Epithelial neoplasms of the vermiform appendix (exclusive of carcinoid). I. Adenocarcinoma of the appendix. A study of primary epithelial neoplasms of the appendix (with the exception of classical carcinoids), produced 24 adenocarcinomas and 42 benign lesions from the files of the Laboratory of Surgical Pathology of Columbia University. Invasive adenoarcinomas were often complicated by appendicitis and were then unexpectedly discovered during appendectomy. In one third of the cases the carcinomas were found in juxtaposition to adenomatous lesions of the appendix. Well-differentiated adenocarcinomas of the colonic type generally had a better prognosis than signet-ring cell (or microglandular) tumors. The most reliable criterion for correlating prognosis was the Duke's method of staging. Since invasive adenocarcinomas of the appendix can metastasize to regional lymph nodes, treatment should ideally consist of ileocolectomy.


Epithelial neoplasms of the vermiform appendix (exclusive of carcinoid). II. Cystadenomas, papillary adenomas, and adenomatous polyps of the appendix. Forty-two cases of benign epithelial neoplasms of the appendix gleaned from the files of the Laboratory of Surgical Pathology, Columbia University, were studied. The majority were associated with dilatation of the appendix, or "mucocele." Conversely only 50% of all cystically dilated appendices examined had definite underlying adenomatous changes. Thus it is important to distinguish between cystic neoplasms (cystadenomas) and non-neoplastic retention cysts of the appendix. The most frequently found benign epithelial neoplasms were papillary adenomas. Even in the presence of atypia we labeled them benign. Appendectomy is usually adequate treatment for all adenomatous lesions occurring in the appendix. Almost a quarter of the cases reviewed were found to have synchronous or metachronous neoplasms elsewhere in the colon, while several patients harbored multiple colonic neoplasms in addition to the appendiceal adenomas. Thus a patient with an adenomatous lesion of the appendix should undergo a systematic search for other colonic lesions.


Skin cancer and water arsenic in Lane County, Oregon. It was expected that the incidence of skin cancer would be related to the known high arsenic levels in water supplies of Lane County, Oregon. Incidence rates were based on all histopathologically confirmed cases among Lane County residents diagnosed during 1958-1971 and were compared to mean water arsenic levels measured during 1968-1974. Basal cell carcinoma had a mean annual incidence rate of 88 per 100,000, a 5:4::M:F sex ratio, and an increasing risk for both sexes in urban areas. Squamous cell carcinoma incidence was 50 per 100,000 and showed 2:1:M:F sex ratio but no urban predilection. Neither type of skin cancer was directly related to the arsenic levels as expected, although sporadic individuals with sufficient exposure could manifest the relationship. Fewer than expected drinking water sources were found to contain high arsenic content, so that the Lane County data do not necessarily contradict previous reports of positive correlation. The basal cell carcinoma pattern suggested that this disease might be potentiated by urban air pollutants.


Cancer of the alimentary tract in the Sudan: a study of 546 cases. Five hundred and forty-six primary malignant alimentary tract tumors in Sudanese patients are analyzed for frequency, age, sex, site, geographic distribution, and clinicopathologic presentations and are compared with other series. The disease is much less frequent in Sudan than in Western countries; within the Sudan itself it is much less prevalent in the South than the North. Generally, it tends to occur in younger age groups than in Western countries. Esophageal cancer is relatively common, especially in the Northern Province and has a female preponderance. Possible explanations are offered. Rectal cancer is more frequent than colonic cancer per se and occurs more often in males; more cases are recorded in relatively young patients. Colonic cancer has a predilection for the caecum. Alimentary cancer does not seem to be related to intestinal bilharziasis or other granulomas though these conditions may clinically mimic malignancy. The shortcomings in the collection of data are noted.


On the diagnosis of minimal breast cancer in a screenee population. As a result of screening of 8100 consecutive volunteers, 67 breast cancers have been detected. Fourteen percent of these cancers were found in women aged 35-44 years. Eighty percent of the cancers found in this age group were minimal breast cancer. This percentage decreased significantly in each subsequent decade until age 65 years, or older, when it began to rise once more. While mammography was responsible for detecting the majority of in situ or minimal cancers, 13 were found on physical examination, six of which were found only by physical examination.


Fiberoptic coloscopy and cytology.

Fiberoptic coloscopy and cytology. Colonic lavage for cytologic examination was obtained concomitantly with fiberoptic coloscopy during direct visualization of the affected bowe. Ninety-five patients were so studied. There were 61 benign lesions and 34 carcinomas. There were no false positives; abnormal cells were seen in 32 of the 34 carcinomas. It was concluded that this procedure might aid in an accurate histologic diagnosis; when biopsy was not possible, it could enhance the roentgenographic and endoscopic impression, and finally it might give a more complete diagnosis of the true lesion than small or subadjacent biopsies.


Distribution of [3H]-3-hydroxykynurenine in mice. The distribution of 3-hydroxykynurenine, a tryptophan metabolite that is suspected of being carcinogenic, was studied in mice. After s.c. administration of [3H]-3-hydroxykynurenine into male BALB/c X DBA/2 F1 mice, the distribution of 3H was investigated by whole-body autoradiography and radioactivity measurement. At 30 and 60 min after injection, 3H was distributed mainly in the kidneys, pancreas, liver, lung, and salivary glands. After 6 and 24 hr, 3H was retained only in the kidneys. After 30 min, about 70% of the radioactive compounds in the pancreas was unmetabolized 3-hydroxykynurenine, whereas most of the radioactivity in the kidneys, liver, lung, and submaxillary glands was derived from the other compounds. The data suggest that 3-hydroxykynurenine has an affinity for the pancreas.


In vitro autoradiographic determination of cell kinetic parameters in adenocarcinomas and adjacent healthy mucosa of the human colon and rectum. Using in vitro double labeling with two different doses of [3H]thymidine, we measured the S-phase duration and the labeling index in biopsy samples taken from human rectal and colonic adenocarcinomas. Samples from the adjacent healthy mucosa, taken at the same time as the tumor samples, were simultaneously subjected to the same measurements. The mean labeling index in tumors was higher than in the normal mucosa (32.5 and 17.0%, respectively). The mean S-phase value was also longer than in the normal tissue (19.4 versus 11.2 hr). These observations are discussed with reference to similar observations made in tumors of the human epidermis, especially considering the possible relationship of an increased S-phase duration with carcinogenesis. While no definitive conclusions may be reached, it seems prudent to consider an S-phase duration that is longer than normal to be a justification for attentive follow-up of the patient.


Cellular kinetics and histological changes in experimental cancer of the uterine cervix. Carcinoma of the mouse uterine cervix was induced by the insertion of 20-methylcholanthrene (MC) thread into the uterine cavity. Through biweekly observations, it was seen that the histopathological carcinogenesis in the cervix was characterized by three distinct changes: normal epithelium, anaplastic epithelium, and carcinoma. The incidence rate of normal epithelium declined sharply in the first 4 weeks, followed by slight decline up to the 20th week of observation. Nevertheless, about 20% of MC-treated mice maintained histologically normal epithelium even at the 20th week. In contrast, the incidence rate of anaplastic epithelium increased sharply in the first 4 weeks and thereafter tended to decline. Carcinoma was first observed at the 4th week, and its incidence rate increased thereafter almost linearly, reaching about 50% of the MC-treated mice at the 20th week. Carcinoma was divided into two groups, the early invasive and the frank invasive types. The former was further subgrouped into epithelial bud, nodular growth, epithelial cord, and mixed type by the mode of stromal invasion. Studies using [3H]thymidine autoradiography on the cell proliferation kinetics in the process of carcinoma development showed that a labeling index became higher as the malignant changes of the epithelium advanced. Moreover, S-phase prolongation was observed with the malignant changes, and the cell cycle time did not differ markedly among normal epithelium (22.8 hr), anaplastic epithelium (23.0 hr), and frank invasive carcinoma (26.1 hr). However, the growth fraction was greatly varied; it was 28% for normal epithelium, 61% for anaplastic epithelium, 100% for early invasive carcinoma, and 100% for frank invasive carcinoma. These results indicate that the growth fraction increases as the malignant changes in the MC-treated mouse uterine cervix.


Iron homeostasis in plasmacytoma-bearing mice. Plasmacytomas in mice have been shown to contain significant quantities of nonheme iron, half of which is in the form of ferritin. The livers of animals with plasmacytomas have a decreased iron content, and plasma iron is reduced. The animals develop an anemia that is partially corrected by parenteral iron. However, when plasmacytoma-bearing mice are given excessive amounts of parenteral iron, the surplus is stored in the liver of animals rather than in the tumor itself. These findings suggest that plasmacytomas sequester iron and deprive other organs of it to satisfy their own need. However, the tumors do not function as a storage site for iron above their own need.


A retinoic acid-binding protein from chick embryo skin. Previous studies by others have indicated that retinoic acid reverses metaplastic changes caused by chemical caricinogens in vivo and in organ culture. The present study deals with the detection of a specific retinoic acid-binding protein from chick embryo metatarsal skin that may be mediating these biological effects. The protein has an S20 value of 2 and an isoelectric pH of 4.6. Competition experiments with labeled retinoic acid and 200-fold molar excesses of unlabeled retinoic acid, retinol, retinal, methyl retinoate, diethylretinamide, synthetic analogs of retinoic acid, and gamma-linolenic acid reveal that only retinoic acid and its analogs with a free carboxyl group bind to this protein. Among the analogs of retinoic acid, a cyclopentenyl analog, a trimethylmethoxyphenyl analog, 13-cis-retinoic acid, and alpha-retinoic acid compete for the binding site on the protein, with the cyclopentenyl analog having greater affinity than retinoic acid does. Phenyl and pyridyl analogs of retinoic acid are poor binders. In general, the ability of the various analgos to bind to this protein correlates with their biological activity in the reversal of keratinization and in the production of mucous metaplasia by chick embryo metatarsal skin as reported by others.


