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Volume 37 (2004)
- Issue 6 Pages 331-
- Issue 5 Pages 281-
- Issue 4 Pages 223-
- Issue 3 Pages 153-
- Issue 2 Pages 65-
- Issue 1 Pages 1-
Volume 37, Issue 5
Displaying 1-7 of 7 articles from this issue
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REGULAR ARTICLE
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Toshimitsu Watabiki, Takuma Tokiyasu, Manabu Yoshida, Yutaka Okii, Sum ...2004 Volume 37 Issue 5 Pages 281-285
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: February 04, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSTo determine species differences in the hepatic lobular distribution of low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH, ALDH 1+ALDH 2) activity (substrate, 50 μM acetaldehyde), the activity in Wistar rats and Hartley guinea pigs was examined histochemically by the nitroblue tetrazolium method. In the rat liver, low Km ALDH activity was observed throughout the lobules, with enhanced centrilobular staining. Interestingly, the guinea pig liver exhibited a U-shaped lobular distribution, with even localization in both the centrilobular and periportal zones, but with little activity in the midlobular region. These findings indicate that the distribution pattern of low Km ALDH activity in the hepatic lobule of guinea pigs differs strikingly from that of rats, hamsters and mice. This study shows that rodents, which are widely utilized as experimental animals, differ as much in the hepatic lobular distribution of low Km ALDH activity as in that of ADH activity, indicating that the species most suitable to the purpose of ethanol studies should be selected according to the profiles of the liver ADH and low Km ALDH activities.
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Tomoko Toga, Yoshinori Nio, Riruke Maruyama, Koji Hashimoto, Tetsuya H ...2004 Volume 37 Issue 5 Pages 287-293
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: February 04, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSThe expression of Dpc4 protein (pDpc4) is immunohistologically demonstrated in various cancer cells, but the expression of its mRNA has yet to be defined. The present study was designed to assess the correlation between pDpc4 expression and DPC4-mRNA expression, and between pDpc4 and DPC4-mRNA expression and ubiquitin (Ub) expression in human pancreatic cancer tissue. In 76 pancreatic duct lesions of 21 specimens of pancreatic cancer tissues, the expression of DPC4-mRNA was assessed by in situ hybridization (ISH), and the expression of pDpc4 and Ub was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The pancreatic duct lesions were classified according to the pancreatic intraepitherial neoplasia (PanIN) criteria. In normal duct or early neoplastic lesions (PanIN-1), both DPC4-mRNA and pDPC4 were widely expressed, and Ub expression was low. In borderline or low-grade malignancy lesions (PanIN-2 or PanIN-3), DPC4-mRNA was highly expressed, but pDpc4 expression was low, and Ub expression was high. On the other hand, in high-grade malignancy (ductal carcinoma) lesions, expression of both DPC4-mRNA and pDpc4 was low, but Ub was highly expressed. Although DPC4-mRNA was widely expressed, pDpc4 expression decreased, while Ub expression increased along with the progression of pancreatic malignancy. These results suggest that the decreased expression of pDpc4 may be caused by its degradation by highly expressed Ub. In addition, the decreased expression of DPC4-mRNA in high-grade malignancy suggests a homozygous deletion of the DPC4 gene.
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Rusleyd Maria Magalhães de Abreu, Regina Lúcia Morelli S ...2004 Volume 37 Issue 5 Pages 295-299
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: February 04, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSCytochemistry studies of the nuclei of the venom glands' cells of worker bees of Apis mellifera indicated that there is a higher activity in the young workers while there is a predominance of degenerative characteristics in the older workers. In addition, we demonstrated that there is an occurrence of differential nuclear synthetic activities between the cells of the distal and the proximal regions of the secretory filament and of the venom reservoir. Signs of a higher nuclear activity were evidenced at the distal regions of this gland in 14-day old workers, while at the more proximal regions of the venom gland of 40-day old workers we identified the most obvious signs of degeneration. Therefore, it was evident that the process of glandular degeneration begins at the distal region of the venom gland instead of beginning at the proximal region as had been established previously. In addition, characteristics of nuclear synthetic activities were noted in the cells of the proximal region of the reservoir; these cells were thought to be non-secretory.
