Superovulatory response in Japanese Black cows receiving a single subcutaneous porcine follicle-stimulating hormone treatment or six intramuscular treatments over three days.

To reduce labor for superovulation treatment by twice-daily intramuscular (im) administration of FSH for more than 3 to 4 days, we investigated the superovulatory responses of Japanese Black cows to porcine FSH (pFSH) used as a single subcutaneous (sc) administration at two different doses in two different volumes of saline. In experiment 1, 20 Armour units (AU) of pFSH dissolved in either 10 mL (treatment A; n = 14) or 50 mL (treatment B; n = 14) of saline was administered subcutaneously in the neck region. In experiment 2, 30 AU of pFSH dissolved in either 10 mL (treatment C; n = 15) or 50 mL (treatment D; n = 15) of saline was administered subcutaneously in the neck region. The control animals in experiment 1 (n = 14) and experiment 2 (n = 15) received 20 AU of pFSH administered intramuscularly twice daily in decreasing doses for more than 3 days. In experiment 1, mean (±SEM) numbers of CL (15.4 ± 2.5, 18.1 ± 3.4, and 17.2 ± 2.6), total number of ova and embryos (12.9 ± 1.4, 15.9 ± 3.5, and 16.2 ± 2.8), and transferable embryos (7.5 ± 2.0, 10.4 ± 2.8, and 8.0 ± 2.1) did not differ among treatments A, B, and control. In experiment 2, mean (±SEM) numbers of CL (20.5 ± 4.3, 20.4 ± 2.7, and 20.1 ± 3.4), total number of ova and embryos (21.7 ± 4.2, 17.3 ± 3.4, and 16.5 ± 3.2), and transferable embryos (8.1 ± 1.6, 9.3 ± 2.2, and 9.5 ± 1.9) did not differ among treatments C, D, and control. Although there were no differences in serum pFSH concentrations among the three treatments at each of the time points in experiment 1, in experiment 2, the serum pFSH concentration at 6 and 8 hours after pFSH administration in treatment C (3.1 ± 0.8, 2.7 ± 0.5 ng/mL, mean ± SEM) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than in the control (0.7 ± 0.1, 1.1 ± 0.2 ng/mL). At 10 hours after administration, the pFSH concentration had decreased and there were no differences among the three treatments at subsequent time points. These results suggest that increasing the volume of saline or the dose of pFSH does not affect the absorption pattern of pFSH administered as a single sc administration. In conclusions, single sc administration of pFSH at a dose of 20 or 30 AU dissolved in 10 or 50 mL of saline is able to induce a superovulatory response comparable with that obtained by twice-daily im administration in Japanese Black cows.

Differentiation-associated expression of beta-N-acetylgalactosaminylated N-linked oligosaccharides in mammary epithelial cells.

Not only mammalian pituitary glycoprotein hormones but also many glycoproteins from a variety of animal species have been shown to contain N-linked oligosacchardies with the GalNAcbeta1 --> 4GlcNAc structure. Two types of beta-1,4-GalNAcT were found; one transfers N-acetylgalactosamine to acceptor oligosaccharides, which is stimulated by the hormone peptide and the other simply transfers sugar without such activation. In the case of bovine mammary membrane glycoproteins, the expression of beta-N-acetylgalactosaminylated N-linked oligosaccharides was associated with the functional differentiation of the epithelial cells. In contrast, the expression level of such oligosaccharides was much reduced in glycoprotein samples from human breast tumors compared with those from the unaffected regions. These results strongly suggest that the beta-N-acetylgalactosaminylation is one which is regulated under cellular differentiation and dedifferentiation of the mammary gland. Whether or not beta-N-acetylgalactosaminylated N-linked oligosaccharides have unique functions in addition to clearance of the hormone from the circulation remains to be elucidated.

Expression of L-PHA-binding proteins in breast cancer: reconstitution and molecular characterization of beta 1-6 branched oligosaccharides in three-dimensional cell culture.

