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Biomedical subjects

L Levine

Publications and source records attributed to L Levine.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Hypercalcemia and tumor-prostaglandins: the VX2 carcinoma model in the rabbit.

The VX2 carcinoma produces profound hypercalcemia (17-22 mg/100 ml) in the rabbit about 3-4 wk after transplantation. A bone resorption-stimulation factor (assayed in vitro with mouse calvaria in culture) has been extracted with diethyl ether from the tumor tissue and from the medium of a clonal strain of VX2 cells grown in culture. Serologic methods reveal that the tumors contain 294 plus or minus 51 ng/g fresh weight (mean plus or minus SE, 25 tumors) of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a potent bone resorption-stimulating agent. VX2 cells in culture produce 0.5-3.0 mug PGE2 per mg cell protein per 24 hr. The production of bone resorption-stimulating activity and PGE2 by VX2 cells in culture were both inhibited by indomethacin (100 ng/ml). Tumors from normocalcemic, indomethacin-treated rabbits (10-40 mg/rabbit/24 hr) contained little or no bone resorption-stimulating activity nor PGE2. Tumor-bearing rabbits receiving indomethacin continuously did not develop hypercalcemia, however, following cessation of indomethacin administration, hypercalcemia developed rapidly and was again reversed by reinstitution of indomethacin feeding. In untreated, hypercalcemic, tumor-bearing rabbits, initiation of indomethacin treatment was followed by a rapid return of the plasma calcium to the normal range. Systemic venous plasma from hypercalcemic tumor-bearing plasma contained higher concentrations of PGE2 than plasma from normocalcemic control rabbits. Venous drainage of the tumor contained even higher plasma PGE2 concentrations than systemic venous plasma in hypercalcemic animals; plasma PGE2 concentrations locally and in systemic plasma were unmeasurable (less than 70 pg/ml) in normocalcemic, indomethacin-treated, tumor-bearing rabbits. We conclude that PGE2 is a bone resorption-stimulating factor produced by VX2 tumor cells, and that secretion of PGE2 by the tumor in vivo may well be responsible for the hypercalcemia observed in tumor-bearing rabbits.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Stereospecificity of enzymatic reduction of prostaglandin E2 to F2alpha.

Antibodies directed toward PGF2beta were prepared in rabbits. The serologic specificity of the immune reaction was determined by inhibition of sodium borohydride-reduced (3H) PGE2 anti-PGF2beta binding by several prostaglandins. The antibodies to PGF2beta recognize the beta-hydroxyl configuration in the cyclopentane ring of PGF2beta. With the use of both anti-PFG2alpha and anti-PFG2beta, the product of PGE2 reduction by 9-ketoreductase purified from chicken heart was identified as PGF2alpha. Guinea pig liver and kidney homogenates were examined for PGE 9-ketoreductase activity. Although enzyme activity was present, no evidence of PGF2beta production was found.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1975

Prostaglandin synthesis by rheumatoid synovium and its stimulation by colchicine.

The synthesis of prostaglandins by rheumatoid synovial tissue in organ culture was studied utilizing radioimmunoassay, with antisera to PGB1, PGF1alpha and PGF2alpha. It was established that PGE2 and PGF2alpha were the major prostaglandins formed by analyses of culture media with the two antisera to PGF, before and after alkali treatment. Indomethacin at 5 mug/ml suppressed prostaglandin synthesis, usually to less than 1% of control cultures. Colchicine, 0.1 mug/ml resulted in marked stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis, in some cases over 10 fold. It is suggested, because of the colchicine effect, that the state of the microtubules may regulate the rate of prostaglandin biosynthesis. It is possible that prostaglandin E2 produced by rheumatoid synovia may contribute to the pathogenesis of the inflammatory reaction and lead to destruction of juxta-articular bone in rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1975

Mouse sperm basic nuclear protein. Electrophoretic characterization and fate after fertilization.

Mouse sperm were labeled in vivo with [3H]arginine. The sperm were then followed autoradiographically from the time of label incorporation until after fertilization. The label was completely lost from the sperm head after fertilization, during the oocyte's second meiotic division. That the [3H]arginine was incorporated into a sperm-specific basic protein was demonstrated by fractionating acid extracts of epididymal and ejaculated sperm with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All the histone fractions were resolved in the epididymal extracts, but in addition a band was present that migrated faster than histone F2al and slower than the salmon protamine used as a marker. This new fraction (proposed name: musculine) was also present in ejaculated sperm; it was shown to be the only fraction that was labeled. Musculine therefore represents the end product of a histone transition in mice. It is, however, according to our electrophoretic characterization, not identical to the classical fish protamines. Rather, musculine resembles bovine sperm nuclear protein. Since the loss of this fraction from the sperm head was coincident with the rearrangement of the male genome, before its resumption of transcription, it is suggested that musculine is involved in the control of chromatin that accompanies spermiogenesis and fertilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The use of previously administered examinations for computer-assisted instruction.

