Expression of metalloproteases and their inhibitors by tumor and stromal cells in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast and their relationship with microinvasive events.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). METHODS: We used inmunohistochemistry to compare the expression of MMPs and TIMPs in tumor or stromal cells for 50 pure DCIS and 12 DCIS with microinvasive foci. RESULTS: Score values for collagenase-1 (MMP-1), membrane type 1 MMP (MMP-14), and TIMP-1, were significantly higher in pure DCIS than in DCIS with microinvasive foci, whereas stromalysin-3 (MMP-11) expression was significantly higher in DCIS with microinvasive foci. Both fibroblasts and mononuclear inflammatory cells (MICs) surrounding pure DCIS showed more frequently expression of MMP-1, MMP-14, and TIMP-3, whereas MMP-11 expression was more frequent in MICs of microinvasive tumors. MICs of microinvasive foci more frequently showed the expression of gelatinase A (MMP-2), MMP-11, collagenase-3 (MMP-13), and TIMP-1, than MICs surrounding pure DCIS; whereas peri-ductal MICs and fibroblasts from pure DCIS expressed TIMP-3 more commonly than these cells at microinvasive foci. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences in the expression of MMPs and TIMPs, so in tumor cells and stromal cells, between pure DCIS and DCIS with microinvasive foci. Therefore, these staining patterns might display potential applications as biological markers, such as in evaluating microinvasion in resection specimens of breast tumors.

Study of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Extracellular matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) have raised an extraordinary interest in cancer research because of their potential role in basal membrane and extracellular matrix degradation, consequently facilitating tumour invasion and metastases development. METHODS: An immunohistochemical study was performed using tissue arrays and specific antibodies against MMPs 1, 2, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, and their tissue inhibitors, TIMPs 1, 2 and 3. More than 2600 determinations on cancer specimens from 133 patients with clinically localised prostate carcinoma, 20 patients with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and 50 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia and controls, were performed. RESULTS: When compared with benign pathologies, prostate carcinomas had higher expression of all MMPs and TIMPs. Dendogram shows a first-order division of tumours into two distinct MMPs/TIMPs molecular profiles, one of them with high MMPs/TIMs expression profile (n=70; 52.6%). Tumours with high expression of MMP-11 or -13, or cluster thereof, were significantly associated with higher probability of biochemical recurrence. CONCLUSION: The expression of MMPs and TIMPs seems to have an important role in the molecular biology of prostate carcinomas, and their expression by tumours may be of clinical interest to used as indicators of tumour aggressiveness.

Expression of metalloproteases and their inhibitors in different histological types of breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Metalloproteases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases (TIMPs) are involved in several key aspects of tumoral growth, invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to characterize on how the different histological types of breast cancer differ in the expression of several components of this enzymatic system. METHODS: An immunohistochemical study was performed in 50 ductal, 23 lobular, 14 mucinous, 7 tubular, 4 papillary and 5 medullary invasive carcinomas, using tissue arrays and specific antibodies against 7 MMPs and 3 tisullar TIMPs. Staining results were categorized by means of a specific software program (score values). RESULTS: Carcinomas of the ductal type showed higher score values for MMPs and TIMPs than the other histological types; whereas mucinous carcinomas had lower scores values for expressions of the majority of these proteins. Stromal fibroblasts were more frequently positive for MMP-1, -7 and -13 and TIMP-1 and -3, when present in carcinomas of the ductal type than in other histological types of breast carcinomas. Stromal mononuclear inflammatory cells were more frequently positive for MMP-1 and TIMP-3, but more often negative for MMP-7, -9 and -11, when located in carcinomas of the ductal type than in other histological types of breast carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: We found variations in MMP/TIMP expressions among the different histological subtypes of breast carcinomas suggesting differences in their tumor pathophysiology.

