Allograft inflammatory factor-1 released from the cerebral microglia affect several organs in the body.

Allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is expressed in microglia. Unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (UCCAO) was conducted to elucidate mechanisms that regulate AIF-1 expression in C57BL/6 male mice. Immunohistochemical reactivity of microglia against anti-AIF-1 antibody was increased significantly in the brain of this model.

Effectiveness of Acid-electrolyzed Functional Water for Mouth Wash: An Study.

Background/aim: Acid-electrolyzed functional water (FW) is an efficient bactericide and gargling with FW might be an effective method of oral care. We investigated the possible use of FW as a mouth wash by an in vitro study.

Materials And Methods: The bactericidal effect of FW against different species of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans) was evaluated using the numbers of colony-forming units (CFU).

Repeated restraint stress modifies fatty acid and amino acid metabolism in the mouse skin.

In modern society, stress caused by relationships and emotions is one of the greatest social problems. Similar to humans, domestic and captive animals live under various stresses. Several stresses have been associated with skin disorders, such as atopic dermatitis, but there is a lack of reliable and objective indicators for the characterization of this association.

Relation between number of teeth, malnutrition, and 3-year mortality in elderly individuals ≥85 years.

Objective: The number of teeth has been shown to affect mortality. However, it is unclear why the number of teeth is associated with mortality. We focused on the number of teeth and malnutrition and examined whether these differences affect 3-year all-cause mortality among very elderly individuals.

Dietary conjugated linoleic acid modifies the brain endocannabinoid system in mice.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has a role of biogenic regulation through modifying prostaglandin production. However, its effects on related metabolites of arachidonate remain unclear. Therefore, the effects of CLA on brain endocannabinoid content as well as its analogs were investigated.

mRNA expression of lysyl oxidase and matrix metalloproteinase-12 in mouse skin.

Elastic fibers in the dermis play an important role in skin elasticity. The desmosine crosslinking structure constructed of lysyl oxidase (LOX) in elastic fibers contributes to elasticity, while elastic fibers are primarily degraded by one of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-12. We investigated the gender differences and diurnal variation of these enzymes.

Arachidonic acid prevents fatty liver induced by conjugated linoleic acid in mice.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has anti-obesity effects, but induces fatty liver in mice. The present study investigated whether co-administration of arachidonic acid (ARA) attenuates fat accumulation in the mouse liver induced by CLA. Male mice (8 weeks old) were given diets with either no addition of dietary fat (control), 3 % linoleic acid (LA), 3 % CLA, 3 % CLA+1 % ARA, or 3 % CLA+2 % ARA for 4 weeks.

Central administration of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone changes lipid metabolism in chicks.

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) is well known as an anorexigenic peptide in the brain of mammals. In addition to this, brain alpha-MSH enhances heat production (HP), indicating that the peptide acts as a catabolic factor in the regulation of energy metabolism. The anorexigenic effect of alpha-MSH is also observed in chicks (Gallus gallus), but no information has been available for its effect on HP.

Expression of endocannabinoid synthetic enzyme mRnas is correlated with cannabinoid 1 receptor mRNA in the mouse brain.

The two principal endocannabinoids, N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine (anandamide) and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-AG), are synthesized from arachidonic acid (AA) and AA is released as they are degraded. Therefore, the function of endocannabinoids is closely linked to AA, but the exact relationships have not been clarified, especially with respect to endocannabinoid metabolism. In the present study, oil rich in AA was administered (0, 100, 200 and 300 microl) orally to male mice for 7 days.

Intracerebroventricular injection of glucagon-like peptide-1 changes lipid metabolism in chicks.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), derived from proglucagon, is thought to act as a negative regulator of energy homeostasis in mammals, since intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of GLP-1 inhibits feeding behavior and enhances energy expenditure. The anorexigenic effect of GLP-1 is also observed in chicks, but whether brain GLP-1 enhances energy expenditure has not been investigated. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of ICV injection of GLP-1 on energy expenditure as well as metabolic changes in chicks.

The anorexic effect of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone is mediated by corticotrophin-releasing factor in chicks.

