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Biomedical subjects

L S Cram

Publications and source records attributed to L S Cram.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Counterstaining human chromosomes for flow karyology.

Isolated human metaphase chromosomes stained with the fluorochromes 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and chromomycin A3(CA3), and counterstained with nonfluorescent netropsin (NTR), have been analyzed by dual-laser flow cytometry. Counterstaining with NTR reduces DAPI fluorescence except at regions on chromosomes 1,9,15,16, and Y, corresponding to C-band heterochromatin. Bivariate flow karyology of human chromosomes treated with this triple-stain combination resolves chromosomes 1,9, and Y distinctly from the remaining chromosomes and resolves variations between chromosome homologues not detected by staining with propidium iodide (PI) or with the double stain combination Hoechst 33258(HO) and CA3.

Cells, Cultured↗

Chromosome polymorphism involving heterochromatic blocks in Chinese hamster chromosome 9.

A chromosome polymorphism was detected between two early passage euploid Chinese hamster cell strains when a fluorescence shift of the small metacentric No. 9 chromosome was resolved by flow cytometry. The characteristics of the polymorphism were studied using cultures established from ear clippings taken from 16 additional hamsters from our breeding colony. Additional variants of chromosome 9 were detected using flow cytometry, and a subset of these variants were analyzed by G- and C-banding. An increase of fluorescence recorded by flow cytometry correlated with an increase of centromeric heterochromatin. Autosomal normalization of the flow karyotype from 18 different animals indicated three distinct peak positions for chromosome 9. The results indicate that a discrete block of constitutive heterochromatin may be present in one or two extra copies within the small inbred colony of hamsters studied. To determine the inheritance patterns, hamsters with known polymorphic No. 9 chromosomes were bred. The flow karyotypes derived from the offspring of these matings provide strong evidence that chromosomal polymorphisms are inherited in Mendelian fashion.

Animals↗

Chromosome analysis by high illumination flow cytometry.

Fluorescence measurements from metaphase chromosomes of the Chinese hamster, stained with propidium iodide excited at high illumination irradiance, completely resolve each chromosome type. The measurements are performed in a specially designed flow cytometer that achieves high irradiance (4 MW/cm2) by using high power laser output (2 W at 488 nm) focused to small spot size (1% irradiance variation over 2 microns). The coefficient of variation of each chromosome peak is near 1.5%. Saturation of the fluorescence transition and photobleaching, two consequences of high irradiance, are shown to occur. Even with a nonlinear dependence of fluorescence upon illumination irradiance, fluorescence retains a proportional response to chromosome type; each chromosome peak maintains a consistent ratio to the others at every irradiance. No perturbation of fluorescence by the optical or geometrical properties of the chromosomes is evident. The advantages of high irradiance illumination are an increase in fluorescence sufficient to reduce the statistical error in photoelectron number to a low level and reduced influence of laser power fluctuations and variable chromosome flow trajectories on the precision. These benefits improve the resolution of chromosome analysis by flow cytometry, particularly the resolution of smaller chromosomes.

Animals↗

A method for staining 3T3 cell nuclei with propidium iodide in hypotonic solution.

A modification of the propidium-iodide hypotonic sodium citrate method has been developed specifically for high-resolution staining of mouse 3T3 cell nuclei for analysis by flow cytometry. The method employs a brief treatment of cells at 37 degrees C with Triton X-100 and RNAse in the presence of propidium iodide in hypotonic sodium citrate, followed by restoration to isotonicity with NaCl. The average CV obtained for the G1 peak was 3.5%, and the samples were stable for 1-2 weeks at 4 degrees C. Compared to this technique, previously described propidium iodide-staining methods gave poor resolution with 3T3 cells.

Animals↗

Spontaneous neoplastic evolution of Chinese hamster cells in culture: multistep progression of phenotype.

Chinese hamster cell strains, each initiated from a separate fetus, were carried in culture and tested for tumorigenicity and in vitro indicators of neoplasia at various passage levels. In the absence of any treatment, all 20 such lineages yielded permanent cell lines and showed other indications of neoplastic progression. A preimplanted gelatin sponge assay method was used to monitor tumorigenicity in nude mice. The process of spontaneous neoplastic progression in vitro could be divided into four stages. The rate of progression through these stages, as measured by passage level, was extremely variable between independent lineages. Detailed studies of one lineage showed that transformation indicators, in general, correlated with tumorigenicity but did not indicate whether or not a preneoplastic, permanent lineage would rapidly progress.

Animals↗

Spontaneous neoplastic evolution of Chinese hamster cells in culture: multistep progression of karyotype.

