Structural Variation in Manganase Complexes: Synthesis and Characterization of Manganese Complexes from Carboxylate-containing Chelating Ligands

Three manganese(II) complexes, [Mn(II)(2)L(1)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](ClO(4))(2).H(2)O (1, L(1)H = (bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino)acetic acid), [Mn(II)(2)L(2)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](BPh(4))(2).2EtOH.2H(2)O (2, L(2)H = 3-(bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino)propionic acid), {[Mn(II)(2)L(2)(2)(H(2)O)(MeCN)](BPh(4))(2).2MeCN}(infinity) (3), and a manganese(IV) complex [Mn(IV)(2)O(2)L(2)(2)](ClO(4))(2).4H(2)O (4) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The compound 1 was a dinuclear Mn(II)(2) complex which crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system, space group P2(1)/n, with Z = 4, a = 12.19(1) Å, b = 14.623(8) Å, c = 21.72(1) Å, beta = 96.29(6) degrees, V = 3849(4) Å(3). The complex cation had an approximate C(2) symmtery. The two manganeses were both seven-coordinate and doubly bridged by one oxygen atom of carboxylate groups in &mgr;(2),eta(1)-mode. The compound 2 was also a dinuclear Mn(II)(2) complex which crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system, space group P2(1)/n, with Z = 2, a = 16.760(2) Å, b = 9.643(2) Å, c = 23.533(2) Å, beta = 92.984(8) degrees, V = 3798.4(7) Å(3). The complex cation of 2 also had two seven-coordinate manganese ions, but unlike 1 the nonbridging carboxylate oxygens weakly coordinate to the manganese ions. The compound 3 crystallized in the orthorhombic crystal system, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with Z = 4, a = 27.888(3) Å, b = 29.054(2) Å, c = 9.428(2) Å, V = 7638(2) Å(3). The cationic portion of 3 consisted of infinite chains of Mn(II) (two Mn(II) ions per an asymmetric unit) bridged by carboxylates in bidentate syn/anti mode. The compound 4 was a dinuclear bis(&mgr;-oxo) Mn(IV)(2) complex which crystallized in the trigonal crystal system, space group R&thremacr;, with Z = 8, a = 23.962(4) Å, c = 17.190(3) Å, V = 8547(3) Å(3). All these structures are made up from a common fragment "L(n)()Mn" assembling in various topologies. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that the Mn(II) ions in 1-3 were weakly antiferromagnetically coupled (J = -0.631(6), -0.655(5), and -0.20(1) cm(-)(1) for 1-3), and that the Mn(IV) ions in 4 were strongly antiferromagnetically coupled (J = -97.5(5) cm(-)(1)). The cyclic voltammogram of 4 showed two reduction waves with E(1/2) values of -0.52 and 0.28 V (vs ferrocene). These E(1/2) values are more negative by 0.1 V than those of the closely related complex [Mn(III)Mn(IV)O(2)L(1)(2)](ClO(4)).

Molecular characterization of tomato spotted Wilt virus defective interfering RNAs and detection of truncated L proteins

Junction sites of 25 different defective interfering (DI) RNAs of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) were characterized. The DI RNAs varied in size from 2.0 to 5.2 kilobases (kb) and contained a single internal deletion. The absence of DI RNAs smaller than 2 kb suggested a size constraint for the survival of TSWV DI RNAs. This hypothesis was reinforced by the finding of a dimeric DI RNA formed by two 1.6-long monomers linked head to tail. Three types of junction sites were found, one type originating from a simple deletion; the second type contained a few extra nucleotides of unknown origin; and the third type contained a stretch of three to five nucleotides, originally occurring at both sides of the deletion and of which one was deleted. In 19 of the 25 DI RNAs studied, the original reading frame was maintained, suggesting a selective preference of DI RNAs with translational potency. Truncated proteins encoded by these DI RNAs were indeed detected in the nucleocapsid preparations. Folding studies of the complete L RNA revealed that the calculated minimal energy of folding was at 16 degreesC lower than at 23 degrees, indicating a higher stability of this molecule at low temperatures. The results suggest an involvement of locally folded secondary structures in the process of deletion, rather than the requirement of certain sequences around the deletion point. The DI RNA generation in TSWV is essentially, as discussed, similar to the process of RNA recombination described in many viruses.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids--modulation of voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ current in guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle cells

