Progesterone regulates human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene expression via activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway

Emerging evidence indicates that sex steroid hormones regulate telomerase in target tissues. We have reported that estrogen activates telomerase through transactivation of the telomerase catalytic subunit, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Progesterone usually antagonizes estrogen action in reproductive organs, but the effect on telomerase remains unclear. In this study, we examine the effects of progesterone on the gene expression of hTERT in breast and endometrial cancer cell lines expressing progesterone receptor. Progesterone significantly induced hTERT mRNA expression within 3 h after exposure. This transient effect peaked at 12 h and then decreased. In contrast, exposure to progesterone for > 48 h antagonized estrogen effects and inhibited the estrogen-induced activation of hTERT expression; the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21/Waf1/Cip1 plays an integral role in this inhibition. Thus, progesterone exerts diverse effects on hTERT mRNA expression in a time-dependent manner. We also found that the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway mediates both the short-term and long-term effects of progesterone on hTERT gene expression. These findings support the notion that hTERT gene is a target of both estrogen and progesterone.

Two-dimensional analysis of phospholipids by capillary liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A phospholipid mixture extracted from cultured cells was directly analyzed by capillary (Cap) liquid chromatography (LC)/electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS). Using a quadrupole mass spectrometer, we analyzed positive molecular ions, negative molecular ions, positive fragment ions and negative fragment ions under four different functions. In the analysis of the elution patterns of the phospholipids, a two-dimensional map, in which the first dimension is elution time and the second dimension is mass, proved useful. Consequently, four different maps can be obtained by each of four different functions. Among them, from negative fragment ions at high cone voltage in the negative ion mode, ions that originated from acyl fatty acid and phosphorylcholine, phosphorylethanolamine and cyclic inositol phosphate can be detected at specific elution times. The map from positive fragment ions at high cone voltage in the positive ion mode indicated ions such as diradylglycerol and derivatives of 1-alkyl or 1-alkenyl cyclic phosphatidic acid from phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphorylcholine from choline-containing phospholipids. The map produced from positive molecular ions indicated choline-containing phospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine and PE. The map of negative molecular ions effectively indicated acidic phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositol. We were able to obtain more than 500 molecular species of phospholipids by this method within a few hours immediately after extraction from culture cells using a mixture of chloroform and methanol (2:1). In this context, we concluded that the combination of Cap-LC and ESIMS seems to be very effective in the analysis of phospholipid classes and their molecular species.

Activation of the luteinizing hormone beta promoter by gonadotropin-releasing hormone requires c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase

Regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the gonadotrope cell line LbetaT2 was investigated. Treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) activates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK). Activation of ERK by GnRHa occurred within 5 min, and declined thereafter, whereas activation of JNK by GnRHa occurred with a different time frame, i.e. it was detectable at 5 min, reached a plateau at 30 min, and declined thereafter. GnRHa-induced ERK activation was dependent on protein kinase C or extracellular and intracellular Ca(2+), whereas GnRHa-induced JNK activation was not dependent on protein kinase C or on extracellular or intracellular Ca(2+). To determine whether a mitogen-activated protein kinase family cascade regulates rat luteinizing hormone beta (LHbeta) promoter activity, we transfected the rat LHbeta (-156 to +7)-luciferase construct into LbetaT2 cells. GnRH activated the rat LHbeta promoter activity in a time-dependent manner. Neither treatment with a mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, PD98059, nor cotransfection with a catalytically inactive form of a mitogen-activated protein kinase construct inhibited the induction of the rat LHbeta promoter by GnRH. Furthermore, cotransfection with a dominant negative Ets had no effect on the response of the rat LHbeta promoter to GnRH. On the other hand, cotransfection with either dominant negative JNK or dominant negative c-Jun significantly inhibited the induction of the rat LHbeta promoter by GnRH. In addition, GnRH did not induce either the rat LHbeta promoter activity in LbetaT2 cells transfected stably with dominant negative c-Jun. These results suggest that GnRHa differentially activates ERK and JNK, and a JNK cascade is necessary to elicit the rat LHbeta promoter activity in a c-Jun-dependent mechanism in LbetaT2 cells.

