Intensity of androgen and epidermal growth factor receptor immunoreactivity in samples of radical prostatectomy as prognostic indicator: correlation with clinical data of long-term observations.

Purpose: We analyzed the potential prognostic significance of the immunohistochemical expression of androgen and growth factor receptors determined in prostatectomy specimens of patients with prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: A cohort of 211 patients with locally confined prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy with or without antiandrogen pretreatment between January 1, 1990 and August 31, 1996 was observed prospectively. Prostatectomy samples were processed immunohistochemically to visualize androgen and growth factor receptors, of which immunoreaction intensity was scored relative to that of positive control tissue.

Guanylin and uroguanylin in the parotid and submandibular glands: potential intrinsic regulators of electrolyte secretion in salivary glands.

The intestinal peptides guanylin and uroguanylin regulate the electrolyte/water transport in the gastrointestinal epithelium via activation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), the cystic fibrosis gene product. Because a major but incompletely understood function of the salivary glands is the CFTR-mediated secretion of an electrolyte-rich fluid, we investigated the rat and guinea pig parotid and submandibular glands for expression, cellular distribution, and subcellular localization of guanylin and uroguanylin. RT-PCR analyses with guanylin and uroguanylin-specific primers revealed that both peptides are highly expressed in the parotid and submandibular glands.

Expression of guanylin in "pars tuberalis-specific cells" and gonadotrophs of rat adenohypophysis.

The intestinal peptide guanylin regulates the electrolyte/water transport in the gastrointestinal epithelium by paracrine/luminocrine mechanisms. Because guanylin also circulates in the blood, we investigated the rat hypothalamo-pituitary region for expression and cellular localization of this peptide. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analyses with guanylin-specific primers revealed expression of the peptide in the pars tuberalis and pars distalis of the pituitary.

Immunological characterization and activity of transglutaminases in human normal and malignant prostate and in prostate cancer cell lines.

Using biochemical assays, we compared enzyme activities with the immunoreactivity of antibodies against rat seminal transglutaminase (TGase), human erythrocyte TGase and guinea pig liver TGase in human normal prostate, primary prostatic carcinomas and prostatic carcinoma cell lines. Glandular cells of the epithelium were only exceptionally positive with the antibody against (rat) secretory TGase. Using the antibodies against tissue-type TGase, most immunoreactive cells were found in the basal cell layer of prostatic epithelium as well as in stroma (fibroblasts, endothelial cells), whereas immunoreactive glandular cells were sparse.

Hormonally induced changes in apocrine secretion of transglutaminase in the rat dorsal prostate and coagulating gland.

Coagulating gland and dorsal prostate of the rat are peculiar in secreting transglutaminase, a protein-cross linking enzyme that is released in an apocrine fashion. To elucidate whether or not the intracellular pathway and the unusual extrusion mechanism proceed constitutively or were differentially regulated, transglutaminase immunoreactivity was studied both at the light and electron microscopic levels. In addition, ultrastructural morphometry and scanning densitometry were applied to quantitate hormone-dependent distribution of transglutaminase.

Transcriptional and translational regulation of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta account for the control of IL-1 in experimental yersiniosis.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) gene expression was investigated in mice following oral infection with Yersinia enterocolitica 08. In Peyer's patches (PP), the primary site of bacterial invasion, induction of IL-1 alpha mRNA was delayed when compared to IL-1 beta mRNA. As shown by in situ hybridization.

Bioremediation of contaminated groundwater.

Contaminated groundwater from industrial areas in former East Germany was biologically treated using lab-scale solid-state reactors. The ability of bacterial strains of the autochroneous microflora to utilize representative pollutants was tested.

Stromal and epithelial cells from rat ventral prostate during androgen deprivation and estrogen treatment--regulation of transcription.

To identify the functional capacities of prostatic tissue, the expression of steroid hormone receptors, growth factors, oncogenes and particular enzymes was studied at the RNA level in isolated stromal and epithelial cells of rat ventral prostate (RVP) under different hormonal conditions (androgen deprivation, estrogen treatment). Slot blot and Northern blot analyses of isolated RNA resulted in characteristic changes: In the control prostate, androgen receptor (AR) mRNA was high in epithelium of intact prostate, but low in stroma. Its level was increased after castration in the epithelium during the initial 24 hours, whereas an only slight increase occurred in stroma after one week castration.

Functional properties of isolated stroma and epithelium from rat ventral prostate during androgen deprivation and estrogen treatment.

To identify the functional activities of prostatic stroma under different hormonal conditions, isolated stroma and epithelium from rat ventral prostate (RVP, intact or one week castrated or estrogen-treated), were studied in metabolic labeling experiments. Using a semiquantitative stereological procedure, the relative proportion of the epithelial and stromal compartment was determined in situ. In addition, the distribution of the androgen receptor was visualized by in situ hybridization and by immunocytochemistry.

Tissue-type transglutaminase expression in the Dunning tumor.

Transglutaminases with different functions and tissue distribution patterns can be distinguished by specific antibodies and by inhibition of enzyme activity in the presence of guanosine triphosphate (GTP). The most common form is the so-called tissue-type transglutaminase that is apparently involved in membrane stabilization processes, e.g.

[Current aspects on morphology and functions of the prostate].

The human prostate has a dual function in that it produces a number of secretory compounds conditioning the urethral surface for sperm passage and acting on spermatozoa as well as on vesicular coagulation proteins (semen liquefaction). In addition to differentially distributed and regulated steroid hormone receptors in epithelium and stroma, the prostate contains a large number of growth factors and their receptors. An incompletely understood paracrine regulation of growth and differentiation exists between epithelial cells, such as secretory, basal and neuroendocrine cells, as well as the underlying stroma (smooth muscle cells, fibrocytes).

