Verification of the Effectiveness of an SNP Marker in the Cholecystokinin Type A Receptor Gene for Improving Growth Traits in Okumino-kojidori Chickens.

A significant association was reported between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; AB604331, g.420 C>A) in the cholecystokinin type A receptor gene and growth traits in some Japanese slow-growing chickens. Demonstration tests of the genetic improvement effect by comparing the superior allele-A fixed chickens with conventional ones were carried out considering the effect of different seasons on growth traits in other slow-growing chickens.

Microscopic analysis of the chromium content in the chromium-induced malignant and premalignant bronchial lesions of the rat.

Objective: Our previous studies demonstrated that the frequency of gene instability in lung cancer of chromate workers was very high, but the frequencies of the p53 and ras gene mutations were low. To clarify the carcinogenesis of chromate in the lung, we established a chromate-induced cancer model in the rat proximal airway and examined the relationship between chromium accumulations and the chromium-induced cancer and premalignant bronchial lesions of the rat.

Methods: Fifteen male, bred, 12-week-old Jcl-Wister rats were used.

Microscopic analysis of chromium accumulation in the bronchi and lung of chromate workers.

Background: It is known that chromium is an inhaled carcinogen and an important risk factor in the development of lung carcinoma.

Methods: The authors used a microscopic X-ray fluorescence analyzer with transmitted X-ray mapping imaging (Horiba, Kyoto, Japan) to measure the accumulation of chromium in 10 resected lung tissue specimens and 90 biopsy specimens from chromate workers.

Results: The maximum chromium accumulation (mean +/- standard deviation) in 10 resected lung tissue specimens was 197 +/- 238 counts per second (cps)/mili ampere (mA) (range, 4-649 cps/mA).