Biomedical subjects

K Eto

Publications and source records attributed to K Eto.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

Localization of transforming growth factor-beta type I and type II receptors in mouse development.

We have investigated the localization pattern of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) receptors type I (T beta R-I) and type II (T beta R-II) during mouse organogenesis by immunohistochemical analysis. Staining of both receptors was found in many developing organs, e.g., bone, teeth, Meckel's cartilage, and neural tissues, where the expression of their ligands has been previously reported. During the investigated stages, expression of T beta R-I was more ubiquitous than that of T beta R-II. T beta R-II preferentially localized in the undifferentiated mesenchymal cells which subsequently differentiated into bone. There was no staining of T beta R-II in the central nervous system, while intense T beta R-I staining was found specifically in nervous tissues. Expression of T beta R-I and T beta R-II was mostly coincident with that of their ligands, suggesting that TGF-beta s act as multiple mediators during organogenesis. In addition, colocalization of both receptors in the epithelia of the tooth bud and submandibular gland, which were actively invaginating into the mesenchyme, leads us to speculate that both receptors may be necessary for dynamic epithelial morphogenesis.

Activin Receptors, Type I↗

PubMed1995

Influences of immobilization and footshock stress on pharmacokinetics of theophylline and caffeine in rats.

The influences of immobilization and footshock stress on pharmacokinetics of theophylline (20 mg kg-1) and caffeine (30 mg kg-1) administered orally were examined in rats. The immobilization stress for 30 min or 1 h immediately after oral administration caused marked immobilization period-related decreases in plasma theophylline concentrations during the absorption phase, but did not affect plasma caffeine concentrations. The ka and Cmax values for theophylline were significantly decreased, and the tmax was significantly increased. On the other hand, when the immobilization stress was loaded for 1 or 3 h before the oral administration, the plasma theophylline or caffeine concentrations were not affected. The footshock stress for 30 min immediately after oral administration did not significantly decrease plasma theophylline concentrations during the absorption phase. These results suggest that the pharmacokinetics of theophylline are influenced by strong stress, possibly due to the inhibition of its absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, but the pharmacokinetics of caffeine are not influenced by stress, probably due to its central action.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Negative chronotropic effect of endothelin 1 mediated through ETA receptors in guinea pig atria.

Endothelins exert potent excitatory cardiac effects by acting on specific receptors on myocytes. In this study, we have examined the signal transduction mechanism for the chronotropic effect of endothelins in guinea pig atria. A competition binding of [125I]endothelin 1 ([125I]ET-1) using the recently developed ETA receptor-selective antagonist BQ123 showed the presence of almost equal populations of ETA (44%) and ETB (56%) receptors in the guinea pig right atria. In a concentration-response study, endothelin 3 (ET-3), an agonist with higher affinity to ETB receptors than to ETA receptors, and sarafotoxin S6c (STXS6c), an ETB receptor-selective agonist, increased the rate of spontaneous beating at all concentrations tested (10 pmol/L to 100 nmol/L). In contrast, ET-1, a nonselective agonist, increased the heart rate at lower concentrations (10 pmol/L to 10 nmol/L) but decreased it at higher concentrations (30 to 100 nmol/L). When ET-1 (100 nmol/L) was applied in a single amount, heart rate was strongly increased; however, this increase was followed by a rapid decline in the response. ET-1 (100 nmol/L) but not ET-3 or STXS6c significantly reduced the heart rate when it was raised by isoproterenol (ISO, 300 nmol/L) either in the absence or presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Correspondingly, ET-1 significantly reduced the ISO-induced elevation of cAMP accumulation (19.1 +/- 1.7 pmol/mg protein [n = 8] and 12.6 +/- 1.2 pmol/mg protein [n = 7] in the absence and presence of ET-1, respectively; P < .01), which was also observed even in the presence of IBMX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Retinoic acid stage-dependently alters the migration pattern and identity of hindbrain neural crest cells.

