Thrombopoietic activity of recombinant human interleukin-11 in nonhuman primates with ACNU-induced thrombocytopenia.

The effect of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rHuIL-11) on myelosuppressive nimustine (ACNU)-induced thrombocytopenia was assessed in nonhuman primates. A single intravenous (i.v.) injection of ACNU (15 mg/kg) was administered to cynomolgus monkeys on day 0. rHuIL-11 (100 microg/kg/day) or the vehicle was given subcutaneously (s.c.) from day 1 to day 21. In monkeys receiving ACNU, the circulating platelet count decreased to a low of 42 +/- 6 x 10(9)/L by day 21 but returned to pretreatment levels (375 +/- 48 x 10(9)/L) on day 30. Administration of rHuIL-11 prevented severe thrombocytopenia; the platelet count fell only to 138 +/- 23 x 10(9)/L on day 18, and platelet recovery was faster (458 +/- 91 x 10(9)/L by day 27) compared with that of the control animals. The size of bone marrow megakaryocytes from rHuIL-11-treated animals was larger than that of the controls, indicating that rHuIL-11 stimulated megakaryopoiesis in a myelosuppressive condition. Treatment with ACNU also caused leukopenia and moderate anemia. rHuIL-11 transiently and slightly decreased the white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts. Conversely, rHuIL-11 accelerated recovery of RBC count in the late administration period. These results support the assertion that rHuIL-11 may be an important therapeutic agent for reducing the severity and duration of thrombocytopenia following cancer chemotherapy.

Interlaboratory comparison of the CB6F1-Tg rasH2 rapid carcinogenicity testing model.

Several genetically engineered mouse models are currently being examined for potential use in cancer hazard identification. We have undertaken an interlaboratory comparison of the performance of the CB6F1-Tg rasH2 transgenic mouse in cancer bioassays concurrently conducted in the United States and Japan. Chemicals selected for study included known human carcinogens (melphalan and cyclosporin A) and known rodent carcinogens (p-cresidine and vinyl carbamate) tested at carcinogenic doses, and non-carcinogens (p-anisidine and resorcinol) tested at appropriate high doses. Because of abdominal adhesions caused by the intraperitoneal dosing vehicle, melphalan was excluded from the study results. The remaining five studies showed similar results between the two laboratories conducting each study. Vinyl carbamate gave the strongest positive response inducing lung adenomas and carcinomas and splenic hemangiosarcomas. p-Cresidine was considered positive for urinary bladder transitional neoplasia. Cyclosporin A, p-anisidine, and resorcinol were negative in all studies. Although only five chemicals were successfully tested in this interlaboratory comparison, there was good concordance in outcome for the strong carcinogens and for the non-carcinogens. Successful testing of chemicals with less carcinogenic potential may require modifications in study design to include more animals and longer study duration.

Acute parietal and chief cell changes induced by a lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide in mouse stomach before thrombus formation.

The common lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced gastric lesions, such as erosions or ulcers, have been investigated in depth. Little is known, however, about the acute gastric lesions following a high dose of LPS. In a time-course study, ICR female mice were given a high subcutaneous dose of LPS (50 mg/kg). Mice were sacrificed at 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours after dosing and were assessed histopathologically for acute gastric lesions. The major gastric changes were seen in the fundic region and included vacuolar degeneration of parietal cells and apoptosis of chief cells. The vacuole in parietal cells was apparent as early as 4 hours postinjection (PI), and apoptosis of chief cells was apparent at 12 hours PI. Thrombus formation, in contrast, was not seen until 24 hours PI. No erosion, ulcer, or hemorrhage was seen in any gastric region in any of the treated animals at 24 hours PI. These results indicate that a subcutaneous high dose of LPS in mice causes vacuolar degeneration of parietal cells and apoptosis of chief cells before thrombus formation or subsequent ulcerative lesions.

Collaborative work to evaluate toxicity on male reproductive organs by repeated dose studies in rats 20). Testicular toxicity of nitrofurazone after 2 and 4 weeks.