[Thyroid C cells are decreased in experimental CDH]. / Las células C tiroideas están disminuidas en la hernia diafragmática experimental.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Experimental CDH is often associated with malformations of neural crest origin. Several of these features are present in human CDH and therefore likely similar pathogenic mechanisms should be explored. The aim of the present study is to examine whether thyroid C-cells, another neural crest derivative, are abnormal in this rat model. METHODS: Pregnant rats were exposed either to 100 mg of 2-4-dichlorophenyl-p-nitrophenyl ether (nitrofén) or vehicle (controls) on 9.5 day of gestation. Fetuses were recovered on day 21st and the thyroids of those with CDH (68%) were immuno-histochemically stained with anti-calcitonin antibody. The number of positively stained cells per high power field were counted using a computer-assisted image analysis method in at least 5 sections per thyroid. The distribution of the cells within the gland was assessed as well. Comparisons between CDH and control rats were made by non-parametric tests with a significance threshold of p<0.05. RESULTS: The number of c-cells was dramatically reduced in CDH animals in comparison with controls (101.2 +/- 61.3 vs 23.1 +/- 37, p<0.0001). Histology of the thyroid was similar in both groups, but the distribution of positive C-cells within the gland followed an abnormal pattern in CDH rats with the cells tending to be located at the periphery rather than at the core of the lobes. CONCLUSIONS: Nitrofén induces a severe decrease in thyroid C cells accompanied by abnormal distribution patterns. These results add further evidence of the involvement of a neural crest dysregulation as a component of the pathogenesis of experimental CDH. Whether there is or not a clinical counterpart to these findings is still unknown, but the nature of the cardiovascular and craneo-facial malformations in some babies with CDH strongly support further research in this field.

Organ changes and bacterial translocation in a rat model of chronic rejection after small bowel transplantation.

UNLABELLED: Rejection after small bowel transplantation (SBTx) may allow bacterial translocation damaging the liver and lungs. This study investigated these issues in a rat model of chronic rejection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Orthotopic SBTx was performed in syngeneic (SYN) (ACI-ACI, n=8) and allogeneic (ALLO) (ACI-Lewis, n=8) rat strain combinations. Cyclosporine was given to ALLO rats for 28 days. Animals were sacrified between 55 and 65 days. Lymph nodes and venous samples were cultured; Escherichia coli DNA was assessed by polymerase chain reaction. We measured intestine, liver, spleen, and lung protein and DNA contents. Chronic rejection was histologically confirmed. RESULTS: Two of eight and four of eight rats died in the first week after SYN and ALLO SBTx, respectively. There were no differences in organ weights or DNA and protein contents compared with the controls. Gram-negative enteric bacteria were found in two of four ALLO and two of six SYN rats (ns), and aerobic gram-positive were found in two of four and two of six (ns), respectively. Anaerobic growth occurred in mesenteric lymph nodes in only one ALLO rat. E. coli DNA was negative in all animals. Lungs were severely emphysematous in ALLO rats with no histologic changes observed in the other phagocytic organs. Mild rejection was found in the intestine of ALLO rats. CONCLUSIONS: Bowel lesions in ALLO rats might be consistent with chronic rejection and lung lesions could be related to bacterial translocation after SBTx. However, contrary to our expectations, no significant bacterial translocation was demonstrated in either group at the end of the experiments.

Las células C tiroideas están disminuidas en la hernia diafragmática experimental / Thyroid C cells are decreased in experimental CDH

