Graft-versus-host reaction and lymphoid organs in normally fed and protein-deprived rats.

Lymph node graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) induced by parental splenic lymphocytes inoculated into hind foot pads of F-1 hybrid rats is correlated with the state of the thymus and the spleen of the recipients. This may explain the depression of the reaction after protracted protein deprivation. Furthermore, GVHR provokes mainly in normal rats a reduction of thymus and spleen possibly due to a T-cell transfer to the grafted area.     

Autoradiographische Untersuchungen zur Frage des Eiweißstoffwechsels in den lymphoretikulären Organen

Summary The size of protein-metabolism in lympho-reticular organs (spleen and lymph-nodes) is examined by means of autoradiography. Mice, rats and rabbits were fed with S³⁵-labelled thioamino-acids. The density of the silver grains in the autoradiographs allows a statement about the size of proteinmetabolism in relation to thioaminoacids. From this point of view the problem of the germinal centres and marginal zones of theMalpighian follicles, the «Basophileninseln» in the red pulp and the endothel of the splenic sinuses is discussed.     

Tumorgewebe kombiniert mit Milz-, Lymphknoten- oder Thymusgewebe von Ratten in Diffusionskammern

Summary In diffusion chambers, which were implanted into Wistar rats, Walker carcinoma tissue lost its virulence when combined with spleen or lymphnode tissue of normal 8-month-old Wistar rats, in consequence of immunological processes. In contrast to this, Walker carcinoma tissue, in combination with thymus tissue of the same donors, remained virulent.     

On the effect of insulin on lactate permeability through the nuclear membrane

Résumé L'addition d'insuline aux noyaux isolés du thymus de rat peut prévenir les pertes de lactate endogène se produisant à travers de la membrane nucléaire.

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The authors wish to thank Prof. F. J.Loomeijer and Dr. H. M.Klouwen for the stimulating discussions during the work.     

Attempt to alter antigenic structure of normal tissues by treatment with dimethyl-triazeno-imidazole-carboxamide in vivo

Summary The antigenic structure of normal skin and spleen cells has been investigated following in vivo treatment with the compound DIC. In experiments involving skin grafting in the normal and sensitized host, cross sensitization with a DIC-antigenic lymphoma and³H-thymidine incorporation by lymphocytes cultured with DIC-treated spleen cells, new antigens on DIC-treated tissues were not demonstrated.Research supported in part by Contract No. 74.00237.04 from C.N.R., Rome.We wish to thank Mr.C. R. Reeder of the Mammalian Genetics and Animal Production Section of NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, for breeding and providing the animals, and Serpero Foundation, Milan, for support. The proficient technical assistance of Ms.C. Cattoi andD. Peroni is also acknowledged.     

Evidence for suppression of immune function by insulin-like growth factor-1 in dwarf rats in vivo

These studies were undertaken to investigate the effects of increasing or decreasing IGF-1 levels on aspects of immune function in rats. Female dwarf rats were treated with recombinant human IGF-1 or with a potent sheep anti-IGF-serum. Body weight, thymus weight and spleen weight increased with IGF-1 treatment (p<0.001), while there was no effect of anti-IGF-1 treatment when compared with the appropriate normal sheep serum (NSS) treated controls. IGF-1 treatment significantly decreased WBC and RBC counts, but increased the ratio of CD4⁺:CD8⁺ T-cells. Anti-IGF-1 serum had no effect on these parameters compared with NSS. However anti-IGF-1 was associated with increased T-cell numbers, decreased natural killer cells, and enhancement of the animals' ability to produce specific IgG in response to injection of keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). These results indicate that IGF-1 may suppress immune function although increasing the size of immune organs such as spleen.These studies were part of an M.Sc. at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.     

