Genetic study of the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) gene in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that affects approximately 1% of the general population. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system has been implicated in several genetic studies of SCZ. The myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) gene, which is located close to the HLA region, is considered a candidate for SCZ due to its association with white matter abnormalities and its importance in mediating the complement cascade. Four polymorphisms in the MOG gene (CA)n (TAAA)n, and two intronic polymorphisms, C1334T and C10991T, were investigated for the possibility of association with SCZ using 111 SCZ proband and their families. We examined the transmission of the alleles of each of these polymorphisms with the transmission disequilibrium test. We did not observe significant evidence for biased transmission of alleles at the (CA)n (chi2=2.430, 6 df, P=0.876) (TAAA)n (chi2=3.550, 5 df, P=0.616), C1334T (chi2=0.040, 1 df, P=0.841) and C10991T (chi2=0.154, 1 df, P=0.695) polymorphisms. Overall haplotype analysis using the TRANSMIT program was also not significant (chi2=7.954, 9 df, P=0.539). Furthermore, our results comparing mean age at onset in the genotype groups using the Kruskal-Wallis Test were not significant. Our case-control analyses (182 cases age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched with healthy controls) and combined z-score [(CA)n: z-score=-1.126, P=0.130; (TAAA)n: z-score=-0.233, P=0.408; C1334T: z-score=0.703, P=0.241; C10991T: z-score=0.551, P=0.291] were also not significant. Although our data are negative, the intriguing hypothesis for MOG in SCZ may warrant further investigation of this gene.     

Effects of ventilation on the collection of exhaled breath in humans.

A computerized system has been developed to monitor tidal volume, respiration rate, mouth pressure, and carbon dioxide during breath collection. This system was used to investigate variability in the production of breath biomarkers over an 8-h period. Hyperventilation occurred when breath was collected from spontaneously breathing study subjects (n = 8). Therefore, breath samples were collected from study subjects whose breathing were paced at a respiration rate of 10 breaths/min and whose tidal volumes were gauged according to body mass. In this "paced breathing" group (n = 16), end-tidal concentrations of isoprene and ethane correlated with end-tidal carbon dioxide levels [Spearman's rank correlation test (r(s)) = 0.64, P = 0.008 and r(s) = 0.50, P = 0.05, respectively]. Ethane also correlated with heart rate (r(s) = 0.52, P < 0.05). There was an inverse correlation between transcutaneous pulse oximetry and exhaled carbon monoxide (r(s) = -0.64, P = 0.008). Significant differences were identified between men (n = 8) and women (n = 8) in the concentrations of carbon monoxide (4 parts per million in men vs. 3 parts per million in women; P = 0.01) and volatile sulfur-containing compounds (134 parts per billion in men vs. 95 parts per billion in women; P = 0.016). There was a peak in ethanol concentration directly after food consumption and a significant decrease in ethanol concentration 2 h later (P = 0.01; n = 16). Sulfur-containing molecules increased linearly throughout the study period (beta = 7.4, P < 0.003). Ventilation patterns strongly influence quantification of volatile analytes in exhaled breath and thus, accordingly, the breathing pattern should be controlled to ensure representative analyses.     

Nitric oxide increases fluid extravasation from the splenic circulation of the rat

