Iodinating activity of thyroid tissue in toxic diffuse goiter.

Thyroid tissue obtained from 12 patients with Graves' disease and treated with thionamide drugs for 3-7 mo before subtotal thyroidectomy, from 12 patients with Graves' disease, similarly treated, and given 50 mug of triiodothyronine (T3) for 10 days before surgery, and from 12 euthyroid patients with solitary cold nodules was investigated to compare in vitro iodination of thyroglobulin in toxic diffuse goiter and in normal thyroid tissue. The supernates of the homogenates (105,000g) were subjected to sucrose density gradient centrifugation (5--28%) to separate the thyroglobulin fraction. The precipitates were treated with 1% digitonin and centrifuged to collect the supernate (particulate fraction). When thyroglobulin and particulate fractions obtained from the same patient were incubated with 125I-, iodide, glucose, and glucose oxidase, the amount of iodine bound to thyroglobulin was several times greater in toxic diffuse goiter than in normal thyroid tissue; administration of T3 did not affect iodination in toxic diffuse goiter. When the thyroglobulin fraction from each patient was incubated with a standardized quantity of peroxidase instead of the individual particulate fraction, the amount of iodine bound to thyroglobulin was the same among the three groups of patients. Finally, when bovine serum albumin was substituted for thyroglobulin from each of the patients, iodination of bovine serum albumin was several times greater with the particulate fraction obtained from toxic diffuse goiter tissue than with that obtained from normal tissue. The guaiacol-oxidizing activity oty. These results suggest that in vitro iodination of thyroglobulin is increased in toxic diffuse goiter even when patients are made euthyroid by treatment with thionamide drugs as well as when they are given additional T3 for 10 days before operation. The increase in iodination of thyroglobulin appears to be due to an increase in peroxidase activity in the particulate fraction.

Determination of high mobility group I(Y) expression level in colorectal neoplasias: a potential diagnostic marker.

High mobility group I(Y) [HMGI(Y)] proteins are architectural factors abundantly expressed during embryogenesis, and their overexpression is known to be closely associated with neoplastic transformation of cells. This study was performed to investigate whether determination of HMGI(Y) expression level could assist in (a) differential diagnosis between colorectal carcinoma, adenoma, and normal tissue and (b) determination of the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer. To this end, HMGI(Y) expression was determined at both the protein and mRNA levels in 30 colorectal carcinomas, 26 adenomas, and 23 normal mucosa samples, and further correlations between the protein expression levels and various clinicopathological parameters, such as depth of tumor invasion, lymphatic and/or venous involvement, regional lymph node metastasis, and Dukes' stage, were determined in 30 carcinoma cases. The expression of HMGI(Y) proteins was significantly increased in carcinoma and adenoma with severe atypia compared with that in adenoma with less atypia and normal colorectal mucosa. This increase in HMGI(Y) protein expression was found to be because of an increase in its mRNA expression by RNA in situ hybridization analysis. Clinicopathological analysis revealed that the level of HMGI(Y) protein expression was significantly correlated with parameters known to be indicative of a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients. These findings indicate that the determination of the HMGI(Y) protein expression level could be a potential marker for the diagnosis of colorectal neoplasias and can be of great value in predicting the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer.

Pancreatic duct cell carcinomas express high levels of high mobility group I(Y) proteins.

