Ultrastructural changes in fat cells and blood capillaries of the mammary gland in starved mice

The effects of starvation on fat cells and blood capillaries of the first abdomino-inguinal mammary gland in mice were investigated by light and transmission electron microscopy. The body weight of starved mice abruptly decreased to approximately 70% of that of controls at 3 days of starvation and, thereafter, gradually decreased. In adipose tissues of mammary stroma, multilocular fat cells increased in number and clustered during starvation to a glandular appearance at 6 days. Collagen fibers increased in amount around mammary ducts and buds. By electron microscopy, multilocular fat cells possessed numerous mitochondria, small lipid droplets, and plasmalemmal vesicles, while endothelial cells of the blood capillaries showed numerous pinocytotic vesicles plus short marginal folds and microvillous processes. These observations prove that the number of pinocytotic vesicles in blood capillary endothelium is closely related with the increased amount of lipid of fat cells in the mammary gland during starvation.     

Ultrastructural localization of thyrocyte acid phosphatase in the presence of thyrocyte hyperfunction in rats

Acid phosphatase was found by electron microscopy in the lysosomes which appeared in great numbers in the follicular cells of rat hyperplastic thyroid gland. The other types of granules (mature secretory granules and lipids) whose amounts were also greatly increased in cases of functional thyrocyte strain were also nonreactive. The lysosomes were subdivided into three main groups according to distribution of the reaction product: the lysosomes with dense homogeneous deposit and with deposit in the form of densely or loosely packed dark round granules. The lysosome heterogeneity was apparently connected with their different functions also found within the colloid droplets in the form of inclusions of rarely located dark granules. The authors believe such granules to be the result of the merging of the colloid droplets and lysosomes. The acid phosphatase of the latter participated in the hydrolysis of the product of cell secretion with the formation of active substances.     

Influence of furosemide on the ureteric damage in a rat model of obstructive uropathy

The pineal gland of rats of various ages (1-21 days old) was examined by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Numerous widely distributed cells identified as macrophages/microglia were immunoreactive with the monoclonal antibodies OX-42, OX-18, OX-6, and ED1, indicating that they expressed complement type 3 (CR3) receptors, major histocompatibility complex class I and II antigens, and antigens of monocyte/macrophage lineage as detected by the antibodies, respectively. Following an intraperitoneal injection of rhodamine isothiocyanate (RhIC) in all age groups, the cells emitted a bright fluorescence. They were also labeled by horseradish peroxidase (HRP), as demonstrated in both light and electron microscopy. An HRP reaction was observed in vesicles and lysosomes at the ultrastructural level. A remarkable feature was the uptake of these tracers by pinealocytes. In light microscopy, the pinealocytes showed a punctate reaction product 3-24 hours after HRP injection. By electron microscopy, the reaction product was observed in vesicles, lysosomes, and some rod-like structures in the cytoplasm. On the basis of their immunophenotypic features, it is suggested that the macrophages/microglia in the pineal gland are active phagocytes which are also probably involved in the immunoregulatory function in the gland. The avid uptake of RhIC and HRP from the circulation by these cells suggests that serum-derived substances that may gain access to the parenchyma of the gland are being constantly monitored. The labeling of pinealocytes with HRP suggests that the functional activities of these cells are being modulated by serum-derived substances.     

Study of the action of tamoxifen on the mammary gland epithelium of premenopausal patients by lysosome quantification

Tamoxifen is an antiestrogen drug widely utilized for the adjuvant hormonal treatment of breast carcinoma. Its use in the primary prophylaxis of this disease is currently being proposed. Although the drug has few side effects, its precise action on breast tissue that has not undergone neoplastic transformation has not been fully elucidated. This prospective, randomized study assessed the estrogen activity of tamoxifen on the mammary gland epithelium of premenopausal patients using a quantitative analysis of mammary epithelium lysosome identified by the cytochemical technique of GOMORI for acid phosphatase and by light microscopy. Tamoxifen significantly increased the number of lysosomes only during the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. We concluded that the early effect of the drug on normal mammary tissue is synergistic with the effect of estrogen during the premenopausal period.     

Are bombesin-like peptides involved in the mediation of stress response?

Previous studies have shown that a variety of mammalian cell types, including macrophages, contain small amounts of redox-active iron in their lysosomes. Increases in the level of this iron pool predispose the cell to oxidative stress. Limiting the availability of intralysosomal redox-active iron could therefore represent potential cytoprotection for cells under oxidative stress. In the present study we have shown that an initial 6 h exposure of J774 macrophages to 30 microM iron, added to the culture medium as FeCl3, increased the lysosomal iron content and their sensitivity to H2O2-induced (0.25 mM for 30 min) oxidative stress. Over time (24-72 h), however, the cells were desensitized to the cytotoxic effects of H2O2; most likely as a consequence of both lysosomal iron exocytosis and of ferritin synthesis (demonstrated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, autometallography, and immunohistochemistry). When the cells were exposed to a second dose of iron, their lysosomal content of iron increased again but the cells became no further sensitized to the cytotoxic effects of H2O2. Using the lysosomotropic weak base, acridine orange, we demonstrated that after the second exposure to iron and H2O2, lysosomes remained intact and were no different from control cells which were exposed to H2O2 but not iron. These data suggest that the initial induction of ferritin synthesis leads to enrichment of lysosomes with ferritin via autophagocytosis. This limits the redox-availability of intralysosomal iron and, in turn, decreases the cells' sensitivity to oxidative stress. These in vitro observations could also explain why cells under pathological conditions, such as haemochromatosis, are apparently able to withstand high iron concentrations for some time in vivo.     

Lysosomal heterogeneity between and within cells with respect to resistance against oxidative stress

The prevailing opinion on lysosomal endurance is that, as long as the cells are still alive, these organelles are generally quite stable and, thus, do not induce cell damage by leaking their numerous powerful hydrolytic enzymes to the cytosol. We suggest that this opinion is basically wrong and consider that many lysosomes are quite vulnerable, especially to oxidative stress. Moreover, we suggest that cellular degeneration, including apoptosis as well as necrosis, follows upon lysosomal disruption. We have found differing stability of lysosomal membranes to oxidative stress, not only among different cell types, but also between cells of the same type and between lysosomes of individual cells. We suggest that cellular resistance to oxidative stress is mainly a function of three parameters: (i) the capacity to degrade hydrogen peroxide before it reaches, and may diffuse into, the acidic vacuolar compartment; (ii) the resistance to reactive oxygen species of lysosomal membranes; and (iii) the intralysosomal amounts of redox-active, low molecular weight iron. Iron-catalysed intralysosomal reactions, if pronounced enough, result in peroxidation and destabilization of the lysosomal membrane. Owing to differences in the cellular synthesis of hydrogen peroxide-degrading enzymes, degree of autophagocytotic degradation of iron-containing metalloproteins, lysosomal localization within the cytoplasm and intralysosomal iron chelation, the above three parameters may vary between both different and similar cells and between lysosomes of individual cells as well, explaining their observed variability with respect to resistance against oxidative stress.     

水溶液中电沉积Sm-Fe合金

Sm2Fe17是一种性能优异的永磁材料(SmFeN)的前驱体。用循环伏安法研究了三价钐(Sm(Ⅲ))和二价铁(Fe(Ⅱ))在含甘氨酸的水溶液中的电化学行为,在Pt电极上,Fe(Ⅱ)一步还原为Fe,Sm(Ⅲ)能被Fe(Ⅱ)诱导共沉积。在水溶液中成功电沉积出Sm-Fe合金。研究了pH和电流密度对镀层组分的影响,在电流密度为40mA.cm-2时,随着pH升高,镀层中Sm含量增加,在pH=4.5时,随着电流密度的增加,镀层中Sm含量增加。电子显微镜(SEM)显示镀层表面是紧密一致的。镀层在热处理前是非晶态Sm-Fe合金和微晶Fe的混合相,经750℃热处理后,镀层转化为Fe和Sm-Fe合金的混合相。     

Subcellular distributions of lipids in cultured BHK cells: evidence for the enrichment of lysobisphosphatidic acid and neutral lipids in lysosomes

Homogenates of cultured hamster fibroblasts (BHK 21 cells) were fractionated by differential centrifugation into six main fractions: nuclear, mitochondrial, light mitochondrial, microsomal, soluble, and floating. The contents of several lipids and some marker enzymes were measured. According to the enzyme distributions, lysosomes were enriched both in the floating fraction and in the light mitochondrial fraction. Lysobisphosphatidic acid was enriched in the floating fraction more than tenfold relative to phospholipid. Cholesteryl esters and triglycerides were the main constituents of the fraction (70% of total lipids). Lysobisphosphatidic acid, triglycerides, and cholesteryl esters were enriched also in the light mitochondrial fraction. Their distribution patterns were different from those of the other lipids. Electron microscopy showed that the floating fraction contained numerous lipofuscin-like particles with darkly stained peripheries and with core regions staining like droplets of neutral lipids. Similar particles, frequently containing prominent multilamellar formations, were also common in intact cells. They contained cytochemically identified acid phosphatase. We conclude that lysobisphosphatidic acid was enriched in the lysosomes of the BHK cells and that the lysosomes also contained variable amounts of neutral lipids in the form of intralysosomal droplets.     

全萃取分离方法生产激光级氧化铕

介绍了钐铕钆富集物为原料,用P507全萃取分离方法分离生产激光级氧化铕的生产方法和工艺流程,并与传统还原—萃取分离法进行比较,明确了全萃取分离方法的优越性,指明了高纯氧化铕生产的发展方向。研究表明,全萃取分离方法可取消锌粉还原工序,克服锌粉带来的渣量大、重金属废液污染严重、氢气安全隐患大等弊端,同时具有可连续生产,操作控制方便、成本低等优点,每吨氧化铕生产成本可降低近5万元。     

An entire functional mammary gland may comprise the progeny from a single cell

Any epithelial portion of a normal mouse mammary gland can reproduce an entire functional gland when transplanted into an epithelium-free mammary fat pad. Mouse mammary hyperplasias and tumors are clonal dominant populations and probably represent the progeny of a single transformed cell. Our study provides evidence that single multipotent stem cells positioned throughout the mature fully developed mammary gland have the capacity to produce sufficient differentiated progeny to recapitulate an entire functional gland. Our evidence also demonstrates that these stem cells are self-renewing and are found with undiminished capacities in the newly regenerated gland. We have taken advantage of an experimental model where mouse mammary tumor virus infects mammary epithelial cells and inserts a deoxyribonucleic acid copy(ies) of its genome during replication. The insertions occur randomly within the somatic genome. CzechII mice have no endogenous nucleic acid sequence homology with mouse mammary tumor virus; therefore all viral insertions may be detected by Southern analysis provided a sufficient number of cells contain a specific insertional event. Transplantation of random fragments of infected CzechII mammary gland produced clonal-dominant epithelial populations in epithelium-free mammary fat pads. Serial transplantation of pieces of the clonally derived outgrowths produced second generation glands possessing the same viral insertion sites providing evidence for self-renewal of the original stem cell. Limiting dilution studies with cell cultures derived from third generation clonal outgrowths demonstrated that three multipotent but distinct mammary epithelial progenitors were present in clonally derived mammary epithelial populations. Estimation of the potential number of multipotent epithelial cells that may be evolved from an individual mammary-specific stem cell by self-renewal is in the order of 10(12)-10(13). Therefore, one stem cell might easily account for the renewal of mammary epithelium over several transplant generations.     

Sm(Ⅲ),Eu(Ⅲ)-丙烯酸-8-羟基喹啉三元配合物的合成及荧光性质研究

用三异丙氧基钐（铕）与８－羟基喹啉、丙烯酸反应合成具有良好荧光性质的稀土三元配合物,通过元素分析、红外光谱、紫外光谱证实其分子结构,并进行荧光光谱、热分析测试,发现配合物具有较好的荧光性质。     

Starvation-induced autophagocytosis paradoxically decreases the susceptibility to oxidative stress of the extremely oxidative stress-sensitive NIT insulinoma cells

Glucose and amino acid starvation of cells in culture generally enhances their sensitivity to oxidative stress. This is explained by compensatory autophagocytosis, which results in increased amounts of lysosomal low-molecular-weight, redox-active iron, due to the degradation of metallo-proteins, with a potential increase in iron-catalyzed, intralysosomal oxidative reactions. Such reactions diminish the stability of lysosomal membranes, with resultant leakage of hydrolytic enzymes into the cytosol and ensuing cellular degeneration, often of apoptotic type. However, starvation of NIT insulinoma cells, which are normally remarkably sensitive to oxidative stress, actually attenuated the sensitivity to such stress. We found that starved NIT cells rapidly synthesized ferritin. Moreover, ferritin was found to be autophagocytosed, and the lysosomes were stabilized, as assayed by the acridine orange relocation test. We hypothesize that compensatory autophagocytosis during starvation increases the cytosolic pool of redox-active iron, as a reflection of enhanced transportation of low-molecular-weight iron from autophagic lysosomes to the cytosol, resulting in ferritin induction. The newly formed ferritin would, in turn, become autophagocytosed and bind redox-active lysosomal iron in a non-redox-active form. We also suggest that the proposed mechanism may be a way for oxidative stress-sensitive cells to compensate partly for their failing capacity to degrade hydrogen peroxide before it leaks into the acidic vacuolar apparatus and induces intralysosomal oxidative stress. The insulin-producing beta cell may belong to this type of cells.     

Effects of Low Concentration Samarium Chloride on theUltrastructure and Function of Rat Thyroid Gland

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Association and coexpression of fatty-acid-binding protein and glycoprotein CD36 in the bovine mammary gland

The involvement of glycoprotein CD36 and fatty-acid-binding protein (FABP) in cellular growth, differentiation, lipid transport and metabolism led us to examine the possible biochemical and physiological relationship(s) between these two proteins. We investigated three aspects of this relationship. We first attempted to identify any physical complex formed between CD36 and FABP in bovine milk fat globule membranes. These membranes are the product of mammary gland secretory epithelial cells. The second aspect studied was the effect of synthetic peptide analogs to the C-terminus (amino acid residues 121-131) of bovine mammary gland FABP on cell proliferation, as a result of the interaction of these peptides with the ectodomain of CD36. Finally, mammary gland CD36 and FABP coexpression was defined at different stages of lactation and during involution. Immunoprecipitation, Western immunoblotting with anti-FABP and anti-CD36, Northern-blot analysis and a mammary epithelial cell proliferation assay demonstrated that: (a) bovine milk fat globule membranes contain the complex of CD36 and FABP, and that this complex is, most likely, formed as a result of FABP binding to the cytoplasmic segments of CD36; (b) synthetic analog of the C-terminus of FABP with the sequence Val-Thr-Cys, identical to the sequence found in the CD36-binding domain of thrombospondin, was a more potent inhibitor of bovine mammary gland epithelial cell proliferation than a synthetic peptide with the Val-Cys-Thr sequence; (c) the expression of FABP and CD36 is related to the state of mammary cell differentiation, since it reaches its maximum during lactation and declines during the involutionary period.     

Distribution and origin of peptide-containing nerve fibres in the rat and human mammary gland

The structures in the mammary gland involved in milk ejection have been investigated with regard to their relation to different types of peptidergic nerve fibres and their origin. Lactating rats were studied with immunohistochemistry focusing on the nipple, the parenchyma, the mammary blood vessels and the mammary nerve. The human mammary gland was also analysed. In the mammary gland from rat and human, nerve endings in the subepidermis, around smooth muscle cells in the nipple, in the connective tissue surrounding lactiferous ducts and alveoli in the nipple and in the parenchyma of the mammary gland showed immunoreactivity for calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, peptide histidine isoleucine, neuropeptide Y, galanin and tyrosine hydroxylase, whereas dynorphin-positive nerve fibres could not be detected. The mammary nerve contained calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, neuropeptide Y and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivities; the adventitia of the mammary artery contained nerve fibres immunoreactive for neuropeptide Y and tyrosine hydroxylase, while vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, peptide histidine isoleucine-, calcitonin gene-related peptide- and substance P-positive fibres were found in the tissue surrounding the artery. The wall of the mammary vein had nerve terminals immunoreactive for neuropeptide Y, tyrosine hydroxylase, calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P. With the help of retrograde tracing using wheat germ agglutinin in combination with immunohistochemistry, projections of calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive cells in the dorsal root ganglia to the nipple were established. Neurons in the sympathetic stellate ganglion containing neuropeptide Y and tyrosine hydroxylase also projected to the mammary gland. Moreover retrogradely-labelled cells were found in the nodose ganglion, and they were vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive. These results demonstrate a rich distribution of different types of nerve fibres in structures of the mammary gland related to milk ejection. These nerve fibres and their peptides may be involved in the local control of milk ejection.     

Degradation of serum albumin by rat liver and kidney lysosomes

Lysosomes were isolated from the livers and from the kidneys of rats treated or not treated with the cysteine proteinase inhibitor leupeptin, and the levels of the intralysosomal serum albumin of the leupeptin-treated rats were compared with those of the saline-treated control rats. Leupeptin caused an intralysosomal accumulation of albumin in vivo because of its potent inhibition of lysosomal protein degradation. In fact, the lysosomes isolated from the livers and kidneys of leupeptin-treated rats almost completely lost their ability to degrade rat albumin in vitro. These findings show that the lysosomes are subcellular sites of the degradation of unlabeled serum albumin in these tissues. They also suggest that cysteine proteinases sensitive to leupeptin are involved in the lysosomal degradation of albumin. Albumin was degraded by total lysosomal enzymes in vitro. It was also degraded by the lysosomal extract being devoid of cathepsins H and J, prepared from rat kidney. The degradation of albumin by total lysosomal enzymes in vitro was greatly suppressed by a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, cystatin alpha, with no inhibition of cathepsins B and L. It was slightly suppressed by N-(L-3-trans-propylcarbamoyloxirane-2-carbonyl)-L-isoleucyl-L-prol ine (CA-074), a selective inhibitor of cathepsin B, and by pepstatin, an inhibitor of cathepsin D, whereas it was markedly suppressed by a combination of cystatin alpha and either CA-074 or pepstatin. These and associated findings show that cystatin alpha-sensitive cysteine proteinase(s), which is distinct from cathepsins B, H, L, and J, and cathepsins B and D are involved in the lysosomal degradation of albumin.     

