cDNA cloning and expression of swine IL-7 from neonatal intestinal epithelium

Swine IL-7 (sIL-7) cDNA has been isolated from neonatal intestinal epithelium by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with designated primers based on the conserved sequences of the other mammalian IL-7. Recombinant sIL-7 was able to induce the bone marrow cell proliferation like human IL-7. The complete open reading frame contains 531 bp coding deduced 176 amino acid residues, with a calculated molecular mass of 20.1 kDa. The observed similarity between swine and human IL-7 sequences (66% identical and 89% conserved) suggests that a study on the immune responses correlated with IL-7 in the gut of swine will be valuable to understand their mechanisms in human. By RT-PCR using the constructed specific primers to sIL-7, sIL-7 mRNA was confirmed to be expressed in swine intestine, thymus, kidney and skin but not in the heart.

Effects of hypothermia on blood flow and neural activity in rabbit spinal cord during postischemic reperfusion

The effects of hypothermia on blood flow and neural activity were investigated in rabbit spinal cord during the acute phase of ischemia/reperfusion. Rabbits were exposed to ischemia for 10 or 40 min by occluding the abdominal aorta, using a balloon catheter. The body temperature was maintained either at 38 degrees C (normothermia) or 34 degrees C (hypothermia). Hyperperfusion was observed within 10 min after the cessation of ischemia in all rabbits exposed to ischemia. The magnitude of hyperperfusion in spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) was not significantly different between the 10 and 40 min ischemia rabbits, but the time for 50% recovery from the hyperperfusion was longer in the 40 min ischemia group (26.1 +/- 2.5 min) than in the 10 min group (15.1 +/- 2.1 min). The amplitude of evoked spinal cord potential decreased during ischemia and recovered to the baseline level during 8 h of reperfusion in the 10 min ischemia group. However, in the 40 min ischemia group, the amplitude was 40 +/- 8% of the baseline value after 8 h of reperfusion. Hypothermia prevented the delay of recovery from hyperperfusion and the reduction of evoked spinal cord potential. These results suggest that hypothermia plays a beneficial role in protecting tissue injury in the acute phase of ischemia/reperfusion in the spinal cord by shortening the time for recovery from postischemic hyperperfusion.

Effects of long-term acidification of extracellular pH on ATP-induced calcium mobilization in rabbit lens epithelial cells

ATP-induced calcium (Ca2+) mobilization was investigated in rabbit lens epithelial cells that had been cultured in a medium with pH of 7.4 (group 1), 7.2 (group 2), or 7.0 (group 3) for 10 to 21 d. Intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i and pH (pHi) were measured by using fluorescent dyes, fura-2 and BCECF, respectively. The long-term acidification decreased the pHi to 7.15 +/- 0.01, from 7.22 +/- 0.01, in group 2 and to 7.09 +/- 0.01 in group 3. The administration of 10 micromol/l ATP produced an initial peak followed by a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i in the lens cells of group 1. Both the initial peak and the sustained increase in [Ca2+]i were enhanced in groups 2 and 3. The initial peak was abolished by pretreatment with 1 micromol/l thapsigargin, an ER Ca2+ pump inhibitor, but was not affected by the removal of extracellular Ca2+. On the other hand, the sustained increase was suppressed either by the thapsigargin treatment or by the Ca2+ removal. Treatment with only thapsigargin caused a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i that was greater in group 3 than in group 1. These results suggest that (1) the ATP-induced initial peak in [Ca2+]i is due to Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores, (2) the sustained increase in [Ca2+]i is mediated through either Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space or Ca2+ release from the store triggered by the Ca2+ influx, and (3) long-term, moderate acidification enhances both the initial peak and the sustained increase in [Ca2+)]i in rabbit lens epithelial cells. One possible mechanism of the ATP-induced Ca2+ influx seems to be a capacitative Ca2+ entry pathway.

Effects of aging on the electroretinogram during ischemia-reperfusion in rats

The effects of aging on the electroretinogram (ERG) during ischemia-reperfusion were investigated in rats. Flash-elicited ERG (a-wave, b-wave, and oscillatory potentials (OPs)) was recorded in young (4 months old) and aged rats (over 18 months old) before, during, and after exposure to 30- or 120-min ischemia induced by increasing intraocular pressure to 80 mmHg. The choroidal blood flow, measured by means of laser Doppler flowmetry, decreased to 40 to 60% of the baseline value during ischemia. Young rats showed no significant difference in the amplitude of each ERG component during ischemia between 30- and 120-min ischemia groups; 78.0 +/- 4.9 vs. 76.1 +/- 3.6% for a-wave, 63.4 +/- 3.1 vs. 60.6 +/- 3.0% for b-wave, and 59.6 +/- 5.9 vs. 57.5 +/- 6.7% for SigmaOP. In aged rats, however, 120-min ischemia caused a greater decrease, to 56.7 +/- 3.1% of the baseline value, in the a-wave amplitude than 30-min ischemia did, to 70.8 +/- 3.2%. The reduction of each ERG component in both 30- and 120-min ischemia experiments was greater in aged rats than in young rats. The recovery time for the amplitude of each ERG component during reperfusion was longer in aged rats than in young rats. The latency of b-wave and the second component of OPs prolonged during ischemia, and recovery time for the latency was longer in aged rats than in young rats. These results suggest that the electrophysiological function of the retina is less tolerable against ischemia-reperfusion in aged rats than in young rats.

Mice with a deletion in the gene for CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta have an attenuated response to cAMP and impaired carbohydrate metabolism

Fifty percent of the mice homozygous for a deletion in the gene for CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBP beta-/- mice; B phenotype) die within 1 to 2 h after birth of hypoglycemia. They do not mobilize their hepatic glycogen or induce the cytosolic form of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). Administration of cAMP resulted in mobilization of glycogen, induction of PEPCK mRNA, and a normal blood glucose; these mice survived beyond 2 h postpartum. Adult C/EBP beta-/- mice (A phenotype) also had difficulty in maintaining blood glucose levels during starvation. Fasting these mice for 16 or 30 h resulted in lower levels of hepatic PEPCK mRNA, blood glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, blood urea nitrogen, and gluconeogenesis when compared with control mice. The concentration of hepatic cAMP in these mice was 50% of controls, but injection of theophylline, together with glucagon, resulted in a normal cAMP levels. Agonists (glucagon, epinephrine, and isoproterenol) and other effectors of activation of adenylyl cyclase were the same in liver membranes isolated from C/EBP beta-/- mice and littermates. The hepatic activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase was 80% of wild type mice. There was a 79% increase in the concentration of RI alpha and 27% increase in RII alpha in the particulate fraction of the livers of C/EBP beta-/- mice relative to wild type mice, with no change in the catalytic subunit (C alpha). Thus, a 45% increase in hepatic cAMP (relative to the wild type) would be required in C/EBP beta-/- mice to activate protein kinase A by 50%. In addition, the total activity of phosphodiesterase in the livers of C/EBP beta-/- mice, as well as the concentration of mRNA for phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) and PDE3B was approximately 25% higher than in control animals, suggesting accelerated degradation of cAMP. C/EBP beta influences the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism by altering the level of hepatic cAMP and the activity of protein kinase A.

