High sensitivity of thymocytes of LEC strain rats to induction of apoptosis by X-irradiation

It is known that physical disruption of cell contacts induces apoptosis of thymocytes. When thymocytes from LEC and WKAH rats were incubated in vitro at 37 degrees C for 0-6 hr and then the proportion of apoptotic cells was determined using a flow cytometer, it was found that the percentages of apoptotic thymocytes from both LEC and WKAH rats increased with incubation time and that the proportion of apoptotic cells from LEC rats was significantly higher than that from WKAH rats at each incubation time. The fact that cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, did not show significant inhibitory effects on induction of apoptosis of thymocytes indicates that induction of apoptosis during in vitro cultivation did not require de novo protein synthesis. When thymocytes from LEC and WKAH rats were X-irradiated in vitro at 4 and 8 Gy, the percentages of radiation-induced apoptotic cells increased with post-incubation time after X-irradiation in both LEC and WKAH rat thymocytes and the proportions of apoptotic cells from LEC rats were significantly higher than those from WKAH rat cells at 2 and 4 hr post-incubation after X-irradiation. When thymocytes from LEC and WKAH rats were X-irradiated in the presence of cycloheximide, the induction of apoptosis was substantially inhibited, indicating that radiation-induced apoptosis of thymocytes from LEC and WKAH rats required de novo protein synthesis. The present results showed high sensitivities of thymocytes of LEC rats to induction of apoptosis during in vitro cultivation and by X-irradiation.     

Higher sensitivity in induction of apoptosis in fibroblast cell lines derived from LEC strain rats to ultraviolet B radiation

When lung fibroblast cell lines from LEC and WKAH rats were irradiated with ultraviolet B (UVB) and assayed for colony formation, LEC rat cells showed a higher sensitivity than did WKAH rat cells. The LEC rat cells were approximately 1.5-fold more sensitive to UVB radiation than were the WKAH rat cells in terms of D37 values, which are the doses of UVB required to reduce cell survival to 37%. When the rat cells were irradiated with UVB in the presence of 0.5 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which efficiently scavenges free radicals such as hydroxyl radicals, no significant difference was observed between the survival curves of either LEC or WKAH rat cells irradiated with UVB in the presence of 0.5 M DMSO and those irradiated with UVB in the absence of DMSO. Therefore, formation of free radicals may not be involved in cell death induced by UVB radiation. Flow cytometry showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells in the LEC rat cell population increased with post-incubation time after UVB radiation. The proportion of apoptotic cells in the UVB-irradiated LEC rat cell population increased as the dose of UVB was increased. In contrast, no significant proportion of apoptotic cells was observed in the UVB-irradiated WKAH rat cell population. These results showed a higher sensitivity in induction of apoptosis by UVB radiation in LEC rat cells than in WKAH rat cells.     

Inhibition of replication induces non-apoptotic cell death in fibroblast cell lines derived from LEC rats

Hydroxyurea (HU), an anticancer drug, inhibits ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase and reduces pool sizes of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP). The reduction of dNTP results in inhibition of DNA replication. The cytotoxic effect of HU was investigated using fibroblast cell lines from LEC rats. LEC rat cells showed significantly higher sensitivity to HU than did cell lines from control WKAH rats. No significant differences were observed between the percentages of apoptotic cells in either LEC or WKAH rat cells that had been treated with HU and those that had not been treated with HU. LEC rat cells also showed significantly higher sensitivity to aphidicolin, which blocks DNA synthesis by inhibiting DNA polymerase alpha, than did WKAH rat cells. In both LEC and WKAH rat cells, intensified bands of p53 protein were observed immediately after treatment with HU. Although the high level of p53 protein persisted in WKAH rat cells until 6 hr post-incubation time after treatment with HU, the level of p53 protein had decreased at 6 hr post-incubation time in LEC rat cells. When the cells were X-irradiated in the absence or presence of HU, the ratio of the surviving fraction without HU to that with HU only slightly increased after X-irradiation in WKAH rat cells. In contrast, the ratio in LEC rat cells significantly increased after X-irradiation in a dose-dependent manner.     

