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Showing papers on "Cellular differentiation published in 1978"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The marked similarity in behavior of HL-60 cells and Friend cells in the presence of these inducing agents suggests that similar molecular mechanisms are involved in the induction of differentiation of these human myeloid and murine erythroid leukemic cells.
Abstract: A human leukemic cell line (designated HL-60) has recently been established from the peripheral blood leukocytes of a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia. This cell line displays distinct morphological and histochemical commitment towards myeloid differentiation. The cultured cells are predominantly promyelocytes, but the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide to the culture induces them to differentiate into myelocytes, metamyelocytes, and banded and segmented neutrophils. All 150 clones developed from the HL-60 culture show similar morphological differentiation in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide. Unlike the morphologically immature promyelocytes, the dimethyl sulfoxide-induced mature cells exhibit functional maturity as exemplified by phagocytic activity. A number of other compounds previously shown to induce erythroid differentiation of mouse erythroleukemia (Friend) cells can induce analogous maturation of the myeloid HL-60 cells. The marked similarity in behavior of HL-60 cells and Friend cells in the presence of these inducing agents suggests that similar molecular mechanisms are involved in the induction of differentiation of these human myeloid and murine erythroid leukemic cells.

1,556 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 1978-Cell
TL;DR: Using one embryonal carcinoma cell line, F9, it is found that retinoic acid at concentrations as low as 10(-9) M induces multiple phenotypic changes in the cultures in vitro, which are consistent with the proposition that retinosic acid induces differentiation of embryonal cancer cells into endoderm.

1,352 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Adult thymectomized, irradiated and bone marrow reconstituted mice, transplanted with an irradiated thymus of A origin, generate virus-specific cytotoxic T cells specific for infected A targets but not for B targets; this result formally demonstrates the crucial role of thymic epithelial cells in the differentiation of anti-self-H-2 specificities of T cells.
Abstract: In the thymus, precursor T cells differentiate recognition structures for self that are specific for the H-2K, D, and I markers expressed by the thymic epithelium. Thus recognition of self-H-2 differentiates independently of the T cells H-2 type and independently of recognition of nonself antigen X. This is readily compatible with dual recognition by T cells but does not formally exclude a single recognition model. These conclusions derive from experiments with bone marrow and thymic chimeras. Irradiated mice reconstituted with bone marrow to form chimeras of (A X B)F1 leads to A type generate virus-specific cytotoxic T cells for infected targets A only. Therefore, the H-2 type of the host determines the H-2-restricted activity of killer T cells alone. In contrast, chimeras made by reconstituting irradiated A mice with adult spleen cells of (A X B)F1 origin generate virus-specific cytotoxic activity for infected A and B targets, suggesting that mature T cells do not change their self-specificity readily. (A X B)F1 leads to (A X C)F1 and (KAIA/DC) leads to (KAIA/DB) irradiation bone marrow chimeras responded against infected A but not B or C targets. This suggests that cytotoxicity is not generated against DC because it is abscent from the host's thymus epithelium and not against DB because it is not expressed by the reconstituting lymphoreticular system. (KBIB/DA) leads to (KCIC/DA) K, I incompatible, or completely H-2 incompatible A leads to B chimeras fail to generate any measurable virus specific cytotoxicity, indicating the necessity for I-specific helper T cells for the generation of killer T cells. Finally adult thymectomized, irradiated and bone marrow reconstituted (A X B)F1 mice, transplanted with an irradiated thymus of A origin, generate virus-specific cytotoxic T cells specific for infected A targets but not for B targets; this result formally demonstrates the crucial role of thymic epithelial cells in the differentiation of anti-self-H-2 specificities of T cells.

833 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1978-Cell
TL;DR: The results suggest independent regulation of X 2 Y in this situation and suggest the loss of differentiated function by these chondrocyte progeny is indicated.

572 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 1978-Cell
TL;DR: Outstanding research works that have attempted to ascertain the underlying epigenetic changes of the nuclear genome during in vitro differentiation of MSCs into bone and cartilage cell lineages are covered.

507 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Nov 1978-Cell
TL;DR: The data presented are consistent with a stochastic model of differentiation for L 6 E 9 cells and demonstrate that the switch from a proliferating to a differentiating genetic program can occur in the absence of DNA synthesis.