Induction of DNA polymerase alpha during liver regeneration in rats on controlled feeding schedules. The activity of 2 nonmitochondrial forms of DNA polymerase, designated DNA polymerases alpha and beta, was investigated during liver regeneration in regimented rats. In accord with Barbiroli and Potter, we observed that regimentation of rats with respect to temperature, light and darkness, and availability of food resolves the DNA synthesis response to partial hepatectomy into 2 peaks, one occurring at a fixed time after operation and the other entrained by the environmental conditions. The peaks can be fused or separated depending on the timing of the operation. For this study, operation times were selected to give both patterns of DNA synthesis as measured by the uptake of radioactive thymidine into DNA. For both operation times, DNA polymerase activity in the nuclear extract correlated temporally and qualitatively with radioactive thymidine uptake into DNA. At the times of maximal DNA synthesis and polymerase activity, the DNA polymerase was purified from extracts of isolated nuclei. DNA polymerase alpha represented 70% and DNA polymerase beta represented 30% of the recovered activity from the nuclear extract. This is in agreement with the previous observation in nonregimented rats that DNA polymerase alpha is the major activity in nuclei during liver regeneration. For both operation times, DNA polymerase activity in the postmicrosomal fraction was sedimentable and increased 3 to 4 times above the level observed with this same fraction from normal rat liver. This activity was shown to be due to DNA polymerase alpha only with this subcellular fraction. DNA polymerase alpha activity with this fraction peaked 4 to 6 hr after the time of maximal radioactive thymidine incorporation into DNA. DNA polymerase activity in the microsome fraction did not change significantly after partial hepatectomy. This activity has been shown to represent DNA polymerase beta. Prior administration of cycloheximide and actinomycin abolished the rise in DNA polymerase alpha activity in the nucleus and postmicrosomal fraction. Hydroxyurea did not prevent the rise in DNA polymerase alpha activity with those subcellular fractions but did inhibit over 90% of the uptake of radioactive thymidine into DNA. These data suggest, but do not prove, that DNA polymerase alpha activity is induced in response to the stimulus(i) for liver regeneration.


The concentration of 67Ga and 45Ca in the lactating mammary gland and its relevance to the tumor uptake of 67Ga citrate. 67Ga is known to concentrate in the breasts of pregnant and postpartum women, and a case is now described in which 67Ga uptake was seen in the breasts of a woman who was neither pregnant nor postpartum, but was receiving chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. Comparative studies of the uptake of 67Ga and 45Ca in lactating dogs have shown that both nuclides are secreted in the milk in similar amounts and in protein-bound form. The concentration of 67Ga in mammary tissue is about one-half of that found in the milk at 5 hr postinjection but, by 48 hr, the concentrations are approximately equal. There were similarities in the subcellular distributions of 67Ga and 45Ca in the lactating mammary gland at 5 and 48 hr. Although there was a correlation between 67Ga and 45Ca in individual pieces of a lactating mammary gland at 5 hr after injection, no such correlation was seen between the two nuclides in multiple samples of a transmissible venereal tumor measured at various time intervals. The rate of dispersion of 67Ga and 45Ca from the lactating mammary gland was similar but, in the tumor, 67Ga was present in very much greater amounts than 45Ca and was retained longer. It is concluded that, although there may be similarities in the metabolic pathways of gallium and calcium in the lactating mammary gland, there is no similarity in the mechanism of uptake of these two elements into tumors.


Establishment of a human carcinoembryonic antigen-producing colon adenocarcinoma cell line. A human carcinoembryonic antigen-producing colon carcinoma cell line has been established. The cells form acinar structures and signet ring cells. The lumen of the acini presents microvilli and a glycocalyx. Neighboring cells show desmosomes and terminal bars. The cells present an aneuploid karyotype with a modal number of 49. No marker chromosomes are found, although a significant proportion of cells show an altered A2 chromosome and an extra B. Exponentially growing cultures produce 54 ng of carcinoembryonic antigen/10(6) cells. Kinetic parameters are as follows: doubling time, 37 hr; mitotic index, 0.8%; labeling index, 31%; generation time, 30 hr; G1 phase, 7 hr; S phase, 18 hr; G2 phase, 5 hr; growth fraction 90%. This cell line, designated line LoVo, represents an in vitro model for human colon carcinoma.


Potentiation of actinomycin D or adriamycin antitumor activity with DNA. Several antitumor agents known to bind DNA were complexed with this macromolecule and tested for activity against experimental animal tumor systems. Combination studies with these agents and DNA were carried out at the same time. Actinomycin D activity against the P388 lymphocytic leukemia in BALB/c X DBA/2 F1 mice was significantly potentiated by calf thymus DNA, both when complexed and when injected in combination. The DNA could be given as much as 4 hr before or after the antibiotic and still give potentiation. Synergism was also obtained when the DNA was autoclaved prior to complexing and/or injecting. Similarly, adriamycin activity against the L1210 lymphoid leukemia in DBA/2 mice was significantly potentiated by autoclaved herring sperm DNA, both as a complex and when injected in combination. When above-optimal levels of adriamycin were complexed with autoclaved herring sperm DNA and injected into BALB/c mice inoculated with the Madison 109 alveogenic carcinoma, the early lethality was delayed and antitumor activity was sometimes observed. Herring sperm DNA injected alone also had antitumor activity against the Madison 109 tumor. Similarly, activity was obtained against this tumor system with calf thymus DNA and actinomycin D when injected alone. In addition, DNA, in combination and when complexed with actinomycin, prevented the toxicity observed with BALB/c mice, inoculated with the Madison 109 tumor, were given injections of an above-optimal dose of this antibiotic.


Large bowel carcinogenesis in mice and rats by several intrarectal doses of methylnitrosourea and negative effect of nitrite plus methylurea. The carcinogenic effect of several dose levels and regimens of an aqueous solution of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) administered intrarectally to mice and rats is reported. In Ha/ICR Swiss mice, a single dose of 1.8 mg MNU induces mainly lymphomas and pulmonary tumors in less than 20 weeks. Repeated doses of 1.5 mg MNU induces lymphomas, pulmonary tumors, and also large bowel tumors in less than 20 weeks. Doses of 0.3 mg decreased the yield of lymphomas and increased large bowel neoplasms over a period of 40 to 60 weeks. Repeated doses of 0.06 mg also gave a low yield of lymphomas and large bowel tumors over a 60-week period. Thus, a maximal yield of lymphomas is seen with a brief regimen of high doses, whereas large bowel tumors occur with a more frequent lower dose rate. Male Fischer strain rats given 1.0 or 2.5 mg MNU 3 times a week for 10 weeks had a multiplicity of large bowel tumors, proportional to dose, in 25 to 30 weeks. In fact, the high dose level led to a 100% yield in less than 20 weeks. Lymphomas were seen only at the higher dose when the animals were were young, at the beginning of the test. In mice and rats the carcinomas were polypoid or plaque shaped and were well differentiated with extensive invasion but no metastases. The adenomas were pedunculated or sessile. Intrarectal administration of a mixture of methylurea and nitrite for 20 weeks and further observation of the rats for an additional 35 weeks yielded no colon tumors. Thus, there is indirect evidence of a lack of the in situ formation of carcinogenic MNU in the large bowel under physiological conditions.


A comparison of the lethal effects of three nitrosourea derivatives on cultured human lymphoma cells. The cellular effects of three nitrosourea derivatives were investigated on a human lymphoma cell line. The three drugs show similar threshold-type dose-response survival curves on asynchronous cells treated for 1 hr. Longer incubation periods result in rapid biological degradation for 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea, whereas, 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea, remains cytotoxic after about 24 hr. Important differences were noted with respect to cell cycle dependency. The 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea was more effective in early S and in G2 phase, whereas both 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea were more effective in early S. 1,3-bis(2-chlrorethyl)-1-nitrosourea exerted a considerable degree of killing in G1. Cells were unable to recover from priming damage induced by all 3 nitrosourea derivatives. No synergistic effects were observed in combination with vitamin A.


Restriction of carcinogen-induced error incorporation during in vitro DNA synthesis. The in vitro accuracy of DNA replication has been investigated through the measurement of the frequency with which noncomplementary nucleotides were incorporated during polynucleotide replication. The effect of beta-propiolactone treatment of deoxynucleotide templates, ribopolynucleotide templates, and the DNA polymerase from avian myeloblastosis virus was determined. Treatment of the deoxynucleotide template, poly(dA) (see article) oligo(dT) 12-18, by beta-propiolactone resulted in an increased frequency of noncomplementary nucleotide incorporation during DNA polymerization. Carcinogen treatment of the ribonucleotide templates, poly(rA) (see article) oligo(dT) 12-18, and poly(rC) (see article) oligo(dG) 12-18, and carcinogen treatment of avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase did not alter the frequency of noncomplementary nucleotide incorporation. This suggested that carcinogen-induced error incorporation during DNA synthesis was restricted solely to the treatment of a deoxynucleotide template.


Mechanisms underlying reduced growth rate in C3HBA mammary adenocarcinomas recurring after single doses of x-rays or fast neutrons. C3HBA mammary tumors were irradiated with 3000 rads of 250-kVp X-rays or 1000 rads of 8-MeV neutrons, doses of radiation matched for producing equal growth delay. At 14 days postirradiation, tumors were regrowing at a reduced rate relative to controls. Cell kinetic parameters were examined using percentage of labeled mitoses techniques, and blood vessel spacing and tumor architecture were examined histologically to determine whether the mechanisms underlying growth rate changes were the same after neutron as after photon irradiation. The tumor volume-doubling time at 14 days posttreatment is similar in both irradiated groups (TD=117 hr for neutron-irradiated tumors, 132 hr for X-irradiated tumors) and is approximately twice as long as the doubling time of 61.4 hr in control tumors in the same size range. Control and X-irradiated tumors have median cell cycle durations of 19.3 and 18.5 hr, respectively; the more slowly growing X-irradiated tumors have a reduced growth fraction and increased cell loss factor. Regrowing neutron-irradiated tumors have a median cell cycle of 27.2 hr, with calculated growth fraction and cell loss factor values intermediate between those for control and X-irradiated tumors. Scatter in the percentage of labeled mitoses data makes it difficult to determine whether the cell cycle durations are significantly different. The average distance from tumor parenchymal interphase cells to the nearest recognizable blood vessel is nearly identical in the two irradiated groups and for both groups is significantly greater than interphase to vessel distance in controls. The average distance in irradiated tumors approaches the maximal distance for O2 diffusion in mouse adenocarcinomas of a corded structure surrounding a central blood vessel. Both neutron- and X-irradiated tumors contain more necrosis and fewer viable-appearing parenchymal cells than do control tumors of the same size. The similar growth rate and growth delay in this tumor after 3000 rads of X-rays of 1000 rads of neutrons occur in the face of possibly different cell cycle durations and seem related to similar circulatory system inadequacies which limit growth and are expressed as greater average cell-to-blood-vessel distance and increased cell loss leading to necrosis, indicating oxygen or nutrient deprivation.