Prolactin-releasing peptide activation of the prolactin promoter is differentially mediated by extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase

Regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family by prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) in both GH3 rat pituitary tumor cells and primary cultures of rat anterior pituitary cells was investigated. PrRP rapidly and transiently activated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in both types of cells. Both pertussis toxin, which inactivates G(i)/G(o) proteins, and exogenous expression of a peptide derived from the carboxyl terminus of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase I, which specifically blocks signaling mediated by the betagamma subunits of G proteins, completely blocked the PrRP-induced ERK activation, suggesting the involvement of G(i)/G(o) proteins in the PrRP-induced ERK activation. Down-regulation of cellular protein kinase C did not significantly inhibit the PrRP-induced ERK activation, suggesting that a protein kinase C-independent pathway is mainly involved. PrRP-induced ERK activation was not dependent on either extracellular Ca(2+) or intracellular Ca(2+). However, the ERK cascade was not the only route by which PrRP communicated with the nucleus. JNK was also shown to be significantly activated in response to PrRP. JNK activation in response to PrRP was slower than ERK activation. Moreover, to determine whether a MAPK family cascade regulates rat prolactin (rPRL) promoter activity, we transfected the intact rPRL promoter ligated to the firefly luciferase reporter gene into GH3 cells. PrRP activated the rPRL promoter activity in a time-dependent manner. Co-transfection with a catalytically inactive form of a MAPK construct or a dominant negative JNK, partially but significantly inhibited the induction of the rPRL promoter by PrRP. Furthermore, co-transfection with a dominant negative Ets completely abolished the response of the rPRL promoter to PrRP. These results suggest that PrRP differentially activates ERK and JNK, and both cascades are necessary to elicit rPRL promoter activity in an Ets-dependent mechanism.

Involvement of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase in gliosis induced during recovery from metabolic inhibition

Brain reperfusion may be of particular importance in the etiology of periventricular leukomalacia, of which the common findings are gliosis and ventricular dilatation. To investigate the mechanism of this pathogenesis, we used a metabolic inhibition (MI) model using cyanide plus deoxyglucose treatment of cultured glia isolated from fetal rat brain and examined the activity of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) during MI and also during the recovery from MI of 30 min. ERK activation was stimulated during MI and the recovery from MI. The time course and extent of activation of ERK during MI and the recovery from MI, however, were distinctly different. Activation of ERK was stimulated within 5 min of MI and declined thereafter. Activation of ERK was sustained during the recovery phase from MI and the extent of the activation was much greater than that during MI. Pretreatment with EGTA to eliminate extracellular Ca(2+), or with APV, an NMDA receptor antagonist, to inhibit Ca(2+) influx through the NMDA receptor, attenuated the activation of ERK. Moreover, pretreatment with PMA to downregulate PKC abolished the activation of ERK. PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK kinase, attenuated the cell proliferation induced by MI followed by recovery from MI. These results suggest that ERK is involved in gliosis during the recovery phase from MI and may play a role in the etiology of periventricular leukomalacia.

Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase or c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase cascade, differentially activated by cisplatin, sensitizes human ovarian cancer cell line

We have studied the roles of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) cascade in both the cisplatin-resistant Caov-3 and the cisplatin-sensitive A2780 human ovarian cancer cell lines. Treatment of both cells with cisplatin but not transplatin isomer activates JNK and ERK. Activation of JNK by cisplatin occurred at 30 min, reached a plateau at 3 h, and declined thereafter, whereas activation of ERK by cisplatin showed a biphasic pattern, indicating the different time frame. Activation of JNK by cisplatin was maximal at 1000 microM, whereas activation of ERK was maximal at 100 microM and was less at higher concentrations, indicating the different dose dependence. Cisplatin-induced JNK activation was neither extracellular and intracellular Ca(2+)- nor protein kinase C-dependent, whereas cisplatin-induced ERK activation was extracellular and intracellular Ca(2+)- dependent and protein kinase C-dependent. A mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase inhibitor, PD98059, had no effect on the cisplatin-induced JNK activity, suggesting an absence of cross-talk between the ERK and JNK cascades. We further examined the effect of each cascade on the viability following cisplatin treatment. Either exogenous expression of dominant negative c-Jun or the treatment by PD98059 induced sensitivity to cisplatin in both cells. Our findings suggest that cisplatin-induced DNA damage differentially activates JNK and ERK cascades and that inhibition of either of these cascades sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin.

