Multielemental Analysis of Purpleback Flying Squid Using High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (HR ICP-MS)

Forty-four elements were analyzed in 21 tissues of purpleback flying squid, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis, by high resolution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HR ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-AES). Greater concentrations of V, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ag, Cd, Pb, and Bi were found in liver, pancreas, and ink sac than in other tissues. Ink sac concentrated remarkable levels of Ca and Sr in addition to the above-mentioned elements. Several alkalis, alkaline earth, and rare earth elements preferentially accumulated in muscle. Among the hard tissues, accumulation of V and U in beak, Ni, Zn, and Cd in gladius and Cr in skin was prominent. K, Rb, Cs, Pb, Bi and some transition elements (V, Co, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the livers of adult than in juvenile squids. Sodium, alkaline earth, and rare earth elements were higher in the livers of juveniles than in adult squids

Data supporting Arf6 regulation of Schwann cell differentiation and myelination

The data is related to the research article entitled “Arf6 mediates Schwann cell differentiation and myelination” [1]. To further investigate the role of Arf6 in promoting myelination by Schwann cells in vivo, we have characterized an another line (#2) of small-hairpin (sh)RNA transgenic mice targeting Arf6. The number of transgenes per one allele in this line was very low (2 transgenes), comparing with high copies in the previous line (#1, 20 transgenes) [1]. In 4 days of neonatal age, transgenic mice exhibited decreased myelin thickness; however, decreased levels were not as much as those in the line #1, likely depending on transgene copy number. In 60-day-old mice, the difference became smaller. On the other hand, transgene׳s effect was not related to cell proliferation and apoptosis. These data support the key role of Arf6 in Schwann cell myelination, especially in the initiation

DETERMINATION OF THE TRACE ELEMENTS IN A MIZUHO ICE CORE SAMPLE BY A COMBINATION OF CONVENTIONAL AND HIGH RESOLUTION INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA MASS SPECTROMETRY

Seventeen elements (Li, Na, Mg, Al, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, Pb and Bi) in an Antarctic ice core at Mizuho Station collected by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition were determined by a combination of conventional and high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The ice sample was separated into five fractions from surface to inner core by stepwise melting. All the elements determined decreased from the core surface to the inner core by one to four orders of magnitude. The surface contaminations of Li, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Ba, Pb and Bi penetrated into the second fraction, while only the surface fraction was contaminated for Na, Mg, Al, V, Mn, Fe, Ca and Sr. Zn kept decreasing to the innermost fraction. Na, Mg and Ca may be originated from sea water, while V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Sr may be supplied from the crust. Significant portions of Co and Ni could be of extraterrestrial origin