Electron microscopic observations on the morphogenesis of renal cell carcinoma induced in rat kidney by dimethylnitrosamine and N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide. Renal cell carcinoma was induced in rats by p.o. administration of dimethylnitrosamine, 500 ppm daily, followed by N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl) succinimide (NDPS), 5000 ppm daily. Fine structural changes of the proximal convoluted tubule cells were observed by sequential examinations of the kidney cortices at 3, 5, 12, and 24 weeks after drug administration. Early prominent structural changes of the cells induced by dimethylnitrosamine alone were the appearance of microspherules in nucleoli and of numerous lamellar bodies on the membrane structure of the cells. With the addition of NDPS, the cells exhibited edematous cytoplasm that, in contrast to the relatively intact nuclear structure, contained numerous bodies small vesicles and dark mitochondria, with markedly disarranged microvilli. After prolonged treatment with these drugs, some of the cells showed regenerating features, while others became necrotic. In the former case, large clear nuclei appeared with enlarged nucleoli containing a large amount of granular components. Ribosomes in the cytoplasm also increased in number in accordance with nucleolar changes, and edema in cytoplasm and microvilli markedly decreased. However, a considerable number of vesicles still remained in some cells. Mitochondria decreased in number and showed pleomorphism and relatively high electron density. At 24 weeks, when clear cell carcinoma was induced, the cells in the cancer tissue exhibited a variety of features in their nuclei and cytoplasm. Some cells showed intact nuclear structure and dark cytoplasm containing a large number of vesicles; others had large round clear nuclei with enlarged nucleoli and clear cytoplasm containing no vesicles. Among these cells were mixed populations of large clear cells, showing a structure similar to the cells at 12 weeks, 2.e., to nodular hyperplastic cells. The starting point of malignant transformation seemed to be 1 week after treatment with NDPS (i.e., cells at 5 weeks) and, or the precancerous stage, at 12 weeks. These results suggest that the proximal convoluted tubule cells previously damaged by dimethylnitrosamine treatment were marked for mutation and were transformed to cancer cells by additional treatment with NDPS in such a way as to disturb the permeability of the membrane system of the cell and to condense chromatin fibers.


The sensitivity of the skin of hairless mice to chemical carcinogenesis. The sensitivity of hairless mice to cutaneous chemical carcinogenesis has been compared with that of normal mice of the same strain with hair. A single application of 125 mug methylcholanthrene in benzene was given to 48 hairless male mice (hr/hr Oslo strain) and to 96 male mice of the same strain with hair. Among hairless mice there were 94% papilloma-bearing animals with a total of 5.9 tumors per animal after 18 months of observation, compared to 22% papilloma-bearing animals with an average of 0.3 tumors per animal among the mice with hair. The hairless mice included 31% carcinoma-bearing and 23% sarcoma-bearing animals, whereas only 1% of the mice with hair were carcinoma bearing and 3% were sarcoma bearing. Hairless mice of the hr/hr Oslo strain are thus not refractory to chemical carcinogenesis, but under the experimental conditions used in this study they are significantly more sensitive than are mice from the same strain with hair. Giovanella et al. reported almost opposite results in 1970 and came to the general conclusion that hairless mice are refractory to chemical carcinogenesis due to lack of hair follicles. Since hairless mice always have some hair follicles and rudimentary pilosebaceous appendages, comparisons between chemical carcinogenesis in hairless mice and mice with hair can neither strengthen nor weaken any theory about the hair follicle origin of epidermoid carcinomas of mouse skin.


Cell cycle dependency of human sarcoma-associated tumor antigen expression. An analysis of cell cycle-dependent expression of tumor-associated antigen was performed on a human neurosarcoma cell line (T2 cells). The expression of sarcoma-associated tumor antigen on T2 cells was detected using test sera obtained from sarcoma patients; control sera were from patients with nonsarcoma neoplasias and from normal donors. Results indicate a progressive increase in the antigenic expression beginning in late mitosis and early G1 with maximum expression in mid-G1. Antigenic expression declines to minimum levels in S and G2-phase. Mechanisms responsible for this cycle-dependent fluctuation are presently unknown.


Effect of Corynebacterium parvum on the response to irradiation of a C3H fibrosarcoma. A methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma of C3H mice has been used as 5th- to 6th-generation syngeneic transplant in an investigation of the role of Corynebacterium parvum as an adjuvant to the therapeutic effect of local irradiation of established tumors. The most effective route for administration of C. parvum in this tumor system was i.v., and the greatest effect of the C. parvum-mediated tumor graft rejection was observed for tumor growing intracutaneously or s.c. An intermediate level of effectiveness was obtained for tumor growing i.m. The combined C. parvum and local irradiation studies were performed using tumors growing in the leg muscle and measuring 8 mm in diameter at the time of local irradiation. Several routes of administration of C. parvum, dose levels of C. parvum, and time relationships between administration of C. parvum and irradiation were investigated. The outstanding finding was that very low doses of radiation were quite effective when administered to tumors growing in animals pretreated with C. parvum. This was true for radiation administered as a single or fractionated dose (10 equal doses spread over 18 days). For single-dose irradiation the effect was relatively dose independent over the range of 200 to 3000 rads. Some indication was obtained that local irradiation may impair the tumor graft rejection reaction. No evidence was obtained of an enhanced growth of tumor. Regression of tumor following irradiation was not modified by pretreatment with C. parvum. The mice that were unsuccessfully treated by radiation and C. parvum had a lower incidence of metastatic disease in the lung than did the mice treated unsuccessfully with radiation alone.


Enhancement of a tumor allograft in BALB/c x DBA/2 F1 mice by pyran copolymer. Pyran copolymer (NSC 46015) was evaluated with respect to its effect on the rejection of a murine leukemic allograft by BALB/c x DBA/2 F1 (CD2F1) mice. Significant prolongation of allograft survival with production of progressively growing lethal tumors was found following pyran administration. This phenomenon occurred at nontoxic doses of the drug and appeared to be closely related to the timing of pyran injection. Nonspecifically stimulated lymphocyte blast transformation by concanavalin A was not impaired by pyran when lymphocytes were exposed in vitro to the drug. The mechanism of tumor allograft enhancement remains obscure but may be related to allograft size at the time of pyran administration.


Urinary putrescine, spermidine, and spermine in human blood and solid cancers and in an experimental gastric tumor of rats. An improved method of assay of urinary polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) was applied to the study of cancer patients and an experimental gastric tumor of rats. Although total polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) in urine of patients with blood and solid cancers were significantly high, putrescine concentrations also increased significantly and were shown to be of diagnostic aid even in solid cancers. A significant increase in putrescine was also noted in the urine of rats with experimental stomach tumors induced by N-methyl-N-nitro-N'-nitrosoguanidine.


Drug-mediated immunogenic changes of virus-induced leukemia in vivo. LSTRA and RBL-5 lymphomas induced by Moloney and Rauscher leukemia viruses, respectively, were used to determine whether antigenically altered tumors induced by 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazeno)-imidazole-4-carboxamide in vivo would retain their original antigenic properties and/or have new antigenic properties. The tumors became highly immunogenic in the syngeneic hosts after 4 to 8 transplant generations with drug treatment. Syngeneic mice could be protected against challenge with the parental tumor by presensitization with the drug-altered sublines while unrelated tumor lines were incapable of protecting them. The drug-altered subline of LSTRA was used for treatment of the LSTRA in conjunction with chemotherapy, and this immunochemotherapy produced significant increases in number of survivors and increases in median survival time compared to either treatment alone. Tolerance studies indicated that there are novel antigens and parental tumor antigens associated with the drug-treated sublines.


Growth control of heterologous tissue culture cells in the congenitally athymic nude mouse. A variety of heterologous mammalian cells were inoculated into nude mice and scored for tumorigenicity. The cells tested were from primary cell cultures, established cell lines of neoplastic origin, established cell lines of nontumor origin, and primary cell cultures transformed by oncogenic viruses. Regardless of the animal species of origin, every cell line that was tumorigenic in some other animal host and every cell line of neoplastic origin was tumorigenic in nude mice. Several tissue culture cells lines capable of indefinite growth in vitro failed to form tumors in nude mice, and the basis of this growth suppression was investigated. The findings suggest that the failure of an established cell line to form tumors in nude mice is an authentic response to host-mediated growth-regulatory signals.


Disease and non-disease-related cell-mediated cytotoxicity in humans. The human bladder cancer/T24 system was used to investigate disease and non-disease-related cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC). CMC was determined in a modification of the microcytotoxicity assay of Takasugi and Klein. Analysis of data of groups of patients confirmed previous findings that effector cells (EC) from bladder cancer patients were more cytotoxic against T24 than were EC from normal individuals or from patients with other genitourinary cancers. Differences between patients with bladder cancer and other patients were not observed for other target cells. During the course of these experiments, non-disease-associated CMC by EC from individual normal donors and patients was observed. This phenomenon was investigated to determine its reproducibility and its relationship to different methods of preparing EC. Reproducibility of non-disease-related CMC was ascertained using EC prepared from heparinized blood by centrifugation over Ficoll-Hypaque (FH). A total of 126 experiments were performed in which 18 normal donors were tested 2 to 7 times each against 4 target cell lines. Of the resulting 46 combinations or groups of repeated assays, only 7 showed significant variability. Each normal donor had consistent CMC with differences from others being reproducible. CMC was therefore not due to crowding or physical effects. CMC mediated by EC prepared in this manner was then compared to that mediated by EC prepared by other methods in simultaneous tests.


X-radiation-induced transformation in a C3H mouse embryo-derived cell line. Reproducible X-ray-induced oncogenic transformation has been demonstrated in an established cell line of mouse embryo fibroblasts. Cells derived from transformed foci formed malignant tumors when injected into syngeneic hosts. An exponential increase in the number of transformants per viable cell occurred with doses of up to 400 rads of X-radiation. The transformation frequency in exponentially growing cultures remained constant at 2.3 x 10(-3) following doses of 400 to 1500 rads. There was little change in survival following X-ray doses up to 300 rads. Doses greater than 300 rads were associated with an exponential decline in survival; the Do for the survival curve was 175 rads. Transformation frequency varied with changes in the number of viable cells seeded per dish. There was about a 10-fold decline in the transformation frequency when the number of cells was increased from 400 to 1000 viable cells/100-mm Petri dish. Below this density range there was little change in transformation frequency. The presence of lethally preir-radiated cells was not associated with an enhancement of transformation in irradiated cells or with the induction of transformation in unirradiated cell cultures. Amphotericin B (Fungizone) inhibited the appearance of transformants when added to the culture medium within 2 to 3 weeks after initiation of the experiment.