We hypothesized that nitric oxide (NO) contributes to intrasplenic fluid extravasation by inducing greater relaxation in splenic resistance arteries than veins such that intrasplenic microvascular pressure (P(C)) rises. Fluid efflux was estimated by measuring the difference between splenic blood inflow and outflow. Intrasplenic infusion of the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) (0.3 microg. 10 microl(-1). min(-1)) caused a significant increase in intrasplenic fluid efflux (baseline: 0.8 +/- 0.4 ml/min, n = 10 vs. peak rise during SNAP infusion: 1.3 +/- 0.4 ml/min, n = 10; P < 0.05). Intrasplenic P(C) was measured in the isolated, blood-perfused rat spleen. Intrasplenic infusion of SNAP (0.1 microg. 10 microl(-1). min(-1)) caused a significant increase in P(C) (saline: 10.9 +/- 0.2 mmHg, n = 3 vs. SNAP: 12.2 +/- 0.2 mmHg, n = 3; P < 0.05). Vasoreactivity of preconstricted splenic resistance vessels to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (1 x 10(-12)-1 x 10(-4) M) and SNAP (1 x 10(-10)-3 x 10(-4) M) was investigated with the use of a wire myograph system. Significantly greater relaxation of arterioles than of venules occurred with both SNP (%maximal vasorelaxation: artery 96 +/- 2.3, n = 9 vs. vein 26 +/- 1.9, n = 10) and SNAP (%maximal vasorelaxation: artery 50 +/- 3.5, n = 11 vs. vein 32 +/- 1.7, n = 8). These results are consistent with our proposal that differential vasoreactivity of splenic resistance arteries and veins to NO elevates intrasplenic P(C) and increases fluid extravasation into the systemic lymphatic system.     

Production of interferon by red deer (Cervus elaphus) conceptuses and the effects of roIFN-tau on the timing of luteolysis and the success of asynchronous embryo transfer

The role of interferon in early pregnancy in red deer was investigated by (a) measuring production of interferon by the conceptus, (b) testing the anti-luteolytic effect of recombinant interferon-tau in non-pregnant hinds, and (c) treatment of hinds with interferon after asynchronous embryo transfer. Blastocysts were collected from 34 hinds by uterine flushing 14 (n = 2), 16 (n = 2), 18 (n = 8), 20 (n = 13) or 22 (n = 9) days after synchronization of oestrus with progesterone withdrawal. Interferon anti-viral activity was detectable in uterine flushings from day 16 to day 22, and increased with duration of gestation (P < 0.01) and developmental stage (P < 0.01). When interferon-tau was administered daily between day 14 and day 20 to non-pregnant hinds to mimic natural blastocyst production, luteolysis was delayed by a dose of 0.2 mg day(-1) (27.3 +/- 1.3 days after synchronization, n = 4 versus 21 +/- 0 days in control hinds, n = 3; P < 0.05). Interferon-tau was administered to hinds after asynchronous embryo transfer to determine whether it protects the conceptus against early pregnancy loss. Embryos (n = 24) collected on day 6 from naturally mated, superovulated donors (n = 15) were transferred into synchronized recipients on day 10 or day 11. Interferon-tau treatment (0.2 mg daily from day 14 to 20) increased calving rate from 0 to 64% in all recipients (0/11 versus 7/11, P < 0.005), and from 0 to 67% in day 10 recipients (0/8 versus 6/9, P < 0.01). The increased success rate of asynchronous embryo transfer after interferon-tau treatment in cervids may be of benefit where mismatched embryo-maternal signalling leads to failure in the establishment of pregnancy.     

The study of the structure of active center of membrane-bound cytochrome p-450 using 1-naphthoxyalcanthiols

Homologous 1-naphtoxyalcanthiols of the type 1-C10H7O(CH2)nSH (n = 2-7) are used for structural studies of the microsomal cytochrome P450 active centre. It was found that the strongest complex of thiol with P450 is formed for n = 3. Microsomal oxidation of P450 substrates aminopyrine and benz(a) pyrene is inhibited by the 1-naphtoxyalcanthiols studied. A non-monotonous dependence of pI50 on n was found, the compound with a chain length n = 3 appeared to be the most effective inhibitor. The interaction of this thiol (n = 3) with both the heme group of P450 and the hydrophobic substrate zone is supposed and the distance between these points was estimated. It is possible to employ this approach for structural studies on the active centers of different isoforms of P450.     

Chimeric synthetic peptides containing two immunodominant epitopes from the envelope gp46 and the transmembrane gp21 glycoproteins of HTLV-I virus.

