Effect of abrupt weaning at housing on leukocyte distribution, functional activity of neutrophils, and acute phase protein response of beef calves.

BACKGROUND: Sixteen, spring-born, single suckled, castrated male calves of Limousin x Holstein-Friesian and Simmental x Holstein-Friesian dams respectively, were used to investigate the effect of weaning on total leukocyte and differential counts, neutrophil functional activity, lymphocyte immunophenotypes, and acute phase protein response. Calves grazed with their dams until the end of the grazing season when they were housed in a slatted floor shed. On the day of housing, calves were assigned to a treatment, (i) abruptly weaned (W: n = 8) or (ii) non-weaned (controls) (C: n = 8). Weaned calves were housed in pens without their dams, whereas non-weaned (control) calves were housed with their dams. Blood was collected on day -7, 0 (housing), 2, 7, and 14 to determine total leukocyte and differential counts and concentration of fibrinogen and haptoglobin. Lymphocyte immunophenotypes were characterised using selected surface antigens (CD4+, CD8+, WC1+ (gammadelta T cells), MHC Class II+ lymphocytes), and the functional activities of neutrophils (surface expression of L-selectin (CD62L), phagocytic and oxidative burst activity) were investigated using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Treatment x sampling time interactions (P < 0.05) were detected for total leukocyte and neutrophil counts, all lymphocyte subsets, mean fluorescence intensity of CD62L+ neutrophils, and percentage neutrophils performing phagocytosis. On d 2, total leukocyte and neutrophil count increased (P < 0.001), and percentage CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, percentage phagocytic neutrophils, mean fluorescence intensity of CD62L+ neutrophils decreased (P < 0.05) in W compared with baseline (d 0), whereas they were unchanged (P > 0.05) in C. On d 2, percentage WC1+ lymphocytes decreased (P < 0.05), whereas percentage MHC class II+ lymphocytes increased (P < 0.05) in W and C, however the magnitude of change was greater in W than C. There were no treatment x sampling time interactions (P > 0.05) for monocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts, percentage G1+ neutrophils, or percentage oxidative burst positive neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS: Abrupt weaning resulted in increased neutrophil counts and impaired trafficking and phagocytic function. Together with the changes in lymphocyte subsets, the results suggest that there was a greater transitory reduction in immune function at housing in abruptly weaned than non-weaned beef calves.

Can state or response entropy be used as a measure of sleep depth?

SUMMARY: In this prospective observational study we examined the potential of the spectral entropy measures 'state' and 'response' entropy (Entropy monitor), as measures of sleep depth in 12 healthy adult subjects. Both median state and response entropy values varied significantly with sleep stage (p = 0.017 and p = 0.014 respectively; ANOVA). Median state or response entropy did not decrease significantly during the transition from awake to stage I sleep (p > 0.017). State entropy values decreased significantly between sleep stages I and II (p < 0.001). Both state and response entropy values were significantly less (40 and 45 arbitrary units respectively) in stage III (slow wave sleep) vs stage II sleep (p = 0.008). We conclude that state and response entropy values, when expressed as a function of time, may be a useful means of quantifying aspects of sleep.

Relationship between radiobiological hypoxia in tumors and electrode measurements of tumor oxygenation.

PURPOSE: To determine whether electrode measurements of tumor oxygenation, made in a variety of murine tumor models, correlate with estimates of radiobiological hypoxia in the same tumor systems. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The tumor models used were a C3H mammary carcinoma grown in the feet of CDF1 mice; the SCCVII, KHT and RIF-1 tumors grown in the feet or flanks of C3H/Km mice; and the CaNT and SaF tumors grown on the backs of CBA mice. All treatments were performed when tumors were about 200 mm3 in size. Radiobiological hypoxic fractions were determined using either a paired survival curve assay, with survival measured 0-24 h after irradiation, or using a clamped tumor control assay, with percent local tumor control estimated 90 days after treatment. Measurements of tumor oxygen partial pressure (pO2) distributions were performed using Eppendorf oxygen electrodes. RESULTS: The hypoxic fractions determined from the radiation response data were about 1% in RIF-1 and SCCVII, 12% in C3H and KHT, 28% in CaNT and up to 38% in SaF tumors. When this data was compared with the tumor oxygenation measurements it was found that as hypoxic fraction increased the mean, median, and the percentage of pO2 values < or = 5 mmHg showed a trend towards poorer oxygenation status. However, none of these pO2 changes were significantly correlated with hypoxia. Moreover, the pO2 values < or = 2.5 mmHg indicated an improvement in oxygen status with increasing hypoxic fraction. CONCLUSION: Electrode measurements of tumor oxygenation alone may, therefore, not be a good indicator of tumor hypoxia across different tumor cell lines.

Measurement of tumor oxygenation: a comparison between polarographic needle electrodes and a time-resolved luminescence-based optical sensor.

