Phase I study of S-1, docetaxel and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in patients with unresectable metastatic gastric cancer

The aim of this dose escalation study was to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and preliminary efficacy of docetaxel, S-1 and cisplatin combination chemotherapy in patients with unresectable metastatic gastric cancer. Seventeen patients received oral S-1 (40 mg m⁻² bid) on days 1–14, intravenous cisplatin (60 mg m⁻²) and docetaxel (60, 70 or 80 mg m⁻² depending on DLT) on day 8 every 3 weeks. The MTD of this combination was presumed to be docetaxel 70 mg m⁻². At this dose level, 40% of the patients (two of five) developed grade 4 neutropenia and 20% (one of five) exhibited grade 3 nausea during the first course. Therefore, the recommended dose of docetaxel was defined as 60 mg m⁻². The DLT was neutropenia. The response rate (RR) was 88.2% (15 of 17), consisting of one complete response and 14 partial responses. There were two stable diseases but no progressive disease. Of these 15 responders, four (23.5%) with high VEGF expression showed rapid tumour regression and achieved downstaging, leading to subsequent curative gastrectomy. Three of these have been disease free for about 3 years, suggesting a complete cure. In conclusion, this regimen was tolerable and showed a quite high RR, with an appreciable downstaging rate in metastatic gastric cancer.

Four cases of thrombotic events associated with neuro-endovascular therapy: heparin resistance and aspirin resistance

SUMMARY

Thrombotic events are caused by insufficient antithrombotic treatment in endovascular surgery. We experienced four cases of thrombotic events and consider the factors from the point of view of heparin resistance and aspirin resistance. The proportion of these features is quite high and appropriate management is important.

126 CRYOPRESERVATION OF PORCINE EMBRYOS DERIVED FROM IVM OOCYTES

We have reported that a combination of delipation (removal of cytoplasmic lipid droplets from blastomeres) and vitrification by means of the minimum-volume cooling (MVC) method successfully cryopreserves porcine in vitro-matured/fertilized (IVM/IVF) embryos, and that normal piglets are produced from these embryos (Hiruma et al. 2006 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 18, 157). We have also reported that IVM-derived embryos that undergo noninvasive delipation (i.e. micromanipulation is not required) and vitrification develop into blastocysts at a high rate (Esaki et al. 2004 Biol. Reprod. 71, 432–437). In this study, we examined whether fetuses can be produced from the IVM-derived embryos that have been delipated noninvasively and vitrified. Cumulus–oocyte complexes that had been collected from slaughterhouse ovaries were in vitro-matured in NCSU23 medium. The IVM oocytes were activated to produce parthenogenetic embryos. We used the embryos at the 4- to 8-cell (67 h after activation) and morula (98 h) stages in the following experiments. Embryos were treated with 4% trypsin (in PBS) at 38�C for 1 to 4 min to expand the zona pellucida. Next, the embryos were centrifuged (12 000g, 38�C, 23 min) in TL-HEPES-PVP containing 7.5 �g mL-1 cytochalasin B to polarize cytoplasmic lipid droplets within the perivitelline space. These embryos were cultured for 1 to 3 h and then vitrified. The post-thaw viability of the embryos was assessed based on their ability to develop into blastocysts and fetuses (21 to 23 days old). The embryos were vitrified using the MVC method with 15% ethylene glycol, 15% DMSO, and 0.5 M sucrose as cryoprotective agents. PZM-5 was used for culturing the embryos. In embryo transfer experiments, after thawing, the embryos were cultured for 36 or 72 h until they developed into morulae or 4- to 8-cell blastocysts, respectively; they were then treated with 0.5% pronase to remove the zona pellucida, and transferred to the uterine horns of estrus-synchronized recipients 6 days after onset of estrus. The proportion of vitrified embryos that developed into blastocysts and the mean cell number of the blastocysts were similar to those of non-vitrified control embryos, irrespective of the embryonic stage (4- to 8-cell stage: 42.1%, 22/51, 63.0 � 7.8 vs. 64.7%, 22/34, 74.2 � 7.1, respectively; morula stage: 77.6%, 38/49, 69.6 � 7.2 vs. 83.3%, 45/54, 66.2 � 5.9, respectively). Seventeen embryos that had been vitrified at the 4- to 8-cell stage gave rise to 3 fetuses after transfer into one recipient (17.6%). Fifty-three embryos that had been vitrified at the morula stage were transferred into 3 recipients. All recipients became pregnant and produced a total of 17 fetuses (32.1%). These results suggest that porcine IVM-derived embryos that have been cryopreserved by the combination of noninvasive delipation and vitrification by the MVC method are highly viable.

