Two new species of the deepwater scorpionfish genus Lioscorpius (Setarchidae) from the southwestern Pacific Ocean

Ichthyological Research - Two new deepwater scorpionfishes, Lioscorpius brevirostris sp. nov. and Lioscorpius vermiculatus sp. nov., are described on the basis of 20 and 11 specimens from the...     

Redescription of the circumglobal deepwater scorpionfish Setarches guentheri (Setarchidae)

Ichthyological Research - Setarches guentheri Johnson 1862 and Setarches longimanus (Alcock 1894) are similar to each other in sharing III, 4–6 (usually 5) anal-fin rays, a moderately deep...     

Functional Characteristics of Enhanced Fc Receptor Expression of β2 Integrin-Deficient Bovine Mononuclear Phagocytes

Fc receptor expression, cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ signaling, chemiluminescent (CL) response, and electron spin resonance (ESR) combined with spin trapping of blood mononuclear phagocytes from control heifers and a heifer with leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) were evaluated to elucidate the relationships between complement receptor type 3 (CR3) and Fc receptor expression and their functional responses. The mean fluorescence intensity of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated anti-bovine IgG bound to mononuclear phagocytes from the heifer with LAD was 1.8-fold higher than that of control heifers. The mean increments of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentrations of mononuclear phagocytes from the heifer with LAD stimulated with OPZ, Agg-IgG, and PMA were 39.4 (P<0.05), 118, and 71.6% compared with those of control heifers. A 1.27-fold increase in the CL response relative to control heifers was detected when mononuclear phagocytes from the heifer with LAD were stimulated with Agg-IgG. The OPZ-induced CL response of mononuclear phagocytes from the heifer with LAD was significantly (P<0.05) decreased, whereas the PMA-induced CL response was similar to that of control heifers. The ESR spectrum of mononuclear phagocytes from the heifer with LAD was increased when stimulated with Agg-IgG, and was impaired when stimulated by OPZ compared with that of control heifers. The ESR spectrum of mononuclear phagocytes stimulated with PMA was similar in control heifers and the heifer with LAD. Fc receptors on mononuclear phagocytes from the heifer with LAD were enhanced, and their cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ signaling, CL response, and ESR-spin trapping when stimulated with Agg-IgG and OPZ appeared to be associated with enhanced Fc receptors.     

Ultrasound-guided non-surgical embryo collection in the common marmoset

Experimental primate embryology has been hampered by limited access to embryos. In addition to surgical techniques, the less stressful non-surgical technique of uterine flushing has been developed but has had only limitedly used in recovering pre-implantation embryos from marmoset monkeys. In this study, we introduce the use of ultrasonography during marmoset non-surgical uterine flushing to make the cannulation easier, to further reduce stress, and to ensure thorough uterine flushing. We were able to cannulate in 99% of the transcervical cannulation attempts, repeat the flushing up to 17 times with the same animal, and recover up to 90% of the ovulation products. We also found that 8-cell or earlier stage embryos could be frequently obtained by non-surgical uterine flushing at 4 or 5 days after ovulation. The easiness and effectiveness of this novel ultrasound-guided technique will enable more research groups to study marmoset embryology and facilitate progress in this field.     

Physical mapping of the mitochondrial DNA from Aspergillus niger

Abstract The mitochondrial DNA was isolated from Aspergillus niger WU-2223L, a citric acid-production strain, and characterized by restriction-endonuclease mapping. Cloned fragments which covered the total range of the mitochondrial DNA were assembled and utilized to construct the restriction-endonuclease map for nine restriction enzymes. This map showed that the mitochondrial DNA was a circular molecule of 32.6 kb.     

Antibody-dependent difference in biodistribution of monoclonal antibodies in animal models and humans

 The study was designed to clarify the difference in pharmacokinetics of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) in animal models and humans, and to elucidate the applicability of animal models. ^99mTc-labeled murine mAb – against carcinoembryonic antigen (designated BW431/26), and neural cell adhesion molecule (NE150) – and one chimeric mouse/human mAb against nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (chNCA) were administered i.v. to normal mice and athymic mice (370 kBq, 400 ng) xenografted with human cancer cells expressing antigens, and into patients with tumor (925 MBq, 1 mg). The biodistribution of two of the three mAb (not ^99mTc-BW431/26) differed clearly in mice and patients. ^99mTc-NE150 showed specific uptake in xenografted tumor and otherwise a normal biodistribution; however, clinical examination showed increased uptake in the liver with rapid blood clearance (mean α half-life = 31.1 min) compared with ^99mTc-BW431/26 (28.4 h). ^99mTc-chNCA demonstrated increased blood clearance and renal excretion in both normal and athymic mice, with accumulation in tumors. Clinical examination showed rapid blood clearance (mean α half-life = 6.4 min) and increased uptake in the liver. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of ^99mTc-chNCA revealed the immune complex in blood, suggesting uptake of the complex by the reticuloendothelial cells. The biodistribution of radiolabeled mAb in animal and human models was variable and specific for each of the three mAb. The results of animal studies with mAb should be evaluated carefully before being extrapolated to humans, on the basis of the nature of the mAb and interacting substances. Received: 9 April 1997 / Accepted 3 March 1998