Neuronal induction of 72-kDa heat shock protein following methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia in the mouse hippocampus

By means of an immunohistochemical technique, we examined the neuronal induction of 72-kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) in response to methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia in the mouse hippocampus. Strong HSP72 immunoreactivity (ir) was found in the neurons of hippocampus proper, particularly in the CA1/2 and medical CA3 subfields, at 10 h after drug injection. By 18 h, those neurons still revealed HSP72-ir, while neurons of the dentate gyrus also appeared positive for HSP72. At this stage, intense HSP72-ir was first detected in non-neuronal cells, i.e. glial and vascular endothelial cells. At 24 h, no apparent HSP72-ir was found in the hippocampal neurons, while only non-neuronal cells still revealed immunoreactivity for HSP72. In addition, no morphological evidence of cell degeneration or loss was noted in the CA1 sector or other hippocampal regions at 5 days after hyperthermic insult. In conclusion, (1) methamphetamine-induced hyperthermia per se is a stressful stimulant causing neuronal induction of HSP72 in the hippocampus neurons, particularly of CA1/2 and medial CA3 sectors, but does not prove fatal to the cells; (2) there is a cell type-specific difference in response to hyperthermic insult by inducing HSP72 and the timing of the induction response in the hippocampal formation; and (3) the animals that underwent drug-induced hyperthermia may be useful as an experimental model for the study of the protective mechanism of heat shock proteins against subsequent harmful stimuli.

Characterization of lung squamous cell carcinoma-derived T-cell suppressive factor

BACKGROUND

The immunosuppressive state of a tumor-bearing patient is possibly mediated by tumor-derived factor. In this study, the authors characterized lung squamous cell carcinoma-derived immunosuppressive factor (LSCF).

METHODS

The immunosuppressive activity of QG56 (a lung squamous carcinoma cell line)-derived LSCF was evaluated by the effect of culture supernatant of QG56 on anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody-induced T-cell, response such as proliferation (3H-thymidine uptake), cytotoxicity (51Cr-releasing assay), and expression of cytokine mRNA (polymerase chain reaction). The LSCF was partially purified with an ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and a gel-filtration HPLC.

RESULTS

The LSCF inhibited proliferation, cytotoxicity, and expression of cytokine mRNA of T-cells in a dose-dependent manner. It has a molecular weight of approximately 22 kd, and was sensitive to proteinase K, heating at 60 degrees C, and resistant to treatment with trypsin and pH 3 and 9. These properties appear to be similar to those of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). However, the activity of the LSCF was not abrogated by anti-TGF-beta sera, and the LSCF did not suppress the proliferation of TGF-beta-sensitive mink lung cells (Mv1Lu).

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that LSCF may be a novel tumor-derived immunosuppressive protein factor.

Anti-phosphoserine and anti-phosphothreonine antibodies modulate autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor but not EGF receptor

We examined the effect of anti-phosphothreonine and anti-phosphoserine antibodies on insulin receptor autophosphorylation. These antibodies did not affect insulin binding activity of the receptor. These antibodies, however, inhibited insulin-stimulated autophosphorylation of insulin receptor, while did not affect EGF-stimulated autophosphorylation of EGF receptor. The inhibition was reversed by adding large amounts of phosphoserine or phosphothreonine. These data suggest that phosphoserine and phosphothreonine on insulin receptor play an important role in insulin-induced conformational change of the receptor.

Changes of regional cerebral blood flow during listening to an unfamiliar spoken language

The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured with positron emission tomography in eight normal volunteers with the purpose of measuring rCBF changes related to the comprehension of an unfamiliar spoken languages. When attempting to comprehend the meaning of words, the left hemisphere showed dominant increases in rCBF, however, when subjects attempted to evaluate the emotional tone of the same spoken passage, relatively large increases in rCBF more found in the right hemisphere. The results indicate that there may be several different auditory representations of language which involve both left and right hemispheres, both of which may contribute to the overall comprehension of spoken language.