408 FOREIGN GENE INTEGRATION PATTERNS IN TRANSGENIC PORCINE FETUSES PRODUCED BY ICSI-MEDIATED GENE TRANSFER

We previously reported that transgenic (TG) pigs can be produced from in vitro-matured oocytes using intracytoplasmic sperm injection-mediated gene transfer (ICSI-mediated method) (Kurome et al. 2006 Transgenic Res. 15, 229–240). We subsequently studied the expression of a foreign gene which had been introduced by the ICSI-mediated method. We found that the ICSI-mediated method is considerably less likely than the pronuclear microinjection method to produce embryos in which transgene-positive and transgene-negative cells co-exist, that is, mosaic embryos (Saito et al. 2006 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 18, 297 abst). Therefore, in order to further investigate the ICSI-mediated method, the present study was conducted to address the integration patterns of foreign genes introduced by this method. In particular, we wished to determine the number of transgene copies and number of chromosomal integration sites. TG pig fetuses, obtained by the ICSI-mediated method in a separate cardiac disease model study, were used in the present study. Porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes that had been collected from slaughterhouse ovaries were subjected to in vitro maturation in NCSU23 medium to produce MII oocytes to be used in this study. Porcine spermatozoa frozen in Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) were thawed rapidly in a 37�C water bath, and each spermatozoon was decapitated using ultrasound (28 kHz, 100 W; W-113; Honda Electronics Co., Ltd, Aichi, Japan). The heads (2 to 5 � 105/10 �L) were co-incubated with 2.5 ng �L-1 of rabbit calreticulin cDNA (�MHC-CRT-HA: 7.5 kb) for five min at room temperature, and then microinjected into MII oocytes using a piezo-micromanipulator. An electric stimulus (DC 150 V mm-1, 100 �s) was applied 10 to 40 min after microinjection in order to activate the oocytes. The embryos were cultured in PZM-5 medium for one to two days, and then transferred into the oviducts of recipient gilts, whose estrous cycle had been synchronized using 1000 IU eCG and 1500 IU hCG. Fetuses were collected 33 or 50 days later, and a primary cell line (fibroblast) was established. For each fetus, the number of transgene copies was determined by Southern blot. In addition, the chromosomal sites, where the foreign gene had integrated, were identified, and the number of integration sites was determined by fluoresent in situ hybridization (FISH). A total of 454 ICSI embryos were transferred to 4 recipients (92 to 135 embryos/recipient). All recipients became pregnant and 23 fetuses (5.1%, 23/454), including 7 TG fetuses (30.4%, 7/23), were obtained. Southern blot analysis showed that the number of transgene copies varied between 1 and 300 (1 copy: 1 fetus; 10 copies: 2 fetuses; 30 copies: 3 fetuses; 300 copies: 1 fetus). FISH analysis showed that in TG fetuses, the foreign gene had integrated at only a single chromosomal site, and this site varied from TG fetus to TG fetus. These results demonstrate that, in the case of ICSI-mediated gene transfer, as is the case for gene transfer by pronuclear microinjection, the integration patterns are: multiple copy, random site, and single site integration. This study was supported by PROBRAIN.

64 PRODUCTION OF TRANSGENIC CLONED PIGS BY MEANS OF SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER USING KUSABIRA-ORANGE GENE-TRANSFECTED CELLS

Cloned pigs that express cell markers such as fluorescent proteins (Vintersten et al. 2004 Genesis 40, 241–246) are useful in biomedical research in areas such as cell/tissue transplantation and regenerative medicine. In this study, we attempted to produce transgenic cloned pigs from porcine fetal fibroblasts which carry the gene of red fluorescent protein, humanized Kusabira-Orange (huKO). We examined whether huKO-transfected cells are suitable as nuclear donors for somatic cell cloning, and whether red fluorescence can be detected in the cloned embryos. We used porcine fetal fibroblasts transfected with the huKO gene and a retroviral vector as the nuclear donor cells. Non-transfected cells were used as the control. Cumulus–oocyte complexes collected from slaughterhouse ovaries were in vitro-matured in NCSU23 medium to produce recipient oocytes. Nuclear transfer was conducted using a previously reported method (Kurome et al. 2003 Cloning Stem Cells 5, 367–377); the following parameters which determine the overall efficiency of nuclear transfer were investigated: (1) fusion rate between the donor cells and recipient oocytes, (2) rates of normal cleavage and blastocyst formation of the NT embryos, and (3) cell numbers in each blastocyst. A DC pulse (190 V mm-1) was used for electric fusion, and NCSU23 or PZM-5 medium was used for culturing the cloned embryos. The NT embryos on Day 7 were examined under a fluorescence microscope (G excitation) in order to evaluate the expression of red fluorescence. Some cloned embryos at the 1- to 8-cell stage (Day 1 or 2) were transferred into oviducts of estrus-synchronized recipient gilts. There was no significant difference (chi-square test) between the huKO and the control groups in the rate of fusion (132/151, 87.4% vs. 134/147, 91.2%, respectively) and cleavage rate (78/132, 59.1% vs. 86/134, 64.2%, respectively). A significantly greater percentage of huKO cell-derived embryos developed into blastocysts than did control cell-derived embryos (37/132, 28.0% vs. 20/134, 14.9%, respectively; P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the blastocyst cell numbers (Student's t-test: 48.6 ± 4.8 vs. 42.3 ± 4.9, respectively). Of the 132 NT embryos, 116 (87.9%) expressed red fluorescence. The percentage of blastocysts expressing red fluorescence was 94.6% (35/37). These results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain cloned blastocysts at a high rate by nuclear transfer of cells that have been transfected with huKO using a retroviral vector, and that it is possible to observe the expression of red fluorescence in cloned embryos. With respect to the cloned embryos that did not show expression of red fluorescence, we hypothesize that this was the result of a small proportion (<1%) of donor cells which also lacked red fluorescence expression. An ultrasonic echo examination has confirmed that all 3 of the recipients which had received 93 to 119 embryos became pregnant. This study was supported by PROBRAIN.

