Time-related neuroendocrine manifestations of puberty: a combined clinical and experimental approach extracted from the 4th Belgian Endocrine Society lecture

The neuroendocrine manifestations of puberty converge on changes in GnRH secretion. Their appraisal through the assay of GnRH-like material in 24-hour urine extracts shows an increased excretion of this material in the late prepubertal period. The most striking pubertal changes in GnRH secretion occur on a circadian and ultradian basis. In man, they can be evaluated only indirectly. The circadian variations in LH and FSH secretion characteristic of puberty may be observed in timed fractions of 24-hour urine with some delay when compared to the variations of plasma levels. Studies on the frequency of pulsatile LH secretion and during chronic intermittent administration of GnRH support the existence of an increased frequency of GnRH secretory episodes at puberty. LH response to synthetic GnRH is directly related to the frequency of stimulation by endogenous GnRH pulses and provides a very useful index of neuroendocrine maturation in patients with delayed or precocious puberty. A direct evaluation of pulsatile GnRH secretion is possible using the rat hypothalamus in vitro. In these experimental conditions, the frequency of pulsatile GnRH release increases during very early stages of sexual maturation in the male rat. GnRH itself and beta-endorphin are inhibitory regulators of GnRH secretion in vitro and may participate in the mechanisms restraining the pulse-generating machinery in the hypothalamus before puberty.     

Nuclear disintegration of target cells by killer B lymphocytes from tumor-bearing mice

Normal murine B lymphocytes are not known to be effectors of the Fc receptor-mediated, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). In contrast, we report here that highly purified splenic B cells from mammary tumor-bearing mice develop the potential of lysing antibody-coated target cells. These lymphocytes are characterized by being G-10 nonadherent, nylon wool adherent, sIg+, FcR+, Thy 1.2-, asialo GM1-, and the immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes of both chromosomes are rearranged. The lytic reaction is characterized by a noninterdigitating binding and by the appearance of endocytotic vesicles in the target cells. Nuclear disintegration occurs 18 h after initial effector-target cell conjugate formation. At such time, only minor cytoplasmic membrane alterations are evident. The emergence of killer B cells in tumor-bearing hosts indicates that all lymphoreticular cell types bearing Fc receptors are capable of mediating ADCC.     

Lymphocyte capping induced by polycationized ferritin

In order to better understand the mechanism of lymphocyte surface receptor redistribution induced by externally added ligands, polycationized ferritin (PCF), a nonconventional ligand, was tested using both fluorescence and electron microscopy for its ability to cause patching and capping of anionic molecules on the surface of both transformed and normal mouse lymphocytes. Binding of PCF at 0 degree C for 1 hour induces the appearance of patches; subsequent incubation at 37 degrees for 30--60 minutes causes the formation of a cap structure with the lymphoid cells tested (T-lymphoma cells and splenic lymphocytes). Using various experimental treatments (e.g., sodium azide, cytochalasin B and D, colchicine, prefixation, and cold temperatures), PCF-induced capping has been found to be temperature sensitive, and to require metabolic energy and an intact cytoskeletal system. In addition, using double immunofluorescence techniques which involve rhodamine-labeled PCF and fluorescein-conjugated heavy meromyosin, it has been observed that the formation of the PCF-induced cap coincides with an accumulation of intracellular actin directly beneath the cap structure. Furthermore, agents such as dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline, which cause an increase in intracellular cyclic AMP, have been shown to stimulate PCF-associated capping. This study suggests that increasing levels of intracellular cyclic AMP may activate, directly or indirectly, membrane-associated contractile elements required for the aggregation of membrane proteins into patches and caps.