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T Ono

Publications and source records attributed to T Ono.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources

Motivation-related neuronal activity in the object discrimination task in monkey septal nuclei.

Septal nuclei are suggested to work as an interface between the hippocampal formation, involved in higher cognitive functions, and the hypothalamus, involved in motivational behaviors such as feeding, drinking, and intracranial self-stimulation. In the present study, to elucidate a role of the septal nuclei in motivational behaviors, single neuron activity was recorded from water- and food-deprived monkeys during discrimination of objects associated with juice, and during ingestion of juice. Of 349 neurons recorded from two monkeys, 67 responded in the ingestion phase of the object discrimination task. Of these 67 neurons, 31 were further tested with the noncontingent liquid (juice or water) test in which liquid was provided until the animals became satiated. These 31 septal neurons were classified into two groups: type I neurons (n = 10) responded to juice ingestion with inhibition, and type II neurons (n = 21) responded with excitation. The spontaneous firing rates of the type I neurons were higher in the deprived condition and decreased as the animal became satiated by intake of liquid. Nine type II neurons responded to the sight of a white object associated with juice as well as ingestion of juice. The response magnitudes of the type II neurons to both the sight of the white object and ingestion of juice also decreased by satiation. However, spontaneous firing rates of the type II neurons did not change. These activity changes of both type I and II neurons were well correlated with changes in motivational state of the monkey estimated by the behavioral test. The results suggest that the activity of type I neurons reflects thirst or hunger drive levels, and that responses of type II neurons are related to reward perception. These type I and II neurons were located mainly in the anterior part of the septal nuclei. Results of the present study suggest, along with previous lesion and anatomical studies, that the septal nuclei exert a powerful influence on the motivational/drive systems through the projection to the hypothalamus.

Animals↗

Effect of combination treatment of 15 cGy total body irradiation and OK-432 on spontaneous lung metastasis and mitogenic response of splenocytes in mice.

We investigated whether the combination treatment of 15 cGy total body irradiation (TBI) and a streptococcal preparation, OK-432, synergistically suppresses spontaneous lung metastasis and augments phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) responses of splenocytes in WHT/Ht mice. TBI with 15 cGy was carried out 20 days after subcutaneous injection of squamous cell carcinoma cells into a hind leg. Lung colony number was counted 40 days after tumor injection. For PHA and Con A responses, mice were killed 4 hr after 15 cGy TBI. The combination treatment of 15 cGy TBI and OK-432 was most effective when OK-432 was administered 2 days before 15 cGy TBI. The combination treatment decreased the lung colony number to 29.9% of the control number. OK-432 slightly increased the PHA and Con A responses, and 15 cGy TBI did not increase them. However, when these two were combined, the PHA and Con A responses were significantly increased to 393% and 278% of the control levels, respectively. It was suggested that TBI and OK-432 acted synergistically in suppressing the lung metastasis and mitogenic response of splenocytes.

Animals↗

Neuronal responses at the sight of objects in monkey basal forebrain subregions during operant visual tasks.

The basal forebrain appears to be important in cognitive function. It has been suggested that this region is composed of several cholinergic cell groups, mainly the medial septum, the diagonal band of Broca, and the nucleus basalis of Meynert. To elucidate the functional differences between these subregions, we have recorded single-unit activity from the periventricular areas involving the medial septum, the diagonal band of Broca (ms/dbB), and the substantia innominata (SI), including the nucleus basalis of Meynert, of an object-discriminating monkey. Of 226 ms/dbB and 439 SI neurons analyzed, 36 (15.9%) and 115 (26.2%), respectively, responded to the sight of some complex object. Thirteen (5.8%) ms/dbB and 80 (18.2%) SI neurons responded to virtually all objects and the ratio of these neurons in the SI was higher than that in the ms/dbB. The other 23 (10.2%) ms/dbB and 35 (8.0%) SI neurons responded preferentially to one or two of three categories (rewarding, aversive, or meaningless) of familiar or to unfamiliar objects, and response selectivity to one category of the ms/dbB neurons (15; 6.6%) was higher than that to the SI neurons (14; 3.2%). The results suggest that the SI, including the nucleus basalis of Meynert, may encode visual information about objects more broadly and participate more fully in visual attention than the ms/dbB region, which may be more closely related to learning.

