A new serologic diagnostic method for malignant ovarian germ cell tumors: detection of antibodies to large glycopeptides.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Kawata.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Certain patients with ovarian germ cell tumors develop a specific antibody reacting with glycoprotein-bound large carbohydrates of murine teratocarcinoma cells. The antigenic determinant was found to involve an alpha-galactosyl residue, since alpha-galactosidase from coffee bean, but not other glycosidases abolished the antigenic activity of the large glycan isolated from F9 and OTT6050 cells. Several evidences excluded the possibility that the antigen is blood group B or P1 antigen. These results indicate tumor-associated expression of an unusual alpha-galactosyl residue in human ovarian germ cell tumors.
Relations between firing patterns and peptides in supraoptic neurons of rat hypothalamic slice preparations were studied by electrophysiology, intracellular fluorescent dye-marking and immunocytochemistry. Seven out of 10 magnocellular neurons which showed phasically firing patterns were identified by injections of Lucifer Yellow-CH (LY); these were also stained with an anti-vasopressin serum. This report presents direct evidence that most of the phasically firing neurosecretory neurons in the supraoptic nucleus contain vasopressin. This study demonstrates the feasibility of combining immunocytochemical and electrophysiological techniques to study the peptides contents of single mammalian neurons.
The distribution of serotonin- and vasopressin immunoreactivities in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of four mammalian species was studied with the use of the modified peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method and antisera to serotonin and vasopressin. In the SCN of the rat, hamster and cat, we noted a large number of serotonin-immunoreactive nerve fibers particularly in the ventral area, where these fibers containing small varicosities (less than 1 micron in diameter) formed a dense plexus. In the monkey (Macaca fuscata), however, only few serotonin-containing fibers were evident throughout the SCN. Vasopressin-immunoreactive somata and fibers were distributed in large numbers in the SCN of the rat, hamster, cat and monkey, especially in the dorsal nuclear area. Regional and species-related differences of serotonin- and vasopressin distribution in the SCN were elucidated; possible functional differences between the ventral and dorsal areas of the SCN are discussed.
A specific rabbit anti-CRF serum and the immunoperoxidase technique were used to show that CRF-containing neurons are mainly distributed in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the rat hypothalamus. In addition, immunoreactive neurons are scattered in other hypothalamic regions. These neurons are 20--30 micrometers in diameter. From the present and previous investigations it may be concluded that the hypothalamic magnocellular nuclei, i.e., paraventricular and supraoptic, and other hypothalamic accessory nuclei, are the producing sites not only for vasopressin and oxytocin, but also for corticotropin-releasing factor.
Conspicuous differences in the distributional pattern of nerve fibers containing corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) or posterior lobe hormones, respectively, were shown in the median eminence of the adult male rat by means of immunoperoxidase histochemistry, with the use of anti-CRF, anti-oxytocin, and anti-vasopressin sera. In the rostral and central divisions of the median eminence, a high concentration of CRF-immunoreactive nerve fibers was found in the median portion of the external layer; these fibers terminated on the capillary loops of the hypophysial portal system. In the caudal division of the median eminence, the CRF-immunoreactive nerve fibers were located in the median to paramedian portions of the external layer. Numerous oxytocin- and vasopressin-immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed evenly distributed throughout the internal layer of the median eminence. In the external layer, a small number of the oxytocin- and vasopressin-containing nerve fibers was found around the capillary loops, particularly in the median to paramedian portions. The distributional patterns of the CRF and the posterior lobe hormones in the hypothalamo-hypophysial system and their functional interrelationship are discussed.
The occurrence of CRF (corticotropin-releasing factor)-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the circumventricular organs of adult male monkeys, Macaca fuscata, was studied on serially sectioned brains, by means of the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique in combination with a highly specific and sensitive CRF antiserum. CRF-containing nerve fibers were found in high concentrations in the infundibulum and, in addition, in small numbers in the posterior lobe, organum vasculosum laminae terminalis, subfornical organ, and area postrema; they were missing in the pineal body and the subcommissural organ. The CRF-immunoreactive nerve fibers distributed in these organs were located in the proximity of the blood vessels.
Distribution of serotonin nerve fibers in the hypothalamus of the cat was studied using the peroxidase antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemical method. There was a heavy concentration of serotonin nerve fibers in the nucleus suprachiasmaticus, the nucleus ventromedialis and the nucleus dorsomedialis. The distribution pattern of the serotonergic fibers in the cat was principally similar to that of the rat and monkey. However, species differences were noted in the mamillary complex, the nucleus hypothalamicus anterior, the nucleus paraventricularis and the nucleus supraopticus.