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been reported to be associated with favorable changes in the respiratory system. To determine one of the mechanisms for this effect, membrane currents were recorded in guinea-pig tracheal myocytes by using the whole-cell voltage clamp technique. Without EGTA in the patch pipette containing the Cs-internal solution, command voltage pulses positive to +0 mV from a holding potential of -60 mV elicited a voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ current (I(Ca x L)) and a subsequent outward current. Upon repolarization, slowly decaying inward tail currents were recorded. The outward currents and the inward tail current were enhanced by methyl-1,4,-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trigluromethylphenyl )-pyridine-5-carboxylate, and blocked by Cd2+ or nifedipine. Inclusion of EGTA (5 mM) in the patch pipette also abolished these currents, indicating that they were Ca2+-dependent. When [Cl-]o or [Cl-]i was changed, the reversal potential of these currents shifted, thus behaving like a Cl(-)-sensitive ion channel. 4,4'-Diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid. a Cl- channel blocker, inhibited the currents. The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (3-30 microM) and docosahexaenoic acid (30 microM) suppressed I(Ca x L) and then inhibited I(Ca x Cl) in a reversible manner. Similar inhibitory effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on I(Ca x L) were observed with 5 mM EGTA in the patch pipette. Neurokinin A (1 microM) and caffeine (10 mM) also transiently activated I(Cl x Ca), probably due to Ca2+ release from Ca2+ storage sites. Pretreatment of the cells with eicosapentaenoic acid markedly suppressed the activation of I(Cl x Ca) by neurokinin A or caffeine. These results suggest that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ currents and also Ca2+-activated Cl- currents in tracheal smooth muscle cells from the guinea-pig, which may play a role in modulation of tracheal smooth muscle tone.

Isolation and characterization of a cytokinin up-regulated gene from tobacco mesophyll protoplasts

We have isolated a cytokinin up-regulated cDNA clone, H13, from an early stage of cultured tobacco mesophyll protoplasts by a differential display method. The expression of this gene was specifically induced by natural and synthetic cytokinins including N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea (4PU30), a diphenylurea-type cytokinin, although the simultaneous presence of auxin was also required. It seems that the preceding treatment of the tobacco mesophyll protoplasts by auxin is necessary for the gene to respond to cytokinin. The addition of a cytokinin antagonist, compound 182, which suppressed the induction of cell division in tobacco mesophyll protoplasts, completely abolished the expression of this gene. Though the predicted gene product of H13 did not suggest us any sequences of defined functions, two domains of the predicted sequence had significant homology to several reported sequences in the data base. The gene product of H13 is proposed to have a role in regenerating cell wall in cultured protoplasts, since a cDNA clone E6, from cotton fiber cells, which has the most closely related structure to H13, has been isolated from cells which showed active cellulose synthesis. This supposition is supported by the evidence that in the absence of cytokinin, cell wall regeneration was significantly suppressed, resulting in failure of the induction of cell division. Thus, the gene product of H13 is supposed to have a role in regenerating cell walls and facilitating the progression of the cell cycle, resulting in the sustained cell division of tobacco mesophyll protoplasts.

