Density gradient centrifugation of tumor cells from needle biopsies and their respective source tumors: a comparison of density distributions

Summary A needle biopsy technique was applied to a murine fibrosarcoma (FSa) tumor system. FSa tumors of 8 mm diameter in size were biopsied and then made into single cell suspensions. Resulting density profiles of cells from both sources were compared following centrifugation in Renografin gradients. In all cases, there was excellent agreement between the density profiles of the material from each of the biopsies and the corresponding solid tumors.This investigation was supported by grant CA-18628, awarded by the National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services.     

Density gradient centrifugation of cells separated from multicellular tumor spheroids.

Cells from a murine fibrosarcome (FSa) have been grown in vitro as multicell tumor spheroids (MTS). The growth rate of these MTS was determined. Following selected periods of growth, MTS were made into a single cell suspension and separated on linear density gradients of Renografin. While only 1 population of cells were separated from small spheriods (400 mum diameter), at least 3 subpopulations of tumor cells were separated and isolated from large spheroids (800 mum in diameter).     

Density gradient centrifugation of cells separated from multicellular tumor spheroids

Summary Cells from a murine fibrosarcoma (FSa) have been grown in vitro as multicell tumor spheroids (MTS). The growth rate of these MTS was determined. Follwing selected periods of growth, MTS were made into a single cell suspension and separated on linear density gradients of Renografin. While only 1 population of cells was separated from small spheroids (400 m diameter), at least 3 subpopulations of tumor cells were separated and isolated from large spheroids (800 m in diameter).This investigation was supported in part by grants numbered CA-18628 and CA-06294, awarded by the National Cancer Institute, DHEW.     

Neocortical transplants in the rat brain: an ultrastructural study

Electron microscopic analysis of neocortical transplants in the cerebellum of the host animals showed that the nerve cells, glial cells, and neuropil of the transplants were normal. These transplants showed anatomical integration with the host brain through various regions of interface. Neuropil interfaces were found to have a high density of synaptic profiles, and medullary interfaces had a very small number of synaptic profiles.     

Neocortical transplants in the rat brain: an ultrastructural study

Summary Electron microscopic analysis of neocortical transplants in the cerebellum of the host animals showed that the nerve cells, glial cells, and neuropil of the transplants were normal. These transplants showed anatomical integration with the host brain through various regions of interface. Neuropil interfaces were found to have a high density of synaptic profiles, and medullary interfaces had a very small number of synaptic profiles.Acknowledgment. Research supported by Contract No. N00014-83 from the Office of Naval Research, Department of the Navy to E.N.A., and N.I.H. Research Grant No. NS-08817 to G.D. Das.     

Establishment and characterization of 3 human cell lines derived from intracerebral metastatic tumors]

Twelve human tumors were cultivated in vitro by the trypsinization technique and 3 cell lines were established. Each of these 3 lines showed individual characteristics which were maintained during passages. After inoculation into nude mice, 2 lines induced tumors which possessed the histologic features of the original human tumors (melanoma and carcinoma of stomach), the other line derived from a breast carcinoma was rejected.     

Different types of synaptic vesicles in axons of the retractor penis muscle of the bull

Summary Three types of axon profiles were observed in the smooth muscle of the retractor penis and the penile artery of the bull: 1. profiles containing small granular vesicles, presumably representing adrenergic axons; 2. profiles containing small agranular vesicles, presumably representing cholinergic axons; 3. profiles containing numerous large and small granular vesicles. The third type of profile was not found in the vas deferens or the metatarsal artery. It is therefore possible that this type of profile represents the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves, the presence of which has previously been pharmacologically indicated in these tissues.This study has been supported by grants from the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation (to O. E.), from the Medical Research Council of the Academy of Finland (to E. K.) and from the Magnus Bergvall Memorial Fund (to N. O. S.). Excellent technical assistance by Mrs.Paula Hasenson is gratefully acknowledged.     

Molecular characterization of common fragile sites as a strategy to discover cancer susceptibility genes

The cytogenetic hypothesis that common fragile sites (cFSs) are hotspots of cancer breakpoints is increasingly supported by recent data from whole-genome profiles of different cancers. cFSs are components of the normal chromosome structure that are particularly prone to breakage under conditions of replication stress. In recent years, cFSs have become of increasing interest in cancer research, as they not only appear to be frequent targets of genomic alterations in progressive tumors, but also already in precancerous lesions. Despite growing evidence of their importance in disease development, most cFSs have not been investigated at the molecular level and most cFS genes have not been identified. In this review, we summarize the current data on molecularly characterized cFSs, their genetic and epigenetic characteristics, and put emphasis on less-studied cFS genes as potential contributors to cancer development.     

Different types of synaptic vesicles in axons of the retractor penis muscle of the bull.

Three types of axon profiles were observed in the smooth muscle of the retractor penis and the penile artery of the bull: 1. profiles containing small granular vesicles, presumably representing adrenergic axons; 2. profiles containing small agranular vesicles, presumably representing cholinergic axons; 3. profiles containing numerous large and small granular vesicles. The third type of profile was not found in the vas deferens or the metatarsal artery. It is therefore possible that this type of profile represents the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic inhibitory nerves, the presence of which has previously been pharmacologically indicated in these tissues.     

