Effects of transovarian exposure to p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE on avian reproduction using Japanese quails.

In the 1950s to 1970s developed countries reported declines in populations of raptorial and fish-eating birds and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites were considered causative substances because they accumulated significantly in the tissues of wild birds and animals. However, except for the estrogenic effects of o,p'-DDT, a minor component of commercial DDT, there has been no compelling evidence that DDT directly affects avian reproductive systems. To assess the possible impact of DDT on development and reproduction of birds, exposure experiments to the major component of commercial DDT, p,p'-DDT, and its persistent metabolite, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), were performed using Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) eggs; the test substances (3 to 100 μg/g) were injected into the yolk prior to incubation, and hatched chicks were raised to adulthood.

Green tea catechins increase the force of contraction in isolated guinea pig atrial muscle preparations by increasing the amplitude of intracellular Ca2+ concentration.

It has been reported that green tea catechins enhance the force of contraction of isolated heart muscle preparations. However, it remains controversial whether or not the increase in force of contraction is related to an increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i). In this study, the relationship was investigated using a left atrial muscle preparation isolated from guinea pig heart.

Anaplastic atypical myeloma with extensive cutaneous involvement in a dog.

A 7-year-old, male, mixed breed dog was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Kitasato University because of anorexia, lameness and multiple cutaneous lesions. Observation of bone marrow plasmacytosis, osteolytic bone lesions, serum myeloma protein and cutaneous infiltration of myeloma cells led us to a diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) with cutaneous involvement. Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis for the rearranged genes of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor demonstrated that the neoplastic cells found in skin lesions or bone marrow are of B-lymphocyte lineage and share a common original precursor cell.

Antimuscarinic action of doxorubicin does not involve free-radical formation in isolated guinea pig hearts.

It has been proposed that the cardiotoxicity of anthracycline anticancer drugs involves free-radical formation. One early manifestation of toxicity appears to be caused by the antimuscarinic actions of these drugs. Accordingly, we examined whether the antimuscarinic action of one of these drugs, doxorubicin, is altered by antioxidants.

cDNA cloning of hamster angiotensin-converting enzyme and mRNA expression.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE; EC 3.4.15.

Expression of preproendothelin-2 splice variant in cat.

Previous studies on human uterine and placental tissues have found variants, derived from alternatively spliced mRNAs, of preproendothelin-2 (PPET2) that lack a post-translational proteolytic site essential for normal processing. Here we report a splice variant of cat PPET2 mRNA expressed in the stomach. After cloning the full-length cDNA of cat PPET2, organ distribution analysis of the transcript by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed.

cDNA cloning, sequence analysis and organ distribution of horse preproendothelin-2.

We cloned and characterized horse preproendothelin-2 (PPET-2) cDNA from intestinal tissue. The cDNA encoded 178 amino acids of the PPET-2 polypeptide, in which a 21-amino-acid mature endothelin-2 peptide and a 16-amino acid endothelin-2-like peptide were found. For the open reading frame the correspondence of horse PPET-2 cDNA with those of the ferret, human, dog, mouse and rat was 85.

Primary structure of dog preproendothelin-3 and elevated gene expression in kidney affected with interstitial nephritis.

To compare the structure of the precursor polypeptide of dog endothelin-3, preproendothelin-3 (PPET-3), with the PPET-3 of other mammals, we cloned dog cDNA from lung tissue using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. An open reading frame encoding a 198-amino-acid polypeptide was found in the cDNA. Regions corresponding to a bioactive mature endothelin-3 peptide, an intermediate form known as big-endothelin-3 and an endothelin-3- like peptide were observed in the putative PPET-3.

Complete cDNA sequence and mRNA expression of dog preproendothelin-3.

The full-length cDNA of dog preproendothelin-3 (PPET3) was cloned from lung tissue using RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Aside from the poly (A) tail, the full-length cDNA was 1976 bp. A polyadenylation signal sequence and one copy of a consensus sequence, ATTTA, which is related to mRNA turnover, was found in the 3' noncoding region.

Cloning of bovine preproendothelin-2 cDNA and organ distribution of transcripts.

Endothelin-2 (ET2), which was originally identified in human, is a bioactive peptide of 21 amino acids with strong vasoconstrictive and pressor effects. Here we report the cDNA cloning and characterization of bovine preproendothelin-2 (PPET2), the precursor form of ET2. The bovine cDNA encodes 177 amino acids of the PPET2 polypeptide, in which a 21-amino acid mature ET2 peptide and a 16-amino acid ET2-like peptide as well as a 23-amino acid putative signal peptide were found.

Cloning of full-length preproendothelin-2 cDNA and its expression in dog.

Endothelin-2 (ET2) is a member of the endothelin family of 21-amino acid peptides with vasoconstrictive activity. We report here the molecular cloning of the canine full-length cDNA of the precursor form of ET2, prepro-ET2 (PPET2), from intestinal tissue by means of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in conjunction with 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Aside from the poly (A) tail the cDNA was found to be 1195 bp and included an open reading frame of 534 bp encoding a PPET2 polypeptide of 178 residues, in which the regions corresponding to bioactive mature ET2 peptide, an intermediate form big-ET2, and endothelin-like peptide are found.

cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences of ferret preproendothelin-2 and phylogenetic analysis.

Ferret preproendothelin-2 (PPET2) cDNA was cloned from intestinal tissue by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in conjunction with 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The cDNA comprises 1230 bp, excluding the poly(A) tail, and has 534 bp of open reading frame encoding a putative polypeptide of 178 residues, in which a 21-amino acid mature endothelin-2 (ET2) peptide as well as a 24-amino acid putative signal peptide and a 16-amino acid ET2-like peptide were found. The homology of the full-length cDNA sequence of ferret with those of horse, human, mouse, or rat was 75.