Mutagenicity of the mycotoxin diacetoxyscirpenol on somatic and germ cells of mice.

Genotoxicity of diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) was studied on laboratory mice after intraperitoneal injection with single and repeated doses. DAS was administrated at three different dose levels (0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mg/kg body weight). The study was conducted on both somatic and germ cells additional to the sperm morphology analysis. DAS treatment resulted in a significant reduction (P<0.01) in mitotic activity at all levels of doses tested, confirming that DAS is a potent protein and DNA synthesis inhibitor. At somatic cells (bone marrow) both structural and numerical chromosome abnormalities were observed. Single dose treatment showed significant abnormalities only with high dose treatment. In contrast, at repeated dose similar abnormalities were also observed with some significance but no systematic relation between the administrated dose and abnormalities ratio could be settled. In germ cells (testicles), structural and numerical abnormalities were also observed. In general, the frequencies of scored abnormalities at germ cells were lower than that the somatic cells. Sperm count test revealed a decrease in the number of released sperm after toxin treatment. Abnormalities of sperm shape (head and tail) were observed, confirming the positive correlation between cytogenetic damage and sperm abnormality.The results also proved that DAS is a very toxic mycotoxin, in addition to inducing chromosomal abnormalities, it causes a severe inhibition of DNA synthesis which subsequently affects the cell cycle and cell division. A good system for good harvesting practice and good food technology can lower the risk for the consumers.

Golgi apparatus and acid phosphatase in mammary gland and kidney cells under the influence of diethylstilbestrol (DES).

It is commonly accepted that hormonal disturbances in experimental animals produce pathological changes in several organs namely in mammary glands and kidney. Taking into consideration the close relationship between acid phosphatase and Golgi apparatus, the present study was undertaken, to study the relationship in kidney and mammary gland cells under the influence of DES. The observation indicate, that acid phosphatase and Golgi apparatus were localized in the cytoplasm of mammary gland and kidney cells. It has also been found a parallel change in the activity of acid phosphatase and the degree of development of Golgi apparatus after DES administration.

Studies on Crocker sarcoma 180 under the effect of alkylating agents. IV. Morphological studies of sarcoma 180 during treatment with the antitumour drug cytoxan.

The effect of one massive dose of cytoxan (150 mg/kg), as an alkylating agent, on the morphology of sarcoma 180 cells was followed after 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 120, and 168 h. After 1 h the cells of treated tumour showed clumping and a decrease in their size. In addition, statistical analysis manifested significant decrease in all phases of mitotic figures. All mitotic figures were completely stopped after 3 h from cytoxan treatment. After 6 and 12 h from cytoxan treatment the hyaline degenerations became more marked in the treated tumour tissue. Chromosomal bridge formation, nuclei aberrations and polynuclear cells were more prominent in 24, 48, and 96 h from cytoxan treatment. Increase in the nuclear size and hyaline degeneration were observed in treated section of 120 and 168 h.

Cytoenzymology of benign and malignant tumours of the corpus uteri. II. Lysosomal enzymes in relation to Golgi apparatus.

Cytological and cytochemical studies were carried out on benign and malignant tumours of the human corpus uteri. It was found that the Golgi complex was present in the form of granules of crescent-like structure. The elements of Golgi apparatus have two modes of distribution, the perinuclear and scattered types. The activity of acid phosphatase only which was located in the lysosomes had the same topographical configuration as Golgi apparatus. The degree of development of Golgi elements and the activity of both acid phosphatase and aryl sulphatase increased in malignant tumours as compared with benign tumours and normal tissues.

Cytoenzymology of benign and malignant tumours of the corpus uteri. III. Alkaline phosphatase, non-specific esterase and leucine aminopeptidase.

The localization and enzymatic activity of alkaline phosphatase, non-specific esterase and leucine aminopeptidase were studied in normal menopausal corpus uterine tissues and its benign (fibromyoma and cellular fibromyoma) and malignant tumours (endometrium adenocarcinomata and spindle cell sarcoma). Alkaline phosphatase was localized in the cytoplasm and nuclear structures and showed the highest intense activity in well-differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma. Non-specific esterase was confined to the cytoplasm and was particularly marked in undifferentiated adenocarcinoma cells. Leucine aminopeptidase was considerably higher in spindle cell sarcoma than endometrium adenocarcinoma. Generally, the aforementioned enzymes were increased in neoplastic tumour tissues of the uterus than the homologous normal tissues.

Cytochemical studies of respiratory enzymes in carcinoma of the cervix uteri after irradiation by radium and cobalt 60.

Enzymological studies of succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase were made on human squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix uteri before, during and after radiation therapy by radium and 60CO. The enzymatic activities of the two enzymes were higher in cells of stage III than in the corresponding cells of stage II. In addition, after treatment, no enzymatic activity could be detected. These changes may be explained on the basis of mitochondrial damage as a result of radiation effect.

Studies of human malignant lymphomas after treatment with endoxan. I. Cytochemical studies in the respiratory enzymes succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase.

The respiratory enzymes succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase were studied in normal lymph node and malignant lymphoma cells under the effect of endoxan treatment. It is concluded that the decrease in the respiratory enzymes in lymphoma cells may be taken as one of the outstanding differences between the neoplastic and normal tissues.

Cytoenzymology of benign and malignant tumours of the corpus uteri. I. Respiratory enzymes.

The activity of a group of respiratory enzymes was studied in normal menopausal as well as benign and malignant tumours. A decrease in the activity of succinic dehydrogenase, diphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase and cytochrome oxidase in malignant tumours especially in spindle cell sarcoma and undifferentiated adenocarcinoma was observed. Benign tumours manifested variable results, thus cellular fibromyoma showed no changes in the activity of succinic dehydrogenase, diphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase and cytochrome oxidase whereas fibromyomal cells exhibited less enzymatic activity. In addition, no marked difference was observed in the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the aforementioned tumours as compared with normal menopausal uterine tissues.