By use of a double-labeling immunofluorescence method with a confocal laser scanning microscope, we have examined whether a calcium-binding protein, calretinin, is localized in magnocellular oxytocin and vasopressin neurons of the rat hypothalamus. In the supraoptic nucleus, all oxytocin-labeled cells were stained for calretinin. However, in the magnocellular part of the paraventricular nucleus, almost all oxytocin-stained cells were devoid of calretinin immunoreactivity. All vasopressin-positive cells of both the supraoptic nucleus and the magnocellular part of the paraventricular nucleus lacked calretinin immunoreactivity. No calretinin immunoreactivity was found in oxytocin-labeled cells of the the anterior commissural nucleus or in vasopressin-labeled cells of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. We previously showed that another calcium-binding protein, calbindin-D28k, was localized in magnocellular oxytocin neurons of the supraoptic nucleus but not in those of the paraventricular nucleus. These findings suggest that, in general, magnocellular oxytocin neurons of the supraoptic nucleus and those of the paraventricular nucleus can be chemically distinguished, that is, the former contain both calretinin and calbindin-D28k but the latter lack the two calcium-binding proteins. 相似文献
Background: Sevoflurane undergoes Baralyme- or soda lime-catalyzed degradation in the anesthesia circuit to yield compound A (2-[fluoromethoxy]-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-1-propene), which is nephrotoxic in rats and undergoes metabolism via the cysteine conjugate beta-lyase pathway in those animals. The objective of these experiments was to test the hypothesis that compound A undergoes beta-lyase-dependent metabolism in humans.
Methods: Human volunteers were anesthetized with sevoflurane (1.25 minimum alveolar concentration, 3%, 2 l/min, 8 h) and thereby exposed to compound A. Urine was collected at 24-h intervals for 72 h after anesthesia. Rats, which served as a positive control, were given compound A intraperitoneally, and urine was collected for 24 h afterward. Human and rat urine samples were analyzed by19 F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the presence of compound A metabolites.
Results: Analysis of human and rat urine showed the presence of the compound A metabolites [S-[2-(fluoromethoxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl]-N-acetyl-L-cysteine, (E)- and (Z)-S-[2-(fluoromethoxy)-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propenyl]-N-acetyl-L-cyst eine, 2-(fluoromethoxy)-3,3,3-trifluoropropanoic acid, 3,3,3-trifluorolactic acid, and inorganic fluoride. The presence of 2-(fluoromethoxy)-3,3,3-trifluoropropanoic acid and 3,3,3-trifluorolactic acid in human urine was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. 相似文献
The dominant cone-rod dystrophy gene CORD6 has previously been mapped to
within an 8 cM interval on chromosome 17p12-p13. The retinal- specific
guanylate cyclase gene (RETGC-1), which maps to within this genetic
interval and previously was implicated in Leber's congenital amaurosis, was
screened for mutations within this family and in a panel of small families
and individuals with various cone and cone- rod dystrophy phenotypes. A
missense mutation (E837D) was identified in affected members of the CORD6
family, as well as a second missense mutation (R838C) in three other
families with dominant cone-rod dystrophy. RETGC-1 is only the fourth gene
to be implicated in cone-rod dystrophy and this is the first report of
dominant mutations in this gene.
