in the activities of any of the above enzymes. The results suggest that beta-APN-induced inhibition of the bone mineralization may be due to the bone-specific inhibition of alkaline phosphatase and Ca+2-ATPase.     

Influence of 6-keto-PGF1α on collagen synthesis in the human cervix during various phases of the menstrual cycle

Uterine cervix tissue, obtained from nonpregnant fertile women undergoing hysterectomy, was mechanically chopped into 1 mm thick slices and incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer containing 6-keto-PGF_1α (0.03–10 μg/ml) and ³H-proline. After incubation of 30–120 min the incorporated radioactivity was determined and related to the protein content of each slice. 6-keto-PGF_1α had specific and significant effects on the incorporation of ³H-proline into cervical tissue. In the follicular phase of the cycle a decreased incorporation was registered, indicating a reduced net synthesis of protein. However, increased radiolabelling was observed in the luteal phase, reflecting an augmented protein synthesis. It is suggested that 6-keto-PGF_1α, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin (PGI₂), has the ability to influence cervical protein metabolism and that this effect is steroid hormone dependent.     

Hormonal regulation of phosphatidylcholine synthesis by reversible modulation of cytidylyltransferase.

The effect of both lipolytic and antilipolytic hormones on the turnover of phosphatidylcholine in freshly isolated rat adipocytes was investigated. Treatment of adipocytes with agonists such as glucagon or isoprenaline that stimulate lipolysis through a cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism caused an increase in the incorporation of [Me-3H]choline into phosphatidylcholine. Pulse-chase studies indicated that the stimulation was due to an increase in the conversion of choline into phosphatidylcholine, which was both time- and dose-dependent. The stimulatory effect of isoprenaline was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by oxytocin or insulin. Oxytocin inhibited the incorporation of [Me-3H]choline into phosphatidylcholine in both the presence and the absence of isoprenaline, whereas in the absence of isoprenaline insulin increased the incorporation of [Me-3H]choline into phosphatidylcholine. The effects of isoprenaline, oxytocin and insulin on the incorporation of [3H]choline into phosphatidylcholine were paralleled by changes in the activity of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase.     

Angiotensin II-induced growth effects in vascular smooth muscle in cell culture and in the aortic tunica media in organ culture

Several different studies have investigated the growth effects of angiotensin II on vascular smooth muscle cells in culture. However, smooth muscle cells change their phenotype when placed in culture. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of angiotensin II on (3)H-thymidine and (3)H-proline incorporation in vascular smooth muscle cells in culture and in the tunica media of blood vessels perfused at normal physiological pressures in organ culture, thus avoiding the phenotypic changes observed in cell culture. The perfusion system consisted of a peristaltic pump and a closed circuit of plastic tubing connected to a culture media bottle where thoracic rat aortae were placed. Angiotensin II induced an increase in (3)H-thymidine and (3)H-proline incorporation in both culture systems. The results suggest that angiotensin II may play a role in mediating cell growth in vascular smooth muscle cells in their 'contractile' as well as in their 'synthetic' phenotype.     

The involvement of transforming growth factor-beta1 secretion in urotensin II-induced collagen synthesis in neonatal cardiac fibroblasts

As the most potent vasoconstrictor in mammals, urotensin II (U II) has recently been demonstrated to play an important role in adverse cardiac remodeling and fibrosis. However, the mechanisms of U II-induced myocardial fibrosis remain to be clarified. We postulated that U II alters transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression, and thereby modulates cardiac fibroblast collagen metabolism. Experiments were conducted using cardiac fibroblast from neonatal Wistar rats to determine the expression of TGF-beta1, and the role of U II receptor UT in this process. The functional role of TGF-beta1 and UT in modulating U II effects on type I, III collagen mRNA expression and 3H-proline incorporation was also analyzed. TGF-beta1 gene and protein expression were consistently identified in quiescent cardiac fibroblasts. U II increased the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein in a time-dependent manner. This effect was UT mediated, because UT antagonist urantide abolished U II-induced TGF-beta1 expression. U II-induced increase in type I, III collagen mRNA expression and 3H-proline incorporation were both inhibited by a specific TGF-beta1 neutralizing antibody and UT receptor antagonist urantide. Hence, our results indicate that TGF-beta1 is upregulated in cardiac fibroblasts by U II via UT and modulates profibrotic effects of U II. These findings provide novel insights into U II-induced cardiac remodeling.     