This study investigates the migration patterns of cranial neural crest cells in retinoic acid (RA)-treated rat embryos using DiI labeling. Wistar-Imamichi rat embryos were treated at the early (9.0 days post coitum, d.p.c.) and late (9.5 d.p.c.) neural plate stages with all-trans RA (2 x 10(-7) M) for 6 hours and further cultured in an RA-free medium. RA exposure stage dependently induced two typical craniofacial abnormalities; that is, at 9.0 d.p.c. it reduced the size and shape of the first branchial arch to those of the second arch, whereas, in contrast, at 9.5 d.p.c. it induced fusion of the first and second branchial arches. Early-stage treatment induced an ectopic migration of the anterior hindbrain (rhombomeres (r) 1 and 2) crest cells; they ectopically distributed in the second branchial arch and acousticofacial ganglion, as well as in their original destination, i.e., the first arch and trigeminal ganglion. In contrast, late-stage treatment did not disturb the segmental migration pattern of hindbrain crest cells even though it induced the fused branchial arch (FBA); labeled crest cells from the anterior hindbrain populated the anterior half of the FBA and those from the preotic hindbrain (r3 and r4) occupied its posterior half. In control embryos, cellular retinoic acid binding protein I (CRABP I) was strongly expressed in the second branchial arch, r4 and r6, while weakly in the first arch and r1-3. CRABP I was upregulated by the early-stage treatment in the first branchial arch and related rhombomeres, while its expression was not correspondingly changed by the late-stage treatment. Moreover, whole-mount neurofilament staining showed that, in early-RA-treated embryos, the typical structure of the trigeminal ganglion vanished, whereas the late-stage-treated embryos showed the feature of the trigeminal ganglion to be conserved, although it fused with the acousticofacial ganglion. Thus, from the standpoints of morphology, cell lineages and molecular markers, it seems likely that RA alters the regional identity of the hindbrain crest cells, which may correspond to the transformation of the hindbrain identity in RA-treated mouse embryos (Marshall et al., Nature 360, 737-741, 1992).

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on intestinal propulsion in rats.

The effects of acute exposure to cigarette smoke and systemic administration of nicotine on intestinal propulsion were investigated in rats. The propulsive activity was measured as migration of charcoal powder in the intestine. This activity was suppressed by acute exposure (10 min) to cigarette smoke and by nicotine (0.5 mg/kg x 2, s.c.) administration. This intestinal suppression was more marked in the rats given nicotine than in those exposed to cigarette smoke, whereas the plasma concentrations of nicotine in both rats were similar. These results suggest that acute exposure to cigarette smoke and nicotine administration delay gastric emptying and/or suppress intestinal propulsion, and that some components other than nicotine contained in cigarette smoke may attenuate the suppression of intestinal propulsion induced by nicotine.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Neurologic features of chronic Minamata disease (organic mercury poisoning) certified at autopsy.

To better understand the neurologic events related to chronic Minamata disease (organic mercury poisoning), we studied data from 77 patients with Minamata disease as certified at autopsies performed from 1976 to 1994 (mean age: 72.3 years). Major neurologic findings included: sensory impairment in 80.5% of the patients which was limited to the extremities in 42.9%. Impairment of lower extremity coordination was present in 35.8% of the patients, constriction of the visual fields in 28.8%, and retrocochlear hearing loss in 15.3%. There was no correlation between the degree of cerebellar incoordination and the methylmercury concentration in the cerebellum. Compared with the classic type of Minamata disease, the incidence of major neurologic findings was markedly decreased. In light of these findings, supplemental examinations including brain computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), short latency somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP), or tremogram may be necessary to clinically diagnose Minamata disease, especially in atypical or mild cases.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Endothelin-A receptor mediates cardiac inhibition by regulating calcium and potassium currents.

Voltage-sensitive ion channels play fundamental roles in the regulation of cardiac function by various neurotransmitters. Endothelins have strong positive inotropic and chronotropic effects, for which recent studies have implicated various intracellular mechanisms. However, very little is known about the underlying ion-channel regulation by the peptide. We report here that endothelin-1 consistently hyperpolarizes the membrane and shortens the duration of the action potential in mammalian atrial myocytes, leading to suppression of electrical excitability of the heart. Endothelin-1, but not endothelin-3, inhibited the L-type calcium current by decreasing cyclic AMP accumulation and activated the muscarinic potassium current by stimulating a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein. Consistent with these results, endothelin-1 strongly reduced the heart rate when it was increased by beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. These effects were blocked by an ETA (endothelin-1-selective) receptor-selective antagonist, BQ123 (refs 8-11). The ETA receptor-mediated regulation of cardiac ion channels gives new insight into our understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological roles of endothelins in the control of cardiac function.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1994

Simple and sensitive assay of zonisamide in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography using a solid-phase extraction technique.