Nitrofurazone (NF) has been previously demonstrated to induce testicular toxicity with 4 weeks of oral administration in rats. In the present study, rats were administered NF to assess whether testicular toxicity becomes evident with a 2-week administration period. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered oral doses of NF at 50 mg/kg for 2 or 4 weeks. Another group was administered NF at 100 mg/kg for 2 weeks. The control animals received the vehicle (0.5% methylcellulose) for 4 weeks. Organ weights of the testis and epididymis were significantly decreased in all NF-administered animals, and seminiferous tubules were severely atrophied, due to a total absence of spermatids and degeneration and desquamation of spermatocytes. In the epididymis, decreased numbers of spermatozoa were evident in the ducts. In rats that were administered NF at 50 mg/kg, the changes in the epididymis in the 2-week group were less prominent than those in the 4-week group. In the testis, however, the changes were similar in both groups. Thus it was demonstrated that NF-induced testicular toxicity comparable to that observed after 4 weeks of administration is also detectable after 2 weeks.

Mechanistic study on liver tumor promoting effects of piperonyl butoxide in rats.

Piperonyl butoxide, alpha-[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-4,5-methylenedioxy-2-propyltol uene, is a widely used pesticide-synergist. Recently, results were reported indicating that piperonyl butoxide is a hepatocarcinogen in rat. Since the underlying mechanism was not elucidated, we examined the effects on rat liver cells in detail. For this purpose male F344 rats were administered piperonyl butoxide mixed in the diet at concentrations of 0 (negative control), 0.05, 0.2 or 2% for 2 days, 1, 2, and 4 weeks. As a positive control, phenobarbital was administered to rats for up to 4 weeks as a 0.1% solution in the drinking water. Increased liver weight, centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy due to increased smooth endoplasmic reticulum, decreased numbers and areas of connexin 32-positive spots per hepatocyte, and increased cell proliferation were observed in rats treated with 0.2 and 2% piperonyl butoxide. Similar results were obtained for 0.1% phenobarbital treated rats. Hepatocellular necrosis suggestive of hepatotoxicity was also observed in the 2% piperonyl butoxide group. These results indicate that the promoting mechanism of piperonyl butoxide in hepatocarcinogenesis is similar to that of phenobarbital, involving an ability to induce CYP isoenzymes and inhibit gap junctional intercellular communication. In addition, increased cell proliferation following hepatocellular necrosis may also play a role at high doses.

Rapid induction of more malignant tumors by various genotoxic carcinogens in transgenic mice harboring a human prototype c-Ha-ras gene than in control non-transgenic mice.

In this study, we investigated the carcinogenic response of transgenic mice carrying the human prototype c-Ha-ras gene, namely Tg rasH2/CB6F1 mice, to various genotoxic carcinogens and compared it with that of control non-transgenic CB6F1 mice (non-Tg mice). The present studies were conducted as the first step in the evaluation of the Tg rasH2/CB6F1 mouse as a model for the rapid carcinogenicity testing system. Short-term (< or = 6 months) rapid carcinogenicity tests of various genotoxic carcinogens, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, cyclophosphamide, N,N-diethylnitrosamine, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and methylazoxymethanol, revealed that Tg rasH2/CB6F1 mice are more susceptible to these genotoxic carcinogens than control non-Tg mice. Tg rasH2/CB6F1 mice developed tumors more rapidly compared with non-Tg mice. Malignant tumors were observed only in the carcinogen-treated Tg rasH2/CB6F1 mice, but not in non-Tg mice treated with the same carcinogens. Each carcinogen induced tumors in corresponding target tissues of the Tg rasH2/CB6F1 mice. Only a very few lung adenomas but no other tumors were seen as spontaneous tumors during the 6 months of carcinogenicity tests. These results demonstrate that more rapid onset and higher incidence of more malignant tumors can be expected with high probability after treatment with various genotoxic carcinogens in the Tg rasH2/CB6F1 mice than in control non-Tg mice. The Tg rasH2/CB6F1 mouse seems to be a promising candidate as an animal model for the development of a rapid carcinogenicity testing system.

Antitumor activity of zinostatin stimalamer (YM881) in human hepatoma cell lines and VX2 liver tumor-bearing rabbits.

