Analysis of the role of the rice metallothionein gene OsMT2b in grain size regulation.

Seed size is one of the three main characteristics determining rice yield. Clarification of the mechanisms regulating seed size in rice has implications for improving rice yield. Although several genes have been reported to regulate seed size, most of the reports are fragmentary.

Experimental vasoprotection by a novel erythrocyte-derived depressing factor in rats with arterial calcinosis.

Erythrocyte-derived depressing factor (EDDF) shows significant protective effects on blood vessels from hypertensive rats, by regulating vascular reactivity, calcium homeostasis, DNA synthesis, and cell cycle progression in vascular smooth muscles (VSMCs). Arteries from hypertensive and aging people have high levels of accumulated calcium. However, in the life span of experimental animals commonly used, arterial calcium content does not reach cytotoxic levels observed in human.

Protective role of a novel erythrocyte-derived depressing factor on blood vessels of renovascular hypertensive rats.

1. We have isolated a novel human erythrocyte-derived depressing factor (EDDF) that has a significant antihypertensive effect in various rat models of hypertension. The aim of the present study was to examine the mechanisms of action of EDDF on vascular function in two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) renovascular hypertensive rats.

Agonist-stimulated Ca(2+) transport in mesenteric vascular smooth muscle cells of vitamin D(3)-induced calcium overload rats.

Altered intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis and accumulated Ca(2+) deposition in arterial walls contribute to the natural arterial aging and aging-related vascular pathologies. To gain further insight into internal relationship between these two factors, a vitamin D(3)-induced vascular Ca(2+) overload rat model was employed. Mesenteric vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were isolated from both vitamin D(3) and Wistar control rats and were maintained in primary culture for 24 h.

[Comparasion of the actions of human and porcine erythrocyte-derived depressing factor].

Objective: To compare the action mechanisms of human and porcine derived erythrocyte-derived depressing factor (h-EDDF and p-EDDF) as well as the effects on blood pressure.

Methods: The experiments were carried out in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, n = 5) and two kidney-one click renal hypertensive rats (2K-1C, n = 7). The acute and chronic effects of h-EDDF and p-EDDF on blood pressure were observed, blood pressure test using tail plethysmography under unanaesthetic state.

Influence of hypertension on cardiac contractile response of human erythrocyte-derived depressing factor in ventricular myocytes.

Background: Erythrocyte-derived depressing factor (EDDF), a novel hypotensive factor purified from human erythrocytes, elicits endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation by reducing intracellular Ca2+ in vascular smooth muscle cells. However, its cardiac response is unknown.

Objective: This study was designed to examine the cardiac contractile response of EDDF under both normotensive and hypertensive conditions.

[The vasodilation mechanisms of human erythrocyte-derived depressing factor].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of EDDF a new erythrocyte-derived depressing factor, on the NO/cGMP pathway in aorta of normal rats and rat, with hypertension induced by L-NNA.

Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats aged 10 weeks were divided into two groups: L-NNA group and control group, 15 rats for each group. L-N(G)-nitro-arginine (L-NNA) was injected into the abdominal cavity of the rats in the L-NNA group at dose of 15 mg/kg twice a day for four weeks.