Two chimeric synthetic peptides incorporating immunodominant sequences from HTLV-I virus were synthesized. Monomeric peptides P7 and P8 represent sequences from transmembrane protein (gp21) and envelope protein (gp46) of the virus. The peptide P7 is a gp21 (374-400) sequence and the peptide P8 is a gp46 (190-207) sequence. Those peptides were arranged in a way that permits one to obtain different combinations of chimeric peptides (P7-GG-P8 and P8-GG-P7), separated by two glycine residues as spacer arms. The antigenic activity of these peptides were evaluated by UltramicroEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (UMELISA) by using panels of anti-HTLV-I-positive sera (n = 22), anti-HTLV-I/II-positive sera (n = 2), HTLV-positive (untypeable) serum samples (n = 2), and anti-HTLV-II-positive sera (n = 11), while specificity was evaluated with anti-HIV-positive samples (n = 19) and samples from healthy blood donors (n = 30). The efficacy of the chimeric peptides in solid-phase immunoassays was compared with the monomeric peptides and monomeric peptides together. The chimeric peptide P7-GG-P8 proved to be the most reactive with anti-HTLV-I-positive sera. These results may be related to a higher peptide adsorption capacity to the solid surface and for epitope accessibility to the antibodies. This chimeric peptide would be very useful for HTLV-I diagnostics.     

Variability of the 5S and 45S rDNA sites in Passiflora L. species with distinct base chromosome numbers

Cytologically, the species of Passiflora with known chromosome number can be divided into four groups: (1) 2n = 12, 24, 36; (2) 2n = 24; (3) 2n = 18, 72; and (4) 2n = 20. The base chromosome number proposed for the genus is x = 6, with x = 9, x = 10 and x = 12 being considered secondary base numbers. In the present study, variability of 5S and 45S rDNA sites was investigated in 20 species of these four groups to check the reliability of this hypothesis. In the group with x = 6, five diploid species (2n = 12) exhibit two 5S rDNA sites and two (P. capsularis, P. morifolia and P. rubra) or four (P. misera 2x and P. tricuspis) 45S rDNA sites. The hexaploid cytotype of P. misera had 12 45S rDNA sites and six 5S rDNA. A tetraploid species, P. suberosa, had ten 45S rDNA sites and four 5S rDNA sites, both in the same chromosomes as the 45S rDNA sites. In the group with x = 9, P. actinia, P. amethystina, P. edmundoi, P. elegans, P. galbana, P. glandulosa and P. mucronata displayed six 45S rDNA sites, whereas P. alata, P. cincinnata, P. edulis f. flavicarpa, P. edulis var. roxo and P. laurifolia had four sites. In this group, all species were diploid (2n = 18) and had only two 5S rDNA sites. Passiflora foetida, the only species with 2n = 20, had six 45S rDNA sites and four 5S rDNA sites. The species with x = 12 (2n = 24), P. haematostigma and P. pentagona, showed four 45S rDNA sites and two 5S rDNA. In general, the number and location of 5S and 45S rDNA sites were consistent with the hypothesis of x = 6 as the probable ancestral genome for the genus, while the groups of species with x = 9, x = 10 and x = 12 were considered to be of tetraploid origin with descending dysploidy and gene silencing of some redundant gene sites, mainly those of 5S rDNA.     

Chimeric synthetic peptides from the envelope (gp46) and the transmembrane (gp21) glycoproteins for the detection of antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus type II.

Two chimeric synthetic peptides incorporating immunodominant sequences from HTLV-II virus were synthesized. Monomeric peptides P2 and P3 represent sequences from transmembrane protein (gp21) and envelope protein (gp46) of the virus. The peptide P2 is a gp21 (370-396) sequence and the peptide P3 is a gp46 (178-205) sequence. Those peptides were arranged in a way that permits one to obtain different combinations of chimeric peptides (P2-GG-P3 and P3-GG-P2), separated by two glycine residues as spacer arms. The antigenic activity of these peptides was evaluated by UltramicroEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (UMELISA) by using panels anti-HTLV-II-positive sera (n = 11), anti-HTLV-I/II-positive sera (n = 2), HTLV-positive (untypeable) serum samples (n = 2), and anti-HTLV-I-positive sera (n = 22), while specificity was evaluated with anti-HIV-positive samples (n = 19) and samples from healthy blood donors (n = 30). The efficacy of the chimeric peptides in solid-phase immunoassays was compared with the monomeric peptides and a mixture of the monomeric peptides. Higher sensitivity was observed for chimeric peptide Q5 assay. Those results may be related to a higher peptide adsorption capacity to the solid surface and for epitope accessibility to the antibodies. This chimeric peptide would be very useful for HTLV-II diagnostic.     