466 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present results suggest that PC12 cells have a requirement for NGF (similar to that of normal sympathetic neurons) and that serum may substitute for this requirement.
Abstract: The PC12 clone is a noradrenergic cell line derived from a rat pheochromocytoma. In culture medium containing horse serum, PC12 cells undergo mitosis; when nerve growth factor (NGF) is included in the medium, the cells cease multiplication and extend neuritis. It is shown here: (a) that PC12 cells are not viable in serum-free medium. When serum is withdrawn, 90 percent of the cells die within 4-6 days and 99 percent by 2-3 wk. (b) If NGF is added at the time of serum withdrawal, the cells undergo one doubling and remain viable for at least 1 mo. (c) Addition of NGF to cultures after more than 2 days in serum-free conditions results in maintenance of surviving cells, but not in an increase in cell number. (d) NGD also induces neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells in serum-free medium. (e) NGF-treated cells exhibit much less cell-cell and neurite-neurite aggregation in the absence than in the presence of serum. (f) The apparent minimum level of 2.5S NGF required for PC12 survival and morphological differentiation in serum-free medium is about 10 ng/ml (approximately 0.4 nM). (g) Withdrawal of NGF in serum-free conditions results in degeneration of neurites and loss of cell viability. (h) Experiments with campotothecin demonstrate that the effects of NGF on survival and neurite outgrowth may be uncoupled and suggest that the survival effects are transcriptionally independent. The present results also suggest that PC12 cells have a requirement for NGF (similar to that of normal sympathetic neurons) and that serum may substitute for this requirement. In addition, the present system of maintaining a highly differentiated cell line in a chemically defined medium suggests certain experimental opportunities.

420 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results are consistent with the hypothesis that diversity of T-cell receptors is generated by somatic mutation of germ-line genes encoding specificity for self-H-2.
Abstract: Female murine T cells can respond to the Y antigen of male cells by generating cytotoxic T-killer lymphocytes. Responsiveness is linked to several H-2 genes. Two types of low responders can be distinguished: the B10.A(5R) (H-2i5) strain, a low responder because it lacks Y-specific precursor T cells able to differentiate into cytotoxic T-killer cells; and the CBA/J (H-2k) strain, a low responder because it lacks Y-specific T-helper cells able to support differentiation of T-killer cell precursors. B10.A(5R) stem cells differentiating in an x-irradiated (CBA/J X C57BL/6) (H-2k X H-2b)F1 host respond to Y antigen by generating T-killer cells whereas CBA/J stem cells do not. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that diversity of T-cell receptors is generated by somatic mutation of germ-line genes encoding specificity for self-H-2. A detailed account of this hypothesis is presented.

332 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The anterior position of the site of origin of the stem cells in the egg relates to the rate of the cell cycle clock, suggesting intracellular preprogramming of the uncleaved egg.
Abstract: Embryogenesis of the free-living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans produces a juvenile having about 550 cells at hatching. We have determined the lineages of 182 cells by tracing the divisions of individual cells in living embryos. An invariant pattern of cleavage divisions of the egg generates a set of stem cells. These stem cells are the founders of six stem cell lineages. Each lineage has its own clock--i.e., an autonomous rhythm of synchronous cell divisions. The rhythms are maintained in spite of extensive cellular rearrangement. The rate and the orientation of the cell divisions of the cell lineages are essentially invariant among individuals. Thus, the destiny of cells seems to depend primarily on their lineage history. The anterior position of the site of origin of the stem cells in the egg relates to the rate of the cell cycle clock, suggesting intracellular preprogramming of the uncleaved egg. We used a technique that allows normal embryogenesis, from the fertilized egg to hatching, outside the parent under a cover glass. Embryogenesis was followed microscopically with Nomarski interference optics and high-resolution video recording.

320 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the BFU-E, a committeded erythroid stem cell, resides in the null cell fraction of peripheral blood, but its proliferative capacity and differentiation in vitro requires a soluble product of T cells.
Abstract: Human mononuclear leukocytes were fractionated into populations of null, T and B cells by immunoabsorbent column chromatography followed by E-rosette formation and purification of T cells by differential centrifugation and osmotic lysis. The unfractionated and fractionated cell populations were first separately cultured for 14 days in plasma clots in the presence of two international units erythropoietin. Typical erythroid burst-forming unit (BFU-E)-derived colonies grew in the unfractionated cell cultures but not from T- or B-cell cultures. BFU-E colonies grew in null cell cultures but most of the colonies were small and variably hemoglobinized with less than three subcolonies. When intact T cells were added to null cells and cocultured, many typical large BFU-E colonies with more than 10 well homogenized subcolonies appeared. Increasing numbers of large BFU-E colonies in null cell cultures were induced by stepwise addition of T cells but not by the addition of B cells. A conditioned medium in which T cells had been induced to divide by tetanus toxoid substituted for intact T cells in this T-cell-dependent BFU-E colony formation observed in null cells. These findings demonstrate that the BFU-E, a committeded erythroid stem cell, resides in the null cell fraction of peripheral blood, but its proliferative capacity and differentiation in vitro requires a soluble product of T cells. Such experiments now permit a new approach to the assessment of various disorders of erythropoiesis. Erythroid hypoplasia in a particular case may be due to dysfunction of the committed precursor cell or to a failure of a helper effect induced by T cells.

311 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The nature of the adipogenic factor suggests that it may play an important role in the development of adipose tissue.
Abstract: The adipose conversion of 3T3-F442A cells depends on an adipogenic factor in serum. In the presence of this factor, cells grown to confluence become spherical, greatly increase the activity of their lipogenic enzymes, and accumulate triglyceride. In the absence of the adipogenic factor, the cells grow normally, but when they reach confluence they do not become spherical, do not accumulate triglyceride, and do not undergo any increase in activity of lipogenic enzymes. In cattle there is a great deal more of the adipogenic factor in the serum before birth than in the serum of grown animals. The nature of the adipogenic factor suggests that it may play an important role in the development of adipose tissue.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It was concluded that the cyclic production of cohorts of A1 cells in this manner would ensure a continual supply of spermatogonia for differentiation, and division of Aal cells were no longer seen, and the cells appeared to gradually acquire the typical morphological characteristics of A 1 sperMatogonia.
Abstract: In adult male mice exposed to 300 R X-irradiation, the spermatogonial population was selectively killed except for the radioresistant type As stem cells. Type A spermatogonia were minimal two days after irradiation, when only 20% of the control population was present in stage 5-6; these were predominately single and paired undifferentiated cells. When multiple injections of 3HTdR were given between 2 and 3.5 days post-irradiation, 90-95% of these survivors in stages 4-6 became labeled. Enhanced proliferation of these stem cells, and at times when they were normally quiescent, led to restoration of all classes of spermatogonia by 11 days after irradiation. Several autoradiographic studies were undertaken to better characterize the radioresistant cells. In mice given single or multiple injections of 3HTdR prior to irradiation, there was appreciable retention of label by those type As spermatogonia that had originally incorporated 3HTdR in stages 2-4. This labeling pattern was identical to that of the long-cycling As stem cells in nonirradiated testes. Since the long-cycling As stem cells are thought to be characterized by a prolonged G1 or "A-phase" which is known to be a highly radioresistant portion of the cell cycle, it was clear why these cells could preferentially survive irradiation doses that killed other spermatogonial types. It was proposed that following germ cell depletion, as after irradiation injury, the long-cycling As survivors could be prematurely triggered from A-phase into DNA synthesis, thereby, initiating restoration of the germ cell population.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jan 1978-Planta
TL;DR: The detailed portrait of root development that was obtained is discussed with respect to genetic and epigenetic influences; quantal and non-quantal cell cycles; variation in cell-cycle durations; relationships between cell expansion and cell division: the role of the apical cell; and the limitation of the total number of mitotic cycles during root formation.
Abstract: The root of the water fern Azolla is a compact higher-plant organ, advantageous for studies of cell division, cell differentiation, and morphogenesis. The cell complement of A. filiculoides Lam. and A. pinnata R.Br. roots is described, and the lineages of the cell types, all derived ultimately from a tetrahedral apical cell, are characterised in terms of sites and planes of cell division within the formative zone, where the initial cells of the cell files are generated. Subsequent proliferation of the initial cells is highly specific, each cell type having its own programme of divisions prior to terminal differentiation. Both formative and proliferative divisions (but especially the former) occur in regular sequences. Two enantiomorphic forms of root develop, with the dispositions of certain types of cell correlating with the direction, dextrorse or sinistrorse, of the cell-division sequence in the apical cells. Root growth is determinate, the apical cell dividing about 55 times, and its cell-cycle duration decreasing from an initial 10 h to about 4 h during the major phase of root development. Sites of proliferation progress acropetally during aging, but do not penetrate into the zone of formative divisions. The detailed portrait of root development that was obtained is discussed with respect to genetic and epigenetic influences; quantal and non-quantal cell cycles; variation in cell-cycle durations; relationships between cell expansion and cell division: the role of the apical cell; and the limitation of the total number of mitotic cycles during root formation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Findings suggest that there are both RNA synthesis-dependent and -independent pathways in the mechanism whereby NGF stimulates neurite outgrowth and that NGF-treated PC12 cells undergo a time-dependent loss of the capacity for neurite regeneration after pretreatment with RNA synthesis inhibitors or withdrawal of NGF.
Abstract: Studies on the mechanism of action of nerve growth factor (NGF) were carried out with PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells. PC12 cells are uniquely useful for such studies because they respond to, but (unlike normal neurons) do not require, NGF and may undergo either generation or regeneration of neurites in response to NGF. Regeneration is defined here as NGF-dependent regrowth of neurites within 24 hr after subculture of NGF-treated PC12 cells. As in cultures of normal NGF-responsive neurons, neurite regeneration by PC12 cells occurs even in the presence of high concentrations of RNA synthesis inhibitors. Generation of neurites is defined as the de novo initiation of outgrowth when PC12 cells are exposed to NGF for the first time. In contrast to regeneration, neurite generation takes place with a lag of at least 24 hr and is blocked by low concentrations of RNA synthesis inhibitors. Such findings suggest that there are both RNA synthesis-dependent and -independent pathways in the mechanism whereby NGF stimulates neurite outgrowth. In addition, NGF-treated PC12 cells undergo a time-dependent loss of the capacity for neurite regeneration after pretreatment with RNA synthesis inhibitors or withdrawal of NGF. Such findings suggest that (i) initiation of neurite outgrowth requires NGF-stimulated, RNA synthesis-dependent accumulation of intracellular material(s), (ii) once such accumulation occurs, RNA synthesis-independent regeneration can occur (but only in the presence of NGF), and (iii) the turnover of such material(s) in the absence of their replacement leads to loss of the capacity for regeneration. A tentative sequence is presented for the events whereby NGF may stimulate neurite outgrowth.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Correlation of regeneration with fertility data demonstrated that fertility was reestablished when sperm production returned to about 15% of control levels, and only partially restored spermatogenesis.
Abstract: The regeneration of mouse testicular stem cells during 60 weeks after exposure to 600 or 1200 rad of ..gamma.. radiation was examined. Restoration of spermatogenesis depended on stem cell survival, regeneration, and differentiation. Several assays were employed to measure the number of stem cells and their ability to repopulate the seminiferous epithelium as follows. Assay 1: The percentage of repopulated tubular cross sections was determined histologically at various times after irradiation. Assay 2: Mice were irradiated and, after given time intervals to allow for regeneration of stem cell numbers, a second dose was given. The percentage of repopulated tubular cross sections was determined 5 weeks later. Assay 3: The ability of the stem cells to produce spermatocytes and spermatids was assayed by the levels of the germ cell specific isoenzyme, LDH-X. Assay 4: The ability of the stem cells to produce sperm was assayed by the number of sperm heads in the testes. In addition, the ability of the stem cells to produce functional spermatozoa was measured by the fertility of the animals. The results obtained were as follows. All assays demonstrated that gradual regeneration of stem cell number occurred simultaneously with repopulation of the seminiferous epithelium by differentiating cellsmore » derived from stem cells. The regeneration kinetics of stem cells followed an exponential increase approaching a dose-dependent plateau below the level prior to irradiation. The doubling time for stem cells during the exponential portion was about 2 weeks. The regeneration of stem cell number after depletion by irradiation was gradual and incomplete, and only partially restored spermatogenesis. Correlation of regeneration with fertility data demonstrated that fertility was reestablished when sperm production returned to about 15% of control levels.« less

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The glycopeptide pattern of mouse preimplantation embryos resembles that of embryonal carcinoma cells and suggests that the carbohydrate profile changes fundamentally during early stages of mammalian development.
Abstract: From embryonal carcinoma cells labeled with fucose, two main classes of glycopeptide products of Pronase digestion can be distinguished by Sephadex G-50 column chromatography: one eluted near the excluded volume and a smaller one. The large fucosyl-glycopeptides are scarcely present in differentiated cells derived from embryonal carcinoma cells (i.e., fibroblastlike cells, myoblasts, and parietal yolk-sac carcinoma). During in vitro differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells, these large glycopeptides disappear almost completely. The small glycopeptides were analyzed by paper electrophoresis, concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography, and digestion with an endoglycosidase. The major components of these glycopeptides from embryonal carcinoma cells appear to be different from complex glycopeptides known to occur in adult cells. The glycopeptide pattern of mouse preimplantation embryos resembles that of embryonal carcinoma cells. These results suggest that the carbohydrate profile changes fundamentally during early stages of mammalian development.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A T-cell defect in the generation of allogeneic effect helper factors was identified and may be responsible for the reduced rate of leukemic maturation in vivo.
Abstract: Successful induction of in vitro differentiation and immunoglobulin synthesis of the leukemic lymphocytes was carried out in two cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Few plasma cells and little specific Ig secretion were detected in the cultures of isolated leukemic B cells in either the presence or the absence of autologous T cells. Up to 30% of the leukemic B cells matured to plasma cells, and a 32-fold increase in specific Ig synthesis was observed when T cells from normal individuals were added to the cultures of these leukemic B cells. In one of the two cases, autologous T cells were able to induce greater than 50% of the leukemic B cells to differentiate further to plasma cells in the presence of pokeweed mitogen. This markedly accelerated in vitro differentiation was only achieved with leukemic cells from cases in which there was evidence of slight differentiation in vivo. No evidence could be obtained for excessive suppressor T cells in these patients. However, a T-cell defect in the generation of allogeneic effect helper factors was identified. This defect may be responsible for the reduced rate of leukemic maturation in vivo.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A role for thymopoietin is suggested in the coordinated interregulation of lymphocyte classes, in addition to its better-known function as the thymic inducer of prothymocytes, following results with a dual assay for induction of Thy-1+ T cells and of CR+ B cells from marker-negative precursors.
Abstract: Results with a dual assay, for the induction of Thy-1+ T cells and of CR+ B cells from marker-negative precursors, confirm that thymopoietin is at present the only known selective inducer of prothymocytes. In contrast, various inducers, including ubiquitin, are active in both assays. Pharmacological evidence indicates that there are different cellular receptors for ubiquitin and thymopoietin. Prothymocytes and pro-CR+ B cells compose two distinct populations in bone marrow and spleen; their distribution in density gradients is different, and elimination of either population enriches the other proportionately. There are no noteworthy differences between induction of these two populations in regard to (a) kinetics, (b) dependence on temperature and protein synthesis, (c) activation by cAMP, and (d) inhibition by cGMP. The opposite inductive effects of cAMP and cGMP were corroborated by the use of pharmacological agents that raise or lower the levels of intracellular cyclic nucleotides. In contrast, a third induction assay, which monitors acquisition of the PC+ surface phenotype, indicates that this differentiative step, the last known for B cells, is initiated by cGMP and inhibited by cAMP. Induction of PC is also inhibited by thymopoietin, signifying that the inductive selectivity of thymopoietin is not due to restriction of its receptors to the T lineage cells. Rather it seems that receptors for thymopoietin occur also on PC-inducible and other B cells, although in this case geared biochemically to inhibition rather than expression of the succeeding gene program. This suggests a role for thymopoietin in the coordinated interregulation of lymphocyte classes, in addition to its better-known function as the thymic inducer of prothymocytes. Present data conform to a general scheme in which the cyclic nucleotides cAMP and cGMP, and agents that affect intracellular levels of these mediators, influence reciprocally the early and late (functional) phases of lymphocyte differentiation as a whole, while thymopoietin influences reciprocally the differentiation of the B and T classes of lymphocyte.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A model of the hematopoietic stem cell compartment as a continuum of cells with decreasing capacities for self-renewal, increasing likelihood for differentiation, and increasing proliferative activity is supported.
