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Biomedical subjects

M M Jacobs

Publications and source records attributed to M M Jacobs.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Differentiation of type II cells during explant culture of human fetal lung is accelerated by endogenous prostanoids and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

Explant culture of the fetal lung, in the absence of serum or hormones, results in precocious biochemical and morphological differentiation of alveolar epithelial cells. In this study we tested the hypothesis that these maturational events are induced by endogenous cAMP. During culture of human fetal lung the content of tissue cAMP increased 140% from days 3-6. Treatment with isobutylmethylxanthine caused a further doubling of cAMP content, and indomethacin blocked most of the increase in cAMP. Isobutylmethylxanthine accelerated and indomethacin inhibited the increases during culture in surfactant protein-A (SP-A), SP-A mRNA, SP-B mRNA, phosphatidylcholine content, and activity of fatty acid synthetase. There was no effect of these treatments on the content of SP-C mRNA, which did not increase during culture. Increasing concentrations of prostaglandins E1 and E2 in the presence of indomethacin produced a parallel stimulation of cAMP content, SP-A, and fatty acid synthetase activity. The temporal increase in SP-A was also blocked by inhibitors of protein kinase-A. In morphological studies, indomethacin-treated explants appeared less mature, with decreased intralumenal volume and more columnar epithelial cells. We conclude that increased tissue cAMP levels, stimulated by endogenous prostaglandins, accelerate differentiation of alveolar epithelial cells during explant culture.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine

Simultaneous preparation of paired, syncytial, microvillous and basal membranes from human placenta.

A method for the simultaneous preparation of microvillous and basal membrane vesicles from human placental syncytiotrophoblast is described. Mg2(+)-aggregated basal membranes are separated from microvillous membranes by low-speed centrifugation after initial homogenization and centrifugation steps. Microvillous membranes (MVM) are obtained from the low speed supernatant while basal membranes (BM) contained in the Mg2(+)-aggregated material are resuspended and further purified on a sucrose step gradient. MVM and BM prepared by this method were enriched 20-fold and 11-fold as determined by the membrane marker enzymes, alkaline phosphatase (MVM) and adenylate cyclase (BM). There was minimal cross-contamination of the two isolated plasma membrane fractions and the yields obtained were 26% (MVM) and 21% (BM) compared to the initial homogenate. The MVM and BM fractions were free from contamination by mitochondrial or lysosomal membranes and showed only minor contamination by microsomal membranes. The two membrane fractions were also tested for the presence of non-syncytial plasma membranes by electrophoretic immunoblotting. Contamination of both MVM and BM by fibroblast, endothelial, macrophage and cytotrophoblast plasma membranes amounted to less than 15% of the total membrane protein as determined by immunoblotting. Vesicle orientation, determined from the latency of specific concanavalin A binding, was 88 +/- 4% right-side out for MVM and 73 +/- 12% right-side out for BM. This simple preparative procedure produces a high yield of both MVM and BM from human placenta. The analytical data demonstrates that 'paired' MVM and BM fractions derived from the same placental tissue have a high purity in terms not only of contamination by intracellular membranes, but also in terms of contamination by non-syncytial plasma membranes.

Alkaline Phosphatase

Selenium effects on the carcinogenicity and metabolism of 2-acetylaminofluorene.

Addition of 4 ppm Se to the drinking water of male albino rats fed diets containing 0.03% 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) provided protection against hepatic damage and also resulted in at least 50% reduction in liver tumor incidence. An in vitro assay system utilizing microsomes from Se supplemented or non-supplemented 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) induced rats was used to determine the effect of oral Se intake on the metabolism of AAF. Oral Se administration led to an increase in ring hydroxylation and a decrease in N-hydroxylation. Addition of Se to the microsomal assay system increased 3-OH AAF formation and decreased N-OH AAF formation, thus shifting the balance of metabolism toward detoxification pathways.

2-Acetylaminofluorene

Effect of sodium selenite and methyl methanesulfonate or N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene co-exposure on sister-chromatid exchange production in human whole blood cultures.

Sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) was tested for its sister-chromatid exchange (SCE)-inducing ability in human whole blood cultures and for the effect of its co-exposure with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) or N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) on SCE frequency. Long exposure times (77 h and 96 h) to 3.95 X 10(-6) M Na2SeO3 resulted in cell death as measured by mitotic indices, but mitotic figures were present after exposure to higher concentrations for a shorter time (19 h). High Na2SeO3 concentrations (7.90 X 10(-6) and 1.19 X 10(-5) M) resulted in a three-fold increase in the SCE frequency above background level (6--7 SCEs/cell). Exposure of lymphocytes to 1 X 10(-4) M MMS for the last 19 h of culture yielded an average SCE frequency of 30.17 +/- 0.75 while a similar exposure to 2.7 X 10(-5) M N-OH-AAF resulted in 13.61 +/- 0.43 SCEs/cell. Simultaneous addition of the high Na2SeO3 concentrations and MMS or N-OH-AAF to the cultures resulted in SCE frequencies that were 25--30% and 11--17%, respectively, below the sum of the SCE frequencies produced by the individual compounds.

