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Ultrastructural analysis of low-threshold mechanoreceptive vibrissa afferent boutons in the cat trigeminal caudal nucleus.

Sang Kyoo PAIK ; Seung Ki CHOI ; Jong Wook LEE ; Tae Heon KIM ; Dong Kuk AHN ; Atsushi YOSHIDA ; Yun Sook KIM ; Yong Chul BAE

Anatomy & Cell Biology.2010;43(4):340-346. doi:10.5115/acb.2010.43.4.340

Ultrastructural parameters related to synaptic release and their correlation with synaptic connectivity were analyzed in the low-threshold mechanoreceptive vibrissa afferent boutons in laminae III and IV of the trigeminal caudal nucleus (Vc). Rapidly adapting vibrissa afferents were intra-axonally labeled, and quantitative ultrastructural analyses with serial sections were performed on the labeled boutons and their presynaptic endings (p-endings). The volume of the labeled boutons was widely distributed from small to large ones (0.8~12.3 microm3), whereas the p-endings were small and uniform in size. The volume of the labeled boutons was positively correlated with the ultrastructural parameters such as mitochondrial volume (correlation coefficient, r=0.96), active zone area (r=0.82) and apposed surface area (r=0.79). Vesicle density (r=-0.18) showed little correlation to the volume of labeled boutons, suggesting that the total vesicle number of a bouton is proportional to its volume. In addition, the bouton volume was positively correlated with the number of p-endings (r=0.52) and with the number of dendrites postsynaptic to the labeled bouton (r=0.83). These findings suggest that low-threshold mechanoreception conveyed through vibrissa afferents is processed in a bouton size-dependent manner in the Vc, which may contribute to the sensory-motor function of laminae III/IV in Vc.
Animals ; Cats ; Dendrites ; Mitochondrial Size ; Synapses ; Trigeminal Caudal Nucleus

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Expression of ErbB4 in the apoptotic neurons of Alzheimer's disease brain.

Ran Sook WOO ; Ji Hye LEE ; Ha Nul YU ; Dae Yong SONG ; Tai Kyoung BAIK

Anatomy & Cell Biology.2010;43(4):332-339. doi:10.5115/acb.2010.43.4.332

Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) signaling participates in the synaptic plasticity, maintenance or regulation of adult brain. Although ErbB4, a key NRG1 receptor, is expressed in multiple regions in the adult animal brain, little is known about its localization in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. We previously reported that ErbB4 immunoreactivity showed regional difference in the hippocampus of age-matched control. In the present paper, immunohistochemical characterization of the distribution of ErbB4 receptor in the hippocampus relative to pathology staging were performed in age-matched control (Braak stage 0, n=6) and AD (Braak stage I/V, n=10). Here, we found that ErbB4 immunoreactivity was significantly increased in apoptotic hippocampal pyramidal neurons in the brains of AD patients, compared to those of age-matched control subjects. In AD brains, ErbB4 immunoreactivity was demonstrated to colocalize with the apoptotic signal Bax in apoptotic hippocampal pyramidal neurons. These results suggest that up-regulation of ErbB4 immunoreactivity in apoptotic neuron may involve in the progression of pathology of AD.
Adult ; Alzheimer Disease ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Neuregulin-1 ; Neurons ; Plastics ; Up-Regulation

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Direct protection of cultured neurons from ischemia-like injury by minocycline.

Wendy C HUANG ; Yanli QIAO ; Lijun XU ; Rachid KACIMI ; Xiaoyun SUN ; Rona G GIFFARD ; Midori A YENARI

Anatomy & Cell Biology.2010;43(4):325-331. doi:10.5115/acb.2010.43.4.325

Minocycline, a tetracycline antibiotic, is now known to protect cells via an anti-inflammatory mechanism. We further explored this effect using an in vitro model of ischemia-like injury to neurons. Coculturing neurons with microglia, the brain's resident immune cell, modestly increased cell death due to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD), compared to neurons alone. Treatment of cocultures with minocycline decreased cell death to a level significantly lower than that of neurons alone. Treatment of cocultures with minocycline or inhibitors of various immune mediators, also led to decreased cell death. Importantly, treatment of neuron cultures without added microglia with these same inhibitors of tissue plasminogen activator, matrix metalloproteinases, TNF-alpha and inducible nitric oxide synthase as well as minocycline also led to decreased cell death. Thus, anti-inflammatory treatments appear to be directly protective of neurons from in vitro ischemia.
Cell Death ; Coculture Techniques ; Glucose ; Ischemia ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Microglia ; Minocycline ; Neurons ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Oxygen ; Tetracycline ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

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Lipoic acid suppresses compound 48/80-induced anaphylaxis-like reaction.