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Carmem S. Fontanetti, Maria I. Camargo-Mathias2004 Volume 37 Issue 5 Pages 301-306
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: February 04, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSIn diplopods, the presence of calcium-containing structures seems to be a common finding in some species, with its formation being similar to that observed for other intracellular mineralization systems. In the present study, using histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy, a large amount of calcium was observed in the oocytes of Rhinocricus padbergi. Calcium was detected in both less and well developed oocytes, i.e., the occurrence of calcium coincided with the beginning of vitellogenesis. Calcium was observed as fine granulation distributed within the cytoplasm or deposited in spherical structures apparently formed by overlapping calcium layers. Some authors have suggested that these structures represent a type of reserve used for the calcification of the embryo exoskeleton, whereas others believe that calcium inclusions are a mechanism of organism detoxification as a result of excess calcium ingested by animals during soil turnover. We suggest in this paper that the first hypothesis could be occurring in R. padbergi since at the juvenile stages of the individuals the uptake of calcium is low and because the oocyte is a specialized cell not associated with detoxification.
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Kyutaro Kawagishi, Fumiko Terasawa, Akinori Nakamura, Tetsuji Moriizum ...2004 Volume 37 Issue 5 Pages 307-311
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: February 04, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSNitric oxide (NO), produced by nitric oxide synthases (NOSs), is involved in many of the physiological properties in cells. So far, it is unclear whether endothelial NOS (eNOS) is expressed in skeletal muscle fiber or not, although it is known that neuronal NOS (nNOS) is involved under the sarcolemma. Here, we examined eNOS expression in mouse skeletal muscle by immunohistochemistry and immunoblot with three different eNOS antibodies. Each antibody showed the same cross striation labeling in skeletal muscle, and detected eNOS around 140 kDa molecular weight in skeletal muscle extraction. Confocal double-labeling images demonstrated that eNOS was found between striations of ryanodine receptors or dihydropyridine receptors, and that it was partly colocalized with them. α-actinin was distributed in almost the same way as eNOS. These findings suggest that eNOS is involved in Z-bands or in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)-encompassing Z-bands. Immunoelectron micrographs clearly showed that eNOS was contained in SR-encompassing Z-bands in addition to terminal cisternae. The present study indicates that eNOS is constitutively expressed in SR of mouse skeletal muscle fiber, and raises the hypothesis that NO derived from eNOS may play a role in muscle contraction.
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Sumio Nishikawa2004 Volume 37 Issue 5 Pages 313-318
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: February 04, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSLocalization of cystatin C, an endogenous cysteine protease inhibitor, was examined in the dental pulp of rat incisors using immunofluorescence microscopy. Based on double labeling with ED1 and anti-cystatin C antibodies, it was determined that anti cystatin C-labeled cells were macrophages and/or dendritic cells. Furthermore, cells in the incisor pulp were characterized by triple labeling with anti-cystatin C antibodies, ED2 antibodies for resident macrophages and OX6 antibodies for MHC class II antigens. Three cysteine proteases, cathepsin B, L and S, were also examined with immunocytochemistry. The results showed, firstly, that cystatin C single-positive cells were localized in early apical pulp, and that these cells were presumably immature macrophages invading newly formed dental pulp. Secondly, about half of OX6+ cells in the middle and incisal pulp were ED2+, indicating that resident macrophages in addition to dendritic cells contribute to antigen surveillance via MHC Class II presentation. Thirdly, cathepsin S was present in cystatin C+ cells, and therefore they may be involved in formation of proteolytic environment in whole dental pulp. In conclusion, cystatin C-positive macrophages and possibly dendritic cells may play a role in regulating the proteolytic environment of the dental pulp as well as in immunological surveillance.
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RAPID COMMUNICATION
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Hideyuki Sugita, Shunzo Osaka, Masato Toriyama, Eiji Osaka, Yukihiro Y ...2004 Volume 37 Issue 5 Pages 319-323
Published: 2004
Released on J-STAGE: February 04, 2005
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSMalignant degree of human chondrosarcoma can be difficult to determine using only histological findings. We therefore assessed expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in chondrosarcoma and ascertained relationships to histological degree of malignancy. As methods, in 28 chondrosarcoma cases, immunostaining was performed using antibodies against MMP 2, 3, 7, 9, 13, ADAMTS 4, 5 and TIMP 1, 2, 3. Chondrosarcoma were classified into groups of 7, 15 and 6 cases based on histologically malignant grade I, II and III, respectively. All target proteins were expressed in chondrosarcoma. Positive correlations (p<0.05) existed between immunostaining scores and histological grades for all proteins except MMP 9, with strong correlations (p<0.01) for MMPs 2, 3 and 13, both ADAMTSs and all 3 TIMPs. It was concluded that these proteins could be used to indicate degree of malignancy in human chondrosarcoma.
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