Multiple hormone requirement for the synthesis of alpha 2u-globulin by monolayers of rat hepatocytes in long term primary culture.

Primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes were prepared by releasing liver cells through fractional trypsinization and by a novel nonenzymatic procedure involving the imprinting of liver explants on the surface of the culture flask (explant imprinting). The comparative properties of these two primary cultures and their abilities to synthesize alpha 2u-globulin under multihormonal stimulation were investigated. The hepatocytes isolated from male rats by fractional trypsinization were found to divide rapidly and form a confluent monolayer within 5-7 days of culture. However, these cells failed to synthesize alpha 2u-globulin even after treatment with 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, GH, T3, and dexamethasone, hormones with known stimulatory effects on the synthesis of alpha 2u-globulin in vivo. On the contrary, hepatocytes prepared from male rats by the nonenzymatic procedure of explant imprinting were found to synthesize alpha 2u-globulin for more than 2 weeks and responded to GH, T3, and dexamethasone with enhanced production of this protein. Fortification of the culture medium with all of the above three hormones caused an approximately 9-fold enhancement of alpha 2u production within 4 days of culture compared to production in control culture without these hormones. The above results substantiate earlier findings concerning the multiple hormonal requirement for hepatic synthesis of alpha 2u-globulin in vivo and show that isolation and culture of hepatocytes by nonenzymatic explant imprinting may serve as a useful procedure for studying endocrine regulation of gene activity in vitro.

Sodium-potassium-dependent ATPase. I. Cytochemical localization in normal and cataractous rat lenses.

Biochemical studies have demonstrated the presence of ouabain-sensitive Na-K-ATPase in lens epithelium. The development of certain experimental cataracts has been associated with the decrease in the level of activity of this enzyme. Cytochemical investigations at the ultrastructural level to localize this important enzyme in the ocular lens are needed to exhibit the site of Na-K-ATPase action. In this investigation cytochemical methods originally described by Ernst for the localization of Na-k-atpase through K-NPPase reaction have been used for normal and cataractous ocular lens. The reaction product was observed to be present on the lateral and apical portion of the epithelial cell membranes. Mooreover, the membranes of the cortical fibers in the anterior polar and equatorial region of the lens also exhibited reaction product of Na-k-atpase. The presence of ouabain reduced the reaction product of Na-K-ATPase; however, continuous exposure to ouabain during preincubation fixation, and incubation demonstrated greater reduction in enzyme action in the lens. The Na-K-ATPase activity in the lenses of animals fed galactose decreased with increase in time on galactose diet. In this study, using ultrastructural cytochemistry, we have demonstrated gradual decrease in Na-K-ATPase activity in the lenses of galactose-fed animals.

Sodium-potassium--dependent ATPase. II. Cytochemical localization during the reversal of galactose cataracts in rat.

The importance of enzyme Na-K-ATPase in the development of galactose-induced cataractogenesis is now well realized. In our recent studies we reported decreased level of activity of this enzyme with an increased duration of galactose feeding and the induced alterations in rat ocular lens. Our approach was to determine the level of Na-K-ATPase activity by ultrastructural cytochemical analysis of lenses and spectrophotometric analysis of the incubating media used for cytochemical localization as described by Ernst. Using these approaches, we have determined the activity level of this enzyme during the reversal phase of the galactose-induced injury to the lens. Our findings are presented in this report and show that the activity of Na-K-ATPase recovers rapidly and attains the normal level when the animals were transferred to Rat Chow diet after the establishment of mature cataracts resulting from galactose feeding. This study supports the previous biochemical and morphological findings that partial reversal of galactose-induced cataractous lens occurs upon discontinuation of feeding of cataractogenic agent galactose.

Aldose reductase mRNA is an epithelial cell-specific gene transcript in both normal and cataractous rat lens.

Aldose reductase (AR) is implicated in the development of sugar cataracts by its reduction of galactose or glucose to polyols. The authors' recent work suggested that AR mRNA is found to be expressed in high concentrations in rat-lens epithelial cells after exposure of the animal to a diet containing 50% galactose. They localized the AR mRNA in the lens cells by in situ hybridization with a previously described AR clone. The data establish that AR mRNA is apparently an epithelial and not a fiber-cell gene transcript. It accumulates in the epithelial cell, then it is carried into the newly differentiated fiber cell, and finally it concentrates in the posterior region of the matured fiber cell. The AR mRNA is found in all of the anterior epithelial cells including the equatorial and central epithelia. It is present at highest concentrations in the elongating epithelial cells, and it is distributed equally throughout the secondary fiber cells at the bow, with no indication of a preferential buildup of AR mRNA in any of the nucleated fiber cells in the cortex. This differs from what the authors reported to occur with MP26 mRNA, a fiber cell-specific gene transcript. They found that MP26 mRNA was absent from the epithelial cells but was preferentially found in the secondary fiber cells. Present data suggest that the increase in AR mRNA concentration observed to occur in cataractous lenses is a result of epithelial cell proliferation, where every cell appears to be competent in expressing AR mRNA. The results of this research imply that AR mRNA is a lens epithelial cell-specific gene transcript in both normal and cataractous lenses.

