Antioxidant vitamins and lysophospholipids are critical for inducing mouse spermatogenesis under organ culture conditions.

In vitro mouse spermatogenesis using a classical organ culture method became possible by supplementing basal culture medium with only the product of bovine serum albumin purified by chromatography (AlbuMAX), which indicated that AlbuMAX contained every chemical factor necessary for mouse spermatogenesis. However, since the identity of these factors was unclear, improvements in culture media and our understanding of the nutritional and signal substances required for spermatogenesis were hindered. In the present study, chemically defined media (CDM) without AlbuMAX was used to evaluate each supplementary factor and their combinations for the induction of spermatogenesis.

Simultaneous Intake of and Vegetables Exerts Synergistic Anti-Obesity and Anti-Inflammatory Effects by Modulating the Gut Microbiota in Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

We determined whether the anti-obesity effect provided by the consumption of (Euglena), which is rich in insoluble dietary fiber, could be enhanced by the co-consumption of vegetables with an abundance of soluble dietary fiber. Nine-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into five groups as follows: group 1 received a normal diet, group 2 received a high-fat diet, and groups 3, 4, and 5 received high fat diets containing 0.3% paramylon, 1.

Simultaneous Intake of Euglena Gracilis and Vegetables Synergistically Exerts an Anti-Inflammatory Effect and Attenuates Visceral Fat Accumulation by Affecting Gut Microbiota in Mice.

We determined whether the benefits provided by the consumption of (Euglena), which is a unicellular photosynthesizing green alga and rich in insoluble dietary fiber paramylon, can be enhanced by the co-consumption of vegetables that are rich in soluble dietary fiber. Nine-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups: group 1 received normal diet, whereas groups 2, 3 and 4 received normal diet containing 0.3% paramylon, 1.

In vitro mouse spermatogenesis with an organ culture method in chemically defined medium.

We previously reported the successful induction and completion of mouse spermatogenesis by culturing neonatal testis tissues. The culture medium consisted of α-minimum essential medium (α-MEM), supplemented with Knockout serum replacement (KSR) or AlbuMAX, neither of which were defined chemically. In this study, we formulated a chemically defined medium (CDM) that can induce mouse spermatogenesis under organ culture conditions.

Oral administration of Euglena gracilis Z and its carbohydrate storage substance provides survival protection against influenza virus infection in mice.

Euglena gracilis Z is a micro-algae that is used as a food or nutritional supplement. Paramylon, the carbohydrate storage substance of Euglena gracilis Z has β-1, 3-glucan structure. Euglena gracilis Z and paramylon are reported to affect the immune system.

Oral administration of paramylon, a beta-1,3-D-glucan isolated from Euglena gracilis Z inhibits development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

Paramylon is a beta-1,3-D-glucan isolated from Euglena gracilis Z. This study was designed to evaluate the suppressive effects of the oral administration of paramylon on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions induced by repeated application of 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) in sensitized NC/Nga mice. The effects of paramylon were assessed by measuring macroscopical and histopathological findings of skin, ear swelling, serum levels of total IgE, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and IL-18 and IL-12 contents in the skin lesions.

Atf1 is a target of the mitogen-activated protein kinase Pmk1 and regulates cell integrity in fission yeast.

In fission yeast, knockout of the calcineurin gene resulted in hypersensitivity to Cl(-), and the overexpression of pmp1(+) encoding a dual-specificity phosphatase for Pmk1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or the knockout of the components of the Pmk1 pathway complemented the Cl(-) hypersensitivity of calcineurin deletion. Here, we showed that the overexpression of ptc1(+) and ptc3(+), both encoding type 2C protein phosphatase (PP2C), previously known to inactivate the Wis1-Spc1-Atf1 stress-activated MAPK signaling pathway, suppressed the Cl(-) hypersensitivity of calcineurin deletion. We also demonstrated that the mRNA levels of these two PP2Cs and pyp2(+), another negative regulator of Spc1, are dependent on Pmk1.

Rho2 is a target of the farnesyltransferase Cpp1 and acts upstream of Pmk1 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in fission yeast.

We have previously demonstrated that knockout of the calcineurin gene or inhibition of calcineurin activity by immunosuppressants resulted in hypersensitivity to Cl- in fission yeast. We also demonstrated that knockout of the components of the Pmk1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, such as Pmk1 or Pek1 complemented the hypersensitivity to Cl-. Using this interaction between calcineurin and Pmk1 MAPK, here we developed a genetic screen that aims to identify new regulators of the Pmk1 signaling and isolated vic (viable in the presence of immunosuppressant and chloride ion) mutants.