Antitumor activities of zinostatin stimalamer (YM881) were examined in human hepatoma cell lines (SK-Hep1 and HuH2) and VX2 liver tumor-bearing rabbits. YM881 inhibited the growth of human hepatoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 values of YM881 causing a 50% inhibition of growth of SK-Hep1 and HuH2 cells were 6.7 and 27 nM, respectively. In VX2 tumor-bearing rabbits, administration of YM881 suspended in Lipiodol, an iodinated fatty acid ethylester of poppyseed oil, (YM881/Lipiodol suspension, 0.2 mg/0.2 ml/body) into the hepatic artery showed significant (p < 0.01, vs. sham-operated and Lipiodol-treated groups) inhibitory effects on tumor growth and histopathological changes at 1 and 2 weeks after administration. In contrast, Lipiodol (0.2 ml/body) tended to inhibit the growth of VX2 tumor (p < 0.1, vs. sham-operated group) at 1 week after administration, but showed only moderate effects at 2 weeks after administration. Minimal necrosis was observed at 1 and 2 weeks after administration of Lipiodol, and histopathological findings were similar to those in the sham-operated group. From the present study, it is suggested that YM881/Lipiodol suspension showed antitumor activity in VX2 tumor-bearing rabbits presumably due to the inhibition of the growth of hepatoma cells by YM881 itself. Lipiodol, on the other hand, is considered to augment the antitumor activity of YM881 by maintaining high YM881 concentrations in tumor tissue.

Slowing of peripheral motor nerve conduction was ameliorated by aminoguanidine in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of aminoguanidine (AG) on slowing of motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of the sciatic nerve in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats and to assess its mechanism of action. The MNCV of the sciatic nerve was measured electrophysiologically in diabetic rats treated with and without AG for 16 weeks. To elucidate the action of AG, morphological lesion and abnormality of polyol pathway metabolism in the nerve were examined and tissue levels of advanced glycosylation end-products (AGE) were determined as an indicator of AGE accumulation in tissue. Diabetic rats were treated with AG at three doses of 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg for 16 weeks. Myelinated fiber morphometry and nerve Na+,K(-)-ATPase activity were determined. The AGE levels in renal cortex were measured by a specific ELISA. Aminoguanidine dose-dependently ameliorated slowing of MNCV 16 weeks after the treatment without changing body weight or blood glucose levels. No difference in myelinated fiber morphometry or Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity with or without AG treatment was detected in diabetic rats. Diabetes increased the AGE level in the renal cortex by six times compared to non-diabetic rats, and AG reduced the rise in the AGE level by 40%. The MNCV was inversely correlated with the AGE levels. We conclude that improvement of conduction slowing by AG in experimental diabetes may be through decreasing the AGE level in the peripheral tissues. Aminoguanidine may have a therapeutic potential in controlling diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Peroxisome proliferation of hepatocytes in rats by a microbial degradation product of cholic acid, 4-(decahydro-6-methyl-3-oxocyclopenta(f)quinoline-7-yl)valeric acid.

Three-week oral administration of 4-(decahydro-6-methyl-3-oxo-cyclopenta(f)quinoline-7-yl)valeric acid (32-1328) in the diet supplemented at concentrations of 0.1% or 0.3% was associated with hepatomegaly and hypotriglyceridemia in male F344 rats. Electron microscopic examination of the liver revealed a remarkable increase of peroxisomes in hepatocytes both in number and size. Biochemically, there were increased activities of peroxisomal marker enzymes including the heat-labile enoyl-CoA hydratase and catalase while the mitochondrial enoyl-CoA hydratase activity was unchanged after feeding of 32-1328. These findings indicate that 32-1328 can exert peroxisome-proliferating activity to rat liver in a manner similar to typical peroxisome proliferators such as clofibrate or di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.

[Anti-tumor activity of zinostatin stimalamer (YM 881) examined by human hepatoma cells in vitro and VX2 liver tumor in vivo].

Anti-tumor activities of zinostatin stimalamer (YM 881) were examined using human hepatoma cell lines (SK-Hep1 and HuH 2) and VX2 liver tumor-bearing rabbits. YM881 inhibited the growth of human hepatoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 values of YM881 against SK-Hep 1 and HuH 2 cells were 6.7 and 27 mM, respectively. In VX2 tumor-bearing rabbits, administration of YM 881 suspended in iodinated fatty acid ethylesters of poppyseed oil (YM 881/Lipiodol suspension, 0.2 mg/0.2 ml/body) into the hepatic artery showed significant (p < 0.01, vs sham-operated and Lipiodol-treated groups) inhibitory effects on the growth and pathological changes 1 and 2 weeks after administration. On the other hand, Lipiodol (0.2 ml/body) showed a tendency to inhibit the growth of VX2 tumor (p < 0.1, vs sham-operated group) 1 week after administration, but it showed only moderate effects on the VX2 tumor growth 2 weeks after administration. Minimal necrosis was observed 1 and 2 weeks after administration of Lipiodol, and these pathological findings were similar to those in the sham-operated group. From the present study, it is suggested that YM 881/Lipiodol suspension showed the anti-tumor activity against VX2 tumor-bearing rabbits, presumably due to the inhibition of the growth of hepatoma cell by YM 881 per se. On the other hand, Lipiodol is considered to augment the anti-tumor activity by maintaining high YM881 concentrations in tumor tissue.