The high mobility group I (HMGI) family of proteins in mammals belongs to a group of nonhistone nuclear proteins known as architectural transcriptional factors. They function in vivo as both structural components of chromatin and auxiliary gene transcription factors. In an earlier study (N. Abe et al, Cancer Res., 59: 1169-1174, 1999), we demonstrated that the expression level of the HMGI(Y) gene/proteins was significantly increased in colorectal adenocarcinoma and colorectal adenoma with severe cellular atypia. In the current study, we analyzed HMGI(Y) expression in several human pancreatic lesions to investigate (a) whether HMGI(Y) overexpression is also observed in pancreatic carcinoma, and (b) the role of HMGI(Y) in the diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasms. To this end, HMGI(Y) expression was determined at the protein level by immunohistochemistry using a HMGI(Y)-specific antibody in 6 surgically resected specimens of nonneoplastic tissue (4 specimens of normal pancreatic tissue and 2 specimens of chronic pancreatitis tissue), 8 pancreatic cystic neoplasms (5 intraductal papillary mucinous adenomas, 1 serous cystadenoma, and 2 solid pseudopapillary tumors), and 15 duct cell carcinomas of the pancreas. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed intense nuclear staining in the pancreatic carcinoma cells, whereas only very faint nuclear staining was seen in the nonneoplastic cells. There was a strong correlation between HMGI(Y) protein overexpression and a diagnosis of carcinoma (P = 0.000018). Thus, an increased expression level of the HMGI(Y) proteins was clearly associated with the malignant phenotype in pancreatic tissue. In addition, a low level of protein expression was also apparent in two of the cystic neoplasms that exhibited cellular atypia, but not in those that did not exhibit cellular atypia. Based on these findings, we propose that the HMGI(Y) proteins could be closely associated with tumorigenesis in the pancreas and that HMGI(Y) could serve as a potential diagnostic molecular marker for distinguishing pancreatic malignancies unambiguously from normal tissue or benign lesions.

Epidermal growth factor stimulates growth hormone secretion from superfused rat adenohypophyseal fragments.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated GH secretion from superfused rat adenohypophyseal fragments in a dose-related manner (8-50 ng/ml). Secretion of PRL or TSH was not affected by EGF at concentrations up to 50 ng/ml. These results indicate that EGF may be a specific secretagogue for GH in rats.

Measurements of free thyroxine: comparison of per cent of free thyroxine in diluted and undiluted sera.

The effect of dilution on values of the per cent of free T4 in serum (%FT4) measured by equilibrium dialysis, was determined by comparing the values for %FT4 in diluted and undiluted specimens. The specimens studied were sera obtained from 10 normal subjects, 10 patients with hyperthyroidism, 5 with hypothyroidism, and 9 women with normal pregnancy. The method of analysis employed was that described by Sterling and Brenner, except that the 125I-thyroxine used was predialyzed to remove non-thyroxine contaminants and that "corrected" values for %FT4 were calculated by dividing measured values by the numerical extent to which the serum had been diluted.

Thyroglobulin release-stimulating activity in immunoglobulin G from patients with Graves' disease studied by human thyroid cells in vitro.

The ability of TSH or immunoglobulin G (G-IgG) from untreated patients with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease to stimulate thyroglobulin (Tg) release from human thyroid cells was studied. Thyroid tissue obtained from antithyroid drug-treated Graves' hyperthyroid patients was dispersed enzymatically and cultured in monolayers; medium was changed every 3 days. The cultured cells initially released large but declining amounts of Tg, independent of the presence of TSH (approximately 5 micrograms/dish on day 3 and approximately 1.5 micrograms/dish on day 6). After 6 days, TSH had a dose-dependent stimulatory effect on Tg release, and the peak response occurred on day 15. G-IgG-induced Tg release was found on the 12th day of culture and was maximal on day 18. Thyroid cells cultured for 12 days in the absence of TSH responded to TSH and G-IgG in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Using 12-day cultures, Tg release-stimulating activity (Tg-RSA) was tested using 5 mg/ml (7.5 mg/dish) G-IgGs from 20 patients and 72-h incubation. The Tg-RSA of individual patients varied. However, significant correlations were found between Tg-RSA values and serum Tg concentrations or Tg-RSA and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin activities. No correlation was found between Tg-RSA and TSH binding inhibitor immunoglobulin activities. These results suggest that Tg-RSA can be an indicator of abnormal IgG of hyperthyroid Graves' patients. Whether the activity is identical with thyroid-stimulating activity remains to be clarified.