Radioautographology: the proposal of a new concept

A new concept termed "radioautographology" is advocated. This term was synthesized from "radioautography" and "ology", expressing a new science derived from radioautography. The concept of radioautographology (RAGology) is that of a science whose objective is to localize radioactive substances in the biological structure of objects and to analyze and study the significance of these substances in the biological structure. On the other hand, the old term radioautography (RAG) is the technique used to demonstrate the pattern of localization of various radiolabeled compounds in specimens. The specimens used in biology and medicine are cells and tissues. They are fixed, sectioned and placed in contact with the radioautographic emulsions, which are exposed and developed to produce metallic silver grains. Such specimens are designated as radioautographs and the patterns of pictures made of silver grains are named radioautograms. The technicians who produce radioautographs are named radioautographers, while those who study RAGology are scientists and should be called radioautographologists. The science of RAGology can be divided into two parts, general RAGology and special RAGology, as most natural sciences usually can. General RAGology is the technology of RAG which consists of three fields of science, i.e., physics concerning radioactivity, histochemistry for the treatment of cells and tissues, and photochemistry dealing with the photographic emulsions. Special RAGology, on the other hand, consists of applications of general RAGology. The applications can be classified into several scientific fields, i.e., cellular and molecular biology, anatomy, histology, embryology, pathology and pharmacology. Studies carried out in our laboratory are summarized and reviewed. All the results obtained from such applications should be systematized as a new field of science in the future.

Personality disorders in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder in Japan

A total of 75 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were studied in order to investigate the characteristics of OCD symptoms and the comorbidity of personality disorders (PD). Contamination obsessions and checking compulsions were most commonly found in patients, of whom 53% met the criteria for at least one PD. Among comorbid PD, the anxious-fearful (cluster C) PDs, such as avoidant, obsessive-compulsive and dependent PD, were most prevalent, followed by the odd-eccentric (cluster A) PDs, such as paranoid and schizotypal PD. The patients with PD had more severe social maladaptation and concurrent depressive and anxious symptoms than the patients without any PD, despite the similar severity of OCD symptoms. These results are consistent with those reported in the Western world, and are considered to be relatively stable cross-culturally.

[Immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis associated with infective endocarditis with aortic valve vegetation]

A 61-year-old male was referred to our hospital for rapidly progressive azotemia. He was also found to have huge vegetation at the aortic valve causing regurgitation. Biochemical examinations revealed the presence of an immunocomplex associated with decreased circulating complements. In biopsy samples from the kidney, we found the presence of fibrillar crescents, proliferation of mesangial cells, increase in extracellular matrix proteins, atrophy of tubules, infiltration of mononuclear cells in the interstitial regions, high density deposits in the mesangial area and mesangial interposition. Since the patient strongly rejected operative treatment by valvular replacement, we continued non-invasive treatment such as hemodialysis and treatment with penicillin G. This transiently improved the condition of the patient, including biochemical data and cardiac function, but there was no reduction in the size of vegetation at the aortic valve and the bacteria responsible for infective endocarditis were not identified. About three months after admission, overt signs of congestive heart failure emerged and the patients was subjected to intensive care with a respirator and hemodynamic monitoring. Although the cardiac function was improved, concomitant severe pneumonia occurred and the patient died of septic shock. Thus, we report a rare case in whom immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis was associated with infective endocarditis with aortic valve vegetation.

Immature thymocyte antigen-1: a novel thymocyte marker discriminating pre- and post-selected thymocytes

Previously, we described a mAb (1-23) reacting with a novel cell surface antigen expressed on thymocytes at late CD4-CD8- [(double negative (DN)] to early CD4+CD8+ [(double positive (DP)] differentiation stage. Since the expression of this molecule was restricted to immature thymocytes, we designated it as immature thymocyte antigen-1 (IMT-1). In this study, we have investigated the relevance of IMT-1 expression to thymocyte selection using TCR transgenic mice, scid mice or RAG-2-/- mice. The IMT-1+ population in DP thymocytes was decreased in the thymuses of MHC class I-restricted or class II-restricted TCR transgenic mice with a positively selecting MHC background when compared with that of the mice with a non-selecting MHC background. IMT-1+ DP thymocytes were also decreased in TCR transgenic mice in which negative selection occurs. When DP thymocytes in H-Y TCR transgenic mice were stimulated with CD3epsilon mAb in vitro as well as in vivo, the expression of IMT-1 on DP thymocytes was decreased. Furthermore, the expression of IMT-1 on DN thymocytes from RAG-2-/- mice was drastically reduced when CD3epsilon mAb was challenged in vivo. These results suggest that the expression of IMT-1 on DP or DN thymocytes is down-regulated by stimulation through TCR as well as pre-TCR. Taken together, these results show that IMT-1 is a unique surface marker which exquisitely separates pre-selected thymocytes from post-selected thymocytes.