Cell Survival

Studies on ovarian and uterine weight responses to follicle stimulating hormone.

A uterine weight response may potentially provide a plausible qualitative method for detection of "asialo" follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Asialo FSH is a biologically inert species of FSH when assayed for ovarian weight response by the hCG augmentation method. Numerous experiments have been performed under a uniform set of conditions for normalization of ovarian and uterine weight responses. The influence of several hormones and 2 injection routes on the gonadal responses to FSH have been assessed. Immature female, 24--25 day old Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously (sc) or intraperitoneally (ip) twice daily for 3 days. On the 4th day the rats were sacrificed, the ovaries and uterus were removed, cleaned and weighed. Uterine weights were obtained before and after removal of the fluid. NIH-FSH-S9 and its asialo derivative prepared by neuraminidase digestion were the species of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) used in all experiments. Addition of either 21 IU prolactin or 0.05 mg histone to FSH did not significantly alter the ovarian weight response augmented by hCG (P = 0.2). Addition of histone to 90 and 180 microgram FSH elicited neither a uterine weight response when injected sc nor an ovarian weight change when injected ip. Both routes of injection of the 2 dose levels of FSH had little effect on the uterine weight. In marked contrast, 90 and 180 microgram asialo FSH injected either sc or ip gave increased uterine weight responses in the presence of hCG. On further examination the uterine weight increase in response to asialo FSH injections proved to be statistically significant (sc. P = 0.02; ip, P = 0.05). Use of the uterine weight response might be exclusively proposed as a qualitative method for detecting asialo FSH. Such biologically inactive species, which elicit no increased ovarian weight response in the hCG augmentation assay, are frequently generated in the preparation of FSH. Determination of the uterine weights may provide meaningful use of auxiliary data from the hCG ovarian augmentation assay of putative FSH preparations which fail to elicit the desired ovarian weight responses.

Animals

Inhibitory effects of selenium on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and methylazoxymethanol colon carcinogenesis: correlative studies on selenium effects on the mutagenicity and sister chromatid exchange rates of selected carcinogens.

Selenium (Se) inhibition of either the activation of test compounds and/or mutagenic events elicited by activated compounds is suggested by experimental rat assays, mutagenesis assays, and assays with human lymphocytes in culture. The colon tumor incidence in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-treated rats was reduced from 87% to 40% by 4 ppm Se supplements in the drinking water. Supplemental Se decreased the total number of colon tumors induced by DMH more than three-fold and by methylazoxymethanol (MAM) almost two-fold. Coexposure of Salmonella typhimurium TA 1538 to an effective molar ratio of Se/2-acetylaminofluorene=10, Se/N-OH-acetylaminofluorene=10 and SE/N-OH-aminofluorene=300 reduced the mutagenicity to 65, 68, and 61% of their respective controls with mutagen alone. With a molar ratio of Se/N-OH-AAF=100, Se reduced the activity to 28% of the mutagenicity of N-OH-AAF alone. Preliminary data indicating MAM is mutagenic in S. typhimurium TA 1535 and His G 46(6837) are presented. In toxicity studies exposure of human lymphocyte cultures to 1.3 X 10(-9) to 1.6 X 10(-5) M Se yielded sister chromatid exchange (SCE) rates equivalent to background levels of 6--7 SCE per cell. The SCE frequencies of lymphocytes cultured with Se and selected carcinogens are discussed.

Animals

Inhibitory effects of selenium on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and methylazoxymethanol acetate induction of colon tumors.

Sprague-Dawley rats were injected weekly with either 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) or methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM). Addition of 4 ppm selenium (sodium selenite) in the drinking water reduced the number of rats developing DMH-induced colon tumors from 13 to 6 groups of 15 each. The total number of tumors observed in these two groups was 39 in the DMH treated and 11 in the DMH plus selenium. The incidence of MAM-induced tumors was 93% (14/15) with the selenium additive and 100% (14/14) when MAM was administered without the selenium supplement. However, selenium decreased the total number of colon tumors induced by MAM to 42 tumors as compared to a total of 73 tumors in rats receiving only MAM. Both carcinogens induced tumors with a higher frequency in the transverse colon as compared to either the proximal or distal colon. Selenium at this level did not affect the weight gain of the animals.

Adenocarcinoma

Inhibitory effects of selenium of the mutagenicity of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and AAF derivatives.