Chromosomes from successive passages of a Chinese hamster cell strain (WCHE/5) that spontaneously progressed from a euploid primary cell culture to a heteroploid tumorigenic cell line were isolated and analyzed by Giemsa banding and high-resolution flow karyotype analysis. The frequency and identification of aneuploid and marker chromosomes were determined at both pre- and postcrisis culture stages and pre- and posttumorigenic stages. The combination of Giemsa banding and flow karyotypes provided detailed analysis of karyotype instability at each stage of cell culture progression. Aneuploidy (trisomy of chromosome 5) preceded the appearance of tumorigenicity in nude mice as well as in vitro indicators of neoplasia. The four stages of neoplastic progression defined in the previous paper correlated with a steady progression in karyotypic instability, including, in sequence: trisomy of chromosome 5; an 8q marker chromosome; a 3q+ insertion; and trisomy of chromosome 8. Additional changes continued to appear as the cells acquired classical properties of in vitro transformation.

Animals↗

Flow cytometry analysis of early DNA content changes in human and monkey cells following infection with Simian Virus 40.

Simian virus 40 (SV40) is capable of inducing cellular DNA synthesis in permissive and nonpermissive cells. Utilizing flow cytometry, we analyzed the DNA content changes in two diploid human cell strains and two monkey cell lines. The osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) human skin fibroblasts were induced into DNA synthesis, and within one to two cell generations, a polyploid cell population was produced. With WI-38 phase II cells, a similar pattern of increased cycling of cells into DNA synthesis was observed; however, the majority (approximately 60%) of the cells were blocked in the G2 + M phase of the cell cycle. At later time intervals, an increase in the G1 population was demonstrated. The two monkey cell lines responded to SV40 virus with an accumulation of cells in the G2 + M phase of the cell cycle. Thus, two diploid human cell strains exhibited different cell cycle kinetics early after infection with SV40 virus. The one strain (WI-38) behaved similarly to the two monkey cell lines studied. The other strain (OI) responded similarly to nonpermissive (transforming) cells infected with SV40 virus.

Animals↗

Fluorescence polarization and pulse width analysis of chromosomes by a flow system.

Isolated Chinese hamster chromosomes have been analyzed using a multiparameter computer-controlled cell sorter to obtain information about unique properties of individual chromosomes. Parameters other than DNA content were sought that would further aid in distinguishing among chromosomes. The polarized emission of the DNA-specific bis-benzimidazole dye Hoechst 33342 was measured for each class of chromosomes identified by a distinct peak, i.e., differeing in DNA content. The emission anisotropy values for all chromosome classes was constant (emission anisotropy = 0.30), and the same value was obtained for purified DNA in solution. Pulse width was found to be a good parameter for resolving chromosomes as a function of total emission in the case of the smaller chromosomes and orientation (i.e., arm length) for large chromosomes. A simple theoretical model for predicting the pulse shapes generated by arbitrarily oriented, thin, rigid rods was developed and applied to the evaluation of the experimental data.

Animals↗

Transfer of mouse IgG2 production by IgM-bearing spleen cells separated by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether at least some splenic B lymphocytes can switch from the synthesis of one isotype of immunoglobulin to another during B cell differentiation. The experimental system invovled the transfer of characterized cell suspensions between allotype congenic strains of mice followed by analysis in the recipient for donor type immunoglobulin production. Donor splenic lymphocytes were incubated with specific fluorescent labelled anti-mu antiserum and passed through the Los Alamos fluorescence-activated cell sorter; mu-depleted cell suspensions were transferred into sublethally irradiated congenic recipients and the amount of donor type immunoglobulin of IgG2 type was measured at weekly intervals. The results demonstrated taht at least some cell bearing membrane bound IgM can differentiate in vivo into IgG2-secreting cells, although not all IgG2-secreting cells have been recently derived from IgM positive precursors.

Animals↗

Quantification of cell fusion by twenty-one strains of Newcastle disease virus using flow microfluorometry.

The cell-fusing ability of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) was quantified using flow microfluorometry (FMF). The rate of polykaryocyte formation, fusion dependence on multiplicity of infection, and cell fusion differences for 21 NDV strains were measured using this technique. No correlation was found between the virulence of a virus strain and its cell fusion index calculated from the FMF data.

Cell Fusion↗

Flow microfluorometric DNA content measurements of tissue culture cells and peripheral lymphocytes.

The difference in DNA content of peripheral lymphocytes from normal males, normal females, and an individual with a 48 (xxxy) chromosome constitution was determined by rapid flow microfluorometric techniques. A similar comparison was performed using tissue culture fibroblasts derived from an individual with a 49 (xxxxy) chromosome constitution and WI-38 cells as a normal control. Less than 60 min were required to isolate the lymphocytes, to stain the cells fluorescently, and to measure the increased DNA content. The measured increase in DNA content is consistent with chromosome DNA analyses and chromosome length measurements.

Adult↗