Cell membranes can be targets of some anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether vinblastine (VLB) can also affect the tumor cell membrane. On the in vivo SA-1 ...tumor model, alteration of cell membrane fluidity (measured by electron paramagnetic resonance, EPR), cytotoxicity and morphological changes of the SA-1 tumor cells after VLB treatment were studied. The cytotoxic effect of VLB was biphasic, with an initial fast increase in cytotoxicity followed by a plateau. The surviving cells had increased membrane fluidity and were morphologically changed. The dose-response curve of VLB on membrane fluidity was also biphasic with an initial fast increase in membrane fluidity followed by a plateau. Since dose-response curves of VLB cytotoxicity and its effect on membrane fluidity were similar, there was a high correlation between both effects. The effect of VLB on membrane fluidity was the most pronounced at 24 h and 48 h after treatment. The results of this study indicate that VLB affects cell membrane by increasing the membrane fluidity of SA-1 tumor cells in vivo in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Therefore, this finding may be beneficially implemented also in priming cells for other cytotoxic drugs and for appropriate timing of drug sequence in combined schedules.
Objective:
To analyze and compare the DNA ploidy of granulosa cells from natural and gonadotropin-stimulated follicles obtained during IVF.
Design: Retrospective analysis of laboratory data.
Setting: ...University medical center.
Patient(s): Seventy-three aspirates of dominant follicles from natural IVF cycles and 113 aspirates from gonadotropin-stimulated cycles were analyzed.
Intervention(s): Cytospins were prepared and stained by the Feulgen-thionine method.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Image DNA analysis was performed on an automated high-resolution image cytometer. DNA content and the number of nuclei with DNA content >5c were measured.
Result(s): All samples from natural and gonadotropin-stimulated follicles were found to be diploid. Single cells with DNA content >5c were found in follicular fluid samples of four women with natural IVF cycles and in samples of nine women with gonadotropin-stimulated cycles.
Conclusion(s): DNA ploidy of granulosa cells from natural follicles has not been studied before. In natural samples, granulosa cells were only diploid, without euploid polyploidization. We were unable to confirm DNA aneuploidy of granulosa cells in gonadotropin-stimulated follicles of women undergoing IVF.
A unique benign clear cell tumor of the thyroid is described. The lesion was composed of swollen thyroid acinar cells distended by large membrane-bound vesicles. This picture was identical to the ..."balloon cell" change seen in nevi and melanomas. Only balloon cells with many relatively normal-appearing mitochondria but few membranous organelles were noted in all blocks of this tissue. On fine-needle aspiration biopsy smears, oncocytes and transitional cells with oncocytic and clear cell features were also observed. On the basis of the light and electron microscopic findings, the described vesicles are probably degenerative as in nevi and melanomas and are associated with membranous organelles. The observation of oncocytic areas indicates the strength of fine-needle aspiration biopsy as a sampling technique. There is no evidence that these vesicles are of mitochondrial origin as in some clear cell thyroid lesions. Clear cell lesions of the thyroid are a heterogeneous group and may be benign, malignant, or metastatic.
Objective: To determine whether hCG and IGFBP-1 appear in the same or different cells and in what sequence.
Design: Retrospective analysis of laboratory data.
Setting: University medical center.
...Patient(s): Twenty-five women undergoing IVF-ET with natural cycles and 25 women having stimulated IVF-ET.
Intervention(s): Cells were obtained from dominant follicles in women with natural cycles and from the follicles from hMG- and hCG-stimulated cycles.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Detection and localization of hCG and IGFBP-1 in granulosa-luteal cells using double immunocytochemical staining. Measurement of hCG and IGFBP-1 in follicular fluid and serum.
Result(s): Three types of hCG staining were found: on the cell surface, on the cell surface and in the cytoplasm, and in the cytoplasm alone. IGFBP-1 stained diffusely in the cytoplasm and was found only in those cells that were luteinized and contained hCG. IGFBP-1 and hCG were colocalized in the same cells. There was a positive correlation between follicular fluid hCG and IGFBP-1 levels, but only in natural IVF-ET cycles.
Conclusion(s): HCG-driven luteinization is required for IGFBP-1 synthesis to take place in granulosa cells.
