L-arginine and endogenous nitric oxide protect the gastric mucosa from endothelin-1-induced gastric ulcers in rats

We have reported that endothelin-1 induces gastric ulcer characterized by a potent long-lasting vasoconstriction of the regional microvasculature. Nitric oxide synthesized from L-arginine has been shown to regulated gastric mucosal blood flow, and inhibition of its synthesis has been shown to delay the healing of gastric ulcers. We examined the effect of exogenous L-arginine and the inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis on the development of endothelin-1-induced gastric ulcers. In rats anesthetized with urethane, a continuous intravenous infusion of L- or D-arginine (10 mg.kg-1.min-1) was followed, 15 min later, by a submucosal injection of endothelin-1 (200 pmol/kg) in the anterior wall of the gastric body. In another group, rats were intravenously pretreated with N omega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (1-10 mg/kg), a nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor, and then injected with endothelin-1 (40 pmol/kg). Twenty-four h later, L-arginine, but not D-arginine, had significantly reduced the extent and the severity of the endothelin-1-induced ulcer (mucosal wall damage, 18.11 +/- 4.79% and 88.14 +/- 7.06%, respectively; mean +/- SD, P < 0.001), and the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor (10 mg/kg) had increased the endothelin-1-induced mucosal damage (ulcer length, 3.8 +/- 1.2 mm and 1.1 +/- 0.2 mm, respectively, P < 0.01). Continuous gastric mucosal blood flow measurements showed that L-arginine antagonized the endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction. L-arginine protected the gastric mucosa from the ulcerogenic action of endothelin-1 and antagonized its vasoconstrictive action. The inhibition of endogenous nitric oxide potentiated the ulcerogenic effect of endothelin-1 on rat gastric mucosa.

Detection of cilia-associated respiratory bacillus in experimentally and naturally infected mice and rats by the polymerase chain reaction

Cilia-associated respiratory (CAR) bacillus was detected by means of the reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the results were compared with those of indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT) for the detection of the organism. In the experimental infections, 15 mice were in contact with mice previously inoculated with CAR bacillus. Three mice each were tested at days 3, 5, 7, 12 and 20 postexposure. On day 3 postexposure, CAR bacillus was detected in oral swab samples from all 3 mice by RT-PCR, but was not detected in any sampling sites from the mice by IFAT. Total numbers of positive samples from nasal, oral and tracheal swabs obtained through the test were 6/15, 14/15 and 8/15, respectively, by RT-PCR, and 2/15, 6/15 and 3/15, respectively by IFAT. For the detection of CAR bacillus in samples from 52 rats, 34 serum antibody negative rats by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were also negative by RT-PCR and IFAT except for one sample from the oral cavity, and all serum antibody positive rats were positive for the organism by RT-PCR but it could not be detected in five of them by IFAT. By means of RT-PCR, no differences in the positive rates depending on sampling sites were observed except in one rat. The RT-PCR was found to be a specific, highly sensitive and reliable procedure for detecting CAR bacillus in mice and rats. The oral cavity was the most suitable site for the diagnosis of the early stage of this infection by RT-PCR.

[The effect of subconjunctival injection of endothelin-1 on intraocular pressure in the rabbit]

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictive peptide produced in part by vascular endothelial cells. In order to investigate its effects on the episcleral vascular system and intraocular pressure (IOP), we injected ET-1 (3, 10, 30, 100, 300, 1,000 pmol) into the subconjunctival space of rabbits and measured IOP with a manometer. Injection of a dose higher than 10 pmol caused a transient increase of IOP. Mean maximum elevation rate of IOP for each dose of ET-1 was 14.9 +/- 0.9%, (mean +/- standard error) 43.5% +/- 9.5%, 40.8 +/- 7.5%, 46.9 +/- 9.8%, and 84.1 +/- 22.6. Next, we injected 1,000 pmol into the subconjunctival space, and continuously measured IOP and ocular pulse pressure with a manometer. IOP increased rapidly after ET-1 injection. Maximal increase of IOP was observed at 22.7 +/- 9.2 min after ET-1 injection, and IOP decreased after the peak. The ocular pulse pressure increased with IOP elevation and decreased with the IOP reduction. We speculated that the transient elevation of IOP was caused by increase of aqueous outflow resistance, and the decrease of IOP was caused by decrease of aqueous outflow resistance and decrease of blood flow in the ciliary body and the choroid. This strongly suggests that subconjunctival injection of ET-1 could have a large effect on the episcleral vascular system, aqueous outflow, and blood flow in the ciliary body and the choroid.

