In Vitro最新文献

The pathophysiology of endothelial cells is important to a variety of vascular conditions including coagulation and hemostasis resulting from clinical frostbite. Use of an in vitro model system demonstrated that when bovine endothelial cells were frozen at 1 degrees C or 20 degrees C/min and thawed immediately (20 degrees C/min), a variety of ultrastructural alterations occurred. Membranous structures were most extensively damaged, with mitochondria the most sensitive organelle. Low amplitude mitochondrial swelling, first evident at 0 degrees C, progressed to high amplitude swelling by -10 degrees C (frozen). In addition, the rough endoplasmic reticulum was dilated and formed large vesicles with a homogeneous matrix. Nuclear changes first occurred at -15 degrees C. These included separation and distortion of the nuclear membrane, changes in chromatin distribution, and disruption of the nucleolus. Scanning electron microscopy revealed perforated plasma membranes in some cells at -10 degrees C (frozen) and in most cells by -20 degrees C. Cultures frozen at 20 degrees C/min revealed mostly the same ultrastructural damage noted at 1 degrees C/min except a higher percentage of cells exhibited alterations. Data from the recovery index and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release correlated well with observed ultrastructural changes. Early swelling of mitochondria and dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum was not lethal in the absence of freezing. Increased swelling in cytoplasmic organelles coupled with nuclear alterations at -15 degrees C resulted in a decreased survival rate and release of significant quantities of LDH by -20 degrees C. No unique morphological changes were temperature specific, but the total number of cells that displayed alterations increased as temperature decreased.

We studied the histologic and ultrastructural features of embryonic chick cartilage after the cartilage had been incubated in serum-free medium that contained hormones and growth factors known to stimulate in vitro cartilage growth. Pelvic cartilages from 9 d chick embryos were incubated in BGJb ( Fitton -Jackson modification) medium alone (control) or medium containing one of the following: N6 monobutyryl cyclic AMP 0.5 mM, forskolin 100 microM, triiodothyronine (T3) 10 nM, insulin 45 nM, or somatomedin C 0.67 nM. At the end of 3 d of incubation the cartilages were fixed in buffered formalin. Significant growth (increases in size, wet and dry weight) was seen with each treatment group. N6-Monobutyryl cAMP treated cartilage had an increased number of flattened immature chondrocytes with large nuclei and prominent nucleoli. The histologic and ultrastructural features of forskolin treated cartilage were indistinguishable from N6-monobutyryl cAMP treatment. The T3 treated cartilage contained large hypertrophic chondrocytes with prominent lacunar typical of mature cartilage. T3 treated cartilage had considerable vacuole formation and dilated endoplasmic reticulum. Insulin and somatomedin treated cartilage had histologic appearance similar to control cartilage. Thus, the effects of various hormones on embryonic cartilage growth in vitro can be separated as to whether growth is the result of chondrocytic hyperplasia (cyclic AMP mediated), chondrocytic hypertrophy with maturation (T3), or a combination of both hyperplasia and hypertrophy (insulin and somatomedin-C).

Two diploid platypus cell lines, designated Oa-1F and Oa-2F, have been derived from the toe webs of two females. The development and growth characteristics of the lines are described and G-banded karyotypes presented (the first reported for the platypus). The availability of these lines will greatly facilitate chromosome and gene mapping studies of the platypus and permit the extension of comparative studies of mammalian chromosome and genome evolution to the monotremes.

The frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) was determined in a nontransformed diploid rat cell line, FR3T3 , under several tissue culture variables such as cultivation temperature, growth conditions of cells, and concentrations of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU). The conclusions to be drawn from these experiments are: (a) The cell growth and mechanisms(s) of SCE formation in FR3T3 cells are largely temperature independent (or efficiently regulated) in the range between 33 and 40.5 degrees C. (b) The concentration limits for BrdU incorporation are 5 to 100 microM; baseline frequency is about 11 SCE/metaphase (constant up to 20 microM BrdU) and increases only moderately at higher BrdU concentrations. (c) Toxic levels of BrdU (150 microM) cause a decrease of SCE rates below that found at 100 microM, presumably due to selective cell death. (d) Keeping cells growth arrested over a long period causes substantial SCE induction after replating. (e) Induced increase of SCEs probably occurs in this manner during the first cell cycle after release from growth arrest. It is no longer detectable after the fourth consecutive cell division.

Sequential changes in epithelial cells of collagenase-dissociated rat ventral prostate were studied by thin-section and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Epithelial cells did not attach to the substrate for 48 h. Pelleted cells obtained 1, 24, and 48 h after dissociation were assigned to three categories depending on morphology and cellular associations. (a) Solitary epithelial cells degenerated as determined by extensive vacuolization in the cytoplasm and aggregation of intramembranous particles (IMP). (b) Epithelial clusters consisted of a homogeneous population of well-maintained, closely packed cells. Aggregation of IMP was minimal. Tight junctions that formed between cells at the periphery of the clusters appeared normal and provided an effective permeability barrier demonstrated by the exclusion of ruthenium red tracer. (c) Tissue fragments were comprised of varying combinations of epithelial, endothelial, and smooth muscle cells as well as fibroblasts and erythrocytes. Maintenance of tissue fragments was variable. Plasma membranes often displayed aggregated IMP and proliferated tight junctional strands. An effective permeability barrier was absent. After the 48 h "latent period," epithelial cells in the clusters lost interdependence, disassociated from one another, and attached to the substrate. These isolated cells, which did not display aggregated IMP, retained the ability to form an effective permeability barrier upon reaching confluency. During the first 48 h, epithelial cells did not tolerate solitary existence, yet as participants in clusters they were well maintained. After this interval, they no longer required interactions with neighbors in order to survive. These results indicate that under our experimental conditions, an adaptation period is required by prostatic epithelial cells. The enhanced quality of maintenance associated with epithelial clusters suggests that control over the internal microenvironment, provided by a tight junctional barrier, may be important during the initial period of adaptation in vitro.

