Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N Goto.
Porphyromonas gingivalis no. 381 and ATCC 33277 produced an extracellular hemolytic toxin which was heat-labile, trypsin-sensitive, and lytic to human, horse, sheep and rabbit erythrocytes. The hemolytic toxin is a 'hot-cold', thiol-independent toxin. The production of the hemolytic toxin was greatly enhanced by addition of hemoglobin to the culture medium.
An indirect immunofluorescent antibody test on the serum of a Fasciola gigantica-infected rabbit, showed specific fluorescence on the tegumental surface of miracidia, sporocysts, rediae, cercariae, metacercariae and juvenile worms aged between one and seven weeks. The same reaction occurred in the gut cells of cercariae and metacercariae and in the gut caeca of juveniles in the liver. The results of the absorption test indicated that stage-specific antigen(s) in metacercariae and seven-week-old worms existed mainly in the gut cells and the gut caeca, respectively. The precipitating antibody reacting to metacercariae antigens occurred at a very early stage of infection, but the titre dropped much earlier than that against the juvenile antigen.
Aluminium hydroxide (Al) and calcium phosphate (Ca) have been used for many years as immunological adjuvants for biologicals. We investigated the toxic effects of both adjuvants with different physical properties. Al-gel elicited vascular permeability-increasing and toxic effects to macrophages (M phi), while its haemolytic effect was weak. Ca-gel elicited a significantly stronger haemolytic effect, but no other toxic effect. Incubation of M phi or polymorphonuclear leucocytes with Al-suspension resulted in the largest release of lactate dehydrogenase. Ca-suspension caused haemolysis of about 50% of that caused by Ca-gel.
The development of the human cochlear nucleus was studied in serial sections of the brain of 12 fetuses at 12-40 weeks of gestation, an infant at 2 months of age and an adult of 63 years using an electronic planimeter with a computer. Morphometric analysis of the development of the ventral cochlear nucleus showed that its development accelerates after 18 weeks of gestation in terms of columnar volume, columnar length, neuronal number and neuronal size.
Cerebellar globoid mineralization in two rats was examined by light and electron microscopy, and by X-ray microanalysis. The mineralization was round to oval in shape; it varied in size and was positive for the periodic acid-Schiff and von Kossa reactions. Ultrastructurally, a concentric lamellar structure was prominent in moderately electron-dense depositions. Elemental analysis revealed the presence of large amounts of calcium and phosphorus, and small amounts of zinc, potassium and aluminum.
The Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect Ascaris suum antibodies in swine sera with adult body fluid (ABF) as an antigen. The assay was standardized with respect to the antigen concentration and serum and conjugate dilutions. Cross reaction was found between the antigen and the sera from the swine infected with Metastrongylus apri. The ELISA was more sensitive than the complement fixation test. Five protein peaks were obtained from ABF by gel filtration on Sephacryle S-300. Fraction 1 was the most specific. A 105 kDa protein in the fraction reacted with swine IgG in the serum of infected animals in Western blot analysis.
Nine Campylobacter-like strains were isolated from human gingival crevices and characterized. These strains were gram-negative, straight rods that were motile by means of multiple unipolar flagella. They were asaccharolytic and preferred an anaerobic atmosphere rather than a microaerophilic atmosphere for growth, and their growth was stimulated by formate and fumarate. These strains were biochemically similar to Campylobacter curvus and Campylobacter rectus, but were clearly distinguishable from these organisms by the number of flagella (two to five flagella at one end of the cell), by being catalase positive, by their whole-cell protein profiles, by their Western blot (immunoblot) patterns, and on the basis of DNA-DNA homology data. They could also be differentiated from the other species of the genus Campylobacter. The nine Campylobacter-like strains were compared with two strains (FDC 286 and VPI 10279) representing a previously described but unnamed Wolinella sp. The nine isolates and strains FDC 286 and VPI 10279 were found to be members of a single species. The 16S rRNA sequences of two strains of the newly identified species were compared with the rRNA sequences of 21 reference Campylobacter, Wolinella, and Helicobacter species in order to generate a phylogenetic tree. We propose the name Campylobacter showae for the newly identified strains; strain SU A4 (= ATCC 51146) is the type strain of this new species.