Role of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase cascade in gonadotropin-releasing hormone-induced growth inhibition of a human ovarian cancer cell line

Although gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) have been used in the therapy of the endocrine-dependent cancers, their biological mechanism remained obscure. We have studied the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinase family in the antiproliferative effect of GnRHa on the Caov-3 human ovarian cancer cell line. Reverse transcription-PCR assays confirmed mRNA for GnRH receptor in Caov-3 cells. In the presence of 1 microM GnRHa, the proliferation of cells was significantly reduced to 76% of controls after 24 h, and the effect was sustained up to 4 days. Although GnRHa had no effect on the activation of the Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), treatment of Caov-3 cells with GnRHa activated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), and its effect was more than that induced by GnRH. Activation of ERK by GnRHa occurred within 5 min, with the maximum occurring at 3 h and sustained until 24 h. GnRHa also activated ERK kinase (mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase) and resulted in an increase in phosphorylation of son of sevenless (Sos), and Shc. Furthermore, we examined the mechanism by which GnRHa induced ERK activation. Both pertussis toxin (10 ng/ml), which inactivates Gi/Go proteins, and expression of a peptide derived from the carboxyl terminus of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase I, which specifically blocks signaling mediated by the betagamma subunits of G proteins, blocked the GnRHa-induced ERK activation. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) also induced the ERK activity, but pretreatment of the cultured cells with PMA to down-regulate protein kinase C did not abolish the activation of ERK by GnRHa. Elimination of extracellular Ca2+ by EGTA also did not abolish the activation of ERK by GnRHa. To examine the role of ERK cascade in the antiproliferative effect of GnRHa, PD98059, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase, was used. This inhibitor canceled the antiproliferative effect of GnRHa and apparently reversed the GnRH-induced dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein, the hyperphosphorylation of which is a hallmark of G1-S transition in the cell cycle. These results provide evidence that GnRHa stimulation of ERK activity may be mediated by Gbetagamma protein, not by PMA-sensitive protein kinase C nor extracellular Ca2+ in the Caov-3 human ovarian cancer cell line, suggesting that this cascade may play an important role in the antiproliferative effect of GnRHa.

Loss of wild-type carrier-mediated L-carnitine transport activity in hepatocytes of juvenile visceral steatosis mice

Juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mice, which show systemic L-carnitine deficiency, may be an animal model of Reye's syndrome because of its phenotype of fat deposition and mitochondrial abnormalities in the liver. In this study, we compared the characteristics of the L-carnitine transport in isolated hepatocytes from wild-type and JVS mice. The uptake of L-carnitine by wild-type hepatocytes was saturable and the Eadie-Hofstee plot showed 2 distinct components. The apparent Michaelis constant (K(m)) and the maximum transport rate (V(max)) were 4.6 micromol/L and 59.5 pmol/15 min/10(6) cells, respectively, for the high-affinity component, and 404 micromol/L and 713 pmol/15 min/10(6) cells, respectively, for the low-affinity component. The high-affinity L-carnitine uptake occurred via an active carrier-mediated transport mechanism, which is characterized by Na(+)-, energy-, and pH-dependency. On the other hand, the high-affinity uptake was absent in JVS hepatocytes, and the values of K(m) and V(max) for the low-affinity uptake were 475 micromol/L and 557 pmol/15 min/10(6) cells, respectively. The hepatic carnitine transport properties in wild-type hepatocytes were similar to those of high-affinity mouse Octn2-transfected HEK293 cells. This study suggests that Octn2-type carnitine transporter is dysfunctional in hepatocytes of JVS mice.