The identification of DNA binding factors specific for as-1-like sequences in auxin-responsive regions of parA, parB and parC

We have identified the auxin-responsive region (Aux-RR) of the parA promoter; it is derived from a gene that is induced by auxin in tobacco mesophyll protoplasts. By analyses of gain-of-function and point mutations in transgenic tobacco plants, we showed that an as-1-like sequence was required, but not alone sufficient, for auxin responsiveness of the parA promoter, as has been also shown for the parC promoter in a recent study. A gel mobility shift assay revealed that the as-1-like sequence of the parA promoter bound specifically to the as-1 binding nuclear factor, ASF-1, while the as-1-like sequence of the parC promoter bound specifically to a novel nuclear factor named ALF-1 (as-1-like sequence binding factor-1). Since these bindings were correlated with auxin-induced activation of transcription, those results suggest that ALF-1 is a new nuclear factor involved in auxin responsiveness and that it is distinct from ASF-1. Furthermore, we found that an as-1-like sequence in the AuxRR of parB bound specifically to a tobacco nuclear factor, named ALF-2, which differed from ASF-1 and ALF-1. These results suggest that the auxin responsiveness of the auxin-inducible genes parA, parB and parC are regulated by different mechanisms, even though the cis-acting elements look similar.

IFN-gamma induces coordinate expression of MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation machinery molecules in adult mouse Schwann cells

The expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules on adult mouse Schwann cells (SCs) was examined using immunofluorescence analysis. MHC class I molecules were not expressed on the surface of untreated SCs. Interferon (IFN)-gamma treatment induced expression of the molecules on the SCs. Expression of genes coding for the molecules involved in MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation was also analysed in SCs by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Expression of MHC class I heavy chain genes was faintly detected in untreated SCs. IFN-gamma treatment augmented the expression. In addition, IFN-gamma induced expression of the genes for beta2-microglobulin, the peptide transporter TAP-1 and the proteasomal subunit LMP-2, whose expression was not detected in untreated SCs. The expressions of MHC class II molecules and their genes were not detected even after IFN-gamma treatment. These data suggest that MHC class I-mediated antigen presentation machinery functions in adult mouse SCs and that the SCs themselves work as antigen presenting cells and as targets for cytotoxic T cells in some physiological conditions.

Stromal cells and cytokines in the induction of recombination activating gene (RAG) expression in a human lymphoid progenitor cell

The activation of recombination activating genes (RAGs) plays critical roles in the V(D)J gene recombination machinery and lymphocyte repertoire formation. However, the regulation of RAG gene expression in humans as well as animals is poorly understood. We show that RAG gene expression is activated in a human lymphoid progenitor cell line (FL8.2.4.4) by coculturing them on a bone marrow-derived stromal cell line (PA6) in the presence of cytokines. The RAG transcripts become detectable in 12 hours after initiation of culture, and the increased level is sustained at 24 hours. Among the cytokines, IL-3, IL-6, and IL-7, but not IL-2, IL-4, SCF, GM-CSF induces RAG activation. IL-3, IL-6, and IL-7 exert their effect synergistically on RAG activation. A cognate interaction between FL8.2.4.4 cells and PA6 stromal cells seems to be prerequisite for RAG activation. RAG transcripts are inducible in FL8.2.4.4 cells when cocultured on paraformaldehyde fixed-PA6 stromal cells in the presence of cytokines. These data indicate that two separate signals are both required for induction of RAG activation in lymphoid progenitors; one from the cell surface molecule(s) on stromal cells, and the other from recombinant cytokine(s). The expression of RAG mRNA in FL8.2.4.4 cells is concomitant with induction of recombinase activity. Thus, this system may provide a useful means for further understanding of the mechanisms controlling RAG activation and lymphocyte development in human system.

