Den distribution and den use by the red foxVulpes vulpes japonica in Kyushu

The distribution of dens and den use by the red fox was studied in Kumamoto Prefecture between 1968 and 1982. A total of 80 dens were classified into natal, residential, and temporarily-visited dens. Natal dens comprised 12.4% of all dens. Relative proportions were quite stable for a long period. This indicates a constant number of reproducing females in the area for a considerable length of time. Seasonally the utilization of den showed three peaks in February, May and October. The peaks coincided well with the peaks of reproductive activity of female foxes. The results of multiple regression analysis of distribution of dens with respect to selected environmental parameters around densites indicated that the fox selectively utilize open land, rather than densely vegetated areas. The persistence of dens, the selective utilization by foxes of open land and the sizes of dens were all related to the breeding activities of female foxes inhabiting the area. Reproductive females usually used plural dens (“den group”) in one reproductive season. The numbers of those females occuring in the area were maintained at a steady level for fairy long periods. These indicate that the existence of a stable social relationship between females mediated through occupancy of “den groups.”     

Regional assignment of the gene for diphtheria toxin sensitivity using subchromosomal fragments in microcell hybrids

Human x mouse microcell hybrids resistant to G418 were constructed between mouse hepatoma cells and human x mouse whole cell hybrids containing only intact human chromosome 5 and 22 with an integrated neo ^r-gene. Among these, microcell hybrid BG15 produced four subclones, BG15-4, BG15-6, BG15-7 and BG15-9, which contained variously sized complements of human chromosome 5. BG15-6 contained an intact human chromosome 5, BG15-7 a deleted human chromosome 5 (5pter-q22) and BG15-4 and BG15-9 a translocation between parts of human chromosome 5 (pter-qter? and pter-q23, respectively) and a mouse chromosome. Southern DNA blot analysis showed that the human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene was present in all four subclones, whereas the human homolog of the v-fms gene was present in BG15-4 and 15-6, but absent from BG15-7 and 15-9. BG15-4, 15-6 and 15-9 were sensitive to diphtheria toxin, and only BG15-7 was resistant to the toxin. We used these microcell hybrids to restrict further the regional location of the gene for diphtheria toxin sensitivity to the q23 region of human chromosome 5.     

Regional assignment of five genes on human chromosome 19

A human-mouse hybrid segregant HM76Dd40-6 with new characteristics was derived from the hybrid cell line HM76Dd containing human chromosome 19 as the only human chromosome. Three virus sensitivities located on human chromosome 19 (PVS, E11S and RDRC) were lost in HM76Dd40-6, while six other genes (C3, LDLR, EF2, GPI, PEPD and MANB) were retained. Cytogenetic analysis and in situ hybridization using human or mouse repeated sequences as probes showed that the region q13.1-qter of human chromosome 19 had been replaced by a fragment of mouse chromosome. Our results permit further regional assignment for the following five genes on human chromosome 19: GPI in the region cen-q12, MANB in p13.2-q12, E11S and RDRC in q13.1-qter, and EF2 in pter-q12.     

Hyperplastic cellular components of a hemangiopericytoma. An ultrastructural study

Based on ultrastructural features of cellular components of a hemangiopericytoma, hyperplastic cells are classifiable into fibroblast-like (group I), endotheloid (group II) and pericyte-like (group III) cells. The transformation of the group I cells to the group II, or to the group III cells, is pronounced in our electron micrographs and this may imply that the group I cell is the principal cell of origin in this neoplasm. The smooth muscle-like (group IV) cells comprising the media of the arteries and veins in this neoplasm may represent modified, possibly de-differentiated smooth muscle cells reacted to the neoplastic proliferation of the surrounding adventitial (group I) cells.     

