Biomedical subjects

H Hama

Publications and source records attributed to H Hama.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

The phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate binding protein Vac1p interacts with a Rab GTPase and a Sec1p homologue to facilitate vesicle-mediated vacuolar protein sorting.

Activated GTP-bound Rab proteins are thought to interact with effectors to elicit vesicle targeting and fusion events. Vesicle-associated v-SNARE and target membrane t-SNARE proteins are also involved in vesicular transport. Little is known about the functional relationship between Rabs and SNARE protein complexes. We have constructed an activated allele of VPS21, a yeast Rab protein involved in vacuolar protein sorting, and demonstrated an allele-specific interaction between Vps21p and Vac1p. Vac1p was found to bind the Sec1p homologue Vps45p. Although no association between Vps21p and Vps45p was seen, a genetic interaction between VPS21 and VPS45 was observed. Vac1p contains a zinc-binding FYVE finger that may bind phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P]. In other FYVE domain proteins, this motif and PtdIns(3)P are necessary for membrane association. Vac1 proteins with mutant FYVE fingers still associated with membranes but showed vacuolar protein sorting defects and reduced interactions with Vps45p and activated Vps21p. Vac1p membrane association was not dependent on PtdIns(3)P, Pep12p, Vps21p, Vps45p, or the PtdIns 3-kinase, Vps34p. Vac1p FYVE finger mutant missorting phenotypes were suppressed by a defective allele of VPS34. These data indicate that PtdIns(3)P may perform a regulatory role, possibly involved in mediating Vac1p protein-protein interactions. We propose that activated-Vps21p interacts with its effector, Vac1p, which interacts with Vps45p to regulate the Golgi to endosome SNARE complex.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed1999

Loss of the sarcoglycan complex and sarcospan leads to muscular dystrophy in beta-sarcoglycan-deficient mice.

beta-Sarcoglycan, one of the subunits of the sarcoglycan complex, is a transmembranous glycoprotein which associates with dystrophin and is the molecule responsible for beta-sarcoglycanopathy, a Duchenne-like autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy. To develop an animal model of beta-sarcoglycanopathy and to clarify the role of beta-sarcoglycan in the pathogenesis of the muscle degeneration in vivo, we developed beta-sarcoglycan-deficient mice using a gene targeting technique. beta-Sarcoglycan-deficient mice (BSG(-)(/-)mice) exhibited progressive muscular dystrophy with extensive degeneration and regeneration. The BSG(-)(/-)mice also exhibited muscular hypertrophy characteristic of beta-sarcoglycanopathy. Immunohistochemical and immunoblot analyses of BSG(-)(/-)mice demonstrated that deficiency of beta-sarcoglycan also caused loss of all of the other sarcoglycans as well as of sarcospan in the sarcolemma. On the other hand, laminin-alpha2, alpha- and beta-dystroglycan and dystrophin were still present in the sarcolemma. However, the dystrophin-dystroglycan complex in BSG(-)(/-)mice was unstable compared with that in the wild-type mice. Our data suggest that loss of the sarcoglycan complex and sarcospan alone is sufficient to cause muscular dystrophy, that beta-sarcoglycan is an important protein for formation of the sarcoglycan complex associated with sarcospan and that the role of the sarcoglycan complex and sarcospan may be to strengthen the dystrophin axis connecting the basement membrane with the cytoskeleton.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Performance of a helical undulator of the UVSOR.

A helical undulator was installed in the 0.75 GeV storage ring of the UVSOR facility of the Institute for Molecular Science. The undulator was designed to produce the fundamental of the circularly polarized undulator radiation in the energy range 2-43 eV, and the higher harmonics with elliptical polarization in the energy range up to 300 eV. Recently, the first spectrum from the undulator was observed. The performance of the undulator and the obtained spectrum are reported.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Undulators at HiSOR - a compact racetrack-type ring.

A compact racetrack-type 700 MeV storage ring (HiSOR) has been constructed at Hiroshima Synchrotron Radiation Center (HSRC). As the ring was planned for synchrotron radiation research on science and technology using VUV to X-rays up to 5 keV with limited size and cost, the ring was designed (i) to realize a high magnetic field (2.7 T) using conventional dipole magnets for higher critical energy, and (ii) to include two straight sections for insertion devices. A linear undulator (25-300 eV) and a new-type helical/linear undulator were installed at the two straight sections. The latter undulator consists of upper and lower jaws, as in a planar undulator; each jaw consists of one fixed magnet array at the centre and two magnet arrays on both sides. By longitudinal displacement of the side magnet arrays, the phase between the vertical and horizontal magnetic fields, and therefore the polarization (right- or left-circular, elliptical, linear) can be selected. The helical/linear undulator gives almost perfect circular polarization at 4-40 eV in the helical configuration without changing the phase of the magnet arrays, as well as linearly polarized light at 3-300 eV in the linear configuration.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Present Status of the UVSOR Facility - 1997.