Induced secretion of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) in human hepatoma cell HepG2 by rubratoxin B

The induction of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) secretion by rubratoxin B was investigated using human hepatoma cell line HepG2; we also documented the involvement of stress-activated MAP kinases [c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and p38s] in this process. Rubratoxin B dramatically enhanced IGFBP-1 secretion, which peaked at a concentration of 40 microg/ml. The amount of IGFBP-1 mRNA increased with time and plateaued at 6 h. Compared with the amounts of IGFBP-1 secreted, the induction ratios of transcription were much smaller, indicating that IGFBP-1 secretion is regulated chiefly post-transcriptionally. The result of concomitant treatment with rubratoxin B and JNK inhibitor indicated that JNKs do not affect rubratoxin B-induced IGFBP-1 secretion. Alternatively, rubratoxin B-associated induction of IGFBP-1 secretion was marked in the absence of p38 inhibitor but attenuated in its presence. Therefore, p38s appear to stimulate rubratoxin B-induced IGFBP-1 secretion. Treatment with p38 inhibitor slightly increased the amount of rubratoxin B-induced IGFBP-1 mRNA. However this induction ratio was smaller than that of rubratoxin B-induced secretion, suggesting that p38s regulate IGFBP-1 secretion both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally. In this study, we showed that rubratoxin B induces IGFBP-1 levels in HepG2 cells and p38s contribute to this process.

Induced secretion of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in vivo and in vitro by hepatotoxin rubratoxin B

To elucidate the mechanism of rubratoxin B toxicity, we investigated rubratoxin B-induced secretion of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in mice and cultured cells; we also documented the involvement of stress-activated MAP kinases (c-Jun-N-terminal kinases [JNKs] and p38s) in this process. Rubratoxin B significantly (P<0.05) induced serum TIMP-1 levels in mice. Because TIMP-1 is thought to play a crucial role in the process of liver fibrosis, rubratoxin B may cause liver fibrosis. Rubratoxin B enhanced TIMP-1 secretion in HepG2 cells to a peak level of approximately 40 microg/ml. The amount of TIMP-1 mRNA increased with the duration of rubratoxin B treatment; and this hepatotoxin appears to induce TIMP-1 secretion through a transcriptional control mechanism. Unlike similar treatment with rubratoxin B and JNK inhibitor, concomitant treatment with rubratoxin B and p38 inhibitor increased rubratoxin B-induced TIMP-1 secretion, suggesting that p38s (but not JNKs) antagonize this process. In addition, treatment with p38 inhibitor slightly increased the amount of rubratoxin B-induced TIMP-1 mRNA, suggesting that p38s control rubratoxin B-induced TIMP-1 secretion chiefly post-transcriptionally. In this study, we showed that rubratoxin B induces TIMP-1 production in vivo and in vitro and that p38s antagonize rubratoxin B-induced TIMP-1 secretion.

145 STAGE-SPECIFIC EFFECT OF OXIDATIVE STRESS ON DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCE, ROS GENERATION AND DNA DAMAGE OF PORCINE PARTHENOGENETIC EMBRYOS

We investigated the effect of oxidative stress on stage specific developmental ability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and DNA damage of parthenogenetically activated porcine embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from follicles on the surface of ovaries. The COCs were matured in NCSU-23 containing 10% (vol/vol) porcine follicular fluid and 10 IU/mL hCG during the first 22 h followed by an extra 22 h of culture in the hormone free NCSU-23. After 44 h of maturation, oocytes were denuded of cumulus cells and used for activation. Oocytes were activated by a 100-�sec pulse of 1.5 kV/cm DC with 1-mm electrodes in 0.3 m mannitol, 0.1 mm MgSO4, and 0.05 mm CaCl2. Activated oocytes were then cultured for 5 h in NCSU-23 containing 5 mg/mL BSA, 10 �g/mL EGF and 7.5 �g/mL cytochalasin B. Embryos were then cultured for 6 days in PZM-5. In Experiment 1, after parthenogenetic activation, embryos were cultured at 38.5�C under 5% O2, 5% CO2 and 90% N2 (defined as 5% O2) or 5% CO2 in air (20% O2). The oxygen concentration for embryo culture was changed from 5% to 20% on day 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 post-activation, respectively. Embryos were also cultured throughout 6 days in 5 and 20% O2. About 100 embryos were used in each experiment. The number of embryos cleaved and developed to blastocyst stage was observed on day 2 and 6, respectively. In Experiment 2, 10 to 20 embryos cultured in 5 and 20% O2 were collected on Days 2, 4, and 6 for the detection of ROS, intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels and DNA damage. Intracellular ROS and GSH levels, were measured with fluorescent dyes (22,72-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate for ROS and Cell Tracker" Blue for GSH). DNA damage of individual embryos was detected with a comet assay. DNA damage was quantified by measuring the length of the streak of DNA comet tail between the edge of the zona pellucida and the end of the visible comet tail by image analysis software. The rate of migrated DNA area per total DNA was also quantified. In Exp. 1, the rate of blastocyst formation was significantly decreased (P < 0.001) when embryos were cultured for 6 days under 20% O2 (17.8 � 4%) than 5% O2 (38.5 � 5%). The rates of blastocyst formation were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) when O2 concentration was changed from 5 to 20% before Day 3. After Day 4, high O2 concentration did not affect the development. In Exp. 2, relative ROS levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) on Day 2 (1.5 � 0.03) and Day 4 (1.4 � 0.06) in embryos cultured under 20% O2 than in those cultured under 5% O2 (1.0). No difference was observed in GSH level. DNA damage was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in Day 2 embryos cultured under 20% O2 (161 � 54 �m) than 5% O2 (65 � 8.8 �m). These results indicate that the oxidative stress to embryo development by high O2 concentration is stage specific, that embryos are more sensitive in early stages, and that the oxidative stress has correlation with the increase of intracellular ROS and DNA damage.