Induction of manganese superoxide dismutase by tumor necrosis factor in human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line and its TNF-resistant variant

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-resistant variant of human mammary cancer MCF-7 cell line was isolated by stepwise selection. The final TNF-resistant variant Tnf-1000 showed more than 100-fold higher resistance than the parental MCF-7 cell. Saturation kinetics for 125I-TNF binding showed that TNF-1000 cells had similar TNF receptor numbers as MCF-7 cells, but of a lower affinity. Induction of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was compared between MCF-7 and Tnf-1000 cells treated with TNF: SOD scavenges potentially toxic superoxide radicals. TNF induced more mitochondrial manganese SOD (SODm) in MCF-7 than in Tnf-1000 whereas there appeared to be no significant induction of cytosolic copper/zinc SOD (SODc) by TNF in both MCF-7 and Tnf-1000 cell lines. Acquirement of TNF-resistance in MCF-7 cells might be correlated with expression of SODm.     

Changes of DNA methylation level during pre-and postnatal periods in mice

DNA methylation in an adult mammalian body shows tissue-specificity. But when and how the specificity is established in the process of development has not yet been elucidated. Here we have investigated age-dependent changes in the amount of 5-methyldeoxycytidine (5mdC) that DNA of various mouse tissues contains during the late-fetal and postnatal periods, using high-performance liquid chromatography. The tissue-specificity in the 5mdC level was observed in the late-fetal stage, and the level continued to change during the subsequent periods. The most pronounced alterations were observed in brain and liver, where similar biphasic changes were seen, but at different ages. At maturation, the 5mdC levels were high in thymus, spleen and brain, intermediate in lung, and low in liver and sperm. The data demonstrate the importance of the peri- and postnatal periods in establishment of tissue-specificity in 5mdC content.     

Allozyme diversity and the evolution ofCrepidiastrum (Compositae) on the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands

The genusCrepidiastrum is distributed in East Asia and includes 7 species. In the Bonin Islands, three species ofCrepidiastrum occur, and all of them are endemic to the islands. For detecting the origin and speciation of these endemic species, electrophoretic studies have been done in three endemic species of the Bonin Islands as well as in the remaining four species ofCrepidiastrum, andYoungia denticulata which is considered to be closely related toCrepidiastrum. A total of 386 individuals were sampled from 14 populations. As a result, 17 loci of 10 enzyme systems were resolved and gene frequencies for each population were calculated. The genetic variability was low in island species, as reported in some oceanic island plants. Four groups were recognized in the dendrogram generated by the UPGMA method. The Bonin endemics were clustered together, suggesting a monophyletic origin.C. ameristophyllum andC. linguaefolium were found to be genetically very similar, and this may suggest recent and rapid speciation within the islands.     

Transformation by viral and cellular oncogenes of a mouse BALB/3T3 cell mutant resistant to transformation by chemical carcinogens.

The mouse cell line MO-5 is resistant to transformation by various chemical carcinogens and also by UV irradiation (C. Yasutake, Y. Kuratomi, M. Ono, S. Masumi, and M. Kuwano, Cancer Res. 47:4894-4899, 1987). Northern (RNA) blot analysis showed active expression of ras and myc genes in MO-5 and BALB/3T3 cells. The effect of transfection of various oncogenes on transformation was compared in MO-5 cells and parental BALB/3T3 cells. Activated c-H-ras, c-N-ras, and v-mos gene induced transformation foci of MO-5 and BALB/3T3. Introduction of the polyomavirus middle T-antigen (mTag) or the Rous sarcoma virus-related oncogene v-src, however, efficiently transformed BALB/3T3 but not MO-5 cells. Expression and phosphorylation of mTag and the associated c-src proteins were observed in mTag-transfected clones of MO-5 as in BALB/3T3 and phosphorylation of the src protein was observed in v-src-transfected BALB/3T3 and MO-5 clones. Hybrids between mTag- or v-src-induced transformants of BALB/3T3 and untransformed MO-5 maintained the transformation phenotype, suggesting that no dominant suppressor of transformation exists in MO-5. A hybrid clone between BALB/3T3 and MO-5 induced efficient transformation foci after transfection with the mTag gene, suggesting that the deficient transformation phenotype of MO-5 was recessive. Instead, some other alteration of MO-5, plausibly membrane function, might lead to abortive transformation by chemical carcinogens and also by mTag and the v-src gene product.