[Airway inflammatory cell dynamics during late asthmatic reactions induced by toluene diisocyanate in guinea pigs. I. Bronchoalveolar lavage study]

We developed a guinea pig model of late asthmatic reactions (LAR) induced by toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and investigated airway inflammatory cell dynamics during LAR by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in this model. The guinea pigs were sensitized by nasal application of 10% TDI solution once daily for 7 consecutive days. Thereafter, the animals were challenged with 5% TDI solution, in the same manner, on every 7th day for 4 to 11 times. Each guinea pig was pretreated with metyrapone before challenge. BAL was performed at each time point after the final challenge. The immediate asthmatic reaction and the LAR induced in the challenges were found to be 66% and 55%, respectively. A significant BAL fluid eosinophilia was observed in the guinea pigs during and after LAR (i.e., 3, 6, 24 and 168 hours after challenge), in comparison to the animals without LAR and to the control animals only exposed to ethyl acetate, a solvent for TDI. The number of eosinophils peaked at 6 hours after challenge. However, no significant changes were observed in the numbers of macrophages, lymphocytes or neutrophils in BAL fluid during LAR. We conclude that eosinophils play an important role in LAR in this model. This model seems to be useful in investigating the pathophysiology of TDI-induced asthma.

[Spike discharge detected by intra-arterial electroencephalography from intra-arterial guide wire in temporal lobe epilepsy]

The implantation of electrodes for intracranial electroencephalography (EEG) recording as presurgical evaluation of patients with intractable epilepsy is at present most important for planning epilepsy surgery. This method is most effective in temporal lobe epilepsy. We carried out intracranial EEG by means of insulated micro guide wire for endovascular surgery in two temporal lobe epilepsy cases, and spike discharges could be detected in lesional medial temporal lobe. Case 1 is a 29 year-old-male suffered from intractable complex partial seizure (CPS) for 18 years. He was diagnosed as left temporal lobe epilepsy and performed removal of amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus and fusiform gyrus. Case 2 is a 16 year-old-lady suffered from drug resistant CPS for 4 years. Under the diagnosis of right temporal lobe epilepsy, temporal lobectomy was performed. As the presurgical evaluation, under the implantation of subdural strip electrode in both cases, we carried intra-arterial EEG after angiography. Seeker Lite-10 guide wire was insulated with Tracker-10 unibody infusion catheter at sphenoidal portion of middle cerebral artery, and frequent interictal spike discharge was detected in lesional medial temporal lobes by two methods simultaneously.

[A late phase II comparative study of idarubicin + cytarabine and daunorubicin + cytarabine in adult patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. Idarubicin Study Group]

In adult patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), idarubicin (IDA) and daunorubicin (DNR) were compared for efficacy and safety in combination with cytarabine (Ara-C). IDA 12 mg/m2/day and DNR 40 mg/m2/day were administered iv bolus for 3 consecutive days (day 1-3), respectively, in combination with Ara-C 80 mg/m2 given by 2-hour intravenous infusion, every 12 hours for 7 consecutive days. The number of evaluable patients was 32 for each group previously untreated. The rates of complete remission (CR) were 59.4% (19/32) in the IDA group and 40.6% (13/32) in the DNR group. The clinical equivalence test with delta = 10% demonstrated that the IDA group is equal or superior in remission rates (p = 0.010) compared to the DNR group. In addition, the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test for response means with scores of 3 (CR), 2 (PR) and 1 (NR) showed the significant superiority (p = 0.044) of the IDA group to the DNR group. The duration needed to attain less than 5% leukemic cells in bone marrow tended to be shorter in the IDA group (p = 0.072), and in the CR patients the number of days needed to reach the nadir value in leukemic cells were significantly fewer in the IDA group (p = 0.037). The nadir value of WBC was significantly lower in the IDA group (p = 0.022). As for adverse reactions, high incidences of diarrhea and stomatitis were observed in the IDA group, while the incidences of other adverse reactions were similar between the two groups. When effects of the drug on the ECG were examined, significant changes in ECG parameters were observed in the DNR group after treatment but not in the IDA group. From the above, remission induction in adult AN LL, IDA + Ara-C therapy showed better efficacy than DNR + Ara-C therapy, and IDA was considered to be a drug of first choice in the treatment of ANLL patients.

