Morphological effects of mercury exposure on windowpane flounder gills as observed by scanning electron microscopy

Windowpane flounder, Scophthalmus aquosus Mitchill, were exposed for 60 days to 5 or 10 μg 1⁻¹ mercury and gill samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The response of the gill epithelium was different at the two levels of mercury exposure. The number of chloride cell apical pits and gill filaments bearing 'cratered' epithelial cells increased at the 5-μg 1⁻¹ level and decreased at the higher exposure level.
Focal swellings demonstrated a dose-dependent relationship, their numbers being greatest at the higher exposure level. Marked fragmentation of pavement cell microridge patterns and swelling of the respiratory epithelial cells was evident at the 10-μg 1⁻¹ exposure level.     

Quantitative and qualitative immunohistochemical detection of myc and src oncogene proteins in normal, nodule, and neoplastic rat liver

This study examined the possibility of using an immunohistochemical technique to detect the expression of myc and src oncogene proteins (ops) in livers of male Sprague-Dawley rats after treatment with the carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (with or without phenobarbital promotion) or untreated. We found that the majority of nodules and tumors from these livers stained for myc and src ops, indicating that myc and src expression did occur in these structures. These results were expected, since myc and src expression has been previously observed by others using different techniques. However, in our study, myc and src op staining was also noted in normal liver areas from rats in any of the four treatment groups (DENA, DENA + PB, PB alone, or untreated). The staining pattern of normal liver was different for each oncogene probe but was consistent within the four groups. In most cases, oncogene expression of normal liver occurred at sites of abnormal (but non-neoplastic) hepatocytes. The method reported here used both a qualitative technique of op expression analysis and a quantitative method using a Zeiss computer-driven image analysis system.     

Morphological and Neurochemical Effects of Diazepam and Phenobarbital on Selective Culture of Neurons from Fetal Rat Brain

The responses to diazepam (DZ) and phenobarbital (PhB) were studied in enriched neuronal primary cultures from rat embryo hemispheres. Cells were grown in chemically defined medium and the drugs were added for 3 days to cultures, at pharmacologically active concentrations. Following exposure to DZ or to PhB, morphological changes, such as less prominent neuronal processes, were observed in neurons. It was also shown that each drug reduced the specific uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose by the cells and interfered with protein and RNA metabolism. It was concluded that both DZ and PhB might affect, at least transiently, the normal growth of neurons in culture.     

3,4-dichloroisocoumarin-induced activation of the degradation of beta-casein by the bovine pituitary multicatalytic proteinase complex.

The breakdown of beta-casein (caseinolytic activity) by the bovine pituitary multicatalytic proteinase complex (MPC) is initiated by a fourth active site different from the previously described chymotrypsin-like activity (cleavage of Cbz-Gly-Gly-Leu-p-nitroanilide, where Cbz is benzyloxycarbonyl), trypsin-like activity (cleavage of Cbz-D-Ala-Leu-Arg-2-naphthylamide), and peptidylglutamyl peptide bond-hydrolyzing (PGP) activity (cleavage of Cbz-Leu-Leu-Glu-2-naphthylamide) (Yu, B., Pereira, M. E., and Wilk, S. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 17396-17400). 3,4-Dichloroisocoumarin, a serine proteinase inhibitor, stimulated the caseinolytic activity of bovine pituitary or lens MPC, 3-18-fold under conditions under which the other three catalytic activities were inactivated. Addition of hydroxylamine to the modified enzyme did not reverse the effects of the inhibitor. A form of the proteinase exhibiting only 2-4% of control chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like, and PGP activities degraded beta-casein with no accumulation of intermediate peptides. 3,4-Dichloroisocoumarin, by reacting with the chymotrypsin-like, trypsin-like, and/or PGP-active sites, may promote a conformational change of MPC, rendering the caseinolytic active site accessible to the substrate. Once bound to the active site, beta-casein is rapidly degraded either by the caseinolytic component itself or by a cooperative interaction with catalytic centers that are not affected by the serine proteinase inhibitor. These results imply that the caseinolytic component does not belong to the class of serine proteinases. Other proteins tested were not degraded by the 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin-treated enzyme, suggesting that the conformation of beta-casein may be more adequate for degradation by the caseinolytic component.     

Blockade of transgenic gamma delta T cell development in beta 2-microglobulin deficient mice.

The gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR) of the hybridoma KN6 recognizes the self molecule encoded by a class I gene which maps within the TL region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of H-2b mice. Mice transgenic (Tg) for this TCR were crossed with mice genetically deficient in beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m). No mature Tg gamma delta T cells were detected in the thymus or the spleen of the beta 2m- gamma delta Tg mice. We conclude that interaction between the Tg gamma delta TCR and a beta 2m-associated molecule (probably an MHC class I molecule) is required for the generation of mature Tg gamma delta T cells.     

