Substrate-induced conjugation of bilirubin in genetically deficient newborn rats

Bilirubin appears to induce its own conjugation with glucuronide. Bilibrubin uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase activity is relatively high at birth in heterozygous offspring of permanently jaundiced female rats. The postnatal development of the transferase is accelerated in hyperbilirubinemic heterozygotes.     

Colorectal cancer in mice genetically deficient in the mucin Muc2

The gastrointestinal tract is lined by a layer of mucus comprised of highly glycosylated proteins called mucins. To evaluate the importance of mucin in intestinal carcinogenesis, we constructed mice genetically deficient in Muc2, the most abundant secreted gastrointestinal mucin. Muc2-/- mice displayed aberrant intestinal crypt morphology and altered cell maturation and migration. Most notably, the mice frequently developed adenomas in the small intestine that progressed to invasive adenocarcinoma, as well as rectal tumors. Thus, Muc2 is involved in the suppression of colorectal cancer.     

Induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes in liver microsomes of mice and rats by softwood bedding

Induction of three drug-metabolizing enzymes occurred in liver microsomes of mice and rats kept on softwood bedding of either red cedar, white pine, or ponderosa pine. This induction was reversed when animals were placed on hardwood bedding composed of a mixture of beech, birch, and maple. Differences in the capacity of various beddings to induce may partially explain divergent results of studies on drug-metabolizing enzymes. The presence of such inducing substances in the environment may influence the pharmacologic responsiveness of animals to a wide variety of drugs.     

Immunochemical studies of submicrosomal membranes from liver of normal and phenobarbital-treated rats

Rabbit antiserums were prepared against three submicrosomal fractions from liver of normal or phenobarbital-treated rats. The two membrane fractions originating from the rough- and smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum were characterized by the same soluble antigens, with the exception of a highly basic coinponent present only in extracts of rough membranes. The third fraction, whose subcellular origin is unknown, was different. It contained at least two typical marker antigens not present in the other fractions. Of eight tissue antigens common for the endoplasmic reticulum, five displayed nonspecific esterase activity. Some of these esterases were also found in other organs, but none was seen in rat serum. Phenobarbital treatment of the rats led to a rise in activity and characteristic changes in the esterase patterns of all these submicrosomal liver fractions.     

Production of polydipsia in normal rats by an intermittent food schedule

Marked polydipsia was produced in all animals trained to press a bar for food pellets on a 1-minute variableinterval schedule. It is suggested that since this feeding arrangement produces a sustained, high fluid intake in the normal, unrestrained animal, it might serve as a useful tool in the study of renal function.     

Induction of liver acetaldehyde dehydrogenase: possible role in ethanol tolerance after exposure tobarbiturates

Mice were injected twice a day for 4 days with saline or phenobarbital or ethanol. Treatment with phenobarbital, but not ethanol, increased the amount of liver acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activity. More rapid removal of acetaldehyde, which is a toxic metabolic intermediate of ethanol, may contribute to the alcohol tolerance exhibited by persons who use barbiturates regularly.     

Induction of ovulation in immature hypophysectomized rats

Immature rats given minute doses of highly purified pituitary gonadotropins (follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone) 7 to 100 days after hypophysectomy ovulated and formed corpora lutea. Neither hormone alone was effective. Luteinizing hormone repaired in part the atrophied theca interna and interstitial tissue, and follicle-stimulating hormone stimulated the development of the granulosa cells.     

Cancer regression in patients after transfer of genetically engineered lymphocytes

Through the adoptive transfer of lymphocytes after host immunodepletion, it is possible to mediate objective cancer regression in human patients with metastatic melanoma. However, the generation of tumor-specific T cells in this mode of immunotherapy is often limiting. Here we report the ability to specifically confer tumor recognition by autologous lymphocytes from peripheral blood by using a retrovirus that encodes a T cell receptor. Adoptive transfer of these transduced cells in 15 patients resulted in durable engraftment at levels exceeding 10% of peripheral blood lymphocytes for at least 2 months after the infusion. We observed high sustained levels of circulating, engineered cells at 1 year after infusion in two patients who both demonstrated objective regression of metastatic melanoma lesions. This study suggests the therapeutic potential of genetically engineered cells for the biologic therapy of cancer.     

Tumor development after 3-methylcholanthrene in immunologically deficient athymic-nude mice

Athymic-nude (nu/nu) mice and normal (nu/+) mice showed no differences in either latent period or incidence of local sarcomas or lung adenomas within 120 days after administration of 3-methylcholanthrene at birth. However, nu/nu mice were incapable of rejecting allogeneic skin grafts for the duration of the experiment. These results argue against an active role of thymus-dependent immunity as a surveillance mechanism preventing tumor development.     

Allografts in genetically defined rats: difference in survival between kidney and skin

Although skin allografts from inbred donors of the Fisher strain to inbred male Lewis recipients regularly show acute rejection within 12 days, orthotopic kidney allografts between untreated animals, in this same combination of strains, usually remain functionally intact for longer than 100 days. Since such renal allografts persist despite previous or concomitant rejection of skin allografts, neither acquired tolerance nor nonspecific immunosuppression can explain the surprisingly prolonged kidney survival. Many factors appear to be responsible for the disparate survival times observed. Tentatively, these factors are (i) antigenic differences between kidney and skin, (ii) intervention of immunological enhancement, and (iii) physiological differences in vulnerability between kidney and skin.     

Induction of mating behavior in rats by luteinizing hormone-releasing factor

Ovariectomized female rats treated with estrogen, in dosages too low to provoke mating, displayed this behavior when given subcutaneous injections of synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing factor (LRF) 48 hours later. Two hours after the injection of LRF, components of female sexual behavior appeared. The lordosis reflex followed mounting by the male, and darting and hopping behavior was quite prevalent. On the other hand, treatment with estrogen followed by luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, or thyrotropin-releasing factor did not induce copulatory behavior. The results suggest that LRF may play a role in induction of mating behavior.     

Computational thermostabilization of an enzyme

Thermostabilizing an enzyme while maintaining its activity for industrial or biomedical applications can be difficult with traditional selection methods. We describe a rapid computational approach that identified three mutations within a model enzyme that produced a 10 degrees C increase in apparent melting temperature T(m) and a 30-fold increase in half-life at 50 degrees C, with no reduction in catalytic efficiency. The effects of the mutations were synergistic, giving an increase in excess of the sum of their individual effects. The redesigned enzyme induced an increased, temperature-dependent bacterial growth rate under conditions that required its activity, thereby coupling molecular and metabolic engineering.     

Octopamine: normal occurrence in sympathetic nerves of rats

Octopamine has been identified in several organs of normal rats by means of a sensitive enzymatic assay. It is localized within the sympathetic nerve endings.     

枇杷花药培养诱导愈伤组织的研究

为了寻找枇杷花药愈伤组织诱导的最佳条件及配方。以枇杷花药为试验材料,采用完全组合设计研究了温度、蔗糖浓度、激素对花药愈伤组织诱导的影响。低温处理对愈伤组织的形成没有多大影响,随着低温时间的延长,愈伤组织诱导率低于对照;30 g/L蔗糖诱导花药愈伤组织的效果较好,诱导率为62.5%;在附加1 mg/L 2,4-D和2 mg/L 6-BA的MS培养基上,诱导率最高,为90.00%;MS+0.25mg/L6-BA+1 mg/LNAA最有利于愈伤组织的增殖。高浓度的蔗糖不利于愈伤组织的形成。一定浓度的2,4-D和6-BA对枇杷花药愈伤组织的诱导有较大的影响,且2,4-D起着主导作用。