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Biomedical subjects

P Maier

Publications and source records attributed to P Maier.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

The potential genotoxicity of sorbates: effects on cell cycle in vitro in V79 cells and somatic mutations in Drosophila.

Sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate and an oxidation product of sodium sorbate, 4,5-epoxy-2-hexenoic acid, were tested for their genotoxic potential in cultured V79 Chinese hamster cells and in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster (wing spot test, SMART). In Drosophila only the epoxide showed a weak genotoxic effect. In V79 cells, freshly prepared sodium sorbate solutions at the highest concentrations only (2.5 mg/ml, 24 hr exposure) arrested mitosis at the G2/M cell cycle phase and potassium sorbate (2.5 mg/ml) had no effect. This arrest was reversible after a 24-hr recovery interval. Sodium sorbate solutions stored for up to 208 days were cytotoxic at 2.5 mg/ml, induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and increased cellular protein content, indicating an action similar to spindle poisoning and a chemical stress reaction (adaptation processes, modification of transcription). Potassium sorbate solutions stored for 28 days were also cytotoxic. With 4,5-epoxy-2-hexenoic acid at concentrations up to 0.01 mg/ml no effects were seen. At higher concentrations (at least 0.1 mg/ml) cell killing was observed, which probably resulted from unphysiologically lowered pH in the culture medium. Overall, the results are interpreted as an indication of a weak genotoxic potential of stored sodium sorbate solutions. Thus, sorbic acid and its potassium salt at the concentrations used for food preservation can still be considered as safe for human consumption.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Continuous regional treatment with fluoropyrimidines for metastases from colorectal carcinomas: influence of modulation with leucovorin.

Hepatic regional treatment represents an attempt to improve tumor response by increasing drug concentration with low systemic toxicities. Recently in vitro and clinical studies have shown that the cytotoxicity of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) can be potentiated by high doses of leucovorin (LCV). Two pilot studies with intraarterial FUDR, 5FU, and LCV were initiated. Since 1982, 221 patients with colorectal liver metastases were treated by various forms of long-term monthly continuous regional treatment using implantable ports or pumps. FUDR (0.05 to 1.7 mg/kg/d) was administered alone or combined with 5-FU and leucovorin. In 61 patients curative liver resection was possible and was followed by adjuvant arterial treatment. Overall median survival time (MST) was 15 months and increased to 36 months after liver resection. This was influenced by the following important factors: treatment, number of metastases, extent of infiltration, tumor volume, and minimal intraoperatively diagnosed extrahepatic disease. The response rate varied from 69% to 23%. Time of development of extrahepatic progression was not delayed by additional systemic treatment. Local side effects significantly depended on the duration of arterial infusion. The rate of biliary sclerosis ranged from 19% to 0%. Occurrence of chemical hepatitis was between 7% and 38%. In contrast, after combined intraarterial treatment with LCV, systemic side effects, mainly stomatitis and diarrhea, were dose limiting. Despite the improvement of survival after regional treatment, further randomized trials are mandatory to compare regional with relevant systemic treatment.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Application of image analysis on monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes: assessment of a chemically inducible G0-G1 cell cycle phase shift.

The phenobarbital induced shift from G0 to G1 cell cycle phases was analyzed in freshly isolated cultured rat hepatocytes by image analysis. Nuclei in situ in monolayers or in an isolated state were stained with quinacrine dihydrochloride. Fluorescence intensity and fluorescence area were recorded in controls and after treatment with phenobarbital (1.5 or 3 mM, 48 h). Reproducible measurements were obtained with the aid of an elaborate background correction and image enhancement procedure and by the construction of individual measuring masks for each nucleus. A complete statistical analysis revealed that in both preparations (isolated nuclei and monolayer cultures, treated and untreated), individual ploidy classes were distinguishable by fluorescence area measurements. Within each ploidy class, the area is modified by the cell density: with increasing cell density the area occupied by a single cell decreases. After phenobarbital treatment, a decrease in size, due to the higher cell density after the mitotic stimulus of the test compound and a decrease in total fluorescence, due to the G0-G1 cell cycle phase shift was recorded. In monolayer cultures, but not in isolated nuclei, two populations of nuclei were discernible suggesting two cell populations, one responding to treatment and one refractive.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Single cell analysis in toxicity testing: the mitogenic activity of thioacetamide in cultured rat hepatocytes analyzed by DNA/protein flow cytometry.

