Molecular evidence for increased hematopoietic proliferation in the spleen of the b/b laboratory rat

The splenomegaly and the appearance of a significant number of CFU-E (erythroid colony-forming units) and BFU-E¹ (erythroid burst-forming units) in the Belgrade laboratory rat (b/b) spleen prompted us to analyse further the molecular evidence for increased hematopoietic proliferation in the b/b spleen. Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) specific for globins, proteins for iron transport and deposition and the band 3 protein were used in rat erythropoietic tissues as markers for proliferation and erythroid differentiation. In the b/b spleen, all mRNAs analysed display an erythroid-specific pattern of expression. This analysis also revealed an enhanced level of mRNA for ferritin in the +/b spleen, whereas erythrocyte-specific mRNA production was normal.     

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.     

Hepatic glucose signals vagally modulate the cyclicity of gastric motility in rats

The cyclicity and intensity of gastric motlity were examined following glucose injection into the portal vein with an intragastric balloon in anesthetized rats. Enhanced gastric motility caused by insulin administration was influenced by 4 mM glucose (25 l) injected into the portal vein; glucose provoked a shift in the cyclicity power spectrum without any change in intensity. The peak power spectrum shifted from 4.0–5.0 cpm to 2.0–3.0 cpm. Hepatic branch vagotomy abolished the response.The results suggest that glucose signals in the hepatic vagal branch modulate the cyclicity of gastric motiligy.     

Cyclophosphamide-impaired regulation of hepatic heme metabolism

Summary Im male rats hepatic cytochromes b₅ and P-450 were reduced at different times after treatment with cyclophosphamide (CP) (200 mg/kg i.p. for 3 days). In contrast, microsomal heme did not change until 48 h after the last dose of CP, leading to accumulation of heme in a non-cytochromal form. Parallel to the above changes the heme metabolism showed derangement: -aminolaevulinate synthase, the rate-limiting enzyme in heme synthesis, was depressed and heme oxygenase, the enzyme which catalyzes the oxidative degradation of heme, was increased.     

‘Chloride-cell’ — like mitochondria-rich cells of salamander larva gill epithelium

Summary Two types of mitochondria-rich cells (MRC) are described ultrastructurally in the gill epithelium of salamander larva. They resemble MRC found in larval ventral epidermis. Histochemical localization of carbonic anhydrase indicated numerous positive reacting cells, most of them flask-shaped. Morphological and functional similarities to fish chloride cells are discussed.     

中药柴胡提取物对人肝癌细胞BEL-7402细胞内VCR蓄积的影响

目的　测定中药柴胡(BupleurunChineseDC,BCDC)提取物对人肝癌细胞BEL 7402细胞内VCR蓄积的影响,以探索柴胡逆转BEL 7402细胞多药耐药的机制.方法　高效液相色谱法测定BCDC作用于BEL 7402后细胞内VCR蓄积情况的变化.结果　柴胡可使人肝癌细胞BEL 7402细胞内VCR浓度升高(P<0.01).结论　柴胡可以增加VCR在BEL 7402细胞内的积聚浓度,部分逆转BEL 7402细胞的MDR.     

龟鳖类血细胞研究的进展

文章概述了龟鳖类血细胞——红细胞、有粒细胞(包括嗜酸性粒细胞、嗜喊性粒细胞、嗜天青粒细胞和嗜中性粒细胞)、淋巴细胞、单核细胞、血栓细胞的特性,显微和超微结构特点,血细胞发生及功能等方面的研究进展.     

铝电解槽焙烧用矩形高速燃烧器的研制

铝电解槽的焙烧对槽的正常生产和以后的槽寿命有着直接影响，燃料焙烧法具有加热均匀、升温速度容易控制、对扎缝和边部扎固糊的焙烧充分等优点，是一种非常有前途的新焙烧方法。而燃烧器的设计是燃料焙烧法的关键技术之一，在实验的基础上开发出一种矩形高速燃烧器，并对该燃烧器的结构进行了优化，研制的矩形顺具有点火容易、燃烧稳定、负荷调节比大燃烧完全度高、噪音低等特点，能完全满足铝电解槽燃料焙烧方法的要求，它的研制成功为铝电解槽焙烧新技术的应用提供了技术保证。     

Inhibitory effect of the adenovirus type 5 E1A protein expressed in the yeast system

The human adenovirus type 5 E1A, a tumor- suppressor gene[1], codes for two major related proteins of 243 amino acids (12S) and 289 amino acids (13S) by al-ternative splicing in two exons[2]. Studies have been shown that E1A can regulate expression of many genes and cell cycle[3]. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that E1A could induce tumor cells differentia-tion, convert tumor cells into an epithelial phenotype, in-hibit tumor cell growth and metastasis and strongly en-ha…