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PubMed2000

Abnormal elastic system fibers in fibrotic human liver.

The network of elastic system fibers in human fibrotic liver was investigated by histological methods, immunohistochemical staining, and electron microscopy. Type III collagen was seen not only in regions of portal fibrosis but also in the sinusoidal wall. However, elastic system fibers were not found in the Disse space of the sinusoidal wall. Elastic system fibers including oxytalan, elaunin, and elastic fibers were found successively in the course of elastogenesis. A few normal oxytalan fibers and abnormal oxytalan fibers were observed in the periportal tracts. Few normal elaunin and abnormal elaunin fibers were observed in regions of portal fibrosis but not in the surrounding margin. Elastic fibers, only in scarce amounts, were observed around the portal veins in the case of chronic active hepatitis but not in acute hepatitis. Abnormal oxytalan fibers were seen as a bundle of wavelike microfibrils and had an irregular arrangement. Abnormal elaunin fibers were not associated with bundles of microfibrils. Abnormal elaunin fibers in large amounts were found interspersed with spiraled collagen, which most likely indicates that the oxytalan fibers degenerated in the course of elastogenesis. Thus, in a fibrotic liver it is possible that synthesis of normal elaunin and elastic fibers does not occur or that the quantity of such fibers synthesized may be small because of the effect of the degenerated oxytalan fibers. As a characteristic of liver fibrosis, the composition of abnormal elastic system fibers and spiraled collagen differs from that in other fibrotic organs.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Development of muscle fiber types in the prenatal rat hindlimb.

Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of embryonic, slow, and neonatal isoforms of myosin heavy chain in muscle fibers of the embryonic rat hindlimb. While the embryonic isoform is present in every fiber throughout prenatal development, by the time of birth the expression of the slow and neonatal isoforms occurs, for the most part, in separate, complementary populations of fibers. The pattern of slow and neonatal expression is highly stereotyped in individual muscles and mirrors the distribution of slow and fast fibers found in the adult. This pattern is not present at the early stages of myogenesis but unfolds gradually as different generations of fibers are added. As has been noted by previous investigators (e.g., Narusawa et al., 1987, J. Cell Biol. 104, 447-459), all of the earliest generation (primary) muscle fibers initially express the slow isoform but some of these primary fibers later lose this expression. In this study we show that loss of slow myosin in these fibers is accompanied by the expression of neonatal myosin. This switch in isoform expression occurs in all primary fibers located in specific regions of particular muscles. However, in other muscles primary fibers which retain their slow expression are extensively intermixed with those that switch to neonatal expression. Later generated (secondary) muscle fibers, which are interspersed among the primary fibers, express neonatal myosin, although a few of them in stereotyped locations later switch from neonatal to slow myosin expression. Many of the observed changes in myosin expression occur coincidentally with the arrival of axons in the limb or the invasion of axons into individual muscles. Thus, although both fiber birth date and intramuscular position are grossly predictive of fiber fate, neither factor is sufficient to account for the final pattern of fiber types seen in the rat hindlimb. The possibility that fiber diversification is dependent upon innervation is tested in the accompanying paper (K. Condon, L. Silberstein, H.M. Blau, and W.J. Thompson, 1990, Dev. Biol. 138, 275-295).

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1991

Skeletal muscle satellite cell diversity: satellite cells form fibers of different types in cell culture.