Rat hepatocytes were cultured at 4% O2 and 13% O2 and exposed to the nongenotoxic rodent carcinogen thioacetamide (TA) from 24 to 72 h after isolation at exposure levels between 0.01 and 0.33 mM. Hepatocytes and isolated nuclei were analyzed by DNA-protein flow cytometry. An aggregate correction procedure was applied and the proportion of S-phase, diploid, tetraploid or octoploid hepatocytes as well as binucleated cells, were measured or calculated. The proportion of S-phase cells within the diploid hepatocytes increased with increasing concentration of TA up to 3.9-fold, whereas the corresponding increase in S-phase mononucleated tetraploid cells was only 1.8-fold. S-phase binucleate tetraploid cells showed no increase. In the tetraploid hepatocytes, the mitogenic stimuli was detectable only in cultures maintained at 4% O2. The relative contribution of binuclear cells was increased 1.5-fold in the octoploid cells. It is concluded that the mitogenic activity of TA initiates DNA synthesis in diploid hepatocytes in the G1 and in the following G2 cell-cycle phase, omitting karyogenesis. The cellular protein content is not affected which indicates that the mitogenic activity of the chemical is not necessarily associated with an increase in cellular protein content. The results obtained correspond well with data of in vivo studies. The method applied therefore allows the mitogenic activity of nongenotoxic carcinogens to be detected in vitro within 48 h and their mode of action to be elucidated.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[The status of computerized tomography and conventional tomography in the assessment of endobronchial growth and extension of central bronchial cancer].

In comparison with endoscopy, computed tomography can produce excellent results with respect to the endobronchial spread of central bronchial carcinomas. Used for the same purpose, conventional tomography of the central bronchial system is greatly inferior. With respect to an evaluation of the endobronchial tumour growth configuration, computed tomography of the chest showed agreement with the endoscopic findings in only 56 per cent of all cases. This would seem to indicate that for the planning of palliative bronchological measures, such as, for example, laser therapy and afterloading treatment, prior endoscopic inspection is indispensable. By themselves, the results obtained with the imaging procedures described in this article are not adequate.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1989

Genotoxicity of aniline derivatives in various short-term tests.

Various substituted aniline derivatives were tested for genotoxicity in several short-term tests in order to examine the hypothesis that a substitution at both ortho positions (2,6-disubstitution) could prevent genotoxicity due to steric hindrance of an enzymatic activation to electrophilic intermediates. In the Salmonella/microsome assay, 2,6-dialkylsubstituted anilines and 2,4,6-trimethylaniline (2,4,6-TMA) were weakly mutagenic in strain TA100 when 20% S9 mix was used, although effects were small compared to those of 2,4-dimethylaniline and 2,4,5-trimethylaniline (2,4,5-TMA). In Drosophila melanogaster, however, 2,4,6-TMA and 2,4,6-trichloroaniline (TCA) were mutagenic in the wing spot test at 2-3 times lower doses than 2,4,5-TMA. In the 6-thioguanine resistance test in cultured fibroblasts, 2,4,6-TMA was again mutagenic at lower doses than 2,4,5-TMA. Two methylene-bis-aniline derivatives were also tested with the above methods: 4,4'-methylene-bis-(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA) was moderately genotoxic in all 3 test systems whereas 4,4'-methylene-bis-(2-ethyl-6-methylaniline) (MMEA) showed no genotoxicity at all. DNA binding studies in rats, however, revealed that both MOCA and MMEA produced DNA adducts in the liver at levels typically found for moderately strong genotoxic carcinogens. These results indicate that the predictive value of the in vitro test systems and particularly the Salmonella/microsome assay is inadequate to detect genotoxicity in aromatic amines. Genotoxicity seems to be a general property of aniline derivatives and does not seem to be greatly influenced by substitution at both ortho positions.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed1988

Development of in vitro toxicity tests with cultures of freshly isolated rat hepatocytes.

