Bilateral giant myelolipoma in the adrenal of a cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus)

Abstract: A rare case of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas in a female cotton-top tamarin is reported. Large bilateral masses in the adrenal glands were composed of mature adipose cells containing varying amounts of hematopoietic cells of the myeloid, erythroid, and megakaryocyte series. The gross and histologic features of this case closely resemble human “giant” adrenal myelolipomas.     

Construction of Libraries for Methylation Sites by In-gel Competitive Reassociation (IGCR)

The in-gel competitive reassociation (IGCR) procedure was successfullyapplied to construct a comprehensive library enriched in DNAfragments containing C^5mCGG sequences from mouse liver and braingenomic DNA. For IGCR, methylation-insensitive restriction enzyme(Msp I) digests were used as target DNA and methylation-sensitiverestriction enzyme (Hpa II) digests as competitor DNA. Southernblot analysis indicated that 60 to 70% of the clones in thelibrary were derived from the methylated sites and overall enrichmentwas 200- to 1000-fold. IGCR was further applied to constructa library for the sites differentially methylated between brainand liver DNA. In the library, approximately 20% of the HpaII sites exhibited different degrees of methylation betweenthese tissues.     

Genetics and biology of the sawfly,Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera)

Hymenopteran insects are a unique group of animals in which arrhenotokous reproduction (haploid males develop from unfertilized eggs) is a rule. Males produce sperm through a non-reductional maturation division. A sawfly species,Athalia rosae ruficornis Jakovlev (Tenthredinidae, Symphyta, Hymenoptera), has been introduced as a new experimental material for studies on genetics and developmental biology. Basic features relating to the potential usefulness of the species in elucidating some of the important genetic and developmental biological problems are described.     

Light-induced phase-shifting of the peripheral circadian oscillator in the hearts of food-deprived mice.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of fasting on photoentrainment of the peripheral circadian oscillator in the mammalian heart. Northern blotting showed that a single light pulse applied at an appropriate time in constant darkness, caused obvious phase-shifting in the circadian expression rhythm of the mammalian clock gene Period2 (mPer2) even in the hearts of food-deprived mice. Fasting did not significantly affect either the phase or the light-induced phase-shifts of the mPer2 rhythm. Although several studies of temporal feeding restriction have indicated that feeding is the dominant timing cue for mammalian peripheral oscillators, our findings suggest that feeding is not essential for mammals to induce phase resetting of the circadian oscillator in the heart.     

A new method of inhalation anesthesia with nasopharyngeal insufflation in rat experiment.

We have established a new method of anesthesia with nasopharyngeal insufflation for intraoral procedure in rodents. Twelve male Wistar rats weighing 330-390 g were used in this study. Insertion of a feeding tube 1.0 mm in diameter coated with 2% xylocaine jelly was inserted into the nasal cavity approximately 25 mm from the naris, and anesthetization with mixed gas of 100% oxygen with 3-4% enflurane at 0.25-0.5 l/min flow rate was achieved. Using this anesthetic method, a chronic experiment comprising 1-h/day experimental procedure was carried out for 14 days. This method enabled, 1) simple and safe operation of the induction, emergence and anesthetic depth, 2) experimental procedures on the dental/oral region, 3) avoidance of the dyspnea and tachypnea, and 4) avoidance of cumulative effects in daily anesthesia.     

Expression of an ABA-induced gene of tomato in transgenic tobacco during periods of water deficit

The gene le25 is an abscisic acid (ABA)-induced gene of tomatowhich is expressed both in wilted vegetative organs and developingseeds. Spatial and temporal expression was analysed in tobaccoplants transformed with a chimeric gene in which 5'-upstreamDNA sequences of le25 were fused to the E. coli uidA gene, whichencodes ß-glucuronidase (GUS). Histochemical stainingrevealed that GUS was expressed in all tissues of vegetativeorgans in response to water deficit. Exogenous ABA induced expressionto a lesser extent, even though ABA content was the same asdroughtstressed leaves, indicating a difference in responseto endogenous ABA compared to exogenous ABA. Water-deficit-inducedGUS expression in floral tissues was examined in pre-anthesisfloral buds from four different stages (I–IV; 11, 16,33, 49 mm bud length, respectively). While non-stressed floralorgans showed no GUS activity except in pollen at stages IIIand IV, GUS activity was water-deficit-induced in sepals ofall stages, petals of stage II, and stigmas of stage II andIII. In seeds, GUS activity was detected in both the embryoand endosperm at 15 d post-anthesis, which coincided with alarge increase in the concentration of ABA in the seed. In transgenicplants, the le25 5'-flanking DNA drove expression of GUS duringwater deficit in two modes: non-tissue-specific expression invegetative organs, and tissue-specific expression in reproductiveorgans. The location of GUS activity indicated that ABA concentrationis elevated throughout the tissues of the leaf during periodsof water deficit. Key words: Tomato, ABA, drought stress, lea gene, water deficit     

Expression of hepatic calcium-binding protein regucalcin mRNA is elevated by refeeding of fasted rats: Involvement of glucose,insulin and calcium as stimulating factors

The effect of refeeding on the expression of Ca²⁺-binding protein regucalcin mRNA in the liver of fasted rats was investigated. When rats were fasted overnight, the hepatic regucalcin mRNA level was reduced about 70% of that in feeding rats. Refeeding produced a remarkable elevation of hepatic regucalcin mRNA level (about 150–170% of fasted rats). Liver regucalcin concentration was appreciably increased by refeeding, although it was not altered by fasting. The oral administration of glucose (2 g/kg body weight) to fasted rats caused a significant increase in hepatic regucalcin mRNA level. Moreover, hepatic regucalcin mRNA level was clearly elevated by a single subcutaneous administration of insulin (10 and 100 U/kg) to fasted rats. The hormonal effect was not further enhanced by the simultaneous administration of calcium chloride (250 mg Ca/kg) to fasted rats, although calcium administration stimulated regucalcin mRNA expression in the liver. The present study suggests that the expression of hepatic regucalcin mRNA stimulated by refeeding is significantly involved in the action of insulin and/or calcium as stimulating factors.     

Cloning of cDNA for Vitellogenin of the Parasitoid Wasp, Pimpla nipponica (Hymenoptera: Apocrita: Ichneumonidae): Vitellogenin Primary Structure and Evolutionary Considerations

The cDNA for vitellogenin (Vg) of the parasitoid wasp Pimpla nipponica (Hymenoptera: Apocrita) was cloned and sequenced.¹ The deduced amino acid sequence with 1807 residues was obtained. The N-terminal 20 amino acids chemically determined for vitellin (Vn) agreed completely with the deduced 20 amino acids that follow the 16 amino acid residues for putative signal peptide. The cDNA clone for the Vg of the turnip sawfly Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta), previously obtained and partially sequenced, was also completely sequenced and the amino acid sequence deduced. Amino acid sequences were compared between these two species and also with known Vg sequences from other insects. Common to all these insects is the presence of two long regions with relatively well-conserved amino acid sequences, one near the N-terminal extending 267–282 residues (including two cysteines at conserved locations), and the other starting at position 450 to 655 and extending 279–283 residues, and of a region at the C-terminal extending some 200 residues (about 250 in Aedes aegypti due to the presence of a serine-rich stretch) with 10 cysteines at conserved locations. A molecular phylogenetic tree was constructed.