CT诊断甲状腺肿块18例临床分析

目的探讨甲状腺肿块的CT诊断价值。方法回顾分析18例甲状腺肿块的CT特征,并与手术病理对照。结果CT诊断18例甲状腺肿块与手术病理符合率的情况：（1）结节性甲状腺肿7例,诊断符合率71％（5／7）;（2）甲状腺腺瘤8例,诊断符合率63％（5／8）;（3）甲状腺癌3例,诊断符合率67％（2／3）。结论CT对甲状腺肿块的诊断虽然有很大价值,但是部分甲状腺肿块CT表现无特征性,定位诊断准确,定性诊断困难。     

Inhibition of transplanted mouse tumors by heterologous transfer RNA

Summary Injections of yeast tRNA to C57BL mice decreased takes and inhibited growth of syngeneic transplanted tumors. Mice remaining free of tumors as result of this treatment failed to develop tumors after challenge with 5×10⁴ cells of the same tumor.This work was supported in part by a grant from the Stanley Johnson Foundation, Berne, Switzerland.     

Transcriptome profiling of lung schistosomula,in vitro cultured schistosomula and adult Schistosoma japonicum

The schistosomulum is the main target of vaccine-induced protective immunity; however, most studies have utilized schistosomula produced by mechanical transformation of infective larvae followed by in vitro culture rather than larvae isolated directly from the lungs of infected mammals. Using transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrated that there was little difference in the ultrastructure of Schistosoma japonicum schistosomula obtained by the two methods. However, significant differences in gene expression profiles were apparent when we used an oligonucleotide microarray to compare the gene expression profiles of schistosomula obtained in vivo from lung tissue with those maintained in vitro, and with adult worms of S. japonicum. It is likely that host environmental factors, which cannot be reliably reproduced in vitro, do influence the growth, development and overall biology of schistosomes. Thus caution is urged when using in vitro-cultured schistosomes and mechanically transformed/cultured schistosomula in molecular, biochemical and immunological studies.     

Phenotypic expression of colon polymorphic antigens (WZ) in human colon adenocarcinomas]

Human colon adenocarcinomas from 52 patients were investigated for the presence of the colon polymorphic antigens WZ. The patients were typed for their WZ phenotype, using the immunofluorescence method on non tumoral colon mucosa sections: 27 patients were found W+ Z+, 18 W- Z+, and 7 W- Z-. The tumors were tested for the presence of the WZ phenotypes, using the immunofluorescence method and a radio-immunoassay. The WZ phenotypes were not expressed in the non secreting tumors, whatever the patient's phenotype. They were expressed in the secreting tumors and had the same phenotype as found in the corresponding normal mucosa. The WZ phenotypes were present in human developed into "nude" Mice inoculated either with differentiated colon carcinomas, or with a human colon carcinoma cell line (HT-29).     

Tumorigenic activity of cloned polyoma virus DNA in newborn rats

Summary The proximal portion of the polyoma virus early region as well as the complete viral genome were cloned in pBR322. Recombinant plasmids induced tumors in newborn rats but only after linearization of the DNA by various restriction endonucleases.This work was financed by grant MA-6731 from the Medical Research Council and by a grant from the National Cancer Institute of Canada.     

Trials of mixed grafts of 5 cell lines from human brain tumors in athymic nude mice]

Five established lines derived from human brain tumors were mixed in pairs and injected into athymic nude Mice. The observation of mixed tumors and patterns of rejection obtained after inoculation enabled us to classify these five lines according to their aggressiveness in a heterologous host. In addition, the SA 52 line induced an inhibitory effect on graft growth (or a facilitation of rejection).     

Interstrain variation of murine arylsulfatase C.

A method has been developed for the assay of arylsulfatase C in tissue extracts containing arylsulfatases A and B. Significant variation of enzyme activity was observed among 26 inbred murine strains. Activity differences were apparent at all stages evaluated between 1 and 70 days postnatal age. Arylsulfatase C from representative high- and low-activity strains exhibited similar Michaelis constants, temperature optima, pH optima, thermostabilities and inhibitor profiles.     

Tumor incidence in Visna virus inoculated mice.

Mice (female Swiss albino) inoculated when newborn with Visna virus had tumors in 77% of cases when examined 8-12 months later. The tumors were mainly of the mammary carcinoma type. The tumor incidence in non-infected control animals was only 20%. In contrast, no increased incidence of tumors was observed among Visna virus-inoculated inbred mice (BALB/c, CBA and DBA) with low incidence of spontaneous mammary carcinoma.     

Interstrain variation of murine arylsulfatase C

Summary A method has been developed for the assay of arylsulfatase C in tissue extracts containing arylsulfatases A and B. Significant variation of enzyme activity was observed among 26 inbred murine strains. Activity differences were apparent at all stages evaluated between 1 and 70 days postnatal age. Arylsulfatase C from representative high- and low-activity strains exhibited similar Michaelis constants, temperature optima, pH optima, thermostabilities and inhibitor profiles.This work was supported in part by Biomedical Sciences Support Grant: HEW PHS RR 07030.     

Tumorigenic effect of topical mechlorethamine,BCNU and CCNU in mice

Summary Mice were painted with mechlorethamine (HN2), carmustine (BCNU) and lomustine (CCNU) for up to 33 weeks. HN2 was a potent carcinogen, producing squamous cell carcinomas in 9 of 33 mice in 1 series. BCNU was a weak carcinogen. CCNU produced no tumors in 1 series.Supported in part by PHS grant CA-14825 from the National Cancer Institute.