A short-term intervention of ingesting iron along with methionine and threonine leads to a higher hemoglobin level than that with iron alone in young healthy women: a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, comparative study

PURPOSE

Enhancing iron absorption and utilization is important for amelioration iron status faster and thereby, for improving quality of life. Dietary protein and amino acids, including methionine and threonine, have been reported to facilitate the absorption and utilization of dietary iron. Here, we investigated the effect of combined ingestion of methionine, threonine, and iron on the improvement of iron status during a short-term intervention, by comparing that with iron ingestion alone in healthy young women.

METHODS

This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, comparative study with 45 participants (aged 20-39) randomly assigned to three groups (n = 15 each): one group was administered 200 mg methionine, 400 mg threonine, and 6 mg iron once daily (FEMT); another ingested 6 mg iron alone (FE); and the third group ingested a placebo (PCG). Blood samples and dietary nutrient data were collected before the intervention (week 0) and after 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Serum iron, hemoglobin, transferrin, and ferritin levels were measured.

RESULTS

Blood hemoglobin levels were significantly higher in the FEMT than in the FE group (P < 0.05) at week 4. Serum iron, transferrin, and ferritin levels were not changed across groups. In addition, our analyses showed that the observed increase in hemoglobin levels was affected by the intervention rather than changes in dietary nutrient intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Ingestion of methionine and threonine with low doses of iron leads to a higher hemoglobin levels than that with iron alone in a short period of 4 weeks.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN000046621).

Comparison of INTREPID® balanced and hybrid tips on anterior capsule rupture in ex vivo porcine eyes

Phacoemulsification has emerged as the global standard for cataract surgery, and various novel methods, tools, and agents have promoted surgical efficiency and reduced complications. Conventionally, the phaco tip, which cleaves and aspirates the cataractous lens, has been mainly constructed of metal. In this study, the risk of anterior capsule rupture was evaluated under conditions of different power modes, longitudinal (Mode-L), torsional (Mode-T), or both (Mode-LT), and different aspiration powers (0 or 200 mmHg), using a traditional metal phaco tip (Group-M) or a new phaco tip with a high-strength polymer overmold on the needle edge (Group-P), which was developed to reduce the risk of capsule rupture. One hundred twenty porcine eyes were used for experiments within a setting of typical human physiological intraocular pressure. We found that Group-M showed capsule rupture with a smaller ultrasound power than did Group-P, regardless of power mode or aspiration power. In Group-M, there was no significant difference in risk of capsule rupture among power modes, however in Group-P, capsule rupture was least likely to occur with Mode-T. These results provide useful information for inexperienced ophthalmologists to improve surgical safety.

Effect of imbalance in dietary macronutrients on blood hemoglobin levels: a cross-sectional study in young underweight Japanese women

Background

Iron deficiency and underweight are common nutritional problems among young Japanese women, many of whom show unhealthy dietary patterns owing to a desire for thinness. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between iron status, nutritional status, and dietary intake among young Japanese women with underweight to identify dietary risk factors for iron deficiency.

Methods

Of the 159 young women (18-29 years of age) enrolled, 77 underweight and 37 normal-weight women were included in the study. They were further categorized into four groups based on quartiles of hemoglobin levels among all participants. Dietary nutrient intake was ascertained using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. Blood level of hemoglobin and nutritional biomarkers such as total protein, albumin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and essential amino acids were measured.

Results

In underweight, the multiple comparison test showed that dietary intakes of fat, saturated fatty acid, and monosaturated fatty acid were significantly higher and carbohydrate intake was significantly lower in the group with the lowest hemoglobin level, whereas intakes of iron were the same across groups. Multivariate regression coefficients suggested that replacing fat with protein or carbohydrates increased hemoglobin levels under isocaloric conditions. Additionally, significant positive correlations were observed between hemoglobin levels and nutritional biomarkers.

Conclusion

Dietary iron intake did not change across different hemoglobin groups among Japanese underweight women. However, our results suggested that an imbalanced dietary macronutrient induces anabolic status and hemoglobin synthesis deterioration among them. Especially, a higher fat intake may be a risk factor for lower hemoglobin.

Metabolomic Links between Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake and Obesity

BACKGROUND

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is highly associated with obesity, but the metabolic mechanism underlying this correlation is not understood.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to examine metabolomic links between SSB intake and obesity to understand metabolic mechanisms.

DESIGN

We examined the association of plasma metabolomic profiles with SSB intake and obesity risk in 781 participants, aged 45-75 y, in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS) using generalized linear models, controlling for potential confounding factors. Based on identified metabolites, we conducted pathway enrichment analysis to identify potential metabolic pathways that link SSB intake and obesity risk. Variants in genes encoding enzymes known to function in identified metabolic pathways were examined for their interactions with SSB intake on obesity.

RESULTS

SSB intake was correlated with BMI (β = 0.607, P=0.045). Among 526 measured metabolites, 86 showed a significant correlation with SSB intake and 148 with BMI (P ≤ 0.05); 28 were correlated with both SSB intake and BMI (P ≤ 0.05). Pathway enrichment analysis identified the phosphatidylcholine and lysophospholipid pathways as linking SSB intake to obesity, after correction for multiple testing. Furthermore, 8 of 10 genes functioning in these two pathways showed strong interaction with SSB intake on BMI. Our results further identified participants who may exhibit an increased risk of obesity when consuming SSB.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified two key metabolic pathways that link SSB intake to obesity, revealing the potential of phosphatidylcholine and lysophospholipid to modulate how SSB intake can increase obesity risk. The interaction between genetic variants related to these pathways and SSB intake on obesity further supports the mechanism.

