146 LECTIN DOLICHOS BIFLOURUS AGGLUTININ (DBA) IS A SPECIFIC MARKER for PRIMITIVE GERM CELLS IN NEONATAL PORCINE TESTIS

Livestock transgenesis is primarily directed towards improving productive traits or for biomedical research. Transgenic pig is of immense interest because it could provide tissues and organs for xenotransplantation to humans. Conventional methods like pronuclear microinjection of zygote and, more recently, somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) have been used for generating genetically modified pigs. These methods are, however, inefficient and have numerous shortcomings. Male germline stem cells have enormous potential, because they could serve as an alternative approach to generate genetically modified pigs, in which the homologous recombination technique could be applied. However, this could not be achieved due to lack of knowledge of culture conditions and markers that can distinguish germ cells from somatic cells, enabling their isolation and identification in culture. Lectin dolichos biflourus agglutinin (DBA), which has specific affinity for ?-d-N-acetyl-galactosamine, reacts with the large round primordial germ cells of the pig genital ridge (Takagi et al. 1997 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 46, 567–580). Immunohistochemical analysis of testicular samples from different age groups revealed that DBA binds to primitive germ cells in neonatal pig testis like gonocytes and pre-spermatogonia. Variable DBA affinity among germ cells and its progressive loss with age suggested that DBA bound strongly to gonocytes, weakly to undifferentiated spermatogonia, and not at all to spermatogonia. The presence of alkaline phosphatase activity in germ cells from neonatal pig testis further confirmed the existence of primitive germ cells. Gonocytes from neonatal pig testis were isolated using 2-step enzymatic digestion and discontinuous Percoll density gradient. Approximately 70% gonocytes were present in the fraction 5 (50–60% gradient) that were identified by their DBA affinity. Isolated cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 supplemented with 10 �g mL-1 of insulin, 10 �g mL-1 of apo-transferrin, 100 U mL-1 of penicillin, 50 �g mL-1 of streptomycin, 40 �g mL-1 of gentamycin sulphate, 1 mM pyruvate, 1� non-essential amino acid solution, and 10% fetal bovine serum at 37�C in 5% CO2 in air in a humidified atmosphere. Initially, gonocytes grew as adherent cells that formed foci of flat colonies. These colonies grew in size during the culture period, and DBA-positive cells were observed. Flat colonies transformed to ES-like colonies by 6–7 days of culture, which were still positive for DBA binding. Proliferation of germ cells was evaluated by double immunostaining with DBA and anti-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) antibody following BrdU incorporation, suggesting that 53–55% DBA-positive cells were in S phase after 7 days of culture. In conclusion, lectin DBA is a marker for porcine primitive germ cells in neonatal pig testis including gonocytes that could be used for their identification during isolation and in culture. Isolated gonocytes could proliferate in vitro without specific growth factor supplementation.

Malignant hyperthermia in Japan: mutation screening of the entire ryanodine receptor type 1 gene coding region by direct sequencing

BACKGROUND

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a disorder of calcium homeostasis in skeletal muscle triggered by volatile anesthetics or succinylcholine in susceptible persons. More than 100 mutations in the ryanodine receptor type 1 gene (RYR1) have been associated with MH susceptibility, central core disease, or both. RYR1 mutations may account for up to 70% of MH-susceptible cases. The authors aimed to determine the frequency and distribution of RYR1 mutations in the Japanese MH-susceptible population.

METHODS

The authors selected 58 unrelated Japanese diagnosed as MH-susceptible for having an enhanced Ca-induced Ca release rate from the sarcoplasmic reticulum on chemically skinned muscle fibers. They sequenced the entire RYR1 coding region from genomic DNA. Muscle pathology was also characterized.

RESULTS

Seven previously reported and 26 unknown RYR1 potentially pathogenic sequence variations were identified in 33 patients (56.9%). Of these patients, 48% had cores on muscle biopsy. The mutation detection rate was higher in patients with clear enhancement of Ca-induced Ca release rate (72.4%), whereas all patients with central core disease had RYR1 mutations. Six patients harbored potentially causative compound heterozygous sequence variations.

CONCLUSIONS

Distribution and frequency of RYR1 mutations differed markedly from those of the North American and European MH-susceptible population. Comprehensive screening of the RYR1 gene is recommended for molecular investigations in MH-susceptible individuals, because many mutations are located outside the "hot spots." Based on the observed occurrence of compound heterozygous state, the prevalence of a possibly predisposing phenotype in the Japanese population might be as high as 1 in 2,000 people.

260 COMPREHENSIVE IDENTIFICATION OF RELATIVE GENES CAUSING ABNORMAL DEVELOPMENT OF BOVINE EMBRYOS PRODUCED BY SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER

Developmental failure of a cloned animal using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) procedures is considered to be the result of abnormal expression of developmentally important genes caused by incomplete reprogramming of the donor cell nuclei. However, there are few reports about stage-specific gene expression during cleavage progression of cloned embryos. The aim of this study was to identify using fluorescein differential display method, the differentially expressed genes in cloned embryos at early developmental stages compared with those produced by in vitro fertilization. Bovine cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) were aspirated from follicles (2-8 mm in diameter) of slaughterhouse ovaries and cultured in TCM-199 supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) for 18 h for somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) or 24 h for in vitro fertilization (IVF) at 39�C. Removal of oocyte nuclei for NT was performed by squeezing out a small amount of the cytoplasm laying beneath the first polar body by means of a glass needle. Donor cells for NT were obtained from skin cells of an adult cow and cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10% FCS. After the transfer of somatic cell into enucleated oocytes, DC electric pulses at 200 V/mm for 2 � 10 �s were used for fusion, and the reconstructed embryos were treated with 10 �g/mL cycloheximide for 6 h. The embryos were then cultured for 120 h (morula stage) or 168 h (blastocyst stage) in modified SOF medium under 5% CO2, 5% O2 and 90% N2 at 39�C. Total RNA obtained from NT and IVF embryos were analyzed by differential display RT-PCR (DDRT-PCR) as previously described (Minami et al. 2001 Biol. Reprod. 64, 30-35). We obtained several differences in gene expression patterns between NT and IVF embryos at the morula and blastocyst stage. A total of 52 cDNA fragments were isolated and analyzed. Semiquantitative analysis revealed that some genes (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1, SR rich protein, KIAA0107, ribosomal protein L19) were highly expressed in IVF embryos compared with NT embryos, whereas other genes (CASK) were highly expressed in NT embryos compared with IVF embryos. These results indicate that the differentially expressed genes observed in NT embryos may be representative of marker genes for the production of normal NT offspring and DDRT-PCR procedure is quite useful for identification of several genes that are differentially expressed between NT and IVF embryos.Although the detailed function of the genes and their products remains to be determined, it is likely that the reprogramming mechanisms can be elucidated genetically by the analysis of differentially expressed genes in the future.