Protective effect of resveratrol on oxidative damage in male and female stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

1. In the present study, we examined the effect of resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene), a phytoestrogen found in the skins of most grapes, on oxidative DNA damage in male and female stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). 2. Five-week-old male and female SHRSP were divided into control and resveratrol groups. The resveratrol group was given 1 mg/kg per day, orally, resveratrol by gastric intubation once a day. 3. Following an 8 week feeding period, the levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), produced from deoxyguanosine under conditions of oxidative stress, in the urine of male and female resveratrol-treated SHRSP were significantly lower than that in control SHRSP. 4. The urine of resveratrol-treated male and female SHRSP had lower levels of hydroperoxide compared with control SHRSP, but the difference was not significant. 5. Treatment with resveratrol resulted in a 25 and 30% reduction in plasma glycated albumin in male and female SHRSP, respectively, compared with controls. 6. Gender differences for SHRSP with regard to 8-OHdG, hydroperoxide and glycated albumin levels were not confirmed, resveratrol having similar protective effects on male and female SHRSP. 7. These results indicate that dietary resveratrol: (i) plays a role in suppressing oxidative DNA damage and glycoxidative stress in vivo; and (ii) has similar protective effects in both male and female SHRSP, suggesting that the direct effects of this phytoestrogen on oxidative stress in vivo are not sexually dimorphic.

Immunocytochemical localization of beta-citryl-L-glutamate in primary neuronal cells and in the differentiation of P19 mouse embryonal carcinoma cells into neuronal cells

The immunocytochemical localization of beta-citryl-L-glutamate (beta-CG) in primary neuronal cells and in the differentiation of P19 cells was examined. 1: Cells with the morphological features of neurons in the primary culture were specifically stained with the anti-beta-CG antibody both in neurites and in the cell body. 2: The neuronal cells differentiated from P19 cells were distinctly stained with the anti-beta-CG antibody both in neurites and in the cell body, while the non-neuronal cells were not. 3: The concentration of beta-CG was low in the P19 cells, but increased significantly with the differentiation of P19 cells into neurons. It was shown that beta-CG was localized exclusively in neurons. These findings suggest that beta-CG plays functional roles in the differentiation and growth of neuron.

Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activity and mRNA expression in advanced gastric cancer analyzed in relation to effectiveness of preoperative 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy

Dihydroxypyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is an enzyme involved in degradation and inactivation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The amount of its expression in a tumor is thought to be a factor determining the response of the tumor to 5-FU therapy. We compared DPD activity and DPD mRNA expression in resected tumors between two groups of patients, i.e., a group of 14 patients with advanced gastric cancer who received preoperative chemotherapy (neoadjuvant chemotherapy; NAC) and surgery and a group of 24 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent surgery without preoperative chemotherapy. Tumor DPD activity was found to correlate well with tumor DPD mRNA expression. In the surgery alone group, DPD activity decreased significantly as the tumor stage advanced. This change was not observed in the NAC plus surgery group. Neither tumor depth (T factor) nor lymph node metastasis was found to correlate with DPD activity. Patients who responded to preoperative chemotherapy had lower DPD mRNA levels. Based on these results, we anticipate that measurement of DPD expression in clinical specimens may be clinically useful in managing advanced gastric cancer.

Primary amino acid and DNA sequences of gassericin T, a lactacin F-family bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055

A broad-spectral bacteriocin, named gassericin T, produced by Lactobacillus gasseri SBT 2055 (from human feces) was isolated to homogeneity from the culture supernatant by hydrophobic chromatography. By SDS-PAGE and in situ activity assay, the purified gassericin T migrated as a single band with bacteriocin activity and molecular size of 5,400. A 2.9-kbp HindIII-HindIII fragment of chromosome DNA was hybridized with the oligonucleotide probe designed from the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of gassericin T and was cloned. Six ORFs including the structural gene of gassericin T were deduced by computer analysis and the data bases. The structural gene of gassericin T (gatA) was identified as the fourth ORF, which encoded a protein composed of 75 amino acids that included the GG motif of the cleavage site. Chemical sequencing analysis of the complete amino acid sequence showed that gassericin T (57 amino acids) had a disulfide bond in the molecule and no modified amino acid residues, making it a class II bacteriocin. The gassericin T had 60% sequence similarity to mature LafA (57 amino acids, lactacin F, bacteriocins produced by L. johnsonii VPI11088), and the sequences around the processing site and C-terminal area were well conserved. The fifth ORF was designated as gatX, encoded as a peptide composed of 65 amino acids containing the GG motif of the putative cleavage site, however mature GatX and its antibacterial activity were not detected in the culture supernatant. GatX has higher similarity with LafX than with lactobin A (50 amino acids) belonging to the first lactacin F-family. These results indicated that gassericin T belongs to the hydrophobic class II bacteriocins and the most vicinal lactacin F-family.

Alcohol enhances characteristic releases of dopamine and serotonin in the central nucleus of the amygdala

The amygdaloid complex (AMY) is implicated in emotional and motivational aspects of behavior, including the formation of positive reinforcement association. AMY may also associated with brain rewarding circuitry. In the present study, the effect of ethanol (EtOH) on the release of dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) was studied in the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeAMY), and projecting excitatory afferents to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), of freely moving Wistar rats by brain microdialysis. Within 20 min of i.p. injection of EtOH (2 g/kg), the levels of DA and 5-HT in the CeAMY dialysate increased over the baseline value by 270 and 160% (N = 6-7), respectively. Addition of EtOH (25, 50 and 100 mM) to the microdialysis perfusion medium for 1 h caused a 115-150% dose-related increase in the extracellular level of DA in the CeAMY. 100 mM EtOH-induced CeAMY DA release continued to increase for 1 h after the perfusion medium was returned to normal perfusion medium. In contrast, the CeAMY 5-HT level was increased only by the addition of 100 mM EtOH for 1 h to 130% for 80 min. The stimulation of the CeAMY by EtOH through the microdialysis membrane showed delayed responses of DA and 5-HT compared with the i.p. injection of EtOH. Overall, the present findings are not sufficient to conclude whether EtOH acts directly or indirectly on the major monoamine nerve cells in the CeAMY, but the degree of acute EtOH action affected the differences in time at the peak response on EtOH-induced DA and 5-HT releases in the CeAMY via VTA.

Electrophysiological and morphological characteristics of nucleus tractus solitarii neurons projecting to the ventrolateral medulla

Electrophysiological and morphological properties of a direct projection from the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) to the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) were investigated. NTS neurons projecting to the VLM exhibit a monosynaptic excitatory response followed by an inhibitory one after the tractus solitarius stimulation. These neurons show spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents, and have medium to large soma (14-26 microm in diameter). It is concluded that the projection from the NTS to the VLM is mediated mostly by medium to large neurons that are inhibited locally by GABAergic interneurons within the NTS.

