Assembly dynamics and the roles of FliI ATPase of the bacterial flagellar export apparatus.

For construction of the bacterial flagellum, FliI ATPase forms the FliH2-FliI complex in the cytoplasm and localizes to the flagellar basal body (FBB) through the interaction of FliH with a C ring protein, FliN. FliI also assembles into a homo-hexamer to promote initial entry of export substrates into the export gate. The interaction of FliH with an export gate protein, FlhA, is required for stable anchoring of the FliI6 ring to the gate.

Early embryonic losses in mice induced by diethylstilbestrol.

Estrogens cause embryonic lethality and the disturbance of early placental development in mice. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) at 1, 10, or 100 microg/kg was orally administered to Institute of Cancer Research mice on gestational days (GD) 4 through 8, and the uterus and placenta were examined histopathologically on GD 9. Decidua of DES-treated mice showed insufficient development, and the uterine lumen at the implantation site did not effectively minimize.

Roles of the extreme N-terminal region of FliH for efficient localization of the FliH-FliI complex to the bacterial flagellar type III export apparatus.

Most bacterial flagellar proteins are exported by the flagellar type III protein export apparatus for their self-assembly. FliI ATPase forms a complex with its regulator FliH and facilitates initial entry of export substrates to the export gate composed of six integral membrane proteins. The FliH-FliI complex also binds to the C ring of the basal body through a FliH-FliN interaction for efficient export.

Influence of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate on fetal testicular development by oral administration to pregnant rats.

Influence of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) on testicular development was studied by oral administration of DEHP at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day to pregnant rats on gestational days (G) 7 to 18. Ethinyl estradiol (EE) at dose levels of 0.25 and 0.

Intrauterine position and postnatal growth in Sprague-Dawley rats and ICR mice.

In rodents, steroid hormones are thought to be transported between adjacent fetuses, and male or female fetuses that develop in utero between female fetuses may have higher serum levels of estradiol, and lower serum levels of testosterone, relative to siblings of the same sex that develop between two male fetuses. The consequence in the variation of postnatal growth, development, and function in the intrauterine position, using various parameters such as anogenital distance, preputial separation and vaginal opening, estrous cycle, locomotor activity, and growth of reproductive organs, were examined in Sprague-Dawley rats. ICR mice were treated with 17beta-estradiol before copulation and during pregnancy to address the interaction with endogenous estradiol during pregnancy.

An improved technique for repeated gavage administration to rat neonates.

The technique for gavage administration to rat nurslings was improved to allow determination of the direct effects of chemical substances in the nurslings. Rat neonates were treated with distilled water from postnatal day 1 through 20 using this technique. The viability of neonates during the administration period was comparable to that of untreated neonates.

Low-dose bisphenol A does not affect reproductive organs in estrogen-sensitive C57BL/6N mice exposed at the sexually mature, juvenile, or embryonic stage.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used on a large scale in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics. BPA has been shown to bind weakly to both estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ER beta. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-dose BPA on male sexual development after exposure at various stages of development.