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Biomedical subjects

H Ohtaki

Publications and source records attributed to H Ohtaki.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Pharmacological brain cooling with indomethacin in acute hemorrhagic stroke: antiinflammatory cytokines and antioxidative effects.

We evaluated the effects of a novel pharmacological brain cooling (PBC) method with indomethacin (IND), a nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, without the use of cooling blankets in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Forty-six patients with hemorrhagic stroke (subarachnoid hemorrhage; n = 35, intracerebral hemorrhage; n = 11) were enrolled in this study. Brain temperature was measured directly with a temperature sensor. Patients were cooled by administering transrectal IND (100 mg) and a modified nasopharyngeal cooling method (positive selective brain cooling) initially. Brain temperature was controlled with IND 6 mg/kg/day for 14 days. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of interleukin-1beta (CSF IL-1beta) and serum bilirubin levels were measured at 1, 2, 4, and 7 days. The incidence of complicating symptomatic vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage was lower than in non-PBC patients. CSF IL-1beta and serum bilirubin levels were suppressed in treated patients. IND has several beneficial effects on damaged brain tissues (anticytokine, free radical scavenger, antiprostaglandin effects, etc.) and prevents initial and secondary brain damage. PBC treatment for hemorrhagic stroke in patients appears to yield favorable results by acting as an antiinflammatory cytokine and reducing oxidative stress.

Acute Disease↗

Controlled normothermia during ischemia is important for the induction of neuronal cell death after global ischemia in mouse.

A stable model of neuronal damage after ischemia is needed in mice to enable progression of transgenic strategies. We performed transient global ischemia induced by common carotid artery occlusions with and without maintaining normal rectal temperature (Trec) in order to determine the importance of body temperature control during ischemia. We measured brain temperature (Tb) during ischemia/reperfusion. Mice with normothermia (Trec within +/- 1 degrees C) had increased mortality and neuronal cell death in the CA1 region of hippocampus, which did not occur in hypothermic animals. If the Trec was kept within +/- 1 degrees C, the Tb decreased during ischemia. After reperfusion, Tb in the normothermia group developed hyperthermia, which reached > 40 degrees C and was > 2 degrees C higher than Trec. We suggest that tightly controlled normothermia and prevention of hypothermia (Trec) during ischemia are important factors in the development of a stable neuronal damage model in mice.

Animals↗

Progressive expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis after chronic ischemic hypoperfusion in rat.

Cerebrovascular stenosis caused by arteriosclerosis induces failure of the cerebral circulation. Even if chronic cerebral hypoperfusion does not induce acute neuronal cell death, cerebral hypoperfusion may be a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine if vasodilation, expression of VEGF, and neovascularization are homeostatic signs of cerebral circulation failure after permanent common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO) in the rat. Neuronal cell death in neocortex was observed 2 weeks after CCAO and gradually increased in a time-dependent manner. The diameter of capillaries and expression of VEGF also increased progressively after CCAO. Moreover, we observed unusual irregular angiogenic vasculature at 4 weeks. In conclusion, chronic hypoperfusion results in mechanisms to compensate for insufficiency in blood flow including vasodilation, VEGF expression, and neovascularization in the ischemic region. These results suggest that angiogenesis might be induced in adult brain through the support of growth factors and transplantation of vascular progenitor cells, and that neovascularization might be a therapeutic strategy for children and adults with diseases such as vascular dementia.

Animals↗

CSF hypocretin-1/orexin-A concentrations in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

The aim of this study was to examine the role of the hypothalamic hypocretin/orexin system in complications of delayed ischemic neuronal deficit (DIND) resulting from symptomatic vasospasm in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). CSF hypocretin-1/orexin-A levels were measured in 15 SAH patients. DIND complications occurred in seven patients with symptomatic vasospasm. Hypocretin-1/orexin-A levels were low in SAH patients during the 10 days following the SAH event. CSF hypocretin-1/orexin-A levels were lower in patients with DIND complications than in those who did not develop DIND. A significant transient decline in CSF hypocretin-1/orexin-A levels was also observed at the onset of DIND in all patients with symptomatic vasospasm. The reduced hypocretin/orexin production observed in SAH patients may reflect reduced brain function due to the decrease in cerebral blood flow. These results, taken together with recent experimental findings in rats that indicate hypocretin receptor 1 (orexin 1 receptor) mRNA and protein are elevated following middle cerebral artery occlusion, suggest that a reduction in hypocretin/orexin production in SAH and DIND patients is associated with alterations in brain hypocretin/orexin signaling in response to ischemia.

Adult↗

Peroxynitrite and caspase-3 expression after ischemia/reperfusion in mouse cardiac arrest model.

