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Biomedical subjects

K Inomata

Publications and source records attributed to K Inomata.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

The protective effects of vitamin E on microcephaly in rats X-irradiated in utero: DNA, lipid peroxide and confronting cisternae.

Fetuses from rats given either water or 0.03% D,L-alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) as a drinking fluid and X-irradiated with 100 rad on gestational day 13 were examined on gestational day 21. Mean cerebral weight which was significantly reduced by the X-irradiation was increased by vitamin E supplementation but the level did not reach that in sham-irradiated controls. Administration of vitamin E caused an increase in DNA concentration which was significantly reduced by X-irradiation with water treatment. An increase in the mean level of lipid peroxide formation was observed in the water-treated, X-irradiated group in the sample at zero time but not in the vitamin E-treated, X-irradiated group. In the cytoplasm of fetal cerebral neurons from X-irradiated dams with vitamin E supplementation, confronting cisternae were frequently observed between two nuclear envelopes. Confronting cisternae may be considered as a repair mechanism of vitamin E against X-irradiated neuronal damage in the fetal cerebrum. This study provides evidence of the protection by vitamin E of neuronal development in X-irradiated fetuses, through its antioxidant properties, against attacks by free radicals and/or lipid peroxide.

Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced↗

The protective effects of vitamin E against microcephaly in rats X-irradiated in utero: dendritic branches.

Fetuses from rats given either water or 0.03% dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) as the drinking fluid and X-irradiated with 100R on gestational day (gd) 13 were examined on gd 21. The degree of dendritic branching of frontal cerebral neurons, examined after Golgi staining, was significantly reduced by X-irradiation, and supplementation of vitamin E caused increased branching order numbers in irradiated fetuses. This study provides evidence of the protection by vitamin E of neuronal development in X-irradiated fetuses.

Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced↗

Cytochemical localization of alkaline phosphatase in the ependyma of the rat medulla oblongata.

The ependyma of the IVth ventricle and the central canal of the rat medulla oblongata was investigated using the cytochemical technique for alkaline phosphatase (A1Pase) which revealed two types of ependymal cells in the medulla. The central canal type of the ependymal cell occupying the dorsal part of the central canal in the lower medulla exhibited intense A1Pase activity with light microscopy. These cells had reaction products in all plasma membranes, including the microvilli and the cilia at the luminal cell surface. Some cells appeared to be tanycytes, since the process reached the basement membrane of the parenchymal blood vessel. The ventricular type of ependymal cells, which form the floor of the IVth ventricle and the central canal, contained no reaction products in any structure of the luminal cell surface. The possible relationship between the cerebrospinal fluid and the nervous tissues through the ependymal linings is discussed.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Ultracytochemical studies of capillary endothelial cells in the rat central nervous system.

The ultracytochemical localization of eight hydrolytic enzymes (TMPase, 5'-NPase, TPPase, TTPase, Mg++-ATPase, Ca++-ATPase, ALPase and K+-NPPase) and one oxidative enzyme (MAO) was determined in rat brain capillary endothelial cells. In the somal plasma membrane, the enzymatic activity was mainly located in the antiluminal plasma membrane. This finding was appropriate for enzymes possessing the optimal pH at alkaline ranges, except for alkaline phosphatase. Most enzymes investigated showed a positive reaction on the pinocytotic vesicles of capillary endothelial cells. Differences in the intensity of the enzyme activities of the luminal and antiluminal plasma membranes may reflect the polarity in the capillary endothelial cells and relate to blood-brain barrier mechanisms.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The confronting cisternae in neurons in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord of rats and Japanese monkeys.

The neurons in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord of the rat and Japanese monkey were investigated electron microscopically and ultracytochemically. The confronting cisternae observed in the cytoplasm of the majority of gelatinosal neurons in both species were composed of closely apposed parallel cisternae with electron-dense flocculent material, and a continuity with the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum was often observed. Ultracytochemically, the p-nitrophenylphosphatase (p-NPPase) activity was present in the confronting cisternae, but thiamine monophosphatase (TMPase) and thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase) activities were absent. These results indicate that the confronting cisternae are a variant of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

4-Nitrophenylphosphatase↗

Zinc supplementation in ethanol-treated pregnant rats increases the metabolic activity in the fetal hippocampus.

As a possible preventative measure for brain dysfunction in the fetal alcohol syndrome, the effect of zinc supplementation together with ethanol on the fetal cerebrum, especially the hippocampus, was investigated. Female rats of an ethanol group and a control group received 30% ethanol and water, respectively. During pregnancy half of both groups received 0.01% zinc together with ethanol or water. Fetuses on gestational day 21 were examined biochemically and ultrastructurally. Administration of zinc with ethanol resulted in an increased cerebral weight and cerebral RNA content compared to administration of ethanol alone. However, these better results did not reach those of controls without ethanol. In the cytoplasm of hippocampal neurons from dams only given zinc with ethanol confronting cisternae were frequently observed between the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the rough endoplasmic reticulum or the nuclear envelope. Although the functional roles of the confronting cisternae were not definite, it is reasonable to conclude that the confronting cisternae were a repair mechanism of zinc against the inhibitory effect on RNA and protein syntheses of ethanol. This study shows evidence of prevention of the brain dysfunction on ethanol treatment.

