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A comparison of intact and in-vitro locomotion in an adult amphibian.

Locomotion was compared in an intact and in-vitro preparation of the adult mudpuppy (Necturus maculatus). The intact animals walked on an aquatic treadmill while in-vitro preparations were made to walk with a bath application of the excitatory amino acid NMA (N-methyl DL-aspartate). EMG recordings of shoulder muscles (pectoralis, latissimus dorsi, dorsalis scapulae, and procoracohumeralis) and elbow muscles (brachialis and extensor ulnae) were obtained from intact animals while recordings were made from only the elbow muscles in-vitro. The in-vitro preparation required magnesium in the bath to initiate and maintain locomotion, consistent with an NMDA mediated response. Also consistent with an NMDA response was the finding that glycine potentiated the NMA induced locomotion in-vitro. The range of cycle durations seen in-vitro was well within the range seen in the intact animal, while gait analysis demonstrated the similarity of intact and in-vitro locomotor cycles. In spite of these very similar locomotor patterns there are interesting differences in the patterned output seen in-vitro, such as the absence of a second burst in the brachialis muscle in-vitro.

Animals↗

In vitro and in vivo kinetic interactions of the antitumour agent 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid with thalidomide and diclofenac.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that coadministration of L-thalidomide with the novel antitumour agent 5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid (DMXAA) results in an increased area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of DMXAA, suggesting an explanation for the observed increase in the antitumour activity. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects of L-thalidomide on the in vitro metabolism of DMXAA in mouse and human liver microsomes using diclofenac as positive control, to examine the effects of L-thalidomide and diclofenac on the plasma protein binding of DMXAA in vitro, and to investigate whether the in vivo interactions can be predicted from in vitro data, particularly in humans. METHODS: Mouse and human liver microsomes were used to investigate the effects of L-thalidomide and diclofenac on DMXAA metabolism. The resulting in vitro data were extrapolated to predict in vivo changes in DMXAA, which were then compared with the results of in vivo mouse pharmacokinetic interaction studies. The protein binding of DMXAA in mouse and human plasma was determined using ultrafiltration followed by HPLC. RESULTS: Diclofenac at 100 microM caused significant inhibition of glucuronidation (> 70%) and 6-methylhydroxylation (> 54%) of DMXAA in mouse and human liver microsomes. In vivo diclofenac (100 mg/kg i.p.) resulted in a 24% and 31% increase in the plasma DMXAA AUC, and a threefold increase in T1/2 (P < 0.05) in male and female mice, respectively. In contrast, L-thalidomide at 100 microM had no inhibitory effect on DMXAA metabolism in vitro in either species, except for a decrease of about 25% in 6-methylhydroxylation in mice. L-Thalidomide at 500 microM resulted in further significant decreases in 6-methylhydroxylation in mice (30-60%) and human (30%) microsomes. Coadministration of L-thalidomide in male mice resulted in a 23% increase in DMXAA AUC and a twofold increase in T1/2 (P < 0.05). Neither L-thalidomide nor diclofenac at 50 or 500 microM had any significant effect on the in vitro plasma protein binding of DMXAA (500 microM) in mouse or human plasma. Based on our in vitro inhibition studies, we predicted a 20% increase in DMXAA AUC in mice with concomitant diclofenac, but little or no effect (< 5%) with L-thalidomide. CONCLUSION: Both L-thalidomide and diclofenac increased the plasma DMXAA AUC in mice. In the case of diclofenac, this appeared to be due to direct competitive inhibition of DMXAA metabolism, but this mechanism does not appear to be appropriate for L-thalidomide. From the in vitro human inhibition studies, it appears unlikely that concurrent diclofenac will cause an increase in the plasma AUC of DMXAA in patients. However, the effect of L-thalidomide on DMXAA could not be readily predicted from the in vitro data. Our study demonstrated that a predictive model based on direct inhibition of metabolism is appropriate for diclofenac-DMXAA interactions, but is inappropriate for the prediction of L-thalidomide-DMXAA interactions in mice and humans in vivo.

Animals↗

Effect of ethanol on the response of the rat urinary bladder to in vitro ischemia: protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid.