[Quantitative histopathological study on the adriamycin testicular toxicity in rats].

Testicular toxicity induced by adriamycin (ADR) was studied using quantitative histopathological methods. Nine-week old male rats were received a single dose of 8 mg/kg ADR. At 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after the treatment, animals were sacrificed for histopathological evaluation. Numbers of seminiferous epithelia were counted in seminiferous tubule of spermatogenic stages I, II, V, VII and XII. A decrease in spermatogonia was observed in seminiferous tubules of stages I, II and V at 3 days after the treatment. Thereafter, numbers of other types of seminiferous epithelia decreased following progress of spermatogenic cycle. Analysis of spermatogenic cycle movement and germ cell differentiation suggested that ADR was highly effective in killing spermatogonia type A, and the severity of ADR damage would be different depending on subtypes of spermatogonia type A and spermatogenic stages.

Promoting effects of cigarette smoke on the respiratory tract carcinogenesis of Syrian golden hamsters treated with diethylnitrosamine.

The potential short-term promoting effects of cigarette smoke on the development of tumors in the respiratory system were investigated in male Syrian golden hamsters. Three groups (1, 2 and 3) of 30 animals each received a single s.c. injection of 100 mg/kg body wt of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) at the commencement of experiment 1. They were then exposed to non-filter cigarette (NC) smoke, filter-tip cigarette (FC) smoke and sham smoke respectively, in a Hamburg II type smoking machine from week 1 to week 12. In addition, groups 4, 5 and 6 (10 animals each) were exposed to the NC smoke, FC smoke or sham smoke respectively, for the same time period without prior DEN treatment. In the DEN-treated groups, epithelial hyperplasias and/or papillomas were induced, the incidences and numbers/animal of these lesions in groups 1 and 2 being significantly increased as compared to group 3 values. In experiment 2, two groups of 25 hamsters each were exposed to cigarette smoke or sham smoke for up to 12 weeks, five animals in each group being killed for immunohistochemical analysis using BrdU antibodies and measurement of lipid peroxides in the lung and serum at weeks 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12. Small aggregations of macrophages (smoke cells) in the lung alveoli was observed in the smoke-exposed group, but no significant increase in the numbers of BrdU positive cells in any compartment of the respiratory system was apparent. Animals of this group showed a tendency for increased lung malondialdehyde levels at weeks 2 and 12, but not weeks 4 and 8.

Enhanced lipid peroxidation in rat gastric mucosa caused by NaCl.

The effects of NaCl on lipid peroxidation levels in gastric mucosa and urine were investigated in male Wistar rats. The animals were fed NaCl-supplemented diet at concentrations of 4.0, 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.25 and 0% (control) for 5 weeks. Further groups were maintained on the 4.0 or 0% NaCl diets and simultaneously administered 20 p.p.m. indomethacin dissolved in the drinking water. When the rats were killed, a dose-related increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) was found in both gastric mucosa and urine, the urinary MDA levels clearly correlating with those for stomach tissue. Cell proliferation of fundic mucosa was also significantly increased in rats fed 4.0 or 2.0% NaCl-supplemented diet. Indomethacin suppressed the 4% NaCl-associated MDA increase in both gastric mucosa and urine as well as the elevation in cell proliferation. The results clearly show that administration of NaCl, a gastric tumor promoter, is associated with enhanced lipid peroxidation in the gastric mucosa.

Inhibitory effects of soybean trypsin inhibitor on induction of pancreatic neoplastic lesions in hamsters by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine.

The effects of simultaneous soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) treatment on initiation of pancreatic carcinogenesis by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) were investigated. Female Syrian golden hamsters were given five weekly s.c. injections of BOP at a dose of 10 mg/kg while being administered a diet containing 5% SBTI for 5 weeks (BOP + SBTI group). Two other groups of 30 animals each received the s.c. injections of BOP or the 5% SBTI diet for the same period, alone (BOP and SBTI groups respectively). Total numbers of pancreatic dysplastic lesions in hamsters of the BOP+SBTI group were significantly decreased as compared to the BOP group values, though the incidences of pancreatic adenocarcinomas were not significantly different. Atrophic changes were, however, more severe in the BOP group than in the BOP+SBTI group pancreatic exocrine tissue, showing that treatment with SBTI was effective for protection of acinar cells from carcinogen toxicity.

