A role for macrophage scavenger receptors in atherosclerosis and susceptibility to infection

Macrophage type-I and type-II class-A scavenger receptors (MSR-A) are implicated in the pathological deposition of cholesterol during atherogenesis as a result of receptor-mediated uptake of modified low-density lipoproteins (mLDL). MSR-A can bind an extraordinarily wide range of ligands, including bacterial pathogens, and also mediates cation-independent macrophage adhesion in vitro. Here we show that targeted disruption of the MSR-A gene in mice results in a reduction in the size of atherosclerotic lesions in an animal deficient in apolipoprotein E. Macrophages from MSR-A-deficient mice show a marked decrease in mLDL uptake in vitro, whereas mLDL clearance from plasma occurs at a normal rate, indicating that there may be alternative mechanisms for removing mLDL from the circulation. In addition, MSR-A-knockout mice show an increased susceptibility to infection with Listeria monocytogenes or herpes simplex virus type-1, indicating that MSR-A may play a part in host defence against pathogens.

Left-right asymmetric expression of the TGF beta-family member lefty in mouse embryos

Examples of lateral asymmetry are often found in vertebrates, such as the heart being on the left side, but the molecular mechanism governing the establishment of this left-right (L-R) handedness is unknown. A diffusible morphogen may determine L-R polarity, but a likely molecule has not so far been identified. Here we report on the gene lefty, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta family, which may encode a morphogen for L-R determination. Lefty protein contains the cysteine-knot motif characteristic of this superfamily and is secreted as a processed form of relative molecular mass 25K-32K. Surprisingly, lefty is expressed in the left half of gastrulating mouse embryos. This asymmetric expression is very transient and occurs just before the first sign of lateral asymmetry appears. In the mouse mutants iv and inv, which cause situs inversus, the sites of lefty expression are inverted, indicating that lefty is downstream of iv and inv. These results suggest that lefty may be involved in setting up L-R asymmetry in the organ systems of mammals.

Mammalian transgenesis by intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Coinjection of unfertilized mouse oocytes with sperm heads and exogenous DNA encoding either a green fluorescent protein (GFP) or beta-galactosidase reporter produced 64 to 94 percent transgene-expressing embryos, reflecting DNA-sperm head association before coinjection. Nonselective transfer to surrogate mothers of embryos in the GFP series generated about 20 percent offspring expressing the integrated transgene. These data indicate that exogenous DNA can reproducibly be delivered into an oocyte by microinjected spermatozoa and suggest an adaptable method of transgenesis.

Mice deficient for the IL-3/GM-CSF/IL-5 beta c receptor exhibit lung pathology and impaired immune response, while beta IL3 receptor-deficient mice are normal

The receptors for IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5 share a common beta subunit (beta c), and mice have an additional IL-3 beta subunit (beta IL3). We have independently generated mice carrying null mutations of each molecule. beta c mutant bone marrow showed no response to GM-CSF or IL-5, whereas IL-3 stimulation of beta c or beta IL3 mutant bone marrow was normal. beta c mutant mice showed lung pathology consisting of lymphocytic infiltration and areas resembling alveolar proteinosis, and also exhibited low basal numbers of eosinophils. Infection of beta c mutant mice by Nippostrongylus brasiliensis resulted in the absence of blood and lung eosinophilia. Animals repopulated with beta c mutant bone marrow cells showed slower leukocyte recovery and reduced eosinophil numbers. These data define the role of beta c in vivo, and show a phenotype that is likely to be the cumulative effect of loss of GM-CSF and IL-5 stimulation.

Fusion of an ETS-family gene, EIAF, to EWS by t(17;22)(q12;q12) chromosome translocation in an undifferentiated sarcoma of infancy

EIAF is a newly isolated ETS-family gene that is located on 17q21 and codes for the adenovirus EIA enhancer-binding protein. In our chromosome analysis of 18 of the Ewing family of tumors and undifferentiated sarcomas, we found t(17;22)(q12;q12) in an MIC2 antigen-positive undifferentiated sarcoma of infancy. On Southern blot analysis, EWS and EIAF cDNA probes hybridized to the same rearranged band, indicating that an EWS-EIAF fusion gene was formed in the tumor. Further Southern blot analysis using four EIAF cDNA probes of different sizes showed that the breakpoint lies in the region upstream to the ETS domain of the EIAF gene. EIAF may be the fourth ETS-family gene to be identified forming a fusion gene with EWS. We assume that the RNA binding domain of EWS may have been replaced by the DNA binding domain of EIAF in the EWS-EIAF fusion protein as in other fusion proteins previously characterized in Ewing sarcoma and other types of sarcomas.

Targeted disruption of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger gene leads to cardiomyocyte apoptosis and defects in heartbeat

Ca(2+), which enters cardiac myocytes through voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels during excitation, is extruded from myocytes primarily by the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX1) during relaxation. The increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in myocytes by digitalis treatment and after ischemia/reperfusion is also thought to result from the reverse mode of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange mechanism. However, the precise roles of the NCX1 are still unclear because of the lack of its specific inhibitors. We generated Ncx1-deficient mice by gene targeting to determine the in vivo function of the exchanger. Homozygous Ncx1-deficient mice died between embryonic days 9 and 10. Their hearts did not beat, and cardiac myocytes showed apoptosis. No forward mode or reverse mode of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange activity was detected in null mutant hearts. The Na(+)-dependent Ca(2+) exchange activity as well as protein content of NCX1 were decreased by approximately 50% in the heart, kidney, aorta, and smooth muscle cells of the heterozygous mice, and tension development of the aortic ring in Na(+)-free solution was markedly impaired in heterozygous mice. These findings suggest that NCX1 is required for heartbeats and survival of cardiac myocytes in embryos and plays critical roles in Na(+)-dependent Ca(2+) handling in the heart and aorta.

Maturation/M-phase promoting factor: a regulator of aging in porcine oocytes

Deterioration in the quality of mammalian oocytes during the metaphase-II arrest period is well known as "oocyte aging." Oocytes in which aging has occurred are called aged oocytes, and these oocytes show enhanced activation and higher fragmentation rates after parthenogenetic activation. Previously we showed that porcine aged oocytes had low maturation/M-phase promoting factor (MPF) activity, and we suggested that this low MPF activity contributed at least in part to the aging phenomena. In the present study, we examined the relationship between MPF activity and these aging phenomena by artificially regulating MPF activity in porcine metaphase-II-arrested oocytes. Since we have shown recently that aged porcine oocytes contain abundant phosphorylated inactive MPF, so-called pre-MPF, we used vanadate and caffeine, which affect the phosphorylation status of MPF, to regulate MPF activity. Incubation of 48-h-matured oocytes with vanadate for 1 h increased the phosphorylation of MPF and decreased MPF activity. The parthenogenetic activation and fragmentation rates were significantly increased compared with those of control oocytes. Conversely, treatment of 72-h-cultured aged oocytes with caffeine (last 10 h of culture) decreased the level of pre-MPF and elevated MPF activity. These oocytes revealed significantly lower parthenogenetic activation rates and a lower percentage of fragmentation than did untreated aged oocytes. These results indicate that not only the increased ability for parthenogenetic activation but also the increased fragmentation rate observed in porcine aged oocytes may be attributable in part to the gradual decrease in MPF activity during prolonged culture. Control of MPF phosphorylation with these agents may allow for some degree of manipulation of oocyte aging.

Cyclodextrin removes cholesterol from mouse sperm and induces capacitation in a protein-free medium

