Interaction of DNA with a porphyrin ligand: evidence for intercalation.

The porphyrin photosensitizer, meso-Tetra (4-N-methylpyridyl) porphine tetraperchlorate binds to calf thymus DNA by intercalation and by external electrostatic association. This was concluded from the results of measruements involving Scatchard analysis, viscometry, thermal denaturation, and circular dichroism.     

Transplantation of Hymenolepis diminuta into naive, immune and irradiated mice.

Almost 100% of 7- to 10-day-old Hymenolepis diminuta became established when surgically transplanted from donor mice into the duodenum of naive recipient mice. Transplanted tapeworms survived 8-12 days, by which time they had survived much longer in total than they would have done in the donor. Mice previously immunized by a primary infection rejected transplants within 4 days. Sub-lethal irradiation (550 rad) delayed rejection by immune mice but such mice still rejected worms much more quickly than did naive mice. Surgery was shown to delay by 2-3 days the rejection of worms by naive mice, and the importance of circumventing surgery by administering the worms per os is emphasized. Prospects for reconstituting irradiated immune mice are considered vis-à-vis work with nematodes, and the differences which, on present knowledge, appear to exist between nematode and cestode rejection are briefly discussed.     

CELL PROLIFERATION IN THE ERYTHROID COMPARTMENT OF GUINEA-PIG BONE MARROW: STUDIES WITH 3H-THYMIDINE

Single and multiple injections of ³H-TdR have been used for measuring the rate of proliferation in morphologically defined cell populations of guinea-pig bone marrow that are committed to erythroid differentiation. The conclusions are based on the analysis of absolute cell numbers in the maturational compartments, the labeling and mitotic indices, labeled mitotic curves, pulse and chase grain counts over dividing and interphase cells, and on the rate of labeling during multiple, repeated injections of ³H-TdR. The average duration of S and the rate of cycling is similar in all maturational compartments of the erythron. The majority of cells progress to the next maturational compartment by the time they divide for the second time. All proerythroblasts and basophilic erythroblasts are in cycle. Polychromatic erythroblasts incapable of incorporating ³H-TdR reach the orthochromatic population in the span of 5–6 hr. The orthochromatic population is renewed every 20–24 hr. The number of divisions between the proerythroblast and orthochromatic erythroblast does not exceed four and some cells may undergo only two divisions during the maturation pathway. Cell input from a progenitor cell population contributes to the maintenance of the erythron. The kinetic behavior of progenitor cells is similar to that of proerythroblasts. By the time of their second division, progenitor cells may reach either the proerythroblast or basophilic erythroblast compartments. The kinetic behavior of basophilic transitional cells corresponds to the predicted behavior of the erythroblast progenitor cell pool. Several of the conclusions are based on the assumption that grain count halving is the result of cell division. In view of the evidence discussed, this assumption in the present studies seems justified.     

Stimulation of melanotic expression in a melanoma cell line by theophylline

Theophylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, was found to be a potent stimulator of melanogenesis in the RPMI 3460 hamster melanoma cell line. This stimulation was greater than that caused by either dibutyryl cyclic AMP (db-cAMP) or another phosphodiesterase inhibitor, papaverine. Theophylline and db-cAMP treatments also produced strikingly different morphologies in the monolayered cells. The theophylline effect on melanogenesis was diminished by db-cAMP, whereas simultaneous treatment of cells with db-cAMP and papaverine produced greater stimulation of melanotic activity than either agent acting alone. Theophylline, therefore, may have phenotypic effects that are at least partially independent of phosphodiesterase inhibition. Theophylline stimulated melanin biosynthesis, as measured by rates of 2- [2-¹⁴C] thiouracil incorporation, and also caused an increase in the level of tyrosinase (EC 1.10.3.1) activity. This melanotic stimulation was prevented by the presence of cordycepin or cycloheximide. Theophylline inhibited DNA synthesis and mitosis in the melanoma cell cultures but stimulated protein synthesis. However, inhibition of proliferation and the first appearance of induced melanotic activity did not bear an immediate direct relationship to one another.     

Follistatin Protein Enhances Satellite Cell Counts in Reinnervated Muscle

Background Muscle recovery following peripheral nerve repair is sup-optimal. Follistatin (FST), a potent muscle stimulant, enhances muscle size and satellite cell counts following reinnervation when administered as recombinant FST DNA via viral vectors. Local administration of recombinant FST protein, if effective, would be more clinically translatable but has yet to be investigated following muscle reinnervation. Objective  The aim of this study is to assess the effect of direct delivery of recombinant FST protein on muscle recovery following muscle reinnervation. Materials and Methods  In total, 72 Sprague-Dawley rats underwent temporary (3 or 6 months) denervation or sham denervation. After reinnervation, rats received FST protein (isoform FS-288) or sham treatment via a subcutaneous osmotic pump delivery system. Outcome measures included muscle force, muscle histomorphology, and FST protein quantification. Results  Follistatin treatment resulted in smaller muscles after 3 months denervation ( p  = 0.019) and reduced force after 3 months sham denervation ( p  < 0.001). Conversely, after 6 months of denervation, FST treatment trended toward increased force output ( p  = 0.066). Follistatin increased satellite cell counts after denervation ( p  < 0.001) but reduced satellite cell counts after sham denervation ( p  = 0.037). Conclusion  Follistatin had mixed effects on muscle weight and force. Direct FST protein delivery enhanced satellite cell counts following reinnervation. The positive effect on the satellite cell population is intriguing and warrants further investigation.