Interleukin-1 inhibits the secretion of gastric acid in rats: possible involvement of prostaglandin

To examine the hypothesis that interleukin-1 may inhibit the secretion of gastric acid, the present study was carried out using pylorusligated rats. Based upon three lines of evidence, we report here that interleukin-1, both endogenously released and exogenously administered, suppresses gastric acid secretion and that the interleukin-1-induced inhibition of acid output is possibly mediated by prostaglandin. First, lipopolysaccharide, a potent stimulant of the release and production of endogenous interleukin-1, caused the suppression of gastric acid, and this response was dose-related. Second, the intraperitoneal injection of interleukin-1 resulted in a dose-related inhibition of gastric acid output. Third, the administration of indomethacin completely blocked the suppression of gastric acid secretion induced by interleukin-1. These results demonstrated for the first time that IL-1 might be involved in the regulation of gastric secretion.     

A male-specific renal cytochrome P-450 isozyme(s) responsible for mutagenic activation of 3-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene in mice

Renal microsomes from male mice (BALB/c, DBA/2 and BALB/c x DBA/2 F1) showed about 10-fold greater activity for mediating mutagenic activation of 3-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene (3-MeO-AAB) toward Salmonella typhimurium TA98 than did the corresponding hepatic microsomes, as compared on the basis of nmol of microsomal cytochrome P-450. On the other hand, female renal microsomes and other extrahepatic microsomes (lung, small intestine and colon) in both sexes of mice showed little or no activity for converting 3-MeO-AAB to mutagen(s). The mutagenic activation of 3-MeO-AAB with the male renal enzyme(s) was definitely inhibited by cytochrome P-450 inhibitors, 7,8-benzoflavone and SKF 525A. All these findings suggest that in mice, there is a male-specific renal 3-MeO-AAB activation enzyme(s), a cytochrome P-450 isozyme(s), which is different, at least in proportion and/or in nature, from hepatic cytochrome P-450 isozymes.     

An attempt to differentiate further between microglia and fluorescent granular perithelial (FGP) cells by their capacity to incorporate exogenous protein

It seems established that under pathological conditions, microglia and blood monocytes (invading the cerebral parenchyma) behave as histiocytic cells in the central nervous system. However, it has not been clear whether or not phagocytic cells are present in normal cerebral tissue. Recently, we found a new type of cell having an uptake capacity for exogenous substance at the bifurcations of small cerebral vessels except for capillaries. According to Imamoto et al. (1982), ameboid microglia, a kind of precursor of microglia, appear at a perinatal stage and can incorporate exogenous material. In the present paper, the developmental sequences of ameboid microglia and the unique cells laden with fluorescent granules are compared at a light and electron-microscopic level. From this study, it is clear that ameboid microglia are already present in the corpus callosum at 5 days after birth and are potent in their uptake capacity for horseradish peroxidase (HRP). However, at 2 weeks, they transform into star cells and the capacity for incorporation diminishes markedly. The finding is also supported by the quantitative analysis of transformation of ameboid microglia. At 3 months, glial cells do not take the administered HRP under the present conditions. On the other hand, fluorescent granular perithelial (FGP) cells arise from a leptomeningeal tissue (pia mater) and become situated in the perivascular spaces. They are not clearly defined at 5 days, and their uptake capacity for HRP has not yet developed. At 2 weeks, the FGP cells take definite forms with several inclusion bodies, and their uptake capacity for HRP attains a certain degree. Often, they are located at bifurcations of small blood vessels. At 3 months, the FGP cells differentiate completely in appearance, and their pinocytotic capacity reaches a high level. Consequently, the FGP cells belong to a different type of cell from that of ameboid microglia in their developmental sequences and assume a principal role of scavenging waste products in normal cerebral tissue.     

Differentiation of germ cells in seminiferous tubules transplanted to testes of germ cell-deficient mice of W/Wv and Sl/Sld genotypes

(WB X C57BL/6)F1-W/Wv (hereafter, WBB6F1-W/Wv) mice and (WC X C57BL/6)F1-Sl/Sld (hereafter, WCB6F1-Sl/Sld) mice are sterile due to the deficient spermatogenesis in the testes. The cause of deficient spermatogenesis in WBB6F1-W/Wv mice is considered to be a defect in germ cells themselves, whereas that in WCB6F1-Sl/Sld mice is considered to be a defect in tissue environment necessary for differentiation of germ cells. Seminiferous tubules isolated from cryptorchid testes of C57BL/6- +/+ mice were transplanted into the testes of WBB6F1-W/Wv and WCB6F1-Sl/Sld mice to clarify that the extratubular environment of these mice was intact or not. Type A spermatogonia in the transplanted tubules normally differentiated into spermatids, suggesting that the extratubular environment is intact in both WBB6F1-W/Wv and WCB6F1-Sl/Sld mice.     