[The role of interleukin 1 in infection and sepsis].

Interleukin(IL-)-1 is the prototype of a proinflammatory cytokine, produced in response to infection and other forms of trauma. At low concentrations IL-1 brings about increases in a number of defense mechanisms, particularly immunologic and inflammatory responses. However, over- or continued production of IL-1, as seen for example during septic infection, significantly contributes to pathological reactions such as hemodynamic shock.

Transition from interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) to IL-1 alpha production during maturation of inflammatory macrophages in vivo.

In situ production of interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and IL-1 beta was investigated in Peyer's patches (PP) of mice undergoing an acute bacterial infection with Yersinia enterocolitica O8. Synthesis of IL-1 beta, as determined by immunohistochemistry, was found primarily in monocytes migrating into the inflamed PP. In comparison, synthesis of IL-1 alpha was temporarily delayed by at least 24 h and was only found in mature macrophages, which did not produce detectable levels of IL-1 beta.

Arguments against the prostatic origin of the R-3327 Dunning H tumor.

The Dunning tumor, originally described as a carcinoma of the rat dorsal prostate, has for long been used as an experimental model of prostatic cancer. We have recently presented a number of morphological findings that are incompatible with the prostatic origin of the H-subline of the Dunning tumor. In this paper, biochemical and immunohistochemical markers of rat prostate and mammary gland are studied in the R-3327 Dunning H tumor.

Purification and molecular characterization of a secretory transglutaminase from coagulating gland of the rat.

A transglutaminase (TGase, EC 2.3.2.

Immunohistochemical localization of the glucocorticoid receptor in pancreatic beta-cells of the rat.

We used a monoclonal antibody against an epitope located in the N-terminal moiety of the rat glucocorticoid receptor to identify the glucocorticoid receptor-containing cells in the rat pancreas. Monospecific polyclonal antisera against insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and amylase were applied to serial sections in colocalization studies to identify the respective endocrine and exocrine cells. Glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivity was exclusively present in nuclei and cytoplasm of the beta-cells of pancreatic islets.

Immunohistochemistry of secretory transglutaminase from rodent prostate.

Transglutaminases are Ca2(+)-dependent intra- and extracellular enzymes catalyzing the cross-linking between proteins and/or polyamines, thereby eliciting divergent physiological effects such as fibrin clot stabilization or hair follicle cross-linking. A secretory transglutaminase (EC 2.3.

Translational control of anionic trypsinogen and amylase synthesis in rat pancreas in response to caerulein stimulation.

Infusion of rats with optimal doses of caerulein for up to 24 hr resulted in divergent changes in protein synthesis in the exocrine pancreas: a 3-fold increase in synthesis of anionic trypsinogen and a 75% decrease in synthesis of amylase. Lipase synthesis showed no change. Rates of total protein synthesis increased 2-fold, while DNA, RNA, and poly(A)+ mRNA concentrations were unchanged during hormonal stimulation.

Qualitative dissimilarities of insulin and proinsulin binding and action in vitro at IM 9-lymphocytes.

To prove hormone analogy of insulin and proinsulin 1. biochemical characterization of binding, 2. competition-inhibition-assay, 3.

Changes in individual rates of pancreatic enzyme and isoenzyme biosynthesis in the obese Zucker rat.

Both alterations of enzyme content and a markedly decreased secretory response to selected physiological stimuli have been demonstrated previously in the pancreas of the obese Zucker rat. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the degree to which alterations of enzyme content could be attributed to changes in enzyme biosynthesis. Amylase content of obese rats was decreased by 50%, whereas lipase and trypsinogens were significantly increased.

Stimulation of pancreatic secretory process in the rat by low-molecular weight proteinase inhibitor. II. Regulation of total protein and individual enzyme biosynthesis.

Oral application of a single dose of a new synthetic proteinase inhibitor Camostate (Foy-305) in male Wistar rats was carried out together with studies of in vitro amino acid incorporation followed by separation of proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The aim of this experiment was to analyze changes produced by the inhibitor in total protein and individual enzyme biosynthesis. Administration of 100 mg/kg Foy-305 resulted in significant inhibition of total pancreatic protein synthesis, without changes in fractional rates for individual enzymes.

Stimulation of pancreatic secretory process in the rat by low-molecular weight proteinase inhibitor. I. Dose-response study on enzyme content and secretion, cholecystokinin release and pancreatic fine structure.

Application of a single dose of a new type of proteinase inhibitor camostate (FOY-305) via orogastric tube was used in rats to study the dose-response relationship of resulting pancreatic stimulation. Doses up to 10 mg/kg failed to elicit any response, while significant decrease in enzyme content and increase in serum CCK-levels were observed with doses ranging from 25 to 400 mg/kg. A single dose of 100 mg/kg was selected for a time-sequence analysis, which revealed a 60 to 70% depletion of enzyme stores persisting over 6 h and reverting to control levels by 12 h.

Lipase synthesis in the rat pancreas is regulated by secretin.

Conscious rats were infused with optimal doses of secretin (16 clinical units [CU]/kg/h), cerulein (0.25 microgram/kg/h), and both for varying periods of time over 24 h. The presence of zymogen granules in acinar cells and the tissue content of enzymes showed progressive decreases over 3 and 12 h for cerulein and secretin stimulation, respectively.