Introducción/objetivo. La hernia diafragmática congénita (HDC) experimental a menudo se asocia con malformaciones de origen neurocristal. Algunas de estas alteraciones están también presentes en la entidad humana, por lo que el mecanismo patogénico pudiera ser similar. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar si las células parafoliculares tiroideas (células C), también directamente derivadas de la cresta neural, son anormales en este modelo animal. Metodos. Ratas gestantes fueron expuestas a 100 mg de nitrofén por vía intragástrica (grupo nitrofén) o 1 mL de excipiente (grupo control) en el día 9,5 de gestación. Los fetos fueron recuperados en el día 21 de gestación y los tiroides de aquellos que presentaban HDC (68%) fueron procesados para su estudio inmunohistoquímico con anticuerpo anticalcitonina. El número de células teñidas por campo microscópico de gran aumento fue establecido usando un método informático automatizado en al menos 5 cortes de cada tiroides. Se estudió igualmente la distribución de las células dentro de la glándula. Las comparaciones entre grupos se hicieron con métodos no paramétricos, estableciendo un nivel de significación estadística de p < 0,05. Resultados. El número total de células estaba reducido drásticamente en los animales del grupo nitrofén comparados con los controles (23,1±37 vs 101,2±61,3; p < 0,0001). La histología del tiroides fue similar en los 2 grupos, pero la distribución de las células parafoliculares dentro de la glándula seguía un patrón anormal en el grupo nitrofén. Conclusiones. El herbicida nitrofén induce una disminución severa del número total de células parafoliculares así como una distribución anormal de las mismas dentro del tiroides. Estos resultados refuerzan la evidencia del papel patogénico de una disregulación de la cresta neural como mecanismo de esta malformación en roedores. La semejanza del modelo experimental y la HDC en humanos invita a realizar investigaciones paralelas en las 2 especies (AU)

Background/aim. Experimental CDH is often associated with malformations of neural crest origin. Several of these features are present in human CDH and therefore likely similar pathogenic mechanisms should be explored. The aim of the present study is to examine whether thyroid C-cells, another neural crest derivative, are abnormal in this rat model. Methods. Pregnant rats were exposed either to 100 mg of 2-4-dichlorophenyl-p-nitrophenyl ether (nitrofén) or vehicle (controls) on 9.5 day of gestation. Fetuses were recovered on day 21st and the thyroids of those with CDH (68%) were immuno-histochemically stained with anti-calcitonin antibody. The number of positively stained cells per high power field were counted using a computer-assisted image analysis method in at least 5 sections per thyroid. The distribution of the cells within the gland was assessed as well. Comparisons between CDH and control rats were made by non-parametric tests with a significance threshold of p<0.05. Results. The number of c-cells was dramatically reduced in CDH animals in comparison with controls (101.2±61.3 vs 23.1±37, p<0.0001). Histology of the thyroid was similar in both groups, but the distribution of positive C-cells within the gland followed an abnormal pattern in CDH rats with the cells tending to be located at the periphery rather than at the core of the lobes. Conclusions. Nitrofén induces a severe decrease in thyroid C cells accompanied by abnormal distribution patterns. These results add further evidence of the involvement of a neural crest dysregulation as a component of the pathogenesis of experimental CDH. Whether there is or not a clinical counterpart to these findings is still unknown, but the nature of the cardiovascular and craneo-facial malformations in some babies with CDH strongly support further research in this field

Reconstrucción digital tridimensional para el análisis de las malformaciones intratorácicas congénitas inducidas con nitrofen / Aplication of a ·D reconstruction model for the analysis of nitrofeninduced intrathoracic malformations

Introducción. Los distintos modelos informáticos de reconstrucción tridimensional ofrecen múltiples ventajas a la hora de analizar y comparar diferentes procesos biológicos y estructuras anatómicas. El modelo experimental en roedores de hernia diafragmática congénita (HDC) inducida por nitrofen ocasiona múltiples anomalías en estructuras derivadas de la cresta neural. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar mediante un método de reconstrucción tridimensional las posibles alteraciones de los nervios vago y recurrente laríngeo en esta malformación. Material y métodos. Se usó el modelo experimental de HDC en ratas. Se estudiaron 9 fetos control y otros 9 con HDC. En cada uno se obtuvo un bloque torácico (desde laringe a la bifurcación traqueal) que fue seccionado seriadamente. Se tiñeron uno de cada 10 cortes y las imágenes resultantes (de 90 a 120 en cada feto) se digitalizaron usando un software biológico específico que permitió la reconstrucción tridimensional (TDR-3dbase®) de las estructuras señaladas (nervios vago y recurrente laríngeo, tráquea, esófago y grandes vasos). Resultados. Se encontraron diferencias en la anatomía nerviosa de los fetos con HDC comparados con los controles: 1) Ausencia de uno de los nervios vagos (4/9). 2) Ausencia de uno de los recurrentes laríngeos (6/9). 3) Hipoplasia evidente de los nervios vagos (2/9). 4) Desviaciones anatómicas groseras del recorrido de los nervios. Conclusiones. La reconstrucción tridimensional permitió un análisis detallado y proporcionó una aproximación real a la anatomía de las malformaciones. Los fetos con HDC presentaron anomalías de los nervios vago y recurrente laríngeo que apoyan la teoría de una alteración en la organogénesis mediada por la cresta neural en el origen de esta enfermedad (AU)