Abstract: The present study demonstrates a decrease in self-renewal capacity with serial transfer of murine hematopoietic stem cells. Production of differentiated cell progeny is maintained longer than stem cell self-renewal. In normal animals the capacity for self-renewal is not decreased with increasing donor age. The stem cell compartment in normal animals, both young and old, appears to be proliferative quiescent. After apparent recovery from the alkylating agent busulfan, the probability of stem cell self-renewal is decreased, there is a permanent defect in the capacity of the bone marrow for serial transplantation, and the stem cells are proliferatively active. These findings support a model of the hematopoietic stem cell compartment as a continuum of cells with decreasing capacities for self-renewal, increasing likelihood for differentiation, and increasing proliferative activity. Cell progress in the continuum in one direction and such progression is not reversible.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Six morphologic cell types comprise the human bronchial epithelium: basal cells that do not reach the bronchia, neurosecretory cells (Kulchitsky's cells, K-cells, or small granule cells) that rarely reach the lumen, and indifferent cells, mucous cells [small mucous granules cells (SMGC) and mucous goblet cells], ciliated cells, and ciliated-mucous cells that does reach theL
Abstract: Six morphologic cell types comprise the human bronchial epithelium: basal cells that do not reach the bronchial lumen, neurosecretory cells (Kulchitsky's cells, K-cells, or small granule cells) that rarely reach the lumen, and indifferent cells, mucous cells [small mucous granule cells (SMGC) and mucous goblet cells], ciliated cells, and ciliated-mucous cells that do reach the lumen. Ciliated-mucous cells bearing fully developed cilia and containing mucous granules are seen only occasionally. Three of the cell types that reach the lumen are microvillus covered and do not bear cilia. The microvillus-covered nonciliated cells are: 1) neurosecretory cells, 2) indifferent cells, and 3) mucous cells. Neurosecretory cells contain characteristic dense core granules. Such cells rarely reach the lumen. Indifferent cells are rarely seen. They have a pale cytoplasm and show no evidence of either ciliary or mucous differentiation. Similar cells are observed showing early signs of either ciliary or mucous differentiation or even both types of differentiation in the same cell. Mucous cells comprise the vast majority of microvillus-covered cells. They present either as SMGC with a few small mucous granules or as goblet cells, filled with mucus. These columnar cells are characterized ultrastructurally by dense cytoplasm and a well-developed endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. The microvilli are coated with a glycocalyx that binds colloidal iron more avidly than that of either cilia or microvilli of ciliated cells. Possible interrelationships between the different cell types in normal epithelium are discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The paper discusses the fundamentals of a functional-morphological model of the structure of human endometrial ephitelium during two phases of the menstrual cycle and histochemical characterization of different types of cells.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Changes in the metabolism of polyamines, which seem to be involved in transcription and translation in animal systems, have been studied in cultured cells of Daucus carota (carrot) undergoing embryogenesis and suggest that polyamines may beinvolved in cellular differentiation during embryogenesis.
Abstract: Changes in the metabolism of polyamines, which seem to be involved in transcription and translation in animal systems, have been studied in cultured cells of Daucus carota (carrot) undergoing embryogenesis. Putrescine levels were elevated by as much as 2-fold over the control within 24 hours after transfer of the cells to embryogenic medium. Spermidine levels were elevated also but spermine levels appeared to be lower in embryogenic cells. Embryogenic cells incorporated [(14)C]arginine into putrescine at two times the rate of control cells. These changes suggest that polyamines may be involved in cellular differentiation during embryogenesis.

