Changes in cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactivity in the hippocampus in a model of streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats.

In this study, we investigated diabetic stage dependent cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) immunoreactivity in the dentate gyrus in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic rats. The animals were sacrificed at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after STZ treatment. Blood glucose levels were increased after STZ treatment.

Notch1 binds and induces degradation of Snail in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common, highly invasive malignant tumor associated with a high mortality rate. We previously reported that the aberrant expression of Snail via activation of reactive oxygen species contributes to the invasive property of HCC, in part by downregulation of E-cadherin through both transcriptional repression and epigenetic modification of the E-cadherin promoter. Having demonstrated the ability of Snail to bind and recruit histone deacetylase 1 and DNA methyltransferase 1 in this context, we set out to look for other interactions that could affect its ability to promote oncogenic transformation and cancer cell invasion.

Expansion of Tfh-like cells during chronic Salmonella exposure mediates the generation of autoimmune hypergammaglobulinemia in MyD88-deficient mice.

The role of TLR signaling in linking the innate and adaptive immune systems has been a controversial issue that remains to be solved. Here, we determined whether MyD88-dependent TLR signals are required for the generation of B-cell responses during chronic Salmonella infection. Oral administration of recombinant attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium vaccine (RASV) strain in MyD88(-/-) mice resulted in chronic infection.

Hypothyroid states mitigate the diabetes-induced reduction of calbindin D-28k, calretinin, and parvalbumin immunoreactivity in type 2 diabetic rats.

In this study, we investigated the differences in calbindin D-28k (CB), calretinin, (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) immunoreactivity in the hippocampus of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and Zucker lean control (ZLC) rats. In addition, we observed the effects of hypothyroidism on the levels of immunoreactivity of these proteins in ZDF rats. For this study, 7-week-old ZDF rats were used, and methimazole treatment was continued for 5 weeks to induce hypothyroidism.

Differential effects of treadmill exercise on cyclooxygenase-2 in the rat hippocampus at early and chronic stages of diabetes.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is believed to be a multifunctional neural modulator that affects synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. In the present study, we investigated the differential effects of treadmill exercise on COX-2 immunoreactivity in the dentate gyrus in early and chronic diabetic stages in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and lean control (ZLC) rats. To this end, ZLC and ZDF rats at 6 or 23 weeks of age were put on a treadmill with or without running for 1 h/day for 5 consecutive days at 16-22 m/min for 5 weeks or 12-16 m/min for 7 weeks, respectively.

Albumin-like protein is the major protein constituent of luminal fluid in the human endolymphatic sac.

The endolymphatic sac (ES) is an inner ear organ that is connected to the cochleo-vestibular system through the endolymphatic duct. The luminal fluid of the ES contains a much higher concentration of proteins than any other compartment of the inner ear. This high protein concentration likely contributes to inner ear fluid volume regulation by creating an osmotic gradient between the ES lumen and the interstitial fluid.

Real time observation of mouse fetal skeleton using a high resolution X-ray synchrotron.

The X-ray synchrotron is quite different from conventional radiation sources. This technique may expand the capabilities of conventional radiology and be applied in novel manners for special cases. To evaluate the usefulness of X-ray synchrotron radiation systems for real time observations, mouse fetal skeleton development was monitored with a high resolution X-ray synchrotron.

Differential effects of treadmill exercise on calretinin immunoreactivity in type 2 diabetic rats in early and chronic diabetic stages.

In this study, we investigated the effects of treadmill exercise on calretinin (CR), a marker of early postmitotic neurons, immunoreactivity in the dentate gyrus (DG) of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, before or after diabetes onset, and Zucker lean control (ZLC) rats. For this study, 6-week-old ZLC and prediabetic ZDF rats, and 22-week-old ZLC and ZDF rats were exercised on the treadmill. Sedentary ZLC and ZDF rats of the same age were used as exercise experiment controls.

Differential effects of treadmill exercise in early and chronic diabetic stages on parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the hippocampus of a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of treadmill exercise in early and chronic diabetic stages on parvalbumin (PV) immunoreactivity in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) and its lean control rats (ZLC). To investigate the effects, ZLC and ZDF rats at 6 or 23 weeks of age were put on a treadmill with or without running for 1 h/day/5 consecutive days at 16-22 m/min for 5 weeks or 12-16 m/min for 7 weeks, respectively. Physical exercise in pre-diabetic rats prevented onset of diabetes, while exercise in rats at chronic diabetic stage significantly reduced blood glucose levels.

G-, R- and C-band patterns of goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus) and comparison to goat (Capra hircus).

The karyotype of goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus, 2n = 56) was prepared using lymphocytes and its chromosomal band patterns were compared with those of goat (Capra hircus, 2n = 60) by CBG-, GTG- and RBG-banding techniques. The standard karyotype of goral was composed of 54 acrocentric autosomes, submetacentric X chromosome, and acrocentric Y chromosome. C-bands were prominent in all autosomes except the X chromosome.

Effects of hypothyroidism on cell proliferation and neuroblasts in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

We observed how the hypothyroid state affects diabetic states and modifies cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). For this, 0.03% methimazole, an anti-thyroid drug, was administered to 7-week-old, pre-diabetic Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats by drinking water for 5 weeks, and the animals were sacrificed at 12 weeks of age.

1H NMR-based metabolomic study on resistance to diet-induced obesity in AHNAK knock-out mice.

AHNAK is a giant protein of approximately 700 kDa identified in human neuroblastomas and skin epithelial cells. Recently, we found that AHNAK knock-out (AHNAK(-/-)) mice have a strong resistance to high-fat diet-induced obesity. In this study, we applied (1)H NMR-based metabolomics with multivariate statistical analysis to compare the altered metabolic patterns detected in urine from high-fat diet (HFD) fed wild-type and AHNAK(-/-) mice and investigate the mechanisms underlying the resistance to high-fat diet-induced obesity in AHNAK(-/-) mice.

