Inhibition of mouse parenchymal cells proliferation by mosquito larvae extract.

As it is known, some cell populations of mosquito Aedes aegypti larvae do not proliferate. This fact suggests the existence of some mitosis inhibiting factor. We have assayed the effect of mosquito larvae crude extract on 85 C3HS young male mice (25 +/- 1 days old) and the effect of the dialyzed fraction of the same extract on 47 partially hepatectomized C3HS adult male mice. The injection was performed at 16:00 hour (before the raising of the DNAS curve) and the controls were made at 08:00/16, 12:00/20 and 16:00/24 (Time of Day/Time Post Injection). Colchicine arrested metaphases of nephrocytes, hepatocytes, sialocytes (submaxillary glands) and enterocytes were controlled. The mitotic rate was significantly inhibited in hepatocytes, sialocytes and enterocytes in young growing mice, and in hepatocytes in partially hepatectomized adult mice. We conclude that TGF-beta, actually found in insects, or alternatively some other known or unknown factor, could be responsible for the results observed in the present experiments.

Action of plasma and liver extract from adult mice on the mitotic activity of young mouse liver.

Inbred C3HS male mice, standardized for periodicity analysis were used. A hundred and seventy 25 +/- 2 days old mice were injected at 16:00 hs with saline, plasma or liver extract from 27 mice 90 days old. Controls were made at 08/16, 12/20, 16/24, 08/40, 12/44, 16/48, 08/64, 12/68 and 16/72 (time of day/time post-injection). The mitotic activity of the hepatocytes and litoral cells were determined. The injection of small doses of extract and plasma inhibits the mitotic activity of hepatocytes during the first and second following days. A compensatory wave appears in the third day. The extract inhibits the mitotic activity of litoral cells in the first day of control only, whereas the plasma inhibits this variable in the second and third day.

Action of plasma and liver extract from adult mice on the mitotic activity of young mouse liver.

Inbred C3HS male mice, standardized for periodicity analysis were used. A hundred and seventy 25 +/- 2 days old mice were injected at 16:00 hs with saline, plasma or liver extract from 27 mice 90 days old. Controls were made at 08/16, 12/20, 16/24, 08/40, 12/44, 16/48, 08/64, 12/68 and 16/72 (time of day/time post-injection). The mitotic activity of the hepatocytes and litoral cells were determined. The injection of small doses of extract and plasma inhibits the mitotic activity of hepatocytes during the first and second following days. A compensatory wave appears in the third day. The extract inhibits the mitotic activity of litoral cells in the first day of control only, whereas the plasma inhibits this variable in the second and third day.

Circadian rhythm in the mitotic activity of the pars intermedia endocrine cell population of the mouse.

A mitotic circadian rhythm is reported for the endocrine cells of the pars intermedia of mouse pituitary. The peak is observed at 0000 and the trough at 1600. This curve is about 12h out of phase with the curves of mitotic activity of most of the cell populations of the organism of the mouse which show peaks about noon (1200). A similar inverted mitotic rhythm has been reported for corticoadrenal since a long time ago. The results are discussed in relation with the contradiction existing between proliferation and function in cell populations. The conclusion is drawn that the endocrine cells of the pars intermedia could represent another link in the circadian system controlling periodicity.

Inhibiting effect of plasma from normal and tumour bearing mice on the mitotic rate of regenerating liver.

Plasma from normal mice and from mice bearing the ES2 transplantable malignant tumour was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.01 ml/g body weight in partially hepatectomized mice. Control animals were injected with a solution of sodium citrate in saline. The recipients were killed at the first (14:00 hours/48 h). These times are the time of day and the number of h after partial hepatectomy and second (14:00 hours/72 h) peak times after partial hepatectomy. The number of colchicine metaphases per 1000 nuclei was determined for hepatocytes and litoral cells. A different effect was obtained with plasma from tumour-bearing compared with normal mice. Plasma from both sources when injected 26 h after partial hepatectomy (16:00 hours/26 h) inhibited the mitotic activity of hepatocytes at the next peak of regenerative activity (14:00 hours/48 h). The plasma from tumour-bearing mice also inhibited the peak on the following day (14:00 hours/72 h), whereas plasma from normal mice had no inhibitory effect and, indeed, a compensatory wave was observed at this time. Furthermore, plasma from tumour-bearing mice also showed an inhibitory effect at the first peak (14:00 hours/48 h) when injected at the time of partial hepatectomy (14:00 hours/00 h) or at 22 h before partial hepatectomy (16:00 hours/-22 h) whereas the injection of plasma from normal mice at these times had no inhibitory effect. In the litoral cells the injection of plasma from tumour-bearing mice made 22 h before hepatectomy (16:00 hours/-22 h) led to a stimulation of mitotic activity which was controlled at 14:00 hours/48 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibiting effect of a hepatoma extract on the mitotic rate of regenerating liver.

