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Binding of rat and ovine epididymis-specific prealbumins (PES) to rat spermatozoa without effect of heterologous immunization on rat fertility.

The epididymis, under control of testosterone, secretes proteins which bind to the membrane of the spermatozoa during their passage through the lumen. One such class is termed PES (prealbumin epididymal specific). Injection of heterologous oPES (ovine PES) into male rats caused antibody production but failed to induce sterility, unlike results previously obtained when rat PES was injected into male rats. This suggests that only very restricted species-specific epitopes of PES might be useful for causing immunocontraception. Despite this, the sperm binding properties of PES purified from the rat (rat PES) and from the ram (oPES) were shown to be similar. When either rat PES or oPES, conjugated with a fluorescent probe (dimethylamino-fluorescein), was incubated with washed rat spermatozoa originating from the caput, corpus or cauda epididymis, results of flow cytometric analysis showed: (1) the number of spermatozoa bound to isologous or heterologous fluorescent PES, and (2) the binding-affinity of spermatozoa for PES was greater for sperm collected from more distal sites in the epididymis.

Animals↗

Effect of orlistat on fat absorption in rats: a comparison of normal rats and rats with diverted bile and pancreatic juice.

Orlistat is a specific inhibitor of pancreatic and gastric lipases leading to decreased absorption of fat. In the present study, we measured the effect of orlistat on lymphatic fat transport in rats following intake of oils very different in FA composition and TAG structure, and compared this with the transport in normal rats and rats with fat malabsorption. Rats were subjected to cannulation of the main mesenteric lymph duct, and a feeding catheter was inserted into the stomach. In addition, malabsorbing rats were cannulated in the common bile and pancreatic duct. Emulsified safflower, fish, and randomized oils were administered, and lymph was collected for 24 h and analyzed for FA composition. Administration of 25 mg orlistat together with the dietary oils resulted in very small changes from baseline lymphatic transport, indicating that inhibition of the fat absorption was almost complete and furthermore that the source of fat had no influence on the inhibitory effect of orlistat. Orlistat did not interfere with the absorption of the hydrolysis products, since high absorption of sn-2 MAG and FFA (oleic acid) mixed with orlistat was observed. The baseline lymphatic transport in the orlistat group was higher than in the malabsorbing group, but this was the result of generally lower transport of endogenous FA in the malabsorbing group, presumably caused by the absence of bile FA. The transport of FA in normal rats was several-fold higher than the transport after orlistat addition and in malabsorbing rats. Thus, this study showed that orlistat inhibited fat hydrolysis, and thereby lymphatic absorption, almost completely independently of the fat administered.

Animals↗

Rat thymic epithelium positively selects mouse T cells with specificity for rat MHC class II antigens but fails to induce detectable tolerance in the mouse T cells to the rat MHC antigens.

BALB/c (H-2d) nude mice were grafted with allogeneic AKR/J (H-2k) or xenogeneic (ACI-N rat, RT1av1) fetal thymuses which were depleted of hemopoietic cells by incubating with 2'-deoxyguanosine (2'dGuo) in vitro prior to grafting. The nylon-wool-passed LN T cells from nude mice grafted with 2'dGuo-treated AKR/J thymus showed a poor proliferative response to B10BR (H-2k) stimulator cells, confirming that mouse thymic epithelium has the capacity to induce tolerance against the mouse MHC antigens on the thymic epithelium. On the other hand, the nylon-wool-passed LN T cells from nude mice grafted with untreated or 2'dGuo-treated ACI/N rat thymus showed significant proliferative responses to ACI/N, which can be blocked by anti-rat MHC class II mAb, whereas the nylon-wool-passed LN T cells from nude mice grafted with syngeneic thymus hardly responded to the xenogeneic stimulator cells. These results suggest that rat thymic stromal cells including thymic epithelium can not induce detectable tolerance in mouse T cells to rat MHC antigens; but rat thymic epithelium may positively select mouse T cells with specificity for rat MHC class II antigens, resulting in a mouse T cell repertoire with strong xeno-reactivity.