Selenium (Se) decreased the mutagenicity of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) and N-hydroxyaminofluorene (N-OH-AF) in the Salmonella typhimurium TA 1538 bacterial tester system. Metabolism of AAF and N-OH-AFF to the active mutagen, N-OH-AF, was accomplished by rat liver extracts. Graded decreases in mutagenicity with increasing Se concentrations were observed for each of the three mutagens. Se decreased the mutagenicity of AAF, N-OH-AAF and N-OH-AF to 65, 68 and 61% of their respective controls with mutagen alone. The effective molar ratios of Se to mutagen yielding these decreases were approximately 10:1 (Se:AAF), 10:1 (Se:N-OH-AAF) and 300:1 (Se:N-OH-AF). The largest Se effect observed was accomplished by a molar ratio of 100:1 (Se:N-OH-AAF) yielding 28% of the mutagenicity elicited by N-OH-AAF alone.

2-Acetylaminofluorene

Effects of selenium on azo dye hepatocarcinogenesis.

Groups of male Sprague--Dawley rats were maintained on three regimens: I. basal diet plus 0.05% 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-MeDAB), II. same as I plus 6 ppm selenium (Na2SeO3) in the drinking water, and III. same as I plus 6 ppm selenium added to the diet in the form of a high selenium yeast. The 3'-MeDAB was incorporated in the diet for 8 weeks and then removed. The selenium supplements in Groups II and III were continued for an additional 4 weeks. At sacrifice the liver tumor incidence from was ascertained as the ratio of animals with tumors/total number of surviving animals per group. Selenium reduced the incidence from 92% (11/12) in the Group I control, to 46% (7/15) in Group II and to 64% (9/14) in Group III.

Animals

Studies on the isolation and chemical properties of porcine follicle-stimulating hormone.

Porcine follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH) has been prepared from acetone dried pituitary glands. The acetone powder was initially extracted in pH 5 ethanol-acetate buffer (40% ethanol and acetate at 0.5 ionic strength) containing 0.02% PMSF. The gonadotropin rich fraction, obtained in the 80% ethanol precipitate, was dissolved in 0.12 M NH4HCO3, heated at 60 degrees for 3 min, cooled, and centrifuged. The supernatant was lyophilized for chromatography on QAE-Sephadex, then Sephadex G-100. The pFSH obtained has a biological activity of 15 X NIH-FSH-P-1 and 2.1% sialic acid. The amino acid analysis is characterized by high lysine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid with notable amounts of threonine, proline, and half-cystine.

Amino Acids

Factors affecting the initial extraction of ovine gonadotropins.

The method of tissue homogenization as well as the solvents used for extraction influenced the protein yield, the specific activity of the oLH and oFSH, and the total units of each hormone recovered. Use of the Tekmar homogenizer (Method 2) produced a fivefold increase in the total yield of oLH per Kg glands (2390 units, Method 2; 474 units, Method 1) and the relative potency of this partially purified LH from the 80% ethanol precipitate was increased (0.16 times NIH-LH-S18, Method 2). By combining the aqueous extraction--ammonium sulfate precipitation with a subsequent ethanolic acetate extraction (Methods 3 and 4) the combined yields provided a 2.4-fold increase in oLH and 1.4-fold increase in oFSH. Thus the total units recovered of oFSH and oLH can be increased simply by changing the methods of homogenization and extraction.

Ammonium Sulfate

Dual regulation of human syncytial adenylyl cyclase.

The dual (stimulatory and inhibitory) regulation of adenylyl cyclase was studied in syncytiotrophoblast basal membranes prepared from term human placenta. Stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity with GTP, non-hydrolyzable GTP analogs, isoproterenol and PGE1 was observed, confirming the presence of an intact stimulatory pathway in these membranes. Investigations of the inhibitory pathway revealed tight coupling of the G-protein, Gi alpha, to catalytic adenylyl cyclase, with high doses of GTP producing 80 per cent inhibition of GTP/forskolin-stimulated activity. Confirming Gi alpha involvement, pertussis toxin (PTX) treatment of basal membranes augmented the responses of adenylyl cyclase to both GTP and forskolin. In addition, immunoblotting of basal membrane proteins revealed the presence of the G-protein subunits, Gs alpha, Gi alpha, and G beta/gamma. The response of adenylyl cyclase was measured to a series of agonists known to inhibit adenylyl cyclase in other tissues, however a reproducible inhibitory effect was produced only by somatostatin (approximately 80 per cent). Treatment of basal membranes with PTX caused a degree of reversal of the somatostatin-mediated adenylyl cyclase inhibition. However, the intoxication was insufficient to restore GTP/forskolin-stimulated activity.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin