The reactivity profile of the monoclonal antibody (MAb) MOv18, raised against a poorly differentiated ovarian carcinoma specimen, was studied on normal tissues and tumors from the female reproductive system and on the kidney, which like the oviducts, vagina and uterus, also derives from the intermediate mesoderm. The obtained results indicate that MOv18 recognizes an epitope present on the normal epithelium of the oviducts, on 14-week old fetal kidney and, focally, on proximal and distal tubules of normal adult kidney. A strong reactivity was found on ovarian carcinomas, on invasive squamous carcinomas of the cervix and on endometrial carcinomas and hyperplasias. The antigen recognized by MOv18 (CaMOv18) therefore seems to be an epithelial cell marker associated with intermediate mesoderm differentiation, which can be derepressed during the neoplastic transformation of the ovary and the uterus.

A possible defect of guanosine 3Ј-5Ј-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) content in the renal tissue caused by an increased activity of cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) has, so far, not been evaluated in the pathogenesis of renal resistance to endogenous natriuretic peptides (ENP) in cirrhosis with ascites. To test this hypothesis the activity of cGMP-PDE and the concentration of cGMP were evaluated in vitro in the renal tissue of 10 control rats and 10 cirrhotic rats with ascites before and after the intravenous (IV) administration of Zaprinast (Sigma, St. Louis, MO), a specific cGMP-PDE inhibitor (30 g/kg/min). Moreover, the effects of the intravenous administration of Zaprinast (15 g/kg/min and 30 g/kg/min) on renal plasma flow (RPF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and urinary sodium excretion (U Na V) were evaluated in 10 conscious control rats and 10 conscious cirrhotic rats with ascites. The effects of Zaprinast on plasma renin activity (PRA) was also evaluated in 10 control rats and in 10 cirrhotic rats with ascites. Finally, the effect of Zaprinast on RPF, GFR, and U Na V were evaluated in 10 cirrhotic rats after the IV administration of the ENP-receptor antagonist, HS-142-1. The renal content of cGMP was reduced in cirrhotic rats because of increased activity of cGMP-PDE. Zaprinast inhibited cGMP-PDE activity and increased the renal content of cGMP in these animals. The inhibition of cGMP-PDE was associated with an increase in RPF, GFR, and U Na V and a reduction in PRA. HS-142-1 prevented any renal effect of Zaprinast in cirrhotic rats. In conclusion, an increased activity of the cGMP-PDE in renal tissue contributes to the renal resistance to ENP in cirrhosis with ascites. (HEPATOLOGY 2000;31; 304-310.)Increased circulating levels of endogenous natriuretic peptides (ENP), a family of 4 distinct, but related substances 1 : atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), 2 brain natriuretic peptide, 3 C-type natriuretic peptide, 4 and urodilatin 5 are hallmarks of patients with cirrhosis and ascites. 6-11 Although ENP were found to play an important role in the preservation of renal hemodynamics and sodium excretion in cirrhotic rats with ascites, 12 advanced stages of cirrhosis and ascites are characterized in animal models, as well as in patients with cirrhosis and ascites, by a reduced natriuretic and glomerular responsiveness to exogenous administration of ANP, brain natriuretic peptide, and C-type natriuretic peptide. [12][13][14][15][16] Several biological effects of ENP, including increased glomerular filtration and natriuresis, are mediated via 2 biologically active types of receptors, namely NPR-A and NPR-B receptors. [17][18][19][20] The downstream activation of a membrane guanylyl cyclase results in increased guanosine 3-Ј5Ј-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) generation. [17][18][19][20][21] The mechanisms that mediate the renal hyporesponsiveness to ENP in cirrhosis with ascites remain poorly defined. They may be multifactorial and include the activation of renal vasoconstrictors and antinatriuretic factors, i.e., renin-...

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Improvement of human chorionic villi cells in vitro culture has been obtained by supplementing the medium with 30% human fetal cord serum, instead of fetal calf serum. Expression of human chorionic gonadotropin, estrogen and progesterone receptors, laminin, laminin receptors, and type IV collagen has been studied on first subculture passages (4-7 weeks) by immunoperoxidase method. A minority of the cultured cells were positive for estrogen receptors, the majority were positive for progesterone receptors, while all cells were negative for human chorionic gonadotropin. Cultured cells showed variable positive immunostaining for basement membrane markers like laminin, and type IV collagen, and for laminin receptors. Detection of both progesterone receptors and laminin, or type IV collagen, excluded fibroblast contamination and could then be useful for quick identification of cultured trophoblast cells.