Adipocyte conversion of CHEF cells in serum-free medium

When grown in the presence of serum with added insulin, Chinese hamster embryonic fibroblasts (CHEF/18) cells can be induced to become preadipocytes that are committed to the adipocyte pathway of terminal differentiation (Sager, R., and P. Kovac, 1982, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 79:480-484). We found that commitment to the adipocyte pathway, as well as terminal differentiation to form mature adipocytes, can occur in a defined serum-free medium containing insulin. When CHEF/18 cells are plated in serum-containing medium, only 5-10% of cells in each colony undergo terminal differentiation, whereas in serum-free medium, greater than 90% of the cells became adipocytes. These and other results show that CHEF/18 cells require no adipogenic factors in addition to insulin and the other components of the serum-free medium (transferrin, epithelial growth factor, thrombin) to form adipocytes, and furthermore, that serum inhibits the rate of terminal adipocyte differentiation of these cells. As little as 10 ng/ml insulin added to serum-containing medium can induce adipogenesis, suggesting that insulin rather than an insulinlike growth factor is the active agent. The results further demonstrate that virtually every CHEF/18 cell can be induced into the adipocyte pathway.     

Surface localization of an endogenous lectin in rabbit bone marrow

Summary A lectin, which may be involved in cell to cell adhesion during erythropoiesis in rabbit bone marrow, has been isolated and characterized. Several electron microscopical techniques have been used to investigate the cell surface distribution of this lectin in bone marrow utilizing colloidal gold conjugates of anti-lectin IgG or protein A. The lectin is present at the surface of erythroid cells at all stages of development but no lectin was detected on the surface of myeloid cells. The limitations and complementary nature of the techniques used are discussed.     

The human placenta contains two distinct binding and immunoreactive species of insulin-like growth factor-I receptors

Two species of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) receptors in human placenta have been delineated on the basis of their immunoreactivity with an autoantiserum (B-2) to the insulin receptor. When all the IGF-I binding sites in solubilized human placenta were assayed by polyethylene glycol precipitation, a curvilinear Scatchard plot was obtained which could be resolved into two single classes of binding sites: one immunoprecipitable by B-2 IgG and the other, nonimmunoprecipitable. The B-2 reactive sites bound IGF-I with lower affinity (Kd = 7.1 X 10(-10) M) than the B-2 nonreactive sites (Kd = 2.1 X 10(-10) M) and cross-reacted more readily with insulin, the IGF-I/insulin-binding potencies being congruent to 120 and congruent to 1100, respectively. Both receptor subtypes bound IGF-I with congruent to 30-fold higher affinity than multiplication-stimulating activity, and, after affinity cross-linking with 125I-IGF-I, migrated as specific reduced bands of Mr = 138,000 during sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The subunit sizes of the B-2 reactive IGF-I receptor were similar to those of the insulin receptor. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 125I-labeled receptors immunoprecipitated by autoantiserum B-2 or autoantiserum B-10 (which recognizes only insulin receptors) revealed, in both cases, specific reduced bands of Mr = 130,000 and 90,000; the same bands were also seen after sequential precipitation with B-10 and B-2 antisera to enrich the proportion of IGF-I receptors recovered. The presence of two distinct binding and immunoreactive species of IGF-I receptors in human placenta raises the possibility that cell- or tissue-specific isotypes of the IGF-I receptor could mediate the different biological actions of IGF-I.     

The pectoralis minor vascularized muscle graft for the treatment of unilateral facial palsy

A series of 10 pectoralis minor vascularized muscle transfers to reanimate the face in unilateral facial palsy are presented. The procedure is carried out in two stages. The first stage constitutes a nerve graft from the functional contralateral facial nerve to the preauricular region of the paralyzed side. Six months later, the pectoralis minor is transferred to the denervated side of the face with restoration of its neurovascular pedicle. The muscle is well suited to its new position with respect to length and bulk, as well as its fanlike shape. The diameter of its vascular pedicle is comparable with the facial vessels. The results demonstrate function in 8 of the 10 grafts, the two failures relating to early vascular thrombosis rather than an inability to reinnervate the muscle grafts.     