Cyclodextrin, which stimulates cholesterol efflux from cells, was examined for its ability to induce capacitation of mouse spermatozoa. A chemically defined, protein-free medium was used for in vitro fertilization of cumulus-free mouse eggs. Fertilization did not occur in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate medium (TYH) supplemented with 1 mg/ml polyvinylalcohol instead of BSA. However, fertilization was observed when spermatozoa were preincubated with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD); fertilization rates increased dose-dependently from 0.25 to 0.75 mM MBCD. The fertilization rate decreased when 0.75 mM MBCD was added to both preincubation and fertilization media versus only the preincubation medium (21% vs. 53%); in sharp contrast, fertilization increased when 4 mg/ml BSA was present in both of the media versus the preincubation medium only (66% vs. 25%). At 0.75 mM, 2-hydroxy-beta-cyclodextrin had a lower ability to capacitate spermatozoa in vitro than MBCD (14% vs. 41%). Eggs fertilized by spermatozoa treated with MBCD (0.75 mM) developed to blastocysts (45%, 36 of 80) when cultured in KSOM. When 160 fertilized eggs were transferred to ICR recipients, 62 live offspring were born. After incubation of mouse spermatozoa for 90 min in 0.75 mM MBCD in TYH medium, the cholesterol content of the spermatozoa was significantly (p < 0.01) lower than that of the control (2.27 +/- 0.09 vs. 4.13 +/- 0.09 nmol unesterified cholesterol/10(7) sperm; mean +/- SEM, n = 5). The proportion of capacitated (B pattern) spermatozoa determined by chlortetracycline fluorescence was higher with MBCD treatment for 90 min than for the control (45% vs. 15%; p < 0.01). The proportion of acrosome-reacted (AR pattern) spermatozoa was not different between MBCD treatment and the control. Therefore, MBCD increased capacitation rather than the acrosome reaction of spermatozoa.

The oct3 gene, a gene for an embryonic transcription factor, is controlled by a retinoic acid repressible enhancer

Oct3 is an embryonic octamer-binding transcription factor, whose expression is rapidly repressed by retinoic acid (RA). In this report, we have determined the transcriptional control region of the oct3 gene and studied the mechanism of the RA-mediated repression. The chromosomal oct3 gene consists of five exons. Three subdomains of the POU region and transactivating domain are located in separate exons. Transcription initiates at multiple sites in the GC-rich region lacking a typical TATA box. The upstream 2 kb region can confer the cell type-specific expression and RA-mediated repression. Analysis of the upstream region by deletion mutagenesis locates a cis element (RARE1) which functions as a stem cell-specific, yet RA-repressible, enhancer. Footprint and gel-retardation assays show that RARE1 is composed of two domains, each of which is recognized by distinct factors. Microinjection of oct3-lacZ constructs into fertilized eggs indicates that RARE1 can function in early embryos. We suggest that RARE1 is a critical cis element for oct3 gene expression in embryonic stem cells and for the RA-mediated repression.

Meiotic abnormalities of c-mos knockout mouse oocytes: activation after first meiosis or entrance into third meiotic metaphase

In Xenopus oocytes, Mos activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction cascade and regulates meiosis. In mammalian oocytes, however, the functions of Mos are still unclear. In the present study, we used c-mos knockout mouse oocytes and examined the roles of Mos in mouse oocyte maturation and fertilization, including whether Mos controls MAPK and maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity. The kinetics of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and the first polar body emission were similar in wild-type, heterozygous mutant, and homozygous mutant mice. Activities of MPF were also not significantly different among the three genotypes until the first polar body emission. In contrast, MAPK activity in c-mos knockout oocytes did not significantly fluctuate throughout maturation, and the oocytes had abnormal diffused spindles and loosely condensed chromosomes, although a clear increase in MAPK activities was observed after GVBD in wild-type and heterozygous mutant oocytes that had normal spindles and chromosomes. After the first polar body emission, 38% of c-mos knockout oocytes formed a pronucleus instead of undergoing second meiosis, indicating the crucial role of Mos in MPF reactivation after first meiosis. When oocytes that reached second metaphase were fertilized or stimulated by ethanol, many c-mos knockout oocytes emitted a second polar body and progressed into third meiotic metaphase instead of interphase, although all fertilized or activated oocytes in the heterozygote progressed to interphase, indicating that Mos deletion leads to compensatory factors that might not be degraded after fertilization or parthenogenetic activation. These results suggest that Mos is located upstream of MAPK in mouse oocytes as in Xenopus oocytes but is independent of MPF activity, and that Mos/MAPK is not necessary go GVBD and first polar body emission. Our results also suggest that Mos plays a crucial role in normal spindle and chromosome morphology and the reactivation of MPF after first meiosis.

