Complementary mRNA expression of enzymes producing nitric oxide and prostaglandin in ductus arteriosus with respect to their role in maintaining patency.

mRNA expression of molecules related to the activity of nitric oxide or prostaglandin E2, the critical regulators maintaining the ductus arteriosus patency, was examined in rat ductus arteriosus at preterm (days 18.5 and 19.5 of pregnancy) and near term (days 20.

L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, increases the protein expression of both executioner and inhibitor of apoptosis in the placental bed of mid-to-late pregnant rats.

The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) signaling in apoptosis was examined in the placental bed of mid-to-late pregnant rats. Pregnant rats were treated with l-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, by subcutaneous infusion for 48 hours before the examination at day 13.5, 17.

Valproic acid up-regulates the whole NO-citrulline cycle for potent iNOS-NO signaling to promote neuronal differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells.

Valproic acid (VPA) remarkably promotes the differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) to mature neuronal cells through nitric oxide (NO) signaling due to up-regulated inducible NO synthase (iNOS) as early as within 3 days. Here, we investigated mechanisms of VPA-promoted neuronal differentiation of ASCs concerning the NO-citrulline cycle, the metabolic cycle producing NO. Cultured rat ASCs were differentiated to mature neuronal cells rich in dendrites and expressing a neuronal marker by treatments with VPA at 2 mM for 3 days and subsequently with the neuronal induction medium for 2 h.

Association analysis of non-synonymous polymorphisms of interleukin-4 receptor-α and interleukin-13 genes in canine atopic dermatitis.

Interleukin-4 (IL4) and interleukin-13 (IL13) are involved in the initial response of T helper 2 lymphocytes through the activation of the IL4 receptor alpha (IL4RA), which is a common receptor chain for these cytokines. In humans, several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified in the IL4R and in interleukin coding genes were associated with atopic disorders. However, the association between canine IL4R polymorphisms and atopic disorders has not been investigated yet.

Valproic acid promotes mature neuronal differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells through iNOS-NO-sGC signaling pathway.

Valproic acid (VPA) remarkably promotes the differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) to mature neuronal cells, enabling neuronal induction within only three days. Here, we investigated the involvement of NO-signaling in the VPA-promoted neuronal differentiation of ASCs as a possible mechanism. Cultured rat ASCs were differentiated to matured neuronal cells rich in dendrites and expressing βIII-tubulin protein, a neuronal marker, by treatments with VPA at 2 mM for 3 days and subsequently with the neuronal induction medium (NIM) containing cAMP-elevating agents for 2 h.

Negative air pressure treatment accelerates the penetration of permeable cryoprotectants into bovine ovarian tissue in vitrification protocol and improves cell density after vitrification.

Effects of additional physical treatments during vitrification of the bovine ovarian tissue were examined for increasing of permeability of ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO). The concentrations of EG and Me2SO and histological changes in the ovarian tissue were evaluated. In the first equilibration step (7.

A convenient technique for live-cell observation on the surface of polytetrafluoroethylene with a phase-contrast microscope.

Phase-contrast microscopy is a convenient technique for live-cell observation on the surface of materials with high optical transmittance. Here, we demonstrate a novel technique to observe living cells on the surface of materials with low optical transmittance, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which are widely used in biomaterials for blood-contacting devices. The surface of a cover glass was coated with a thin PTFE layer with sufficient transmittance, thereby enabling the observation of living cells on the PTFE surface with a phase-contrast microscope.

Differentiation of rat adipose tissue-derived stem cells into neuron-like cells by valproic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor.

Valproic acid (VPA) is a widely used antiepileptic drug, which has recently been reported to modulate the neuronal differentiation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) in humans and dogs. However, controversy exists as to whether VPA really acts as an inducer of neuronal differentiation of ASCs. The present study aimed to elucidate the effect of VPA in neuronal differentiation of rat ASCs.

Effects of 13 developmentally toxic chemicals on the migration of rat cephalic neural crest cells in vitro.

The inhibition of neural crest cell (NCC) migration has been considered as a possible pathogenic mechanism underlying chemical developmental toxicity. In this study, we examined the effects of 13 developmentally toxic chemicals on the migration of rat cephalic NCCs (cNCCs) by using a simple in vitro assay. cNCCs were cultured for 48 h as emigrants from rhombencephalic neural tubes explanted from rat embryos at day 10.

Protective effect of aqueous extracts from Rhizopus oryzae on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.

Hepatoprotective effects of Rhizopus oryzae/ U-1 aqueous extract (RU) were demonstrated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 )-induced liver-injured rats. In order to investigate the RU effects, the rats were administered RU at a dose of 10 or 100 mg/kg of body weight for 10 days before induction of the liver injury by oral administration of CCl4 (125 mg/kg body weight). (i) Pretreatment with RU caused a significant decrease in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities that were increased by the administration of CCl4 .