Angiotensin II increases norepinephrine turnover in the anteroventral third ventricle of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We evaluated the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) administered by intracerebroventricular injection on norepinephrine turnover in the anteroventral third ventricle in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, n = 35) and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY, n = 38). Ang II (100 ng) or saline (vehicle control) was administered into the cerebral ventricle 30 minutes after injection of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (250 mg/kg IP). Norepinephrine turnover was assessed by evaluation of the norepinephrine concentration before and 1 hour after such administration. The pressor response to Ang II administration was significantly greater in SHR than in WKY (+43 +/- 3 versus +23 +/- 2 mm Hg, P < .01). Baseline norepinephrine turnover (response to saline) was reduced in the ventral median preoptic nucleus of SHR. Ang II significantly increased norepinephrine turnover in the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis and ventral median preoptic nucleus of SHR (organum vasculosum lamina terminalis: 40 +/- 5% by Ang II versus 18 +/- 6% by saline, P < .05; ventral median preoptic nucleus: 32 +/- 3% by Ang II versus 21 +/- 2% by saline, P < .05) but not of WKY (37 +/- 5% versus 29 +/- 5%, P = NS, and 30 +/- 2% versus 32 +/- 3%, P = NS, respectively). Thus, norepinephrine turnover in the anteroventral third ventricle region induced by intracerebroventricular administration of Ang II was increased in SHR. This effect may contribute to the enhanced pressor response to central Ang II seen in this model.

Ischemia-induced release of amino acids in the hippocampus of aged hypertensive rats.

We have recently demonstrated the age-related vulnerability of hippocampal neurons to 20-min forebrain ischemia in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In the present study, we investigated the effect of aging on the release of amino acids in the hippocampus during transient cerebral ischemia for 20 min. Concentrations of extracellular amino acids and cerebral blood flow in the CA1 subfield were examined by an in vivo brain dialysis technique and a hydrogen clearance method, respectively, in adult (5-7 month) and aged (19-23 month) female SHR. During cerebral ischemia by bilateral carotid artery occlusion, cerebral blood flow to the hippocampus decreased to 20% of the resting values in both groups. After recirculation, both groups showed delayed hypoperfusion which was more prominent in the aged SHR. In the adult rats, concentrations of both aspartate and glutamate increased to approximately 8-fold of the resting values during ischemia. The elevation of these excitatory amino acids in the adult SHR was not significantly different from that in the aged rats. In contrast, the concentration of taurine increased 26-fold in the adult SHR but only 16-fold in the aged rats. Changes in other amino acids were not different between the two groups. These results indicate that an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory amino acids, e.g., smaller release of taurine, during ischemia may, at least in part, contribute to the age-related vulnerability of hippocampal neurons to transient cerebral ischemia in SHR.

Differentiation and morphogenesis in pellet cultures of developing rat retinal cells.

We previously developed a reaggregate cell culture system (pellet cultures) in which retinal neuroepithelial cells proliferate and give rise to rod photoreceptor cells (rods) in vitro (Watanabe and Raff, 1990, Neuron 4:461-467). In the present study, we analyzed cell differentiation and morphogenesis in pellet cultures by using both cell-type-specific markers with immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. We demonstrated that, in addition to rods, the other major retinal cell types, including amacrine cells, bipolar cells, Müller cells, and ganglion cells were all present in the pellets, where most were able to develop from dividing precursor cells in vitro. The different cell types in the pellets became organized into two distinct structures: dark rosettes and pale rosettes. The cellular composition of these structures indicated that the dark rosettes correspond to the outer nuclear layer and the pale rosettes to the inner nuclear layer of the normal retina. Ultrastructural studies have indicated that the thin layer of neuronal processes surrounding the dark rosettes correspond to the outer plexiform layer, and the central region of the pale rosettes correspond to the inner plexiform layer of the normal retina. Other features of normal retinal development also occurred in the pellets, including programmed cell death and the formation of inner and outer rod cell segments and synapses. Thus, pellet cultures provide a convenient way to study different aspects of retinal development where one can control the size and the cellular composition of the initial reaggregate.

Effect of chronic haloperidol treatment on synaptic protein mRNAs in the rat brain.