Ultraviolet B irradiation increases endothelin-1 and endothelin receptor expression in cultured human keratinocytes

The effect of ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation on endothelin-1 (ET-1) and ET receptor expression was examined using cultured normal human keratinocytes. Keratinocytes secreted ET-1 in the medium at a level of 2.1 pg/day/10(5) cells. UVB irradiation up to 10 mJ/cm2 increased ET-1 secretion 3-fold, and potentiated expression of mRNA for ET-1. Both ETA and ETB receptor mRNAs were detected in keratinocytes, and their expression was up-regulated by 5 mJ/cm2 UVB irradiation.

Effects of embryo density and co-culture of unfertilized oocytes on embryonic development of in-vitro fertilized mouse embryos

We have evaluated the effects of embryo density and the co-culture of unfertilized (degenerating) oocytes on the development of in-vitro fertilized (IVF) mouse embryos. In experiment 1, groups of one, five, 10 or 20 zygotes were cultured in 20 microliter drops of modified human tubal fluid (HTF) medium for 168 h at 38.7 degrees C in 5% CO2 and 95% air. As the embryo density increased, significantly (P < 0.05) higher rates of embryos reached hatched blastocyst stage. In addition, the time required for hatching after IVF was significantly (P < 0.05) shortened by the increase in embryo density. In experiment 2, 10 IVF zygotes were cultured with or without 10 unfertilized (degenerating) oocytes in 20 microliter drops of HTF medium. The rates of IVF embryos that developed to morula, blastocyst, expanded blastocyst and hatched blastocyst stages were decreased significantly (P < 0.01) by culturing embryos with unfertilized oocytes compared with culturing embryos alone. In experiment 3, groups of one or 10 IVF zygotes or 10 IVF zygotes plus 10 unfertilized oocytes were cultured in 20 microliter drops of HTF medium and the number of cells per blastocyst was examined at 120 h after IVF. Increasing embryo density resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the number of cells per blastocyst. In contrast, the cell number of IVF embryos that developed to blastocyst decreased significantly (P < 0.05) when they were cultured with unfertilized oocytes. The results suggest that in-vitro development of IVF mouse embryos is enhanced by increasing embryo density and is impaired by co-culture with unfertilized (degenerating) oocytes.

A severe muscular dystrophy patient with an internally deleted very short (110 kD) dystrophin: presence of the binding site for dystrophin-associated glycoprotein (DAG) may not be enough for physiological function of dystrophin

We report a 4-yr and 5-month-old boy with severe clinical features of an early-onset Duchenne muscular dystrophy, who had a very short (110 kDa) dystrophin at the sarcolemma. The patient had a large deletion (exons 2-44) of the dystrophin gene which was predicted to cause a reading frame shift. Sequence analysis of dystrophin mRNA in muscle revealed an alternatively spliced gene product from exons 1 to 51 that caused restoration of the reading frame, in addition to an mRNA corresponding to the DNA deletion. A consistent result was obtained by immunocytochemical analysis of muscle; i.e. positive staining for dystrophin at the sarcolemma using antibodies against the C-terminus, cysteine-rich region and last three of 24 repeat units of the central rod-domain, but not for the remaining antibodies for dystrophin that recognize the N-terminal and proximal rod-domains. Immunostaining for dystrophin-associated glycoproteins (DAGs: 43 and 50 K) and merosin were preserved. Utrophin staining was positive but fainter than other DMD muscles. These results suggest that an extremely short dystrophin lacking the entire actin-binding site in the N-terminus cannot function properly even if the protein possesses the putative DAG-binding cysteine-rich and the C-terminal domains, and still has an ability to associate with sarcolemmal membrane.

