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Møller M, Midtgaard J, Qvortrup K, Rath MF. An ultrastructural study of the deep pineal gland of the Sprague Dawley rat using transmission and serial block face scanning electron microscopy: cell types, barriers, and innervation. Cell Tissue Res 2022. [PMID: 35737105 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03654-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The morphology of the deep pineal gland of the Sprague Dawley rat was investigated by serial block face scanning electron microscopy. Cells were three-dimensionally (3-D) reconstructed using the software Fiji TrackEM. The deep pineal gland consisted of 2-5 layers of electron-lucent pinealocytes, with a euchromatic nucleus, endowed with one or two processes. Laterally, the deep pineal merged with the habenula and the stria medullaris thalami, via an intermediate area containing cells with more electron-dense cytoplasm and an indented nucleus with heterochromatin. Neither nerve terminals nor capillaries were observed in the deep pineal itself but present in the intermediate parts of the gland. The deep pineal was in contact with the third ventricle via the pineal and suprahabenular recesses. The ependymal lining in these recesses was an epithelium connected by tight junctions between their lateral cell membranes. Several intraventricular nerve terminals were in contact with the ependyma. 3-D reconstructions showed the ependymal cells endowed with long slender process penetrating the underlying pineal parenchyma. Few "tanocyte-like" ependymal cells, endowed with a process, reaching the subarachnoid space on the inferior surface of the deep pineal were observed. In addition, pinealocyte and astrocyte processes, often connected by gap junctions, bordered the inferior surface. In summary, the rat deep pineal gland is a neuroendocrine structure connected to the habenula. We here report specialized ependymal cells that might transmit signals from the cerebrospinal fluid to the deep pineal parenchyma and a "trans-pineal tanocyte-like cell" that connects the ventricular system with the subarachnoid space.
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Csáki Á, Puskár Z, Tóth ZE, Vereczki V, Köves K. Chemical characterization of pineal neurons in perinatal rats. Neurosci Lett 2021; 765:136274. [PMID: 34592370 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Ample evidence indicates that in several mammalian species the pineal body contains neurons. In adult white albino rats neurons are not present in the pineal body; however, in perinatal rats many neurons were described. It was demonstrated that in adult mammalian species the pineal neurons contained some neuropeptides and neurotransmitters such as leu-enkephalin, met-enkephalin, substance-P, somatostatin and γ-aminobutiric acid. Oxytocin, vasopressin mRNAs and peptides were also demonstrated. No data are available on the chemical nature of the neurons in perinatal rats. In the present experiment we used immunohistochemistry to clarify this issue. After paraformaldehyde fixation frozen sections were prepared and stained for immunoreactivities of several neuropeptides and neurotransmitters. Dopamine β-hydroxylase, neuropeptide-Y, vesicular acetylcholine transporter, vesicular glutamate transporter and calcitonin gene-related peptide antibodies were able to stain fibers. According to previous data these fibers may be sympathetic, parasympathetic or sensory. Vesicular glutamate transporter antibody may stain pinealocytes as well. Some cells were immunoreactive for substance-P, oxytocin, vasopressin, leu-enkefalin and glutamic acid decarboxylase. These immnoreactivities showed colocalization with neuron-specific nuclear protein immunoreactivity indicating that these cells were neurons. Calbindin was observed in oval and elongated cells resembling pinealocytes. Based on the results obtained in adult mammals, the pineal neurons may be analogue to retinal ganglion cells, or they may function as interneurons in the retino-pinealo-retinal neuronal circuit or peptidergic neurons may influence pinealocytes in a paracrine manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ágnes Csáki
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zita Puskár
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna E Tóth
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktória Vereczki
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Köves
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
