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Biomedical subjects

N Ito

Publications and source records attributed to N Ito.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Lack of promoting effect of proline on bile duct cancer development in dimethylnitrosamine-initiated hamster livers.

Bile duct hyperplasia caused by proline is believed to represent a chemical effect of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, and the resultant cell division might be expected to play a role as a tumor promoter. To investigate the potential promoting effect of proline on bile duct cancer development, Syrian hamsters were therefore divided into 8 treatment groups: dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) + proline intraperitoneally (i.p.); DMN + proline s.c.; DMN + saline i.p.; DMN + saline s.c.; proline i.p.; proline s.c.; saline i.p.; and saline s.c. DMN was injected i.p. at 20 mg/kg to the animals 2 weeks prior to commencement of proline treatment, whereby 1 ml of a 2 M solution was given by i.p. or s.c. injection 3 times a week for 20 weeks. At the end of week 42, assessment of preneoplastic lesion development did not reveal any significant modulating influence of proline on DMN-initiated lesion development nor did it itself cause persistent bile duct hyperplasia.

Animals↗

Remodelling of microvessels by coronary hypertension or cardiac hypertrophy in rats.

We attempted to clarify the individual effects of coronary hypertension and ventricular pressure-overload on the remodelling of coronary arterial microvessels. We examined structural vascular changes in the right ventricular free walls using two experimental rat models: 12-week ascending aortic banding, i.e. a model of coronary hypertension without ventricular pressure-overload and 12-week pulmonary artery banding, i.e. a model of ventricular pressure-overload without coronary hypertension. In vivo peak systolic left ventricular pressure and left ventricular weight to body weight ratio in the aortic banding model increased to 198 +/- 10 mmHg and by 39% above the controls, respectively. In vivo peak right ventricular pressure and right ventricular weight to body weight ratio in the pulmonary artery banding model increased to 87 +/- 7 mmHg and by 69% above the controls, respectively. The right coronary reserve measured by the Doppler method decreased in both experimental models. Aortic banding increased the medial area and perivascular collagen to lumen area ratios in the microvessels > 30 microns in lumen diameter but not in those < 30 microns. Pulmonary artery banding increased the perivascular collagen to lumen area ratio in the microvessels < 60 microns, but not in those > 60 microns. Medial thickening was not observed over the whole range of lumen diameter. These results suggest that the mechanisms responsible for the remodelling of coronary microvessels differ between non-hypertrophied hearts with coronary hypertension and hypertrophied hearts without coronary hypertension.

Animals↗

Localization of blood-group-related linear poly-N-acetyllactosamine structure in different human tissues by Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II staining following endo-beta-galactosidase digestion.

Endo-beta-galactosidase from Escherichia freundii cleaves polylactosaminyl structures as follows: R-GlcNAc beta I-3Gal beta I-4GlcNac beta I-R' + H2O-->R-GlcNAc beta I-3Gal + GlcNAc beta I-R'. By staining with Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II following the enzyme digestion, the distribution of R-GlcNAc beta I-3Gal beta I-4GlcNAc can be demonstrated in tissue sections. This carbohydrate chain is one of the backbone structures carrying the blood-group-related antigens and, thus, localization of this structure may provide detailed information about the distribution of variants with different backbone structures. Various formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained by Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-II with or without prior enzyme digestion and the reactivity of the agglutinin imparted by enzyme digestion was studied in the following tissues and cells: pancreatic acinar cells, gastric surface mucosae, duct cells and mucous cells of salivary glands and tracheal glands, surface epithelium of trachea, goblet cells of large intestine, columnar epithelium of uterine cervical glands, distal and collecting tubules of kidney, certain cells of anterior lobe and colloid of middle lobe of pituitary glands, epithelial reticular cells and Hassall's corpuscles of thymus and Kupffer cells of liver. In gastric surface mucosae, the reactivity of the agglutinin appeared in non-secretor individuals but not in the secretor individuals, and in mucous cells of salivary and tracheal glands the reactivity appeared in Le(a- b-) non-secretor individuals but not in Le(a + b-) non-secretor or secretor individuals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Development of a transcutaneous blood-constituent monitoring method using a suction effusion fluid collection technique and an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor glucose sensor.