Crystallin mRNA concentrations and distribution in lens of normal and galactosemic rats. Implications in development of sugar cataracts.

It is well established that high concentrations of sugar in the lens of the eye eventually lead to fiber cell destruction and cataracts. In these studies the decrease in crystallin mRNAs was quantified as a result of influx of high concentrations of galactose into the lens of rats. The alpha A-, alpha B1-, and gamma-crystallin mRNA concentrations were assessed in normal lens and in lens undergoing development of sugar cataracts by northern blot and in situ hybridization methods. In a normal, 28-day-old lens, alpha A-crystallin mRNA accumulated to high levels throughout the fiberplasm, and alpha B-crystallin mRNA was present at low levels in epithelial cells, with increased expression in elongating epithelial and fiber cells. The beta B1-crystallin mRNA was distributed to about the same grain density throughout the fiberplasm but at significantly lower levels than alpha A-crystallin mRNA. The gamma-crystallin mRNA first emerged in the terminally differentiated fiber cell, with insignificant amounts detected in the elongating epithelial and fiber cells at the bow. Measurements of hybridization levels on the same RNA population isolated from a single lens showed that in the controls, alpha A-crystallin mRNA comprised about ten times the level of alpha B-crystallin mRNA and twice the level of beta B1- and gamma-crystallin mRNAs. In the cataractous lens the rate of decrease in the concentrations of alpha A-, alpha B- and beta B1-crystallin mRNAs was the same; the decrease in gamma-crystallin mRNA was far more severe. By 20 days of feeding of galactose, at the age of 48 days, gamma-crystallin mRNA diminished to about 9% of the control levels, alpha A-crystallin mRNA to 49%, alpha B-crystallin mRNA to 55%, and beta B1-crystallin mRNA to 65%. In the normal lens, at 48 days of age, the levels of alpha A-, alpha B-, and beta B1-crystallin mRNAs showed no significant changes; the gamma-crystallin mRNA level decreased significantly, to about 70% of the day-28 level, the time at which galactose feeding began. Overall, these data suggest that the loss in crystallin mRNAs in response to the development of galactose cataracts follows this order of decline: gamma greater than alpha B greater than alpha A greater than beta B1.

Crystallin mRNA product levels in lens undergoing reversal and inhibition of galactose cataracts.

In our previous work, two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of the translational products from mRNA of lens from rats maintained on 50% galactose up to 45 days has suggested that synthesis of mRNA was not arrested by the disease process, but it decreased significantly relative to the control. The loss in mRNA number was due mainly to loss in cell population. Specifically, the gamma-crystallin mRNA product decreased to very low levels at onset of the disease. However, this mRNA was resynthesized in the surviving cells as the cataracts matured. Therefore, it became of interest to explore whether reversal or inhibition of cataracts would lead to some measurable changes in mRNA population in the experimental lens. The results show that the percentage (relative to the total mRNA population) of the in vitro [35S]-labeled translational products from alpha-, beta- and gamma-crystallin mRNAs combined, remained unchanged irrespective of the state of the lens. The severity of the cataracts was examined by indirect immunofluorescence with polyclonal MP26 antibody. Reversal of cataracts led to partial recovery of normal fiber cell morphology. Treatment with sorbinil in combination with galactose led to inhibition of cataracts with indication of appearance of vacuoles at longer periods of exposure to the drug. The translational products profile reflected the expected variation in non-crystallin and crystallin mRNA synthesis. It is concluded that there appears to be a combined fixed level of synthesis for the crystallins, such that inhibition in synthesis of gamma-crystallin mRNAs appears to lead to an increase in synthesis of alpha-crystallin mRNAs, while synthesis of beta-crystallin mRNAs showed insignificant fluctuation. A similar conclusion may also be drawn relative to the combined synthesis for the non-crystallin mRNAs.

Glutathione peroxidase-1 deficiency leads to increased nuclear light scattering, membrane damage, and cataract formation in gene-knockout mice.