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Dai Y, Ren K, Kurosawa K, Terayama H, Miwa Y, Sato I, Yi SQ. The distribution of nerves supplying the testis, epididymis and accessory sex glands of Suncus murinus. Anat Sci Int 2018; 94:128-135. [DOI: 10.1007/s12565-018-0459-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Ziółkowska N, Lewczuk B, Przybylska-Gornowicz B. Neuropeptide Y as a presynaptic modulator of norepinephrine release from the sympathetic nerve fibers in the pig pineal gland. Pol J Vet Sci 2015; 18:53-61. [PMID: 25928910 DOI: 10.1515/pjvs-2015-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Norepinephrine (NE) released from the sympathetic nerve endings is the main neurotransmitter controlling melatonin synthesis in the mammalian pineal gland. Although neuropeptide Y (NPY) co-exists with NE in the pineal sympathetic nerve fibers it also occurs in a population of non-adrenergic nerve fibers located in this gland. The role of NPY in pineal physiology is still enigmatic. The present study characterizes the effect of NPY on the depolarization-evoked 3H-NE release from the pig pineal explants. The explants of the pig pineal gland were loaded with 3H-NE in the presence of pargyline and superfused with Tyrode medium. They were exposed twice to the modified Tyrode medium containing 60 mM of K+ to evoke the 3H-NE release via depolarization. NPY, specific agonists of Y1- and Y2- receptors and pharmacologically active ligands of α2-adrenoceptors were added to the medium before and during the second depolarization. The radioactivity was measured in medium fractions collected every 2 minutes during the superfusion. NPY (0.1-10 μM) significantly decreased the depolarization-induced 3H-NE release. Similar effect was observed after the treatment with Y2-agonist: NPY13-36, but not with Y1-agonist: [Leu31,Pro34]-NPY. The tritium overflow was lower in the explants exposed to the 5 μM NPY and 1 μM rauwolscine than to rauwolscine only. The effects of 5 μM NPY and 0.05 μM UK 14,304 on the depolarization-evoked 3H-NE release were additive. The results show that NPY is involved in the regulation of NE release from the sympathetic terminals in the pig pineal gland, inhibiting this process via Y2-receptors.
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Mukda S, Møller M, Ebadi M, Govitrapong P. The modulatory effect of substance P on rat pineal norepinephrine release and melatonin secretion. Neurosci Lett 2009; 461:258-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2009] [Revised: 06/11/2009] [Accepted: 06/13/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Nowicki M, Wojtkiewicz J, Lewczuk B, Kosacka J, Majewski M, Przybylska-Gornowicz B. Peptidergic and Nitrergic Innervation of the Pineal Gland in the Domestic Pig: An Immunohistochemical Study. Anat Histol Embryol 2007; 36:311-20. [PMID: 17617110 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2007.00767.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The presence and co-localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), peptide N-terminal histidine C-terminal isoleucine (PHI), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), somatostatin (SOM), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP) and the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were studied in neuronal structures of the pig pineal gland. Paraformaldehyde-fixed pineals of 3-month-old gilts were sliced into serial cryostat sections, which were subjected to a set of double immunofluorescence stainings. Based on the co-existence patterns of neuropeptides, five populations of nerve fibres supplying the pig pineal were distinguished: (1) PHI-positive, (2) PACAP-positive, (3) SOM-positive, (4) SP/CGRP-positive and (5) SP-positive/CGRP-negative. Only a subpopulation of PHI-positive fibres contained VIP at the level detectable by immunofluorescence. NOS was found in some intrapineal PHI- and VIP-positive fibres. PHI-, VIP- and NOS-positive nerve fibres were more numerous in the peripheral than in the central part of the pineal. PACAP-positive fibres were equally distributed within the gland. The density of SOM-positive fibres was higher in the ventro-proximal than in the dorso-distal part of the pineal. SOM was also detected in some neuronal-like cells or specialized pinealocytes situated in the central region of the gland. Two populations of fibres containing SP were found: CGRP-positive, present in the distal and central parts of the pineal as well as CGRP-negative, localized in the proximal compartment of the gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Nowicki
- Division of Histology, Department of Functional Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
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Díaz López B, Debeljuk L. Prenatal melatonin and its interaction with tachykinins in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Reprod Fertil Dev 2007; 19:443-51. [PMID: 17394792 DOI: 10.1071/rd06140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2006] [Accepted: 01/21/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The pineal gland, through its hormone melatonin, influences the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Tachykinins are bioactive peptides whose presence has been demonstrated in the pineal gland, hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland and the gonads, in addition to other central and peripheral structures. Tachykinins have been demonstrated to influence the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, acting as paracrine factors at each of these levels. In the present review, we examine