Following skeletal muscle injury, new fibers form from resident satellite cells which reestablish the fiber composition of the original muscle. We have used a cell culture system to analyze satellite cells isolated from adult chicken and quail pectoralis major (PM; a fast muscle) and anterior latissimus dorsi (ALD; a slow muscle) to determine if satellite cells isolated from fast or slow muscles produce one or several types of fibers when they form new fibers in vitro in the absence of innervation or a specific extracellular milieu. The types of fibers formed in satellite cell cultures were determined using immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibodies specific for avian fast and slow myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms. We found that satellite cells were of different types and that fast and slow muscles differed in the percentage of each type they contained. Primary satellite cells isolated from the PM formed only fast fibers, while up to 25% of those isolated from ALD formed fibers that were both fast and slow (fast/slow fibers), the remainder being fast only. Fast/slow fibers formed from chicken satellite cells expressed slow MHC1, while slow MHC2 predominated in fast/slow fibers formed from quail satellite cells. Prolonged primary culture did not alter the relative proportions of fast to fast/slow fibers in high density cultures of either chicken or quail satellite cells. No change in commitment was observed in fibers formed from chicken satellite cell progeny repeatedly subcultured at high density, while fibers formed from subcultured quail satellite cell progeny demonstrated increasing commitment to fast/slow fiber type formation. Quail satellite cells cloned from high density cultures formed colonies that demonstrated a similar change in commitment from fast to fast/slow, as did serially subcloned individual satellite cell progeny, indicating that the observed change from fast to fast/slow differentiation resulted from intrinsic changes within a satellite cell. Thus satellite cells freshly isolated from adult chicken and quail are committed to form fibers of at least two types, satellite cells of these two types are found in different proportions in fast and slow muscles, and repeated cell proliferation of quail satellite cell progeny may alter satellite cell progeny to increasingly form fibers of a single type.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect of cross-sectional design on the modulus of elasticity and toughness of fiber-reinforced composite materials.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Many current fabrication protocols for dental fiber-reinforced composites use hand lay-up techniques and technician design input. Little information exists regarding how the manipulation of the cross-sectional design of a prosthesis might affect the modulus of elasticity and toughness. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of simple and complex cross-sectional designs on the modulus of elasticity and toughness of fiber-reinforced composite used for dental prostheses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two particulate composites (BelleGlass HP and Targis) were reinforced with ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber ribbon (Connect), woven E-glass fibers (Vectris Frame), or unidirectional R-glass fibers (Vectris Pontic). A range of fiber positions, orientations, or geometries were incorporated into the rhombic specimens (2 x 2 x 25 mm(3)) to achieve simple and complex experimental cross-sectional designs. The control specimen did not contain fiber reinforcement. Specimens (n=6) were stored 1 week in distilled water at 37 degrees C prior to 3-point load testing to determine the modulus of elasticity (GPa) and toughness (MPa). The data within each main fiber group were subjected to 1-way analysis of variance and a Tukey post hoc test (alpha=.05). Cross-sections of randomly selected test specimens (n=2) were made for scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of the fiber distribution. RESULTS: The mean modulus of elasticity varied from 8.7 +/- 2.0 GPa (Targis control) to 21.6 +/- 1.4 GPa (2 unidirectional glass fiber reinforcements, 1 each at the tension side and the compression side). Mean toughness varied from 0.07 +/- 0.02 MPa (unidirectional glass fiber positioned at the compression side) as the lowest mean, to 4.53 +/- 0.89 MPa (unidirectional glass fiber positioned at the tension side) as the highest. Significant differences were identified between specimen groups in each main category (all groups P<.001, except modulus of elasticity of the woven E-glass groups, where P=.003). SEM micrographs showed fiber distribution in the cross section of test specimens to correspond with the intended fiber geometry. CONCLUSION: The modulus of elasticity of the composite specimens increased when 1 or more glass fiber groups were located at the compression side of the specimen. Toughness was most effectively increased when 1 or more fiber groups were located at the tension side of the specimen.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2004

Fiber-mosaic adenovirus as a novel approach to design genetically modified adenoviral vectors.

Genetic modification of the adenovirus (Ad) capsid is one of the successful strategies to achieve viral retargeting. However, it has been widely recognized that structural constraints imposed by viral proteins limit the number and nature of incorporated targeting ligands and often hamper viral propagation. To address this issue, we propose a genetic fiber-mosaic virus (having two distinct fibers in one viral particle) as a means to facilitate fiber modifications. Fiber-mosaic virus having tandem fibers: a wild type (wt) fiber and second adjunctive fiber, will utilize natural viral entry for the conventional propagation of the vectors whereas, adjunctive fiber will serve multiple potential purposes such as targeting, purification, or imaging of viral particles via genetic incorporation of the corresponding functional moieties. We generated the mosaic adenovirus vector encoding two fibers: wild-type and adjunctive fiber--Fiber-Fibritin (FF) and confirmed incorporation of FF in the mosaic viral particles. We investigated binding specificity of the mosaic virus and the possible interference of the two fibers during virus life cycle. Fiber-mosaic Ad attained new binding properties provided by the second fiber, while preserving the binding ability attributed to the wt fiber. Our results suggest that the two fibers being presented and structurally separated on the viral particle may also function separately as binding counterparts for virus attachment. Therefore, the mosaic setting will allow more flexibility in Ad retargeting approaches.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1985

The effects of ADP and phosphate on the contraction of muscle fibers.

