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Structure-activity relationships of estrogens. Effects of 14-dehydrogenation and axial methyl groups at C-7, C-9 and C-11.

Thirty compounds were evaluated in the rat for uterotropic effects, inhibition of gonadotropin release, and competitive displacement of (3H) estradiol-17 beta from uterine cytosolic preparations. 7 alpha-Methylestradiol-17 beta was 150% as active as estradiol-17 beta as an uterotropic agent. Estradiol-17 beta was the most active inhibitor of gonadotropin release. 11 beta-Methylestradiol-17 beta had 124% of the activity of estradiol-17 beta in displacing (3H) estradiol-17 beta from the "estrogen receptor." The 9 alpha-methyl group considerably decreased the potency of estrogens in any of the three assays. The 14-dehydro modification was advantageous only in the estradiol-17 beta 3-methyl ether series. Uterotropic activities and inhibition of gonadotropin release did not parallel. The best compound for inhibiting gonadotropin release, as compared to uterotropic activity, was estrone. The "estrogen receptor" assay data correlated fairly well with uterotropic assay data, but only for compounds having free 3-hydroxyl groups; even so, some exceptions were noted.

Animals↗

Multiple anterograde tracing, combining Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin with rhodamine- and biotin-conjugated dextran amine.

The simultaneous use of different neuroanatomical anterograde tracers provides a potentially powerful method to study the convergence of afferent systems in a particular brain area. However, a simple routine procedure to apply multiple anterograde tracers in conjunction with their simultaneous visualization is still missing. We report an easy and straightforward application of three sensitive anterograde tracers: Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHA-L), rhodamine-conjugated dextran amine (RDA) and biotin-conjugated dextran amine (BDA). These tracers can be visualized simultaneously and permanently through a triple-staining procedure with nickel-enhanced diaminobenzidine (DAB-Ni), DAB and 1-naphthol/Azur B as chromogens. Our test model comprised the projections from the nucleus reuniens thalami and entorhinal cortex. Both projection systems show a high degree of overlap in their terminal fields in the hippocampus. Two tracers were injected in the left and right entorhinal cortex, respectively; a third tracer was injected in the nucleus reuniens. This combination of injections provided a good opportunity to compare the three tracers in one and the same animal. PHA-L, RDA and BDA, injected in either of the injection sites, turned out to be equally sensitive and revealed the morphology of the involved projection systems in great detail. The triple-staining protocol yielded an excellent, simultaneous detectability of the three tracers with a remarkably low background level. Thus, the combination of the anterograde tracers PHA-L, RDA and BDA, in conjunction with the triple-staining procedure, offers a very attractive approach for neuroanatomical research.

Animals↗

Congenital heart disease: a surgical-historical perspective.

Pediatric cardiac surgery began with Dr Gross's first successful ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus on August 8, 1938, at the Children's Hospital in Boston. The beginnings of open-heart surgery for repair of congenital malformations, aside from Gibbon's first successful closure in Philadelphia of an atrial septal defect using an artificial heart-lung machine, can be traced to members of the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota during the fifties and sixties of the 20th century. This story will be told, and other advances will be discussed, some of which also carry the imprint of the Minnesota surgical training program, with its heavy emphasis on research.

Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures↗

Extracellular proteases of Acanthamoeba castellanii (encephalitis isolate belonging to T1 genotype) contribute to increased permeability in an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier.