The lumbar spinal cord of the rat was studied by combined retrograde fluorescent labelling with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-2HCl (DAPI) and immunoperoxidase procedure using serotonin antiserum. A peculiar small neuronal group endowed more densely than other anterior horn neurons with serotonin-like immunoreactive fibers was recognized in the anterior column of lumbar segments L1-L2. At the same time, this small nucleus was shown to contain the motoneurons innervating the cremaster muscle by means of retrograde labelling with DAPI. It is tentatively suggested that the bulbospinal descending serotonin system is particularly intimately connected with the function of the cremaster muscle.
An attempt was made to identify Lucifer Yellow-labeled neurons in the rat supraoptic nucleus as vasopressin-containing neurons, by means of a combination of immunoperoxidase histochemistry and iontophoretic single cell-injection. We came to the conclusion that the fluorescent dye does not diminish the immunoreactivity of vasopressin in the magnocellular neurons. This newly developed method, along with its modifications, should prove to be quite useful for electrophysiological and morphological studies on the neuropeptide-releasing neurons in the mammalian neuroendocrine system.
The distribution and morphological aspects of the serotonin-containing neurons in the paraventricular organ of the carp, frog, turtle and chicken were studied by means of an immunoperoxidase technique using serotonin antiserum. In all species the serotonin-containing neurons were seen to have the appearance of the CSF-contacting neurons and to be distributed in the pars ependymalis and the pars hypendymalis of the organ. Particularly, in the frog, the serotonin-containing CSF-contacting neurons, mostly bipolar in shape, were also observed in the pars distalis. Their proximal processes protruded into the ventricular lumen through the ependymal layer with a globular- and triangular-shape. The distal processes projected ependymofugally to the pars distalis and formed a fine plexus in the neuropil of this part. The density of the serotonin fibers in the pars distalis was greater in the carp than in the other species.
A human nongestational choriocarcinoma cell line of ovarian origin (IMa) was established in vitro. This cell line had been subcultured serially more than 22 times over 18 months. Small polygonal cells with a prominent nucleus were dominant and a sparsity of cytoplasmic organelles was an ultrastructural characteristic of the IMa cells. The production and secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin and its subunits were identified by radioimmunoassay. The IMa cells were transplantable in the hamster cheek pouch and the histological diagnosis was choriocarcinoma. A newly established ovarian choriocarcinoma cell line can be considered useful for clarifying the biological differences between nongestational and gestational choriocarcinoma cells.
The cell biological characteristics of a newly established human gestational choriocarcinoma cell line, HM, were examined and compared with four other gestational and two nongestational choriocarcinoma cell lines. Striking heterogeneity in the production and secretion of hCG and its subunits was observed among the cell lines. The HM cell line consisted mainly of cytotrophoblast-like cells, and the hCG and its subunit values in both the cells and culture fluid were extremely low. The syncytiotrophoblast-like multinucleated giant cells which were occasionally seen in other cell lines were scarce in the HM cell line in vitro. On the other hand, deviation of the LDH isozyme pattern to the heart-type (LDH1) was characteristic of the HM cells in contrast to the other cell lines in which LDH3 was dominant. The HM cell line represents useful material for investigating the cell biological heterogeneity of human choriocarcinomas.
Cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and cupric chlorides (Cu) were injected i.p. into male mice to examine the relationship between the level of the metals and that of reduced glutathione (GSH) in liver. The injected metals increased in concentration rapidly and attained the highest level at 1 day, while the GSH level decreased rapidly and reached the lowest level at 12 h by Cd and Zn, and at 2 days by Cu injection. These findings suggest that cysteine utilized for the induced metallothionein, which binds the injected metals in the liver, is supplied from hepatic glutathione.
The oxytocin and vasopressin nerve fibers in the intra- and extrahypothalamic neuronal systems of several mammalian brains are immunohistochemically demonstrated using a modified peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. The axonal processes of these peptidergic neurons are classified into thick and thin beaded fibers. Thick beaded fibers were preferentially distributed in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial tract and in some circumventricular organs, with termination on the blood vessels. Thin beaded fibers were found in various extrahypothalamic areas and these terminals were in the vicinity of the neuronal somata of such areas. This report suggests that there are at least two different functions concerning neurotransmission in the oxytocin and vasopressin neuronal system.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.