PURPOSE: Ethanol exposure has been used to demonstrate the increase of oxidative stress to a variety of tissues. We studied the effect of ethanol on the response of isolated strips of rat bladder to in vitro hypoxia in the absence of glucose (in vitro ischemia). Secondly, we determined if alpha-lipoic acid (LA) could alter the response to ethanol + in vitro ischemia. METHODS: Sixty-four rats were used for the these experiments. Each rat was anesthetized and its urinary bladder excised. The bladder body was cut into two longitudinal strips and each strip mounted in individual baths filled with oxygenated Tyrodes solution containing glucose at 37 degrees C. Ethanol (0.3%, 1%, or 3%) was placed in the first six baths (two strips at each concentration). The last two baths did not receive ethanol. Each strip was incubated for 1 h and then stimulated with field stimulation at 2, 8, and 32 Hz. Each strip was stimulated with 10 microM carbachol, washed three times with fresh oxygenated buffer and ethanol re-added to their respective baths. Each strip was then stimulated with 120 mM KCl and washed three times as before. Strips were then subjected to 1 h in vitro ischemia (incubation in the absence of glucose with Tyrode's equilibrated with nitrogen instead of oxygen). During the ischemic period, each strip was stimulated for 5 s every 10 min by 32 Hz FS to simulate hyperreflexia. At the end of the hour, the tissues were incubated for an additional hour in the presence of oxygen + glucose and subjected to a second series of stimulations as before. At all times, ethanol was maintained in baths 1-6. In set 2, 1% ethanol was added to the first six baths. LA was added to every other bath, and the experiments performed as mentioned earlier. RESULTS: (a) Ethanol at 0.3% or 1% had no effect on the contractile responses prior to exposure to in vitro ischemia; 3% was inhibitory. (b) In vitro ischemia mediated a significant decrease in the contractile responses to all forms of stimulation except for carbachol. (c) Ethanol mediated a dose-response enhancement of the contractile dysfunctions caused by in vitro ischemia. (d) LA completely reversed the effects of ethanol on contractile responses following in vitro ischemia except for carbachol. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that direct exposure to ethanol significantly enhanced contractile dysfunctions mediated by in vitro ischemia followed by re-oxygenation and that the presence of LA significantly inhibits this effect of ethanol.

Animals↗

On the role of pharmacokinetics in integrating results from in vivo and in vitro studies.

Our knowledge of the biological effects of foreign compounds has been developed from many different kinds of studies. In vitro studies are usually designed to evaluate the plausibility of hypothetical events by which the foreign compound may cause a response. Because in vitro studies are designed to evaluate individual mechanisms and events, however, no single in vitro study can provide all the information needed to understand fully the mechanisms of all responses caused by a drug and the in vivo factors that may modulate them. For example, one ste of studies in vitro may provide an understanding of the enzymes that metabolize the biologically active foreign compound in various organs and ideally provide estimates of the intrinsic clearances of the enzymes in the organs. Another set of in vitro studies may provide information about the kinetics of the action of various biologically active substances, including perhaps metabolites of the parent foreign compound, on potential receptor sites in various organs. Neither set of studies by themselves, however, provides assurance that the concentrations required to evoke the response in vitro are actually attainable in vivo. Pharmacokinetic studies in vitro thus provide the necessary link between the two types of in vitro experiment. This paper discusses the two pharmacokinetic approaches currently being used, and illustrates the strength and weakness of each. It also discusses the ways in which in vitro studies clarify some of the uncertainties that may arise in the application of the pharmacokinetic approaches. Further, it suggests some possible mechanisms of action of drugs that may result in delayed responses.

Enzymes↗

The CTFA Evaluation of Alternatives Program: an evaluation of in vitro alternatives to the Draize primary eye irritation test. (Phase II) oil/water emulsions.

