269 DEMETHYLATION DYNAMICS OF PATERNAL GENOMES IN PRONUCLEAR BOVINE ZYGOTES PRODUCED BY IN VITRO FERTILIZATION AND INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION WITH NONDRIED OR FREEZE-DRIED SPERMATOZOA

Epigenetic reprogramming in early preimplantation embryos, which refers to erasing and remodeling epigenetic marks, including DNA methylation, is essential for differentiation and development. In many species, the paternal genome is subjected to genome-wide active demethylation before DNA replication commences, whereas the maternal genome maintains its methylation status until being demethylated passively during the subsequent cleavage divisions. This study was designed to investigate the dynamics of paternal genome demethylation in pronuclear-stage bovine zygotes produced by conventional IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using conventionally frozen, nondried and freeze-dried (FD) bull sperm stored at either +4 or –196°C for 1 year. Zygotes were fixed and immunostained using anti-5 methyl cytosin (Calbiochem, San Diego, CA, USA) at 8, 10, 14 and 18 h post IVF (hpi) and at 6 and 12 h post ICSI (hpic). After digital optical sections of the zygotes had been collected by a Bio-Rad confocal laser scanning microscope equipped with a krypton/argon ion laser, the fluorescence emitted by each pronucleus was quantitatively analyzed by Image-J software. The relative methylation of the male pronucleus to the female pronucleus in each zygote (RM) was calculated. Differences among groups regarding proportions of zygotes showing different levels of RM were analyzed using Fisher’s exact probability test, whereas differences among groups regarding the overall average of RM were analyzed using Student’s t-test. In conventional IVF, the overall average RM significantly decreased (P < 0.05) from 0.92 at 8 hpi to 0.69 at 10 hpi with no additional significant decrease at 14 and 18 hpi (0.67 and 0.64, respectively). This decrease was accompanied by significantly higher proportions of zygotes showing RM < 0.60 (45.5, 37.5, and 38.2% at 10, 14, and 18 hpi, respectively) compared with 3.7% at 8 hpi. Because spermatozoa take about 2 h to penetrate into oocytes in a bovine IVF system, zygotes at 6 and 12 hpic may be developmentally comparable with those at 8 and 14 hpi. The overall averages of RM in ICSI-derived zygotes (0.79 and 0.66 at 6 and 12 hpic, respectively) were similar to those in corresponding IVF-derived zygotes (8 and 14 hpi), but a significantly higher proportion of 6 hpic zygotes (37.8%) than 8 hpi zygotes (3.7%) showed RM < 0.60. Surprisingly, the proportions of 12 hpic zygotes produced with FD sperm showing RM < 0.60 (60.6 and 62.4% for +4 and –196°C storage, respectively) were significantly higher than the proportions of those produced with nondried sperm (39.4%). These findings indicate that demethylation of the bovine paternal genome occurred early after IVF and ICSI, and that the freeze-drying of the paternal genome resulted in a higher demethylation level.

Impact of stent design on intra-aneurysmal flow. A computer simulation study

SUMMARY

In addition to providing a skeleton for vessel reconstruction, stent implantation as used for cerebral aneurysm treatment can induce flow redirection, thus reducing vortical flow velocities within the aneurysm cavity. Further, stent characteristics such as strut size, porosity and cell shape influence the changes in intra-aneurysmal flow by analog simulations. The purpose of this computer simulation study was to visualize the flow pattern over the entire neck area of a side wall aneurysm while changing the stent parameters. A 3-D computer model aneurysm was constructed to have a parent artery of 5 mm diameter and an aneurysm of 10 mm diameter. The distance between the midline of main artery and center point of the aneurysm was 6.8 mm, providing a neck length of 5 mm, a width of 3.6 mm, and a neck area of 14 mm 2. The simulations were carried out with a Finite Element Method based flow simulation package. The incompressible Navier-Stokes equation was solved for a steady flow with a mean speed of 290 mm/s, steady viscosity of 3.83 cp, and density of 1.0 g/cm3. Two parallel stent struts (dimensions: 100 mum m 100 mum m 2.0 mm) were introduced into the plane of the aneurysm neck. The fraction of the aneurysm neck cross-section occupied by the stent was 2.83% in all cases. The velocity distribution through the neck of the aneurysm was calculated for three different choices of separation between the struts for each of two orientations of the struts (parallel and perpendicular) relative to the vessel axis. The flow pattern in the aneurysm was composed of an inflow zone at the distal neck and of an outflow zone at the proximal neck. The placement of stent struts at the aneurysm neck resulted in a decrease in the mean speed in the aneurysm. The degree of reduction and the distribution of flow through the neck did depend on the orientation of the stent struts. The struts, when placed parallel or perpendicular to the parent vessel axis affected the mean speed through the aneurysm neck differently.