3 NUCLEAR REPROGRAMMING OF PORCINE FIBROBLAST CELLS BY XENOPUS EGG EXTRACTS

Much evidence indicates that somatic cells can be reprogrammed in an oocyte cytoplasm. The nuclear reprogramming consists of many unknown processes, and mechanisms underlying these processes still remain to be elucidated. Recently some reports noted that Xenopus oocytes or eggs can induce some of the reprogramming events in mammalian cells. We investigated the processes of nuclear reprogramming of porcine fibroblast cells by Xenopus egg extracts to understand how egg extracts trigger the reprogramming and/or dedifferentiation of cells. Unfertilized Xenopus eggs were collected from mature females. After removal of the jelly coat, activation was routinely achieved by calcium ionophore A23187. The eggs were immediately centrifuged and the cytoplasmic fraction was used as egg extracts. Porcine fibroblast cells were permeabilized by streptolysin O and incubated in the egg extracts under the ATP-generating system (1 mM ATP, 5 mM phosphocreatine, and 20 U/mL creatine kinase) for 30 min at 37�C or 2 h at 23�C. The incorporation of Xenopus-specific linker histone B4 into porcine fibroblasts was examined by immunofluorescence and immunobloting analysis. After collection of cells from the extracts, permeabilized membranes of the cells were resealed in culture medium containing 2 mM CaCl2 for 2 h. The cells were then incubated in DMEM with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or porcine zygote medium-3 (PZM-3: Yoshioka et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 112-119) containing 5.55 mM glucose and 5% FBS. RNAs were extracted from the cells in each culture dish and Oct-4 expression was examined by RT-PCR analysis every day until Day 8. The primers were designed to span the 99 base-pair intron region of porcine Oct-4 gene for recognizing both spliced and unspliced transcripts. The incorporation of histone B4 from Xenopus egg extracts was observed at the nuclear region of the porcine fibroblasts under both the 37�C and the 23�C conditions. Because the histone B4 incorporation was inhibited by addition of Apyrase, an ATPase, a part of reprogramming might be an ATP-dependent process. When treated cells were incubated in DMEM or PZM-3, Oct-4 expression was detected in the cells cultured in DMEM, but not in PZM-3. However, the transcripts of Oct-4 were mainly obtained in unspliced form at the earlier stage of culture (after Day 1 to Day 4 of culture), suggesting that a part of reprogramming processes by the egg extracts involves induction of dedifferention of cells or activation of a pluripotent marker gene such as Oct-4. Xenopus egg extract may provide a system to investigate the processes involving nuclear reprogramming and the pluripotent state of mammalian cells in vitro.

Ultrashort pulse-generation by saturable absorber mirrors based on polymer-embedded carbon nanotubes

We demonstrate passive mode locking of solid-state lasers by saturable absorbers based on carbon nanotubes (CNT). These novel absorbers are fabricated by spin-coating a polymer doped with CNTs onto commercial dielectric laser-mirrors. We obtain broadband artificial saturable absorber mirrors with ultrafast recovery times without the use of epitaxial growth techniques and the well-established spin-coating process allows the fabrication of devices based on a large variety of substrate materials. First results on passive mode locking of Nd:glass and Er/Yb:glass lasers are discussed. In the case of Er/Yb:glass we report the to our knowledge shortest pulse generated in a self-starting configuration based on Er/Yb:bulk-glass: 68 fs (45 fs Fourier-limit) at 1570 nm wavelength at a pulse-repetition rate of 85 MHz.

ADAMTS-1 is involved in normal follicular development, ovulatory process and organization of the medullary vascular network in the ovary

To clarify the role of disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type I motifs-1 (ADAMTS-1) in ovarian function, we examined abnormalities in ovulatory processes, folliculogenesis and the vascular system of ADAMTS-1 null ovaries. First, when immature female mice were treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)/human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the number of ovulated oocytes was markedly decreased in ADAMTS-1 null mice in comparison to ADAMTS-1 (+/-) controls. The proportion of anovulated follicles to total mature follicles was significantly higher in ADAMTS-1 null females when compared with controls. The numbers of growing follicles at each stage were counted. The number of follicles at type 5b (late preantral) and later stages was markedly reduced in ADAMTS-1 null mice, irrespective of gonadotropin treatment (no gonadotropins, PMSG alone or PMSG/hCG). These data demonstrate that impairment of ovarian function to ovulate oocytes in ADAMTS-1 null mice occurs at two different levels: in the development of growing follicles and ovulatory processes. Furthermore, ADAMTS-1 null ovaries included a number of unusual atretic follicles that showed no sign of oocyte degeneration but lost the surrounding granulosa cell layers and were considered to be derived from type 4 or 5a follicles. These results suggest that ADAMTS-1 is important for follicular development beyond the type 4 and/or 5a and for maintaining normal granulosa cell layers in follicles. Finally, the number of large blood vessels in the medullar zone was significantly decreased in ADAMTS-1 null mice ovaries, suggesting that ADAMTS-1 is also involved in the organization of the medullary vascular network.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes of CYP1A2 in a Japanese population

In order to identify genetic polymorphisms and haplotype frequencies of CYP1A2 in a Japanese population, the enhancer and promoter regions, all the exons with their surrounding introns, and intron 1 were sequenced from genomic DNA from 250 Japanese subjects. Thirty-three polymorphisms were found, including 13 novel ones: 2 in the enhancer region, 5 in the exons, and 6 in the introns. The most common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was -163C>A (CYP1A2*1F allele) with a 0.628 frequency. In addition to six previously reported non-synonymous SNPs, three novel ones, 125C>G (P42R, CYP1A2*15 allele, MPJ6_1A2032), 1130G>A (R377Q, *16 allele, MPJ6_1A2033), and 1367G>A (R456H, *8 allele, MPJ6_1A2019), were found with frequencies of 0.002, 0.002, and 0.004, respectively. No polymorphism was found in the known nuclear transcriptional factor-binding sites in the enhancer region. Based on linkage disequilibrium analysis, the CYP1A2 gene was analyzed as one haplotype block. Using the 33 detected polymorphisms, 14 haplotypes were unambiguously identified, and 17 haplotypes were inferred by aid of an expectation-maximization-based program. Among them, the second major haplotype CYP1A2*1L is composed of -3860G>A (*1C allele), -2467delT (*1D allele), and -163C>A (*1F allele). Network analysis suggested that relatively rare haplotypes were derived from three major haplotypes, *1A, *1M, and *1N in most cases. Our findings provide fundamental and useful information for genotyping CYP1A2 in the Japanese, and probably Asian populations.

Eleven novel single nucleotide polymorphisms in the NR1I2 (PXR) gene, four of which induce non-synonymous amino acid alterations

Eleven novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in the NR1I2 (PXR/SXR) gene from 205 Japanese subjects. The detected SNPs were as follows: 1) SNP, MPJ6_1I2001; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-TTTCTACCTCTAC/TTATTGAAAGGGC-3'. 2) SNP, MPJ6_1I2004; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-AGGCCCAAATGTG/AAGTGATGCATAG-3'. 3) SNP, MPJ6_1I2007; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-TGCCAGGCCTGCC/TGCCTGCGCAAGT-3'. 4) SNP, MPJ6_1I2008; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-GAGTGAGCAGTGG/CGCGCGCGGGCGG-3'. 5) SNP, MPJ6_1I2010; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-CAGAGGAGCAGCG/AGATGATGATCAG-3'. 6) SNP, MPJ6_1I2011; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-CTGGAAGTGGCCA/GGGAGGTTCAAAG-3'. 7) SNP, MPJ6_1I2013; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-TCTTCCTCTCGCC/TCCCAACTTCTGG-3'. 8) SNP, MPJ6_1I2017; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-ATTGAATGCAATC/TGGCCCCAGCCTG-3'. 9) SNP, MPJ6_1I2018; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-GGTGAGCACAGCA/GGGGGGTGAGGAC-3'. 10) SNP, MPJ6_1I2019; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-GAGCTCCGCAGCA/GTCAATGCTCAGC-3'. 11) SNP, MPJ6_1I2021; GENE NAME, NR1I2; ACCESSION NUMBER, AF364606; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-GGTGACACCTCCG/AAGAGGCAGCCAG-3'. The frequencies were 0.0293 for MPJ6_1I2021, 0.0073 for MPJ6_1I2011, and 0.0024 for the other 9 SNPs. All SNPs were found as heterozygous. Among these SNPs, MPJ6_1I2007, MPJ6_1I2010, MPJ6_1I2017 and MPJ6_1I2019 induce non-synonymous amino acid alterations (R98C, R148Q, R381W and I403V, respectively, in PAR1).