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA) Evaluation of Alternatives Program is an evaluation of the relationship between Draize ocular safety test data and comparable data from a selection of in vitro tests. In Phase II, 18 representative oil/water-based personal-care formulations were subjected to the Draize primary eye safety test and 30 in vitro assay protocols (14 different types of in vitro endpoints were evaluated; the remainder were protocol variations). Correlation of in vitro with in vivo data was evaluated using analysis of sensitivity/specificity and statistical analysis of the relationship between maximum average Draize score (MAS) and in vitro endpoint. Regression modelling is the primary approach adopted in the CTFA Program for evaluating in vitro assay performance. The objective of regression analysis is to predict MAS for a given test material (and to place upper and lower prediction interval bounds on the range in which the MAS is anticipated to fall with high probability) conditional on observing an in vitro assay score for that material. The degree of confidence in prediction is quantified in terms of the relative widths of prediction intervals constructed about the fitted regression curves: the narrower the prediction interval, the more predictive of the Draize score is the in vitro test result. 16 assays were shown to have the greatest agreement with the Draize procedure and were therefore selected for regression analysis. Based on the magnitude of the 95% prediction bounds of each of the 16 selected assays over the range of test data, it may be inferred that prediction of MAS values from experimentally determined in vitro scores is more accurate for oil/water-based formulations with lower rather than higher irritancy potential. The assays selected for modelling in Phase II generally exhibited weaker relationships with MAS than those selected in Phase I (evaluated using hydroalcoholic formulations), even though several assays were common to both Phases.

3T3 Cells↗

Immunotoxicological investigation using pharmaceutical drugs. In vitro evaluation of immune effects using rodent or human immune cells.

In order to evaluate the relevance of in vitro methods for immunotoxicity assessment, the effects of pharmaceutical drugs on lymphoproliferative and cytotoxic functions of mouse splenocytes and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) were studied. A comparison of sensitivity of immune cells from different origins to an in vitro exposure to different xenobiotics was performed using non-immunosuppressive (cimetidine and furosemide) and immunosuppressive (azathioprine (AZA), cyclosporine A (CSA), and dexamethasone (DEX)) drugs. For CSA, sensitivity of both rat and mouse splenocytes following in vitro exposure was compared to the one of hPBMC. Immune function tests included lymphoproliferative response to mitogenic lectins (concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA-P)) or to allogeneic cells (mixed leukocyte response (MLR)) and cytotoxicity assays (cytotoxic-T lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytolysis). Additionally, to evaluate how well in vitro assays represent the in vivo situation, a comparison of the effect of cyclosporine A on the same immune function tests following in vivo or in vitro exposure was performed. The data obtained show numerous similarities in the effects observed following in vitro exposure of rodent or human cells to the drugs and a very similar sensitivity of rat and mouse cells to CSA in vitro. Discrepancies between human and rodent cells such as lymphoproliferative response to PHA-P following exposure to DEX or sensitivity of CTL-mediated cytolysis to CSA do exist. In vitro assays were very representative of the in vivo situation, both in the rat and in the mouse, following CSA exposure, except for NK cell activity in the rat. These data show the usefulness of in vitro systems for immunotoxicity assessment. They allow direct comparison of rodent and human systems, and could be representative, for drugs altering specifically the immune system like CSA does, of the in vivo situation.

Animals↗

Effects of steroidal glycoalkaloids from potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) on in vitro bovine embryo development.

alpha-Solanine and alpha-chaconine are two naturally occurring steroidal glycoalkaloids in potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), and solanidine-N-oxide is a corresponding steroidal aglycone. The objective of this research was to screen potential cyto-toxicity of these potato glycoalkaloids using bovine oocyte maturation, in vitro fertilization techniques and subsequent embryonic development as the in vitro model. A randomized complete block design with four in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) treatments (Experiment 1) and four in vitro embryo culture (IVC) treatments (Experiment 2) was used. In Experiment 1, bovine oocytes (n=2506) were matured in vitro in medium supplemented with 6 microM of alpha-solanine, alpha-chaconine, solanidine-N-oxide or IVM medium only. The in vitro matured oocytes were then subject to routine IVF and IVC procedures. Results indicated that exposure of bovine oocytes to the steroidal glycoalkaloids during in vitro maturation inhibited subsequent pre-implantation embryo development. Potency of the embryo-toxicity varied between these steroidal glycoalkaloids. In Experiment 2, IVM/IVF derived bovine embryos (n=2370) were cultured in vitro in medium supplemented with 6 microM of alpha-solanine, alpha-chaconine, solanidine-N-oxide or IVC medium only. The results showed that the pre-implantation embryo development is inhibited by exposure to these glycoalkaloids. This effect is significant during the later pre-implantation embryo development period as indicated by fewer numbers of expanded and hatched blastocysts produced in the media containing these alkaloids. Therefore, we conclude that in vitro exposure of oocytes and fertilized ova to the steroidal glycoalkaloids from potatoes inhibits pre-implantation embryo development. Furthermore, we suggest that ingestion of Solanum species containing toxic amounts of glycoalkaloids may have negative effects on pre-implantation embryonic survival.