The Contribution of Lipids to the Interindividual Response of Vitamin K Biomarkers to Vitamin K Supplementation

SCOPE

A better understanding of factors contributing to interindividual variability in biomarkers of vitamin K can enhance the understanding of the equivocal role of vitamin K in cardiovascular disease. Based on the known biology of phylloquinone, the major form of vitamin K, it is hypothesized that plasma lipids contribute to the variable response of biomarkers of vitamin K metabolism to phylloquinone supplementation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The association of plasma lipids and 27 lipid-related genetic variants with the response of biomarkers of vitamin K metabolism is examined in a secondary analysis of data from a 3-year phylloquinone supplementation trial in men (n = 66) and women (n = 85). Year 3 plasma triglycerides (TG), but not total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, or HDL-cholesterol, are associated with the plasma phylloquinone response (men: β = 1.01, p < 0.001, R2  = 0.34; women: β = 0.61, p = 0.008, R2  = 0.11; sex interaction p = 0.077). Four variants and the TG-weighted genetic risk score are associated with the plasma phylloquinone response in men only. Plasma lipids are not associated with changes in biomarkers of vitamin K function (undercarboxylated osteocalcin and matrix gla protein) in either sex.

CONCLUSION

Plasma TG are an important determinant of the interindividual response of plasma phylloquinone to phylloquinone supplementation, but changes in biomarkers of vitamin K carboxylation are not influenced by lipids.

Metabolomic Links Between Sweetened Beverage Intake and Obesity (OR31-05-19)

Objectives

Sweetened beverage (SB) consumption is highly associated with obesity, but the mechanism underlying this correlation is not understood. Our objective was to examine metabolomic links between SB intake and obesity to understand metabolic mechanisms.

Methods

We examined the association of plasma metabolomic profiles with SB intake and obesity risk in 782 participants, aged 45–75y, in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS) using linear regression models, controlling for potential confounding factors. Based on identified metabolites, we conducted pathway enrichment analysis to identify potential metabolic pathways that link SB intake and obesity risk. Genetic variants in identified metabolic pathways were examined for their interaction with SB intake on metabolites of interest and obesity. Interactions between SB and genotypes on obesity were evaluated for replication in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS).

Results

In BPRHS, SB intake was highly correlated with BMI (β = 0.455, P < 0.05). Among 526 measurable metabolites, 109 metabolites showed significant correlation with SB intake and 170 metabolites with BMI (P < 0.05); and 43 were correlated with both SB intake and BMI. Pathway enrichment analysis identified two metabolic pathways: phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and lysophospholipid pathways linking SB intake and obesity, after correction for multiple testing. Focusing on the PE pathway, we identified 12 SNPs in nine genes that were significantly associated with BMI. At least four genetic variants showed suggestive interaction with SB intake on obesity risk and obesity-associated metabolites. In particular, CC carriers of rs4646360 in the PEMT (Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase) gene had increased risk of obesity when consuming SB. We replicated this finding in the FHS study.

Conclusions

We identified two key metabolic pathways linking SB intake to obesity, revealing potential mechanisms by which SB intake increases the risk of obesity. The interaction between genetic variants in the identified pathway and SB intake on obesity and obesity-associated metabolites further supports the mechanism.

Funding Sources

This work was funded by the US Department of Agriculture, under agreement no. 8050-51,000-098-00D, and NIH grants P01 AG023394, P50 HL105185, and R01 AG027087.

Selective intracellular vaporisation of antibody-conjugated phase-change nano-droplets in vitro

While chemotherapy is a major mode of cancer therapeutics, its efficacy is limited by systemic toxicities and drug resistance. Recent advances in nanomedicine provide the opportunity to reduce systemic toxicities. However, drug resistance remains a major challenge in cancer treatment research. Here we developed a nanomedicine composed of a phase-change nano-droplet (PCND) and an anti-cancer antibody (9E5), proposing the concept of ultrasound cancer therapy with intracellular vaporisation. PCND is a liquid perfluorocarbon nanoparticle with a liquid–gas phase that is transformable upon exposure to ultrasound. 9E5 is a monoclonal antibody targeting epiregulin (EREG). We found that 9E5-conjugated PCNDs are selectively internalised into targeted cancer cells and kill the cells dynamically by ultrasound-induced intracellular vaporisation. In vitro experiments show that 9E5-conjugated PCND targets 97.8% of high-EREG-expressing cancer cells and kills 57% of those targeted upon exposure to ultrasound. Furthermore, direct observation of the intracellular vaporisation process revealed the significant morphological alterations of cells and the release of intracellular contents.

Impairment of vesicular ATP release affects glucose metabolism and increases insulin sensitivity

Neuroendocrine cells store ATP in secretory granules and release it along with hormones that may trigger a variety of cellular responses in a process called purinergic chemical transmission. Although the vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT) has been shown to be involved in vesicular storage and release of ATP, its physiological relevance in vivo is far less well understood. In Vnut knockout (Vnut(-/-)) mice, we found that the loss of functional VNUT in adrenal chromaffin granules and insulin granules in the islets of Langerhans led to several significant effects. Vesicular ATP accumulation and depolarization-dependent ATP release were absent in the chromaffin granules of Vnut(-/-) mice. Glucose-responsive ATP release was also absent in pancreatic β-cells in Vnut(-/-) mice, while glucose-responsive insulin secretion was enhanced to a greater extent than that in wild-type tissue. Vnut(-/-) mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance and low blood glucose upon fasting due to increased insulin sensitivity. These results demonstrated an essential role of VNUT in vesicular storage and release of ATP in neuroendocrine cells in vivo and suggest that vesicular ATP and/or its degradation products act as feedback regulators in catecholamine and insulin secretion, thereby regulating blood glucose homeostasis.

