Control of trophoblast cell differentiation: Lessons from the genetics of early pregnancy loss and trophoblast neoplasia

Trophoblast cell differentiation is crucial to the morphogenesis of the placenta and thus the establishment of pregnancy and the growth and development of the embryo/fetus. In the present review, we discuss current evidence for the existence of regulatory genes crucial to trophoblast cell differentiation and placental morphogenesis. The elucidation of regulatory pathways controlling normal differentiation of trophoblast cells will facilitate the identification of sensitive junctures in the regulatory pathways leading to various developmental disorders, including those associated with the initiation of pregnancy, fetal growth retardation and gestational trophoblast disease.     

呋喃丹微粒剂防治棉蚜初步药效试验

鉴于棉蚜(Aphis gossypii Glover)对常用的有机磷酸酯类杀虫剂抗药性目益严重,而提高药液浓度和增加喷药次数招致杀伤天敌及污染环境,我们于1977年研制了属氨基甲酸酯类的呋喃丹微粒剂,采取隐蔽施药,用于拌棉种治蚜,已初获成效。每亩用3％呋喃丹微粒剂三斤,对棉蚜有效控制期达55天左右,较国外的3％呋喃丹颗粒剂药效高,麦收前可不需喷药治蚜。此药加工和施用方便,且对棉花生     

Molecular cloning and characterization of prolactin-like protein C complementary deoxyribonucleic acid.

In this report, we describe the isolation and characterization of a full length cDNA clone for rat prolactin-like protein C (PLP-C) and describe the expression of PLP-C mRNA in the developing rat placenta. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the PLP-C cDNA clone predicted a mature protein of 238 amino acids, including a 30-amino acid signal sequence. The predicted PLP-C amino acid sequence contains seven cysteine residues, three tryptophan residues, and two putative N-linked glycosylation sites. Six of the cysteine residues in PLP-C are located in positions homologous to the cysteines of pituitary prolactin (PRL). Additional sequence similarities with pituitary PRL and other members of the rat placental PRL family are evident. The PLP-C gene was localized to rat chromosome 17. Northern blot analysis showed that the PLP-C cDNA clone specifically hybridized to a 1.0-kilobase mRNA. PLP-C mRNA was first detectable between days 13 and 14 of gestation, peaked by day 18 of gestation, and remained elevated until term. In situ hybridization analysis indicated that PLP-C mRNA was specifically expressed by spongiotrophoblast cells and some trophoblast giant cells in the junctional zone region of rat chorioallantoic placenta.     

Identification and characterization of a new member of the prolactin family, placental lactogen-I variant

This report describes the identification and characterization of a new member of the placental prolactin (PRL) family, termed placental lactogen-I variant (PL-Iv). PL-Iv was isolated from medium conditioned by late gestation placental explants. Rat PL-Iv was found to be closely related to rat PL-I. Amino-terminal sequence analysis indicated that PL-Iv shared approximately 88% sequence identity with the amino terminus of PL-I. PL-Iv proteins cross-reacted with antiserum to recombinant mouse PL-I and PL-Iv mRNA hybridized with a PL-I cDNA. Multiple PL-I and PL-Iv species were present in placental cytosol. Despite the structural similarities between PL-I and PL-Iv, distinct differences were also evident. Antibodies generated to the amino-terminal 19 amino acids of PL-Iv specifically recognized PL-Iv, while failing to recognize PL-I. Secreted PL-Iv had an affinity for concanavalin A, whereas secreted PL-I lacked affinity for the lectin. PL-I was predominantly secreted as a 36-40-kDa species and PL-Iv was predominantly secreted as a 33-kDa species. Furthermore, PL-I and PL-Iv were synthesized at different times during gestation and by different cell types. PL-I was synthesized by trophoblast giant cells during the first half of gestation, while PL-Iv was predominantly synthesized by spongiotrophoblast cells during the later stages of gestation. PL-Iv was shown to stimulate the proliferation of rat Nb2 lymphoma cells, an in vitro measure of lactogenic activity. In summary, PL-Iv shares structural similarities with PL-I; however, it shows other structural differences in addition to unique cell- and temporal-specific patterns of expression in the rat chorioallantoic placenta.     