A rapid and sensitive method for the assay of zonisamide in serum was developed using a solid-phase extraction technique followed by high-performance liquid chromatography. A 20-microliter volume of human serum was first purified with a Bond-Elut cartridge column. Then, the methanol eluate was injected onto a reversed-phase HPLC column with a UV detector. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-methanol-distilled water (17:20:63, v/v) and the detection wavelength was 246 nm. The detection limit was 0.1 micrograms/ml in serum. The coefficients of variation were 4.2-5.6% and 5.1-9.1% for the within-day and between-day assays, respectively. This method can be used for clinical pharmacokinetic studies of zonisamide in serum even in infant patients with epilepsy.

Anticonvulsants↗

PubMed1994

Cloning of a complete protein-coding sequence of human platelet-type phosphofructokinase isozyme from pancreatic islet.

We have cloned a full length protein-coding sequence of human platelet-type phosphofructokinase (PFK) from pancreatic islet cDNA library. The platelet-type PFK was composed of 784 amino acids and had a deduced molecular weight of 85,590. Homologies in the primary structure with muscle- and liver-type PFK were 71 and 67%. Clear similarities of the amino and carboxyl halves with a prokaryotic PFK indicated an evolutionary event that duplicated genes of a prototype PFK fused into larger genes of eukaryotic PFKs. Amino acid residues constituting the binding sites for various allosteric modulators were well conserved, while a couple of different residues at the inhibitory ATP sites among three isozymes may partly explain their varied degree of sensitivities to ATP. Considerable amount of platelet-type PFK expression was demonstrated in brain, heart, kidney, colon and testis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Antisense retinoic acid receptor gamma-1 oligonucleotide enhances chondrogenesis of mouse limb mesenchymal cells in vitro.

Retinoic acid receptor (RAR) gamma gene is expressed in the precartilaginous cells during chondrogenesis in mouse embryos, but the role of the gene products is still unclear. To examine the role during chondrogenesis, we isolated mesenchymal cells from the limb bud of mouse embryos and exposed them to antisense RAR gamma-1 oligodeoxynucleotide in micromass culture. The antisense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibited RAR gamma-1 protein expression and enhanced chondrogenesis in the exposed cells. These results suggest that the complex of RAR gamma-1 protein and its ligand RA acts as a suppressor of the chondrogenesis in the limb development.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Antisense c-myc oligonucleotide promotes chondrogenesis and enhances RA responsiveness of mouse limb mesenchymal cells in vitro.

To examine the role of c-myc protein during chondrogenesis, we exposed 11 day p.c. mouse limb mesenchymal cells to the antisense c-myc oligonucleotide in micromass culture. The antisense oligonucleotide inhibited the c-myc protein expression, and intensely promoted chondrogenesis in the exposed cells. Most of the cells differentiated into cartilaginous cells, whereas they differentiated into cartilaginous and fibrous cells under the control conditions. The antisense oligonucleotide increased the inhibitory efficiency of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) to the chondrogenesis. These results suggest that the c-myc protein suppress the chondrogenesis and reduces RA responsiveness in the limb mesenchymal cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

First-pass metabolism of omeprazole in rats.