Background. Three dimensional computer-assisted reconstruction offers some adventages for analysis and comparison of biological phenomena and anatomical structures. The CDH nitrofen-induced animal model associates multiple anomalies in neural-crest derived tissues. The goal of this study is to analyse by a 3-D reconstruction software the malformations in the extrinsic innervation of the esophagus in this model. Methods. Nine control fetuses from 4 dams and 9 fetuses with CDH from 7 dams were studied. A thoracic block from the larynx to tracheal bifurcation was serially sectioned in the horizontal plane in every embryo. One in every 10 sections was stained with HE. The image was digitalized using biological software (TDR-3dbase®). Vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves, trachea, esophagus and the great vessels were examined. In order to obtain the 3-D reconstructions, 90 to 120 consecutive images were used. Results. In comparison with controls there were striking abnormalities of these nerves in fetuses with CDH: 1) Absence of the left (2/9) or right (2/9) vagus nerves. 2) Absence of the left (3/9) or right (3/9) recurrent laryngeal nerves. 3) Marked hypoplasia of the trunk of the vagus (2/9). 4) Deviations of their normal course and change of normal anatomical relationships into the mediastinum (2/9). Conclusions. To fullfill our goals 3-D reconstructions allow a detailed analysis and provide a precise insight into the real anatomy. Rat fetuses with CDH have anomalies of the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves that support the concept of a neural crest involvement in the origin of this malformation. These observations may explain esophageal motility disorders in CDH (AU)

Bacterial translocation in acute rejection after small bowel transplantation in rats.

Acute rejection after small bowel transplantation (SBTx) may facilitate bacterial translocation (BT) and subsequent changes in the liver, spleen, and lungs. This study investigated whether BT occurs after acute rejection and whether this is followed by changes in the structure of the intestine and the phagocytic organs interposed between the gut and the general circulation. Orthotopic SBTx was performed in allogeneic (ALLO) rat-strain combinations (BN-Wistar, n=5). For comparison we used syngeneic SBTx (SYN) (BN-BN, n=6) controls. Animals were sacrificed on postoperative day 7. Mesenteric lymph nodes and portal and caval blood were cultured for aerobes and anaerobes. Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase DNA was assessed by polymerase chain reaction in the blood samples. Intestine, liver, spleen, and lung protein and DNA contents were measured. Histologic changes were graded according to standard criteria of acute rejection. For comparisons we used chi(2) and nonparametric Mann-Whitney test with a threshold of significance of p<0.05. ALLO rats lost more weight after SBTx than SYN rats (-13.02+/-4.39% vs. -8.04+/-5.08% of preoperative weight), although the difference was not significant (ns). A variable degree of graft rejection was histologically demonstrated in all ALLO rats, and DNA/protein content in the graft was significantly higher in this group (0.245+/-0.85 vs. 0.134+/-0.21, p<0.05). Gram-negative enteric bacteria were found in 4/5 ALLO and 4/6 SYN rats (ns), and aerobic Gram-positive bacteria in 2/5 and 3/6 (ns), respectively. Anaerobic growth occurred in mesenteric lymph nodes in one ALLO rat and in the bloodstream in another one. E. coli DNA was isolated in none of the ALLO but in two SYN rats (ns). BT was frequent after SBTx in both syngeneic and allogeneic strain combinations. Contrary to our expectations, BT after SBTx was not higher in ALLO group rats. However, anaerobic germs were isolated only in this group.