Mechanism of cytotoxicity of paraquat. II. Organ specificity of paraquat-stimulated lipid peroxidation in the inner membrane of mitochondria

The production of superoxide anion (O2-) statistically increased, stimulated by paraquat (1,1'dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridylium dichloride) in lung, liver, kidney and heart submitochondrial particles (SMP) isolated from rats given paraquat intravenously. Paraquat also stimulated O2- production in bovine liver NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). The reaction mixture used in these assays turned its color into blue proving the occurrence of paraquat free radicals. The pH optimum for NADH dependent O2- production with paraquat was 9.5. O2- production was stimulated by paraquat even in the presence of rotenone, one of the mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors. The lipid peroxidation increased in lung SMP but not in heart SMP of paraquat-treated rats. These results may suggest that paraquat was reduced by complex I, but there was difference in the lipid peroxidation by the paraquat radical between rat lung and heart.

[Cross-allergenicity between rice and buckwheat antigens and immediate hypersensitive reactions induced by buckwheat ingestion]

Immediate hypersensitive reactions (IHR) induced by buckwheat ingestion are considered to be IgE-mediated. However we found 28 subjects without IHR to buckwheat ingestion out of 46 subjects who had positive RAST values for both buckwheat and rice antigens. The IHR-positive group showed significantly higher RAST values for buckwheat antigens (p < 0.01) but lower RAST values for rice antigens (p < 0.01) than did the IHR-negative group. RAST values for buckwheat and rice were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.01) in the IHR-negative group, but not in the IHR-positive group. An effective dose-dependent inhibition was obtained in a RAST inhibition assay between homologous combinations of inhibitor and disc antigens such as rice and rice or buckwheat and buckwheat. The IHR-positive group showed no significant RAST inhibition between heterogeneous combinations of rice and buckwheat antigens. In contrast, the IHR-negative group showed a significant decrease in IgE binding even in the RAST inhibition assay between heterogenous combinations. These results led to the conclusion that there is cross-reactivity with IgE antibodies between buckwheat and rice and that IgE antibodies from IHR-negative subjects might recognize the epitopes on buckwheat antigens which cross react with rice antigens, whereas IgE antibodies from IHR-positive subjects might bind to buckwheat-specific epitopes.

Phase I/II trial of didanosine (2',3'-dideoxyinosine) in hemophiliac patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex

Forty-three hemophiliacs with AIDS or ARC received a daily dose of 334 or 500 mg didanosine (2',3'-dideoxyinosine or ddI) orally in 2 divided doses in phase I/II, open-label clinical trial conducted in Japan. Twenty-eight patients completed 6 months of therapy. There was an increase in circulating CD4(+) cells in 19 valuable patients from 91 +/- 25 (mean +/- SE) at entry to 131 +/- 38 at 24 weeks of therapy P = 0.01; Wilcoxon signed rank). Fourteen of 37 patients met the criteria for CD4 rise >/= 50/mm3 rise or >/= 50% increase from entry values) for more than 4 consecutive weeks. Twenty patients were p24 positive at entry. Nine out of the 10 evaluable patients (90%) showed a decline in p24 antigen at weeks 20-24 (P = 0.02). Thirty-five patients had symptoms related to HIV-1 infection at entry. Twenty-seven patients reported improvements in constitutional symptoms during therapy. Nine patients presented with possible drug-related adverse effects, and didanosine was discontinued in 6 patients (one each with edema; abdominal pain with anorexia; hematuria with edema and rash; sense of abdominal distension with anorexia; diarrhea and abdominal pain; and irritability). One patient had a transient increase in serum amylase level to twice the upper limit of normal, but he continued to receive the drug. These data suggest that didanosine was generally well tolerated in hemophiliacs with AIDS or ARC, and its administration correlated with improvement in constitutional symptoms and laboratory findings. The adverse effects of didanosine seen in this population were moderate to mild, and no complications related to hemorrhagic diathesis were observed, although the relative risk of acute pancreatitis in this population (while not seen in the present study to date) requires more study.

Mechanism of cytotoxicity of paraquat. I. NADH oxidation and paraquat radical formation via complex I

The mechanism of cytotoxicity by paraquat was studied focusing attention on its effect on the mitochondrial electron transport system. Paraquat inhibited both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase activities. NADH oxidation was verified in NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) reaction mixture in which paraquat was an only electron acceptor, and paraquat radical formation was observed as turning blue of the reaction mixture. A kinetic characteristic of this enzyme reaction was that Km was so high as 4.1 mM. The maximum reaction velocity was defined in the range over pH 9. NADH autoxidation with complex I, but without paraquat, was not observed in any pH range. The maximum reaction velocity of the NADH autoxidation by paraquat without complex I was observed in pH 8.5, but the figure was so small as to be negligible. With these results, we propose the hypothesis that paraquat does not promote the autoxidation with complex I, but accepts electrons via complex I to induce paraquat radical formation.