Effect of vitamin A deficiency on rat colon carcinogenesis by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The effect of vitamin A deficiency on the sensitivity of the colon to the carcinogenic effect of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), a direct-acting carcinogen, given intrarectally was studied in female Fischer rats. Animals maintained on Purina laboratory chow, semipurified vitamin A-free diet, or semipurified vitamine A-supplemented diet were given intrarectally 1.25, 0.63, or 0.31 mg MNNG 3 times weekly for 30 weeks and autopsied at the 45th week. The number of large bowel tumors per tumor-bearing rat was higher in animals receiving 1.25 mg MNNG compared to those given 0.63 or 0.31 mg. Vitamin A deficiency in rats given 1.25 mg MNNG significantly suppressed the large bowel tumor induction compared to rats fed adequate vitamin A. A high incidence of squamous cell papillomatosis of the urinary bladder was observed in rats fed vitamin A-free diet and given 1.25 mg MNNG. The present experiment suggests that the large intestine has a susceptibility that is different from that of the respiratory and urinary tracts to tumorigenic stimulation in vitamin A-deficient status.


DNA excision-repair deficiency of human peripheral blood lymphocytes treated with chemical carcinogens. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with concanavalin A for 72 hr have a 10-fold greater capacity to repair DNA damage induced by N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene than do unstimulated cells. The increased capacity of concanavalin A-activated cells to repair DNA is not observed after 24 hr in culture, a time at which stimulated cells have not begun to synthesize DNA. The maximum rate of repair synthesis obtained after treatment of stimulated cells with the "large patch"-inducing agent, N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene, is twice that obtained with methyl methanesulfonate, an agent inducing "small patch" repair. The difference between the maximum rates obtained with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and methyl methanesulfonate is 6-fold in a human lymphoblastoid line. Unstimulated lymphocytes show almost identical rates of repair after treatment with either N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene or methyl methanesulfonate. There is close correlation between the rate of N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene-induced repair synthesis and the loss of acetylaminofluorene adducts from DNA. Treatment of lymphocytes with methyl methanesulfonate leads to degradation of cellular DNA with the production of single-stranded regions. Such degradation is not observed with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluroene. We conclude that the rate of excision repair is a function of the capacity of cells for DNA synthesis and that lymphocytes that do not synthesize DNA have a limited repair capacity and cannot be used to distinguish between large and small patch repair.


Chromosome patterns (G and C bands) of in vitro chemical carcinogen-transformed guinea pig cells. The chromosomes of five chemical carcinogen-transformed strain 2 guinea pig fetal cell lines were identified by G and C banding techniques and were compared with the normal karyotype from secondary untreated cultures. One line transformed by benzo(a)pyrene had a diploid constitution with no G and C band alterations. Three lines were near diploid, one was near tetraploid, and each contained abnormal chromosomes. A 3-methylcholanthrene line had an abnormal metacentric chromosome formed by centric fusion of two nonhomologous autosomes. The three N-methyl-N'-nitrosoguanidine or diethylnitrosamine cell lines exhibited submetacentric or subtelocentric abnormal chromosomes originating from translocations between two No. 1 or a No. 1 and another autosome. The involvement of Chromosome 1 may be due to its association with nucleolar organization. The greater frequency of contact between such chromosomes, compared to other autosomes, creates an increased risk of chromatid exchange possibly explaining their frequent participation in abnormal chromosome formation or nondisjunction.


Inhibition of tubulin-microtubule polymerization by drugs of the Vinca alkaloid class. A series of Vinca alkaloids were found to block polymerization of crude tubulin extracts of porcine brain in a dose-dependent manner. This appears to be a specific effect occurring at low concentrations of drug. The concentration of vinblastine that prevents polymerization by 50% was 4.3 x 10(-7) mole/liter for a tubulin concentration of 3.0 mg/ml, and this concentration is consistent with levels achieved in vivo following routine pharmacological doses in humans.


Production of melanoma-associated antigen(s) by a defined malignant melanoma cell strain grown in chemically defined medium. A human malignant melanoma cell strain, UCLA-SO-M14 (M14), was adapted to grow in serum-free, chemically defined medium (CDM). The 3 M KCl extract prepared from the CDM-grown cells (M-14-CDM) was assayed against leukocytes from melanoma patients, patients with other cancers, and normal donors by leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI). The leukocytes from 15 to 27 (56%) melanoma patients tested were LMI positive. In contrast, 4 of 18 (22%) other cancer patients and 5 of 30 (17%) normal donors leukocytes were LMI positive. One of 14 melanoma patients' leukocytes were LMI positive for a control 3 M KCI extract from autologous muscle. Comparative studies were performed with the M14-CDM extract and a 3 M KCI extract from a freshly biopsied tumor specimen from the donor of the M14 cell strain. Seven of 12 (58%) melanoma patients' leukocytes were LMI positive to the M14-CDM extract, but only 2 of 12 (17%) were LMI positive to the autologous melanoma tissue extract. Furthermore, only 100 to 300 mug protein of M14-CDM extract were required to educe delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity response in 6 of 8 (75%) melanoma patients and 0 of 5 lung cancer patients, but 500 mug protein from biopsied autologous melanoma tissue extract were needed to produce delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity response in 24 of 42 (57%) melanoma patients and 7 of 28 (25%) nonmelanoma cancer patients. These data suggest: (a) the M14-CDM cells synthesized melanoma-associated antigen(s) (MAA) in CDM; (B) the 3 M KCI extraction procedure effectively removed the MAA from the M14-CDM cells; (c) the M14-CDM cells were a more potent source of MAA than the surgical autologous melanoma specimen; and (d) the M14-CDM cells provided a continuous source of standard MAA.


Horseradish peroxidase/hydrogen peroxide-catalyzed oxidation of the carcinogen N-hydroxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene as effected by cyanide and ascorbate. Horseradish peroxidase and H2O2 mediate N-hydroxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) conversion into two more potent carcinogens, 2-nitrosofluorene and N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene. Optical studies of this system indicate that horseradish peroxidase is operating as a peroxidase with N-OH-AAF as the electron donor. Our studies confirm the earlier finding that 2-nitrosofluorene and N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene are the products of the type II enzyme-mediated oxidation of N-OH-AAF, but surprisingly, the results with the type VI enzyme indicate that more 2-nitrosofluorene was formed and, in addition, another product absorbing at 245 nm was formed. If ascorbate is present in the N-OH-AAF/horseradish peroxidase/H2O2 system, ascorbate is oxidized preferentially. Cyanide, a known inhibitor of the peroxidase, does not inhibit when N-OH-AAF is the electron donor. The reaction products are the same in the presence or absence of cyanide.


Antileukemic effects of pseudoisocytidine, a new synthetic pyrimidine C-nucleoside. Pseudoisocytidine, a new synthetic pyrimidine C-nucleoside, which might be considered a more stable analog of 5-azacytidine, is active in vitro and in vivo, i.p. and p.o., against various 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-resistant lines of mouse leukemia. This antileukemic activity is blocked by cytidine but not by deoxycytidine or thymidine.


Experimental studies at Southern Research Institute with DTIC (NSC-45388). Several years ago the diazotization of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide was found to give an internal diazonium salt, 5-diazoimidazole-4-carboxamide, which demonstrated marginal activity against some murine neoplasms. In an effort to improve this activity and develop a clinically useful agent, this compound was converted to a number of derivatives including DTIC, an agent that showed encouraging activity against a variety of rodent neoplasms. Studies carried out at Southern Research Institute on the chemistry, metabolism, and biologic activity of DTIC and its congeners are discussed briefly.


Response to medroxyprogesterone acetate (NSC-26386) as secondary hormone therapy for metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women. We have treated 40 postmenopausal women with documented metastatic breast cancer with medroxyprogesterone acetate. The average age was 63 years and the patients were, on the average, 14 years' postmenopausal. Only two patients had received no prior additive hormone therapy. The remainder had previously received estrogen, androgens, or both. Only two patients had objective evidence of tumor regression. In one patient a metastatic node disappeared for 7+ months, and the other patient had well-documented clinical improvement and control of brain mestastases for 22 months. Two other patients had mixed responses of chest wall metastases (regression of some but not all lesions), lasting 3 and 4 months respectively. Five other patients had obvious subjective benefit. There were four objective responses (10%) and five subjective responses (12%). There was no correlation between route of administration and response. All patients receiving benefit had previously responded to other hormones. Side effects were usually absent or consisted of mild fluid retention; however, four patients had disease stimulation from therapy.


Synthesis of methyl alpha- and beta-D-xylopyranoside-5-18O. Methyl alpha- and beta-D-xylopyranoside-5-18O (5 and 6) were prepared by way of oxygen exchange between 18O-water and the periodate-oxidation product (1) obtained from 1,2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose. The isotopic enrichment of 5 and 6 was determined by hydrolysis of each to D-xylose-5-18O (3), conversion of the sugar into 1,2,3,4-tetrakis-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-D-xylopyranose-5-18O (7), and determination of the 18O content of the latter by use of a quadrupole, mass spectrometer.


Synthesis of 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-D-ribo-hexose hydrochloride. The title sugar, the 5-epimer of daunosamine, was prepared in a sequence of high-yielding steps from methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside (1). Conversion of 1 into methyl 3-acetamido-4-O-benzoyl-6-bromo-2,3,6-trideoxy-alpha-D-ribo-hexopyranoside (2), followed by reduction with hydrogen and Raney nickel, gave the 4-benzoate (3) of methyl 3-acetamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-alpha-D-ribo-hexopyranoside (4). Saponification of 3 gave 4 as an oil that gave a crystalline 4-acetate (8). N-Deacetylation of 4 was effected with barium hydroxide, and the resultant glycoside was hydrolyzed to give 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-D-ribo-hexose hydrochloride (7). The 3-benzamido analogue (5) of 4 was prepared from 4 by N-deacetylation and subsequent benzoylation, and hydrolysis of 5 gave crystalline 3-benzamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-D-ribo-hexose (6). The crystalline 3-acetamido analogue (9) of 6 was obtained by acid hydrolysis of the glycoside 4.


