Loss of antibody production accompanied by chromosome loss in a cloned hybrid line secreting antibodies to sheep red blood cells

Summary Somatic cell hybrids between Sp2/O-Ag14 mouse myeloma cells and lymphocytes derived from BALB/c mice hyperimmunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were produced. One hybrid producing IgG₁ antibody to SRBC was selected, cloned twice and subsequently transferred to BALB/c mice. After a number of transfers it was found that the antibody titer in ascitec fluid gradually decreased. Cytogenetic analysis revealed gradual chromosome loss in the hybrid clone, which produced progressively less antibody.     

Endorcine cells producing regulatory peptides

Summary Recent data on the immunologication of regulatory peptides and related propeptide sequences in endocrine cells and tumours of the gastrointestinal tract pancreas, lung, thyroid, pituitary (ACTH and opioids), adrenals and paraganglia have been revised and discussed. Gastrin, xenopsin, cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin, motilin, secretin, GIP (gastric inhibitory beenrevised and discussed. Gastrin, xenopsin, cholecystokinin (CCK), somatostatin, motilin, secretin, GIP (gastric inhibitory polypeptide), neurotensin, glicentin/glucagon-37 and PYY (peptide tyrosine tyrosine) are the main products of gastrointestinal endocrine cells; glucagon, CRF (corticotropin releasing factor), somatostatin, PP (pancreatic polypeptide) and GRF (growth hormone releasing factor), in addition to insulin, are produced in pancreatic islet cells; bombesin-related peptidesare the main markers of pulmonary endocrine cells; calcitonin and CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) occur in thyroid and extrathyroid C cells; ACTH and endorphins in anterior and intermediate lobe pituitary cells, -MSH and CLIP (corticotropoin-like intermediate lobe peptide) in intermediate lobe cells; met- and leu-enkephalins and related peptides in adrenal medullary and paraganglionic cells as well as in some gut (enterochromaffin) cells; NPY (neuropeptide Y) in adrenalin-type adrenal medullary cells, etc.. Both tissue-appropriate and tissue-inappropriate regulatory peptides are produced by endocrine tumours, with inappropriate peptides mostly produced by malignant tumours.     

An enzyme immunoassay for mouse epidermal growth factor utilizing a liquid phase double-antibody system

Summary An enzyme immunoassay for mouse epidermal growth factor (EGF) involving a liquid phase double-antibody system was developed. The EGF--galactosidase conjugate prepared was stable for at least 8 months. By this method, EGF was detectable at a concentration as low as 20 pg per tube. The concentrations of EGF in various tissues of mice are also presented.This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.     

Pharmacological versus binding analysis of receptor systems: How do they interplay? Myometrial cell receptors for oxytocin as a paradigm

Summary Binding studies in various biological systems frequently indicate the presence of several binding sites for a biologically active ligand. They differ in their affinity for the ligand in question, binding capacity, and Hill coefficient, which suggests differences in the mechanisms of the binding site-ligand interactions. Identification of the true receptors (sites initiating a cellular response) appears to be difficult. Three clusters of binding sites for oxytocin were found on rat myometrial cells. The oxytocin receptor seems to be linked to the medium-affinity site; the cooperation between the high-and medium-affinity sites in eliciting the uterotonic response seems likely, but lacks experimental proof. Dose-response analysis in partially irreversibly inhibited uterus preparations, the method of equipotent doses (Furchgott-Bursztyn method), and structure-activity analysis of oxytocin-like peptides acting as competitive inhibitors of oxytocin, turned out to be suitable for pharmacological analysis of this receptor system.     

Bovine microvascular endothelial cells of separate morphology differ in growth and response to the action of interferon-γ

Five cell types recently isolated from the bovine corpus luteum differed in their epithelioid morphology and their cytoskeleton, but shared common criteria of microvascular endothelial cells^1,2. To give strong evidence for the separate entity, the growth rate of the 5 phenotypically different cells was studied. They were seeded at low density on day 0. Most of these cells were treated with 200 to 1000 U recombinant bovine interferon- (IFN-) for 3 days. The untreated remainder served as controls. Cell counts were made for all cultures on days 4, 7, 10 and 13. morphology: 13 d after treatment with IFN- senescent cells as well as intact cells occurred in cultures of cell types 1 to 4. Cultures of cell type 5 were apparently unchanged and resembled their untreated counterparts. Desminpositive cells in cultures of cell type 2 developed cell processes. Growth rate: In the absence of IFN-, the growth rate was high for cell types 3 and 4, moderate for cell type 1, and low for cell types 2 and 5. The presence of IFN- caused anti-proliferative effects. These were higher for cell types 3 and 4 than for cell types 1 and 2. IFN- could be cytotoxic on cell type 3. In contrast, the cytokine tended to support the cell growth of cell type 5. These findings substantiate the postulate that endothelial cells exhibiting separate morphology in culture also function differently.     