Spontaneous synaptogenesis in ex vivo sympathetic ganglion and the blockade by serum treatment

Central denervation for more than 1 month has been shown to cause an increase in the number of adrenergic synapses in sympathetic ganglia in vivo. Here, we report several lines of evidence that adrenergic synapses may be generated de novo in ex vivo superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of adult rats only several hours after the isolation. Structures immunoreactive for synaptophysin, a marker of presynaptic elements, were drastically decreased 6 days after the preganglionic denervation. A significant increase in number of synaptophysin positive boutons was observed over 3-8 hours in the denervated SCGs maintained ex vivo at 36 degrees C in oxygenated physiologic saline, and this increase was blocked by adding normal serum in the saline. Electron microscopic analysis confirmed that the number of adrenergic synapses specifically labeled with 5-hydroxydopamine was increased by several-fold under the same condition. Intracellular labeling of SCG neurons revealed an increase in the incidence (from 8 to 50%) of neurons having dendritic plexus after the in vitro incubation. No evidence of axonal sprouting within the ganglion was observed. Intracellular recordings from single neurons of denervated SCGs revealed that maximum amplitudes of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, which were completely blocked by yohimbine, an alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, in response to focal stimulation were increased over the several hours. These results suggest that dendrites of SCG neurons rapidly develop and exhibit local efferent characteristics that underlie the inhibitory synaptic transmission once they are subjected to serum deprivation.

Inhibition of endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation by oxidized phosphatidylcholine

Formation of oxidized phosphatidylcholine (ox-PC), oxidatively fragmented phosphatidylcholine (PC) containing a short-chain and/or polar oxidative residue at the sn-2 position, in the process of LDL oxidation as well as its existence in atherosclerotic lesions has been demonstrated. To clarify the pathophysiological role of ox-PC in the vascular reactivity, we investigated the effects of various ox-PCs on the isometric tensions in rabbit thoracic aortas. Ox-PCs, which were produced upon oxidation of sn-2 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-containing PCs, dose-dependently inhibited endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) evoked by acetylcholine or substance P. On the other hand, neither native PUFA-containing PCs nor an oxidative product of monounsaturated fatty acid-containing PC showed an inhibitory effect. None of ox-PCs affected endothelium-independent relaxation to nitroglycerin. The PC-headgroup fraction, but not the oxidized fatty acids fraction, was responsible for the inhibition of EDR by ox-PC. EDR was reduced by 2-(5-oxovaleroyl)-PC, one of the secondary oxidative products of PCs that contains a short chain aldehydic residue at the sn-2 position, but not by PC hydroperoxide, the primary oxidative product. Although the possibility could not be completely ruled out that lysophosphatidylcholine rather than ox-PC may be responsible for inhibitory effects on EDR, these results suggest a novel vascular activity of ox-PCs generated from sn-2 PUFA-containing PCs which may be implicated in the pathophysiology of vascular tone.

The molecular characterization and tissue distribution of the human cysteinyl leukotriene CysLT(2) receptor

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs), slow-reacting substances of anaphylaxis, are lipid mediators known to possess potent proinflammatory action. Pharmacological studies using CysLTs indicate that at least two classes of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), named CysLT(1) and CysLT(2), exist; the former is sensitive and the latter is resistant to the CysLT(1) antagonists currently used to treat asthma. Although the CysLT(1) receptor gene has been recently cloned, the molecular identity of the CysLT(2) receptor has remained elusive. Here we show that the pharmacological profile of an orphan GPCR (PSEC0146) is consistent with that of the CysLT(2) receptor. In human embryonic kidney 293 cells that express the PSEC0146 cDNA, leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) and leukotriene D(4) (LTD(4)) induce equal increases in intracellular calcium mobilization; these increases are not affected by CysLT(1) antagonists. Additionally, [(3)H]LTC(4) specifically binds to membranes from COS-1 cells transiently transfected with PSEC0146. Large amounts of the PSEC0146 mRNA are found in human heart, placenta, spleen, and peripheral blood leukocytes but not in the lung and the trachea. Pharmacological feature and expression studies will eventually lead to a better understanding of the classification of CysLT receptors, possibly leading to a reconsideration of the pathological and physiological role of CysLTs.

[Morphology and immunophenotyping in hematological malignancies]

We evaluated 443 outpatients and inpatients in Keio University Hospital between 1994 and 1999. Morphologic features from peripheral blood and bone marrow aspiration were evaluated in our hematology laboratory, using Wright-Giemsa, peroxidase staining films and other cytochemistry. Immunophenotype was determined by cell surface antigen analysis by laser flow cytometry, FACscan, using various monoclonal antibodies. Information on cytogenetic and molecular genetic characteristics can be also integrated for diagnosis. One hundred fifty patients were diagnosed with acute leukemia, in which 59 cases were ALL and 91 cases were AML. Seventy-four cases were MDS, 76 cases were myeloproliferative disorders, 21 cases were CLL related disorders, 104 patients were malignant lymphoma, and 18 cases were multiple myeloma. The ratio of male to female was 1.7. The probability of diagnostic rate by Immunophenotyping was estimated by Discriminant analysis in 189 patients, using multivariate analysis of immunophenotype compared to morphology. The average probability by immunophenotypic analysis for diagnostic rate was 91.7%, in which the probability for NHL was very high of 97.1%. Thus, morphologic and immunophenotypic analysis is most essential and basic approach in laboratory hematology, from the perspective of rapid and precise diagnostic methods. Recent advance appreciates the rapid contribution for diagnosis by immunophenotypic analysis. Furthermore, Tele-hematology would contribute the standardization for morphologic method in the near future.

Anti-mouse sperm monoclonal antibody, A-1, inhibits sperm capacitation, acrosome reaction and calcium influx into spermatocytes

An anti mouse sperm monoclonal antibody (A-1) inhibited sperm penetration into the egg zona pellucida and bound to an acrosomal area of sperm. In this study, we examined whether or not the antibody affects the sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction. Sperm were incubated in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium in the presence or absence of the antibody. The capacitation of sperm was assessed by chlortetracycline fluorescence pattern assay. The percentage of capacitated sperm did not increase in the presence of antibody, but increased time-dependently in its absence. The acrosome reaction of the capacitated sperm was induced by the addition of ionophore. The ionophore, however, failed to induce the reaction in the presence of the A-1 antibody. Next, the calcium influx into spermatocytes was examined. The capacitated sperm, preloaded with Fura-2, were treated with ionomycin in the presence or absence of the A-1 antibody. The influx of calcium ions into capacitated spermatozoa was also inhibited by the antibody. Thus a monoclonal antibody, A-1, inhibited the sperm capacitation, acrosome reaction and calcium influx into spermatocytes.

Inhibition of in vitro fertilization of mouse gametes by sulfated sialic acid polymers

The effect of sialic acid (N-acetyl neuraminic acid), sialic acid dimer, sialic acid polymers (colominic acid) and sulfated colominic acid on the activity of hyaluronidase, on the dispersion of cumulus cells by mouse sperm and on in vitro mouse fertilization (sperm penetration of zona pellucida) were evaluated. Bovine testicular hyaluronidase activity was significantly inhibited by colominic acid and sulfated colominic acid, but not by sialic acid and its dimer. The dispersion of cumulus cells from eggs by mouse sperm was also inhibited by colominic acid and sulfated colominic acid. In vitro fertilization of mouse gametes was inhibited by sulfated colominic acid. The IC50 value of sulfated colominic acid-induced inhibition of fertilization was 0.3 mg/ml (ca. 0.9 mM). The value changed from 0.9 mM for cumulus-surrounded egg to 1.5 mM for cumulus free-egg. On the other hand, colominic acid showed little or no inhibitory effect on mouse in vitro fertilization at 0.5 mg/ml (ca. 1.6 mM). This antifertility activity by sulfated colominic acid did not appear to be due to an effect on sperm motility or on the oocytes. These results suggest that (1) the cumulus cells surrounding the eggs were dispersed by sperm hyaluronidase, (2) hyaluronidase was inhibited by colominic acid and by sulfated colominic acid, (3) sulfated colominic acid inhibits sperm penetration of zona pellucida by the inhibition of hyaluronidase and/or some enzymes required for mouse gametes fertilization.