To clarify the in vivo first-pass metabolism of omeprazole, the pharmacokinetics were examined after oral, intraduodenal (i.d.), intraportal venous (i.p.v), and intravenous (i.v.) administration at various doses to rats. Extraction ratios in the liver and intestinal tract were determined from the areas under the concentration-time curve (AUC) for i.p.v. and i.v. administration and from those for id and ipv administration, respectively. Assuming that the drug was absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract completely, the hepatic and intestinal extraction ratios were 0.80, 0.63, and 0.59 at doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg and 0.70 and 0.73 at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. The bioavailability of orally administered omeprazole was 6.4, 9.6, and 12.6% at the doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, respectively. There were no differences in the distribution volume of steady state, total clearance, or elimination half-life at any doses. In addition, the AUC value after oral administration (20 mg/kg) in rats acutely intoxicated with CCl4 was 2.4 times larger than that in the control. These findings suggest that omeprazole undergoes a first-pass metabolism in the intestinal mucosa and/or lumen, as well as in the liver, and that the major contribution to the dose-dependent increase in bioavailability is a saturation of the first-pass metabolism in the liver.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1994

The contribution of both forebrain and midbrain crest cells to the mesenchyme in the frontonasal mass of mouse embryos.

Migration of cranial neural crest cells is a crucial event in the formation of facial organs such as the frontonasal mass and branchial arches. However, the source of the populating crest cells that occupy the frontonasal mass remains unclear in mammalian embryos. To elucidate this, we performed focal DiI injections at various sites in the prosencephalon (forebrain, including the future telencephalon and diencephalon), mesencephalon (midbrain), and the anterior part of the rhombencephalon (hindbrain) separated posteriorly by the preotic sulus (i.e., rhombomere A; future rhombomere 1 and 2) of cultured mouse embryos from the 3- to 10-somite stage. Results directly revealed that during these stages the lateral edge of the prosencephalon produced crest cells which migrated to the frontonasal mass. On the other hand, labeled cells at the anterior neural ridge in the prosencephalon contributed mainly to the head epithelium, including the nasal placode, Rathke's pouch, and oral epithelium. As for the crest cells of the mesencephalon and rhombomere A, their destinations were significantly dependent on the injection site and somite stage. At the 3- to 4-somite stage, the crest cells emigrating from both the mesencephalon and rhombomere A migrated to the first branchial arch. Moreover, the mesencephalic region, but never rhombomere A, produced another group of crest cells that migrated to the frontonasal mass. In the 5- to 10-somite stage, the destinations of late-emigrating crest cells were restricted depending on their premigratory positions, i.e., the region producing crest cells migrating toward the frontonasal mass was restricted to the anterior portion of the mesencephalon, and the crest cells from the posterior portion of the mesencephalon primarily migrated to the first branchial arch, while those from the rhombomere A predominantly migrated to the trigeminal ganglion. Migration toward the frontonasal mass from the mesencephalon ceased at the earliest in the 7-somite stage, followed by termination of mesencephalic and rhombencephalic crest cell migration toward the first branchial arch at the 8-somite stage, whereas the contribution from rhombomere A to the trigeminal ganglion continued even at the 10-somite stage. This behavior suggests that both the prosencephalic and mesencephalic crest contribute to the mesenchymal cells in the frontonasal mass and also that the migration patterns of crest cells released from the prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon depend on their axial level and developmental stage at initial emigration.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Apical cell escape from the neuroepithelium and cell transformation during terminal lip fusion in the house shrew embryo.

The house shrew embryo has many cells in the ventricular lumen and on the luminal surface of the fusing terminal lip of the cephalic neural tube. The origin and fate of these cells were studied by means of light and electron microscopy, and by DiI labeling in a whole-embryo culture system. The cells appeared at stage 11A and persisted until stage 12A. Most of the cells seemed to originate from the neuroepithelium, as shown by frequent observations of epithelial cell escape and DiI labeling analysis. The cells on the luminal surface sometimes showed apoptotic features, but were not subjected to phagocytosis. Some of the escaping cells seemed to migrate to the ventral part of the prosencephalic neuropore and insert themselves into it. Others separated from the luminal surface and floated into the lumen. It seems likely that the floating cells either become autolyzed, or else change into macrophage-like cells, the latter alternative being supported by the results of DiI labeling. The macrophage-like cells actively phagocytosed the other degenerating cells and apoptotic bodies. These observations suggest that the apical escape of cells may play an important role in the remodeling of the neural fold during the terminal lip fusion, and that early neuroepithelial cells may have the potential to become cells with vigorous phagocytic activity, like macrophages.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Uchida rat (rSey): a new mutant rat with craniofacial abnormalities resembling those of the mouse Sey mutant.

