Histochemical evaluation of postnatal lectin-binding sites in the mouse prostate.

The prostate is a male accessory genital gland that plays an essential role in reproductive function. To understand the cytological characteristics of differentiating prostatic cells, we used lectin histochemistry combined with immunohistochemistry to examine the distribution of lectin-binding sites on prostatic cells during postnatal development in the mouse. During postnatal development, Hippeastrum Hybrid Lectin (HHL) lectin reacted consistently with the luminal cells of all prostatic lobes (regions), whereas the Ricinus Communis Agglutinin I (RCA-I) and Soybean Agglutinin (SBA) lectins showed remarkable differences with age, region, and cell type.

Viable offspring obtained from Prm1-deficient sperm in mice.

Protamines are expressed in the spermatid nucleus and allow denser packaging of DNA compared with histones. Disruption of the coding sequence of one allele of either protamine 1 (Prm1) or Prm2 results in failure to produce offspring, although sperm with disrupted Prm1 or Prm2 alleles are produced. Here, we produced Prm1-deficient female chimeric mice carrying Prm1-deficient oocytes.

Lectin-binding sites in epithelial cells of the mouse prostate gland.

The prostate is an exocrine gland in the male reproductive tract that secretes seminal fluids. To gain insight into the cytochemical properties of prostatic epithelial cells, the characteristics of glycoconjugates in mouse prostate sections were examined by lectin histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Characteristic staining patterns were observed, depending on the type of lectins present in the epithelia.

Cytokeratin localization and basal cell differentiation in the epididymal epithelium during postnatal development of the mouse.

The epididymis is a male genital organ that has plays various functions, including sperm concentration, maturation, and storage. The epididymal epithelium consists of principal cells, clear cells, and basal cells. To comprehensively understand the occurrence and morphological differentiation of basal cells, we examined the expression and localization of cytokeratins (CKs) in the epididymal epithelium during postnatal development of the mouse.

Shikonin, dually functions as a proteasome inhibitor and a necroptosis inducer in multiple myeloma cells.

Shikonin (SHK), a natural small agent (MW 288.3), reportedly induces cell death in various tumor cells. We have found that SHK also exerts potent cytocidal effects on human multiple myeloma (MM) cells, but its anticancer mechanism in MM cells remains to be elucidated.

Changes in lectin-binding sites on epididymal cells during postnatal development of the mouse.

Using lectin histochemistry combined with immunohistochemistry, we recently demonstrated that the principal, clear, and basal cells in the adult mouse epididymis specifically react with UEA-I, MAL-I, and GS-IB lectins, respectively. The present study examined the distribution of the lectin-binding sites for some lectins on the epididymal epithelium during postnatal development. Galactose staining with GS-IB was first detected in some of the undifferentiated epithelial cells in mice aged 1 week, and this characteristic became specific to basal cells in mice aged 2 weeks and above.

Cell- and region-specific expression of sugar chains in the mouse epididymal epithelium using lectin histochemistry combined with immunohistochemistry.

To understand the cytochemical properties of epididymal epithelial cells, the characteristics of glycoconjugates in the mouse epididymis were examined using the technique of lectin histochemistry combined with immunohistochemistry. Characteristic staining patterns depending on the type of lectins were observed in the epididymal epithelium. Principal cells expressed N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc), N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), and Fucose in the proximal region of the epididymis and Mannose, Glucose, and Galactose in the distal region of the epididymis.

Essential roles of androgen signaling in Wolffian duct stabilization and epididymal cell differentiation.

The epididymis is a male accessory organ and functions for sperm maturation and storage under the control of androgen. The development of the epididymis is also androgen dependent. The Wolffian duct (WD), anlagen of the epididymis, is formed in both male and female embryos; however, it is stabilized only in male embryos by testicular androgen.

Signalling mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum stress transducer OASIS is involved in bone formation.

Eukaryotic cells have signalling pathways from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to cytosol and nuclei, to avoid excess accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER. We previously identified a new type of ER stress transducer, OASIS, a bZIP (basic leucine zipper) transcription factor, which is a member of the CREB/ATF family and has a transmembrane domain. OASIS is processed by regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) in response to ER stress, and is highly expressed in osteoblasts.

Decreased abundance of urinary exosomal aquaporin-1 in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Urinary exosomes, secreted into urine from renal epithelial cells, are known to contain many types of renal functional membrane proteins. Here, we studied whether renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) affects urinary exosomal aquaporin-1 (AQP1) excretion in rats subjected to renal I/R and patients who underwent renal transplantation. Immunoblotting studies demonstrated reduction of the urinary exosomal AQP1 level even at 6 h after renal I/R, and the level continued to be low over 96 h after I/R.

Nerve fiber analysis on the so-called accessory subscapularis muscle and its morphological significance.

A rare muscular anomaly, so-called accessory subscapularis muscle, was found in the left axillary fossa of a 95-year-old male cadaver during a student dissection practise. The muscle arose near the lateral margin of the scapula from the surface of the subscapularis muscle and ran upward to fuse with the capsule of the shoulder joint via a tendon. It measured 1.

