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Biomedical subjects

Hiroyuki Nakayama

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroyuki Nakayama.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Microarray analysis of T-2 toxin-induced liver, placenta and fetal liver lesions in pregnant rats.

Pregnant rats on day 13 of gestation were treated orally with 2 mg/kg of T-2 toxin and sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h after the treatment (HAT). Histopathologically, the number of apoptotic cells was increased in the liver, placenta and fetal liver (peaked at 6, 12 and 9-12 HAT, respectively). To examine the gene expression profiles, we performed microarray analysis of these tissues at two selected time points based on the results of the TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Increased expression of oxidative stress- and apoptosis-related genes was detected in the liver of dams, placenta and fetal liver of pregnant rats treated with T-2 toxin at the peak time point of apoptosis. Decreased expression of lipid metabolism- and drug-metabolizing enzyme-related genes was also detected in these tissues. The results suggested that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway might be involved in the mechanism of T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis. In addition, increased expression of the c-jun gene was consistently observed in these tissues. Our results suggest that the mechanism of T-2 toxin-induced toxicity in pregnant rats is due to oxidative stress followed by the activation of the MAPK pathway, finally inducing apoptosis. The c-jun gene may play an important role in T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis.

Administration, Oral↗

Ethylnitrosourea induces neural progenitor cell apoptosis after S-phase accumulation in a p53-dependent manner.

Neural progenitor cells populate the ventricular zone of the fetal central nervous system. In this study, immediately after the administration of ethylnitrosourea (ENU), an alkylating agent, an accumulation of neural progenitor cells in the S phase was observed. This event was caused by the inhibition or arrest of DNA replication rather than acceleration of the G1/S transition. Soon after this accumulation reached its peak, the number of cells in the G2/M phase decreased and the apoptotic cell count increased. In p53-deficient mice, both ENU-induced apoptosis and S-phase accumulation were almost completely abrogated. These findings indicate that ENU inhibits or arrests DNA replication in neural progenitor cells during the S phase and then evokes apoptosis before the cells enter the G2 phase. Furthermore, these data also demonstrate that both ENU-induced apoptosis and cell cycle perturbation in the S phase require p53.

Animals↗

Effects of pregnancy on CYPs protein expression in rat liver.

A body of evidence suggests that pregnancy may be responsible for the depression in the microsomal enzyme activity and the reduction in the total content of cytochrome P450 (CYP) in the rat liver. However, changes in expression of individual CYP isozyme remain poorly known. The current study was designed to examine the changes in CYPs protein expression in the liver of F344 rats in midpregnancy and late pregnancy by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Total nine antirat CYPs antibodies (CYP1A1, CYP2B1/CYP2B2, CYP2C6, CYP2C12, CYP2D1, CYP2D4, CYP2E1, CYP3A1, and CYP4A1) were used. In comparison with age-matched nonpregnant control rats, there were significant decreases in hepatic levels of CYP2B2, CYP2C6, and CYP4A1 in midpregnancy (day 13) and CYP2B2, CYP2C6, CYP4A1, CYP1A1, CYP2B1, and CYP2E1 in late pregnancy (day 19). The expression of CYP2C12, CYP2D1, and CYP 3A1 did not differ between nonpregnant and pregnant rats, and CYP2D4 was not detectable in microsomal proteins obtained from nonpregnant and pregnant rats at a protein loading of 20 mug total protein per lane. Immunohistochemistry showed that there were no differences in the distribution and degree of immunostainability for the abovementioned antibodies to nine CYPs between pregnant and nonpregnant rats.

Animals↗

Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus-induced sialodacryoadenitis in mice.

