Molecular characterization of a hamster oviduct-specific glycoprotein.

There is growing evidence that the oviduct is not a passive conduit for gamete and embryo transport but serves a function for the gametes and/or embryos. The oviductal epithelium secretes one or more specific glycoproteins that associate with the egg after ovulation. Several published reports including our preliminary studies have suggested that the egg-associating glycoprotein(s) from the oviduct exists in several mammalian species including golden hamster.

Placental transfer of lidocaine hydrochloride after prolonged continuous maternal intravenous administration.

We treated a patient with arrhythmia during pregnancy with prolonged intravenous administration of lidocaine hydrochloride. This was a case of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and the arrhythmia was caused by ritodrine therapy. In total, 14.

Cumulus mass maintains embryo quality.

Objective: To determine if co-culture of early stage embryos with their own cumulus mass improves embryo quality.

Design: Before insemination, cumulus masses along with cumulus matrices were separated from the oocytes surrounded by a few remaining cumulus cells. Fourteen hours after insemination, fertilized oocytes were each placed onto the cumulus cells, and matrix and co-culture commenced.

Development of glucose utilization studied in single oocytes and preimplantation embryos from mice.

Superovulated mouse oocytes and embryos were isolated and incubated with nontracer concentrations of 2-deoxyglucose, an analog of glucose, which is transported into the cells by glucose transporter and phosphorylated by hexokinase to 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate; it is not rapidly metabolized further, and accumulates in the cytosol. Using our non-radiometric and enzymatic microassay method, we determined 2-deoxyglucose and 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate amounts in individual oocytes and preimplantation embryos after the incubation. Hexokinase activity increased continuously and exponentially during development from follicular oocytes to blastocysts.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), immunostaining and flow cytometric DNA analysis of renal cell carcinoma.

Nuclear PCNA immunoreactivity is found in the proliferating compartment of normal and tumor cells. The purpose of the present study was to examine immunohistochemical staining of PCNA in renal cell carcinoma and its relationship to tumor grading, flow cytometric DNA analysis and prognosis. The resected kidneys from 81 patients with renal cell carcinoma were used.

Gap junction of stratum granulosum cells of mouse follicles: immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.

The gap junction (GJ) of stratum granulosum cells was investigated in growing and mature follicles of the mouse by means of light- and electron-microscopic immunohistochemistry, freeze-fracturing and deep-etching methods. GJ increased in number and size in concert with the progress of follicular maturation and decreased rapidly in the preovulatory mature follicle. GJ membrane showed invagination, most remarkably at 5 h after hCG injection, within the cytoplasm of the granulosum cell.

Assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis-specific IgA and IgG serum antibodies in genitourinary Chlamydia trachomatis infection--comparative study between HITAZYME and IPAzyme.

We assessed the C. trachomatis antibody assay kit HITAZYME (Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.

Effect of an aromatase inhibitor in human follicular fluid on DNA synthesis of granulosa cells, theca cells, and follicles.

An aromatase inhibitor was identified in human follicular fluid. We sought to examine the effects of this inhibitor on granulosa cells, theca cells, a mixture of granulosa and theca cells, and follicles. Granulosa cells, theca cells, the mixture of granulosa and theca cells, and follicles were incubated with [3H]-thymidine and aromatase inhibitor at 37 degrees C for 40 h in Ham F-10 medium.

Role of the extracellular Ca2+ on the intracellular Ca2+ changes in fertilized and activated mouse oocytes.

Changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in fertilized mouse oocytes were measured using the calcium-sensitive dye, fura-2. After fertilization, an initial long-lasting [Ca2+]i increase was followed by a periodic [Ca2+]i increase. The periodic increase in [Ca2+]i persisted for 1 to 3 h and all fertilized oocytes extruded the second polar body within 4 h.

Aberrant expression of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in adult T-cell leukemia and HTLV-I-infected cells.