Atmospheric radionuclides transported to Fukuoka, Japan remote from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power complex following the nuclear accident

Radionuclides were detected from the Fukushima nuclear accident at Fukuoka, Japan, 1000 km west of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power complex. Iodine-131 was first detected 3 d after the accident, indicating that it was probably transported dispersively because of local meteorological conditions, and not global air circulation. The maximum concentrations, 5.07 mBq m(-3) for (131)I, 4.04 mBq m(-3) for (134)Cs, and 4.12 mBq m(-3) for (137)Cs, were recorded in particles collected on April 6, 2011. However, these concentration levels decreased below the detection limit by April 26, 2011. Gaseous (131)I accounted for 30%-67% of the total (131)I content. The increase in dose by inhalation was negligible at Fukuoka.

The hematopoietic cell-specific Rho GTPase inhibitor ARHGDIB/D4GDI limits HIV type 1 replication

Rho GTPases are able to influence the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). However, little is known about the regulation of HIV-1 replication by guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors (GDIs), one of the three major regulators of the Rho GTPase activation cycle. From a T cell-based cDNA library screening, ARHGDIB/RhoGDIβ, a hematopoietic lineage-specific GDI family protein, was identified as a negative regulator of HIV-1 replication. Up-regulation of ARHGDIB attenuated the replication of HIV-1 in multiple T cell lines. The results showed that (1) a significant portion of RhoA and Rac1, but not Cdc42, exists in the GTP-bound active form under steady-state conditions, (2) ectopic ARHGDIB expression reduced the F-actin content and the active forms of both RhoA and Rac1, and (3) HIV-1 infection was attenuated by either ectopic expression of ARHGDIB or inhibition of the RhoA signal cascade at the HIV-1 Env-dependent early phase of the viral life cycle. This is in good agreement with the previous finding that RhoA and Rac1 promote HIV-1 entry by increasing the efficiency of receptor clustering and virus-cell membrane fusion. In conclusion, the ARHGDIB is a lymphoid-specific intrinsic negative regulator of HIV-1 replication that acts by simultaneously inhibiting RhoA and Rac1 functions.

Regulation of cyclin T1 expression and function by an alternative splice variant that skips exon 7 and contains a premature termination codon

Cyclin T1 (CCNT1), a gene containing nine exons, forms the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) complex and regulates a wide variety of biological processes including transcription. We discovered a novel splice variant of CCNT1 that lacks exon 7 (dE7). RT-PCR analysis revealed that the dE7 transcript was detected in almost all tissues examined. The dE7/FL transcript ratio was high in quiescent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and in tissues poor in cell division; however, it was low in activated PBMC and in tissues with high cell proliferative potential. These results suggest that exon 7 skipping is linked to cell cycle progression. Increasing the dE7/FL transcript ratio resulted in the reduction of CCNT1 protein levels, indicating that the expression of CCNT1 protein is controlled by exon skipping. Exon 7 skipping yields a +1 frameshift at exon 8, which generates a premature termination codon (PTC). The dE7 transcript levels increased when cells were treated with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) or a kinase inhibitor wortmannin (WORT), whilst the FL transcript levels were unchanged, suggesting that the dE7 transcript is a target of nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). Importantly, reduction of dE7 transcript by WORT correlated well with the decrement of CCNT1 protein expression. The dE7 transcript would produce an approximately 23kDa protein that covers approximately 70% of the cyclin box. The ectopically expressed dE7 protein physically interacted with CDK9 and competed with FL CCNT1 for CDK9, thus should act dominant-negatively on FL CCNT1. The replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), heavily dependent on the CCNT1 function, was inhibited by dE7 protein through the attenuation of Tat/long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven transcription. Taken together, these results suggest that dE7 is a novel splice variant that regulates the expression and function of CCNT1.

Therapeutic potential of HIV protease-activable CASP3

Development of a therapeutic application of CASP3/caspase 3/CPP32, an executor of apoptosis, has been challenging because regulation of its activation is complicated. This study aimed to inhibit cancer cell growth and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) propagation through a CASP3 mutant, CASP3*, activable by HIV-1-encoded aspartate protease. Active CASP3* was delivered to leukemic cells using a protein transduction vehicle, the lentivirus-like nanoparticle (LENA), which should contain thousands of CASP3*-Gag protein molecules and release the activated CASP3* into the target cell cytoplasm. CASP3*-LENA induced apoptosis in various types of leukemic cells. In addition to being effective against leukemic cells, constitutive expression of CASP3* restricted HIV-1 propagation in SUP-T1 cells. The attenuation of HIV-1 replication in SUP-T1/CASP3* cells was attributed to the elimination of HIV-1-infected cells by apoptosis. These data suggest that CASP3* has therapeutic potential against both lymphoid malignancies and HIV-1 infection.

Detecting sweet and umami tastes in the gastrointestinal tract

Information about nutrients is a critical part of food selection in living creatures. Each animal species has developed its own way to safely seek and obtain the foods necessary for them to survive and propagate. Necessarily, humans and other vertebrates have developed special chemosensory organs such as taste and olfactory organs. Much attention, recently, has been given to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as another chemosensory organ. Although the GI tract had been considered to be solely for digestion and absorption of foods and nutrients, researchers have recently found taste-signalling elements, including receptors, in this tissue. Further studies have revealed that taste cells in the oral cavity and taste-like cells in the GI tract appear to share common characteristics. Major receptors to detect umami, sweet and bitter are found in the GI tract, and it is now proposed that taste-like cells reside in the GI tract to sense nutrients and help maintain homeostasis. In this review, we summarize recent findings of chemoreception especially through sweet and umami sensors in the GI tract. In addition, the possibility of purinergic transmission from taste-like cells in the GI tract to vagus nerves is discussed.