The UVSOR has been operational for nearly 14 years. In recent years, improvements to accelerators and beamlines have been carried out to obtain better performance and new scientific achievements. For example, a new type of helical undulator and a resonance transverse kicker were installed into the straight sections of the storage ring, and about one-third of the beamlines were upgraded by installing new monochromators and an interferometer. In addition, instruments and equipment were improved for research studies, with many interesting results. The most up-to-date information of the UVSOR facility is presented.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Impaired blood-brain barrier function in angiotensinogen-deficient mice.

Astrocytes in the central nervous system have physiologically important roles in the response to brain injury. Brain damage results in disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), producing detachment of astrocyte endfeet from endothelial cells. The resultant leakage of serum proteins from loosened tight junctions between endothelial cells produces brain edema. At the same time, reactive astrocytes migrate to the injured area, where they proliferate and produce extracellular matrix, thereby reconstituting the BBB. As astrocytes are known to express angiotensinogen, which is the precursor of angiotensins (AI to AIV), we have investigated a possible functional contribution of angiotensinogen or one of its metabolites to BBB reconstitution. The astrocytes of angiotensinogen knockout mice had very attenuated expression of glial fibrially acidic protein and decreased laminin production in response to cold injury, and ultimately incomplete reconstitution of impaired BBB function. Although these abnormalities were rescued by administration of AII or AIV, the restoration of BBB function was not inhibited by AII type 1 and 2 receptor antagonists. These findings provide evidence that astrocytes with angiotensins are required for functional maintenance of the BBB.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed1998

Possible participation of prostaglandins generated in the anteroventral third ventricular region in the hypovolemia-induced vasopressin secretion of conscious rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of prostaglandins (PGs) in the anteroventral third ventricular region (AV 3V), a cerebral site for cardiovascular homeostasis, in hypovolemia-induced vasopressin (AVP) secretion. METHODS: We infused meclofenamate (78. 3 nmol in 1 microl), a PG synthesis inhibitor, or PGE2 (7.1 nmol in 0.5 microl) into the AV 3V of conscious rats, examining their effects on plasma AVP and other variables in the presence or absence of hemorrhages. The hemorrhages (about 14% of blood volume) were conducted successively by taking femoral arterial blood over a 30-s period at 10-min intervals. RESULTS: The first hemorrhage increased plasma AVP in blood samples obtained 10 min later, without affecting plasma angiotensin II (ANG II), arterial pressure and heart rate. The second hemorrhage after 10 min raised plasma AVP further and, remarkably, augmented plasma ANG II, and reduced arterial pressure. The AVP responses to both the first and second hemorrhages were attenuated by meclofenamate infusion into the AV 3V performed 35 min before the first hemorrhage. The meclofenamate infusion did not alter the response of ANG II, while that of arterial pressure was potentiated and heart rate was decreased after the second hemorrhage. These effects of meclofenamate on plasma AVP and the cardiovascular parameters were not found when the drug was infused into the nucleus accumbens, the region slightly distant from the AV 3V, or the lateral cerebral ventricle. In the normovolemic state, meclofenamate administered into the three brain regions did not affect any of the variables monitored. In contrast, application of PGE2 into the AV 3V enhanced plasma AVP, heart rate and arterial pressure after 5 and 15 min. Histological examination indicated that infusion sites of meclofenamate in the AV 3V were close to those of PGE2 in several cases and included areas such as the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, and the median and medial preoptic nuclei. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PGs synthesized in and/or near the AV 3V may be involved in the regulation of AVP release and cardiovascular function in the hypovolemic state.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[New methods for measuring atlanto-axial vertical subluxation in rheumatoid arthritis by MR imaging].