185 EMBRYONIC LOSS IN PIGS ASSOCIATED WITH OVIDUCT TRANSPLANTATION OF EARLY-STAGE EMBRYOS WITH DAMAGES IN THE ZONA PELLUCIDA

It is assumed that if porcine early-stage embryos with damages in their zonae pellucidae are transplanted to the recipient's oviduct, they may suffer from mechanical and immunological stresses by oviduct contraction and the recipient's immune response. This study aimed to examine the impact of zona pellucida damages, which might arise during nuclear transfer and intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), on the development and survival of transplanted embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from ovaries obtained at a local slaughterhouse and matured in vitro in NCSU23 to prepare MII-stage oocytes. The zonae pellucidae of these oocytes were either penetrated with 8- to 10-�m square-ended microinjection pipettes or incised with 35- to 40-�m beveled enucleation pipettes. Intact oocytes were used as controls. The oocytes were electroactivated to induce parthenogenesis and transplanted to the oviducts of estrus-synchronized recipient gilts (estrus-synchronized with 1000 IU eCG and 1500 IU hCG). After 5 to 7 days, the recipient uteri were flushed with PBS supplemented with 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) to collect embryos, and their development (morula-blastocyst stage embryos/collected embryos) and survival (viable embryos/collected embryos) were determined. In total, 221 zona-penetrated, 129 zona-incised, and 57 intact embryos were transplanted to four, two and two gilts, respectively. The efficiency of embryo recovery was similar in all groups (59.0 to 81.8%). However, the zona-penetrated and zona-incised embryos showed inconsistent development and survival compared with controls; the development and survival rate were 92.6% (25/27) to 96.7% (29/30) and 77.8% (21/27) to 96.7% (29/30) in control embryos, respectively, whereas those of zona-penetrated embryos were 57.1% (28/49) to 95.7% (22/23) and 8.2% (4/49) to 78.3% (18/30), and those of zona-incised embryos were 47.6% (30/63) to 92.3% (36/39) and 23.8% (15/63) to 92.3% (22/23), respectively. Large foci of cells that appeared to be macrophage giant cells were observed at the surface or inside of the degenerated zona-damaged embryos. These results indicate that the recipient's immune response may impair development after transplantation of the embryo to the oviduct, when there is damage in the zona pellucida. This may be one of the factors attributable to the reduced efficiency of live progeny production by ICSI and nuclear transfer. This work was supported by PROBRAIN.