The products of MgATP hydrolysis bind to the nucleotide site of myosin and thus may be expected to inhibit the contraction of muscle fibers. We measured the effects of phosphate and MgADP on the isometric tensions and isotonic contraction velocities of glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle at 10 degrees C. Addition of phosphate decreased isometric force but did not affect the maximum velocity of shortening. To characterize the effects of ADP on fiber contractions, force-velocity curves were measured for fibers bathed in media containing various concentrations of MgATP (1.5-4 mM) and various concentrations of MgADP (1-4 mM). As the [MgADP]/[MgATP] ratio in the fiber increases, the maximum velocity achieved by the fiber decreases while the isometric tension increases. The inhibition of fiber velocities and the potentiation of fiber tension by MgADP is not altered by the presence of 12 mM phosphate. The concentration of both MgADP and MgATP within the fiber was calculated from the diffusion coefficient for nucleotides within the fiber, and the rate of MgADP production within the fiber. Using the calculated values for the nucleotide concentration inside the fiber, observed values of the maximum contraction velocity could be described, within experimental accuracy, by a model in which MgADP competed with MgATP and inhibited fiber velocity with an effective Ki of 0.2-0.3 mM. The average MgADP level generated by the fiber ATPase activity within the fiber was approximately 0.9 mM. In fatigued fibers MgADP and phosphate levels are known to be elevated, and tension and the maximum velocity of contraction are depressed. The results obtained here suggest that levels of MgADP in fatigued fibers play no role in these decreases in function, but the elevation of both phosphate and H+ is sufficient to account for much of the decrease in tension.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed2003

A comparison of mathematical methods for the determination of in vitro dissolution constants for glass fibers.

Biopersistence plays a significant role in determining the potential bioactivity of respirable fibers. In vivo biopersistence in the lung is frequently assessed by in vitro fiber dissolution studies using simulated biological solutions and flow-through techniques. The dissolution rate (k) of a fiber is typically determined by elemental analysis of the flow-through solution to measure the mass of material leached from the fibers over a given time. Various methods may be used to estimate the value of k from these results. The present study compared the in vitro dissolution characteristics of seven experimental glass fiber compositions to those obtained for four recognized fiber compositions (MMVF 10-glass fiber; MMVF 11-glass fiber; MMVF 21-rockwool fiber; crocidolite fiber). Fiber dissolution was examined over a 17-wk period using a flow-through system designed to simulate the conditions encountered by fibers in the extracellular environment of the lung. Mass loss and changes in fiber diameter were determined over time and were then used to calculate k using five different methods. Although the selected methodologies did not produce identical estimations of k for each fiber, the resulting ranking of fiber solubility for each method was consistent. The seven experimental glass fibers were found to have k values intermediate between those of MMVF 11 and MMVF 21.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Traction force on a kinetochore at metaphase acts as a linear function of kinetochore fiber length.

We are investigating the relation between the force pulling a kinetochore poleward and the length of the corresponding kinetochore fiber. It was recognized by Ostergren in 1950 (Hereditas 36:1-19) that the metaphase position of a chromosome could be achieved by a balance of traction forces were proportional to the distance from kinetochore to pole. For the typical chromosome (i.e., a meiotic bivalent or mitotic chromosome) with a single kinetochore fiber extending to each pole, the resultant force (RF) would equal zero when the chromosome lay at the midpoint between the two poles. For special chromosomes that have unequal numbers of kinetochore fibers extending towards opposite poles. For special chromosomes that have unequal numbers of kinetochore fibers extending towards opposite poles. For special chromosomes that have unequal numbers of kinetochore fibers extending towards opposite poles, Ostergren's proposal suggests that RF = 0 when the chromosome is shifted closer to the pole toward which the greater number of kinetochore fibers are pulling. We have measured the force-length relationship in living spindles by analyzing the metaphase positions of experimentally generated multivalent chromosomes having three or four kinetochore fibers. Multivalent chromosomes of varied configurations were generated by gamma-irradiation of nymphs of the grasshopper melanoplus differentialis, and their behavior was analyzed in living first meiotic spermocytes. The lengths of kinetochore fibers were determined from time-lapse photographs by measuring the kinetochore-to-pole distances for fully congressed chromosomes just before the onset of anaphase. In our analysis, force (F) along a single kinetochore fiber is expressed by: F = kL(exp), where k is a length-independent proportionality constant, L represents the kinetochore fiber length, and exp is an unknown exponent. The RF on a chromosome is then given by: RF = sigmak(i)L(i)(exp), where kinetochore fiber lengths in opposite half- spindles are given opposite sign. If forces on a metaphase chromosome are at equilibrium (RF = 0), then for asymmetrical orientations of multivalents we can measure the individual kinetochore fiber lengths (L(i)) and solve for the exponent that yields a resultant force of zero. The value of the exponent relates how the magnitude of force along a kinetochore fiber varies with its length. For six trivalents and one naturally occurring quadrivalent we calculated an average value of exp = 1.06 +/- 0.18. This result is consistent with Ostergren's hypothesis and indicates that the magnitude of poleward traction force along a kinetochore fiber is directly proportional to the length of the fiber. Our finding suggests that the balance of forces along a kinetochore fiber may be a major factor regulating the extent of kinetochore microtubule assembly.