The ability of whale haploid spermatogenic cells to induce calcium oscillations and its relevance to oocyte activation

Interspecies microinsemination assay was applied to examine the ability of minke whale haploid spermatogenic cells to induce Ca2+oscillations and oocyte activation. Populations of round spermatids (RS), early-stage elongating spermatids (e-ES), late-stage elongating spermatids (1-ES) and testicular spermatozoa (TS) were cryopreserved in the presence of 7.5% glycerol on board ship in the Antarctic Ocean. Repetitive increases of intracellular Ca2+concentration occurred in 0, 65, 81 and 96% of BDF1 mouse oocytes injected with the postthaw RS, e-ES, 1-ES and TS, respectively. A normal pattern of the Ca2+oscillations was observed in 26–47% of the responding oocytes. Most oocytes that exhibited Ca2+oscillations, regardless of the oscillation pattern, resumed meiosis (83–94%). These results indicate that whale spermatogenic cells acquire SOAF activity, which is closely related to their Ca2+oscillation-inducing ability at the relatively early stage of spermiogenesis.

Protease activity higher in postmortem water buffalo meat than Brahman beef

We previously demonstrated that postmortem water buffalo meat had higher tenderness than Brahman beef. In order to explain this difference in tenderness, the objective of the current study was to investigate the protease activity in these two meats. Five female crossbred water buffalo (Philippine Carabao×Bulgarian Murrah) and five female crossbred cattle (Brahman×Philippine Native) were slaughtered at 30months of age, followed by immediate sampling of Longissimus thoracis muscle for measurement of protease activity. Results showed that buffalo meat had significantly higher protease activity compared to beef (P<0.05). Furthermore, calpain inhibitor 1, a specific inhibitor of calpains 1 and 2, was the most effective inhibitor of protease activity. There was no difference in calpastatin activity, and no major differences were observed in calpains 1, 2, and calpastatin expression by Western blotting. This study suggests that higher calpain activity in early postmortem buffalo meat was responsible for the increased tenderness of water buffalo meat compared to beef.

69 APPLICATION OF BOVINE AMNIOTIC CELLS FOR PRENATAL GENETIC DIAGNOSIS AND NUCLEAR TRANSFER

Amniotic fluid includes many cells derived from the fetus called 'amniotic cells'. Although these amniotic cells may have much potential as a reproduction or breeding source of the animals, there has been limited study of the potential applications of these cells. We examined the potential of bovine amniotic cells for biotechnological use. Bovine amniotic cells separated from amniotic fluid obtained from a slaughterhouse were prepared for use in all experiments. First, to examine the culture condition of amniotic cells, the cells were cultured in various culture media. Cytologic normality of the cultured cells was analyzed by chromosomal examination and Papanicolaou examination. Second, to examine the potential of cultured amniotic cells for prenatal genetic diagnosis, the cells were used for sexing by PCR. The coincidence of the results with the gender of the fetus from which the cells were derived was examined. Third, we used the cultured cells as donor cells for nuclear transfer, and examined the developmental ability of reconstructed embryos. The normality of the blastocysts derived from the reconstructed embryos was examined by chromosomal examination and transplantation to the recipient heifer. Bovine amniotic cells were cultured successfully in Amnio-max C-100� (GIBCO, Grand Island, NY, USA), which is marketed as culture medium for human amniotic cells. In all cases, the sex of cultured amniotic cells analyzed by PCR was coincident with that of the fetus from which the amniotic cells were derived. The frequencies of cleavage and development to the blastocyst stage of embryos reconstructed from amniotic cells were the same as those of fetal fibroblasts. There were no differences in the normality of chromosomal number between blastocysts derived from amniotic cells and fetal fibroblasts. A blastocyst derived from amniotic cells developed into a fetus after transplantation. DNA microsatellite analysis of the fetus at Day 64 was coincident with that of the fetus from which the amniotic cells were derived. These results indicate that bovine amniotic cells can be successfully cultured in vitro, and the cultured cells precisely reflect the genetic information of the fetus from which the cells were derived. The cultured cells also have developmental ability as donor cells for nuclear transfer. Amniotic cells may have the potential for effective reproduction and breeding using genetic and biotechnological sources.