Animals↗

Effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake blockers on the concentration in brain of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in male rats, pro-oestrous rats and ovariectomized rats treated with oestrogen and progesterone.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake blockade on 5-HT turnover by measuring the concentrations of 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in brain with the aid of high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection. The indoleamines were measured in the anterior hypothalamus (AH), posterior hypothalamus (PH) and raphe nuclei 30 min after the i.v. injection of either alaproclate (30 mg/kg) or zimelidine (20 mg/kg). The effect of alaproclate was studied in male rats, pro-oestrous female rats, rats ovariectomized and injected s.c. with 20 micrograms oestradiol benzoate (OB) on dioestrus and at 12.00 h of the next day (presumptive pro-oestrus) with 2 mg progesterone (model 1) and rats ovariectomized 3-4 weeks before an s.c. injection of 20 micrograms OB followed 72 h later by an s.c. injection of 2 mg progesterone (model 2). Alaproclate caused a significant decrease in the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio in the AH and PH of the brain of male rats, in the PH and raphe nuclei in pro-oestrous rats and model 1, and in the raphe nuclei alone in model 2. Zimelidine had no effect on the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio in any area in model 2. In male rats the injection of parachlorophenylalanine produced a marked reduction in the brain concentrations of 5-HT and 5-HIAA, but the 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio was unchanged by a subsequent injection of alaproclate. None of the pharmacological agents affected significantly the brain concentrations of noradrenaline, dopamine or dihydroxyphenylacetic acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alanine↗

Long-term effect of a sheep antiserum to rat growth hormone in vivo in rats is explained by the rat anti-sheep immunoglobulin response.

A specific antiserum to rat GH (anti-rGH) raised in sheep was used in young male and lactating rats. In both models a group of rats was found which appeared to generate a low response (low responders) to the injected sheep immunoglobulin, and was characterized by the ability of the antiserum to cause inhibition of growth for more than 21 days in the male rats, and to abolish milk yield when prolactin concentrations were lowered in the females. In the groups which generated a high response to the anti-rGH (high responders), growth was retarded for only 2-3 days in male rats, with a moderate milk yield maintained in lactating animals. The low-response animals were found to have a significantly longer half-life for circulating anti-rGH, when compared with the high-response animals. After 21 days, in the age-matched male rats, levels of anti-rGH were undetectable in the high-responders, whereas the low-response animals, which were nearly 160 g lighter, still had approximately 4.5 ml anti-rGH/l in their circulation. This anti-rGH was still capable of neutralizing GH, as concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were 13.6 +/- 3.5 (mean +/- S.E.M.) and 76.9 +/- 2.0 nmol/l in the low-response and high-response groups respectively. The reason for these differences would appear to be that the immune response mounted by these low-response animals to the exogenous sheep immunoglobulin (i.e. rat anti-sheep) 7 days after treatment was less than 10% of that seen in the high-response group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

The effects of an antibody to the rat transferrin receptor and of rat serum albumin on the uptake of diferric transferrin by rat hepatocytes.

The role of high-affinity specific transferrin receptors and low-affinity, non-saturable processes in the uptake of transferrin and iron by hepatocytes was investigated using fetal and adult rat hepatocytes in primary monolayer culture, rat transferrin, rat serum albumin and a rabbit anti-rat transferrin receptor antibody. The intracellular uptake of transferrin and iron occurred by saturable and non-saturable mechanisms. Treatment of the cells with the antibody almost completely eliminated the saturable uptake of iron but had little effect on the non-saturable process. Addition of albumin to the incubation medium reduced the endocytosis of transferrin by the cells but had no significant effect on the intracellular accumulation of iron. The maximum effect of rat serum albumin was observed at concentrations of 3 mg/ml and above. At a low incubation concentration of transferrin (0.5 microM), the presence of both rat albumin and the antibody decreased the rate of iron uptake by the cells to about 15% of the value found in their absence, but to only 40% when the diferric transferrin concentration was 5 microM. These results confirm that the uptake of transferrin-bound iron by both fetal and adult rat hepatocytes in culture occurs by a specific, receptor-mediated process and a low-affinity, non-saturable process. The low-affinity process increases in relative importance as the iron-transferrin concentration is raised.

Animals↗

Estrogen induction of progestophilins in rat estrogen-sensitive cells grown in media supplemented with sera from castrated rats and from rats bearing an alpha-fetoprotein-secreting hepatoma.