Characterization of MTM1 mutations in 31 Japanese families with myotubular myopathy, including a patient carrying 240kb deletion in Xq28 without male hypogenitalism

X-linked myotubular myopathy is a congenital muscle disorder due to MTM1 mutation, and is characterized clinically by generalized muscle weakness and hypotonia at birth usually resulting in early death. We newly identified 26 unrelated Japanese patients with MTM1 mutations by genomic DNA and transcript analysis, including 12 novel mutations. Among 31 patients, including our previously reported five patients, the c.1261-10A>G splice site mutation was the most frequent mutation. Three mutations, one missense and two splice site, were associated with milder phenotype. Of particular interest, one boy had a 240 kb deletion in Xq28 encompassing CXorf6 (formerly F18), MTM1 and MTMR1 but was not accompanied by hypogenitalism. CXorf6, which have been implicated in male sexual development, was not entirely deleted in this boy, resulting in the fusion with the MTMR1 gene. A chimeric fusion transcript was detected in patient's muscle by RT-PCR, suggesting this fusion gene product avoids the phenotype. This deletion led us to refine the critical region of CXorf6 for the development of male genitalia.

FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF FIVE NOVEL CYP2C8 VARIANTS, G171S, R186X, R186G, K247R, AND K383N, FOUND IN A JAPANESE POPULATION

Cytochrome P450 2C8 is one of the primary enzymes responsible for the metabolism of a wide range of drugs such as paclitaxel, cerivastatin, and amiodarone. We have sequenced the CYP2C8 gene from 201 Japanese subjects and found five novel nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): 511G>A (G171S), 556C>T (R186X; X represents the translational stop codon), 556C>G (R186G), 740A>G (K247R), and 1149G>T (K383N), with the allele frequency of 0.0025. The CYP2C8 variants were heterologously expressed in COS-1 cells and functionally characterized in terms of expression level, paclitaxel 6alpha-hydroxylase activity, and intracellular localization. The prematurely terminated R186X variant was undetectable by Western blotting and inactive toward paclitaxel 6alpha-hydroxylation. The G171S, K247R, and K383N variants exhibited properties similar to those of the wild-type CYP2C8. Paclitaxel 6alpha-hydroxylase activity of the R186G transfectant was only 10 to 20% that of wild-type CYP2C8. Furthermore, the R186G variant displayed a lower level of protein expression in comparison to the wild type, which was restored by the addition of a proteasome inhibitor (MG-132; Z-Leu-Leu-Leu-aldehyde). The reduced CO-difference spectral analysis using recombinant proteins from an insect cell/baculovirus system revealed that the R186G variant has a minor peak at 420 nm in addition to the characteristic Soret peak at 450 nm, suggesting the existence of improperly folded protein. These results indicate that the novel CYP2C8 SNPs, 556C>T (R186X) and 556C>G (R186G), could influence the metabolism of CYP2C8 substrates such as paclitaxel and cerivastatin.

Dysferlinopathy associated with rigid spine syndrome

Dysferlinopathy and rigid spine syndrome occurring in a 50-year-old man is reported. The patient noticed stiffness of knee and ankle joints, which gradually extended to neck, wrist and elbow joints leading to difficulty in anterior flexion. Muscular weakness and wasting of the lower extremities had developed since age 40, accompanied by a limitation of anterior bending of the spine. Elevated serum CK was noticed. Muscle CT revealed atrophy with moderate fatty replacement of muscles in the neck, shoulder and pelvic girdle, and marked replacement in the para-vertebral muscles, posterior compartment of hamstrings and calf muscles. Electromyography showed a typical myogenic pattern, and muscle biopsy disclosed dystrophic changes, compatible with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2B. Loss of dysferlin expression was verified by immunohistochemistry, which was confirmed by a mini-multiplex Western blotting system. Gene analyses of the dysferlin gene disclosed compound heterozygotes for frameshift (G3016 + 1A) and a missense mutation (G3370T). This study might propose some clues to resolve the combination of musular dystrophies and rigid spine syndrome.

Haplotype structures of EPHX1 and their effects on the metabolism of carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide in Japanese epileptic patients

OBJECTIVE

Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) is an enzyme that detoxifies reactive epoxides and catalyzes the biotransformation of carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZ-epoxide) to carbamazepine-10,11-diol (CBZ-diol). Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the EPHX1 gene encoding mEH, we identified the haplotypes of EPHX1 blocks and investigated the association between the block haplotypes and CBZ-epoxide metabolism.

METHODS

SNPs of EPHX1 were analyzed by means of polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA sequencing using DNA extracted from the blood leukocytes of 96 Japanese epileptic patients, including 58 carbamazepine-administered patients. The plasma concentrations of CBZ and its four metabolites were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

From sequencing all 9 exons and their surrounding introns, 29 SNPs were found in EPHX1. The SNPs were separated into three blocks on the basis of linkage disequilibrium, and the block haplotype combinations (diplotypes) were assigned. Using plasma CBZ-diol/CBZ-epoxide ratios (diol/epoxide ratios) indicative of the mEH activity, the effects of the diplotypes in each EPHX1 block were analyzed on CBZ-epoxide metabolism. In block 2, the diol/epoxide ratios increased significantly depending on the number of haplotype *2 bearing Y113H (P=0.0241). In block 3, the ratios decreased depending on the number of haplotype *2 bearing H139R (P=0.0351). Also, an increasing effect of a *1 subtype, *1c, was observed on the ratio.

CONCLUSION

These results show that some EPHX1 haplotypes are associated with altered CBZ-epoxide metabolism. This is the first report on the haplotype structures of EPHX1 and their potential in vivo effects.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy with PABPN1 mutation in a Chinese Malaysian woman

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is an autosomal dominant disorder of middle age presenting as progressive dysphagia and eyelid ptosis, due to short expansions of the GCG trinucleotide repeat (from GCG6 to GCG8-13) in the polyadenylate binding-protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1) gene. OPMD is rarely seen in Asians and morphologically and/or genetically confirmed cases have been reported in Japanese kindreds only. We report a 64 year old Chinese-Malaysian woman who presented with progressive dysphagia and bilateral ptosis for about 6 years. Her mother and elder brother (both deceased) were believed to be affected. Muscle histopathology revealed angulated fibres with rimmed vacuoles. Genetic analysis showed repeat expansion in one allele to (GCG)9 while normal in the other (GCG)6. This is the first non-Japanese Asian family with genetically confirmed OPMD.