Difference in tenderness and pH decline between water buffalo meat and beef during postmortem aging

The objective of this research was to determine the difference in tenderness and some characteristics of water buffalo meat and beef during postmortem aging. Five female crossbred water-buffalo (Philippine Carabao×Bulgarian Murrah) and five female crossbred cattle (Brahman×Philippine Native), were finished on the same diet for 6 months and slaughtered at 30 months of age. The muscle pH was measured at 40min, 3h, 7h, 24h, and 48h postmortem. Longissimus thoracis (LT) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles were excised at 2d postmortem, and shear force was measured at 2, 4, 7, and 14d postmortem. Glycogen and lactate concentrations were determined from 0, 2, and 4d LT samples, and myosin heavy chain type of buffalo and cattle LT was determined by ELISA methods. Myofibrillar protein degradation was also observed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting of fast-type troponin T. Results showed that the buffalo meat had significantly lower shear force values compared to beef for LT and SM muscles, which was supported by a difference in troponin T degradation. Postmortem pH decline of buffalo meat was significantly slower than that of beef, which was confirmed by lactic acid concentrations, but was not explained by glycogen content. In addition, there was no significant difference in the ratio of slow to fast type muscle fibers in buffalo and cattle, indicating that myosin heavy chain type was not responsible for the difference in pH decline and tenderness between the buffalo meat and beef. This study demonstrated that the tenderness of water buffalo meat was superior to that of Brahman beef, which may have been due to the difference in pH decline and the subsequent effect on muscle protease activity.

153 ALLEVIATIVE EFFECTS OF ANTIOXIDANT ADMINISTRATION ON MATERNAL HYPERTHERMIA-INDUCED EARLY EMBRYONIC DEATH IN MICE

Hyperthermia-induced early embryonic death is generally ascribed to the high susceptibility of early embryos to elevated maternal body temperature. However, recent studies have indicated that the disruption of embryonic development by maternal hyperthermia has relevance to not only high temperature exposure to the embryo, but also hyperthermia-associated changes in the maternal body. Hyperthermia enhances physiological production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) systemically. Early embryos are susceptible to oxidative stress and it becomes easy to arrest their development when the oxidative stress is exposed. These findings led us to speculate that maternal hyperthermia-induced early embryonic death is caused by an increase in oxidative stress to the embryo. Vitamin E and melatonin are both well known to function as antioxidants in vivo when they are administered exogenously. In this study, we administered vitamin E or melatonin to heat-stressed pregnant mice, aiming to alleviate the hyperthermia-induced embryonic death. Female mice were heat-stressed (35�C with 60% relative humidity) for 12 h on the day of mating. In Experiment 1, vitamin E (1000 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally just before stress treatment, or melatonin (3 mg/kg body weight) was injected subcutaneously for every 2 h during heat exposure. Then, zygotes were collected and in vitro developmental ability was assessed. In Experiment 2, intracellular glutathione (GSH) content in the zygote, ROS level and free radical scavenging activity (FRSA) in the oviduct, and lipid peroxidation level in the liver were measured to evaluate the effects of melatonin administration on physiological redox status. All data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Fisher's protected least-significant test. The percentage of embryos that developed to the morula or blastocyst stage was significantly (P < 0.01) increased by administration of either vitamin E (58.6%) or melatonin (47.9%) compared with that in heat-stressed mice that were administered placebos (14.8%). Intracellular GSH content in zygotes derived from melatonin-administered mice was not significantly different from that in unstressed mice (1.67 and 1.82 pmol/zygote, respectively), whereas in heat-stressed mice that were administered placebo, intracellular GSH content was significantly decreased (1.48 pmol/zygote, P < 0.05) compared to that in unstressed mice. There were no significant differences in lipid peroxidation levels in the liver and in ROS levels in the oviduct between melatonin-administered stressed mice and unstressed mice, although these parameters in heat-stressed mice with placebo were significantly higher than in unstressed mice (P < 0.05). Furthermore, FRSA in the oviduct was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the melatonin-administered mice than in the heat-stressed mice. These findings suggest that antioxidant administration to heat-stressed mice alleviates the hyperthermia-induced early embryonic death, and this may be accomplished in part by maintaining a neutral redox status within the mother.

314 FULL-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF RAT OOCYTES MICROINSEMINATED WITH FREEZE-DRIED SPERMATOZOA