98 SUCCESSFUL PREGNANCIES FOLLOWING TRANSFER OF VITRIFIED PORCINE EMBRYOS DERIVED FROM IN VITRO-MATURED OOCYTES

To date only in vivo-produced embryos have successfully produced live piglets after cryopreservation. In this study, we aimed to produce piglets from vitrified embryos derived from in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes collected from ovaries obtained at a local slaughterhouse were matured for 44 to 45 h in NCSU23 MEDIUM supplemented with 0.6 mM cysteine, 10 ng/mL epidermal growth factor, 10% (v/v) porcine follicular fluid, 75 �g/mL potassium penicillin G, 50 �g/mL streptomycin sulfate, and 10 IU/mL eCG/ hCG. These IVM oocytes were either activated for parthenogenesis or in vitro-fertilized (IVF). For IVF, oocytes were incubated with 5 � 106/mL of cryopreserved epididymal sperm in PGM-tac medium (Yoshioka et al. 2003 Biol. Reprod. 69, 2092-2099) for 20 h. Embryos were treated for removal of cytoplasmic lipid droplets (delipation; Nagashima et al. 1995 Nature 374, 416) at the 4- to 8-cell stages, around 50 to 54 h after activation or insemination. After culture in NCSU23 for 15 h, they were vitrified by the minimum volume cooling (MVC) method. Embryos were equilibrated with equilibration solution containing 7.5% (v/v) ethylene glycol (EG), 7.5% (v/v) dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and 20% (v/v) calf serum for 4 min, followed by exposure to vitrification solution containing 15% EG, 15% DMSO, 0.5 M sucrose, and 20% calf serum. Embryos were then loaded onto a Cryotop (Kitazato Supply Co., Tokyo, Japan) and immediately plunged into liquid nitrogen. Vitrified embryos were examined for viability in vitro and in vivo after warming. Their in vitro developmental competence was compared to that of corresponding control (nonvitrified) embryos. Vitrified 4- to 8-cell stage embryos, both parthenogenetic and IVF, showed developmental competence into blastocysts comparable to that of control embryos (parthenogenetic: 46.8%, 36/77 vs. 51.7%, 31/60; IVF: 40.0%, 30/75 vs. 44.3%, 35/79). Of four surrogate gilts that received a total of 251 vitrified parthenogenetic embryos, three became pregnant and had 20 fetuses (8.0%, 22 to 23 days old). Three surrogates gilts that received 267 vitrified IVF embryos all became pregnant. Of those, the one that received 47 embryos was confirmed to have eight fetuses (17.0%, 22 days old) by autopsy. The other two were examined by ultrasonography at 56 and 95 days of gestation and found to be pregnant. These results suggest that porcine embryos derived from IVM oocytes have a potential to develop into live offspring after delipation and MVC vitrification. This study was supported by PROBRAIN.

380 COMPARISON OF TRANSGENE EXPRESSIONS BY ICSI AND PRONUCLEAR MICROINJECTION IN MURINE AND PORCINE EMBRYOS

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of DNA-binding sperm produces transgenic offspring as effectively as pronuclear microinjection (PNM). A significant difference in these two methods is that DNA is introduced into MII oocytes during ICSI, which is likely to allow earlier gene integration compared to PNM. This leads us to hypothesize that ICSI reduces the chance of development of a mosaic embryo, a mixture of transgene-positive and -negative cells. To test this hypothesis, we compared expression patterns of the green flourescent protein (GFP) gene introduced by ICSI and PNM into murine and porcine oocytes. For ICSI, 2 to 5 × 105/μL of sperm frozen-thawed in CZB (for mice) or NIM (for pigs) were co-incubated with 2.5 ng/μL of transgene fragments (CAG-EGFP; 3 kb) for 5 min. Murine sperm were microinjected into in vivo-matured oocytes, and porcine sperm into in vitro-matured oocytes. PNM was performed by microinjection of several picoliters of the transgene fragments (10 ng/μL) into pronuclei of in vivo-fertilized oocytes for mice and in vitro-matured and -fertilized oocytes for pigs. ICSI and PNM embryos were cultured in vitro to the morula stage and treated with 0.5% pronase to remove the zona pellucida. These morulae were disassembled into individual blastomeres by pipetting into PBS containing 100 μM EDTA and examined for GFP expression under fluorescence microscopy. As shown in Table 1, the rate of mosaicism in GFP-expressing embryos was significantly lower for ICSI than for PNM (P < 0.01). In addition, GFP-expressing ICSI embryos were likely to contain high percentages, 81 to 100%, of GFP-positive cells, whereas GFP-expressing PNM embryos were significantly less likely to contain such high percentages of GFP-positive cells (P < 0.01). From these results, we conclude that transgenesis by ICSI was less likely to produce mosaic embryos, and that produced transgenic embryos contained higher proportions of transgene-positive cells, although genomic integration remains to be determined. Table 1. Transgene expression by ICSI and pronuclear microinjection in murine and porcine embryos This work was supported by PROBRAIN.

50 PRODUCTION OF THIRD-GENERATION CLONES OF A PIG BY SOMATIC CELL NUCLEAR TRANSFER

There has been a dominant view that serial cloning, i.e., cloning of a cloned animal, is only possible for a few generations. In this study, we examined the reproduction efficiency and normality of porcine offspring generated by serial somatic cell cloning. Salivary gland progenitor (SGP) cells were collected from a 4-month-old female cloned Landrace large white Duroc (LWD) pig (first generation, G1), which had been cloned from a fibroblast, and used as nuclear donors for second-generation clones (G2). The third generation of clones (G3) was produced by nuclear transfer using SGP cells from the G2 clones. Nuclear transfer was carried out by electric cell fusion using in vitro matured oocytes as recipients. Reconstructed embryos were electroactivated 1 to 1.5 hr after nuclear transfer, cultured for 1 to 2 days, and transplanted to the oviducts of estrus-synchronized surrogate gilts. A total of 391 embryos cloned from G1 animals were transplanted to three surrogates. All of the surrogates became pregnant and gave birth to a total of 13 (3.3%) of G2 clones (including two stillbirths). The average birth weight and size of eleven live piglets were 1203.6 � 113.5 g and 27.1 � 1.2 cm, both within the standard ranges of the original donor strain (LWD). Their growths until 8 months old were comparable to those of normal piglets of the same strain. For the generation of G3 clones, transplantation of 242 G2-derived embryos to two surrogate gilts resulted in one pregnant surrogate and three G3 clones (1.2%; average weight 1196.7 � 267.1 g and average size 35.7 � 2.3 cm), including a stillbirth. These results indicate that porcine serial cloning can efficiently generate up to three generations of apparently healthy clones, when SGP cells are used as nuclear donors. This study was supported by PROBRAIN.