It has been reported that mice treated chronically with oestrogen (oestradiol propionate) increase their bladder urine volume. Since inbred DDD mice, particularly male DDD mice, lack a protective mechanism against vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), chronic oestrogen treatment may increase the pressure in the renal pelvis and lead to severe hydronephrosis. The present studies were carried out to confirm this hypothesis. Results of a least-squares analysis of variance showed that the severity of hydronephrosis was more severe after treatment with high doses of oestrogen (1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg/week) in entire and castrated male DDD mice. Hydroureter was also observed in the same groups. Intra-vesicular pressure was 7 to 12 cmH2O higher in mice of these groups than in control DDD mice. High doses of oestrogen had no effect on the kidneys of C57BL/6 mice which showed normal protection against VUR, though it increased bladder urine volume. These findings support the hypothesis that hydronephrosis in DDD mice is caused by an incomplete protective mechanism against VUR.
A 3-year-old Japanese domestic cat with a diagnosis of lymphocytic leukemia showed severe generalized seizures in the course of chemotherapy after leukemic condition was improved clinically. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain were carried out. Both contrast procedures disclosed enhancements at the falx cerebri and the margin of cerebral cortex. Among these procedures contrast MR imaging demonstrated the lesion most clearly. Cytological examination of cerebrospinal fluid obtained by spinal puncture showed the infiltration of malignant cells and the diagnosis of meningeal syndrome associated with lymphocytic leukemia was defined. Intrathecal administration of cytosine arabinoside partially improved the neurologic dysfunction. Autopsy and histopathological examination confirmed the infiltration of leukemic cells in the areas of meningeal lesion demonstrated with contrast CT and MR imaging. Thus these imaging techniques, especially contrast MR imaging, are useful tools for rapid and precise diagnosis of meningeal syndrome.
A 7-year-old male Yorkshire terrier was examined for multiple plaques and nodules on the skin. The clinical, cytological and histopathological features indicated a malignant histiocytosis. Cytoreductive chemotherapy produced moderate clinical improvement, but died at day 90 after the first admission. Pathological examination revealed the neoplastic histiocytes in the skin as well as in the myocardium and skeletal muscles.
Eighty rabbits receiving the square resection (4 x 4 mm) of both patellar ligaments in full thickness at their center were divided into 4 groups, and each group (20 rabbits) were electromagnetically stimulated with different magnetic intensities, 0 (control group), 2, 10, or 50 gauss (G), for 6 hr daily. Pulse frequency and pulse width were 10 Hz and 25 microseconds, respectively. Five animals of each group were sacrificed weekly from 1st to 4th week after operation and the defect tissue was collected for biochemical and ultrastructural evaluations. Before sacrificing, the blood flow of the central portion of patellar defects were measured. Significant increases in blood flow at the defect were observed in 50 G group compared to those of other groups from 2 to 4 weeks after operation. The collagen content in PEMFs groups showed a significant increase compared to that of control group. Furthermore, those increases were higher according to the increase in magnetic intensity. Electronmicroscopically, massive developmental rough endoplasmic reticulum was seen in the fibroblasts at 2 weeks after operation in 50 G group compared to other groups, which suggests the more active collagen production in this group. These results suggest that PEMFs enhanced the blood flow and increased the fibroblasts at the defect. At the same time, PEMFs directly stimulated the collagen production from the fibroblasts, thus accelerate the healing process of the ligament.
We studied the effects of chemicals which induce liver enlargement and can induce hepatic protein synthesis on experimental Tyzzer's disease in rats. Plasma transaminase values were evaluated as an indicator of the severity of the disease. Chemicals used were phenobarbital sodium and 3-methylcholanthrene as hepatic enzyme inducers, and lead nitrate and ethylene dibromide as mitogens of hepatocytes. In rats non infected with Tyzzer's organism, liver weight in those treated with these chemicals was higher than that in rats without chemical treatment. Tyzzer's disease-infected rats treated with these chemicals showed higher plasma transaminase values and more severe histopathologic liver lesions than infected rats without chemical treatment. The results indicated that the growth of Tyzzer's organisms in hepatocytes was accelerated in the course of hepatocytic metabolic changes during liver enlargement, and that protein synthesized in the hepatocyte may play an important role in the nutritive requirements of the organism.