We proposed two new methods of measuring atlanto-axial vertical dislocation in rheumatoid arthritis by MR imaging. One is the distance from the subdental synchondrosis of the axis to the diameter of the ring of the atlas. The other is the distance from the midpoint of the anteroposterior ends of the inferior margin of the axis to the diameter of the ring of the atlas. Values were also determined by the Ranawat method and the Redlund-Johnell method. There was good correlation between values determined by the new methods and those determined by the Ranawat method and Redlund-Johnell method.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Anti-apoptotic action of angiotensin fragments to neuronal cells from angiotensinogen knock-out mice.

The morphological analysis in a congenic line of angiotensinogen knock-out mice (AgKO) revealed the decreased density in granular layer cells of hippocampus and cerebellum, suggesting neuronal cells of AgKO susceptible to apoptotic cell death. This phenomenon was further studied by culture of the hippocampal neurons with decreased concentration of serum. AgKO neuronal cells, which showed apoptosis by lower concentration of the serum within several hours, however, survived much longer in the presence of angiotensin II (AII) and IV (AIV). This anti-apoptotic action was not interfered by AII receptor antagonists, CV11874 and PD123319. These results suggest that the renin-angiotensin system could play a critical role in central nervous system, preventing neuronal cells from apoptosis not only by AII but also AIV.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed1997

Role of endothelin-1 in astrocyte responses after acute brain damage.

We examined the possibility of the involvement of endothelin (ET)-1, a potent vasoactive peptide, in the process of astrocyte proliferation after brain injury. Acute brain damage in rats was induced by cold-injury. Astrocytes changed from a differentiated state to an immature, RC-1-positive state immediately after the injury. In the injured site, the level of ET-1-like immunoreactivity in the tissue was significantly increased on the first postoperative day and was sustained at a high level for 5 days. ET(B) receptor mRNA was markedly but transiently down-regulated only on the first day after the injury. Brain extracts (BE) were prepared from the injured tissues, and their effects on the proliferative characteristics of astrocytes were examined in primary culture of astrocytes. The flat morphology, which was observed in association with cell proliferation, and DNA synthesis of astrocytes were enhanced by treatment with each of the BE from 1 (D1-BE), 3 and 5 days after the injury. A monoclonal antibody that recognizes the C-terminus of rat ET-1 and ET-3 inhibited the DNA synthesis of astrocytes induced by D1-BE. These results provide experimental evidence that ET-1 may participate in the initiation of gliosis in the acute phase of brain damage.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1997

Possible roles of prostaglandins in the anteroventral third ventricular region in the hyperosmolality-evoked vasopressin secretion of conscious rats.

This study explored the roles of prostaglandins in the anteroventral third ventricular region, a cerebral osmoreceptor site, in the osmoregulation mechanism of vasopressin release. We injected (1 microliter) prostaglandin E2 (12.8 nmol) or meclofenamate (78.3 nmol), an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis, into the brain region or the lateral cerebral ventricle of conscious rats, examining their effects on plasma vasopressin and its controlling factors in the presence or absence of an osmotic stimulus. The injection of prostaglandin E2 into the anteroventral third ventricular region augmented plasma vasopressin and arterial pressure after 5 min and 15 min, without influencing plasma osmolality, sodium, potassium, or chloride. In contrast, intraventricular injection of prostaglandin E2 did not cause any significant effect on those variables. The i.v. infusion (0.1 ml.kg-1.min-1) of hypertonic saline (2.5 mol/l) enhanced plasma vasopressin after 15 min and 30 min; this was accompanied by increased plasma osmolality, sodium, and chloride, and by unaltered or elevated arterial pressure. Meclofenamate given into the anteroventral third ventricular region 30 min before starting the hypertonic saline infusion abolished the osmotic vasopressin response without significantly changing the responses of the other variables. Histological analysis showed that the injection sites of meclofenamate in these rats were close to those of prostaglandin E2 in the anteroventral third ventricular region and included the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and the surrounding area, the medial preoptic area, and periventricular and median preoptic nuclei. When injection cannulae for meclofenamate deviated from those areas incidentally or when the drug was expressly administered into the cerebral ventricle, the osmotic vasopressin response was not inhibited. Plasma vasopressin and the other variables observed during the i.v. infusion of isotonic saline (0.15 mol/l) were not affected significantly by meclofenamate administration into the anteroventral third ventricular region or the cerebral ventricle. On the basis of these results, we concluded that prostaglandins synthesized in and/or near the anteroventral third ventricular region might contribute to the facilitation of vasopressin release in the hyperosmotic state.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Microtubule dynamics regulates the level of endothelin-B receptor in rat cultured astrocytes.