A novel oxygen sensor which does not rely on electrochemical reduction has been used to measure the oxygenation of the murine sarcoma F in a comparative study with an existing polarographic electrode that is available commercially. The prototype luminescence sensor yielded an oxygen distribution comparable with readings made using a pO2 histograph. The percentage of regions detected that had a pO2 less than 5 mm Hg was 79 and 75 using the Eppendorf pO2 histograph and the luminescence fiber optic sensor, respectively. These values were compatible with a measured radiobiologically hypoxic fraction of 67% in this tumor. The polarographic method detected more regions with a pO2 of 2.5 mm Hg or less (69%) compared with the optical sensor (50%) (P < 0.05). This could reflect differences in the oxygen use of the sensing devices. This initial assessment indicates the potential of a fiber-optic-based oxygen-monitoring system. Such a system should have several advantages including monitoring temporal oxygen changes in a given microregion and use with NMR procedures.

Surgical treatment of female infertility: value of paradoxical oophorectomy.

The outcome of surgical treatment for infertility in 111 women has been reviewed. The procedures used, depending on the lesions present, were: myomectomy; tubal implantation, anastomosis, and salpingostomy; division of adhesions; ovarian wedge resection; and "paradoxical" oophorectomy. The results are analysed by comparing pregnancy rates after surgery with those for the total time of exposure. Only for division of adhesions and oophorectomy were statistically significant results obtained. Many of the pregnancies, however, occurred soon after operations that had been preceded by long periods of infertility. With single tube patency, which had been proved at laparotomy, contralateral oophorectomy appeared to be of value. In the light of these observations we suggest that in cases of tubal ectopic gestation salpingo-oophorectomy should be considered in preference to salpingectomy when the opposite tube and ovary are healthy. Wedge resection for the Stein-Leventhal syndrome effectively restored ovulatory activity.

Hypoxia-activated ligand HAL-1/13 is lupus autoantigen Ku80 and mediates lymphoid cell adhesion in vitro.

Hypoxia is known to induce extravasation of lymphocytes and leukocytes during ischemic injury and increase the metastatic potential of malignant lymphoid cells. We have recently identified a new adhesion molecule, hypoxia-activated ligand-1/13 (HAL-1/13), that mediates the hypoxia-induced increases in lymphocyte and neutrophil adhesion to endothelium and hypoxia-mediated invasion of endothelial cell monolayers by tumor cells. In this report, we used expression cloning to identify this molecule as the lupus antigen and DNA-dependent protein kinase-associated nuclear protein, Ku80. The HAL-1/13-Ku80 antigen is present on the surface of leukemic and solid tumor cell lines, including T and B lymphomas, myeloid leukemias, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and breast carcinoma cells. Transfection and ectopic expression of HAL-1/13-Ku80 on (murine) NIH/3T3 fibroblasts confers the ability of these normally nonadhesive cells to bind to a variety of human lymphoid cell lines. This adhesion can be specifically blocked by HAL-1/13 or Ku80-neutralizing antibodies. Loss of expression variants of these transfectants simultaneously lost their adhesive properties toward human lymphoid cells. Hypoxic exposure of tumor cell lines resulted in upregulation of HAL-1/13-Ku80 expression at the cell surface, mediated by redistribution of the antigen from the nucleus. These studies indicate that the HAL-1/13-Ku80 molecule may mediate, in part, the hypoxia-induced adhesion of lymphocytes, leukocytes, and tumor cells.

NaCl and fluid secretion by the intestine of the teleost Fundulus heteroclitus: involvement of CFTR.

Sections of posterior intestine of the euryhaline killifish Fundulus heteroclitus adapted to sea water were stimulated by the calcium ionophore ionomycin (1 micromol l(-1)) in combination with agents to elevate intracellular cyclic AMP levels, 0.5 mmol l(-1) dibutyryl-cyclic AMP (db-cAMP) with 0.1 mmol l(-1) 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Intestinal bag preparations from recently fed animals (but not from overnight unfed animals) changed from fluid absorption (+18.9+/-8.30 microl cm(-2) h(-1), N=8) in the untreated control period to net fluid secretion after stimulation (-7.43+/-1.30 microl cm(-2) h(-1), N=8, P<0.01; means +/- S.E.M.), indicative of the capacity of teleost intestine to undergo secretion. Posterior intestinal pieces mounted in vitro in Ussing-style membrane chambers showed net Cl(-) uptake (+2.245+/-0.633 microequiv cm(-2) h(-1), N=7) that turned to net secretion following stimulation by ionomycin + db-cAMP + IBMX (-3.809+/-1.22 microequiv cm(-2) h(-1), N=7, P<0.01). Mucosal application of the anion channel blocker 1 mmol l(-1) diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC) after ionomycin + db-cAMP + IBMX treatment significantly reduced serosal-to-mucosal unidirectional Cl(-) flux (P<0.001), net Cl(-) flux (P<0.05), short-circuit current (I(sc), P<0.001) and tissue conductance (G(t), P<0.001), while 0.1 mmol l(-1) 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene-disulphonic acid (DIDS, a blocker of anion exchange) was without effect. Stimulation by db-cAMP + IBMX (no ionomycin) significantly increased unidirectional fluxes, I(sc) and G(t) but did not produce net Cl(-) secretion. Ionomycin alone produced a transient increase in I(sc) but had no effect on G(t) and caused no significant changes in unidirectional or net Cl(-) fluxes. Addition of db-cAMP + IBMX after ionomycin treatment produced net secretion of Cl(-) and large increases in unidirectional fluxes and G(t). Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) was immunocytochemically localized with a monoclonal mouse antibody to the carboxy terminus and found to be present in the cytoplasm and basolateral membranes of all enterocytes and in the brush-border membrane of some cells, whereas NKCC immunofluorescence, demonstrating the presence of the Na(+)/K(+)/2Cl(-) cotransporter, was present in the cytoplasm and brush-border membrane. We conclude that the teleost intestine is capable of salt and fluid secretion only if intracellular Ca(2+) and cyclic AMP pathways are stimulated together and that this secretion appears to involve activation of CFTR ion channels in the apical membrane of a subpopulation of enterocytes.

