alpha-lipoic acid suppresses 6-hydroxydoparnine-induced ROS generation and apoptosis through the stimulation of glutathione synthesis but not by the expression of heme oxygenase-1

We previously reported that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the initial event in cell death induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), an experimental model of Parkinsonism. Since recent studies suggested the important role of antioxidant activity of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) in the suppression of apoptosis of various types, we studied the effect on 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells. Biochemical analysis revealed that LA suppressed the 6-OHDA-induced ROS generation, increase of caspase-like activity and chromatin condensation. The suppression of 6-OHDA-induced apoptosis by LA required pre-incubation of PC12 cells with LA for 12-24 h. LA increased the intracellular levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutathione (GSH) and stimulated the expression of GSH synthesis-related genes such as cystine/glutamate antiporter and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS). However, Sn-mesoporphyrin IX, an inhibitor of HO-1, did not attenuate the LA-induced suppression of apoptosis. In contrast, buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of gamma-GCS, attenuated the LA-induced suppression of ROS generation and chromatin condensation. in addition, a transcription factor Nrf2, which regulates the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as gamma-GCS, translocated to the nucleus by LA. These results suggested that LA suppressed the 6-OHDA induced-apoptosis by the increase in cellular glutathione through stimulation of the GSH synthesis system but not by the expression of HO-1.</p

Alteration of FHR pattern and cerebral metabolic rate of glucose of the fetus measured by positron emission tomography during progress of acidemia. The significance of overshoot acceleration in FHR

Peer Reviewe

Reference values for the locomotive syndrome risk test quantifying mobility of 8681 adults aged 20–89 years: A cross-sectional nationwide study in Japan

Background The locomotive syndrome risk test was developed to quantify the decrease in mobility among adults, which could eventually lead to disability. The purpose of this study was to establish reference values for the locomotive syndrome risk test for adults and investigate the influence of age and sex. Methods We analyzed 8681 independent community dwellers (3607 men, 5074 women). Data pertaining to locomotive syndrome risk test (the two-step test, the stand-up test, and the 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale [GLFS-25]) scores were collected from seven administrative areas of Japan. Results The reference values of the three test scores were generated and all three test scores gradually decreased among young-to-middle-aged individuals and rapidly decreased in individuals aged over 60 years. The stand-up test score began decreasing significantly from the age of 30 years. The trajectories of decrease in the two-step test score with age was slightly different between men and women especially among the middle-aged individuals. The two physical test scores were more sensitive to aging than the self-reported test score. Conclusion The reference values generated in this study could be employed to determine whether an individual has mobility comparable to independent community dwellers of the same age and sex

The Effect of the Unsaturated Fatty Acid Fraction from the Liver of Irradiated Rabbit on the Fertilization and Cell Division

The effect of unsaturted fatty acid fraction from the liver of irradiated animal on fertilization and cell division of sea urchin egg (Hemicentrotas tulcherrimus) have been observed. The sperms exposed to the substance for 5 minutes decrease in their mortility and lost the fertilization acivitity resuting in the lose of their ability for the formation of fertilizing membrae in eggs. The eggs exposed to this substance after fertilization present the stop or the delay in their cleavage. Such an action on eggs becomes marked when the concentration of this substance increases. The most susceptible stage seems to be the metaphase at which the chromosoms are arrested on the equatolial plate loosing the tendency to move toward the poles. These effects of this substace can be seen even after removing the peroxide as equally in the original substance

The Effects of OX (Uusaturated Fatty Acid Fraction From the Irradiated Rabbit Liver) on the Fertilization and Cleavage of Sea Urchin Egg

The effects of the OX substance, which was extracted from the liver of irradiated rabbits, on the sperm and egg, unfertilized and fertilized eggs of sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) have been observed. 1. The sperms exposed to OX showed a decreased mortility and lost the ability to stimul to the egg to raise up fertilizing membrane suggesting the inability of giving physical shock to the egg surface or the damage of acrosome. 2. The unfertilized eggs exposed to OX retain the ability of the formation of fertiliging membrane and cleavage but showed remarkable delay in both the length of time for the membrane formation and cleavage. 3. The most sensitive effects on the fertilized eggs have been observed on the initial stage of fusion of sperm and egg nuclei and the metaphase. Immediately after the fertilization in the egg exposed to OX the fusion of sperm and egg nuclei was inhibited and in the cells on metaphase the cleavage was delayed by the prolonged period of transition from metaphase to telophase. 4. From the results with the consideration of the effects of X-rays on cleavage appearing in the past report the authors concluded the OX will be the essential substance representing the effects of X-rays on the cell cleavage