Interaction between flocculent and nonflocculent cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Interaction between nonflocculent and flocculent cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied. Adhesion experiments were done using three types of nonflocculent cells and a flocculent one. Two types of nonflocculent cells were obtained from the flocculent strain by changing environmental growth conditions. The integration of nonflocculent cells in the flocs was observed by two different methods: measurement of the sedimentation capacity of mixtures and microscopic observation of stained nonflocculent cells blended with flocculent cells. It was possible to verify that cell-cell interaction corresponds to a true stable binding and not to a simple entrapment inside the floc matrix.     

Critical test of the activity of tetramisole phosphate on gastrointestinal helminths of sheep

The phosphate sale of tetramizol assayed in naturally infested sheep by subcutaneous infection at the dosis of 8,66 mg/kg revealed very high efficiency against strongylid gastro-intestinal nematodes; its efficiency was comparable that found by several authors for the hydrochloride and cyclamate salts of the same drug, also by subcutaneious injection, at the dosis of 10 mg/kg. In what concerns helminths belonging to the genera Strongyloides and Capillaria our results were not conclusive enough.     

Micro-buffy coats of whole blood: a method for the electron microscopic study of mononuclear cells

A method for the electron microscopic study of human peripheral lymphocytes by which very small buffy coats are obtained through centrifugation of heparinized whole blood in glass or plastic microhematocrit tubes is presented. This method is time saving and efficient, yielding well preserved material and a comparatively large number of mononuclear cells (mainly lymphocytes) in each thin section.     

重庆地区人类免疫缺陷病毒携带者的微孢子虫感染情况调查

目前我国关于微孢子虫感染人的研究相对较少,更没有关于重庆地区人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)携带者感染微孢子虫的数据统计。对重庆市公共卫生医疗救治中心收治的22例HIV抗体阳性,但尚未接受抗病毒治疗的患者进行研究。将22例患者粪便样本分别提取总DNA,通过聚合酶链反应(PCR)法和DNA测序等技术对微孢子虫在患者中的感染情况进行检测,并对微孢子虫种类进行鉴定。同时对22例患者的免疫细胞亚群进行计数和分析。结果显示,微孢子虫的感染率为36.3%(8/22),主要由脑炎微孢子虫属(Encephalitozoon spp)的海伦脑炎微孢子虫(E. hellem)和肠脑炎微孢子虫(E. intestinalis)引起。22例患者的免疫细胞亚群分析显示,平均淋巴细胞数0.93±0.13×10⁹/L,CD4^＋T细胞数132±22 个/mL,CD8^＋T细胞数495±91 个/mL,CD4/CD8细胞比值0.37±0.1,表明患者免疫功能受到严重抑制。进一步将微孢子虫感染患者与未感染患者的免疫细胞亚群进行比较发现,感染患者淋巴细胞数为0.51±0.1×10⁹/L,未感染患者为1.17±0.17 ×10⁹/L,两者具有显著差异(P<0.05);感染患者CD4^＋T细胞数为71±27 个/mL,未感染患者为167±28 个/mL,两者具有显著差异(P<0.05);感染患者CD8^＋T细胞数为209±35 个/mL,未感染患者为658±123 个/mL,两者具有显著差异(P<0.05),以上表明微孢子虫感染组的免疫功能受损情况更严重。本研究结果提示微孢子虫的机会性感染与患者免疫功能受损情况密切相关,脑炎微孢子虫属在重庆地区有较高的感染率,这为进一步阐明微孢子虫与宿主相互作用关系奠定基础,也为公共卫生健康管理提供重要参考。