The purpose of this work was to study the effect of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) over cell multiplication and the induction of an estradiol-17 beta (E2)-dependent marker, i.e., progestophilins in E-sensitive cells C2(9)RAP derived from a W/Fu rat pituitary tumor. These cells proliferate in isogeneic hosts under the influence of E2, while they proliferate in culture regardless of the presence of E2. C2(9)RAP cells were grown in medium supplemented with 10% horse serum. Progestophilin levels were measured 48 h after adding serum (20% horse, or castrated rat, or AFP-secreting tumor-bearing rat) and estrogen to the 10% horse serum-supplemented medium in which the cells were growing. Maximal induction of progestophilins was obtained at 3 X 10(-10) M E2 in cells grown in medium containing horse or castrated rat serum. In contrast, maximal induction of progestophilins required 3 X 10(-8) M E2 in cells grown in medium supplemented with the serum of Morris hepatoma 7777-bearing rats. This serum contained AFP levels comparable to those present at birth in the rat. 11-Methoxy-17 beta ethynylestradiol (R2858), a synthetic estrogen with little affinity for AFP, was also tested for its ability to induce progestophilins. The degree of maximal induction of progestophilins expressed as percentage of the respective control, was similar for all experimental groups, both with E2 and with R2858. In addition, we compared the free E2 levels in the culture medium with the progestophilin levels and the cell proliferation rate. We found that the progestophilin levels were maximal at free E2 concentrations above 11 pg E2/ml, whereas there was no correlation between the free E2 levels and the proliferation rate. Moreover, the proliferation rate of cells in medium supplemented with horse or castrated rat serum was maximal at concentrations of free E2 below 0.4 pg/ml; whereas cell proliferation was inhibited with hepatoma serum even at concentrations of free E2 of 44 pg/ml. We conclude that the effect of hepatoma serum on the E2 induction of progestophilins seems to be mediated by the effect of AFP on the availability of free estrogen, since it is abolished by the addition of both natural and synthetic estrogens. The inhibitory effect of hepatoma serum upon cell proliferation is not reversed by estrogens and thus seems to be mediated by mechanisms other than E2 trapping by AFP.

Animals↗

Antigenicity of rat collagen; reverse anaphylaxis induced in rats by anti-rat collagen serum.

Reverse anaphylactic shock was induced in rats by intravenous injection of serum containing complement-fixing antibodies, obtamed by immunization of rabbits with purified preparations of rat tail collagen. Normal rabbit serum or serum containing antibodies to collagen from tunica of carp swim bladder was without effect. The clinical and pathological findings resembled those described by previous workers studying direct and reverse anaphylactic reactions induced in the rat with other antigens. Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia with rebound leukocytosis, delayed blood coagulability, lowering of serum complement and the development of a refractory state to the antibody after the initial shock-all compatible with anaphylaxis-were demonstrated. The reacting substance was found to be in the gamma globulin fraction of the serum, and the antibody titer appeared to be correlated with the degree of shock and vascular injury. Collagen injury in rats dying from acute shock or in those injected with repeated sublethal doses was not demonstrated by the methods employed; techniques by which lesions of collagen might be induced are discussed. Absorption experiments indicated that anti-rat collagen rabbit serum is specifically directed to a substance, apparently collagen, in the rat; it is likely that the combination of the antibody and collagen induces anaphylactic shock. These studies, made in vivo, provide further evidence of antigenic and immunological differences between acid-soluble rat and fish collagens.

Anaphylaxis↗

Metabolism of a benzothiazine compound (SQ 11,579) by the intact rat, isolated perfused rat liver, and rat-liver microsomes.

1. The metabolic dispositions of a benzothiazine compound (SQ 11,579) by the intact rat, isolated perfused rat liver, and rat-liver microsomes have been investigated, and the results compared. 2. The drug was well absorbed after oral administration to rats and was widely distributed in all tissues, which, with the exception of brain, had higher concentrations of the drug, its metabolites, or both, than did plasma. 3. Metabolism by rat-liver microsomes included N-oxidation, N-demethylation, S-oxidation and aryl hydroxylation. Metabolites hydroxylated in the aromatic ring were excreted only in bile, both by the isolated perfused rat livers and by anaesthetized bile-duct-cannulated rats. 4. Liver perfusion of the benzothiazine or its monodesmethyl analogue (V) resulted in temporary cessation of the flow of perfusate through the organ. The benzothiazine sulphoxide (IV) had only a slight effect on the flow of liver perfusate, but IV followed by I caused the flow of perfusate to cease.

Administration, Oral↗

Activation of Cl- currents in cultured rat retinal pigment epithelial cells by intracellular applications of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate: differences between rats with retinal dystrophy (RCS) and normal rats.

