Pericardial effusion in the nephrotic syndrome.

Hydropericardium is a known cause of pericardial effusion related to severely expanded extracellular fluid volume. Nephrotic patients have expanded extracellular fluid volume but obviously may have other causes for pericardial effusion. We tested the hypothesis that pericardial effusion is related to inflammation and not to hydropericardium in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Twenty nephrotic patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were compared to 20 patients with nephrotic syndrome of other causes. No patient in either group had symptoms or signs of pericardial disease. Pleural effusion and ascites were equally common in SLE-nephrotic patients compared to non-SLE-nephrotic patients. However, 8 SLE patients had pericardial effusion, while none of the non-SLE-nephrotic patients had pericardial effusion. We suggest that hydropericardium is rare in nephrotic patients and that an inflammatory or other secondary cause should be considered when pericardial effusion complicates nephrotic syndrome.

Influence of porcine corpus luteum extract on DNA synthesis and proliferation of cultivated fibroblasts and endothelial cells.

The angiogenic activity in corpus luteum (corpus luteum angiogenesis factor--CLAP) reported first by us in 1977 was enriched by ammonium sulfate precipitation and further purified by ion exchange chromatography. Extracts produced in this way from corpora lutea of cyclus synchronized pigs have proven effective to stimulate DNA synthesis and proliferation of both calf aorta endothelial cells and primary mouse embryo fibroblasts cultivated either under optimal or suboptimal (depletion) conditions. The mitogenic action of these extracts has been found to be dose-dependent and similar to that of bovine brain extract produced according to the preparation method published by GOSPODAROWICZ.

Behaviour of normal and neoplastic cultured mouse cells on the chorioallantoic membrane of the chicken.

Cultivated normal and transformed fibroblasts of the mouse (short-term cultures of lung fibroblasts and L-cells) have been implanted onto the chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo (CAM). Both cell types formed macroscopically visible nodules on the CAM where they induced a weak angiogenic reaction. Labelling of the cells with activated charcoal or 3H-thymidine gave evidence of their invasion into the CAM mesoderm, where they induced the formation of new capillaries. The successive multiplication of the cells led to the formation of tumours, resp. tumour-like cellular accumulations in the hypertrophied mesoderm of the CAM. Treatment of L-cells with the protease-inhibitor Contrykal reduced the invasive properties of the cells. The results presented clearly demonstrate invasive and angiogenic properties of the normal and malignantly transformed cell cultures of the mouse used in our experiments.

[Pulse cytophotometric determination of lipids in cultivated animal cells (author's transl)]. / Impulscytophotometrische Lipidbestimmung an kultivierten tierischen Zellen.

The determination of lipids in cultivated animal cells (aortic smooth muscle cells and L cells) by pulse cytophotometry is described. The cells were stained with phosphene 3 R and benzopyrene caffeine. By standardization of the procedure a reproducible quantitative evaluation was possible.

The chick embryo choriallantoic membrane as a bioassay for angiogenesis factors: reactions induced by carrier materials.

A variety of filter materials, sponges, and gels were placed on the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), the reactions of it investigated and compared with those induced by natural egg materials (white eggshell membrane, coagulated albumen and yolk). Independently of the kind and nature of the naterials the CAM reacted nearly regularly underneath these diverse materials with a proliferation of ectodermal cells, fibroblasts, and blood vessels forming a highly capillarized granulation tissue. The area of the CAM surrounding the foreign materials frequently displayed an increase of small blood vessels macroscopically discernible and showing a radial arrangement (spoke-wheel-appearance according to FOLKMAN 1974). It is concluded that this type of vascular reaction cannot be considered as a characteristic feature for the action of a special tumour angiogenesis factor, since it can be induced by a variety of stimuli leading to an inflammatory reaction in the CAM. For the detection of special angiogenetic activities an objective quantification of the vessel reactions is necessary under consideration of the reactions induced by the mere presence of such foreign materials.

Anti-A agglutinin from Helix pomatia as a marker for L cells.

