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Biomedical subjects

D S Grosso

Publications and source records attributed to D S Grosso.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Pineal melatonin inhibition of tumor promotion in the N-nitroso-N-methylurea model of mammary carcinogenesis: potential involvement of antiestrogenic mechanisms in vivo.

The N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU) model of hormone-responsive rat mammary carcinogenesis was used to address the hypothesis that melatonin (Mel), the principle hormone of the pineal gland, inhibits tumorigenesis by acting as an anti-promoting rather than an anti-initiating agent. Daily late-afternoon injections of Mel (500 micrograms/day), restricted to the initiation phase of NMU mammary tumorigenesis, were ineffective in altering tumor growth over a 20-week period. When Mel treatment was delayed for 4 weeks after NMU and then continued through the remainder of the promotion phase, only tumor number was significantly lower than in controls. However, when Mel injections encompassed the entire promotion phase, both tumor incidence and number were significantly lower than in the controls. Although elimination of the endogenous Mel signal via pinealectomy promoted tumor growth, the effect was not statistically significant. Serum levels of estradiol and tumor estrogen receptor content were unaltered by either Mel or pinealectomy. While Mel treatment failed to affect circulating prolactin levels, pinealectomy caused a two-fold increase in serum prolactin. The estradiol-stimulated recrudescence of tumors following ovariectomy was completely blocked by either 20, 100 or 500 micrograms Mel/day or tamoxifen (20 micrograms/day). Thus, Mel appears to be an anti-promoting hormone that may antagonize the tumor-promoting actions of estradiol in this model of mammary tumorigenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Estrogen sulfoconjugation by human endometrial cancer cells (RL95-2) in culture.

Estrogen metabolism was studied in a newly established cell line (RL95-2) derived from a human endometrial carcinoma. Estradiol and estrone were metabolized to water-soluble derivatives by cells under in vitro culture conditions. Between 80-90% of the added steroids were metabolized, with nearly quantitative recovery of the products from the incubation medium. Arylsulfatase treatment converted the metabolites to ether-soluble forms, whereas beta-glucuronidase had no effect on the aqueous solubility of these compounds. Butanol extracts of the water-soluble estradiol metabolites cochromatographed on high performance liquid chromatography with 17 beta-estradiol-3-sulfate (93.6%) or estrone-3-sulfate (3.5%). No more than 6% of the estradiol added to the incubation medium was recovered in the form of estrone, either as estrone or estrone sulfate. After arylsulfatase treatment of the estradiol conjugates, 92% of the ether-soluble radioactivity cochromatographed with estradiol, and 3.8% cochromatographed with estrone. Estrogen-sulfurylating activity was localized in the cytosol of subcellular fractions of RL95-2 cells. The sulfoconjugation of estrogens by RL95-2 cells may prove useful as a model for the investigation of estrogen metabolism in endometrial carcinoma cells.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Characterization of cytosolic estrogen sulfotransferase from RL95-2 endometrial cancer cells.

Estrogen sulfoconjugation previously was reported in normal endometrium and in RL95-2 cells, a cell line derived from a human endometrial cancer maintained in continuous in vitro culture. In the present study the estrogen sulfurylation activity in the cytosolic fraction of RL95-2 cells was characterized using [3H]estrone as substrate. Estrone sulfate was separated from unreacted estrone by thin layer chromatography. Activity was proportional to cytosol concentration, with a pH optimum at pH 8. There was marked temperature dependence between 24 and 40 C. The apparent Km for estrone conjugation was 3.6 nM, with a maximum velocity of 135 fmol/micrograms DNA . h. No complex kinetic behavior was found at estrone concentrations up to 1 microM. The apparent Km for the cosubstrate 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate was 0.6 microM. Inhibition experiments demonstrated that the sulfurylating activity studied under these conditions was specific for estrogens. Only estradiol and estriol, in addition to estrone itself, inhibited conjugation to any significant degree. Dehydroepiandrosterone had only 1% the inhibitory activity of estrone. Other androgens, corticoids, progestins, phenols, nonsteroidal estrogens and antiestrogens, and bile acids had no significant effects on the sulfurylation of estrone. An estrogen-sulfoconjugating activity with the characteristics of estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) was demonstrated in RL95-2 cells. The Km of EST for estrone in the RL95-2 cells closely approximated the value reported for the enzyme in normal endometrium. The affinity of EST for estrogens is within the range of the Kd of estrogen receptor and of the physiological concentrations of estrogens reported in the endometrium, suggesting that EST could serve as a regulator of intracellular estrogen levels.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1983

Characterization of a new human endometrial carcinoma (RL95-2) established in tissue culture.