The importance of cuff width in measurement of blood pressure indirectly. Blood pressure was measured indirectly in young adults with arm circumferences ranging from 21 to 35 cm using three standard blood pressure cuffs (thigh, adult, and child). The auscultatory method was used with Phase 1 and Phase V to indicate systolic and diastolic pressures respectively. It was found that use of the narrow cuff provided values higher than those obtained with the adult cuff; use of the thigh cuff produced value lower than those obtained with the adult cuff. These data, and a careful review of the literature, reveal the fundamental nature of the effect of the ratio of cuff width to member circumference with respect to the accuracy of indirect blood pressure measurements. The order of error expected with narrow and wide cuffs is discussed.


Experimental barbiturate intoxication: treatment by partial cardiopulmonary bypass and hemodialysis. 1. The results of a series of experiments in which anesthetized mongrel dogs were instrumented and preparations for closed-chest partial cardiopulmonary bypass with membrane oxygenation and hemodialysis were made, following which "fatal" barbiturate intoxication was produced by the intravenous route has been presented. 2. Of nine animals, three (33 l/3%) could be removed from cardiopulmonary bypass although postoperative cardiovascular dynamics remained abnormal. 3. The clinical implications of this study in patients with cardiac depression in spite of hemodialysis for barbiturate intoxication seemed promising.


Changes in the proliferation rate of mouse epidermis after irradiat-on continuous labelling studies. The proliferative response of mouse skin to damage caused by X-irradiation has been tested by giving repeated injections of tritiated thymidine and scoring the percentage of labelled cells in high resolution autoradiography. Four, nine and fourteen daily fractions of 300 rads of X-rays were used and labelling commenced 4 days after the last fraction. The epidermis of the upper surface and the sole of the foot were scored separately and were compared with the skin of unirradiated feet. In unirradiated skin the proliferation rate of the basal layer cells is more rapid on the sole than on the upper surface. The cell cycle times deduced from continuous labelling curves were 81 hr and 111 hr respectively and the growth fractions were 97% and85%. After irradiation with small daily doses the homeostatic response to cell killing was slow. More rapid proliferation occurred after nine fractions in the sole, but was not apparent in the skin of the upper surface until fourteen fractions had been  given. After fourteen fractions the cell cycle time was about 24 hr on both surfaces and the growth fraction was about 90%. The initial labelling index after a single thymidine injection was a poor measure of proliferation rate. The delay in the time of onset of faster proliferation is similar, both qualitatively and quantitatively, to that measured previously from the additional dose increments needed if large doses were given at different times after the multifraction treatments (Denekamp, 1973).


A serum facted by newborn calf serum.

A serum facted by newborn calf serum. An intraperitoneal injection of newborn calf serum (NBCS) into CRF Swiss mice causes an inflammatory reaction characterized by an increase in the number of macrophages in the peritoneal cavity and a concomitant monocytosis. The serum of such mice contains a monocytosis-inducing factor, as demonstrated by the intravenous injection of serum collected 18 (CalS18) and 24 hr (CalS24) after the intraperitoneal injection of NBCS. Serum from normal untreated mice, from mice given an intraperitoneal injection of sterile pyrogen-free saline, which does not cause an inflammatory reaction, or from mice 72 hr after an intraperitoneal injection of NBCS, when the inflammatory reaction has subsided, does not cause a monocytosis in test mice. Intravenous injection of CalS18 causes not only a monocytosis but also an increase in the number of promonocytes and bone marrow monocytes, suggesting an increased  in the number of promonocytes and bone marrow monocytes, suggesting an increased  production of monocytes. The effect of CalS18, CalS24 and CalS18 filtrate is specific for the mononuclear phagocytes, since only non-significant increases in the numbers of lymphocytes and granulocytes were observed. The active factor in CalS18 was shown to be different from the monocytosis-inducing factor present in  NBCS. The monocytosis-inducing factor in CalS18 passes through an ultrafiltration membrane  with an exclusion limit of 50,000 Daltons, so that the molecular weight must be below this value.


The influence of 400 r x-irradiation on the number and the localization of mature and immature goblet cells and Paneth cells in intestinal crypt and villus. The influence of 400 R X-irradiation on the localization and the number of mature and immature goblet cells and Paneth cells in rat duodenal epithelium has been studied. At short times after irradiation, when the total proliferative activity in the crypts of Lieberkuhn is reduced, the proportion of mature and immature goblet cells of the total number of crypt cells was increased; also an absolute increase in the number of goblet cells in the crypts was found. The immature goblet cells were localized in the lower half of the crypt as in control animals, whereas the number of the mature cells increased over the whole crypt length. When the proliferative activity of the crypt cells increases again from 12 to 48 hr after irradiation the number of both types of goblet cells decreases. Between 48 and 72 hr, when the whole crypt is involved in proliferation, a second increase of both types of goblet cells was found. However, the localization of the immature goblet cells is no longer restricted to the lower half of the crypt but they also appear at the higher cell positions. On the villus no immature goblet cells were found and the changes in the numbers of mature goblet cells do reflect the changes induced by irradiation in the goblet cell population in the crypt. The absolute number and localization of Paneth cells did not change under the experimental conditions. The findings are discussed in relation to cell proliferation and differentiation processes in intestinal crypts.


Recycling of resting cells in the JB-1 ascites tumour after treatment with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C). Resting cells in tumours present a major problem in cancer chemotherapy. In the plateau phase of grwoth of the murine JB-1 ascites tumour (i.e. 10 days after 2-5 X 10(6) cells i.p.) large fractions of non-cycling cells with G1 and G2 DNA content (Q1 and Q2 cells) are present, and the fate of these resting cells was investigated after treatment with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C). The experimental work of growth curves, percentage of labelled mitoses curves after continuous labelling with 3H-TdR, and cytophotometric determination of single-cell DNA content in unlabelled tumour cells. Treatment with an i.p. single injection of Ara-C 200 mg/kg in the plateau JB-1 tumour resulted in a significant reduction in the number of tumour cells 1 and 2 days later as compared with untreated controls, while no difference in the number of tumour cells was observed after 3 days. In tumours prelabelled with 3H-TdR 24 hr before Ara-C treatment, a significant decrease in the percentage of labelled mitoses was observed 6-8 hr later followed by a return to the initial value after 12 hr, and a new pronounced fall from 20 hr after Ara-C. The second fall in the percentage of labelled mitoses disappeared when the labelling with 3H-TdR was continued also after Ara-C treatment. Cytophotometry of unlabelled tumour cells prelabelled for 24 hr with 3H-TdR before Ara-C treatment showed 20 hr after Ara-C a pronounced decrease in the fraction of Q1 cells paralleled by an increase in the fraction of unlabelled cells with S DNA content. The results indicate recycling of resting cells first with G2 and later with G1 DNA content, which contribute to the regrowth of the tumours.


Mode of growth of the jejunal crypt cells of the rat: an autoradiographic study using double labelling with 3H- and 14C-thymidine in lower and upper parts of crypts. The frequency distribution of cells through the mitotic cycle in lower and upper portions of jejunal crypts of the rat was examined by the 3H-14C-thymidine double labelling technique. Isolated crypts were cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so that the percentage of cells in the lower portion varied from 16 to 74%. The lower and upper portion of the same crypt were squashed separately on one microscope slide and the number of 3H- and 14C-only labelled cells were scored to determine the flow rate into and out of S for the two portions. The mitotic cycle and its phases of the crypt epithelial cells were also determined. For lower portions of crypts which contained less than 40% of the total cell number in that crypt the flow rate into S was about 1-7 times that of the flow rate out of S indicating that nearly every mitosis in this region produced two proliferative daughter cells. As the proportion of cells in the lower part of the crypt increased the quotient of the flow rate into S divided by the flow rate out of S decreased, and approached the steady state value of 1-0 in lower portions containing 60-74% of the cells. For upper portions of crypts which contained less than 40% of the total crypt cells the flow rate into S was about 0-2 times that of the flow rate out of S, indicating that in this region mitoses predominantly produced non-proliferative daughter cells. The results obtained were in good agreement with the model of crypt cell proliferation proposed by Cairnie, Lamerton & Steel (1965b).


Study of cell death in Friend leukaemia. Cell death of splenic Friend leukaemic cells has been studied in vivo, using 125I-UdR and 3H-TdR pulse labelling. The evolution of the splenic specific activity has been measured by autoradiography and external counting during 40 hr after injection of the labelled precursor. These two techniques show the existence of a large reutilization of 3H-TdR (50%), which is measurable as soon as 7 hr after the injection. The DNA turnover rate is rapid, 83-8% of the splenic cellular DNA being renewed per day. Those results confirm that most of the cells produced in the Friend leukaemic spleen are rapidly lost; they also demonstrate that this cell loss is mainly due to a massive death, which occurs in proerythroblastic and erythroblastic compartments after one or two cell divisions. Friend leukaemic cells, which are characterized by a limited capacity of proliferation and a short lifespan, do not appear to be malignant.


The cell proliferation kinetics of the EMT6/M/AC mouse tumour at four volumes during unperturbed growth in vivo. The cell proliferation kinetics of the EMT6/M/AC mouse tumour were determined at four different volumes between 1-5 mm3 and 175 mm3. The decrease in the growth rate between these volumes are mainly due to a decrease in the rate constant for cell production. A small increase in the rate constant for cell loss occurred, but this was thought to be insignificant. The cell loss factor increased from 40% at 1-5 mm3 to over 70% in the 175 mm3 tumours. An increase in the median cell cycle time, from 14-1 hr to 18-5 hr was also found between these same volumes. Results obtained for the NCTC fibrosarcoma and the R-1 rhabdo-myosarcoms indicate that there may be a threshold volume in these sarcomas below which little or no cell loss takes place. This was not found in the EMT6/M/AC tumour.


Characteristics of the isoprenaline stimulated proliferative response of rat submaxillary gland. A simple stochastic model has been developed to determine the cell cycle kinetics of the isoprenaline stimulated proliferative response in rat acinar cells. The response was measured experimentally, using 3H-TdR labelling of interphase cells and cumulative collections of mitotic cells with vincristine. The rise and fall of the fraction of labelled interphase cells and of metaphase cells is expressed by the product of the proliferative fraction and a difference of probability distributions. The probability statements of the model were formulated and then compared by an iterative fitting procedure to experimental data to obtain estimates of the model parameters. The model when fitted to the combined fraction labelled interphase (FLIW) and fraction metaphase (FMWa) waves gave a mean Gis transit time of 21-2 hr, mean Gis +S transit time of 27-0 hr, and mean Gis + S + G2 transit time of 35-8 hr for a single injection of isoprenaline, where Gis is the initiation to S phase time. When successive injections of isoprenaline were given at intervals of 24 and 28 hr the corresponding values after the third injection were 12-4 hr, 20-8 hr and 25-7 hr respectively. The variance of the Gis phase dropped from 18-1 to 1-3 while the other variances remained unchanged. The estimated proliferative fraction was 0-24 after a single injection of isoprenaline, and 0.31 after three injections of the drug. Independently determined values of the proliferative fraction, obtained from repeated 3H-TdR injections, were 0-21 and 0-36 respectively.


