Morphogenesis of the foetal membranes and placenta of the root-rat (Tachyoryctes splendens (Rüppel))

The morphogenesis of the foetal membranes and placenta of the root-rat Tachyoryctes splendens was studied by light microscopy. Implantation of the blastocyst is antimesometrial. The mode of implantation is secondary interstitial and the decidual reaction is similar to that in other rodents. Amniogenesis is by cavitation with a temporary open epamniotic cavity. Inversion of the yolk sac is complete but the disappearance of the parietal segment occurs relatively late. With the breakdown of both the decidua capsularis and parietalis, the yolk sac wall near the margins of the placenta becomes bathed in a pool of maternal blood and tissue debris resembling the haemophagous organ. The yolk sac villi are well vascularized. The allantoic cavity is persistent up to the limb bud stage. The definitive placenta is haemochorial and shows conspicuous endodermal sinuses or placental pits.     

Immunochemical characterisation of parathyroid hormone-related protein from tumor and non-tumor cells

The molecular forms of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHRP) in conditioned media from the BEN human lung cancer cell line, rat parathyroid cells (PT-r) and human keratinocytes were studied by gel-filtraton chromatography with assay of PTHRP by immunoassays and bioassay. Immunoreactivity (1–86 and 1–34) and bioactivity (1–34) in conditioned media eluted as a coincident major peak (approx. molecular mass 19–22 kDa) and there was evidence of amino-terminal species in the molecular mass range 10–16 kDa in BEN and keratinocyte media. Western blotting of PTHRP affinity purified by monoclonal antibodies directed at regions 1–34 or 37–67, identified a major species in all cell cytosols and media with an apparent molecular mass of 24–25 kDa, consistently slighty larger than recombinant PTHRP(1–141) (mobility of 21 kDa) which may represent an intact or native form of PTHRP. Additional amino-terminal species were identified in medium from keratinocytes (16 and 7 kDa), BEN cells (18 and 14 kDa) and PT-R cells (17 kDa), suggesting that processing occurs at the C-terminus and within the mid-region to form a range of amino-terminal fragments.     

A new pollen type,C-banded and fluorochrome counterstained chromosomes,and evolution inGuatteria and related genera (Annonaceae)

Guatteria, Guatteriopsis, Guatteriella andHeteropetalum share the same conspicuous pollen type which is new for theSpermatophyta. It is zonoaperturate with a folded aperture region and an extremely reduced exine. First chromosome counts and karyotype analyses forGuatteriopsis (4 species investigated) andGuatteriella (1 species) are identical with those ofGuatteria (19 species seen): 2n = 28. The genome is characterized by diploidization and partly telocentric chromosomes. Sequentially Giemsa C- and fluorochrome banded chromosomes and interphase nuclei are described. The cuticular folding pattern is distinct forHeteropetalum only. Growth forms and ecology are reported for many species. The evolutionary pattern of theGuatteria group is discussed and compared with other genera and families.     

胎肝细胞输注与全胚注射液治疗再生障碍性贫血的机理探讨

本文对胎肝细胞输注或全胚注射液治疗再生障碍性贫血的可能机理作了一些实验性探讨。研究结果表明: 1.胎肝细胞在培养或解体过程中释放某些刺激红系造血的因子,有利于已经损伤的造血功能的恢复。 2.对正常小鼠注射无细胞胎肝制剂或全胚注射液后,骨髓红系细胞的分裂指数明显升高,骨髓中粒/红比值趋于降低,反映了骨髓中红系细胞增生活跃的状态。 3.对正常小鼠注射无细胞胎肝制剂或全胚注射液后,外周血网织红细胞和腹腔巨噬细胞的吞噬指数趋于平行增高,其增高程度和持续时间随注射次数的增加而加强。 小鼠注射无细胞胎肝制剂或全胚注射液后,巨噬细胞吞噬指数的增加,反映了巨噬细胞激活,这种作用除了提高机体的非特异性免疫功能,增强机体的抵抗力外,还可能通过巨噬细胞的活化,直接或间接地调控机体红系细胞的增殖,因而,对巨噬细胞在造血调控中的作用以及它在再生障碍性贫血发病机理研究中的意义提出了讨论。     

