A novel method indentifying the androgen response element of the genes has been developed. For this purpose, the DNA-blnding domain of the androgen receptor (ARDBD) was expressed as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase in Escherichia coli. Then, the fusion protein adsorbed to glutathione Sepharose was prepared and used as an affinity column to trap the DNA fragment containing a potential androgen response element. This affinity column was proved to interact specifically with the mouse mammary tumor virus DNA possessing several receptor-binding sites. This technique was applied to the mouse epidermal growth factor gene of which expression is regulated by androgens in murine submandibular gland. Among the regions tested (about -1900~+315), a region strongly ineteracting with ARDBD was found to be located between -727 and -598. Analysis by gel shift electrophoresis supported this notion. The comparison of the nucleotide sequence of this region revealed a segment with homology to the sequences of the genes which are regulated by androgens. Therefore, it was concluded that the potential androgen response element of mouse epidermal growth factor gene is detected between -727 and -598 and that this method is efficient for identifying the androgen response elelnent.

VX2 cancer, which is likely to metastasize, was implanted in rabbit tongue. Following tumor implantation, serial changes in the distribution of lymphatic vessels within the muscles around the tumor, in the vicinity of the tumor and within the tumor stroma were examined, on the basis of the measurement of the activity of 5’-nucleotidase (5'Nase), an enzyme known to be abundant in lymphatic vessels. The VX2 cancer was implanted by injecting a suspension of VX2 cells into the muscles of the left periphery of each rabbit’s tongue. The animals were sacrificed at 7,10, and 14 days after transplantation. The tongue was removed from each sacrificed rabbit, and observed under a light microscope after staining with 5’-Nase.

The tongues of control rabbits, which were not inlected with VX2 cells, were found to have three courses of lymphatic vessels: (1) collecting lymphatic vessels running concomitantry with the deep lingual artery,(2) collecting lymphatic vessels running to the oral floor along the bundle of the genioglossus muscles, and (3) collecting lymphatic vessels in the septum of the tongue.

Ten days after tumor implantation, the diameter of the lymphatic vessels in the vicinity of the tumor became significantly larger than the diameter of those in the control group (P<0.01), indicating the formation of a network of lymphatic vessels surrounding the tumor tissue. The lymphatic vessels within the muscles around the tumor were more tortuous after tumor metastasis to lymph nodes than before metastasis. As the tumor grew and progressed, the lymphatic vessels within the tumor stroma tended to be compressed, and became flatter.

Induction of inflammatory cytokine and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was studied with the culture supernatants of eight species of oral streptococci using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in PBMC were increased after incubation with the culture supernatants of Streptococcus anginosus and S. constellatus. The level of IL-1β mRNA was increased significantly with the culture supernatants of S.anginosus, S.constellatus and S.gordonii. S. anginosus culture supernatant also demonstrated the induction of COX-2 mRNA expression and prostagrandin E₂ production in PBMC culture medium. These results suggest that S.anginosus and S.constellatus produce bioactive substances inducing the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines and COX-2 in immunocytes.

The effect of single administration of reserpine on the response of the α₁-adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine, to the salivary secretion in mice was examined. Although the effect of reserpine (0.1-10.0㎎/kg, s. c.) alone on the salivary secretion was tested in anesthetized and unanesthetized mice injected intravenously, intraperitonealy and subcutaneously, respectively, no salivary secretion was observed under these conditions. Thirty min after administration of reserpine (0.1-10.0㎎/㎏), phenylephine (5.0㎎/kg, s. c.)-induced salivation significantly increased depending on dosage of reserpine. However, this increase of phenylephrine-induced salivation was inhibited by phenoxybenzamine (α-adrenergic blocking agent), not by propranolol (β-adrenergic blocking agent) and atropine (muscarinic cholinergic blocking agent). On the other hand, two days after administration of reserpine (1.0㎎/kg), phenylephrine-induced salivation significantly decreased by the level of about 41% compared to that of the mice without reserpine. However, seven days after administration, the altered responses to phenylephrine-induced salivation were not observed and showed the same level as that in mice without reserpine.