High sensitivity of fibroblast cell lines derived from LEC rats to heat treatment

A fibroblast cell line derived from LEC rat was approximately twofold more sensitive to heat treatment at 45 degrees C than were that from WKAH rat in terms of heating time required to attain 50% loss of survival in a colony forming assay. The present study was carried out for understanding the mechanism underlying the higher sensitivity of LEC rat cells to heat treatment. Although apoptosis was not found in WKAH rat cells, the percentages of apoptotic cells in LEC rat cells significantly increased after heat treatment. LEC rat cells showed significantly lower sensitivity in induction of cell death and apoptosis to ceramide, a lipid signaling molecule that is associated with heat-induced apoptosis, than did WKAH rat cells. SP600125, an inhibitor of JNK suppressed the induction of cell death in both heated LEC and WKAH rat cells, but SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 mapk, did not. The relative surviving fractions of heated LEC and WKAH rat cells in the presence of both SB203580 and SP600125 were higher than those of cells in the presence of SP600125 alone. The amounts of hsp70 protein in WKAH rat cells increased from 4 to 12 hr after heat treatment, but did not in LEC rat cells. These results suggest that higher thermosensitivity in the fibroblast cell line from LEC rat is due to low inducibility of hsp70 protein after heat treatment.     

Abnormal accumulation of G2/M-phase cells from LEC strain rats after X-irradiation at S phase.

The effect of X-irradiation on the progression of the cell cycle in cell lines from LEC and WKAH rats was investigated by a flow cytometer. When the cells were exposed to 5 Gy of X-rays at S phase, the proportion of S-phase cells in both cell populations decreased with incubation time and that of G2/M-phase cells was approximately 80% at 6 hr post-irradiation. At 12 hr post-irradiation, approximately 45% of the WKAH rat cells appeared in the G1 phase. However, 80-90% of LEC rat cells remained in the G2/M phase and less than 5% in the G1 phase during 6-12 hr post-irradiation. Thus, the LEC rat cells irradiated at S phase remained in the G2/M phase for at least 6 hr longer than did the WKAH rat cells.     

No significant differences were observed in the amounts of DNA strand breaks produced by copper between male and female liver cells of long-evans cinnamon (LEC) strain rats.

The amounts of DNA single strand breaks that are oxidative damage produced by copper were examined by comet assay in the liver cells of an inbred strain of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats that spontaneously develops fulminant hepatitis. At 4 weeks of age, copper contents in the liver of LEC rats were approximately 30-fold higher than those of WKAH rats that are control rats used in the present study. Copper accumulated in the liver of LEC rats in an age-dependent manner and no significant differences were observed between copper contents in the livers of males and females at each week of age from 4 to 15 weeks. No significant amounts of DNA strand breaks were found in the liver cells of both male and female WKAH rats from 4 to 15 weeks of age. DNA strand breaks were produced in the substantial population of LEC rat liver cells at 10 weeks of age and induced in an age-dependent manner from 10 to 15 weeks of age. The amounts of DNA strand breaks produced by copper accumulation in the liver cells of female LEC rats are not more abundant than those in the cells of male rats, although it has been reported that hepatitis in female rats is more serious than that in male rats.     

Radiofrequency radiation at 40 kHz induces hepatic injury in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, an animal model for human Wilson disease

In the present study, we examined effects of radiofrequency (RF) radiation at 40 kHz on hepatic injury in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, an animal model for human Wilson disease, which is a heritable disease of copper metabolism in the liver. The activities of ALT and AST in serum of LEC rats exposed to RF radiation for 2 weeks were approximately 3.8-fold and 2-fold higher than those in serum of sham-exposed rats, respectively. Although there were no significant differences in hepatic copper contents between LEC rats exposed to RF radiation for 2 weeks and sham-exposed rats, copper contents in the kidney and serum of exposed LEC rats were approximately 4.2-fold and 12.9-fold higher than those in sham-exposed rats, respectively. Relative O??-scavenging activities in the S-100 fraction of the liver of LEC rats exposed to RF radiation for 2 weeks were 1.6-fold higher than those in sham-exposed rats. No significant differences were observed in activities of AST and ALT in serum and relative O??-scavenging activity in the S-100 fraction of the liver of normal control WKAH rats that were sham-exposed and exposed to RF radiation. No significant differences were observed in copper contents in the liver, kidney and serum of WKAH rats that were sham-exposed and exposed to RF radiation for 2 weeks. The results show that RF radiation at 40 kHz induced hepatic injury in LEC rats.     