Decrease of parafollicular thyroid C-cells in experimental esophageal atresia: further evidence of a neural crest pathogenic pathway.

Adriamycin-induced experimental esophageal atresia (EA) is often associated with malformations of neural crest (NC) origin, such as abnormal pharyngeal pouch derivatives like the thymus and the parathyroids. The aim of the present study was to examine whether NC-derived thyroid C-cells were abnormal in a rat model. Pregnant rats received intraperitoneally either 2 mg/kg Adriamycin (EA) or vehicle (controls) on days 8 and 9 of gestation. Fetuses were recovered on day 21, and blocks including the trachea and thyroid were fixed in formalin, coronally sectioned at 3-mum widths, and stained with standard hematoxylin and eosin until the largest area of thyroid was reached. From this point on, the 1st, 10th, and 20th slices were immunohistochemically stained with anti-calcitonin antibody. Positively-stained cells in each section of the gland were counted using a computer-assisted image analysis method, and the results were averaged. The distribution of the cells within the gland was assessed as well. Comparisons between EA and control rats were made by nonparametric tests with a significance threshold of p<0.05. The number of C-cells was dramatically reduced in EA animals compared with controls (32.4+/-36 vs. 92.3+/-60.5, p<0.001). Histology of the thyroid was similar in both groups, but the distribution of positive C-cells within the gland followed an abnormal pattern in EA rats. Adriamycin causes a pattern of NC-derived malformations, including a severe decrease in thyroid C-cells accompanied by abnormal distribution or migration patterns. These results represent further evidence of the involvement of NC organogenic control dysregulation in the pathogenesis of EA and its associated malformations. The similarities between the rat model and the clinical picture strongly support investigating other subclinical NC-derived anomalies in patients with EA.

[Aplication of a 3D reconstruction model for the analysis of nitrofen induced intrathoracic malformations]. / Reconstrucción digital tridimensional para el análisis de las malformaciones intratorácicas congénitas inducidas con nitrofen.

BACKGROUND: Three dimensional computer-assisted reconstruction offers some adventages for analysis and comparison of biological phenomena and anatomical structures. The CDH nitrofen-induced animal model associates multiple anomalies in neural-crest derived tissues. The goal of this study is to analyse by a 3-D reconstruction software the malformations in the extrinsic innervation of the esophagus in this model. METHODS: Nine control fetuses from 4 dams and 9 fetuses with CDH from 7 dams were studied. A thoracic block from the larynx to tracheal bifurcation was serially sectioned in the horizontal plane in every embryo. One in every 10 sections was stained with HE. The image was digitalized using biological software (TDR-3dbase). Vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves, trachea, esophagus and the great vessels were examined. In order to obtain the 3-D reconstructions, 90 to 120 consecutive images were used. RESULTS: In comparison with controls there were striking abnormalities of these nerves in fetuses with CDH: 1) Absence of the left (2/9) or right (2/9) vagus nerves. 2) Absence of the left (3/9) or right (3/9) recurrent laryngeal nerves. 3) Marked hypoplasia of the trunk of the vagus (2/9). 4) Deviations of their normal course and change of normal anatomical relationships into the mediastinum (2/9). CONCLUSIONS: To fullfill our goals 3-D reconstructions allow a detailed analysis and provide a precise insight into the real anatomy. Rat fetuses with CDH have anomalies of the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves that support the concept of a neural crest involvement in the origin of this malformation. These observations may explain esophageal motility disorders in CDH.

Pax3 mRNA is decreased in the hearts of rats with experimental diaphragmatic hernia.

