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Biomedical subjects

K Fuji

Publications and source records attributed to K Fuji.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Neurotoxicity induced by continuous infusion of quinolinic acid into the lateral ventricle in rats.

Acute intrastriatal injection of quinolinic acid (QA) caused a significant reduction of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activities as well as a decrease of the specific binding of [3H]hemicholinium-3. Pretreatment with MK-801 completely blocked the QA-induced neurotoxicity. Continuous infusion of QA into the lateral ventricle resulted in a reduction of hippocampal and cortical ChAT activities while GAD activities were unchanged. These results suggest that continuous infusion of QA into the lateral ventricle could be a useful technique for the study of chronic neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease.

Animals↗

Terpenoids. LIII. Antitumor activity of trichorabdals and related compounds.

Among the three types, enmein-, oridonin-, and trichorabdal-type, of diterpenoids from Rabdosia trichocarpa, the latter showed the highest antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice. Their potent activities were attributed to synergistic increase arising from the presence of two active sites in one molecule. In vitro activity against HeLa cells and in vivo activity against P 388 lymphocytic leukemia of diterpenoids and related compounds were also determined, but no synergistic increase in activity due to plural active sites was observed in those cases.

Animals↗

Radiosensitizing hypoxic cells with new 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole derivatives in vitro and in vivo.

The new regioisomer derivatives 4a-f and 5a-f of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole (3-NTR) were synthesized for the development of new radiosensitizers of hypoxic cancer cells for radiotherapy. N(2)-Substituted 3-NTR derivatives 5a-f were stronger radiosensitizers of hypoxic cells in vitro (Chinese hamster V79 cells) than N(1)-substituted 3-NTR derivatives 4a-f, but in vivo they were weaker (SCCVII carcinoma cells inoculated into C3H/He mouse).

Animals↗

[Study on serum levels of immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) as a marker of renal cell carcinoma].

Immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) exhibits various types of immunosuppressive activity and is said to increase in cancer hosts. Based on measurements of IAP levels in normal subjects, cases of renal cysts and 46 cases of renal cell carcinoma we reached the following conclusions: The IAP levels in normal subjects ranged from 250-530 micrograms/ml, with a mean +/- S.D. of 362.5 +/- 68.9 micrograms/ml, which was comparable to the values in renal cyst cases (250-470 micrograms/ml, mean +/- S.D.: 353 +/- 70 micrograms/ml). 475 micrograms/ml was taken as the upper limit of the normal range. The pretreatment IAP values for cases of renal cell carcinoma ranged from 330-1,780 micrograms/ml, with a mean +/- S.D. of 820 +/- 820 and 73% were considered positive (i.e. beyond the 475 micrograms/ml limit). There was a statistical significance of p less than 0.01 between normal subjects and renal cell carcinoma cases and also between renal cyst cases and renal cell carcinoma cases. When the cases of renal cell carcinoma were divided into those with a pretreatment IAP level of 475 micrograms/ml or less and those with more than 475 micrograms/ml, the 3-year survival of the former was 90%, whereas that of the latter group was 39%, showing a statistically significant difference with p less than 0.05. Comparison of the IAP levels in the group of total nephrectomy cases that did not develop recurrence and those in which recurrence was recognized, revealed significantly higher IAP levels in the latter (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Effect of oridonin, a Rabdosia diterpenoid, on radiosensitization with misonidazole.

The radiosensitization brought about by oridonin, one of the Rabdosia diterpenoids, alone or in combination with misonidazole, was investigated in Chinese hamster V79 cells. The enhancement ratio of 1.92 was obtained when 0.01 mM oridonin and 1 mM misonidazole were administered to hypoxic cells under radiation. The enhancement ratios of oridonin and misonidazole for hypoxic cells were 1.16 and 1.59 respectively. Hence, a supra-additive effect was obtained by the combined treatment with these two drugs. Under aerobic conditions, no effect of 0.01 mM oridonin on the radiosensitization caused by misonidazole was observed.

Animals↗

Steroidogenic effect of ent-kaur-16-en-15 beta-ol (kaurenol) on isolated rat adrenal cells.

In an in vitro bioassay system for adrenocorticotropic hormone using isolated rat adrenal cells, kaurenol, a diterpene alcohol, stimulated corticosterone production and augmented the steroidogenic effect of adrenocorticotropin or forskolin, dose-dependently. Kaurenol had no effect on cyclic AMP production by the cells. The diterpene also had no stimulatory effect on the adrenal adenylate cyclase activity in a cell free system. The results suggest that this particular diterpene exerts a steroidogenic effect through a mechanism independent of cyclic AMP generation.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Distribution, ontogeny and projections of cholecystokinin-8, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gamma-aminobutyrate-containing neuron systems in the rat spinal cord: an immunohistochemical analysis.

The distribution, ontogeny and fiber projections of cholecystokinin-8, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gamma-aminobutyrate-containing neuronal systems in the rat spinal cord were investigated by means of immunocytochemistry. Immunoreactive fibers to cholecystokinin-8, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and glutamate decarboxylase (gamma-aminobutyrate-synthesizing enzyme, used as a marker of gamma-aminobutyrate) were widely distributed in the spinal cord, being particularly concentrated in the superficial dorsal horn, suggesting a close relationship to the pain transmission system. Cholecystokinin-8-containing neurons were mostly distributed in the dorsal laminae and glutamate decarboxylase-containing neurons were distributed in both the dorsal and ventral horns. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing neurons were detected in the lateral spinal nucleus and the lamina X. Cholecystokinin-8 and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactive structures first appeared on gestational day 17-18. Although no substantial change in immunoreactive structures was observed during the fetal period, they increased markedly after birth. On the other hand, glutamate decarboxylase-positive structures appeared at gestational day 16 and those in the grey matter reached a maximum content at birth; both groups were present in adult animals. Transection of the upper cervical cord resulted in accumulations of cholecystokinin-8 and glutamate decarboxylase rostral to the lesion, revealing the presence of supraspinal projections of cholecystokinin-8 and glutamate decarboxylase to the spinal cord. The same experimental procedure demonstrated the existence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-mediating neuronal projections to the supraspinal level, as the accumulating fibers occurred in the area caudal to the lesion.

Animals↗

Evaluation of the affinity of new N atom-containing tumor inhibitors for nucleic acids.

Interaction between new N atom-containing tumor inhibitors (1-9) and nucleic acids has been investigated utilizing the spectroscopic methods efficiently. On the basis of their data, it is well suggested that FNT-4 (4) and benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids (6-8) bind to nucleic acids by a fashion involving intercalation of aromatic molecule(s).

Animals↗

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-containing neurons in the spinal cord of the rat and their projections.

The distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like immunoreactive structures in the rat spinal cord and their projections were investigated by means of an immunofluorescent method. In the normal rat, a small number of VIP-positive fibers were observed in the superficial layer of the dorsal horn and in the lateral funiculus. With colchicine pretreatment, VIP-positive neurons were demonstrated in the lateral spinal nucleus (lsn) and in the lamina X (Rexed). Transections of the spinal cord at various levels revealed that some of the VIP neurons in the lsn might project to supraspinal areas via lateral funiculus.

Animals↗

Acquisition of depth discrimination in a Japanese macaque: a preliminary study.

A training method of depth discrimination in a Japanese monkey was reported. Using a Howard-Dohlman type apparatus, the monkey was required to discriminate the distance of two rods. Observation distance was 785 mm and a tracking method was employed. Difference thresholds measured preliminarily were 23.6 mm and 77.1 mm for binocular and monocular conditions, respectively.

Animals↗