comparison between the effects of hypophysectomy and cyproterone acetate on the adrenal medulla chromaffin cells of the mouse

The effects of reduction in the glucocorticoid secretion on the adrenomedullary chromaffin cells of the mouse were studied through hypophysectomy and cyproterone acetate [CA] administration. The latter drug is reported to have a pronounced ACTH suppressive effect and to interfere with steroid biosynthesis. There was no evidence of a change in the proportion of epinephrine - storing [E] and nonepinephrine storing [NE] cells in the adrenal medulla of hypophysectomized mice or CA-treated animals. In hypophysectomized animals, the norepinephrine [NE] showed a significant Increase in content and proportion. This was attributed - to a significant decrease in the epinephrine [E] content of these animals. The adrenal glands of CA-treated animals did not show any significant change in NE content, although a significant increase in the NE proportion of the total catecholamine was observed. This was again attributed to the significant decrease in the E content of CA animals. The ultrastructural changes showed the presence of both E and NE granules in the same cell. In addition, many cells showed marked reduction in their secretory granules and appear similar to sympathetic neurons. The reversibility of these changes following cessation of CA - treatment suggests that they represented temporary metabolic changes rather than a process of dedifferentiation of these cells

Serum alkaline phosphatase, its isoenzymes and sialic acid in breast cancer patients

Serum samples from 86 patients with breast cancer were assayed for sialic acid concentration. Total alkaline phosphalatse [ALP] and ALP isonzymes by EDTA inhibition and heat inactivation, in order to evaluate their utility and behaviour in these patients. Serum samples from 76 healthy control subjects were assayed and compared with breast cancer cases. The results from this study suggest that serum total ALP and sialic acid concentrations were increased significantly in breast cancer patients and the increase was more in patients with metastases. The diagnostic usefulness of sialic acid in this study was quite comparable, with 91.86% [79 of 86] of breast caner patients showing elevated level. ALP inactivation by heat was more marked than inhibition of ALP by EDTA. The use of these isoenzymes as a diagnostic tool in breast cancer patients could help together with increased sialic acid level and ALP, especially in patients with metastases

Abnormalities in liver function tests in a group of patients with breast and gall bladder carcinoma

This study was conducted to investigate the clinical usefulness of liver function tests particulary gamma glutamyl-transferase enzyme [GGT EC 2.3.2.2.], total alkaline phosphatase enzyme [ALP EC 3,1,2,1] and 5-nucleotidase enzyme [5NT EC 3.1.3.5] as indicators of liver metastases in 44 breast cancer patients and 6 gall baldder cancer patients. The results of the activity of the three enzymes in 50 healthy controls were also compared. Preoperative imaging investigations when carried were also compared with enzymes values. The result from this study suggest that GGT is the most sensitive [90.9%] and specific [82.35%] enzyme in the diagnosis of liver involvement. While ALP is less sensitive [84.37%] and less specific [70,58%]. 5-Nucleotidase was not as good as GGT or ALP. We can conclude that an increase of GGT in patients known to have breast or gall bladder cancer would raise a high index of suspescion of liver metastases. This may lead to more cost effective use of further confirmatory tests i.e. imaging or laparoscopic guided biopsy to establish the diagnosis and the extent of the disease