Oxytocin regulates Ca2+ level in myometrium by influencing phosphoinositide metabolism

The effect of oxytocin on phosphoinositide metabolism as well as on membrane protein phosphorylation in myometrial tissue was studied. Oxytocin enhanced the 32P incorporation into phospholipids in myometrial tissue. The effect of oxytocin on phosphoinositide metabolism was also detected in plasma membrane of 20 days pregnant rats. Phosphorylated membrane lipids have been analysed and phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate proved to be the main reaction product. Oxytocin enhanced the 32P incorporation into phospholipids measured in the first 30 sec then the labeling decreased more rapidly then in case of the control. The effect of oxytocin proved to be concentration dependent. The protein phosphorylation was also influenced by oxytocin. However the amount of alkylphosphate formed depended on the presence or absence of Ca2+, Ca2+-calmodulin and cyclic AMP, oxytocin influenced the protein phosphorylation in the presence of Ca2+-calmodulin only.     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对大鼠心脏成纤维细胞增殖和胶原合成的影响

目的:通过观察N-乙酰半胱氨酸(NAC)对大鼠心脏成纤维细胞(CFs)增殖和胶原合成的影响,探讨NAC对心脏重构的作用。方法:以培养的新生SD大鼠CFs为实验对象,给予不同浓度的NAC进行干预,48小时后用MTT比色法检测CFs增殖水平,用3H脯氨酸掺入法测定总胶原合成。结果:与对照组相比,不同浓度NAC作用下的CFs增殖水平和3H脯氨酸掺入量均比对照组低,且具有浓度依赖性(p<0.05)。结论:NAC能够抑制SD大鼠CFs增殖,并降低其胶原合成,因此NAC对心脏的病理性重构可能具有保护作用。     

Effect of prostaglandins on protein, RNA, DNA and collagen synthesis in experimental wounds.

The effect of exogenous prostaglandins E1, E2 and F2alpha (PGE1, PGE2 and PGF2alpha) on 3H-leucine, 3H-uridine, 3H-thymidine and 3H-proline incorporation in experimental cutaneous wounds has been studied in rats. Prostaglandins E1 and E2 markedly stimulate the incorporation of these tritiated precursors, into protein, RNA, DNA and collagen synthesis, whereas F2 inhibits it. All tested prostaglandins exhibit their maximum effect within the first hours following administration. Most active is PGE1. These observations indicate that application of prostaglandins significantly stimulate incorporation with protein, RNA, DNA and collagen synthesis in the skin of wounded rats and thus, may play a role in epidermal cell growth and division as well as in scar-forming tissue.     

Oxytocin receptors and contractile response of the myometrium after long term infusion of prostaglandin F2 alpha, indomethacin, oxytocin and an oxytocin antagonist in rats

Binding of [3H]oxytocin to isolated myometrial plasma membranes was not affected by the presence of prostaglandin (PG)F2 alpha or E2 in the incubation medium. Long-term treatment with PGF2 alpha or indomethacin had no effect on oxytocin receptor concentrations and dissociation constants of myometrial plasma membranes nor on maximal contractility or KM values of isolated uterine strips exposed to oxytocin. Infusion of oxytocin for 5 days in non-pregnant rats resulted in a decrease in oxytocin receptor concentrations in myometrial plasma membranes whereas the binding affinity to oxytocin was unaffected. Isolated uterine strips from similarly treated rats showed a reduced maximal contractile response to oxytocin and an elevated KM value, possibly indicating an influence of oxytocin on the coupling between receptor occupancy and contractility. Treatment for 5 days with desamino1-[D-Tyr(O-ethyl)2-Thr4-Orn8] oxytocin (an oxytocin antagonist) increased the concentration of myometrial oxytocin receptors. In addition KD values of these receptors were elevated. The present results indicate that prolonged exposure to oxytocin leads to a down-regulation of the myometrial receptor concentration, which is not caused by ligand-receptor interaction in itself. The concerted effect of oxytocin and prostaglandins on myometrial contraction does not appear to involve modulation of the oxytocin receptor by prostaglandins.     

The effects of pulsed magnetic fields on chick embryo cartilaginous skeletal rudiments in vitro

The biological response of cultured 7-day embryonic chick tibiae to small alternating currents induced by pulsed magnetic fields (PMFs) was investigated. It was found that continuous exposure to PMFs over 7 days did not alter the overall DNA content of rudiments nor the incorporation of 3H-thymidine when compared with control tibiae. The overall collagen content of explants was slightly reduced by PMF exposure whilst the incorporation of 3H-proline was significantly suppressed. The synthesis of sulphated glycosaminoglycans was also measured in terms of 35SO4--incorporation, but PMF treatment failed to alter the levels of isotope incorporation. These results suggest that, whereas noncollagenous, and possibly collagenous, protein synthesis is affected by PMF exposure, glycosaminoglycan synthesis is not. Histological and electron microscopical observations substantiated this interpretation and revealed selective inhibition of matrix secretion in the periphery of the proliferative epiphyseal zones in experimental explants. High-power electron microscope examination of these zones showed that PMF-exposed matrix was sparsely invested with fibrous protein while elements of the stellate reticulum had formed large aggregates which were often clumped about the cell membrane. The results are discussed in terms of the possible role of naturally occurring potentials in the development and maintenance of connective tissue systems such as cartilage and bone.     