Identification of the vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT) in taste cells

Taste cells are chemosensory epithelial cells that sense distinct taste qualities. It is the type II taste cell that express G-protein coupled receptors to sense either umami, sweet, or bitter compounds. Whereas several reports have suggested involvement of ATP in taste signal transduction, there is a paucity of molecular information about how ATP is stored and being released. The recent discovery of a novel vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT) led us to examine whether VNUT exist in the taste tissue where ATP is to be released for taste signal transmission. Here, we report that VNUT is selectively expressed in type II cell but not in type III taste cell. In addition, we show that during taste bud development VNUT expression is always accompanied by the expression of type II taste cell markers. Our results, together with previous studies, strongly suggest that VNUT plays a role in type II taste cell.

Roles of glutamate receptor delta 2 subunit (GluRdelta 2) and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1 (mGluR1) in climbing fiber synapse elimination during postnatal cerebellar development

Climbing fiber (CF) synapse formation onto cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) is critically dependent on the synaptogenesis from parallel fibers (PFs), the other input to PCs. Previous studies revealed that deletion of the glutamate receptor delta2 subunit (GluRdelta2) gene results in persistent multiple CF innervation of PCs with impaired PF synaptogenesis, whereas mutation of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1 (mGluR1) gene causes multiple CF innervation with normal PF synaptogenesis. We demonstrate that atypical CF-mediated EPSCs (CF-EPSCs) with slow rise times and small amplitudes coexisted with typical CF-EPSCs with fast rise times and large amplitudes in PCs from GluRdelta2 mutant cerebellar slices. CF-EPSCs in mGluR1 mutant and wild-type PCs had fast rise times. Atypical slow CF responses of GluRdelta2 mutant PCs were associated with voltage-dependent Ca(2+) signals that were confined to PC distal dendrites. In the wild-type and mGluR1 mutant PCs, CF-induced Ca(2+) signals involved both proximal and distal dendrites. Morphologically, CFs of GluRdelta2 mutant mice extended to the superficial regions of the molecular layer, whereas those of wild-type and mGluR1 mutant mice did not innervate the superficial one-fifth of the molecular layer. It is therefore likely that surplus CFs of GluRdelta2 mutant mice form ectopic synapses onto distal dendrites, whereas those of wild-type and mGluR1 mutant mice innervate proximal dendrites. These findings suggest that GluRdelta2 is required for consolidating PF synapses and restricting CF synapses to the proximal dendrites, whereas the mGluR1-signaling pathway does not affect PF synaptogenesis but is involved in eliminating surplus CF synapses at the proximal dendrites.

Enhancement of hippocampal LTP, reference memory and sensorimotor gating in mutant mice lacking a telencephalon-specific cell adhesion molecule

Telencephalin (TLCN) is a cell adhesion molecule selectively expressed in the telencephalon of the mammalian brain. The mutant mice lacking TLCN had no detectable abnormalities in their neural development and synaptic structures. Ablation of TLCN increased the hippocampal long-term potentiation and its saturation level. The TLCN mutation selectively enhanced the performance of the radial maze and water-finding tasks, learning tasks with appetitive reinforcers, but not the contextual fear conditioning and Morris water maze tasks with aversive stimuli for conditioning. Furthermore, the TLCN mutant mice showed an increase of prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response. These results suggest that TLCN is a determinant of the dynamic range of synaptic plasticity and plays roles in reward-motivated learning and memory and sensorimotor gating.

N-ethylmaleimide inhibits xanthine oxidase activity with no detectable change in xanthine dehydrogenase activity in rabbit liver

The effect of an alkylating agent, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), on the activities of xanthine oxidase (XO) and xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) in the presence and absence of Cu2+ or trypsin in the cytosolic fraction from rabbit liver was examined. At concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 2.0 microM, allopurinol, which is generally considered to be a XO inhibitor, suppressed the XD activity (41.5-93.4% inhibition) in addition to the XO activity (28.6-88.4% inhibition) under basal conditions, without the addition of Cu2+ or trypsin. In contrast, NEM (100-400 microM) inhibited the XO activity (35.7-85.7% inhibition) without affecting the XD activity. Also, NEM inhibited the Cu2+- and trypsin-induced XO activities, but did not affect the XD activity at the same concentration range. These results demonstrate that NEM can be a selective inhibitor of XO activity in rabbit liver.

Impaired reductive regeneration of ascorbic acid in the Goto-Kakizaki diabetic rat

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a naturally occurring major antioxidant that is essential for the scavenging of toxic free radicals in both plasma and tissues. AA levels in plasma and tissues have been reported to be significantly lower than normal in diabetic animals and humans, and might contribute to the complications found at the late stages of diabetes. In this study, plasma and hepatic AA levels and AA regeneration were studied in the Goto-Kakizaki diabetic rat (GK rat) to elucidate the mechanism of decreasing plasma and hepatic AA levels in diabetes. AA concentrations in the plasma and liver were significantly lower in GK than in control rats. AA levels in primary cultured hepatocytes derived from GK rats were lower than those derived from control Wistar rats with or without dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) in the medium. Among various enzyme activities that reduce DHA to AA, the NADPH-dependent regeneration of AA in the liver was significantly suppressed in GK rats. Northern blot analysis revealed that only the expression of 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (AKR) was significantly suppressed in these rats. These results suggest that decreased AA-regenerating activity, probably through decreased expression of AKR, contributes to the decreased AA levels and increased oxidative stress in GK rats.