Pathological Result of Basilar Artery Stenosis Rapidly Progressed and Ruptured with Stent-Assisted Angioplasty

Intracranial artery angioplasty utilizing coronary stent is now widely tried as an effective alternative for treating intracranial artery stenosis, and several successful result of stent-assisted angioplasty for intracranial artery were reported.

Authors experienced a case of the basilar artery stenosis, in which re-stenosis progressed rapidly after simple balloon angioplasty and resulted in vessel rupture during stent-assisted angioplasty. Pathological result achieved by autopsy showed vessel wall disruption at the stent and multiple interruptions and defect of elastic laminar.

The cardiovascular effects of atracurium and it's metabolite

The administration of atracurium to humans has been reported to produce little cardiovascular effects in clinical doses. The cardiovascular effect, histamine-releasing and catecholamine releasing effects of intravenous injection of atracurium 0.6 and 1.2 mg.kg(-1) were studied in man, and also the cardiovascular and catecholamine releasing effects of laudanosine which is a metabolite of atracurium by Hofmann degeneration, were studied in dogs. The increase in human plasma concentration of histamine, hypotension and tachycardia were found with the dose of atracurium 1.2 mg.kg(-1). The intravenous administration of laudanosine 10 micro g.kg(-1) to dogs produced minimal epinephrine, norepinephrine releases and cardiovascular changes.

Stress-activated MAP kinases regulate rubratoxin B-caused cytotoxicity and cytokine secretion in hepatocyte-derived HepG2 cells

The effects of stress-activated MAP kinases (SAPKs) on biological phenomena in HepG2 cells caused by the hepatotoxin rubratoxin B were investigated. The amounts of phosphorylated (active) SAPKs (c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and p38s) were significantly increased after treating cells with rubratoxin B, suggesting that rubratoxin B exerts its toxicity through SAPK signal transduction pathways. Compared with rubratoxin B-treatment alone, treatment with both rubratoxin B and the JNK inhibitor SP600125 decreased cell morphology changes and the activity of the apoptosis-related enzymes caspase-3 and caspase-7, indicating that JNKs are involved in rubratoxin B-induced apoptosis. The p38 inhibitor SB203580 had the same general effects as SP600125; however, its effects were rather weak. The percent inhibition of cell proliferation by SAPKs were nearly the same with or without rubratoxin B, suggesting that the regulation of SAPKs is independent of rubratoxin B effects. SAPK inhibitors decreased rubratoxin B-induced secretion of interleukin-8 and macrophage colony stimulating factor; SP600125 impaired rubratoxin B-induced granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor secretion, but SB203580 enhanced this secretion. The effects of SAPK inhibitors on the levels of cytokine mRNAs showed basically the same pattern as their effects on cytokine secretion, except that their relative effects on mRNA levels was smaller. Thus, SAPKs play important roles in rubratoxin B-induced cytokine secretion, mainly post-transcriptionally.

42 PRODUCTION OF CLONED PIGS FROM SOMATIC STEM CELLS DERIVED FROM SALIVARY GLAND

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a somatic stem cell derived from the salivary gland can be an efficient donor cell for pig cloning. Somatic stem cells (salivary gland progenitor cells, SGP) were isolated from the salivary gland of a 4-month old male pig (Matsumoto et al. 2004). Briefly, tissue sections of salivary gland were gently digested by collagenase/hyaluronidase and dispersed into single cells. Isolated cells (5 × 104) were cultured on a type I collagen-coated dish in William's medium E; then colonies having epithelial-like morphology were picked to establish the primary culture of SGP cells (CD49, intracellular laminin-positive) which have the potential to differentiate in vitro into hepatic and pancreatic endocrine cells after spherical body formation in vitro. SGP cells to be used as nuclear donors were cultured for 2 days under serum starvation. Fetal fibroblast (FF) cells were used as control nuclear donors. IVM oocytes were obtained from abattoir ovaries and matured in NCSU23. Donor cells were fused with the enucleated recipient oocytes by a single DC pulse of 190 V/mm for 10 μs in 0.28 M mannitol + 0.15 mM MgSO4. Reconstructed embryos were electrically activated by DC pulse of 150 V/mm for 100 μs in 0.28 M mannitol + 0.05 mM CaCl2 + 0.1 mM MgSO4 at 1–1.5 h after the NT, followed by cytochalasin B treatment for 3 h. Development of the NT embryos was assessed in vitro by fixing and staining at either 2 h post NT or after culture for 7 days in NCSU23, or in vivo by transfer to the oviducts of estrus-synchronized recipient gilts. Incidence of premature chromosome condensation was similar regardless of donor cell type. Development of the NT embryos reconstructed with SGP to the blastocyst stage was significantly higher compared to that of the FF group (38/137, 27.7% vs. 19/168, 11.3%, respectively; P < 0.05). Transfer of 278 cloned embryos reconstructed with SGP to two recipients resulted in the production of three live piglets. Production efficiency of piglets from the cloned embryos reconstructed with FF was 2/263. Based on the in vitro development of the reconstructed embryos, SGP is a promising nuclear donor cell for pig cloning; further transfer experiments are to be carried out. This study was supported by PROBRAIN.