Effects of 9-deoxo-16, 16-dimethyl-9-methylene PGE2 on muscle contractile activity and collagen synthesis in the human cervix

The in vitro effects of a stable PGE-analogue (9-deoxo-16, 16-dimethyl-9-methylene PGE₂ (9-methylene PGE₂) on human cervical tissue was investigated. The influence of the analogue on collagen biosynthesis was studied by measuring the incorporation of ³H-proline, while smooth muscle effects were evaluated by isometric recording of contractile activity. The specimens were obtained by needle biopsy from women in early and late pregnancy and from nonpregnant women of fertile age.9-methylene PGE₂ compared with controls increased the incorporation of ³H-proline in the secretory phase and before the 9th week of pregnancy, whereas radiolabelling was decreased in the follicular phase, in the 9th–12th week and at term. With respect to incorporation of 3-H-proline, 9-methylene PGE₂ was equipotent to PGE₂. 9-methylene PGE₂ inhibited spontaneous contractile activity in early as well as in late pregnancy but increased muscular activity in nonpregnant patients. The inhibitory effects of the analogue was similar to that of PGE₂ but the natural compound was considerably more potent in this respect.     

Oxytocin stimulates proliferation of human osteoblast-like cells

Oxytocin receptors have recently been demonstrated in human osteoblast-like (hOB) cells. In this study, oxytocin 100-1000 pmol/l increased cell proliferation of primary cultures of hOB cells, measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation, (P<0.01). In human osteosarcoma cell-line (SaOS-2), oxytocin 100 pmol/l increased cell proliferation (measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation and a commercially available kit) and protein synthesis ([3H]proline incorporation) (P<0.05). The increase in cell proliferation was abolished when SaOS-2 cells were incubated with an oxytocin antagonist and oxytocin. Oxytocin 100 pmol/l decreased interleukin-6 (IL-6) production of the hOB cells (23.4+/-1.96 versus 33.4+/-2.65 pg/well; P<0.001). These findings indicate that oxytocin may affect bone metabolism in humans.     

Isolation and characterization of collagen messenger RNA*.

Chick embryo collagen-synthesizing polysomes were isolated by differential centrifugation. RNA extracted from these particles was chromatographed in oligo(dT)-cellulose solumns and the mRNA thus obtained characterized as collagen mRNA by its electrophoetical mobility in acrylamide gels (equivalent to 1.05 x 10-6 daltons) and its effect upon a cell-free system derived from Krebs ascites tumor cells. The incorporation of 3H-proline was markedly dependent upon rabbit reticulocyte initiation factors and inhibited by initiation inhibitors such as aurintricaboxilate and pyrocatechol violet. The incorporation product was characterized as collagen by its lack of tryptophan, digestibility by purified bacterial collagenase, and by its co-chromatography with unlabled chick collagen in Sephadex G-200 and CM-cellulose columns.     

Evidence that platelet-activating factor suppresses uterine oxytocin-induced 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha release and phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in the ewe.

This study was conducted to determine whether platelet-activating factor (PAF) (1) attenuated oxytocin-induced secretion of the prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha metabolite, PGFM, by the ovine uterus in situ and (2) inhibited the generation of the inositol phosphate secondary messengers by endometrial tissue in response to oxytocin challenge in vitro. Ovariectomized ewes received steroid replacement to mimic the luteal phase. Six ewes received intrauterine injections of 200 micrograms PAF/uterine horn/day on Days 11-15, and 6 ewes were treated with vehicle. All ewes received 1 microgram oxytocin i.v. on Days 13-16. Pretreatment of ewes with PAF significantly suppressed PGFM release in response to oxytocin on Days 14 and 15 (p less than 0.005) compared to vehicle-treated ewes. PAF was not administered on Day 16, and the PGFM response to oxytocin was not different between groups. In a second experiment, ewes were given intrauterine injections of 200 micrograms PAF/uterine horn/day (n = 8) or vehicle (n = 7) on Days 11-15, and all ewes received 1 microgram oxytocin i.v. on Days 13 and 14. On Day 15 the uterus was removed, and the incorporation of 3H-inositol into inositol phosphates was determined in caruncular endometrium. Treatment of ewes with PAF in vivo reduced inositol monophosphate (IP1) generated by oxytocin (10(-6) M) by 56.4%, compared to that in endometrium from vehicle-treated controls, and also inhibited the incorporation of 3H-inositol into glycerophosphoinositol (GPI). If PAF was added to the endometrium during the incubation in vitro, the attenuation of inositol phosphate generation did not occur.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

五味子乙素对大鼠肝星状细胞增殖和胶原基因表达合成的影响

目的观察五味子乙素在大鼠肝星状细胞（HSCs）增殖,胶原表达合成方面的作用。方法经在体灌流消化大鼠肝脏分离HSCs,培养于DMEM培养基中,用^3H-TdR和^3H-pro掺入试验测定五味子乙素对HSCs的增殖和胶原合成影响,并用原位杂交方法探讨了其对HSCⅠ、Ⅲ型前胶原基因的表达作用。结果对于培养活化的HSCs,五味子乙素对HSCs摄取^3H-TdR没有明显影响,但在40μmol/L时,剂量依赖地抑制HSCs摄取^3H-proline,并在80μmol/L降低Ⅰ型前胶原基因表达（P〈0.05）。结论五味子乙素具有降低HSCs胶原基因表达合成作用。