[A late phase II study of idarubicin hydrochloride in adult patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Idarubicin Study Group]

A late phase II study of idarubicin hydrochloride combined with vincristine and prednisolone was conducted in adult patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in the first relapse as a multi-center joint research project. The dosages used were idarubicin 12 mg/m2/day i.v. for 3 consecutive days (day 1-3), vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 i.v. (day 1) and prednisolone 60 mg/m2/day po for 5 consecutive days (day 1-5). The number of evaluable patients was 20. The patients showed responses including 3 complete remissions (CR) and 10 partial remissions (PR), with an efficacy rate (CR + PR) of 65.0%. Adverse reactions occurred in 19 of 20 patients. The main symptoms were gastrointestinal symptoms including anorexia, nausea/vomiting, and stomatitis and fever, infection, and alopecia. Abnormal laboratory data were observed in 6 of 20 patients with 13 events. Although one case of an increase in GPT with WHO grade 3 was observed, the other cases were not of significance. From the above study, idarubicin hydrochloride was considered to be effective in relapsed ALL patients in combination therapy with vincristine and prednisolone.

[Changes in coagulation and fibrinolytic factors observed during heparin-urokinase-pulse combined therapy for nephritis resistant to conventional treatment in children]

Coagulation and fibrinolytic factors in the blood were measured during heparin-urokinase (UK)-pulse combined therapy in order to investigate the background for the availability of the therapy. Five patients with nephritis resistant to conventional treatment were treated with this combined therapy (heparin: 350-450 U/kg day, continuously i.v. during the therapy; UK: 5000 IU/kg/2 hrs, i.v., two times a day, for 3 days = 1 Kur; methylprednisolone 20 mg/kg/2hrs, d.i.v., for 3 days = 1 Kur; 3 Kurs of UK and 3 Kurs of pulse were alternately administered). 1) Blood levels of alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor (alpha 2-PI) antigen were decreased and those of alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor.plasmin complex (alpha 2-PI. PmC) were elevated during 3 Kurs of UK administration. Accordingly, activation of the fibrinolytic system was confirmed during the combined therapy, suggesting that both alpha 2-PI and alpha 2-PI.PmC were relevant in monitoring the fibrinolytic state in blood. 2) Both tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were sustained continuously in the elevated levels in the blood during both UK administration and pulse therapy. This movement of t-PA and PAI-1 was independent of that of the other fibrinolytic factors, such as alpha 2-PI,alpha 2-PI.PmC and plasminogen. 3) Inflammatory reactants such as fibrinogen, alpha 2-PI,alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 1-antitrypsin decreased more significantly during this heparin-urokinase-pulse combined therapy than during our previous combined therapy consisting of only heparin and urokinase. Therefore, we conclude that the anti-inflammatory effect was reinforced by adding the pulse therapy and that the combined therapy had some effect on the release of t-PA from vascular endothelial cells.

[A study of falls among elderly living in the community]

This study was conducted to mainly investigate the causes of falls among elderly living in the community and also to clarify the status of the elderly one year after they experienced falls. Subjects who had lived in Koga city, Ibaraki prefecture were chosen. An average age of the subjects (n = 132) was 73.7 +/- 6.4 years. Self administrated questionnaire was employed. The main results were obtained as follows. 1) The average of the falls of a subject for the past one year was 1.75 +/- 2.40 times. About 70 percent of the falls occured outdoor. About 70 percent of the causes of the falls were extrinsic. 2) The higher injuries frequency occured among those who got medical treatment. Diuretic and hypotensive drugs occupide the major two kinds of all. 3) The physical symptoms such as pains, fatigues, walking problems, as well as less active behavior characterized those who experienced the fall-caused external injuries. The falls triggered off deteriorating the elderly's healthy physical status. It was suggested that nursing intervention was very important to prevent falls among elderly in the community to maintain their quality of life (Q.O.L).