Effects of porcine follicular fluid on male pronucleus formation in porcine oocytes matured in vitro

Porcine follicular oocytes, collected from antral follicles (2-5 mm in diameter) of gilt ovaries, were matured in vitro with or without porcine follicular fluid (pFF), gonadotrophins (GTH) or fetal calf serum (FCS) for 48 hours at 37 degrees C under 5% CO2 in air, and their ability of male pronucleus (mPN) formation was examined after in vitro fertilization. Formation of mPN was observed in 38.6% of penetrated oocytes matured in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution (TYH) 18 hours after insemination. The addition of GTH into the maturation medium did not improve the proportion of mPN-formed oocytes (20-30%). In contrast, the mPN formation rate elevated significantly (59.5%) when the oocytes were cultured with pFF, and the addition of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) enhanced this pFF action (the rate became 81.0%). In the presence of FSH, significant pFF effect was observable at the concentration of 5%, and its efficiency was elevated with the increase of pFF concentration. When the oocytes were matured with FCS, the mPN formation rate was unchanged or decreased rather than improved (0-25%). These results suggest that pFF, but not FCS, have substance(s) stimulating the ability of mPN formation in porcine oocytes.

Decrease of histone H1 kinase activity in relation to parthenogenetic activation of pig follicular oocytes matured and aged in vitro

Changes of histone H1 kinase activity before and after electrical stimulation were connected with the ability of cytoplasm of pig oocytes to be activated parthenogenetically when matured and aged in vitro. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected from prepubertal gilts and cultured in a modified Waymouth's MB752/1 medium. The first mature oocytes were observed after 30 h of culture. After 36 h of culture, about 65% of oocytes had matured (reached metaphase II stage with the first polar body). When oocytes matured after 36 h of culture were stimulated with an electric pulse and subsequently cultured for 10 h, only 7% became parthenogenetically activated (formation of a female pronucleus). When oocytes matured for 60 h and 72 h underwent the same treatment, significantly more became activated parthenogenetically (46% and 57%, respectively). Oocytes matured for 72 h but not stimulated electrically also exhibited high spontaneous parthenogenetic activation (24%). Activation of oocytes resulted either in the formation of a female pronucleus(ei) or in fragmentation of oocytes. Fragmentation in stimulated and nonstimulated oocytes increased significantly after 72 h of culture (37% and 18%, respectively). Histone H1 kinase activity in immature oocytes at the germinal vesicle stage was low (17.2 fmol h-1 per oocyte). However, when oocytes were cultured for 36 and 48 h, histone H1 kinase activity increased significantly (168.2 and 138.5 fmol h-1 per oocyte, respectively). Prolonged culture (60 h and 72 h) resulted in a significant decrease in histone H1 kinase activity (94.3 and 49.3 fmol h-1 per oocyte, respectively). When oocytes cultured for up to 72 h were electrically stimulated, histone H1 kinase activity in activated oocytes (oocytes that formed a female pronucleus and fragmented oocytes) was significantly lower (24.7 mol h-1 per oocyte) than that in nonactivated oocytes (99.9 mol h-1 per oocyte). The present data clearly indicate that the gradual decrease of histone H1 kinase activity is correlated with ageing of oocytes matured in vitro and with their ability to be parthenogenetically activated.

Birth of normal calves resulting from bovine oocytes matured, fertilized, and cultured with cumulus cells in vitro up to the blastocyst stage

Bovine oocytes matured in vitro were fertilized in high proportions (92% of matured oocytes) by sperm capacitated with Ca ionophore A23187. Eight percent of inseminated oocytes that were denuded 96 h after insemination developed to the morula stage when cultured for 6-120 h after insemination with cumulus cells from the original oocytes. Inseminated oocytes denuded 96 h after insemination developed to the blastocyst stage when cultured with or without cumulus cells or in the conditioned medium from 96 h to 168-216 h after insemination (9.0%, 8.1%, and 6.8% of inseminated oocytes respectively). Six frozen-thawed blastocysts were transferred nonsurgically to 3 recipients (2 embryos/recipient). Two of the 3 recipients became pregnant, with one delivering live twins at term. Seven fresh blastocysts were transferred nonsurgically to 6 recipients (1-2 embryos/recipient). Three of the 6 recipients became pregnant, with 2 delivering live calves.