Since freeze-dried spermatozoa can be stored at ambient or refrigerated temperature, the costs required for maintenance and shipping of spermatozoa can be reduced. To date, viable offspring in mice (Wakayama and Yanagimachi 1998 Nat. Biotech. 16, 639) and rabbits (Liu et al. 2004 Biol. Reprod. 70, 1776) have been produced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using freeze-dried samples. The objectives of the present study were to examine whether freeze-dried rat spermatozoa can participate in full-term development by ICSI, and whether sonication prior to freeze-drying of the spermatozoa influences the offspring rate. Spermatozoa from cauda epididymides of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were collected in 10 mM TRIS/HCl buffer supplemented with 50 mM NaCl and 50 mM EGTA. A 2 × 3 factorial-designed experiment was conducted. The sperm suspensions were either sonicated for 10 s using a 10% power output from an ultrasonic cell disruptor or not sonicated. The sperm suspensions were then processed for freeze-thawing (100-μL sample in 1.0-mL cryotube was cooled in liquid nitrogen vapor, stored at -196°C for 48 h, and thawed in a 25°C water bath) and freeze-drying (100-μL sample in 1.5-mL polypropylene tube was frozen in liquid nitrogen for 20 s, lyophilized for 6 h by a freeze-drying apparatus, stored at 4°C for 48 h, and rehydrated with 100 μL ultra pure water), or were subjected to immediate use for ICSI. The sperm heads were microinjected into denuded SD oocytes using a piezo-driven micropipette 2–4 μm in diameter, as described previously (Hirabayashi et al. 2002 Transgenic Res. 11, 221). The presumptive zygotes were transferred into oviducts of pseudopregnant Wistar female rats. The in vivo developmental potential of rat oocytes microinseminated with fresh, freeze-thawed, and freeze-dried spermatozoa is shown in the table below. Viable rat offspring were produced in all six experimental groups, with the offspring rates at 2.5–35.0%. Sonication treatment of rat spermatozoa to induce membrane disruption and tail/midpiece dissociation from the heads was effective in increasing the offspring rate after ICSI. The positive effect of sperm sonication may be explained as facilitating decondensation of sperm heads by membrane disruption in the spontaneously activating rat oocytes. Thus, successful participation of freeze-dried rat spermatozoa into full-term development was demonstrated by applying the ICSI. Table 1. In vivo development of rat oocytes microinseminated with fresh, freeze-thawed, and freeze-dried spermatozoa

317 FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY OF TRANSGENIC RATS BY ICSI-MEDIATED DNA TRANSFER

Successful DNA transfer via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was first reported in mice (Perry et al. 1999, Science 284, 1180), and was recently extended to rats (Kato et al. 2004, Mol. Reprod. Dev. 69, 153). In the present study, factors affecting the production efficiency of transgenic rats by the ICSI-mediated DNA transfer were investigated. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa from Sprague-Dawley rats were sonicated (SO) and/or frozen-thawed (FT) for tail-cutting and membrane-disrupting. The sperm heads were exposed for 1 min to different concentrations (0.02–2.5 ng/μL) of 3.0 kb EGFP DNA solution, and then microinjected into denuded F1 (Donryu × LEW) rat oocytes. The optimal concentration of EGFP DNA was 0.1 ng/μL, as determined by the in vitro developmental competence into morulae/blastocysts and the EGFP expression of the ICSI oocytes. The presumptive 1- or 2-cell stage zygotes were transferred into oviducts of pseudopregnant Wistar females, and the presence of EGFP DNA in the offspring was examined by fluorescence under the 480 nm UV light. The production efficiency of transgenic rat offspring was 2.8% (2/71 zygotes transferred), 1.6% (1/63), and 3.3% (2/61) in the oocytes into which SO-, FT-, and SO+ FT-treated sperm heads were injected, respectively. The founder transgenic rats carrying EGFP DNA transmitted the transgenes to their progeny according to the Mendelian fashion (43.8–54.8%), suggesting the stable incorporation of the transgenes into rat genomes. Four rat strains (F344, LEW, Donryu, and Sprague-Dawley) were compared for their suitability as sperm/oocyte donors in the production of transgenic rats by ICSI with SO + FT-treated and 0.1 ng/μL EGFP DNA-exposed sperm heads. The production efficiency of the transgenic rats in the Sprague-Dawley strain (8.2%, 8/98) was significantly higher than that in LEW strain (0.9%, 1/114), while those in F344 (4.3%, 4/92) and Donryu (4.4%, 5/114) strains were intermediate. Attempts were made to introduce three other DNA constructs (5.0 kb plasmid and 208 kb BAC, both with Fyn gene, and 186 kb BAC with Svet1/IRES-Cre gene) into rat genomes by ICSI with SO + FT-treated and 0.1 ng/μL DNA-exposed sperm heads. PCR analysis showed that the Fyn, Fyn/BAC, and Svet1/IRES-Cre DNA constructs were successfully introduced into Sprague-Dawley rat offspring via ICSI, with production efficiencies of 2.8% (3/109), 0.9% (1/109), and 2.4% (3/125), respectively. These results indicate that transgenic rats can be produced by ICSI-mediated DNA transfer using the various types of exogenous DNA and rat strains with different genetic backgrounds.