Sex hormone-related control of hepatic epoxide hydrolase activities in mice

Sex-related differences in hepatic epoxide hydrolase (EH) activities towards 7-(2',3'-epoxy)propoxycoumarin (7-glycidoxycoumarin, GOC) were investigated, mainly in mice but also in rats. Hepatic subcellular EH activities in the ddY mouse were higher in microsomes than in the soluble and mitochondrial fractions and sex-related differences were noted in all the subcellular fractions where males had significantly higher activities than females. Sex differences in the hepatic microsomal and soluble activities similar to those in the ddY strain were also observed in two other strains of mice, A/J and C3H/He, and in Wistar rats. In the ddY strain, castration of the males caused decreases in microsomal and soluble EH activities, while no alteration in the activities in those fractions was found following castration of females. Treatment of the male castrates with testosterone led to recovery of the activities in microsomal and soluble fractions while hormone treatment of female castrates caused a rise only in microsomal activity. Estradiol treatments of both sexes did not cause any changes in the hepatic subcellular activities. In intact ddY mice, testosterone treatment did not affect the male microsomal and soluble EH activities, but resulted in stimulation of both subcellular enzyme activities in females. In contrast, estradiol treatment showed a suppressive effect on both subcellular activities in males, but had no effect on female activities. These results show that hepatic EH activities towards GOC are mainly under androgenic stimulatory control in mice.

Transbrachial approach with turn over technique for selective cerebral angiography--technical note

A new technique to obtain selective internal carotid, external carotid and vertebral artery angiograms through the transbrachial route using a special 4-Fr long catheter and long guidewire positioned by a turn over technique is described. The technique was used in 25 geriatric patients to obtain angiograms without persistent complications.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist MK-801 induced circling behavior in rats with unilateral striatal ischemic lesions or nigral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions

The present study shows that systemic administration of the selective, non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist MK-801 [(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydroxy-5H-dibenzo (a,d)-cyclohepten-5,10-imine] dose-dependently induces ipsiversive rotational behavior in the rats with a unilateral striatal lesion produced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion or in those with a unilateral nigrostriatal lesion produced by 6-hydroxydopamaine. In relation to a functional model of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical 'motor' circuit, the present data suggest that the striatum may be one of the most important sites where MK-801 acts in the basal ganglia, with its being responsible for the circling behavior of the animal models.

Regional cerebral blood flow changes of cortical motor areas and prefrontal areas in humans related to ipsilateral and contralateral hand movement

The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured with positron emission tomography (PET) in ten normal right-handed volunteers with the purpose of comparing rCBF changes related to movements of the dominant (right) and non-dominant (left) hand. The hand movement task consisted of sequential opposition of the thumb to each finger. The rCBF measured was compared with a rest state. Movements of the dominant hand and the non-dominant hand, increased CBF significantly in the contralateral motor area (MA) and the premotor area (PMA) with small increases in rCBF in the supplementary motor area (SMA). However, movements of the non-dominant hand also elicited significant ipsilateral increases in rCBF in the MA and PMA (6.3% and 5.0%, respectively). Superior part of the prefrontal area (PFA) of the left hemisphere showed significant CBF increases to both left and right hand movement. Our findings indicate that rCBF changes in the motor areas and the PFA of one hemisphere are not related simply to movement of the contralateral hand. Non-dominant hand movement may in addition require activation of ipsilateral motor areas. That is, there appears to be functional asymmetry in the MA and PFA in humans even in this relatively simple and symmetric motor task.

Bovine serum albumin-doxorubicin conjugate overcomes multidrug resistance in a rat hepatoma