Animals↗
PubMed1958

The postspike positivity of unmedullated fibers of dorsal root origin.

The positivity following the spike in the action potential of unmedullated nerve fibers of dorsal root origin (d.r.C) has been shown to be homologous with the first positive potential (P(1)) of other varieties of nerve fibers. Thus it is only through the large size of the positivity that this group of nerve fibers is set apart from other groups. New findings accentuate and make more explicit the difference of d.r.C fiber behavior from that of the sympathetic unmedullated fibers. Support of the conclusion is derived from re-examination of the A fibers as well as from observations on the d.r.C fibers. Increase in size of the P(1)'s in a tetanus of the d.r.C fibers can occur if the frequency is high enough; and it does not occur in an A fiber tetanus if the frequency is low enough. Frequency is also critical in the obtainment of increasing P(1)'s in a tetanus of sympathetic C fibers. Decrease in the size of the P(1)'s in the course of a tetanus is attributable to development of the negative after-potential (N a-p). In rested d.r.C fibers the N a-p is latent. But it appears during a tetanus, develops in size, and after the tetanus leads to a long lasting and clearly defined second positive potential. Absence of a supernormal period during the N a-p of the d.r.C fibers is accounted for. An analysis is made of the apparent increase in size of the spike elevations during a tetanus, for the two subgroups of the C fibers. The difference between the after-potentials of A fibers and of sympathetic C fibers is correlated with the shapes of the curves of cathodal electrotonus of these fibers.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1989

Single muscle fiber enzyme shifts with hindlimb suspension and immobilization.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine how models of weightlessness, hindlimb suspension (HS), and hindlimb immobilization (HI) affect the metabolic enzyme profile in the slow oxidative (SO), fast oxidative glycolytic (FOG), and fast glycolytic (FG) fibers of rat hindlimb. After 1, 2, or 4 wk of HS or HI, single fibers were isolated from freeze-dried soleus and gastrocnemius muscles; a small section of each fiber was run on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels to identify fiber type, and the remaining piece was assayed for either lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and citrate synthase (CS) or phosphofructokinase (PFK) and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (beta-OH-acyl-CoA). Two weeks of HS induced an almost twofold increase in the activity of CS (2.13 +/- 0.13 vs. 3.60 +/- 0.26 mol.kg dry wt-1.h-1) in the SO fiber of the soleus, and the activity stayed high at 4 wk. Although the FOG fiber had significantly higher CS activity (3.85 +/- 0.29) than either the SO or FG (1.59 +/- 0.16 mol.kg dry wt-1.h-1) fiber, neither fast fiber type was altered by HS. The glycolytic enzymes LDH and PFK were both elevated in the SO fiber after HS. The increase in LDH occurred by 1 wk (14.80 +/- 1.51 vs. 8.83 +/- 0.78), whereas the activity of PFK was not significantly changed until 4 wk (1.16 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.68 +/- 0.05 mol.kg dry wt-1.h-1). The control FG fiber had the highest LDH (44.30 +/- 2.29) and PFK (2.40 +/- 0.16) activities, followed by the FOG fiber (LDH, 34.10 +/- 2.83; PFK, 1.62 +/- 0.17 mol.kg dry wt-1.h-1); however, the activities of these glycolytic enzymes in the fast fiber types were unaltered by HS. The activity of beta-OH-acyl-CoA was not affected by HS in either the slow or fast fiber types. HI showed qualitatively similar changes to those observed with HS; however, the enzyme shifts developed with a slower time course. In conclusion, both HS and HI shifted the SO fiber enzyme pattern toward that of the control FOG fiber; however, a complete conversion from the SO to FOG fiber did not occur within the 4-wk treatment period.

