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Biomedical subjects

K Tsuji

Publications and source records attributed to K Tsuji.

At least 595 records · Page 33Linked to original sources

Effects of naloxone on basal and vagus nerve-induced secretions of GRP, gastrin, and somatostatin from the isolated perfused rat stomach.

The effects of naloxone, an opiate antagonist, on basal and vagus nerve-induced secretions of GRP, gastrin, and somatostatin were examined using the isolated perfused rat stomach prepared with vagal innervation. Naloxone (10(-6) M) significantly inhibited basal somatostatin secretion in the presence and absence of atropine and of hexamethonium, whereas basal GRP and gastrin secretion was not affected by naloxone. Electrical stimulation (10 Hz, lms duration, 10V) of the distal end of the subdiaphragmatic vagal trunks elicited a significant increase in both GRP and gastrin but a decrease in somatostatin. Naloxone (10(-6) M) failed to affect these responses in the presence or absence of atropine. On the other hand, when hexamethonium was infused, naloxone significantly inhibited both the GRP and gastrin responses to electrical vagal stimulation. Somatostatin secretion was unchanged by vagal stimulation during the infusion of hexamethonium with or without naloxone. These findings suggest that basal somatostatin secretion is under the control of an opiate neuron and that opioid peptides might be involved in vagal regulation of GRP and gastrin secretion.

Animals↗

The role of transfected HLA-DQ genes in the mixed lymphocyte reaction-like condition.

DR gene products are commonly thought to be involved in the induction of the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). However, very little is known about the role of HLA-DQ antigens in the MLR. To address this question, we introduced DQ alpha and beta chain genes into mouse L cells, a human T-cell line, and a human premonocytoid cell line using a liposome-mediated transfer technique. The DQ alpha and DQ beta genomic clones were isolated from a DR2 DQw1 and a DR3 DQw2 phage library, respectively. The pSV2-Neo gene was introduced as a selection marker with both DQ alpha and DQ beta. The resultant transfected cells were able to bind several HLA class II monoclonal antibodies. In addition, these cells were found to be efficient in stimulating peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation under MLR-like conditions, implying a role for HLA-DQ molecules in HLA-D typing differences.

Animals↗

Cardiac alpha 1 and beta adrenoceptors in rabbits: effects of dietary sodium and cholesterol.

To investigate the effects of dietary sodium and cholesterol on alpha 1 and beta adrenoceptors in hearts, male Japanese white rabbits were treated with either deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) (50 mg/week sc) plus 1% saline in drinking water, frusemide (10 mg/2 days im), or cholesterol enriched diet (2%, w/w) for eight weeks. Using myocardial membrane preparations, characteristics of alpha 1 and beta adrenoceptors were assessed by a radioligand binding assay using 3H-prazosin and 125I-iodocyanopindolol (125I-CYP) as radioactive ligands respectively. Although the treatment with DOCA and salt induced a small but significant increase in the mean arterial blood pressure, other treatments did not affect blood pressure. None of these interventions affected body weight, ventricular weight, ratio of ventricular weight to body weight, or protein yield of membrane preparations. Neither the number nor the affinity of cardiac alpha 1 adrenoceptors (Bmax 15.1(1.7) fmol X mg protein-1, KD 0.63(0.13) nmol X litre-1 for controls) was affected by any of the treatments given. In contrast to alpha 1 adrenoceptors, the number of beta adrenoceptors (Bmax) decreased significantly from 109.9(9.6) fmol X mg protein-1 for controls to 54.8(5.2) and 52.7(6.9) for rabbits treated with DOCA salt and cholesterol respectively. KD values of beta adrenoceptors for 125I-CYP decreased significantly with cholesterol treatment from 22.5(2.5) to 13.6(2.7) pmol X litre-1. Salt depletion produced by frusemide administration did not affect either the number or the affinity of beta adrenoceptors. These results suggest that changes in the sensitivity of tissues to catecholamines induced by the administration of DOCA salt and cholesterol enriched diet are due to alterations in beta adrenoceptors in the heart.

Animals↗

Bacterial synthesis of recombinant alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide.

The high-level synthesis of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide hormone in Escherichia coli has been achieved based on the idea that the yield of a small, basic and unstable polypeptide, such as the natriuretic polypeptide, would be improved by fusion with an appropriate protective polypeptide to construct a neutral fused polypeptide. We prepared an expression vector, pCLaHtrp3t, coding a neutral polypeptide containing 130 amino acid residues in which the polypeptide hormone was fused to a newly designed protective polypeptide through lysine as an enzymatically cleavable residue. The fused polypeptide was synthesized at the high level of 32% of total cellular proteins and at 4.7 X 10(6) molecules per single cell. It was recovered as cellular insoluble fraction and purified to homogeneity. For the isolation of the peptide hormone from the resultant fused polypeptide, Achromobacter protease I, a lysine-specific endopeptidase was used, because it has sufficient activity even in 8 M urea. The recombinant natriuretic polypeptide was indistinguishable from native alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide as regards amino acid sequence as well as biological activity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inter- and intra-pathologist variability in histologic diagnoses of lung cancer.

To estimate variability and reliability in histologic diagnosis (Dx) of lung cancers, lung cancer preparations were divided into eight equal sets and diagnosed independently by an eight-man pathology panel. Majority Dx (Dx affirmed by more than 4 panelists) was regarded as the consensus Dx of each cancer. The consensus rate of each panelist ranged from 78.8% to 96.1% with an average of 89.4%. The consensus rates were not significantly different among the panelists. Relatively high inter-pathologist agreement was observed in squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and small cell carcinoma. However, regarding large cell carcinoma, there was occasional disagreement among the panelists. Forty-seven cancers were reexamined by the same panelists, with no preliminary announcement, 7 months after the first examination to study the intra-pathologist agreement. The rate of the intra-pathologist agreement ranged from 76.6% to 93.3%. Dx of large cell carcinoma was the most intra-changeable. It was concluded that the histologic Dx of large cell carcinoma was the most inter- and intra-changeable, and the most frequent dissenting Dx from it was poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Change in the electrical impedance caused by cornification of the epithelial cell layer of the vaginal mucosa in the rat].

