Apmis

Hamberg, Hans; Edman, Peter

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1983.tb02719.xpmid: 6829308

Cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages were exposed for 48 h to a large and toxic dose of polyacrylamide microspheres (previously designed for use as a lysosomotropic carrier for the intracellular delivery of enzymes and other macromolecules). This treatment induced autophagocytosis in the macrophages, which contained abundant autophagic vacuoles at 24 h post exposure. Transmission electron microscopical studies including enzyme cytochemistry showed that the segregating membranes in autophagosome formation consisted of flattened, smooth‐surfaced vacuoles with a granular matrix in which reaction product indicating acid phosphatase activity could be demonstrated. The autophagic vacuole formation was apparently effected by wrapping of a portion of the cytoplasm in a sheet formed by flattening and fusion of multiple small vacuoles with acid phosphatase activity in their matrices. The conclusion is drawn that the segregating membranes are derived from lysosomes or GERL structures in this particular system of induced autophagocytosis.

Bergh, Jonas; Nilsson, Kenneth; Cate, Charles C.; PettenGill, Olive S.; Sorenson, George D.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1983.tb02720.xpmid: 6299058

The expression of major cell surface glycoproteins (sgp) of seven established human pulmonary small cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines and two autologous non‐neoplastic lymphoblastoid and fibroblastic cell lines were studied by the galactose oxidase tritiated sodiumborohydride labelling technique. The general sgp pattern of SCC cell lines was different from that of the autologous non‐malignant cell lines and the various other normal and malignant hematopoietic cells, gliomas and melanomas previously studied by the same technique, thus confirming that the sgp pattern seems to represent a molecular »fingerprin« of various human cell types. The SCC cell lines could be subdivided into two major subgroups with respect to expression of characteristic sgps. One group of lines was characterized by having prominent sgp 52000 (52 K) Dalton (D), 50 KD, 40 KD, 34 KD and 10 KD. In the other group the major sgps had apparent molecular weights of 110 KD, 75 KD and 10 KD, respectively. In addition to these common basic »group specific« sgps each SCC line expressed individually distinct sgps.

Ryd, Walter; Hagmar, Björn; Eriksson, Olof

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1983.tb02721.xpmid: 6829309

We have performed fine‐needle biopsies from solid or ascites‐growing mouse tumours. The biopsies were taken via striated muscle or the peritoneal cavity of healthy mice syngeneic with the tumours and the tumour‐bearing animals. The incidence of tumour takes in these new mice were compared with the intramuscular or intraperitoneal transplantability of the tumours. In order to estimate more accurately the number of seeded cells, we also performed aspiration biopsy through the leg muscles of healthy animals into ascites‐growing tumours labelled with 125IUDR. The resulting radioactivity in the leg muscle was compared with the radioactivity of the ascites tumour cells. The studies indicate that one may seed 103‐104 cells, and sometimes more, into the needle track with fine‐needle aspiration biopsy from extremely cellular and dedifferentiated tumors.

Thyberg, Johan; Hedin, Ulf; Stenseth, Kai; Nilsson, Jan

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1983.tb02722.xpmid: 6829310

The effects of nicotine on the fine structure of thioglycollate‐elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages cultivated in vitro was studied in order to elucidate further the mechanism behind its inhibitory effect on endocytosis and intracellular degradation of exogenous protein. In the concentrations (1.0–1,000 nM) and times (2–48 h) used here, nicotine lacked cytotoxic effect and did not appreciably affect the occurrence and distribution of different organelles. The most prominent change caused by the drug was the formation of large vacuoles believed to represent swollen lysosomes. This finding supports the idea that nicotine, like several other amines and weak bases, accumulates in the lysosomes by proton trapping. This could in turn impair the digestive capacity of the lysosomes by raising pH above the optimum of the acid hydrolases. It could also affect endocytosis and recycling of plasma membrane components. Additionally, the nicotine treatment led to an increased number of autophagic vacuoles consisting of lysosomes enclosing other lysosomes. A ‘lysosomophagic’ process of this type has previously been observed in other situations with decreased endocytosis. It is suggested to be a subtype of autophagy that serves the purpose of regulating the amount of lysosomes in connection with changes in the functional activity of this organelle.

Vesterby, A.; Baandrup, U.; Jacobsen, N. O.; Albertsen, K.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1983.tb02723.xpmid: N/A

A case of campylobacter (CJC) enterocolitis is described. CJC was not recognized to be a human pathogen until a decade ago. Now it has emerged as being a major cause of enterocolitis in man. This is also true in Scandinavia. The report emphasizes the differential diagnostic problems towards ulcerative colitis in biopsy specimens from rectum.

Kimuray, Kenjiro

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1983.tb02724.xpmid: N/A

A synthetic substrate for kallikrein, pro‐phe‐arg‐naphthylester, was used in order to identify histochemically kallikrein‐like enzyme‐containing segments of the nephron in the rat kidney. The localization was technically facilitated by comparing sections histochemically incubated with neighbouring freeze‐dried sections and by semiquantitative evaluation of the enzyme activity performed. In the proximal tubules, the enzyme activity increased from the first segment to the third segment which exhibited the most pronounced activity encountered. In the proximal convoluted tubules the enzyme activity was present mainly in the deep half of the cortex. This was generally weaker in the other segments of the nephron where enzyme activity was present. In the descending thin limb of Henle, weak activity was noticed in a few initial segments. However, in the ascending thick limb of Henle, more pronounced enzyme activity was shown. In the macula densa, the distal convoluted tubule and the collecting duct, very weak activity was observed in a few segments. Below the demarcation between the outer stripe and the inner stripe of the medulla, no enzyme activity was noticed. This is the first description of the exact tubular localizations of kallikrein‐like enzyme activity in the nephron.

Kimura, Kenjiro

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1983.tb02725.xpmid: 6550458

Histochemical changes in kallikrein‐like activity in the rat nephron induced by chronic salt‐load or saltdepletion were investigated semiquantitatively, using a synthetic substrate for kallikrein, pro‐phe‐argnaphthylester. The location of the changes in the different segments of the nephron was established by comparison with neighbouring freeze‐dried sections, where the various structures of the tubular segments were identified. The enzyme activity was graded semiquantitatively and the percentage of tubular segments possessing enzyme ectivity was recorded. In salt‐loaded rats, the enzyme activity in the deep half of the renal cortex was decreased in the first and second segments of the proximal tubule as well as in the third segment in the cortex. In salt‐depleted rats, the enzyme activity in the deep half of the renal cortex was also decreased in the first segment of the proximal tubule as well as in the third segment in the cortex. In contrast, the enzyme activity in the second segment of the proximal tubule was increased in the superficial cortex as well as in the deep cortex. Furthermore, in the salt‐depleted rats the enzyme activity was decreased in the cortical part of the ascending thick limb of Henle, but increased in the medullary part. In the superficial part of the cortex, the enzyme activity was decreased in the distal convoluted tubule. In the kidneys from both salt‐loaded and salt‐depleted rats, the differences in enzyme activity between zones ‐ such as found in the normal kidney ‐ disappeared in the case of the first and second segments of the proximal tubule. However, in the other segments of the nephron, the zonal differences were preserved in both experimental conditions.

Olsen, Steen; Bohman, Sven‐Olof; Hestbech, Jytte; Gundersen, Hans Jørgen G.; Petersen, Villy Posborg; Deguchi, Nobuhiro; Maunsbach, Arvid B.

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1983.tb02726.xpmid: 6829312

Current classification of glomerulonephritis (GN) is based primarily on light microscopical (LM) histopathological criteria. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence and severity of a number of electron microscopical (EM) lesions in different LM defined classes of GN in order to determine the degree of homogeneity of these classes and the degree of specificity of various EM lesions seen in GN. The analysis was performed using a blind, systematic and semiquantitative method and applied on 91 consecutive biopsies from patients with GN as well as on 11 reference biopsies. Most of the EM lesions were not restricted to a single or a few light microscopically defined classes of GN. EM lesions having direct LM counterparts used as classification criteria were generally present with high scores in the corresponding LM classes but were also present in other types of GN. When the EM‐findings were compared with our original classification of the 91 biopsies it was found that about 13% of all biopsies were classified erroneously using only LM. Thus, the groups obtained with the presently used LM classification system are quite heterogenous with respect to ultrastructure and probably with respect to pathogenesis. On the other hand, it appears that many ultrastructural lesions display a more or less continuous spectrum of changes which therefore are difficult to use for classification purposes.

GrøTtum, Per; Svindland, A.; WalløE, Lars

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1983.tb02727.xpmid: 6829313

The detailed localization of early atherosclerotic lesions in the right carotid bifurcation was studied in 37 carotid arteries obtained from autopsies of young persons who had suffered a violent and sudden death. Drawings of the sudanophilic lesions in the vessel wall were fed to a computer, scaled to a standardized size and shape, and added together. The results are presented as contour lines connecting points with equal frequency of early lesions. The distribution of early lesions reveals a distinct pattern: The early lesions start to develop on the outer walls of the bifurcation, while the inner walls downstream from the flow divider are left free, as are also the lateral walls. In the carotid sinus the distribution of the lesions has a U‐formed pattern.

Thomsen, Per; Clausen, Per Prætorius

doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1983.tb02728.xpmid: 6299056

The frequency and occurrence of hepatitis B‐surface antigen (HBsAg) in 1539 consecutive liver biopsies were determined using orcein staining as screening method. In HBsAg seropositive cases sections were in addition stained with immunoperoxidase staining for HBsAg in order to reassure the presence of HBsAg in liver cells. HBsAg was demonstrated in 36 biopsies (2.3%). The highest frequency was found in biopsies with chronic hepatitis (28%). In biopsies with slight non‐specific changes 10% and in cirrhotic 4.5% contained HBsAg. HBsAg was not detected in biopsies with acute hepatitis. No correlation was found between the number of HBsAg containing cells in the biopsies and the histological/biochemical activity in the liver. It is concluded that orcein staining of ground‐glass appearance is a highly specific HBsAg marker. The sensitivity is about 80% in cases with minimal changes, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. The method is unsuitable as etiological marker in cases with acute hepatitis.