Preferential impairment of nitric oxide-mediated endothelium-dependent relaxation in human cervical arteries after irradiation

BACKGROUND

Vascular abnormalities are a major cause of postoperative complications in irradiated tissues. Endothelial cell dysfunction characterized by diminished endothelium-dependent relaxation may be involved. We examined the endothelium-dependent relaxation and morphology of the endothelium in irradiated human cervical arteries.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Irradiated arteries were taken from the neck region of patients who had radiation therapy. Arteries from patients who did not receive radiation therapy were used as controls. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine and A23187 was impaired in irradiated arteries. Norepinephrine-induced contraction and sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation were unchanged. In control arteries, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine and indomethacin each caused a partial inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation. In irradiated arteries, the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation was unaffected by these agents, but it was abolished by high K(+). Acetylcholine produced similar degrees of hyperpolarization in control and irradiated arteries. Immunohistochemical examination for endothelial nitric oxide synthase indicated no expression in the endothelium of irradiated arteries. Electron scanning microscopy showed morphologically intact endothelial cells in irradiated arteries.

CONCLUSIONS

In irradiated human cervical arteries, the nitric oxide- and prostacyclin-mediated endothelium-dependent relaxation, but not endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor-mediated relaxation, are specifically impaired, without significant morphological damage of the endothelium. The impaired nitric oxide-mediated relaxation was associated with a lack of endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression. Our results suggest the importance of impaired endothelial function in irradiated human blood vessels, which may partly explain the development of vascular stenosis and poor surgical wound healing in irradiated tissues.

Different expressions of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit mRNAs between visceromotor and somatomotor neurons of the rat lumbosacral spinal cord

The glutamatergic transmission system plays a key role in afferent and efferent pathways involved in micturition. By in situ hybridization combined with retrograde Fast Blue labeling, expression of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptor (GluR-A to -D) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NR1 and NR2A-D) subunit mRNAs were examined in visceromotor and somatomotor neurons of the rat lumbosacral spinal cord. Parasympathetic preganglionic neurons (PGNs) in the intermediolateral nucleus highly expressed GluR-A and GluR-B subunit mRNAs, with very low levels for GluR-C and GluR-D subunits. As for the NMDA receptor, PGNs were associated with abundant signals for NR1 subunit mRNA, but without any NR2 subunit mRNAs. On the other hand, somatomotor neurons in the ventral horn (dorsolateral nucleus) express all four AMPA receptor subunit mRNAs, showing relatively abundant expressions of GluR-C and GluR-D subunit mRNA compared with PGNs. In addition to high levels of NR1 subunit mRNA, dorsolateral nucleus neurons moderately expressed NR2A and NR2B subunit mRNAs. These results suggest that molecular organization of both AMPA and NMDA receptor channels are distinct between PGNs and dorsolateral nucleus neurons. Considering that native NMDA receptors are heteromeric channels composed of NR1 and NR2 subunits, it seems likely that dorsolateral nucleus neurons, not PGNs, are provided with functional NMDA receptors, which could induce activity-dependent changes in synaptic transmission in the efferent pathway for the lower urinary tract.

Early establishment of lesion-insensitive mature barrelettes corresponding to upper lip vibrissae in developing mice

Vibrissae are tactile sense organs on the face of non-human mammals, and build up topographical representations in the brainstem trigeminal sensory nucleus called barrelettes. In the present study, we examined postnatal development of barrelettes corresponding to upper lip vibrissae by cytochrome oxidase (CO) histochemistry. At nuclear regions corresponding to upper lip vibrissae, a few segregated barrelettes first appeared at postnatal day 2 (P2), and segregation became clear for most upper lip barrelettes at P4. Compared with major barrelettes corresponding to mystacial vibrissae on the snout, the development of segregated pattern formation for upper lip barrelettes was retarded by 1-2 days. When vibrissa-related patterns were examined 5 days after infraorbital nerve transection, upper lip barrelettes became obscure in all mice lesioned at P1 and P2. Lesion-insensitive upper lip barrelettes first emerged in a few mice lesioned at P3 (33%), and the percentage attained 100% at P6. This temporal transition from lesion-sensitive to lesion-insensitive barrelettes was 3 days ahead of mystacial barrelettes. Therefore, upper lip barrelettes achieve rapid development within a narrow time frame during the first postnatal week. The early and rapid establishment of lesion-insensitive, mature barrelettes can be interpreted as suggesting the importance of oral sensory function in neonatal life.

Virus-associated haemophagocytic syndrome caused by rubella in an adult

Haemophagocytic syndrome is a systemic clinicopathological entity characterized by systemic proliferation of benign haemophagocytic histiocytes, fever, cytopenia, abnormal liver function and, frequently, coagulopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. Its occurrence has been documented in association with viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections, a wide spectrum of malignant neoplasms, autoimmune diseases and drugs. We report a case of rubella virus-associated haemophagocytic syndrome in a previously healthy 29-year-old woman. Blood tests showed cytopenia, especially severe thrombocytopenia, liver dysfunction, hyperferritinaemia and hypercytokinaemia. Bone marrow examination showed many mature histiocytes with active haemophagocytosis. A skin biopsy from the rash revealed perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrates with haemophagocytic histiocytes in the upper and mid-dermis. The patient was treated with antibiotics and immunoglobulin, and by supportive measures including platelet transfusion, and recovered completely.