Using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique, we studied the conditions necessary for the activation of Cl--currents in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from rats with retinal dystrophy (RCS) and nondystrophic control rats. In RPE cells from both rat strains, intracellular application of 10 microM inositol-1, 4,5-triphosphate (IP3) via the patch pipette led to a sustained activation of voltage-dependent Cl- currents, blockable by 1 mm 4, 4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). IP3 activated Cl- currents in the presence of a high concentration of the calcium chelator BAPTA (10 mM) in the pipette solution, but failed to do so when extracellular calcium was removed. Intracellular application of 10(-5)M Ca2+ via the patch pipette also led to a transient activation of Cl- currents. When the cells were preincubated in a bath solution containing thapsigargin (1 microM) for 5 min before breaking into the whole-cell configuration, IP3 failed to activate voltage-dependent currents. Thus, IP3 led to release of Ca2+ from cytosolic calcium stores. This in turn activated an influx of extracellular calcium into the submembranal space by a mechanism as yet unknown, leading to an activation of calcium-dependent chloride currents. In RPE cells from RCS rats, which show an increased membrane conductance for calcium compared to normal rats, we observed an accelerated speed of Cl--current activation induced by IP3 which could be reduced by nifedipine (1 microM). Thus, the increased membrane conductance to calcium in RPE cells from RCS rats changes the response of the cell to the second messenger IP3.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Hepatotoxic effect of (+)usnic acid from Usnea siamensis Wainio in rats, isolated rat hepatocytes and isolated rat liver mitochondria.

Hepatotoxic effect of (+)usnic acid, the active constituent of Usnea siamensis Wainio was studied in rats, isolated rat hepatocytes and isolated rat liver mitochondria. In rats, after treatment with high dose of (+)usnic acid (200 mg/kg per day, i.p.) for 5 days, there was no significant change in serum transaminase activity (serum AST, ALT) while the electron micrographs showed apparent morphological damage of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. (+)Usnic acid at high dose (1 mM) as well as carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, the reference hepatotoxin) induced loss of cell membrane integrity in isolated rat hepatocytes by increasing the release of cellular transaminases (AST, ALT). Increase in lipid peroxidation, decrease in glutathione (GSH) content and increase in aniline hydroxylase activity (CYP 2E1) were also found. Combination of (+)usnic acid and CCl4 showed the additive results. (+)Usnic acid (0.15-6 microM) possessed uncoupling activity in isolated rat liver mitochondria. It stimulated respiration by mitochondria respiring with glutamate plus malate or succinate as substrates and activated ATPase activity. Increasing concentration of (+)usnic acid (>6 microM) exhibited loss of respiratory control and ATP synthesis. In conclusion, hepatotoxic effect of high dose (+)usnic acid may involve its reactive metabolite(s), causing loss of integrity of membrane like structures, resulting in destruction of mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation.

Animals↗

Characterization of rat C5a anaphylatoxin receptor (C5aR): cloning of rat C5aR cDNA and study of C5aR expression by rat astrocytes.

Complement system activation within the central nervous system (CNS) is involved in demyelinating and neurodegenerative disorders, but the role of complement in the pathogenic process or in the repair remains unclear. Besides the direct lytic effects of complement on target cells (oligodendrocytes or neurons), complement can exert other functions through interaction of complement fragments with specific receptors. The C5a anaphylatoxin, an inflammatory peptide which is formed during complement activation, might play a role in the CNS pathogenesis, and activation and recruitment of glial cells by binding to its receptor (C5aR) on CNS cells. Using degenerate primers corresponding to homologous regions between human and mouse C5aR cDNAs, we have cloned a rat C5aR cDNA probe from rat monocytes RNAs after RT-PCR experiment. The rat C5aR probe isolated by this procedure allowed us to clone the rat C5aR cDNA-coding sequence using a library screening cloning strategy. This probe was also used to study the expression of the C5aR mRNA in the rat CNS. Northern blotting and RT-PCR experiments demonstrated the constitutive expression of C5aR mRNA in brain, spleen, kidney and lung. This transcript was also observed in primary culture of rat astrocytes. Microfluorimetry experiments demonstrated that C5aR expressed by astrocytes in culture is functional since the addition of C5a induced a dose-dependent increase of intracellular calcium concentration. The expression of the C5aR by astrocytes suggests new roles for the C5a anaphylatoxin in reactive astrogliosis to CNS injuries.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Glutathione analogues as novel inhibitors of rat and human glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes, as well as of glutathione conjugation in isolated rat hepatocytes and in the rat in vivo.