A bovine serum albumin-conjugated doxorubicin via the glutaraldehyde bridge (BSA-DXR conjugate) showed potent dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth against daunorubicin-resistant AH66 (AH66DR) cells as well as parental AH66 (AH66P) cells in vitro as compared to treatment with DXR or BSA-glutaraldehyde conjugate without DXR (BSA-GA). In the culture of AH66DR with BSA-DXR conjugate, drug accumulation in the AH66DR cells increased as a function of time up to 24 h reaching approximately the same drug level as AH66P cells treated with DXR. The intracellular accumulation of the BSA-DXR conjugate was inhibited by the addition of ammonium chloride, while that of DXR alone was not inhibited. Intracellular DXR was effluxed rapidly from AH66DR cells, but BSA-DXR conjugate or pharmacologically active DXR adduct remained in the cells at a relatively high concentration over a 36-h time period. The life-prolonging effect of the conjugate was assessed using rats inoculated i.p. with AH66P or AH66DR. The rats were treated with the BSA-DXR conjugate, DXR, a mixture of DXR with BSA, or BSA-GA by either the i.p. or i.v. route. Treatment with DXR had no significant surviving effect as compared to that with saline in AH66P-bearing rats. By contrast, BSA-DXR conjugate showed a significant life-prolonging effect as compared with DXR alone in the same degree both in AH66P- and AH66DR-bearing rats. BSA-GA did not show any toxicity in vivo as well as in vitro. These results indicate that the BSA-DXR conjugate allows DXR to escape from the multidrug resistance mechanism.

Sphingosine activates cellular diacylglycerol kinase in intact Jurkat cells, a human T-cell line

Sphingosine is known to regulate a variety of cellular functions through protein kinase C-dependent or independent pathways. In an attempt to investigate differential functions of diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) isozymes, we tested the effect of sphingosine on DGK operating in intact Jurkat cells, a human T-cell line. We found that phosphatidic acid (PA) synthesized from endogenous diacylglycerol (DG) and exogenously added short-chain DGs like dioctanoylglycerol were markedly enhanced by approx. 20 microM sphingosine. Further studies such as the use of protein kinase C down-regulated cells, mass measurements of cellular DGs, analysis of molecular species of PA and the effect of exogenous DG on the conversion of endogenous DG to PA suggested that sphingosine directly activated cellular DGK having a broad specificity toward DG molecular species.

The different effects of sphingosine on diacylglycerol kinase isozymes in Jurkat cells, a human T-cell line

We studied the effect of sphingosine on the activities of soluble and membrane-bound isozymes from Jurkat cells using combinations of different substrates (arachidonoyl- and didecanoyl DGs) and assay methods (octylglucoside mixed micellar and deoxycholate suspension assays). The results suggested the presence of at least four DGK isoforms, which could be distinguished from each other with respect to intracellular localization, specificity to DG molecular species, responsiveness to sphingosine, and reactivity to anti-80 kDa DGK antibody. We confirmed the presence of arachidonoyl DG-specific DGK in membranes, though this isozyme was not activated by sphingosine. We detected in the cytosol at least two species of sphingosine-activatable and non-activatable DGK isoforms, the major species being the 80 kDa DGK. We postulate that both or either of the two soluble DGKs may be the target of the sphingosine action.

Central administration of senktide, a tachykinin NK-3 agonist, has an antidiuretic action by stimulating AVP release in water-loaded rats

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of senktide (0.01-10 nmol), a tachykinin NK-3 agonist, had an antidiuretic action in water-loaded rats (4.5% body wt.). Pretreatment with OPC-31260 (1 mg/kg, i.v.), a non-peptide vasopressin V2 antagonist, inhibited the antidiuretic action induced by exogenous arginine vasopressin (AVP, 0.1 micrograms/kg, i.v.) and senktide (0.1 nmol, i.c.v.). In addition, senktide (11.8 nmol, i.c.v.) caused a marked increase of the plasma AVP level in conscious rats. These results suggest that the central NKB analogue senktide has an antidiuretic effect by stimulating AVP secretion from the pituitary gland through the NK-3 receptor in the hypothalamus.

Evidence for localization of the transgene product within axon terminals in the dentate gyrus of transgenic mice expressing human phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase. A light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical study

The aim of this study was to examine whether protein products of a transgene are localized within axon terminals in transgenic mice. We have previously created transgenic mice containing a chimeric gene composed of the human dopamine beta-hydroxylase gene promoter and the human phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) cDNA. In the present study, we used an antiserum that detects specifically human PNMT but not mouse PNMT, and examined immunocytochemically the hippocampal formation of the transgenic mice. At a light microscopic level, immunoreactivity of human PNMT was found in fiber plexuses in the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, and in cell bodies of layer 2 of the entorhinal cortex. At an electron microscopic level, in the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, human PNMT immunoreactivity was observed in axon terminals that formed synapses with dendritic spines. The present study provides the evidence for localization of the transgene's protein products in axon terminals, suggesting axonal transport of the products.