Charles Huggins

Influence of Geometry of Transplanted Tooth and Bone on Transformation of Fibroblasts

Summary Allogeneic transplants of demineralized powdered bone or whole teeth in different shapes transformed fibroblasts to cartilage and bone. Coarse powders of bone elicited significantly higher yields of transformation products than fine powder did; criteria of transformation included histologic findings, alkaline phosphatase activity, 35S and 32P incorporation. The temporal sequence of fibro-blast-chondroblast-osteoblast transformation was profoundly influenced by the geometry of the transformant. The incursion of capillaries among the transformed cells resulted in chondrolysis.

Dentin Matrix Transformation: Rapid Induction of Alkaline Phosphatase and Cartilage

An acid-insoluble fraction of rat dentin rapidly initiates a chain reaction in mesenchyma after allogeneic transplantation to the subcutaneous tissues. The tooth matrix induced alkaline phosphatase activity within 24 hours; cartilage appeared within 5 days; bone and bone marrow formed within 14 days. The induced cartilage disappeared within 5 weeks, but bone persisted at least 1 year.

Citrate and alkaline phosphatase during transformation of fibroblasts by the matrix and minerals of bone.

Summary Allogeneic transplantation of demineralized rat bone initiates a chain reaction in responding fibroblasts; alkaline phosphatase and, later, citric acid increase to high levels. The chain reaction is not evoked by bone minerals; instead vast numbers of multinucleate osteoclastic giant cells form around the grafts with high levels of citric acid without an increase of alkaline phosphatase.

Electrophoretic Analysis of Human Semen.

Conclusion 1. Four protein fractions were observed in 4 normal and one pathological semen specimens subjected to electrophoretic analysis. 2. The electrophoretic mobilities of these protein fractions after dialysis are identical with those of the albumin, alpha, beta, and gamma globulins of normal serum. 3. Average values for these components as percentages of the total nondialyzable semen protein are: beta globulin, 39.6; alpha globulin, 21.3; albumin, 19.9; and gamma globulin, 19.1. 4. The protein composition of the one pathological semen studied did not differ from the 4 normal semens.

CARCINOGENIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS: SPECIAL VULNERABILITY OF RATS.

Compared with other species, the rat is unusually vulnerable to polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. In the rat, relatively small amounts of carcinogenic aromatics (i) profoundly depress incorporation of thymidine in DNA, (ii) greatly induce menadione reductase in liver, and (iii) then kill the rat.

Lactic/Malic Dehydrogenase Quotients During Transformation of Fibroblasts into Cartilage and Bone

Summary The concurrent assay of lactic and malic dehydrogenase in the cytosol of homogenized tissues is a simple and useful device in studying the biochemistry of transformation of fibroblasts from fascia into cartilage, followed by bone. The quotient, LDH/MDH, in cartilage exceeds 1 whereas in fascia and bone it is less than 1.

Adrenal destruction and cancer induced by hydroxyalkyl derivatives of 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene

Abstract Six new derivatives of benz(a)anthracene were found to cause massive and selective destruction of adrenal cortex of young adult female rats. The molecular requirements of the adrenocorticolytic agents are: (i) they have two and only two substituents; (ii) a methyl group at position 12 was mandatory; (iii) substituents at position 7 possessed an oxygen function or chloromethyl group. The hydroxyalkyl group diminishes or eliminates carcinogenicity of the parent compound.

The citric acid and aconitase content of the prostate.

Summary The citric acid content of human prostatic adenoma was about 645 mg per 100 g of tissue; that of human prostatic cancer, 74 mg; and that of dogs prostate, 8 mg. The human prostate was found rich in aconitase while that of dogs prostate contained half as much of this enzyme. The source of citric acid in prostatic tissue has been postulated.

Effect of Calcium and Citrate Injections into Cerebrospinal Fluid

Sabbatini observed that the direct application of isotonic solutions of oxalate or of citrate to the exposed brain of dogs increased their excitability and at times resulted in a generalized convulsion. 1 This effect was antagonized by calcium. We have repeated and extended these experiments. Small amounts (0.1-0.3 cc.) of isotonic solutions of either sodium citrate (0.077 M), calcium chloride (0.107 M), calcium citrate (0.06 M), or magnesium chloride (0.107 M) were injected into the cisterna magna of dogs, using a fine needle (26 gauge). A typical syndrome occurred following injections of sodium citrate, consisting of immediate contraction of the voluntary muscles of the neck, trunk, extremities and tail. The motor phenomena included an extensor rigidity of the legs, slightly greater in the fore legs than in the hind, and a marked opisthotonos, pleurothotonos, and dorsal curvature of the tail. The heart rate slowed during this phase of the effect and was accelerated during the recovery period. Profuse salivation occurred. The intense motor excitation lasted usually from 5 to 15 minutes, but the animals were ataxic and had an unsteady wide-based gait for a somewhat longer period. In a minority of cases a generalized tonic and clonic convulsion followed the original motor spasm. The animals were usually normal 30 minutes after the injection. In some of the experiments, the needle was left in the cisterna following citrate injection and, as soon as the motor reaction was obtained, calcium chloride or magnesium chloride was injected in amounts equivalent to the sodium citrate. The hypertonic muscles relaxed in a few seconds and within a few minutes the animal appeared to be normal. Injections of Ringers solution and sodium chloride in these small doses were without apparent effect.

Augmentation and Depression of Estriol-Induced Growth of the Uterus By Progesterone.

Conclusions 1. Whereas progesterone inhibits the growth promoting action of estrone on the uterus of hypophysectomized rats, its effects on estriol-induced growth are biphasic. 2. Progesterone depresses uterine growth evoked by large quantities of estriol but enhances growth promoting action of small quantities of this impeded estrogen.