Throughout life, the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) undergoes morphogenetic changes that may be hormonally regulated. To investigate this possibility, a population of cells morphologically identical to native OSE cells was isolated from estrous rabbits with collagenase, unit gravity sedimentation, and trypsin-EDTA. Cells were incubated with various concentrations of protein hormones in serum-rich medium or in a chemically defined medium containing fibronectin. Tritiated thymidine was added 24 h before interruption of cultures. Growth-promoting effects of tested hormones were more pronounced and consistent in serum-free cultures. Under these conditions, human chorionic gonadotropin (10,000 mIU/ml) caused a 2.8-fold increase in cell number and a 3.4-fold stimulation of thymidine incorporation. Luteinizing hormone (NIAMDD-oLH-24, 1.0 micrograms/ml) and follicle-stimulating hormone (NIADDK-oFSH-16, 1.0 micrograms/ml) produced, respectively, a 1.7-fold and 1.5-fold increase in cell proliferation, and over 1.4-fold and 1.3-fold stimulations of thymidine uptake. When used together, no growth stimulation by these gonadotropins was seen. Slight but significant increases in cell number (1.4-fold) and in radiolabel incorporation (1.3-fold) were observed with prolactin (NIADDK-oPrl-16, 10 ng/ml). These data indicate that some protein hormones promote the growth of OSE cells. This property may be important in regulating these cells during normal and pathologic states.

Abstract.-A sensitive method of polyamine estimation has been adapted to the study of the organic cations of small amounts of nucleic acid. A procedure utilizing phenol extraction, alcohol precipitation, and separation on Sephadex G100 has been devised for the isolation of tRNA at low ionic strength. The procedure is applicable to the isolation of tRNA from liter batches of bacterial culture. With these methods we have examined the polyamines of tRNA isolated from polyauxotrophic strains of E. coli incubated under various physiological conditions and have found the following: (1) The tRNA from relaxed bacteria (TAU rel) harvested during exponential growth is heterogeneous with respect to polyamine content. Some portions of the population contain about one mole of spermidine per mole of tRNA. Some putrescine and an unknown amine are also present in low concentration. (2) After exponential TAU rel is incubated with thymine and uracil in the absence of arginine, the tRNA population is far more homogeneous with respect to polyamine content. The various fractions contain two moles of spermidine per mole of tRNA and a small amount of putrescine. (3) After exponential TAU rel is incubated in the absence of both arginine and uracil, the polyamine pattern of the tRNA resembles that isolated from exponential cells. (4) The tRNA from stringent bacterias harvested during exponential growth is heterogeneous with respect to polyamine distribution and some fractions contain relatively high concentrations of the unknown amine.We have been studying the relationship of synthesis of RNA and of the polyamines in polyauxotrophic strains of E. coli.1, 2 In addition to known effects of spermidine on RNA synthesis in vitro,3 our observations have led us to conclude that it is a controlling element in RNA synthesis in vivo. Our data have shown (1) the concomitant synthesis in bacteria of RNA and of this organic cation in numerous physiological conditions,2 (2) the relaxation of synthesis of ribosomal RNA in stringent bacteria by exogenous addition of spermidine,1 and (3) the relatively high rate of synthesis of spermidine in a relaxed mutant as compared to the stringent parent, a difference expressed even in the absence of RNA accumulation.4 It may be asked whether these effects of spermidine arise mainly from the activation of transcription or by the reaction of this polyamine with the main RNA products, rRNA and tRNA.That spermidine can serve to organize helical structure in both RNA5 and DNA6 is known. Indeed, it has been shown that polyamines can help to effect a conversion in vitOm of the inactive configuration of tRNA to the active form.7'-Spermidine appears to be the most active organic cation in this conversion.10 Furthermore, spermidine can replace Mg++ in the methylation of tRNA by liver tRNA methylasell and in the transfer of an amino acid from a complex of enzymc-amino acid-adenylate to tRNA.12 In seeking to define a physiological 669

The distribution of lysozyme in the endocervix of estrous, pseudopregnant, and ovariectomized rabbits was studied using two different immunocytochemical techniques--the unlabeled antibody enzyme method of Sternberger et al. (1970) and the peroxidase-labeled antibody method of Taylor and Burns (1974). With both procedures, a fine immunostaining precipitate was seen over the entire area of basal mucous granules, while immunodeposits were coarser and mostly located in the outer zone of central and apical granules. A nonspecific staining was noted when tissues were reacted with peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex alone. This troublesome artifact was abolished by preincubating tissues with human IgA. This step did not affect the specific immunostaining for lysozyme yet nonspecific staining was absent from specificity and method controls carried out for both immunocytochemical procedures. The presence of high levels of lysozyme in the endocervical epithelium of estrous rabbits was also confirmed in enzymatically isolated endocervical epithelia using the lysoplate method of Osserman and Lawlor (1966). Mucous granules and immunostainable intracellular lysozyme were abundant during estrus, decreased during early pseudopregnancy, and were absent after long-term ovariectomy. However, they were restored by the administration of estradiol (5 micrograms/12 hours/10 days) to ovariectomized animals. These data indicate a common hormonal regulation and secretory mechanism for endocervical mucous glycoproteins and lysozyme.

No abstract

The metabolism of polyamines was studied in K+-dependent strains of Escherichia coli. When these stringent organisms were in a medium containing Na+ instead of K+, protein synthesis was arrested, but synthesis of ribonucleic acid continued as it would in a relaxed organism. The Na+ medium inhibited synthesis of spermidine and S-adenosylmethionine. However, the synthesis of putrescine was accelerated at least fiveto eightfold. Exogenous ornithine doubled even this rate of putrescine synthesis but did not increase the low level of putrescine synthesis in the K+ medium. In K+ or Na+ media, with or without 0.3 mm arginine, putrescine was derived almost entirely from ornithine via ornithine decarboxylase. Addition of spermidine (5 mM) to a Na+ culture markedly inhibited putrescine synthesis. The ornithine decarboxylase of an extract of a K+-dependent strain prepared at low ionic strength was separated from ribosomes, deoxyribonucleic acid, and associated polyamines by centrifugation, and from many ions by ultrafiltration and fractionation on Sephadex G-100. Addition of Na+ and K+ salts to 200 mm was markedly inhibitory. The combined reductions both in synthesis of the inhibitor spermidine and in intracellular ionic strength may explain the in vivo activation of this enzyme.