Journal ArticleDOI
16 Mar 1978-Nature
TL;DR: It is concluded that the agametic nature of transformed flies is due to the absence of functional male germ cells and at least with respect to tra, germ line and soma have separate sex-determining genes.
Abstract: IN sexually dimorphic animals, the determination of sex is a major branch point in development. Although mutations producing sex reversal shed some light on the processes by which this determination is reached, many questions remain unanswered. Autosomal mutations such as polled in the goat1, sex reversed (Sxr)2 in the mouse and transformer (tra)3,7 in Drosophila cause chromosomal females to become phenotypic males, although they are sterile and their gonads agametic. The nature of this sterility suggests that the sex of germ cells in Drosophila, and perhaps in other species, might be determined by different sets of genes from those which operate in somatic tissue. Here we test this hypothesis by constructing mosaics in Drosophila where germ cells of one genotype are surrounded by soma of another. We find that the transformer mutation affects only the somatic sexual differentiation, and that it has no effect on the differentiation of germ cells. Thus we conclude that the agametic nature of transformed flies is due to the absence of functional male germ cells and at least with respect to tra, germ line and soma have separate sex-determining genes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, specific anti-CAM antibodies have been used to demonstrate that CAM is localized in neural tissues, and is associated with the plasma membrane of retinal cells and neurites.
Abstract: We have previously identified a molecule (named cell adhesion molecule [CAM]) that is involved in the in vitro aggregation of neural cells from chick embryos. In the present report, specific anti-CAM antibodies have been used to demonstrated that CAM is localized in neural tissues, and is associated with the plasma membrane of retinal cells and neurites. Furthermore, it has been shown by antibody absorption techniques that the decreased adhesiveness of cultured retinal cells obtained originally from older embryos is correlated with a decrease in the density or accessibility of cell adhesion molecules on the surface of these cells. The central role of CAM in neural cell aggregation has been established by the observation that anti-CAM Fab' fragments inhibit adhesion between neural cells in a variety of assays. To investigate the function of CAM and cell adhesion in developing tissues, aggregates of retinal cells that are capable of forming histotypic patterns in vitro were cultured in the presence and absence of anti-CAM Fab'. The Fab' was found to inhibit sorting out of cell bodies and neurites and to decrease the number of membrane-membrane contacts, suggesting that CAM is associated with cell-cell, cell-neurite, and neurite-neurite interactions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The surgical reversal of cryptorchidism resulted in regenerative differentiation of mature germ cells as judged by testicular weight, histologic examination, and increase in the specific activity of lactate dehydrogenase-X.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There is firm evidence that fat tissue of adult humans and rats contains adipocyte precursors that differentiate into mature fat cells, and the culture system described will facilitate the elucidation of the factors involved in replication and differentiation of adipocytes in vitro.
Abstract: Evidence for the complete morphological maturation of precursor cells into adipocytes in vitro is presented. Cells were isolated from the stromal fraction of adipose tissue from adult humans and from rats and were grown in culture. Abdominal skin fibroblasts were used as controls. All cell strains were initially fusiform and replicated. On reaching monolayer confluency, they were transferred to an enriched growth medium in which the human and rat adipocyte precursors differentiated into a homogeneous population of cells, morphologically indistinguishable from mature adipocytes. In contrast, skin fibroblasts from the same person or animal, and grown under identical culture conditions, did not accumulate lipid and retained their fusiform contour. The same results were obtained in the first six subcultures that were studied. Thus, there is firm evidence that fat tissue of adult humans and rats contains adipocyte precursors that differentiate into mature fat cells. The culture system that has been described will facilitate the elucidation of the factors involved in replication and differentiation of adipocyte precursors.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: B leukemia cells from four different patients were hybridized with a mouse myeloma cell line with polyethylene glycol as a fusing agent and human immunoglobulin secreted in large amounts.
Abstract: B leukemia cells from four different patients were hybridized with a mouse myeloma cell line with polyethylene glycol as a fusing agent. The original leukemia cells all expressed immunoglobulin on their surface, but failed to secrete it. Over 200 different human-mouse somatic cell hybrids were obtained; 57% of them secreted human immunoglobulin in large amounts. Human immunoglobulin secretion can be a stable property of these hybrid cells over months of continuous culture. In each case the human immunoglobulin secreted was restricted to the light chain type expressed by the parental B leukemia cell. In addition, these hybrid cells secreted the original mouse myeloma protein and a variety of mixed human-mouse immunoglobulin molecules.

Journal ArticleDOI
26 Jan 1978-Nature
TL;DR: Evidence is presented that both X chromosomes are genetically active in clonal cultures of undifferentiated female mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells derived from a spontaneous ovarian tumour.
Abstract: Evidence is presented that both X chromosomes are genetically active in clonal cultures of undifferentiated female mouse teratocarcinoma stem cells derived from a spontaneous ovarian tumour. As the cells differentiate in vitro one of the X chromosomes becomes inactivated.