Inhibition of Escherichia coli RecA coprotease activities by DinI

In Escherichia coli, the SOS response is induced upon DNA damage and results in the enhanced expression of a set of genes involved in DNA repair and other functions. The initial step, self-cleavage of the LexA repressor, is promoted by the RecA protein which is activated upon binding to single-stranded DNA. In this work, induction of the SOS response by the addition of mitomycin C was found to be prevented by overexpression of the dinI gene. dinI is an SOS gene which maps at 24.6 min of the E.coli chromosome and encodes a small protein of 81 amino acids. Immunoblotting analysis with anti-LexA antibodies revealed that LexA did not undergo cleavage in dinI-overexpressed cells after UV irradiation. In addition, the RecA-dependent conversion of UmuD to UmuD' (the active form for mutagenesis) was also inhibited in dinI-overexpressed cells. Conversely, a dinI-deficient mutant showed a slightly faster and more extensive processing of UmuD and hence higher mutability than the wild-type. Finally, we demonstrated, by using an in vitro reaction with purified proteins, that DinI directly inhibits the ability of RecA to mediate self-cleavage of UmuD.

Characterization of mouse retinoid X receptor (RXR)-beta gene promoter: negative regulation by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha

A genomic clone of mouse retinoid X receptor (RXR)-beta (Rxrb) has recently been isolated and mapped within the H2-K region of the mouse major histocompatibility complex. A putative 250-bp promoter, which is located between Rxrb and H2-Ke4, and may possibly be their common promoter, has also been identified. In order to study the gene regulation of Rxrb, we analyzed the transcriptional function of the Rxrb promoter with chimeric constructs containing the Rxrb promoter fragments fused upstream of a firefly luciferase cDNA, which were transiently transfected into rat GH3 cells. We found that 1) a part of the H2-Ke4 genomic region (1.9-kb), as well as the 250-bp promoter, was transcriptionally active as an Rxrb promoter; 2) tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha significantly repressed the activity of the 250-bp promoter although thyroid hormone, 9-cis retinoic acid, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6 did not affect the activity; 3) either the change in orientation or point mutations of a consensus NF-kappaB site located in the 250-bp promoter did not affect the repression; 4) SB 203580, a highly specific inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, completely abolished the repression by TNF-alpha. These data suggest that TNF-alpha represses the promoter activity of the 250-bp region, and the repression is mediated by p38 MAP kinase independent of NF-kappaB. We thus have first shown a relation between the retinoic acid receptor and a cytokine TNF-alpha.

Are young women in Japan at high risk for eating disorders?: Decreased BMI in young females from 1960 to 1995

The height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of Japanese males and females aged from 6 to 24 years between 1960 and 1995 were studied. From 1960 to 1995 in males of all ages and in females aged 6-14 years height, weight and BMI increased. In females aged 15-24 years, the height increased and the weight slightly increased, but the BMI gradually decreased from 21.5 in 1960 to 20.5 in 1995. Over the last 35 years adolescent and young adult women have become thinner. Dieting to be slim has become much more prevalent among young women. These findings suggest that young females in Japan have decreased their BMI by dieting in order to become slim. If this tendency persists, with regard to a close relationship between restrained eating or dieting and eating disorders, Japanese young women have a much greater risk of developing eating disorders.

Adhesion of lens capsule to intraocular lenses of polymethylmethacrylate, silicone, and acrylic foldable materials: an experimental study

AIMS

To investigate the adhesion characteristics of several intraocular lenses (IOLs) to the simulated and rabbit lens capsule.

METHODS

Adhesive force to bovine collagen sheets was measured in water with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), three piece silicone, and acrylic foldable IOLs. In rabbit eyes, phacoemulsification and IOL implantation were performed. Three weeks later, adhesion between the anterior/posterior capsules and IOL optic was tested, and the capsule was examined histologically.

RESULTS

The mean adhesive force to the collagen sheet was 1697 (SD 286) mg for acrylic foldable, 583 (49) mg for PMMA, and 0 mg for silicone IOLs (p = 0.0003, Kruskal-Wallis test). Scores (0-5) of adhesion between rabbit anterior capsule and IOL optic were 4.50 (0.55) for acrylic foldable, 3.20 (0.84) for PMMA, and 0.40 (0.55) for silicone IOLs (p = 0.004). Scores between rabbit posterior capsule and IOL optic displayed a similar tendency; 4.50 (0.84) for acrylic foldable, 3.00 (1.00) for PMMA, and 0.40 (0.55) for silicone IOLs (p = 0.021). Histological observation indicated that the edge of IOL optic suppressed the migration of lens epithelial cells towards the centre of the posterior capsule. This inhibitory effect was most pronounced with acrylic foldable IOL and least with silicone IOL.