Yun Ho CHOI ; Ok Hee CHAI ; Eui Hyeog HAN ; Su Young CHOI ; Hyoung Tae KIM ; Chang Ho SONG

Anatomy & Cell Biology.2010;43(4):317-324. doi:10.5115/acb.2010.43.4.317

Alpha-lipoic acid (LA), a naturally occurring dithiol compound, is an essential cofactor in metabolic reactions involved in energy utilization. LA improves glycemic control, reduces diabetic polyneuropathies, atherosclerosis, and allergic inflammation. The effects of LA on mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions, however, are unknown. LA dose-dependently inhibited systemic and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis-like reactions in mice induced by compound 48/80, a condensation product of N-methyl-p-methoxyphenethylamine and formaldehyde. Pretreatment with LA, prior to induction of the systemic anaphylaxis-like reaction with compound 48/80, reduced plasma histamine levels in a dose-dependent manner. In our in vitro study, LA decreased histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs) triggered by compound 48/80. Moreover, an increase in calcium uptake activated by compound 48/80 was inhibited by LA. LA also significantly elevated intracellular cyclic adenosine-3',5' monophosphate (cAMP) levels in RPMCs. This inhibition of mediator release from RPMCs may be due to inhibition of calcium uptake and augmentation of intracellular cAMP levels. Based on these results, we suggest that LA may be a potential remedy for allergy-related diseases.
Anaphylaxis ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Calcium ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Formaldehyde ; Histamine ; Histamine Release ; Inflammation ; Mast Cells ; Mice ; Plasma ; Rats ; Thioctic Acid ; Toluene

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Amorphigenin inhibits Osteoclast differentiation by suppressing c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells.

Bong Gyu KIM ; Han Bok KWAK ; Eun Yong CHOI ; Hun Soo KIM ; Myung Hee KIM ; Seong Hwan KIM ; Min Kyu CHOI ; Churl Hong CHUN ; Jaemin OH ; Jeong Joong KIM

Anatomy & Cell Biology.2010;43(4):310-316. doi:10.5115/acb.2010.43.4.310

Among the several rotenoids, amorphigenin is isolated from the leaves of Amopha Fruticosa and it is known that has anti-proliferative effects and anti-cnacer effects in many cell types. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of amorphigenin on osteoclast differentiation in vitro and on LPS treated inflammatory bone loss model in vivo. We show here that amorphigenin inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation from bone marrow macrophages in a dose dependent manner without cellular toxicity. Anti-osteoclastogenic properties of amorphigenin were based on a down-regulation of c-fos and NFATc1. Amorphigenin markedly inhibited RANKL-induced p38 and NF-kappaB pathways, but other pathways were not affected. Micro-CT analysis of the femurs showed that amorphigenin protected the LPS-induced bone loss. We concluded that amorphigenin can prevent inflammation-induced bone loss. Thus we expect that amorphigenin could be a treatment option for bone erosion caused by inflammation.
Bone Marrow ; Down-Regulation ; Femur ; Inflammation ; Macrophages ; NF-kappa B ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Rotenone ; T-Lymphocytes

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Downregulation of NFAT2 promotes melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells.

Young Sook LEE ; Dong Woon KIM ; Sooil KIM ; Hye In CHOI ; Young LEE ; Chang Deok KIM ; Jeung Hoon LEE ; Sang Do LEE ; Young Ho LEE

Anatomy & Cell Biology.2010;43(4):303-309. doi:10.5115/acb.2010.43.4.303

Nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) proteins are, calcium-regulated transcription factors, key regulator of stimulation-dependent gene activation. In our microarray analysis for the genes expressed in human black and white hairs, NFAT2 was significantly upregulated in the white hair, compared to the black hair. The aim of this study was to investigate functional role of NFAT2 in melanogenesis. Western blot analysis was performed to investigate the expression of NFAT2 protein in B16 melanoma cells. Our data showed that NFAT2 expression was increased in the hypopigmented B16 cells, while tyrosinase and MITF expression was decreased. To investigate the potential role of NFAT2, the recombinant adenovirus expressing microRNA specific for NFAT2 was transduced into the cultured B16 melanoma cells. Consistently, inhibition of NFAT2 enhanced tyrosinase activity and melanin content. Moreover, cyclosporine A, which is known as a calcineurin inhibitor blocking NFAT activation, enhanced tyrosinase activity and melanin content. These data suggest that NFAT2 may play an important role in regulation of melanogenesis in melanocyte.
Adenoviridae ; Blotting, Western ; Calcineurin ; Cyclosporine ; Down-Regulation ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Hair ; Humans ; Hydroquinones ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma, Experimental ; Microarray Analysis ; MicroRNAs ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; NFATC Transcription Factors ; Proteins ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transcription Factors ; Transcriptional Activation

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Mega-dose vitamin C attenuated lung inflammation in mouse asthma model.