Animals↗

DNA typing of HLA in the patients with moyamoya disease.

Moyamoya disease is a clinical entity demonstrating a chronic occlusion of the cerebrovascular system. Although some possible etiological factors have been postulated, the etiology of this disease is still unknown. So far, some investigations have suggested the association between moyamoya disease and HLA in the serological typing. However, DNA typing of HLA have not been performed yet. Thus, we performed DNA-typing of HLA in the unrelated Japanese patients with definite moyamoya disease, using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR-SSOP) technique. In the total patients, DQB1*0502 had a positive association with the disease. On the other hand, DRB1*0405 and DQB1*0401 showed a negative association. In comparing the early-onset and late-onset groups, two groups did not share the same disease associated alleles at all. Thus, the etiology of moyamoya disease seem to have a genetic background. Furthermore, different genetic factors might also be involved in the difference between the early-onset and late-onset groups.

Adult↗

Sequential change of BMIPP uptake with age in spontaneously hypertensive rat model.

UNLABELLED: Changes in myocardial perfusion and metabolism are often associated with myocardial hypertrophy, but there are few reports describing the serial assessment of fatty acid metabolism in hypertrophic myocardium. The aim of this study is to assess fatty acid metabolism serially in hypertrophic myocardium in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with 125I-BMIPP, a branched fatty acid analog. METHODS: SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) as the control were divided into 4 groups (12, 15, 18 and 51 weeks after birth). The heart was extracted 10 minutes after intravenous injection of 125I-BMIPP and 201Tl at the same time. The accumulation of each radiotracer in the myocardium was counted with a well gamma counter. In addition, 125I-BMIPP uptake was corrected by 201Tl uptake (B/T). RESULTS: The heart weight/body weight ratio was significantly higher in SHR than that in WKY (p < 0.001). In SHR, this ratio increased up to 18 weeks (12 weeks; 0.266 +/- 0.005, 18 weeks; 0.281 +/- 0.006: mean +/- SE, p < 0.05). The 125I-BMIPP uptake tended to be significantly reduced in SHR (12 weeks; 2.373 +/- 0.212, 18 weeks; 1.380 +/- 0.047; mean +/- SE, p < 0.05). Such a difference in BMIPP uptake was more evident when BMIPP uptake was corrected by Tl uptake (B/T), but no regional difference or heterogeneity of BMIPP distribution was observed in the hypertrophic myocardium in SHR. CONCLUSION: A change in fatty acid metabolism with age was observed in association with myocardial hypetrophy in this hypertensive rat model, which was well demonstrated with 125I-BMIPP and 201Tl.

Aging↗

Hair cycle-dependent expression of a nonspecific cross reacting antigen (NCA)-50/90-like molecule on follicular keratinocytes.

We found a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-related antigen to be strongly expressed on a subset of follicular keratinocytes in normal human skin. The antigen was characterized immunohistochemically using a panel of antibodies against human CEA and CEA-related molecules. The expression of the antigen was studied in different phases of the hair cycle as well as in different hair types. Immunohistochemically, the antigen resembled the nonspecific crossreacting antigen (NCA) NCA-50/90 rather than true CEA. Its expression was limited to the innermost cells of the lowest segment of hair follicles in the catagen/telogen phases, being detected only where the hair shaft was attached to the epithelial hair sac in these phases. The same results were obtained for all hair types, i.e. terminal, vellus and intermediate hair. Coexpression of the antigen with both involucrin and differentiation-associated cytokeratins was noted in the cells in additional studies attempting to identify the exact subpopulations of follicular keratinocytes expressing the antigen in comparison with the expression of other functional markers. However, involucrin and the cytokeratins were also expressed in the upper segments of anagen as well as catagen/telogen hair follicles. Our findings strongly suggest that an NCA-50/90-like molecule is expressed cyclically on the innermost cells in the lowest segment of the outer root sheath only in catagen/telogen hair follicles. The cyclical expression in this specific subset of follicular keratinocytes only, in which the epithelial hair sac is attached to the hair shaft, may be associated with the stability of the attachment through the adhesive or, conversely, the repulsive function of CEA-related molecules, both of which have recently been proposed.