The mode of occurrence of the D variant of encephalomyocarditis (EMC-D) virus-induced acute sialodacryoadenitis was investigated using three strains of mice differing in their sensitivity to EMC-D virus-induced diabetes (C57BL/6: resistant; BALB/c: moderately sensitive; DBA/2: highly sensitive). Mice were intranasally inoculated with high (10(5) PFU/mouse) or low dose (10(2) PFU/mouse) of EMC-D virus. Although there were individual differences, the blood virus titer generally reached the peak earlier in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group. Signals of viral RNA and histopathological changes were seen in parotid glands and intraorbital and extraorbital lachrymal glands. In these glands, signals of viral RNA and histopathological changes were detected only in acinar cells and initial lesions were characterized by pyknosis of acinar cells. Coagulative necrosis with interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration developed later in parotid glands of BALB/c mice of the high-dose group and in intraorbital and extraorbital lachrymal glands of all groups except for C57BL/6 mice of the low-dose group. Such changes were not observed in epithelial cells of the ductal system. The present results indicate that EMC-D virus shows clear tissue and cell tropism within the salivary and lachrymal glands, probably due to the distribution of receptors for EMC virus.

Animals↗

Temporal reduction in size of salivary acinus in rats induced by theophylline.

Repeated administration of theophylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, induces the enlargement of the salivary glands in rats. Time-course changes after a single administration of theophylline were examined in the salivary glands, including phosphodiesterase enzyme activity, and the expression of aquaporin 5 (AQP5), a water channel. We also examined the contribution of beta-adrenergic receptors to theophylline-induced salivary changes. Male F344 rats were given 50 mg/kg of theophylline intraperitoneally either alone or concurrently with a 10 mg/kg subcutaneous injection of propranolol. After treatment with theophylline alone, the weight and histology of the submaxillary and parotid glands were examined. Phosphodiesterase activity and AQP5 were detected by enzyme- and immuno-histochemistry, respectively. At 4 hours, 8 hours, or both, organ weights were decreased with depletion of secretory vesicles in the acinar cells. In the submaxillary glands, reduced activity of phosphodiesterase and increased expression of AQP5 in the intercalated ducts were observed at 4 hours. When co-administered, propranolol partially abolished theophylline-induced glandular reduction. These results suggest that the theophylline-induced transient reduction in size of the salivary glands is attributable not only to phosphodiesterase inhibition but also to beta-adrenergic receptor activation and that the intercalated ducts in submaxillary glands play a role in the production of saliva.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Magnetic resonance imaging of a canine eye with melanoma.

An 8-year-old Beagle dog had exophthalmos of the left eye for the last two past months. On ophthalmoscopy, the intraocular lesion could not be evaluated due to the opacity of the cornea. Ultrasonography revealed that the eyeball was distorted in shape and shifted in position, however, the precise lesion could not be identified. On magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the lesion was observed as hyperintense on T1-weighted and hypointense on T2-weighted images, similar to those reported in human melanoma. The lesion was histologically diagnosed to be malignant intraocular melanoma. Though this is only a case report, canine ocular melanoma may show the similar characteristic MR images as in human uveal malignant melanoma.

Animals↗

Choroidal melanoma in a dog.

A 7-year-old intact female golden Retriever was referred for evaluation of an intraorbital mass of the left eye. Based on ophthalmoscopy, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the tentative diagnosis was made as an intraocular neoplasia, especially choroidal melanoma. The orbital exenteration of the affected eye was performed. The mass was histologically diagnosed as malignant choroidal melanoma. No signs of recurrence and metastasis were detected by thoracic radiographs, blood examinations and MR images, and the dog was clinically healthy for 23 months after operation.

Animals↗

Malignant NK/T-cell lymphoma associated with simian Epstein-Barr virus infection in a Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata).

A case of spontaneous malignant lymphoma in a Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) was pathologically, etiologically and virologically studied. Nasal cavity was involved in the neoplastic lesions in addition to lymphoid and visceral tissues. Histopathological analyses revealed the presence of neoplastic cells classified into histiocytic Hodgkin-like cells and Reed-Sternberg-like cells. Histiocytic Hodgkin-like cells were CD16+ and CD20+, and the CD16+ cells were also positive for simian Epstein-Barr virus (sEBV)-encoded early RNA transcripts. RS-like cells were negative for CD3, CD16 and CD20. Antibodies to early antigen of sEBV were detected, while antibodies to simian T-cell leukemia virus-1 were negative. The case may correspond to EBV-associated nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma in humans rather than Hodgkin lymphoma.

Animals↗

Cardiac-specific overexpression of sarcolipin inhibits sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a) activity and impairs cardiac function in mice.