Analysis of the cell cycle of fibroblasts derived from the LEC rat after X-irradiation

The LEC rat is reported to exhibit hypersensitivity to X-irradiation, deficiency in DNA double-strand break repair, and radio-resistant DNA synthesis. This character of the LEC rat has been thought to be due to abnormal G1 arrest in cells after X-irradiation. In this report, we re-investigated the effect of X-irradiation on the cell cycle in primary-cultured fibroblasts. Primary-cultured fibroblasts derived from LEC and BN rats were exposed to 4 Gy of X-ray and their cell cycle analysis was performed with a flow cytometer. Fibroblasts derived from both rats showed normal response of the cell cycle, indicating the arrest at both G1--and G2/M-phase and no difference in the cell cycle population between fibroblasts derived from both rats. In contrast, when the same analysis was performed using the cell line, L7 and W8, which had been established from the lung fibroblasts of LEC and control WKAH rats, respectively, by immortalizing with SV40 T-antigen, L7 cells but not W8 cells showed impaired G1 arrest and abnormal cell cycle. These results suggest that fibroblasts derived from LEC rats possess the normal cell cycle response after X-irradiation, if they are kept naive as not immortalized with SV40 T-antigen.     

Wortmannin, a radiation sensitizer, enhances the radiosensitivity of WKAH rat cells but not that of LEC rat cells

No significant cytotoxic effect was observed in WKAH rat cells by the treatment of wortmannin, a radiation sensitizer, at concentrations lower than 30 microM for 24 hr. The relative surviving fractions of LEC rat cells were slightly, but significantly, lower than those of WKAH rat cells at each concentration of wortmannin. When the wortmannin-treated WKAH rat cells were X-irradiated, the relative surviving fractions decreased in a wortmannin concentration-dependent manner. On the contrary, no significant difference was observed between the survival curves of untreated and wortmannin-treated LEC rat cells after X-irradiation.     

Identification of a locus for susceptibility to renal cell carcinoma in the Long-Evans Cinnamon rat

The Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) mutant rat shows higher incidence of renal cell carcinomas induced by a treatment with the chemical carcinogen N-diethylnitrosamine, as compared to the normal control rat. We performed the first genome-wide scan for genes responsible for susceptibility to chemically induced renal cell carcinoma in an F2 intercross obtained by mating the LEC and Fischer-344 (F344) rats. The genotype of 71 (F344 x LEC) F2 progenies was determined with the use of 338 simple sequence length polymorphisms (SSLPs) spread over the genome. The F2 rats which carried renal cell carcinoma were shown to possess the incidence of homozygosity of the LEC allele which is higher than that of the other genotypes at SSLP markers on chromosome 5 (chi2 = 17.5 for D5Rat21). Our linkage analysis has led to the revelation of a novel gene that influences susceptibility to renal cell carcinoma on rat chromosome 5.     

The effect of gamma irradiation on the strain W of Tetrahymena pyriformis]

It the present study the effects of gamma-radiation at doses of 102.1 Gy-1,633.4 Gy were investigated as exerted on the protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis W strain. An investigation of lethality showed that all irradiated cells survived after the doses of 102.1 Gy and 204.2 Gy, When the doses of 408.4 and 816.7 Gy were applied, 60.6% and 8.8%, resp., of irradiated cells survived. Not a cell survived the dose of 1,633.4 Gy. The effects of gamma-radiation on the generation time of Tetrahymena pyriformis are shown in Tab. II. A markedly longer generation time than in the control was observed if the radiation doses made 408.4 and 816.7 Gy. There were no significant changes there when the effects of irradiated incubation media on the growth of nonirradiated cells of the W strain of Tetrahymena pyriformis were investigated. The results confirmed the relatively high radioresistance of the Tetrahymena protozoon with respect to gamma-radiation; this protozoan is a suitable biological model for a study of the effects of various kinds of ionizing radiation at the level of both cell and population.     