Preferential labeling of rat lymphocytes with a rapid rate of turnover by tritiated deoxycytidine. Lymphocytes in thymic cortex and germinal centers of lymphoid tissues are labeled intensely with generally labeled tritiated deoxycytidine [G-3H]dCyd whereas they are weakly labeled with methyl tritiated deosythymidine [methyl3H]dThd of the same specific activity, not only by single injection but also by an intensive injection schedule. [G-3H]dCyd can be used to label short-lived lymphocytes strongly, although not specifically. The distribution patterns of labeled lymphocytes were different depending on the injection schedules of [G-3H]dCyd. [G-3H]dCyd can be used as a precursor molecule for cytosine and also thymine found in DNA. The ratios of radioactive thymine to crytosine measured biochemically on DNA extracted from radioactive lymphocytes labeled by the various schedules indicate strongly that short- and long-lived lymphocyte populations have different abilities to utilize pyrimidine nucleosides for DNA synthesis.


The predominant role of the spleen in lymphocyte recirculation. II. Pre- and postsplenectomy retransfusion studies in young pigs. Autologous blood lymphocytes from three normal pigs were labelled with 3H-uridine and retransfused before and after splenectomy. Frequent samples for up to 150 min after retransfusion were evaluated autoradiographically to determine the rate of disappearance of labelled lymphocytes from the blood. In one pig retransfusion was performed before and after sham-splenectomy. In all preoperative experiments the pattern of disappearance of labelled lymphocytes was very similar. After a first rapid decline (halving time on average 8 min) a short rise of the labelling index was observed from 10 to 15 min after retransfusion. Then a second more gradual decrease of labelled lymphocytes followed. The mean halving time during this period was less than 32 min. From 60 min onwards the labelling index remained nearly constant. Retransfusions performed 3 days after splenectomy revealed only one nearly constant decline of the labelling index (halving time on average 129 min). After sham-splenectomy the pattern of disappearance was similar to the preoperative experiment. One hour after the end of retransfusion the labelling index had decreased by three-quarters of the initial value in normal pigs and by only one-third in the splenectomized ones. These results indicate that in the pig the total rate of recirculation is at least 4 times faster with the spleen in situ than without the spleen.


Cell proliferation in the erythroid compartment of guinea-pig bone marrow: studies with 3H-thymidine. Single and multiple injections of 3H-TdR have been used for measuring the rate of proliferation in morphologically defined cell populations of guinea-pig bone marrow that are committed to erythroid differentiation. The conclusions are based on the analysis of absolute cell numbers in the maturational compartments, the labeling and mitotic indices, labeled mitotic curves, pulse and chase grain counts over dividing and interphase cells, and on the rate or labeling during multiple, repeated injections of 3H-TdR. The average duration of S and the rate of cycling is similar in all maturational compartments of the erythrom. The majority of cells progress to the next maturational compartment by the time they divide for the second time. All proerythroblasts and basophilic erythroblasts are in cycle. Polychromatic erythroblasts incapable of incorporating 3H-TdR reach the orthochromatic population in the span of 5-6 hr. The orthochromatic population is renewed every 20-24 hr. The number of divisions between the proerythroblast and orthochromatic erythroblast does not exceed four and some cells may undergo only two divisions during the maturation pathway. Cell input from a progenitor cell population contributes to the maintenance of the erythron. The kinetic behavior of progenitor cells is similar to that of proerythroblasts. By the time of their second division, progenitor cells may reach either the proerythroblast or basophilic erythroblast compartments. The kinetic behavior of basophilic transitional cells corresponds to the predicted behavior of the erythroblast progenitor cell pool. Several of the conclusions are based on the assumption that grain count halving is the result of cell division. In view of the evidence discussed, this assumption in the present studies seems justified.


Studies on intracellular transport of secretory proteins in the rat exocrine pancreas. IV. Stimulation by in vivo infusion of caerulein. Prolonged secretory stimulation of the exocrine pancreas in the rat by in vivo infusion of caerulein leads to a rapid degranulation of the organ associated with a progressive reduction in the size of the zymogen granules. During the first six to twelve hours of stimulation Golgi complexes are enlarged and several structural forms of multivesicular bodies are found indicating a lysosomal degradation of membrane material in the Golgi area. Maximum secretory activity is obtained after a 24 hour infusion, Golgi complexes appear fragmented, the secretory granules measure only 1/3 to 1/4 their normal size. Thereafter, in spite of a continuous stimulation, the exocrine cells regranulate progressively up to 72 hours of infusion. This regranulation is associated with massive enlargement of the Golgi complexes.


Synaptology of the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus. Within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the rat the fine structure of the synapses and some features of their topological arrangement were studied. Five types of synapses could be distinguished with certainty: A. Two types of Gray-type-I (GTI) or asymmetrical synapses (approximately 33%). The presynaptic elements contain strikingly different types of mitochondria. Size of clear vesicles: approximately 450 A. Synapses with subjunctional bodies often occur, among these also "crest synapses". Localization: dendritic shafts and spines, rarely somata. B. Three types of Gray-type-2 (GTII) or symmetrical synapses (approximately 66%):1) Axo-dendritic and -somatic (=AD) synapses. Size of clear vesicles: approximately 500 A. 2) Invaginated axo-dendritic and -somatic (=IAD) synapses with club-like postsynaptic protrusions within the presynaptic elements (PreE1). Size of clear vesicles is very variable: approximately 400-1,000 A. 3) Dendro-dendritic, -somatic and somato-dendritic (=DD) synapses occurring at least partly in reciprocal arrangements. They represent an intrinsic system. Shape of clear vesicles: often oval; sucrose treatment partly produces flattening. Dense core-vesicles (dcv) are found in all GTII- and most of the GTI-synapses after three-dimensional reconstruction. All types of synapses (mostly GTII-synapses) can be enclosed by multilamellar astroglial formations. The synapses often occur in complex synaptic arrangements. Dendrites and somata of females show significantly more multivesiculated bodies than those of males. Further pecularities of presynaptic (PreELs) and postsynaptic elements (PostELs) within the SCN are described and discussed.


Chromaffin, small granule-containing and ganglion cells in the adrenal gland of reptiles: A comparative ultrastructural study. Chromaffin, small granule-containing (SGC)-cells, neurons and the innervation of these cells was studied in the adrenal gland of three species of reptiles (Testudo graeca, Lacerta dugesi, Natrix natrix). 1. After fixation with glutaraldehyde and osmium-tetroxide adrenaline (A)- and noradrenaline (NA)-storing cells can be distinguished by means of the different electron density of their granules: A-granules are moderately electron-dense, while NA-granules show a core of high electron density. The unusually high electron density of a few A-granules in Testudo occasionally required viewing of unstained sections which facilitated the discrimination of the two cell types in this species. In all species studied NA-granules display a remarkable polymorphism which is most pronounced in the tortoise. In this species A-granules are polymorphic, too. Both types of granules show wide variations in size, which are particularly great in the tortoise. This species also exhibits the largest average sizes for A-granules (285 nm), and NA-granules (354 nm). The corresponding parameters for Lacerta and Natrix, are 255 and 179 nm for A- and 323 and 304 nm for NA-granules, respectively. The rough ER in A-cells of the tortoise regularly occurs in the form of circular dilations ('ergastosomes', Kanerva and Hervonen, 1973). Mitochondria sometimes contain longitudinal cristae with a crystalloid internal pattern. Large dense bodies which incorporate granules are abundant in NA-cells. Smaller dense bodies containing a few dense patches and membranes are present in both A- and NA-cells. Intermediate stages between dense bodies and what appear to be A- or NA-granules (if the latter have lost some of their amine-content) are frequently observed.


Effects of heterologous cross-suture between the postganglionic sympathetic and the preganglionic parasympathetic nerve trunks of submandibular glands in cats. After sectioning the postganglionic adrenergic sympathetic nerve trunk for the submandibular gland, as close to the submandibular artery as practicable, its central end was sutured to the peripheral end of the preganglionic cholinergic parasympathetic nerve trunk for the gland, the chorda, which had been sectioned where it left the lingual nerve. The effects of this heterologous cross-sature were studied at different times, up to 1 year afterwards, by assessing the physiological and pharmacological responses of the glands and the neuro-histochemical changes in the nerve trunks and in the nerves within the glands. In all cases adrenergic sympathetic nerves grew across the site of suture and down the erstwhile cholinergic parasympathetic trunk, eventually to develop connections in the gland. In some cases the functional adrenergic reinnervation of the submandibular gland appeared to result exclusively or predominantly from the direct downgrowth of adrenergic axons to the gland, via the crossed nerves. In other cases however, in addition to a direct glandular reinnervation, there was some physiological and morphological evidence which suggested that possible heterogneous synaptic contracts may have been created between postganglionic sympathetic axons and cholinergic ganglion cells in the chorda nerve.


The cells that secrete the beaks in octopods and squids (Mollusca, Cephalopoda). A single layer of cell secrets the hard cephalopod beaks. The beccublasts are tall columnar cells that separate the beak from the surrounding buccal muscles, and must serve to attach these muscles to the beak. Within the cell layer there are three types of cells. The first, and most frequently found contain cell-long fibrils. These fibrils may have contractile and tensile properties. Complex trabeculae extend from the beccublasts into the matrix of the beak. The fibrils are attached to these trabeculae and at the other end of the cells they are anchored near to the beccublast-muscle cell interface, closely associated with the muscles that move the beak. The second group of cells contain masses of endoplasmic reticulum the cysternae of which are arranged along the long axis of the cell. These cells also contain dense granules and are probably the major source of beak hard tissue. It is probable that each cell secretes its own column of beak hard tissue. The third group of cells cells contains a mixture of fibrils and secretory tissue. In the beccublast layer there are changes in the proportion of the three types of cells depending upon the region sampled. In the region where growth is most active there are mostly secretory cells, whereas near the biting and wearing tip there are mainly anchoring type cells.