Animals↗

A cerium method for the ultracytochemical localization of monoamine oxidase activity.

A cytochemical method based on the complex formation between cerous ions and hydrogen peroxide is described for the ultrastructural localization of monoamine oxidase (MAO). First, the residual MAO activity after fixation was measured by a radiochemical assay technique and was found to be sufficiently retained for cytochemical detection. Although the Tris buffer used in the present method was found to be inhibitory to MAO, considerable activity was still retained after fixation and incubation in Tris. MAO activity, detected as precipitates of cerium perhydroxide, was observed in the mitochondrial outer compartment, mitochondrial cristae and perinuclear space of myocardial cells and endothelial cells of rat heart. MAO activity was also found along the plasma membrane of capillary endothelia. Omission of substrate from the incubation medium or pre-incubation with pargyline, a specific MAO inhibitor, drastically reduced the amount of deposits. The present cerium method seems promising because of its reproducibility and the high electron density of the reaction products.

Animals↗

Axoplasmic transport of microtubule-associated proteins in the rat sciatic nerve.

32P-ATP was injected into the L5 dorsal root ganglion and axoplasmic transport of the phosphorylate MA proteins 2, microtubule-associated proteins 2, was observed. After the injection of 32P-ATP, the nerve was dissected out at prescribed time intervals and sliced into 5-mm pieces. Each segment was electrophoresed on an SDS-polyacrylamide slab gel and subjected to autoradiography. A protein of 310,000 dalton was transported at a velocity of 6.6-10.6 mm/day in the axon with the electrophoretic mobility identical to that of MA proteins 2, one of the key components associated with the microtubules.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Constant AMP synthesis in aqueous solution by electric discharges.

An electric discharge was made through a gas mixture of N2 (7 cm Hg), H2 (14 cm Hg) and CO2 (14 cm Hg) over an aqueous solution (100 ml, pH 7.6) of adenosine (0.02 M) and phosphate (0.2 M) in a 5 liter vessel simulating primitive earth conditions. AMP was produced at a constant rate in the solution, and the yield reached about 2% in two months.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Amino acids derivatives synthesis from nitrogen, carbon and water by electric discharges.

Electric discharges between a pair of carbon electrodes were continued for 50 days in a vessel of 5 liters in volume which initially contained nitrogen at a pressure of 15 cm Hg and 200 ml of water. The pressure in the vessel was gradually increased to 60 cm Hg at the end of the run. Gas chromatographic analysis showed that the increase of the pressure mainly results from the production of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The concentration of ammonia in the aqueous sample was increased to 0.05 M in 50 days of the discharge. After hydrolysis, glycine and serine were detected at the concentrations of 3.4 x 10(-3) M and 0.057 x 10(-3) M in the final solution, respectively, though glycine was found only at the concentration of 6 x 10(-6) M before hydrolysis. TLC analysis indicated the presence of hydantoic acid, N-formylglycine, diketopiperazine, and polymers of glycine.

Amino Acids↗

[Oblongata in the spinal trigeminal nucleus of the adult rat (author's transl)].

The substantia gelationsa has been noted as a region of central pain control, In 1979, we reported that an intense thiamine monophosphatase (TMPase) activity was specifically localized on the plasma membrane of the synaptic glomeruli, especially dense sinusoid axon terminals (DSA). In the present investigation, the ultracytochemical localization of TMPase activity was studied in the spinal trigeminal nucleus of the adult rat. Vibratome sections of aldehyde-fixed specimens were incubated in the incubation medium (veronal-acetate buffer, pH 5. 8, 27 mM, thiamine monophosphoric acid chloride 2mM, lead nitrate 2.7 mM, sucrose 146 mM, final pH 5.4) for 30 min at 37 degrees C, and processed for light as well as electron microscopy. At the light microscopic level, the reaction products, lead sulfide, were observed to be localized in the substantia gelatinosa of the caudal medulla oblongata in the spinal trigeminal nucleus. At the electron microscopic level, the TMPase activity was positive on the plasma membrane of DSA in the region where is particularly concerned with the relay of thermal and noxious stimuli. It has been suggested by us previously that there may be some relationship between the TMPase activity and pain, mechanism in the spinal cord, and the results that the situation seems to be hold true in the spinal trigeminal nucleus, also.

Animals↗