The electrical impedance in the vagina (EIV) is significantly high in the proestrus stage compared with other stages of the estrous cycle in rats. Therefore, the EIV can be used to detect the optimum day for mating. The relation between the EIV and the conditions of the epithelial cell layer of vaginal mucosa were investigated. The EIV was at a high level (over 3,000 omega) in vaginas in the proestrus stage in either intact or excised vaginal mucus. But it decreased (under 3,000 omega) after the epithelium of the vaginal mucosa was removed. The EIV of ovariectomized rats was low, but increased after Estradiol administration. The cornification of the epithelial cell layer of the vaginal mucosa occurred concurrently with the high EIV in the proestrus stage and after Estradiol administration. This indicates that the cornification of the epithelial cell layer of the vaginal mucosa may cause the elevation of EIV in the proestrus stage, the optimum day for mating in the rats.

Animals↗

Inherited hydrocephalus in Csk: Wistar-Imamichi rats; Hyd strain: a new disease model for hydrocephalus.

Hydrocephalic rats were found in a breeding colony of Csk: Wistar-Imamichi strain rats. In males, the hydrocephalus were serious and could be detected from 7 days after birth. Survival was 3-4 weeks. In females, the hydrocephalus was moderate, there was no abnormal external appearance, and the rats were able to mature. Ventricular dilatation was excessive in males but moderate in females. The total frequency of hydrocephalus was 34.3% in both males and females. Breeding data indicated that this disease is heritable and is single dominant and X-linked (symbol, Hyd). The female moderate hydrocephalics could be detected by progeny tests without examining brain sections. No evidence of developmental anomaly was observed in the ventricles. This hydrocephalus was classified as being of the communicating type, and this strain was named the Hyd strain as an animal model for human hydrocephalus.

Animals↗

[A method for detecting the optimum day for mating during the 4-day estrous cycle in the rat; measuring the value of electrical impedance of the vagina].

A method for detecting the optimum day for mating in the rat was investigated. Cyclic changes of electrical impedance of vagina (EIV) were studied in the rats. EIV indicated high value (over 3,000 omega) only at proestrus, and it was lower (under 3,000 omega) at other stage of estrous cycle. These results apparently indicate that measuring the EIV made to distinguish proestrus from other phases of estrous cycle. The female caged with male showed high copulation rate (88 approximately 96%) when her EIV had been over 3,000 omega.

Animals↗

[A recessive mutant causing testicular/ovarian teratoma in rats (Tera strain)].

A hereditary testicular/ovarian teratoma strain (Tera) of rats was developed from the Csk: Wistar-Imamichi strain. As the teratoma consisted of tridermic tissues such as bone, epithelium and neural tissue, it was diagnosed as triphyllomatous teratoma. The frequency of the teratoma was about 25% in either sex, with no sexual difference. Accordingly, the heredity of the teratoma appeared to be an autosomal single recessive trait (symbol, tera).

Animals↗

Time course of islet cell antibodies and beta-cell function in non-insulin-dependent stage of type I diabetes.

The time course of islet cell antibodies (ICA) and serum C-peptides responses (CPRs) to oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were studied prospectively up to 60 (mean 35) mo in 32 ICA-positive subjects [28 with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) and 4 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT); mean age 45 yr], 96 matched subjects [56 with NIDDM, 8 with IGT, and 32 normal first-degree relatives of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM); mean age 45 yr] who were negative for ICA at the beginning of the study. In addition, the effects of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) on the time course of ICA and beta-cell function were evaluated. In 10 subjects (8 with NIDDM and 2 with IGT) who were ICA positive, ICA became undetectable, even by sensitive ICA assay, 15 +/- 2 mo (mean +/- SE) after initiation of this study. In these subjects, integrated serum CPR values (sigma CPR) and 2-h blood glucose values in response to OGTTs improved significantly (P less than .05-.01). In contrast, the remaining 22 subjects who were ICA positive were persistently positive for ICA. CPR and blood glucose responses deteriorated progressively in these 22 subjects, and 7 subjects in this group progressed to the insulin-dependent state. Serum CPR and blood glucose responses to OGTTs showed no remarkable changes in 64 patients (56 with NIDDM and 8 with IGT) and 32 normal first-degree relatives of patients with IDDM who remained negative for ICA throughout the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Effect of dietary taurine on cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity in the liver of mice fed a lithogenic diet.

The effect of dietary taurine on hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was investigated in mice. At first, male ICR strain mice were fed a commercial non-purified diet for 4 weeks and killed at 01:00 h (midnight) or 13:00 h (daytime) and the cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity in the hepatic microsomal fraction was measured. The enzyme activity was 5.9-fold higher at midnight than in the daytime. Next, to investigate the effect of dietary taurine on the activity of this enzyme, male ICR strain mice were fed semi-purified diets for 5 weeks: a cholesterol-free diet (standard), a lithogenic diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 0.25% sodium cholate (C-CA), and a lithogenic diet supplemented with 5% taurine (C-CA + 5% taurine). All mice were killed at midnight and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was measured. The enzyme activity of the mice fed the lithogenic diet was about 20% that of mice fed the standard diet. Dietary taurine increased the activity by 1.9-fold. Therefore, it was concluded that the inhibitory effect of dietary taurine on cholesterol gallstone formation was related to increased bile acid synthesis as reflected by stimulation of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity.

Animals↗