Sarcolipin (SLN) inhibits the cardiac sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase (SERCA2a) by direct binding and is superinhibitory if it binds through phospholamban (PLN). To determine whether overexpression of SLN in the heart might impair cardiac function, transgenic (TG) mice were generated with cardiac-specific overexpression of NF-SLN (SLN tagged at its N terminus with the FLAG epitope). The level of NF-SLN expression (the NF-SLN/PLN expression ratio) was equivalent to that which induces profound superinhibition when coexpressed with PLN and SERCA2a in HEK-293 cells. In TG hearts, the apparent affinity of SERCA2a for Ca(2+) was decreased compared with non-TG littermate control hearts. Invasive hemodynamic and echocardiographic analyses revealed impaired cardiac contractility and ventricular hypertrophy in TG mice. Basal PLN phosphorylation was reduced. In isolated papillary muscle subjected to isometric tension, peak amplitudes of Ca(2+) transients and peak tensions were reduced, whereas decay times of Ca(2+) transients and relaxation times of tension were increased in TG mice. Isoproterenol largely restored contractility in papillary muscle and stimulated PLN phosphorylation to wild-type levels in intact hearts. No compensatory changes in expression of SERCA2a, PLN, ryanodine receptor, and calsequestrin were observed in TG hearts. Coimmunoprecipitation indicated that overexpressed NF-SLN was bound to both SERCA2a and PLN, forming a ternary complex. These data suggest that NF-SLN overexpression inhibits SERCA2a through stabilization of SERCA2a-PLN interaction in the absence of PLN phosphorylation and through the inhibition of PLN phosphorylation. Inhibition of SERCA2a impairs contractility and calcium cycling, but responsiveness to beta-adrenergic agonists may prevent progression to heart failure.

Animals↗

Involvement of p53 in 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine-induced trophoblastic cell apoptosis and impaired proliferation in rat placenta.

1-beta-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C), a DNA-damaging agent, severely inhibits fetal growth and has teratogenicity. Recently, we reported that Ara-C also causes placental growth retardation and increases placental apoptosis. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the mechanisms of placental injury induced by genotoxic stress and involvement of p53, which mediates apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest after DNA damage. We injected Ara-C into pregnant rats on Day 13 of gestation and examined the placentas from 1 to 48 h after the administration. Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP end-labeling (TUNEL) revealed that the apoptosis of trophoblastic cells in the placental labyrinth zone increased from 3 h after the treatment and peaked at 6 h before returning to control levels at 48 h. An increase in cleaved caspase-3 immunoreactivity was also detected at 6 h. Proliferative activity as measured by immunohistochemistry for topoisomerase II alpha and by mitotic index significantly decreased after the treatment in the labyrinth zone. Immunoreactivity for p53 protein in the placental labyrinth zone was remarkably enhanced and peaked at 3 h after treatment, although no increase in p53 mRNA expression was detected with a reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction. Regarding p53 target genes, p21, cyclinG1, and fas mRNA levels increased significantly and peaked at around 9 h after the treatment. These results indicate that Ara-C would induce apoptosis and impair cell proliferation in the placental labyrinth zone, and p53 and its transcriptional target genes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the Ara-C-induced placental toxicity.

Animals↗

Effects of prenatal hydroxyurea-treatment on mouse offspring.

Hydroxyurea (HU), a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor, induces morphological anomalies in the central nervous system, craniofacial tissues and limb buds in animals, and neonatal respiratory distress in humans. The neonates and offspring of pregnant mice treated with 400 or 800 mg/kg of HU on day 13 of gestation were examined at 0 day and 10 weeks after birth to find a clue for clarifying the relationship between HU-induced apoptosis in the fetal tissues and teratogenicity. The offspring from dams treated with HU were retarded in growth compared with controls. But there was no significant difference in the body weight gain between the 400 and 800mg/kg groups. In the teratologic changes, microencephaly, hydrocephalus and curved coccygeal vertebrae were observed in the offspring, and the incidence of these teratologic changes was similar but their degree was more severe in the 800 mg/kg group than in the 400 mg/kg group. Based on the above-mentioned previous and present studies of ours, we suggest that HU-induced apoptosis in fetal tissues may play an important role in the development of anomalies in the corresponding tissues of offspring.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Morphological and microarray analysis of T-2 toxin-induced rat fetal brain lesion.