Radiotherapy of soft tissue sarcomas in dogs

Megavoltage radiotherapy was administered to 42 dogs with soft tissue sarcoma. Acceptable local control of these aggressive tumors was achieved after one year of treatment. Control rates of 48 and 67% were obtained at doses of 45 and 50 gray (Gy), respectively. At 2 years, control rates decreased to 33% at the dose of 50 Gy. Serious complications developed in 4 of 42 dogs at doses of 40 to 50 Gy. The estimated dose with a 50% probability for causing serious complications was 54 Gy, given in 10 fractions. We believe that the large doses per fraction used in this study probably led to an increased probability for necrosis. Hemangiopericytomas seemed to be more responsive than fibrosarcomas. Only 2 of 11 recurrent tumors were controlled with surgery. Good local control was achieved with radiation alone for one year at doses with a low probability for serious complications; however, higher total radiation doses or combined modalities, such as surgery and radiation or radiation and hyperthermia, may be needed for longer-term control.     

Restriction fragment length polymorphism for the Yc subunit gene of rat liver glutathione S-transferase

An altered expression of the Yc subunit gene of rat glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the liver of the LEC rat, which is a mutant strain with spontaneous hereditary hepatitis associated with severe jaundice, has been reported. To provide further information concerning the structure of the Yc subunit gene, we carried out the Southern blot hybridization analysis of DNA samples from rats of eight different inbred strains including LEC with cDNA complementary to mRNA specific for the Yc subunit of rat liver GST as a probe. The hybridization patterns of the DNA samples from rats belonging to the different inbred strains showed interstrain variation in the length of restriction fragments with four restriction endonucleases. Since the DNA samples prepared from several rats of one inbred strain gave an identical hybridization pattern, the restriction fragment patterns for the Yc gene could be used as markers for genetic monitoring of inbred rat strains. Although the altered expression of Yc-Yc activity of GST has been observed in the liver of the LEC rat, the characteristic changes in the gene structure of the Yc subunit of LEC rat were not detected in the present hybridization analysis.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫早熟株免疫剂量研究

为了确定柔嫩艾美耳球虫（Eimenatenella）早熟株合适的免疫剂量,本文设立7个早熟株免疫攻虫组、1个不免疫攻虫组和1个不免疫不攻虫组,免疫组的免疫剂量为孢子化卵囊100、200、400、600、800、1000和2000个／羽,经嗉囊感染,7日龄首次免疫,14日龄以同等剂量进行第二次免疫,21日龄以8×10^4个／羽的同源母株进行攻虫,28日龄结束试验,以存活率、增重、肠道病变记分、血便数量、卵囊减少率为观测指标。对免疫保护效果较好的3个免疫剂量进行重复试验,同时设置商品化球虫疫苗对照组,免疫方法、试验周期、试验指标同第一批试验。结果显示：攻虫后,不免疫攻虫组出现5％死亡,而各免疫组来出现死亡;各免疫组卵囊减少率在61．57％～69．52％;200～2000免疫组的增重与不免疫不攻虫组差异不具备显著统计学意义（P〉0．05）;600～2000免疫组的肠道病变记分和血便数量均明显少于不免疫攻虫组（P〈0．05）。用600、800和1000进行重复试验,三个免疫组攻虫期间均来出现死亡,而不免疫组和疫苗对照组均出现5％死亡;三个免疫组的增重均明显高于不免疫攻虫组和疫苗对照组（P〈0．05）;早熟株免疫组的肠道病变记分和血便数量明显低于不免疫攻虫组（P〈0．05）,而疫苗对照组与不免疫攻虫组的相当（P〉0．05）;卵囊减少率在66.30％-78．75％,高于疫苗对照组的51．82％。结果表明,该柔嫩艾美耳球虫早熟株保持了良好的免疫原性,不同免疫剂量均能诱发鸡产生免疫保护力,其中600、800和1000个／羽的免疫效果均优于疫苗对照组,可考虑以600个／羽作为该早熟株在疫苗制备中的推荐免疫剂量。     