The postnatal development of myelinated nerve fibres in the visual cortex of the cat: a stereological and electron microscopical investigation. With the aid of stereological procedures the development of myelinated nerve fibres (MF) was quantitatively investigated in electron micrographs of the visual cortex from animals of different ages: 36 days-old, the age at which fibres first appear, through adulthood. A short description of tissue treatment, methods and qualitative results is given. The following quantitative results are presented: 1. Myelinization begins at about the 36th day postpartum and is not completed by the 164th day. At this time a lack of about 20% MF can be observed. 2. The average diameter of MF decreases from 1.3 mum to 0.8 mum from day 36 to adulthood. 3. The first MF appear near the border of the album. 4. Beginning with the 55th day, small MF arise in layer I, showing two periods of growth. 5. The maximum MF density in the region of layer IV corresponds to the strip of Baillarger. Other aspects of visual cortex development are dealt with in the Discussion. The following conclusions can be drawn: a) The growing of in- and output-MF is completed first. b) The development of the internal connecting systems in layers I and IV begins a little later and is completed by the 5th month. c) The MF in layers II and III appear after the 4th month. Kaes (1907) has also described a continuation of MF growth in man lasting into the twenties.


Percutaneous catheter emboli: sources and prevention. Percutaneous coronary arteriography has been associated with numerous reports of embolic complications. Efforts to minimize such complications have focused upon normal hemostatic functions and the possible preventative role of systemic heparin. In considering the source and prevention of catheter emboli it is useful to review the mechanisms by which particulate matter may be introduced into the aortic root and to recognize that foreign material unaffected by anticoagulation may constitute a significant source of emboli. A simple technical protocol described in this communication has been followed during 3,500 percutaneous transfemoral coronary arteriograms using the Judkins approach. During this experience no embolic complications have been observed.


Treadmill exercise testing of mass screening for coronary risk factors. The prevalence of an abnormal maximal treadmill stress test (MTST) was correlated with coronary risk factors in 1,077 asymptomatic adults (709 men and 368 women) in Long Beach, California. Of 1,077 adults, 113 (10.5%) had a positive MTST. A positive MTST was correlated with sex (p less than 0.001), age (p less than 0.001), a serum cholesterol less than or equal to 200 mg% (p less than 0.02), hypertriglyceridemia (p less than 0.05), cigarette smoking (p less than 0.025), and with the number of coronary risk factors (p less than 0.005) but not with hypertension, cigar or pipe smoking, obesity, or blood sugar.


Effects of intravenous glucose during pacing-induced angina pectoris in patients with coronary artery disease. The effects of hypertonic glucose infusion on the anginal threshold determined by atrial pacing was studied in 14 patients with significant coronary artery disease. After glucose, angina occurred at a significantly lower heart rate and double product (systolic arterial pressure x heart rate), suggesting a decreased tolerance to ischemic stress. No stoichiometric relationship was noted between glucose uptake and lactate production, and there was no evidence that hypertonic glucose infusion resulted in enhanced anaerobic glycolysis in the ischemic myocardium. Acute elevation of plasma glucose levels may not be beneficial to patients with coronary artery disease.


Angiographic assessment of right ventricular volumes and ejection fraction. Since the advent of cardiovascular angiography only a few decades ago (1), a massive number of data related to the ventricular function have been accumulated. Specifically, left ventricular (LV) geometry, volumes, and patterns of contractility have been extensively investigated (2-7), especially in patients with coronary artery disease (8-11). In contrast, much less attention has been given to the characteristics of the right ventricle (RV). This has been due partially to the fact that the LV was always considered to be more important chamber of the heart. The relative neglect of RV performance has been further compounded by difficulties in analyzing the geometry of the RV chamber: while the LV configuration approximately resembles an ellipsoid of revolution (and therefore lends itself to relatively simple mathematical analysis), the RV has always been considered a somewhat amorphous structure that does not yield to simple geometric manipulation. In this review, recent approaches to the angiographic measurements of RV volumes and ejection fraction are examined.


Evaluation of left ventricular performance in coronary heart disease: use of isometric handgrip stress test. The usefulness of isometric handgrip exercise in the assessment of left ventricular function was studied in 27 patients, all of whom had angiographically documented coronary artery disease. The effect of extensiveness of coronary disease and presence or absence of collaterals (both delineated by coronary arteriography) on the response to handgrip stress was also evaluated. Of 11 patients with a normal handgrip response, 4 exhibited a normal left ventriculogram and 7 were abnormal. Of these 7, 6 had inferior hypokinesis. Conversely, of 16 patients with an abnormal response to handgrip, 15 had abnormal ventriculograms. Of these, 9 had anterior akinesis. Of patients with a normal handgrip response 82% had two- or three-vessel coronary disease, and 94% with an abnormal response exhibited two- or three-vessel obstruction. There was no observed correlation between the presence or absence of collaterals and the response to handgrip. This study indicates that (1) handgrip stress, when combined with left ventriculography, often yields important additional information regarding the effect of localized contraction abnormalities on overall left ventricular performance; (2) the extent of coronary obstructive disease or the presence of collaterals per se do not appear to be the primary determinants of left ventricular performance; (3) it is possible that the location as well as severity and extent of left ventricular contraction abnormality may play an important role in determining overall left ventricular performance.


Echocardiographic criteria of normal left atrial size in adults. Although the measurement of left atrial diameter (LAD) is a standard part of any echocardiographic examination, the normal range for adults has never been well established or correlated with body surface area (BSA) and sex. We studied 100 males and 100 females whose ages ranged from 15 to 70 years, with no evidence of mitral value disease or other form of heart disease which might cause left atrial enlargement. All measurements were obtained between the external surface of posterior aortic root (AR) and the internal surface of the left atrial wall and were recorded at ventricular end diastole (ED) as well as end systole (ES). The LAD at ED ranged from 9.5 to 29.5 mm with a mean of 19 mm +/- 5.0 S.D.; the diameter at ES ranged from 18.3 mm to 38.7 mm with a mean of 28.5 mm +/- 5.1 S.D. The mean LAD at ED was 20.7 mm +/- 4.8 S.D. in makes compared to the mean diameter of 18.3 +/- 4.9 S.D. in females which represents a significant difference (p less than 0.001). The LAD did not correlate with BSA. The left atrial dimension by ultrasound in these 200 normal patients was compared with the same measurement in 50 catheterized patients with mitral valve disease and proven left atrial enlargement. When absolute values of the left atrial dimension both at end systole and end diastole were determined by ultrasound, there was a clear separation between normal and abnormal (p less than 0.001).


Prolapsing mitral valve leaflet syndrome. A spectrum that includes cleft posterior mitral valve. Two patients with a prolapse and cleft posterior mitral leaflet were studied. The first case had an associated ostium secundum type atrial septal defect. In both cases, the pansystolic regurgitation of contrast material during angiography corresponded to the pansystolic configuration of the murmur. In each instance, the systolic murmurs displayed a late systolic accentuation during the maximal prolapse of the mitral valve. The echocardiographic studies demonstrated only a late systolic prolapse which in both patients corresponded angiocardiographically to the maximum buckling of the pansystolic prolapse. Echocardiographic and angiocardiographic features of cleft posterior mitral valve leaflet are discussed.


Echocardiographic findings in a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension. This is a report of the echocardiographic findings in a 9-year-old white female with primary pulmonary arterial hypertension confirmed by catheterization and later at autopsy. The reported findings of an absent "a" wave, a flat diastolic E to F slope, and a midsystolic closure of the pulmonic valve were observed. In addition, tricuspid valve prolapse was noted. Prolapse of the tricuspid valve may be part of the mechanism of tricuspid insufficiency in a patient with pulmonary hypertension.


Aneurysm of the subclavian artery: a complication of retrograde brachial artery catheterization. A case of an aneurysm of an anomalous right subclavian artery following retrograde catheterization of the right brachial artery is described. This complication was not recognized until the patient presented with symptoms related to a superior mediastinal mass. After appropriate studies were performed operative intervention was successful in establishing a patent subclavian artery.


The hemodynamic simulation of mitral regurgitation in ventricular septal defect after myocardial infarction. The development of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) following myocardial infarction is an uncommon complication which clinically can be confused with mitral insufficiency due to infarction of a papillary muscle. The clinical and hemodynamic records of six patients with documented acute VSD secondary to myocardial infarction were analyzed to determine which descriptors would be of value in clinically separating these two entities. All six of our patients had a right heart catheterization showing an oxygen step-up consistent with a VSD, and five had a large pulmonary wedge V wave suggesting concomitant mitral insufficiency. The echocardiogram showed only nonspecific chamber enlargement. Since these patients were being considered for open heart surgery to close the VSD, left and right cardiac catheterization including selective coronary arteriography was done. Despite large V waves being present in the pulmonary wedge and/or left atrial pressure tracing in five of the six patients, no mitral insufficiency was present on the left ventricular cineangiograms. It is concluded that a large pulmonary wedge and/or left atrial V wave does not necessarily indicate mitral insufficiency. Since both a VSD and mitral insufficiency are surgically correctable, patients who develop new holosystolic murmurs following myocardial infarction should have complete right and left heart catheterizations with LV angiography for accurate diagnosis if surgical correction of the lesion is contemplated.


Template restriction in human chromatin. DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Escherchia coli was used to transcribe chromatin from human leukocytes and purified human DNA. RNA was labeled at the 5' terminus with either [gamma-32P]ATP or [gamma-32P]GTP and internally with [3H]UTP. Determination of the average chain length of the RNA molecules by the ratio of moles of 3H-labeled nucleotide incorporated to moles 32P-labeled nucleotide incorporated showed that the size of the transcript of purified DNA was about 2 1/2 times greater than those from chromatin. The percentage of chains initiated with ATP and GTP was observed to vary with the template, the ATP to GTP ratio being greater on chromatin. The kinetics of 3H and 32P hybridization of transcripts of purified DNA showed hybridization primarily to nonrepetitive sequences. Transcripts from the chromatin templates when hybridized to DNA showed a larger proportion of RNase resistance of the 32P-termini at low Cot's.


Action of the head activator as a growth hormone in hydra. At the cellular level the head activator from hydra acts as a mitogen or growth hormone. It shortens cell cycle times by stimulating cells arrested in the G2 period to go through mitosis. This is true for continuously proliferating cell types like epithelial cells, gland cells, and interstitial cells, and for differentiating interstitial cells including those undergoing a last mitosis before differentiating into nerves or nematocytes.


