Cerebrovascular β-dystroglycan immunoreactivity in vertebrates: not detected in anurans and in the teleosts Ostariophysi and Euteleostei.

The aim of the present paper was to check for the presence of cerebrovascular dystroglycan in vertebrates, because dystroglycan, which is localized in the vascular astroglial end-feet, has a pivotal function in glio-vascular connections. In mammalian brains, the immunoreactivity of β-dystroglycan subunit delineates the vessels. The results of the present study demonstrate similar patterns in other vertebrates, except for anurans and the teleost groups Ostariophysi and Euteleostei.

Absence of post-lesion reactive gliosis in elasmobranchs and turtles and its bearing on the evolution of astroglia.

In the mature mammalian and avian central nervous systems, neuronal destructions are followed by reactive gliosis, but data on other vertebrates are rather controversial. Mammals and birds belong to different amniote groups (Synapsida and Diapsida, respectively), but exhibit common general features in their glial architecture, mainly the predominance of astrocytes. Two vertebrate groups seem to be in special positions of glial evolution: turtles (Testudiniformes) and skates and rays (Batoidea).

Absence of SHATI/Nat8l reduces social interaction in mice.

We previously identified a novel molecule "Shati/Nat8l" from the nucleus accumbens of mice. However, the physiological roles of the SHATI protein are not clear. To investigate the effect of SHATI on the central nervous system and behavior, we studied knockout mice of this protein.

Influence of cancellous bone microstructure on two ultrasonic wave propagations in bovine femur: an in vitro study.

The influence of cancellous bone microstructure on the ultrasonic wave propagation of fast and slow waves was experimentally investigated. Four spherical cancellous bone specimens extracted from two bovine femora were prepared for the estimation of acoustical and structural anisotropies of cancellous bone. In vitro measurements were performed using a PVDF transducer (excited by a single sinusoidal wave at 1 MHz) by rotating the spherical specimens.

Overexpression of piccolo C2A domain induces depression-like behavior in mice.

Piccolo is one of the components of the active zone at chemical synapses and regulates the transport of synaptic vesicles. The piccolo C2A domain is an important calcium sensor and binds with phosphatidylinositol or synaptotagmin-1. Recently, clinical studies suggested that a single nucleotide polymorphism in the piccolo C2A domain might be a causal risk factor for major depression.

A case of congenital midline fistula of the upper lip.

Congenital fistulas of the lip are commonly found in the lower lip and accompany cleft lip. They are seen as a symptom of Van der Woude syndrome, which is predominantly hereditary. In contrast, congenital fistulas of the upper lip are rare.

Somatosensory nucleus in the torus semicircularis of cyprinid teleosts.

Cytoarchitecture and fiber connections of the ventrolateral region of torus semicircularis were studied in goldfish and carp. Cytoarchitectural analyses indicate that two toral nuclei, ventrolateral (TSvl) and external (TSe) nuclei, are present in this toral region. The TSvl mainly receives lateral line inputs from the medial nucleus of the rhombencephalic octavolateral area, while the TSe mainly receives somatosensory fibers from the spinal cord, sensory trigeminal nuclei, and lateral funicular nucleus.

Innervation of sonic muscles in teleosts: occipital vs. spinal nerves.

The innervation of sonic muscles in teleosts has been categorized into three types: occipital nerve, spinal nerve, and a combination of occipital and spinal nerves. The innervation patterns of sonic muscles were examined (or re-examined) in seven sonic fish species (rockfish, pinecone fish, sweeper, tigerfish, piranha, dory, and pollack) that use the sonic muscles to vibrate the swimbladder. The peripheral nerves (occipital or spinal) were identified based on skeletal preparations.

Spinal nerve innervation to the sonic muscle and sonic motor nucleus in red piranha, Pygocentrus nattereri (Characiformes, Ostariophysi).

The red piranha, Pygocentrus nattereri, produces sounds by rapid contractions of a pair of extrinsic sonic muscles. The detailed innervation pattern of the sonic muscle of the red piranha was investigated. The sonic muscle is innervated by branches (sonic branches) of the third (S3so), fourth (S4so), and fifth (S5so) spinal nerves.

Retinal topography of ganglion cells and putative UV-sensitive cones in two Antarctic fishes: Pagothenia borchgrevinki and Trematomus bernacchii (Nototheniidae).

Accessory corner cones (ACC) have recently been suggested to be UV-sensitive photoreceptor cells. With a view toward explaining prey detection, we examined the topography of retinal ganglion cells and ACCs in two Antarctic nototheniids occupying different ecological niches: the cryopelagic Pagothenia borchgrevinki and the benthic Trematomus bernacchii. Isodensity maps of retinal ganglion cells showed that the main visual axis, coincident with the feeding vector, was in a forward direction in both species.

Guanine-type retinal tapetum and ganglion cell topography in the retina of a carangid fish, Kaiwarinus equula.

A guanine-type retinal tapetum was recorded in the eyes of a carangid fish Kaiwarinus equula (= Carangoides equula), spectrophotometric evidence of such being presented. The total amount of guanine in one eye was about 6.5 mg, the guanine density being ca.