Preferential localization of rat GAPDS on the ribs of fibrous sheath of sperm flagellum and its expression during flagellar formation.

The proper assembly of sperm flagellar proteins is fundamental for sperm motility. The sperm- and spermatid-specific isoform of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, GAPDS, is a flagellar protein indispensable for sperm flagellar movement. To obtain information on the assembly of the glycolytic enzyme into the flagellum, the precise localization of rat GAPDS in the flagellum and the stage of incorporation into the flagellum were examined using a monoclonal antibody.

BBF2H7, a novel transmembrane bZIP transcription factor, is a new type of endoplasmic reticulum stress transducer.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress transducers IRE1 (inositol requiring 1), PERK (PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase), and ATF6 (activating transcription factor 6) are well known to transduce signals from the ER to the cytoplasm and nucleus when unfolded proteins accumulate in the ER. Recently, we identified OASIS (old astrocyte specifically induced substance) as a novel ER stress transducer expressed in astrocytes. We report here that BBF2H7 (BBF2 human homolog on chromosome 7), an ER-resident transmembrane protein with the bZIP domain in the cytoplasmic portion and structurally homologous to OASIS, is cleaved at the membrane in response to ER stress.

Autophagy is activated for cell survival after endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Eukaryotic cells deal with accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by the unfolded protein response, involving the induction of molecular chaperones, translational attenuation, and ER-associated degradation, to prevent cell death. Here, we found that the autophagy system is activated as a novel signaling pathway in response to ER stress. Treatment of SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells with ER stressors markedly induced the formation of autophagosomes, which were recognized at the ultrastructural level.

A middle meningeal artery which arises from the internal carotid artery in which the first branchial artery participates.

A middle meningeal artery arising from the internal carotid artery was found in the right half of the head of an 85-year-old male cadaver during student dissection practice. It arose from the lateral aspect of the internal carotid artery in the carotid canal, arrived at the foramen lacerum after running forward. It then ran backward under the trigeminal ganglion and took the usual course after passing its posterior margin.

An aberrant axillary artery penetrating the origin of the radial nerve from deep to superficial.

An aberrant axillary artery that penetrated the radial nerve from deep to superficial during its course, was observed. The brachial plexus in the present case was classified as the Adachi's C-type brachial plexus. Further, an accessory radial root existed, which was a nerve bundle branching from the deep aspect of the inferior trunk and communicating with the radial root from the posterior cord to form the radial nerve.

Superficial brachial artery crossing over the ulnar and median nerves from posterior to anterior: embryological significance.

A rare variation of the superficial brachial artery was found in the right arm of an 82-year-old male cadaver in student dissection practice. In this case, the axillary artery passed normally between the medial and lateral roots of the median nerve and then bifurcated into a large superficial brachial artery and the deep brachial artery (A. brachialis profunda).

Rare variation of the arm artery: coexistence with the superficial brachial and superficial subscapular arteries in the absence of the normal brachial artery.

A rare variation in the arterial pattern was found in the right arm of an 87-year-old male cadaver in a student dissection practice. In this case, the superficial brachial and superficial subscapular arteries coexisted in the absence of the normal brachial artery (A. brachialis profunda).

Changes in the activity of sperm nitric oxide synthase in the oviductal reservoir during ovulation.

The oviductal isthmus is known to act as a sperm reservoir in several mammalian species including mice, but it is still unclear how sperm are released from the reservoir after ovulation. Recently, nitric oxide (NO) was reported to have important roles as a mediator in various sperm functions, including hyperactivation and capacitation. Therefore, we have investigated the change of the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) of sperm of the isthmus in relation to ovulation under fertilization conditions.

Organization and modifications of sperm acrosomal molecules during spermatogenesis and epididymal maturation.

The mammalian acrosome is a highly specialized organelle overlying the anterior part of the sperm nucleus and contains a variety of proteins, including hydrolytic enzymes and matrix molecules. Functionally, the anterior acrosome is involved in the acrosome reaction or sperm-zona pellucida interaction, while the equatorial segment (posterior acrosome) is involved in sperm-egg fusion. The acrosome is formed during spermiogenesis, during which associated molecules are transported from the Golgi apparatus and organized.

Change in expression of a 90-kDa glycoprotein GP90-MC301 during prenatal and postnatal testicular development: a differentiation marker for rat germ cells.

GP90-MC301, a 90-kDa glycoprotein recognized by the monoclonal antibody MC301, is a reliable stage-specific marker for preleptotene to pachytene spermatocytes in adult rat testes. In this study we confirmed that the glycoprotein is also useful as a marker for germ cells in prenatal and postnatal testes. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a dramatic change in GP90-MC301 expression in germ cells during testis development.

Morphological study of a horseshoe kidney with special reference to the vascular system.

This is a morphological study on an autopsy case of horseshoe kidney found in a 79-year-old-female cadaver. This kidney consisted of two distinct renal masses that were connected at their lower poles by a parenchymal isthmus that was located in the front of the abdominal aorta at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. The kidney was supplied by four arteries arising from the abdominal aorta.