野生和人工养殖暗纹东方鲀不同组织中河豚毒素(TTX)含量的初步研究

采用小鼠生物检测法测定了野生和人工养殖暗纹东方不同组织中河豚毒素（ＴＴＸ）的含量．野生暗纹东方不同组织中ＴＴＸ含量由高到低依次是：卵巢、肝脏、胃肠、肾脏,肌肉毒性最小;而人工养殖暗纹东方不同组织中ＴＴＸ含量都极低,几乎无毒．结果表明,用人工养殖方法可以培育出低毒或无毒河豚,在一定程度上支持了河豚毒素的微生物起源学说．     

脆江蓠营养细胞超微结构的研究

脆江蓠营养细胞超微结构观察结果表明：营养细胞每一色素体内含有一条围周类囊体、４～１０条平行类囊体和一些质体小球．平行类囊体数目与细胞所处的部位有关．内质网呈环形片层结构．同心圆膜状体具有１或２个核心．色素体在末端进行分裂,分裂时平行类囊体数目增多．幼色素体被膜直接内陷形成平行类囊体．以后发育出围周类囊．     

螺旋藻藻蓝蛋白和藻多糖对人体外周血淋巴细胞功能的影响

从螺旋藻中提取藻蓝蛋白（ＳＰＣ）和多糖（ＳＰＳ）,研究其对人体外周血淋巴细胞功能的影响。实验结果表明,ＳＰＣ和ＳＰＳ能够促进ＰＨＡ刺激淋巴细胞转化的作用,其中ＳＰＳ的促进作用有剂量依存关系。ＳＰＣ和ＳＰＳ能恢复Ｔ细胞受环磷酰胺损伤后Ｅ玫瑰花环形成能力,特别是对活性Ｅ花环（Ｅａ）的形成能力有较好的恢复作用。     

褪黑素对持续光照小鼠学习记忆能力的影响

运用Ｙ－迷宫检测小鼠的分辨学习和记忆能力,观察了年龄,每天２４小时连续１个月的持续光照和每日定时注射褪黑素对小鼠分辨学习和记忆能力的影响。结果表明,成年小鼠与青年小鼠相经学习和记忆能力下降;持续光照可引起小鼠学习记忆能力出现不同程度的下降;实验结果提示,褪黑素在维持学习记忆能力中具有重要作用。     

2-Carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide,a synthetic organogermanium compound,as an inducer of contrasuppressor T cells

2-Carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide (Ge-132), a synthesized organogermanium compound with immunomodulaing activities, was shown to be an inducer of anti-suppressor T cells in normal mice. The suppressor cell activity of T6S cells, a clone of burn-induced CD8⁺ IL-4-producing suppressor T cells, was clearly inhibited when a mixed lymphocyte-tumor cell reaction of the clone was conducted with splenic mononuclear cells from mice treated orally with a 100 mg/kg dose of Ge-132. The activity of anti-suppressor cells was demonstrated in spleens of mice 2 days after treatment with Ge-132 and reached its peak on day 3. The anti-suppressor cells induced by the compound were of a contrasuppressor T cell-linage, because they were characterized as CD4⁺ CD28⁺ TCR/⁺ Vicia villosa lectin-adherent T cells. These cells produced IFN- but did not produce IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 or IL-10 in their culture fluids. CD4⁺ anti-suppressor T cells induced by Ge-132 may be different from other subsets of CD4⁺ T cells because Th1 and Th2 cells generated in our laboratory did not adhere toVicia villosa lectin-coated petri dishes, and each produced specific cytokines. Th1 cells produced IFN- and IL-2 while Th2 cells produce IL-4 and IL-10 in vitro. These results suggest that Ge-132 may be useful as an inducer of contrasuppressor T cells in immunocompromised individuals bearing suppressor T cells. To eliminate suppressor T cells from immunocompromised hosts may result in improved resistance from various opportunistic infections.