Electrophoretic and immunocytochemical analysis of Hsp72 and Hsp73 expression in heat-stressed mouse testis and epididymis.

Objective: One of the most profound events in stressed cells is the synthesis of a highly conserved family of proteins, the 'heat shock proteins' (Hsp). The Hsp70 family is the most diverse, and includes constitutive as well as stress-inducible proteins with overlapping or unique functions in different cell compartments. Elucidation of Hsp70 expression during different stages of spermatogenesis and maturation of germ cells is of particular interest due to their high sensitivity to heat treatment.

Ultrastructural study of cat zona pellucida during oocyte maturation and fertilization.

The mammalian zona pellucida (ZP) is an extracellular glycoprotein structure formed around growing oocytes, ovulated eggs and preimplantation embryos. The specific functions of ZP are highly determined by its morphological structure. Studies on cat oocytes during maturation and after fertilization were undertaken, using routine transmission (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Role of FGF1, FGF2 and FGF7 in the development of the pancreas from control and streptozotocin-treated hamsters.

Although progress has been made with respect to the growth and transcription factors implicated in pancreatic development, many questions remain unsolved. It has been established that during embryonic life, both endocrine and acinar cells are derived from pancreatic epithelial precursor cells. Growth factors control the proliferation of precursor cells and their ability to differentiate into mature cells, both in pre-natal and in early post-natal life.

Miltefosine decreases the cytotoxic effect of epirubicine and cyclophosphamide on mouse spermatogenic, thymic and bone marrow cells.

A new class of potent anticancer drugs, alkylphosphocholines has been recognized lately. Miltefosine (Hexadecylphosphochlorine, HPC) has been found to express select antineoplastic effect on human breast cancer skin metastases with simultaneous preservation of bone marrow proliferative activity and low clastogenicity. In the current study, we present data about the specific effect of two widely used cytostatics Cyclophosphamide (CP) and Epirubicine (ERb) applied separately or in combination with Miltefosine.

The effect of in vitro fibroblast growth factors on cell proliferation in pancreas from normal and streptozotocin-treated rats.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are potent mitogens for a wide variety of cells. In the present study we examined the potential morphogenic activities of the growth factors FGF1, FGF2 and FGF7, and cellular processes underlying morphogenesis, in pancreatic cells from streptozotocin diabetic newborn rats. The pancreases from control and diabetic newborn rats were microdissected and cultured in the presence of different doses of FGF1, 2 and 7 for 48 h.