NO is a putative neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the brain. NO is not functioning as a direct neurotoxin. NO with the superoxide radical product peroxynitrite (ONOO-) is much more cytotoxic under tissue impairment conditions. Caspase-3, a potent effector of apoptosis that is triggered via several different signaling pathways, may play a very important role in neuronal cell death caused by various brain injuries. The relationship between mouse caspase-3 and peroxynitrite remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the in vivo expression of 3-nitrotyrosine (a metabolite of peroxinitrite) and caspase-3 after cerebral ischemia produced in a global ischemia model using mice (i.e., a cardiac arrest model). 3-nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity was detected in neuronal cells in the hippocampal dentate nucleus, and cortical regions starting at 12 hrs after ischemia. In particular, numerous neuronal cells were highly immunoreactive for 3-nitrotyrosine in the cortical regions. In hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, 3-nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity was detected from 24 hrs. Caspase-3 immunopositive cells were observed in approximately the same area in which the positive reaction to the anti-nitrotyrosine antibody was observed. These results provide direct evidence for the induction of 3-nitrotyrosine and caspase-3 expression in vivo in an ischemia model using mice. The present findings suggest that peroxynitrite generated by cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion was strongly cytotoxic and induced neuronal cell death (apoptosis) mediated by caspase-3.

Animals↗

Expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) following transient cerebral ischemia.

It has been considered that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is participated in the Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases, brain injury and brain ischemia. However, expression of TNFalpha after brain ischemia has not been demonstrated in detail. Therefore we examined the cellular expression of TNFalpha during and after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in mice by use of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical technique. TNFalpha mRNA expression was gradually increased in the neocortex of the ipsilateral hemisphere during ischemia and peaked at 1 hour after reperfusion. Then, the mRNA expression decreased and peaked again at 24 hours after reperfusion. TNFalpha-like immunoreactivities were observed in the process such as dendrite of neuron slightly before ischemia, and markedly increased in neurons in addition to the process of the ipsilateral hemisphere at 1 and 24 hours after ischemia. The results suggest that the expression of TNFalpha is up-regulated in the neurons after tMCAO. TNFalpha may induce ischemic neuronal cell death during ischemic insult.

Animals↗

Evaluation of neuronal cell death after a new global ischemia model in infant mice.

For the first time we set up a new model for global ischemia in the infant mice, and time-dependent changes of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and neuronal cell death were investigated in detail. Infant C57/B16 mice (postnatal 13 days) were anesthetized with inhalation of sevoflurane in N2O/O2 (70/30%) and were subjected to global ischemia by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (CCAO) for 25 minutes. Disruption of BBB was noted at 4 hours and increased up to 24 hours after the injection of 2% Evan's Blue in the transient CCAO (tCCAO) model. Evaluation of neuronal cell death was determined with toluidine blue staining. Morphological changes of neurons after tCCAO were clearly observed in the hippocampal CA1 region but were slightly detected in the CA3 region. However, there were no morphological changes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, the neocortex, the striatum and the hypothalamus. The number of survival neurons in the CA1 was significantly decreased at 2 days and sustained up to 4 days after tCCAO. These data indicate that this method is very useful to induce selective vulnerability in mouse hippocampus, and it provides a reliable ischemic model in infant mice.

Animals↗

Hippocampal heme oxigenase-1 in a murine cardiac arrest model.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a member of the heat shock protein family (HSP-32). It responds to thermal stress in cultured glial cells. To our knowledge. nothing is known about the expression and response of the HO-1 in cerebral ischemia. Therefore, we show here the induction of HO-1 in the brain of mice after global cerebral ischemia. HO-1-like immunoreactivity was detected at 12, 24, and 48 hours after ischemia recirculation. The HO-1-like immunoreactive cells were observed in astrocytes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and CA1. The peak level of HO-1-like immunoreactivity was found 48 hours after the recirculation. HO-1-like immunoreactivity was observed in GFAP-positive astrocytes by use of a double immunostaining method. These results provide direct evidence for the induction and localization of HO-1 immunoreactivity in vivo in a mouse cerebral ischemia. We suggest that HO-1, produced in astrocytes after ischemia-recirculation, may directly affect neurons to protect from cell death.

Animals↗

Neuroprotective effect from ischemia and direct free radical scavenging activity of Choto-san (kampo medicine).

