Retrospective analysis of the prognostic significance of DNA content and proliferative activity in large bowel carcinoma.

In the present study we have evaluated the prognostic significance of ploidy levels and proliferative activity in 279 cases of large bowel carcinomas which were included in a surgical prospective randomized trial. Ploidy levels and proliferative activity were determined on nuclei isolated from paraffin-embedded tissues of 279 colorectal carcinoma patients, with a mean follow-up of 51.9 months.

Recognition of rat dendritic cells by a monoclonal antibody.

A mouse monoclonal IgM antibody reactive with dendritic cells (DC) from the Brown Norway (BN) rat was prepared. This antibody (1F119) binds to a membrane-bound antigen present on DC from thoracic duct lymph, spleen, thymus, and lymph node. The antigen is present only in low density on 5% of splenic macrophages (M phi) and absent from peritoneal M luminal diameter.

Homology-dependent changes in adenosine 5'-triphosphate hydrolysis during recA protein promoted DNA strand exchange: evidence for long paranemic complexes.

As a first step in DNA strand exchange, recA protein forms a filamentous complex on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), which contains stoichiometric (one recA monomer per four nucleotides) amounts of recA protein. recA protein monomers within this complex hydrolyze ATP with a turnover number of 25 min-1. Upon introduction of linear homologous duplex DNA to initiate strand exchange, this rate of ATP hydrolysis drops by 33%.

Comparison of phenotypic and genotypic features in human primary large bowel carcinomas and lymph node metastases.

In order to test the contention that metastasis is a selective process and that therefore metastases might show a more restricted pattern of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics than primary tumors, we compared the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen, Ca 19-9, secretory component, serotonin, and mucin production as well as flow cytometric data on DNA content and percentage of S-phase cells in 87 primary large bowel carcinomas and their lymph node metastases. In a majority of the cases primary tumors and their metastases were largely identical with regard to the examined phenotypic features. In discrepant cases, however, metastases did not invariably show a more restricted pattern than primary tumors, indicating high differentiational plasticity of primary and metastatic colorectal cancer cells.

An improved method for the immunocytochemical detection of bromodeoxyuridine labeled nuclei using flow cytometry.

A new staining protocol is described for the immunocytochemical detection of BrdUrd labeled nuclei. Pepsin treatment of ethanol fixed cells or tissue, followed by DNA denaturation at low pH, resulted in increased sensitivity of BrdUrd staining comparable to the thermal denaturation protocol, and decreased background binding. This technique is applicable to cell suspensions, including cultured cells and bone marrow cells.

Penetration ability of human spermatozoa into standardized bovine cervical mucus (Penetrak) in patients with normal and pathological semen samples.

Semen samples from 89 men were analyzed and evaluated with a standardized bovine cervical mucus penetration test (Penetrak). 29 patients had a normozoospermia, 22 patients a teratozoospermia and 38 patients an oligozoospermia of various degree. The most important parameters of semen analysis were compared with sperm mucus penetration.

recA protein-promoted ATP hydrolysis occurs throughout recA nucleoprotein filaments.

When recA protein binds cooperatively to single-stranded DNA to form filamentous nucleoprotein complexes, it becomes competent to hydrolyze ATP. No correlation exists between the ends of such complexes and the rate of ATP hydrolysis. ATP hydrolysis is not, therefore, restricted to the terminal subunits on cooperatively bound recA oligomers, but occurs throughout the complex.

Studies with anti-bromodeoxyuridine antibodies: II. Simultaneous immunocytochemical detection of antigen expression and DNA synthesis by in vivo labeling of mouse intestinal mucosa.

We developed a rapid and convenient immunocytochemical method for simultaneous detection of antigen expression and S-phase cells by means of anti-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) antibodies. Immunocytochemical detection of BrdUrd after in vivo administration in mice was compared with autoradiography using [3H]-BrdUrd. Both the sensitivity and specificity of the technique were high.

Morphology of normal and malignant germ cells.

By means of semithin section histology and electron microscopy the following male germ cells are described: gonocytes and prospermatogonia in the embryonic and fetal testes; spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes in the testis of the adult; abnormal spermatogonia and spermatocytes, which are not tumour cells. In contrast to these cells, four main tumour cell types which on the basis of morphological criteria can be said to be derived from germ cells, are classified and designated as Tc 1 to Tc 4. The various tissues accompanying the tumour cells are briefly described.

Cellular mechanisms of action of atrial natriuretic factor.

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) interacts with its target cells through specific receptors. This interaction induces, in most cell types, the activation of particulate guanylate cyclase and decreased Calcium mobilisation. In addition, ANF also decreases adenylate cyclase activity in some tissues.

Human spermatozoa stained with toluidine blue-pyronine. A rapid method for differentiation.

Spermatozoa stained with toluidine blue-pyronine can be differentiated very rapid within one hour after liquefaction of the ejaculate. In contrast to the method of Testsimplets the slides can be stored for record purpose. Furthermore its quality is comparable with the common staining techniques of spermatozoa.

[Exocrine and endocrine testicular function following unilateral torsion--a retrospective clinical study of 36 patients].

Of 86 patients who had undergone unilateral testicular torsion the fertility in 36 patients could be examined 1-9 years later. The testis in 27 patients (= 75%) was surgically untwisted. Of 9 patients (= 25%) the testis was removed because of marked hemorrhagic infarction.

Class II antigens on canine T lymphocytes.

A panel of crossreactive anti-human, -mouse and -rat MHC class II monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) was used to examine MHC class II antigen expression on canine T lymphocytes by cytofluorometry. The presence of MHC class II antigens was demonstrated on activated T lymphoblasts as well as on non-stimulated peripheral blood T lymphocytes. A number of anti-MHC class II Mabs reacted only with activated T lymphoblasts.

Immunofluorescence detection of liver cell membrane autoantibodies using PLC/PRF/5 cells.

Detection of liver cell membrane autoantibodies is routinely performed by immunofluorescence testing of patient sera on rabbit hepatocyte suspensions. We have investigated the possible use of cells from the PLC/PRF/5 human hepatoma cell-line. These cells were employed as substrate in an immunofluorescence test which was compared with the conventional rabbit hepatocyte assay.

[Light microscopic studies of spermatogenesis in rats following the administration of a high dose of 13-cis-retinoic acid].

In an experimental study, we investigated the influence of a toxic dose of 13-cis-retinoic acid (40 mg per kg body weight daily) on the spermatogenesis of 30 Wistar rats. 15 rats were killed immediately after 8 weeks application; the remaining 15 animals were put to death after another 8 weeks without application. A control group of another 20 rats only received physiological salt solution daily over a period of 8 weeks.

Flow cytometric determination of DNA ploidy level in nuclei isolated from paraffin-embedded tissue.

Nuclei, isolated from paraffin-embedded tissue, were stained with propidium iodide (PI) and found suitable for DNA analysis by flow cytometry (FCM). DNA-derived fluorescence intensity, however, was always decreased and had a much higher intersample variability as compared to results obtained with fresh material. Using chicken red blood cells (CRBC) as a model system, we found the lower fluorescence intensity to be due to the formalin fixation step in tissue processing.

[Relations between spermatozoa density of germ cells of the testis and hormone analyses (especially FSH) in patients with oligozoospermia)].

The study concerns 84 patients with oligozoospermia between 0.3-20.0 mill.

Increased numbers of suppressor-cytotoxic cells in a patient with carbamazepine hypersensitivity.

A patient is presented with a clinical syndrome of erythroderma, fever, liver function abnormalities, eosinophilia and atypical lymphocytosis due to carbamazepine hypersensitivity. Immunological analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed using mouse monoclonal antibodies against T-cell and Ia antigens. A 12-fold increase in the absolute numbers of suppressor-cytotoxic T-cells was found, resulting in a reversed helper/suppressor ratio.

Monoclonal antibody (1116 NS 19-9) defined monosialoganglioside (GICA) in colorectal carcinoma in relation to stage, histopathology and DNA flow cytometry.

Immunoreactivity of 1116 NS 19-9 monoclonal antibody defined monosialoganglioside (gastrointestinal cancer-associated antigen, GICA) has been studied in a series of colorectal carcinoma patients of a multicentre prospective controlled trial in order to assess its correlation with parameters such as localization, stage histopathological characteristics and DNA flow cytometry. GICA could be detected in 60% of the carcinomas, but no correlation was observed between its status of immunoreactivity and any of the parameters studied. It is concluded that, though study of the expression of the monosialganglioside may be worth while in relation to fundamental aspects of behaviour of colorectal carcinomas, the significance of its immunohistochemical detection in a diagnostic or prognostic sense is limited.

[Effect of aromatic retinoid on spermatogenesis in rats. Light microscopy findings in the testes (including some other selected organs)].

In an experimental study we examined the influence of a toxic dose of aromatic retinoid (Ro 10-9359) on the spermatogenesis of 30 Wistar rats. Aside from testis tissue of both testes, liver, heart, lung, kidney, adrenal gland as well as the skin have been investigated histologically. The rats received retinoid at a daily rate of 25 mg/kg body weight in physiological salt solution by means of a gastric tube.

[Evaluation of testicular biopsy in subfertile men based on semithin-section preparations].

The semithin-section technique represents an advanced light-microscopic method which furthers the investigation of development in spermatogenesis and the associated disturbances in subfertile men. This is demonstrated using examples in which the histological findings from paraffin-section preparations have been compared to the semithin-sections preparations from the same patient. In contrast to the paraffin-section technique, the various appearances of the spermatid malformations in patients with oligozoospermia can be assessed with the semithin-section technique.

[Qualitative and quantitative investigations on testicular tissue using the semithin slide technic in patients with oligozoospermia. II. Results].

In 150 patients with oligozoospermia a testis biopsy of both testes was performed. In 76% the patients were 25-35 years old. Most of them had a sperm count less than or equal to 8.