Metastasis-associated alterations in phospholipids and fatty acids of human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Metastatic variants of human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell lines (DU-145, LNCaP, and ND-1) were studied by using soft agar colony forming efficiency, nude mice tumorigenicity, in vitro invasion assay, and type IV collagenase assay. The DU-145 and ND-1 cell line showed higher metastatic potential than LNCaP. Lipids from DU-145, ND-1, and LNCaP cells were extracted and analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography. The major lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin, fatty acids, and cholesterol. The sphingomyelin level was significantly higher in highly metastatic cells (DU-145 and ND-1) compared with the lower metastatic variant (LNCaP). The increase in the synthetic pathway and decrease in degradation pathway of sphingomyelin in microsomal fractions was sufficient to account for the measured increase in sphingomyelin in DU-145 cells compared with LNCaP cells. The major fatty acids of these lipids were palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), oelic (18:1), and arachidonic acid (20:4). The arachidonic acid level was significantly decreased in DU-145 and ND-1 compared with LNCaP cells. Electron microscopic studies showed no significant changes in the morphology of DU-145, ND-1, and LNCaP cells. The results of these investigations demonstrate for the first time that sphingomyelin and arachidonic acid contents are different in high and low metastatic variants of human prostatic adenocarcinoma cell lines.     

Histology of the pituitary gland of the grey mullet, Mugil cephalus L.

The present communication deals with a histological study of the pituitary gland of the teleost fish Mugil cephalus , found in the estuarine waters of Cochin area. Six different cell types were identified in the pituitary gland on the basis of their grouping, distribution and staining properties. The prolactin and the TSH cells (thyroid stimulating hormone producing cells or thyrotrops) were identified in the rostral pars distalis and the ACTH cells (adrenocorticotropic hormone producing cells or corticotrops) in the interphase between the neurohypophysis and the rostral pars distalis. The STH cells (somatotropic hormone producing cells or somatotrops) and the gonadotropic cells were distinguished in the proximal pars distalis and the MSH cells (melanin stimulating hormone producing cells or melanotrops) in the pars intermedia.     

Nutritional and hormonal control of glucose and fructose utilization by lung

Whereas glucose is a major substrate for pulmonary lipid synthesis, fructose has also been suggested as a potential substrate. In vivo pulmonary fatty acid synthesis is depressed in hormonally deprived conditions, such as diabetes, and this can be modified by fructose feeding, but not by glucose feeding. In this study the glucose and fructose utilizations were compared in normal, diabetic and fasting states using isolated perfused rat lungs. When (U-14C)- or (5-3H)-glucose was used as substrate, glucose utilization by lung was reduced by 50% in both the fasting and diabetic animals compared to the normal controls. Using (U-14C)-glucose as substrate, the incorporation of (14C)-label in various metabolites of glucose was significantly depressed. For example, this reduction was 50% in lactate, pyruvate and CO2, 15% in ethanol-insoluble fraction, 65% in neutral lipids, 75% in phospholipids, 80% in fatty acid moiety, 40% in deacylated fraction and 10% in the polysaccharide fractions. Refeeding the fasted animals or insulin treatment to the diabetic animals restored these depressed (14C)-recoveries to the normal levels. Fructose utilization was less than 10% of glucose utilization, but remained unaffected by fasting and diabetic states. In addition, pulmonary hexokinase enzyme activity was lowered significantly in fasting and diabetic animals, whereas fructokinase enzyme activity was not altered. Despite the low rate of fructose utilization, these results suggest that fructose may serve as an alternative substrate for pulmonary phospholipid synthesis when glucose utilization is significantly depressed.     

Regeneration of plantlets from the callus of stem segments of adult plants of Ficus religiosa L.

Stem segments of adult plants of Ficus religiosa L. cultured on MS medium containing 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D produced callus. Shoots were regenerated when the induced calli were transferred to medium supplemented with 0.05 to 2.0 mg/l BAP. Callus derived shoots produced roots and developed into plantlets when transferred to medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l NAA.Abbreviations MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid