scholarly journals Oestradiol inhibits collagen breakdown in the involuting rat uterus

1972 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 705-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet N. Ryan ◽  
J. Frederick Woessner

1. The earlier observation (Woessner, 1969) of oestradiol inhibition of collagen breakdown is confirmed and extended. Administration of 100μg of oestradiol-17β/day to parturient rats strongly inhibits the loss of collagen from the involuting uterus. Three experiments show that this effect is due to an inhibition of collagen degradation rather than to a stimulation of collagen synthesis. 2. Uterine collagen was labelled with hydroxy[14C]-proline by the administration of [14C]proline near the end of pregnancy. By 3 days post partum, control uteri lost 83% of their collagen and 90% of their hydroxy[14C]proline. Uteri from oestradiol-treated rats lost only 50% of both total and labelled hydroxyproline, with no decrease in the specific radioactivity of the hydroxyproline. 3. Incorporation of [14C]proline into uterine collagen hydroxyproline in vivo was not affected by oestradiol treatment. 4. Urinary excretion of hydroxyproline was increased in post-partum control rats and decreased in oestradiol-treated rats. 5. An enzyme capable of cleaving 4-phenylazobenzyloxycarbonyl-l-prolyl-l-leucylglycyl- l-prolyl-d-arginine (a substrate for clostridial collagenase) increased in activity in the post-partum uterus and was unaffected by oestradiol treatment. 6. Uterine homogenates digested uterine collagen extensively at pH3.2. This digestion was unaffected by the oestradiol treatment. 7. Lysosomal fractions prepared by density-gradient centrifugation of uterine homogenates contained coincident peaks of cathepsin D activity and peptide-bound hydroxyproline. The cathepsin D and hydroxyproline contents of this peak were unaffected by oestradiol treatment.

1973 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Bowers

A method of zonal centrifugation was developed which separates rat thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) mainly according to size. The validity of the fractionation method was supported by light microscope observations, Coulter Counter sizing, and in vivo and in vitro labeling of lymphocytes. The distributions of lysosomal acid hydrolases in TDL fractionated by zonal centrifugation are similar to the distribution obtained for the cells. This result indicates that the large lymphocyte is not the sole bearer of either lysosomes or the large amount of soluble cathepsin D found in homogenates of TDL. Both reside mainly in small lymphocytes. This point was clearly established by fractionating homogenates of purified small lymphocytes by means of differential centrifugation and isopycnic density gradient centrifugation.


1981 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-123
Author(s):  
JEAN H. LACEY ◽  
B. T. PICKERING

The contents and membranes of the secretory granules in the rat neurohypophysis were labelled in vivo with [35S]cysteine and [3H]choline respectively. Density-gradient centrifugation of the labelled granules showed the membrane label to be distributed largely between two peaks: one associated with intact granules and one with the characteristics of empty granule envelopes. Stimulation of hormone release in vitro led to the movement of membrane label from the intact granule fraction to the other one, consistent with the recapture of membrane as large vesicles. Freezing and thawing the crude granule fraction, ostensibly to aid osmotic fracture, produced a single membrane component with a density intermediate between the two original fractions.


1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
M L Rand ◽  
M A Packham ◽  
J F Mustard

Platelets are heterogeneous with respect to size, density and function. The question is unsettled whether platelets of different size and density are produced from megakaryocytes or whether large, heavy platelets become less dense as they circulate and are exposed to aggregating agents that decrease platelet density such as thrombin, plasmin, or ADP. Platelet subpopulations were separated by discontinuous Stractan density gradient centrifugation. Most dense platelets were larger than least dense platelets (n=5, p<0.0025). After labeling platelets in vivo with 35SO4 2-, the incorporation and loss of 35S in platelet density subpopulations was determined (n=5). At 1 hr, no 35S was detected in the platelets. By 24 hr, 35S was present in all density subpopulations but the relative specific radioactivity (RSR) of the most dense subpopulation was 7 times greater than that of the least dense, although the most dense platelets were only 1.2 times larger. The RSR of the most dense subpopulation reached a maximum between 48 and 72 hr and then decreased gradually whereas that of the least dense increased slowly, reaching its maximum at 96–120 hr. These results support the theory that platelets become less dense as they age. 51Cr-labeled platelets were injected into rabbits and the loss of radioactivity in platelet density subpopulations was determined (n=3). The most dense subpopulation decreased in RSR more quickly than the least dense. The % radioactivity/% platelets of the least dense subpopulation increased from 0.58 to 0.82 while that of the most dense decreased from 1.46 to 1.13 over 72 hr. These observations could be due to either preferential removal of heavy platelets or decrease in density on aging. Although these results support the hypothesis that the majority of platelets released into the circulation are larger, more dense platelets which decrease in density on aging, platelets of all densities are released into the circulation. Thus the origin of platelet density heterogeneity cannot be ascribed solely to aging, although this does contribute to it.


1980 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. KURL ◽  
N. M. BORTHWICK

The antioestrogens clomiphene and tamoxifen exhibit both agonistic and antagonistic properties in the rat uterus. The effect of these antioestrogens on RNA polymerase activities in the rat uterus was investigated. Both compounds stimulated an early increase in the activity of endogenous RNA polymerase B similar to that observed after oestradiol treatment. A secondary stimulation of activity of RNA polymerase B was observed after treatment with oestradiol and both antioestrogens. In addition, the activity of endogenous RNA polymerase A was increased initially at 1 h by all three compounds but this activity was maintained at 24 h only by oestradiol.


1977 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Cieslar ◽  
J.P. Greenberg ◽  
M.A. Packham ◽  
R.L. Kinlough-Rathbone ◽  
J.F. Mustard

Platelets degranulated by thrombin (TDP) can be recovered, are effective in hemostasis and survive normally upon infusion into rabbits. Two approaches to determine whether platelets have been degranulated in vivo are: (1) measurement of circulating released materials; (2) detection of circulating degranulated platelets. We have used arabino-galactan (Stractan II) density gradient centrifugation to separate normal and degranulated platelets. The following distribution was obtained with washed rabbit platelets.The serotonin, PF4 and adenine nucleotide contents of the TDP were less than those of normal platelets and the TDP in fraction I had the lowest amounts. When TDP were labeled with 51cr and mixed with equal numbers of normal platelets, 85% of the platelets in fraction I were found to be TDP. 51Cr-TDP were injected into normal rabbits and reharvested after 18 hours. The greatest proportion of TDP was isolated in fraction I. Thus this method may make it possible to separate platelets that have lost their granule contents during participation in reversible thrombus formation in vivo.(* Visiting Fellow from the Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechoslovakia.)


1969 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
A P Mathias ◽  
D. Ridge ◽  
N. St G. Trezona

1. Several substances of high molecular weight were examined for their suitability as suspension media in the formation of density gradients for the zonal centrifugation of avian erythrocytes. None proved satisfactory. 2. The behaviour of pigeon erythrocytes in rate-sedimentation experiments in a type A zonal rotor with density gradients of sucrose was examined. The mature cells sediment more rapidly than the younger cells and have a lower RNA/DNA ratio. Maturation is accompanied by a greater loss of RNA from the nucleus than from the cytoplasm. 3. The base composition of the nuclear RNA and of the two species of cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA is reported. 4. The RNA of erythrocytes may be labelled in vivo by injection of inorganic [32P]phosphate. The cells most active in the synthesis of RNA sediment less rapidly than the bulk of the cells. 5. Reticulocyte nuclei sediment more slowly than those from erythrocytes. Reticulocyte nuclei have a mean volume of 35μ3 and are isopycnic with sucrose of density 1·2871 (measured at 20°). Maturation of the nuclei causes them to shrink to a volume of 25μ3 and the density to increase to 1·2944.