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is recognized as an anorexic peptide in the brain of vertebrates, but its mechanism of action has not been identified in birds. Therefore, we investigated whether the anorexic effect of alpha-MSH is mediated by corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the domestic chick. Firstly, we found that intracerebroventricular (i.

Central administration of vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide differentially regulates energy metabolism in chicks.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) are the members of the glucagon superfamily and bind to common receptors while PACAP also acts via the PACAP-specific receptor, PAC1. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Intracerebroventricular injection of neuropeptide Y modifies carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in chicks.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of neuropeptide Y (NPY) affects heat production (HP), body temperature, and plasma concentrations of metabolic fuels in chicks. ICV injection of NPY (0, 188 or 375 pmol) did not affect HP, but significantly lowered respiratory quotient as well as the rectal temperature. These data suggest that the energy sources for HP were modified by NPY in the body.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone increased heat production without the involvement of corticotropin-releasing factor in neonatal chicks.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) is a hypothalamic signal in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, and is well known as a hyperthermic hormone in the brain of chicks. The thermogenetic effect leads to the hypothesis that central TRH increases heat production (HP) in chicks. The purpose of the present study was to clarify whether central TRH affects HP of neonatal chicks, and if such an effect is mediated by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) since the thermogenetic effect of TRH is mediated by CRF.

Involvement of CRF on the anorexic effect of GLP-1 in layer chicks.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is recognized as an anorexic peptide in the brain of chicks. However, the mechanism underlying the inhibition of feeding has not been well studied. It is reported that GLP-1 activates neurons containing corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in the brain of mammals.

Modification of skin composition by conjugated linoleic acid alone or with combination of other fatty acids in mice.

The effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), linoleic acid (LA), and their combinations, on skin composition in mice were investigated. Mice (8 weeks old) were orally administered with either LA, GLA, CLA, LA + GLA, LA + CLA, or CLA + GLA for 4 weeks. Then, the skin was analysed for triacylglycerol content, fatty acid composition and collagen content.

Dietary Garcinia cambogia does not modify skin properties of mice with or without excessive sucrose intake.

The influence of 3.3% Garcinia cambogia extract on the properties of mouse skin with or without 10% sucrose water loading was investigated. Mice (7-week-old) were given free access to a control diet or a diet containing Garcinia cambogia extract.

Central administration of phosphatidylserine attenuates isolation stress-induced behavior in chicks.

The present study investigated whether centrally administered phosphatidylserine (PS) could modify the behavior of chicks under isolation-induced stress. Isolation stress-induced vocalization and spontaneous activity for 10 min, which were attenuated by intracerebroventricular (i.c.

Gamma-linolenic acid prevents conjugated linoleic acid-induced fatty liver in mice.

Objective: The present study was done to clarify the mechanism by which conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) induces fatty liver in mice and to attenuate this symptom by adding other dietary fatty acids.

Methods: Mice were given CLA short (12 h) or long (4 wk) term or given CLA with linoleic acid (LA) or gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) in the long term (4 wk). Total lipids, triacylglycerol, and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) levels in the liver were determined.

Dietary CLA and DHA modify skin properties in mice.

This study investigated the influence of PUFA on the properties of mouse skin. Mice (3 wk old) were given free access to oils high in linoleic acid, CLA, or DHA for 4 wk. At the end of the experiment, their skins were compared by both biochemical and histological methods.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibit feeding in the chick brain by different mechanisms.

Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-38 (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) inhibit feeding in chicks. However, the precise anorexigenic mechanisms have not been investigated, since both peptides activate the VPAC receptor in mammals. We investigated which receptor mediates the anorexigenic effects of these peptides in chicks.

Changes in catecholamines and dopaminergic metabolites in pigeon brain during development from the late embryonic stage toward hatch.

While brain development during embryogenesis has been extensively studied in precocial birds, there is no information available on altricial birds. Thus, the concentrations of the catecholamines norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and dopamine (DA), and the dopaminergic metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic acid (HVA) were determined at several stages during the late embryonic period (E13, E14, E15, E16, E17 and E18) and the day-of-hatch (P0) in the pigeon telencephalon, cerebellum, optic lobe, and brainstem. The concentrations of all catecholamines were higher than those reported in chicken embryos.