Cytological studies on diploid and polyploid taxa of the genus Pennisetum Rich

The cytology of thirteen taxa and two hybrids in the genus Pennisetum indicated the distribution of the taxa among the four basic chromosome numbers 5, 7, 8 and 9. The diploid nature of P. ramosum and P. typhoides and the genomic allotetraploid status of P. purpureum was further confirmed. P. massaicum (2n=32), P. orientale (2n=36) and P. subangustum (2n=36) suggested probable autotetraploid nature and the three hexaploids (2n=54) investigated (P. polystachyon, P. longistylis and P. squamulatum) revealed allohexaploid constitution. The natural triploid, P. ruppellii (2n=27) and pentaploid P. villosum (2n=45) were found to be apomicts and they were allotriploid and allopentaploid respectively. The tetraploid-hexaploid complex of P. pedicellatum showed them to be cytotypes only. The cytogenetical behaviour of the hybrid, P. typhoides x P. purpureum with 2n=21 and the trispecies hybrid (P. typhoides x P. purpureum) x P. squamulatum with 2n=48 brought out the homology within the genomes of x=7 and x=9 and also between the genomes with x=7 and x=9. The significance of the inter- and intragenomic chromosome pairing had been brought out from the interspecific hybrids and the natural allotriploid and allopentaploid species having one genome in the haploid condition.The morphological sections of this genus did not correspond with the cytological groups. A high degree of evolutionary specialization was evident in species of the section Gymnothrix. A complete series of polyploids and high degree of heterogeneity from the morphological point of view was brought out in species with x=9.     

Roles of tumor necrosis factor-alpha of the estrous cycle in cattle: an in vivo study

We have suggested in a previous in vitro study that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) plays a role in the initiation of luteolysis in cattle. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of different doses of TNFalpha on the estrous cycle in cattle by observing the standing behavior and measuring peripheral concentrations of progesterone (P4) during the estrous cycle. Moreover, we evaluated the secretion of P4, oxytocin (OT), nitric oxide (NO), and luteolytic (prostaglandin F2alpha [PGF2alpha] and leukotriene C4 [LTC4]) and luteotropic (PGE2) metabolites of arachidonic acid in peripheral blood plasma as parameters of TNFalpha actions. Mature Holstein/Polish black and white heifers (n = 36) were treated on Day 14 of the estrous cycle (Day 0 = estrus) by infusion into the aorta abdominalis of saline (n = 8), an analogue of PGF2alpha (cloprostenol, 100 microg; n = 3) or saline with TNFalpha at doses of 0.1 (n = 3), 1 (n = 8), 10 (n = 8), 25 (n = 3), or 50 microg (n = 3) per animal. Peripheral blood samples were collected frequently before, during, and up to 4 h after TNFalpha treatment. After Day 15 of the estrous cycle, blood was collected once daily until Day 22 following the first estrus. Lower doses of TNFalpha (0.1 and 1 microg) decreased the P4 level during the estrous cycle and consequently resulted in shortening of the estrous cycle (18.8 +/- 0.9 and 18.0 +/- 0.7 days, respectively) compared with the control (22.3 +/- 0.3 days, P < 0.05). One microgram of TNFalpha increased the PGF2alpha (P < 0.001) and NO (P < 0.001) concentrations and decreased OT secretion (P < 0.01). Higher doses of TNFalpha (10, 25, 50 microg) stimulated synthesis of P4 (P < 0.001) and PGE2 (P < 0.001), inhibited LTC4 secreton (P < 0.05), and consequently resulted in prolongation of the estrous cycle (throughout 30 days, P < 0.05). Altogether, the results suggest that low concentrations of TNFalpha cause luteolysis, whereas high concentrations of TNFalpha activate corpus luteum function and prolong the estrous cycle in cattle.     

