Immunohistochemical Demonstration of myc Gene Product in Chick Embryo Aorta and Atherosclerotic Lesions in Chickens

Expression of c-myc oncogene was immunohistochemically examined on aortas of chick embryo of 2-week gestational age, 2-week-old normal cockerels, 4-month-old normal roosters and 4-month-old cholesterl-fed roosters. Chick embryo showed moderate levels of expression of the c-myc oncogene product in the entire wall of the aortas. There was no significant expression of c-myc oncogenic protein in the thickened intima and the tunica media of the ascending aortic arch and its large branches of the cockerels and normal roosters. Cholesterol-fed roosters showed marked expression of c-myc oncogenic protein in the lipid-rich thickened intimal lesions of the ascending aortic arch and its large branches. These results suggest that c-myc oncogene has a role in proliferation and differentiation of aortic medial cells as well as development of atherosclerosis in chickens

Histometrical Approach of Aging Processes on Rat Aorta Using Low Power Magnification: Photographs of Electron Microscopy

72 Wistar Strain rats ranging in age from new born to age of 3 years were used to clarify specificity in growth of aorta in aging processes of vascular system. Developmental transformation of aortic media was investigated using low power magnification photographs of electron microscopy (x 850), because cell membrane can be traced easily. Number and size of smooth muscle cells, density of intercellular material and elastic fiber in a given unit area were histometrically estimated. In addition the fine structural study of each components of aorta was performed. In growing rat aorta, atypical biphasic pattern with double peak was observed in total intercellular material density around postnatal 5th and 35th day. Number of smooth muscle cell of aorta decreased with aging, and size of smooth muscle cell of aorta showed peak around 50th day. Smooth muscle cell of aortic media from newborn rat showed secretary function with organella-rich cytoplasm. Around 50th day after birth, transitory smooth muscle cell from organella-rich secretary cells to contractile cells with a large amount of myofibril was seen in proportion of one tenth in a given unit area. Rat aortic media maintained high level in density of elastic fiber per unit area from 30th to 60th day. During involutional period, fluctuation of total intercellular material density in rat aortic media was not obvious. However, detailed analyis of each component of aortic media revealed that decrease in number of smooth muscle cells and density of elastic fiber density developed, but cell debris increased. From the view point of acceleration of pubescence, it was considered to be of interest finding that atypical biphasic pattern was observed in alteration of total intercellular material density of rat aortic media during growth

A reliable Differentiation of Mucor from Aspergillus in Tissue Sections with Ultraviolet Illumination

In tissue, hyphae of mucor are characteristically broad and infrequently septate. However, it may be difficult to distinguish mucor from aspergillus in tissue sections occasionally, because sometimes aspergillus septa are not detected with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), periodic acid Schiff (PAS ), and Grocott\u27s methenamine silver (GMS). In a case, aspergillus septa can be seen under ultraviolet light. Specifically, structures of these septum were clear cut differences in the histological finding between mucor and aspergillus with ultraviolet illumination. Therefore, we developed a new procedure for rapid and useful differentiation of mucor from aspergillus

Incorporation of branched-chain fatty acid into cellular lipids and caspase-independent apoptosis in human breast cancer cell line, SKBR-3

BACKGROUND: 13-Methyltetradecanoic acid (13-MTD), an iso-C15 branched- chain saturated fatty acid, has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death of numerous human cancer cells. However, the mechanism for the induction of apoptosis has not been fully understood. This study described the incorporation of 13-MTD into cellular lipid of SKBR-3 breast cancer cells and apoptosis related event to gain more insight into the mechanism action of this fatty acid. RESULTS: Treatment of SKBR-3 cells with 13-MTD lowered the cell viability and induced apoptosis. Proportion of 13-MTD in the glycerolipids increased to saturation level within 6 hours. Triacylglycerol contained 13-MTD in higher concentration than phospholipid with positional preference to sn-2. 13-MTD caused no changes in the caspase activity and its gene expression. Furthermore, addition of caspase-inhibitor to culture medium did not prevent the cells from the cytotoxicity of 13-MTD. No-increase in the cellular calcium level was also noted with 13-MTD treatment. However, 13-MTD disrupted the mitochondrial integrity in 4 hours, and increased the nuclear translocation of apoptosis inducing factor. CONCLUSION: These results showed that 13-MTD disrupted the mitochondrial integrity, and induced apoptosis via caspase-independent death pathway