Spontaneous recurrence of methamphetamine psychosis: process and monoamine neurotransmitter function

We studied the process that causes a spontaneous recurrence of methamphetamine (MAP) psychosis, a phenomenon known as flashbacks, in 41 female flashbackers by a comparison of clinical characteristics between the 41 flashbackers and 87 non-flashbackers with previous MAP psychosis. We evaluated plasma levels of monoamine metabolites in 25 of the 41 flashbackers, 19 of the 87 non-flashbackers, 9 female patients with persistent MAP psychosis and 61 physically healthy female controls. All 41 flashbackers had experienced a significantly greater frequency of threatening events and threatening paranoid-hallucinatory states than the 87 non-flashbackers during previous MAP abuse. The triggering factor was a mild fear of other persons due to the evocation of frightening images, encoded through threatening experiences during previous MAP abuse. Norepinephrine (NE) levels were significantly associated with a history of flashbacks. Plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels were significantly higher during flashbacks and during periods of normalcy in the flashbackers, and in the non-flashbackers, than MHPG levels in the user controls. NE levels in the patients with persistent MAP psychosis were also significantly higher than NE levels in the user controls. Elevated NE levels in the flashbackers were associated with disrupted NE, 5-HT and DA turnover. Thus, MAP-induced sensitization to frightening images may have caused the flashbacks due to aggravated noradrenergic hyperactivity.

[Seroprevalence of HTLV-I in various ocular diseases in central Japan]

Recently human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) has been shown to be responsible for a kind of uveitis in southwestern Japan, where HTLV-I infection is highly endemic. To investigate further the association of HTLV-I with various ocular diseases, we studied HTLV-I seroprevalence in 1,350 patients in central Japan, where HTLV-I infection is not endemic. Of 1,350 patients with various ocular diseases, 40 (2.96%) were seropositive for the retrovirus. There was no statistically significant difference in HTLV-I seroprevalence among various ocular diseases. Four of 9 (44.4%) seropositive cases from southwestern Japan developed HTLV-I associated uveitis (HAU), whereas only 2 of 26 (7.7%) seropositive cases from central Japan developed HAU. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). This suggests that the incidence of HAU could be influenced by environmental or hereditary factors. On the other hand, 3 of 7 (42.9%) patients with episcleritis showed HTLV-I infection.

Prevalence of HTLV-I-associated uveitis in the Kanto Plain, Japan

BACKGROUND

Seroprevalence of antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) is high in the island of Kyushu, Japan. Reports on the etiological analysis of HTLV-I in patients with uveitis primarily document cases in this island. We studied the seroprevalence of HTLV-I at the Department of Ophthalmology in Yokohama City University Hospital and in Odawara Municipal Hospital, which are in the Kanto Plain on the island of Honshu, Japan.

METHODS

The subjects were 741 patients who visited the two hospitals. The presence of serum antibodies against HTLV-I was assessed using the method of particle agglutination.

RESULTS

Of 454 patients with nonuveitic ocular diseases, 9 (1.98%) were seropositive. Of 143 patients with definite diagnosis of uveitis, 1 (0.70%) was seropositive. Of 144 patients with non-specific uveitis (etiology undefined), 8 (5.56%) were seropositive. Thus, the prevalence of serum antibodies to HTLV-I was higher in patients with non-specific uveitis than in patients with specific uveitis or nonuveitic ocular diseases. Common ocular symptoms of 8 HTLV-I-infected patients with non-specific uveitis were compatible with the clinical features of uveitis described as HTLV-I-associated uveitis (HAU).

CONCLUSION

It is important to suspect HAU in patients with uveitis of unknown etiology, even outside known areas of prevalence.

Increase in choroidal blood flow in rabbits with endothelin-1 induced transient complete obstruction of retinal vessels

BACKGROUND

In a previous paper, we reported that retinal blood flow (RBF) ceased immediately after injection of 1 nmol endothelin-1 (ET-1) and no recovery of RBF was detected for at least 50 min. In this study, we confirmed the same duration of RBF cessation and measured choroidal blood flow (CBF) for 180 min.

METHODS

We measured CBF in a rabbit model of transient complete obstruction of retinal vessels induced by intravitreal injection of a high dose of ET-1, using the hydrogen clearance method. We also investigated the effects of intravitreal injection of ET-1 on intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure, pulse rate and blood gases.

