Altered Expression of the CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor in the Triple Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

The endocannabinoid system has gained much attention as a new potential pharmacotherapeutic target in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the association between CB1 alterations and the development of AD neuropathology is unclear and often contradictory. In this study, brain CB1 mRNA and CB1 protein levels were analyzed in 3 × Tg-AD mice and compared to wild-type littermates at 2, 6 and 12 months of age, using in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Semiquantitative analysis of CB1 expression focused on the prefrontal cortex (PFC), prelimbic cortex, dorsal hippocampus (DH), basolateral amygdala complex (BLA), and ventral hippocampus (VH), all areas with high CB1 densities that are strongly affected by neuropathology in 3 × Tg-AD mice. At 2 months of age, there was no change in CB1 mRNA and protein levels in 3 × Tg-AD mice compared to Non-Tg mice in all brain areas analyzed. However, at 6 and 12 months of age, CB1 mRNA levels were significantly higher in PFC, DH, and BLA, and lower in VH in 3 × Tg-AD mice compared to wild-type littermates. CB1 immunohistochemistry revealed that CB1 protein expression was unchanged in 3 × Tg-AD at 2 and 6 months of age, while a significant decrease in CB1 receptor immunoreactivity was detected in the BLA and DH of 12-month-old 3 × Tg-AD mice, with no sign of alteration in other brain areas. The altered CB1 levels appear, rather, to be age-and/or pathology-dependent, indicating an involvement of the endocannabinoid system in AD pathology and supporting the ECS as a potential novel therapeutic target for treatment of AD

台湾産蝶蠅科

1953年以来日本産蝶蠅科の研究を行い, 55種を記述し, 現在略々日本の蝶蠅相(Psychodid fauna)を明確にする事が出来た。依つて日本蝶蠅相を隣接諸地域のそれ等と比較する目的で, 先づ, 未だ不明の台湾蝶蠅相の検討に着手し, 次の如き結果を得た。1. 台湾産のPsychoda属15種及びPericoma属2種を明確にし, その種的標徴を記述した(学名未詳の3種を含む)。2. 台湾産蝶蠅17種中, 8種は特産種で, 且つ新種と同定した。3. 日本との共通種は4種で, 1種を除き他は広い分布範囲を示す種類であつた。フイリツビンとの共通種は4種で, ミクロネシア群島との共通種は2種であつた

ハモグリバエ科の雌生殖器(一新属の記載を含む) (I)

ハモグリバエの雌外部生殖器官の構造についてはde Meijere (1838)はじめ2・3の簡単な報告が見られるが, Hendel (1931)以来分類学的記載には単に産卵鞘の大きさ並びに棘毛の有無等が扱われていたにすぎない。私はごく最近になつて種的標徴としてその重要性が認められてきた雄外部生殖器とともに雌の外部・内部生殖器の形態もまた非常に分類学的価値があることを見出した。ここにAgromyzinaeの日本産6属28種について調査した諸形態の比較とそれらの分化について述べる。概形 : 腹部第7環節はいわゆる産卵鞘となり, 以下の環節は通常その中にはまり込んでいる。第8環節の背・腹両面には多数の鋸歯が列生する, 後端にある一対の誘卵器は三角形ないしナイフ状を呈しかなり群又は種間変異に富むほか産卵習性と密接な関連性が見られる。第9環節は細長く, 背・腹板の形状や棘毛数は種々である。第10∿11環節は膜状, 尾毛は1節で多数の感覚毛を装う。内部器官は卵巣, 輸卵官, 受精嚢及び附属腺からなる。受精嚢は褐∿黒色, 球形ないし長卵形を呈し, 腹面にある管状受精嚢と共に近似種間の識別に有効である。Agromyza : 邦産12種(未記録5種を含む)は2群に大別され, yeptans群はrubi群より分化が進んでいないようである。前者の中で最も原始的と考えられるreptans亜群の誘卵器や腹面受精嚢の形態は非常に単純であり, 禾本科植物の葉に産卵する種類が属するヤノハモグリバエyanonis及びイネハモグリバエoryzae両亜群の誘卵器の内面には有毛突起を有する。また, この群のある種の受精嚢には他に見られない横じわがある。rubi群の誘卵器には他属と共通な鋸歯を生じ, 原始的なA. rubi以外の腹面受精嚢は非常に長く, 巻いているほか諸形質の分化の程度が高い。Japanagromyza : この新属は前小楯板棘毛の存在, 平均棍の色彩等によつてAgromyza及びMelanagromyza属とは容易に識別できるが, 雌内部生殖器官の形態にも特異なものが認められる。現在4種が属し, 第9背板はU字状を呈し, 受精嚢の表面には微棘を生じ, さらにduchesneae群の腹面受精嚢の尖端には双葉状の膨大部がある。Melanagromyza : 本属もAgromyza属と同様に誘卵器の形状によつてaeneiventris及びpulicaria両群に分けられ, かつそれは産卵習性に由来していることは興味深い。即ち, 前群には植物の茎内を潜孔する種類が属し, 種間の分化は余り顕著でない。これに反して後群のものは潜葉性で, 表皮内潜孔をするチヤハモグリバエM. theaeほかpulicaria, styricicolaの2種, Agromyza属に近い諸形質を示すyanoi, さらに特殊化したダイズメモグリバエを含んでいる。Carinagromyza, Ophiomyia及びTylomyza : Carinagromyza属の受精嚢は本亜科中最も小さく, 基部はらせん状に分裂する;Ophiomyia属の第9背板は中央部が狭わまり, 受精嚢の頸部は特に長い;Tylomyza属の受精嚢の基部は分裂しない。その他の形態はMelanagromyza属のそれと類似するようで, 既知邦産種が少いため詳しく論及できない

