Metallothionein induction by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs

In the present study we report on the effects of commonly used nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on metallothionein (MT) and MT-I mRNA levels. A single dose of chloroquine (100 mg/kg), diclofenac (100 mg/kg), indomethacin (10 mg/kg), or piroxicam (100 mg/kg) was administered ip to C57B1 mice. After 18 h, MT levels were determined with a Cd-saturation radioassay. MT-I mRNA levels were measured by Northern Blot analyses using a probe containing the mouse MT-I gene. All drugs tested caused an increase in the MT content of the liver but not of the kidneys and lung. The lowest and highest effects were observed with chloroquine (8 times the control value) and diclofenac (18 times), respectively. In accordance with the stimulation of MT synthesis, increased accumulation of hepatic MT-I mRNA could be demonstrated. These results indicate that elevated MT levels may contribute to the effectiveness of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).     

Cyclooxygenase‐1 inhibition reduces amyloid pathology and improves memory deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Several epidemiological and preclinical studies suggest that non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX), reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and can lower β‐amyloid (Aβ) production and inhibit neuroinflammation. However, follow‐up clinical trials, mostly using selective cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2 inhibitors, failed to show any beneficial effect in AD patients with mild to severe cognitive deficits. Recent data indicated that COX‐1, classically viewed as the homeostatic isoform, is localized in microglia and is actively involved in brain injury induced by pro‐inflammatory stimuli including Aβ, lipopolysaccharide, and interleukins. We hypothesized that neuroinflammation is critical for disease progression and selective COX‐1 inhibition, rather than COX‐2 inhibition, can reduce neuroinflammation and AD pathology. Here, we show that treatment of 20‐month‐old triple transgenic AD (3 × Tg‐AD) mice with the COX‐1 selective inhibitor SC‐560 improved spatial learning and memory, and reduced amyloid deposits and tau hyperphosphorylation. SC‐560 also reduced glial activation and brain expression of inflammatory markers in 3 × Tg‐AD mice, and switched the activated microglia phenotype promoting their phagocytic ability. The present findings are the first to demonstrate that selective COX‐1 inhibition reduces neuroinflammation, neuropathology, and improves cognitive function in 3 × Tg‐AD mice. Thus, selective COX‐1 inhibition should be further investigated as a potential therapeutic approach for AD.     

α-l-Rhamnosidase Activity in Culture Filtrate of Corticium rolfsii Enzymic Activity at Low pH

A phosphorylation system for formation of ATP from AMP by Zymolyase-treated cells of Candida boidinii (Kloeckera sp.) No. 2201 was developed as an ATP production process. This system was shown to be an energy conversion system, from a reduced C₁ -compound to ATP through reduction of NAD⁺ and oxidative phosphorylation but not substrate level phosphorylation, together with phosphorylation of AMP to ADP.

Reaction conditions for the ATP production were optimized in respect of substrate and coenzyme concentrations, pH and temperature, osmotic pressure, and oxygen supply. Under the optimal conditions, 26 mM (13 g/liter) and 8.5 dim (4g/liter) of ATP were produced with methanol and formate as C₁ -substrate, respectively.     

Multinucleate cells in thymus of C3H mice

Summary Multinucleate epithelial cells occur in the thymus of C3H mice. They are poorly differentiated and scarce, but are more numerous in the medulla than in the cortex. Their increase in number with age is particularly significant between the first and the third months especially for cells with a large number of nuclei, and may be related to thymic involution.Viral particles of type C, similar to those described in murine leukemias, are found in mono- and multinucleate medullary epithelial cells.Research supported by grant 10.013 of the Fonds de la Recherche Fondamentale Collective (Brussels)     

Resynchronization of the Circadian Corticosterone Rhythm After a Light/Dark Shift in Juvenile and Adult Mice

Most of the extensive literature concerning the resynchronization of circadian rhythms after a Zeitgeber shift is devoted to the dependence of resynchronization on the mode of the shift and the strength of the Zeitgeber, as well as on the circadian function investigated. Ontogenetic influences have rarely been investigated. Therefore, we studied the resynchronization of several circadian rhythms in juvenile and adult female laboratory mice. We present here the results concerning the corticosterone rhythm. The daily rhythms were determined as transverse profiles (2-h intervals) before as well as 3, 7, and 14 days after an 8-h phase delay of the light/dark cycle produced by a single prolongation of dark time. The corticosterone concentration in serum was determined radioimmunologically. In the control animals the daily patterns were bimodal, with main maxima at the end of the light time and secondary ones just after lights on. Ontogenetic differences were small. In adult mice the amplitude was slightly increased due to an increase in the maximum values, and the time of highest hormone concentrations was slightly phase advanced. In juvenile mice, a distinct daily pattern with a phase position in relation to the light/dark cycle corresponding to that of control animals was present on the 3rd day after the Zeitgeber shift. The daily mean as well as the minimum and maximum values increased initially and reached the values of control animals during the second week. In adult animals, a pronounced daily rhythm with the normal phase position was present only at the 7th postshift day. The amplitude, daily mean, and maximum values were decreased, and the minimum values were increased. The initial values were not reached even after 2 weeks. The results show that resynchronization was faster in juvenile mice compared with adult mice. As a possible cause for the observed age-related differences, a not yet stabilized phase-coupling between various circadian rhythms is supposed.     

Failure of spermatozoa from T/t mice to fertilize in vitro is overcome by zona drilling

Failure of epididymal spermatozoa from T/t mutant mice, but not from t/t individuals, to fertilize oocytes in vitro was partially overcome by opening a small aperture in the zona pellucida with acidified Tyrode's solution to permit direct access of the spermatozoon to the vitellus. This study provides a model system to evaluate requirements for successful zona drilling in the treatment of human infertility and further insights into the effects of the t complex on sperm fertility.     

热休克蛋白A5介导的自噬在小鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤中的作用

目的：探讨热休克蛋白A5（HSPA5）诱导的自噬在小鼠脑缺血/再灌注损伤中的作用。方法：将36只BALB/c小鼠随机分为sham、缺血再灌注（I/R）、vehicle + I/R、3-甲基腺嘌呤（3-MA） + I/R、scramble siRNA + I/R和HSPA5 siRNA + I/R组（n=6）。Sham组只进行手术操作,不插入线栓。I/R采用大脑中动脉阻塞（MCAO）60 min后再灌注24 h。Vehicle + I/R组和3-MA + I/R将5μl 0.9% NaCl或3-MA （30 mg/ml）在MCAO前30 min侧脑室注射。scramble siRNA + I/R组和HSPA5 siRNA + I/R组将5μl scramble siRNA或HSPA5 siRNA （2μg/μl）在MCAO前24 h侧脑室注射。检测神经细胞内自噬体、缺血大脑皮层（LC3）-Ⅱ/LC3-I表达、神经元损伤程度及神经功能缺损。结果：显微镜下sham组小鼠大脑皮层神经细胞形态正常;I/R组小鼠缺血大脑皮层神经元胞质中细胞器减少,自噬体形成。与sham组比较,I/R组缺血大脑皮层LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-I蛋白表达水平显著增高（P < 0.05）;与I/R组相比,3-MA + I/R组或HSPA5 siRNA + I/R组缺血大脑皮层LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-I蛋白表达明显减少（P < 0.05）;3-MA + I/R组及HSPA5 siR-NA + I/R组I/R后脑缺血性损伤及神经系统症状加重（P < 0.05）。结论：HSPA5诱导自噬可能在小鼠局灶性I/R损伤中发挥保护作用。