315 AN ATTEMPT AT INDUCING DIFFERENTIATION INTO ROUND SPERMATIDS OF RAT SPERMATOGONIA BY CO-CULTURING WITH SERTOLI CELLS

Mammalian spermatogenesis is a complex process of germ cell development at the seminiferous tubules whereby diploid spermatogonia proliferate and differentiate into haploid spermatozoa via round and elongating spermatids in close association with somatic Sertoli cells. In the present study, the potential of rat spermatogonia to undergo meiosis during co-culture with Sertoli cells was assessed. The type-A spermatogonia and Sertoli cells were prepared from Day 7 heterozygous transgenic male rats carrying EGFP DNA, and co-cultured on the dishes (coated; BD Falcon™ 35-3801, or non-coated: BD Falcon™ 35-1008, 4 × 106 cells/4-mL dish) at 37°C for 3 days and at 34°C for a subsequent 7 days in 5% CO2 in air. The culture medium was DMEM medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, growth factors (10 ng/mL EGF and 10 ng/mL IGF) and various hormones (500 ng/mL FSH, 133 μIU/mL hGH, 5 μg/mL insulin, 0.1 μM testosterone and 0.1 μM dihydrotestosterone). During culture, appearance of round spermatid-like cells (ca. 15 μm in cellular diameter and 7–8 μm in nuclear diameter) was traced. The ploidy of the cells was also analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). At the end of culture, the proportion of EGFP DNA-bearing cells in the total cultured cell population was examined under UV light at 365 nm. Thereafter, continuation of the spermatid-like cells to full-term development was examined by ooplasmic microinjection (Kato et al. 2004 Contemp. Top. Lab. Anim. Sci. 43/2, 13). Briefly, oocytes from the Sprague-Dawley rats were denuded, activated with two direct-current pulses at 100 V/mm for 99 μs and held in 2 mM 6-dimethylaminopurine for 20 min. The nuclei of spermatid-like cells were microinjected into the oocytes by using a piezo impact driving unit, and the injected oocytes after 24 h culture were transferred into recipients. Round spermatid-like cells were first observed at the 5th day of culture on both dishes, but the proportion of spermatid-like cells on the coated dish was higher than that on the non-coated dish. The FCM analysis showed that a single peak of haploid cells was detected in the cell population cultured on the coated dish at the 5th day of culture, while no haploid peak was detected on the non-coated dish. The cultured cells exhibited two distinct patterns of EGFP fluorescence, with a proportion of EGFP-positive cells at 53.5% (total 1,000 counts). The microinsemination into 263 oocytes resulted in the production of 27 oocytes with two pronuclei (10.3%) and 15 cleaved oocytes (5.7%). However, the oviductal transfer of 143 microinseminated oocytes resulted in only 8 implantation sites without viable offspring (5.6%). These results indicated that rat type-A spermatogonial cells seemed to undergo meiosis, but the potential of the cultured spermatid-like cells to participate into full-term development was questionable.

Successful vitrification of pronuclear-stage rabbit zygotes by minimum volume cooling procedure

Rabbit zygotes at the pronuclear-stage were cryopreserved by vitrification using a gel-loading tip (GL-tip), Cryoloop or Cryotop. In GL-tip and Cryoloop methods, zygotes were first exposed to 10% ethylene glycol (EG)+10% DMSO in TCM199+20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 2 min, and then equilibrated for 30 s in a vitrification solution composed of 20% EG+20% DMSO+0.6 M sucrose in TCM199+20% FBS. In Cryotop method, zygotes were first exposed to 7.5% EG+7.5% DMSO+20% FBS in TCM199 for 3 min, and then equilibrated for 1 min in a vitrification solution composed of 15% EG+15% DMSO+0.5 M sucrose+20% FBS in TCM199. In vitro culture of vitrified-warmed zygotes using GL-tip and Cryoloop resulted in low cleavage rates (2 and 5%, respectively) and no development into blastocysts. In contrast, zygotes vitrified-warmed using Cryotop exhibited higher proportions of cleavage (58%) and development into blastocysts (24%). When compacted morulae or early blastocysts were vitrified by these three procedures, 80-93% of them exhibited blastocoele expansion or zona hatching during the subsequent 48 h of culture. Use of Cryotop instead of GL-tip or Cryoloop for zygote vitrification, without changing conditions of solutions and periods for exposure, equilibration and post-warm dilution, resulted in cleavage and blastocyst development rates of 88 and 45%, respectively. A longer exposure time (10 min) of zygotes to 7.5% EG+7.5% DMSO+20% FBS in TCM199 resulted in higher proportions of zygotes cleaving (94%) and developing into blastocysts (51%) after Cryotop vitrification. Proportions of post-warm zygotes (10-min exposure group) and fresh control zygotes developing into newborn offspring were 36 and 53%, respectively. Pronuclear-stage rabbit zygotes were successfully cryopreserved by vitrification using the Cryotop method.