Flavonols and C-Glycosylflavonoids of the caryophyllales

A survey of 112 species of the Caryophyllales showed the presence of flavonols in all eleven families and of C-glycosylflavonoids in nine families, being absent from the Aizoaceae and Cactaceae. 18% of the species contained both classes of compound. C-glycosylflavonoids are reported for the first time in the Amaranthaceae, Basellaceae, Didieraceae, Nyctaginaceae, Phytolaccaceae, Portulacaceae and Molluginaceae. The Caryophyllaceae contained prodominantly C-glycosylflavonoids, suggesting they are the most advanced family in the order.     

Cycloheximide resistance in Chinese hamster cells. II. Induction of Chm resistance in Chinese hamster cells by N-nitrosomethylurea.

Mutant Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells with a resistance to 7-10(-7) and 8-10(-7) M cycloheximide (CHM) were induced at mutation rates of 1.9-5.2-10(-3) and 1.6-1.8-10(-3) respectively after treatment with N-nitrosomethylurea (NMU) at 100 mug/ml. The induced mutation rates differed by two orders of magnitude from the spontaneous rate of mutation to CHM resistance.     

Physicochemical study of the protein–liposome interactions: influence of liposome composition and concentration on protein binding

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the interactions between liposomes and proteins and to evaluate the role of liposomal lipid composition and concentration in the formation of protein corona. Liposomes composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) or hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-rac-glycerol) (sodium salt) (DPPG), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-3000] (DPPE-PEG 3000), cholesterol (CH) or mixtures of these lipids, were prepared at different concentrations by the thin-film hydration method. After liposomes were dispersed in HPLC-grade water and foetal bovine serum (FBS), their physicochemical characteristics, such as size, size distribution, and ζ-potential, were determined using dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering. Aggregation of DPPC, HSPC, DPPC:CH (9:1 molar ratio), and HSPC:CH (9:1 molar ratio) in FBS was observed. On the contrary, liposomes incorporating DPPG lipids and CH both in a molar ratio of 11% were found to be stable over time, while their size did not alter dramatically in biological medium. Liposomes containing CH and PEGylated lipids retain their size in the presence of serum as well as their physical stability. In addition, our results indicate that the protein binding depends on the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG), CH, concentration and surface charge. In this paper, we introduce a new parameter, fraction of stealthiness (F_s), for investigating the extent of protein binding to liposomes. This parameter depends on the changes in size of liposomes after serum incubation, while liposomes have stealth properties when F_s is close to 1. Thus, we conclude that lipid composition and concentration affect the adsorption of proteins and the liposomal stabilization.     

Reflux induces DNA strand breaks and expression changes of MMP1+9+14 in a human miniorgan culture model

Gastroesophageal reflux disease has been implicated in the pathogenesis of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. The same applies to laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and squamous cell cancer of the head and neck, but so far, this link has not been proven. The impact of low pH and bile acids has not been studied extensively in cells other than oesophageal cancer cell lines and tissue. The aims of this study were to investigate the pathogenic potential of reflux and its single components on the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract. We measured DNA stability in human miniorgan cultures (MOCs) and primary epithelial cell cultures (EpCs) in response to reflux by the alkaline comet assay. As matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in extracellular matrix remodelling processes and may contribute to cancer progression, we studied the expression of MMP1, -9, and -14 in MOCs, EpC, UM-SCC-22B, and FADU_DD. DNA strand breaks (DNA-SBs) increased significantly at low pH and after incubation with human or artificial gastric juice. Single incubation with glycochenodeoxycholic acid also showed a significant increase in DNA-SBs. In epithelial cell cultures, human gastric juice increased the number of DNA-SBs at pH 4.5 and 5.5. Artificial gastric juice significantly up regulated the gene expression of MMP9. Western blot analysis confirmed the results of gene expression analysis, but the up regulation of MMP1, -9, and -14 was donor-specific. Reflux has the ability to promote genomic instability and may contribute to micro environmental changes suitable for the initiation of malignancy. Further functional gene analysis may elucidate the role of laryngopharyngeal reflux in the development of head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).