Réaction immunoallergique provoquée chez le rat par l'injection d'extraits chauffés de la tumeur de Walker

Summary When repeatly injected to Fisher Inbred rats, boiled Walker tumour extracts induced non specific and specific reactions; non specific reactions being catabolism, thymus involution, adrenal hypertrophy and perturbation of serum proteins relative distribution. The specific reactions attributable to the presence of the specific tumoral antigen in the tumour extracts are immunoallergic arthritis, liver and spleen hypertrophy, acceleration of serum albumin electrophoretic migratory rate and the apparition of the specific antigen in the liver.

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Travail subventionné par l'Institut du Cancer du Canada.     

Altersbedingte Abnahme von Kreatinphosphat und Änderungen der Adeninnukleotide in der Skelettmuskulatur von Ratten

Summary The content of phosphocreatine and of the adenin nucleotides, ATP, ADP and AMP in the white skeletal muscle of rats of different ages has been determined.There is an age-dependent relation between the quantity of phosphocreatine and the ratio of ATP/ADP. Young rats contain relatively much phosphocreatine (up to 57%) and a high ATP/ADP ratio (mean 6.7) while old rats show less phosphocreatine (40.8%) and also a low ATP/ADP ratio (mean 2.2).

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M. Ermini dankt der Schweizerischen Akademie der Medizinischen Wissenschaften für eine Verlängerung seines Stipendiums undI. Szelenyi dankt für ein USA Forschungs-Stipendium an das Institut für experimentelle Gerontologie in Basel. Herrn Prof.F. Verzár sind wir für die Leitung dieser und weiterer Arbeiten zu Dank verbunden.     

Repopulation of thymus,spleen and bone-marrow of irradiated AKR mice injected with normal or irradiated bone-marrow cells

Résumé L'utilisation d'une race de souris (AKR/T1Ald) ne possédant que 38 chromosomes a permis de montrer que les cellules de moelle que l'on injecte à un individu irradié repeuplent directement la moelle, le thymus et la rate du receveur. Si le donneur est irradié, la pénétration des cellules n'est importante que dans la rate du receveur.

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Acknowledgements. This work was supported by grants from the Fonds de la Recherche scientifique fondamentale collective. The helpful assistance of Mr.G. Linden andG. Mattelin is gratefully acknowledged.     

La question des hétérochromosomes chez les Sauropsidés. Oiseaux

Summary The chromosomes of the fowl were studied with the aid ofMakino's andNishimura's water pretreatment squash technique, modified byMatthey, in embryonic spleen and gonads of both sexes. The number of chromosomes was found to be about 78; the numerical variations are to be ascribed to technical difficulties, caused by the extremely small size of the microchromosomes, rather than to an unchromosomelike behaviour of the latter, as was supposed byNewcomer andBrant. As to the exact number of chromosomes, we consider its determination beyond the possibilities of cytology. The 5^th largest pair of the male, represented by a single element in the female, could be identified as the sex chromosome pair, in accordance with the findings ofYamashina. The digamety might be of theZ-O orZ-W type.     

Examen histopathologique de souris irradiées après injection de cystéamine

Summary The injection of-mercaptoethylamine to C 57 black mice before irradiation (700 r) effects a partial protection of liver and spleen. It has a strong accelerating action on regeneration in spleen, intestine and probably thymus. The experiments suggest that this action is related to a protection of glucidic metabolism.     

Histidindecarboxylaseaktivität in Samenblasen unreifer und testosteronbehandelter Ratten

Summary The seminal vesicles of immature rats which had been treated with testosterone showed a twofold (threefold) increase in growth, but did not show increased histamine formation after in vitro incubation withl-histidine-¹⁴C.     

Über das Auftreten von multiplen Adenomen in der Leber von cholinarm ernährten Ratten

Summary Hepatoma-like neoplasmas were found in the liver of rats that had been on a choline-deficient diet for 3 to 4 months. Thus, the work ofCopeland andSalmon is confirmed. In our experiments, however, the lesions were observed earlier.     