[Morphometrical analysis of projection neurons in reeler mutant mice]

The projection neurons in the cerebral cortex are localized in the specific layers, and present the characteristic shape of cell bodies and dendritic arborization according to their properties. To examine what factors could cause the morphological characteristics of the reeler neurons, of which cortical layers are generally inverted, we morphometrically analyzed three types of projection neurons, callosal (CC-neurons), corticospinal (CS-neurons), and corticothalamic neurons (CT-neurons), by the retrograded labeling method. The results were as follows: 1) Although in the normal mice, the CC-neuron cell bodies in the layer 2 + 3 were significantly smaller than ones in the layer 5, the reeler CC-neurons were uniform regardless of their intracortical positions. 2) The cell bodies of the reeler CS-neurons were normal in size throughout the entire cortex. 3) The cell bodies of reeler CT-neurons were generally larger than normal ones, and they were larger in the location near the pia mater. 4) The apical dendrites of the normal CC-, CS- and CT-neurons were generally directed toward the layer 1 of neocortex, which is the plexiform zone (PZ) in the embryo stage, whereas those of the reeler CC- and CS-neurons were directed toward the upper-middle zone of neocortex, which is the interplexiform zone (IPZ) that corresponds with the normal PZ; however, those of the reeler CT-neurons were not oriented toward dominant direction. These results suggest that the sizes of CS-neurons vary depending upon the target of the projection, whereas CC- and CT-neurons are influenced by the volume of afferent inputs as well as the target of the projection. The afferent factors, especially thalamocortical fibers, may also influence the direction of the apical dendrites of CT-neurons.

Extra-junctional localization of glutamate transporter EAAT4 at excitatory Purkinje cell synapses

We used silver-enhanced immunogold electron microscopy to reveal synaptic localization of the glutamate transporter EAAT4 in mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs). Gold-silver particles representing the EAAT4 were densely localized on extra-junctional membrane, but not on junctional membrane of PC spines in contact with parallel fiber or climbing fiber terminals. No particle accumulations were observed at inhibitory synapses formed on cell body and dendritic shafts of PCs. Therefore, the EAAT4 is selectively targeted to the extra-junctional site of excitatory PC synapses. The finding suggests that the EAAT4 transports glutamate or its related amino acids from outside the synaptic cleft, which would facilitate glutamate diffusion from the synaptic cleft to the extrasynaptic space and restrict glutamate spillover to adjacent synapses.

Sex differences in the shapes of several parts of the young Japanese face

For the purpose of studying the sex differences of the human face we collected five separate images, which consist of several parts of the face, from frontal view photographs of 48 male and 52 female college students. We traced outlines of their faces with simple lines (traced items), and made reproductions of the photographs of their eyes, mouth and nose by using a copying machine (reproduced items). The test subjects were 16 males and 8 females. They looked at parts of the face shown in each image, and categorized them individually by judging on their sex. Then, we calculated the percentages of correct judgments (percentage correct) for each image. By comparing the percentage correct between male and female we concluded that the sex of the subjects did not affect the results of their judgments. In the traced items the percentage correct for the face as a whole, which contained the outlines of the eyes, mouth, nose and the lower jaw, was 69%, but it decreased to 61% when the outline of the lower jaw was removed. Hence, the outline of the lower jaw apparently has a characteristic shape easily noticed by males. In the reproduced items the percentage correct was 65% for the eyes, 68% for the mouth and 58% for the nose. The mouth, therefore, has more distinguishing characteristics than the eyes or nose, especially with females. On the other hand, there is no correlation between the percentage correct for the eye, mouth and nose items. Hence, we concluded that the sexual specificity for the shape of the young Japanese face appears on their parts independently.

Cerebellum of the adult reeler mutant mouse contains two Purkinje cell populations with respect to gene expression for the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channel

Recent studies have identified five NMDA receptor subunits, which exhibit distinct cellular expressions in the normal rodent brain. The purpose of this investigation is to clarify the molecular-anatomical organization in the cerebellum of the reeler mutant mouse, in which various categories of the Purkinje cells are present as to the cell position and synaptic connectivity. In comparison with the distribution of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor mRNA, a molecular marker specific to the Purkinje cells, the epsilon 1 subunit mRNA of the NMDA receptor channel was found in the adjacent sections to be expressed in a subset of the Purkinje cells. In the rostrocaudal extent, the Purkinje cells expressing the epsilon 1 subunit mRNA were distributed preferentially in the rostral cerebellum, irrespective of the normal and heterotopic positions. In the mediolateral extent, they formed segregated cell clusters, interposed by epsilon 1 subunit mRNA-negative clusters. Hybridizing signals for the zeta 1 subunit mRNA were found in all the Purkinje cell population, whereas those for the epsilon 2, epsilon 3, and epsilon 4 subunit mRNAs were not detected in the cells. These findings suggest that the reeler cerebellum is topographically compartmentalized by two subpopulations of the Purkinje cells, one expressing the epsilon 1 and zeta 1 subunit mRNAs, and the other expressing the zeta 1 subunit mRNA alone.

Developmental studies on the interparietal part of the human occipital squama

The development of ossification centres in the membranous occipital squama is described, based on observations on human fetal skulls. The interparietal part develops basically from 3 pairs, 1 primary pair and 2 secondary pairs; an additional 4th pair is occasionally observed. The so-called separated interparietal bones (Inca bones) are formed by a failure of fusion between the primary and secondary centres, not between the supraoccipital and interparietal parts. The preinterparietal bones, which are developed from the additional 4th pair of interparietal ossification centres, are clearly differentiated from other anomalies in the lambda region by the shape of their territory and by their location. The issue still remains as to how to establish their identity in skulls from individuals of advanced age.