Distinct in vivo and in vitro cytokine profiles of draining lymph node cells in acute and chronic phases of contact hypersensitivity: importance of a type 2 cytokine-rich cutaneous milieu for the development of an early-type response in the chronic phase

Although regional lymph nodes (LN) have been extensively studied as rich sources of effector T cells in contact hypersensitivity (CH), it remains unknown whether T cell responses in the LN reflect those in effector skin sites. We previously showed that repeated elicitation of CH results in a shift in the time course of Ag-specific CH from a delayed-type hypersensitivity response to an early-type response, a reflection of a shift in cutaneous cytokine expression from a type 1 to a type 2 profile. To investigate whether repeated elicitation of CH could also drive T cell development to the type 2 phenotype in the regional draining LN, sequential cytokine gene expression after hapten application was assessed during both the acute and the chronic phase of CH. In the draining LN the shift to type 2 cytokine production was also observed, but more mixed patterns of responses were induced than in the corresponding skin sites. The chronic LN cells (LNC), when stimulated in vitro, produced markedly lower levels of type 1 cytokines and higher levels of type 2 cytokines than the acute LNC. A successful passive transfer of an early-type response by the LNC was only induced in the recipient mice when the skin sites chronically treated with hapten were elicited. These results indicate that an early-type response by regional LNC would take place only in a milieu with sufficient levels of type 2 cytokines.

Murine plasmacytomas, carrier of the t(12;15) chromosomal translocation, develop from immature/mature B cells not from differentiated plasma cells

Dysregulation of the c-myc gene by chromosomal translocation in >95% of murine plasmacytomas (MPCs) is an obligatory requirement for the transformation of B lymphocytes into MPCs. However, it is still unknown whether sIg+ B cells or differentiated plasma cells are the legitimate precursor cells from which MPCs develop. To address this question, C.B-17 scid/scid (SCID) mice were reconstituted with splenic surface Ig-positive (sIg+) B lineage cells originating from BALB/cRb6.15 (B/cRb6.15) or human IL-6 transgene-congenic BALB/cRb8.12 mice (B/cRb8.12 IL-6-Tg). Six of 80 SCID mice reconstituted with B/cRb6.15 sIg+ B cells developed MPCs after pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane) treatment followed by Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) infection (incidence 7.5%) and four of 40 after pristane treatment alone (incidence 10%). Similarly, in 20 SCID mice reconstituted with B/cRb8.12 IL-6-Tg splenic sIg+ B cells the MPC incidence was 10%. Karyotype analysis revealed that all the translocations were of typical t(12;15) type and all tumors carried the Rb6.15 or Rb8.12 marker chromosome, indicating their donor cell origin. In contrast, none of the 48 SCID mice reconstituted with plasma cells obtained from the lymph nodes of B/cRb8.12 IL-6-Tg mice developed MPCs when treated either with pristane plus A-MuLV (20 mice) or with pristane alone (28 mice), although the transferred plasma cells were still functional in the recipient SCID mice 6 months after transfer. The findings indicate that the malignant transformation triggered by Ig/myc juxtaposition occurs more in immature (sIgM+) and/or mature (sIgM+/sIgD+, sIgG+ and sIgA+) B cells than in differentiated G0 or cycling plasma cells. We inferred that immature and/or mature B cells and not differentiated plasma cells are most likely the principal source of precursor cells from which the typical t(12;15) MPCs develop.