Animals↗

Lithium deficiency reduces thymus weight and alters differential blood count in rats.

Effects of lithium (Li) deficiency and/or immobilization stress on the thymus weight and differential blood count of rats were studied. The thymus weight of the rats fed a low Li diet were lighter than those of rats fed a Li supplemented diet, whether the rats were exposed to stress or not. Of the rats not exposed to stress, those in the low Li diet group showed a significant decrease in the ratios of neutrophils and T helper lymphocytes. However, there was an increase in the total number of lymphocytes in the low Li dietary group. It was shown that Li deficiency altered the responses to stress in rats.

Animals↗

Effects of lentinan on abnormal ingestive behaviors induced by tumor necrosis factor.

Lentinan (LNT), a beta-glucan derived from Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sign., is known to work positively against cachexia in patients with malignant tumors. Because the cachectin/tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is supposed to be one of the factors that mediate cancer cachexia, we tested the effects of LNT on TNF-induced cachexia in rats. First, we analyzed in detail the cachectic actions of TNF (0.2 mg/kg/day, 5 days, IV) on food and water intake, body weight, and locomotor activity. The day after the first administration of TNF (acute phase), food and water intake, as well as body weight, of all rats decreased. However, over the next few days of treatment (chronic phase), the rats gradually developed a tolerance to the cachectic actions of TNF. Specifically, after the third administration, the rats treated with TNF had a higher amount of water intake than the control rats. This was mainly due to an increase in daytime water intake. We also analyzed the effects of LNT (0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg, twice/wk. IV) on TNF-induced cachexia, and compared the data with those from the rats treated with TNF alone. The higher dosage of LNT significantly suppressed TNF-induced daytime polydipsia and increased the amount of nighttime water intake, as well as the meal size of nighttime food intake. These results suggest that LNT partially normalizes TNF-induced cachexia in rats.

Animals↗

Effects of repeated cold stress on feeding, avoidance behavior, and pain-related nerve fiber activity.

The specific alternation of rhythm in temperature (SART), which is defined as rapid and frequent changes in the environmental temperature several times within the course of a day, produces abnormalities in behavior such as hyperphagia and in sensory sensation such as hyperalgesia. As the first step toward understanding the mechanisms of these abnormalities, we studied the effects or SART stress on ingestive behavior. During the light and dark phases, the animals' food intake increased, but their body weight gain decreased. In addition, diurnal variation in body weight also decreased. Next, we examined the behavioral and electrophysiological effects of SART stress on avoidance behavior by studying the rat's avoidance of a noxious stimulus in the form of a footshock. The rats demonstrated hyperreactivity; the delay in escaping the footshock was decreased by SART stress. The excitability of C-fiber activity, which responds to mechanical and thermal stimuli to a single saphenous nerve, was not changed by SART stress. This suggests that the hyperreactivity in footshock avoidance and the hyperalgesia in pain response induced by SART stress are based on excessive emotionality.

Animals↗

Generation of anaphylatoxins through proteolytic processing of C3 and C5 by house dust mite protease.

BACKGROUND: The group 3 allergen of Dermatophagoides species (Der p 3 and Der f 3) has been identified as a 30 kd trypsin-like protease of the house dust mite. We previously showed that the 30 kd protease from Dermatophagoides farinae (Df-protease) could activate the bradykinin-generating cascade and exacerbate inflammatory reactions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether Df-protease could enzymatically generate anaphylatoxins from complement components C3 and C5. METHODS: Df-protease was incubated with human serum C3 or C5 in a purified system, and the anaphylatoxin activity produced was assayed by measuring enhancement of vascular permeability and release of histamine from mast cells triggered by C3a and by assessing chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear cells caused by C5a. We also attempted to determine whether protease isolated from house dust could cause release of C5a from C5. RESULTS: Df-protease showed strong activation of C3 and C5, producing C3a and C5a by proteolytic cleavage of the complements. An appreciable amount of Df-protease was recovered in the house dust extract, and the house dust protease caused C5a release from C5. CONCLUSION: Df-protease activated the complement system to produce anaphylatoxins. Thus it is suggested that house dust mite proteases may contribute to the pathogenesis of allergic and inflammatory diseases caused by house dust allergens.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

Frameshifts, base substitutions and minute deletions constitute X-ray-induced mutations in the endogenous tonB gene of Escherichia coli K12.