BSD extent, an index for metal pollution screening based on the metal content within digestive cell lysosomes of mussels as determined by autometallography

The extent of autometallographical black silver deposits (BSD) has been semiquantified at the light microscope in the gills and digestive gland of either control mussels or Zn-polluted mussels after depuration and on exposure to sublethal concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Cd. The BSD extent in the gills and digestive gland of control mussels was much reduced compared to that in other experimental mussels. The extent of BSD in the gills of depurating mussels was reduced at short depuration times due to decreased levels in the abfrontal cells while in the digestive gland it did not change with the depuration period. The extent of BSD in digestive lysosomes of Cu- and Zn-exposed mussels followed a logarithmic pattern in relation to metal concentration increasing with metal concentrations in the digestive gland. However, a reduced extent of BSD was related to the presence of high metal concentrations under Cd-exposure conditions. This is because the great extent of BSD present in the lumen of the digestive tubules was not taken into account to carry out semiquantification, but, however, the chemical analysis measured the Cd content of these BSD. As such, the extent of BSD in digestive lysosomes followed a logarithmic pattern with total metal concentrations in the digestive gland of Cd-exposed mussels. Therefore, the semiquantitative estimation of BSD in the digestive lysosomes could be considered a reliable index to reflect changes in metal bioavailability in sea water.     

Functional receptors for atrial natriuretic peptide in the rat mammary gland during lactation

The present study was undertaken: 1) to localize and characterize atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptors in the rat mammary gland; and 2) to elucidate ANP-induced cellular formation of cyclic GMP (cGMP) and alterations in alveolar morphology during both early and late lactation. Receptor autoradiography, employing rat-specific [125I]ANP as radioligand, demonstrated binding sites in the secretory tissue and larger blood vessels of the mammary gland. Binding of [125I]rANP to membrane fractions was completely displaced by unlabeled ANP and brain natriuretic peptide. C-type natriuretic peptide and cANP(4-23) revealed limited competition with radiolabeled ANP only during early lactation, indicating a more heterogeneous receptor population at that time. Systemically administered ANP induced cGMP formation in the alveolar epithelium, as shown with immunohistochemistry, and increased mammary tissue cGMP concentrations in vivo throughout the lactation period. Image analysis revealed enlargement of alveolar (but not epithelial) cell area after ANP stimulation in late lactation, suggesting altered alveolar filling or myoepithelial cell relaxation. These results indicate that ANP induces biological effects in the rat mammary gland through specific ANP-A receptor interaction with subsequent intracellular cGMP formation. ANP may therefore play a regulatory role in the control of mammary gland blood supply and secretory function.     

B and T cells are required for mouse mammary tumor virus spread within the mammary gland

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is an infectious retrovirus transmitted through milk from mother to newborns. MMTV encodes a superantigen (SAg) whose activity is indispensable for the virus life cycle, since a genetically engineered virus with a mutation in the sag gene neither amplified in cells of the immune system of suckling pups nor infected their mammary glands. When wild-type MMTV was injected directly into the mammary glands of uninfected pubescent mice, their lymphoid as well as mammary gland cells became virus infected. To test whether this infection of lymphoid cells was dependent on SAg activity and required for virus spread within the mammary gland, we performed mammary gland injections of wild-type MMTV(C3H) into two strains of transgenic mice that lacked SAg-cognate, V beta 14+ T cells. Neither the MTV-ORF or LEL strains showed infection of their mammary glands. Moreover, no MMTV infection of their peripheral lymphocytes was detected. Similar experiments with mice lacking B cells (mu-chain knockouts) showed no detectable virus spread in the mammary glands or lymphoid tissues. These data suggest that SAg activity and MMTV-infected lymphocytes are required, not only for initial steps of viral infection, but also for virus spread within the mammary gland. Virus spread at late times in infection determines whether MMTV induces mammary tumors.