OBJECTIVES: Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) is a serious human infection with fatal consequences, however, the pathogenic mechanisms associated with this disease remain unclear. Several lines of evidence suggest that haematogenous spread is a prerequisite for Acanthamoeba encephalitis but it is not clear how circulating amoebae cross the blood-brain barrier to gain entry into the central nervous system. Objectives of this study were to determine the effects of Acanthamoeba on the permeability of an in vitro blood-brain barrier model and factors contributing to these changes. METHODS: Using human brain microvascular endothelial cells, an in vitro blood-brain barrier model was constructed in 24-well Transwell plates. Acanthamoeba (GAE isolate belonging to T1 genotype) or its conditioned media were used to determine permeability changes. Zymography assays were performed to characterise Acanthamoeba proteases. In addition, the ability of Acanthamoeba to bind brain microvascular endothelial cells was determined using adhesion assays. RESULTS: We observed that Acanthamoeba produced an increase of more than 45% in the blood-brain barrier permeability. Acanthamoeba-conditioned media exhibited similar effects indicating Acanthamoeba-mediated blood-brain barrier permeability is contact-independent. Prior treatment of conditioned media with phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF, serine protease inhibitor), abolished permeability changes indicating the role of serine proteases. Of interest, methyl alpha-d-mannopyranoside inhibited Acanthamoeba binding to human brain microvascular endothelial cells but had no effect on Acanthamoeba-mediated blood-brain barrier permeability. Zymography assays revealed that Acanthamoeba produced two major proteases, one of which was inhibited by PMSF (serine protease inhibitor) and the second with 1,10-phenanthroline (metalloprotease inhibitor). CONCLUSIONS: We have for the first time shown that Acanthamoeba produces human brain microvascular endothelial cells permeability, which can be blocked by PMSF. A metalloprotease of approx. molecular weight of 150 kDa is produced by A. castellanii (GAE isolate belonging to T1 genotype) and its role in the disease is suggested.

Acanthamoeba castellanii↗

Balamuthia mandrillaris stimulates interleukin-6 release in primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent pathway.

Balamuthia mandrillaris is an emerging protozoan parasite that can cause fatal granulomatous encephalitis. Haematogenous spread is a likely route prior to entry into the central nervous system (CNS), but it is not clear how circulating amoebae cross the blood-brain barrier. Using human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), which constitute the blood-brain barrier, we determined HBMEC inflammatory response to B. mandrillaris and the underlying mechanisms associated with this response. We demonstrated that HBMEC incubated with B. mandrillaris released significantly higher levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (>400 pg/ml) as compared with less than 50 pg/ml in HBMEC incubated alone. Western blotting assays determined that B. mandrillaris specifically activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). By using LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, as well as by using HBMEC expressing dominant-negative PI3K, we have identified PI3K as an important mediator of B. mandrillaris-mediated IL-6 release. We conclude that B. mandrillaris induces HBMEC signalling pathways, which lead to IL-6 release. This is the first time PI3K has been shown to play a crucial role in B. mandrillaris-mediated IL-6 release in HBMEC.

Animals↗

A novel in vivo lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)-deficient mouse expressing predominantly LpX is associated with spontaneous glomerulopathy.

Complete lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency is a rare genetic cause of extreme reduction in high density lipoproteins and there is a high prevalence of chronic renal dysfunction that may progress to renal failure. Previous in vitro studies suggest the vesicular lipoprotein X (LpX) particles commonly seen in LCAT-deficient plasmas may be causative. To test this hypothesis, we have generated a novel murine model that selectively accumulate LpX in the circulation by cross breeding the sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) 1a transgenic mice (S+) with the LCAT knockout (lcat-/-) mice. Fast protein liquid chromatography fractionation of pooled plasma lipids revealed that virtually all cholesterol is concentrated in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-sized fractions. These fractions are enriched in free cholesterol and phospholipid but extremely poor in triglyceride. Electron microscopy of the d <1.063 g/ml fraction of the S+lcat-/- mice revealed abnormal large vesicular particles, suggestive of LpX. The S+lcat-/- mice developed glomerular lesions spontaneously evident at 6 months with glomerular and tubulointerstitial lipid-deposits. Immunohistochemical staining with RhoA showed marked positive focal staining in glomeruli in the S+lcat-/- mice and undetectable in the S+/lcat+/+ control. By 10 months of age, the kidneys showed progressive glomerular injury including segmental foam cell infiltrates, mesangial expansion, and hyalinosis. Renal abnormalities are very similar to those seen in human LCAT deficiency. We conclude that the selective high-level accumulation of plasma LpX in the S+lcat-/- mice is strongly associated with a spontaneous glomerulopathy, providing in vivo evidence that LpX contributes to the LCAT deficiency-related nephropathy.

Animals↗

Regulation of cardiac output during 2,4-dinitrophenol-induced tissue hypermetabolism in the dog.