Rats with nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) have heart hypoplasia and cardiovascular malformations. The mechanism of action of nitrofen involves changes in neural crest signaling. Pax3 function is required for cardiac neural crest cells to complete their migration to the developing heart. The aim of this study was to examine whether Pa x 3 expression is changed at two gestational endpoints in rat embryos or fetuses exposed to nitrofen. On day E9.5 of gestation, pregnant rats received either 100 mg of nitrofen (n=10) or vehicle alone (control, n=10). The fetuses were recovered on E15 or E21. Their hearts were dissected out and weighed. Pax3 mRNA expression was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. We used two-tailed Student's t-tests to compare groups, with a threshold of significance of p<0.05. Compared with controls, nitrofen-exposed fetuses had heart hypoplasia in terms of heart/body weight ratio (0.62+/-0.10% vs. 0.77+/-0.17%, p<0.05). Pax3 mRNA expression in the heart was significantly decreased on E15 in nitrofen-treated embryos (32.94+/-17.11 U vs. 55.09+/-11.56 U, p<0.05), and it was still decreased, although not significantly, in the hearts of nitrofen-exposed fetuses recovered on E21 (15.67+/-5.56 U vs. 20.51+/-5.92 U, not significant). In conclusion, Pax3 is underexpressed in the hearts of nitrofen-exposed embryonal rats before the end of gestation. The mechanism of action of Pax3 should be further investigated because it could be one of the targets for future prenatal transplacental intervention.

Critical assessment of the methods used for detection of bacterial translocation.

AIM: Bacterial translocation (BT) can be demonstrated by blood and lymph node cultures and also by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of DNA of enteric bacteria. Aiming at investigating BT after gastrointestinal operations we assessed it on two endpoints after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) or sham operation (SO). METHODS: 2 groups of 200-g Brown Norway male rats were treated as follows: SO animals ( n=12) had laparotomy alone and IR animals ( n=12) had successively 15 min clamping of the portal vein and the mesenteric artery. Half the animals in each group were killed on postoperative (p.o.) day 2 the other half on p.o. day 7. Under sterile conditions regional lymph nodes and vena cava and portal vein blood samples were recovered and cultured for aerobes and anaerobes. Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase DNA was assessed in blood samples by PCR. The findings in the two groups were compared by means of chi(2) tests. RESULTS: Post-hepatic (peripheral blood) BT was detected by cultures of gram-negative bacteria in 16% and 0% of SO and IR animals, respectively, on p.o. day 2 and in 16% and 50% on p.o. day 7. These differences were not significant (ns). E. coli DNA was found in one SO rat. Pre-hepatic BT (portal blood and/or lymph nodes) of gram-negative bacteria was found in 16% and 33%, respectively, on day 2 and in 16% and 16% on day 7 (ns). However, if gram-positive cultures were taken into account, the figures were 66% and 66% on day 2 and 66% and 83% on day 7 (ns). No anaerobes could be cultured. CONCLUSIONS: (1) BT is frequent in surgically manipulated animals. (2) To limit the assessment of BT to Enterobacteriaceae is probably misleading, since consistent amounts of gram-positive bacteria are found in the pre-hepatic territory. (3) PCR tests limited to E. coli DNA alone are likely incomplete. (4) Short periods of vascular clamping do not increase BT on the two endpoints selected in comparison with SO animals.

The vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves in experimental congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of the anatomic and functional abnormalities of the esophagus in infants surviving congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains unclear. We showed previously that fetal rats with CDH have malformations of neural crest-derived structures. The aim of this study was to examine the anatomy of the vagus and the recurrent laryngeal nerves, both of neural crest origin, in rats with CDH. METHODS: We used the nitrofen-induced CDH fetal rat model. Nine control fetuses from four dams and nine fetuses with CDH from seven dams were included in this study. Embryos were fixed in formalin and a thoracic block from the larynx to tracheal bifurcation was serially sectioned in the horizontal plane. One in every ten sections was stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The image was digitalized using biological software (TDR-3dbase). Vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves, trachea, esophagus and the great vessels were examined. In order to obtain the three-dimensional reconstructions, 90-120 consecutive images were used. RESULTS: In comparison with controls there were striking abnormalities of the vagus and the recurrent laryngeal nerves in fetuses with CDH: (1) absence of the left (2/9) or right (2/9) vagus nerves; (2) absence of the left (3/9) or right (3/9) recurrent laryngeal nerves; (3) marked hypoplasia of the trunk of the vagus (2/9); (4) deviations of their normal course and change of normal anatomical relationships into the mediastinum (2/9); and (5) abnormal branching of the lower portion of the vagus (1/9). CONCLUSIONS: Rat fetuses with CDH have anomalies of the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves that support the concept of a neural crest involvement in the origin of this malformation. 3-D reconstructions allow a detailed analysis and provide a precise insight into the real anatomy. These observations may explain esophageal motility disorders in CDH.