Estrogen and progesterone receptors in the ovine cervix during the postpartum period

Cervical estrogen (E) and progesterone (P) receptors were characterized and quantified during the postpartum period in Corriedale ewes lambing in the late breeding season. Cervices and uteri were collected after ovariohysterectomy at 1 d (n = 2), 5 d (n = 4), 17 d (n = 2) or 30 d (n = 2) post partum. The estrogen and progesterone receptors were measured using binding assays with tritiated hormones, dextran charcoal separation and inverse Scatchard analysis. Similar kinetic parameters in cytosolic binding sites for both hormones were found in all cervical and uterine samples, indicating that the binding protein in both tissues is of the same nature. Receptor concentrations (fmol/mg cytosolic protein) in the cervix of early (1 to 5 d, n = 6) and late (17 to 30 d, n = 4) postpartum ewes were 348 +/- 66 vs 994 +/- 145 (P < 0.05) for E and 618 +/- 126 vs 1170 +/- 201 (P < 0.05) for P, respectively. These data suggest an increased synthesis of receptors, probably due to the presence of ovarian estrogen-active follicles. Cervical E and P receptor concentrations were similar or higher than those in the uterus (1.40 +/- 0.15, n = 10 and 1.51 +/- 0.19, n = 10; for E and P respectively), and these receptor ratios did not differ between the early and late postpartum period. The high ratio between cervical/uterine receptors suggests that the ovine cervix may be a very sensitive to steroid action. In conclusion, it was shown that restoration of steroid receptors during the postpartum period in the ovine cervix is similar to receptor dynamics in the uterus, and is probably associated with the recovery of ovarian cyclicity.     

Effect of beta-carotene administration on reproductive function of horse and pony mares

The objective of this study was to determine whether supplemental beta-carotene would influence reproductive function in mares maintained on spring and summer pastures and to characterize plasma carotene concentrations during the estrous cycle. Carotene concentrations in plasma did not vary with day of estrous cycle (P = 0.7455). Mares receiving every other day injections of beta-carotene (400 mg; n = 4) or saline (10 ml; n = 4) during proestrus/estrus did not differ in plasma estradiol (E(2)) concentrations (P = 0.6313), follicle development (P = 0.8068), or plasma progesterone (P(4)) concentrations during the following diestrus (P = 0.4954). Moreover, no differences in plasma P(4) concentrations (P = 0.9047) were detected between mares receiving every other day injections of beta-carotene (400 mg; n = 4) or saline (10 ml; n = 4) during diestrus. However, administration of beta-carotene raised plasma carotene concentrations relative to controls when injected during proestrus/estrus (P = 0.0096) and diestrus (P = 0.0099). Pregnancy rates (P = 0.4900) and number of cycles required for pregnancy (P = 0.2880) were similar for mares administered injections of saline (10 ml; n = 37), beta-carotene (400 mg; n = 37), vitamin A (160,000 IU; n = 38), or vitamin A + beta-carotene (160,000 IU + 400 mg; n = 43), on the first or second day of estrus and on the day of breeding. Therefore, these results collectively suggest that supplemental beta-carotene does not affect the reproductive function of mares fed adequate dietary carotene. Whether supplemental beta-carotene would enhance reproductive function in mares on low carotene diets warrants further investigation.     

Concentrations of energy substrates in oviductal fluid and blood plasma of pigs during the peri-ovulatory period.

