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Biomedical subjects

K Abe

Publications and source records attributed to K Abe.

At least 577 records · Page 32Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Multiple calcium channels regulate neurotransmitter release from vagus nerve terminals in the cat bronchiole.

1. Twitch-like contractions and non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxations evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) of the cat bronchiole were used to examine the voltage-activated calcium channels involved in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in the cat bronchiole. 2. Nifedipine (50 microM), the L-type calcium channel antagonist, did not affect the twitch-like contraction and NANC relaxations. However, low concentrations of the N-type calcium channel blocker omega-conotoxin GVIA (omega-CgTX GVIA) (0.1 microM) irreversibly abolished twitch-like contractions evoked by trains of EFS </=10 stimuli at 20 Hz. 3. After the prolonged treatment with 0.1 microM omega-CgTX GVIA, EFS evoked initial fast and later slow NANC relaxations in the presence of 5-HT (10 microM), atropine and guanethidine (1 microM each). However increased concentration of omega-CgTX GVIA (1 microM) completely suppressed the slow NANC relaxation without affecting the initial fast component. 4. omega-agatoxin IVA (100 nM), the P- and Q-type calcium channel inhibitor, and nimodipine (10 microM), the L- and T-type calcium channel blocker, did not affect the amplitude of the initial fast NANC relaxation in the absence or presence of omega-CgTX GVIA (1 microM). 5. The contraction or relaxation induced by exogenous acetylcholine (ACh) (0.5 microM) or the nitric oxide donor, s-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP) (1 microM) were not affected by omega-CgTX GVIA (1 microM). 6. Taken together, these results suggest that generation of twitch-like contraction and later slow NANC relaxation are regulated by N-type calcium channels, whereas generation of the initial fast NANC relaxation possibly involves R-type calcium channel.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1999

Poorer nutritional status of the older-generation in a Japanese farming village, as related to fewer types of food consumed.

This study was carried out to determine whether the most recent nutritional improvements in Japanese farming villages were due to improvement in the diet of the young only or across all ages. Food duplicates for 24 h were collected. The number of food items and the adequacy of each nutrient level were compared between subgroups, by age of cooking and those eating meals. The older-generation used and ate fewer food items resulting in poorer nutrition. The most recent improvement in nutrition in the farming villages of Japan was found mainly to affect the younger-generation with the older-generations being more poorly nourished.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Expression of angiogenic factors in rabbit spinal cord after transient ischaemia.

It is known that angiogenic factors are induced in brain by ischaemia, and new vessel formation is correlated with better prognosis in patients of stroke. However, the role of angiogenesis and expression of angiogenic factors in spinal cord ischaemia is uncertain. We here investigated expression of three highly potent angiogenic peptides, i.e. basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the rabbit spinal cord after transient ischaemia, by Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. Western blot analysis revealed that bFGF was induced at 8 h after transient ischaemia and decreased thereafter. Immunoreactive VEGF was also induced at 8 h, and it disappeared thereafter. HGF was not detected in the spinal cord with sham-operation or ischaemic injury. By immunohistochemical analysis, bFGF was weakly expressed in only a few small interneurons in sham-operated spinal cords. However, it was induced to a marked degree in motor neurons and interneurons of the anterior horn at 8 h after reperfusion. It was also induced in small neurons of the posterior horn. The expression in the anterior horn decayed thereafter though it lasted until 7 d in the posterior horn. VEGF was not expressed in sham-operated spinal cords, but the expression was induced in large motor neurons and interneurons at 8 h with marked reduction at 1 d. In contrast, HGF was not expressed in the spinal cord with sham-operation or ischaemic injury. These factors are known to play pivotal roles in angiogenesis, regulation of blood flow, and protection of endothelial cells. Through induction of these angiogenic peptides, protection of vascular endothelial cells and improvement of regional blood flow might be occurring in the spinal cord after ischaemia.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Germline-specific expression of the Oct-4/green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene in mice.

The Pic-1, Oct-1,2, Unc-86 (POU) transcription factor Oct-4 is specifically expressed in the germ cell line, and a previous study has indicated that the expression of the lacZ gene inserted into an 18 kb genomic fragment encompassing the Oct-4 gene can come close to mimicking the endogenous embryonic expression pattern of Oct-4 in transgenic mice. In the present study transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the germ cell line were generated using the same Oct-4 genomic fragments and the expression pattern was analyzed in detail through all stages of germ cell development. The GFP expressing primordial germ cells were first detected as early as 8.0 days post-coitum (d.p.c.; early head fold stage) at the base of the allantois in living embryos. The GFP expression was thereafter found in both male and female germ cells at all developmental stages except in male germ cells after differentiating into type A spermatogonia in the postnatal testis. There was also a lower level of expression in female germ cells in the prophase of the first meiotic division. These transgenic mice therefore proved to be powerful tools for isolating living germ cells at various developmental stages to study their nature and to isolate new genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

A future prediction type artificial heart system.

