Type 2 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor is predominantly involved in agonist-induced Ca(2+) signaling in Bergmann glia.

Ca(2+) release via inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptors (IP(3)Rs) plays a crucial role in astrocyte functions such as modulation of neuronal activity and regulation of local blood flow in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Bergmann glia are unipolar cerebellar astrocytes that release Ca(2+) through IP(3)Rs in response to the activation of G(q)-coupled receptors. The composition of the three subtypes of IP(3)R is a factor that determines the spatiotemporal pattern of Ca(2+) release.

Mature acinar cells are refractory to carcinoma development by targeted activation of Ras oncogene in adult rats.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most debilitating malignancies in humans. A thorough understanding of the cytogenesis of this disease will aid in establishing successful treatments. We have developed an animal model which uses adult Hras(G12V) and Kras(G12V) transgenic rats in which oncogene expression is regulated by the Cre/loxP system and neoplastic lesions are induced by injection of adenovirus-expressing Cre recombinase.

Genotyping the mouse severe combined immunodeficiency mutation using the polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers (PCR-CTPP).

An allele specific polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers (PCR-CTPP) was developed as an assay for genotyping the mouse Prkdcscid gene mutation (former name scid). The reverse primer (WR) was designed to include the antisense nucleotide (A) specific for the wild type allele at the 3' end with the counterpart forward primer (F) upstream. The other forward primer (MF) was designed to include the sense nucleotide (A) specific for the Prkdcscid mutation at the 3' end with the other counterpart reverse primer (R) downstream.

HST-1/FGF-4 gene activation induces spermatogenesis and prevents adriamycin-induced testicular toxicity.

We previously demonstrated expression of the HST-1/FGF-4 gene in the testis of normal adult animals, which suggests its possible role in spermatogenesis. For an understanding of its functional significance in the testis, conditional transgene expression was used. Precise genetic switches can be efficiently generated in a straightforward manner using adenovirus-carrying Cre recombinase, which means our new strategies promise to contribute substantially to a better and prompt understanding of the functions of genes in vivo by controlling the expression of any gene to any organ at any desired time.

Enzyme cytochemical study of alkaline phosphatase in rat hepatocytes--change of location after colchicine administration or bile duct ligation.

Changes in location of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in rat hepatocytes after two different treatments were examined by the enzyme cytochemical technique. Although reaction deposits which indicate ALP activity were observed mainly in the bile canalicular membranes until 6 hr after colchicine administration, they were present not only in the bile canalicular membranes but also in the sinusoidal and lateral membranes 12 hr after drug administration. Eighteen and 24 hr after colchicine administration, a large number of reaction deposits were seen in the sinusoidal membranes and in the mutual membranes between adjacent hepatocytes, where the bile canaliculi were completely deformed and complex interdigitations appeared.