Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Sakai

Publications and source records attributed to A Sakai.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources

An HRP study of the motoneurons supplying the rat hypobranchial muscles: central localization, peripheral axon course and soma size.

The locations of motoneurons (MNs) supplying the rat hypobranchial muscles (lingual, geniohyoid, and infrahyoid) and the peripheral courses of axons of these MNs were investigated by using a method of HRP injection into the hypoglossal nerve or these muscles in combination with severing of the hypoglossal and/or cervical components of the plexus hypoglossocervicalis. Moreover, some sizes of the MNs were investigated in both transverse and horizontal sections. The hypobranchial MNs formed a sequence of cell columns extending caudally from the hypoglossal nucleus, via the supraspinal nucleus, to the medial and then the ventrolateral subnuclei of the ventral horn of C1 to C3. The lingual and geniohyoid MNs were located in the hypoglossal nucleus. The majority of their axons passed solely through the hypoglossal nerve, whereas a small number of axons, whose somata lay in the caudal hypoglossal nucleus, passed through the first cervical nerve and then through the ansa cervicalis to reach the hypoglossal nerve. The infrahyoid MNs were located in the supraspinal nucleus and the ventral horn, and their axons passed through the first to third cervical nerves. The hypobranchial MNs were divided into three groups according to their size: the lingual, the geniohyoid and thyrohyoid, and lastly the other infrahyoid MNs, in order of smaller to larger size. The sizes of lingual, geniohyoid, and thyrohyoid MNs displayed a unimodal distribution both in transverse and horizontal sections, whereas the other infrahyoid MNs showed a bimodal distribution.

Animals↗

Inhibition of murine L cell interferon action by heparin.

Heparin added together with murine L cell interferon inhibited the development of antiviral activity in mouse L cells. When added after interferon treatment, heparin had no effect on antiviral activity. There was also no inhibition of interferon action in L cells treated with heparin before addition of interferon. On the other hand, heparin did not inhibit antiviral activities of human interferon alpha and beta. Since murine L cell interferon, but not human interferon alpha and beta, binds to a heparin affinity column and can be eluted with a solution of high salt, it is presumed that murine L cell interferon and heparin must interact with each other. The apparent interaction of heparin with murine L cell interferon was prevented by protamine, a drug that neutralizes heparin. Dextran sulfate inhibited murine L cell interferon action, but dextran and chondroitin sulfate A did not. These results suggests that heparin inhibited murine L cell interferon action by the binding via sulfate groups on its molecules. Heparin also inhibited antiviral activity of murine L cell interferon in mice infected with herpes simplex virus (+GC Miyama strain).

Animals↗

Cell size analysis of trigeminal primary afferent neurons comprizing individual peripheral branches of the rat mandibular nerve.

Cell bodies of primary afferent neurons comprizing individual peripheral branches of the rat mandibular nerve were labeled by retrograde transport of HRP and their sizes were measured. Approximately 60% of cell bodies of primary neurons innervating the intra and perioral structures through the inferior alveolar, lingual, mental, and buccal nerves were in the range between 300 and 600 micron 2 in cross-sectional area: mean +/- SD 509 +/- 243 micron 2, 420 +/- 181 micron 2, 469 +/- 200 micron 2, and 444 +/- 186 micron 2, respectively. Sixty-five percent of cell bodies of primary neurons innervating the periphery of the face through the cutaneous branch of the mylohyoid and auriculotemporal nerves were smaller than 300 micron 2 in cross-sectional area: 285 +/- 170 micron 2 and 286 +/- 172 micron 2, respectively. The data suggest that the intraoral/perioral region is different from the skin in the peripheral region of the face in terms of the mechanism by which sensory information is transmitted to the central nervous system. This difference may explain some of the formerly enigmatic phenomena such as the differential effects of spinal trigeminal tractotomy.

Animals↗

Concentrations of ritodrine hydrochloride in maternal and fetal serum and amniotic fluid following intravenous administration in late pregnancy.

Seven healthy pregnant volunteers undergoing elective cesarean section at 39-40 weeks of gestation were studied for transplacental passage of ritodrine hydrochloride, which was administered by intravenous infusion at the rate of 72-149 micrograms/min for 161-335 min. The concentrations of ritodrine in the collected maternal and fetal blood and the amniotic fluid were radioimmunoassayed. The levels of ritodrine in maternal serum were between 22.5 and 51.0 ng/ml one hour after the initiation of infusion, 33.7-66.4 ng/ml after 2 h, 18.2-73.6 ng/ml after 4 h and 45.7-189.6 ng/ml at delivery, respectively. The umbilical blood and amniotic fluid concentrations of ritodrine at delivery were between 15.6 and 35.1 ng/ml in arterial blood, 12.5-29.6 ng/ml in venous blood and 10.0-49.1 ng/ml in amniotic fluid. The ratio of umbilical venous blood concentrations to maternal venous concentrations (CV/MV) ranged from 0.066 to 0.544 with the mean of 0.263 +/- 0.063 (M +/- S.E.). The results obtained substantiate the rapid and appreciable transfer of ritodrine to the fetus and amniotic fluid.