53 CELL CYCLE SYNCHRONIZATION OF DONOR CELLS AT G1 PHASE AND DEVELOPMENTAL ABILITY OF NUCLEAR TRANSFER EMBRYOS IN MINIATURE PIGS

The cell cycle of donor cells is one of the essential factors for the success of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), and G0/G1-phase cells have been widely used as donor cells. However, cells synchronized at the G0/G1-phase also have a population of cells with cell cycles other than G0/G1-phase, and we cannot precisely know the cell cycle of donor cells being used for SCNT. In this experiment, we reconstructed SCNT embryos from donor cells that were synchronized at the G1-phase or at the G0/G1-phase and compared their developmental ability in two different culture media. Immature oocytes were isolated from ovaries collected from domestic gilts at a local slaughterhouse and were co-cultured with follicle shells for in vitro maturation (Hoshino et al. 2003 Theriogenology 59, 260). Donor cells were collected from fibroblast cells of miniature Potbelly pigs. Cells synchronized at the G1-phase were prepared shortly after dividing M-phase cells that had been synchronized using 2-methoxyestradiol, as described by Urakawa et al. (2004 Theriogenology 62, 714–728). The G0/G1 cells were also prepared from a fully confluent culture of cells. Donor cells were fused with enucleated oocytes and simultaneously activated by two electric pulses. Reconstructed embryos were cultured in two different media [Whitten and Biggers medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/mL hyaluronic acid sodium salt (WM) and porcine zygote medium-3 (PZM-3, Yoshioka et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 112–119)] under 5% CO2 in air. Cleavage rate and development rate to the blastocyst stage were assessed after 48 and 168 hr of culture, respectively. The results are summarized in Table 1. Developmental rate to the blastocyst stage of SCNT embryos reconstructed from G1 cells and cultured in PZM-3 (40%) was significantly higher than that of embryos cultured in WM (25%). The SCNT embryos of the G1 cells showed significantly lower cleavage rate (51%) than that of the G0/G1 cells (69%). However, the developmental rates to the blastocyst stage per cleaved embryo in WM were significantly higher in G1 cells (50%) compared with G0/G1 cells (32%). In addition, the total cell number of the SCNT blastocysts was comparable between the cultures in WM (58 ± 4) and PZM-3 (46 ± 5), although the ratio of inner cell mass cells to the total cell number was significantly higher in PZM-3 (32%) compared with WM (14%). These results suggest that PZM-3 may fit with the culture of SCNT embryos, and that the G1 synchronized cells could be stably reprogrammed for early embryonic development in SCNT embryos and be useful as donor cells for analyzing the processes of nuclear reprogramming. Table 1. Development of nuclear transfer embryos reconstructed from G1 or G0/G1 cells in different culture media

Haplotypes of CYP3A4 and their close linkage with CYP3A5 haplotypes in a Japanese population

In order to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotype frequencies of CYP3A4 in a Japanese population, the distal enhancer and proximal promoter regions, all exons, and the surrounding introns were sequenced from genomic DNA of 416 Japanese subjects. We found 24 SNPs, including 17 novel ones: two in the distal enhancer, four in the proximal promoter, one in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR), seven in the introns, and three in the 3'-UTR. The most common SNP was c.1026+12G>A (IVS10+12G>A), with a 0.249 frequency. Four non-synonymous SNPs, c.554C>G (p.T185S, CYP3A4(*)16), c.830_831insA (p.E277fsX8, (*)6), c.878T>C (p.L293P, (*)18), and c.1088 C>T (p.T363M, (*)11) were found with frequencies of 0.014, 0.001, 0.028, and 0.002, respectively. No SNP was found in the known nuclear transcriptional factor-binding sites in the enhancer and promoter regions. Using these 24 SNPs, 16 haplotypes were unambiguously identified, and nine haplotypes were inferred by aid of an expectation-maximization-based program. In addition, using data from 186 subjects enabled a close linkage to be found between CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 SNPs, especially among the SNPs at c.1026+12 in CYP3A4 and c.219-237 (IVS3-237, a key SNP site for CYP3A5(*)3), c.865+77 (IVS9+77) and c.1523 in CYP3A5. This result suggested that CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 are within the same gene block. Haplotype analysis between CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 revealed several major haplotype combinations in the CYP3A4-CYP3A5 block. Our findings provide fundamental and useful information for genotyping CYP3A4 (and CYP3A5) in the Japanese, and probably Asian populations.

Six Novel NonsynonymousCYP1A2Gene Polymorphisms: Catalytic Activities of the Naturally Occurring Variant Enzymes

Six novel nonsynonymous nucleotide alterations were found in the cytochrome P450 1A2 gene in a Japanese population, which resulted in the following amino acid substitutions: T83M, E168Q, F186L, S212C, G299A, and T438I. These individuals were heterozygous for the amino acid substitutions. The potential functional alterations caused by the amino acid substitutions were characterized by a cDNA-mediated expression system using Chinese hamster V79 cells. Among the six CYP1A2 variants, F186L showed the most profound and statistically significant reduction in O-deethylation of phenacetin and 7-ethoxyresorufin. Kinetic analyses performed for the ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation revealed that the Vmax of the F186L variant was approximately 5% of that of the CYP1A2 wild type, despite a 5-fold lower Km value of the variant, the consequence of which was reduced enzymatic activity toward the substrate. Thus, for the first time, phenylalanine at residue 186 is suggested to be a critical amino acid for catalytic activity.

A stochastic-modeling evaluation of the foot-and-mouth-disease survey conducted after the outbreak in Miyazaki, Japan in 2000

When foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) was identified in Miyazaki prefecture in March 2000, Japan conducted an intensive serological and clinical survey in the areas surrounding the index herd. As a result of the survey during the 21 days of the movement-restriction period, two infected herds were detected and destroyed; there were no other cases in the months that followed. To evaluate the survey used for screening the disease-control area and surveillance area, we estimated the herd-level sensitivity of the survey (HSe) through a spreadsheet model using Monte-Carlo methods. The Reed-Frost model was incorporated to simulate the spread of FMD within an infected herd. In the simulations, 4, 8 and 12 effective-contact scenarios during the 5-day period were examined. The estimated HSes of serological tests (HSeE) were 71.0, 75.3 and 76.3% under the 4, 8 and 12 contact scenarios, respectively. The sensitivity analysis showed that increasing the number of contacts beyond 12 did not improve HSeE, but increasing the number of sampled animals and delaying the dates of sampling did raise HSeEs. Small herd size in the outbreak area (>80% of herds have <20 animals) seems to have helped in maintaining HSeE relatively high, although the serological inspection was carried out before sero-positive animals had a chance to increase in infected herds. The estimated herd-level specificity of serological tests (HSpE) was 98.6%. This HSpE predicted 224 false-positive herds (5th percentile estimate was 200 and 95th percentile was 249), which proved close to the 232 false-positive herds actually observed. The combined-test herd-level sensitivity (serological and clinical inspections combined; CTHSe), averaged 85.5, 87.6 and 88.1% for the 4, 8 and 12 contact scenarios, respectively. Using these CTHSes, the calculated probability that no infected herd was overlooked by the survey was > or =62.5% under the most-conservative, four-contact scenario. The probability that no more than one infected herd was overlooked was > or =89.7%.