Effect of treadmill exercise on blood glucose, serum corticosterone levels and glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivity in the hippocampus in chronic diabetic rats.

Abnormal excess of glucocorticoid is one of feature characteristics in type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we investigated the effect of treadmill exercise at chronic diabetic stages on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) immunoreactivity in the hippocampal CA1 region and dentate gyrus, which are very vulnerable to diabetes. For this study, we used Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and Zucker lean control (ZLC) rats.

Effects of treadmill exercise combined with MK 801 treatment on neuroblast differentiation in the dentate gyrus in rats.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NR) is involved in activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, such as associative long-term potentiation, and in related central functions, such as learning and memory. In this study, we observed effects of treadmill exercise on NR1 and doublecortin (DCX, a marker for neuroblast differentiation) in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus (DG). At 6 weeks of age, rats were put on a treadmill with or without running for 1 h/day for 5 consecutive days at 22 m/min for 5 weeks.

The chronological characteristics of SOD1 activity and inflammatory response in the hippocampi of STZ-induced type 1 diabetic rats.

Because it appears that oxidative stress and inflammation are implicated with disease pathogenesis in the diabetic brain, many researchers have used streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic animals to study superoxide production and the effects of superoxide scavengers like Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1). However, many studies have been conducted without considering temporal changes after STZ injection. Interestingly, though SOD activities were not significantly different among the groups, SOD1 and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) immunoreactivities were significantly enhanced at 3 weeks after an STZ injection (STZ3w) versus only marginal levels in sham controls, whereas microglial activity was remarkably reduced in injected rats at this time.

Effects of electroacupuncture at Zusanli and Baihui on brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cyclic AMP response element-binding protein in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.

Previously, we observed that electroacupuncture (EA) at ST36 (Zusanli) and GV20 (Baihui) enhanced cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the rat dentate gyrus. In this study, we investigated the possible mechanisms of EA in this effect. For this, we applied EA at ST36 and GV20 of Wistar rats (13-week-old) once a day for 3 weeks.

Regulatory mechanism of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and neuronal changes after adrenalectomy in type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes, especially type 2, is closely associated with hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation. Short-term effects of adrenalectomy (ADX) in type 2 diabetes are well characterized; however, there have been few reports on the long-term effects of ADX in genetically engineered type 2 diabetes and the neuroendocrine system. We performed bilateral ADX in Zucker Lean Control rats (ZLC; ADX-ZLC), Zucker Diabetic Fatty rats (ZDF; ADX-ZDF), and sham control rats to evaluate how the HPA axis would be regulated in long-term corticosterone deficient type 2 diabetic animals.

Species-difference of cyclooxygenase-2 in the hippocampus of rodents.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) generates free radicals and it is important in inflammatory response. In this study, we observed the immunoreactivity in mice (ICR and C57BL/6 strain), rats and gerbils. In these animals, COX-2 immunoreactivity was mainly detected in pyramidal cells of the hippocampal CA2/3 region and in granule cells of the dentate gyrus.

Effects of treadmill exercise on cyclooxygenase-2 in the hippocampus in type 2 diabetic rats: correlation with the neuroblasts.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is a rate-limiting enzyme in synthesis of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid. In this study, we observed the effects of a physical exercise on COX-2 immunoreactivity in the hippocampus using immunohistochemistry in rats. In addition, we examined effects of administration of a COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, on neuroblast differentiation.

Neuronal differentiation and developmental characteristics in the dentate gyrus of staggerer mutant mice.

Homozygous staggerer (RORa(sg/sg)) mice showed a severe ataxia caused by cerebellum degeneration. Decreased and dysfunctional Rora is a main cause of this neurologic phenotype. The phenotype of staggerer mice has been well known in cerebellum.

Mouse phenogenomics, toolbox for functional annotation of human genome.

Mouse models are crucial for the functional annotation of human genome. Gene modification techniques including gene targeting and gene trap in mouse have provided powerful tools in the form of genetically engineered mice (GEM) for understanding the molecular pathogenesis of human diseases. Several international consortium and programs are under way to deliver mutations in every gene in mouse genome.

Metformin normalizes type 2 diabetes-induced decrease in cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the rat dentate gyrus.

In this study, we observed the effects of metformin, one of the most widely prescribed drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (SZDG) in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, which are a model for type 2 diabetes. For this, metformin was administered orally once a day to 14-week-old ZDF rats for 2 weeks and the animals were sacrificed at 16 weeks of age. During this period, blood glucose levels were higher in the vehicle-treated ZDF rats than in the Zucker lean control (ZLC) rats.

Pregnancy inhibits cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation without neuronal damage in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in C57BL/6N mice.

Neural changes occur in the dam during gestation, and brain size has been shown to decrease across pregnancy in humans as well as rodents. In this study, we monitored neuronal damage, cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) at age-matched virgin control (17- to 18-week-old), gestation day (GD) 14.5, 16.

Effects of age and treadmill exercise in chronic diabetic stages on neuroblast differentiation in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of type 2 diabetes and treadmill exercise in chronic diabetic stages on neuroblast differentiation using doublecortin (DCX) in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus (SZDG) in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Four-, 12-, 20- and 30-week-old Zucker lean control (ZLC) and ZDF rats were used to elucidate age-dependent changes of DCX-immunoreactive neuroblasts. DCX-immunoreactive neuroblasts were significantly decreased with age in the SZDG.