Renoprotective effects of telmisartan in the 5/6 nephrectomised rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the renoprotective effect of telmisartan on the advanced stages of nephropathy in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx). Telmisartan was orally administered for 12 weeks to rats that previously underwent 5/6 Nx or sham operations. After completion of the administration period, the degree of renal injury was examined histopathologically using indices of glomerulosclerosis and lesions of the renal tubule and interstitium.

Suppression of atopic-like dermatitis by treatment with antibody to lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 in NC/Nga mouse.

The effect of a blocking-antibody specific for lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) was studied in an atopic-like dermatitis model, which was induced by the repeated application of picrylchloride in NC/Nga mice. Prophylactic treatment with anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), not therapeutic treatment, significantly inhibited the skin severity score and the acanthosis with ulceration and infiltration of mast cells. Furthermore, the serum immunoglobulin E levels and cytokine production (interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma) by splenocytes stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody were also inhibited by treatment with anti-LFA-1 mAb.

Role of substance P in an NC/Nga mouse model of atopic dermatitis-like disease.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) can be exacerbated or induced in genetically predisposed individuals by psychological stress, which causes the release of substance P (SP). Therefore, SP may play an etiological role in the mechanisms underlying AD.

Methods: Changes in the number of mast cells and SP-containing mast cells in lesional skin, and the serum concentrations of SP and IgE during the development of AD-like disease up to 8 weeks after the start of picryl chloride (PiCl) induction in NC/Nga mice were examined.

Angioarchitecture of tumors induced by two different cloned cell lines established from a transplantable rat malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

Angiogenesis, a biologic process whereby endothelial cells divide and migrate to form new blood vessels, is a key step in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. In the present study, we investigated the differences in angioarchitecture between two different tumors induced by cloned cell lines (MT-8 and MT-9), derived from a transplantable rat malignant fibrous histiocytoma, by scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts. During a 3-week observation period after implantation, the growth of MT-8 tumors appeared to be faster than that of MT-9 tumors.