Localization of the mRNAs for Two Dopamine D2 Receptor Isoforms in the Rat Brain

Abstract: Two molecular forms of the dopamine D., receptor were generated by alternative RNA splicing. To investigate the relative distributions of the two mRNAs encoding the D2 receptor isoforms, D2(415) and D2(444), we performed in situ hybridization histochemistry in the rat brain with the two oligonucleotide probes. An insert probe complementary to an additional fragment of the D, receptor mRNA cloned from the rat brain, and a spanning probe complementary to its contiguous sequence were used. These 48 base probes were 3'-end labeled with [35S]dATP. The brains were dissected from male SD rats and frozen in dry ice and acetone. Cryostat sections (16 um) were collected on gelatin coated slides and stored at – 20^oC. In situ hybridization studies were conducted with a probe concentration of 1 × 10e dpm/100 ^1 of buffer per brain slice at 37^oC for 18–20 h in a humid chamber. The slides were washed, dried and exposed to tritium sensitive film for one week. The autoradiograph showed that both mRNA were present at high levels in the corpus striatum, accumbens nucleus and substantia nigra (pars compacta). Identical patterns of labeling were obtained in the rat brain using both the insert and spanning probes, although the optical densities detected with the insert probe were higher than those with the spanning probe in the corpus striatum. This suggests that both D2 receptor mRNAs are expressed similarly in each region of the rat brain and D2(14) expressed dominantly in the corpus striatum.     

NMR study on [1-13C]glucose metabolism in the rat brain during hypoxia

The metabolism of [1-13C]glucose in the rat brain during hypoxia was investigated by 13C NMR spectroscopy. Male Wistar rats, weighing 100-120g, were anesthetized with ketamine (50 approximately 75 mg/kg i.p.) and ventilated mechanically with a mixture of 30% oxygen, 69.5% nitrogen and 0.5% halothane. [1-13C]glucose (250 mg/kg) was infused twice, at 10 minute intervals, through the femoral vein. For the control group (n = 4), the oxygen concentration of the inspiratory gas was maintained at 30% by vol throughout the experiments. For the hypoxia group (n = 6), the oxygen concentration in the inspiratory gas was reduced to 6-7% (93-94% nitrogen) and maintained for 30 min following [1-13C]glucose infusion. 13C NMR spectra were measured by a gated proton-decoupling method without a nuclear Overhauser effect. The [1-13C]glucose infusion gave apparent signals of the C1 carbon in the alpha- and beta-anomers of [1-13C]glucose at 92.7 and 96.7 ppm, respectively. Signals of the C2, C3 and C4 carbon atoms in glutamate and/or glutamine (glx) also appeared at 55, 27 and 34 ppm, respectively. The intensity of glx-C2 and glx-C3 signals increased later than that of glx-C4. The time lag between the different glx signals may reflect the turnover rate of the TCA cycle. Under the hypoxic condition, the signal of C3 carbon in lactate appeared at 21 ppm and increased. The alpha-glucose signal diminished during hypoxia, whereas the beta-glucose signal kept its intensity. The difference in changes of the signal intensity between alpha- and beta-glucose suggests that alpha-glucose is consumed more than beta-glucose in the hypoxic brain.     

Simultaneous pleomorphic adenomas of the right parotid and ipsilateral submandibular glands

A case of simultaneous pleomorphic adenomas of the right parotid and ipsilateral submandibular glands was reported. The patient was a 68-year-old woman who had a ten-year history of an otherwise asymptomatic non-enlarging mass in the parotid gland and a slowly enlarging mass in the submandibular gland. Microscopically, the parotid tumor consisted of predominant spindle-shaped cell proliferations with myxoid stroma in places. The submandibular gland tumor showed tubular and trabecular formations with stroma consisting of hyalinized fibrous connective tissues. Simultaneous pleomorphic adenomas in the salivary glands are so rare that only 23 cases can be found in the literature. Additionally, only five tumors occurring simultaneously in the parotid and submandibular glands are reported in the literature. Our case seems to be the sixth of simultaneous pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid and submandibular glands.     

Coronary neovascularity: A possible sign of new and growing mural thrombus

This is a case report of a coronary artery fistula through a mural thrombus on a left ventricular aneurysm into the left ventricle. Serial coronary arteriography disclosed a vessel exhibiting a “smokelike” appearance originating at the anterior descending artery. This abnormal finding faded away over a period of 10 years with a decrease in size of the mural thrombus. This finding strongly suggests that the abnormal vessel represents an acquired neovascularity related to a newly developed thrombus. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A Prospective Comparative Trial of a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogue with Clomiphene Citrate for the Treatment of Oligoasthenozoospermia

Background: We undertook a prospective trial to compare the efficacy and adverse effects of a gonadotropin releasing-hormone analogue (CnRHa) and clomiphene therapy for idiopathic normogonadotropic oligoasthenozoospermia (INOA).
Methods: Between January and December 1995, 44 newly-diagnosed INOA patients were randomly allocated to treatment with GnRHa or clomiphene citrate. Efficacy was assessed by measuring changes in semen parameters prior to and after 3 months of treatment. Twenty-three INOA patients underwent GnRHa therapy with 15 μg of diluted buserelin acetate given once a day intranasally, and 21 INOA patients were treated with 50 μg of clomiphene citrate daily by oral administration.
Results: The mean sperm density in the GnRHa group increased from 1 6.1 times 10⁶/mL to 26.9 times 10⁶/ml(P < 0.05), while the mean sperm density did not change significantly in the group treated with clomiphene. Similarly, the mean sperm motility increased from 35.9% to 43.9% in the GnRHa group (P < 0.05), but did not significantly change in the clomiphene group. No adverse effects were observed in either group.
Conclusion: This GnRHa treatment protocol can be administered as an outpatient and is hoped to benefit INOA patients.     

Mechanism of selective inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus by ingenol triacetate.

Ingenol 3,5,20-triacetate (ITA), one of the ingenol derivatives, is a selective inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in vitro. ITA inhibited the replication of HIV strains in MT-4 cells at concentrations of 0.051 to 0.65 microM. This concentration was approximately 10(3)-fold lower than its cytotoxic threshold. The mechanism of action of ITA is primarily attributed to the inhibition of viral adsorption to the host cells, but it is distinct from the mechanism of inhibition by other adsorption inhibitors.     

Heterogeneity of clinical features of pseudoxanthoma elasticum: analysis of thirteen cases in Oita Prefecture from a population of 1,240,000

Thirteen cases among 16,260 patients seen at our department during the nine years from 1981 were diagnosed as pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). The sex and age distributions were similar to those so far reported in the literature. There were two cases of the autosomal dominant type. One patient had skin lesions typical of PXE in association with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. In two of three patients with cutis laxa-like lesions, eruptions of elastosis perforans serpiginosa were present. In three cases, we failed to detect deposition of calcium in typical skin lesions in either an early or a late stage by histochemical staining, in spite of the presence of slightly degenerated elastic fibers.