During early cultivation steps of the newly derived and karyotyped human mammary carcinoma line EFM-19, the cells developed faster growth rates and became increasingly less responsive to the presence of serum in the culture medium. No drastic alterations of the morphology and of the karyotype were observed, and carcinoembryogenic antigen remained expressed during the course of the cultivation. In experimental incubations at various time intervals after the explantation, the cell proliferation was analyzed for dose-dependent effects of estradiol, cortisol, progesterone, and testosterone. After 16 wk of cultivation of the stock culture in the presence of estradiol, the cells had acquired a distinct sensitivity to estradiol resulting in permanent growth enhancement. The withdrawal of cortisol from the medium of the stock culture subsequently provoked the loss of the initially noted stimulation of the proliferation by cortisol. The stimulatory effect of progesterone on the proliferation was reversed to inhibition when the stock culture was deprived of cortisol in the growth medium. The results indicate that the choice of steroid hormones in the stock culture medium was determining the quality of the cellular growth responses.

Monolayer cultures were prepared from hepatocytes of 15 d chick embryos and maintained at high cell density in a chemically defined medium. In the absence of growth stimulatory conditions DNA synthesis was observed only during the first 10 to 16 h of culture. Thus, after a 12 h exposure to [3H]thymidine ([3H]dThd, 4 to 16 h) 9.1 +/- 1% (mean +/- SD, n = 4) of the hepatocyte nuclei were labeled. Labeled mitotic nuclei, up to late telophase, were regularly observed in these cultures. Beyond 16 h less than 2% labeled nuclei were found (12 h of [3H]dThd), which indicates that the hepatocytes entered proliferative quiescence. DNA synthesis of "resting" hepatocytes was stimulated by insulin and, only slightly, by hydrocortisone, glucagon, or fetal bovine serum. Triiodothyronine (T3), or the nucleoside inosine (i) did not stimulate. Combination of insulin (I) with hydrocortisone (H), T3 (T), or glucagon (G) resulted in a more than additive effect. Nearly maximal stimulation occurred with the combinations IHT and ITG. Labeling increased at 10 ng/ml of each component and was maximal at 1 to 10 micrograms/ml. A lag period of 8 to 10 h after hormone administration (IHiTG, 10 micrograms/ml) was observed before nuclear labeling increased. Within the subsequent 10 h a considerable proportion of the hepatocytes (up to 30% or more) entered DNA synthesis. Mitotic activity (with nuclei in prophase up to late telophase) also was stimulated. An increase of both total DNA and protein content was measured in several experiments. Hormonal stimulation of hepatocyte DNA synthesis and mitotic activity was associated with decreased beta-naphthoflavone-mediated induction of cytochrome P450. A causal relationship between these two phenomena remains to be established. It is suggested that chick embryo hepatocyte cultures are a useful tool for studies on hepatocyte proliferation and differentiation.

Plasma amine oxidase activities (benzylamine oxidase and spermine oxidase) were determined in the sera of a number of species of various ages. Benzylamine oxidase (BZO) activity, measured spectrophotometrically, was present in bovine, equine, and ovine species examined. Generally its activity in serum increased with the age of the animal. Spermine oxidase activity (SPO) was estimated by a bioassay of in vitro toxicity and did not necessarily correlate with BZO. Cytotoxicity in the presence of spermidine was found only in the sera of the ruminant species examined. Serum activity tended to rise with animal age; however, great variability was found in perinatal bovine sera. The 50% lethal dose (LD50) of spermidine in the presence of 5% serum and 4 X 10(4) NS1 cells/ml was in the micromolar range. Aminoguanidine, a known inhibitor of SPO, could prevent the cytotoxic effects of exogenously added spermidine in vitro. In contrast, raising the ambient oxygen tension in the incubation environment to 95% lowered the LD50 dose of spermidine required for cytotoxicity. The results suggest that a cell line of hematogenous origin is susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of the products of oxidative deamination of spermidine by SPO, an enzyme present in perinatal bovine sera, and that these cytotoxic effects are potentiated in the presence of an oxygen-enriched environment in vitro.

The establishment and characterization of a Haemagogus equinus mosquito cell line (GML-HE-12) are described. The cells are diploid (2N = 6) and seem to be free of contaminants. Their susceptibility to 13 arboviruses was tested. Eleven of the viruses multiplied in this cell line; six of these viruses still showed titers of 4 log10 plaque forming unit/ml or greater at 33 d postinoculation. No overt cytopathologic effect was observed.