Elaborations of the basal surface of the cells of the Malpighian tubules of an insect

Electrical measurements of membrane potential and resistance using intracellular microelectrodes showed that the fluid-secreting parts of the Malpighian tubules of Rhodnius have superficial regions different in electrical properties from the main body of the cell. The membrane potential in these superficial regions was smaller by 30-40 mV, but showed a standard depolarization on changing the potassium concentration of the bathing medium. The response to changes in the external chloride concentration also differed in the two regions, a finding that was reinforced by different responses to the drug, furosemide. Electron microscopy of the basal regions of the cells revealed many long cellular projections that run parallel to the cell surface and interdigitate with similar projections from neighbouring cells. The degree of interdigitation was examined by marking individual cells with alcian blue or by horseradish peroxidase injection. A survey of the published micrographs of insect Malpighian tubules shows that most have similar projections on their basal surfaces and not the simple basal infoldings previously supposed.     

Sperm parameters and testicular volumes in Saguinus mystax

Adult male Saguinus mystax tamarins were evaluated for sperm parameters and testicular volumes. Sperm concentrations average 195.5 X 10(6)/cc with 41.7% motile sperm. Semen specimens were classified as normal, relative to sperm morphology, when 95% or more of the sperm in the specimen had normal morphology; 76% of the animals evaluated had normal semen specimens using this criterion. Testicular volumes averaged 726.9 mm3. A total of 50 infants were sired by 16 of these males during the period covered by this report.     

Efficacy of ivermectin against the bloodsucking insect, Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera, Triatominae)

Ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg body weight) caused a high mortality in nymphs and adults of Rhodnius prolixus following a single meal in mice sub-cutaneously injected with the drug. This effect was more evident in nymphs of 1st-and 2nd-instar than in older nymphs and adults. Third-instar nymphs presented a high mortality when fed on mice treated with ivermectin 24 and 48 hours previously, while mortality was significantly reduced in nymphs fed on mice treated 72 hours before. Surviving 3rd-instar nymphs did not molt. When adult females were fed once on mice treated for 24 hours with ivermectin there was a considerable reduction in egg production. This inhibition was not reversed by a second feeding on normal mice. We concluded that sub-lethal doses of ivermectin caused toxic effects interfering in the neuro-endocrine control of development and reproduction of this bloodsucking insect.     

Cloprostenol induced luteal regression in the beef cow. II. Histological evaluation of corpora lutea and correlation with luteal progesterone

Forty-two cycling, multiparous beef cows (percentage-Brahman) were injected twice at 11-d intervals with 500mug Cloprostenol (a prostaglandin F(2alpha) analog) to induce luteolysis. Cows were randomly assigned for ovariectomy at 12 hr intervals from 0 to 72 hr post-injection. Corpora lutea were excised and one-half of the corpus luteum was stored in phosphate-buffered formalin until mounting and staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The other half of the CL was snap-frozen for determination of progesterone content and concentration. Luteal cell density increased following Cloprostenol injection and was significantly correlated with a shift from predominantly healthy Type I cells to predominantly degenerating Types III and V cells. Cell mitosis tended to decrease by 12 hr and was lower by 24 hr post-injection. Cell pyknosis increased by 24 hr post-injection and was correlated with the decrease in percentage of healthy luteal cells. No pattern was detectable in cell karyorrhexis. Histological regression of the CL was inversely correlated with CL progesterone content. Therefore, we conclude that a reduction in cell mitosis is the earliest morphological sign of degeneration of the CL and that the CL follows a well-defined sequence of regression which is accompanied by a decrease in progesterone content.     

Headache at high altitude is not related to internal carotid arterial blood velocity

The cause of headache in persons going to high altitude is unknown. Relatively severe hypoxemia in susceptible subjects could induce large increases in cerebral blood flow that then could initiate the headache. Thus we measured noninvasively, by Doppler ultrasound, changes in internal carotid arterial blood velocity (velocity) in 12 subjects in Denver (1,600 m) and repeatedly up to 7 h at a simulated altitude of 4,800 m (barometric pressure = 430 Torr). Six subjects, selected because of prior history of high-altitude headache, developed comparatively severe headache at 4,800 m, and four subjects, without such history, remained well. Two subjects developed moderate headache. Velocity at 4,800 m did not correlate with symptom development, arterial O2 saturation, or end-tidal PCO2. Also, neither velocity nor blood pressure was consistently elevated above the Denver base-line values. During measurements of hypercapnic ventilatory response in Denver, velocity increased linearly with end-tidal PCO2, confirming that our Doppler method could demonstrate an increase. Also, 30 min of isocapnic or poikilocapnic hypoxia caused small increases in velocity (+8 and +6%) during the base-line measurement at low altitude. Although even a small increase in cerebral perfusion could contribute to headache symptoms at high altitude, cerebral blood flow does not appear to play a primary role.