Action of the head activator on the determination of interstitial cells in hydra. In addition to its role as a growth hormone (preceding paper), at the cellular level the head activator functions as one of the substances which control the determination of uncommitted stem cells in hydra. In the presence of head activator the determination of interstitial stem cells to nerve cells is stimulated, the determination of interstitial cells to nematocytes is inhibited. The determination of interstitial cells to nerves occurs shortly before or in the very early S period of interstitial cells.


Differentiation associated changes in thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase activities in intestinal cells. Proliferative and mature intestinal cells of the jejunum and colon of rat, colon of man, and the surface cells of neoplastic colon lesions of man were assayed for thymidylate synthetase and thymidine kinase activities. Cells from the proliferative region of rat jejunal mucosa were found to have higher enzyme activities than cells from the non-proliferative region. Thymidylate synthetase activity was observed to decrease as cells migrated from base to upper crypt, whereas thymidine kinase activity increased during crypt migration and then declined as cells migrated onto villi. Thymidine kinase activity also remained elevated longer than thymidylate synthetase during cell migration in colonic mucosa of rat and man. High thymidine kinase: thymidylate synthetase ratios similar to those observed in flat mucosa before cells become fully mature were found in cells removed from expanding neoplastic lesions of man.


Phosphorylation of nonhistone chromosomal proteins early during the prereplicative phase of the cell cycle of WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts. Stimulation of confluent monolayers of nondividing WI-38 cells to proliferate is accompanied by a doubling in the rate of phosphorylation of nonhistone chromosomal proteins during the first hour. The use of cycloheximide to inhibit protein synthesis does not appear to affect phosphorylation of the nonhistones. Nondividing and serum-stimulated cells exhibit qualitative differences in the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of individual polypeptide peaks resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These results are consistent with other evidence implicating nonhistone protein phosphorylation as an early event involved in the activation of transcription occurring during cell proliferation.


Distribution of intercalative dye binding sites in chromatin. Actinomycin D (AMD) and ethidium bromide (EB) were found to bind to chromatin isolated from a variety of gander tissues according to a strong and weak process analogous to that found for deproteinized DNA. Distribution of the dye intercalation sites in chromatin and DNA were evaluated at low r-values (dye bound per nucleotide) by following the appearance of free dye released from chromatin and DNA during thermal denaturation. The AMD dissociation profiles closely resembled the DNA or chromatin-DNA denaturation profiles; whereas the EB derivative dissociation profiles, indicated 3 major transitions for transcriptionally active chromatin with the main component corresponding to the single component which characterizes DNA. The DNA-like component was greatly reduced for mature erythrocyte chromatin but could be generated by removal of histone I and V. Removal of residual non acid-soluble proteins from dehistonized chromatin, urea treatment or dissociation and reconstitution of chromatin favoured conversion to the DNA-like component with loss of the other two. This study indicates that more than one type of binding exists generally in chromatin.


Protein modifications by activated carcinogens. II. The acetylation of ribonuclease by N-acetoxy-3-fluorenylacetamide. The reaction of N-[3H]acetoxy-3-fluorenylacetamide (N-[3H]acetoxy-3-FAA), a potent carcinogen for the rat, with RNAase yielded three modified proteins separable from RNAase by ion exchange chromatography on Bio-Gel CM-30 with a gradient of increasing sodium ion concentration. Only minor amounts of RNAase were recovered. The modified proteins were labeled with 3H to a varying degree, and their order of elution was inversely related to the extent of labeling. The modification of the proteins was the result of the transfer of the acetyl group from N-[3H]acetoxy-3-FAA to RNAase. The evidence for this conclusion  was (a) the release of 84-86% of the radioactivity as [3H] acetic acid from the two major proteins upon acid hydrolysis and (b) the isolation of eplision-N-[3H] acetyl-L-lysine from enzymatic hydrolysates of these proteins. A comparison of the present data with those previously reported for the acetylaton of RNAase by the isomeric carcinogen, N-acetoxy-2-FAA, showed that N-acetoxy-3-FAA is the more potent acetyl-lating agent. The present study in conjunction with the previous results, suggests that structural alteration of cellular nucleopholes by acylation may be a biochemical mechanism underlying the biological activity of N-acetoxy-3-FAA and related activated carcinogens.


The conversion of benzo(alpha)pyrene 4,5-oxide into 4-hydroxybenzo(alpha)pyrene in the presence of polyriboguanylic acid. Incubation of benzo[alpha] pyrene 4,5-oxide with poly(G) in neutral aqueous ethanol resulted in the formation of covalent adducts and in the production of free 4-hydroxybenzo[alpha]pyrene. This phenol, which was identified by its UV spectral properties and by its chromatographic characteristics, was also formed but at a much slower rate when the epoxide was incubated with DNA or with GMP. Phenol formation was not detected when benzo[alpha]-pyrene 4,5-oxide was incubated for prolonged periods in the presence of poly(A), poly(C) or poly(U) or in the absence of nucleic acid. Formation of 4-hydroxybenzo[alpha] pyrene from the epoxide in the presence of poly(G) was not accompanied by detectable base modifications or by breakage of phosphodiester linkages.


Effect of 7,8-benzolfavone on the formation of benzo(alpha)pyrene-DNA-bound products in hamster embryo cells. The hydrocarbon-deoxyribonucleoside products present in enzyme digests of DNA from hamster embryo cultures that had been treated with[3H]-benzo[alpha]pyrene (BP) were isolated by chromatography on Sephadex LH20 columns. The products isolated from cells treated with 7,8-benzoflavone (7,8-BF) for 18 h prior to the addition of [3H] BP were indistinguishable from the products isolated from untreated cultures, but the amounts of these products decreased with increasing concentrations of 7,8-BF. The amount of BP metabolized was also decreased in 7,8-BF-treated cultures. The decrease in the amounts of hydrocarbon-deoxyribonucleoside products per mg DNA was logarithmic with respect to the decrease in BP metabolism. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that 7,8-BF inhibits both an initial and a later metabolic step involved in the conversion of BP to a reactive species that binds to cellular DNA.


Attachment of ribosomes to endoplasmic membranes in mouse pancreas. Degranulation in vivo caused by the inducers of autophagocytosis neutral red, vinblastine, puromycin, and cadmium ions, and prevention by cycloheximide. The present investigation was undertaken to discover whether in vivo inducers of autophagocytosis such as neutral red (0.40 mg/g body weight), cadmium chloride (0.15 mg/animal), vinblastine sulfate (7.5 mg/kg b.w.), and puromycin dihydrochloride (0.20 mg/g b.w.) are able to produce degranulation of rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of pancreatic acinar cells as we suggested earlier. Using a modified method of Blobel and Potter about 30% of the total ribosomes of untreated control pancreas were recovered in the free form, and 70% in the membrane-bound form. Cycloheximide (0.20 mg/g body weight) had no effect on this distribution of ribosomes, while neutral red, cadmium ions, vinblastine, and puromycin led to the presence of more free ribosomes: thus up to 70% of the total cytoplasmic ribosomes were recovered in the free form 30 to 60 min after treatments with the autophagic inducers. Pretreatments with cycloheximide prevented this shift and the distribution of ribosomes remained normal. On the basis of these and previous results we conclude that in pancreas an initial degranulation of the ER caused by these agents is a precondition of membrane transformation in autophagocytosis which is preventable by cycloheximide. Confirming the ultrastructural data of Longnecker et al. on rat pancreas, puromycin was shown to cause different forms of cellular injury including autophagocytosis. All forms of cellular injury were also prevented by pretreatment with cycloheximide in mouse pancreas.


Dimethylnitrosamine-demethylase: absence of increased enzyme catabolism and multiplicity of effector sites in repression. Hemoprotein involvement. Evidence is presented that the previously observed decrease of the Vmax of hepatic microsomal demethylation of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), following pretreatment of rats with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), is not due to increase in the rate of breakdown but to decrease of de novo synthesis. Determinations of Vmax at time intervals in the transition from the high steady-state level induced by a carbohydrate-devoid casein diet, down to the low steady-state level of carbohydrate-containing basal diet, yielded two consecutive slopes; descent from the basal diet level to the lower steady-state level following pretreatment with MC yielded one slope. Plotting these slopes against the initial Vmax values gave a typical exponential curve (or straight line if the logs of slopes are used) indicating that the rate of enzyme decay in the MC-treated animals is not greater than that expected from normal enzyme catabolism. A multiplicity of effector sites appears to be involved in the repressor action of different structural types; for example, repression by MC (46.6%) and by phenobarbital (23.9%) in combination are approximately additive (62.0%), rather than competitive, indicating that the two agents act at different sites. A P-450 type cytochrome is involved in the demethylation of DMN. DMN-demethylase is inhibited by carbon monoxide, but the susceptibility to CO is far greater than that observed previously with 3,4-benzopyrene hydroxylation; inhibition of DMN-demethylase as a function of CO concentration follows typical enzyme kinetics. However, while both phenobarbital and MC powerfully repress the DMN-demethylase, we have confirmed that they are strong inducers of the synthesis of P-450 and P-448, respectively, as estimated from the difference spectra.


The kinetics of the alkaline hydrolysis of phosphotriesters in DNA. The degradation in alkali of normal DNA and DNA alkylated with dimethyl sulphate (DMS), N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNUA) and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENUA) has been investigated using analytical ultracentrifugation techniques. For control T7-DNA (w.st. denatured form 12.5 - 10(6) daltons) the rate of degradation at 37 degrees varies from 0.14 breaks/molecule/h in 0.1 M NaOH to 1.2 breaks/molecule/h in 0.4 M NaOH. When DNA is alkylated with reagents known to produce phosphotriesters addition of alkali leads to an initial rapid degradation not observed with control DNA. Ethyl phosphotriesters are hydrolysed at about half the rate of methyl phosphotriesters. Approximately one third of the methyl or ethyl phosphotriesters present hydrolyse to give breaks in the DNA chain.


The relationship between the turnover of UTP and RNA synthesis in cultured cells treated with aflatoxin B1. Methods have been adapted to measure the specific activity of UTP in cells in monolayer culture. In HeLa cells labelled with [3H]uridine and treated with aflatoxin B1 there was reduced radioactivity in crude acid extracts, but the toxin did not affect the radioactive incorporation into UTP. Using cells in which the UTP was pre-labelled, the subsequent addition of aflatoxin B1 inhibited UTP incorporation into RNA. Accordingly aflatoxin B1 did not inhibit the uptake of uridine or the latter's conversion to UTP but inhibited the incorporation of UTP into RNA.