Chronic haloperidol treatment caused significant decreases in the levels of synaptotagmin I and IV, synaptobrevin II, syntaxin 1A and Rab 3A mRNAs in the nucleus accumbens but not in the prefrontal cortex medial field, striatum, substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. No significant changes in SNAP 25 and synaptophysin mRNA levels were observed in any brain region examined. The reduced expression of synaptic proteins may be related to haloperidol-induced depolarization block of mesolimbic dopamine neurons.

Effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs vs. haloperidol on expression of heat shock protein in the discrete brain regions of phencyclidine-treated rats.

Haloperidol augmented a trend of an increase in the heat shock protein (hsp70) mRNA levels induced by phencyclidine (PCP) in rat medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and striatum, while the atypical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine, olanzapine and risperidone decreased it. When administered alone, clozapine, but not haloperidol, decreased hsp70 mRNA levels. Haloperidol and the atypical antipsychotic drugs may thus have differential effects on hsp70 expression in some brain regions of PCP-treated rats.

DNA fragmentation in ischemic core and penumbra in focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Although apoptotic cell death has been suggested to be involved in ischemic injury of the brain, the precise mechanisms of ischemic neuronal cell death are unknown. Here, we examined the biochemical feature of apoptosis (i.e. DNA fragmentation) in male spontaneously hypertensive rats (5-7 months old) subjected to photothrombotic distal middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. After MCA occlusion, the brain was cut in a cryostat to produce a standard coronal block and samples were dissected from the regions corresponding to the ischemic core, penumbra and contralateral control areas. Changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) were monitored at 1 mm posterior and 2-4 mm lateral to the bregma by means of a laser-Doppler flowmetry. After MCA occlusion, CBF was decreased to 72+/-18 (+/-S.D.), 50+/-14, and 35+/-11% of the control values at 2, 3, and 4 mm from the midline, respectively. DNA fragmentation characteristics of apoptosis were examined in these samples by conventional and pulse-field gel electrophoresis. On the conventional gel electrophoresis, nucleosomal DNA fragmentation was detected in the penumbral zone at 6 h after MCA occlusion. Large DNA fragments of 50 and 20 kbp were detected in the penumbral zone and also in the ischemic core region at 3 h after distal MCA occlusion. The large DNA fragments seen on the pulse-field gel elecrophoresis were further degraded to small DNA fragments at 6 h after MCA occlusion in the penumbral zone but not in the core regions. The evolving DNA fragmentation was observed between 3 and 6 h after the onset of brain ischemia in the penumbra, suggesting that apoptosis may contribute to the development of ischemic infarction.

Mortality in psychiatric patients, with a specific focus on cancer mortality associated with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Higher mortality rates among psychiatric patients compared with the general population have been widely reported. On the other hand, lower cancer mortality for schizophrenics has been occasionally pointed out. Few studies from Japan have investigated mortality among psychiatric patients, and this study is the first large-scale follow-up in this country. METHODS: A total of 4980 patients admitted to a national mental hospital from 1948 through 1982 were followed up until 31 August 1985. The standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated in comparison to the general population, using the person-years method. RESULTS: The SMR for total deaths and those for malignancy were as follows for males/females respectively: 2.55/3.02 and 0.84/1.37 for schizophrenia, 1.76/2.37 and 1.44/2.10 for depression, 2.45/3.04 and 1.18/1.82 for mania, 1.81/1.90 and 0.27/1.07 for neurosis, 5.55/4.33 and 1.85/3.34 for alcohol/drug abuse, and 3.65/3.57 and 1.01/0.72 for organic brain syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The SMR for total deaths were significantly elevated in schizophrenia, depression, mania, neurosis, alcohol/drug abuse, and organic brain syndrome, respectively. The SMR for malignancy were not elevated nor lowered significantly in any of these disease categories. The SMR for stomach cancer in male schizophrenics was significantly lower (0.27; P < 0.05).

Changes in GABA content and turnover in discrete regions of rat brain after systemic administration of caerulein.