1. Cardiac output increased in proportion to oxygen consumption in intact chloralose-anaesthetized dogs after four successive intravenous infusions of 2,4-dinitrophenol (11 mumol/kg; 2 mg/kg). 2. Splenectomy abolished the increase in cardiac output after the first three doses of 2,4-dinitrophenol. beta-Adrenoreceptor blockade by practolol, on the other hand, did not prevent the cardiac output rise after the first 2,4-dinitrophenol infusion, but further increases by 2,4-dinitrophenol infusion were abolished. When splenectomy and beta-adrenoreceptor blockade were combined, cardiac output did not increase significantly after all four doses of 2,4-dinitrophenol. 3. Cardiac output and mean systemic arterial blood pressure increased when the splenic venous blood collected after 2,4-dinitrophenol infusion was infused intraportally. 4. In a vascularly isolated, but normally innervated, lower half-body cross-perfusion preparation, cardiac output and mean systemic arterial blood pressure increased in the upper half-body when tissue hypermetabolism was produced in the cross-perfused area by 2,4-dinitrophenol. Neith pulmonary artery wedge pressure nor heart rate changed significantly. 5. This circulatory stimulation, after regional 2,4-dinitrophenol infusion, was abolished or was prevented from occurring by splenectomy. 6. It appears that the normal cardiac output response to tissue hypermetabolism requires both an intact spleen and normally functioning beta-adrenoreceptors.

Animals↗

Experimental artificial liver support with emphasis on fulminant hepatic failure: concepts and review.

Coated charcoal hemoperfusion started in the earlier grades of coma appears to improve the survival rate of drug-induced FHF. This is based on randomized control animal studies and clinical trials using historical controls. Even if randomized clinical trials in patients should substantiate these findings, it is still a very small step in artificial liver support. Viral-induced FHF and cirrhotic encephalopathy are much more common conditions that still cannot be supported. However, this initial promising step should encourage us to become more optimistic about the possibility of developing artificial livers for the higher levels of support. A multifaceted approach in research should include evaluations of combined approaches. Increased basic knowledge in toxic and essential substances will be another important requirement.

Animals↗

Genetic selection for crescent formation yields mouse strain with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and small vessel vasculitis.

We have established a recombinant inbred strain of mouse named spontaneous crescentic glomerulonephritis-forming mouse/Kinjoh or SCG/Kj. Mice of this strain spontaneously develop rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. This strain of mice was derived from (BXSB/Mp x MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr)F1 hybrid mice by brother x sister mating coupled with repeated histopathologic selection for breeding of mice whose parents had the highest frequency of crescent formation in the kidneys. In this strain of mice, nephritis appears earlier and is more rapidly progressive than in any other murine model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Histopathologically, the characteristic renal lesions in the mice of this strain express a most dramatic form of crescentic glomerulonephritis. The lesions in the kidneys show only slight fine granular immune deposits along the glomerular basement membrane associated with remarkable extraglomerular proliferation and hemorrhage in Bowman's space. Although selection was not based on vasculitis, mice of this strain also exhibit a high incidence of necrotizing vasculitis. These vascular lesions involve primarily small arteries and arterioles and many organs and tissues but spare the kidneys. Thus this form of vasculitis has been found to be correlated with the crescentic form of glomerulonephritis but not with lymphoid hyperplasia of the spleen. We conclude that, in this strain of mouse, the rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis is genetically restricted and that this genetic restriction is firmly linked to that responsible for the vasculitis.

Animals↗

Reduced susceptibility to ischemic brain injury and N-methyl-D-aspartate-mediated neurotoxicity in cyclooxygenase-2-deficient mice.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a prostanoid-synthesizing enzyme that contributes to the toxicity associated with inflammation, has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic target for several illnesses, ranging from osteoarthritis to Alzheimer's disease. Although COX-2 has also been linked to ischemic stroke, its role in the mechanisms of ischemic brain injury remains controversial. We demonstrate that COX-2-deficient mice have a significant reduction in the brain injury produced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. The protection can be attributed to attenuation of glutamate neurotoxicity, a critical factor in the initiation of ischemic brain injury, and to abrogation of the deleterious effects of postischemic inflammation, a process contributing to the secondary progression of the damage. Thus, COX-2 is involved in pathogenic events occurring in both the early and late stages of cerebral ischemia and may be a valuable therapeutic target for treatment of human stroke.

Animals↗