We investigated the effect of cytoskeleton modulators on endothelin-B (ET(B)) receptor expression in rat primary cultured astrocytes. Northern blot analysis and a binding study revealed that colchicine and nocodazole, microtubule-disrupting agents, decreased the levels of both ET(B) receptor mRNA and the number of ET-1 binding sites in quiescent astrocytes. Down-regulation of both ET(B) receptor mRNA and the number of binding sites for ET-1 was also observed in quiescent astrocytes treated with taxol, a microtubule-stabilizing agent. In contrast, neither beta-lumicolchicine, an inactive isomer of colchicine, nor cytochalasin D, a microfilament-disrupting agent, influenced ET(B) receptor expression. The level of ET(B) receptors in astrocytes was affected by the cell state, namely, proliferative, quiescent, or differentiated state. The order of ET(B) receptor expression according to the cell state was proliferative state < quiescent state << differentiated state induced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Also, in proliferative astrocytes and differentiated astrocytes, colchicine significantly down-regulated both ET(B) receptor mRNA and the number of binding sites for ET-1. However, thymidine assay revealed that colchicine did not change quiescent astrocytes and differentiated astrocytes to a proliferative state. Furthermore, the increase in glutamine synthetase activity in differentiated astrocytes was not affected by colchicine. These results suggest that microtubule dynamics possibly regulates ET(B) receptor expression in astrocytes without affecting the cell state.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

[Astrocytes and endothelins: possibilities for tissue-repair in damaged central nervous system].

Endothelins and their receptor of type B (ETBR) that couples with G-protein are widely distributed in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). ETBR mainly exists on astrocytes, and endothelins exert mitogenic action on astrocytes through stimulation of the receptor. The intracellular signaling of ETBR in astrocytes is converged in the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase through a protein kinase C-dependent pathway and a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein-mediated pathway. We demonstrated that cultured astrocytes. When differentiated and growth-arrested by treatment with dibutyryl cyclic AMP, abundantly expressed ETBR and these cells immediately entered into a proliferative state in response to endothelin-1 at the plasma level. This has the following physiological implication in vivo: plasma-derived endothelin-1 intrudes into parenchyme upon CNS damage, and it initiates astrogliosis through activation of ETBR. We used two models of CNS injury in rats. The first is a brain edema model induced by cold-injury, and the second is a spinal cord injury model, both of which allow plasma to exude into the injured tissues and subsequently trigger sequential proliferative responses of astrocytes after the injury. Anti-endothelin monoclonal antibody and SB209670, an endothelin receptor antagonist, specifically and potently inhibited astrocytic proliferation 24 hr after the injury. It is concluded that endothelin-1 plays a key role for initiation of astrocytic proliferation in the acute phase of CNS damage.

Astrocytes↗

PubMed1997

[The effects of paternal and maternal grandmothers on mother's disciplinary behavior].

Following Tomlin and Passman (1991), this study examined whether advice of paternal and maternal grandmothers had different effects on mothers' disciplinary behavior of their children. Mothers, grandmothers, and 4-7-year-old children from 22 three-generational families participated in the study. Whenever the child made an error during a task, the reward was to be reduced. The mother decided the amount to be reduced on advice of the grandmother, who then was informed of her decision. In fact, however, the child's performance, grandmother's advice, and disciplinary decision were manipulated by the experimenter. Results showed that mothers living with paternal grandmothers modified their decision in accordance with the advice, while mothers living with maternal grandmothers did not. The mother's decision had similar effects on subsequent advice by the paternal or maternal grandmother, both of whom tended to endorse her decision. Thus, paternal and maternal grandmothers' advice had different effects on maternal disciplinary behavior of the children.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Anticoagulant factor protein S inhibits the proliferation of rat astrocytes after injury.

The actions of protein S (PS) on the scratch injury-induced proliferation of rat astrocytes (AC) were studied. PS (10-300 nM) markedly inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into injured AC. The effect of 100 nM PS was comparable with that of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1; 20 ng/ml). The incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine, which is usually detectable in AC along the border of the wound, was undetectable in the presence of 300 nM PS. The level of PS mRNA in the injured AC was slightly increased 15 h after the injury, although the level of its receptor, Tyro 3 mRNA was not changed significantly. The results of the present study suggest that PS plays an important role in tissue repair processes in the central nervous system (CNS) by suppressing the proliferation of AC as in the case of TGF-beta 1.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Endogenous endothelin-1 initiates astrocytic growth after spinal cord injury.