Isolated cardiac metastasis from sacral chordoma

A 64-year-old woman presented with right heart failure caused by a cardiac tumor centered in the free wall of the right ventricle, accompanied by pericardial effusion. A match between the biopsy specimen and tissue removed 4 years earlier resulted in the diagnosis of a cardiac metastasis from a chordoma. Immunohistochemical staining was also useful in establishing the diagnosis. To alleviate the right ventricular outflow obstruction, a palliative operation was planned, resecting the tumor and performing a right ventriculoplasty, which was cancelled due to the extent of infiltration of the tumor, and instead a right atrium to pulmonary artery shunt was attempted using a vascular prosthesis, only to fail due to an inability to maintain blood flow through the prosthesis. Presently there are no definitive treatment options available, and some palliative chemotherapy is being performed. Single cardiac metastases from a chordoma are extremely rare.

Histological examination on edema formation in the rabbit brain exposed to head-down tilt

Previous studies demonstrated that exposure to simulated microgravity, head-down tilt (HDT), caused cephalad fluid shift, increased capillary pressure in the head, and produced facial edema and nasal congestion. It is also known that exposure to HDT affects hemodynamics in the brain. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocity increases for at least 6 hours after the onset of 6 degrees HDT in humans. Intracranial pressure (ICP) elevates during 6 degrees HDT in humans and monkeys. However, there is little information regarding edema formation in the brain due to HDT except a morphological study reported by Kaplansky and colleagues who showed that perivascular edema occurred in the monkey brain after 7 days of 6 degrees HDT. Thus, it is interesting to examine whether edema formation occurs in the other animal model for simulation of microgravity, since several factors such as the duration of HDT, angle of HDT, and species difference may affect the result. In the present study, formation of brain edema was investigated by histological examinations in rabbits exposed to 45 degrees HDT for 2 days or 8 days. We hypothesized that HDT causes brain edema which can be demonstrated as extravasation of plasma constituents and histological changes.

Reactive oxygen species participation in experimentally induced arthritis of the temporomandibular joint in rats

In the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), it has been hypothesized that mechanical stresses lead to the oxidative stress of articular tissues. It has also been postulated that cells pertinent to arthritis-including endothelial cells and synovial cells-when stimulated by mechanical stresses and/or pro-inflammatory cytokines, promote oxidative damage. To determine the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the diseased joint, we studied the generation of ROS in synovial fluid (SF) from interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha)-induced TMJ arthritis by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, using the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). The TMJ arthritis was experimentally induced in rats by the injection of human recombinant IL-1alpha into the TMJ; control rats were treated with normal saline solution. We found that the detected radicals in the collected SF were identified as a 1:2:2:1 quartet, characteristic of the hydroxyl radical-DMPO spin adduct. The ESR signal intensity of the hydroxyl radical-DMPO spin adduct in the SF from IL-1-treated rats was significantly higher than that from the control rats (P < 0.01). The results of ESR study also showed that hydroxyl radical (HO*) was increased in a time-dependent fashion in the presence of superoxide anion radical (O2*-) scavenger superoxide dismutase (SOD); the formation of DMPO-HO* was strongly inhibited by the iron chelater deferoxamine. We could measure higher levels of free iron (Fe2- and Fe3-) in the SF from TMJ arthritis than in that from controls (P < 0.05). Analysis of the data obtained from the present study suggests that the HO* radical detected in SF from IL-1-induced TMJ arthritis is generated via a modified Haber-Weiss reaction (biological Fenton reaction) in which O2*- can subsequently result in the production of H2O2 through dismutation reaction by SOD. Thus, HO* may be generated from the reaction of resultant H2O2 with free iron ions. The results presented here provide the first evidence of involvement of ROS in IL-1-induced TMJ arthritis.

Modulation of chemotaxis, O(2)(-) production and myeloperoxidase release from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes by the ornithine-containing lipid and the serineglycine-containing lipid of Flavobacterium

The ornithine-containing lipid (OL) and the serineglycine-containing lipid (SGL) of Flavobacterium activated and modulated the functions of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). The OL and the SGL strongly activated fMet-Leu-Phe- and interleukin-8-induced chemotaxis of PMNs at the concentration of 0.1 microg ml(-1), and a synthetic OL also activated the function of PMNs. Further, the OL strongly activated O(2)(-) production from PMNs. Although the OL and the SGL slightly modulated myeloperoxidase release from PMNs, inhibition effects of their component fatty acid analogues were observed. O(2)(-) production-inducing activity is a common biological activity between the OL and bacterial lipopolysaccharides, but OL and SGL, unlike lipopolysaccharide, are potent activators of PMN chemotaxis.

Ornithine-containing lipids stimulate CD14-dependent TNF-alpha production from murine macrophage-like J774.1 and RAW 264.7 cells

The ornithine-containing lipids (OL)-induced cytokine production pattern in macrophage-like J774.1 and RAW 264.7 cells was different from that in the peritoneal macrophages previously reported. OLs, as well as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli, strongly induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha but not interleukin (IL)-1beta in J774.1 cells. In the RAW cells, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and prostaglandin E(2) were strongly induced by the OLs and LPS. OL- and serine-glycine-containing lipid (SGL)-induced TNF-alpha production in J774.1 and RAW 264.7 cells required serum. However, in CD14-deficient LR-9 cells, TNF-alpha was not induced by the OLs in the presence or absence of serum. OLs and a SGL almost completely inhibited the binding of (125)I-LPS to J774.1 cells. These results suggested that OLs and SGL activate macrophages via the CD14-dependent pathway.

Isolation and structural analysis of antihypertensive peptides that exist naturally in Gouda cheese

Seven kinds of ripened cheeses (8-mo-aged and 24-mo-aged Gouda, Emmental, Blue, Camembert, Edam, and Havarti) were homogenized with distilled water, and water-soluble peptides were prepared by C-18 hydrophobic chromatography. The inhibitory activity to angiotensin I-converting enzyme and decrease in the systolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats were measured before and after oral administration of each peptide sample. The strongest depressive effect in the systolic blood pressure (-24.7 mm Hg) and intensive inhibitory activity to angiotensin I-converting enzyme (75.7%) were detected in the peptides from 8-mo-aged Gouda cheese. Four peptides were isolated by HPLC with reverse-phase and gel filtration modes. Their chemical structures and origins, clarified by combination analyses of protein sequencing, amino acid composition, and mass spectrometry, were as follows: peptide A, Arg-Pro-Lys-His-Pro-Ile-Lys-His-Gln [alpha(s1)-casein (CN), B-8P; f 1-9]; peptide B, Arg-Pro-Lys-His-Pro-Ile-Lys-His-Gln-Gly-Leu-Pro-Gln (alpha(s1)-CN, B-8P; f 1-13); peptide F, Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro-Ile-Pro-Asn (beta-CN, A2-5P; f 60-68); and peptide G, Met-Pro-Phe-Pro-Lys-Tyr-Pro-Val-Gln-Pro-Phe (beta-CN, A2-5P; f 109-119). Peptides A and F, which were chemically synthesized, showed potent angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity with little antihypertensive effects.