Freshly isolated and cultured hepatocytes were analyzed by two-parameter flow cytometry. The combined analysis of DNA and cellular protein content allowed the contribution of ploidy classes and of subpopulations within a ploidy class to be defined. Analysis of hepatocytes during exposure to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), phenobarbital (PB), low oxygen tension (4% O2) or fetal calf serum (FCS), provided insight into the dynamic response of individual ploidy classes as a function of culture time. By analogy with the age-dependent ploidy shifts in vivo, hepatocyte-cultures shift towards adult animals during exposure to DMSO and towards young animals when cultured at low pO2 (4% O2). FCS and phenobarbital disturb this constitutive ploidy balance. FCS increased the 2 N cell population, where stem cells probably respond to the proliferative stimuli provided by growth factors in the serum. Phenobarbital affects the liver-specific 4 N hepatocytes, which agrees with effects seen in liver after exposure in vivo. It is suggested that drug-induced pathological alterations in ploidy in hepatocyte cultures could serve as indicators of compounds, such as liver tumor promoters, which interfere with cell differentiation in liver. The heterotypic cell-cell interaction of freshly isolated hepatocytes with isolated, in vitro cultured, rat liver epithelial cells in co-cultures proved to be a valuable concept in toxicity testing: aldrin epoxidase, an enzyme system involved in xenobiotic metabolism, was stabilized for more than two weeks. After exposure to the three chemicals, 2-acetylaminofluoren, procarbazine and cyproterone-acetate, a preferential toxicity for each compound and cell population was established. Thus heterotypic cell cultures can considerably increase the amount of information available from in vitro studies. The final concept, combining monitoring of cellular DNA (ploidy) and protein content in hepatocyte cultures during and after exposure to a given test compound at tissue oxygen tension with the heterotypic cell-cell interaction, would create a more in vivo-like culture system. This would enhance the predictability of hepatocyte cultures and contribute to a more widespread use of the test system and as a result help to reduce the number of whole-animal tests.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Hepatocarcinogens induce gene mutations in rats in fibroblast-like cells from a subcutaneous granulation tissue.

Gene-mutations at the 6-thioguanine locus, in fibroblast like-cells rapidly proliferating on the inside of rat subcutaneous air pouches were analysed (Granuloma Pouch Assay). Target cells were exposed directly by injection into the air pouch, or systemically by oral or intraperitoneal administration to three hepatocarcinogens aflatoxin B1, 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and vinylchloride. In addition ethylnitrosourea (ENU) was used as a positive control, and 2-aminofluorene to characterize the pharmacokinetic behaviour of 2-AAF. When administered directly, all chemicals except 2-AAF induced a dose-dependent increase in gene-mutation frequencies. However, 2-AAF was mutagenic after oral administration. The highest inducible mutation frequencies found with the hepatocarcinogens were 8 to 10 times the spontaneous mutation frequency, but only approximately 10% of that found with the control mutagen ENU. The known enzymic activation capacity of the granulation tissue, and the mutagenic activity of other chemicals in this system already reported, suggest that after direct exposure, the prostaglandin H synthetase pathway or lipoxygenases are involved in the activation of the hepatotoxins to gene mutation inducing species in vivo. 2-AAF seems to be converted via stable intermediates to the ultimate mutagenic species in the extra-hepatic target tissues.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗
PubMed1988

Alterations in the cellular DNA and protein content determined by flow cytometry as indicators for chemically induced structural and numerical chromosome aberrations.

