Chemical characterization of the predominant proteins secreted by mouse seminal vesicles

Eosinophilic fasciitis is a disorder characterised by induration of the skin due to chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the subcutaneous septa and muscular fascia. It is different from sclerodermia. This is a clinical entity that presents as swelling, tenderness and stiffness of the extremities associated with peripheral eosinophilia. We described a patient with this disorder with 18 month of evolution who had a bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. Her disease appeared after steroid treatment. A review of medical literature demonstrated that similar clinical pictures are originated by different causes. Some authors propose to encompass this group of disorder under the designation of "fasciitis-panniculitis syndrome" instead of "eosinophilic fasciitis" although the well-known eosinophilic fasciitis is clearly recognized and demonstrated.     

RNA polymerase activities in isolated nuclei of guinea pig seminal vesicle epithelium: influence of castration and androgen administration

Nuclei from seminal vesicle epithelium of adult guinea pigs were isolated in hypertonic sucrose solution. The incorporation of [3H]UTP by the isolated nuclei into acid-precipitable products was studied. Incorporation required ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP, and Mg+2. It was inhibited by addition of actinomycin D, deoxyribonuclease, or pyrophosphate to the reaction mixture. Thus, incorporation of [3H]UTP by isolated nuclei had the same characteristics that have been demonstrated for the reactions catalyzed by nuclear RNA polymerases. Using alpha-amanitin as a metabolic tool, we established concentrations of (NH4)2SO4. Mg+2, and nucleotides that give maximum assayable activities of nuclear RNA polymerases I and II. When the activities of polymerases I and II were measured in isolated seminal vesicle nuclei of guinea pigs that had been castrated 4 days earlier, a marked decrease in activities was found relative to control values (nuclei from intact animals). No further decrease was found 8 days after castration. Diminished accessibility to the nuclear DNA template and a decrease in the concentration of RNA polymerase molecules seemed to be responsible for the observed effects of castration on activities of RNA polymerases. An increase in ribonuclease activity did not seem to be responsible for the effects of castration. Activities of the enzymes did not change 2, 3, or 4 hours after intraperitoneal injection (2 mg/kg body weight) of each of five different androgens. Similarly, a single intraperitoneal injection of testosterone did not restore enzyme activity of polymerade I or II at any time during the first 24-hour period after hormone administration.     

Electron microscopic determination of orientation

The martensites of titanium binary alloys, containing 1, 2, and 5.3 wt pct Cu, were studied by transmission electron microscopy techniques. Roughly parallel plates with different variants of the orientation relationship, as well as colonies of identical variant plates, prevail in the structures. A stereographic projection analysis of super-imposed diffraction patterns from two adjacent plates is shown to be sufficient for the deduction of the orientation relationship that existed during transformation, which is found to be the Burgers’ relationship -(110)_β∥ (0001)_α′; 〈111〉_β∥ 〈2110〉_α′. A graphical method was developed for the derivation of the habit plane and its particular variant, in spite of the absence of retained β phase in quenched Ti-Cu alloys. The habit plane of Ti-Cu martensite is found to be (1079)_β with 4 deg accuracy, and to best agree with Class A (α^- ω⁺) solution of the Bowles and Mackenzie theory, rather than with (α⁺ ω⁺) or with Class B solutions.     

Inhibitory effects of hydroxystilbenes on cyclooxygenase from sheep seminal vesicles

Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemias with balanced translocations affecting the 11q23 chromosome region are one of the most serious complications of treatments with topoisomerase II inhibitor drugs as epipodophillotoxins and anthracyclines. 1,2-5 These cases are usually associated with short interval time from previous chemotherapies, absence of myeloid dysplastic phase, hyperleukocytosis and young age. We and others have recently identified and cloned the ALL1 gene at 11q23 band (also named MLL, HRX. Hrxt) which is consistently altered in t-AML following therapies with topo II targeting drugs. However, there are few reports of cases of t-AML, clinically and biologically similar to the subtype of leukemias secondary to exposure to topo II inhibitors drugs but without the involvement of the ALL1 gene. These observations suggest that genes other than ALL1 which are etiopathogenetically relevant for hematological neoplasias are located in this cytogenetic region.     

Organization of the blood and lymphatic microvasculature of the gallbladder in the guinea pig: a scanning electron microscopic study

Fasciola hepatica adult worm cysteine proteinases were active-site, affinity radio-labeled with benzyloxicarbonyl-L-tyrosine-L-alanine diazomethylketone (Z-Tyr125I-Ala-CHN2). Sera from patients with fascioliasis and from rabbits experimentally infected with F. hepatica immunoprecipitated the radiolabeled parasite cysteine proteinases in immunoelectrophoresis assays. Two purified antigens were identified as part of the complex mosaic of antigens immunoprecipitated by the sera of infected patients. These antigens (Fas1 and Fas2) have been shown to be an important part of the Fharc2 precipitin band used for serologic diagnosis in humans and cattle. They showed cysteine proteinase activity with different proteolytic specificities and partial identity in double immunodiffusion assays. The results obtained in this work show that the Fas1 and Fas2 antigens are sensitive and specific antigens for diagnosis of this serious helminthic disease in humans and other susceptible hosts.     