Expression of beta 1-6 branched oligosaccharides in human breast cancer cells was investigated in vivo and in vitro. Lectin histochemical and lectin blotting analyses of surgically resected specimens were performed using L-PHA (phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin) lectin, which binds to beta 1-6 oligosaccharides. The glycoproteins bearing beta 1-6 oligosaccharides of breast cancer tissues were found to be 170 kD and 120 kD in molecular weight, and the former appeared to be an epitope of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The beta 1-6 oligosaccharides were expressed in both cancer cell lines at the outer layer of the colonies when cultured in type I collagen, but not in agarose gel. No correlation was observed between beta 1-6 expression and cell cycle. The beta 1-6 oligosaccharides did not coincide with breast cancer-associated antigens, such as CEA, MUC1, and cathepsin D. The beta 1-6 oligosaccharides of these cell lines were markedly inhibited when swainsonine, a mannosidase II inhibitor, was added to the culture medium. The 120 kD molecule, which was obtained from MCF-7 cells cultured in type I collagen gel, was consistent with that of breast cancer tissues and was similar to lysosome-associated membrane glycoproteins (LAMPs). The results suggest that the glycoproteins bearing beta 1-6 branched oligosaccharides in human breast cancer incorporate an epitope of CEA and human LAMPs and that the expression of LAMPs may depend on their surrounding matrices and may play an important role in cancer invasion or metastasis.

Ligand affinity chromatographic purification of rat liver Golgi endomannosidase.

In order to achieve isolation of endo-alpha-D-mannosidase, a Golgi-located processing enzyme that accomplishes deglucosylation of glycoproteins with N-linked carbohydrate units by cleaving the linkage between the glucose-substituted mannose residue and the remainder of the oligosaccharide, we have prepared an affinity matrix (Glc alpha 1-->3Man-O-(CH2)8CONH-Affi-Gel 102) containing the derivative of the characteristic disaccharide product of this enzyme. Chromatography of a Triton extract of rat liver Golgi membranes on a column of this gel in the presence of castanospermine to prevent binding of alpha-glucosidases permitted a rapid purification of the endomannosidase (70,000-fold over the homogenate) with a 12% yield. This purified enzyme was free of other processing glycosidases and was completely inhibited by Glc alpha 1-->3(1-deoxy)mannojirimycin. Examination of the endomannosidase by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a doublet (M(r) 60,000 and 56,000) with the bands being of approximately equal density. Gel permeation high performance liquid chromatography indicated that in its native form the enzyme has an oligomeric structure (M(r) approximately 560,000) consisting of eight to ten subunits.

Characterization of endomannosidase inhibitors and evaluation of their effect on N-linked oligosaccharide processing during glycoprotein biosynthesis.

Endo-alpha-D-mannosidase is a Golgi-located processing enzyme that achieves deglucosylation of N-linked carbohydrate units through its unique property of cleaving the oligosaccharide chain internally with the release of glucose-substituted mannose (Glc1-3Man). By chemically modifying the characteristic disaccharide product, Glc alpha 1-->3Man, a number of potent inhibitors of the endomannosidase were obtained, foremost among which were Glc alpha 1-->3(1-deoxy)mannojirimycin (Glc alpha 1-->3DMJ) and Glc alpha 1-->3(1,2-dideoxy)mannose (IC50 = 1.7 and 3.8 microM, respectively), which, while blocking the in vitro action of the enzyme, had negligible effect on other endoplasmic reticulum- and Golgi-processing glycosidases. Although preparation of a large number of Glc alpha 1-->3DMJ derivatives did not yield a more effective endomannosidase inhibitor it provided valuable information relating to the structural requirements for the enzyme-substrate interaction. Glc alpha 1-->3DMJ was found to be active not only on rat liver endomannosidase but also on the enzyme from a number of other sources including mouse lymphoma (BW5147.3), HepG2, baby hamster kidney, and Madin-Darby canine kidney cell lines. When tested in vivo in lymphoma and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells during a castanospermine-imposed glucosidase blockade, Glc alpha 1-->3DMJ interrupted the endomannosidase processing pathway as evident from a concomitant inhibition of complex oligosaccharide formation and Glc3Man release; similarly the capacity of the glucosidase II-deficient mouse lymphoma cell line (PHAR2.7) to synthesize complex oligosaccharides was blocked by Glc alpha 1-->3DMJ. Endomannosidase could not be detected in Chinese hamster ovary cells by in vitro assay and consistent with this these cells produced only glucosylated polymannose N-linked oligosaccharides during glucosidase blockade. It would appear that by acting in conjunction with a glucosidase inhibitor, Glc alpha 1-->3DMJ and related endomannosidase-blocking agents could have the potential of influencing the exit of glycoproteins from the endoplasmic reticulum and interfering with viral replication.

