Oocytes in newborn MRL mouse testes.

Although mammals produce either sperm or eggs depending on their sex, we found oocytes in the testes of newborn MRL/MpJ male mice. In the present study, we report the morphological characteristics of testicular oocytes, the postnatal change of oocyte number per testis, and the expression of a few oocyte-specific genes in the testes of MRL/MpJ mice. The testicular oocytes had a diameter of 50-70 microm and were surrounded by zonae pellucidae, which were observed between oocytes and follicular epithelial cells.

Evaluation of the analytical capability of NIR femtosecond laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

A laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometric (LA-ICPMS) technique utilizing a titanium-sapphire (TiS) femtosecond laser (fs-laser) has been developed for elemental and isotopic analysis. The signal intensity profile, depth of the ablation pit and level of elemental fractionation were investigated in order to evaluate the analytical capability of the present fs-laser ablation-ICPMS technique. The signal intensity profile of (57)Fe, obtained from iron sulfide (FeS(2)), demonstrated that the resulting signal intensity of (57)Fe achieved by the fs-laser ablation was almost 4-times higher than that obtained by ArF excimer laser ablation under a similar energy fluence (5 J/cm(2)).

Thrombotic microangiopathy in patients with phosphatidylserine dependent antiprothrombin antibodies and antiphospholipid syndrome.

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a rare disorder characterized by microvascular thrombosis. TMA has been reported in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies and/or antiphospholipid syndrome but its pathogenesis is not clarified. We present two patients with TMA associated with IgG phosphatidylserine dependent antiprothrombin antibodies (aPS/PT).

Growth-related changes in histology and immunolocalization of steroid hormone receptors in gonads of the immature male green turtle (Chelonia mydas).

Studies on the population dynamics of sea turtles require histological evaluation of the ontogenetic development and the activity of the gonads for reproduction. To investigate the growth-related changes of gonads in the immature male green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the histological changes of testes and epididymides and the localization of the androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, estrogen receptor beta, and progesterone receptor were examined. The testes were categorized histologically into six developmental stages, and a scarce relationship between straight carapace length and gonadal development was confirmed based on the histological analysis.

Autoimmune glomerulonephritis induced in congenic mouse strain carrying telomeric region of chromosome 1 derived from MRL/MpJ.

In lupus erythematosus-prone mice, including the BXSB, NZW and NZB strains, telomeric regions of chromosome 1 (Chr.1) contain major glomerulonephritis susceptibility loci such as Bxs3, Sle1, and Nba2. To assess whether strain MRL, a model for lupus erythematosus, had glomerulonephritis susceptibility loci on Chr.

Effect of high fat diet on NKT cell function and NKT cell-mediated regulation of Th1 responses.

Diet is one of the important factors that modulate immune responses. In the present study, we have examined the capacity of dietary lipids to modify immune responses in mice and we have investigated the contribution of glycolipid-reactive natural killer T (NKT) cells in this process. Mice fed, high fat diet (HFD; 21.

The effect of selenium and vitamin E on the lymphocytes and immunoglobulin-containing plasma cells in the lymphoid organ and mucosa-associated lymphatic tissues of broiler chickens.

The present research has been designed to understand the effect of selenium and vitamin E on the lymphocyte and changes in the frequency of Ig-containing plasma cells in the lymphatic organ and ileum (representative organ for mucosa-associated lymphatic tissues) of different postnatal stages of Kasilla broiler chickens. A routine haematoxylin and eosin (H and E) stain were used to study the histology of the lymphocytic changes, and indirect immunoperoxidase staining method was performed for the study of the distributional and dynamical changes of the Ig-containing plasma cells within the lymphatic tissues and in the ileum of control broilers and in the broilers supplemented with different concentration of selenium and vitamin E in the diet. Histologically, the population of lymphocytes decreased in the lobules of the thymus, medulla of bursal follicles, splenic masses, lymphatic nodules of the cecal tonsil, and villi of the ilium in 0.

Determination of in vivo glenohumeral translation using fluoroscopy and shape-matching techniques.

The purpose of this study was to investigate glenohumeral translation in-vivo during active shoulder abduction in the scapular plane. Three-dimensional (3D) models of 9 shoulders were created from CT scans. Fluoroscopic views aligned to the plane of the scapula were recorded during active arm abduction with neutral rotation.