Vacuum assisted cardiopulmonary bypass in minimally invasive cardiac surgery: its feasibility and effects on hemolysis

The present study describes a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) technique that incorporates vacuum assisted venous drainage and arterial return using a centrifugal pump in minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). The technique was performed on 40 patients scheduled to undergo MICS. The proposed CPB technique enables a good operative field to be obtained even through a limited incision through the use of peripheral cannulation using small cannulae. Vacuum pressure was applied to the venous reservoir (-43 +/- 14 mm Hg) to maintain adequate CPB flow (>2.4 L x min-1 x M-2). The effects of CPB on hemolysis were subsequently compared between patients who underwent the proposed procedure (MICS group; n = 6) and a control group who underwent coronary arterial bypass grafting (CABG group; n = 6) with conventional CPB. Plasma free hemoglobin (FHb) increased and plasma haptoglobin (Hp) decreased during CPB in both groups, with no significant difference between the groups. By the next day, FHb had returned to pre-CPB levels whereas Hp remained lower in both groups. Again, these values did not differ significantly between groups. Thus, we conclude that the proposed CPB technique is useful in MICS with acceptable effects on hemolysis.

Vitamin E level changes in serum and red blood cells due to acute exhaustive exercise in collegiate women

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in vitamin E level in both serum and red blood cells (RBC) during exercise and to clarify the effect of vitamin E supplementation. Ten young sedentary female subjects received 200 mg D-alpha-tocopherol acetate daily for 1 wk after the initial exercise bout. After 1 wk of vitamin E supplementation, the same subjects repeated the same exercise. Before vitamin E supplementation, the alpha-tocopherol level in the serum (serum-alpha-tocopherol) did not change after exercise, but a significant decrease in the alpha-tocopherol level in RBC (RBC-alpha-tocopherol) was observed after exercise (p < 0.05). On the other hand, after vitamin E supplementation, the serum-alpha-tocopherol level decreased significantly after exercise (p < 0.05), while the RBC-alpha-tocopherol level was maintained after exercise. Furthermore, a negative correlation between the changes in serum- and RBC-alpha-tocopherol levels was observed only after vitamin E supplementation (r = 0.667, p < 0.05). The present results suggest that as RBC suffers oxidative stress, vitamin E in RBC is consumed to protect RBC from oxidative damage during exercise. These results also suggest that when there is a sufficient amount of vitamin E in the serum, vitamin E is shifted from the serum to RBC, resulting in a steady RBC-alpha-tocopherol level and a decrease in the serum-alpha-tocopherol level under oxidative stress such as exercise.

Antihypertensive effect of cattle bone collagen-derived peptides in ovariectomized stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

1. The effect of food collagen, cattle bone collagen-derived (CBC) peptides, on ovariectomy induced increases in blood pressure was examined in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). 2. Long-term administration of CBC peptides to ovariectomized SHRSP suppressed the hypertension compared with ovariectomized SHRSP fed standard chow. 3. The CBC peptides showed an inhibitory activity (IC50 = 40 microg/mL) for angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) in vitro. Furthermore, pre-incubation of CBC peptides with gastrointestinal proteases did not change this inhibitory activity of CBC for ACE. 4. These results indicate that CBC peptides may prevent increases in blood pressure in ovariectomized SHRSP by a possible mechanism of an inhibitory action against ACE.

Silefrin, a sodefrin-like pheromone in the abdominal gland of the sword-tailed newt, Cynops ensicauda

Sodefrin-like female-attracting pheromone was purified from the abdominal glands of male sword-tailed newts, Cynops ensicauda, by gel-filtration chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The final product comprises 10 amino acid residues with the sequence SILSKDAQLK which coincided with the sequence deduced from its precursor cDNA. This peptide was designated silefrin. The sequence of silefrin was different from that of sodefrin by two amino acid residues, with substitutions Leu for Pro and Gln for Leu at positions 3 and 8, respectively. Both native and synthetic silefrin exerted an equipotent activity in attracting conspecific females.

Resveratrol attenuates ovariectomy-induced hypertension and bone loss in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

We examined the effect of resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxy stilbene), a phenolic compound found in the skins of most grapes, on blood pressure and bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX), stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Nineteen-week-old female SHRSP were divided into a sham-ovariectomized (sham) group fed a control diet and two OVX groups fed either a control diet (OVX-Cont) or a diet supplemented with resveratrol (5 mg/kg per d; OVX-Resv). Ovariectomy induced significant increases in systolic blood pressure (SBP). Resveratrol lowered the SBP by 15%) by the third week of administration, and this effect was maintained throughout the study. Resveratrol treatment also significantly enhanced endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in response to acetylcholine (ACh) in OVX rats. Finally, femur breaking energies measured for the resveratrol-treated (OVX-Resv) group were significantly higher than those of the resveratrol-untreated (OVX-Cont) group. While no significant differences in calcium, magnesium and phosphorus content were found between the femurs of OVX-Cont and OVX-Resv rats, the femur hydroxyproline content in the OVX-Resv group was significantly higher than of the OVX-Cont group. We conclude that, in OVX-SHRSP, resveratrol acts by a similar mechanism to mammalian estrogens, lowering blood pressure by increasing dilatory responses to ACh. The present study also demonstrated that resveratrol was able to prevent ovariectomy-induced decreases in femoral bone strength.

The effects of binocular suture and dark rearing on the induction of c-fos protein in the rat visual cortex during and after the critical period

It has been demonstrated in kittens that binocular lid suture has more deleterious and irreversible effects on plasticity of the developing visual system than rearing in complete darkness. The present study using immunocytochemistry focuses on the effects of the two types of visual deprivation on the inducibility of c-fos protein in visual cortical neurons of rats. Rats were subjected to binocular suture or dark rearing for 1 week during (postnatal days 14-21; P14-P21) and after (P50-P57) the critical period for activity-dependent modifiability of cortical ocular dominance. In rats of both age groups reared in the normal light-dark condition, only a small number of Fos-immunoreactive neurons was obtained in the visual cortex. By contrast, in dark-reared pups and adult rats, numerous c-fos neurons were detected in the layers II-IV and VI of the visual cortex following a brief light exposure (1 h). In rats of both ages subjected to binocular suture, Fos neurons were detected in the same layers as in the dark-reared rats, but significantly less in number. We speculate that the reduced plasticity of the visual cortex in the rats subjected to binocular suture may be due partly to the repressed AP-1 activity in visual cortical neurons. No significant difference was detected in c-fos expression in the visual cortex between visually manipulated pups and adult rats.

