Chemical chaperone 4-phenylbutyrate prevents hearing loss and cochlear hair cell death in Cdh23erl/erl mutant mice.

We previously developed Cdh23 mutant mice (erl mice) as a model of hearing loss for otoprotective drug evaluation and showed that the erl mutation leads to hearing loss related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced cochlear hair cell apoptosis. Small molecular chemical chaperones, 4-phenylbutyrate (4PBA), targeting ER stress exert a neuroprotective effect. To evaluate whether 4PBA exerts an otoprotective effect, we intraperitoneally injected erl mice with 4PBA daily from postnatal age day 7 up to 12 weeks.

[Effect of opioid receptors on acute stress-induced changes in recognition memory].

Although ample evidence has shown that acute stress impairs memory, the influences of acute stress on different phases of memory, such as acquisition, consolidation and retrieval, are different. Experimental data from both human and animals support that endogenous opioid system plays a role in stress, as endogenous opioid release is increased and opioid receptors are activated during stress experience. On the other hand, endogenous opioid system mediates learning and memory.

Biodegradation of malachite green by strain Pseudomonas sp. K9 and cloning of the tmr2 gene associated with an ISPpu12.

A bacterial strain K9 capable of degrading malachite green was isolated from the sludge of the wastewater treatment system of a chemical plant. It was identified preliminarily as Pseudomonas sp. Strain K9 was also able to degrade other triphenylmethane dyes, such as Crystal Violet and Basic Fuchsin.