Monensin induces secretory granule-mediated cell death in eosinophils.

Background: Eosinophils contribute to the pathology of several types of disorders, in particular of allergic nature, and strategies to limit their actions are therefore warranted.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the possibility of targeting the acidic, lysosome-like eosinophil granules as a potential means of inducing eosinophil cell death.

Methods: To this end, we used monensin, an ionophoric drug that has previously been shown to permeabilize the secretory granules of mast cells, thereby inducing cell death.

Magnetic resonance imaging for early pregnancy diagnosis in the laboratory rat.

Pregnancy diagnosis and embryo counting are important end points in reproductive, developmental biology and toxicology studies. The purpose of the present study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for early pregnancy diagnosis and embryo counting in the laboratory rat. Female Wistar rats were subjected to whole-body MRI scanning using a 1.