Distribution of guanine nucleotide-binding protein in the brain of the reeler mutant mouse

The localization of a GTP-binding protein (G(o)) in the cerebellar and cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the normal and reeler mutant mouse was immunohistochemically examined using affinity-purified antibody raised against the alpha subunit of G(o). Although the general distribution pattern of G(o)-immunoreactive products in the brain of the normal mouse, i.e., abundant in the neuropil but absent from neuronal cell bodies, is also seen in the reeler brain, some differences are present, as described below. Strong G(o)-immunoreactive products are found in the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex of the normal mouse. In the reeler cerebellum, in addition to the strong G(o)-immunoreactivity of the thin molecular layer, moderate G(o)-immunoreactivities are also found in the granular cell layer and the central cerebellar mass. G(o)-immunoreactive products are distributed throughout all layers of the cerebral cortex of the normal and reeler mouse. However, layer I of the normal cerebral cortex is more strongly stained with this antibody than the underlying layers, whereas the upper third of the reeler cerebral cortex is more strongly stained than the lower two-thirds. In the hippocampus of the normal mouse, G(o)-immunoreactive products are localized in the neuropil of the stratum oriens, stratum radiatum and stratum lacunosum-moleculare, but absent from the cell bodies of the pyramidal cells and their apical dendritic shafts. Such a distribution pattern of G(o)-immunoreactive products is also seen in the hippocampus of the reeler mouse, except that G(o)-immunonegative pyramidal cells split into 2 or 3 laminae.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abnormal synaptic architecture in the cerebellar cortex of a new dystonic mutant mouse, Wriggle Mouse Sagami

The 'Wriggle Mouse Sagami (WMS)' is a new neurological mutant with severe dystonic movements of the trunk and extremities whose pathological characters are transmitted by an autosomal recessive gene (wri). Manifestations first appear at 10 days to 2 weeks after birth and progress until 12 weeks of age. In spite of the severe dystonic movements, no marked abnormalities had been found in the cyto- or myeloarchitecture of the central nervous system or that of the peripheral nerves, except for the impaired development of the dendritic trees of the Purkinje cells. In this study we quantitatively demonstrated decreased synaptic connections of parallel fibers on the dendritic spines of the Purkinje cells as early as 2 weeks after birth. On the other hand, synaptic boutons on the dendritic shafts and somata of the Purkinje cells and synaptic bouton-like structures which contained synaptic vesicles but without synaptic membrane specialization, were significantly increased in the molecular layer at 9 weeks of age. Glutamic acid decarboxylase immunohistochemistry suggested that some of these increased synaptic boutons and other bouton-like structures may have originated in GABA interneurons, such as stellate cells, basket cells and Golgi cells, and in the cerebellar nuclei. Because of the severity of the manifestations, it appears that synaptic alteration in interneurons also occurs in the other parts of the CNS.

Dendritic arbolization of large pyramidal neurons in the motor cortex of normal and reeler mutant mouse

Reeler, an autosomal recessive mutation in mice, is characterized by abnormal positioning of the neurons in the cerebral cortex. We performed a descriptive analysis on the arborization of dendritic processes of large pyramidal neurons in the motor cortex (hindlimb area) of normal and reeler mice, as seen in the Golgi preparations. In the normal mouse, somata of large pyramidal neurons were located in the layer V, and their apical dendrites ascend vertically to the pial surfaces. Their basal dendrites proceed horizontally or inferiorly. In the reeler mouse, typical large pyramidal neurons with a normal (upright) apical dendrite and a variety of atypical large pyramidal neurons with a disoriented apical dendrite were radially scattered within the motor cortex. Typical large pyramidal neurons occupied the lower half of the motor cortex, whereas atypical large pyramidal neurons were predominantly observed in the upper half of the motor cortex. Atypical large pyramidal neurons were further divided into inverted, tumbled, V-shaped, bipolar and superficial polymorphic cells, as previously reported (Terashima et al., J. Comp. Neurol. 218:314-326, 1983). Superficial polymorphic cells localized in the layer of polymorphic cells and the layer of the large pyramidal cells were characterized by the extremely poor dendritic arborizations and the smooth surface of the dendrites, which suggests development of dendrites of these neurons was deranged by the reeler genetic locus.

Immunoelectron microscopic evidence for organ differences in the composition of peroxisome-specific membrane polypeptides among three rat organs: liver, kidney, and small intestine

We examined the distribution of peroxisome-specific membrane polypeptides (PMPs) among peroxisomes of the liver, renal cortex, and jejunal mucosa, using antibodies for 70 KD, 26 KD and 22 KD PMPs. Immunoblot analysis showed signals for 70 KD polypeptide in all three kinds of tissue, but for the other two only in the liver and renal cortex, with neither being detected in jejunal mucosa. The total amounts of PMPs increased in all three organs with DEHP (di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate) administration. By immunoelectron microscopic analysis using protein A-gold, the three PMPs were localized along the peroxisomal membrane. Quantitation of the gold particles associated with the peroxisomal membrane showed an increase in the density of 70 KD and 26 KD PMPs but a decrease in 22 KD PMP with the administration of DEHP. The presence of tissue-specific localizations of PMPs suggest the 70 KD PMP is a common constituent of peroxisomes of these three tissues, whereas 26 KD and 22 KD PMPs are absent in microperoxisomes of jejunal mucosal epithelium.