Decreased tissue distribution of L-carnitine in juvenile visceral steatosis mice

We kinetically analyzed the disposition of L-carnitine of juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mice compared with that of normal mice to elucidate the mechanism of the systemic L-carnitine deficiency of JVS mice. There were significant differences in the plasma concentration-time course of total radioactive carnitine (L-[3H]carnitine, [acetyl-3H]carnitine, and other [acyl-3H]carnitines) between normal and JVS mice after a single i.v. or p.o. administration of L-[3H]carnitine (250 ng/kg). The oral bioavailability of L-[3H]carnitine in JVS mice (0.341) was about half of that in normal mice (0.675). The cumulative urinary excretion of total radioactive carnitine in JVS mice was about 10-fold more than that in normal mice, and the total clearance of unchanged L-[3H]carnitine for JVS mice (6.70 ml/min) was significantly higher than that for normal mice (2.45 ml/min). The distribution volume at the steady state of unchanged L-[3H]carnitine in JVS mice (1.10 liters/kg) was significantly smaller than that in normal mice (8.16 liters/kg). At 4 h after an i.v. administration, the apparent tissue-to-plasma concentration ratios of unchanged L-[3H]carnitine for various tissues of JVS mice, except for brain, were about one half to one 20th of those in normal mice. In conclusion, this in vivo disposition kinetic study of L-carnitine supports the previous in vitro finding that the L-carnitine transporter is absent or functionally deficient in JVS mice because the renal reabsorption, the intestinal absorption, and the apparent tissue-to-plasma concentration ratios in JVS mice are significantly lower than those in normal mice. The JVS mouse should be a useful experimental model for studying carnitine deficiency diseases.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade is involved in endothelin-1-induced rat puerperal uterine contraction

The regulation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase by endothelin-1 (ET-1) in cultured rat puerperal uterine myometrial cells was investigated. ET-1 caused the rapid stimulation of MAP kinase activity. ET-1-induced MAP kinase activation is neither extracellular Ca2+- nor intracellular Ca2+-dependent. ET-1 stimulation also led to an increase in phosphorylation of son-of-sevenless (SOS), and transfection of dominant negative SOS attenuated the ET-1-induced MAP kinase activity. Phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) also induced the MAP kinase activity, but pretreatment of the cultured cells with PMA, to down-regulate protein kinase C (PKC), did not abolish the activation of MAP kinase by ET-1. In addition, down-regulation of PKC had no effect on ET-1-induced SOS phosphorylation. Pertussis toxin, which inactivates Gi/Go proteins, blocked the ET-1-induced MAP kinase activation but not the PMA-induced MAP kinase activation. The results suggested that MAP kinase is acutely activated by ET-1 through a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein and SOS, not through the PMA-sensitive PKC. In addition, although reverse-transcriptase PCR assays detected messenger RNA for both ET- 1 receptor subtypes in cultured rat puerperal uterine myometrial cells, ET-1-induced MAP kinase activity and uterine contraction were blocked by treatment with BQ485, an antagonist selective for an ET type A receptor (but not by BQ788, an ET type B receptor antagonist). Ritodrine, which is known to relax uterine muscle contraction, attenuated ET-1-induced MAP kinase activity. We further examined the role of MAP kinase pathway in uterine contraction using an inhibitor of MEK activity, PD098059. This inhibitor completely inhibited the ET-1-induced MAP kinase activation and partially, but significantly, inhibited the ET-1-induced uterine contraction. These results indicate that ET-1-induced MAP kinase signaling cascade may play an important role in the ET-1-induced uterine contraction.

Primary systemic carnitine deficiency is caused by mutations in a gene encoding sodium ion-dependent carnitine transporter

Primary systemic carnitine deficiency (SCD; OMIM 212140) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by progressive cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy, hypoglycaemia and hyperammonaemia. SCD has also been linked to sudden infant death syndrome. Membrane-physiological studies have suggested a defect of the carnitine transport system in the plasma membrane in SCD patients and in the mouse model, juvenile visceral steatosis. Although the responsible loci have been mapped in both human and mouse, the underlying gene has not yet been identified. Recently, we cloned and analysed the function of a novel transporter protein termed OCTN2. Our observation that OCTN2 has the ability to transport carnitine in a sodium-dependent manner prompted us to search for mutations in the gene encoding OCTN2, SLC22A5. Initially, we analysed the mouse gene and found a missense mutation in Slc22a5 in jvs mice. Biochemical analysis revealed that this mutation abrogates carnitine transport. Subsequent analysis of the human gene identified four mutations in three SCD pedigrees. Affected individuals in one family were homozygous for the deletion of a 113-bp region containing the start codon. In the second pedigree, the affected individual was shown to be a compound heterozygote for two mutations that cause a frameshift and a premature stop codon, respectively. In an affected individual belonging to a third family, we found a homozygous splice-site mutation also resulting in a premature stop codon. These mutations provide the first evidence that loss of OCTN2 function causes SCD.

