Surface Distribution of Pemphigus Antibody-Binding Substance(s) on Isolated Guinea Pig Epidermal Cells. An Immunoferritin Electron Microscopic Study

The surface distribution of pemphigus antibody-binding substance(s) on trypsinized, isolated guinea pig epidermal cells was studied by means of immunoferritin electron microscopy. Both fresh and 4% paraformaldehyde-fixed cells were incubated with pemphigus serum at 4°C for 15min and then labeled with ferritin-conjugated goat antihuman IgG at 4°C or 37°C for 15 min, respectively. In these cells clusters of ferritin particles were distributed randomly on the surface of nondesmosomal membranes and hemidesmosome. Fresh basal and lower spinous cells showed clusters of 10 to 20 ferritin particles at 4°C while they displayed various sizes of clusters of 10 to more than 50 particles, some of which were interpreted as patches, at 37°C. Fresh upper spinous and granular cells showed clusters of 10 to 20 particles at both 4°C and 37°C. Fixed cells displayed clusters of no more than 20 ferritin particles irrespective of the layers from which they derived and of labeling conditions. Occurrence of patches implied that aggregation of binding substance(s) was induced by pemphigus antibodies. It was suggested that pemphigus antibody-binding substance(s) were movable in the membranes of basal and lower spinous cells while they were less mobile or immobile in upper spinous and granular cells

Morphologic change of Yoshida sarcoma cells and coelothelioma cells after exposing to the cell toxin from X-ray-irradiated animal

The unsaturated fatty acid fraction extracted from the liver of rabbit irradiated with X-rays exerts a strong cytotoxic effect on human coelothelioma cells and Yoshida sarcoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. The cell damage seems to initiate at the nucleus, finally leading to the complete cytolysis. The inhibiting effect of this substance on the mitosis of Yoshida sarcoma cells can be observed, especially marked from prophase up to metaphase giving almost the same results obtained after X-ray irradiation. From these results and the observations reported by several authors on the cell damage by X-ray irradiation, weshould call special attention to the fact that the essential mechanism of X-ray irradiation can be attributed to the cell toxin produced after the irradiation.</p

Trichophytin Contact Sensitivity in Guinea Pigs with Experimental Dermatophytosis Induced by A New Inoculation Method

Trichophytin contact sensitivity was demonstrated for the first time in guinea pigs infected with Trichophyton mentagrophytes using a new inoculation technique arid a provocative patch test. The inoculation method utilizes an occlusive dressing to keep a high humidity in the inoculation site. With a zoophilic strain of T. mentagrophytes, secure occlusion of the inoculated site for 24hr produced definite infection for several weeks. Trichophytin contact sensitivity was detected by means of a provocative patch test with undiluted crude trichophytin from filtrates of broth medium cultured with the organism. The sensitivity was confirmed by a patch test with purified trichophytin consisting of polysaccharide with attached peptides. The incidence of contact sensitivity increased with the number of infections-11 out of 20 animals (55%) after the first infection. 12 of 15(80%) alter the second. and 11 of 12 (91.5%) after the third