The demand of the biological system needs to be predicted to consider the quality of life (QOL) of a patient with an artificial heart system. The purpose of this study was the prediction of the imminent cardiac output and the predictive control for an artificial heart. For that purpose, autonomic nerve information was applied in this study. Nervous sympathicus action potentials were measured, and a prediction function of cardiac output was made using the sympathetic tone and preload and after-load measurement with multiple regression analysis. The predicted value showed significant correlation with the measured value after 2.9 s. Currently, however, long-term instrumentation of the nervous sympathicus potential is difficult. Thus, hemodynamic fluctuations, which recently have attracted attention, were used in this study. A prediction function using the Mayer wave, which represented nervous sympathicus, was determined. As a result, mid-term prediction became possible. Furthermore, a measurement of the vagal nerve was used as a possible long-term prediction parameter. For long-term prediction, Hurst exponent analysis was used in this study. Vagal nerve discharges in the changing position showed alteration of long-term determination. In conclusion, the future prediction control of an artificial heart takes shape using these prediction functions.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1999

Vagal nerve activity recording in the awake condition for the control of an artificial heart system.

To detect useful information for an artificial heart control system, we paid attention to the autonomic nervous system. For stable recording, we used vagal nerve activity in chronic animal experiments using healthy adult goats in an awake condition because this nerve was sufficiently bold and large enough. Vagal nerve discharges were successfully recorded from awake goats. They were synchronized with respiration and responded to the hemodynamic changes induced by drug administration, suggesting that they may provide useful information for an artificial heart control algorithm. For automatic control, some time delay plays a vitally important role. Thus, predictive control for an artificial heart system may be desirable. It may be embodied by the use of autonomic nerve information.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1999

Peripheral vascular resistances during total left heart bypass with an oscillated blood flow.

For development aimed at a totally implantable type ventricular assist device (VAD), the vibrating flow pump (VFP) has been developed at Tohoku University. A transcutaneous energy transmission system (TETS) using amorphous fibers was developed to power the totally implantable VAD system. The VFP works at a high frequency compared to that of a natural heart of a biological system. It is a frequency of 10-50 Hz. In this research, animal experiments with left heart bypass were carried out with healthy adult goats. For comparison between nonpulsatile flow and oscillated flow, a rotary pump (RP) and the VFP were used in the experiments. For the achievement of total left heart bypass, left ventricular approaches were carried out, and blood was pumped from the left ventricle to the descending aorta. Adequate support of the left heart was provided by both pumps. In terms of the results, the vascular resistances tended to decrease during the use of both pumps during 100% bypass driving. When we compared these pumps at the same flow rate, the resistances during RP driving were significantly smaller than those during VFP driving. These results may suggest that the influences of the VFP upon the peripheral vessels may be relatively small compared to those of the RP. This may be an important result when a stable hemodynamic condition is required during artificial circulation. The VFP was considered as a candidate for a totally implantable VAD as a result.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Detection of the cardiac function by fractal dimension analysis.

Nonlinearity in circulation control attracts attention because nonlinearity is thought to be essential in the function of the living body. Many investigators have pointed out that the analysis of heart rate variability in particular is important in the analysis of autonomic nerve and cardiac function evaluation. Heart rate variability shows nonlinear behavior. However, until the present, many reports have been premised on linearity; linear correlation by frequency analysis has been used by many studies. However, in terms of this methodology, there is a problem applying it to the nonlinear living body. Therefore, fractal and chaos methodology has been used. The ascertainment of cardiac function has become important in allowing the clinical stage of a ventricular assist system to be successful. The purpose of this study was cardiac function evaluation by a methodology that was premised on nonlinearity. Chaos and fractal theory was used as a nonlinear dynamic theory. As a methodology of measurement, the volume of the left ventricle was used rather than an electrocardiogram, the waveform of arterial blood pressure. The volume was measured using acoustic quantification (AQ) ultrasonic echocardiography. Using these methodologies, the time series of many patients were analyzed. For example, drug administration was attempted in this study, and it was found that some drugs like ACE inhibitors showed a significant effect upon nonlinear dynamics in the cardiovascular system. The result, which attempted cardiac function evaluation by these various methodologies, is reported.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1999

Differential regulation of AP-1 DNA-binding activity by D1 and D2 dopamine receptor antagonists in the rat caudate-putamen and globus pallidus following a unilateral 6-OHDA lesion of the medial forebrain bundle.