Localization of calpain 3 in human skeletal muscle and its alteration in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2A muscle

Calpain 3/p94, the skeletal muscle-specific isoform of the calpain large subunit family, is a protein product of the gene responsible for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A). Through yeast two-hybrid experiments, calpain 3 has been shown to bind to titin in myofibrils [Sorimachi et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 31158-31162]. However, because of extensive autolysis activity, calpain 3 localization in skeletal muscle has been undefined. In this study, we generated a polyclonal antibody against an N-terminal 98-amino-acid calpain 3 fragment, which is not homologous to the corresponding regions of other conventional calpains. This antibody stained myofibrils with a unique repeated doublet-pattern. Confocal microscopic observation with marker antibodies confirmed that calpain 3 is localized in the N2 region of myofibrils. Furthermore, using this antibody, we examined the localization of calpain 3 in LGMD2A muscles.

[Appearance of numerous lobulated fibers after a protracted course of 18 years in a case of dermatomyositis]

A woman aged 47 first noticed weakness in her proximal muscles of all four limbs at the age of 29. After the initial investigation at our hospital, she was diagnosed as having dermatomyositis associated with primary biliary cirrhosis. In the following 18 years, she was kept on steroids. Although she responded to this treatment, weakness progressed slowly necessitating re-investigation including a second muscle biopsy. It was remarkable that in her first muscle biopsy, no lobulated fiber had been, while they were numerous in the second one. As a result of these studies, possibilities of limb-girdle muscle dystrophy (LGMD) and other myopathies remained but were ultimately ruled out after immunohistochemical/and genetic studies, and the original diagnosis was confirmed. Her weakness responded to an increased dose of steroids. Lobulated fibers were originally described in LGMD, and were reported also in the facioscapulohumeral muscular dytrophy and other hereditary myopathies. They have been rarely described in the inflammatory myopathies. Based on the observation of the present case, we concluded that lobulated fibers have little disease specificity and can newly appear in the course of any chronic myopathies including acquired myopathies like dermatomyositis.

Five Novel Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the EPHX1 Gene Encoding Microsomal Epoxide Hydrolase

Five novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in the EPHX1 gene from 96 Japanese epileptic patients. The detected SNPs were as follows: 1) SNP, MPJ6_EX1009; GENE NAME, EPHX1 ACCESSION NUMBER, NT_004525.12; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-CCTCACTTCAGTG/ACTGGGCTTTGCC-3'. 2) SNP, MPJ6_EX1013; GENE NAME, EPHX1; ACCESSION NUMBER, NT_004525.12; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-TCCGCAGCCAGGG/CAGGACGACAGCA-3'. 3) SNP, MPJ6_EX1026; GENE NAME, EPHX1; ACCESSION NUMBER, NT_004525.12; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-GTTCTCCCTGGAC/TGACCTGCTGACC-3'. 4) SNP, MPJ6_EX1028; GENE NAME, EPHX1; ACCESSION NUMBER, NT_004525.12; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-AGGCAGGGGGACG/AGCCAGTCTTGGG-3'. 5) SNP, MPJ6_EX1030; GENE NAME, EPHX1; ACCESSION NUMBER, NT_004525.12; LENGTH, 25 bases; 5'-TGAAAAGTGGGTG/AAGGTTCAAGTAC-3'. The frequencies were 0.016 for MPJ6_EX1028 (IVS8+54G>A) and 0.005 for the other SNPs. The SNP MPJ6_EX1013 (130G>C) results in an amino acid alteration (E44Q). The other three SNPs in the coding region, MPJ6_EX1009 (30G>A), MPJ6_EX1026 (1056C>T), and MPJ6_EX1030 (1239G>A) result in synonymous changes (V10V, D352D, and V413V, respectively).

Ullrich disease: collagen VI deficiency: EM suggests a new basis for muscular weakness

Ullrich disease is a form of congenital muscular dystrophy characterized clinically by generalized muscle weakness, contractures of the proximal joints, and hyperflexibility of the distal joints from birth or early infancy. Recently, mutations of the collagen VI gene have been associated with Ullrich disease. The authors report on a boy with Ullrich disease who has complete deficiency of collagen VI and harbors compound heterozygous mutations in the collagen VI alpha 2 gene. Absence of microfibrils on EM, together with normal collagen fibrils and basal lamina, suggests that loss of a link between interstitium and basal lamina may be a new molecular pathomechanism of muscular dystrophy.

[Recent advances in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy research]

In our laboratory, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) accounted for 20% of all patients with muscular dystrophy. To determine the incidence of various forms of LGMD phenotypes, we looked for mutations in the calpain 3 gene and, for deficiencies in dysferlin and sarcoglycan by immunohistochemical studies with specific antibodies on muscle biopsies from patients with probable autosomal recessive inheritance (LGMD2), which were mostly sporadic cases of LGMD. Fourteen of 276 (5%) patients examined had sarcoglycan complex deficiency (sarcoglycanopathy) and 21 of 80 (26%) had mutations in the calpain 3 gene. Although we have not performed gene analysis in all patients, 10 of 64 (15%) patients examined had no apparent immunoreactivity against the dysferlin antibody. Thus, approximately 46% of LGMD2 patients had the above 3 distinct disorders, but in 54% the causative defects remain unknown.

Oculopharyngodistal myopathy is genetically heterogeneous and most cases are distinct from oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy

The question whether oculopharyngodistal myopathy (MIM 164310) is a distinct disease entity or a variant of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (MIM 164300) persists. To answer this question, we examined five patients with the clinical characteristics of oculopharyngodistal myopathy for GCG expansion in poly(A)-binding protein nuclear 1 gene (previously called poly(A)-binding protein 2), the causative gene defect for oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Only one of our five patients had the significant GCG expansion. Thus, oculopharyngodistal myopathy is a genetically heterogeneous disorder, which includes patients with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy but, for the most part, is different genetically from oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Postnatal weight of calves derived from in vitro matured and in vitro fertilized embryos developed under various oxygen concentrations

In the present study, weights of calves (14 days after birth) derived from embryos of a homogeneous line (Tajima line) of Japanese Black Cow, cultured in vitro under various oxygen conditions was examined. In vitro matured and fertilized oocytes were incubated for 48 h in modified synthetic oviduct fluid medium under 5% CO2 in air and embryos reaching at least the 5-cell stage were selected for further culture under various gas conditions (high oxygen tension: 5% CO, in air; low oxygen tension: 5% O2, 5% CO2, 90% N2) for 5 days. Embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage were transferred to Holstein cows or cryopreserved until transfer. When embryos were cultured under high oxygen tension and cryopreserved, the weights of male calves (at 14 days) were significantly heavier than in the other groups. However, there was no significant difference in gestation lengths of male calves. In female calves, no difference was observed in either the weight or gestation length of calves irrespective of oxygen tension during the culture period or embryo conditions (fresh or frozen). From the results of the present study, it is suggested that the oxygen concentration during culture and cryopreservation synergistically induced the production of overweight male calves without influencing gestation length.

Renal protective effects of chronic exercise and antihypertensive therapy in hypertensive rats with chronic renal failure

OBJECTIVES

Patients with chronic renal failure are restricted to mild physical activity and tend to a lack of exercise. However, there have been few reports regarding the influence of chronic exercise on the progression of renal disease. Similarly, there are few animal models concerned with the effect of exercise training on improving renal function. Therefore, we assessed the renal effects of moderate chronic treadmill exercise in a remnant kidney model of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with chronic renal failure. We also assessed the effects of exercise and antihypertensive therapy on renal function.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Eight-week-old SHR were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy by removal of the left kidney and excision of two-thirds of the right kidney. The rats were divided into four groups: (i) no exercise (Non-EX); (ii) moderate exercise with treadmill running (20 m/min, 0 grade incline for 60 min) (EX); (iii) EX with an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, enalapril (2 mg/kg per day, i.p.); and (iv) EX with an angiotensin receptor antagonist, losartan (5 mg/kg per day, i.p.), for 4 weeks.