We have analyzed the DNA sequence changes in a total of 127 X-ray-induced mutations in the endogenous tonB gene of Escherichia coli cells. Frameshifts accounted for 61 mutations among which 51 were a - 1 frameshift. The second most commonly found mutations were base substitutions (20 transversions and 8 transitions). Twelve of the 16 deletion mutations were the minute-size deletion of 3-25 base pairs, three were the medium-size deletion of 294-643 base pairs and the remaining one was the deletion of 8375 base pairs. Half of the frameshifts and deletions had a run of several identical bases or short direct repeats at the sites of mutation. The spectrum was not in good agreement with the spectrum of spontaneous endogenous tonB mutation nor with the spectra obtained from a mutated gene on a plasmid which had been irradiated in vitro and used to transfect cells for the assay. We discuss the possibility that an X-ray-induced DNA strand break produces local alteration of DNA structure which increases aberrant DNA replication leading to frameshift and minute-size deletion mutations.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Immunohistochemical distribution of cutaneous fatty acid-binding protein in human skin.

Cutaneous fatty acid-binding protein (C-FABP) has been newly discovered from rat skin. The immunohistochemical study revealed that C-FABP is strongly expressed in rat epidermis. Recently, a highly homologous protein to rat C-FABP was found in psoriatic epidermis, which is termed psoriasis-associated fatty acid-binding protein (PA-FABP). In the present study, we investigated the expression of PA-FABP in normal and pathological human skin using immunohistochemical techniques. In normal skin, PA-FABP was expressed in basal and prickle cell layers, and more strongly in the granular cell layer. The expression pattern of PA-FABP was similar to that of C-FABP in rat skin. In psoriatic skin, PA-FABP was expressed in suprabasal layers and more strongly in more differentiated keratinocytes. In squamous cell carcinoma, PA-FABP showed very strong expression in squamous nests. These results indicate that PA-FABP is a human homologue of C-FABP. Moreover, it is suggested that C-FABP has important roles in the transport and metabolism of fatty acids in epidermis and that altered lipid metabolism may affect the proliferation and/or differentiation of keratinocyte.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential expression of alpha 1(IV), alpha 2(IV), alpha 5(IV) and alpha 6(IV) collagen chains in the basement membrane of basal cell carcinoma.

Type IV collagen, the major component of basement membrane, consists primarily of alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains. Recently, other types of collagen IV chains, i.e. alpha 3(IV), alpha 4(IV), alpha 5(IV) and alpha 6(IV) chains, have been identified by protein chemistry and molecular cloning. We have examined the diversity of the assembly of alpha (IV) chains of the basement membrane surrounding tumour nests of basal cell carcinomas, in tissues from 11 patients, by immunohistochemical analysis using specific monoclonal antibodies to six alpha (IV) chain. The immunostaining profile of each chain differed with respect to the histological subtypes of basal cell carcinoma. In the morphea-like subtype, which was more invasive, alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains were discontinuously stained, and alpha 5(IV) and alpha 6(IV) chains were entirely absent. However, in the superficial subtype, which was non-aggressive, alpha 1(IV), alpha 2(IV), alpha 5(IV) and alpha 6(IV) chains were well stained compared with the other subtypes of basal cell carcinoma. In addition, in the solid subtype, which showed slow growth and ulceration, alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) chains were continuously stained, and alpha 5(IV) and alpha 6(IV) chains were discontinuous or absent. The assembly of alpha 5(IV) and alpha 6(IV) chains into the basement membrane was inhibited in the solid and morphea subtypes of BCC. This differential expression of type IV collagen chains seems to be associated with the invasive potential of basal cell carcinoma.

