In Vitro Phosphorylation of Proteins in IAA-Treated Primary Roots and Coleoptiles in Zea mays

Five-mm sections of elongation zones which were cut from primary roots or coleoptiles of Zea mays were incubated for designated periods with various concentrations of IAA. In vitro protein phosphorylation in the soluble fractionsprepared from these sections was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The phosphorylation of proteins in sections of primary roots incubated for 20 or 40 min in the presenceof 10^-7 M IAA was greater than that in the sections incubated in the absence ofIAA. The phosphorylation of proteins in sections of primary roots incubated for 20 min or 2h in the presence of 10^-8,10^-7 or 10^-6 M IAA was higher than that in the sections incubated in the absence of IAA. An incuba-tion for 20 min or 2h with 10^-4 M IAA inhibited the phosphorylation of proteins in sections of primary roots. The growth of the sections of primary roots incubated for 2h in the presence of 10^-7 M IAA or higher concentrations was lower than that of the sections incubated in the absence of IAA. These results suggest that the phosphorylation of proteins which was increased by IAA treatment is independent of an inhibition of the growth induced by IAA in maize primary roots. The phosphorylation of proteins in sections of coleoptiles incubated for 10, 20 or 40 min in the presence of 10^-7 or 10^-5 M IAA was equal to that in the sectionsincubated in the absence of IAA. These results show that IAA regulates growth ofmaize coleoptiles in no relation with phosphorylation of the proteins and that IAA regulates growth of maize mesocotyls via phosphorylation of the proteins, comparing with earlier results [Kato et al. (1996) Plant Cell Phsiol. 37:667].　Coleoptile―IAA treatment―Primary root―Protein phosphorylation―Zea mays

幼児の自然認識の醸成に関する一考察 ―小学校教科への接続を意識した「落ち葉集め」と「たき火」の保育を事例に

This study examines what “memory elements” are connected, and how and when preschoolers use those elements to understand nature. Nature and how preschoolers understand it are relevant to elementary school subjects, such as Living Environment Science and Natural Science. Relying on White’s theory of memory elements （1988）, this paper analyzes two case studies in which preschoolers brought various concepts of nature into their cognition and extracted relevant memory elements. The analysis clarifies how preschoolers cognize nature in and through their experiences. Findings from the study suggest that preschoolers’ original cognition settles into proto-experience when the obtained memory elements, such as images, motor skills, and episodes are enhanced by preschoolers’ relations with others, narratives of the situation, and their own emotional preference. The results also suggest the possibility that preschoolers’ improved cognition of nature helps them become capable of dealing with elementary school subjects as the structuring of their memory elements, and parts of their memory elements are verbalized and words are muttered, perhaps in the form of self-talk, and the memory elements are transformed into strings, propositions, and intellectual skills

Application of a Heat- and Steam-Generating Sheet Increases Peripheral Blood Flow and Induces Parasympathetic Predominance

To promote the practical application of a Japanese traditional medical treatment, such as hot compresses, we developed a plaster-type warming device consisting of a heat- and steam-generating sheet (HSG sheet). First, we tested its effects when applied to the anterior abdominal wall or lumbar region of women complaining of a tendency towards constipation. Application of the sheet to either region produced a feeling of comfort in the abdomen, as assessed by a survey of the subjects. The significant increases in the total hemoglobin observed in these regions suggested an increase in peripheral blood flow, and significant increases in the HF component on ECG and in the amplitude of gastric motility suggested parasympathetic predominance. We concluded that application of the HSG sheet improves the peripheral hemodynamics and autonomic regulation, induces a feeling of comfort in the abdomen, and provides a beneficial environment for the improvement of gastrointestinal movements

Novel method to rescue a lethal phenotype through integration of target gene onto the X-chromosome.

The loss-of-function mutations of serine protease inhibitor, Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) gene are associated with human chronic pancreatitis, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We previously reported that mice lacking Spink3, the murine homologue of human SPINK1, die perinatally due to massive pancreatic acinar cell death, precluding investigation of the effects of SPINK1 deficiency. To circumvent perinatal lethality, we have developed a novel method to integrate human SPINK1 gene on the X chromosome using Cre-loxP technology and thus generated transgenic mice termed "X-SPINK1". Consistent with the fact that one of the two X chromosomes is randomly inactivated, X-SPINK1 mice exhibit mosaic pattern of SPINK1 expression. Crossing of X-SPINK1 mice with Spink3+/- mice rescued perinatal lethality, but the resulting Spink3-/-;XXSPINK1 mice developed spontaneous pancreatitis characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis. The results show that mice lacking a gene essential for cell survival can be rescued by expressing this gene on the X chromosome. The Spink3-/-;XXSPINK1 mice, in which this method has been applied to partially restore SPINK1 function, present a novel genetic model of chronic pancreatitis

軽度な慢性ストレスはマウスの睡眠を障害し疼痛感受性を増大させる

Even though it has been well documented that stress can lead to the development of sleep disorders and the intensification of pain, their relationships have not been fully understood. The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of predictable chronic mild stress (PCMS) on sleep–wake states and pain threshold, using the PCMS rearing conditions of mesh wire (MW) and water (W) for 21 days. Exposure to PCMS decreased the amount of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep during the dark phase. Moreover, the chronicity of PCMS decreased slow-wave activity (SWA) during NREM sleep in the MW and W groups in both the light and dark phases. Mechanical and aversively hot thermal hyperalgesia were more intensified in the PCMS groups than the control. Higher plasma corticosterone levels were seen in mice subjected to PCMS, whereas TNF-α expression was found higher in the hypothalamus in the W and the trigeminal ganglion in the MW group. The W group had higher expression levels of IL-6 in the thalamus as well. The PCMS paradigm decreased SWA and may have intensified mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. The current study also suggests that rearing under PCMS may cause impaired sleep quality and heightened pain sensation to painful mechanical and aversively hot thermal stimuli