病理組織標本の観察を快適にする新規油浸操作法の開発

The observation of histopathological samples is a generic technology which is very important in the diagnosis of various diseases. There are many cases in which the oil-immersion operation is required, namely the specimen is observed at the maximum magnification. The oil-immersion operation has brought about a major contribution for the development of the pathology. However, the immersion oil for this operation contaminates the tip of objective lens in the oil-immersion system, and it often becomes a reason of damaging the lens. It is proposed that the use of anisole for the oil-immersion operation can solve this problem by some scholars in clinical test laboratory. As a result, adverse effect to the lens can be drastically reduced, since the anisole adhered to the objective lens is easily volatilized because of its low boiling point. However, the offensive odor of anisole can cause health hazards, and, moreover, it is flammable. In order to mitigate those defects, we developed an oil-immersion operation method using lavender oil. The adverse effect on human body and also on the objective lens can be drastically reduced without sacrificing the microscopic resolution. The authors expect our novel oil-immersion method can contribute to the development of histopathology and microbiological tests

本学学生の情報リテラシー向上を目指した試み

The environment around LAN in this junior college was drastically improved through various actions by the committee of domestic information system for a year. And so, authors want to propose policies for improving "information literacy" of students in this junior college. The students often use browser on portable telephone. They are not able to smooth input by keyboard on PC, though they are able to operate mouse on PC. There is fear such situation causes problems when students select their course after graduation. And so, authors developed "one stop portal system". It is a system they are able to access requiring information in minimum clicks, for example "information which is useful for recruiting activity" and "internal reports in this junior college," web mail which is exclusive use of the students (it is available from extramural)", and so on, and in addition, "retrieval site"available from identical page. And, authors have developed "contents available from portable telephone"and"broadcasting VOD (video on demand) system" available from ubiquitous places for 24 hours as a strategy for rising motivation of learning. Authors expect that their self-direction is demonstrated strongly by these policies

Prdm8 Regulates the Morphological Transition at Multipolar Phase during Neocortical Development

<div><p>Here, we found that the PR domain protein Prdm8 serves as a key regulator of the length of the multipolar phase by controlling the timing of morphological transition. We used a mouse line with expression of <i>Prdm8</i>-mVenus reporter and found that Prdm8 is predominantly expressed in the middle and upper intermediate zone during both the late and terminal multipolar phases. Prdm8 expression was almost coincident with Unc5D expression, a marker for the late multipolar phase, although the expression of Unc5D was found to be gradually down-regulated to the point at which mVenus expression was gradually up-regulated. This expression pattern suggests the possible involvement of Prdm8 in the control of the late and terminal multipolar phases, which controls the timing for morphological transition. To test this hypothesis, we performed gain- and loss-of-function analysis of neocortical development by using in utero electroporation. We found that the knockdown of Prdm8 results in premature change from multipolar to bipolar morphology, whereas the overexpression of Prdm8 maintained the multipolar morphology. Additionally, the postnatal analysis showed that the Prdm8 knockdown stimulated the number of early born neurons, and differentiated neurons located more deeply in the neocortex, however, majority of those cells could not acquire molecular features consistent with laminar location. Furthermore, we found the candidate genes that were predominantly utilized in both the late and terminal multipolar phases, and these candidate genes included those encoding for guidance molecules. In addition, we also found that the expression level of these guidance molecules was inhibited by the introduction of the Prdm8 expression vector. These results indicate that the Prdm8-mediated regulation of morphological changes that normally occur during the late and terminal multipolar phases plays an important role in neocortical development.</p></div

IZ or VZ/SVZ-expressed genes showing changes in microarray analyses from E15.5 <i>Prdm8</i>-mVenus mouse neocortex.

<p>IZ or VZ/SVZ-expressed genes showing changes in microarray analyses from E15.5 <i>Prdm8</i>-mVenus mouse neocortex.</p

Microarray expression analyses of mVenus-positive versus mVenus-negative cells from E15.5 <i>Prdm8</i>-mVenus mouse neocortex.

<p>The genes with expression levels more than 2.4 fold higher in <i>Prdm8</i>-mVenus positive cells compared to mVenus negative cells are listed. From this analysis (n = 2), we have identified several genes showing specific expression within middle-IZ and/or upper-IZ.</p

Candidate genes, preferentially expressed in the late-MP and/or terminal-MP phases.

<p>Ten candidate genes were selected by the validation of DNA microarray data (A) (n = 2). Quantitative real-time PCR data shows the expression level of some candidate genes was suppressed by the introduction of pCAG-Prdm8 (B) (n = 4) or pCAG-Unc5D (C) (n = 3). Schematic drawing of a working hypothesis of this study (D).</p

Prdm8 alters layer formation in the neocortex.

<p>In utero electroporation of any one of control (pCAG-IRES-EGFP with pCAG-IRES-Puro; A), or Prdm8 gain-of-function (pCAG-IRES-EGFP with pCAG-Prdm8; B), or Prdm8 loss-of-function (pCAG-IRES-EGFP with pPrdm8sh#629; C) vectors were carried out at E12.5, and the brains were analyzed at P5. The cortex was divided into 10 bins and the percentage of EGFP-positive cells were quantified (D). The distribution of EGFP-positive cells is significantly increased in the upper bins (bins8–10) and reduced in lower bins (bin5) in the case of the pCAG-Prdm8-electroporated brains, and significantly decreased in upper bins (bins4–6), and increased in lower bins (bins1, 2) in the pPrdm8sh-electroporated brains. The number of counted cells was about 137 cells. Data represents the mean ± SD (n = 6 slices from 3 individuals); *p<0.05, **p<0.01. High-power images showing that the molecular features of control, Prdm8 gain-of-function, or loss-of-function cells in the neocortex, stained with Tbr1 (E, F, G), Ctip2 (K, L, M), RORb (K, L, M) and Brn2 (H, I, J). The percentage of each layer marker-positive EGFP-positive cells located in each layer position was quantified (N). The number of counted cells was about 184 cells. Data represents the mean ± SD (n>4 slices from 4 individuals); **p<0.01. Scale bars: 100 µm (A,E).</p