Reduced rate of neural differentiation in the dentate gyrus of adult dysbindin null (sandy) mouse.

Genetic variations in the gene encoding dysbindin has consistently been associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, although little is known about the neural functions carried out by dysbindin. To gain some insight into this area, we took advantage of the readily available dysbindin-null mouse sandy (sdy-/-) and studied hippocampal neurogenesis using thymidine analogue bromodeoxuridine (BrdU). No significant differences were found in the proliferation (4 hours) or survival (1, 4 and 8 weeks after the last BrdU injection) of progenitors in the subgranular regions of the dentate gyrus between sdy-/- and sdy+/+ (control) mice.

Antitumor effect of geranylamine derivatives on human hepatoma.

In this study, we examined the antitumor activities of isoprenoid derivatives conjugated with substrates of energy metabolism in human hepatoma-bearing athymic mice. Among these compounds, N-geranylpyruvic amide, N-geranyl-p-pyruvaminobenzoic amide, N,N'-digeranylmalic diamide and N,N'-digeranyl-O-acetylmalic diamide had strong antitumor effects. These geranylamine derivatives also inhibited in vitro cell growth.