[Pterion and epipteric bones in Japanese adults and fetuses, with special reference to their formation and variations]

The formation and variations of the pterion and epipteric bones were examined in total of 614 Japanese skulls. The materials used consisted of 258 skulls of Japanese fetuses ranging from the fourth to the ninth month, 20 skulls of Japanese juveniles from the third month to 17 years of age, and 336 skulls of Japanese adults from 20 to 89 years of age. For the skulls examined the incidence of ossification in the fetal sphenoidal fontanelle was 3.6% on each side, whereas epipteric bones were observed in more than 10% of the juvenile and adult pteria. Great variation was seen in the form of the adult pterion. The most common form was a sphenoparietal contact in which the pteria were classified into usual (306 pteria), high (119), low (21), and narrow (32) types Another form of this type, a frontal process of the temporal bone without contact with frontal bone, was found in five pteria. The form of frontotemporal contact is classified into two types: One is with a frontal process of the temporal bone (17 pteria), and another is a K-shaped contact referred to as "stellate" (four). The two types were observable in adult skulls of all ages, although the fused pteria and fusing epipteric bones were most often seen in cases over 40 years of age. The results suggest that the pterion formation has two phases, the first occurring before the occlusion of sphenoidal fontanelle, and the second starting after 40 years of age.

Immunoelectron microscopic study of a new D-amino acid oxidase-immunoreactive subcompartment in rat liver peroxisomes

We report the presence of a new subcompartment in rat liver peroxisomal matrix in which only D-amino acid oxidase is localized and other matrix enzymes are absent. By electron microscopic observation, the rat liver peroxisome has generally been considered to consist of a single limiting membrane, an electron-dense crystalline core, and a homogeneous matrix. Immunohistochemical staining for D-amino acid oxidase by the protein A-gold technique revealed the presence of a small area in the matrix that was immunoreactive for the enzyme and was less electron-dense than the surrounding matrix. The localization of D-amino acid oxidase in this small area of the peroxisomal matrix was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy on freeze-substituted tissues processed without chemical fixation. To analyze the characteristics of the electron-lucent area, immunoreactivity for various peroxisomal enzymes, including catalase, acyl-CoA oxidase, enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional protein, 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, L-alpha-hydroxy acid oxidase (isozyme B), and glycolate oxidase (isozyme A), was assayed. The electron-lucent area was negative for all of these. By double staining for D-amino acid oxidase and catalase, using colloidal gold particles of different sizes, these enzymes were shown to be located in separate areas in the matrix.

The validity of the thread test for evaluating nasal secretion in nasal allergy

The volume of nasal secretion is so small that it is difficult to measure. We placed a thread on the anterior surface of the inferior turbinate to measure the volume of nasal secretion in normal subjects and patients with nasal allergy. In 24 normal subjects, the average nasal secretion amounted to 1.09 wVmin. In 48 patients with nasal allergy, the volume of nasal secretion (1.94 ul/min) decreased significantly after nasal spraying; the subjective symptoms of sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, inconvenience in daily life and the objective signs such as watery rhinorrhea abated. The thread test results showed a good correlation with the above items in a quantitative analysis. The thread test is a simple way to measure a small volume of nasal secretion, and a useful indicator of the severity of watery rhinorrhea in patients with nasal allergy.

The validity of the thread test for evaluating nasal secretion in nasal allergy

The volume of nasal secretion is so small that it is difficult to measure. We placed a thread on the anterior surface of the inferior turbinate to measure the volume of nasal secretion in normal subjects and patients with nasal allergy. In 24 normal subjects, the average nasal secretion amounted to 1.09 microliter/min. In 48 patients with nasal allergy, the volume of nasal secretion (1.94 microliter/min) decreased significantly after nasal spraying: the subjective symptoms of sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, inconvenience in daily life and the objective signs such as watery rhinorrhea abated. The thread test results showed a good correlation with the above items in a quantitative analysis. The thread test is a simple way to measure a small volume of nasal secretion, and a useful indicator of the severity of watery rhinorrhea in patients with nasal allergy.

Synthesis, from cellobiose, of a trisaccharide closely related to the GlcNAc----GlcA----GlcN segment of the antithrombin-binding sequence of heparin

O-(2-Deoxy-2-sulfamido-6-O-sulfo-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1----4)- O-(beta-D- glucopyranosyluronic acid)-(1----4)-1,6-anhydro-2-deoxy-2-sulfamido-6-O-sulfo-beta-D-gl ucopyranose pentasodium salt (14) was synthesized as a heparin-related oligosaccharide. The glycosyl acceptor (derived from cellobiose) and a glycosyl donor, 6-O-acetyl-2-azido-3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide, were coupled in the presence of mercuric bromide and molecular sieves 4A to afford a 69% yield of fully protected trisaccharide, namely, O-(6-O-acetyl-2-azido-3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1 ----4)- O-(methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyluronate)-(1----4)-3-O-acetyl- 1,6-anhydro-2 - azido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose (10), which was converted into the partially sulfated trisaccharide 14. Compound 10 also underwent acetolysis to afford the glycosyl acetate, for further elongation of the glycosyl chain.

Whole-body retention and tissue distribution of 60Co in rats after oral administration of freshwater fish contaminated with 60Co

The purpose of this report is to compare the whole-body retention and tissue distribution in rats of 60Co administered by gavage as inorganic 60CoCl2 or in a form incorporated into freshwater fish. Orizias latipes were placed in vessels containing 21. of tap water with radioactive cobalt. Periodically thereafter the fish were sacrificed, homogenized, and administered to rats via a stomach tube. Control groups of rats were given the radionuclide alone or together with a homogenate of nonradioactive fish. The whole-body retention and tissue distribution of the radionuclide were determined with an Armac counter. The results revealed that rats gavaged with 60Co incorporated into the fish retained much more 60Co than control rats. This trend was notable in rats given fish kept in radioactive solution for longer periods. Marked differences in tissue distribution of 60Co were also observed between rats given 60Co incorporated into fish and control rats.