the available evidence supporting a role for melatonin in the regulation of reproductive functions, the possible role of tachykinins in pineal function and the possible interactions between melatonin and tachykinins in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Evidence is presented showing that melatonin, given to pregnant rats, influences the developmental pattern of tachykinins in the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary gland of the offspring during postnatal life. In the gonads, the effects of melatonin on the tachykinin developmental pattern were rather modest. In particular, in the present review, we have included a summary of our own work performed in the past few years on the effect of melatonin on tachykinin levels in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Díaz López
- Departamento de Biología Funcional, Area Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, C/Julián Clavería no. 6, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
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Tkachenko EY, Kozaruk VP, Kozyreva TV. Effect of substance P on thermoregulation parameters during different cooling modes. Bull Exp Biol Med 2006; 141:695-7. [PMID: 17364052 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-006-0255-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The modulatory effect of ionophoretic application of substance P to the skin on the formation of the cold-triggered thermal protection reactions depends on the rate of cooling. During rapid cooling substance P enhances heat production, while during slow cooling it promotes constriction of skin blood vessels aimed at reduction of heat emission.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ya Tkachenko
- Laboratory of Thermophysiology, Institute of Physiology, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Novosibirsk
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Abstract
High-pressure liquid chromatography of extracts of rat pineal glands, followed by radio immunological analysis with antibodies against tachykinins, demonstrated the presence of substance P, neurokinin A and neurokinin B in the superficial rat pineal gland. Immunohistochemistry on perfusion-fixed rat brain sections showed substance P and neurokinin A to be present in nerve fibers located both in the perivascular spaces as well as intraparenchymally between the pinealocytes. After extracting total RNA, followed by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction amplification with primers specific for NK1-, NK2- and NK3-receptors, agarose gel analysis of the reaction products showed the presence of mRNA encoding all three neurokinin receptors. Immunohistochemical analysis showed NK1 receptor to be located in the interstitial cells of the gland. This location was confirmed by use of in situ hybridization using radioactively labeled antisense oligonucleotide probes. Double immunohistochemical stainings showed that the NK1-immunoreactive cells were not a part of the macrophages or antigen-presenting cells of the gland. Our study suggests that tachykinins, after release from intrapineal nerve fibers, are involved in an up to now unknown function, different from that of melatonin synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mukda
- Institute of Medical Anatomy, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Baeres FMM, Møller M. Demonstration of PACAP-immunoreactive intrapineal nerve fibers in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) originating from the trigeminal ganglion. J Pineal Res 2005; 38:116-22. [PMID: 15683466 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.2004.00183.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
By using immunohistochemistry, a network of nerve fibers containing pituitary adenylate-cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) was demonstrated in the pineal gland of the golden hamster, a photoperiodic species often used in pineal and circadian rhythm research. The nerve fibers are present in the capsule from where they permeate into the pineal perivascular spaces and parenchyma. Immuno-electron microscopy showed the PACAPergic nerve terminals, with clear transmitter vesicles, to terminate in the interstitial spaces between the pinealocytes or in the perivascular spaces. Some of the PACAPergic nerve terminals made synapse-like contacts with the pinealocytes. The origin of the PACAP-containing nerve fibers innervating the pineal gland of the hamster was investigated by combined retrograde tracing with fluorogold and immunohistochemistry for PACAP. A 2% fluorogold solution was injected iontophoretically into the superficial pineal gland and the animals were allowed to survive for 1 wk. After perfusion fixation of the rats, the location of the tracer was investigated in the brain, the parasympathetic sphenopalatine, and otic ganglia, as well as in the sensory trigeminal ganglia. The tracer was found in perikarya of all the investigated ganglia. However, co-localization with PACAP was found only in the trigeminal ganglion.