To examine morphological and gene expression changes induced by T-2 toxin in the fetal brain in detail, pregnant rats on day 13 of gestation were treated orally with a single dose of T-2 toxin (2 mg/kg) and sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 h after treatment (HAT). Histopathologically, the number of apoptotic neuroepithelial cells in the telencephalon increased from 1 HAT and peaked at 12 HAT. Based on the histopathological examinations, microarray analysis was performed at 6, 12 and 24 HAT. Microarray analysis showed that the expression of oxidative stress-related genes (heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and heme oxygenase (HO)) was strongly induced by T-2 toxin at 12 HAT, the peak time point of apoptosis induction. The expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-related genes (MEKK1 and c-jun) and other apoptosis-related genes (caspase-2 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGF-BP3)) was also induced by the T-2 toxin treatment. The changes observed by microarray analysis were confirmed for four up-regulated genes (HSP70, HO, IGF-BP3 and VEGF-A) using real-time RT-PCR. Our results suggest that the T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis in the fetal brain is due to oxidative stress, and that the MAPK pathway may be involved in T-2 toxin-induced toxicity.

Administration, Oral↗

A comparative study of age-related brain pathology--are neurodegenerative diseases present in nonhuman animals ?

Although some aged dogs definitely have dementia-like conditions, they have rather different brain histopathology from that seen in Alzheimer's disease including the shape of senile plaques, severity of neuron loss and absence of neurofibrillary tangles. Aged wild-type mice never show such brain lesions at all. In addition, no cases of Parkinson's disease have been reported in nonhuman animals yet. The reason for this might be non-parallel aging of the whole body and brain. If such nonhuman animals had a longer life span, like humans, typical Alzheimer's and Parkinson's lesions would be formed in the brain. As the rate of deposition of the misfolded proteins causing the lesions might be slow, nonhuman animals normally die before the lesions appear.

Age Factors↗

Experimental encephalomyocarditis virus infection in pregnant mice.

The present study was carried out to clarify the mode of encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus infection in pregnant mice. Pregnant BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with the D variant of EMC virus (EMC-D) (5 x 10(2) PFU/mouse) on 11 days of gestation and killed at 1, 3, and 5 days post-inoculation (DPI). The virus titer (dam's serum, placenta, and fetus), histopathology (fetus, placenta, and uterus), distribution of viral RNA (fetus, placenta and uterus), and ultrastructure (fetal heart and placenta) were examined. No deaths occurred to fetuses at 1 DPI but almost all fetuses died at 5 DPI. The virus titers of dam's serum and placenta were elevated at 1 DPI, peaked at 3 DPI, and the former was not detected at 5 DPI. The virus titer of fetus was first elevated at 3 DPI and the level was lower than those of others. Histopathological changes and signals of viral RNAs detected by in situ hybridization (ISH) were observed in the spongiotrophoblast layer of placenta and in the fetal myocardium and liver at 3 DPI. The uterus was free from lesions and signals of viral RNA. Ultrastructural changes developed in trophoblast cells and giant cells in the spongiotrophoblast layer at and after 1 DPI and in fetal myocardial cells at 3 DPI. In the cytoplasm of trophoblast cells and giant cells, aggregations of virus-like particles 20-30 nm in diameter were observed in crystalline array. These results suggest that trophoblast cells and giant cells in the spongiotrophoblast layer are the main target of EMC virus in the placenta and that placental damage as well as the direct effect of virus to fetuses may be a cause of fetal death.

Animals↗

Ca(2+)-sensitive tyrosine kinase Pyk2/CAK beta-dependent signaling is essential for G-protein-coupled receptor agonist-induced hypertrophy.