A Case of Primary Trabecular Carcinoid of the Ovary

A case of trabecular carcinoid originating in the left overy is presented. Clinically, no signs of carcinoid syndrome were noted. Various examinations including X-ray and CT, especially of gastrointestinal tracts and pelvic organs, revealed that the tumor mass is originated from the left ovary. Histologically, the resected tumor exhibited trabecular pattern of tumor cells, which contained numerous argentaffin and argyrophic granules. Immunostaining of NSE and calcitonin was strongly demonstrated in tumor cells. On ultrastructural examination, tumor cells had uniformly round shape granules, which were interpreted as neurosecretory granules. These findings clearly indicate that this neoplasm is primary trabecular carcinoid of the ovary

Molecular Cloning of the Japanese Quail α A Globin cDNA

Double stranded cDNA was synthesized using the poly (A) + RNA of the Japanese quail reticulocytes and ligated into the EcoRI site ofλgt 10 phage DNA. A recombinant phage,λQαG1 was selected by plaque hybridization using a 30mer synthetic oligonucleotide probe specific to the α globin gene. The size of the cDNA insert in the recombinant phage DNA was 0.53 kb and the restriction map was similar to that of the chicken α A globin gene. Nucleotide sequencing of the cDNA insert indicated that it contained the entire coding information for the α A globin

Atherosclerosis as a Proliferative Disease of Arterial Intimal Cells : An ultrastructural, immunohistochemical, and in situ hybridization study

Coronary arterise obtained from 35 autopsied cases were studied with the aid of electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. Smooth muscle cells were the main cellular components of the fibrocellular intimal thickening of the coronary artery. Atherosclerotic lesions were characterized by proliferation of smooth muscle cells as well as foam cells. Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies indicated that, foam cells originated from smooth muscle cells and macrophages. Immunohistochemistry showed low levels of expression of the myc oncogene product in the lesions of fibrocellular intimal thickening and increased expression of that in the early stage of the athlrosclerotic lesions. Both smooth muscle cell and macrophage were responsible for the expression of the myc oncogene. In situ hybridization demonstrated the presence of m-RNA of myc oncogene in the intimal cells of the uncomplicated atherosclerotic lesions

An Autopsy Case of Disseminated Cytomegalovirus Infection in a Classic Hemophiliac A with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

This is a case report of disseminated cytomegalovirus infection which occured in 23-year-old male hemophiliac with AIDS. He has been receiving Factor VIII concentrate. Postmortem examination revealed generalized CMV infection in the lungs, the adrenal glands and the large intestine resulting in multiple organ system failure. These observations suggest that when Factor VIII concentrate used, careful evaluation of the pathogens such as ATL and HIV is essential

Epidemiological Study of Lipoprotein (a) in Okinawa

A study of serum levels of lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a)) was performed among 217 normal adults including 135 men and 82 women in the northern part of Okinawa. Ages of the subjects ranged from 24 to 76 with an average of 49 years. Concentrations of Lp (a) in blood were measured by sandwich ELISA. The average Lp (a) concentration was 20.7 mg/ dl and the peak of the distribution of serum Lp (a) concentration ranged from 10 to 15 mg/dl. A greater number of people in the investigated area tended to show a higher level of serum concentration of Lp (a) than those in any other prefectures in Japan, although there was no significant relationship between serum level of lipoprotein (a), total cholesterol, triglyceride, age or gender in healthy subjects

Expression of c-myc, c-fos and CA19-9 in Human Non-Malignant and Malignant Gallbladder Tissues

Immunohistochemical study was performed on expressions of c-myc, c-fos and CA19-9 in gallbladder tissue with or without malignant lesions. A total of 81 tissues were divided into four groups including 47 carcinomas, 3 dysplasias, 17 metaplasias and 14 normal lesions. After these tissues were routinely fixed in 10% formalin solution and embedded in paraffin, 4 micrometer-thick sections were made and stained with hematoxylin-eosin to classify the type of lesions. Immunohistochemical stains were carried out for c-myc and c-fos oncoproteins, and CA19-9. The percentages of positive reaction for c-myc oncoprotein were 77%, 67%, 88% and 36%, those for c-fos oncoprotein were 83%, 66%, 35% and 7%, and those for CA19-9 were 85%, 100%, 88% and 71% in carcinoma, dysplasia, metaplasia and normal tissues, respectively. These results suggest that c-myc and c-fos oncogenes play some kind of roles in malignant transformation of the gallbladder tissues and that abnormal expression of CA19-9 is the sign of antigen reversion of carcinoma cells toward embryonic cells of the gallbladder tissue