PURPOSE: Previous in vitro studies with transgenic and gene-knockout mice have shown that lenses with elevated levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX)-1 activity are able to resist the cytotoxic effect of H(2)O(2), compared with normal lenses and lenses from GPX-1-deficient animals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional role of this enzyme in antioxidant mechanisms of lens in vivo by comparing lens changes of gene-knockout mice with age-matched control animals. METHODS: In vivo lens changes were monitored by slit lamp biomicroscopy, and enucleated lenses were examined under a stereomicroscope in gene-knockout animals and age-matched control animals ranging in age from 3 weeks to 18 months. Transmission (TEM) and confocal microscopy were performed on different regions of lenses after the mice were killed at various times. RESULTS: Slit lamp images showed an increase in nuclear light scattering (NLS) in gene-knockout mice compared with control animals. TEM revealed changes in the nucleus as early as 3 weeks of age by the appearance of waviness of fiber membranes. With increasing age, there was greater distortion of fiber membranes and distension of interfiber space at the apex of fiber cells compared with control mice. The changes in nuclear fiber membranes were even more dramatic, as observed by confocal microscopy, which was performed on thicker sections. In contrast to the changes in the lens nucleus, the morphology of the epithelium and superficial cortex remained unchanged in knockout animals during the same experimental period, consistent with slit lamp observations. Stereomicroscopy of ex vivo lenses demonstrated a significant increase in opacification in gene-knockout mice relative to control animals of the same age. This effect became evident in mice aged 5 to 9.9 months and persisted thereafter in older animals, resulting in mature cataracts after 15 months. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate the critical role of GPX-1 in antioxidant defense mechanisms of the lens nucleus. The increased NLS appears to be associated with damage to fiber membranes in the nucleus, which is particularly susceptible to oxidative challenge because of the deficiency of GPX-1. It is suggested that the lens membrane changes in the knockout animals may be due to the formation of lipid peroxides, which serve as substrates for GPX-1. Cataract development in gene-knockout mice appeared to progress from focal opacities, apparent at an earlier age, to lamellar cataracts between 6 and 10 months, and finally to complete opacification in animals older than 15 months. This is the first reported phenotype in GPX-1-knockout mice.

Effect of pretreatment of germanium-132 on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and galactose cataracts.

PURPOSE: Recently, we reported that topical administration of 2-carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) concurrently with 50% galactose feeding delayed the establishment of mature cataracts and reduced advance glycation product. This study was to determine the effect of pretreatment of Ge-132 on galactose associated morphological changes and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity. METHODS: Young Sprague Dawley rats received topical eye drops four times a day of either saline or Ge-132 seven days prior to the 50% galactose diet and during galactose feeding. At desired intervals the lenses were extracted, photographed and processed for either light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy or the determination of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity. RESULTS: In Ge-132 pretreated lenses as compared to saline pretreated lenses the following results were observed: (a) the galactose-induced morphological alterations in the majority of lenses were delayed and (b) Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity was protected. CONCLUSIONS: Our previous and current studies show that in addition to osmotic stress post-translational protein modification, such as glycation, including enzymes may play a role in initiating changes that lead to cataract development. The inhibition of protein glycation by antiglycating compounds, such as Ge-132, delays sugar cataract formation. Currently, we are investigating the status of protein glycation and advanced glycation end products following pretreatment with Ge-132 and the role of Ge-132 on the activities of enzymes such as aldose reductase and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase.

Arylsulfatase-cytochemical localization in lenses of normal and galactose-fed rats.

Our laboratory is involved in studying the mechanism of repair in the ocular lens. As lysosomal enzymes have been shown to play an important role in tissue repair, we have been investigating the status of lysosomal enzymes, such as acid phosphatase and arylsulfatases, in the normal and injured lens. In the present investigation, we have examined the presence, distribution, and possible role of arylsulfatases (E.C. 3.1.6.1) in lenses of normal and galactose-fed rats. Arylsulfatases were localized in lenses using the cytochemical procedure described by Hopsu-Havu and Helminen (1974) using p-nitrocatechol sulfate as a substrate and then examined at the ultrastructural level. The reaction product resulting from arylsulfatase activity was mainly localized in the epithelial cells with very little activity in the cortical fibers. The intracellular activity was confined to lysosomes. Some extracellular activity was visible in the intercellular regions in both the epithelium and superficial cortex. With the progression of galactose-induced lesion in the epithelium the number of lysosomes exhibiting enzyme reaction product was found to have increased, and the lysosomes closely abutted the capsule. The biochemical assay indicated a considerable increase in the activity of arylsulfatases with the continuation of a galactose diet. The possible role of arylsulfatases in the normal and cataractous lens is discussed.