G-protein-coupled receptor agonists including endothelin-1 (ET-1) and phenylephrine (PE) induce hypertrophy in neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes. Others and we previously reported that Rac1 signaling pathway plays an important role in this agonist-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In this study reported here, we found that a Ca(2+)-sensitive non-receptor tyrosine kinase, proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2)/cell adhesion kinase beta (CAKbeta), is involved in ET-1- and PE-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy medicated through Rac1 activation. ET-1, PE or the Ca(2+) inophore, ionomycin, stimulated a rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2. The tyrosine phosphorylation of Pyk2 was suppressed by the Ca(2+) chelator, BAPTA. ET-1- or PE-induced increases in [(3)H]-leucine incorporation and expression of atrial natriuretic factor and the enhancement of sarcomere organization. Infection of cardiomyocytes with an adenovirus expressing a mutant Pyk2 which lacked its kinase domain or its ability to bind to c-Src, eliminated ET-1- and PE-induced hypertrophic responses. Inhibition of Pyk2 activation also suppressed Rac1 activation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These findings suggest that the signal transduction pathway leading to hypertrophy involves Ca(2+)-induced Pyk2 activation followed by Rac1-dependent ROS production.

Animals↗

Rat strain differences in the early stage of porcine-serum-induced hepatic fibrosis.

Rat strain differences in the early development of porcine serum (PS)-induced hepatic fibrosis were histologically and immunohistochemically examined using Brown Norway (BN), Sprague Dawley (SD) and Wistar rats. They were injected i.p. with 0.5 ml sterile PS twice a week for 4 and 8 weeks. In addition, rats treated with physiological saline in the same way served as controls. At 4 weeks, hepatic fibrosis accompanying fibrous septa mainly composed of type III collagens developed in BN and SD rats but not in Wistar rats. In addition, the numbers of eosinophils, CD3-positive cells and ED-1-positive cells significantly increased in BN and SD rats, that of CD45RA-positive cells in BN rats, and that of alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-positive cells in SD rats, respectively. Such differences in the number of inflammatory cells may be related with the absence of hepatic fibrosis in Wistar rats at 4 weeks. At 8 weeks, hepatic fibrosis with formation of many small-sized pseudolobules was observed in all strains at almost similar degree, and the numbers of infiltrating cells increased in all strains of rats with some exception. In addition, the main location of inflammatory cells was different, suggesting a different role of each inflammatory cell in the process of hepatic fibrosis.

Animals↗

Gene expression profiles in pregnant rats treated with T-2 toxin.

Pregnant rats on day 13 of gestation were treated orally with T-2 toxin at a single dose of 2 mg/kg and sacrificed at 24 hours after treatment. Histopathologically, apoptosis was increased in the liver, placenta and fetal liver. Microarray analysis was performed to examine the gene expression in the liver, placenta, and fetal liver. The results of microarray analysis showed that the changes in the expression of apoptosis genes, metabolic enzymes and oxidative stress-related genes were detected in these tissues. Suppression of phase I and II enzymes-related genes expression in the liver, and suppression of phase II enzymes-related genes expression in the placenta and fetal liver were observed. Semiquantitive RT-PCR analysis also showed the same results as those of microarray analysis. From the results of microarray analysis and histopathological examination, T-2 toxin seems to induce oxidative stress in these tissues, following the changes in metabolism-related genes expression. These changes may alter the intracellular environments resulting in the induction of apoptosis. Further studies on the gene expression profiles at the earlier time point are necessary to clarify the detailed mechanisms of T-2 toxin-induced toxicity in pregnant rats.

Administration, Oral↗

Immunohistochemical detection of beta-amyloid and beta-amyloid precursor protein in the canine brain and non-neuronal epithelial tissues.

We examined the immunohistochemical localization of beta-amyloid (Abeta) and beta-amyloid precursor protein (AFPP) in the neuronal and non-neuronal tissues of 14 aged (over 10 years old) and 4 young (0-4 years old) dogs. Abeta was detected only in the senile plaque in the cerebrum of aged dogs. AbetaPP was expressed in the neuronal cell body, neuronal fiber, senile plaque and perimalacic tissue independent of age. In addition, epithelial cells in the bronchus, bronchial glands, gastric and intestinal mucosa, intrahepatic bile ducts, and pancreatic ducts and exocrine glands were immunopositive for AbetaPP. Thus, it is suggested that AbetaPP may be expressed in the non-neuronal epithelial tissues independent of age and of the presence of senile plaques, and the expression may depend on individual differences or physiological conditions.

Aging↗