Animals↗

Allergy testing: in vivo versus in vitro.

Table 4 briefly summarizes the relative advantages and disadvantages of skin tests versus in vitro tests for detecting allergen-specific IgE. The skin test remains unexcelled as a sensitive and cost efficient test for specific IgE. The high degree of skin test sensitivity is very important when a patient must be evaluated for potentially life-threatening allergies such as to penicillin or stinging insects. The results of both skin tests and in vitro assays depend very much on the quality of the allergen extracts used for the tests. Although the quality of extracts is improving, there is still little standardization. Both skin tests and in vitro assays are difficult to quality control. Practicing allergists rely on experience, and the correlation between patient histories and skin tests results for quality control of the results. Although this system suffices for common allergens, the results for uncommon allergens may be misleading. Quality control is also difficult for in vitro tests. Participation in quality control programs, such as that being offered by the College of American Pathologists, will increase and lead to better quality and standardization of in vitro test results. At the present time, properly performed skin tests are the best available method for detecting the presence of allergen specific IgE. They are rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive on a per test basis. In vitro tests are acceptable substitutes for skin tests in some circumstances. If the patient does not have normal skin, cannot discontinue interfering medications, or is so sensitive by history that anaphylaxis seems possible, in vitro tests are preferred. In vitro tests are better when it is necessary to test a difficult patient such as a combative, mentally retarded adult. In vitro tests also have been invaluable in many allergy research studies. Physicians must remember that positive tests for allergen-specific IgE do not diagnose allergy. They only indicate the presence of IgE molecules with a particular immunologic specificity. A decision whether the specific IgE molecules are responsible for clinically apparent disease must be made by a well-trained physician. The ultimate standard for the diagnosis of allergic disease remains the combination of: (1) positive double-blind challenge, (2) the presence of specific IgE, and (3) demonstration that the symptoms are the result of IgE-mediated inflammation.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗

The use of in vitro methods for hazard characterisation of chemicals.

The usual starting points for hazard characterisation are No Observed Adverse Effect Levels (NOAELs)/benchmark doses for threshold effects and risk-specific doses/unit risks for non-threshold effects. In vitro studies are in general of no use in identifying these doses. However, based in part on in vitro investigations toxic equivalency factors have been developed for selected halogenated organic PCDD/PCDF/PCB congeners. Such factors can be used to determine the total toxic equivalent doses of mixtures of these contaminants. Studies with paracetamol illustrate that in vitro systems may help in the identification of the most sensitive species and strain. In vitro methods have been successfully used to studying qualitative and quantitative species differences in the toxicity of agents such as peroxisome proliferators and dichloromethane. Investigations with a number of chemicals show that in vitro systems are excellent models for characterisation of the mode of action of chemicals, but in vitro findings need to be validated in vivo. Experiments with bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide illustrate that in vitro systems may aid in the extrapolation from high to low dose and from experimental animals to humans. In addition, in vitro approaches can be used to obtain useful information on the disposition of xenobiotics. It is concluded that if sufficient in vivo mechanistic information is available, in vitro studies using sub-cellular fractions/cells/tissue from animals and humans may significantly aid in the hazard characterisation of chemicals.