CONCLUSIONS

The acrylic foldable IOL adhered to the lens capsule more than the PMMA IOL, and the silicone IOL showed no adhesiveness. These differences seem to play a role in preventing lens epithelial cells from migrating and forming posterior capsule opacification.

Personality disorders in patients with eating disorders in Japan

We assessed the prevalence of personality disorders (PD) using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders (SCID-II) in 36 patients with restricting anorexia nervosa, 30 patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and 42 patients with bulimia nervosa. Of the 108 patients, 51% met the criteria for at least one PD. The patients with PD had more severe clinical features in terms of bulimic behaviors, concurrent depressive, anxious, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and psychopathology related to eating disorders compared to the patients without any PD. The patients with PD, especially borderline PD, also had more severe global functioning and greater numbers of suicidal attempts and hospital admissions. We compare these results with those reported in the Western world and discuss them cross-culturally.

Conjugation of ubiquitin-like polypeptide to intracellular acceptor proteins

Monoclonal nonspecific suppressor factor (MNSF), a lymphokine produced by a murine hybridoma, was originally found to inhibit the generation of LPS-induced immunoglobulin secreting cells. MNSF comprises of MNSF beta, an isoform of MNSF, and the other isoform, MNSF alpha. Ubiquitin-like segment (Ubi-L) of MNSF beta shows MNSF-like activity. Ubi-L (7.8 kDa) has 36% homology with 8.5 kDa ubiquitin. GST-Ubi-L was labeled with 125I by the chloramine T method and tested for its conjugation to acceptor in splenocyte lysates. 125I-GST-Ubi-L conjugation on SDS-PAGE showed heterogeneous bands including 95 kDa GST-Ubi-L conjugation in the splenocyte, but not reticulocyte lysates. The Ubi-L adduct appeared to be MNSF-related molecule because anti-MNSF monoclonal antibody (mAb) recognized the 95 kDa band. The pattern of the conjugations was different from that seen in ubiquitination. Unlabeled GST-Ubi-L inhibited the conjugations, while ubiquitin did not. alpha-Lactalbumin, one of the target proteins for ubiquitination, failed to conjugate to GST-Ubi-L. In addition, covalent conjugation of ubiquitin to reticulocyte lysates was also interfered by GST-Ubi-L. These results suggest that Ubi-L may conjugate to acceptor proteins in a similar, but not in the same way as ubiquitination, and might play an important role in lymphoid cells.

Adhesiveness of AcrySof to a collagen film

PURPOSE

To measure the adhesiveness of the AcrySof intraocular lens (IOL) to a collagen film to ascertain its capacity to adhere to the lens capsule.

SETTING

Haibara General Hospital, Haibara, and Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan.

METHODS

Each of five AcrySof IOLs was attached to a collagen film, slightly pressed in intraocular irrigating solution, and then pulled up and off the film with a DuNouy's surface balance. The force recorded by the surface balance at the moment it detached from the film was defined as the lens' adhesiveness. A control experiment was performed using five conventional poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) IOLs.

RESULTS

Mean adhesiveness was 2.76 gram-weight (gw) +/- 0.55 (SD) for AcrySof and 0.81 +/- 0.20 gw for PMMA. The difference was statistically significant (P < .0001, t-test).

CONCLUSION

AcrySof may have a strong tendency to adhere to the lens capsule, contributing to posterior and anterior capsule clarity and preventing lens decentration in vivo.

Prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in cats in Japan

The prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in cats in Japan has been examined since 1957. Twenty surveys involving a total of 3775 cats, conducted in two islands of Japan (Honshu and Kyushu), were studied. The surveys evaluated both stray (3617) and house (158) cats. Presence of D. immitis was detected at necropsy. The results show a prevalence of D. immitis varying from 0.5 to 9.5% for stray cats and from 3.0 to 5.2% for house cats on the two islands.