Adult↗

Human jaw-tongue reflex as revealed by intraoral surface recording.

The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a human jaw-tongue reflex. This study was carried out in seven healthy adult males and recorded the genioglossus muscle activity during various functions by using a miniature intraoral surface electrode, which is comparable with intramuscular fine-wire electrodes, but without pain or disturbance of the tongue movement. The ipsilateral masseteric and digastric muscle activities were simultaneously recorded with the surface electrodes. Tonic genioglossus muscle activity was recorded during clenching. A passive jaw opening elicited the stretch reflex in the masseteric muscle and increased genioglossus muscle activity. Electrical stimulation of the lower lip inhibited the tonic activity in the masseteric and genioglossus muscles during both clenching and tongue protrusion. Moreover, the latency of the inhibition in the genioglossus muscle activity was shorter during clenching than during tongue protrusion. Based on these findings, the authors conclude that the human jaw-tongue reflex exists and that the jaw-closing muscle is involved in evoking the reflex.

Adult↗

Diversity of epitopes recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes that are specific for rejection antigen peptide pRL1a presented on BALB/c leukemia RL Male 1.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) generated in (BALB/c x C57BL/6)F1 (CB6F1) and BALB/c spleen cells stimulated with BALB/c radiation-leukemia RL Male 1 cells or pRL1a (IPGLPLSL) peptide itself recognized pRL1a on RL Male 1 in association with Ld. We first studied pRL1a peptide residues used for binding to the Ld molecule by examining the inhibition by variant peptides with single Ala substitutions at each position (P) of recognition of P815 target cells sensitized with Ld-binding p2Ca (LSPFPFDL) peptide for BALB/c anti-p2Ca CTL. The results showed that Leu at P8 is predominantly involved in the binding and Pro at P2 is partially involved. Substitution of Gly to Ala at P3 increased binding. We then investigated the epitope residues recognized by four pRL1a-specific CTL clones by examining their cytotoxicity against the P815 target sensitized with variant pRL1a peptides. Recognition by clone Y-16 involved predominantly Leu at P4 and P6, and also Pro at P5 and Ser at P7, and partially Ile at P1. Recognition by clone U-41 involved predominantly Ile at P1 and Leu at P6, and partially Gly at P3, Leu at P4, Pro at P5 and Ser at P7. Recognition by clone P-2 involved predominantly Leu at P4 and P6, and Ser at P7, with no partial involvement of other substitutions being observed. Finally, recognition by clone B-24 predominantly involved all residues, except Gly at P3, which was partially involved. TCR V beta genes utilized by those CTL clones were different. The findings show that tumor antigen peptide pRL1a generates a wide repertoire of CTL clones that differ in TCR V beta usage and in the intrapeptide epitope residues they recognize.

Animals↗

Downregulation of calpastatin in rat heart after brief ischemia and reperfusion.

The activities of calpain and its endogenous inhibitor, calpastatin, were measured in the soluble fraction of perfused rat heart after ischemia for 5-20 min and reperfusion for up to 30 min. The method for m-calpain measurement was modified: washing of the DEAE-cellulose column with 0.18 M NaCl instead of 0.15 M NaCl increased the m-calpain activity 12.5-fold. Ischemia for 20 min followed by reperfusion for 30 min did not affect the m-calpain activity but decreased the calpastatin activity. m-Calpain was enriched in the nucleus-myofibril fraction but was not further translocated on ischemia-reperfusion. Mu-calpain was below the limit of detection on immunoblotting or casein zymography, but its mRNA was substantially expressed, as detected on Northern blotting. Casein zymography also revealed a novel Ca2+-dependent protease without the typical characteristics of mu- or m-calpain. The immunoblotting of myocardial fractions showed that calpastatin was proteolyzed on ischemia-reperfusion. The calpastatin proteolysis was suppressed by a calpain inhibitor, Ac-Leu-Leu-norleucinal. Calpastatin may sequester calpain from its substrates in the normal myocardium, but may be proteolyzed by calpain in the presence of an unidentified activator in the early phase of calpain activation during ischemia-reperfusion, resulting in the proteolysis of calpastatin and then other calpain substrates.

Animals↗