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Frank CL, Dávid C, Czirok S, Vincze C, Manzano MJ, Vígh B. Autonomic nerves terminating on smooth muscle cells of vessels in the pineal organ of various mammals. Acta Biol Hung 2003; 54:233-40. [PMID: 14711028 DOI: 10.1556/abiol.54.2003.3-4.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The significance of autonomic nerves reaching the pincal organ was already investigated in connection to the innervation of pinealocytes and mediating light information from the retina for periodic melatonin secretion. In earlier works we found that some autonomic nerve fibers are not secretomotor but terminate on arteriolar smooth muscle cells in the pineal organ of the mink (Mustela vison). Studying in serial sections the pineal organ of the mink and 15 other mammalian species in the present work, we investigated whether similar axons of vasomotor-type are generally present in the wall of pineal vessels, further, whether they reach the organ via the conarian nerves or via periarterial plexuses. In all species investigated, axons of perivasal nerve bundles were found to form terminal enlargements on the smooth muscle layer of pineal arterioles. The neuromuscular endings contain several synaptic and some granular vesicles. Axon terminals are also present around pineal veins. In serial sections, we found that the so-called conarian autonomic nerves reach the pineal organ alongside pineal veins draining into the great internal cerebral vein. Similar nerves present near arteries of the arachnoid enter the pineal meningeal capsule and septa by arterioles, both perivenous and periarterial nerves form terminals of vasomotor-type. The arteriomotor and venomotor regulation of the tone of the vessels of the pineal organ may serve the vascular support for circadian and circannual periodic changes in metabolic activity of the pineal tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Frank
- Department of Human Morphology and Developmental Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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Møller M, Baeres FMM. PACAP-containing intrapineal nerve fibers originate predominantly in the trigeminal ganglion: a combined retrograde tracing- and immunohistochemical study of the rat. Brain Res 2003; 984:160-9. [PMID: 12932850 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-8993(03)03127-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Pituitary adenylate-cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide originally isolated from the hypothalamus and located in many neuronal systems in both the central and peripheral nervous system. PACAP is also found in nerve fibers innervating the pineal gland, where it stimulates the secretion of the pineal hormone, melatonin, by binding to specific PACAP-receptors located on the cell membrane of the pinealocyte. In this study we have investigated the origin of PACAP-containing nerve fibers innervating the rat pineal gland by combined retrograde tracing with Fluorogold and immunohistochemistry for PACAP. A solution of 2% Fluorogold was injected iontophoretically into the superficial pineal gland of Wistar rats, and the animals were allowed to survive for 1 week. After perfusion fixation of the rats, the location of the tracer was investigated in the brain and the sphenopalatine, otic, and trigeminal ganglia. The tracer was found in all the investigated ganglia. However, colocalization with PACAP was predominantly found in the trigeminal ganglion and only occasionally in the sphenopalatine and otic ganglia. Due to the stimulatory function of PACAP on pineal melatonin secretion, the PACAP-containing neurons of this ganglion could be considered a subset of the parasympathetic nervous system. The presence of neurons with a parasympathetic function in a ganglion that has been considered a purely sensory ganglion, is a new concept in neuroanatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Møller
- Institute of Medical Anatomy, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Sakai Y, Hira Y, Matsushima S. Central GABAergic innervation of the mammalian pineal gland: a light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical investigation in rodent and nonrodent species. J Comp Neurol 2001; 430:72-84. [PMID: 11135246 DOI: 10.1002/1096-9861(20010129)430:1<72::aid-cne1015>3.0.co;2-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical observations were made to demonstrate central pinealopetal fibers immunoreactive for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and synapses between their terminals and pinealocytes in the pineal gland of four rodent (Wistar-King rat; mouse; Syrian hamster, Mesocricetus auratus; Hartley strain guinea pig) and one nonrodent (tree shrew, Tupaia glis) species. GABA-immunoreactive myelinated and unmyelinated fibers and endings were found in the parenchyma of the pineal gland of all the animals examined. In the rodent species, GABAergic fibers were mainly found in the intermediate and proximal portions of the pineal gland and were nearly or entirely absent in the distal portion of the gland. Abundant GABAergic fibers were evenly distributed throughout the gland of the tree shrew. In all the animals, the habenular and posterior commissures contained abundant GABA-positive fibers, and some of them were followed to the pineal gland. GABA-positive endings made synaptic contact with pinealocytes, occasionally in mice and guinea pigs, and frequently in tree shrews; no synapses were observed in Syrian hamsters and rats. In the pineal gland of all the animals, GABA-immunoreactive cell bodies were not detected, and sympathetic fibers were not immunoreactive for GABA. These data indicate that GABAergic fibers are main pinealopetal projections from the brain. In view of the difference in the distribution of these fibers, central GABAergic innervation may play a more significant role in nonrodents than in rodents. The frequent occurrence of GABAergic synapses on pinealocytes in the tree shrew suggests that GABA released at these synapses directly controls activity of pinealocytes of this animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Sakai
- Department of Anatomy, Asahikawa Medical College, Asahikawa, 078-8510, Japan.
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