RESULTS

Chronic EX significantly attenuated the increase in proteinuria (P < 0.01) and significantly protected against increases in the index of glomerular sclerosis (IGS). Both enalapril and losartan with EX significantly decreased blood pressure (P < 0.001), and further decreased the IGS. In the stepwise multiple regression analysis, only antihypertensive drug remained in the model as a significant predictor of IGS (P < 0.0001). In contrast, exercise, antihypertensive drug and mean systolic blood pressure (weeks 1-4) remained in the model as a significant predictors of mean proteinuria (weeks 1-4) (all P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that exercise does not worsen renal function and has renal-protective effects in this model of rats. Moreover, the antihypertensive therapy has additional renal-protective effects in this model of rats.

Nuclear accumulation of cyclin B1 in mouse two-cell embryos is controlled by the activation of Cdc2

In the present study, the sequential expression and cellular localization of cyclin B1 was examined in two-cell mouse embryos to elucidate the mechanism of the two-cell block. One-cell embryos derived from in vitro fertilization were cultured with oviductal tissue (nonblocking condition) or without oviductal tissue (blocking condition) to establish the experimental conditions in which the embryos either overcome the two-cell block or do not. The amount of cyclin B1 gradually increased through the second cell cycle (through S to G2 phase). However, the difference was not observed between culture conditions. This showed that even embryos exhibiting the two-cell block normally synthesize cyclin B1 through the cell cycle. Cyclin B1 in embryos cultured under nonblocking condition accumulates in the nucleus during the transition from the G2 to the M phase, whereas that in embryos cultured in blocking condition localizes in the cytoplasm throughout the cell cycle. These data indicate that two-cell embryos cultured in blocking condition are able to normally synthesize cyclin B1 but have defects in nuclear accumulation of the protein. However, when two-cell blocked embryos were treated with okadaic acid, an activator of Cdc2 kinase, part of cyclin B1 in the embryos translocated into the nucleus. Moreover, treatment with butyrolactone I, a specific inhibitor of Cdc2 kinase, inhibits nuclear translocation of cyclin B1 in those embryos. These results suggest that Cdc2 kinase regulates the nuclear accumulation of cyclin B1 in mouse two-cell embryos.

Efficient ex vivo generation of human dendritic cells from mobilized CD34+ peripheral blood progenitors

We tried to efficiently generate human dendritic cells (DCs) from CD34+ peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cells mobilized by high-dose chemotherapy and subsequent administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, using a liquid suspension culture system. Among various combinations, the combination of c-kit ligand, flt-3 ligand, c-mpl ligand (TPO), and interleukin (IL)-4 most potently generated the number of CD1a+CD14- DCs in cultures containing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). The delayed addition of IL-4 on day 6 of culture gave rise to an additional increase in the yield of CD1a+CD14-DCs that were characterized by the expression of HLA-ABC, HLA-DR, CD80, CD86, and CD83. The majority of the sorted CD1a-CD14+ cells derived from 6-day culture of CD34+ cells gave rise to CD1a+CD14- DCs and CD1a-CD14+ macrophages on day 12 of culture in the presence and absence of IL-4, respectively. These findings suggest that IL-4 promotes the differentiation of CD1a- CD14+ cells derived from mobilized CD34+ peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitors to CD1a+ CD14- DCs. The majority of these DCs expressed CD68 but not the Langerhans-associated granule antigen, a finding that suggests they emerge through the monocyte differentiation pathway. The addition of TPO and IL-4 to cultures did not affect the potential of DCs to stimulate the primary allogeneic T-cell response. These findings demonstrated that the combination of c-kit ligand plus flt-3 ligand plus TPO with GM-CSF plus TNF-alpha, followed by IL-4, is useful for ex vivo generation of human DCs from mobilized CD34+ peripheral blood progenitors.

Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) presenting with psychosis

The authors report on four DRPLA patients who manifested delusions. All patients demonstrated autosomal dominant DRPLA confirmed by standard gene analysis. Patients with DRPLA can exhibit a variety of psychiatric symptoms in addition to extrapyramidal and cerebellar symptoms.

Efficient ex vivo generation of dendritic cells from CD14+ blood monocytes in the presence of human serum albumin for use in clinical vaccine trials

Dendritic cells (DC) with the potential to induce anti-tumour immunity represent one of the promising candidates for cancer vaccines. Efficiency of ex vivo DC generation depends on culture conditions, especially protein components in the plasma or serum used. Using human serum albumin (HSA), we devised a constant and reproducible culture method for DC generation from peripheral blood CD14+ cells. The number of DC obtained with 2% HSA-supplemented cultures containing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin 4 were consistently higher than in cultures with various concentrations of autologous plasma or serum. The concentrations and time points tested for plasma or serum considerably affected the number of DC recovered. DC prepared with HSA acquired the ability to uptake dextran, and expressed high levels of major histocompatibility (MHC) and co-stimulatory molecules similar to DC cultured with autologous plasma or serum. Although DC cultured with autologous plasma or serum consisted of CD1a+ and CD1a- populations, DC differentiated in the presence of HSA expressed CD1a. DC obtained with HSA primed and induced immunogenic peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes against a tumour rejection antigen, HER2. These findings suggest that our method for preparation of DC with HSA should prove valuable in DC generation for immunotherapy.

Calpain 3 gene mutations: genetic and clinico-pathologic findings in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy

Mutations in the calpain 3 gene have been proven to be responsible for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) type 2A. To determine the incidence and genotypes of the calpain 3 (p94) gene mutations in Japanese LGMD patients, we sequenced the gene in 80 patients with clinical characteristics of autosomal recessive or sporadic LGMD. We identified 13 distinct pathogenic mutations in 21 patients (26%), including seven missense mutations, four splice-site mutations and two insertions in which six were novel mutations. Among the 21 patients, 15 (71%) had three types of the common missense (G233V, R461C, D707G) and one insertion (1795-1796insA) mutation. The patients had slowly progressive muscle weakness with age of onset of the disease varying from 6 to 52 years, averaging 20.9. The most striking pathologic findings were the presence of lobulated fibers in 14 patients, especially in the advanced stages. Differing from Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, opaque (hypercontracted) fibers were very rarely seen. These findings may be helpful in establishing diagnostic screening strategies in Japanese LGMD patients.

Synthesis of optically active N-(2-pyridyloxiran-2-ylmethyl) benzenesulfonamide derivatives and their herbicidal activity

Novel herbicidally active sulfonamide compounds having a 2-arylsubstituted oxiranylmethyl structure are racemates due to a chiral carbon in the oxirane moiety. To clarify the stereochemical structure-activity relationship, we synthesized each enantiomer of 4-chloro-N-[2-(6-chloropyridin-2-yl)-2-oxiran-2-ylmethyl]-3,N-dimethylbenzenesulfonamide and N-[2-(6-chloropyridin-2-yl)-2-oxiran-2-ylmethyl]-N-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-sulfonamide by chemical methods including Sharpless asymmetric chlorohydroxylation. The results of herbicidal tests indicated that the (S)-isomers were the active forms.