3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases↗
PubMed1994

Shortening velocity and ATPase activity of rat skeletal muscle fibers: effects of endurance exercise training.

Mechanical properties were measured in single skinned fibers from rat hindlimb muscle to test the hypothesis that the fast type IIb fiber exhibits a higher maximal shortening velocity (Vo) than the fast type IIa fiber and that the difference is directly attributable to a higher myofibrillar adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity in the type IIb fiber. Additional measurements were made to test the hypotheses that regular endurance exercise increases and decreases the Vo of the type I and IIa fiber, respectively, and that the altered Vo is associated with a corresponding change in the fiber ATPase activity. Rats were exercised by 8-12 wk of treadmill running for 2 h/day, 5 day/wk, up a 15% grade at a speed of 27 m/min. Fiber Vo was determined by the slack test, and the ATPase was measured fluorometrically in the same fiber. The myosin isozyme profile of each fiber was subsequently determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The mean +/- SE Vo (7.9 +/- 0.22 fiber lengths/s) of the type IIb fiber was significantly greater than the type IIa fiber (4.4 +/- 0.21 fiber lengths/s), and the higher Vo was associated with a higher ATPase activity (927 +/- 70 vs. 760 +/- 60 microM.min-1.mm-3). The exercise program induced cardiac hypertrophy and an approximately twofold increase in the mitochondrial marker enzyme citrate synthase. Exercise had no effect on fiber diameter or peak tension per cross-sectional area in any fiber type, but, importantly, it significantly increased (23%) both the Vo and the ATPase activity of the slow type I fiber of the soleus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1992

Variation and limitations in fiber enzymatic and size responses in hypertrophied muscle.

The present study was designed to determine whether the degree and kind of adaptation of a muscle fiber to a functional overload (FO) are determined by properties that are intrinsic to that fiber. The study also addresses the question of the capability of fibers to maintain a normal level of coordination of proteins per fiber as fiber volume changes dramatically. The plantaris muscle of six adult female cats was overloaded for 12 wk by bilateral synergist removal. Plantaris muscle fiber mean size doubled after FO, although some very small fibers that stained dark for adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) were observed in some of the FO muscles. There appeared to be no change in total succinate dehydrogenase activity per fiber. A reduction in succinate dehydrogenase activity per unit volume was observed in a substantial number of fibers, reflecting a disproportionate increase in fiber volume relative to mitochondrial volume. In contrast, total alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity and actomyosin ATPase activity increased as fiber size increased, whereas there was no change in alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and ATPase activities per unit volume. Control and FO muscle fibers generally expressed either a fast or slow myosin heavy chain type, but in some cases FO muscle fibers expressed both fast and slow myosin heavy chains. The persistence of variability in fiber sizes and enzyme activities in fibers of overloaded muscles suggests a wide range in the adaptive potential of individual fibers to FO. These data indicate that a severalfold increase in cell size may occur without significant qualitative changes in the coordination of protein regulation associated with metabolic pathways and ATP utilization.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1989

Electrical properties and innervation of fibers in the orbital layer of rat extraocular muscles.

