Effect of physiological levels of phytoestrogens on mouse oocyte maturation in vitro.

Phytoestrogens are a group of naturally occurring compounds that have weak estrogenic activity. Genistein and daidzein are major phytoestrogens produced by soybeans. It has been reported previously that at high concentration, some phytoestrogens inhibit cell cycle progression of mouse germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes, but the environmentally relevant level is much lower.

Targeted DNA transfection into the mouse central nervous system using laser-induced stress waves.

We investigated the feasibility of gene transfer into the mouse central nervous system (CNS) by applying nanosecond pulsed laser-induced stress waves (LISWs). Intraventricular or hippocampal injection of a reporter gene [enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)] followed by application of LISWs showed this method to be efficient in the CNS of newborn and adult mice. Cells expressing EGFP reside at least 3.

Methamphetamine increases the hippocampal alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor and Galpha(o) in mice.

This study investigates the involvement of alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors (AR) in mouse brain induced by a low dose of methamphetamine (METH, 2 mg/kg). Immunohistochemical studies show that alpha(2A)-AR increased in the dentate gyrus area of the hippocampus 24 h after five repeated administrations of METH. The hippocampal alpha(2A)-AR proteins rose 3.

Stimulation of beta(3)-adrenoceptors causes phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase via a stimulatory G protein-dependent pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

1. This study deals with phosphorylation and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) via beta(3)-adrenoceptor (AR) and the signal transduction pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 2.