The paper describes a method for the transcutaneous monitoring of blood constituents. It combines the use of a suction effusion fluid (SEF) collecting technique with a silicon on sapphire/ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (SOS/ISFET) biosensor. SEF is directly collected by a weak evacuation through skin from which the stratum corneum has been removed. An SEF collecting cell with a stainless-steel mesh at the bottom is kept in a weak vacuum condition, and SEF is sucked up through the mesh and deposited in a reservoir above. An ISFET glucose sensor is able to detect glucose concentrations in very small SEF samples through the use of two small ISFETs and an immobilised enzyme membrane. The reliability of transcutaneously obtained SEF was first confirmed in an experiment using rabbits. A clinical analyser was used to determine levels of glucose, urea nitrogen and creatinine in SEF obtained transcutaneously; these results are compared with results obtained by the same analyser directly from sera. The ISFET glucose sensor was successfully tested on human subjects for the monitoring of blood glucose levels. During these tests, glucose level changes in the SEF followed actual blood glucose level changes with a slight time delay. Results suggest the feasibility of non-invasive, transcutaneous monitoring of low molecular weight substances in the blood without the use of ordinary blood sampling.

Animals↗

Effect of ethanol on paraquat toxicity in F344 rats.

The potential modifying effects of ethanol and paraquat on lesion development in livers and lungs of male F344 rats were studied. Animals were divided into diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-initiated and non-initiated groups, subgroups of each being exposed to 10 ml 20% ethanol/kg body weight, 2.5 or 10 mg paraquat/kg body weight or a combination of 10 ml 20% ethanol/kg body weight and 2.5 or 10 mg paraquat/kg body weight, given by intragastric intubation three times a week. Controls received 10 ml saline/kg body weight. All animals were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy at the end of wk 3 and killed at the end of wk 8. All five rats receiving 10 mg paraquat/kg body weight without DEN-pretreatment died before termination of the experiment, but the additional ethanol treatment saved animals: only one of five rats died. Rats administered 2.5 or 10 mg paraquat/kg body weight demonstrated lung toxicity, as evidenced by fibrosis and hyperplasia, but not when simultaneously treated with ethanol in DEN-pretreated groups. In the liver, however, evaluation of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci did not reveal any influence of the treatments on lesion development in DEN-initiated animals. It is concluded that ethanol decreases paraquat toxicity, and that neither agent, alone or in combination, exerts any hepatocarcinogenic modification potential.

Animals↗

Thirteen-week oral toxicity study of magnesium chloride in B6C3F1 mice.

Magnesium chloride (MgCl2.6H2O) was administered at dietary levels of 0 (control), 0.3, 0.6, 1.25, 2.5 or 5% to groups of 10 male and 10 female B6C3F1 mice for 13 weeks. In both sexes of the 5% treatment group a decrease in body weight was observed. While clinical signs and hematological or blood biochemistry parameters showed no treatment-related effects, histopathologically, vacuolation of kidney tubular cells was apparent in males of the 2.5 and 5% concentration groups. Thus, the study demonstrated that diet containing over 2.5% MgCl2.6H2O exerts toxic effects in B6C3F1 mice. We therefore conclude that a 2.5% level of MgCl2.6H2O in the diet is the minimal toxic dose.

Animals↗

Synergistic enhancement of small and large intestinal carcinogenesis by combined treatment of rats with five heterocyclic amines in a medium-term multi-organ bioassay.

