Cellular retinoic acid binding protein type II was preferentially localized in medium and posterior parts of the progress zone of the chick limb bud.

The expression and distribution of cellular retinoic acid binding protein II (CRABP II) was examined in chick limb buds. CRABP II was detected in the limb buds at Hamburger and Hamilton (1) stage 21 and the amount of CRABP II was gradually increased during stages 21-27 and thereafter decreased. CRABP II was mainly located in the progress zone, and the dorsal and ventral premuscular mass in the proximal region of the limb buds at stage 23. CRABP II was preferentially localized in the medium and posterior parts rather than the anterior part of the progress zone; The content of CRABP II in the medium and posterior parts was 8-9 times more than that in the anterior part.     

Genetic relatedness of Bradyrhizobium japonicum field isolates as revealed by repeated sequences and various other characteristics.

Forty-nine isolates of Bradyrhizobium japonicum indigenous to a field where soybeans were grown for 45 years without inoculation were characterized by using four DNA hybridization probes from B. japonicum. nifDK-specific hybridization clearly divided the isolates into two divergent groups. Diversity in repeated-sequence (RS)-specific hybridization was observed; 44 isolates derived from 41 nodules were divided into 33 different RS fingerprint groups. Cluster analysis showed that the RS fingerprints were correlated with the nif and hup genotypes. We found multiple bands of RS-specific hybridization for two isolates that differed from the patterns of the other isolates. These results suggest that RS fingerprinting is a valuable tool for evaluating the genetic structure of indigenous B. japonicum populations.     

WHT/Ht mouse contains plasma cells in the thymus.

Numerous plasma cells and B cells were present in the thymuses of aged WHT/Ht mice. Plasma cells containing IgG and the follicle-like structure were present in the cortex and medulla, respectively. In these respects, WHT/Ht strain of mice is unique and interesting for studies on lymphocyte development.     

A saponin from callus tissue of Stauntonia hexaphylla.

A new 30-nortriterpenoid saponin was isolated from the callus tissues of Stauntonia hexaphylla. The structure of the saponin (tentatively named mubenoside A) was elucidated as 3 beta,20 alpha-dihydroxy-30-nor-olean-12-en-28-oic acid 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1----2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1----3) ]-beta-D- glucopyranoside by means of spectral experiments.     

N-fatty acyl compounds inhibit myristoyl acylation of pp60v-src and reduce tumorigenicity of Rous sarcoma virus-infected cells.

Prevention of NH2-terminal myristoylation of pp60v-src was determined with N-fatty acyl glycinal derivatives. Of all the compounds tested, N-myristoyl and N-lauroyl glycinal diethylacetal, N-myristoyl glycyl glycinal diethylacetal, and N-myristoyl-4-aminobutyl aldehyde diethylacetal strongly inhibited myristoylation of pp60v-src; but N-myristoyl diglycyl, N-myristoyl triglycyl, N-decanoyl glycinal diethylacetal, and N-palmitoyl glycinal diethylacetal did not. N-Myristoyl glycinal diethylacetal (25 or 50 microM) suppressed both morphological transformation and colony formation of Rous sarcoma virus-infected chick embryo fibroblasts.     

Effects of transforming growth factor-beta on normal clonal bone cell populations.

Although transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been implicated in the local regulation of bone growth and remodelling, its specific effects on different subpopulations of bone cells have not been elucidated. Cells derived from bone are known to be heterogeneous and include both cells of different lineages and osteoblastic populations with different levels of expression of osteoblast-associated properties. Consequently, we have isolated clonal populations of bone cells to examine more precisely the effects of TGF-beta on individual subpopulations. Several clonal populations were isolated by limiting dilution from cells derived from 21-day-old fetal rat calvaria. Two of these clones, RCA 11 and RCB 2, were used here. While the two clones responded similarly to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and isoproterenol (ISP) with increases in intracellular cAMP, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) elicited a 10-fold higher response in RCB 2 cells compared with RCA 11. RCB 2 cells expressed a 10-fold higher alkaline phosphatase activity compared with RCA 11. Both clones synthesized a variety of bone matrix associated proteins, but only RCA 11 synthesized SPP-1 (osteopontin) constitutively. TGF-beta stimulated growth of RCB 2 cells after 24 and 48 h of treatment, but had no effect on growth of RCA 11. TGF-beta supported anchorage-independent growth of RCB 2 cells, but not that of RCA 11. A 24-h exposure to TGF-beta decreased cAMP responsiveness to PTH and ISP slightly in both clones, but had no effect on PGE2 responses. Significant reductions in alkaline phosphatase activity were seen in both clones after 24- and 48-h treatments with TGF-beta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Extraadrenal expression of steroid 21-hydroxylase and 11β-hydroxylase by a benign testicular leydig cell tumor

We present an unusual case with bilateral testicular Leydig cell tumors displaying extraadrenal expression of steroid 21-hydroxylase and 11β-hydroxylase. Histological examination of a 38-yr-old man infertile due to azoospermia showed him to have bilateral testicular Leydig cell tumors. The in vitro steroidogenic potential of the tumors and their adjacent testicular tissue was evaluated using organ culture. Tumor tissue was found to secrete deoxycorticosterone (DOC), corticosterone (B) and cortisol, which are not produced in normal adult testis, into the medium, while testicular tissue adjacent to the tumors secreted a small amount of DOC and B. Northern blot analysis with cytochrome P-450_C21 complementary DNA (cDNA) and P-450_11β cDNA as probes revealed that the tumor contained a considerable amount of mRNA for P-450_C21 and P-450_11β, while the mRNAs were not detected in the testicular tissues adjacent to the tumors. It is suggested that the high local levels of estrogen and/or progesterone within the Leydig cell tumors and their adjacent testicular tissues induced extraadrenal expression of steroid 21-hydroxylase and 11β-hydroxylase by the tumors and their adjacent testicular tissues.     

A vascular network closely linked to the epithelium of the urinary bladder of the rat

Summary Scanning electron microscopy was used on the mucosa of the rat urinary bladder after digestion with strong alkali and microdissection. The underside of the epithelium (and the plane of the epithelium-tunica propria interface) is not smooth but is scored by grooves-10 m wide and 3–4 m deep—connected into a fine mesh. A net of blood capillaries located in the uppermost part of the tunica propria occupies these grooves. They measure 3–9 m in diameter, are separated from the epithelium by a gap of 0.3 m, often show fenestrations, and are accompanied by numerous and extensive pericytes and by some fibroblasts. We discuss these observations in the light of current knowledge of blood flow in the bladder, contraction and distension of the bladder wall and formation of mucosal folds, transport of solutes through the epithelium, and plasma extravasation from mucosal blood vessels in neurogenic inflammation.