RESULTS

CBF was significantly greater in the ET-1-injected eyes than in the control eyes 40-130 min after injection of ET-1 (P < 0.05). The maximal CBF ratio in the ET-1-injected eyes was 128 +/- 7.4% at 40 min. CBF decreased to the pre-injection level at 140 min after the injection of ET-1. There was no significant change in blood pressure, pulse rate and blood gases throughout this experiment, and there was no significant difference in IOP between ET-1-injected eyes and control eyes.

CONCLUSION

It seems likely that the increase in CBF resulted from some local mechanisms of control that compensated for the decrease in RBF induced by intravitreal injection of ET-1. This model may be useful for investigation of the regulatory system of intraocular circulation, including endothelin receptors.

The effect of bosentan, a new potent endothelin receptor antagonist, on the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm

Using the canine chronic cerebral vasospasm model, we studied the effects of a potent new nonpeptidic endothelin-1 (ET1) receptor antagonist, bosentan (Ro 47-0203, 4-tert-butyl-N-[6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-2,2'-bipyr imidin-4 - yl]-benzenesulfonamide). Endothelin (ET) receptors are composed of the ETA receptors and the ETB receptors; ET1 acts on both of these receptors. Although it has been previously thought that the ETA receptor mediates vasoconstriction, whereas the ETB receptor mediates vasodilation, recent evidence suggests that ETB receptor also contributes to vasoconstriction. Because bosentan is a mixed antagonist that acts on both receptors, its use might indicate whether or not ET is involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm. In this study, beagle dogs received a double injection of autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna at 2-day intervals (i.e., on Days 0 and 2). The diameter of the basilar artery (BA) was angiographically examined up to Day 7. A total of 24 dogs were randomly allocated to either the treatment group or the no-treatment group. Eight dogs were treated with 10 mg/kg bosentan by a one-dose injection into a central venous catheter. Bosentan was given twice a day starting immediately after the first subarachnoid hemorrhage for 6 days until Day 5. Sixteen dogs served as controls, with untreated subarachnoid hemorrhage. After the injection of bosetan, blood pressure decreased by about 25 mm Hg for a few minutes and then returned to normal. In the dogs treated with bosentan, the BA spasm on Day 7 was significantly ameliorated compared with the BA spasm in the untreated dogs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Role of nitric oxide and neuropeptides in neurogenic vasodilatation of the guinea pig mesenteric artery

Although dense networks of adrenergic nerves are present and noradrenaline causes vasoconstriction, electrical field stimulation failed to elicit any constriction of the isolated ring preparation of the guinea pig mesenteric artery. In the presence of an active tone, a vasodilator response was elicited by electrical field stimulation in endothelium-removed tissues. Nonadrenergic, noncholinergic nerves mediate the electrical field stimulation-induced vasodilator response, since guanethidine and atropine did not affect while tetrodotoxin abolished it. Multiple mediators seem to participate in this vasodilatation. NADPH-diaphorase-positive nerves, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)- and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-immunoreactive nerves were present in the mesenteric artery. Nitro-L-arginine but not nitro-D-arginine suppressed the electrical field stimulation-induced vasodilator response with rapid onset and L-arginine restored it. VIP and CGRP relaxed the tissue in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of the animals with capsaicin partly reduced the electrical field stimulation-induced vasodilator response. CGRP-(8-37), a CGRP antagonist, slightly attenuated the vasodilator response induced by both electrical field stimulation and CGRP. Glibenclamide, an inhibitor of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, decreased the nitro-L-arginine- and capsaicin-insensitive component of the electrical field stimulation-induced vasodilator response. Zinc protoporphyrin IX, an inhibitor of CO formation, did not affect the electrical field stimulation-induced response. In the presence of nitro-L-arginine without an active tone, electrical field stimulation induced a vasoconstrictor response that was sensitive to bunazosin and guanethidine. The results show that the electrical field stimulation-induced vasodilator response of the mesenteric artery of guinea pigs is mediated by nitric oxide (NO), CGRP and some yet unidentified substance(s). Elimination of the vasodilator response unmasked the adrenergic vasoconstrictor response to electrical field stimulation.