Animals↗

Multicentre evaluation of in vitro contracture testing with bolus administration of 4-chloro-m-cresol for diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The in vitro contracture test with halothane and caffeine is the gold standard for the diagnosis of susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia (MH). However, the sensitivity of the in vitro contracture test is between 97 and 99% and its specificity is 78-94% with the consequence that false-negative as well as false-positive test results are possible. 4-Chloro-m-cresol is potentially a more specific test drug for the in vitro contracture test than halothane or caffeine. This multicentre study was designed to investigate whether an in vitro contracture test with bolus administration of 4-chloro-m-cresol can improve the accuracy of the diagnosis of susceptibility to MH. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty-two patients from 11 European MH laboratories participated in the study. The patients were first classified as MH susceptible, MH normal or MH equivocal by the in vitro contracture test according to the European MH protocol. Muscle specimens surplus to diagnostic requirements were used in this study (MH susceptible = 103 viable samples; MH equivocal = 51; MH normal = 204). 4-Chloro-m-cresol was added to achieve a concentration of 75 micromol L(-1) in the tissue bath. The in vitro effects on contracture development and muscle twitch were observed for 60 min. RESULTS: After bolus administration of 4-chloro-m-cresol, 75 micromol L(-1), 99 of 103 MH-susceptible specimens developed marked muscle contractures. In contrast, only two of 204 MH-normal specimens showed an insignificant contracture development following 4-chloro-m-cresol. From these results, a sensitivity rate of 96.1% and a specificity rate of 99.0% can be calculated for the in vitro contracture test with bolus administration of 4-chloro-m-cresol 75 micromol L(-1). Forty-three patients were diagnosed as MH equivocal, but only specimens from 16 patients developed contractures in response to 4-chloro-m-cresol, indicating susceptibility to MH. CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro contracture test with halothane and caffeine is well standardized in the European and North American test protocols. However, this conventional test method is associated with the risk of false test results. Therefore, an improvement in the diagnosis of MH is needed. Regarding the results from this multicentre study, the use of 4-chloro-m-cresol could increase the reliability of in vitro contracture testing.

Biopsy↗

Morphological features of lipid droplet transition during porcine oocyte fertilisation and early embryonic development to blastocyst in vivo and in vitro.

Lipid content in mammalian oocytes or embryos differs among species, with bovine and porcine oocytes and embryos showing large cytoplasmic droplets. These droplets are considered to play important roles in energy metabolism during oocyte maturation, fertilisation and early embryonic development, and also in the freezing ability of oocytes or embryos; however, their detailed distribution or function is not well understood. In the present study, changes in the distribution and morphology of porcine lipid droplets during in vivo and in vitro fertilisation, in contrast to parthenogenetic oocyte activation, as well as during their development to blastocyst stage, were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The analysis of semi-thin and ultra-thin sections by TEM showed conspicuous, large, electron-dense lipid droplets, sometimes associated with mitochondrial aggregates in the oocytes, irrespective of whether the oocytes had been matured in vivo or in vitro. Immediately after sperm penetration, the electron density of the lipid droplets was lost in both the in vivo and in vitro oocytes, the reduction being most evident in the oocytes developed in vitro. Density was restored in the pronculear oocytes, fully in the in vivo specimens but only partially in the in vitro ones. The number and size of the droplets seemed, however, to have decreased. At 2- to 4-cell and blastocyst stages, the features of the lipid droplets were almost the same as those of pronuclear oocytes, showing a homogeneous or saturated density in the in vivo embryos but a marbled or partially saturated appearance in the in vitro embryos. In vitro matured oocytes undergoing parthenogenesis had lipid droplets that resembled those of fertilised oocytes until the pronuclear stage. Overall, results indicate variations in both the morphology and amount of cytoplasmic lipid droplets during porcine oocyte maturation, fertilisation and early embryo development as well as differences between in vivo and in vitro development, suggesting both different energy status during preimplantation development in pigs and substantial differences between in vitro and in vivo development.

Animals↗

Sequence-specific cleavage by bacteriophage T4 endonuclease II in vitro.

The 136 codon (408 bp) denA gene encoding endonuclease II (Endoll) of bacteriophage T4 was unambiguously identified through sequencing and subsequent cloning. Endoll prepared from cloned DNA through coupled in vitro transcription-translation nicked and cut DNA in vitro in a sequence-specific manner. In vitro (and in vivo), the bottom strand was nicked between the first and second base pair to the right of a top-strand CCGC motif shared by favoured in vitro and in vivo cleavage sites; top-strand cleavage positions varied. To the right of the cleavage position, favoured in vitro sites lacked a sequence element conserved at favoured in vivo sites. In pBR322 DNA, the sites cleaved in vivo as previously described were also cleaved in vitro, but in vitro additional sites were nicked or cleaved and the preference for individual sites was different. Also, different from the in vivo reaction, nicking was more frequent than ds cutting; in many copies of a ds cleavage site, only the bottom strand was nicked in vitro. A model is discussed in which sequential nicking of the two strands, and different factors influencing bottom-strand nicking and top-strand nicking, can explain the differences between the in vitro and the in vivo reaction.