1. The inferior rectus muscle of rat, one of the extraocular muscles, contains two populations of multiply innervated fibers (MIFs): orbital MIFs, located in the orbital layer of the muscle and global MIFs, found in the global layer. The electrical properties and the responses to nerve stimulation of orbital MIFs were studied with single intracellular electrodes and compared with those of twitch fibers of the orbital layer, MIFs of the global layer, and tonic fibers of the frog. 2. About 90% of the orbital MIFs did not produce overshooting action potentials. In these fibers the characteristics and time course of the responses to nerve stimulation varied along the length of the fibers. Within 2 mm of the end-plate band of the muscle, the responses consisted of several small end-plate potentials (EPPs) and a nonovershooting spike. Distal to 2 mm, the responses in most fibers consisted of large and small EPPs with no spiking response. Some fibers produced very small spikes surmounted on large EPPs. 3. Overshooting action potentials were observed in approximately 10% of the orbital MIFs recorded between the end-plate band and 2 mm distal. The presence or absence of action potentials was not related to the magnitude of the resting potential of the fibers. 4. The threshold of nerve stimulated responses in orbital MIFs was the same as that in orbital twitch fibers. A large number of orbital MIFs had latencies equal to those for the orbital twitch fibers recorded at the same distance from the end-plate band, but the average latency was greater in the MIFs. The latency of orbital MIFs was about one-half of that for the MIFs of the global layer. The values for the effective resistance and membrane time constant of orbital MIFs fell between those for orbital twitch fibers on the one hand, and global MIFs and frog tonic fibers on the other. 5. In order to compare electrical properties with innervation patterns, fibers identified electrophysiologically as orbital MIFs were injected with the fluorescent dye Lucifer yellow and then traced in Epon-embedded, serial transverse sections. In addition to numerous superficial endings distributed along the fibers, a single "en plaque" ending was also found in the end-plate band that resembled the end plates of the adjacent orbital twitch fibers. 6. From these results we conclude that the electrical activity of orbital MIFs varies along the length of the fibers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Hormone-sensitive stages in the sexual differentiation of laryngeal muscle fiber number in Xenopus laevis.

The number of muscle fibers in the vocal organ of the adult male African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, exceeds that of adult females. This sex difference is the result of rapid fiber addition in males between the end of metamorphosis, post-metamorphic stage 0 (PM0) and PM2. At PM0, male and female frogs have similar numbers of laryngeal muscle fibers. Males then add more muscle fibers than females and achieve an adult value that is 1.7 times the female number. Males castrated at PM0 have the same fiber number as females. Ovariectomy at PM0 does not alter muscle fiber addition in females. Gonadectomy at PM2 has no effect on fiber addition in either sex. Females attain masculine muscle fiber number if their ovaries are replaced with a testis at metamorphosis. Exogenous testosterone treatment at PM0 significantly increases fiber number in females but not in males. Exogenous testosterone given at PM2 has no effect on fiber number in females but decreases fiber number in males. We conclude that the testes are necessary for the marked addition of laryngeal muscle fibers seen in male X. laevis between PM0 and PM2. The masculine pattern of muscle fiber addition can be induced in females provided with a testis. Androgen secretion from the testes most probably accounts for masculinization of laryngeal muscle fiber number. After PM2, androgens are no longer necessary for muscle fiber addition and cannot increase fiber number in females.

Androgens↗
PubMed1989

The distribution of amosite asbestos fibers in the lungs of workers with mesothelioma or carcinoma.

We have previously shown that there are differences in the sizes of fibers of amosite asbestos in different parts of the lung in workers with relatively high asbestos exposure and malignant pleural mesothelioma. To determine whether this distribution pattern is specific to cases of mesothelioma, we compared the fiber distribution in the lungs of 20 cases of mesothelioma and 10 cases of carcinoma of the lung. The two test groups were statistically identical in terms of age, and exposure period, and overall both groups had very similar mean fiber concentrations and mean fiber sizes. When individual sampling sites within the lung were considered, neither group showed preferential fiber concentration in any area. However, there were definite differences in the intrapulmonary fiber size distribution both within and between the two groups: Cases of mesothelioma showed accumulation of lung fibers in the peripheral upper lobe with shorter central upper lobe fibers. The lung cancer cases demonstrated a reverse pattern, with shorter fibers in the peripheral compared to central upper lobe, but accumulations of long fibers in the peripheral lower lobe. Fiber surfaces and masses showed similar differences among sample sites. We conclude that (1) there is no evidence for fiber concentration variations in different portions of the lung; (2) there is strong evidence for variations in fiber sizes in different portions of the lung, and these differences are most clearly related to fiber length, surface area, and mass; (3) contrary to data from experimental animals, there are no clear gravitational effects on fiber distribution in humans; and (4) there are reproducible differences in intrapulmonary fiber size distribution between mesothelioma and lung cancer cases. These differences may be a manifestation of individual handling of mineral particles because of structural variations in individual lungs.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Effects of cigarette smoke exposure on retention of asbestos fibers in various morphologic compartments of the guinea pig lung.