Rational drug design and synthesis of a highly selective nonpeptide delta-opioid agonist, (4aS*,12aR*)-4a-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl- 1,2,3,4,4a,5,12,12a-octahydropyrido[3,4-b]acridine (TAN-67)

We designed highly selective non-peptide agonists for the delta-opioid receptor. On the basis of the "message-address" concept in this field and the accessory site hypothesis, a novel class of heterocycle-fused octahydroisoquinoline derivatives were synthesized. One of these compounds [(4aS*,12aR*)-4a-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,12, 12a -octahydropyrido[3,4-b]acridine, TAN-67 (2)] showed high selectivity for the delta-opioid receptor (Ki = 1.12 nM) in guinea-pig cerebrum with a 2070-fold lower affinity for the mu-opioid receptor and a 1600-fold lower affinity for the kappa-opioid receptor. TAN-67 was a potent delta-opioid receptor agonist with an IC50 value of 6.61 nM in the mouse vas deferens assay that was reversed by naltrindole (NTI) (Ke = 0.21). Moreover, TAN-67 was shown to have antinociceptive activity following subcutaneous administration in the mouse acetic acid abdominal constriction assay that was antagonized by NTI (delta 1- and delta 2-antagonist) and 7-benzylidinenaltrexone (delta 1-antagonist), but not by naltriben (delta 2-antagonist). This systemically applicable non-peptide agonist will be useful for elucidating the pharmacological properties of the delta-opioid receptor.

Separation of lac dye components by high-speed counter-current chromatography

High-speed counter-current chromatography has been successfully applied to the separation of the lac dye components. A 25-mg quantity of the sample was separated using a two-phase solvent system composed of tert.-butyl methyl ether-n-butanol-acetonitrile-water (2:2:1:5). The fractions were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. The separation yielded 2.6 mg of 97.2% pure laccaic acid C, 9.5 mg of 98.1% pure laccaic acid A, 3.6 mg of 98.2% pure laccaic acid B, and 0.5 mg of a 95.0% pure anthraquinonedicarboxylic acid with a molecular mass of 360.

Cream fur: a new mouse mutation that may cause unusual lipid metabolism

In 1986 an albino mouse with cream yellow coat color was discovered in a breeding colony of strain CAL20, which is an IgH-C congenic strain of BALB/c mice, supported by the Institute for Experimental Animals, Faculty of Medicine, Kanazawa University. Genetic analysis revealed that the cream yellow coat color phenotype was controlled by a single recessive mutant gene on chromosome 13. A preliminary study with biochemical and histologic examinations showed that cream yellow hair contained more fatty acid than unaffected normal hair and a large number of lipid droplets accumulated in parenchyma cells of the liver in mutant mice, as early as the age of 32 days old, suggesting that the cream yellow coat color was due to unusual lipid metabolism. The locus was designated cream fur locus and was given the gene symbol crf. In addition, it was found that recombination frequencies in the vicinity of the region of the crf locus were markedly different between male and female meiosis.

Application of ion-exchange cartridge clean-up in food analysis. I. Simultaneous determination of thiabendazole and imazalil in citrus fruit and banana using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

A simple, rapid and reproducible analytical method for thiabendazole (TBZ) and imazalil (IMA) in citrus fruit and banana has been developed. The method involves the use of an ion-exchange cartridge for sample clean-up followed by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The recoveries of TBZ and IMA from citrus fruits spiked at levels of 10 microgram/g and 5 microgram/g were in the range of 94-98% and 93-98% with coefficients of variation of 0.5-2.2% and 1.6-2.7%, respectively. The recoveries of TBZ and IMA from banana spiked at levels of 3 microgram/g and 2 microgram/g were 94% and 94% with coefficients of variation 1.1% and 4.9%, respectively. The detection limits for TBZ and IMA were 0.1 microgram/g in citrus fruit and 0.05 microgram in banana.