[A characteristic blink response observed in a patient with Lance-Adams syndrome--somatosensory-evoked blink response]

We report a patient with Lance-Adams syndrome, in whom a characteristic blinking response was observed. In this patient, the reflex blinking was elicited by electrical stimulations applied not only to the supraorbital nerve but also to peripheral nerves of both upper and lower extremities. The EMG discharges responsible for the blinking response were found to consist of some components. The pathophysiological mechanism underlying the characteristic blinking response was discussed. It is speculated that increased excitabilities of the brainstem reticular formation may play a role in generating this type of blinking response, namely the somatosensory-evoked blink response.

Divergent effects of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue and authentic GnRH on the anterior pituitary gland of rats with restricted feeding

The effects of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa; buserelin) on the pituitary function and morphology of food-restricted rats were compared with those of authentic GnRH. After adult female rats had been restricted to 10 g food/day for 60 days, various doses of GnRHa (10 ng, 100 ng and 1 microgram) or GnRH (10 micrograms) were administered either daily for 7 days or twice a week for 4 weeks from day 61 of the period of underfeeding. Underfeeding brought about a decrease in the pituitary gonadotrophin content, serum levels of gonadotrophins and oestradiol, and the number and size of both LH- and FSH-positive pituitary cells. Daily and/or twice-weekly administration of authentic GnRH to underfed rats produced an increase in pituitary and serum gonadotrophin levels and the number and size of both LH- and FSH-positive pituitary cells. The administration of GnRHa daily for 7 days increased serum gonadotrophin levels, while it produced a reduction in the pituitary gonadotrophin content and number and size of both LH- and FSH-positive pituitary cells in a dose-dependent manner. Twice-weekly administration of GnRHa also produced an elevation of serum gonadotrophin levels and reduction of pituitary gonadotrophin content, although it did not affect the numbers and areas of LH- and FSH-positive pituitary cells. A GnRH loading test performed after the GnRHa treatment showed that the GnRHa treatment performed in this study did not produce down-regulation of the GnRH receptor. Thus, it can be concluded that the gonadotrophin-synthesizing activity of GnRHa is weaker than that of authentic GnRH, or that GnRHa may preferentially exert gonadotrophin-releasing activity rather than gonadotrophin-synthesizing activity in the anterior pituitary of underfed rats.

Is the cell division cycle gated by a circadian clock? The case of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Circadian oscillators are known to regulate the timing of cell division in many organisms. In the case of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, however, this conclusion has been challenged by several investigators. We have reexamined this issue and find that the division behavior of Chlamydomonas meets all the criteria for circadian rhythmicity: persistence of a cell division rhythm (a) with a period of approximately 24 h under free-running conditions, (b) that is temperature compensated, and (c) which can entrain to light/dark signals. In addition, a mutation that lengthens the circadian period of the phototactic rhythm similarly affects the cell division rhythm. We conclude that a circadian mechanism determines the timing of cell division in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

[Multivariate autoregressive analysis of carotid artery blood flow waveform in a newborn with multicystic encephalomalacia]

We analyzed the carotid artery blood flow waveform (CABFW) through multivariate autoregressive analysis in a case with multicystic encephalomalacia (MCE) after neonatal asphyxia and compared the result with those of 35 healthy newborns. The total power of CABFW was at the -2 SD level of the value for 35 healthy newborns, and the power, % power, bio-informing amounts and damping time of component 3 (damping frequency 11.15 Hz) were less than -2 SD of the values in 35 healthy newborns. The Pulsatility Index (PI) of anterior cerebral artery (ACA) was high (0.76). These results suggest that cerebral blood flow decreases because of cerebral vasoconstriction in MCE after neonatal asphyxia.

Prolongation of kidney graft survival by cyclophosphamide-induced tolerance in rats

In this study, we have extended a cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced tolerance system to kidney transplantation in rats to examine whether or not we can overcome fully allogeneic (major histocompatibility complex plus minor histocompatibility) antigen barriers in organ transplantation. In the recipient Lewis (LEW, RT1(1)) rats that were primed intravenously with 4 x 10(8) spleen cells plus 2 x 10(8) bone marrow cells from Brown-Norway (BN, RT1n) rats and treated intraperitoneally with 100 mg./kg. of cyclophosphamide (CP) 2 days later, the survival of kidney allografts, but not skin allografts, from BN was prolonged as compared with that in the untreated LEW rats. Some of the kidney allografts survived for more than 100 days without further immunosuppressants. The tolerant state induced was tolerogen specific, and the suppression of tissue damage of the grafted kidney in such tolerant rats was also confirmed by the histopathological findings of the grafted kidney. These results indicate that considerable levels of tolerance can be induced, at least in organ transplantation, across fully allogeneic antigen barriers in rats by a CP-induced tolerance system. We believe that the present study is the first step in applying our CP-induced tolerance system using skin grafting in the murine model to clinical organ transplantation.

