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Biomedical subjects

M Utsumi

Publications and source records attributed to M Utsumi.

154 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Cytochrome oxidase activity and confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis of the hamster submandibular gland using microwave irradiated fixation.

Submandibular glands of the hamster were irradiated in 2% paraformaldehyde (pFA)-0.5% pure glutaraldehyde (PGA) with a microwave (MW) processor at temperatures of 10 degrees and 37 degrees C. Electron microscopy showed that cytochrome oxidase activity was taking place in the mitochondrial intermembrane-intracristal space of the granular duct cell when the temperature of the MW-irradiated fixatives was at 10 degrees C. However, a decrease of this activity was observed when we took care to keep the temperature of the MW-irradiated fixatives at 37 degrees C. The distinct reduction of cytochrome oxidase activity allowed by MW irradiation seems to be due the thermal affects of fixatives. Of course, the possibility cannot be excluded that MW irradiation caused other undetectable membrane damage. Then, we used confocal laser scanning microscopy for the preservation check of the mitochondrial membrane for cytochemistry with MW-irradiated fixation. The fluorescence of rhodamine 123 was observed in the inner spaces of the mitochondria at temperatures of 10 degrees and 37 degrees C. When the same tissues were fixed with 2% pFA using an MW processor as the sole fixative at 10 degrees C, no mitochondrial fluorescence was observed. Cytochrome oxidase activity, by contrast, could be seen in the mitochondrial intermembrane-intracristal spaces in the same condition. Formaldehyde is not the best aldehyde for the purpose of ultrastructural preservation. On the other hand, light and electron microscopy showed that the endogenous peroxidase activity was localized in the nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum, secretory granules, and Golgi apparatus of the hamster submandibular gland using 2% pFA-0.5% PGA fixative with and without MW irradiations at temperatures of 10 degrees and 37 degrees C. Some of the same cells were fixed with only 2% pFA under MW irradiation at 10 degrees C; however, marked diffuseness of the peroxidase activity was observed. Therefore, these results indicated that cytochrome oxidase activity was sensitive to heat with MW-irradiated fixation. Peroxidase activity was very resistant to heat with MW-irradiated fixation but not with pFA solo fixation, therefore, PGA had to be used.

Animals↗

Age-dependent changes of mineral contents in men and women's calcanei.

To elucidate age-related change of mineral contents in human bones, the mineral content and density of human calcanei were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Calcanei were removed from 27 subjects (17 men and 10 women) who died in the age range from 40-98 yr old. Both the inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry indicated that there were age-dependent decreases of the mineral contents and density in the men's calcaneus in the age range from 40-98 yr, but not in the women's calcaneus in the age range from 42-87 yr. It was also found that the calcanean masses of the men and women remained constant within the same age range until 98 yr.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Age-dependent aluminum accumulation in the human aorta and cerebral artery.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of aluminum (Al) accumulation in the human aorta and cerebral arteries. The Al contents in the aortae and in the cerebral arteries from 23 human subjects was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-AES). The subjects' age range was 45-99-yr-old; 15 of the subjects were males and 8 were females. Al was detected in twelve aortae and in six cerebral arteries, when the entire specimen was analyzed. Two specimens where Al was found in the cerebral arteries contained no Al in the aorta. No relationship to the subject's sex was found. When related to age, two groups were established. Group L (45-75 yr old) and group H (> 75 yr old), which exhibited aortal Al concentrations of 33.3 and 72.7%, respectively. When the aortic wall was dissected into the tunica intima, media, and adventitia, Al was found mainly in the tunica media. In the aorta, significant relationships were found between Al and phosphorus (P) levels (r = 0.801, p < 0.01) and between Al and calcium (Ca) (r = 0.661, p < 0.05). We have concluded that Al accumulation is age-dependent and that it occurs both in the aorta and in the cerebral artery. In the aorta, accumulation occurs mainly in the tunica media. Both P and Ca appear to enhance aortal Al accumulation.

Aged↗

A high accumulation of minerals in human internal jugular vein.