[Prediction of the need for mechanical ventilation after transsternal thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis]

Between June 1992 and May 2000, transsternal extended thymectomy was performed for 70 patients with myasthenia gravis in our hospital. We were able to evaluate 64 of them in terms of prediction of the need for postoperative mechanical ventilation using the score systems reported by Leventhal et al., Kimura et al. and the criteria of Adachi et al.. For these systems, the rates of agreement between predictions and results were 85.9%, 82.8%, and 64.1%, respectively. The two former systems had some false negative cases (i.e., they predicted that ventilation would not be needed when in fact it was), but the last one gave no false negatives. We recommend Adachi's criteria for clinical safety. In our cases the patients whose value of %VC multiplied by FEV1.0% was less than 7,000 (Adachi's criterion is less in 8,300), especially, needed careful management with regard to respiratory crisis.

Increased plasma thrombomodulin as a vascular endothelial cell marker in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome

Several hemostatic and vascular endothelial cell markers were measured in 39 patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)/hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and in 20 healthy volunteers to examine the relationship between the occurrence of hemostatic abnormality or vascular endothelial cell injury and patient outcome. The plasma levels of von Willebrand factor, tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), and the TPA-PAI-1 complex were significantly increased in TTP/HUS patients; however, the levels of these markers were not significantly different between TTP/HUS patients who survived and those who died, suggesting that these markers might not be directly related to outcome. The plasma levels of soluble granule membrane protein (GMP)-140 were significantly higher in TTP/HUS patients than in healthy volunteers, suggesting that platelets and vascular endothelial cells are activated or injured in TTP/HUS. There was no significant difference in GMP-140 levels between TTP/HUS patients with good and poor prognoses; this may be owing to the release of GMP-140 from platelets. The plasma thrombomodulin (TM) levels in TTP/HUS patients were significantly higher than in healthy volunteers; the plasma TM levels were significantly higher in patients who died than in patients who survived. These findings showed that TM levels reflect the outcome and that the outcome of TTP/HUS depends on the presence vascular endothelial cell injury. The plasma protein C and antithrombin levels were markedly reduced in TTP/HUS patients who died compared with those who survived. These findings suggest that reduced plasma antithrombin and protein C may be useful markers of systemic vascular endothelial injury. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that the outcome of TTP/HUS is related to vascular endothelial cell injury and that plasma TM, antithrombin, and protein C levels may be useful markers of systemic vascular endothelial cell injury.

Analysis of gene expression in mouse 2-cell embryos using fluorescein differential display: comparison of culture environments

The effect of the oviductal environment on gene expression in 2-cell mouse embryos was examined with mRNA differential display. Embryos used for experiments were cultured in modified Whitten medium with or without oviductal tissue until late 2-cell stage. The results of sequencing indicated that the genes for ATP synthase (ATPase 6), S:-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (S:-AMDC) and nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (NASP) were differentially expressed in embryos cultured in the oviductal environment (nonblocking culture condition). The ATPase 6 gene is encoded by mitochondrial DNA and is essential for the production of ATP. This indicates that the expression of ATP synthesis-related genes at the 2-cell stage may be required to maintain normal development in vitro. S:-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase decarboxylates adenosylmethionine, which is a substrate of DNA methylation. The expression of S:-AMDC may be responsible for the low level of methylation of preimplantation development. As NASP is a histone-binding protein that is thought to be testis and sperm specific, its function in embryos remains unclear. On the other hand, the Tcl1 gene and a novel gene, the c-1 gene, were strongly expressed in embryos cultured without oviductal tissue (blocking culture condition). The expression patterns of these genes are quite similar. However, the detailed functions of these genes in embryos remain to be determined.

Low oxygen tension during in vitro maturation is beneficial for supporting the subsequent development of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes

The effects of carbohydrates on meiotic maturation and ATP content of bovine oocytes under low oxygen tension (5%) were investigated. Furthermore, the developmental competence or intracellular H(2)O(2) contents of the oocytes matured under 5% or 20% O(2) was assessed. In vitro maturation of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes was performed in synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) containing 20 amino acids and hormones (SOFaa). The proportion of the oocytes that matured to the metaphase II stage in SOFaa containing 1.5 mM glucose, 0.33 mM pyruvate, and 3.3 mM lactate under 5% O(2) was dramatically lower than that of oocytes matured under 20% O(2) (P < 0.01). Similarly, the ATP content of the oocytes that matured under 5% O(2) was much lower than that of oocytes matured under 20% O(2) (P < 0.05). Under 5% O(2) the proportion of metaphase II oocytes increased with increasing glucose concentration (0-20 mM) in SOFaa without pyruvate or lactate. In addition, the ATP content of oocytes cultured in 20 mM glucose was higher (P < 0.05) than that of oocytes cultured in 1. 5 mM glucose. Two glucose metabolites (pyruvate and lactate) and a nonmetabolizable glucose analog (2-deoxy-glucose), however, had no noticeable effects on meiotic maturation under 5% O(2). These results suggest that ATP production under 5% O(2) is not dependent on the TCA cycle. Addition of iodoacetate, a glycolytic inhibitor, to SOFaa containing 20 mM glucose significantly reduced (P < 0.01) the proportion of metaphase II and ATP content. Moreover, the proportion of the development to the blastocyst stage of oocytes matured under 5% O(2) was higher (P < 0.05) than that of oocytes matured under 20% O(2). H(2)O(2) contents of oocytes matured under 5% O(2) was lower (P < 0.05) than that of oocytes matured under 20% O(2). The results of the present study demonstrate that glucose plays important roles in supporting the completion of meiotic maturation in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes under low oxygen tension and that low oxygen tension during in vitro maturation is beneficial for supporting the subsequent development of bovine oocytes.

Bcl-2 in cell-cycle regulation of hematopoietic cells by transforming growth factor-beta1

We reported that several growth factors regulate the doubling time of hematopoietic progenitor cells by modulating the time required to pass through the G1 phase. As recent studies revealed the link between cell death and cell-cycle progression, we asked if cell death regulators such as Bcl-2 play a role in regulating the cell-cycle of hematopoietic cells by growth factors. Among growth factors, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), a negative regulator of hematopoiesis, was chosen. When a large number of cells was required for analysis, we used IL-3-dependent Ba/F3 cells instead of primary hematopoietic progenitor cells because the response of Ba/F3 cells to TGF-beta1 was similar to that of primary hematopoietic progenitor cells. TGF-beta1 decelerated the cell-cycling of hematopoietic cells by inducing a delay in G1 to S phase transition, an event associated with increase in the level of Bcl-2 as well as p27, a cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. In experiments using Ba/F3 cells with the potential to produce Bcl-2 in an inducible manner, Bcl-2 apparently functions upstream of p27. The effects of TGF-beta1 on Bcl-2 and p27 expression as well as cell growth were abrogated by c-kit ligand. These findings suggest that Bcl-2 plays a crucial role in regulating the cell-cycle of hematopoietic progenitor cells.

[A case of LGMD2A identified with both western blot analysis and immunostaining of calpain 3 in biopsied muscle]

A 45-year-old housewife had proximal dominant limb muscle weakness from around 25 years of age. Her parents were cousins. None of family members was affected. Progressive muscle weakness and atrophy were prominent at the posterior compartments of legs and trunk. Serum CK was moderately elevated. Muscle pathology revealed variation in fiber size, moderate increase in numbers of internal nuclei and abundant lobulated fibers. On immunostaining using by monoclonal antibody against human calpain 3 (NCL-CALP-2 C4; Novocastra) to the biopsied muscle, calpain 3 was completely absent in the sarcoplasm, while granular debris and in part positive striation were noted in control muscle. By Western blot analysis, a band corresponding to 94 kDa of calpain 3 was not detected. A genetic analysis of calpain 3 revealed homozygous C-565-G mutation (Leu189Val). From the present study. Western blot analysis and immunostaining by using calpain 3 antibody were suggested to be useful to diagnose LGMD2A in LGMD patients.