Involvement of Gialpha2 in sodium butyrate-induced erythroblastic differentiation of K562 cells

The chronic myelogenous leukaemia cell line K562 can be triggered in culture to differentiate along the erythrocytic pathway in response to a variety of stimulatory agents. In the presence of sodium butyrate, these cells differentiate to erythroblasts and acquire the capability to synthesize haemoglobin. We used this cell system to study alterations in the levels of several G-protein subunits during the cell differentiation programme and to assess the involvement of G(i)alpha2 in this process. Western immunoblot analysis revealed the presence of G(s)alpha1, G(s)alpha2, G(i)alpha2, G(q)alpha, Galpha(12), Gbeta1 and Gbeta2 in K562 cells. G(o)alpha, G(z)alpha, Galpha(13) and Galpha(16) were not detected. Although the levels of several G-protein subunits were altered after treatment with sodium butyrate, the most striking change was the robust increase in the levels of G(i)alpha2, which was accompanied by an increase in the mRNA for G(i)alpha2. Inactivation of G(i)alpha2 by adding Bordetella pertussis toxin to the cultures inhibited erythroblastic differentiation by as much as 62%, as measured by haemoglobin accumulation. Furthermore, the addition of an oligonucleotide anti-sense to G(i)alpha2 inhibited the sodium butyrate-induced robust increase in G(i)alpha2 levels, decreasing it to the basal levels seen in control cells; this treatment decreased the erythroblastic differentiation of the cells (as measured by haemoglobin expression) by 50%. Taken together, these findings imply that increased levels of G(i)alpha2 contribute to the sodium butyrate-induced erythroblastic differentiation of K562 cells.

Cloning of a rat glia maturation factor-gamma (rGMFG) cDNA and expression of its mRNA and protein in rat organs

We isolated a rat glia maturation factor-gamma(rGMFG) cDNA and examined the tissue distribution of GMFG in rat by Northern and Western blot analyses. Sequence analysis of the entire cDNA revealed an open reading frame of 426 nucleotides with a deduced protein of 142 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of the putative product is highly homologous (78.9%) to rat glia maturation factor-beta (rGMFB). Northern blot analysis indicated that a 0.9-kb mRNA is predominantly expressed in rat thymus, testis, and spleen. GMFG showed a different tissue distribution from GMFB, being present predominantly in proliferative and differentiative organs.

Changes in dopamine transporter and c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens of alcohol-tolerant rats

BACKGROUND

We have shown that neurochemical functions of 5-HT3 receptors in regulating dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (ACC) after alcohol exposure compensate for the dysfunction of serotonergic activity to restore the original properties in processing alcohol tolerance, and that the development of alcohol dependence may be mediated by ACC 5-HT3 receptors. In the present study, the effects of chronic alcohol consumption on the functions of the dopamine transporter (DAT) and the expression of c-Fos proteins were investigated using in vivo brain microdialysis and immunocytochemistry.

METHODS

Perfusion of cocaine and 1-(2-Bis-(4-fluorophenyl) methoxy) ethyl)-4-(3-phenylpropyl) piperizine (GBR 12909) through the microdialysis probe membrane increased the extracellular levels of DA in ACC of alcohol-treated rats that had developed alcohol tolerance by drinking 10% EtOH for 30 days.

RESULTS

The magnitudes of DA reuptake or DAT inhibitors, cocaine, and GBR 12909 that induced DA availability in the ACC were significantly higher in alcohol-treated rats than in controls. When compared with control rats, the alcohol-treated rats exhibited higher levels of DA and its metabolite, DOPAC, in the ACC. Increased expression of the c-Fos-like protein was found in the ACC of alcohol-treated rats. These results show that (1) chronic alcohol consumption desensitizes or decreases the DAT of DA terminals in the ACC and that (2) EtOH causes cellular hyperexcitability of ACC dopaminergic neurons with increased Fos expression during alcohol tolerance.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggested that an abnormality of the dopaminergic neurons in the ACC that are involved with DAT dysfunction is associated with the development of alcohol tolerance.

Postischemic reperfusion in the eyes of young and aged rats

The hemodynamic changes during postischemic reperfusion were investigated in the eyes of young (4 months) and aged (more than 18 months) rats using laser Doppler flowmetry, and histological changes in the retina were examined 6 h after the cessation of ischemia. During exposure to 80 mmHg of intraocular pressure, choroidal blood flow (ChBF) decreased to 40-50% of the baseline value. Marked hyperperfusion (186 +/- 9%) was observed 1 min after cessation of 30-min ischemia in young rats. The hyperperfusion was less (111 +/- 3%) after 120-min ischemia. Delayed hypoperfusion was not observed during 6 h of reperfusion after 120-min ischemia. In aged rats, the hyperperfusion after 30-min ischemia was less (130 +/- 17%) than that in young rats, and the ChBF decreased to 80% of the baseline value during 6 h of reperfusion after 120-min ischemia. Histological examination of the retina showed that exposure to 120-min ischemia caused microvacuolation in the inner and outer plexiform layers and vacuolar changes in the cytoplasms in the inner nuclear layer of both young and aged rats, suggesting edema formation in the retina. The thickness of the outer layers of the retina tended to increase after 120-min ischemia in young rats, whereas it decreased significantly in aged rats. These results suggest that 120-min ischemia with 40-50% of normal choroidal blood flow causes more severe damage than 30-min ischemia, and that the hemodynamic changes during reperfusion in aged rats are different from those in young rats.

Effects of topically applied capsaicin cream on neurogenic inflammation and thermal sensitivity in rats

The effects of capsaicin cream on neurogenic inflammation and thermal nociceptive threshold were investigated in rats. Firstly, for topical application of capsaicin cream to hind paw, we shaped boots from dental cement to prevent the animals from licking off the drug. Capsaicin cream (1%) led to significant increases in the amounts of Evans blue and substance P (SP) released into the perfusate, and the former response was significantly suppressed by pretreatment with RP67580, an NK1-receptor antagonist, but not by treatment with an NK2-receptor antagonist. Subsequent electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve resulted in a significant reduction in Evans blue and SP extravasation 24 h after topical application of capsaicin cream. On the other hand, when capsaicin cream was repeatedly applied to both hind paws once a day, withdrawal latency for noxious heat stimulation decreased after 24 h, and this thermal hyperalgesia was reversed 3 days later. These results suggest that capsaicin cream initially affects neurogenic inflammation mechanisms and then blocks the pain transmission mechanism.

Competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay for quantification of human multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene expression in fresh leukemic cells

We have analyzed MDR1 gene expression in 69 clinical samples obtained from 64 patients with leukemic hematologic malignancies by using a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay with a heterologous competitor RNA. To exclude a false-positive result caused by concomitant normal lymphocytes that physiologically express MDR1, in samples we determined a cut-off value of 8 amol MDR1 transcript per microgram of RNA by simultaneous measurement of rhodamine 123 dye efflux either in lymphocyte or gated leukemic cell populations. Consequently, 23 of 69 samples were concluded to be MDR1-positive in leukemic cells per se. The MDR1 expression rate was significantly correlated with factors such as a history of preceding chemotherapy, elder age of the patient, and certain disease types (eg, leukemia progressed from myelodysplastic syndrome). Moreover, the complete response rate after chemotherapy was significantly higher in MDR1-negative patients than in MDR1-positive patients (52% vs 17%, respectively; P = .01). The assay established will enable the quantification of MDR1 gene expression in blood samples from patients with leukemic hematologic malignancies and will be applicable to clinical laboratories as a routine test.