Large White gilts, 9 to 18 months old, that had exhibited at least two natural oestrous cycles were divided into three groups (phases): unmated pre-ovulatory, unmated post-ovulatory and mated post-ovulatory (n = 16, 20 and 18). Oviductal luminal fluid samples were collected under anaesthesia by micropipette from the ampulla and ampullary-isthmic junction and analysed by an ultramicrofluorometric technique. Glucose concentrations (mmol 1(-1), means combining regions; mean +/- SEM) were significantly higher in blood plasma than in oviductal fluid (4.56 +/- 0.20 versus 0.59 +/- 0.16; P < 0.0001; n = 27), whereas lactate was higher in the oviduct (5.71 +/- 0.53 versus 2.48 +/- 0.24; P < 0.0001; n = 27). No significant differences were found between the ampulla and the ampullary-isthmic junction. However, the concentration of glucose was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the ampulla of the pre-ovulatory group (0.97 +/- 0.20; n = 13) compared with the mated group (0.25 +/- 0.05; n = 14) and its concentration in the ampullary-isthmic junction in the pre-ovulatory group (1.65 +/- 0.63; n = 13) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than in the post-ovulatory (0.43 +/- 0.11; n = 11) or mated groups (0.17 +/- 0.02; n = 14). Lactate in the ampulla of mated animals was higher than in the pre-ovulatory group (6.83 +/- 0.70 versus 3.86 +/- 0.38; P < 0.05; n = 15 and 13), but neither was significantly different from the post-ovulatory group. Furthermore, no change was seen at the ampullary-isthmic junction in lactate concentration with phase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Simultaneous NMR microdialysis study of brain glucose metabolism in relation to fasting or exercise in the rat.

To study the impact of exercise or fasting and of subsequent glucose supplementation on glucose metabolism in rats, a spectrophotometric method was used to determine peripheral blood glucose; a technique associating (1)H-NMR spectroscopy and cortical microdialysis was also used to observe intra- plus extracellular and extracellular brain glucose variations, respectively. Compared with control animals (204 +/- 19 microM in dialysate, n = 10), exercise increased brain extracellular glucose levels to 274 +/- 22 microM (n = 8; P < 0.05), whereas fasting induced a drop in glucose levels down to 140 +/- 9 microM (n = 8; P < 0.05). After fasting, glucose supplemented by infusion increased glycemia from 7.4 +/- 0.4 to 19.9 +/- 0.8 mM (n = 10; P < 0.001), as well as extracellular and extra- plus intracellular brain glucose to 263 +/- 20% (n = 8; P < 0.001) and 342 +/- 28% (n = 8; P < 0.001), respectively, over basal for that group. After exercise, a similar infusion increased glycemia from 7. 3 +/- 0.3 to 16.8 +/- 1.1 mM (n = 10; P < 0.001), as well as extracellular and extra- plus intracellular brain glucose to 178 +/- 19% (n = 8; P < 0.001) and 244 +/- 20% (n = 8; P < 0.001), respectively, over basal for that group. These results confirmed the existence of a link between glucose level variations in peripheral and cerebral areas but also showed that exercise increased extracellular brain glucose levels despite peripheral hypoglycemia, suggesting a specific regulation mechanism of cerebral glucose metabolism during exercise.     

杨属派间核型比较研究

对杨属五派代表种的核型进行了分析,各代表种核型公式如下:欧洲山杨(白杨派)2n=2x=38=21m(2SAT)+4sm+13st(1SAT);小叶杨(青杨派)2n=2x=38=1M+26m(1SAT)+8sm(1SAT)+1st+2t(1SAT);大叶杨(大叶杨派)2n=2x=38=2M+22m+8sm+6st;胡杨(胡杨派)2n=2x=38=2M+23m+3sm+10st(2SAT);箭杆杨(黑杨派)2n=2x=38=3M+29m(2SAT)+5sm+1st。杨属派间核型差异主要表现在中部与次中部着丝点(M,m)和近端部与端部着丝点(st,t)染色体数目上。白杨派和胡杨派具较多的st、t染色体,核型不对称系数比其它派高。按Stebbins理论白杨派和胡杨派属进化类型。     

Expression of heat shock protein 32 (hemoxygenase-1) in the normal and inflamed human stomach and colon: an immunohistochemical study