Demography of agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis)

Demographic processes and the structure of a population of agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis) were investigated over 6 years in the Gunung Palung Reserve, Indonesia. Estimates of population size, density, and biomass revealed a population whose groups were stable in size and composition. Demographic processes place gibbons at risk, however, to short-term changes in their environment. Patterns of survival, fecundity, mortality, and dispersal combined to produce negative rates of growth. In addition, a top-heavy age-class distribution, with adults forming a large fraction of animals, makes it unlikely that this population could recover rapidly from a decline in numbers. Two behavioral factors, territoriality and monogamy, account for the size and stability of gibbon groups. Monogamy imposes limits on group size, while mating patterns and territoriality decrease the impact of sources of high mortality common in other primate species. These relationships underscore the fundamental importance of behavioral influence on demographic processes and social structure.     

A procedure to produce gnotobiotic calves by cesarean section.

An effective and economical method was developed for procuring and rearing calves in gnotobiotic conditions. To evaluate apparatuses and surgical techniques, three calves, 1 to 3, welf 1 was weak and pale at delivery and died within 5 hours after delivery. Calf 2 was delivered alive, but died from a human error at 3 days of age. It was free from demonstrable bacteria and fungi at that time. Calf 3 was also successfully delivered and raised. It was killed at 10 days of age, since fungi were isolated from the feces and waste materials from it.     

A growth-promoting factor existing on the body surface of rats

Effects of water-soluble matter adhering to rat hairs on fibroblasts were examined. The dialysate of the wash water of rat hairs significantly enhanced the cell proliferation of both diploid human dermal fibroblasts (DHDF) and diploid rat fibroblasts (DRDF). The cell growth-promoting activity was partially purified by a gel filtration column chromatography. The activity permeates through a ultrafiltration membrane (M.W. cut off: 500). Analyses of its chemical nature show that it is soluble in water, dimethyl sulfoxide or acetonitrile, insoluble in other organic solvents examined, stable to heat or pH shock, and resistant to a bacterial protease.     

Recognition of rat liver and kidney nuclear T3 receptors by an antibody against c-erb A peptide

It has been reported that c-erb A encodes nuclear T3 receptors (NT3R). Based on the sequence of c-erb A cDNA, we synthesized a polypeptide consisting of 15 amino acids, the sequence of which has high homology between c-erb A alpha 1 and beta. The antibody against this c-erb A peptide not only immunoprecipitated rat liver and kidney NT3R but also inhibited T3 binding to NT3R. In a displacement study, the inhibition of [125I]T3-binding by the antibody was parallel to that by T3 in terms of the concentration of the competitor added in the incubation mixture. Scatchard analysis revealed that the antibody decreased the value for the association constant in a dose dependent manner. The antibody did not bind T3 itself. The results show that the antibody against c-erb A peptide recognizes rat liver and kidney NT3R and that the sequence encoding this peptide, the closest carboxyl-terminal of c-erb A may be critical or at least closely related to the hormone binding.     

Mitochondria‐type GPAT is required for mitochondrial fusion

Glycerol‐3‐phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) is involved in the first step in glycerolipid synthesis and is localized in both the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. To clarify the functional differences between ER‐GPAT and mitochondrial (Mt)‐GPAT, we generated both GPAT mutants in C. elegans and demonstrated that Mt‐GPAT is essential for mitochondrial fusion. Mutation of Mt‐GPAT caused excessive mitochondrial fragmentation. The defect was rescued by injection of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a direct product of GPAT, and by inhibition of LPA acyltransferase, both of which lead to accumulation of LPA in the cells. Mitochondrial fragmentation in Mt‐GPAT mutants was also rescued by inhibition of mitochondrial fission protein DRP‐1 and by overexpression of mitochondrial fusion protein FZO‐1/mitofusin, suggesting that the fusion/fission balance is affected by Mt‐GPAT depletion. Mitochondrial fragmentation was also observed in Mt‐GPAT‐depleted HeLa cells. A mitochondrial fusion assay using HeLa cells revealed that Mt‐GPAT depletion impaired mitochondrial fusion process. We postulate from these results that LPA produced by Mt‐GPAT functions not only as a precursor for glycerolipid synthesis but also as an essential factor of mitochondrial fusion.