Inhibitors of rat and human Alpha- and Mu-class glutathione S-transferases that effectively inhibit the glutathione (GSH) conjugation of bromosulphophthalein in the rat liver cytosolic fraction, isolated rat hepatocytes and in the rat liver in vivo have been developed. The GSH analogue (R)-5-carboxy-2-gamma-(S)-glutamylamino-N-hexylpentamide [Adang, Brussee, van der Gen and Mulder (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 830-836] was used as the lead compound. To obtain more potent inhibitors, it was modified by replacement of the N-hexyl moiety by N-2-heptyl and by esterification of the 5-carboxy group with ethyl and dodecyl groups. In isolated hepatocytes, the branched N-2-heptyl derivatives were stronger inhibitors of GSH conjugation of bromosulphophthalein than the N-hexyl derivatives. The ethyl ester compounds were more efficient than the corresponding unesterified derivatives. The dodecyl ester of the N-2-heptyl analogue was the most effective inhibitor in isolated hepatocytes, but was relatively toxic in vivo. However, the corresponding ethyl ester was a potent in vivo inhibitor: GSH conjugation of bromosulphophthalein (as assessed by biliary excretion of the conjugate) was decreased by 70% after administration of a dose of 200 mumol/kg. The isoenzyme specificity of the inhibitors towards purified rat and human glutathione S-transferases was also examined. The unesterified compounds were more potent than the esterified analogues, and inhibited Alpha- and Mu-class isoenzymes of both rat and human glutathione S-transferase (Ki range 1-40 microM). Other GSH-dependent enzymes, i.e. GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptide, were not inhibited. Thus (R)-5-ethyloxycarbonyl-2-gamma-(S)-glutamylamino-N-2-hept ylpentamide, the in vivo inhibitor of GSH conjugation, may be useful in helping to assess the role of the Alpha and Mu classes of glutathione S-transferases in cellular biochemistry, physiology and pathology.

Animals↗

Metabolism of triiodothyroacetic acid (TA3) in rat liver. II. Deiodination and conjugation of TA3 by rat hepatocytes and in rats in vivo.

The hepatic metabolism of 3,3',5-triiodothyroacetic acid (TA3), a naturally occurring side-chain analog of T3, was studied in vitro and in vivo. Metabolites were quantified by HPLC after Sephadex LH-20 prepurification of samples obtained after incubation of [125I]TA3 or 3,[3'-125I]diiodothyroacetic acid (3,[3'-125I]TA2) with isolated rat hepatocytes under various conditions or after iv administration of [125I]TA3 to normal or 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)-treated rats. In protein-free incubations with hepatocytes, TA3 glucuronide (TA3G) and I- were normally the main TA3 products, i.e. 44% and 49%, respectively. In the presence of the type I deiodinase inhibitor PTU, the I- production from added TA3 decreased to 3%, and TA3 sulfate (TA3S) increased from 2-14%. Normally, 3,3'-TA2 was converted to I-, but in the presence of PTU 3,3'-TA2S was produced. In SO4(2-)-depleted cultures incubated with TA3 or 3,3'-TA2, production of I- was diminished, and the glucoronides of the substrates and the deiodinated products were generated. If both sulfation and deiodination were inhibited, TA3 and 3,3'-TA2 were cleared completely via glucuronidation. The metabolism of TA3 and especially 3,3'-TA2 was greatly retarded in cultures with 0.1% BSA. PTU treatment of TA3-injected rats reduced plasma I- levels 6-fold, increased plasma sulfates 2.6-fold, but did not affect plasma TA3 clearance. Biliary excretion of radioactivity until 4 h after [125I]TA3 injection amounted to 55% of the dose in controls vs. 85% in PTU-treated rats. In both groups, an unknown metabolite X was detected in serum and its sulfate conjugate XS in bile. The mean percent distribution of TA3G/TA3S/XS in bile amounted to 70:8:13 in control and 57:22:12 in PTU rats. In conclusion, TA3 is effectively metabolized in rat liver by glucuronidation and subsequent biliary excretion of TA3G, which may explain its rapid in vivo clearance relative to T3. Furthermore, a significant proportion of TA3 is deiodinated by the type I deiodinase, either directly or after prior sulfation.

Animals↗

Distribution and disposition of trospectomycin sulfate in the in vivo rat, perfused rat liver, and cultured rat hepatocytes.

