Characterization of a variant virus from ascitic fluid of subacute granulomatous serositis in interferon-gamma-deficient C57BL/6 mice persistently infected with murine coronavirus strain JHM.

Previously, we showed that intraperitoneal infection with murine coronavirus strain JHM (JHMV) established a persistent infection with subacute granulomatous serositis in interferon-gamma-deficient C57BL/6 (B6-GKO) mice. Herein, we characterize a variant virus from B6-GKO mice persistently infected with JHMV. Viruses were isolated from ascites at 25 d post-infection and cloned by limiting dilution on DBT cells; one variant was named 25V16G.

Testicular development in growth-retarded mice.

To assess delayed fertility in male growth-retarded (grt) mice with congenital primary hypothyroidism, their testes were chronologically examined. The testicular weight in grt mice was significantly lower than age-matched normal mice until 8 weeks but was comparable at 13 and 26 weeks. While normal mice had mature sperm cells in both testes and epididymides at 5 weeks, age-matched grt mice did not.

Identification of a quantitative trait locus regulating B cell-dominant infiltration into autoimmune sialitis lesions of the IQI mouse model of primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is caused by an autoimmune sialodacryoadenitis, and up to 5% of patients with SS develop malignant B cell growth. The IQI mouse is a spontaneous model of primary SS in which B cells are the dominant cellular subpopulation among mononuclear infiltrates in sialitis lesions. Understanding the genetic control of aberrant B cell growth in IQI mice may help elucidate the genetic mechanisms involved in B-lineage hyperplasia leading to malignant transformation in human SS.

Kinetics of biglycan, decorin and thrombospondin-1 in mercuric chloride-induced renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

We investigated the kinetics of decorin, biglycan and thrombospondin-1 in mercuric chloride-treated Brown Norway (BN) rats. BN rats were injected subcutaneously with 1 mg/kg b.w.

Electron microscopic study of subcapsular cell hyperplasia in the adrenal glands of IQI/Jic mice.

Hyperplastic cells in subcapsular cell hyperplasia (SCH) lesion in adrenal glands of female IQI/Jic mice were examined by electron microscopy. These cells were small and polygonal, and had irregular nuclei, elongated mitochondria with lamellar cristae and dense lipid droplets. While these cells showed different features, some of them had desmosomes and basement membranes, and a few round mitochondria with tubular cristae as endocrine cells.

Effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection on the immune responses of LPS-sensitive mice.

The effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on humoral and cell-mediated immunity was assessed using LPS-sensitive C3H/HeN mice. A single injection of LPS significantly decreased the anti-sheep red blood cells (SRBC) antibody titers, but not the number of anti-SRBC antibody producing spleen cells. In contrast, double LPS injection did not significantly decrease the anti-SRBC titers and even increased the number of anti-SRBC antibody producing spleen cells.

Comparative study on picryl chloride (PCL)-induced contact dermatitis in female IQI/Jic and BALB/c mice.

Ear skin responses to picryl chloride (PCL)-induced contact dermatitis were compared in detail between IQI/Jic mice developed in Japan and BALB/c mice often used for the investigation of contact dermatitis. PCL was applied to the left ear of each mouse 4 (1st), 11 (2nd), 18 (3rd) and 25 days (4th) after sensitization of the abdominal skin with PCL. Time course examinations were carried out on the ear swelling responses, total IgE levels, skin histology and immunohistochemistry for infiltrated cells after the 1st and 4th application.

Comparative investigation of several sperm analysis methods for evaluation of spermatotoxicity of industrial chemical: 2-bromopropane as an example.

Reproductive toxicity of 2-bromopropane (2BP), a substitute for ozone layer-depleting chloro-fluorocarbon, was found among the workers in an electronics factory in Korea in 1995. Furthermore the importance of testicular toxicity has been realized since the problem of endocrine disruptors arose all over the world, but manual methods must rely on subjective assessment. Recently, computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was proposed but this system requires vast investment.

Presence of B7-2+ dendritic cells and expression of Th1 cytokines in the early development of sialodacryoadenitis in the IqI/Jic mouse model of primary Sjörgren's syndrome.

Subpopulations of infiltrating lymphocytes, professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), and Th1/Th2 cytokines that could initiate an autoimmune sialodacryoadenitis were studied in the IQI/Jic mouse model of primary Sjögren's syndrome. Although lymphocytic infiltrations were first seen in submandibular glands (SMGs) of females and in lacrimal glands (LGs) of males at 8 weeks of age, clusters of MHC class II+, CD11c+, B7-2+ dendritic cells (DCs) were already localized in these tissues at 4 weeks. At 8 weeks, the infiltrating lymphocytes consisted of almost equal numbers of B cells and CD4+ T cells.

Ultrastructural features of mast cells in picryl chloride (PCL)-induced contact dermatitis in IQI/Jic mice.

Mast cells are one of the major effector cells in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as contact dermatitis. In the present study, ultrastructural features of mast cells in contact dermatitis were examined. Namely, the ear of IQI/Jic mice was topically applied with picryl chloride (PCL) at 4 (1st), 11 (2nd), 18 (3rd) and 25 days (4th) after the sensitization with PCL to the abdominal skin.