The carcinogenic potential of five heterocyclic amines in combination was analyzed using a medium-term multi-organ bioassay. Male F344 rats were initially treated with five known carcinogens (diethylnitrosamine, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and 2,2'-dihydroxy-di-n-propylnitrosamine) over a 4 week period to induce preneoplastic changes in a variety of organs (wide spectrum initiation) and then given the five heterocyclic amines, all having the intestines as a target of their carcinogenicity, individually or in combination in the diet for a further 24 weeks. In the small and large intestines, simultaneous administration of five heterocyclic amines at doses 1/5 or 1/25 of those used in reported carcinogenicity studies resulted in higher incidences and multiplicities of adenocarcinomas than expected from the five individual effects, although the differences were not statistically significant. A synergistic effect based on the additive model was most evident (P < 0.141) with multiplicity data for carcinoma in the small intestine at the 1/25 dose. A similar trend was observed for Zymbal gland (P < 0.077), but not other carcinoma induction. Thus the results suggested that synergism depends on the carcinogenic organotropism of individual agents as well as the doses applied in combination.

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine↗

DNA methylation adduct formation and H-ras gene mutations in progression of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine-induced bladder tumors caused by a single exposure to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea.

After receiving 500 p.p.m. N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) in their drinking water for an initial 10 weeks, rats were given a single i.p. injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) at a dose of 50 mg/kg body wt at week 20 (at a stage when bladder tumor development had already occurred), and then maintained until they were killed at week 40. Three and six hours after the MNU injection, the DNA methylation adducts, O6-methyldeoxyguanine (O6-medG) and 7-methyldeoxyguanine (7-medG), were immunohistochemically revealed to be markedly more frequent in urothelial preneoplasias or neoplasias than in normal cells. These adducts were rapidly repaired, and although 7-dmeG in tumor cells still persisted after 72 h, they appeared essentially to have returned to normal levels. At the termination, conversion of transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) to squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the urinary bladder was significantly increased in the BBN+MNU group. The extent of invasion was also significantly greater with the additional MNU treatment. Expression of p21 protein, detected by immunohistochemistry, was comparable between the groups. Mutations in the H-ras gene were observed in one case each of the BBN and BBN+MNU groups, and both cases showed a G:C to A:T transition at codon 12. The present study thus suggested that while an additional single treatment with MNU of rats bearing BBN-induced bladder neoplasias is associated with significant, possibly mutation-dependent tumor progression, H-ras mutations are not necessary events.

Administration, Oral↗

Synergistic enhancement of hepatic foci development by combined treatment of rats with 10 heterocyclic amines at low doses.

Potential synergism between 10 carcinogenic heterocyclic amines [3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1), 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2), 2-amino-6 methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1), 2-amino-dipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-2), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,4-dimethyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-amino-3,8-dimethyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (MeA alpha C), 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (A alpha C) and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)] in rat liver carcinogenesis was examined. Male F344 rats were initially given diethylnitrosamine (200 mg/kg, i.p.) and beginning 2 weeks later received heterocyclic amines individually at doses 1/10 of that proven to be carcinogenic or in combination at 1/10 or 1/100 doses for 6 weeks. All animals were subjected to partial hepatectomy at week 3 and killed at week 8. The induction of immunohistochemically demonstrable placental glutathione S-transferase positive foci was significantly increased in rats given all 10 chemicals in combination at the 1/10 dose level while values were almost the same as in controls with the 1/100 dose mixture and the individual chemicals, except for Glu-P-1 which significantly increased foci development and Glu-P-2 and A alpha c which significantly decreased levels of foci at the 1/10 dose level. Thus apparent synergism was observed with the 1/10 dose level combination. When the data are considered together with our previous results obtained with five heterocyclic amines using 1/1, 1/5 and 1/25 dose levels, combined effects were found to be related to the number of chemicals included and the dose levels of each, with a possible isoadditive influence being common. The findings are of particular significance since heterocyclic amines and other carcinogenic agents might be simultaneously generated during cooking.

Amines↗

Carcinogenicity of a mutagenic compound from food, 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (MeA alpha C), in male F344 rats.