Aqueous tumor extracts were prepared by the homogenization of a fast-growing, undifferentiated, transplantable malignant murine hepatoma in distilled water. After centrifugation, an aliquot of 0.01 ml of the supernatant g body weight was injected intraperitoneally into partially hepatectomized mice. Control animals were injected with saline. Groups of mice were killed at various times in relation to the hepatectomy. Four h before killing the animals were given Colcemid (1 microgram/g body weight). The number of Colcemid-arrested mitoses in the hepatocytes and in the littoral cells, respectively, were counted in 140 microscopic fields. The extract significantly inhibited the mitotic rate in hepatocytes when the injection was given between 22 h before, and up to 26 h after hepatectomy. In the littoral cells, a slight initial stimulation was followed by a slight but significant inhibition which occurred when the injection was given at hepatectomy or until 18 h after hepatectomy. The effect was not modified by exposing the extracts to temperatures of 47 degrees C for 30 min or 22 degrees C for 24 h, but 10 min of boiling destroyed their inhibitory effect. Lyophilization and storing at -18 degrees C for up to 4 weeks did not modify the effect. The mitosis-inhibiting effect was also measurable when the extract was injected subcutaneously. There was an almost linear dose-response curve. The results are discussed in relation to circadian rhythms, the pattern of liver cell proliferation after hepatectomy, and recent similar reports from the literature. The conclusion is drawn that extracts of a hepatoma contain one or more growth-inhibitory factors significantly active on regenerating liver cells, and less significantly on littoral cells.

Variations in DNA synthesis and mitotic indices in hepatocytes and sinusoid litoral cells of adult intact male mouse along a circadian time span.

Variations of DNA synthesis (DNAS) and mitotic indices along a circadian time span are described in the hepatocyte and sinusoid litoral cell populations of adult intact male mouse liver. Standardized (light from 0600 to 1800) mice were killed in groups of six to nine animals, every 2-4 hr along a circadian time span. Hepatocytes show significant peaks in the synthesis of DNA and the mitotic activity at 0200 and 1400, respectively. These results correspond to those previously described by us in young immature liver, regenerating liver and hepatomas. The phase differences between these peaks and the differences between their absolute values are discussed. Also considered are the practical consequences of our findings for experimental design. The curve of DNA synthesis of sinusoid litoral cells show a peak at 0200. The mitotic index show a bimodal waveform with peaks at 0800 and 2000. The existence of four different cell populations composing the so called sinusoid litoral cells and also the migration into and out of the liver of some macrophages considered as litoral (Kupffer) cells in our counts, makes interpretation of the curves somewhat complicated and deserves further analysis.

The circadian optimal time for hepatectomy in the study of liver regeneration.

Standardized (light from 0600 to 1800) C3HS mice, hepatectomized at different circadian stages, were killed at 1400 (the peak time of mitotic activity in intact mice). The higher values of mitotic index were those of mice operated at 1400, 48 hr before. The curve of mitotic activity of the regenerating liver of mice operated at 1400 and that of mice operated at 0200 (an opposite time in the circadian stage) are, both, grossly in phase with the curves of mitotic index in young and adult mice liver. The amplitude of the first peak of mitotic activity in mice operated at 0200 was dramatically lower than that of animals operated at 1400. The same applies to hepatocytes as well as to the sinusoid litoral population of cells. It is concluded that 1400 hr, as contrast to 0200 hr, is an optimal time for hepatectomy if one wants to obtain the highest mitotic index first peak during regeneration in a normal phase position (the position of the mitotic index peak in the liver of normal young and adult mice).

Liver regeneration in mice bearing a transplanted hepatoma.

The hepatocyte mitotic index curve in hepatectomized hepatoma-bearing mice, rises earlier, has a greater amplitude and is less synchronized than that of normal hepatectomized mice. This indicates a stimulation (more mitosis in a shorter time period) produced by the presence of the tumors. The sinusoid litoral cells mitotic index curve in hepatectomized hepatoma-bearing mice appears earlier and is much less synchronized than that of normal hepatectomized mice. Nevertheless both curves have the same amplitude for the whole sampling period and the early stimulation is quickly compensated by lower values (apparent inhibition) appearing in the resting (light) period.

Ultrastructure of somatotroph cells at different times in a circadian period, in mice bearing a slow growing transplanted hepatoma.

An electronmicroscopic study of STH cells from mice bearing transplanted hepatomas was performed at different time points, in a circadian period. Normal mice served as controls. The STH cells of control animals showed circadian variations inplasmic reticulum and lysosomes, which suggest increased secretion of growth hormone along the light peroid. In mice bearing hepatomas the morphologic aspect of these organelles would also indicate an increase of STH elaboration at 1200 and 1600. These changes were more remarkable than in controls and mainly consisted of hypertrophy of the Golgi complex, extended and compact endoplasmic reticulum and presence of large amounts of lysosomes. Besides, another peak of secretion seems to be present at 0000, considering the dilatation of the Golgi complex and endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Some findings are coincident with observations made by others in the hypophysis of animals bearing transplantable tumors, where circadian periodicity was not studied. The STH cytological circadian variations could be correlated with other variations could be correlated with other variables, such as STH values in plasma and hypophysis, and DNA synthesis and mitotic activity of SS1-H hepatoma.