Choto-san is a kampo medicine that is widely used in patients with cerebral infarction, but the details of its mechanism of action remain unclear. We examined the neuroprotective effects of Choto-san using an experimental cerebral ischemia model (i.e., a rat cardiac arrest model). We also investigated the ability of Choto-san to eliminate or inhibit the activity of free radicals. It was found that Choto-san significantly prevents delayed neuronal cell death after ischemic reperfusion. Electron spin resonance demonstrated that the formation of hydroxyl- and superoxide-DMPO spin adducts were inhibited by Choto-san. The results of this study indicated that Choto-san prevents delayed neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region after ischemia. Direct free radical scavenging activity is among the pharmacological effects of Choto-san.

Animals↗

Suppression of oxidative stress after transient focal ischemia in interleukin-1 knock out mice.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) contributes to ischemic neurodegeneration. However, the mechanisms regulating action of IL-1 are still poorly understood. In order to clarify this central issue, mice that were gene deficient both IL-1alpha and beta (IL-1 KO) and wild-type mice were subjected to 1 hour transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). The concentration of 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) which is considered to be a reliable oxidative DNA damage by superoxide anion, in brain and of total nitric oxide (NO) in plasma were determined by use of HPLC. Twenty-four hours after tMCAO, the ratio of 8OHdG to dG in the ipsilateral hemisphere of wild-type mice were 2.24 x 10(-3) and 4.41 x 10(-3) in the neocortex and striatum, respectively. The concentration of 8OHdG in the ipsilateral hemisphere of the wild-type mice was higher than that of the IL-1 KO mice. The concentration of total NO in the plasma of IL-1 KO mice was also lower than that of the wild-type 24 hours after tMCAO. These results strongly suggest that IL-1 is participated in generating reactive oxygen spices and it aggravates and induces the ischemic neuronal cell death.(183 words).

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Functional significance of colocalization of PACAP and catecholamine in nerve terminals.

Medullary neurons containing pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and noradrenalin (NA) project to the hypothalamus and they are involved in the regulation of arginine vasopressin (AVP) neurons. At the ultrastructural level, PACAP immunoreactivity was detected in the granular vesicles in catecholaminergic nerve terminals that made synaptic contact with AVP neurons. Both PACAP (at least 1 nM) and NA (at least 1 microM) induced large increases in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in isolated AVP cells. PACAP at 0.1 nM and NA at 0.1 microM had little effects, if any, on [Ca2+]i. However, when 0.1 nM PACAP and 0.1 microM NA were combined, they evoked large increase in [Ca2+]i in AVP neurons. An inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA) completely inhibited the PACAP-induced increase in [Ca2+]i, but only partly inhibited the NA-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. In AVP cells that were prelabeled with quinacrine, PACAP and NA acted synergistically to induce a loss of quinacrine fluorescence, indicating secretion of neurosecretory granules in AVP neurons. The results suggest that PACAP and NA, coreleased from the same nerve terminals, act in synergy to evoke calcium signaling and secretion in AVP neurons, and that the synergism is mediated by the interaction between cAMP-PKA pathway an as yet unidentified factor "X" linked to L-type Ca2+ channels. The synergism between PACAP and NA may contribute to the regulation of AVP secretion under physiological conditions.

Animals↗

Usefulness of a toothbrush as a source of evidential DNA for typing.

We investigated the usefulness of a toothbrush as a source of DNA for an unidentified cadaver. Ten toothbrushes were obtained from ten individuals along with their peripheral blood. We recovered from 10 to 430 ng of DNA from all but one of the toothbrushes. All ten toothbrushes, including the one containing no detectable DNA by fluorometry, were typed correctly at all of the loci tested, including nine STRs. Three toothbrushes obtained in two actual deaths also identified two victims and one suspect. Therefore, toothbrushes seem to be useful as a source of evidential DNA for personal identification.

Cadaver↗

Tetrameric short tandem repeat (STR) system D15S233 (wg1d1): sequencing and frequency data in the japanese and Chinese populations.

We evaluated the forensic usefulness of D15S233 (wg1d1), a tetrameric short tandem repeat (STR) locus, in the Japanese and Chinese populations. Typing was performed by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining. Nine different alleles were found in 472 Japanese chromosomes and seven in 186 Chinese chromosomes. 102 alleles sequenced were composed of two kinds of repeats (AGGA and GGGA). All alleles differed in size by one tetranucleotide repeat unit, and no insertion or deletion was found. The expected unbiased heterozygosities in Japanese and Chinese were 0.766 and 0.785, respectively. No significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were found in either population. We retyped all samples using an alternative pair of flanking primers in order to detect any spurious appearances of homozygotes due to sequence variation at the primer annealing site. One heterozygous sample had unbalanced density bands when the original primer set was used, but equal density bands when our newly designed primer set was used. Sequencing analysis revealed that the sparser allele had one nucleotide substitution near the 5' end of the annealing site of the original primer region. Thus, all apparently homo/heterozygous samples were thought to be truly homo/heterozygous. We also applied the D15S233 locus to paternity testing and forensic identification. Our results suggest that this locus should be a very useful STR locus for forensic practice in Japanese and Chinese.

