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Biomedical subjects

R M Albrecht

Publications and source records attributed to R M Albrecht.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on indocyanine green blood clearance in rhesus monkeys.

To assess effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on liver function adult male rhesus monkeys were treated with a single oral dose of acetone/corn oil (control) or 5, 25, or 75 micrograms/kg TCDD. Each monkey was used as its own control and indocyanine green (ICG) blood clearance and the following serum enzymes: glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma GTP), were measured at regular intervals for 4 weeks before and 17 weeks after treatment. In control monkeys ICG blood clearance and serum enzymes were similar before and after treatment. However, in the monkey that received 5 micrograms/kg TCDD there was a mild increase in ICG blood clearance followed by a slight decrease. The magnitude of this biphasic change was greater in monkeys that received 25 and 75 micrograms/kg TCDD and the decrease in clearance was invariably associated with a 1--2-week period before the monkeys died. SDH and SGPT activities were elevated at some time during the course of intoxication in all TCDD-treated monkeys but gamma GTP activity was not altered. The monkey treated with 5 micrograms/kg TCDD survived but monkeys treated with 25 and 75 micrograms/kg died 4--6 weeks after treatment. Light microscopy of the livers of TCDD-treated monkeys that died revealed fatty infiltration with minimal hepatocellular necrosis.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Microwave radiation: an epidemiologic assessment.

Microwave radiation is coming into increasing use in many countries; it is in use in communications, in industry, for ovens in the home and in commercial establishments and for diathermy. The power output is increasing steadily and community exposure is already a fact. East European countries claim that adverse effects can result from exposure substantially lower than levels permitted in Western countries. Also some of the effects claimed are frequent and disabling. Prolonged and cumulative exposure is especially suspect. While studies in animals are necessary, studies in man cannot be dispensed with. Extrapolation from on species of animal to another, and even more, to man, is hazardous. Moreover, epidemiologic studies are needed to uncover the potentially wide variety of subtle effects, especially mental. Fortunately, there are indices of exposure which can be used in field studies and dosimetry is reaching the point where it can be applied to field studies.

Animals↗

Murine macrophage-lymphocyte interactions: scanning electron microscopic study.

Light and scanning electron microscopic observations revealed murine macrophage-lymphocyte interactions involving the initial contact of peritoneal, spleen, or thymus lymphocytes with peritoneal macrophage processes or microprocesses followed by clustering of lymphocytes over the central nuclear area of the macrophages. Lymphocyte-lymphocyte clustering was not observed in the absence of macrophages. Attachment and subsequent clustering appeared not to require the presence of serum or antigen; the attachment of allogeneic or xenogeneic lymphocytes was comparable to that seen in the syngeneic system, but central clustering of these lymphocytes failed to occur. No attachment or clustering was observed when thymic lymphocytes were cultured with thymus derived fibroblasts rather than with peritoneal macrophages. Lymphocyte attachment to immune, antigen-activated, syngeneic macrophages occurred more rapidly than that to normal unstimulated syngeneic macrophages; however, lymphocytes attached to the "activated" macrophages appeared to be killed by a nonphagocytic mechanism. A similar increase in the rate of lymphocyte attachment to macrophages occurred in the presence of migration inhibitory factor. Subsequent lymphocyte clustering on macrophages was observed in the migration inhibitory factor-stimulated cultures. In addition, lymphocyte-macrophage interactions similar to those in vitro were observed to occur in vivo on intraperitoneally implanted cover slips.

Animals↗

Preparation of cultured cells for SEM: air drying from organic solvents.

Air evaporation from organic solvents of differing polarities and surface free energies was used in the preparation of cultured murine peritoneal macrophages for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface structural features of these cells were compared to the surfaces of similar cells prepared by the critical-point procedure. In general, all organic solvents produced a marked collapse of cell structure resulting in an increase in surface irregularity. Fracture surfaces and sharply defined contours including numerous flaps and ridges were characteristic of the non-polar solvent dehydrated samples. Polar solvent dehydrated samples, including those dried from solvents of low surface free energy, exhibited a secondary flowing and settling of the cell membrane. Primary collapse was apparent but cell contours were smoothed and rounded. Overall cell shape and cell-to-cell relationships were retained regardless of solvent type. It is suggested that solvent evaporation may prove useful in certain cases, though investigators are advised to use caution when interpreting the results obtained by such procedures.

Acetone↗

Alterations in mouse macrophage migration: a function of assay systems, lymphocyte activation product preparation, and fractionation.

Supernatants from mouse spleen cell and peritoneal cell cultures were tested for the presence of lymphocyte activation products. Supernatants from mouse spleen cell and peritoneal cell cultures incubated with brucella antigens contained a macrophage migration inhibition factor(s) and a macrophage spreading factor(s) only if the cells were harvested from Brucella-infected mice. After dialysis and freeze-drying, the supernatants were fractionated by preparative acrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Three fractions with lymphocyte activation product activity were obtained from the fractionated supernatants of mouse spleen cells and peritoneal cells harvested from Brucella-infected mice and cultured with brucella antigen. One fraction inhibited mouse macrophage migration from capillary tubes but not from agarose wells. A second fraction not only inhibited macrophage migration from both agarose wells and capillary tubes, but also contained an activity(s) that stimulated macrophage migration through Nuclepore filters and induced macrophage spreading. A third fraction timulated macrophage migration from agarose wells and also contained an activity(s) that stimulated macrophage migration through Nuclepore filters. Fractionated supernatants of mouse spleen cells and peritoneal cells harvested from uninfected mice incubated with and without brucella antigen, as well as of cells harvested from infected mice and not incubated with antigen, did not contain detectable lymphocyte activation products.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Isolation of substances responsible for lymphokine activity from sensitized mouse spleen cells.

Cultures of brucella-sensitized mouse spleen cells exposed to Brucella abortus antigens in vitro release macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) and macrophage spreading factor. Subjecting the supernatants from such cultures to preparative scale electrophoresis in acrylamide gel yields several fractions, one of which contains both MIF and macrophage spreading factor. This material has properties attributable to guinea pig MIF: it is nondialyzable, heat stable, nontoxic to macrophages from heterologous murine donors, and has a greater anodal electrophoretic mobility than guinea pig serum albumin. Another fraction from the gel column inhibits macrophage spreading; its electrophoretic mobility is similar to that of guinea pig gamma globulin. Neither brucella antigen nor skin reactive substances were detectable in any acrylamide gel column fraction when tested by the mouse footpad induration assay technique.

Animals↗

Scanning electron microscopy of spore germination in Dictyostelium discoideum.

The ellipsoidal dormant spores of Dictyostelium dicoideum prepared by freeze-drying had a uniform, compact appearance with fine wrinkles or ridges on the surface. Swollen spores were uneven in appearance, without fine wrinkles but with a seemingly expanded surface covering. The surfaces of the postgermination spore husks appeared unaltered except for a single straight exit slit along the longitudinal plane.

Cell Wall↗