Carcinogenicity of 2-amino-3-methyl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]-indole (MeA alpha C) was investigated at dietary levels of 0 (control), 0.01, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.08% using male F344/DuCrj rats. The administration of MeA alpha C was continued for 100 experimental weeks for the control, 0.01 and 0.02% groups, but halted after 52 and 26 experimental weeks for the 0.04 and 0.08% groups respectively due to severe toxicity. Well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas, lacking in control animals, were induced in 5/20 rats (25%) and 6/20 rats (30%) of the 0.01% and 0.02% groups respectively. Pancreatic acinar cell adenomas were also significantly increased in the 0.01% (30%) and 0.02% (40%) groups, in association with high incidences of hyperplastic lesions of acinar cells. Fibromas in the subcutis developed at a high incidence (70%) in the 0.02% group. MeA alpha C was also suggested to elicit fibrosarcomas in the salivary gland and transitional cell carcinomas in the urinary bladder. Among the non-neoplastic lesions, severe atrophy of the salivary glands and pancreas and severe renal toxicity were noteworthy. In conclusion, MeA alpha C is a multi-targeting carcinogen in rats, similar in this respect to other heterocyclic amines.

Alanine Transaminase↗

A spore-lytic enzyme released from Bacillus cereus spores during germination.

The exudate of fully germinated spores of Bacillus cereus IFO 13597 in 0.25 M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, was found to contain a spore-lytic enzyme. This enzyme was found to cause loss of absorbance in coat-stripped spore suspensions and phase-darkening of the spores but had minimal activity on isolated peptidoglycan substrates. The enzyme was purified in an active form and identified as a 24 kDa protein which is either an amidase or a peptidase. The amino-terminal 19 residues had the following sequence: FSNQVIQRGASGEKVIELQ. The spore-lytic enzyme retained its activity in a medium of a relatively high ionic strength containing a non-ionic surfactant such as nonaethyleneglycol n-dodecyl ether. This activity was optimum at a salt concentration of about 30 mM in assay buffer at neutral pH. In contrast to the enzyme in a spore-bound form, the enzyme in solution was shown to be heat-sensitive and was readily inactivated by thiol reagents.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Absence of p53 mutations in rat colon tumors induced by 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, or 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo]4,5-b]pyridine.

Colon tumors were induced in F344 rats by three heterocyclic amines (HCAs), 2-amino-6-methyl-dipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-1), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) or 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), and examined for p53 mutations. Seven carcinomas induced by Glu-P-1, and nine carcinomas and two adenomas induced by IQ were examined by cDNA-polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis from codon 103 to 391 of p53, which encompasses the conserved regions II to IV. Nine carcinomas induced by PhIP were examined by genomic PCR-SSCP analysis of exons 5 to 7 (from codon 124 to 304), which encompasses the 3' half of the conserved region II and all the conserved regions III-V. No band shifts were found in any of these tumors under at least two conditions of SSCP analysis. Our previous study had shown a Ki-ras mutation in only one Glu-P-1-induced adenocarcinoma among the same 27 colon tumors, and no other mutation of ras family genes had been found. HCA-induced rat colon tumors appear to represent a group of human colon tumors in which neither Ki-ras nor p53 is involved.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Two-headed, two-necked conjoined twin calf with Arnold-Chiari malformation in a Japanese shorthorn calf.

A dicephalic Arnold-Chiari malformation (ACM) case revealed asymmetrical cranial bone abnormalities: the right cranium had the typical findings associated with bovine monocephalic ACM cases, whereas the left cranium had malformation that has not yet been described in previous bovine ACM cases. The only common finding in each cranium was a relative smallness of the cranium as the encasement of the brain.

Abnormalities, Severe Teratoid↗

The importance of cellular adhesion for mesangial cell proliferation in serum sickness nephritis of the rat: a co-culture study of glomerular macrophages and mesangial cells.

The role of cell-cell contact on activating mesangial cell proliferation by nephritic macrophage was investigated. Nephritic glomerular macrophages were obtained from serum sickness nephritis (SSN) rat kidneys at 14 days after the cessation of sensitization, when proliferating cells were most increased in the glomeruli in the course of the SSN. The effect of the nephritic macrophages on mesangial cell proliferation was greater than that of control by co-culture allowing cellular contact. However, nephritic macrophages did not enhance mesangial cell proliferation by co-culture without direct contact even though the nephritic macrophages were activated with lipopolysaccharides. Conditioned medium from co-culture of the nephritic macrophages and mesangial cells did not enhance mesangial cell proliferation. Anti-intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM)-1 antibody inhibited mesangial cell proliferation by direct co-culture dose-dependently. From these results, cellular contact was important for stimulation of mesangial cell proliferation by macrophages and ICAM-1 participated in these interactions.

