Etsuro Nishida

Changes in 40 serum proteins of post-menopausal women

Sera were sampled from 83 people (pre- and post-menopausal women and men). Climacteric symptoms of 23 women were treated with conjugated estrogen. Sera were sampled serially until the 21st day of estrogen administration. Serum concentrations of 40 protein components were measured by micro single radial immunodiffusion. The serum proteins were classified into 5 types according to changes after menopause and estrogen therapy, respectively. Type 1 (decreased after menopause and increased by estrogen; alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-HS - glycoprotein, beta 2-glycoprotein III, Gc-globulin, alpha 1-lipoprotein and alpha 2-AP-glycoprotein), type 2 (unchanged and increased; ceruloplasmin), type 3 (increased and decreased; alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, serum amyloid P-component, Zn-alpha 2-glycoprotein, beta-lipoprotein and C1-components), type 4 (unchanged and decreased; hemopexin, antithrombin III, beta 2-glycoprotein I, prealbumin and retinol-binding-protein), type 5 (unchanged by estrogen; immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG and others). Estrogen replacement therapy restored pre-menopausal levels of serum proteins, types 1 and 3. However, estrogen therapy was associated with significantly abnormal levels of proteins, types 2 and 4 in post-menopausal women. Serum levels of type 1 proteins and some type 5 proteins (IgM, alpha 1B-glycoprotein, C9-component and alpha 2-macroglobulin) were higher in pre-menopausal women than in men, whereas type 3 proteins were the opposite.

Effect of Testosterone on the Development of Bladder Tumors and Calculi in Female Rats

In order to study the effect of testosterone on bladder calculi and tumor formation in female rats, Wistar rats were administered testosterone for 12, 18 or 24 weeks. Testosterone was found to increase the incidence of both bladder calculi and tumors in intact, but not in oophorectomized rats. It is suggested that testosterone in combination with estrogen may contribute to hyperplasia formation, in turn leading to an increased incidence of bladder calculi and tumors.

Effects of Testosterone on the Development of Endometrial Tumors in Female Rats

Long-term treatment of mature virgin female rats with a high dose of testosterone (24 weeks at a total dose of 300 mg) was associated with the development of endometrial adenomatous hyperplasia and resulted in a high incidence of adenocarcinoma when administered in combination with 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene (DMBA; 2 mg in 0.1 ml sesame oil) introduced into the uterine cavity. Adenomatous hyperplasia occurred in all testosterone-treated rats, both with and without ovaries. Testosterone may promote the induction of endometrial tumors by DMBA.

Influences of dehydroepiandrosterone acetate on ovarian oocytes in mature cycling rats

Degeneration of ovarian oocytes occurred to a remarkable extent in rats with polycystic ovaries induced by dehydroepiandrosterone acetate (DHA-Ac) administration. The ratio of degeneration oocytes, compared with the total oocytes examined, finally exceeded 70%.

Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina: case presentation with special references to electron microscopic findings.

Abstract A case of primary malignant melanoma which presumably developed from pre-existing pigmented nevi (so-called lentigo maligna) in the vagina is presented. The electron microscopic findings of the tumor itself and of the pigmented nevi surrounding the tumor were of particular significance. Atypical melanocytes were seen in the areas of pigmented nevi, showing a number of dendrites, intracytoplasmic melanosomes and premelanosomes. The premelanosomes exhibited various stages of maturation and those in advanced stages had a definite inner structure with striae made of laterally associated and cross-linked fibrils. The Golgi apparatus was generally prominent and often occupied several sites within a single cell. Lipid droplets, vacuolation and nuclear inclusion bodies were also encountered. On the other hand, the melanoma cells were built up mainly with melanophages containing autophagosomes which were formed with aggregated melanosomes enveloped in a layer of limiting membrane. The cells filled with autophagosomes contained relatively few organelles. Premelanosomes were much rarer than in the pigmented nevi. The cytoplasm occasionally showed clusters of minute granules thought to be glycogen, as well as myelinoid corpuscles and a centriol. The primary occurrence of maligant melanoma in the vagina is discussed with specific reference to histopathological ultrastructure.

Serum Amyloid P-Component (SAP) Regulation by Sex-Steroids in Rats: Compared with C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

In order to investigate the effects of sex-steroids on SAP level in rats, SAP was purified from Wistar rats by affinity chromatography of phosphorylcholine. Sample sera were obtained from 180 young and old rats, after which, rats were injected with either estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA). Sera were serially obtained from the tail vessels until the 8th day after injection. The SAP level was assayed by micro single radial immunodiffusion. As the rats aged, the SAP levels increased from 2.9 mg/dl at 11 weeks to 10.7 mg/dl at 58 weeks. In 37-week-old rats, the SAP levels in females (6.3 ± 1.8mg/dl) were significantly (p > 0.001) higher than those in males (3.9 ± l.Omg/dl), whereas the CRP levels in females (49.8 mg/dl) were lower than those in males (61.5 mg/dl). The SAP levels did not change after T administration, but decreased significantly (p>0.001) to 70% of the prelevel after DHA injection. The SAP levels increased rapidly by E2 administration, especially in young male rats (increased to 189%). Serum E2 levels in young (llwk) male rats were very low before E2 injection, and steeply rose on the 2nd day. From these findings, the different SAP levels in mature female and male rats are attributed to E2.