Ultrasound biomicroscopic study of ciliary body changes in the post-treatment phase of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease

AIMS

To investigate the usefulness of ultrasound biomicroscopy for evaluating changes in the ciliary body in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

METHODS

Ultrasound biomicroscopy was used to evaluate 14 eyes of seven patients diagnosed with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. Cross sectional images of the ciliary body and thickness of the pars plana 3.0 mm posterior to the scleral spur were examined. Predicted thickness of the pars plana was obtained by multiple linear regression analysis of thickness in the acute phase and in the remission phase.

RESULTS

In the active phase, the cross sectional images showed a shallow anterior chamber in eight of the 14 eyes, ciliochoroidal detachment in five eyes, and a thickened ciliary body in all 14 eyes. Internal reflectivity of the ciliary stroma was low, with ciliary processes being unclear in 13 eyes. One month after steroid treatment, slit lamp examination findings were normal in 14 eyes. 10 eyes of five patients were examined by ultrasound biomicroscopy at this stage. Ciliochoroidal detachment was no longer seen in any eye. Internal reflection of the ciliary stroma became relatively homogeneous, and the ciliary processes were seen, though not clearly. However, the pars plana remained thickened. The actual thickness was greater at 1 month after steroid treatment than the predicted thickness for the remission phase. In the remission phase, the internal reflection was homogeneous and the ciliary processes were delineated clearly in all 14 eyes.

CONCLUSION

Objective, quantitative evaluation of the ciliary body is possible with ultrasound biomicroscopy during the course of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. Ultrasound biomicroscopy is useful in determining disease activity in the anterior segment and in monitoring the clinical course, and it may improve evaluation of the efficacy of treatment.

Developmental competence and oxidative state of mouse zygotes heat-stressed maternally or in vitro

Mammalian preimplantation embryos are sensitive to maternal and direct heat stress. However, the mechanisms by which heat stress affects early embryonic development in vivo or in vitro are unknown. This study examined whether heat-stress-induced loss of developmental competence in mouse embryos was mediated by physiological changes in the maternal environment or by high temperatures alone. After fertilization, zygotes at the same stage were heat-stressed at 39.5 degrees C for 12 h either maternally (measured by maternal rectal temperature) or directly in culture. Zygotes in each group were cultured at 37.5 degrees C for a further 84 h to assess their developmental ability. Neither type of heat stress affected the first cleavage rate. However, the proportion of embryos that developed to morulae or blastocysts was significantly lower in the maternally heat-stressed group, but not in the directly heat-stressed group. Moreover, maternal heat stress significantly reduced intracellular glutathione concentrations and enhanced hydrogen peroxide concentrations in both zygotes and two-cell embryos that were recovered immediately after heat stress or 12 h later, respectively. In contrast, direct heat stress had little effect on concentrations of glutathione or hydrogen peroxide in cultured early embryos. These results demonstrate that maternal heat stress at the zygote stage reduces the developmental ability of mouse embryos via physiological changes in the maternal environment that lead to an increase in intracellular oxidative stress on the embryo.

Overexpression of vasopressin in the rat transgenic for the metallothionein-vasopressin fusion gene

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a major antidiuretic hormone, the overproduction of which causes diluting hyponatremia in humans and is called the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD). To study physiological changes resulting from AVP overproduction and to develop an animal model of hyponatremia, the human AVP gene was expressed under the control of the metallothionein promoter in transgenic (Tg) rats. Analyses of AVP immunoreactivity (irAVP) in the tissues revealed that the transgene is expressed mainly in the central nervous system. Gel filtration showed that irAVP in the brain and plasma was properly processed AVP. AVP purified from the brains of both Tg and control rats also exerted equal bioactivity to generate cAMP in LLC-PK1 cells. The founder rats did not show any physical or anatomical abnormalities. Under basal conditions, Tg rats had high plasma AVP levels (Tg 13.8 +/- 2.5 pg/ml; control 2.7 +/- 1.2 pg/ml; n=6 in both groups; means +/- S.E.M.), decreased urine volume, and normal plasma [Na(+)]. Hypertonic saline injected i.p. did not affect AVP secretion in Tg rats. In response to a zinc-supplemented liquid diet, plasma AVP decreased in control rats, but increased in Tg rats (Tg 32.7 +/- 2.7 pg/ml; control 1.0+/-0.1 pg/ml; n=6), resulting in hyponatremia (Tg 135.2 +/- 2.5 mEq/l; control 140.8 +/- 0.4 mEq/l; n=6). To our knowledge, this is the first transgenic animal to show diluting hyponatremia. This transgenic rat may therefore provide a useful model in which to investigate various physiological alterations resulting from the oversecretion of AVP which involve SIAD, stress response, behavior, and blood pressure.