Altered glycosylation of membrane glycoproteins associated with human mammary carcinoma.

N-Linked sugar chains of normal mammary gland, mammary carcinomas (primary lesion), and axillary lymph node metastases of mammary carcinomas were released from their membrane preparations by hydrazinolysis and their structures were analyzed. Fractionation using a Datura stramonium agglutinin (DSA)-Sepharose column revealed that the metastasized carcinomas contain more than twice as much DSA-binding oligosaccharides as the normal gland, and the primary carcinomas contain an intermediate amount. These oligosaccharides were elucidated to have tri- and tetraantennary structures containing the GlcNAc beta 1-->6(GlcNAc beta 1-->2)Man group with and without N-acetyllactosamine repeating units. Lectin blot analysis of membrane glycoproteins and histochemical staining of tissues using biotinylated DSA indicated that these glycosylation changes predominantly occur in a limited number of glycoproteins with apparent molecular weights of 90, 160, and 210 kilodaltons, and mammary carcinomas are distinguishable from normal gland by their intense intracytoplasmic staining.

The use of bovine anti-PMSG serum in beef cattle after PMSG-superovulation.

Thirteen beef cows were superovulated using 4,000 i.u. of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) on days 9 to 14 of the estrous cycle, followed by two injections of 500 micrograms prostaglandin F2 alpha analogue (PGF2 alpha) 48 and 55 hrs later. Seven of them were injected intramuscularly with bovine anti-PMSG serum 12 hrs after the first signs of estrus. The remaining 6 cows were served as controls and received no antiserum. Peripheral blood concentrations of progesterone (P) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) were compared in relation to the superovulatory responses. The injection of anti-PMSG serum did not significantly affect the numbers of the corpora lutea (CL), the anovulatory follicles and the transferable embryos at 7 to 8 days after superovulatory estrus, but increased the ratio of embryos classified as excellent or good quality. Although the plasma P concentration showed no significant differences between the anti-PMSG-treated and control cows, the plasma E2 concentration displayed a characteristic difference, suppressing the second E2 peak in the anti-PMSG-treated cows. It is concluded that the use of bovine anti-PMSG serum for PMSG/PGF2 alpha-treated cows at 12 hrs after the beginning of the estrus improves the quality of embryos recovered, probably due to inhibition of high estrogenic environment following ovulation.

Altered protein glycosylation of rat 3Y1 cells induced by activated c-myc gene.

N-linked sugar chains of rat 3Y1 cells and tumorigenic cells derived by transfection with activated c-myc gene were quantitatively released as oligosaccharides from membrane preparations by hydrazinolysis. Structural analyses revealed that cells of both types contain bi-, tri- and tetra-antennary complex-type oligosaccharides as well as high-mannose-type oligosaccharides. However, the c-myc-transfected cells showed an increase in tri- and tetra-antennary oligosaccharides having the GlcNAc beta 1----4Man alpha 1----and/or the GlcNAc beta 1----6Man alpha 1----linkages with a decrease in biantennary oligosaccharides compared to control 3Y1 cells. The data suggest that c-myc gene has a potential role in the regulation of cellular protein glycosylation and that an elevated expression of c-myc gene in the cells leads to increased branch formation of outer chains in N-linked oligosaccharides concomitant with the acquisition of tumorigenicity.

