Effect of 1, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D_3 on Gastric Carcinogenesis Induced by N-Methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in Rats

The effect of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1, 25 (OH)2D3) given in the post-initiation stage of gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) was investigated in male Wistar rats. Gastric carcinogenesis in rats was induced by administration of MNNG (150 mg·L-1) in drinking water. Four weeks after MNNG exposure, the rats were switched to the diet containing 1, 25 (OH)2D3 (2. 5 μg·kg-1 and 5. 0 μg·kg-1) and maintained on the diet. Animals were killed at week 16 and week 32 for immunohistochemical and histopathological studies. At week 16, the proliferating cell nuclear antingen (PCNA) labeling index in epithelium from the glandular stomach of rats that received 1, 25 (OH)2D3 (5.0 μg·kg-1) in combination with MNNG (150 mg·L-1) were significantly higher when compared with the rats receiving MNNG alone. Supplementation of 1, 25 (OH)2D3 (5. 0 μg·kg-1) in the rats' diet caused a dramatic increase in carcinoma incidence, and the number of individual cancer foci in the glandular stomach of rats receiving MNNG at week 32. It was concluded that certain dose of 1, 25 (OH)2D3 enhanced gastric carcinogenesis induced by MNNG in rats.

INHIBITORY EFFECT OF GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS FISH AND CHELIDONIUM MAJUS L ON GASTROCARCINOGENESIS . INDUCED BY N-METHYL-N' -NITRO-N-NITROSOGUANIDINE

In order to investigate the antagonistic effect of Glycyrrhlza Uralensis Fish (GUF) and Chelidonium maJus L (CML) on gastrccarcinogenesls Induced by MNNG in Wastar rats, we treated the rats with MNNG alone (group 1) and with MNNG plus GUF and CML (group 2 and 3) respectively. The Incidence of Infiltrating adenocarcinoma of the glandular stomach and duodenum in group 2 was significantly lower than that in group 1 (26.7% vs. 67.8%). The differentiation and aggresslvenees of carcinomas occured in group 2 were much better and mild than those in group 1. Present study also demonstrated that the Inhibitory effect of CML on proliferation of human stomach carcinoma cell line MGC-803 was very remarkable; in addition, GUF and CML were able to antagonise the mutagenlc activation of MNNG. These results suggest that GUF and CML may be empoyed In prevention of gastric carcinoma.

Keratinase production and keratin degradation by a mutant strain of Bacillus subtilis

A new feather-degrading bacterium was isolated from a local feather waste site and identified as Bacillus subtilis based on morphological, physiochemical, and phylogenetic characteristics. Screening for mutants with elevated keratinolytic activity using N-methyl-N＇-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis resulted in a mutant strain KD-N2 producing keratinolytic activity about 2.5 times that of the wild-type strain. The mutant strain produced inducible keratinase in different substrates of feathers, hair, wool and silk under submerged cultivation. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed the degradation of feathers, hair and silk by the keratinase. The optimal conditions for keratinase production include initial pH of 7.5, inoculum size of 2% （v/v）, age of inoculum of 16 h, and cultivation at 23 ℃. The maximum keratinolytic activity of KD-N2 was achieved after 30 h. Essential amino acids like threonine, valine, methionine as well as ammonia were produced when feathers were used as substrates. Strain KD-N2, therefore, shows great promise of finding potential applications in keratin hydrolysis and keratinase production.