[Effects of YM-13650 on experimental nephritis in rats and mice].

We investigated the effects of YM-13650, 2-(m-carboxyacetoxyphenyl) imidazo [2, 1-b] benzothiazole, on BSA-immune complex nephritis in rats and lupus nephritis in NZB/W F1 mice. In preventative experiments on immune complex nephritis in rats, YM-13650 (10 approximately 100 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently inhibited the increase in urinary protein, serum cholesterol, and urea nitrogen. Histopathological observation showed striking hypercellularity and mesangial widening in nephritic control; however, glomerular injury was reduced in YM-13650-treated animals. In therapeutic study, control rats maintained high levels of urinary protein, serum cholesterol and urea nitrogen throughout the experimental period. These variables were lower in YM-13650-treated rats. In preventative experiments in lupus mice treated from 8 weeks of age, YM-13650 in comparison with the control group showed a lesser degree of proteinuria throughout the experimental period. It also significantly prolonged or tended to prolong the life span of NZB/W F1 mice compared with the control. In therapeutic experiments conducted after the onset of lupus nephritis in mice, the drug also inhibited an increase in urinary protein and tended to prolong the life span. These results show that YM-13650 has preventative and therapeutic effects on experimental nephritis in rats and mice, and it may prove valuable as an anti-nephritic drug.

[Blood coagulation and fibrinolytic studies in patients with toxemia of pregnancy].

In this study, blood coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters were measured in maternal blood and fetal umbilical cord blood in 200 normal pregnant women and in 46 with severe toxemia of pregnancy (Toxemia), and the relationships between fetal growth and concentrations protein C (PC), antithrombin-III (AT-III) and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor (alpha 2-PI) were studied. 1. Significant increases in fibrin degradation products (FDP) and in plasminogen (Plg), AT-III and PC were found in maternal blood of Toxemia. A significant increase in AT-III and a decrease in alpha 2-PI and PC were observed in cord blood from these patients. 2. The platelet count (Pl) tended to be low in patients with Toxemia complicated by fetal growth retardation (IUGR). 3. Pl and fibrinogen (Fib) tended to be high in Toxemia complicated by normal fetal growth. 4. PC increased from early pregnancy, and a further increase was observed in the puerperium. 5. The PC concentration correlated with the AT-III but not with the alpha 2-PI concentration in maternal blood. 6. PC in cord blood was lower than that in maternal blood, and was correlated with AT-III and alpha 2-PI. 7. In patients with Toxemia, PC was reduced in both maternal and cord blood, and this correlated with AT-III as well as alpha 2-PI in maternal blood. 8. PC was low in Toxemia complicated by hypertension and proteinuria. These results suggest the involvement of FDP, AT-III, PC and Plg in the pathogenesis of Toxemia, and that the Pl, Fib, FDP and alpha 2-PI concentrations are related to fetal growth. Therefore, the PC and AT-III concentrations appeared to be a useful index for the blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in pregnant women and appeared to be important factors in the degree of Toxemia and IUGR.

Pharmacological actions of a new TRH analogue, YM-14673, in rats subjected to cerebral ischemia and anoxia.

The cerebral protective actions of a new thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) analogue, YM-14673, [Na-[[(S)-4-oxo-2-azetidinyl-carbonyl]-L-histidyl-L-prolinamide] dihydrate), were compared with those of CDP-choline (cerebral metabolic enhancer) and naloxone in rats rats subjected to unilateral carotid artery ligation and anoxic exposure (Levine rats). Drugs were administered intraperitoneally or orally 20, 80, and 140 min after anoxia. YM-14673 (0.03 to 1 mg/kg i.p. and 0.3 to 10 mg/kg p.o.) decreased the incidence of neurological deficits, such as hemiplegia and convulsion followed by coma and death, for 48 h after ischemia and anoxia. Both the increase in the brain water content and the degeneration of neurons in the cerebral cortex and thalamus were prevented by YM-14673 at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg (i.p.). CDP-choline (400 mg/kg i.p.), which is currently used in the therapy of cerebral vascular diseases, and naloxone (3 mg/kg i.p.) also decreased the incidence of the neurological deficits. These results suggest that YM-14673 protects Levine rats against neurological deficits, presumably by attenuating the development of brain edema and preventing neuronal damage. This compound may be useful in the therapeutic treatment of cerebral vascular diseases.