Hedgehog/Wnt feedback supports regenerative proliferation of epithelial stem cells in bladder

Epithelial integrity in metazoan organs is maintained through the regulated proliferation and differentiation of organ-specific stem and progenitor cells. Although the epithelia of organs such as the intestine regenerate constantly and thus remain continuously proliferative, other organs, such as the mammalian urinary bladder, shift from near-quiescence to a highly proliferative state in response to epithelial injury. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this injury-induced mode of regenerative response are poorly defined. Here we show in mice that the proliferative response to bacterial infection or chemical injury within the bladder is regulated by signal feedback between basal cells of the urothelium and the stromal cells that underlie them. We demonstrate that these basal cells include stem cells capable of regenerating all cell types within the urothelium, and are marked by expression of the secreted protein signal Sonic hedgehog (Shh). On injury, Shh expression in these basal cells increases and elicits increased stromal expression of Wnt protein signals, which in turn stimulate the proliferation of both urothelial and stromal cells. The heightened activity of this signal feedback circuit and the associated increase in cell proliferation appear to be required for restoration of urothelial function and, in the case of bacterial injury, may help clear and prevent further spread of infection. Our findings provide a conceptual framework for injury-induced epithelial regeneration in endodermal organs, and may provide a basis for understanding the roles of signalling pathways in cancer growth and metastasis.     

Effects of precocene II and juvenile hormone III on the activity of neurosecretory A-cells inOncopeltus fasciatus

Summary Application of precocene II, topically or by contact method, appears to inhibit the synthetic activity of neurosecretory A-cells of the pars intercerebralis ofOncopeltus fasciatus. Treatment of precocene-treated insects with JH III apparently stimulates the secretory activity of these cells.Supported by National Research Council of Canada grant No. A4669.We thank Dr G. B. Staal, Zoecon Corporation, Palo Alto, California, for the gift of precocene II.     

A crystalline molybdophosphoric complex of folic acid

Résumé Un nouveau produit crystallin de l'acide folique avec l'acide molybdophosphorique est décrit. Ce produit a été soumis aux examens microscopique, électrophorétique et analyse élémentaire. Ce produit provoque une leucopénie chez les rats albines, ce qui indique une ressemblance probable aux antidotes de l'acide folique. D'autre part, l'observation a montré que ce produit a un effet inhibitif sur la croissance desStreptococcus faecalis R. dans des cultures renfermant de l'acide folique à des degrés différents.     

Size tuning and oxygen plasma induced pore formation on silica nanoparticles

Silica nanoparticles have been prepared from tetraethylorthosilicate dissolved in ethanol followed by base-catalyzed condensation.Earlier works reported that at least four parameters,namely concentrati...     

The effect of some common fixatives on the enzymatic activity of ribonuclease

Résumé On a étudié l'effet de divers fixateurs histologiques sur l'activité de la ribonucléase et discuté la signification des résultats pour le travail cytologique.