Evaluation of the emotional phenotype and serotonergic neurotransmission of fatty acid amide hydrolase-deficient mice

By enhancing brain anandamide tone, inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) induce anxiolytic-like effects in rodents and enhance brain serotonergic transmission. Mice lacking the faah gene (FAAH(-/-)) show higher anandamide levels. However, their emotional phenotype is still debated and their brain serotonergic tone remained unexplored. In this study, we tested FAAH(-/-) mice in the social interaction and the open field tests performed under different lighting conditions (dim and bright) since variations of the experimental context were proposed to explain opposite findings. Moreover, by microdialysis performed under dim light, we analyzed their serotonergic transmission in frontal cortex (FC) and ventral hippocampus (vHIPP). In both light conditions, FAAH(-/-) mice showed reduced emotionality, compared to wt controls, as suggested by the increased rearing and reduced thigmotaxis displayed in the open field and by the longer time spent in social interaction. Basal serotonergic tone was higher in the FC of mutant mice as compared to control mice, while no difference was observed in the vHIPP. K(+)-induced depolarization produced similar increases of serotonin in both areas of both genotypes. An acute treatment with the CB1 antagonist rimonabant completely abolished the emotional phenotype of FAAH(-/-) mice and prevented the K(+)-stimulated release of serotonin in their FC and vHIPP, without producing any effect in wt mice. Our results support the role of FAAH in the regulation of emotional reactivity and suggest that anandamide-mediated hyperactivation of CB1 is responsible for the emotional phenotype of FAAH(-/-) mice and for their enhanced serotonergic tone

The position of the Church on the European pillar of social rights

On behalf of His Grace Mgr Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta, I would like to thank the UHM, Voice of the Workers, for inviting the Church in Malta to participate in today’s seminar on the European Pillar of Social Rights. Article 17(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU encourages EU institutions to enter into an open, transparent and regular dialogue with Church leaders who are also committed to the common good of society. The Church engages in a dialogue with political leaders, trade unions and civil society not to favour its own interests as an institution, but to contribute to the construction of Europe as a project of peace based on the respect for human dignity, the protection of human rights and the pursuit of the common good. As the German political thinker Jürgen Habermas points out, in a modern, democratic and pluralistic society, all voices, including the religious one, can contribute to the wellbeing of society. The Church, as an important stakeholder in society, has the right and the duty to participate in the public square because it is also concerned with the defence of the dignity of every individual, irrespective of one’s characteristics.peer-reviewe

Paper Chromatography of Unsaturated Glycerides

不飽和グリセリドを酢酸第二水銀付加化合物とし, 逆相ペーパークロマトグラフィーで相互分離, 確認する方法を考案した。この方法を合成不飽和グリセリドおよび天然油脂の構成グリセリドの相互分離, 確認に利用した結果, 良好な分離性を示すことを認め, またこの方法の特性についても検討した。本法はまた不飽和グリセリドの関与するエステル交換反応やリパーゼによる加水分解などの過程を追跡, 精査できる簡易, 有力な方法であることが証明された。1. A reversed-phase paper-chromatographic method has been devised by which unsaturated glycerides can be separated and identified as their mercuric acetate addition compounds. 2. The method has been successfully used for the separations of synthetic unsaturated glycerides and of natural glyceride mixtures. 3. Some applications of this method to the investigations of ester interchange and enzymic hydrolysis of glycerides have been presented