A comparison of UVB-carcinogenesis between nude mice and nude beige mice

To gain an insight into the relationship between UVB-carcinogenesis and natural killer activity, we examined ultraviolet light-induced carcinogenesis in mice with high natural killer, activity (KSN) and mice with natural killer deficiency (KSN-bg). We exposed mice six times a week to three levels of daily ultraviolet B (UVB) doses; 320, 160 and 0 J/m2/day. During the latency period of skin tumor development in KSN mice, we detected no suppression of the natural killer activity at both 320 and 160 J/m2/day. Even at 1340 J/m2/day, we could not detect any significant suppression of NK activity in KSN mice. When we irradiated spleen cells in vitro, we observed NK activity suppression. Next, we compared the carcinogenic effects of UVB-irradiation on KSN and KSN-bg mice. At 320 J/m2/day, we detected no significant differences between them. In contrast, at 160 J/m2/day, KSN-bg mice showed a significantly higher rate of skin tumor induction than KSN mice (p < 0.05). Most UVB-induced tumors were squamous cell carcinoma, the rest were spindle cell carcinoma, papilloma and mixed type. Our results suggest that NK activity plays a protective role against UVB-carcinogenesis from low daily-doses of UVB-irradiation.

Acute effects of distal pancreatectomy on portal and peripheral blood insulin concentrations in patients undergoing total gastrectomy

The influence of distal pancreatectomy on portal and peripheral blood immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) concentrations was evaluated in patients undergoing total gastrectomy. There were 22 patients studied, 12 of whom did not undergo distal pancreatectomy (group 1), and 10 who did (group 2). In group 2, the increase in portal blood IRI concentrations after a glucose infusion of 25 g over 30 min was suppressed, and reelevation of the portal blood IRG concentration after the glucose-induced depression was inhibited compared to group 1. In contrast, the peripheral blood IRI concentration did not reflect these changes in the portal blood IRI concentration. The rise in the arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR) and the fall in the total ketone body concentration after glucose infusion were also attenuated after distal pancreatectomy in group 2. These findings suggest that distal pancreatectomy has an immediate suppressive effect on the pancreatic secretion of insulin and glucagon, and might disturb metabolism in the liver.

Gene-dose effect on carnitine transport activity in embryonic fibroblasts of JVS mice as a model of human carnitine transporter deficiency

Recently, the marked decline in renal carnitine reabsorption has been thought to account fotr the systemic carnitine deficiency in juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mice. We have conducted a kinetic analysis using embryonic fibroblasts derived from normal, heterozygous, and homozygous jvs mice and found that the high-affinity carnitine transporter (Km = 5.5 microM), which shows Na+ and temperature dependency and stereospecificity, is defective in homozygous jvs mice. Moreover, a gene dose-dependent decrease of carnitine transport activity, which was due to a decrease in the number of the transporter molecules, was found in heterozygous jvs mice. Similar phenomena have been observed in human primary carnitine deficiency. Therefore, JVS mice may be useful for understanding this extremely rare human hereditary disorder.

Total structures of colistin minor components

Structural characterization of the colistin (CL) components were carried out using Frit-fast atom bombardment liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (Frit-FAB LC/MS), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and the amino acid analysis proposed by MARFEY, and the total structures of 4 minor components including the absolute configuration of the constituent amino acids were proposed. The structures of the minor components were the same as those of the main component colistin A or B except that L-leucine is replaced by L-valine or L-isoleucine.

Characteristics of cardiac hypertrophy in the juvenile visceral steatosis mouse with systemic carnitine deficiency

The juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mouse exhibits hereditary systemic carnitine deficiency and develops cardiac hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics of cardiac hypertrophy in the JVS mouse. Total carnitine content in IVS mouse heart was about 10% of that of control mouse heart at 4 and 8 weeks of age. The heart weight/body weight ratio was bigger in JVS mice than that in control mice at 2 weeks of age, and this difference in ratio increased with age. The wall areas of both ventricles and septum in JVS mice were larger than those of the control mice at 2 and 8 weeks. The myocyte diameter in both ventricular walls and septum in JVS mice was longer than that of the control mice. On electron microscopy, the percent of mitochondria in the myocyte was 66% in JVS mice, and 37% in control mice. The percent of lipid fraction in JVS mice was six-fold higher than that in control mice. Total content of adenine nucleotides in JVS mouse heart was about 60% of that in control mouse heart. Adenylate energy charge in JVS mouse heart was 63 and 45% of that in the control mouse heart at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Overall, the cardiac enlargement observed in this animal model could be accounted for by a proportional increase in the myocyte diameter in the ventricles and septum, accompanied by an increase in mitochondria. Furthermore, this cellular growth is associated with decreases in the levels of ATP and ADP, and adenylate energy charge.