Fluctuation of histone H1 kinase activity during meiotic maturation in porcine oocytes

Porcine oocytes cultured in follicular fluid for various periods of up to 48 h were stained with Hoechst-33342 and classified according to maturation before assaying. Histone H1 kinase activity at metaphase I was approximately 10 times that at the germinal vesicle stage. An abrupt reduction in activity was observed in oocytes emitting the first polar body; then the activity increased again to the same level as at metaphase I. This pattern is similar to those reported in non-mammalian species and supports the concepts that histone H1 kinase is ubiquitous in eukaryotes and controls the meiotic cell cycle in mammals.

Sexing of mouse preimplantation embryos by detection of Y chromosome-specific sequences using polymerase chain reaction

Detection of genes known to be present on the mammalian Y chromosome was adapted for sexing mouse early embryos using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Sry and Zfy genes located in the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome were chosen for Y-specific target sequences, and DXNds3 sequence on the X chromosome was chosen for control. The two-step PCR method using two pairs of primers for each of the target sequences was employed for detecting the sequences. When DNAs of male and female mice were amplified with these primers, male-specific fragments were detected even in DNAs that were equivalent in amount to two cells. Mouse embryos at the two-cell stage were separated into two individual blastomeres, and one blastomere was karyotyped at the second cleavage. The remaining blastomere was subjected to PCR amplification immediately or after having been cultured for 48 h up to the morula stage. The Sry and Zfy sequences were detected in about half the embryos; detection of the Sry and Zfy sequences corresponded exactly to the presence of the Y chromosome, except in one sample of male morula in which embryos may have been lost before the PCR amplification. It is concluded that the sex of mouse preimplantation embryos can be accurately determined through detection of the Y-specific sequences using the two-step PCR method, even with the single blastomeres separated at the two-cell stage.

Sensitivity and specificity of lung cancer screening using chest low-dose computed tomography

Lung cancer screening programmes using chest X-ray and sputum cytology are routinely performed in Japan; however, the efficacy is insufficient. Screening using low-dose computed tomography (CT) is a more effective approach and has the potential to detect the disease more accurately. A total of 7183 low-dose CT screening tests for 4689 participants and 36 085 chest X-ray screening tests for 13 381 participants were conducted between August 1998 and May 2002. Sensitivity and specificity of lung cancer screening were calculated by both the detection method and the incidence method by linkage of the screening database and the Cancer Registry database. The preclinical detectable phase was assumed to be 1 year. Sensitivity and specificity by the detection method were 88.9 and 92.6% for low-dose CT and 78.3 and 97.0% for chest X-ray, respectively. Sensitivity of low-dose CT by the incidence method was 79.5%, whereas that of chest X-ray was 86.5%. Lung cancer screening using low-dose CT resulted in higher sensitivity and lower specificity than traditional screening according to the detection method. However, sensitivity by the incidence method was not as high as this. These findings demonstrate the potential for overdiagnosis in CT screening-detected cases.

Six months of maintenance chemotherapy after intensified treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia of childhood

PURPOSE

We postulated that intensification of chemotherapy immediately after remission induction might reduce the leukemic cell burden sufficiently to allow an abbreviated period of antimetabolite therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Three hundred forty-seven children (ages 1 to 15 years) with previously untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were enrolled onto the Tokyo L92-13 study, which excluded patients with mature B-cell ALL and patients less than 1 year old. One hundred twenty-four patients were classified as standard risk, 122 as high risk, and 101 as extremely high risk, according to age, peripheral-blood leukocyte count, selected genetic abnormalities, and immunophenotype. All subjects received four drugs for remission induction, followed by a risk-directed multidrug intensification phase and therapy for presymptomatic leukemia in the CNS. Maintenance chemotherapy with oral mercaptopurine and methotrexate was administered for 6 months, with all treatment stopped by 1 year after diagnosis.

RESULTS

The mean (+/- SD) event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival rates for all patients were 59.5% +/- 3.4% and 81.5% +/- 2.2%, respectively, at 5. 5 years after diagnosis. EFS rates by risk category were similar (60. 2% +/- 6.0% for standard risk, 57.7% +/- 5.6% for high risk, and 62. 5% +/- 5.7% for extremely high risk), whereas overall survival rates differed significantly (91.2% +/- 2.7%, 80.0% +/- 4.1%, and 72.1% +/- 4.5%, respectively, P <.0001 by the log-rank test). There were 107 relapses. Eighty-five (79.4%) of these 107 patients achieved second complete remissions, with subsequent EFS rates of 61.5% +/- 7. 9% (standard risk), 42.6% +/- 8.1% (high risk), and 9.6% +/- 6.4% (extremely high risk). Of the five risk factors analyzed, only the response to prednisolone monotherapy among extremely high-risk patients proved important.

