Developmental stages of the CD (Sprague-Dawley) rat skeleton after maternal exposure to ethylene glycol.

Ethylene glycol (EG), a chemical which causes skeletal malformations in rats, was administered by gavage to sperm positive CD rats on gestational days (gd) 6 through 15 at doses of 0 or 2,500 mg/kg/day to assess its effects on the pre- and postnatal skeletal development. Dams and fetuses/pups were killed on gd 18, 20, postnatal day (pnd) 1, 4, 14, 21, or 63, and offspring were double-stained for examination of skeletal malformations and degree of ossification of rapidly developing skeletal districts. No difference in gestational day of delivery between controls and the EG-treated dams was seen. Fetal weights per litter were significantly decreased with EG treatment in both the gd 18 and 20 groups. Pup body weight on pnd 1 was significantly below controls; however, EG had no effect on pup body weight on pnd 4-63. The percentage of fetuses/pups with skeletal malformations per litter was significantly increased after EG exposure for all time points except at pnd 63, with a predominance of axial skeletal defects. The percentages of total ossification, of sternabrae ossified, and of vertebral centra ossified were significantly reduced in the EG groups on gd 20 and on pnd 1-21, but not on gd 18 or on pnd 63. When the ossification data were subjected to statistical analysis with fetal/pup weights as a covariate, the values for EG-exposed pups on gd 20 were not statistically significantly different from the control values. The reduced ossification values for EG-exposed pups on pnd 1-21 retained statistical significance even after covariate analysis. There was no effect of dose or body weight on ossification of fore- or hindlimb digits. In conclusion, the differences in incidence of skeletal alterations observed prenatally and through pnd 21 were not evident by pnd 63, suggesting that perinatal skeletal abnormalities may not always be permanent.     

Role of cytochrome P450 IA2 in acetanilide 4-hydroxylation as determined with cDNA expression and monoclonal antibodies

The role of P450 IA2 in the hydroxylation of acetanilide was examined using an inhibitory monoclonal antibody (MAb) 1-7-1 and vaccinia cDNA expression producing murine P450 IA1 (mIA1), murine P450 IA2 (mIA2), or human P450 IA2 (hIA2). Acetanilide hydroxylase (AcOH) activity was measured using an HPLC method with more than 500-fold greater sensitivity than previously described procedures. This method, which does not require the use of radioactive acetanilide, was achieved by optimizing both the gradient system and the amount of enzyme needed to achieve detection by uv light. MAb 1-7-1 inhibits up to 80% of the AcOH activity in both rat liver microsomes and cDNA expressed mouse and human P450 IA2. MAb 1-7-1, which recognizes both P450 IA1 and P450 IA2, completely inhibits the aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity of cDNA expressed in IA1. The inhibition of only 80% of the AHH activity present in MC liver microsomes by MAb 1-7-1 suggests that additional P450 forms are contributing to the overall AHH activity present in methylcholanthrene (MC)-liver microsomes as MAb 1-7-1 almost completely inhibits the AHH activity of expressed mIA1. Maximal inhibition of IA2 by 1-7-1 results in an 80% decrease in acetanilide hydroxylase activity in both liver microsomes and expressed mouse and human IA2. The capacity of MAb 1-7-1 to produce identical levels of inhibition of acetanilide hydroxylase activity in rat MC microsomes (80%) and in expressed mouse (81%) and human P450 IA2 (80%) strongly suggests that P450 IA2 is the major and perhaps the only enzyme responsible for the metabolism of acetanilide. These results demonstrate the complementary utility of monoclonal antibodies and cDNA expression for defining the contribution of specific P450 enzymes to the metabolism of a given substrate. This complementary approach allows for a more precise determination of the inhibitory capacity of MAb with respect to the metabolic capacity of the target P450.     

Fidelity of mammalian DNA replication and replicative DNA polymerases.

Current models suggest that two or more DNA polymerases may be required for high-fidelity semiconservative DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. In the present study, we directly compare the fidelity of SV40 origin-dependent DNA replication in human cell extracts to the fidelity of mammalian DNA polymerases alpha, delta, and epsilon using lacZ alpha of M13mp2 as a reporter gene. Their fidelity, in decreasing order, is replication greater than or equal to pol epsilon greater than pol delta greater than pol alpha. DNA sequence analysis of mutants derived from extract reactions suggests that replication is accurate when considering single-base substitutions, single-base frameshifts, and larger deletions. The exonuclease-containing calf thymus DNA polymerase epsilon is also highly accurate. When high concentrations of deoxynucleoside triphosphates and deoxyguanosine monophosphate are included in the pol epsilon reaction, both base substitution and frameshift error rates increase. This response suggests that exonucleolytic proofreading contributes to the high base substitution and frameshift fidelity. Exonuclease-containing calf thymus DNA polymerase delta, which requires proliferating cell nuclear antigen for efficient synthesis, is significantly less accurate than pol epsilon. In contrast to pol epsilon, pol delta generates errors during synthesis at a relatively modest concentration of deoxynucleoside triphosphates (100 microM), and the error rate did not increase upon addition of adenosine monophosphate. Thus, we are as yet unable to demonstrate that exonucleolytic proofreading contributes to accuracy during synthesis by DNA polymerase delta. The four-subunit DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex from both HeLa cells and calf thymus is the least accurate replicative polymerase. Fidelity is similar whether the enzyme is assayed immediately after purification or after being stored frozen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The genetic defect in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A maps next to the centromere of chromosome 10

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) is a rare cancer syndrome that is inherited in an apparently autosomal dominant fashion. Previous linkage studies had assigned the MEN2A locus to chromosome 10 in the pericentromeric region. We recently have described several new easily scorable RFLPs for the chromosome 10-specific alpha satellite DNA (the D10Z1) locus that is known, on the basis of previous in situ hybridization experiments, to lie at the centromere. We report here tight linkage between MEN2A and D10Z1, as demonstrated by a maximum lod score of 12.02 at the recombination frequency of zero (1-lod-unit support interval 0-4 cM), indicating that the genetic defect in MEN2A lies in the immediate vicinity of the centromere. By means of a set of ordered polymorphic DNA markers from the pericentromeric region, multipoint as well as pairwise linkage analyses place the MEN2A locus at the middle of a small region (approximately 11 cM) bracketing the centromere with FNRB (at 10p11.2) and RBP3 (at 10q11.2) on either side, providing further support for the centromeric location of the MEN2A locus. Marked sex difference in recombination frequencies exists in this pericentromeric region: significantly (P less than .01) more female than male crossovers were observed across all of the adjacent intervals D10S24-FNRB, FNRB-D10Z1, and D10Z1-RBP3. However, a sex difference was not seen in the 7-cM interval from RBP3 to D10S5, suggesting that large variation in the sex difference in recombination can occur over small chromosomal regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A role for the neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM, in myoblast interaction during myogenesis

The Ca2(+)-independent neural cell adhesion molecule, NCAM, is expressed by both nerve and muscle cells and has been shown to mediate both nerve-nerve and nerve-muscle cell interaction. A role for NCAM in muscle-muscle cell interaction has been proposed but not demonstrated. Here we report evidence that NCAM is expressed by embryonic chick muscle cells during in vitro development and functions together with Ca2(+)-dependent adhesion molecules in mediating myoblast interaction during the formation of multinucleate cells.     

