Gene expression in livers of BALB/C and C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet.

We previously demonstrated that high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic lipid accumulation is more severe in BALB/c mice than in C57BL/6J (B6) mice. To understand the changes in liver metabolism, we studied blood chemistry, gene expression, and histopathological changes of the liver in nine-week HFD-fed BALB/c and B6 mice and one- or four-week HFD-fed BALB/c mice. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly increased in all HFD-fed groups, and one- and four-week HFD-fed BALB/c groups, respectively.

Spontaneous amphophilic focus in the liver of a young Sprague-Dawley rat.

Altered hepatocellular focus was histopathologically observed in the liver of a 6-week-old Sprague-Dawley rat. The hepatocytes within this lesion had diffusely eosinophilic cytoplasm with scattered basophilia and slightly enlarged nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Based on these cytological characteristics, the lesion of these hepatocytes was classified as an amphophilic focus.

Spontaneous poorly differentiated carcinoma with cells positive for vimentin in a salivary gland of a young rat.

Spontaneous salivary gland tumors in rats are rare. The authors report a poorly differentiated carcinoma of a submandibular gland in a ten-week-old rat that was positive for vimentin. Microscopically, the neoplastic cells showed a diffuse growth pattern in most areas of the tumor mass and a nestlike structure in a part of the peripheral area.

Fenofibrate-induced muscular toxicity is associated with a metabolic shift limited to type-1 muscles in rats.

Morphological changes and mRNA expression levels in type-1 predominant soleus and type-2 predominant tensor fasciae latae muscles of rats treated with fenofibrate were investigated. After fenofibrate by oral gavage at 300 mg/kg/day for 28 days, degeneration/necrosis and regeneration of muscle fibers, cellular infiltration, and fibrosis were seen in soleus muscle. Additionally, expression of PDK4, CPT1-M, CPT2, and FACO mRNAs was increased.

Evaluation of gene expression related to hepatic cell maturation and differentiation in a chemically induced mouse hepatoblastoma cell line.

The MHB-2 cell line, established from a mouse hepatoblastoma (HB), was subjected to the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for evaluation of gene expression related to cell differentiation. RNAs for c-kit, CD34, thy-1, albumin, cytokeratin (CK) 8, 18 and 19 could be detected, but expression of alpha-fetoprotein, glucose-6-phosphatase, tyrosine aminotransferase and CK7 was not observed. MHB-2 cells were positive for CK8/18 but negative for c-kit, CD34, thy-1 and albumin on protein level.

Skeletal muscle susceptibility to clofibrate induction of lesions in rats.

Morphological changes induced by clofibrate in type-1 predominant soleus, type-2 predominant tensor fasciae latae, and type-1 and -2 mixed biceps femoris muscles and diaphragm in rats were investigated. Administration of the agent at 500 or 750 mg/kg/day by oral gavage for 14 or 28 days caused lesions in the soleus muscle and diaphragm, bur no changes in the tensor fasciae latae and biceps femoris muscles. In soleus muscle, vacuolation of muscle fibers was observed in all animals treated with clofibrate, and degeneration of muscle fibers and infiltration of leukocytes were noted at 750 mg/kg/day.

Sclerosing effect of OC-108, a novel agent for hemorrhoids, is associated with granulomatous inflammation induced by aluminum.

OC-108 is a novel sclerosing agent for hemorrhoids, containing aluminum potassium sulfate (alum) and tannic acid as its main ingredients. In clinical studies, OC-108 injection therapy for severe internal hemorrhoids proved to be highly effective, not only on bleeding but also for prolapse, and the effects were comparable to hemorrhoidectomy. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mode of action by administrating the agent s.

Long-term effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication in Mongolian gerbils.

Background: In this study, to clarify whether Helicobacter pylori eradication alters the course of the development of gastric mucosal changes in the stomach, we examined the long-term effects of H. pylori eradication on H. pylori-inoculated gerbils.