Animals↗

Effect of fluoride on root resorption caused by mechanical injuries of the periodontal soft tissues in rats.

The present study was carried out to investigate histologically and histometrically the effect of fluoride on root resorption induced by mechanical injuries of the periodontal soft tissues in rats. Resorption lacuna in the root surface of the molar in animals given both mechanical injuries and fluoride administration was significantly smaller in length and area than that in animals given only mechanical injuries. Moreover, resorption lacuna in the former animals contained fewer odontoclasts than that in the latter. The results of the present study might suggest that the administration of fluoride suppressed root resorption induced by mechanical injuries of the periodontal soft tissues.

Animals↗

Expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 in human glioma and meningioma tissues.

We examined the expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1), namely FLG, in tissues of 18 human gliomas, 10 human meningiomas, 3 human metastatic brain tumors, and 2 normal human brains by means of immunohistochemistry. All tissues were positively stained for FGFR-1. Primary brain tumors were more abundantly immunoreactive than normal brain tissues (Mann-Whitney U test, P < 0.05). There was significant correlation between the expression level of basic fibroblast growth factor (basic FGF) and that of FGFR-1 in tissues of human glioma (Spearman's test, P < 0.05). The expression level of FGFR-1 of tumor cells increased in correlation with that of endothelial cells in glioma tissues (Spearman's test, P < 0.001). We previously reported that basic FGF is produced in more than 90% of human glioma and meningioma tissues. Together with these data, it is suggested that basic FGF is involved in autonomous cell growth and tumorigenesis of gliomas and meningiomas as an autocrine growth factor in vivo.

Adenocarcinoma↗

DNA adducts in target and nontarget tissues of 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl in rats.

3,2'-Dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB) is a potent carcinogenic aromatic amine which demonstrates multiorgan tropism in rats. Using polyclonal antibodies against DMAB-DNA adducts, an immunohistochemical procedure as well as an ELISA were applied to investigate the relationship between DMAB-DNA adduct formation and tumorigenicity. Dose-related nuclear staining was observed 24 hr after application of the carcinogen but specificity in terms of sites of tumor development was lacking. No observable decrease in staining intensity was evident in most organs by 168 hr after administration of DMAB. Specific DNA lesions which could be responsible for carcinogenesis were not detected by the 32P-postlabeling method. The tumorigenic response of the ventral prostate in five strains of rats was roughly paralleled by DMAB-DNA adduct levels generated in the tissue. Strong enhancement of bladder tumor development by combined administration of the antioxidants, butylated hydroxyanisole, or butylated hydroxytoluene, with DMAB, was well correlated with an increase in DNA adducts. Our findings so far suggest that DNA adduct formation itself does not determine the carcinogenic organotropism of DMAB. Other factors (including cell proliferation and promotion by exogenous agents) may play important additional roles. For individual target organs or tissues, however, there seems to be a correlation between adduct levels and carcinogenic potential.

Aminobiphenyl Compounds↗

Isolation of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus from Heko-Heko disease of pigs.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus was isolated at high frequency from the sera and lungs of pigs affected with Heko-Heko disease. In addition, a considerable amount of Mycoplasma hyorhinis (Mhr) was also isolated from the lungs. Inoculation of gnotobiote pigs with the first isolate of PRRS virus resulted in the reproduction of proliferative and interstitial pneumonia. The virus was recovered from the inoculated pigs for long periods. Superinfection with PRRS virus and Mhr appeared to produce more serious pneumonia than inoculation with PRRS virus alone. In this study, the presence of PRRS virus was confirmed in Japan, and the PRRS virus was considered as being the most important pathogen for Heko-Heko disease.

Animals↗