Cardiac vagal responsiveness during development in spontaneously hypertensive rats

In the present study we sought to determine the effect of age, hypertension and endogenous angiotensin on the chronotropic responses to vagal stimulation in urethane anesthetized-normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). After beta-adrenoceptor blockade with atenolol, the right and left vagal nerves were stimulated with graded frequencies between 1 and 32 Hz in 5-, 8- and 22-week-old animals. At all ages and in both strains, there was a strong linear relationship between the degree of bradycardia and the log of the stimulation frequency. At the age of 5 weeks, the bradycardia to stimulation of the right vagus was greater in SHR than that observed in WKY (P<0.05). However, in 8- and 22 week-old animals, no differences were observed between the response to vagal stimulation in WKY and SHR. Thus, there was an age-dependent increase in the response to right vagal stimulation in WKY, but no such trend in SHR. No significant age-dependent changes in left vagal responses were observed in either strain. Left vagal responses were approximately half of the response to right vagal stimulation at all ages in SHR and in 8-22 week WKY, but similar to right vagal responses in 5 week WKY. Administration of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril, which effectively blocked the formation of endogenous angiotensin, did not affect responses to vagal stimulation at any age, in either strain. These results suggest that the baroreflex vagal deficit observed in adult SHR compared to WKY is not due to a difference in the responsiveness of the cardiac vagal neuroeffector mechanism nor due to an effect of circulating angiotensin II. Furthermore, the enhanced vagal bradycardia observed in very young SHR which was due primarily to the earlier establishment of the adult vagal response pattern may indicate accelerated vagal development in this strain compared to WKY.

Excessive concentration of glucose during in vitro maturation impairs the developmental competence of bovine oocytes after in vitro fertilization: relevance to intracellular reactive oxygen species and glutathione contents

The effect of glucose (0, 1.5, 5.6 or 20.0 mM) in synthetic oviduct fluid supplemented with 20 amino acids (SOFaa) on the developmental competence of bovine oocytes after in vitro fertilization was investigated. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the glutathione content of bovine oocytes matured in SOFaa containing 0-20.0 mM glucose were also examined. When oocytes were matured in SOFaa without glucose, the nuclear maturation rate was lower than that in oocytes matured in glucose-containing medium. The developmental competence to the blastocyst stage of oocytes matured in 1.5 mM glucose was higher than that of oocytes matured in 20.0 mM glucose. In addition, the intracellular ROS content of oocytes matured in 0, 1.5 or 5.6 mM glucose was lower than that of oocytes matured in 20.0 mM glucose. Furthermore, the intracellular glutathione content of oocytes matured in 0, 1.5 or 5.6 mM glucose was higher than that of oocytes matured in 20.0 mM glucose. These results show that excessive glucose in the medium for oocyte maturation impairs the development of bovine oocytes to the blastocyst stage, possibly due to the increase of ROS and the decrease in the intracellular glutathione content of bovine oocytes.

Activity of interleukin 6 in the differentiation of monocytes to macrophages and dendritic cells

Peripheral blood monocytes are common precursor cells of dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. We have searched for factors with the potential to regulate the differentiation of monocytes to DCs and macrophages. When CD14+ monocytes are cultured with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin (IL) 4, the CD14+CD1a- population, which consists of macrophages, was found in the serum-containing cultures but not in the serum-free cultures. Addition of IL-6 receptor-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) or gp130-neutralizing mAb to the serum-containing cultures resulted in a decreased population of CD14+CD1a- cells. An increase in the CD14+CD1a- population with reduction in CD14-CD1a+ DCs was observed with the addition of IL-6 to cultures, whereas IL-11, leukaemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M or macrophage colony-stimulating factor did not affect the differentiation of monocytes in the presence of GM-CSF plus IL-4. This effect of IL-6 was blocked by tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), IL-1beta, CD40 ligand (CD40L) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1). Among these factors, TNF-alpha was most potent in interfering with the action of IL-6. These results suggest that IL-6 inhibits the differentiation of monocytes to DCs by promoting their differentiation toward macrophages, which is modulated by factors such as TNF-alpha, LPS, IL-1beta, CD40L and TGF-beta1.

A novel congenital myopathy with apoptotic changes

We report on a female child with congenital myopathy with delayed developmental milestones and mental retardation. The most striking pathological finding was the presence of many condensed to fragmented myonuclei. DNA fragmentation was confirmed by the TUNEL method and supported by the ultrastructural characteristics of apoptotic nuclear changes. We also demonstrated immunohistochemically the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. This appears to be the first reported case of congenital myopathy with apoptotic process.

Effects of ultrasound on both electrolytic and electroless nickel depositions

The effects of ultrasound on both electrolytic and electroless nickel depositions were investigated by polarization and a.c. impedance methods. The ultrasound accelerated the charge transfer process at the metal-electrolyte interface in the electrodeposition and the mass transport process in the electroless deposition. In the electrodeposition with Watts bath, the crystal orientations of deposited film largely changed in the presence of ultrasound. The imposition of ultrasound gave rise to decreasing cathodic overpotential and increasing exchange current density, and these effects depended upon the ultrasonic frequency. The values of exchange current density estimated from a.c. impedance were dependent upon the measured electrode potentials. In the electroless deposition with citrate bath, the deposition rates increased in the presence of ultrasound. There were two kinds of Ni(2+)-citrate complex which were reduced at -0.7 V and -1.1 V. The electroless deposition process was controlled by the Ni(2+)-citrate complex that was reduced at -0.7 V. This reduction rate was diffusion controlled and largely increased in the presence of ultrasound. The effects of ultrasonic frequency on both electrodeposition and electroless deposition increased in order of no irradiation < 100 kHz < 28 kHz < or = 45 kHz.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy in a Japanese family with a short GCG expansion (GCG)(11) in PABP2 gene

Clinicopathological and molecular genetic findings on a new Japanese family with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy are reported. The family has 54 members, ten of whom are affected (seven male and three female), in 3 generations. Three affected males, one affected female and one unaffected female of seven living siblings in the third generation were examined. Bilateral ptosis developed in the 4th and 5th decades in the three male cases, and in the 7th decade in the female, and this was followed by diplopia, nasal voice, dysphagia and muscle weakness. In addition, severe external ophthalmoplegia, dysphonia, and proximal amyotrophy were prominent in this family. Electromyographs revealed myogenic/neurogenic changes, and computed tomography disclosed selective muscle wasting with fatty replacement, predominantly in the lower extremities. Muscle biopsy in the four affected patients showed variation in fiber size, and the presence of small angulated fibers and occasional rimmed vacuoles. Electron microscopic examination revealed an accumulation of filamentous inclusions in muscle fiber nuclei. DNA analysis identified that (GCG)(6) in the PABP2 gene was expanded to (GCG)(11) in the four affected cases examined. All studies were negative in the one unaffected. These results confirm that OPMD is caused by GCG short expansion and provides insights into the genetic mechanisms which may contribute to adult onset myopathy, confined to oculopharyngeal muscles.