Cellular DNA and protein content were determined simultaneously in freshly isolated fibroblast-like rat cells by flow cytometry. After exposure to doxorubicin, nitrofurantoin, propranolol and practolol at a low, tissue like oxygen concentration (5% O2), drug-induced alterations in cell cycle kinetics, in the distribution of DNA and in the protein content of G1-phase cells (nucleus/cytoplasm ratio) were analysed. Optimal exposure time (5 or 24 h) and recovery interval (24 or 48 h) were determined. Variation in the exposure time and recovery period can affect cell cycle kinetics both qualitatively and quantitatively, whereas the distribution of DNA and protein content are affected quantitatively only. A 24-h exposure combined with a 24-h recovery period proved to be the most efficient approach. Each of the tested chemicals induced a specific, dose-dependent pattern of altered cellular DNA and protein content. Comparison with results obtained in other genotoxicity tests, and with data reported earlier, showed that this two-parameter protocol can be used to recognize and to characterize chemicals as clastogens, or as compounds with a combined cytostatic/clastogenic activity, or as spindle-poison-like compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Low oxygen tension, as found in tissues in vivo, alters the mutagenic activity of aristolochic acid I and II in primary fibroblast-like rat cells in vitro.

The mutagenic activities of aristolochic acid I (AAI) and II (AAII), the two main components of aristolochic acid (AA), were tested for mutagenicity in vivo in a subcutaneous granulation tissue in rats and in vitro in the corresponding freshly isolated and cultured target cells. In vivo at equimolar dose, AAI induced 16 times more 6-thioguanine resistant cells than AAII. Oxygen tension in vitro was adjusted to that found in vivo: in the subcutaneous connective tissue, the pO2 was determined to be 40 +/- 9 mm Hg, which corresponds in vitro to an O2 concentration of 5% in the incubator atmosphere. In vitro, AAI was 19 times more mutagenic than AAII at this low oxygen tension but exhibited only 4 times greater activity than AAII under standard culture conditions. These results indicate that the genotoxic activity of AA in mammals is mainly caused by AAI and that the exposure of cells to AAI and AAII in vitro at low pO2 corresponds more closely to the metabolic situation in vivo. Therefore, the mutagenic potency of the two chemicals can only be estimated correctly at tissue oxygen tension. The influence of pO2 on the mutation frequencies seems to arise from a modulation of the activation/detoxification pathways.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Maintenance of periportal and pericentral oxygen tensions in primary rat hepatocyte cultures: influence on cellular DNA and protein content monitored by flow cytometry.

Primary hepatocytes were cultured at oxygen tensions similar to those reported to be present in periportal (13% O2) and pericentral (4% O2) regions of the liver lobules. Cellular DNA and protein content of individual hepatocytes were determined simultaneously by two-parameter (DNA/protein) flow cytometry after 1, 4, and 7 days in culture. pO2 tensions monitored on line in conventional plastic culture dishes revealed that the depletion of the pO2 in the culture medium depended on the number of hepatocytes plated. When cultured as monolayer after 4-7 days at periportal (13% O2) and more pronounced at pericentral oxygen concentration (4% O2), up to 90% of the hepatocytes showed degenerated nuclei but normal protein content. By using culture dishes with teflon membrane bottoms the oxygen tension in the culture medium was accurately maintained by the incubator atmosphere. At pericentral oxygen tension the fraction of 2N cells increased by about 20%. That of the 4N cell was not affected, and the contribution of 8N hepatocytes dropped to 70% compared to cultures at periportal oxygen tension. Concomitantly, in the 4% O2 hepatocyte cultures the protein content of the 2N and the 4N cells was better preserved and increased by up to 10%. These results suggest that in vitro at pericentral oxygen conditions (4% O2) ageing of hepatocytes is delayed, regenerating processes are better maintained, and, furthermore, freshly isolated 4N hepatocytes have the potency to adapt their metabolism in vitro to periportal as well as to perivenous oxygen tensions.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Distinction between the G0 and the late G1 phase of rat cells in vivo and in vitro with the nuclear QDH-fluorescence pattern.