Eating, drinking and temperature responses to intracerebroventricular cholecystokinin in the chick

The central effect of cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK), SQ 19,844 or sincalide, on the intake of food and water and on colonic temperature (Tc) was investigated using the broiler cockerel. Four-week old chicks were maintained in a thermoneutral environment of 23-24 degrees C. After food was removed for a 24 hr interval, CCK was infused in a volume of 10.0 microliters into the lateral cerebral ventricle (ICV) in doses ranging from 10-150 ng. Although lower doses of CCK had no effect on food intake, 100 or 150 ng of CCK significantly reduced consumption of food in a dose-dependent manner; water drinking was significantly decreased by 100 ng of CCK. In addition, CCK at doses of 100 and 150 ng prevented the slow rise in Tc observed following infusions of control CSF. This latter effect appeared to be a result of feeding activity associated with caloric intake and the heat increment in the control birds rather than a specific thermoregulatory effect. Overall, our results suggest that CCK may comprise a part of the central mechanism underlying the neural control of short term satiety in an avian species similar to that proposed for the mammal.     

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry of N- Heptafluorobutyryl Isobutyl Esters of Amino Acids in the Analysis of the Kinetics of [N]H(4) Assimilation in Lemna minor L

Rapid, sensitive, and selective methods for the determination of the ¹⁵N abundance of amino acids in isotopic tracer experiments with plant tissues are described and discussed. Methodology has been directly tested in an analysis of the kinetics of [¹⁵N]H₄⁺ assimilation in Lemna minor L. The techniques utilize gas chromatography-mass spectrometry selected ion monitoring of major fragments containing the N moiety of N-heptafluorobutyryl isobutyl esters of amino acids. The ratio of selected ion pairs at the characteristic retention time of each amino acid derivative can be used to calculate ¹⁵N abundance with an accuracy of ±1 atom% excess ¹⁵N using samples containing as little as 30 picomoles of individual amino acids. Up to 11 individual amino acid derivatives can be selectively monitored in a single chromatogram of 30 minutes. It is suggested that these techniques will be useful in situations where the small quantities of N available for analysis have hitherto hindered the use of ¹⁵N-labeled precursors.     

Spontaneous pigment mutants of Anacystis nidulans selected by growth under far-red light

Under far-red (>650 nm) illumination Anacystis nidulans grows poorly and develops a low chlorophyll content. During continued culture over many generations there are increases in growth rate and in the chlorophyll/phycocyanin ratio, usually occurring in concomitant and stepwise fashion. From such selection cultures six clones have been established which differ from the parent in pigment content and show improved growth rate in far-red light. From the evidence at hand the six clones are presumed to be spontaneous mutants selected under the photosynthetically restrictive condition of far-red illumination.     

Serotonin and thermoregulation: old and new views

An overview is presented of the evidence favouring a pivotal role for serotoninergic neurons in the diencephalon's control system for body temperature. 1. Morphological investigations of the anterior hypothalamus reveal that 5-HT injected locally into this thermosensitive zone evokes a hyperthermia in virtually all species. Pharmacological blocking agents of serotoninergic receptors antagonize the 5-HT-induced rise in an animal's temperature. 2. Further, the destruction of serotoninergic neurons in the anterior hypothalamic pre-optic area of a rat or monkey severely impairs the heat production responses during cold stress. 3. In addition, the release of 5-HT from anterior hypothalamic tissue is enhanced significantly when the animal is exposed to a cold environmental temperature, and subsequently shivers, vasoconstricts and conserves heat. 4. New observations are described which show that 5-HT may elicit a fall in temperature as a result of the: (1) overloading of 5-HT receptor sites in the anterior hypothalamus; and/or (2) occupation by 5-HT of either noradrenergic or dopaminergic receptors, or both classes of catecholamine receptors which are believed to mediate the hypothalamic pathways for heat loss. 5. Finally, new data also implicate neuronal 5-HT, again only within the anterior hypothalamic pre-optic area, in the cellular mechanism which triggers a fever in response to a bacterial challenge. Thus, the serotoninergic neurons underlying the rostral hypothalamic temperature controller are responsible not only for the defense of an animal's body temperature during exposure to cold, but also for initiating the shift in the temperature "set-point" during a febrile episode.