Neuron-specific enolase is a useful marker of neuroendocrine origin in pheochromocytoma cell culture

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) has been used as a marker for neuroendocrine tumors either in immunocytochemical studies or in serum measurements. ln this paper NSE levels were determined in cultured pheochromocytoma cells to test whether it is also a useful marker ín cell culture of tumors derived from neuroendocrine system. Cultured pheochromocytoma cells came from a primary explant and were grown in RPMI supplemented with 20 per cent fetal calf serum, 100 mug/mL ampicillin and 100 mug/mL streptomycin. NSE was measured in culture medium and cell homogenates. Samples from different pheochromocytoma cultures were analyzed and compared to normal cultured fibroblast cells derived from human skin. NSE was measured by a commercially available radioimmunoassay kit. NSE levels were higher in cell homogenates as compared to those in culture medium, reaching levels as high as 6-fold in the former in TE cell line (26.46 ng/mL and 4.39 ng/mL respectively. Serial NSE measurements in culture medium from TE cell line evidenced decreasing values in subsequential subcultures (from 9.24 ng/mL during primary explant to 1.7 ng/ml. in the 10th subculture). In cultured normal fibroblasts, NSE levels in cultured media were definitely lower than those obtained from pheochromocytoma cultures. These preliminary data suggest that NSE may be a useful marker of neuroendocrine derived tumors, such as pheochromocytoma, in culture. Thus, the simplicity and availability of NSE radioimmunoassay provides an alternative to catecholamine measurement to better characterize pheochromocytoma cell lines in culture, with the advantage of faster results at lower costs.

X-chromatin evaluated by Feulgen's stain method in congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia.

A frequencia de cromatina sexual na mucosa oral foi investigada em 11 pacientes do sexo feminino com hiperplasia congenita das supra-renais devido a deficiencia da 21-hidroxilase, forma virilizante simples.Usou-se o metodo de Feulgen para a coloracao. Demonstrou-se uma reducao da frequencia da cromatina sexual oral nestes pacientes em relacao a um grupo de mulheres normais (13,6 +/- 2,2% - 17,9 +/- 0,8% X +/- EPM). Apos 4-5 semanas de terapia com glicocorticoide, nao se observou diferenca estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos estudados (17,1 +/- 2,0%). O cariotipo realizado em 8 dos 11 casos estudados mostrou padrao feminino normal. Estas variacoes da frequencia da cromatina sexual poderiam estar relacionadas com o tamanho nuclear medio da populacao celular estudada

Familial dwarfism, high serum ria-GH and low somatomedin activity: an approach to pituitary LH secretory reserve.

Dois irmaos com sindrome de Laron foram estudados. A reserva secretoria pituitaria de LH foi estudada por meio do LHRH. Respostas sub-normais de LH ao estimulo com LHRH foram notadas, mas doses repetidas de LHRH produziram maior resposta de LH. Os niveis sericos de hormonio de crescimento (HC) eram altos, elevaram-se ainda mais apos estimulo com insulina e 90min apos o inicio do sono. Apos o GTT, os niveis de HC nao decresceram como o esperado. Os niveis basais de somatomedina (SM) eram baixos e nao aumentaram apos administracao de HC humano. Nao foram observadas alteracoes significativas no balanco metabolico apos administracao de HC humano. Um estudo genetico preliminar foi realizado, considerando 40 casos descritos na literatura

Fatores que influenciam o sucesso em cultura de fibroblastos. / Factors influencing the sucess in fibroblasts culture

Relataram-se diferentes fatores que podem influenciar no sucesso do estabelecimento do metodo de cultura de fibroblastos. Tres linhagens celulares foram cultivadas advindas de: pele de embriao de galinha, fibroblastos de rato (ST1) e pele humana normal. Mostrou-se a evolucao inicial do crescimento celular de explantes primarios de pele humana e de embriao de galinha