Heat shock protein 32 (Hsp32, hemoxygenase-1) is induced by reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) and degrades heme leading to the formation of antioxidant bilirubin. Increased mucosal generation of ROM occurs in gastritis and inflammatory bowel disease. We aimed to assess mucosal expression of Hsp32 in normal stomach and colon and to test the hypothesis that disease-related differential expression occurs in inflamed tissue. Gastric body and antral mucosal biopsies were obtained from 33 patients comprising Helicobacter pylori-negative normal controls (n = 8), H pylori-negative gastritis patients (n = 11), and H pylori-positive gastritis patients (n = 14). Forty-seven archival colonic mucosal biopsies selected comprised normal histology (n = 10), active ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 9), inactive UC (n = 8), active Crohn's disease (CD) (n = 8), inactive CD (n = 6), and other colitides (n = 6). Hsp32 expression in formalin-fixed sections was assessed by avidin-biotin peroxidase immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal rabbit anti-Hsp32 as the primary antibody. Immunohistochemical staining identified Hsp32 in all groups. Diffuse cytoplasmic staining was seen in gastric and colonic epithelial and lamina proprial inflammatory cells. Staining scores for Hsp32 were higher in antral H pylori-positive (P = 0.002) and H pylori-negative (P = 0.02) gastritis than in controls and in body H pylori-positive gastritis than in the other 2 groups (P < 0.01). Expression of Hsp32 was increased in active UC compared with inactive disease (P = 0.03) and normal controls (P = 0.02). In conclusion, Hsp32 is expressed constitutively in normal gastric and colonic mucosa, and differential expression occurs in these tissues when they are inflamed. Upregulation of Hsp32 may be an adaptive response to protect mucosa from oxidative injury in patients with gastritis and inflammatory bowel disease.     

Functional status of the regenerated chorda tympani nerve as assessed in a salt taste discrimination task

We tested whether the recovered ability of rats to discriminate NaCl from KCl after chorda tympani nerve transection (CTX) is causally linked to nerve regeneration or some other compensatory process. Rats were presurgically trained in an operant NaCl vs. KCl discrimination task. Rats with regenerated nerves, histologically confirmed by anterior tongue taste pore counts and tested 62 days after CTX (CTX-62R; n = 5), performed as well as those tested 62 days after sham surgery (Sham-62; n = 5), but both of these groups initially performed slightly worse than animals tested 7 days after sham surgery (Sham-7; n = 4). Performance of rats tested either 7 (CTX-7P; n = 5) or 62 (CTX-62P; n = 4) days after CTX in which nerve regeneration was prevented was severely disrupted. Adulteration of the stimuli with amiloride, an epithelial sodium channel blocker, impaired discrimination performance in a similar dose-dependent manner in the Sham-7 (n = 2), Sham-62 (n = 5), and CTX-62R (n = 5) groups, suggesting that the functional status of the amiloride-sensitive transduction pathway returns to normal in rats with regenerated chorda tympani nerves. Performance of CTX rats without regenerated nerves (CTX-7P, n = 2; CTX-62P, n = 4) was further degraded by amiloride treatment, suggesting that taste receptors innervated by other nerves are sensitive to amiloride. In conclusion, nerve regeneration is an essential component underlying full recovery of salt discrimination function after CTX.     

Physiological changes in androgen plasma levels with elapsing of time from castration in adult male rats

In the present study we investigated in adult male rats the effects of castration on Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Androstenedione (delta 4), Testosterone (T) and Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) plasma levels: five days (group II), seven weeks (group III) and eleven weeks (group IV) after orchiectomy. The same hormone assays were performed in rats approximately 60 days of age which underwent a sham-operation for orchiectomy (group I). Our data show that five days following orchiectomy (group II) delta 4, T and DHT were decreased with respect to sham-operated rats. (Group I: delta 4: 83.3 +/- 14.9 (SEM) ng/dl (n = 12); T: 435.32 +/- 51.45 (n = 12); DHT: 51.47 +/- 6.54 (n = 12); Group II: delta 4: 44.81 +/- 6.09 (n = 12) P = 0.05; T: 25.54 +/- 2.88 (n = 12) P less than 0.01; DHT: 12.9 +/- 2.51 (n = 12) P less than 0.01). Seven weeks afterwards T and DHT remained significantly lower (group III: T: 54.37 +/- 12.21, n = 16) (P less than 0.01; DHT: 33.22 +/- 4.49 (n = 16) P less than 0.01) while eleven weeks after all steroids were significantly decreased with respect to the values observed in sham-operated rats. (Group IV) delta 4: 32.01 +/- 5.7 (n = 10) P less than 0.01: T: 27.29 +/- 7.05 (n = 10) P less than 0.01; DHT: 29.03: 5.34 (n = 10) P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Embryos and culture cells: a model for studying the effect of progesterone