Redistribution of immunofluorescence of CFTR anion channel and NKCC cotransporter in chloride cells during adaptation of the killifish Fundulus heteroclitus to sea water.

Cellular distribution of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) immunofluorescence was detected by monoclonal antibody directed to the C terminus of killifish CFTR (kfCFTR) in chloride cells of fresh water (FW) adapted fish and animals transferred to sea water (SW) for 24h, 48h and 14+ days. Confocal microscopy allowed localization within mitochondria-rich (MR) cells to be determined as superficial (i.e. in the apical membrane) or deeper within the cytoplasm of the cells. In FW, 90 % of MR cells had diffuse kfCFTR immunofluorescence in the central part of the cytosol, with only 8.1 % having apical kfCFTR, which was 6.6+/-0.54 microm below the microridges of surrounding pavement cells. Curiously, FW but not SW pavement cells also had positive immunofluorescence to kfCFTR. After 24h in SW, a time when kfCFTR expression is elevated, a condensed punctate immunofluorescence appeared among 18.8 % of MR cells, 13.4+/-0.66 microm (mean +/- S.E.M.) below the surface of the cells. By 48h, a majority (76.3 %) of MR cells had punctate kfCFTR distribution and the distance from the surface was less (7.8+/-0.2 microm), a distribution approaching the SW-acclimated condition (i.e. all MR cells showing kfCFTR immunofluorescence, 6.1+/-0.04 microm below the surface). In contrast, NKCC immunofluorescence was condensed and localized in lateral parts of MR cell complexes in FW animals and then redistributed to the whole basal cytoplasm after acclimation to SW. CFTR, the anion channel responsible for Cl(-) secretion in marine teleosts, redistributes in MR cells during SW acclimation by condensation of a diffuse distribution below the apical crypt, followed by translocation and insertion in the apical membrane. NKCC, the cotransporter that translocates Cl(-) across the basolateral membrane, moves from an eccentric cytosolic location in FW to a diffuse basolateral localization in SW chloride cells.

Cytotoxic effect of tumour necrosis factor -alpha on sarcoma F cells at tumour relevant oxygen tensions.

We have investigated the response of a murine tumour cell line, the sarcoma F (SaF), to tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) at oxygen tensions known to occur in vivo. Using the Eppendorf pO2 histograph, the oxygen status of SaF tumours grown in situ was assessed. The median pO2 of the SaF is less than 1% oxygen with over 90% of values at or below 15 mmHg (< 2% O2). SaF cells primed in vitro for 24 h at tumour relevant oxygen tensions required at least four times more TNF to reduce cell number to 50% of controls following a 24 h incubation period in 21% oxygen. Chronic exposure of SaF cells to hypoxia during several passages increased resistance to TNF more than 60-fold. The oxygen sensitizing effect is transient as the resistance of hypoxic cells to TNF was reversed after 24 h incubation in air. These data clearly show that oxygen tension is a key modulator of the cytotoxic action of this important cytokine.

The differential distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the normal human female genital tract.

VIP-like immunoreactive material is present in the female reproductive tract, with a distinct pattern of distribution. The highest concentrations of extractable material and immunoreactive nerve fibres were found in the cervix and vagina. In the cervix these fibres were seen below the surface epithelium and around cervical glands as well as in association with blood vessels and smooth muscle bundles. In the vagina the nerve fibres were most abundant in th superficial regions of the lamina propria. Scattered fibres were also present in the rest of the uterus and in the fallopian tubes. Chromatographic evidence indicates that this VIP-like material is of a similar molecular size to that extracted from other organs. Possible roles for VIP in the regulation of myometrial activity and of cervical and vaginal dilation and secretion are proposed.