Temporal and mosaic distribution of large ganglion cells in the retina of a daggertooth aulopiform deep-sea fish (Anotopterus pharao).

The daggertooth Anotopterus pharao (Aulopiformes: Anotopteridae) is a large, piscivorous predator that lives within the epipelagic zone at night. In this species, the distribution of retinal ganglion cells has been examined. An isodensity contour map of ganglion cells shows that the cells concentrate in a slightly ventral region of the temporal retina.

Sonic motor nucleus and its connections with octaval and lateral line nuclei of the medulla in a rockfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus.

The sonic motor nucleus and its fiber connections were examined in a rockfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus by means of tracer methods using horseradish peroxidase (HRP), biocytin, and carbocyanine dye (DiI). Sebastiscus has a swimbladder and a pair of extrinsic sonic/drumming muscles. The sonic muscle is ipsilaterally innervated by the occipital nerve which is composed of two ventral roots arising from the sonic motor nucleus.

Propranolol inhibits the spontaneous closure of the ductus arteriosus in newborn rats.

Newborn rats delivered by cesarean section were given subcutaneously propranolol (PRO), a beta-adrenergic blocker, (1) immediately or (2) 180 min after delivery. The diameter of the ductus arteriosus (DA) of the newborn pups was calibrated at 30, 60 and 90 min after the PRO-administration. The results were as follows: (1) the DA calibers of the pups given 0.

Dilating effect of prostaglandin on the constricted ductus arteriosus in newborn rats.

The dilating effect of prostaglandin (PG) E1 and E2 on the once-constricted ductus arteriosus (DA) was examined in newborn rats. The animals were given subcutaneously PGs 3hr after caesarean delivery. The ratio of the DA to the pulmonary artery (PA) was determined 15, 30, 60, 90 and 180 min after injection.

A calcium channel blocker verapamil inhibits the spontaneous closure of the ductus arteriosus in newborn rats.

Newborn rats delivered by caesarean section were given subcutaneously verapamil hydrochloride (VER), a Ca-channel blocker, (1) immediately or (2) 180 min after delivery. The diameter of the ductus arteriosus (DA) of the newborn pups was calibrated at 30, 60 and 90 min after the VER-administration. (1) The DA calibers of the pups given 0.

In vitro study of teratogenic effects of caffeine on cultured rat embryos and embryonic cells.

The teratogenic potential of caffeine was examined in vitro by a whole embryo culture system (WECS) and an embryonic cell culture system (micromas teratogen assay: MTA) in the rat. In the WECS, hyperemia of the tail, and a reduction of the placental size was induced by caffeine at concentrations higher than 50 micrograms/ml; hypoplasia of the forelimb bud was induced at concentrations higher than 100 micrograms/ml; hematoma in the yolk sac and dysmorphogenesis of the fore- and hind-limb buds, prosencephalon and tail were induced by 200 micrograms/ml caffeine. In the MTA, even with 200 micrograms/ml caffeine, the toxicological parameters obtained by proliferation and differentiation assays of the midbrain and limb bud cells were almost the same as in the control.

Inhibitory effect of enalapril on the constriction of the ductus arteriosus in newborn rats.

Caesarean newborn rats were given subcutaneously enalapril maleate (EM), an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, (1) immediately or (2) 180 min after delivery. The ductus arteriosus (DA) in these newborn pups was calibrated 30, 60 and 90 min after the EM-treatment. The results were as follows: (1) DA calibers of the pups given 10 or 50 mg/kg EM just at caesarean delivery remained significantly larger than those of the controls thereafter until 90 min.

Constrictive effect of thyroxine on the ductus arteriosus in fetal rats.

This work was conducted to know whether thyroxine (T4) when injected into fetal rats would induce a constriction of the ductus arteriosus (DA). In Experiment 1, fetal rats on day 20 of gestation were given a subcutaneous injection of 1 or 10 micrograms T4 through the maternal uterine wall, and were autopsied 3 or 6 hr later. Similarly, in Experiment 2, the mother rats were given an injection of hydrocortisone (10 mg/kg) just after fetal T4 injections.

An electron microscopic study on follicular formation and TSH sensitivity of the fetal rat thyroid gland in organ culture.

Thyroids of 15-day rat fetuses prior to culture had no follicles. After 2 days in culture, regardless of added TSH in the medium, thyroids had small, colloid-storing follicles. In the follicular cells, the rER and Golgi apparatus were somewhat well developed as compared with the thyroids prior to culture.

Studies on closure of the ductus arteriosus in perinatal rats.

Measurements of the inner diameters (calibers) of the ductus arteriosus (DA) and pulmonary artery (PA) were made in late fetal rats and newborn rats, the latter being obtained by spontaneous or caesarean delivery. The fetal and newborn pups were frozen instantly with an acetone-dry ice mixture. The chests of these whole-body frozen pups were shaved with a surgical knife gradually from the back toward the ventral side to expose the DA and PA for measurements of their calibers.

Histological observation on the female prostate in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

In Mongolian gerbils, prostatic buds were found in female fetuses at the 23rd day of gestation. In the mothers the well-developed prostate gland consisting of a paired lobes was situated on either side of the neck of the bladder.