Recognition of N-glycosidic carbohydrates on esophageal carcinoma cells by macrophage cell line THP-1.

Cell-to-cell contact between macrophages and tumor cells is an important initial reaction in a host defense mechanism against tumor cells. The authors have studied cell surface components of human esophageal carcinoma cells recognized by macrophages. Superoxide release from THP-1 cells, a human macrophage cell line, was analyzed in their interaction with a battery of human squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (TE) originated from esophageal cancer patients. The macrophage-triggering ability of TE 1 cell line, a high stimulant, was reduced after treatment with trypsin or tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-glycosidic glycosylation. Addition of monosaccharides was efficient in competitive inhibition of these cellular interaction. Moreover, con-A-resistant mutation of TE 1 cells was found to reduce their macrophage-triggering ability, associated with increase of L-PHA-binding capacity, suggesting substitution to the GlcNAc beta(1----6)-linked lactosamine antenna in N-glycosidic carbohydrates. These findings suggest that terminal residues of N-glycosidic carbohydrates on some esophageal carcinoma cells may contribute to the recognition sites of macrophages.

Transfection with fragments of the adenovirus 12 gene induces tumorigenicity-associated alteration of N-linked sugar chains in rat cells.

N-linked sugar chains of rat 3Y1 cells and their poorly tumorigenic (E1Y cells) and highly tumorigenic (CY1 cells) transformants carrying various adenovirus 12 gene fragments were quantitatively released as oligosaccharides from their membrane preparations by hydrazinolysis. After being fractionated by a series of immobilized lectin column chromatography, structures of oligosaccharides in each fraction were studied by sequential glycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis. All cells contain bi-, tri-, and tetraantennary complex-type oligosaccharides as well as high mannose-type oligosaccharides in different molar ratio. Expression of 2,4-branched triantennary oligosaccharides increased in both transformed cells. However, their contents were rather higher in poorly tumorigenic E1Y cells than in highly tumorigenic CY1 cells. In contrast, the increase of 2,6-branched triantennary and tetraantennary oligosaccharides was positively correlated to the tumorigenic potential of the transformed cells. The data indicate that glycosylation of cellular proteins is differently affected by the expression of specific regions of the adenovirus genome, and the combined action of E1 and E4 gene products is important for the expression of the GlcNAc beta 1----6Man group associated with tumorigenicity of the cells.

Comparative study of the N-linked oligosaccharides released from normal human esophageal epithelium and esophageal squamous carcinoma.

N-Linked sugar chains of normal human esophageal epithelium and esophageal squamous carcinoma were quantitatively released as oligosaccharides from their membrane preparations by hydrazinolysis. After being fractionated by serial lectin column chromatography using concanavalin A-Sepharose and Datura stramonium agglutinin-Sepharose, their structures were elucidated by exoglycosidase digestion in combination with methylation analysis. Both normal epithelium and esophageal carcinoma contained bi-, tri- and tetraantennary oligosaccharides as well as high mannose-type oligosaccharides. Interestingly, carcinoma had about 1.6 times larger amounts of tri- and tetraantennary oligosaccharides with the GlcNAc beta 1----4Man alpha 1----and/or the GlcNAc beta 1----6Man alpha 1----linkages than normal epithelium. Tri- and tetraantennary oligosaccharides with N-acetyllactosamine repeating units (the Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc group) were also increased in carcinoma. These data indicated that the altered glycosylation of proteins previously found in transformed rodent cells also occurs widely in human esophageal carcinoma.