A new mutant rat with small eyes (rSey) which was found in the course of breeding Sprague-Dawley rats is described. Genetic analysis demonstrates that rSey is inherited as an autosomal dominant mutation. Heterozygotes (rSey/+) have small eyes, while homozygotes (rSey/rSey) do not develop lens and nasal placodes, resulting in lack of eyes and the nose and perinatal death. rSey does not affect any other cranial regions including the maxilla, mandible, hyoid arch and otic vesicles. The genetics and phenotype of the mutant rat closely resemble the Sey mutation in the mouse, suggesting that rSey is the rat counterpart of the Sey mouse. Tissue recombination studies indicate that ectoderm from homozygotes (rSey/rSey) never differentiates into lens tissue even if it is cultured with normal optic vesicles from rSey/+ or +/+ embryos. In contrast, lens differentiation occurs when ectoderm from rSey/+ or +/+ as well as rSey/rSey embryos. These results suggest that the failure of head ectoderm from rSey/rSey embryos to differentiate into lens results from defects in the early differentiation signaling from the neural plate or underlying mesenchyme before the optic vesicle grows out to contact the head ectoderm.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1994

Thimerosal induces toxic reaction in non-sensitized animals.

The effects of injection of thimerosal solution on nonsensitized animals was investigated. Intrafootpad injection of thimerosal solution in nonsensitized mice resulted in a swelling response which peaked 1 h after injection and lasted for more than 24 h. Histopathological examination showed that there were severe edema and infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils at the site of injection. An increased vascular permeability was observed after cutaneous injection of thimerosal solution on the back of nonsensitized rats. Since mercuric chloride and methyl mercury induced severer reactions, and thiosalicylic acid had no effect, mercury contained in thimerosal would have caused the reactions observed in this study. These results suggest that part of these hypersensitivity reactions against thimerosal observed among patients were possibly induced by the toxic effect of thimerosal. Therefore, thimerosal contained as a preservative in vaccine may augment the side-effects of the vaccination.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Analysis of the glucokinase gene promoter in Japanese subjects with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Glucokinase plays an important role in glucose metabolism in pancreatic beta-cells and liver. Recently, several mutations responsible for noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) have been identified within the coding regions of the glucokinase gene. We screened the promoter regions using polymerase chain reaction followed by single strand conformation polymorphisms in 240 Japanese NIDDM and 111 control subjects. In the beta-cell promoter, two kinds of sequence variations were detected. One variation, in which 2 nucleotides at position -282 (C-->T) plus -194 (A-->G) were changed simultaneously, was found in 23 NIDDM (9.6%) and 12 control (10.8%) subjects. The other variation [e.g. -30 (G-->A)] was identified in 87 NIDDM (36.3%) and 40 control (36.0%) subjects. In the liver promoter, in addition to the -603 (G-->T) substitution in 1 NIDDM (0.4%) and 2 control (1.8%) subjects, the -120 (G-->T) substitution in 1 control (0.9%) subject was found. However, there were no differences in these allele frequencies between NIDDM and control subjects. We conclude that the prevalence of mutations in the promoter of the glucokinase gene responsible for NIDDM is rare among Japanese patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

CD4+ CD8+ granular lymphocytic leukemia arising in a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia.

A 59-year-old woman who had an 8-year history of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) developed granular lymphocytic leukemia (GLL). She had a small number of granular lymphocytes (GL) in her bone marrow (BM) at the onset of AML. The GL increased during complete remission (CR) of AML, but not at the relapse. During the third CR state of AML, GL increased to 4.0 x 10(9)/l in the peripheral blood (PB). The GL were T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha beta+ T cells and expressed both CD4 and CD8 antigens. Rearrangements of TCR beta and gamma chain genes were detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC), confirming that this patient had GLL. The PBMNC from the patient responded weakly to PHA or ConA, yet they responded to her own bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) or CD4-depleted BMMNC that contained AML cells stronger than her own PBMNC or normal PBMNC. These observations suggest that monoclonal proliferation of GL developed after the reactive proliferation of GL in response to AML cells.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