A positive association between P4 concentration and initial bovine embryo survival has been reported. The objective of this study was to establish two coculture systems as a model to study the influence of progesterone on the initial bovine embryo development. Granulosa cells (GC) or bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs) were used at the base of embryo culture medium microdroplets (TCM199 and 10% of superovulated oestrus cow serum, (SOCS)) supplemented or not with progesterone (P4, 33.4 ng mL(-1)) and/or a progesterone receptor antagonist (onapristone, OP, 2.2x10(-5)M). Presumptive zygotes were transferred to monolayers after in vitro maturation and fertilization of bovine oocytes with thawed swim-up selected sperm. Embryo development was carried out according to the following groups: experiment 1, BOEC (n=378) and BOEC plus OP (n=325); experiment 2, GC (n=514); GC plus OP (n=509); BOEC (n=490); BOEC plus P4 (n=500); BOEC plus P4 and OP (n=502). Embryos were checked for cleavage at day 2 and for stage development between days 8 and 12 of culture. In experiment 1, no differences (P>0.05) were identified between BOEC and BOECOP groups for embryo rates of development, quality or developmental stages. Also in experiment 2, no differences were found in embryo rates of development, quality or developmental stages between embryos cultured under the two coculture systems when no supplementation was added. Embryo development rates were not affected by OP presence in GCOP group. However, P4 negatively affected Day 8 (D8) embryo development rates in BOEC system (BOECP4=16.8+/-2.6% vs. BOEC=23.7+/-1.7%, P=0.02). This negative effect was abolished when P4 antagonist (OP) was added to the culture medium. BOEC supplementation with P4 also induced a delay on embryo development at D8 as confirmed by a lower development score (BOECP4=3.0+/-1.4 vs. GC=3.4+/-0.1, GCOP=3.5+/-0.1, BOEC=3.4+/-0.1 and BOECP4OP=3.5+/-0.1; P<0.05). These results demonstrate that OP supplementation had no harmful effect on embryo development either in granulosa, where P4 is naturally synthesised, or in BOEC coculture systems. Also we can not confirm a direct association between high P4 concentrations and embryo survival during early stages, although P4 may influence early embryo development through different mechanisms mediated by the type of cells present.     

FISH and GISH analysis of the genomic relationships amongPanax species

Ginseng is a well-known medicinal plant that has been used as an anti-aging agent for many years in East Asia. In the genusPanax, only three species,P. ginseng (Oriental ginseng),P. quinquefolius (American ginseng) andP. notoginseng (Chinese ginseng), are currently considered to be important medicinal herbs. Despite the increase in their breeding value, molecular cytogenetic information on the species is not available. To analyze the genomic relationships among thePanax species, FISH (fluorescencein situ hybridization) and GISH (genomicin situ hybridization) techniques were applied. FISH analysis revealed that the 45S and 5S rRNA genes ofP. notoginseng (2n=2x=24) andP. ginseng (2n=4x=48) cluster on a single locus on different chromosomes, whileP. quinquefolius (2n=4x=48),P. japonicus (2n=4x=48), and Korean wild ginseng (2n =4x= 48) had one locus of the 45S rRNA gene and two loci of the 5S rRNA gene, respectively. GISH analysis using genomic DNA as a probe detected strong cross-hybridization of genomes betweenP. ginseng andP. quinquefolius. GISH analysis of other species showed weak or no distinct signals on the chromosomes. Our data revealed thatP. ginseng andP. quinquefolius showed the highest degree of homology, indicating that these species diverged in most recent years.