Five-part multiple choice questions use the same procedure as many programmed texts developed for teaching purposes. However, the latter provide immediate feedback, reinforcing a correct answer and correcting a wrong response. Previously-used quizzes, entered into a computer, can provide a learning experience for new students. The computer responds immediately to each student answer, stating whether it is correct or not. If correct, the reason is presented. If incorrect, the reason is stated, and the correct answer is provided along with an explanation.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗
PubMed1975

Prostaglandin-stimulated bone resorption by rheumatoid synovia. A possible mechanism for bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.

Synovial tissue from patients with rheumatoid arthritis was maintained in organ culture for 3-14 days. Conditioned media from these synovial cultures contained bone resorption-stimulating activity, measured in vitro by using calcium release from mouse calvaria as the assay system. The synovial cultures also produce prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) as measured by serologic methods. The production of both the bone resorption-stimulating activity and PGE2 was inhibited by more than 90% by treatment of the synovial cultures with indomethacin (5 mug/ml). In contrast, treatment of the synovial cultures with colchicine (0.1 mug/ml) caused a marked and parallel increase in the concentration of both bone resorption-stimulating activity and PGE2 in the conditioned media. The bone resorption-stimulating activity was quantitatively extracted into diethyl ether. Within the limits of experimental error, all of the bone resorption-stimulating activity in medium was accounted for by its content of PGE2, itself a potent osteolytic factor. We conclude that the bone resorption-stimulating activity produced by rheumatoid synovia in culture is PGE2.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1975

Phase-contrast and electron-microscopic observations on a membranous complex in primary spermatocytes of the mouse.

A prominent cytoplasmic inclusion present in living mouse primary spermatocytes has been observed by both light and electron microscopy. It began to form at prometaphase and continued to increase in thickness and length as the cells developed. By metaphase it was a distinct sausage-shaped boundary that enclosed a portion of the cytoplasm between the spindle and the cell membrane. At the end of metaphase, the inclusion reached its maximum length. At telophase, it was divided between the daughter secondaries. The inclusion persisted as a circular contour in the interphase secondary spermatocyte. Electron microscopy of the same cultured cells that were previously observed with light microscopy revealed that the inclusion was a distinctive formation of membranes. It consisted of agranular cisternae and vesicles, and was therefore a membranous complex. Many of the smaller vesicles in the membranous complex resembled those found in the spindle. The cisternae in the membranous complex were identical to the cisternal endoplasmic reticulum of interphase primary spermatocytes. Nevertheless, the organization of vesicles and cisternae into the membranous complex was unique for the primaries in division stages, since such an organization was not present in their interphase stages.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Radioimmunoassay for melatonin.

Rabbits immunized with human albumin conjugates of N-(p-chlorobenzoyl)-2-methyl-5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid (indomethacin), 5-methoxytryptamine, and 2-methyl-5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid produced antibodies that bound [3-H] melatonin. The serologic specificities for the binding of melatonin with antibodies from four antisera to these three immunogens were determined. Melatonin was measurable even at the 0.1 picomole level by a radioimmunoassay. Serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, 5-methoxytryptophol, 5-methoxytryptamine and 6-hydroxymelatonin can be ruled out as immunoreactive material with the use of the multiple antisera of different specificities.

5-Methoxytryptamine↗
PubMed1975

Distribution of prostaglandin E 9-ketoreductase and NAD+-dependent and NADP+-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase in the renal cortex and medulla of various species.

Regional distributions of PGE 9-ketoreductase and 15-hydroxy-prostaglandin dehydrogenase were examined in the cytoplasmic fractions from the kidneys of seven species. All species contained an NADPH-dependent reductase, as well as NAD+- and NADP+-dependent dehydrogenases in both cortex and medulla. A previously unrecognized cytoplasmic NADH-dependent PGE 9-ketoreductase was also detected in the cortex and medulla of rat and bovine kidney. Total NAD+- and NADP+-dependent dehydrogenase activity was about equally distributed between the two renal regions of monkey, dog, rat, and swine. Bovine, rabbit, and cat had greater cortical than medullary dehydrogenase activity with ratios of 3, 5, and 10 respectively. The activities of NAD+- and NADP+-dependent dehydrogenase varied among the renal tissues.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