High susceptibility to zymbal gland and intestinal carcinogenesis in diabetic Otsuka long-evans Tokushima Fatty rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity are believed to be risk factors for colorectal cancer in humans. In experiment 1, male nondiabetic Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats and Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a model animal of type 2 DM, were whole-body X-irradiated (4 Gy) at 6 and 8 weeks of age and euthanized at 78 weeks of age (n=15, respectively). The incidences of small intestine adenocarcinoma in LETO and OLETF rats were 0% and 30%, respectively. In experiment 2, male LETO and OLETF rats (n=24, respectively) were given s.c. injections of 15 mg/kg azoxymethane (AOM) once weekly for 3 weeks and euthanized at 36 weeks of age. The incidences of Zymbal gland tumors in LETO and OLETF rats were 0% and 67%, respectively (P<0.001), whereas those of small intestine adenocarcinoma were 0% and 43% (P<0.001) and those of cecum/colon adenocarcinoma were 46% and 79% (P<0.05), respectively. Fatty change of hepatocytes was common in OLETF rats (63%) but not in LETO rats. Serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels in OLETF rats were significantly higher than in LETO rats at sacrifice, whereas serum insulin levels in OLETF rats were very diverse. These data suggest that hyperlipidemia plays a significant role in high susceptibility to lower intestinal tract carcinogenesis in OLETF rats; this strain is susceptible to AOM-induced Zymbal gland carcinogenesis.     

Adherence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae to primary cultures of porcine lung epithelial cells

To study adherence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae to porcine lower respiratory epithelium, a cell culture model was developed using primary cultures of porcine lung epithelial cells (LEC). Adherence assays were performed and results were compared with data obtained with swine kidney cells (SK6). A. pleuropneumoniae efficiently adhered to LEC with up to 62 bacteria per cell after 2h of incubation. Reference strain of serotype 3 (R3) adhered better to LEC than reference strains of serotypes 1 (R1), 7 (R7) and 8 (R8). Overall the adherence to LEC was more rapid and up to 30-fold more efficient than adherence to SK6 cells. In search for the mechanism involved in the adherence event, we tested the effect of LPS which has previously been demonstrated to cause adherence of the pathogen to upper respiratory epithelium. Adherence assays with LPS transposon mutants demonstrated unaltered (mutant with modification in core/lipid A moiety) or even three-fold more adherence (mutants lacking O antigen) compared to the parent micro-organisms. Purified LPS of strains R1, R3, R7 and R8 did not inhibit adherence of R8 to LEC either, suggesting that LPS and particularly the O-antigen are not essential for adherence of A. pleuropneumoniae to LEC. The efficient, LPS-independent adherence of A. pleuropneumoniae to LEC cells indicates that A. pleuropneumoniae may carry different, cell type-specific adhesins and that primary cultures of lower respiratory epithelium are valuable infection models in studying A. pleuropneumoniae pathogenesis.     

~(60)Co-γ射线辐射鹅观草诱变效应研究初报

用不同剂量10、20、30、40、50 Gy60Co-γ射线辐射直穗鹅观草与垂穗鹅观草干种子,研究了两种鹅观草的适宜诱变剂量及辐射后其生物学性状的变异。结果表明:60Co-γ射线辐射对垂穗鹅观草的出苗率产生了促进作用,促进2种鹅观草出苗的最佳辐射剂量是40 Gy。两种鹅观草在10、20、30、40Gy辐射处理时,分蘖数均高于对照,50 Gy辐射处理抑制了鹅观草分蘖6。0Co-γ射线处理后直穗鹅观草株高均高于对照,而垂穗鹅观草的株高均低于对照。辐射处理抑制了直穗鹅观草的结穗能力。两种鹅观草穗长和平均小穗数与辐射剂量的相关性很高,均随着辐射剂量的增大而增大。初步确定促进鹅观草生物学性状变异的适宜辐射剂量为30~40 Gy。     