Signal transduction pathways in guinea pig sperm

Trifluoperazine (TFP), the antagonist of calmodulin (CaM), significantly stimulated the capacitation and acrosome reaction of guinea pig spermatozoa at the concentration of 10-100 mumol/L, independent of the external Ca2+. Forskolin, dbcAMP and caffeine evidently promoted the occurrence of acrosome reaction of spermatozoa at early capacitation stage (5 h) in nonsynchronous system but not in synchronous system. If the spermatozoa were capacitated for 15 h in synchronous system, the above three drugs significantly stimulated acrosome reaction in a Ca(2+)-independent manner. Protein kinase C activators, i.e. phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) did not influence the occurrence of acrosome reaction of spermatozoa at early capacitation stage, but significantly increased the acrosome reaction rate in capacitated spermatozoa in a Ca(2+)-independent manner. In contrast, PKC inhibitor staurosporine significantly inhibited the occurrence of acrosome reaction.     

Neurokinin receptors in the guinea pig ileum

The gating kinetics of apical membrane Na channels in the rat cortical collecting tubule were assessed in cell-attached and inside-out excised patches from split-open tubules using the patch-clamp technique. In patches containing a single channel the open probability (Po) was variable, ranging from 0.05 to 0.9. The average Po was 0.5. However, the individual values were not distributed normally, but were mainly < or = 0.25 or > or = 0.75. Mean open times and mean closed times were correlated directly and inversely, respectively, with Po. In patches where a sufficient number of events could be recorded, two time constants were required to describe the open-time and closed-time distributions. In most patches in which basal Po was < 0.3 the channels could be activated by hyperpolarization of the apical membrane. In five such patches containing a single channel hyperpolarization by 40 mV increased Po by 10-fold, from 0.055 +/- 0.023 to 0.58 +/- 0.07. This change reflected an increase in the mean open time of the channels from 52 +/- 17 to 494 +/- 175 ms and a decrease in the mean closed time from 1,940 +/- 350 to 336 +/- 100 ms. These responses, however, could not be described by a simple voltage dependence of the opening and closing rates. In many cases significant delays in both the activation by hyperpolarization and deactivation by depolarization were observed. These delays ranged from several seconds to several tens of seconds. Similar effects of voltage were seen in cell-attached and excised patches, arguing against a voltage-dependent chemical modification of the channel, such as a phosphorylation. Rather, the channels appeared to switch between gating modes. These switches could be spontaneous but were strongly influenced by changes in membrane voltage. Voltage dependence of channel gating was also observed under whole-cell clamp conditions. To see if mechanical perturbations could also influence channel kinetics or gating mode, negative pressures of 10-60 mm Hg were applied to the patch pipette. In most cases (15 out of 22), this maneuver had no significant effect on channel behavior. In 6 out of 22 patches, however, there was a rapid and reversible increase in Po when the pressure was applied. In one patch, there was a reversible decrease. While no consistent effects of pressure could be documented, membrane deformation could contribute to the variation in Po under some conditions.     

Elastase in hyperpnea-induced guinea pig airway constriction

Aerosolized elastase has been shown to produce airway constriction in guinea pigs. In this study, we examined whether endogenous elastase plays a role in isocapnic hyperpnea-induced airway constriction using an elastase inhibitor, eglin-c. The study was divided into three experiments. In the first experiment, we used an elastase inhibitor, eglin-c, to suppress hyperpnea-induced bronchoconstriction. Twenty-two young male Hartley guinea pigs were divided into three groups: control (n=8), eglin-c(1) (a lower dose of eglin-c, n=7), and eglin-c(2) (a higher dose of eglin-c, n=7). In the second experiment, we tested whether eglin-c affects pulmonary function following 15 min of normal air ventilation in two groups of animals: control (n=8) and eglin-c (n=8). In the third experiment, animals were divided into two groups: control (n=7) and compound 48/80 (a mast cell degranulating agent, n=7). Airway function was examined in the anesthetized-paralyzed animal. In the first and third experiments, 15 min of isocapnic hyperpnea caused marked decreases in dynamic respiratory compliance, forced expiratory flow at 0.1 s and maximal expiratory flow at 50% total lung capacity, demonstrating hyperpnea-induced airway constriction. This bronchoconstriction was significantly attenuated by eglin-c and by pretreatment with compound 48/80. In the second experiment, eglin-c did not significantly affect bronchial function following normal air ventilation. These data suggest that elastase released from mast cells directly or indirectly induces hyperpnea-induced bronchoconstriction.     

Crossed ectopia of seminal vesicles, renal aplasia and ectopic ureter

A unique case of left ureteral opening into a seminal vesicle, ipsilateral renal hyperplasia and crossed ectopia of the seminal vesicles is reported. This 24-year-old white man underwent a nephroureterectomy for relief of symptoms of lower urinary tract infection. The embryological development of this abnormality is discussed briefly.     

Telomerase is activated in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the castrated rat

Telomeres, the repetitive non-coding DNA sequences found at the ends of all eukaryotic chromosomes, shorten with each cell division. It has been proposed that telomere shortening may be the counting element of a mitotic clock that keeps track of cell divisions; with shortening to a critical length acting as a senescence signal underlying cellular aging. The enzyme telomerase functions to maintain telomere length, thus allowing unlimited cell division, and has been associated with cellular immortalization and cancer. Stem cells have large, perhaps unlimited, replicative capacities. Since these cells are potentially immortal, we reasoned that they might posses active telomerase. We therefore assayed for telomerase activity in the stem cell enriched pools of the androgen-depleted sex accessory tissues in the castrated male rat. Following castration, the ventral prostate and seminal vesicles of the rat involute, losing approximately 90% of their cells by 21 days. These residual glands persist, and are enriched for stem cells, being capable of fully regenerating these glands if testosterone is re-introduced into the animal. We assayed telomerase activity in extracts from normal, involuted, and regenerating ventral prostate and seminal vesicles. Normal glands were found to be telomerase negative, whereas telomerase activity appeared as these glands involuted following castration. Conversely, telomerase activity disappeared during testosterone-induced regeneration of these residual glands. These results provide strong evidence for the ability of androgen to negatively-regulate telomerase activity in stem cell populations of the rat ventral prostate and seminal vesicles. and represent the first in vivo model system for the modulation of telomerase activity.     

Electron microscopic immunocytological profiles in chronic fatigue syndrome

Fluoxetine is a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin)-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and is one of the main drugs used for the treatment of depression. Because it takes 2 to 3 weeks of treatment before clinical efficacy is manifest, the acute actions of fluoxetine cannot account for the clinical actions of the drug. The chronic effects of fluoxetine have not been completely delineated. The experiments detailed here investigate the chronic effects of fluoxetine on 5-HT and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-mediated actions using intracellular recording techniques in hippocampal brain slices. Rats were treated with fluoxetine for 3 weeks via osmotic minipumps implanted s.c. Fluoxetine and norfluoxetine plasma levels were determined. The hippocampal pyramidal cell characteristics and the 5-HT1A and GABA(B) receptor-mediated hyperpolarization were measured in the CA1 and the CA3 subfields. The 5-HT4 receptor-mediated decrease in the slow afterhyperpolarization amplitude was also recorded in area CA1. The time constant, magnitude of the change in resistance during 300-ms hyperpolarizing current pulses and half-decay time of the sAHP were altered by chronic fluoxetine treatment in area CA1 pyramidal cells. No changes were seen in any of the active or passive membrane properties of the CA3 hippocampal pyramidal cells. Fluoxetine treatment increased the potency of 5-HT for the 5-HT1A receptor-mediated hyperpolarization in area CA1, but not area CA3, and decreased the potency of baclofen for the GABA(B) receptor-mediated hyperpolarization in area CA1, but not area CA3. The characteristics of the concentration-response curve for the 5-HT-mediated decrease in sAHP amplitude in area CA1 were not altered by fluoxetine treatment. Chronic fluoxetine selectively and differentially altered the cell characteristics and the 5-HT1A and GABA(B) receptor-mediated responses in area CA1 of the hippocampus, which forms the final common output of the hippocampus.     

Tryptase mediates hyperresponsiveness in isolated guinea pig bronchi

Hyperresponsiveness of airway smooth muscle to allergens and environmental factors has long been associated with the pathophysiology of asthma. Tryptase, a serine protease of lung mast cells, has been implicated as one of the mediators involved in the induction of hyperresponsiveness. As a consequence, tryptase inhibitors have become the subject of study as potential novel therapeutic agents for asthma. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a naturally occurring protein of human airways which exhibits anti-tryptase activity. To assess the potential therapeutic utility of SLPI in asthma, its effects were evaluated using in vitro and ex vivo models of airway hyperresponsiveness and compared with the effects of the small molecule tryptase inhibitor APC-366. Our results demonstrate that SLPI inhibits tryptase-mediated hyperresponsiveness in vitro and attenuates the hyperresponsiveness observed in airway smooth muscle from antigen-sensitized animals subjected to antigen exposure. The small molecule tryptase inhibitor APC-366 has a similar inhibitory effect. Thus, tryptase appears to be a significant contributor to the development of hyperresponsiveness in these models. To the extent that tryptase contributes to the development and progression of asthma, SLPI may possess therapeutic potential in this disease setting.     

Uptake of tetracycline in otoconia of the guinea pig

Calcium ion turnover in the otoconia of adult guinea pigs was investigated by observing the uptake of tetracycline. Oral administration of tetracycline resulted in the deposition of tetracycline (fluorescence) on the outer surface of otoconia, indicating the occurrence of dynamic exchange and/or uptake of calcium ions in the otoconia. Prolonged administration of tetracycline induced with fluorescence deposition in the central portion as well as on the surface of the otoconia. These findings suggest the occurrence of neogenesis, regeneration and/or growth of otoconia even in adult animals.