Bacteriophage T4↗

Vitrification of in vivo and in vitro produced ovine blastocysts.

Although cryopreservation of bovine embryo has made great progress in recent years, little achievement was obtained in ovine embryo freezing, especially in vitro produced embryos. However, a simple and efficient method for cryopreservation of sheep embryos will be important for application of ovine embryonic techniques such as in vitro fertilization, transgenic, cloning and etc. In this study ovine blastocysts, produced in vivo or in vitro, were cryopreserved by vitrification in EFS40 (40% ethylene glycol (EG), 18% ficoll and 0.5 M sucrose) or GFS40 (40% glycerol (GL), 18% ficoll and 0.5 Mol sucrose). In vitro produced, early blastocysts were directly plunged into liquid nitrogen (LN2) after preparation by one of the following procedures at 25 degrees C: (A) equilibration in EFS40 for 1 min; (B) equilibration in EFS40 for 2 min; (C) equilibration in EFS40 for 30 s following pretreatment in 10% EG for 5 min; (D) equilibration in EFS40 for 30 s following pretreatment in EFS20 for 2 min (E) equilibration in GFS30 for 30 s following pretreatment in 10% GL for 5 min. The survival rates observed after thawing and in vitro culture for 12 h were A 78.0% (39/50), B 50.0% (26/52), C 93.3% (70/75), D 92.0% (46/50) and E 68.0% (34/50). Survival rates were not significantly different for treatments C and D (p>0.05), but those for groups C and D were significantly higher than for A, B and E (p<0.05). After 24 h in vitro culture, hatched blastocyst rates were A 28.0% (14/50), B 21.1% (11/52), C 49.3% (37/75), D 48.0% (24/50), E 32.0% (16/50) and control 54.0% (27/50). The hatching rates for groups A, B and E were significantly lower than the control (p<0.05) in which early IVF blastocysts were cultured in fresh SOFaaBSA medium following treatment in PBS containing 0.3% BSA for 30 min, but for groups C and D it was similar to the control (p>0.05). The freezing procedures A, B and C were used to vitrify in vivo produced, early blastocysts recovered from superovulated ewes. The survival rates of frozen-thawed in vivo embryos were A 94.7% (72/76), B 75.0% (45/60) and C 96.4% (54/56) and for group B was significantly lower than for the other two treatment groups (p<0.05). Hatched blastocyst rates were A 46.0% (35/76), B 26.6% (16/60), C 51.8% (29/56) and the control 56.7% (34/60) in which early blastocysts from superovulation were cultured in fresh SOFaaBSA medium following treatment in PBS containing 0.3% BSA for 30 min. The hatching rate for treatment B was significantly lower than for the control (p<0.05) but did not differ between groups A, C and the control (p>0.05). Frozen-thawed embryos vitrified by procedure C were transferred into synchronous recipient ewes. Pregnancy and lambing rates were similar for embryos transferred fresh or frozen/thawed for both in vivo and in vitro produced embryos. These rates did not differ between in vivo and in vitro embryos transferred fresh (p>0.05). However, for frozen-thawed embryos, both rates were significantly lower for in vitro than for in vivo produced embryos (p<0.05).

Animals↗

Spindle positions and their distributions in in vivo and in vitro matured mouse oocytes.