By means of fluorescein-labeled anti-AHP agglutinin isolated from the albumen gland of the snail Helix pomatia L. L cells were detected in air dried and fixed monolayer preparations, smear preparations or cryostat sections of tumours induced in two different host systems. The tumours consisting of L cells could be clearly distinguished from the surrounding normal host tissues, and also single tumour cells lying separtely in the host tissued were identified in the same unequivocal manner. The cells were marked by characteristic granular fluorescence caused by specific agglutinin binding within the cell membrane. With these results the previously expressed thesis that anti-AHP agglutinin might be used as a marker for L cells is confirmed for L cells grown in suitable host systems, too.

[The usefulness of ruthenium red in dye exclusion test on cultured cells (author's transl)]. / Zur Verwendung von Rutheniumrot im Farbstoffexklusionstest an kultivierten Zellen.

QUESTION: The reliability of statements and the reproducibility of results derived from experiments on cell cultures are dependent on the use of practicable methods for most objective assay of the state of the cells. The experiments were to clarify the following questions: 1. Is it possible to assay vital and nonvital cells by use of the dye exclusion test (FET)? 2. Are intact cells also stained by FET? 3. Will there be a possibility to make FET more sensitive to obtain more reliable statements?

[Studies on the cytotoxicity of poly-L-arginine, poly-L-lysine and DEAE-dextran in L-cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts]. / Untersuchungen zur Zytotoxizität von Poly-L-Arginin, Poly-L-Lysin und DEAE-Dextran bei L-Zellen und Mäuseembryofibroblasten.

Cellular insulin uptake is influenced by poly-L-arginine, poly-L-lysine and DEAE-dextran. In this study it is asked for the mechanisms of these influences as well as for the cytotoxicity of different concentrations of these substances. The experiments aim to contribute to the knowledge on toxic concentrations of polycations.

Demonstration of angiogenesis-activity in the corpus luteum of cattle.

The angiogenetic potency of corpus luteum tissue and of extracts of it was tested in three different biological model systems: the chorioallantoic membrane of the chicken (CMA), the ventral subcutaneous pouch of the mouse and the cheeck pouch of the Syrian hamster. The formation of new capillaries after transplantation of the materials was scored macroscopically and stereomicroscopically. In all three systems strong capillary reactions at the periphery of the transplants could be observed indicating the presence of a capillary inducing potency in the tissue of corpus luteum of the cattle.

[Insulin catabolism by transformed, cultivated mouse fibroblasts (L-cells)]. / Abbau von Insulin durch transformierte, kultivierte Mäusefibroblasten (L-Zellen)

Cultivated, transformed mouse fibroblasts (L-cells) are endowed with enzyme systems for insulin breakdown that are comparable to those of many other types of non-dedifferentiated insulin target cells (time and substrate dependence, Km value). It cannot yet be decided, however, which of the potential enzyme systems (thiolproteindisulfide-oxidoreductase (TPO) [E.C. 1.8.4.2] or proteinase) is prevalent in insulin breakdown in intact L-cells. Despite the lack of typical target symptoms for insulin, the cultivated L-cell could provide an appropriate experimental model for the insulin metabolism.

[Reactions of hereophilic agglutinins with L-cells and different toxicity of anti-A HP to fibroblasts and L-cells in vitro]. / Reaktion heterophiler Agglutinine mit L-Zellen und unterschiedliche Toxizität von Anti-AHP gegenüber Fibroblasten und L-Zellen in vitro

The carbohydrate binding glycoprotein Anti-AHP binds to the plasma membrane of the (transformed) L-cell both in agglutination reactions and by the immunofluorescence technique. On the surface of (normal) mouse embryo fibroblast cells Anti-AHP receptors were not detectable. Anti-AHP is suitable as another marker for L cells. The random distribution of the binding sites at 4 degrees C changes with elevated temperatures (clustering, capping of sites). Anti-AHP inhibits the growth of L cells much more than that of fibroblasts. It does not act as a mitogen for the investigated cells.