The effects of systemically injected caerulein, a cholecystokinin octapeptide analogue, on GABA content and turnover have been studied in various regions of rat brain. Caerulein decreased GABA levels in the nucleus accumbens, tuberculum olfactorium and substantia nigra and diminished GABA turnover rates in the striatum, nucleus accumbens and substantia nigra, as estimated from the rate of GABA accumulation after inhibition of GABA transaminase by aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA). These results indicate the effect of caerulein on the utilization of GABA in specific cerebral regions and suggest that the GABAergic system is involved in the mechanism of action of peripherally administered caerulein.

Dopamine, serotonin and alpha-adrenergic receptor blocking activities in serum and their relationships to prolactin level in schizophrenic patients receiving long-term chlorpromazine treatment.

The clinical application of a dopamine radioreceptor assay for neuroleptics has been proposed. Simultaneous monitoring of serum antidopaminergic (anti-DA), antiserotonergic (anti-5HT) antiadrenergic (anti-NA) activities may provide a better understanding of clinical effects of neuroleptics. Serum anti-DA and anti-5HT activities were estimated by competition for 3H-spiperone binding to dopamine and serotonin receptors in rat brain, respectively, and anti-NA activity by competition for 3H-WB-4101 binding to alpha-receptors. Thirty-one patients receiving maintenance doses of chlorpromazine (CPZ) chronically were studied. Serum activities varied among patients receiving the same dose, but correlated significantly with dose. Anti-DA activity also correlated with both anti-5HT anti-NA activities, and the average ratio of anti-5HT or anti-NA to anti-DA activity was slightly reduced by metabolism of CPZ. However, some patients had a different spectrum of serum activities from that of in vitro activities. Serum prolactin (PRL) correlated weakly with all the serum activities. The serum PRL anti-DA activity ratio appeared to be independent of anti-5HT or anti-NA activity, suggesting the predominant involvement of anti-DA activity in the stimulation of PRL release.

Behavioral sensitization to beta-phenylethylamine (PEA): enduring modifications of specific dopaminergic neuron systems in the rat.

Repeated daily administration of an endogenous trace amine, beta-phenylethylamine (PEA), produces behavioral sensitization such that the intensity of PEA-induced stereotyped behaviors in rats increases gradually during the treatment, and a challenge injection with PEA reinstates the enhanced stereotypy even long after withdrawal. In the present study, we examined the neurochemical changes in the central dopaminergic neurons systems in the rat for 7 drug-free days after repeated treatment with PEA (50 mg/kg, IP day for 14 or 28 days). During withdrawal, a decrease in steady-state levels of tissue dopamine (DA) and its metabolite, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), was found in the mesolimbic DA nerve terminal areas of the rat brain receiving repeated PEA treatment. Fifteen minutes after challenge administration of PEA at varying doses from 6.3 to 75 mg/kg, the rats with repeated PEA treatment required smaller doses of PEA challenge than the rats with acute PEA treatment in order to obtain a significant decrease in striatal DOPAC content compared to the saline control in each treatment group. These results imply that the behavioral sensitization to PEA is accompanied by enduring modifications of the specific dopaminergic neuron systems in the rat brain. This suggestion was strongly supported by the results of the study using in vivo intracerebral dialysis, which indicated that 25 mg/kg PEA challenge elicited a remarkable increase in the extracellular DA concentrations in striatal perfusates collected from the PEA-pretreated rats, in accordance with the intensity of stereotyped behaviors. These findings argue that the hyper-responsiveness to PEA of the striatal dopaminergic neuron systems persists long after withdrawal from repeated treatment with PEA.

A selective decline of postheparin plasma hepatic triglyceride lipase in hypothyroid rats.