The quinacrine dihydrochloride (QDH) staining and the [3H]thymidine incorporation patterns were simultaneously analyzed in nuclei of rat cells from a proliferating (granulation tissue) and a nonproliferating tissue (liver). Nuclei from freshly isolated and cultured cells of the rapidly proliferating subcutaneous granulation tissue showed a cell cycle-related pattern similar to that previously described with growing fibroblast-like cells in vitro. Nuclei of liver cells in smears from biopsies and in histological sections showed a fluorescence pattern similar to that of serum-deprived arrested G0 cells from established cell lines. Treatment of primary cultured rat hepatocytes with phenobarbital altered their degree of chromatin condensation similar to that seen after treatment of rats in vivo. The data indicate that the QDH staining pattern is an early marker, suitable for detecting the cell cycle-promoting activity of chemicals (e.g., of tumor promoters) in nonproliferating cells from various tissues in vivo and in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Lipid peroxidation dependent aldrin epoxidation in liver microsomes, hepatocytes and granulation tissue cells.

Lipid peroxidation activity was determined in liver microsomes, hepatocytes and cultured granuloma cells by measuring ethane and pentane production with an improved capillary gas chromatographic method. Lipid peroxidation initiated by ferrous ions and NADPH produced significantly more hydrocarbons at 4% O2 than under atmospheric (21% O2), hyperoxic or hypoxic conditions. In liver microsomes ferrous ions and ascorbic acid stimulated the non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation and concomitantly the epoxidation of aldrin. The results demonstrate that epoxidation of aldrin can be triggered by the iron initiated lipid peroxidation.

Aldrin↗
PubMed1986

A two-parameter flow cytometry protocol for the detection and characterization of the clastogenic, cytostatic and cytotoxic activities of chemicals.

Cultured, freshly-isolated rat fibroblasts were exposed in vitro to vincristine sulphate (VC), amethopterin (AM), bleomycin (BL), benomyl (BE) and practolol (PR). Cells treated for 5 h were subjected 24 h later to a two-parameter (DNA/protein) flow cytometry analysis. The fluorochromes used were sulphorhodamin 101 and DAPI. From DNA and protein histograms, alterations in cell-cycle kinetics, variations in the amount of DNA in individual G1-phase cells and the enhancement of or increased variation in the protein content of the exposed cells were determined. Each of the 5 chemicals induced a specific dose-dependent pattern of changes in the DNA and protein histograms. DNA dispersion was enhanced with VC, AM, BL and BE but not with PR. The cell cycle was blocked in the G2 phase with VC, at early S phase with amethopterin and, depending on the dose, at the G1 or G2 phase with bleomycin or at the S phase or G2 phase with benomyl. Practolol inhibited cells slightly in the S phase at the highest exposure level. Protein analysis allows cytotoxic activity (loss of proteins) or induced unbalanced growth (protein accumulation) of test compounds to be recognized. The results obtained imply that the proposed two-parameter DNA/protein analysis by flow cytometry is a suitable method for prospective testing of chemicals for their induction of structural or numerical chromosome aberrations. Simultaneously, a broad range of cytotoxic, cytostatic and cell-cycle perturbing activities of the test agents can be recognized.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Comparison of exogenous growth stimuli for chemically transformed cells: growth factors, serum and cocultures.

Rat tumor cells isolated from 2 fibrosarcomas which differed in their degree of differentiation were exposed to growth-stimulating influences in soft agar. The effects of growth factors (epidermal growth factor, fibrosarcoma growth factor and insulin), of fetal calf serum and of cocultured normal mesenchymal cells of rats and nude mice were compared. Each of the 3 growth factors exerted a specific response and dose dependence. Increasing concentrations of serum stimulated the number of cells which formed clones in soft agar. Experiments using combinations of growth factors and fetal calf serum demonstrated that a complex optimal mixture of growth stimuli was responsible for the efficient growth-promoting activity of the serum. In cocultures with normal cells, cloning efficiency of tumor cells was enhanced and growth of tumor cells was accelerated. This stimulus was due to the constant release of an agar-diffusible growth-stimulating factor by the normal, nondividing cells. Cocultured mouse cells showed an even higher growth-stimulating activity than rat fibroblasts. Cells obtained from the poorly differentiated fibrosarcoma responded, in relative terms, better to all growth-stimulating influences, than those derived from the well-differentiated tumor.

Animals↗