Characterization of a canine tetranucleotide microsatellite marker located in the first intron of the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene.

A polymorphic tetranucleotide (GAAT)n microsatellite in the first intron of the canine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA) gene was characterized in this study; 139 dogs were analyzed: 22 Beagles, 26 Chihuahuas, 20 Miniature Dachshunds, 24 Miniature Poodles, 22 Pembroke Welsh Corgis and 25 Shiba Inus. We detected the presence of the 4 alleles (GAAT)5, (GAAT)6, (GAAT)7 and (GAAT)8, including 9 of the 10 expected genotypes. The expected heterozygosity (He) and the polymorphic information content (PIC) value of this microsatellite locus varied from 0.

Valproic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, decreases proliferation of and induces specific neurogenic differentiation of canine adipose tissue-derived stem cells.

Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) isolated from adult tissue have pluripotent differentiation and self-renewal capability. The tissue source of ADSCs can be obtained in large quantities and with low risks, thus highlighting the advantages of ADSCs in clinical applications. Valproic acid (VPA) is a widely used antiepileptic drug, which has recently been reported to affect ADSC differentiation in mice and rats; however, few studies have been performed on dogs.

Complete sequence analysis of two cryptic plasmids from Bifidobacterium kashiwanohense JCM 15439 (type strain) isolated from healthy infant feces.

Bifidobacterial plasmids reported so far are derived from a limited number of strains and plasmids of bifidobacterial type strains isolated from humans are unknown. We found that Bifidobacterium kashiwanohense JCM 15439 (type strain) isolated from a healthy infant contained two cryptic plasmids, designated pBBKW-1 and pBBKW-2. We determined and analyzed the complete sequences of both plasmids.

Aqueous extracts of Rhizopus oryzae induced nitric oxide production in rat hepatocyte cell line RLN-10.

Aqueous extracts of Rhizopus oryzae (Aq-ROU) have a broad range of physiological activity. Here we identified a new physiological effect of Aq-ROU in rat hepatocyte cell line RLN-10. Aq-ROU induced the accumulation of nitrite, a stable metabolite nitric oxide (NO), in cell culture medium and induced potent diaminofluorescein-FM diacetate staining in the cells.

Nitric oxide induces vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the rat placenta in vivo and in vitro.

We investigated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the rat placenta. A nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME), was constantly infused into pregnant rats 6-24 h before sacrifice on gestational day (GD) 15.5.

Nucleotide polymorphisms in the canine Noggin gene and their distribution among dog (Canis lupus familiaris) breeds.

Noggin (NOG) is an important regulator for the signaling of bone morphogenetic proteins. In this study, we sequenced the complete coding sequence of the canine NOG gene and characterized the nucleotide polymorphisms. The sequence length varied from 717 to 729 bp, depending on the number of a 6-bp tandem repeat unit (GGCGCG), an insertion that has not been observed in other mammalian NOG genes investigated to date.

Molecular phylogeny and diversity of Myanmar and Bhutan mithun based on mtDNA sequences.

The mithun (Bos frontalis), synonymous with mithan and gayal, is considered to be a domesticated form of gaur (B. gaurus). However, there has been a controversy concerning its origin.

Association of an SNP marker in exon 24 of a class 3 phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PIK3C3) gene with production traits in Duroc pigs.

A C↔T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on exon 24 of the porcine class 3 phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PIK3C3) gene is considered a possible genetic marker for selecting backfat (BF) thickness and carcass fat, although only one study has published results on its effects by performing experiments on a single resource family. We analyzed the association of this PIK3C3 polymorphism with production traits in 739 Duroc pigs. The C allele frequency was 67.

Polymorphisms in the bovine hemoglobin-beta gene provide evidence for gene-flow between wild species of Bos (Bibos) and domestic cattle in Southeast Asia.

The electrophoretic variation in bovine hemoglobin-beta (HBB) is one of the most investigated genetic markers. The presence of a unique HBB variant, HBB(X), in Southeast Asian cattle has been reputed as a sign of gene-flow from wild bovine species. In this study, we analyzed the DNA sequences of HBB genes in domestic and wild bovine species to verify this belief.

Bifidobacterium kashiwanohense sp. nov., isolated from healthy infant faeces.

Strains HM2-1 and HM2-2(T) were isolated from the faeces of a healthy infant and were characterized by determining their phenotypic and biochemical features and phylogenetic positions based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. They were Gram-positive, obligately anaerobic, non-spore-forming, non-gas-producing, and catalase-negative non-motile rods. They did not grow at 15 or 45 °C in anaerobic bacterial culture medium, and their DNA G+C content was in the range 56-59 mol%.