Repairability of skeletal alterations induced by sodium valproate in rats.

The present study aimed at examining postnatal repairability of sodium valproate-induced skeletal alterations in rats. Sodium valproate (400 mg/kg) or the vehicle (distilled water) was orally administrated to pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats from gestation days 9 to 11. Fetuses and pups were obtained on gestation day 21 and postnatal day 11, respectively, and their skeletons were stained with Alizarin red S and Alcian blue and examined.

Comprehensive sequence analysis of horseshoe crab cuticular proteins and their involvement in transglutaminase-dependent cross-linking.

Arthropod cuticles play an important role as the first barrier against invading pathogens. We extensively determined the sequences of horseshoe crab cuticular proteins. Proteins extracted from a part of the ventral side of the cuticle were purified by chitin-affinity chromatography, and separated by two-dimensional SDS/PAGE.