CONCLUSION

Early treatment intensification did not compensate for a truncated phase of maintenance chemotherapy in children with standard- or high-risk ALL. However, 6 months of antimetabolite treatment seemed adequate for extremely high-risk patients who were good responders to prednisolone and received intensified chemotherapy that included high-dose cytarabine early in the clinical course.

PCR sexing and developmental rate differences in preimplantation mouse embryos fertilized and cultured in vitro

A two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to determine the sex of mouse preimplantation embryos obtained from oocytes fertilized and cultured in vitro, to investigate the differences in the developmental rates of mouse embryos according to the sex. All the in vitro developed embryos could be analyzed by this method. When the embryos were classified according to the time of morula to blastocyst transition as fast-intermediate- and slow-growing embryos, a significantly high percentage (78.0%) of the fast-developing embryos were identified as males; while a significantly lower percentage (42.5%) of slow-developing embryos were identified as males. The intermediate-developing embryos presented a sex ratio not significantly different from the total (57.5%). The deviation of sex ratio was further confirmed by embryo transfer experiment, where fast- and slow-developing embryos gave 76.2% and 25.7% male fetuses, respectively. We concluded that male mouse embryos fertilized and cultured in vitro develop faster than female embryos.

Natural course of neuroblastoma detected by mass screening: s 5-year prospective study at a single institution

PURPOSE

To describe various favorable courses of neuroblastoma (NBL) detected by mass screening and to present our observation program as a temporary treatment option, to be used until a final decision is made regarding the mass screening program for 6-month-old infants.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between October 1993 and November 1999, 26 of 51 patients with NBL detected by mass screening were enrolled in our observation program. The criteria for observation included urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels less than 50 microg/mg creatinine, smaller tumor size (< 5.0 cm), preoperative status, and granted informed consent. Patients were divided into four groups according to changes in urinary VMA and HVA values and tumor size. Patients who no longer fulfilled criteria underwent surgery.

RESULTS

The observation period ranged from 4 to 73 months. Urinary VMA and HVA levels decreased in 19 of 26 patients, often by age 16 months. Eighteen patients had regressing tumors, and in 10 of these cases, the tumor was undetectable or barely detectable by imaging techniques. Four patients younger than 12 months had increased tumor marker levels and tumor volume, histologically reflecting neuroblastic proliferation. The remaining three patients, all older than 18 months, had varied tumor marker levels but increased tumor volume, histologically reflecting an increase in Schwann cells. No upgrading of tumor stage or unfavorable biologic factor was noted in any patient.

CONCLUSION

None of our patients showed evidence of transition from favorable to unfavorable prognosis, a finding that points to a reduction in the significance of screening as a public health measure. Until results of ongoing screening trials involving older patients have been evaluated, the observation program can be used as a temporary measure to avoid, with little risk, unnecessary surgical intervention.

Localization of glucokinase-like immunoreactivity in the rat lower brain stem: for possible location of brain glucose-sensing mechanisms

Pancreatic glucokinase (GK) is considered an important element of the glucose-sensing unit in pancreatic beta-cells. It is possible that the brain uses similar glucose-sensing units, and we employed GK immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy to examine the anatomical distribution of GK-like immunoreactivities in the rat brain. We found strong GK-like immunoreactivities in the ependymocytes, endothelial cells, and many serotonergic neurons. In the ependymocytes, the GK-like immunoreactivity was located in the cytoplasmic area, but not in the nucleus. The GK-positive ependymocytes were found to have glucose transporter-2 (GLUT2)-like immunoreactivities on the cilia. In addition, the ependymocytes had GLUT1-like immunoreactivity on the cilia and GLUT4-like immunoreactivity densely in the cytoplasmic area and slightly in the plasma membrane. In serotonergic neurons, GK-like immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm and their processes. The present results raise the possibility that these GK-like immunopositive cells comprise a part of a vast glucose-sensing mechanism in the brain.