The relationship of senile plaques to neuronal cells, neurites, glial cells, or capillaries was examined using double labeling-immunostaining methods on the Bouin's solution-fixed serial brain sections from dogs. Compact deposits of beta protein (amyloid plaques) in the cerebral cortex always contained microvessels labeled by anti-collagen type IV antibody and some of them might be formed as the result of fusion of several perivascular beta amyloid deposits. In the periphery of those plaques swollen neurites recognized with anti-neurofilament antibody were sometimes present, but the relation between such plaques and neuronal cells or glial cells were unclear. Diffuse deposition of beta protein (diffuse plaques) was frequently developed beside neuronal cells, while most plaques did not contain glial cells. Some of those plaques were closely contact with microvessels, but some had no relation. Intact or irregularly arranged neurites were present in diffuse plaques. Such irregularity of the neurites were obvious in the plaques in the hippocampus as compared with those in the cerebral cortex. These results indicate the possibility that canine amyloid plaques would be formed as the result of amyloid degeneration of cortical capillaries, and diffuse parenchymal deposition of beta protein would originate from neuronal or neuritic processes.
Twenty-seven cases of endometriosis were found in 94 female cynomolgus monkeys retired from breeding. The ages of the affected monkeys (28.7% of all the monkeys) ranged from 11 years to 23 years of age with an average of 15.3 years. There was no significant difference in the incidence of endometriosis between groups which had or had not undergone a cesarean section. Time after the last pregnancy was significantly longer in the affected monkeys than in the non-affected ones. These cases were histopathologically classified into four types: 1) pelvic endometriosis with formation of endometrial cysts (51.8% of the affected monkeys), 2) pelvic endometriosis invading other organs without formation of endometrial cysts (3.7%), 3) uterine adenomyosis (22.2%), 4) combined pelvic endometriosis and uterine adenomyosis (22.2%).
An 11-month-old castrated male Japanese domestic cat was euthanized because of neurological symptoms such as shivering and difficulty of walking. Histopathological examination showed glial proliferation and marked deposition of ceroid-lipofuscin in the neuronal and glial cells of the brain. Ceroid-lipofuscin was deposited also in reticuloendothelial cells of the liver, spleen and some lymph nodes.
SMXA recombinant inbred (RI) strains were derived from the F2 generation of a cross between two progenitor inbred strains, A/J and SM/J, which differ considerably with respect to many characters. In order to determine the morphometric profiles of the mandible of SMXA RI strains and to identify these strains, principal component and discriminant analyses (mandible analysis) were carried out using 11 mandible measurements. Principal component analysis revealed that the mandibles of each strain have their own characteristic size and shape. The RI strains, however, were roughly divided into 15 groups based on the morphometric profile of their mandibles. Discriminant analysis showed the probability of erroneous discrimination to be 6.49% (20/308) for the males and 8.06% (27/335) for the females. In both sexes, most of the erroneous discrimination (13 in the male, 17 in the female) occurred between RI strains having comparatively similar morphometric profiles. This suggested that all of the SMXA RI strains examined could be regarded as genetically homogeneous within each strain.
Physical growth was studied longitudinally in laboratory-bred cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) aged between zero and 6.0 years (females), and between zero and 6.5 years (males). A series of 17 variables representing physical elements were measured in 12 females and 10 males. Rates of increase in morphological total face length and morphological upper face length were somewhat larger than rates of increase in head length and head breadth. Trunk traits showed relatively high growth rates compared to those of leg and arm traits. Growth functions (Gompertz, logistic and quadratic equations) were applied to the growth data. The quadratic equation had the closest fit to the morphometrical growth data in this primate species.
Strain identification and the assessment of genetic relationships among inbred strains of mice were examined by DNA fingerprinting using M13 phage DNA as a probe. We used 8 inbred strains (NC/Jah, DDD/Jah, DSD/Jah, RR/Jah, SS/Jah, C3H/HeJah, C57BL/6 Jah and C57BL/6CrSlc) and coisogenic (NC-brp) as well as congenic (C57BL/6-bg) strains. DNA fingerprints using M13 phage DNA as a probe revealed identical patterns within strains. Bands due to new mutations in minisatellite regions within each strain were not observed. The banding patterns were strain-specific. Thus, DNA fingerprinting seemed to be suitable for genetic monitoring of mice. A dendrogram constructed with difference values calculated from DNA fingerprint patterns showed that relationships among strains reflected the history of these strains, so DNA fingerprinting could also be effectively used to assess the relationships between inbred strains of mice.