Monoamines in brain and urine of rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus

Summary Monoamine levels in brain and urine of homozygous and heterozygous diabetes insipidus (DI) rats (Brattleboro strain) were assessed. Homozygous DI rats had a higher whole brain content of serotonin than their heterozygous littermates. However, when corrected for differences in brain weight, homozygous DI also appeared to have higher brain concentrations of noradrenaline, tyrosine and GABA. The total 24 h excretion of all amines and their precursors was greater in the homozygous than in the heterozygous rats.The authors thankHerman Müller andIneke van de Veerdonk for their assistance with part of this study.     

Urinary kallikrein from normal and hypertensive rats

Résumé L'amoindrissement de l'activité kallikréinique urinaire chez les rats hypertendus (technique deGrollman ¹⁰) est due à une diminution de l'élimination de cet enzyme, puisque la cinétique enzymatique, l'action des inhibiteurs sur l'activité estérasique (sur BAEE) et oxytoxique est égale à celle trouvée chez la kallikréine urinaire des rats normaux.     

Diphasic action of the aliphatic amide,HOE 17879, on hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes in the mouse

Summary -Hydroxy--ethylbutyryl-diethylamide (HOE 17879) influences the hepatic microsomal drug hydroxylating enzyme system of mice in a two-phasic way: First it reduces the overall reaction of drug hydroxylation but not the single enzymes whilst in the second period it increases enzyme activities.Acknowledgments. The authors are indebted to their colleague, Dr.K. Schmitt, for making the substance HOE 17879 available. They wish to thank to Mr.Mayer, Mr.Paulusch Mrs.Fey, Mrs.Stein, and MissFehlings for their skilful assistance in the project.     

Pharmakologische Untersuchungen bei Thiaminmangel I. Änderungen des Katecholamingehalts im Gewebe

Summary (1) The increased tissue catecholamine level of the thiamine deficient rat was shown in the atrium, the ventricle, the brain cortex and in the spleen but not in the brain stem and the adrenal gland. (2) The increased response to tyramine of the thiamine deficient heart is most probably due to the high catecholamine level caused by thiamine deficiency. (3) The increased catecholamine content in the thiamine deficient rat does not result from the increased pyruvic acid.

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Herrn Professor Dr.F. Th. von Brücke zum 60. Geburtstag im Januar 1968 gewidmet.     

Expression of membrane and nuclear melatonin receptor mRNA and protein in the mouse immune system

The neurohormone melatonin plays a fundamental role in neuroimmunomodulation of several mammalian species, including mice. This effect is supported by the existence of specific melatonin-binding sites in murine immunocompetent organs. Moreover, using melatonin receptor analogues, several effects of the neurohormone on mice physiology through its membrane and nuclear receptors have been described. The expression of these receptors has never been studied, despite indirect evidence showing the presence of melatonin receptor in the murine immune system. At present, the MT₁ and MT₂ membrane receptors, and nuclear receptors belonging to the RZR/ROR family have been related to the immunomodulator effect of melatonin. Here, we show the presence of membrane and nuclear melatonin-binding sites in mouse thymus and spleen, using the specific melatonin membrane (S 20098) and nuclear (CGP 52608) receptor agonist. To confirm the presence of melatonin receptors, we analyzed the presence of membrane and nuclear receptor mRNA and protein by RT-PCR, Southern blot, and Western blot. Thus, we show that MT₁ and ROR receptor mRNA and protein are expressed in both thymus and spleen, while MT₂ receptor mRNA is only detected in the thymus. This expression of melatonin receptors strongly supports the idea of an immunomodulatory role of melatonin through its receptors.Received 2 June 2003; received after revision 6 August 2003; accepted 14 August 2003     

Oxygenation of a dipyrromethene model for bilirubin: Formation of a singlet oxygen-like product

Summary An oxodipyrromethene model compound for bilirubin is found to undergo oxidation to a blue tetrapyrrole and a water-propentdyopent on a silica gel thin layer chromatography plate. The reaction involves ground state oxygen and requires silica gel, although the propentdyopent is an expected product from reaction with singlet oxygen.The authors wish to thank the National Science Foundation for generous support of this work. We also thank Mr.Richard Gillespie and Ms.Elizabeth Irwin for running the high resolution mass spectra.