Does edema formation occur in the rabbit brain exposed to head-down tilt?

Earlier studies showed that exposure to microgravity caused cephalad fluid shift, increased capillary pressure in the head, and produced facial edema and nasal congestion. In the present study, edema formation in the brain was investigated in rabbits exposed to simulated microgravity, head-down tilt (HDT), by measuring water content and histological examinations. Water content in the brain tissues of rabbits exposed to 2 and 8 days of HDT did not increase significantly compared with that of control animals. Neither vital staining using Evans blue nor immunohistochemical examination demonstrated extravasation of plasma constituents in the brain tissues of the HDT rabbits. Although marked congestion was noted in the brain, hematoxylin and eosin staining did not show edematous changes, such as distension of the perivascular and pericellular spaces and vacuolar appearance, in the tissues obtained from HDT rabbits. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that tight junctions of the capillary endothelium were intact in the HDT rabbits. These results suggest that either HDT up to 8 days does not cause brain edema in rabbits or it induces only a slight brain edema which is hard to be demonstrated by measurement of water content or histological examinations.

Vitamin E supplementation and endurance exercise: are there benefits?

It has been widely noted that vitamin E shows numerous beneficial effects through and beyond its antioxidative properties; consequently, vitamin E is expected to prevent degenerative diseases. In the field of sports medicine, many studies dealing with vitamin E have been conducted originally from the point of view of its effects on physical performance. Although some earlier studies indicated that vitamin E supplementation could improve physical performance, defects in the study design or statistical analysis were pointed out at a later time. The majority of subsequent well controlled studies have reported no significant effect on physical performance from vitamin E supplementation. Recent studies suggest that endurance exercise may promote free radical generation in the body, and vitamin E may play an important role in preventing the free radical damage associated with endurance exercise. Although there is evidence of free radical involvement in exercise-induced muscle injury, vitamin E supplementation might not be expected to prevent muscle damage caused by exercise in humans without a vitamin E deficiency. Since it is still unclear whether exercise induces lipid peroxidation in the human body, the beneficial effect of vitamin E supplementation on exercise-induced lipid peroxidation has not yet been established. However, it is proposed that as a result of exercise vitamin E may be mobilised from store tissues and redistributed in the body to prevent oxidative damage. Therefore, we are convinced that vitamin E contributes to preventing exercise-induced lipid peroxidation. It has also been indicated that strenuous endurance exercise may enhance the production of oxidised low density lipoprotein (LDL), which plays a key role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. It is also suggested that this enhanced production of oxidised LDL could be reduced if a higher vitamin E status is maintained. Supplementation with 100 to 200mg of vitamin E daily can be recommended for all endurance athletes to prevent exercise-induced oxidative damage and to reap the full health benefits of exercise.

Nitric oxide induces a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential of peripheral blood lymphocytes, especially in natural killer cells

Increased levels of nitric oxide (NO) at an inflammatory site may affect the biological activity of lymphoid cells. To investigate the effects of NO on the immune system, we measured the mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m) of the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) cultured with a chemical NO donor. PBL from healthy volunteers were cultured with NOC18, a NO-generating compound, at various concentrations. The delta psi m of the PBL was measured by flow-cytometry using 3,3-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC6(3)). NOC18 induced a decrease in the delta psi m of the PBL in a dose-dependent fashion, induced an increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and caused these cells to undergo apoptosis. Dual-color staining of the delta psi m and lymphocyte surface markers demonstrated that CD3-CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells were responsive to NO. Trolox, a vitamin E analog, partially reversed the NO-induced decrease in the delta psi m of the PBL. We showed that the delta psi m of peripheral NK cells were decreased by NO, which suggests that abundant NO at an inflammatory site may impair NK cell function.

Phenotypical and morphological alterations to rat sinusoidal endothelial cells in arterialized livers after portal branch ligation

The hepatic sinusoids are preferentially supplied with portal venous blood and equipped with fenestrated endothelial cells that are distinct from capillary endothelial cells. We previously observed in rats that sinusoidal capillarization proceeded concurrently with arterial blood supply during hepatocarcinogenesis. This study aimed to clarify the inducing role of arterialization in sinusoidal capillarization by investigating phenotypical, morphological and functional alterations to sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) in arterialized rat livers induced by portal branch ligation. At one week, after massive hepatic necrosis following ligation, the livers were restored to their normal architecture without causing post-necrotic fibrosis. At 12-21 weeks, they exhibited a normal histology except for mild pericellular fibrosis which developed along sinusoids or between adjacent hepatocytes. SECs expressed factor VIII-related antigen and showed a decrease in the number of fenestrae and porosity, still lacking any basement membrane but further retaining the functional capacity for carmine dye uptake. Stellate cells, while occasionally associated with large amounts of collagen bundles, contained many lipid droplets and expressed no alpha-smooth muscle actin, indicating a quiescent property. Kupffer cells were commonly found within the sinusoids. The present results indicate that arterialization of the liver induces a partial (but not complete) transition of SECs into capillary-type endothelial cells, suggesting that arterialization might be one of the factors which induce sinusoidal capillarization in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Detection of mRNA species in bulbospinal neurons isolated from the rostral ventrolateral medulla using single-cell RT-PCR

The rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL) contains neurons which are critically involved in the tonic and reflex control of blood pressure. Some of these neurons project to the intermediolateral cell column of the thoracolumbar spinal cord and excite preganglionic sympathetic neurons. In order to gain a better understanding of the properties of the RVL neurons at the cellular and molecular level, a protocol was developed utilizing acute dissociation and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to study the expression of several genes in single RVL neurons. Neurons were dissociated from the RVL region of young rats, and classified as spinally projecting or non-spinal by the presence or absence of retrogradely transported fluorescent beads injected into the upper thoracic segments of the spinal cord. Individual neurons were collected by aspiration into a glass micropipette and analysed by RT-PCR. The presence of either glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) or neuron-specific enolase (NSE) mRNA was used as the criterion for selecting cells for further analysis. A subpopulation (50%) of spinally projecting, GAPDH- or NSE-positive neurons expressed mRNA for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), indicative of catecholaminergic or C1 adrenergic neurons, respectively. Some bulbospinal RVL neurons, including those that were TH- or PNMT-positive, were also found to express mRNA for the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), noradrenaline transporter (NET), and neuronal glutamate transporter (EAAC1). The glial glutamate transporter (GLT), glycine transporter (GLYT2), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD67) and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) transporter (GAT-1) were not expressed. The single-cell RT-PCR protocol is a powerful, yet simple and relatively rapid method for analysis of mRNA expression in a defined neuronal population. It can be combined with whole-cell patch-clamp recording prior to RT-PCR analysis, allowing linkage of the molecular analysis of mRNA expression to the electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of single neurons. The method is very sensitive, enabling mRNA transcripts in low abundance to be detected, and its application in our recent studies provided novel information about neurons involved in blood-pressure regulation at the molecular and cellular level.