33 PRODUCTION OF TRANSGENIC-CLONED PIGS CARRYING HDAF, GnT-III AND HETEROZYGOUSLY DISRUPTED ±-1,3-GALACTOSYLTRANSFERASE GENES

In pig-to-human xenotransplantation, transplants are rapidly rejected by binding of human natural antibodies to porcine xenoantigen, mostly Gal α-1-3Gal oligosaccharides, and subsequent complement attack. To overcome this rejection, we so far have produced transgenic pigs expressing both human CD55/DAF (decay-accelerating factor, a complement-regulatory protein) and GnT-III (N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III, a sugar chain modifying enzyme). In the present study, we heterozygously disrupted the α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GT) gene, which catalyses the biosynthesis of Gal α-1-3Gal epitopes, in the fetal fibroblast cells from the DAF/GnT-III transgenic pigs by homologous recombination, and successfully produced GT-knockout pigs by nuclear transfer. Fibroblast cells isolated from Day 30 fetuses of DAF/GnT-III transgenic pigs were transfected with a GT-targeting vector. The targeting event in drug-resistant colonies was confirmed by PCR analysis, and targeted cells were used as nuclear donors. The reconstructed embryos were electrically activated and transferred to estrus-synchronized recipient pigs. At pregnancy Day 27 of gestation, fetuses were collected and their fibroblast cells were isolated for secondary nuclear transfer. The genomic DNA of live-born piglets produced by the secondary nuclear transfer were analyzed for the presence of DAF and GnT-III genes as well as the heterozygous disruption of the GT gene. From a total of 5.5 × 107 cells transfected with the GT-targeting vector, 2,749 drug-resistant colonies were obtained. Eighteen colonies were judged positive for targeting events by PCR analysis. After transfer of 321 cloned embryos reconstructed with the knockout cells to three recipients, four knockout fetuses were obtained from one recipient. Transfer of 633 cloned embryos reconstructed with the knockout fibroblast cells from one knockout fetus to six recipients gave rise to two live knockout piglets. PCR analysis of genomic DNA confirmed that the cloned piglets carried both DAF and GnT-III transgenes as well as the heterozygously disrupted GT gene.

69 PRODUCTION OF CLONED PIGS BY NUCLEAR TRANSFER OF PREADIPOCYTES

Since the first success in producing cloned pigs, donor cells have been limited to fetal fibroblasts and a few other cell types. The aim of the present study was to determine if porcine preadipocytes can be efficient donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer (NT) in pigs. Preadipocytes established from subcutaneous adipose tissue of a male adult pig were used as nuclear donor cells. Cell cycle synchronization was carried out by serum starvation (5 days), confluency (5 days), roscovitine treatment (15 μM, 2 days), or differentiation induction by 0.5 mM 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 0.25 μM dexamethasone, and 5 μg/mL insulin (5 days). Cell cycle synchronization and apoptosis of the donor cells were examined by flow cytometry and Annexin V staining and TUNEL. IVM oocytes were obtained from abattoir ovaries and matured in NCSU23. Donor cells were fused with the enucleated recipient oocytes by a single DC pulse of 200 V/mm for 10 μs in 0.28 M mannitol + 0.15 mM MgSO4. Reconstructed embryos were electrically activated at 1–1.5 h after the NT, followed by cytochalasin B treatment for 3 h. Development of the NT embryos was assessed by fixation/staining at 3 h after NT, culture for 7 days in NCSU23, and transfer to the oviducts of estrus-synchronized recipient gilts. The cells immediately entered the G0 phase by differentiation induction (92.5 ± 0.4%), with higher efficiency of synchronization than for the other methods (roscovitine: 80.3 ± 0.2%; confluency: 79.9 ± 0.3%, P < 0.05) except for serum starvation (89.8 ± 0.6%). The proportion of apoptotic cells in the differentiation group was significantly lower than the other groups (Annexin V: 7.7% vs. 15.7 to 19.3%, TUNEL: 8.3% vs. 12.8 to 14.0%, P < 0.05). Incidence of premature chromosome condensation following NT (88.0%) was as high as that observed after NT with fetal fibroblasts previously (data not shown). In vitro developmental rates of the NT embryos did not differ significantly among the cell cycle synchronization methods of the donor cells (7.2 to 10.8%). Cell number of the blastocysts was highest in the differentiation group (49.0 vs. 30.2 to 41.9, P < 0.05). Transfer of 1004 cloned embryos of the serum starvation group to 5 recipients resulted in the production of 4 live and 1 stillborn piglets from 1 recipient. Transfer of cloned embryos reconstructed of donor cells treated by differentiation induction is currently underway. These data demonstrate that preadipocytes collected from an adult pig are promising nuclear donor cells for pig cloning. This study was supported by PROBRAIN.