A new human endometrial cell line, RL95-2, derived from a Grade 2 moderately differentiated adenosquamous carcinoma of the endometrium has been passaged successfully in cell culture for more than 2 yr. The cells are characteristically epithelioid with well-defined junctional complexes, tonofilaments, filopodialike extensions, and surface microvilli. Nuclei are large, irregular, and invaginated frequently with multiple, prominent, lamellar nucleoli. The cells have a log phase doubling time of 22 to 34 h followed by continued growth at a reduced rate with no apparent plateau phase. They exhibit a strong tendency for piling up as well as for the formation of glandlike dome structures. Karyotypically the line is trisomic 8 (47,XX,+8) and has an 8% frequency of polyploidization. Both cytoplasmic and nuclear estrogen receptors are present. Antihuman alpha-keratin characterizes the cell line as epithelial, nonstromal. The RL95-2 cell line may provide a useful in vitro system for the investigation of the endocrine regulation of endometrial neoplasia.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1983

Ketoconazole inhibition of testicular secretion of testosterone and displacement of steroid hormones from serum transport proteins.

In vivo perfusion of canine testes with ketoconazole inhibited the stimulation of testosterone production by human chorionic gonadotropin in a dose-dependent manner. Ketoconazole also selectively displaced steroids from serum-binding globulins. Dihydrotestosterone and estradiol binding to sex hormone-binding globulin were inhibited by ketoconazole. Cortisol binding to corticosteroid-binding globulin was unaffected. The concentrations of ketoconazole that inhibited human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation of testicular androgen production and displaced sex steroids from sex hormone-binding globulin were in the range of blood levels found in patients on higher therapeutic dosage regimens. Suppression of testicular testosterone synthesis and displacement of estrogens from sex hormone-binding globulin may decrease the androgen/estrogen ratio of the blood and contribute to the development of gynecomastia that has been reported in some ketoconazole-treated patients.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Relationship of newborn serum prolactin levels to the respiratory distress syndrome and maternal hypertension.

Prolactin concentrations were measured in mixed cord blood of 782 newborn infants and related to the occurrence of the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and maternal cardiovascular condition. Infants of 30 to 33 weeks' gestational age who developed RDS had significantly lower serum concentrations of prolactin than non-RDS infants within this same age range. No difference was observed between RDS and non-RDS infants at 34 to 36 weeks. Prolactin levels in infants delivered by preeclamptic women were greater than the levels in infants of normotensive women from 30 to 39 weeks' gestation. The levels were higher in the 40 to 42 weeks age group as well; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Infants of mothers with gestational hypertension also tended to have elevated serum prolactin concentrations. No differences were observed in infants of women presenting with a history of chronic hypertension. Within the RDS subgroups, serum prolactin levels were significantly greater in infants of preeclamptic women than in infants of normotensive women, being approximately equal to the levels in the non-RDS normotensive group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

A rapid method for taurine quantitation using high performance liquid chromatography.

Presented is a fluorometric technique for the quantitative analysis of taurine in biological samples. The sample is homogenized, treated with picric acid, and passed through a mixed-bed, ion-exchange column. The eluant is lyophilized, reconstituted, and an aliquot derivatized with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) prior to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ion-exchange column removes all amino acids, cysteic acid, phosphoethanolamine, and hypotaurine while allowing quantitative recovery of taurine. Using the procedure as outlined, quantitation has been performed from 0.080-1.6 nmoles per analysis. The lower limit of quantitation, using the equipment specified, was shown to be 5 pmoles per analysis. The method allows rapid sample processing while maintaining a high degree of sensitivity and accuracy.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Characterization of a carrier-mediated transport system for taurine in the fetal mouse heart in vitro.

