Osamu Kai

Intramitochondrial bodies in bovine adrenocortical cells

SummaryElectron dense, homogeneous, mostly round intramitochondrial bodies were found in bovine adrenal glands, predominantly in the zona glomerulosa. The histochemical results obtained suggest that these bodies might contain a considerable amount of protein, although the possibility that substances other than proteins are contained in these bodies cannot be completely ruled out. The physiological significance of the intramitochondrial bodies remains unclear.

Light and electron microscopic studies of intramitochondrial bodies in bovine adrenocortical cells by proteolytic digestion

SummaryThe nature of the intramitochondrial bodies in bovine adrenocortical cells was investigated both light and electron microscopically, by applying enzymatic digestion on paraffin and epon sections. The result that these bodies were extracted completely either by pepsin or by trypsin strengthened the validity of the previous conclusion that their nature is proteinaceous.

Display and analysis of cell size distributions with a Coulter Counter interfaced to an Apple II microcomputer.

A model ZBI Coulter Counter was interfaced to an Apple II microcomputer via analog and digital interfaces. It was possible to obtain a graphic display of cell size versus channel number (1000 channels), integration of selected channels, plots, listings, and storage of the data on floppy disk, using a convenient menu selection enabling operators unfamiliar with computer technology to master the system quickly. Examples are presented of calibration of the Coulter Counter and its use for rapid and precise analysis of E rosettes.

Establishment of gerbil-mouse heterohybridoma secreting immunoglobulin of Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) establishment of gerbil-mouse heterohybridoma.

Hybridomas, generated by fusing myeloma cells with B lymphocytes, secrete monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for an antigen. To establish hybridomas that secrete Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) mAbs, we immunized gerbils with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and fused splenocytes from them with a non-secreting mouse myeloma cell line (P3-X63-Ag8.653). We obtained hybridomas that secreted immunoglobulin (Ig) against KLH. These hybridomas had more chromosomes than either parent and retained several gerbil chromosomes. Therefore, these cells were heterohybridomas with both gerbil and mouse chromosomes. They expressed gerbil Ig heavy-chain constant (IGHC) region mRNA, but not mouse gamma (γ) 1 IGHC. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analyses indicated that the cells secreted whole Ig molecules of gerbil origin. Moreover, the cells continued secreting Ig for several months.

The age-dependent size distribution of chicken peripheral blood cells analyzed by a novel method utilizing a coulter counter

In a dilute solution of Tris-buffered ammonium chloride (TAC), chicken erythrocytes (RBC) swell but chicken white blood cells (WBC) do not. This allowed us to separate the peaks of RBC and wBC into widely separate channels using a Coulter Counter interfaced to a microcomputer to provide size distributions. Analyses of buffy coat by this technique were carried out on Brown Leghorn chickens from 1 to 21 weeks after hatching. The WBC population, which is chiefly composed of peripheral blood lymphocytes, increased in number from 2 to 7 weeks after hatching, but decreased in size continuously up to the end of the experiment at 21 weeks. The RBC count increased from 2 to 5 weeks after hatching and the size decreased up to 5 weeks after hatching, thereafter remaining constant.

Partial sequence of Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) immunoglobulin gamma heavy chain constant region

We determined the sequence of the immunoglobulin gamma heavy-chain constant (IGHC) region of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). To isolate a part of the IGHC complementary DNA, we designed primers on the basis of highly conserved sequences in mouse, rat and hamster. The deduced IGHC is structurally similar to counterparts in other mammalian species and shows 84.6% identity to the IGHC of hamster IgG, 76.6% to rat IgG1, 83.3% to rat IgG2a, 78.1% to mouse IgG1, 81.8% to mouse IgG2a, 79.1% to mouse IgG2b and 79.2% to mouse IgG3 at the nucleotide level. The results suggest that gerbil IgG is closely related to hamster IgG and rat IgG2a.

Isolation of intramitochondrial bodies in bovine adrenocortical cells by density gradient centrifugation.

SummaryTwo methods for isolating the intramitochondrial bodies from bovine adrenocortical cells are proposed. Electron microscopic examination shows that discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation can separate the fraction rich in intramitochondrial bodies, but some indistinguishable fragments remain among them. Continuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation is probably superior to the former method in obtaining a highly purified fraction of the bodies. The amido black positive granules, presumed to be intramitochondrial bodies, are collected in the fractions of the sucrose density of around 1.27 (1.23–1.30), which lack cytochrome c oxidase activity.

Isotype analysis of gerbil-mouse heterohybridomas by RT-PCR.

We designed primer sets specific to the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy-chain constant region (IGHC) genes in Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) to amplify five gerbil IGHC cDNA sequences, Cμ, Cγ1, Cγ2, Cε, and Cα. Five gerbil-mouse heterohybridomas B11D2(C2), B11E2(D5).M, B5-3, D5, and C11 respectively expressed Cγ1, Cμ, Cγ2, Cγ2, and Cγ1. In contrast, a commercial isotyping kit for mouse Igs identified Cγ1, Cμ, Cγ3, Cγ3, and Cγ1, respectively, misidentifying gerbil IgG2 as IgG3 by cross-reactivity with anti-mouse IgG3 polyclonal antibody. These primer sets will allow the accurate estimation of gerbil Ig classes and IgG subclasses. These results from three gerbil strains indicate that the primer sets can be used for isotype analysis of gerbil mAbs and for evaluation of humoral immunity.

Conditioned medium from gerbil--mouse T cell heterohybridomas improved antibody secretion.

Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) are widely used as animal models for a variety of infectious diseases. However, immunological reagents such as cytokines have not been characterized. Two heterohybridomas, D9(E6)C2B3 and D9(E4), obtained by fusion of gerbil splenocytes with mouse myeloma cells (P3-X63-Ag8.653), expressed gerbil CD3G mRNA. These cells were suggested to be T cell heterohybridomas. They also expressed gerbil IL6 [D9(E6)C2B3] and TGFB [D9(E4) and D9(E6)C2B3] mRNAs. The addition of conditioned medium (CM) obtained from the culture of D9(E6)C2B3 significantly enhanced antibody secretion and expression of gerbil Cγ1 and Cε IGHC mRNAs in the B11D2(C2) heterohybridoma, which secretes gerbil IgG1. However, the addition of CM from both heterohybridomas did not improve in proliferation of B11D2(C2) cells. These results indicate that CM from D9(E6)C2B3 improved the culture of gerbil–mouse heterohybridomas, possibly by secreting gerbil IL6.

Unusual mitochondrial ultrastructure in the pig adrenal cortex

SummaryUnusually large mitochondria with few cristae were observed in the cells of the boundary layer between the zonae fasciculata and reticularis of the pig adrenal. These mitochondria occasionally contained parallel arrays of beaded filaments which appeared to be composed of repetitive electron opaque particles, measuring 10 to 11 nm in diameter. The possibility that these filaments are arranged in closely packed arrays of tubular structures with a central filament is discussed.