Hepatic cytokeratin changes in obstructive jaundice: before and after biliary drainage

We investigated the changes in hepatic cytokeratins in obstructive jaundice by immunohistochemistry. The results can be summarized as follows: 1) In accordance with the progression of the jaundice, the lobular and cellular distribution of cytokeratin reactivity in hepatocytes expanded. 2) Cytokeratin reactivity in obstructive jaundice was improved by removal of the bile duct obstruction (decompression), but this decompressive effect deteriorated in the case of prolonged jaundice. 3) It is suggested that the specific lobular and cellular distribution and/or the changes in cytokeratin aggregation might be of value in determining the stage and in predicting the prognosis of obstructive jaundice.

DNA rearrangements in Japanese facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy patients: clinical correlations

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant muscular disorder in which the disease locus has been mapped to chromosome 4q35-qter. In most patients, the DNA rearrangements associated with FSHD have been found in the EcoRI fragment detected by the p13E-11 probe, and deletions of the 3.2 kb repeat units within the fragment are thought to cause the disease. To examine FSHD-associated DNA rearrangements in the Japanese population, we performed Southern blot analysis of the genomic DNA, using the p13E-11 and pFR-1 probes, in 158 Japanese individuals, including 38 FSHD patients from 19 families. We found that all but one (a possible affected recombinant) of the Japanese FSHD patients (97.4%) had specific smaller (< 28 kb) EcoRI fragments which cosegregated with the disease; this included four patients who had severe inflammatory changes in the muscle and eight patients with de novo DNA rearrangements. We found no FSHD patient who had a fragment larger than 28 kb. By contrast, only two of 35 Japanese controls (5.7%) had EcoRI fragments smaller than 28 kb. Our patients showed anticipation, i.e. decreased size of the EcoRI fragment in parallel with earlier onset of the disease (r = 0.531, P = 0.003, with younger age at onset in children (17.8 +/- 7.0) than their affected parents (31.5 +/- 14.8) (P = 0.019). However, since each family had a specific small EcoRI fragment associated with the disease, the differing clinical severity within a family cannot be explained by the size of the fragment alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characteristic induction of hepatic metallothionein in mice by tumor transplantation

Based on the previous finding that hepatic metallothionein (MT) level was tumor-growth dependently elevated in tumor-transplanted mice, the mode of induction of hepatic MT in tumor-bearing mice was comparatively studied with inflammation-induced and stress-subjected mice. The prefeeding with zinc (Zn)-deficient diet for 1 wk suppressed both the growth of tumor and the increase of hepatic MT and Zn in tumor-bearing mice. The postfeeding with Zn-deficient diet also suppressed hepatic MT induction in the course of tumor growth. On the other hand, in the other two experimental model mice, the prefeeding with Zn-deficient diet did not suppress the increase of hepatic MT and Zn. Further, the dexamethasone treatment stimulated hepatic MT induction in tumor-bearing mice, but rather reduced that in inflammation-induced mice. These results suggest that hepatic MT was induced uniquely in tumor-bearing mice and that Zn may play a key role for the induction of hepatic MT by tumor transplantation.

Genotyping of mouse hepatitis virus strains by restriction endonuclease analysis of amplified nucleocapsid protein genes

Restriction endonuclease analysis of amplified nucleocapsid protein genes from mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) was used to differentiate 12 strains isolated from mouse liver or transplantable tumors from five facilities, and the restriction patterns of the isolates were compared with those of five well-defined MHV strains, A59, JHM, 2, S and Nu-67. The patterns of 10 isolates from three facilities were the same as that of Nu-67. The remaining two isolates revealed different patterns from the five reference strains. This study showed that reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction assay based restriction analysis are feasible for the detection and genotyping of MHV, and the Nu-67 related strain was the most prevalent type found in the clinical samples.