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Cryopreservation of human zygotes and embryos has been routinely performed
by in-vitro fertilization clinics for many years. Karran and Legge (1996)
first reported that formaldehyde (FA) present in the cryoprotective
solutions can have a deleterious effect on mouse oocytes. FA is a
cytotoxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic chemical. The effect of FA on mouse
zygotes was investigated. In addition, the concentrations of FA in
propanediol (PROH) obtained from various sources were determined. Pooled
1-cell embryos were dispensed into droplets of modified Ham's F10 or human
tubal fluid containing various concentrations of FA. Since bovine serum
albumin (BSA) may minimize toxicity additional trials were done as above in
the absence of BSA. FA concentration in the standard 1.5 M PROH, from
different sources in water, was measured in the same assay using a standard
curve of 0-100 microM FA. FA in a complex medium had a significant
deleterious effect on embryo development and hatching but only at 1 mM
concentration (P < 0.000001; see Tables I-III). There was no significant
effect of FA at 100 microM. However, in a simple medium even 50 microM FA
decreased embryo hatching. FA was present in 1.5 M PROH from different
sources (range 1.0-35.3 microM concentration). It appears that FA
concentrations do not increase with storage because FA concentrations were
low even after opening and storage for 3 years on the shelf. This suggests
that FA is a contaminant during the manufacturing process and may vary from
manufacturer to manufacturer and batch to batch. Until further studies are
done to confirm the lack of toxicity to embryos during cryopreservation
(with or without FA scavengers) it may be prudent to screen all batches of
cryoprotectants for FA as part of quality control.
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As more mutations are identified in genes of known sequence, there is a
crucial need in the areas of medical genetics and genome analysis for
rapid, accurate and cost-effective methods of mutation detection. We have
developed a multiplex allele-specific diagnostic assay (MASDA) for analysis
of large numbers of samples (> 500) simultaneously for a large number of
known mutations (> 100) in a single assay. MASDA utilizes
oligonucleotide hybridization to interrogate DNA sequences. Multiplex DNA
samples are immobilized on a solid support and a single hybridization is
performed with a pool of allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probes. Any
probes complementary to specific mutations present in a given sample are in
effect affinity purified from the pool by the target DNA. Sequence-specific
band patterns (fingerprints), generated by chemical or enzymatic sequencing
of the bound ASO(s), easily identify the specific mutation(s). Using this
design, in a single diagnostic assay, we tested samples for 66 cystic
fibrosis (CF) mutations, 14 beta-thalassemia mutations, two sickle cell
anemia (SCA) mutations, three Tay-Sachs mutations, eight Gaucher mutations,
four mutations in Canavan disease, four mutations in Fanconi anemia, and
five mutations in BRCA1. Each mutation was correctly identified. Finally,
in a blinded study of 106 of these mutations in > 500 patients, all
mutations were properly identified. There were no false positives or false
negatives. The MASDA assay is capable of detecting point mutations as well
as small insertion or deletion mutations. This technology is amenable to
automation and is suitable for immediate utilization for high-throughput
genetic diagnostics in clinical and research laboratories.
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To examine the influence of cytoplasmic morphology on the success rate of
intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), the morphology of 837 metaphase II
oocytes was assessed after cumulus stripping. The main abnormalities
detected were excessive granularity, cytoplasmic inclusions such as
vacuoles, smooth endoplasmic reticulum clustering and refractile bodies.
Microinjection was performed in 538 oocytes with normal cytoplasm, 142 out
of 161 with excessive granularity and 112 out of 138 with cytoplasmic
inclusions. Very poor oocytes were not injected. No difference was found in
fertilization rate. The embryos achieved cleaved normally and a similar
number of good quality embryos among the three groups was noted. The
outcome of transfer of embryos derived solely from normal oocytes (group A:
72 patients, 183 embryos) was compared with those from oocytes with
cytoplasmic abnormalities (group B: 34 patients, 85 embryos). In group A,
17 clinical pregnancies (24% per patient, implantation rate 10%) were
established. In group B, only one clinical pregnancy (3% per patient,
implantation rate 1%) was established, from the transfer of embryos derived
from oocytes with homogeneous granularity of the cytoplasm. No pregnancy
resulted following the transfer of embryos from eggs with cytoplasmic
inclusions. The difference was statistically significant. The outcome of
ICSI is dependent on the quality of the oocytes retrieved. Normal
fertilization and early embryo development were achieved in oocytes with
abnormal cytoplasm morphology, but the resulting embryos failed to
demonstrate the same implantation potential as those derived from oocytes
with normal cytoplasm.
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