Central <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-alanine reduces energy expenditure with a hypnotic effect under an acute stressful condition in neonatal chicks

Recently, we reported that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of l-alanine attenuated the stress response under an acute stressful condition in chicks. However, no information of l-alanine was available for the influence on energy expenditure and changes in the posture under stressful conditions. The purpose of the present study was to clarify whether central l-alanine affects heat production (HP) of neonatal chicks, and whether HP is correlated with the behavior after isolation-induced stress. The i.c.v. injection of l-alanine (0.8 μmol) decreased oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and HP shortly after injection. Central l-alanine reduced the posture for active wakefulness, but increased the posture for sitting motionless with head drooped (sleeping posture). The present study demonstrates that central l-alanine decreases energy expenditure and causes a hypnotic effect in chicks exposed to an acute stressful condition.     

Comparison of the anorexigenic activity of CRF family peptides

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) family peptides have an important role in the control of food intake. We investigated the effects of CRF family peptides on food intake and body weight gain in mice. Of the CRF family peptides, including CRF, urocortin1 (Ucn1), urocortin2 (Ucn2) and urocortin3 (Ucn3), peripherally administered Ucn1 was shown to have the most potent inhibitory effect on the food intake and body weight gain of both lean and high fat fed obese mice. In addition, repeated administration of Ucn1 lowered blood glucose and acylated ghrelin, and decreased the visceral fat weight of high fat fed obese mice.     

The Influence of a High‐Fat Dietary Environment in the Fetal Period on Postnatal Metabolic and Immune Function

Few reports show whether a high‐fat (HF) dietary environment in the fetal period affects immune function or the development of lifestyle‐related disease at maturity. We examined the influence of an HF dietary environment in the fetal period on postnatal metabolic and immune function. A total of 16 pregnant mice were given control (CON) diet and 16 were given HF diet in the gestational period, from mating to delivery. After delivery lactating mice were given either CON or HF diet, resulting in four groups. After weaning, the offspring mice were given the same diet that their mothers received during lactation. HF dietary intake in the postnatal period increased fat pad weights, serum glucose, and leptin levels. An HF diet in the fetal period resulted in fewer splenic lymphocytes, a thinner thymic cortex, and impaired antigen‐specific immune reactions. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α production and serum triglyceride levels were elevated in the fetal HF group. In addition, the HF‐HF group showed a consistent decrease in ovalbumin (OVA)‐specific IgG and elevation of IgE, associated with advanced fatty changes in the liver. Results from this study suggest that HF environment during the fetal period induces epigenetic propensity toward obesity and immunological burden in part due to increased adipose tissue mass, significant reduction in the number of immune cells and decreased activities of immune cells.     

Determination of normal ranges of mitochondrial respiratory activities by mtDNA transfer from 54 Human subjects to mtDNA-less HeLa cells for identification of the pathogenicities of mutated mtDNAs

To determine the pathogenicities of mutated mtDNAs in patients with respiration defects, the possible involvement of nuclear DNA mutations has to be excluded, since respiratory function is controlled by both nuclear DNA and mtDNA. This was achieved by showing that the mutated mtDNAs and respiration defects were co-transferred from patients to mtDNA-less human cells, and the resultant cybrid clones carrying mutated mtDNAs expressed respiration defects. To decide whether the cybrid clones expressed respiration defects, in this study the lowest limits of normal respiratory function were evaluated by transfer of mtDNAs from 54 normal subjects to mtDNA-less HeLa cells. The resultant cybrid clones showed that 71% respiratory function was the lowest limit of mtDNAs from normal subjects. On the other hand, cybrid clones carrying pathogenic mtDNAs from patients with mitochondrial diseases showed 0-64% respiratory function, suggesting that less than 71% respiratory function in cybrid clones should be a reliable indicator of whether the mutated mtDNAs of the patients were pathogenic.     

Enantioselective reactions of alpha-lithiated allyl aryl sulfides using chiral bis(oxazoline)s

The reaction of alpha-lithio allyl aryl sulfides, generated by treatment with n-BuLi and chiral ligands at -78 degrees C, with ketones was examined. The alpha-addition products were formed in preference to the gamma-addition products. The enantioselectivity of the alpha-addition products varied depending on the chiral ligand, and bis(oxazoline)-(t)Bu showed the highest enantioselectivity. Chirality 16:86-89, 2004.