To elucidate age-related changes of mineral contents in human veins, the relative contents (RCs) of elements in the human internal jugular veins, superior and inferior venae cavae, and femoral veins from 27 subjects ranging from 40 to 98 yr old were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The average RCs of calcium in the 27 specimens were the highest in the internal jugular vein, followed in descending order by the superior vena cava, femoral vein, and inferior vena cava. The RCs of calcium and phosphorus in the internal jugular veins started to increase after the age of 50 yr, became the highest in subjects in their 60s and thereafter decreased gradually. It is noted that such accumulations of minerals, similar to the internal jugular vein, were also found in the veins, such as the superior and inferior venae cavae, and femoral vein. Accumulation of minerals in the veins is different from that of arteries, which increase progressively by aging, but do not decrease.

Adult↗

Tissue platinum after clinical treatment with cisplatin or carboplatin in tumor-bearing patients.

Tissue platinum (Pt) levels were measured in tumor-bearing patients treated with either cisplatin or carboplatin. Cisplatin was given by intra-arterial, intraperitoneal, and intravenous (iv) administrations. After death, vertebrae and intervertebral disks were removed from eight human subjects, and livers and kidneys were removed from the half of them. When cisplatin was administered intraperitoneally, Pt of the liver was higher than that of the kidney, and a high content of Pt was detected in the vertebra by comparing with the other administration methods. At the intra-arterial administration of cisplatin, Pt was mainly accumulated in the kidney. At the iv administration of cisplatin, a high level of Pt was found in the vertebra and intervertebral disk, especially at the highest value at 10.31 micrograms/g in the intervertebral disk of one case, whereas a low level of Pt was detected in the liver. On the contrary, it was found that the iv administration of carboplatin did not result in high accumulations of Pt in the liver, kidney, intervertebral disk, and vertebra. Therefore, Pt is accumulated in different organs, depending on the way cisplatin is administered, but Pt is accumulated least in them by the administration of carboplatin.

Adult↗

Electrophysiological studies on the cultured cells obtained from transplantable pancreatic carcinoma in Syrian golden hamsters.

A pancreatic ductal carcinoma was established as a transplantable tumor line in an inbred strain of Syrian golden hamsters. Intracellular recordings of membrane potentials and input resistance were made from cultured cells obtained from the transplanted tumors using indwelling glass microelectrode. The mean value of the resting membrane potential was -46.5 +/- 1.8 mV (S.E.) (n = 13), while the mean resting input resistance was 21.2 +/- 4.3 M omega (S.E.) (N = 13). Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (2 X 10(-3)M) caused a marked hyperpolarization of about 30 mV accompanied by a reduction of input resistance. The transplantable tumor and its cultured cell line developed in this study have demonstrated their effectiveness as a reliable experimental model for use in pancreatic cancer research.

Animals↗

Cytochemical detection of endogenous peroxidase in the acinar cells of the hamster submandibular gland.

The presence of endogenous peroxidase activity in the hamster submandibular gland was investigated cytochemically by light and electron microscopy using diaminobenzidine methods. After fixation of tissue with 2% paraformaldehyde-2.5% glutaraldehyde and incubation in a DAB reaction medium containing 0.01% H2O2, the peroxidase reaction product was localized in the nuclear envelope, the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum, secretory granules and the Golgi apparatus in both the acinar and granular duct cells of the submandibular gland. This is in contrast to earlier investigators who failed to detect peroxidase activity in acinar cells of the hamster submandibular gland and reported that peroxidase is localized only in the granular duct cells. The discrepancy may be caused by differences in experimental procedures. It is suggested that fixation of tissue with a high concentration of glutaraldehyde and incubation in a DAB reaction medium containing a high concentration of H2O2 inhibits the peroxidase activity of acinar cells in the hamster submandibular gland.

3,3'-Diaminobenzidine↗

Time-course study of the levels of urinary leukotriene E4, serum thromboxane B2 and serum eosinophil cationic protein in spontaneous asthma attacks in five children.

Leukotrienes thromboxanes, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) are chemical mediators involved in airway inflammation. We investigated time courses of urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4), serum thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and serum ECP, together with blood eosinophil count during asthmatic attacks in five children. Just after the onset of an asthma attack, urinary LTE4 levels reflected the severity of the attack and decreased during the course of clinical improvement with various therapies; however, they did not change in the course of an attack in one of five patients. The other parameters showed less or no significant relation to clinical severity and improvements. Since LTE4 is a stable product from total cysteinyl leukotrienes, it appears to be one of important mediators in most asthma attacks in children. This study suggests that LTE4 is a useful marker for monitoring severity and improvement of spontaneous attacks of asthma.

Antibody Specificity↗