Adult↗

Growth-enhancing effect of Branhamella catarrhalis culture filtrates on the L-forms of Haemophilus influenzae.

Haemophilus influenzae is a common respiratory pathogen and recurrent infection due to H. influenzae is a phenomenon often present in patients with chronic respiratory tract infections. The effects of Neisseria perflava and B. catarrhalis culture filtrates on the growth and reversion of H. influenzae L-forms were determined using the L-forms of H. influenzae induced and subcultured in a medium containing 10% sucrose and these culture filtrates. When each culture filtrate of two strains of N. perflava was added, the viable count of revertants reached a peak of growth after 48 hr and exceeded 10(4) CFU/ml even 48 days after the subculture. Adding each culture filtrate of six strains of B. catarrhalis, the viable count of revertants from the L-forms of H. influenzae was much higher than that in the absence of any filtrate (negative control). The filtrate of a culture prepared from one of the six strains of B. catarrhalis was subjected to biochemical analysis. The molecular weight of the growth-enhancing factor(s) was determined to be approximately 1,000 to 5,000. Some peptide fractions showed growth-enhancing effects on the L-forms of H. influenzae. These findings suggest that culture filtrates may be important clues as to the correlation between recurrent infections due to H. influenzae and the growth of L-forms in the sputum of the patients with chronic respiratory tract infections, during or after the administration of beta-lactam antibiotics.

Cell Division↗

[A comparative double-blind trial of HSR-902 and butylscopolamine bromide for relieving colic in ureteral stone patients].

The clinical efficacy and safety of HSR-902 (tiquidium bromide, Thiaton) in patients with spastic pain caused by ureteral stones were evaluated in a double blind comparative trial. A daily dose of 30 mg HSR-902 or 60 mg butylscopolamine bromide as a control drug was orally administered for 7 days. With either drug marked improvement of spastic pain was observed. The time to obtain relief from spastic pain and utility rating were significantly more excellent with HSR-902 than with butylscopolamine bromide. With all other parameters used no significant difference was observed between the two drugs. Mild adverse effects such as abdominal discomfort and constipation were observed in 2 of the 87 cases in the butylscopolamine bromide group but none of the 83 cases in the HSR-902 group. Taking efficacy and safety of the treatment into consideration, no significant difference was observed in usefulness between the two drugs, and we were able to confirm the usefulness of HSR-902 for relief from spastic pain caused by ureteral stones.

Adult↗

Anti-fibrotic effect of malotilate on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats.

The effect of malotilate on liver fibrosis of rat induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was studied. CCl4 was given subcutaneously (1.5 ml/kg) to male Wistar rats twice a week for 11 weeks. Administration of malotilate (100 mg/kg) 5 times a week was started in the 5th experimental week and continued thereafter. The biochemical parameters in serum such as concentration of total protein and transaminase activities were improved by malotilate administration. The livers treated with CCl4 only were atrophic and markedly nodular, and histologically, severe collagen deposition and pseudolobular formation were observed. However, the livers treated with CCl4 and malotilate showed only slight accumulation of collagen fibers although hypertrophic and fatty metamorphosis was observed. Immunocytochemically, type I and type III collagens were stained in livers from rats treated with CCl4 only and rats treated with CCl4 and malotilate, but stainability was rather weak in the latter. The increased amount of hydroxyproline in the liver and that excreted into urine were markedly suppressed by malotilate administration. The levels of protocollagen prolyl hydroxylase activity in the liver were almost the same in CCl4-treated and CCl4 and malotilate-treated rats. However, the levels of collagenolytic enzyme activity were slightly higher in the latter. From these results, anti-fibrotic action of malotilate was clear and involvement of enhanced collagenolytic enzyme activity was suggested.

Animals↗

Strychnine and L-allylglycine but not bicuculline and picrotoxin induce transsynaptic degeneration following transection of the inferior alveolar nerve in adult rats.

The effects of the convulsants strychnine, bicuculline, picrotoxin and L-allylglycine on the transsynaptic destruction of medullary dorsal horn neurons were examined following transection of the inferior alveolar nerve in adult rats. Strychnine and L-allylglycine enhanced the transsynaptic effect of nerve transection and caused degeneration of many dorsal horn neurons, while bicuculline and picrotoxin did not. The removal of glycinergic and GABAergic postsynaptic inhibition appears to enhance the transsynaptic destructive activity which follows the peripheral nerve transection.

Allylglycine↗