322 DIFFERENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF RABBIT EMBRYOS FOLLOWING MICROINSEMINATION USING SPERM AND SPERMATIDS

Microinsemination is a technique that delivers male germ cells directly into the ooplasm. The efficiency of fertilization and subsequent embryo development after microinsemination varies with species and the male germ cells used. This study examined the developmental ability of rabbit embryos in vitro and in vivo following microinsemination using haploid male germ cells at different stages. First, we injected rabbit spermatozoa, elongated spermatids, and round spermatids into mouse oocytes to assess their oocyte-activating capacity. Mouse oocytes are a good experimental model for assessing the oocyte-activating capacity of male germ cells from different species. The majority of mouse oocytes were activated irrespective of the stage of rabbit male germ cells injected (77, 61, and 73% for spermatozoa, elongated spermatids, and round spermatids, respectively). By contrast, these male germ cells activated homologous rabbit oocytes at rates of 100, 59, and 29%, respectively. After 120 h in culture, 69, 55, and 13% of these activated rabbit oocytes (pronuclear eggs) developed into blastocysts, respectively. The rate of embryo development into blastocysts following round spermatid injection was significantly improved when oocytes were activated by an electric pulse shortly before microinsemination. The total number of cells was counted in embryos that reached the morula/blastocyst stages in culture using nuclear-staining with propidium iodide. The average cell number of embryos derived from elongated (89 ± 41; mean ± SD) or round spermatid (98 ± 34) injection was significantly lower than that of control embryos (in vivo fertilization) (211 ± 44) (P < 0.01). After 24 h in culture, some four- to eight-cell-stage embryos were transferred into the oviducts of pseudopregnant females. Normal pups were born from embryos involving sperm (4 offspring/16 transfers; 25%) and elongated spermatid (3/26; 12%) injection, but none from those involving round spermatid injection (0/68). These findings indicate that rabbit male germ cells acquire the ability to activate oocytes and to support subsequent embryo development as they undergo spermiogenesis. Immaturity of the nuclear genome or difficulty in coordinating the behavior of the male and female chromosomes might compromise embryo development.

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma presenting as myelofibrosis associated with bone marrow involvement of lymphoma cells which secrete a large amount of TGF-�

We report here on a patient with splenic marginal zone lymphoma presenting diffuse fibrosis of bone marrow and spleen. After splenectomy and chemotherapy, bone marrow biopsy demonstrated an improvement of fibrosis. Plasma concentration of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta was much higher in this patient than in those of age-matched non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients ( n=5) at diagnosis, decreasing after resolution of myelofibrosis. Immunostaining with the TGF-beta antibody revealed that the lymphoma cells in bone marrow and spleen were positive for TGF-beta. TGF-beta secreted by tumor cells was thought to stimulate the growth of fibroblasts and synthesize collagen in bone marrow and splenic fibroblasts, and play an important role in the development of marrow and splenic fibrosis in this patient. This is the first report of a patient with splenic marginal zone lymphoma presenting as myelofibrosis associated with bone marrow involvement of lymphoma cells which secrete a large amount of TGF-beta.

Rubratoxin B induced the secretion of hepatic injury-related colony stimulating factors in human hepatoma cells

The induction of cytokine secretion by rubratoxin B was investigated using human hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and HuH-7. Interleukin (IL)-8, macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-CSF were detected in the media of rubratoxin B-treated both cell lines, and their levels peaked at about 40 microg/ml. Rubratoxin B-induced cytokine secretion was enhanced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in HepG2 cells. While emodin increased GM-CSF secretion, the secretion of the others was decreased, indicating that they are regulated differently in rubratoxin B-treated HepG2 cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report that an exogenous stimulus induced the secretion of M-CSF and GM-CSF in hepatocyte-derived hepatoma cells, suggesting that rubratoxin B is an excellent model compound to study the mechanisms of M-CSF and GM-CSF secretion. Our results showed that hepatotoxin rubratoxin B has a potential to induce the secretion of these two CSFs, implying that these factors play roles in rubratoxin B-caused hepatic injury.

[Surgical treatment to an old patient with right coronary artery aneurysm; report of a case]

The patient was 75-year-old woman. The patient was referred to our hospital for operation due to a developing right coronary artery aneurysm. The coronary artery angiography showed that the aneurysm was 3 cm in diameter which had not existed two years previously, and with a 75% distal stenosis. The operation was made during cardiac arrest. A sapheous vein graft was used to bypass to the distal artery first. Then the aneurysm was resected, and both proximal and distal arteries were ligated. The pacemaker was implanted on the third postoperative day for sick sinus syndrome, the patient got a better recovery. Surgical treatment should be recommended to coronary artery aneurysm, and sapheous vein was a good selection for bypass graft when the diameter of native artery was relatively large.