The present study aimed to define the effect of thyroid status on two postheparin plasma lipases, i.e., lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase. Rats with hypo- and hyperthyroidism were used for this purpose. Separate measurement of these two lipases was done by an immunochemical method utilizing antiserum specific to hepatic triglyceride lipase. The 5-wk thyroidectomized, hypothyroid rats had normal plasma concentrations of both triglyceride and cholesterol. These rats showed a selective decline in the activity of postheparin plasma hepatic triglyceride lipase with normal lipoprotein lipase activity. The rats made thyrotoxic by thyroxine treatment had normal plasma levels of both triglyceride and cholesterol. These rats showed normal activities of both hepatic triglyceride lipase and lipoprotein lipase. The observed finding of a selective decline of hepatic triglyceride lipase in hypothyroid rats is discussed in connection with the possible function of this enzyme in lipoprotein metabolism.

Effect of atypical antipsychotics on phencyclidine-induced expression of arc in rat brain.

The effect of atypical antipsychotics on the immediate-early gene, arc (activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated gene), expression was investigated in phencyclidine (PCP)-treated rats using RT-PCR. Administration of PCP (10 mg/kg) increased arc mRNA levels in the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and posterior cingulate cortex. Pretreatment with clozapine (20 mg/kg), olanzapine (10 mg/kg) and risperidone (2 mg/kg), but not haloperidol (2 mg/kg), prevented PCP-induced arc expression in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. Pretreatment of haloperidol increased the striatal arc mRNA levels. Clozapine, olanzapine and haloperidol inhibited the PCP-induced arc expression in the posterior cingulate cortex. These results suggest that the effects of antipsychotic drugs on PCP-induced arc expression in the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens are useful for distinguishing atypical antipsychotic properties of the drugs.

Effect of TRH analog (DN-1417) on tyrosine hydroxylase activity in mesocortical, mesolimbic and nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons of rat brain.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was assayed in eight regions of rat brain following repeated treatment with a TRH analog, DN-1417 (gamma-butyrolactone-gamma-carbonyl-histidyl-prolinamide). Repeated DN-1417 treatment (20 mg/kg/day, IP) for 7 days increased TH activity in the ventral tegmental area and decreased in the prefrontal cortex polar, medial and lateral fields and olfactory tubercles. No significant change in TH activity was found in the nucleus accumbens, striatum and substantia nigra. Kinetic analysis showed that the increased TH activity in the ventral tegmental area was due to an increase in Vmax, but not a change in the apparent Km of TH for a cofactor, 6-methyl-tetrahydropteridine. When TH was assayed at a suboptimal pH and in the presence of a subsaturating cofactor, the striatal TH was activated significantly after DN-1417. In the prefrontal cortex medial field, nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercles, TH activity assayed under the suboptimal condition was not modified by DN-1417 treatment. These results suggest an intimate involvement of central dopaminergic systems in the actions of DN-1417.

Effect of DN-1417, a thyrotropin releasing hormone analog, on dopaminergic neurons in rat brain.

Acute and chronic effects of gamma-butyrolactone-gamma-carbonyl-histidyl-prolinamide (DN-1417) were investigated on motor activity, dopamine (DA) metabolites and DA receptors in various brain regions of rats. The motor activity, as measured with Automex recorder, was enhanced after a single injection with DN-1417 (20 mg/kg, IP), and the motor stimulating action persisted during 21 daily injections. Acute DN-1417 elevated both homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels in 7 brain regions, prefrontal cortex polar, medial and lateral fields, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercles, amygdala and striatum. After chronic treatment for 7 days, the acute effect of DN-1417 on DA metabolites disappeared in all regions except for the striatum in which DN-1417 still increased HVA and DOPAC. The response of striatal DA metabolites was also observed after chronic treatment for 21 days. Chronic DN-1417 produced no significant change in 3H-spiperone binding in the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercles and striatum, while striatal 3H-DA binding displaced by 30 nM spiperone was enhanced after chronic treatment. These results indicate that DN-1417 interacts with mesocortical, mesolimbic and nigrostriatal DA systems in the different modes of action. The lack of tolerance to motor hyperactivity, however, raises the question as to whether DN-1417-induced hyperactivity may be mediated by the activation of mesolimbic DA neurons. The involvement of nigrostriatal neurons in DN-1417-induced motor hyperactivity is suggested.