New binding assay and preparative trial of cell-surface lectin from Lactobacillus acidophilus group lactic acid bacteria

To select Lactobacillus acidophilus group bacteria as a probiotic yogurt starter, we designed a new screening method that measures the binding activity of surface layer protein to rat colonic mucin, which contains sugar chains similar to those in human colonic mucin. The B1 subgroup (Lactobacillus gasseri), which is the dominant strain in the human intestinal tract, showed the highest binding activity to rat colonic mucin among all the subgroups of L. acidophilus. The binding activity of the surface layer protein was also shown to be significantly reduced after periodate oxidation of the rat colonic mucin. This new screening method is useful for rapid selection of L. acidophilus strains that have high adhesion to the human intestinal tract. Lectin-like proteins that were bound to rat colonic mucin were isolated from the surface layer proteins with a rat colonic mucin-coated membrane and were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. A few main bands together with several minor bands were observed on the electrophoretograms obtained from the strains tested. It is possible that those lectin-like proteins contribute to adhesion of the bacterial cell to human colonic mucosa by binding specifically to carbohydrate portions.

[Monitoring of plasma concentration of low molecular weight heparin--comparative evaluation with chromogenic and clotting assays]

The efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in the treatment of thrombosis is increasing interest in its clinical potential. However, the measurement of in vitro anticoagulant activities of LMWH has been controversial for its appropriate clinical dose. The study has been carried out to compare two methods for measurement of anti-factor Xa activity of LMWH (fragmin). One is 'HEPTEST' recently developed as a new clotting assay method and the other is an authentic chromogenic assay using S-2222. The coefficients of variation in intra-assay were 1.87-2.75% in clotting assay, and 0.61-0.89% in chromogenic assay. The sensitivity to detect minimum concentration was 0.02 IU/ml in clotting assay, and 0.04 IU/ml in chromogenic assay. The correlation between two methods was good (r = 0.935), whereas clotting assay has been revealed as a very simple rapid method. LMWH (fragmin) with 75 IU/kg/day was administered to three patients with coagulopathy; two disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) and one veno-occlusive disease (VOD). Hemostatic abnormalities have been improved serially after treatment in all patients. During treatment, the plasma concentration of LMWH was measured, showing 0.05-0.23 IU/ml in DIC and 0.02-0.10 IU/ml in VOD. These results suggest that measurement of plasma concentration of LMWH using the easy and rapid clotting assay method as 'HEPTEST' is clinically useful for monitoring to detect clinical dose of LMWH for DIC and thrombosis.

Leukemia inhibitory factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and their receptor expressions following muscle crush injury

Using in situ hybridization histochemistry, we characterized the spatiotemporal gene expression patterns of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and their receptor components (LIFR, GFR-alpha1, RET) induced in muscle cells, intramuscular nerves, and motoneurons in the regeneration processes of both muscle cells and nerves following muscle contusion. Muscle contusion induced upregulation of GDNF and GFR-alpha1 mRNAs in Schwann cell-like cells in the intramuscular nerves and of LIFR mRNA in damaged muscle cells. LIFR, GFR-alpha1, and RET mRNA expressions in motoneurons were upregulated following muscle contusion. Muscle contusion also induced more rapid, prominent transactivations of GFR-alpha1 and RET genes in motoneurons than did sciatic nerve axotomy. These findings suggest that rapid and prominent upregulation of the receptor components for LIF and GDNF in motoneurons is important for the regeneration of intramuscular motor nerves damaged by muscle contusion.

Chemical characterisation of six oligosaccharides in a sample of colostrum of the brown capuchin, Cebus apella (Cebidae: primates)

Carbohydrates were extracted from a sample of brown capuchin colostrum and six of the component oligosaccharides were separated and purified by gel filtration and preparative thin layer chromatography. Their structures were determined by 1H-NMR to be as follows: Gal beta 1-->4[Fuc alpha 1-->3]Glc (3-fucosyllactose) Gal beta 1-->3Gal beta 1-->4Glc (beta-3'-galactosyllactose) Gal beta 1-->6Gal beta1-->4Glc (beta-6'-galactosyllactose) Gal beta-->3[Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta 1-->6]Gal beta 1-->4Glc (lacto-N-novopentaose I) Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta 1-->3[Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta 1-->6]Gal beta 1-->4Glc (lacto-N-neohexaose) Neu5Ac alpha 2-->3Gal beta 1-->4Glc (3'-N-acetylneuraminyllactose) Of these, all except lacto-N-novopentaose I have been previously found in human milk or colostrum.

Dietary defatted sesame flour decreases susceptibility to oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Plant glucosides possess antioxidative properties due to their ability to scavenge free radicals. Sesame seeds contain a class of these compounds, the sesaminol glucosides. To evaluate their antioxidative activity in vivo, we fed rabbits diets containing 1% cholesterol (Chol) with or without 10% defatted sesame flour (DSF) (containing 1% sesaminol glucosides) for 90 d. We determined the susceptibility of their tissues to oxidation ex vivo as well as serum total cholesterol (TC), phospholipid (PL), triglyceride (TG) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations. Serum TC, HDL-C, PL and TG levels were unaffected by the addition of DSF. The HDL-C in the Chol + DSF group was greater than in the Chol group at 45 d. Both were greater than in the groups that did not consume cholesterol. Liver TC and TG were significantly lower in rabbits fed the diet containing DSF plus 1% cholesterol than in those fed 1% cholesterol alone. Lipid peroxidation activity, measured as 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), was lower in the liver (P < 0.05) and serum (P = 0.06) of rabbits fed DSF plus cholesterol than in rabbits fed the cholesterol diet. Although we did not detect sesaminol glucosides in peripheral tissues, we observed abundant quantities of sesaminol in rabbits fed DSF, the principal metabolite. Our findings suggest that feeding DSF to rabbits does not protect cholesterol-induced hypercholesterolemia, but may decrease susceptibility to oxidative stress in rabbits fed cholesterol, perhaps due to the antioxidative activity of sesaminol.

The effect of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor on corneal angiogenesis in the rat

PURPOSE

Eicosanoids that are present in inflamed tissues are thought to play a significant role in angiogenesis. Cyclooxygenase, a key enzyme in eicosanoid synthesis, has recently been shown to exist in two isoforms: the constitutive COX-1 and the inducible COX-2. This study was undertaken to determine the role of COX-2 in the corneal angiogenic response.

METHODS

Angiogenesis in the rat cornea was provoked by chemical cautery. Either NS-398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, or indomethacin, a non-selective COX inhibitor, was applied topically 3 times daily for 4 days. Neovascularization was quantitated by digital image analysis in corneal flat preparations. To test their inhibitory effects on eicosanoid synthesis, normal or cauterized corneas were incubated in the culture medium with the inhibitor. Prostaglandin E2 in the medium was assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Both NS-398 and indomethacin significantly inhibited corneal neovascularization with the % inhibition of 36.4 +/- 9.6%, and 38.5 +/- 9.0%, respectively, when applied topically at a concentration of 0.1% (p <.001). Neither reduced the angiogenic response at a concentration of 0.01% or below. PGE(2) production in the cauterized cornea was 2.0 times higher than that in the controls. In normal corneas, indomethacin inhibited PGE(2) synthesis by 80%, whereas NS-398 inhibited it by no more than 20%. In contrast, in injured corneas, both indomethacin and NS-398 inhibited PGE(2) synthesis in a similar fashion, with a maximal inhibition rate of 75 to 80%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that COX-2 induction in cauterized corneas increases the level of eicosanoids, which result in corneal angiogenesis.