Oxidation of allylic alcohols to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with aqueous hydrogen peroxide under organic solvent-free conditions.

Allylic alcohols are chemoselectively oxidized to alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in high yield with aqueous H(2)O(2) in the presence of Pt black catalyst under organic solvent-free conditions. The catalyst is easily recyclable and effective for at least 7 cycles.

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.

A new amphiphilic derivative, N-{[4-(lactobionamido)methyl]benzylidene}-1,1-dimethyl-2-(octylsulfanyl)ethylamine N-oxide, has a protective effect against copper-induced fulminant hepatitis in Long-Evans Cinnamon rats at an extremely low concentration compared with its original form alpha-phenyl-N-(tert-butyl) nitrone.

An amphiphilic alpha-phenyl-N-(tert-butyl) nitrone (PBN) derivative, N-{[4-(lactobionamido)methyl]benzylidene}-1,1-dimethyl-2-(octylsulfanyl)ethylamine N-oxide (LPBNSH), newly synthesized from its original form PBN in hopes of clinical use, was intraperitoneally administered to Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats every 2 days at the concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1.

Effect of follicular fluid collected from various diameter follicles on the progression of nuclear maturation and developmental competence of pig oocytes.

Supplementing in vitro maturation medium with porcine follicular fluid (FF) improves maturation rate, male pronucleus formation, and monospermic fertilization of pig oocytes. This study examined, (1) if there are differences in FF derived from large follicles (LF, 5-6mm in diameter) and small follicles (SF, 3-4mm in diameter) on the effect of supplementing the maturation medium with FF on the progression of nuclear maturation, fertilization rate, and developmental competence of porcine oocytes; (2) whether the FF source influences the effect of the FF on the maturation medium on the survival rate and proliferation rate of cumulus cells (CCs) and the expansion of cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs); (3) whether the oocyte source (oocytes collected from LFs or SFs) influences the effect of FF on the progression of the nuclear maturation of oocytes; (4) whether the factors in the FF that affect the kinetics of nuclear maturation are proteins, and the range of the molecular weight of the FF factors. In experiment 1, adding FF from LFs (LFF) significantly accelerated nuclear maturation and improved the fertilization rate; the developmental ratio was comparable with those of adding FF from SFs (SFF).

Ovarian cysts in MRL/MpJ mice originate from rete ovarii.

In MRL mice aged more than 1 year, but not in C57BL/6 mice, ovaries had grossly visible cysts presenting unilaterally or bilaterally. Postnatally, all MRL mice developed ovarian cysts by 8 months of age. Observations by light microscopy, including lectin histochemistry, indicated that the cysts sometimes included papillomatous tissues located at the hilar region and were similar to the rete ovarii system, but not to follicles.

Characterization of NKT-cell hybridomas expressing invariant T-cell antigen receptors.

Two natural killer T (NKT)-cell hybridomas were established by fusing sorted NKT cells with BW1100 thymoma cells. The first hybridoma line, 1B6, was CD4(+)8(-), whereas the second one, 2E10, was CD4(low)8(-). Initial characterizations revealed that both cell lines expressed an invariant T cell antigen receptor, which could be readily detected with alpha-galactosylceramide-loaded CD1d : Ig fusion protein (alpha-GalCer/CD1d).

Treatment combining X-irradiation and a ribonucleoside anticancer drug, TAS106, effectively suppresses the growth of tumor cells transplanted in mice.

Purpose: To examine the in vivo antitumor efficacy of X-irradiation combined with administration of a ribonucleoside anticancer drug, 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl)cytosine (TAS106, ECyd), to tumor cell-transplanted mice.

Methods And Materials: Colon26 murine rectum adenocarcinoma cells and MKN45 human gastric adenocarcinoma cells were inoculated into the footpad in BALB/c mice and severe combined immunodeficient mice, respectively. They were treated with a relatively low dose of X-irradiation (2 Gy) and low amounts of TAS106 (0.

Immunoglobulin (Ig)-containing plasma cells in the Harderian gland in broiler and native chickens of Bangladesh.

The distribution and frequency of immunoglobulin (Ig)-containing plasma cells, their variations due to sex, and the mode of secretion of Ig cells into the duct system of the Harderian gland was investigated in broiler and native chickens of both sexes in Bangladesh. The Harderian gland is covered by a capsule, and the connective tissue septa divide the gland into numerous unequal-sized numerous lobes and lobules. The Ig-containing plasma cells were located in the interstitial space, interacinar space, apical part of the lobule, and lumina of the lobules of the Harderian gland in both broiler and native chickens.

Blocking S-adenosylmethionine synthesis in yeast allows selenomethionine incorporation and multiwavelength anomalous dispersion phasing.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an ideal host from which to obtain high levels of posttranslationally modified eukaryotic proteins for x-ray crystallography. However, extensive replacement of methionine by selenomethionine for anomalous dispersion phasing has proven intractable in yeast. We report a general method to incorporate selenomethionine into proteins expressed in yeast based on manipulation of the appropriate metabolic pathways.

Effects of modification of in vitro fertilization techniques on the sex ratio of the resultant bovine embryos.

The duration of sperm-oocyte co-incubation has been observed to affect the sex ratio of in vitro produced bovine embryos. The purpose of this study was to investigate some factors that may be responsible for the skewed sex ratio. The factors studied were selected combinations of the duration of co-incubation, the presence or absence of cumulus cells, and the level of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the culture medium.

Trientine, a copper-chelating agent, induced apoptosis in murine fibrosarcoma cells in vivo and in vitro.

Anti-copper treatments have been investigated to determine whether they suppress angiogenesis and tumor development since Cu is widely accepted as being required for angiogenesis. We examined the effects of treatment with trientine, a copper-chelating agent, on tumor development in a murine xenograft model using fibrosarcoma-derived transplantable QRsp-11 cells and C57BL/6 mice and induction of apoptosis in tumor cells and endothelial cells in vivo and in vitro. The tumor volumes increased more slowly in trientine-treated mice than in untreated mice.

Accumulation of copper induces DNA strand breaks in brain cells of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, an animal model for human Wilson Disease.

Copper accumulation and induction of DNA strand breaks were investigated in the brain of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, an animal model for human Wilson disease that is a heritable disease of copper accumulation and copper toxicity in the liver, kidney and brain. Copper contents in the brain of LEC rats increased from 20 weeks of age and were approximately 3.5 to 6 folds higher than those in the brain of WKAH rats at 24 weeks of age.

Deficiency of the tensin2 gene in the ICGN mouse: an animal model for congenital nephrotic syndrome.

The ICGN mouse is a model for nephrotic syndrome (NS) which presents with proteinuria, hyperlipidemia, and edema. In this study we attempted to identify the gene(s) responsible for NS. By analyzing albuminuria in 160 (ICGN x MSM)F(1) x ICGN backcross progenies, we found that NS in the ICGN mouse is caused by more than one gene.

Microscopic polyangitis triggered by fungal infection.

We report a case of microscopic polyangitis associated with fungal infection. A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of renal dysfunction and high fever. He complained of arthralgia and myalgia.

Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization analysis of galectin-3, a beta-galactoside binding lectin, in the urinary system of adult mice.

Galectin is an animal lectin that has high affinity to beta-galactoside of glycoconjugates. In the present study, cellular expression of galectin subtypes in the urinary system of adult mice was examined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The major subtype expressed in the murine urinary system was galectin-3, which was expressed continuously from the kidney to the distal end of the urethra.

Inhibitory effects of trientine, a copper-chelating agent, on induction of DNA strand breaks in kidney cells of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats.

The effects of treatment with trientine, a specific copper-chelating agent, on the accumulation of copper and induction of DNA strand breaks were investigated in Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, an animal model for human Wilson's disease. Copper accumulated in the kidneys of LEC rats in an age-dependent manner from 12 to 18 weeks of age. When LEC rats were treated with trientine from 10 weeks of age, renal copper contents did not increase and were maintained at the same levels as those in 4-week-old LEC rats.

Biochemical and genetic analysis of the yeast proteome with a movable ORF collection.

Functional analysis of the proteome is an essential part of genomic research. To facilitate different proteomic approaches, a MORF (moveable ORF) library of 5854 yeast expression plasmids was constructed, each expressing a sequence-verified ORF as a C-terminal ORF fusion protein, under regulated control. Analysis of 5573 MORFs demonstrates that nearly all verified ORFs are expressed, suggests the authenticity of 48 ORFs characterized as dubious, and implicates specific processes including cytoskeletal organization and transcriptional control in growth inhibition caused by overexpression.