The effect of D1 and D2 dopamine receptor antagonists on the DNA-binding activity of the AP-1 transcription factor was studied in the rat caudate-putamen and globus pallidus following a unilateral 6-OHDA lesion of the medial forebrain bundle. In the caudate-putamen, vehicle-treated rats showed increased AP-1 DNA-binding activity, which appeared to be reversed completely by treatment with the D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 (1 mg kg-1 i.p.) and partially by the D2 antagonist sulpiride (50 mg kg-1 i.p.). In the globus pallidus, vehicle and sulpiride did not induce AP-1, while SCH23390 increased it significantly. This induction was much more prominent in the 6-OHDA-lesioned hemisphere than in the intact hemisphere. The present study suggests that in the caudate-putamen, dopamine-depletion induces long-lasting enhancement of AP-1 DNA-binding activity via activation of D1 receptors and the simultaneous activation of D2 receptors facilitate it. However, in the globus pallidus of the 6-OHDA-lesioned hemisphere, D1 but not D2 antagonism induces AP-1 in certain cell populations which may be distinct from those expressing AP-1 upon stimulation of D2 receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Reduction of ischemic brain injury by anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in rat.

The selectin family of adhesion molecules is involved in adhesion of leukocyte to microcirculatory system and the transmigration into brain parenchyma. Although the role of P-selectin may be important in the pathogenesis of brain ischemia, a possible protective effect on ischemic brain injury by blocking P-selectin has not been reported. We have examined the effects of a novel anti-P-selectin antibody on ischemic brain injury after 24 h of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rat. Male Wistar rats were subjected to MCAO by an insertion of a silicone rubber cylinder for 24 h. Anti-rat P-selectin monoclonal antibody, ARP 2-4, was injected intravenously at a dose of 1 mg kg-1 at 5 min before the induction of MCAO. Control animals received the same volume of vehicle solution. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured immediately after and at 8 h of MCAO. At decapitation of rats at 24 h of permanent MCAO, infarct size was compared between the antibody and vehicle treated group. In addition, immunohistochemistry for leukocyte infiltration and HSP72, and histochemistry for TUNEL were also, compared. Pretreatment with ARP 2-4 improved rCBF at 8 h of MCAO (55.4% +/- 11.7% of control, n = 5) as compared to vehicle group (24.2% +/- 11.8%, n = 5, p < 0.02). Although leukocyte infiltration was not normally detected by monoclonal antibodies for CD11a and CD18, it became remarkably evident at 1 day of MCAO. Although HSP72 and TUNEL were not also detected in sham control brains, they were induced in neurons of the MCA area at 1 day of MCAO. Treatment with ARP 2-4 significantly reduced the numbers of leukocyte and neurons with positive HSP72 and TUNEL stainings. These results demonstrated that an administration of a monoclonal antibody against P-selectin improved rCBF, and attenuated infarct size that was associated with reduction of leukocyte infiltration. Furthermore, treatment with the antibody reduced both HSP72 and TUNEL stainings. These data suggest an important role of P-selectin in ischemic brain damage, and a future therapeutic potential to human stroke patients.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Enhanced Fos expression in rat lumbar spinal cord cultured with cerebrospinal fluid from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains unknown although an existence of neurotoxic substances in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from ALS patients have been postulated. In order to investigate a possible effect of CSF from ALS patients on cellular signaling in spinal neurons, we compared Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) in organotypic cultures of rat lumbar spinal cord after addition of CSF from ALS patients or another neurologic disease. Fos-LI was normally present predominantly in dorsal horn neurons, whereas only a few ventral horn neurons were positive for Fos-LI. The number of Fos-LI positive neurons significantly increased in dorsal horn with addition of CSF from ALS patients as well as glutamate at 100 microM. However, the increase was not observed with addition of CSF from other neurologic diseases. The increase in Fos-LI positive neurons in dorsal horn was reversed by a further supplement of MK801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, but not of CNQX, an alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA)/kainate antagonist. These results indicate that there may be substances in CSF from ALS patients that stimulate Fos expression in certain populations of spinal neurons via the NMDA receptors.

6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione↗
PubMed1999

DNA fragmentation precedes aberrant expression of cell cycle-related protein in rat brain after MCA occlusion.

Recent experiments suggest that apoptotic mechanisms are involved in neuronal cell death after ischemic injury. Although the exact mechanism that triggers activation of apoptotic machinery remains uncertain, in vitro studies revealed that forced expression of cell cycle-related proteins induced apoptosis. Thus, aberrant expression of such proteins might be related to ischemic neuronal death. In the present experiment, we investigated expression of cell cycle-related proteins, i.e., cyclin B1, cyclin D1, cdk4, and PCNA, in rat brain after transient MCA occlusion, and compared the temporal profile of the results with that of TUNEL study, which detects double strand breaks in DNA. There were no immunoreactivities for cyclin B1, cyclin D1, and PCNA in the brain with and without ischemia. As for cdk4, however, it became present at 1 and 3 days of reperfusion after 2 h of ischemia. On the other hand, TUNEL positive cells appeared as early as 3 h of reperfusion, which peaked at 1 and 3 days. These results indicate that aberrant expression of cdk4, but not cyclin B1, cyclin D1 or PCNA, actually takes place in the brain after MCA occlusion, but this is not the causative mechanism of apoptotic cell death in the brain with ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

An MR image of spinal cord sarcoidosis.