An UVB-carcinogenesis model with KSN nude mice

We established and characterized a systematic ultraviolet light-induced carcinogenesis model using KSN nude mice. We prepared five groups of KSN mice and exposed them six times a week to five levels of daily ultraviolet B (UVB) doses; 1340, 670, 320, 160 and 0 J/m2/day. In 670, 320 and 160 J/m2/day, the latency period tended to become shorter in proportion to the daily doses and prevalence data fitted well to log-normal distribution. In the log-log plot of days till 50% prevalence versus daily dose, we saw a linear relationship for 1 mm tumor diameter. From this analysis, we determined that days necessary to reach 50% prevalence is in proportion to the -0.49 power of daily dose. The average number of tumors per survivor correlated with prevalence data. Direct measured rates of tumor growth were independent of daily UVB-dose. Therefore we speculated that UV-irradiation did not affect tumor growth after its appearance. Most UVB-induced tumors were squamous cell carcinoma, the rest were spindle cell carcinoma, papilloma and mixed type. We concluded that our experimental data with nude mice was in accordance with data with hairless mice in nature.

Discovery of a structurally novel opioid kappa-agonist derived from 4,5-epoxymorphinan

A new type of kappa-agonist, 17-cyclopropylmethyl-3, 14 beta-dihydroxy-4,5 alpha-epoxy-6 beta-[N-methyl-trans-3-(3-furyl) acrylamido]morphinan hydrochloride (1, TRK-820), was discovered by a new working hypothesis. The "message-address concept" for opioid antagonists and the "accessory site" for general antagonists were applied to design TRK-820. A unique structural feature of TRK-820, which is different from other prototypical kappa-opioid receptor agonists, is the existence of the 4,5-epoxymorphinan structure with a tyrosine-glysine moiety for endogenous opioid peptides such as dynorphins. TRK-820 exhibited high potency and high kappa-selectivity in guinea pig ileum (GPI) and mouse vas deferens (MVD) preparations. In the mouse acetic-acid-induced writhing model and mouse tail flick model of antinociception, TRK-820 was 85-140 times more potent than morphine and 85-350 times more potent than U-50488H. This structurally novel kappa-agonist showed neither aversion nor preference in the Conditioned Place Preference test, in spite of the fact that prototypes of kappa-agonists (U-50488H derivatives) demonstrated aversion.

Characterization of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes observed in SCID-bg mice

Previously, we reported that a strain of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, namely SCID-bg, spontaneously develop CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes despite their scid mutation. In the present study, we intend to further characterize the DP thymocyte population in SCID-bg mice with Southern hybridization and flow cytometry. Southern hybridization analyses of sorted DP thymocytes in SCID-bg mice showed rearrangement of T cell receptor (TCR) beta and TCR gamma gene segments, although the expression of TCR beta and gamma delta TCR molecules was absent. The phenotype of the DP thymocytes in SCID-bg mice was CD44- heat-stable antigen (HSA)+CD25-, and they did not express CD69. Interestingly, the expression of thymus leukaemia (TL) antigen was observed in the DP thymocytes of SCID-bg mice but not in their CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) fraction. Fas expression was higher and bcl-2 expression was down-regulated in the DP thymocytes as compared to the DN thymocytes in SCID-bg mice, suggesting that they are not immortalized cells having escaped from apoptosis. Taken together, these results show that the phenotype of the DP thymocytes in SCID-bg mice is similar to that of the earliest phase of the DP thymocytes in normal mice, although the expression of the molecules in the pre-TCR complex is absent.