1972 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 791-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. E. Hardingham ◽  
Helen Muir

The kinetics of incorporation of [35S]sulphate into slices of pig laryngeal cartilage in vitro was linear with time up to 6h. The specific radioactivities of the extracted proteoglycans (containing about 80% of the uronic acid of the cartilage) and the glycosaminoglycans remaining in the tissue after extraction were measured after various times of continuous and ‘pulse–chase’ radioactivity incorporation. Radioactivity was present in the isolated chondroitin sulphate after 2 min, but there was a 35min delay in its appearance in the extractable proteoglycan fraction. Fractionation of the proteoglycans by gel chromatography showed that the smallest molecules had the highest specific radioactivity, but ‘pulse–chase’ experiments over 5h did not demonstrate any precursor–product relationships between fractions of different size. Equilibrium density-gradient centrifugation in 4m-guanidine hydrochloride showed that among the proteoglycan fractions the specific radioactivity increased as the chondroitin sulphate content decreased, but with preparations from ‘pulse–chase’ experiments there was again no evidence for precursor–product relationships between the different fractions. Differences in radioactive incorporation would seem to reflect metabolic heterogeneity within the proteoglycans extracted from cartilage. This may be due either to a partial separation of different types of proteoglycans or to differences in the rates of degradation of the molecules of different size and composition as a result of the nature and specificity of the normal degrading enzymes. The results suggest that molecules of all sizes were formed at the same time.


1973 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 837-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel B. Ellis ◽  
Glenn H. Stahl

1. Canine tracheal explants, cultured in medium 199, actively incorporated radioactive precursors into secreted macromolecules in vitro. 2. Puromycin, 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine and ouabain markedly inhibited the incorporation of these precursors. 3. Exogenous glucosamine at concentrations above 20mm caused a greater than 50% inhibition of the incorporation of l-[G-3H]fucose and l-[U-14C]serine. 4. Carbohydrate content of the purified secretions was approximately 50% and consisted principally of galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, fucose and sialic acids. 5. Chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Bio-Gel A-150m and equilibrium density-gradient centrifugation in a CsCl gradient confirmed the presence of mucous glycoproteins. 6. Electrophoresis on 1% agarose gels gave profiles that were identical with canine respiratory mucus obtained in vivo. 7. These results support the utility of the explant system for studies of respiratory secretions.


Blood ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-438
Author(s):  
B van Oost ◽  
IH van Hien-Hagg ◽  
AP Timmermans ◽  
JJ Sixma

The buoyant density of human platelets is decreased after they have been aggregated and induced to secrete their granule content by thrombin. This change in density was detected by discontinuous density gradient centrifugation using arabinogalactan (Stractan) solutions. The density decrease was dependent on the thrombin concentration and paralleled the extent of serotonin and beta-thromboglobulin secretion. The degranulated platelets maintained their integrity, and many of their functional properties. Mixtures of degranulated platelets and normal platelets could be resolved by Stractan gradient centrifugation and the number of degranulated platelets quantitated. Using this method, increased levels of less dense platelets were shown to occur after cardiopulmonary bypass. Assay of changes in platelet density by Stractan gradient centrifugation is a useful method for detection of activated platelets in vitro and in vivo.


1986 ◽  
Vol 250 (2) ◽  
pp. E114-E120 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Morton ◽  
D. F. Goldspink

The adaptive growth and protein turnover of the rat uterus were studied during the 21 days of gestation and up to 3 days after parturition. Despite large increases (13-fold) in uterine size during gestation, the fractional rate of protein synthesis (measured in vivo) remained unchanged when compared with nonpregnant tissue values of 44 +/- 5%/day. However, decreases were found in the rate of protein breakdown after implantation (i.e., 75% on day 7 and 28% on day 11) and in the activity of cathepsin D (i.e., 33 and 85% on days 8 and 16 of gestation). Changes in the degradative processes would therefore appear to be primarily responsible for the massive uterine growth during pregnancy. In contrast to the uterus the fractional rates of synthesis in the placenta and fetus progressively decreased during gestation. After parturition the uterus rapidly returned to its normal size by a combination of cellular atrophy and cell loss. After 2 days, a complementary decrease in the fractional rate of synthesis (30%) and an increase in protein degradation (2-fold) explained the process of involution.


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