Coenzyme Q10 in the eye isomerizes by sunlight irradiation.

Photoisomerization of lipids has been well studied. As for the eyes, photoisomerization from 11-cis isomer to all-trans-retinal is well-known as the first step of the visual transduction in the photoreceptors. In addition to that, there would be other ocular lipids that undergo photoisomerization, which may be involved in ocular health and function.

Identification of susceptibility loci for light-induced visual impairment in rats.

Bright light exposure in animals results in the selective degeneration of the outer retina, known as "retinal photic injury" (RPI). The susceptibility to RPI differs among rat strains. WKY rats display susceptibility to RPI with extensive retinal degeneration observed in the sagittal eye specimen, whereas LEW strain rats are resistant to it, showing only slight or no degeneration.

Analysis of IKBKG/NEMO gene in five Japanese cases of incontinentia pigmenti with retinopathy: fine genomic assay of a rare male case with mosaicism.

Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is an X-linked dominant genodermatosis that is usually lethal in utero in males, though exceptionally they survive very rarely either with Klinefelter syndrome or a somatic mosaicism. We performed genomic analysis of five Japanese IP patients including a rare boy case, all of whom were definite cases with retinopathy. Four patients including the boy revealed the recurrent exon 4-10 deletion in the sole known causative gene IKBKG/NEMO, which was confirmed by various specific PCR techniques.

A Japanese family with cone-rod dystrophy of delayed onset caused by a compound heterozygous combination of novel frameshift and known missense variants.

We analyzed two siblings in a Japanese family with delayed onset cone-rod dystrophy (CRD) using whole-exome sequencing. A novel frameshift c.1106dup (p.

Interaction between optineurin and the bZIP transcription factor NRL.

Although the gene encoding optineurin (OPTN) is a causative gene for glaucoma and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, it is ubiquitously expressed in all body tissues, including the retina. To study the function of OPTN in retinal ganglion cells as well as the whole retina, we previously isolated OPTN-interacting proteins and identified the gene encoding the bZIP transcription factor neural retina leucine zipper (NRL), which is a causative gene for retinitis pigmentosa. Herein, we investigated the binding between OPTN and NRL proteins in HeLaS3 cells.

Synthetic study of pyrrocidines: first entry to the decahydrofluorene core of pyrrocidines.

The first synthesis of decahydrofluorene core 4 of pyrrocidines was accomplished. The cis,trans-fused tricyclic ring system was stereoselectively constructed via Diels-Alder reaction using two Danishefsky dienes.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight (MALDI-QIT-TOF)-based imaging mass spectrometry reveals a layered distribution of phospholipid molecular species in the mouse retina.

We recently developed a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight (MALDI-QIT-TOF)-based imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) system. This system enables us to perform structural analyses using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), as well as to visualize phospholipids and peptides in frozen sections. In the retina, phototransduction is regulated by the light-sensitive interaction between visual pigment-coupled receptor proteins, such as rhodopsin, and G proteins, such as transducin.

Novel RDH5 mutation in family with mother having fundus albipunctatus and three children with retinitis pigmentosa.

Purpose: To identify mutations in the RDH5 gene in a family with a mother having fundus albipunctatus (FA) and 3 children with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Methods: Ophthalmological examinations were performed to diagnose FA and RP. Mutational analysis of RDH5 was performed.

[Oxidative stress in ocular disease].

The definition of oxidative stress implies increased oxidant production in animal cells characterized by the release of free radicals, resulting in cellular degeneration. The imbalance between excess free radical production and the antioxidant defense causes cellular damage resulting in lipid peroxidation. Oxidative stress is involved in many ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, retinal light damage, and cataract.

Effect of prophylactically administered edaravone during antegrade cerebral perfusion in a canine model of old cerebral infarction.

Objective: Reactive free radical species are thought to be involved in postoperative neurologic dysfunction after antegrade selective cerebral perfusion in brains with old infarction. We assessed the brain protective effect of prophylactically administered edaravone, a free radical scavenger, for antegrade selective cerebral perfusion in brains with or without old infarction in a canine model.

Methods: A canine model of old cerebral infarction was created by injecting cylindric silicone embolus into the middle cerebral artery.

In the presence of ferritin, visible light induces lipid peroxidation of the porcine photoreceptor outer segment.

We studied the synergistic effect of visible light and ferritin on the lipid peroxidation on a fraction of porcine photoreceptor outer segment (POS). Reaction mixtures containing the POS fraction and horse spleen ferritin were irradiated under white fluorescent light mainly at 17,000 lx or incubated under dark conditions at 37 degrees C. The lipid peroxidation was evaluated by both the thiobarbituric acid method and the ferrous oxidation/xylenol orange method.

Ascorbic acid concentration in rabbit vitreous measured by microdialysis with HPLC-electrochemical detection before and after vitreous surgery.

Microdialysis with high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) was used to measure ascorbic acid (AA) concentrations in rabbit vitreous before and after vitrectomy. A cellulose microdialysis probe was implanted in the vitreous humor, and after stabilization, AA measurements were made daily over a 10 day period. The effect of removing two-thirds of the vitreous by vitrectomy was examined.

Iron release analyses from ferritin by visible light irradiation.

We investigated the iron release from ferritin by irradiation from a white fluorescent light in the absence or presence of ADP. Irradiation of a ferritin solution at 17,000 lx in the absence of ADP slightly induces iron release from ferritin but only at acidic pH conditions (pH 5.0 or pH 6.

Comparison of pH management during antegrade selective cerebral perfusion in canine models with old cerebral infarction.

Objective: We sought to examine the influence on the brain, with or without old infarction, of pH management during antegrade selective cerebral perfusion in a canine model.

Methods: A cerebral infarct canine model was created by injecting a cylindrical silicone embolus. Dogs that had obvious neurologic deficits and had survived for 4 weeks or more were included in the model.