Latrophilin-2 Deletion in Cardiomyocyte Disrupts Cell Junction, Leading to D-CMP.

Background: Latrophilin-2 (Lphn2), an adhesive GPCR (G protein-coupled receptor), was found to be a specific marker of cardiac progenitors during the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes or during embryonic heart development in our previous studies. Its role in adult heart physiology, however, remains unclear.

Methods: The embryonic lethality resulting from deletion necessitates the establishment of cardiomyocyte-specific, tamoxifen-inducible knockout mice, which was achieved by crossing mice with mice having MerCreMer (tamoxifen-inducible Cre [Cyclization recombinase] recombinase) under the α-myosin heavy chain promoter.

Self-rechargeable cardiac pacemaker system with triboelectric nanogenerators.

Self-powered implantable devices have the potential to extend device operation time inside the body and reduce the necessity for high-risk repeated surgery. Without the technological innovation of in vivo energy harvesters driven by biomechanical energy, energy harvesters are insufficient and inconvenient to power titanium-packaged implantable medical devices. Here, we report on a commercial coin battery-sized high-performance inertia-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (I-TENG) based on body motion and gravity.

Feasibility study on stereotactic radiotherapy for total pulmonary vein isolation in a canine model.

We tested the feasibility of pulmonary vein (PV) and left atrial (LA) posterior wall isolation using non-invasive stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) and investigated pathological changes in irradiated lesions in a canine model. Seven male Mongrel dogs received single-fraction 33 Gy SABR. We designed the en-bloc circular target of total PVs and LA posterior wall to avoid the esophagus.

Early Changes in Rat Heart After High-Dose Irradiation: Implications for Antiarrhythmic Effects of Cardiac Radioablation.

Background Noninvasive cardiac radioablation is employed to treat ventricular arrhythmia. However, myocardial changes leading to early-period antiarrhythmic effects induced by high-dose irradiation are unknown. This study investigated dose-responsive histologic, ultrastructural, and functional changes within 1 month after irradiation in rat heart.

Transcutaneous ultrasound energy harvesting using capacitive triboelectric technology.

A major challenge for implantable medical systems is the inclusion or reliable delivery of electrical power. We use ultrasound to deliver mechanical energy through skin and liquids and demonstrate a thin implantable vibrating triboelectric generator able to effectively harvest it. The ultrasound can induce micrometer-scale displacement of a polymer thin membrane to generate electrical energy through contact electrification.

subchronic inhalation toxicity study of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol in rats.

The subchronic toxicity of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (1,3-DCP) was investigated in Fischer 344 rats after 13 weeks of repeated, whole-body inhalation exposure. Groups of 10 rats of each sex were exposed to 1,3-DCP vapor by whole-body inhalation exposure at concentrations of 0, 5, 20 or 80 ppm for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 13 weeks. All of the rats were sacrificed at the end of the treatment period.

Expression of tyrosine kinase A in the cerebral cortex of postnatal developing rat.

Tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) is an essential component of the high affinity nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor necessary to the mediate the biological effects of the neurotrophins, NGF. This study examined the distribution of TrkA-immunoreactivity (IR)cells in the postnatal rat cerebral cortex and the changes that occur in postnatal development as a result of the expression of this protein. TrkA-IR was detected at postnatal day (PD) 3, PD6, PD9 and PD15.

Distribution of trkA in cerebral cortex and diencephalon of the mongolian gerbil after birth.

TrkA is essential components of the high-affinity NGF receptor necessary to mediate biological effects of the neurotrophins NGF. Here we report on the expression of trkA in the cerebral cortex and diencephalon of mongolian gerbils during postnatal development. The expression of trkA was identified by immunohistochemical method.

A histologic demonstration of siliceous materials in simian lung mite infected lung tissues by microincineration.

Approximately 90% of freshly imported macaques and other Old World Monkeys are known to be infected with respiratory mites. The lung associated pigments are integral components of pulmonary acariasis in Old World Monkeys; at least three distinctive pigmental bodies are identified in association with lung mite infection. Two major components of pigments are recently identified as silica by using elemental analysis using a high voltage electron microscope and an energy-dispersive X-ray analysis technique.

A study on the spinoreticulocerebellar tract in chickens.

The spinoreticulocerebellar (SRC) tract is an indirect spinocerebellar tract formed by the reticular formation (RF), which is connected to the cerebellum and spinal cord. The RF receives ascending fibers to both the spinal enlargement and sends descending fibers to the cerebellum. This study demonstrated that the connectivity of the neurons in the RF is concerned to the cerebellum and spinal cord using the anterograde projection with biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) and retrograde labeling with wheatgerm agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP).

Immunohistochemical localization of nerve growth factor, glial fibrillary acidic protein and ciliary neurotrophic factor in mesencephalon, rhombencephalon, and spinal cord of developing mongolian gerbil.

The distribution of the nerve growth factor (NGF), the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and the ciliary neurotrohic factor (CNTF) was performed in coronal sections of the mesencephalon, rhombencephalon and spinal cord in the developing Mongolian gerbils. Generally, NGF specifically recognizes neurons with the NGF receptor, whereas GFAP does the glia, and CNTF does the motor neurons. The receptor expression was examined separately in gerbils between embryonic days 15 (E15) and postnatal weeks 3 (PNW 3).

Expression of aldose reductase in developing rat kidney.

Newborn rats are not capable of producing concentrated urine. With development of the concentrating system and a hypertonic medullary interstitium, intracellular osmolytes, such as sorbitol, accumulate in the renal medulla. Sorbitol is produced from glucose in a reaction catalyzed by aldose reductase (AR).