Trospectomycin sulfate is an experimental, aminocyclitol antibiotic. It has been shown in preclinical, chronic safety studies in the dog and rat to elicit a reversible, lysosomal phospholipidosis in liver. The present experiments were conducted to characterize the tissue distribution and disposition of 3H]trospectomycin sulfate in the male rat, perfused rat, perfused rat liver, and cultured rat hepatocytes. Following a 5 mg/kg iv dose to four rats, approximately 70% of the dose was recovered within 24 hr primarily in urine as unchanged drug, and the remainder was eliminated with a terminal phase half-life in blood and tissues of 3 days. Fecal excretion was relatively minor (16% of the dose recovered in feces in 7 days) until later timepoints, when it was the principal pathway of terminal phase elimination. The liver sequestered approximately 10% of the dose and had the highest tissue levels of drug at all times measured. Liver perfusion experiments indicated that trospectomycin accumulated in a hepatic depot compartment as parent drug by a first-order process which was nonsaturable up to a 1 mM concentration of drug. Biliary excretion of unchanged trospectomycin by the perfused liver was slow (approximately 3% of the dose in 2 hr) and occurred by both paracellular and transcellular mechanisms. The hepatic depot compartment appeared to be responsible for transcellular biliary excretion, and thus for the sustained fecal excretion observed in vivo. Subcellular distribution experiments indicated that at least 50% of the drug in the hepatic depot was sequestered in organelles having a broad density range. The existence of a trospectomycin depot compartment was also demonstrated in cultured hepatocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetic studies of mouse monoclonal antibodies to a rat colon carcinoma: I. Comparison of biodistribution in normal rats, syngeneic tumor-bearing rats, or tumor-bearing nude mice.

The pharmacokinetics of two iodine-131-(131I) labeled murine anti-rat colon carcinoma monoclonal antibodies (D3 and E4) were compared in normal Sprague Dawley rats, syngeneic BDIX rats, or nude mice bearing that tumor. Results of antibody uptake after i.v. administration were analyzed in terms of accumulation and localization indices for normal tissues and tumor. Statistically significant differences between rat and mouse tissue biodistribution were found. D3, which reacts in vitro with the tumor and several normal rat tissues, cleared quickly from the blood of rats and was specifically targeted to several normal tissues, notably the lung. Virtually no targeting to the tumor was observed. Nude mice, however, showed a slower blood clearance and specific antibody targeting only in the tumor. Similar results were seen after injection of another antibody, E4, which is tumor-specific in vitro. Data suggest that studies on the xenogeneic nude mouse model may not necessarily be relevant to the choice of monoclonal antibodies for clinical diagnostic imaging or therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A comparison of carotid body volumes in normotensive Wistar rats (NWR), Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

The carotid body volumes of male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and random-bred normotensive Wistar rats (NWR) were compared at the age of 16-18 weeks. SHR exhibited significantly greater absolute and relative carotid body volumes (CBV) than WKY or NWR. Furthermore, the absolute and relative CBV in WKY was also significantly bigger than in NWR. The same differences were found regarding the mean arterial blood pressure. The mean arterial blood pressure was significantly correlated with the logarithmic values of both the absolute and the relative CBV in SHR, WKY and NWR. These findings were compared with the results of other hypertensive rat models. It can be concluded that in hypertensive rats the CBV is likely to be dependent on the strain studied and independent of the blood pressure level or the expression of intraglomic vascular alterations.

Animals↗

Comparison of reactions of antibodies to rat collagen and to rat kidney in the basement membranes of rat renal glomeruli.

By in vivo and in vitro methods of immunofluorescence, antibody to rat collagen and to rat kidney show the same regular, linear fluorescence following the outlines of the renal glomerular capillaries. Absorption of each antiserum with its homologous antigen completely removed the antibody for immunofluorescence, while absorption with the heterologous antigen had no effect. The nephrotoxicity persisted in the anti-kidney serum absorbed with collagen. By pretreatment of frozen normal rat kidney sections with various enzymes followed by immunofluorescence, it was shown that trypsin and hyaluronidase had no effect on the subsequent fluorescence of either antibody; papain reduced the fluorescence; and pepsin and Pronase acted on both antigens so that no fluorescence was present. One preparation of neuraminidase, derived from V. cholerae, reduced fluorescence of both antibodies in some preparations, but the same enzyme derived from influenza virus or C. perfringens had no effect on either. Collagenase completely prevented fluorescence of the antibody to collagen and had no effect on that to rat kidney. The findings in this study show that the antibody to collagen is directed to collagen in rat renal glomerular basement membranes and that the antibody to rat kidney reacts with some antigen other than collagen in these membranes.

Animals↗