"Necklace olfactory glomeruli" form unique components of the rat primary olfactory system

A distinct subset of rat primary olfactory neurons was identified immunohistochemically by means of a polyclonal antibody against human placental antigen X-P2 (hPAX-P2), an incompletely characterized substance found in all estrogen-biosynthetic organs. The subset of olfactory receptor cells was distributed widely over the olfactory epithelium with some degree of concentration on the dorsocaudal walls of nasal subcavities. The subset formed unique "necklace olfactory glomeruli," which were composed of seven to nine solitary glomeruli located in the caudal end of the olfactory bulb. One of them was located in the "modified glomerular complex" reported to be involved in rat suckling behavior. The projectional patterns of the necklace olfactory system, albeit diffuse, indicated some degree of spatial correspondence between zones of olfactory epithelium and specific glomeruli. Axons emanating from neighboring cells can project to several glomerular loci. From the necklace olfactory system, an average of 150-200 receptor cells were estimated to converge onto a single necklace glomerulus.     

Chymase participates in chronic dermatitis by inducing eosinophil infiltration

An epicutaneous application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) to a mouse ear caused a transient skin swelling, and the repetition of the challenge enlarged the contact dermatitis. The repeated challenge with DNFB also induced eosinophil infiltration on the application site. Administration of a chymase inhibitor significantly inhibited the ear swelling as well as eosinophil accumulation. An intradermal injection of human chymase to the mouse ear also elicited transient skin swelling and eosinophil infiltration, both of which were augmented in proportion to the number of injections. Human serum albumin and heat-inactivated chymase failed to induce such skin reactions, suggesting the participation of proteolytic activity of the enzyme. In addition, chymase stimulated eosinophil migration in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, these observations suggest that mast cell chymase may contribute to development of the DNFB-induced dermatitis, probably by promoting eosinophil infiltration. It is therefore possible that chymase plays a role in pathogenesis of chronic dermatitis such as atopic dermatitis.     

Sesaminol from sesame seed induces apoptosis in human lymphoid leukemia Molt 4B cells

The exposure of human lymphoid leukemia Molt 4B cells to sesaminol, a component of sesame oil led to both growth inhibition and the induction of apoptosis. Morphological change showing apoptotic bodies was observed in the cells treated with sesaminol. The fragmentation of DNA by sesaminol to oligonucleosomal-sized fragments that are characteristics of apoptosis was observed to be concentration- and time-dependent. These findings suggest that growth inhibition of Molt 4B cells by sesaminol results from the induction of apoptosis in the cells.     

Identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus pandemic group-specific DNA sequence by genomic subtraction

A genomic subtraction between a pandemic Vibrio parahaemolyticus and a nonpandemic strain that seemed to be clonally related was performed. A subtractive DNA fragment was identified to be a part of a 16-kbp insertion sequence which was present in almost all pandemic strains but not in nonpandemic strains tested.     

Development of a diagnostic PCR assay targeting the Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase gene (sodA) for identification of Streptococcus gallolyticus

A PCR-based assay to identify Streptococcus gallolyticus has been developed. The assay uses an oligonucleotide primer pair targeting a partial sequence of the manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase gene (sodA). The assay distinguished members of the S. gallolyticus group from other, closely related taxa successfully by yielding a 408-bp specific amplicon.     

An ambulatory respirometer (Hotmate) as a tool for screening of sleep apnea syndrome

The gold standard diagnostic method for sleep apnea syndrome(SAS) is overnight polysomnography(PSG), but is costly in terms of time and money. We studied the usefulness of a 24-hour ambulatory respirometer equipped with oximeter(Hotmate) for screening of SAS. Seventy-six cases of suspected SAS were enrolled(68 males and 8 females, mean age 51). The correlation between data from Hotmate and PSG was evaluated in 24 cases who underwent both of the tests for the final diagnosis of SAS. There was a good correlation between the two parameters of the data obtained by Hotmate(H) (H-apnea index(AI) vs H-desaturation index(DI)). Among 24 cases who underwent both Hotmate and PSG, there was a good correlation between the data from PSG and Hotmate(PSG-AI vs H-AI: r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Both sensitivity and specificity were highest when screening criteria of H-DI > 15 was utilized(sensitivity = 91.7%, specificity = 66.7%). Our findings suggest that the respiromonitor with oximeter is useful for the screening the patients with SAS.     

Effects of Alkyl Alcohols and Related Chemicals on Rat Liver Structure and Function: III. Physicochemical Properties of Ethanol-, Propanol- and Butanol-treated Rat Liver Mitochondrial Membranes

The physicochemical properties of mitochondria in liver tissue obtained from rats given 32% ethanol, 32% propanol or 6.9% butanol in drinking water for up to 3 months were investigated using differential scanning calo-rimetry and fluorescence polarization measurements. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Phospholipids extracted from mitochondria showed increases in the relative amounts of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine, and a decrease in the relative amount of phosphatidylethanolamine. An increase in the unsatu-rated/saturated fatty acid ratio of phospholipids was also observed. 2) Elevation of the thermotropic lipid phase transition temperature with a decrease in the enthalpy value (δ H ) was revealed by differential scanning calo-rimetry. 3) The elevation of the lipid phase transition temperature was detected also by fluorescence polarization measurements using 1,6 diphenyl 1, 3, 5 hexatriene (DPH) as a probe. Elevation of mitochondrial membrane fluidity was found in some of the experimental animals, but most showed no changes in comparison with the control. A possible role of membrane fusion in the mechanism of formation of ethanol-, propanol- and butanol induced hepatic megamitochondria is discussed on the basis of these results. Acta Pathol Jpn 42: 549–557, 1992.