Antiproliferative Activity and VEGF Expression Reduction in MCF7 and PC-3 Cancer Cells by Paclitaxel and Imatinib Co-encapsulation in Folate-Targeted Liposomes

Co-encapsulation of anticancer drugs paclitaxel and imatinib in nanocarriers is a promising strategy to optimize cancer treatment. Aiming to combine the cytotoxic and antiangiogenic properties of the drugs, a liposome formulation targeted to folate receptor co-encapsulating paclitaxel and imatinib was designed in this work. An efficient method was optimized for the synthesis of the lipid anchor DSPE-PEG(2000)-folic acid (FA). The structure of the obtained product was confirmed by RMN, FT-IR, and ESI-MS techniques. A new analytical method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of the drugs by liquid chromatography. Liposomes, composed of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and DSPE-mPEG(2000), were prepared by extrusion. Their surface was modified by post-insertion of DSPE-PEG(2000)-FA. Reaction yield for DSPE-PEG(2000)-FA synthesis was 87%. Liposomes had a mean diameter of 122.85 ± 1.48 nm and polydispersity index of 0.19 ± 0.01. Lyophilized formulations remained stable for 60 days in terms of size and drug loading. FA-targeted liposomes had a higher effect on MCF7 cell viability reduction (p < 0.05) when compared with non-targeted liposomes and free paclitaxel. On PC-3 cells, viability reduction was greater (p < 0.01) when cells were exposed to targeted vesicles co-encapsulating both drugs, compared with the non-targeted formulation. VEGF gene expression was reduced in MCF7 and PC-3 cells (p < 0.0001), with targeted vesicles exhibiting better performance than non-targeted liposomes. Our results demonstrate that multifunctional liposomes associating molecular targeting and multidrug co-encapsulation are an interesting strategy to achieve enhanced internalization and accumulation of drugs in targeted cells, combining multiple antitumor strategies.     

Substrate Temperature Effect on Microstructure,Optical, and Glucose Sensing Characteristics of Pulsed Laser Deposited Silver Nanoparticles

This work reports the substrate temperature-influenced change in the structural, morphological, optical, and glucose sensing properties of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) deposited on p-type Si (100) wafers. AgNP films grown at temperatures ranging from RT to 600 °C clearly show a dependence of orientation texture and surface morphology on substrate temperature (T _s). As T _s increases from RT towards 600 °C, the preferred orientation of AgNP film changes from (111) to (200). The AgNPs size, that is T _s-dependent, reaches the maximum value at T _s = 300 °C. This result is attributed to restructuring of AgNPs texture. Moreover, the AgNP shape also changes from ellipsoid to sphere as T _s increases from RT to 600 °C. Surface plasmon enhancement in photoluminescence intensity is observed with increase in T _s. It is found also that the AgNP film deposited at 300 °C has considerable reflectance reduction relative to the silicon substrate, in wavelength range of 300–800 nm and a progressive red shift of localized surface plasmon resonances caused by the adding of increasing quantities of glucose has been observed. As a proof of concept, we also demonstrate the capability of grown AgNP substrates for glucose detection based on surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy in physiological concentration range with short integration time 10 s, varying with T _s.     

Spondias mombin supplementation attenuated cardiac remodelling process induced by tobacco smoke

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Spondias mombin (SM) supplementation on the cardiac remodelling process induced by exposure to tobacco smoke (ETS) in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: group C (control, n = 20) comprised animals not exposed to cigarette smoke and received standard chow; group ETS (n = 20) comprised animals exposed to cigarette smoke and received standard chow; group ETS100 (n = 20) received standard chow supplemented with 100 mg/kg body weight/d of SM; and group ETS250 (n = 20) received standard chow supplemented with 250 mg/kg body weight/d of SM. The observation period was 2 months. The ETS animals had higher values of left cardiac chamber diameters and of left ventricular mass index. SM supplementation attenuated these changes. In addition, the myocyte cross‐sectional area (CSA) was lower in group C compared with the ETS groups; however, the ETS250 group had lower values of CSA compared with the ETS group. The ETS group also showed higher cardiac levels of lipid hydroperoxide (LH) compared with group C; and, groups ETS100 and ETS250 had lower concentrations of LH compared with the ETS group. Regarding energy metabolism, SM supplementation decreased glycolysis and increased the β‐oxidation and the oxidative phosphorylation. There were no differences in the expression of Nrf‐2, SIRT‐1, NF‐κB, interferon‐gamma and interleukin 10. In conclusion, our results suggest that ETS induced the cardiac remodelling process. In addition, SM supplementation attenuated this process, along with oxidative stress reduction and energy metabolism modulation.     

Effect of cell therapy with allogeneic osteoblasts on bone repair of rat calvaria defects

Background aims

Regenerative medicine strategies based on cell therapy are considered a promising approach to repair bone defects. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of subculturing on the osteogenic potential of osteoblasts derived from newborn rat calvaria and the effect of these osteoblasts on bone repair of rat calvaria defects.