Coupling of capillary RBC flow failure with neuronal depolarization

RBC (oxygen-carrier) behaviour in the cerebrocortical microvasculature during K^+^-induced cortical spreading depression (CSD) was examined in urethane-anesthetized male Wistar rats (n=10). The movements of FITC-labeled RBCs in single capillaries in the cortical region were traced with a high-speed camera laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscope and analyzed with Matlab domain software, KEIO-IS2, to obtain the velocities of all labeled RBCs appearing in local capillaries during CSD wave propagation. We found that CSD induced periodic decreases in both RBC number and velocity until RBCs halted or disappeared for 3.3 +/- 2.3 s, and then RBC flow was restored. The RBC flow stall was statistically significant (P < 0.05). During capillary flow failure in association with CSD spread, systemic arterial blood pressure remained unchanged. We conclude that RBCs are transiently sieved and stalled in capillaries during neuronal depolarization, and we suggest that this neuro-capillary coupling involves a hemorheological (viscosity-related) mechanism

イモリ四肢再生におけるソニックヘッジホッグ遺伝子シス調節エレメントの機能解析

広島大学(Hiroshima University)博士(理学)Doctor of Sciencedoctora

Depolarization increases cellular light transmission

Application of optical methods to human brain tissue in vivo, e.g., measuring oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin concentration changes with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), requires the a priori assumption that background optical properties remain unchanged during measurements1,2. However, fundamental knowledge about light scattering by brain cells per se remains sparse; many factors influence light transmission changes through living brain tissue, bringing into question what is being measured. We have observed slow wave-ring spreads of light transmission changes on the rat cerebral cortex during potassium-induced cortical spreading depression (CSD) and ascribed them to squeezing-out of blood from capillaries by swollen brain cells3,4. However, in rat hippocampal slices, where no blood components were involved, similar light transmission changes were observed during K+-induced CSD and ascribed to cell swelling and dendritic beading5,6,7. Here we show that two-dimensional light scattering changes occur through suspensions of osmotically swollen (depolarized) red blood cells, apparently arising from light scattering changes at the less curved, swollen surface of the steep electrochemical gradient coupled with water activity difference across the plasmic membrane. These optical property changes are likely to be relevant to interpretation of photometry or spectroscopy findings of brain tissue in vivo, where neurons are polarizing and depolarizing during brain function

Practice and Learning Outcomes of Social Cooperation Education Courses Aimed at Fostering Entrepreneurship

2018年12月より「SiEED（シード）」という名称でスタートした岡山大学起業家精神養成プログラムは、2020年3月末をもって寄付講座という形を終了した。全学教育・学生支援機構基幹教育センター実践部門では、その方針を引き継ぐ形でアントレプレナーシップ（起業家精神）養成を試みる科目を開講し、「プロジェクト・セロ（実践編）」と名付けた。 本稿では同名称で開校した2科目の授業について、授業実践と履修者の意識と行動の変容に関する考察を報告する。授業では企業経験のある協力者を学外から招き、課題解決型学習(PBL)の題材を提供していただいた。授業内では複数のグループを編成して課題解決のための企画立案に取り組み、企画立案プロセスは実務経験のある教員が始動した。自己評価アンケートの結果、学生には実行力、課題解決力、ストレスコントロール力が備わったという意識変容が見られ

Inhibitions of Growth and Lateral Branch Development by Calmodulin Antagonists in Hairy Roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Atropa belladonna and Daucus carota

Hairy roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, belladonna and carrot, which were induced by inoculation with Agrobacterium rhizogenes harboring the Ri plasmid, were cultured on a medium containing 0.1, 1, 10, 30 or 100μM W-7 or W-5, calmodulin antagonists. Growth rates of L. erythrorhizon and belladonna hairy roots cultured on all media containing W-7 were lower than that of the roots cultured without W-7. Growth of carrot hairy roots was inhibited by W-7 above 30μM. Inhibition rates of the root growth by high concentrations of W-5 were lower than those of the growth by the same concentrations of W-7. In the case ofthe development of lateral roots on hairy roots, 30 and 100μM W-7 or W-5 inhibited formation of lateral roots. The number of lateral roots formed by culturing on a medium containing W-7 was lower than that of the roots formed on the medium containing W-5. These results strictly suggest that calmodulin acts upon the growth of hairy roots and the development of lateral roots on hairy roots

Influence of Epinastine Hydrochloride, an H1-Receptor Antagonist, on the Function of Mite Allergen-Pulsed Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

There is established concept that dendritic cells (DCs) play essential roles in the development of allergic immune responses. However, the influence of H1 receptor antagonists on DC functions is not well defined. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of epinastine hydrochloride (EP), the most notable histamine H1 receptor antagonists in Japan, on Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f)-pulsed mouse bone marrow-derived DCs in vitro and in vivo. EP at more than 25 ng/mL could significantly inhibit the production of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10 from Der f-pulsed DCs, which was increased by Der f challenge in vitro. On the other hand, EP increased the ability of Der f-pulsed DCs to produce IL-12. Intranasal instillation of Der f-pulsed DCs resulted in nasal eosinophilia associated with a significant increase in IL-5 levels in nasal lavage fluids. Der f-pulsed and EP-treated DCs significantly inhibited nasal eosinophila and reduced IL-5. These results indicate that EP inhibits the development of Th2 immune responses through the modulation of DC functions and results in favorable modification of clinical status of allergic diseases

Inverse correlation between Skp2 and p27(Kip1) in normal endometrium and endometrial carcinoma

Copyright (c) 2010 Taylor & Francis. This is an electronic version of an article published in "GYNECOLOGICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Volume 26, Issue 3, pages 220-229 (2010)". GYNECOLOGICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY is available online at: https://doi.org/10.3109/09513590903215482Cyclin-dependent-kinase (cdk) inhibitor, p27<SUKip1</SU (p27), has been shown to participate in progestin-induced growth suppression of normal endometrial glands. To analyse the molecular mechanisms regulating p27 protein, we examined immunohistochemical expression of the SCF<SUSkp2</SU (Skp1-Cullin-F-box protein) complex factors, i.e. Skp1, Cul1 and Skp2, and compared them with that of p27, steroid receptors and Ki-67. In normal endometrial glands, the expression of Skp2 was observed in the proliferative phase, whereas that of p27 was observed in the secretory phase. Cultured normal endometrial glandular cells showed that progesterone induced the down-regulation of Skp2 along with up-regulation of p27. In endometrial carcinomas, the inverse topological correlation between Skp2 and p27 was evident in 39/66 (59%) cases, and the expression of Skp2 showed a strong correlation with Ki-67. These findings suggest that the expression of SCF<SUSkp2</SU complex changes during the menstrual cycle in normal endometrium and the SCF<SUSkp2</SU ubiquitin-proteasome pathway may also work in endometrial carcinomas.</.ArticleGYNECOLOGICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY. 26(3):220-229 (2010)journal articl

Enhanced auto-antibody production and Mott cell formation in FcμR-deficient autoimmune mice

Characterization of FcμR deficiency in lupus-prone mic