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to compare spindle locations and their developmental competencies both in vivo and in vitro in matured mouse oocytes. Spindle locations were identified using a polscope. Since meiotic spindles in living oocytes are highly birefringent, their structures can be viewed non-invasively by using a polscope. METHODS: In vivo matured metaphase II oocytes were collected from the oviducts of mice. Immature oocytes were collected from mouse ovaries, and then cultured in YS medium until the first polar body (PB) extrusion. In vitro and in vivo matured oocytes were classified into four categories according to their spindle positions relative to the first PB (0 degrees , 0-90 degrees , 90-180 degrees and without a spindle image), and rates of fertilization and blastocyst formation were assessed. In vivo matured oocytes with a 0 degrees spindle disposition relative to PB were cultured in vitro for 24 h, and then their spindle positions were re-assessed. RESULTS: Most in vivo matured oocytes (89.1%) had a 0 degrees spindle position. Only 6 and 3% of oocytes had spindle positions of 0-90 degrees and 90-180 degrees , respectively. No spindle image was observed in 2%. However, most in vitro matured oocytes (83.1%) had a 0-90 degrees spindle position and, in contrast, only 6.5% of these oocytes had a 0 degrees spindle position. The rate of fertilization and blastocyst rate were significantly higher for in vivo matured oocytes than in vitro matured oocytes (87.1 versus 64.9% and 76.1% versus 66.0%, respectively, P<0.05 for each). We also observed that 71.7% of the in vivo matured oocytes with the 0 degrees spindle position showed a spindle position change to 0-90 degrees after 24 h of culture. These oocytes had a poor fertilization rate (43%) and a zero blastocyst rate. CONCLUSION: In vitro matured mouse oocytes showed quite different spindle positions compared with in vivo matured oocytes. Moreover, in vivo matured oocytes cultured for 24 h had a spindle position distribution that was similar to that of in vitro matured oocytes. The different spindle positions observed in in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes may reflect differences in their cytoplasmic maturation processes. These findings have implications regarding the lower developmental competency of in vitro matured oocytes.

Animals↗

Tumor immunity to murine plasma cell tumors. III. Detection of common and unique tumor-associated antigens on BALB/c, C3H, and NZB plasmacytomas by in vivo and in vitro induction of tumor-immune responses.

Tumor-associated antigens (TAA) were demonstrated on plasmacytomas derived from BALB/c, NZB, and C3H mouse strains, by in vivo and in vitro techniques. By immunizing the appropriate F1 hybrid mice with these tumors, it was possible to show that all the plasmacytomas expressed cross-reactive tumor-associated transplantation antigens. When cytotoxic lymphocytes (CL) were induced in vitro by the coculturing of syngeneic or F1 hybrid spleen cells with irradiated plasmacytoma cells, "shared" and "unique" plasmacytoma TAA were demonstrable. This was accomplished by inducing CL in vitro against one syngeneic plasmacytoma and assaying for lytic activity on a range of 51Cr-labeled BALB/c, NZB and C3H plasmacytoma cells in vitro. In a second in vitro assay, unlabeled plasmacytoma cells were tested for their ability to inhibit the lysis of a particular 51Cr-labeled plasmacytoma, with the use of CL induced in vitro against it. The possibility that these TAA were "self" antigens was excluded by demonstrating in the inhibition assay that they were not present on T lymphomas and spleen cells of the same strain, and that CL "autosensitized" in vitro could not significantly lyse 51Cr-labeled plasmacytoma cells in vitro. From both in vivo and in vitro studies of immunity to these tumors, it was concluded that any one plasmacytoma line possesses multiple TAA of both shared and unique types.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural morphometry of bovine blastocysts produced in vivo or in vitro.

The objective of this study was to compare the ultrastructure of bovine blastocysts produced in vivo or in vitro by using morphometric analysis. Blastocysts produced in vivo (multiple ovulations, MO) were obtained from superovulated Holstein cows. For blastocysts produced in vitro, cumulus-oocyte complexes aspirated from ovaries of Holstein cows were matured and fertilized in vitro. At 20 h postinsemination (hpi), zygotes were distributed into one of three culture media: 1) IVPS (in vitro produced with serum): TCM-199 + 10% estrous cow serum (ECS); 2) IVPSR (in vitro produced with serum restriction): TCM-199 + 1% BSA until 72 hpi, followed by TCM-199 + 10% ECS from 72 to 168 hpi; and 3) mSOF (modified synthetic oviductal fluid): mSOF + 0.6% BSA. At 168 hpi, six or seven grade 1 blastocysts from each of the four treatments (MO, IVPS, IVPSR, and mSOF) were fixed and prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Random micrographs of each blastocyst were used to determine the volume density of cellular components. Overall, as blastocysts progressed in development, the volume densities of cytoplasm and intercellular space decreased (P < 0.05) and the volume densities of mature mitochondria, nuclei, blastocoele, and apoptotic bodies increased (P < 0.05). Across treatments, the proportional volumes of nuclei and inclusion bodies were increased in inner cell mass cells compared with trophectoderm cells for mid- and expanded blastocysts. For blastocysts produced in vitro, the volume density of mitochondria was decreased (P < 0.05) as compared with that of blastocycts produced in vivo. The proportional volume of vacuoles was increased (P < 0.05) in blastocysts from the mSOF treatment as compared with blastocysts produced in vivo. For mid- and expanded blastocysts from all three in vitro treatments, the volume density of lipid increased (P < 0.05) and the volume density of nuclei decreased (P < 0.05) compared with those of blastocysts produced in vivo. In conclusion, blastocysts produced in vitro possessed deviations in volume densities of organelles associated with cellular metabolism as well as deviations associated with altered embryonic differentiation. However, the specific nature of these deviations varied with the type of culture conditions used for in vitro embryo production.