Adaptation to sustained high plasma vasopressin in water and electrolyte homeostasis in the rat transgenic for the metallothionein-vasopressin fusion gene

Prolonged exposure of tissues to a receptor agonist often leads to adaptive changes that limit the subsequent responsiveness of the tissue to the same agonist. Recently, we have generated rats transgenic for the metallothionein I-human arginine vasopressin (AVP) fusion gene (Tg), which produced high plasma AVP with relatively preserved renal water excretion, suggesting that there might be adaptive mechanism(s) for maintaining water and electrolyte homeostasis against chronic AVP oversecretion from the earliest stage of life. In this study, to investigate whether down-regulation of AVP V2 receptor (V2R), which could possibly be caused by long-standing high plasma AVP, participates in this adaptive mechanism(s), non-peptidic V2R antagonist OPC31260 was administered to reverse the down-regulation, and water loading was performed after V2R antagonist treatment had been withdrawn. Additionally, to confirm the down-regulation, Northern blotting analysis for V2R mRNA was carried out. Tg rats showed slightly decreased urine volume and water intake with an equivalent plasma [Na(+)] level (Tg 140.4 +/- 0.6 mEq/l; control 139.3 +/- 0.6 mEq/l) under basal conditions. After water loading using a liquid diet containing zinc, which stimulates the promoter region in the transgene, the urine increase showed only limited suppression with a dramatically increased plasma AVP level and mild hyponatremia (135.8 +/- 1.8 mEq/l) in Tg rats. When diet containing OPC31260 had been provided for 4 days until the day before the start of water loading, antidiuresis and hyponatremia (125.4 +/- 1.mEq/l) were significantly potentiated. V2R mRNA expression in kidney was significantly less in Tg rats than in control rats under basal conditions, and this suppression was restored by OPC31260 treatment to levels comparable with those of control rats. These results suggest that long-standing high plasma AVP causes V2R down-regulation, and it may play an important role in the adaptive mechanism(s) for maintaining water and electrolyte homeostasis in chronically AVP-overexpressing rats.

New lattice-Boltzmann model for magnetic fluids

A new type of two-dimensional lattice-Boltzmann model is developed in order to study the rheological properties of magnetic fluids. The appropriate extension of the lattice-Boltzmann scheme for magnetohydrodynamics makes it possible to deal with the rotation of the magnetic moment without losing the advantage of its simple algorithm. This model is suitable for simulating various behaviors of magnetic fluids influenced by the internal angular momentum.

Effects of cryopreservation of pronuclear-stage rabbit zygotes on the morphological survival, blastocyst formation, and full-term development after DNA microinjection

The objectives of this study were to examine the freezing sensitivity of pronuclear-stage rabbit zygotes and to produce transgenic rabbits using the cryopreserved zygotes. Zygotes were cryopreserved either by one of two vitrification protocols or by one of the two conventional freezing protocols. The morphological survival rates of zygotes subjected to two-step freezing in 1.5 M ethylene glycol and 0.1 M sucrose (74%) or to vitrification in 7.2 M ethylene glycol and 1.0 M sucrose (81%) were higher than those subjected to freezing in 1.5 M DMSO (46%) or to vitrification in a mixture of 2.0 M DMSO, 1.0 M acetamide, and 3.0 M propylene glycol (41%). But the in vitro development into blastocysts of zygotes cryopreserved by vitrification (17%) or to a lesser extent by freezing (52%) was impaired, when compared to that of fresh control zygotes (89%). Next, a fusion gene composed from bovine aS1-casein promoter and a human GH structural gene (2.8 kb) was microinjected into the pronucleus of rabbit zygotes frozen-thawed in ethylene glycol and sucrose. Then, the presence of exogenous DNA in the genome of newborn offspring was determined by PCR. The post-injection survival of frozen zygotes (97%) was the same as that of fresh control zygotes (96%). However, of 18 offspring derived from 414 frozen-thawed and DNA-injected zygotes, no transgenic rabbits were produced. Of 52 offspring derived from 403 DNA-injected fresh zygotes, 3 transgenic rabbits were found. Here we report the first rabbit offspring resulting from zygotes cryopreserved at the pronuclear-stage, although the cryopreservation procedure employed must be improved if zygotes are to be used for systematic production of transgenic rabbits.