Young Joo JEONG ; Jin Hee KIM ; Jae Seung KANG ; Wang Jae LEE ; Young il HWANG

Anatomy & Cell Biology.2010;43(4):294-302. doi:10.5115/acb.2010.43.4.294

Asthma is a Th2-dependent disease mediated by IgE and Th2 cytokines, and asthmatic patients suffer from oxidative stresses from abnormal airway inflammation. Vitamin C is a micro-nutrient functioning as an antioxidant. When administered at a mega-dose, vitamin C has been reported to shift immune responses toward Th1. Thus, we tried to determine whether vitamin C exerted beneficial effects in asthma animal model. Asthma was induced in mice by sensitizing and challenging with ovalbumin. At the time of challenge, 3~5 mg of vitamin C was administered and the effects were evaluated. Vitamin C did not modulate Th1/Th2 balance in asthma model. However, it decreased airway hyperreactivity to methacholine, decreased inflammatory cell numbers in brochoalveolar lavage fluid, and moderate reduction of perivascular and peribronchiolar inflammatory cell infiltration. These results suggest that vitamin C administered at the time of antigen challenge exerted anti-inflammatory effects. Further studies based on chronic asthma model are needed to evaluate a long-term effect of vitamin C in asthma. In conclusion, even though vitamin C did not show any Th1/Th2 shifting effects in this experiment, it still exerted moderate anti-inflammatory effects. Considering other beneficial effects and inexpensiveness of vitamin C, mega-dose usage of vitamin C could be a potential supplementary modality for the management of asthma.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Asthma ; Cell Count ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Methacholine Chloride ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Ovalbumin ; Oxidative Stress ; Pneumonia ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Vitamins

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HOXB13 is co-localized with androgen receptor to suppress androgen-stimulated prostate-specific antigen expression.

Sin Do KIM ; Ra Young PARK ; Young Rang KIM ; In Je KIM ; Taek Won KANG ; Kwang Il NAM ; Kyu Youn AHN ; Choon Sang BAE ; Baik Youn KIM ; Sung Sik PARK ; Chaeyong JUNG

Anatomy & Cell Biology.2010;43(4):284-293. doi:10.5115/acb.2010.43.4.284

During the prostate cancer (PCa) development and its progression into hormone independency, androgen receptor (AR) signals play a central role by triggering the regulation of target genes, including prostate-specific antigen. However, the regulation of these AR-mediated target genes is not fully understood. We have previously demonstrated a unique role of HOXB13 homeodomain protein as an AR repressor. Expression of HOXB13 was highly restricted to the prostate and its suppression dramatically increased hormone-activated AR transactivation, suggesting that prostate-specific HOXB13 was a highly potent transcriptional regulator. In this report, we demonstrated the action mechanism of HOXB13 as an AR repressor. HOXB13 suppressed androgen-stimulated AR activity by interacting with AR. HOXB13 did neither bind to AR responsive elements nor disturb nuclear translocation of AR in response to androgen. In PCa specimen, we also observed mutual expression pattern of HOXB13 and AR. These results suggest that HOXB13 not only serve as a DNA-bound transcription factor but play an important role as an AR-interacting repressor to modulate hormone-activated androgen receptor signals. Further extensive studies will uncover a novel mechanism for regulating AR-signaling pathway to lead to expose new role of HOXB13 as a non-DNA-binding transcriptional repressor.
Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Receptors, Androgen ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Transcription Factors ; Transcriptional Activation

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Greek anatomist herophilus: the father of anatomy.

Noel Si BAY ; Boon Huat BAY

Anatomy & Cell Biology.2010;43(4):280-283. doi:10.5115/acb.2010.43.4.280

One of the most stirring controversies in the history of Anatomy is that Herophilus, an ancient Greek anatomist and his younger contemporary, Erasistratus, were accused of performing vivisections of living humans. However, this does not detract from the fact that Herophilus has made phenomenal anatomical observations of the human body which have contributed significantly towards the understanding of the brain, eye, liver, reproductive organs and nervous system. It is notable that he was the first person to perform systematic dissection of the human body and is widely acknowledged as the Father of Anatomy. He has been hailed as one of the greatest anatomists that ever lived, rivaled only by Andreas Vesalius who is regarded as the founder of modern human anatomy.
Anatomists ; Brain ; Eye ; Fathers ; Human Body ; Humans ; Liver ; Nervous System ; Vivisection

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Control of neuronal migration through rostral migration stream in mice.

Woong SUN ; Hyun KIM ; Younghye MOON

Anatomy & Cell Biology.2010;43(4):269-279. doi:10.5115/acb.2010.43.4.269

During the nervous system development, immature neuroblasts have a strong potential to migrate toward their destination. In the adult brain, new neurons are continuously generated in the neurogenic niche located near the ventricle, and the newly generated cells actively migrate toward their destination, olfactory bulb, via highly specialized migratory route called rostral migratory stream (RMS). Neuroblasts in the RMS form chains by their homophilic interactions, and the neuroblasts in chains continually migrate through the tunnels formed by meshwork of astrocytes, glial tube. This review focuses on the development and structure of RMS and the regulation of neuroblast migration in the RMS. Better understanding of RMS migration may be crucial for improving functional replacement therapy by supplying endogenous neuronal cells to the injury sites more efficiently.
Adult ; Animals ; Astrocytes ; Brain ; Humans ; Mice ; Nervous System ; Neurons ; Olfactory Bulb ; Rivers

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