Electron Microscopic Studies of the Differentiation of Fat Cells in Human Fetal Skin**From the Department of Dermatology, Yamaguchi University, School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.

ABSTRACT1)Electron microscopic studies of primitive fat organs showing various degrees of fat storage from human fetuses 20 to 26 weeks of age were undertaken, with special reference to the origin of fat cells and the lipid formations in them. Based on this study, three types of cells, namely an undifferentiated-type cell, a young-type fat cell and a mature-type fat cell were discerned ultrastructurally, but they are considered to be identical concerning the morphology of mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticula and glycogen granules.2)Concerning the origin of white fat cells, it was revealed that young-type and mature-type fat cells are not derived from reticuloendothelial cells or fibroblasts but from a certain definite type of mesenchymal cell which we have referred to as the undifferentiated-type cell.3)The finding that cytoplasmic microvesicles are more prominent in young-type fat cells than in mature-type ones might be interpreted that the young-type cells may be actively releasing lipids or free fatty acids according to Williamson's concept of these organelles. But, contrary to Williamson's postulation, the young-type fat cells seem to be accumulating lipids or free fatty acids

Periphery and the Other： their similarity and difference

This paper discusses meanings and possibility of “the peripheral approach” in our project of The Cultural Interaction in East Asia. This was originally applied by Keiich Uchida who named his own study of Christian missionaries’ studies of Chinese language as “a peripheral approach to Chinese language.” Since our project has started, the word “periphery” is, however, applied to minority groups in regional, cultural, ethnic, religious senses who live within East Asia. They are also of objects of our studies in most cases, though Chinese Muslim scholars’ study of Confucianism can be exceptional. Compared with this case, Christian missionaries can be adequately called the outsider or the Other of Chinese culture, and also were of scholars, studying subjects. 　　 Both “periphery” and “the other, outsider” are crucial to our study of the Cultural Interaction, but these concepts have not yet been clearly defi ned. Considering their similarity and difference in various particular cases, and also reviewing the heritage of the Oriental studies by Western scholars, I discuss how we should develop the peripheral approach in our project in order to contribute to a new advanced study of East Asian cultures

A Consideration on Methodologies of the Study of Cultural Interaction in Reference with the History of Religions

This paper discusses what the Study of Cultural Interaction will be and its methodological problems in reference of the case of the History of Religions. This was established in the middle of 19th century and intended to integrate various religious studies which had began in Oriental Studies and Cultural Anthropology. The main task of the Study of Cultural Interaction is the integral understanding of various cultural interactions, and the dynamics and complexity of cultural changes. However, sophisticated cultures have been studied in History based on texts and documents, but archaic and folk cultures whose original texts have hardly been made have been researched by means of fieldworks in Anthropology. The synthesis of these cultural studies will be difficult. Explaining main methodologies of other related disciplines, this paper will present a core program and methodology of the new discipline, which will hopefully inspire further discussions

"日本剣道KENDOと韓国剣道KUMDOの相克 未来志向の剣道文化を求めてー "

Chukyo University（中京大学

Strict De Novo Methylation of the 35S Enhancer Sequence in Gentian

A novel transgene silencing phenomenon was found in the ornamental plant, gentian (Gentiana triflora × G. scabra), in which the introduced Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter region was strictly methylated, irrespective of the transgene copy number and integrated loci. Transgenic tobacco having the same vector did not show the silencing behavior. Not only unmodified, but also modified 35S promoters containing a 35S enhancer sequence were found to be highly methylated in the single copy transgenic gentian lines. The 35S core promoter (−90)-introduced transgenic lines showed a small degree of methylation, implying that the 35S enhancer sequence was involved in the methylation machinery. The rigorous silencing phenomenon enabled us to analyze methylation in a number of the transgenic lines in parallel, which led to the discovery of a consensus target region for de novo methylation, which comprised an asymmetric cytosine (CpHpH; H is A, C or T) sequence. Consequently, distinct footprints of de novo methylation were detected in each (modified) 35S promoter sequence, and the enhancer region (−148 to −85) was identified as a crucial target for de novo methylation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that complexes formed in gentian nuclear extract with the −149 to −124 and −107 to −83 region probes were distinct from those of tobacco nuclear extracts, suggesting that the complexes might contribute to de novo methylation. Our results provide insights into the phenomenon of sequence- and species- specific gene silencing in higher plants