Techniques of radioautography for medical and biological research

Standard techniques for radioautography used in biological and medical research can be classified into three categories, i.e., macroscopic radioautography, light microscopic radioautography and electron microscopic radioautography. The routine techniques used in these three procedures are described. With regard to macroscopic radioautography, whole body radioautography is a standard technique which employs freezing and cryosectioning and can demonstrate organ distributions of both soluble and insoluble compounds. In contrast, in light and electron microscopic radioautography, soluble and insoluble techniques are separated. In order to demonstrate insoluble labeled compounds, conventional chemical fixations such as formalin for light microscopy or buffered glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide for both light and electron microscopy followed by dehydration, embedding and wet-mounting applications of radioautographic emulsions can be used. For the demonstration of soluble labeled compounds, however, cryotechniques such as cryofixation, cryosectioning, freeze-drying, freeze-substitution followed by dry-sectioning and dry-mounting radioautography should be employed both for light and electron microscopy. The outlines of these techniques, which should be utilized in various fields of biological and medical research, are described in detail.

cDNA cloning of bovine thrombospondin 1 and its expression in odontoblasts and predentin

The extracellular matrix protein thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) was cloned from odontoblasts of bovine mandibular teeth which participate in dentinogenesis. The 5289 bp cDNA contains a complete open reading frame of 1170 amino acids. Bovine TSP1 has high homologies to its human and mouse counterparts. In immunohistochemical analyses of bovine anterior teeth with anti-TSP1 monoclonal antibody, TSP1 was only detectable at the position of predentin, located between dentin and unmineralized dental pulp. Northern blot analysis showed high levels of two sizes of TSP1 mRNAs in odontoblasts but not dental pulp and gingiva. Previously we found that osteotropic factors such as calcitriol and TGF-beta induce TSP1 at the transcriptional level in clonal rat dental pulp cells. These results suggest a role of TSP1 in dentinogenesis and/or maintenance of dentin and dental pulp.

Antioxidative activities in some common seaweeds

Dietary antioxidants from plants are believed to help prevent aging and other diseases through radical scavenging activity. Free radical scavenging activities by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and deoxyribose assay were ascertained among 27 species of common seaweeds using a sequential extraction method. The results indicated that, DPPH scavenging activity existed in 15 species; Gelidium amansii, Gloiosiphonia capillaris, Polysiphonia urceolata, Sargassum kjellmanianum, Desmarestia viridis, and Rhodomela teres showed the strongest activities. On the other hand, the deoxyribose results showed that almost all the seaweed species had good ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals. The most active species were Rhodomela teres and Chorda filum.

Thromboxane inhibition and monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats

Monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a useful model for the investigation of this disorder in humans. The role of thrombocytes in the genesis of PH has already been addressed; however, the exact mechanism by which they induce PH remains to be elucidated. We investigated the effects of a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthase inhibitor (OKY-046) and a TXA2/prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) receptor antagonist (ONO-8809) on the development of MCT-induced PH. A single dose of MCT (60 mg/kg bodyweight; BW) was injected subcutaneously in Wistar rats 24 h after the administration of OKY-046 or ONO-8809. The TXA2 inhibitors were administered by gavage daily for 3 weeks. Urinary excretion of eicosanoids was determined by radioimmunoassay. At the end of the treatment period, the lungs, heart and kidneys were morphologically examined. The per cent medial thickness of the muscular pulmonary arteries (%MT) and the ratio of the right to the left ventricular mass including the septum (RV/LV + S) increased significantly in MCT-treated rats compared with the control rats. The %MT was attenuated by the administration of ONO-8809. Either OKY-046 or ONO-8809 attenuated the increase in RV/LV + S. In addition, both TXA2 inhibitors reduced urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-TXB2, particularly during the early phase of PH, suggesting that platelet aggregation was reduced. These findings suggest that the inhibition of TXA2 by synthase inhibition or receptor antagonism reduces or delays the development of MCT-induced PH in rats, probably by inhibiting platelet aggregation.