Production of transgenic rats using young Sprague-Dawley females treated with PMSG and hCG

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of gonadotrophin treatments on estrus synchronization and superovulation in young Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats that had not yet exhibited defined estrus cycles (5 to 7 weeks old), and to produce transgenic rats using these females as embryo donors and recipients. In Experiment 1, female rats were injected with PMSG and hCG (12.5, 25, 50 and 100 IU/kg each) and were mated with stud males. The reproductive performance of young rats were highest when PMSG and hCG at doses of 25 IU/kg each were injected (delivery rate 87.5%, nursing rate 92.9%). In Experiment 2, female rats were injected with PMSG and hCG (100, 150 and 300 IU/kg each) to induce superovulation. More eggs were recovered from the rats injected with PMSG and hCG at 150 and 300 IU/kg than from those treated with 100 IU/kg (33.4 and 41.3 vs. 13.3 eggs per female, respectively; p < 0.05). In Experiment 3, pronuclear-stage zygotes from 150 IU/kg PMSG/hCG-treated rats were used for microinjection of the fusion gene of bovine alpha S1-casein gene promoter and human growth hormone gene (2.8 kb), and the microinjected zygotes were transferred into the oviduct ampullae of the 25 IU/kg PMSG/hCG-treated rats. Seventeen transgenic rats were obtained from the 334 DNA-injected zygotes (5.1%). These results indicate that recipients and embryo donors for the production of transgenic rats can be prepared by the appropriate PMSG and hCG treatments of young SD rats, regardless of their estrus stages.

VCP/p97 in abnormal protein aggregates, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and cell death, phenotypes relevant to neurodegeneration

Neuronal cell death, abnormal protein aggregates, and cytoplasmic vacuolization are major pathologies observed in many neurodegenerative disorders such as the polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, prion disease, Alzheimer disease, and the Lewy body diseases, suggesting common mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. Here, we have identified VCP/p97, a member of the AAA+ family of ATPase proteins, as a polyQ-interacting protein in vitro and in vivo, and report on its characterization. Endogenous VCP co-localized with expanded polyQ (ex-polyQ) aggregates in cultured cells expressing ex-polyQ, with nuclear inclusions in Huntington disease patient brains, and with Lewy bodies in patient samples. Moreover, the expression of VCP mutants with mutations in the 2nd ATP binding domain created cytoplasmic vacuoles, followed by cell death. Very similar vacuoles were also induced by ex-polyQ expression or proteasome inhibitor treatment. These results suggest that VCP functions not only as a recognition factor for abnormally folded proteins but also as a pathological effector for several neurodegenerative phenotypes. VCP may thus be an ideal molecular target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Green fluorescent protein-transgenic rat: a tool for organ transplantation research

The purpose of this study is to evaluate green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic rats for use as a tool for organ transplantation research. The GFP gene construct was designed to express ubiquitously. By flow cytometry, the cells obtained from the bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood of the GFP transgenic rats consisted of 77, 91, and 75% GFP-positive cells, respectively. To examine cell migration of GFP-positive cells after organ transplantation, pancreas graft with or without spleen transplantation, heart graft with or without lung transplantation, auxiliary liver and small bowel transplantation were also performed from GFP transgenic rat to LEW (RT1(1)) rats under a 2-week course of 0.64 mg/kg tacrolimus administration. GFP-positive donor cells were detected in the fully allogenic LEW rats after organ transplantation. These results showed that GFP transgenic rat is a useful tool for organ transplantation research such as cell migration study after organ transplantation without donor cell staining.

A comparative study on the integration of exogenous DNA into mouse, rat, rabbit, and pig genomes

Transgenic mammals, from small laboratory rodents to domestic animals, have been successfully produced to date, but their production efficiency within or across species has been variable. This is probably due to the differences in the type of injected DNA and/or technical procedures employed in each laboratory, as well as the reproductive characteristics of the species. Here we report the direct comparison of the efficiencies of producing transgenic mice, rats, rabbits and pigs by one technician using a fusion gene composed of the bovine alpha S1-casein promoter and human growth hormone (hGH) gene. Before the fusion gene was injected into the zygotes, high magnitude centrifugation to visualize the pronuclei was necessary for all of the pig zygotes and one-third of the rabbit zygotes, but not for mouse and rat zygotes. Post-injection survival of the mouse zygotes (67.1%) was lower than those of the rat, rabbit and pig zygotes (89.6 to 100%). The volume change of the pronucleus following DNA injection was the lowest in mice (50% increase), moderate in rabbits (148% increase), and the most prominent in rats (238% increase). The data from only 1 pig zygote indicated a 22% increase in the pronucleus volume by DNA injection. The PCR analyses of the tail DNA of new born offspring indicated that 0.8% (4/493), 4.8% (22/463), 0.8% (3/367) and 0.9% (2/221) of the injected eggs in mice, rats, rabbits and pigs, respectively, developed into transgenic offspring. Some of the founder animals in all four species expressed the transgene in the mammary gland which was confirmed in hGH mRNA by RT-PCR and/or hGH peptide in Witch's milk with ELISA. These results suggest that the maximum volume of DNA solution injectable into the pronucleus is a possible factor explaining the species differences in the production of transgenic animals.