By immunoprecipitation analysis, enhanced p53 expression was detected in 3 of 4 adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cell lines, 1 of 3 HTLV-I-infected cell lines and 1 of 5 fresh ATL samples, compared with phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. Among these 5 high expressers, p53 missense mutations were indicated in 2 ATL cell lines and 1 fresh ATL sample by extensive p53 cDNA and genomic DNA polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. No mutation was found throughout the entire coding region of the remaining 2 high expressers (1 ATL and 1 HTLV-I-infected cell lines) and low expressers of p53 (2 HTLV-I-infected cell lines).

Aging changes in the alignment of chromosomes after human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation may be a possible cause of decreased fertility in mice.

The relation between the alignment of chromosomes in the aged oocyte and its capacities of fertilization and development of oocytes was examined. More embryos in the condition of insemination at 12 and 16 h after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) however grew into two and more cell stages than those in the insemination of 20, 24 and 28 h. Some embryos in the group of insemination at 12, 16 and 20 h after hCG injection had grown into the blastocyst stage.

Midline malignant B-cell lymphoma with leukemic transformation.

This article presents a case of lethal midline granuloma on the palate of a 44-year-old woman, which had been identified histologically as B-cell lymphoma with leukemic transformation in the terminal stages. At the first visit, physical and laboratory examinations showed no remarkable findings except for a necrotizing ulcer of the palate, and the biopsy specimens only showed massive inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis of the granulation tissue. There was a short-term resolution after treatment with cyclophosphamide and prednisolone, but the disease reactivated and the necrotic ulcerative lesion progressively advanced into the nasal cavity.

Decreased natural killer cell activity in women with endometriosis.

Natural killer (NK) cell activity is characterized by the spontaneous capacity of lymphoid cells derived from nonimmunized hosts to recognize and lyse certain tumor cell lines, virus-infected cells and transplanted tumor cell lines. Endometriosis is characterized by implantation and proliferation of autologous ectopic tissue in the pelvic cavity. Therefore, we focused on examining NK cell activity in women with endometriosis.

Factors promoting embryo implantation in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

The low implantation rate after embryo transfer (ET) is the most important problem to be solved in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Various factors which may affect embryo implantation in the endometrium have been examined. In this study, the influence of the timing of luteinization on the establishment of pregnancy was investigated.

Electron microscopic localization of acridine orange binding to euchromatin in human neuroblastoma cells.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the distribution pattern of acridine orange (AO) chromatin interaction products (AOCI) in human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells and to test whether AO labeling is correlated with BrdU incorporation, and immunohistochemical localization of DNA polymerase alpha, and human N-myc-gene product. Effects of aphidicolin, alpha-amanitin, and actinomycin D on visualization of AO binding to euchromatin and on N-myc-gene expression were also examined. About 25% of the cell nuclei in logarithmic growth phase were immunohistochemically demonstrated to be labeled with BrdU after incubation at 37 degrees for 30 min, indicating cells in DNA synthesis.

Embryonic heart rates: development in early first trimester and clinical evaluation.

One hundred and forty-three women in the early first trimester of gestation were examined 364 times using transvaginal sonography, and the development of embryonic heart rate was studied. In each case gestational age was revised retrospectively by either recorded basal body temperature or ultrasound crown-rump length dating between 9 and 10 weeks. Embryonic cardiac activity could be detected as early as 37 days of gestation.

Effects of clomiphene citrate on serum hormone levels and endometrial thickness in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program.

Hormonal alterations and pregnancy rates were compared between the clomiphene citrate (CC)-hMG combination cycle and the hMG cycle alone in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program. In the CC-hMG cycle, the numbers of follicles developed, oocytes recovered and embryos transferred were higher than those in the hMG cycle (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.

Immunoelectron microscopic identification of asialo GM1-positive cells in adult rat liver.

For the electron microscopic identification of asialo GM1-positive cells, fresh-frozen sections fixed with cold acetone and PLP-fixed vibratome sections of adult rat livers were prepared immunocytochemically using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Asialo GM1-positive cells were located mainly in the sinusoids, and rarely in Glisson's sheath and portal veins. In the sinusoids, most pit cells, showing the ultrastructural characteristics of large granular lymphocytes (LGL), were positive for asialo GM1 but a few pit cells were asialo GM1-negative.