Journal Article↗

[Quantification of regional cerebral blood flow at the control state and loaded with diamox using split-dose 99mTc-ECD SPECT and venous blood samples].

The purpose of the study is to develop a simple and less invasive method for quantifying regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) at pre- and post Diamox test using split-dose 99mTc-ECD and SPECT. By employing a microsphere model, integral of input function was calculated by the one-point venous sampling method previously reported. The study was performed on 5 subjects with cerebrovascular diseases. A split dose of 99mTc-ECD was injected pre- and post Diamox injection, and rCBF was measured by two SPECT scans and single venous samples, respectively. Mean CBF obtained by the present method was 0.47 +/- 0.07 ml/g/min at the control state, and 0.63 +/- 0.12 ml/g/min loaded with Diamox (mean % increase; 35%), showing good agreement with those obtained by the 133Xe-inhalation method. Since the present method does not require arterial blood sampling, dynamic data acquisition and dose corrections, it is simple, less invasive and useful in clinical SPECT studies.

Acetazolamide↗

[A study on accuracy of rCBF measurements loaded with acetazolamide based on the microsphere model using iodine-123-IMP SPECT].

We studied the accuracy of the method for measuring regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) loaded with acetazolamide based on the microsphere model using iodine-123-IMP (IMP) SPECT. Two methods were examined, the super-early microsphere method with continuous withdrawal of arterial blood using the SPECT image obtained 5 min after tracer injection and the early microsphere method with one-point arterial sampling using the SPECT image obtained 30 min postinjection. On five subjects, after acetazolamide administration we measured rCBF by the analysis based on the two-compartment model using the data derived from dynamic SPECT scans and the sequential arterial blood sampling after IMP injection. Values of rCBF obtained by both super-early microsphere method and early microsphere method were significantly correlated with those obtained by the two-compartment model analysis (r = 0.982, 0.930, respectively). We conclude that it is possible to use the method based on the microsphere model in measuring rCBF loaded with acetazolamide. The early microsphere method with one-point sampling should be used clinically because of its simplicity and less-invasiveness.

Acetazolamide↗

[Quantification of cerebral blood flow with 99mTc-ECD SPECT based on a 3-compartment model].

In the present study we developed a method for quantifying regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) using 99mTc-ECD SPECT based on a 3-compartment model. The dynamic SPECT scanning and sequential sampling of arterial blood were performed on 12 subjects with cerebrovascular diseases and etc. We defined brain fractionation index (BFI) as a parameter of rCBF, which was obtained from a single SPECT data and arterial input. The relationship between the values of BFI and rCBF obtained by the 133Xe inhalation method was analyzed by approximation with exponential function. In this method, rCBF was calculated from the values of BFI using the inverse function of the exponential function as a regression curve. The method was applied seven other patients with cerebrovascular diseases and the values of rCBF were compared with those obtained by the 133Xe inhalation method. We observed a good correlation (r = 0.854), and the inclination was approximately 1. This method can be applied to not only large field SPECT cameras but also conventional SPECT cameras.

Adult↗

Hydrogen peroxide-mediated degradation of protein: different oxidation modes of copper- and iron-dependent hydroxyl radicals on the degradation of albumin.

Cupric ions (Cu2+) added to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were found to generate hydroxyl radicals (HO) capable of benzoate hydroxylation. Although ferrous (Fe2+) and ferric (Fe3+) ions, when added to H2O2, resulted in very little production of HO, the addition of EDTA to the reaction mixture markedly increased their catalytic activity. In the absence of albumin, catalase (a H2O2 scavenger) and mannitol (an HO radical scavenger) effectively inhibited the formation of HO in H2O2/Cu2+ and H2O2/Fe2+/EDTA oxidation systems. On analysis using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, catalase was shown to prevent the degradation of albumin by both oxidation systems, whereas mannitol was an effective scavenger of the H2O2/Fe2+/EDTA oxidation system but not of the H2O2/Cu2+ oxidation system. Furthermore, the effect of alteration of benzoate hydroxylation and H2O2 consumption on the H2O2/Cu2+ and H2O2/Fe2+/EDTA oxidation systems resulted in opposite behavior that was dependent upon the presence or absence of albumin. These observations suggest that copper ions bind to albumin and induce site-specific degradation by HO generated at the copper-binding site, whereas the Fe2+/EDTA-catalyzed oxidation system induces non-specific degradation of albumin by HO generated by the Fenton reaction between H2O2 and free Fe2+/EDTA in solution.

Albumins↗