Prenatal vitamin E improves lung and heart hypoplasia in experimental diaphragmatic [correction of diaphragamatic] hernia.

Nitrofen induces in rats diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) with heart and lung hypoplasia by a mechanism involving oxidation. The aim of this study was to examine if prenatal administration of the anti-oxidant agent vitamin E (VitE) prevents to some extent heart and lung hypoplasia. Pregnant rats received on E9.5 either 100 mg of nitrofen alone or followed by 150 IU of VitE on E16.5-E20.5. Control animals received either vehicle or VitE alone. The fetuses were recovered on E21. The hearts and lungs were weighed and DNA and proteins were measured. Sections of the heart and lung were immunohistochemically stained for ki-67, Tunel and TTF-1, and the proportions of proliferating, apoptotic and TTF-1-expressing cells were determined. Cultured human pneumocytes were exposed to the same agents and similarly processed. TTF-1 expression and the proportion of proliferating cells were quantitated. The ANOVA or Kruskall-Wallis tests were used for comparison with p<0.05 as threshold of significance. Nitrofen-exposed rats had decreased lung and heart weight/body weight ratios, lung and heart DNA and protein, lung TTF-1 expression and proportion of proliferating cells in lung and heart. Additional treatment with VitE ameliorated these decreases except for lung TTF-1 and heart weight. In cultured pneumocytes, TTF-1 expression was decreased by nitrofen and rescued by VitE. Cell proliferation followed the same pattern. Antioxidant VitE partially reverses the effects of nitrofen on the heart and lungs of exposed rats. The same effects are observed in cultured human pneumocytes. These results further substantiate the oxidative nature of the effects of nitrofen and suggest that anti-oxidant agents could have a potential clinical application.

The adrenal cortex in experimental congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Adrenal cortical malfunction was found recently in patients with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). The current study tests the hypothesis that the development and function of the adrenal cortex could be abnormal in an experimental model of CDH. METHODS: Pregnant rats were exposed on day 9.5 of gestation to 100 mg of 2-4-dichlorophenyl-p-nitrophenyl ether (nitrofen) diluted in olive oil. The sham group was treated only with oil. Fetuses were recovered on the 21st day, bled, and examined for the presence or absence of CDH. Adrenal glands from sham and CDH animals were dissected, weighed, and prepared for histologic, biochemical, and immunohistochemical studies (ki-67) aimed at measuring total DNA, total protein, and the proportion of proliferating cells. Serum corticosterone levels were assayed. The results in both groups were compared with parametric tests with a significance level of P <.05. RESULTS: The adrenal weight was not different in CDH animals versus controls (0.049 +/- 0.014 v 0.052 +/- 0.012% of body weight; not significant). Total DNA was reduced significantly (1.180 +/- 0.481 v 1.909 +/- 0.893 microgram P <.05) with unchanged DNA to protein ratio. Proliferation index in both groups was 20.1 +/- 3.1% and 26.5 +/- 7.5%, respectively (not significant), and the proliferating cells were mainly located in the glomerular areas of the glands. Corticosterone levels were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Nitrofen induces very slight changes in the development of adrenal glands of fetal rats, expressed by reduced cell proliferation especially in glomerular areas, reduced total DNA with preservation of cell sizes (constant DNA to protein ratio), with no change in function because corticosterone levels remained unchanged. It is doubtful that primary adrenal malformation/malfunction contributes to the severity of CDH in this model.