For investigation of mechanisms whereby smoking might potentiate asbestos-related disease, guinea pigs were given 0.5 mg UICC amosite by intratracheal instillation. Half the animals were subsequently exposed to cigarette smoke. Animals were sacrificed at 1 day, 7 days, and 1 month after exposure. Lungs were lavaged and macrophages separated from the lavage fluid. Lung fiber concentration, numbers of fibers in macrophages, and fiber sizes from tissue (TFs), macrophages (MFs), and macrophage-free lavagate (FFs) were determined by electron microscopy. Smoke-exposed animals retained greater numbers of fibers in lung tissue by 1 month but had greater total numbers of fibers in macrophages at all time periods. In both smokers and nonsmokers, fibers in the three morphologic compartments had distinctly different lengths: the longest fibers were found associated with the lung tissue; the macrophages always contained the shortest fibers; and the macrophage-free lavagate had fibers of intermediate size. However, fiber widths and aspect ratios did not show the same clear separation by anatomic compartment, suggesting that in both smoking and nonsmoking animals length is the size parameter which is most important in determining fiber clearance. Smoking did not affect the lengths of MFs but did produce a progressive reduction in the lengths of FFs and TFs with time. These data indicate that smoking causes a marked increase in the number of fibers retained in the lung within macrophages and suggest that either macrophage removal via the mucociliary escalator or macrophage mobility is impaired by cigarette smoke. However, smoking does not change the sizes of fibers in macrophages and does not appear to depress phagocytic capacity. These observations imply that failure of macrophage clearance and subsequent re-release of fibers into the medium may at least partially explain the changes in fiber sizes and eventual increases in tissue fiber concentrations in smoke-exposed animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Myosin alkali light chain and heavy chain variations correlate with altered shortening velocity of isolated skeletal muscle fibers.

This study examines the myosin isozyme heterogeneity (in terms of both alkali light chains and myosin heavy chains) among skeletal muscle fibers of the rabbit and correlates these isozyme differences with the differences in a contractile property, the velocity of unloaded shortening, of the fibers. The mean velocities of unloaded shortening (pCa 4.3; 12 degrees C) were as follows: psoas IIb fibers, 2.07 fiber lengths/s (n = 25); tibialis anterior (IIb) fibers, 1.63 fiber lengths/s (n = 18); vastus intermedius IIa fibers, 0.98 fiber lengths/s (n = 15); fibers (IIa) from chronically stimulated tibialis anterior, 0.86 fiber lengths/s (n = 16). Peptide maps of the myosins showed that the myosin heavy chains of the two groups of IIb fibers were indistinguishable from each other, but different from the heavy chains of the IIa fibers. However, the difference in maximal shortening velocity of the two groups of IIb fibers was correlated with a difference in the alkali light chain ratio deduced from the intensity ratio of myosin isoforms separated by gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions. The vastus intermedius (IIa) and chronically stimulated tibialis anterior (IIa) fibers were indistinguishable in terms of either velocities of unloaded shortening or myosin isozyme contents. Soleus fibers contained only slow-twitch myosin. Thus, among fibers that contained a variety of myosin isozymes, differences in shortening velocities were correlated with the alkali light chain ratio, myosin heavy chain type, or a combination of both.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Histochemical differentiation of fiber types in neonatal canine skeletal muscle.

Differentiation of fiber types in developing canine skeletal muscle was studied, using morphologic, morphometric, and histochemical techniques. Sample collections were made from 6 muscles from the pectoral and pelvic limbs of 16 healthy pups between 1 day and 12 weeks of age. In newborn pups, 90% to 95% of the fibers in the 6 muscles were classified as undifferentiated or type IIC; the remaining fibers were classified either normal or large-size type I. Large-size type I fibers usually accounted for 2% to 4% of the total population and were considered analogous with the B fiber of Wohlfart. These fibers were larger than all other fiber types and disappeared after pups reached 4 to 5 weeks of age. After 2 to 4 weeks, the number of undifferentiated fibers decreased with the appearance of, and the concomitant numerical increases of, normal size type I and type IIA fibers. The percentages of type I and IIA fibers approached proportions of the adult dog by 12 weeks, at which time a type IIA fiber predominance was present in biceps femoris, lateral head of the gastrocnemius, cranial tibial, and long head of the triceps. Type I fibers predominated in medial head of the triceps and superficial digital flexor after 4 to 5 weeks. The mean fiber diameters of type I and IIA fibers were similar to any given muscle throughout the postnatal development. All fiber types stained uniformly with the oxidative stain nicotinamide adeninedinucleotide-tetrazolium reductase during the first 12 weeks of life, whereas a distinction between type I and II fibers was evident after 3 to 4 weeks with the periodic acid-Schiff stain reaction.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