We present a case of spinal cord sarcoidosis with a unique magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding. MRI of the cervical spine revealed an unusual lesion of low signal intensity on T2-weighted image at the core of the lesion surrounded by high signal intensity. T1-weighted gadolinium enhanced image showed a high signal at the core lesion. Low signal intensity on T2-weighted image in the case was suggested to be due to hemosiderin deposition. Steroid therapy dramatically improved clinical symptoms with a marked reduction of peripheral T2 high intensity area and the core lesion size detected by gadolinium enhancement.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

D1/D2 receptor synergism on CREB DNA-binding activities in the caudate-putamen of rat.

Cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) is a transcription factor that is activated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and regulates the induction of fos. In order to elucidate the cellular pathway of D1/D2 dopamine receptor synergism, the effect of D1 and D2 agonists on CREB DNA-binding activities was studied in the caudate-putamen of rats with an ipsilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesion of the medial forebrain bundle. Combined administration of D1 (SKF38393) and D2 (bromocriptine or quinpirole) agonists resulted in enhanced CREB-binding activities at a dose that did not enhance it when given separately. These results suggest that D1/D2 dopamine receptors play synergistic role in inducing CREB DNA-binding activities in the dopamine-depleted caudate-putamen of rats.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗
PubMed1999

Adrenomedullin and atrial natriuretic peptide concentrations in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a peptide that elicits a long-lasting vasorelaxant activity, while atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has also been shown to be a potent vasodilatory agent. To clarify the possible role of AM and ANP in the physiology of pregnancy and pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia, we measured plasma concentrations of these peptides in non-pregnant women, normal pregnant women and women with pre-eclampsia. A gradual increase in plasma AM was observed as pregnancy progressed. The plasma AM concentrations during the second trimester (12.7 +/- 1.4 fmol/ml) were significantly elevated, in comparison with the non-pregnant follicular phase (6.4 +/- 0.61 fmol/ml), luteal phase (6.0 +/- 0.49 fmol/ml), and the first trimester (6.5 +/- 0.8 fmol/ml). The plasma AM concentrations of the third trimester (21.5 +/- 1.4 fmol/ml) were significantly elevated when compared with those of the second trimester (P < 0.05). Northern blot analysis confirmed the expression of the AM mRNA transcript (1.6 kb) in third trimester placentas. In comparison with those observed at term (25.3 +/- 4.5 fmol/ml), the plasma concentrations were significantly reduced post-partum (6.4 +/- 0.6 fmol/ml). In the third trimester, plasma AM concentrations did not differ significantly between women with pre-eclampsia (17.2 +/- 2.3 fmol/ml) and normal pregnant women. In contrast, the plasma ANP concentrations in pre-eclampsia (39.5 +/- 7. 1 pg/ml) were significantly elevated when compared with those of the normal third trimester (14.4 +/- 1.4 pg/ml) (P < 0.05). ANP concentrations were reasonably constant throughout the pregnancy.

Adrenomedullin↗
PubMed1999

Two subfamilies of olfactory receptor genes in medaka fish, Oryzias latipes: genomic organization and differential expression in olfactory epithelium.

We cloned and characterized two subfamilies of olfatory receptor (OR) genes from medaka fish (Oryzias latipes). Southern blot analysis showed that each of the two subfamilies, designated as subfamilies Y and E, consists of about five members, as usually observed for other vertebrate ORs. Analyses of the genomic clones encoding these members revealed that two members of subfamily Y and four members of subfamily E are tandemly reiterated in 15 and 22 kbp regions of the medaka genome, respectively. The members of each subfamily show very similar amino acid sequences, with similarities greater than 70%. However, the similarities to the sequences of other vertebrate ORs are lower. Members of subfamily Y show amino acid sequence similarities of ca. 30% to other fish ORs, including subfamily E members, as well as to mammalian ORs. On the other hand, members of subfamily E show sequence similarities of ca. 50% to other fish ORs and ca. 30% to mammalian ORs. Phylogenic analyses of various fish ORs, including medaka, catfish, and zebrafish ORs, indicate that the primary structures of fish ORs are diverse compared with those of mammalian ORs, which consist of much larger numbers of members. The expression patterns of subfamilies Y and E genes in the olfactory epithelium of adult medaka fish were examined by in situ hybridization, showing that the frequency of positive signals is different between the two subfamilies: about 2% of the olfactory neurons are positive to probes for members of subfamily Y, while less than 1% are positive to probes for members of subfamily E. These results indicate that each subfamily is under different transcriptional control.

Amino Acid Sequence↗