Comparing the Levels of Trace Elements in Patients With Diabetic Nephropathy and Healthy Individuals.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) in developed countries. Several trace elements were reported to be changed in diabetic nephropathy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in serum levels of zinc, copper and chromium and their association with the incidence of ESRD in patients with diabetes.

Compatibility of Astragalus and Salvia extract inhibits myocardial fibrosis and ventricular remodeling by regulation of protein kinase D1 protein.

Aims: This study is to determine the effect of astragalus and salvia extract on the alteration of myocardium in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

Methods: A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham-operated group, the control group, the Astragalus group, the Salvia group, and the compatibility of Astragalus and Salvia and group. The cardiac functions were determined at 8 weeks after treatment.

Glutamate Decarboxylase 67 Deficiency in a Subset of GABAergic Neurons Induces Schizophrenia-Related Phenotypes.

Decreased expression of the GABA synthetic enzyme glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) in a subset of GABAergic neurons, including parvalbumin (PV)-expressing neurons, has been observed in postmortem brain studies of schizophrenics and in animal models of schizophrenia. However, it is unclear whether and how the perturbations of GAD67-mediated GABA synthesis and signaling contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. To address this issue, we generated the mice lacking GAD67 primarily in PV neurons and characterized them with focus on schizophrenia-related parameters.

Critical role of the astrocyte for functional remodeling in contralateral hemisphere of somatosensory cortex after stroke.

After ischemic stroke, the corresponding area contralateral to the lesion may partly compensate for the loss of function. We previously reported the remodeling of neuronal circuits in the contralateral somatosensory cortex (SSC) during the first week after infarction for processing bilateral information, resulting in functional compensation. However, the underlying processes in the contralateral hemisphere after stroke have not yet been fully elucidated.

Immunohistochemical localization of the aquaporins AQP1, AQP3, AQP4, and AQP5 in the mouse respiratory system.

Aquaporins are membrane water channel proteins that function mainly in water transfer across cellular membranes. In our present study, we investigated the immunohistochemical distribution of aquaporin 1 (AQP1), AQP3, AQP4, and AQP5 in the mouse respiratory system by immunofluorescence, immunoperoxidase, and immunoelectron microscopy. AQP3, AQP4, and AQP5 are expressed in epithelial cells, whereas AQP1 is expressed in subepithelial connective tissues and capillaries.

A new model of focal cerebral ischemia in the miniature pig.

Object: The purpose of this set of studies is to design a minimally invasive, reproducible stroke model in the gyrencephalic brain. This paper provides information on both surgical technique and methods of quantification of ischemic damage to both gray and white matter in the miniature pig.

Methods: Sixteen male miniature pigs were randomly divided into three groups and underwent transcranial surgery involving a frontotemporal approach with orbital rim osteotomy for permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO; five animals), permanent internal carotid artery occlusion (ICAO; six animals), and a sham operation (five animals).

Appearance of beta-2-microglobulin in rat hypothalamic magnocellular neurons after hypophysectomy.

To clarify the relationship between neuronal cell degeneration and MHC class-I complex expression, we have immunohistochemically examined the distribution of beta(2)-microglobulin in the hypophysectomized rat hypothalamus. In the sham-operated control rats, positive stainings were distributed only in blood vessels in the hypothalamic areas where magnocellular neurons were localized. Three days after hypophysectomy, positive stainings appeared in a large number of magnocellular neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei.

Morphological changes of somatostatin neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus by hypophysectomy of the rat.

After hypophysectomy, behavioral circadian rhythmicities in the rat became indistinct and phase shift was observed. Therefore, it was thought that the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is the circadian oscillator in mammals, was affected by hypophysectomy. We investigated the effects of hypophysectomy on SCN neurons using immunohistochemical staining.

[A comparison between wheel-running and ambulatory activities in young, adult and old rats based on long-term observation].

It has been considered that spontaneous motor activity (SMA) represented by wheel-running activity (WRA) or ambulatory activity (AA) is one of the most basic indicators in the behavioral-pharmacological test in small rodents. Since various differences are noticeable between WRA and AA in their characteristics or drug responses, both activities may be not considered as the same category of SMA. The main purpose of this study was to elucidate the background difference between WRA and AA in three different aged groups, based on their long-term observation.

Changes in rhythmicities of ambulatory and drinking activities after hypophysectomy in rats.

Effects of hypophysectomy on circadian rhythms of ambulatory and drinking activities in adult male rats were automatically recorded and investigated with a Gundai-type ambulodrinkometer. The rats were maintained under LL conditions following an LD condition. When free-running rhythms had stabilized, the rats were hypophysectomized.

[Changes in rhythmicity of ambulatory and drinking activities produced by presentation of short time lightings during dark period in rats].

It is well known that the lighting conditions affect many physiological phenomenon of laboratory animals. However, lighting conditions are frequently disturbed by investigators themselves. In this study, behavioral (ambulation and drinking) rhythmicities of rats were investigated after irregular lighting; i.

[Changes in rhythmicity of ambulatory and drinking activities in immature female rats].

Adult female rats showed increase in ambulatory activity and marked decrease in drinking behavior at early dark period (18:00-24:00) of proestrus stage before ovulation. In this study, we observed the changes in patterns of ambulatory and drinking activities of immature rats associated with estrous cycle during growing period. Immature female rats of the Wistar-Imamichi strain were used, and both behavioral activities were measured continuously, using Gundai type Ambulodrinkometer.

[Differences of behavioral rhythms observed by flat cage and running-wheel cage in female rat].

The ambulatory, wheel-running, and drinking activities were measured in Wistar-Imamichi strain female rats under 12 L:12 D condition (6:00-18:00), using Gundai type ambulo-drinkometer (for simultaneous measurements of ambulation and drinking) and wheel-drinkometer (for simultaneous measurements of wheel-running and drinking) to compare the rhythmicities of each behavioral activity. These apparatuses are able to measure the behavioral activities over a long period, successively and automatically. The circadian patterns of ambulatory activity had two large peaks at 21 or 24:00 and at 6:00 (acrophase).