Ultrastructural cytochemistry of the ocular lens.

Ultrastructural and cytochemical investigations of ocular lens have been difficult due to limited applicability of currently available techniques for the preparation of this tissue for such studies Several modifications in currently available techniques are being made in order to preserve the fine structure of the lens. In this report we present a modified method which provides good preservation of lens fine structure and allows cytochemical localization of enzymes in this tissue. Brief freezing permits preparation of thin slices of the lens which are subsequently incubated in the appropriate media for enzyme cytochemistry at an ultrastructural level. We have used this modified method for the localization of Na-K-dependent ATPase and the results are presented in this report.

Ultrastructural cytochemistry: effect of Sorbinil on arylsulfatases in cataractous lenses.

We have demonstrated an increase in activity of arylsulfatase A and B during galactose induced cataract development in rats. Our recent investigation shows that acid phosphatase activity, which increases substantially during galactose cataract development in rats, could be contained to near normal level if Sorbinil, an aldose reductase inhibitor, was fed along with galactose to the rat. We have observed that the activity of other lysosomal enzymes, arylsulfatase A and/or B, also increases during galactose cataractogenesis. In the present report, we provide information with regards to the effect of Sorbinil on the activity of these enzymes during cataractogenesis. A modified Hopsu-Havu and Helminen method (1974) with p-nitrocatecholsulfate as substrate was used for localization of both arylsulfatase A and B; and the method of Hara et al. (1979) was utilized to obtain quantitative data on the level of arylsulfatase A and B activity. Ultrastructural cytochemistry shows that arylsulfatase activity in all lenses was primarily localized in epithelial cells in lysosomes with very little or no activity in cortical fibers. The number of arylsulfatase positive lysosomes and the activity level of these enzymes increased with the progression of cataract development. Galactose induced damage to lens morphology and increase in activity of arylsulfatase A and B was inhibited by inclusion of 50mg/Kg (diet) Sorbinil in the galactose containing cataractogenic diet. However, Sorbinil had no significant effect on the enzyme activity following the establishment of mature cataracts.

Limited proteolysis of MP26 in lens fiber plasma membranes of the galactose-induced cataract in the rat.

Lenses of rats maintained on a 50% galactose diet displayed the development of a progressive cataract which was cortical at 3-11 days, and progressively internalized (nuclear as well) and mature at 16-20 days of feeding. Lens fiber plasma membranes were isolated from female rats subjected to the galactose diet and from controls at 11, 19, and 31 days of feeding, and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Examination of the fiber plasma membranes from whole lenses of galactose-fed rats demonstrated the limited proteolysis of MP26 into MP23-24, in both the cortical and mature stages of the resultant cataracts. The limited proteolysis of MP26 was first evident in the lens cortex at 11 days of galactose feeding, and was evident as well, and more severe in proportion, in the lens nucleus at 19 days of feeding. The greatest proportion in MP26 limited proteolysis was observed in whole lenses at 31 days of galactose feeding. The regional progression of MP26 limited proteolysis closely paralleled the morphological progression of the galactose-induced cataract in the rat. The proportion of lens MP26 which underwent limited proteolysis into MP23-24 increased the longer the animals were kept on the galactose diet.

Prefeeding of aldose reductase inhibitor and galactose cataractogenesis.

Our recent investigations have shown that the Eisai compound, E-0722, (2R-4S-6-fluoro-1-2-methylspirochroman 4,4'-imidazolidine 2,5'-dione) is a more potent aldose reductase inhibitor than Sorbinil (D-6-fluorospirochroman 4,4'-imidazolidine 2,5'-dione). In the previous studies these aldose reductase inhibitors were added to the 50% galactose diet fed to rats to determine their effect on galactose-induced alterations in the lens and the development of cataract. In this report we present our results on the effect of prefeeding the aldose reductase inhibitor, E-0722, on the alterations in rat lens following subsequent feeding of galactose. For this study, young Sprague Dawley rats were prefed either rat chow or rat chow plus 50% galactose containing 1mg/day/Kg body weight of E-0722 for 1 or 2 weeks. After this dietary regimen, the animals were transferred to diets containing 50% galactose for different periods. For controls, rats were fed either rat chow or 50% galactose without the prefeeding of E-0722. Our results obtained through gross observation of the lenses, light microscopic studies of lens sections and assay of Na+-K+-ATPase (NPPase) activity show that the prefeeding of E-0722 prior to galactose feeding delays galactose-induced alterations and the development of mature cataract.

Relative abundance of aldose reductase mRNA in rat lens undergoing development of osmotic cataracts.