Animals↗

In vivo/in vitro studies on the effects of cyclophosphamide on growth and differentiation of hamster palate.

A study was undertaken to examine the effects of cyclophosphamide (CP) on growth and differentiation of palatal tissues. An in vivo/in vitro approach was designed to analyze (1) whether the damage caused by in vivo administration of CP in the developing palate can be altered in vitro, and (2) to determine the effects of CP on the synthesis of collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG), which are essential for proper palate development. In addition, effects of vitamin B1 and/or B6 on in vivo modulation of CP teratogenicity was evaluated. Pregnant hamsters were given 30 mg/kg CP or 1 ml saline on day 10 of gestation. Control and CP-treated embryonic palates were dissected on day 11 of gestation and incubated in vitro in the presence or absence of CP. In order to allow metabolic activation of CP in vitro, either a slice of hamster liver or microsomal S9 fraction of liver was added to the culture medium. To study collagen and GAG synthesis, palates were obtained between days 10 and 13 of gestation, and incubated in growth medium supplemented with [14C]proline or [3H]glucosamine, as appropriate. The rates of collagen and GAG synthesis were determined. The results showed that, in the controls, the presence of a liver slice or S9 fraction in the culture medium had no effects on in vitro closure of palate. In vivo CP exposed palates did not fuse in vitro. When drug was given in vitro, or both in vivo and in vitro, palatal closure did not occur. CP reduced synthesis of both collagen and GAG in the vertically developing palate. The drug-treated shelves reoriented only after the rates of collagen and GAG synthesis were restored to the levels comparable to the control counterparts. Co-administration of vitamin B1 and B6 did not interfere with the teratogenicity of CP. It was suggested that CP treatment affected DNA synthesis and injured growing cells, which in turn reduced the synthesis of GAG and collagen and affected the expansion of shelf volume to delay the reorientation of the palatal shelves. Furthermore, it appears that in vivo treatment with CP changes the programming of palatal tissues to prevent the fusion process in vivo, which could not be altered in vitro.

Animals↗

How thrombus model impacts the in vitro study of interventional thrombectomy procedures.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Numerous experimental models are used to investigate the effectiveness of thrombectomy devices. We aimed to study the systematic effects of different in vitro thrombus models on the results of experimental thrombectomy and examined how thrombi formed in vitro and ex vivo differ. METHODS: Three variables involved in human in vitro thrombogenesis were investigated: spontaneous or thrombin-induced clotting, age (1 or 5 days old), and storage temperature (4 degrees C or 21 degrees C). The fibrin content of in vitro and fresh or old ex vivo thrombi was measured by histologic studies. Ten experiments were performed with each of 8 different in vitro thrombus types using (1) ultrasound thrombolysis, (2) Oasis thrombectomy, (3) Amplatz thrombectomy, and (4) Straub-Rotarex catheters. Thrombus weight was measured after standardized treatment. RESULTS: The fibrin content was markedly lower in all in vitro than in fresh and old ex vivo thrombi. In vitro thrombus type had no impact on the effectiveness of ultrasound thrombolysis and Amplatz thrombectomy. Thrombogenesis type affected Oasis and Straub-Rotarex catheter use. Storage temperature had a systematic impact on the outcome of Oasis thrombectomies. CONCLUSION: The fibrin content of in vitro thrombi differs substantially from that of fresh and old ex vivo human thrombi. Experimental conditions may systematically impact experimental evaluation of thrombectomy procedures. In vitro thrombi with thrombin-induced thrombogenesis should be favored for use in thrombectomy experiments.

Catheterization↗