Cardiac taurine levels are elevated in hypertension and congestive heart failure. A possible mechanism for this increase in taurine is an alteration of its uptake. We sought to identify and characterize a carrier-mediated transport system for taurine in the mammalian myocardium utilizing the fetal mouse heart in organ culture. Hearts from fetuses of 16-19 days gestational age used in these studies had an endogenous taurine content of 14.1+/-0.5 nmol/mg tissue. The uptake of [(3)H]taurine was linear for up to 8 h. Taurine was accumulated against a concentration gradient as demonstrated by a net increase in taurine concentration when hearts were incubated in 0.5 mM taurine. [(3)H]Taurine uptake was saturable, K(m) = 0.44 mM, temperature dependent, and required sodium. The close structural analogues, hypotaurine and beta-alanine, reduced [(3)H]taurine uptake by 87% when present in 100-fold excess. The alpha-amino acids alanine, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, glycine, leucine, and threonine did not inhibit uptake. Other taurine analogues tested were guanidinotaurine, guanidinopropionic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid, 2-aminoethane phosphonic acid, aminomethane sulfonic acid, 3-aminopropane sulfonic acid, N-acetyltaurine, and isethionic acid. We conclude that a carrier-mediated transport system for taurine exists in the fetal mouse heart based on the demonstration of (a) temperature dependence, (b) saturability, and (c) structural selectivity of the uptake process. Transport was demonstrated to be mediated by a beta-amino acid uptake system. In addition, taurine uptake was observed to be sodium dependent, energy dependent, and capable of accumulating taurine against a concentration gradient.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Isolation and characterization of myocytes from the adult rat heart.

Spontaneously contracting myocytes were isolated from ventricles of the adult rat heart. Hearts were perfused retrogradally via the aorta for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C with Ca2+-free phosphate-buffered saline containing collagenase and hyaluronidase. The venticles were divided into pieces and incubated 15 minutes with the enzymes. Dislodged cells were decanted, diluted with cold buffer and allowed to settle. The washed cells were then sedimented through 3% Ficoll. This procedure yielded approximately 50 mg of protein from 1 gm of heart. Viability measured by trypan-glue exclusion is 90-95%. Approximately 80% of the cells were beating. Scanning electron microscopic studies suggest that the isolated myocytes are morphologically intact. The cells oxidize glucose, pyruvate, citrate and palmitate to CO2 and synthesize protein and RNA. Uptake of glucose, 2-deoxyglucose, leucine and taurine was saturable. Glucose uptake was stimulated by insulin. The cells retained LDH and CPK as well as their capacity to oxidize substrates after 24 hours at 4 degrees C or 4 hours at 37 degrees C. After 24 hours at 4 degrees C the cells resume contracting when returned to room temperature. The procedure reported here for the isolation of spontaneously contracting, adult, rat heart myocytes provides cells with a high index of viability and greater yield than previously reported methods. The cells retain metabolic activity and withstand storage for longer periods than other described preparations.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1977

Carrier-mediated taurine uptake in the fetal mouse heart.

Myocardial taurine concentrations have been found to be elevated in hypertension and congestive heart failure states in animals and humans. The mechanism(s) by which myocardial taurine levels increase isn't known. Biosynthesis of taurine by the heart has not been established as a significant process. The fetal mouse heart in culture was used to characterize a taurine uptake system. The uptake of taurine was found to be saturable, temperature and sodium dependent and inhibited by close structural analogs. Taurine uptake was energy dependent and accumulated taurine against a concentration gradient indicating that taurine transport is an active process. Failure of alpha-alanine, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, glycine, leucine or threonine to decrease taurine uptake establishes that the taurine uptake system is separate and distinct from other neutral alpha-amino acid transport systems in the heart.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1977

A relation between myocardial taurine contest and pulmonary wedge pressure in dogs with heart failure.

Myocardial taurine levels were correlated with pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP) in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF). Heart failure was induced by creating an infrarenal aortocaval fistula. PWP ranged from 6.6 to 28 mm Hg, suggesting a wide range in severity of heart failure in those dogs. Compared to taurine levels of normal dogs, levels of the CHF group were significantly elevated in both left and right ventricles. Linear regression analysis of ventricular taurine content yielded a highly significant direct relation to PWP. The results suggest that myocardial taurine content increases as heart failure becomes more severe.

Animals↗