Effects of epidermal growth factor on atrophic enteritis in piglets induced by experimental porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) promotes gastrointestinal mucosal recovery by stimulating the mitogenic activity of intestinal crypt epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of EGF on atrophic enteritis induced in piglets by experimental infection with porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) strain Dr13. Two groups of 12 conventional, colostrum-deprived, 1-day-old, large White-Duroc cross breed piglets were inoculated orally with PEDV (3 x 10(5) 50% tissue culture infective doses), with or without EGF (10 microg/kg/day, intraperitoneally once daily for 4 days after infection) and compared to 12 uninfected, untreated control piglets. PEDV+EGF piglets had less severe clinical signs than PEDV only piglets at 48 and 60 h post-infection (hpi). Histologically, the ratio of villous height:crypt depth of PEDV+EGF piglets was significantly higher than PEDV only piglets at 36 and 48 hpi. Immunohistochemistry for Ki67 demonstrated increased proliferation in intestinal crypt epithelial cells of PEDV+EGF piglets compared to PEDV only piglets at 36, 48 and 60 hpi. EGF stimulates proliferation of intestinal crypt epithelial cells and promotes recovery from atrophic enteritis in PEDV-infected piglets.     

MR imaging of hepatic injury in the LEC rat under a high magnetic field (7.05 T).

Visualization of copper-induced hepatitis (CuH) in LEC rats was performed by using an MRI apparatus equipped with a magnet producing a high magnetic field of 7.05 T. When three groups of LEC rats (6-16 [pre-hepatitis], 15-26 [acute hepatitis] and 40-77 [chronic hepatitis] weeks old) were examined by MRI under T2-weighted imaging conditions which are suitable for the diagnosis of human hepatitis, hypointense MR images of the livers were, as a whole, obtained in all groups, suggesting that these conditions were not adequate for imaging of CuH of LEC rats. The shortening of the T1 and T2 relaxation times of livers due to an excess amount of paramagnetic irons under the high magnetic field was responsible for the lowering of MR signal intensities of the livers, especially those of 15 to 26-week old rats showing acute hepatitis. However, theoretical calculation of the MR signal intensities using the T1 and T2 relaxation times of the livers indicated that their imaging might be possible under proton density-weighted conditions even with a high magnetic field. Experimental results showed that hepatic injury was visualized as hyperintense regions in the MR image of the liver in the acute-phase rat.     

阿司匹林丁香酚酯对大鼠的急性毒性研究

试验旨在评价阿司匹林丁香酚酯（aspirin eugenol ester,AEE）对大鼠的急性毒性,了解AEE毒性特点及可能的毒性靶器官,并全面地分析大鼠的致死原因。试验按照改良寇氏法进行,预试验选取50只大鼠,雌雄各半,分为5组,测定绝对致死量（LD₁₀₀）和最大非致死量（LD₀）。根据预试验结果,将80只健康大鼠,雌雄各半,随机平均分为7个药物组（剂量分别为2.62、3.25、4.03、5.00、6.20、7.69和9.53 g/kg）和1个对照组（给予0.5%的羧甲基纤维素钠（CMC-Na）进行正式试验。灌胃给药,观察并记录大鼠给药后的临床症状及体重变化。给药14 d后,统计各剂量组大鼠的死亡时间及总死亡数,并计算AEE的半数致死量（LD₅₀）及其95%可信限。同时对死亡大鼠及时进行剖检,将具有病变的组织用10%的甲醛溶液固定,以进行病理学分析。结果显示,AEE对大鼠口服的LD₅₀是5.95 g/kg,且LD₅₀的95%可信限为5.30~6.68 g/kg。对大鼠的死亡时间进行分析可得出,当口服AEE的剂量大于4.03 g/kg时,其死亡时间主要集中在染毒后的48~96 h内。大鼠染毒后3 d内,体重呈下降趋势,常规饲养第5天开始,大鼠体重可逐渐恢复。病理学检查分析发现,AEE的剂量在5.00 g/kg以上时,对大鼠的肝脏、肾脏和胃肠道有明显损伤。根据外源化学物急性毒性分级（WHO）可知,AEE为实际无毒化合物,AEE对大鼠毒性靶器官主要是肝脏、肾脏和胃肠道。