These results suggest that in mice singly pretreated with reserpine, phenylephrine can produce supersensitive and subsensitive responses to salivation, depending on the pretreatment time of reserpine.

The effects of halothane on tension in porcine bronchial muscle and intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration([Ca²⁺]_i)were investigated by the use of the fura-2 microfluormetric method. Porcine bronchial muscle tubes were loaded with a Ca²⁺-indicator dye, fura-2/AM. The light emission ratio (R_340/380) of fura-2 was recorded, and tension was simultaneously measured with a force displacement transducer. In normal physiological salt solution (normal PSS), halothane (1,2,3,4%) induced tension with transient increase in [Ca²⁺]_i in a concentration-dependent manner. In Ca²⁺-free solution containing 2mM Etyleneglycol-bis (2-aminoethyl ether) N, N, N’, N’-tetraacetic acid (Ca²⁺-free PSS), halothane caused a similar increase in tension and [Ca²⁺]_i. Both KCl and bethanechol increased tension and [Ca²⁺]_i. Bethanechol induced larger contraction than did KCl with similar [Ca²⁺]_i. In Ca²⁺-free PSS, the increase in KCl-induced tension and [Ca²⁺]_i were abolished. In contrast, increase in bethanechol-induced tension and [Ca²⁺]_i in Ca²⁺-free PSS were similar to that in normal PSS. Halothane inhibited the increase in KCl tension, and bethanechol-induced tension and [Ca²⁺]_i in a concentration-dependent manner. Although halothane inhibited all the changes induced by bethanechol, the inhibition of [Ca²⁺]_i was less than that of muscle tension. In conclusion, on porcine bronchial muscle, halothane seems to induce bronchoconstriction by releasing Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores. Halothane can directly inhibit KCl-induced contraction by suppressing [Ca²⁺]_i that may be attributed to inhibition of the influx of extracellular Ca²⁺. Halothane also seems to inhibit contraction induced by muscarinic receptor stimulation. This inhibitory effect of halothane may be attributed mainly to the decrease in retension of intracellular Ca²⁺ and the decrease in Ca²⁺ sensitivity of contractile machinery.

A statistical report was conducted in order to investigate the real condition of pathological examinations diagnosed in our department in 1994.

A total of 660 biopsy materials was discovered among 523 cases (M;222, F;301). As for the histological classifications of these biopsy materials, odontogenic benign lesions consisted of 5 ameloblastomas, 7 odontomas, and 6 apical cemental dysplasias. The non-odontogenic benign lesions were 20 fibromas, 10 papillomas, 14 hemangiomas, 2 lipomas, 6 pleomorphic adenomas, 12 chronic and localized hyperplastic gingivitis (Epulis) and 27 Sjögren’s syndromes. Also found were 66 cases of non-odontogenic malignancy which consisted of 51 squamous cell carcinomas, 4 verrucous carcinoma, 4 adenocarcinomas and 7 others. Among the histologic types of odontogenic cyst, 46 radicular cysts, 12 dentigerous cysts and 13 primordial cysts were revealed. And the following types of non-odontogenic cyst were discovered:34 salivary gland cysts, 26 postoperative maxillary cysts and 3 incisive canal cysts. In addition,18 hyperkeratosis (leukoplakia), 7 epithelial dysplasias, 33 chronic inflammatory (garanulation) tissues were found.

A granular cell tumor is relatively rare soft tissue benign tumor, characterized by the acidophilic granules in cytoplasm. In this paper, a case of granular cell tumor occurring in buccal mucosa of a 65-year-old woman was presented. Intracytoplasmic granules were intensely immunostained with alpha-1-antitrypsin and S-100 protein showed weak reaction. No reaction to neuron specific enolase, actin and keratin was observed. According to these results, the tumor cell was suspected to be of histiocytic origin.