We developed a rat spinal cord injury model and investigated whether endogenous endothelin (ET)-1 plays a role in astrocytic growth after injury. Immunohistochemical study showed that the number of immature astrocytes (ACs) exhibiting strong reactivity to the monoclonal antibody, RC1, markedly increased 24 h after the injury. Injection of a potent nonselective ET receptor antagonist, SB209670, into the lesion sites significantly inhibited the appearance of RC1-positive cells 24 h after the injury. In conjunction with this result, the increase in immunostaining density of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine in the spinal cord 24 h after the injury was inhibited by the injection of SB209670. The tissue content of ET-1-LI was significantly increased 12 and 24 h after the injury. These results suggest that endogenous ET-1 is involved in astrocytic growth after spinal cord injury.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Molecular pharmacology and pathophysiological significance of endothelin.

Since the discovery of the most potent vasoconstrictor peptide, endothelin, in 1988, explosive investigations have rapidly clarified much of the basic pharmacological, biochemical and molecular biological features of endothelin, including the presence and structure of isopeptides and their genes (endothelin-1, -2 and -3), regulation of gene expression, intracellular processing, specific endothelin converting enzyme (ECE), receptor subtypes (ETA and ETB), intracellular signal transduction following receptor activation, etc. ECE was recently cloned, and its structure was shown to be a single transmembrane protein with a short intracellular N-terminal and a long extracellular C-terminal that contains the catalytic domain and numerous N-glycosylation sites. In addition to acute contractile or secretory actions, endothelin has been shown to exert long-term proliferative actions on many cell types. In this case, intracellular signal transduction appears to converge to activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. As a recent dramatic advance, a number of non-peptide and orally active receptor antagonists have been developed. They, as well as current peptide antagonists, markedly accelerated the pace of investigations into the true pathophysiological roles of endogenous endothelin-1 in mature animals; e.g., hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, acute renal failure, cerebral vasospasm, vascular thickening, cardiac hypertrophy, chronic heart failure, etc. Thus, the interference with the endothelin pathway by either ECE-inhibition or receptor blockade may provide an exciting prospect for the development of novel therapeutic drugs.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Possible contribution of dopaminergic receptors in the anteroventral third ventricular region to hyperosmolality-induced vasopressin secretion in conscious rats.

We have reported previously that regions encompassing the cerebral ventricle may contain dopamine receptors responsible for facilitatory roles in the osmotic release of vasopressin in conscious rats. In order to explore the location of these receptors, we injected (0.5 mul) the dopamine antagonist haloperidol (13.3 nmol) or dopamine (26.4 nmol) topically into the anteroventral third ventricular region or the paraventricular nucleus of rats, and their effects on the levels of plasma vasopressin and its controlling factors were examined in the presence or absence of an osmotic stimulus. The effects of haloperidol injections into the ventral tegmental area were also tested to study whether information associated with drinking behavior may affect the osmotic vasopressin secretion. Intravenous infusion (0.1 ml kg-1 body wt min-1) of hypertonic saline (2.5 mol/l) enhanced plasma vasopressin 15 and 30 min later, and this was accompanied by an augmentation of plasma osmolality, sodium and chloride, and by elevated or unaltered arterial pressure. The vasopressin response was abolished by haloperidol injection into the anteroventral third ventricular region 10 min before the beginning of the hypertonic saline infusion. The injection sites were confirmed histologically to have been in or near the organum vasculosum of the laminae terminalis and a ventral part of the median preoptic nucleus. Similarly, a partial but significant reduction of the vasopressin response was noted after bilateral injections of haloperidol into the ventral tegmental area, whereas bilateral haloperidol injections into the paraventricular nucleus had no appreciable effect. The responses of plasma osmolality, electrolytes and arterial pressure to the osmotic load were not affected significantly by haloperidol injections into the anteroventral third ventricular region, ventral tegmental area or the paraventricular nucleus. The iv infusion of isotonic saline (0.15 mol/l) did not change plasma vasopressin and the other variables significantly, and this was also the case when preceded by application of haloperidol into the anteroventral third ventricular region, ventral tegmental area or the paraventricular nucleus. Dopamine injection into the anteroventral third ventricular region increased plasma vasopressin 5 min later, without affecting plasma osmolality, electrolytes or arterial pressure. On the basis of these results, we concluded that dopamine receptors responsible for facilitatory roles in osmotically stimulated vasopressin secretion may exist in the anteroventral third ventricular region and ventral tegmental area.

Animals↗