Aldose reductase (AR) messenger RNA concentration was determined in normal rat lens and in lens from rats fed a 50% galactose diet over a period of 20 days. The AR mRNA was detected by using a previously described AR cDNA clone. The relative concentration of the AR mRNA was estimated by cpm of 35S-UTP labeled antisense RNA hybridized to dot-blots prepared from cytosols isolated from single lens, decapsulated lens (cortex) and its respective capsule (epithelia). The results demonstrated that the concentration of the AR mRNA in the epithelium doubled over the 20 day period. Correspondingly, an increase in the concentration of the DNA was also observed, suggesting that the increase in epithelial cytosolic mRNA might be partially due to the increase in the number of epithelial cells occurring in lens undergoing cataractogenesis. The increase in AR mRNA in the epithelia was gradual, and it doubled by day 12 on galactose, while the increase in DNA was rapid and reached an optimum level by about day 4. By day 4 the cortex AR mRNA concentration increased, then rapidly decreased to insignificant levels by day 20. Changes in AR mRNA and in DNA following a high influx of galactose in the lens might suggest a heightened gene response to changes in the cellular environment for the lens epithelium.

Effects of intracellular calcium on lens membrane permeability.

The present investigation was designed to assess whether lens membrane permeability is affected by changes in levels of intracellular calcium. Lanthanum, an inhibitor of Ca-ATPase, affected an increase in the concentration of intracellular calcium (Cai) measured in cortical fiber cells. Preculture of lenses in lanthanum (1.0mM) caused an accumulation of 36Cl during subsequent culture at a rate three-fold higher than control lenses. Changes in calcium levels, however, were not responsible for the observed flux changes because a 40mV depolarization was observed to occur prior to a significant increase in calcium levels. The non-specific effects of lanthanum and other potential inhibitors of calcium transport were avoided by preculturing lenses in an ion-HEPES medium containing 20mM calcium chloride. In lenses with a six-fold increase in calcium levels there resulted only a 10% increase in 36Cl uptake over a 3 hr period. 86Rb efflux was also measured and the rate constant was unchanged compared to control lenses. Calcium accumulation did lead to a small (8mV) depolarization which may account for the small increase in chloride accumulation. By light microscopy, morphology of cortical lens fibers and the epithelium appeared unchanged in the calcium-loaded lens. The results provide little evidence that an increase in Cai leads to acute changes in lens membrane permeability.

Elemental studies in rat lens during galactose cataract reversal.

Alterations in elemental composition of the normal lens have been reported to accompany galactose cataract development in rats. In this report we present the changes in regional distribution of Na, K, Cl, P, S and Ca during the reversal of galactose-induced cataracts. Elemental X-ray maps of lenses from young female Sprague Dawley rats fed 50% galactose for 20 days were examined at 0, 20, 40 and 90 days following the transfer of galactose fed rats to Purina Rat Chow diet. Reinstatement of normal elemental distribution accompanied the progression of lens transparency. By 90 days on the rat chow diet, K had increased and Na, Cl and Ca had decreased so that a near normal lenticular distribution of these elements was established. The reinstatement of elemental distribution during cataract reversal followed a pattern similar to that observed for alterations during cataract development, initiating near the equatorial surface and expanding centrally. The correlation between the alterations in the distribution of the elements studied and our previously reported morphological investigation of lenses during galactose cataract reversal is discussed in this report.

Sodium-potassium-dependent-ATPase activity in Emory mouse lens.

Previous morphological and biochemical studies indicate that a late appearing hereditary Emory mouse cataract may be a good model for certain human senile cataracts. The development of lenticular opacity in the Emory mouse is a slow process which provides an opportunity to conduct analysis of the progression of alterations that lead to cataract development. Biochemical investigations have not yet demonstrated any specific correlation between alterations in the lens and the extent of opacity. We have conducted studies to determine the role of Na+K+-ATPase in the development of cataract in the Emory mouse. In this report we present results obtained on the site and level of activity of Na+K+-ATPase in six- and twelve-month-old Emory mouse lenses in which visible cataractous changes are beginning to appear. CFW mice (the parent strain) were used for controls in this study. Ultrastructural cytochemistry for the localization of Na+-K+-ATPase exhibited the enzyme reaction product for this enzyme to be present mainly between the lateral epithelial cell membranes and between the apical epithelial cell membranes and superficial cortical fiber membranes. In cortical fibers the reaction product was localized between fiber membranes. Although there was very little or no significant differences in the extent of reaction product in epithelial cells, the reaction product in the cortical fibers of six-month-old Emory mouse was less extensively distributed as compared to lenses from control CFW mice of the same age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)