Kaname Aono

Increased Metallothionein Content in Rat Liver Induced by X Irradiation and Exposure to High Oxygen Tension

X irradiation and exposure to high oxygen tension are known to induce lipid peroxidation. The effects of these stresses on hepatic content of metallothionein, which may be involved in the regulation of zinc and copper metabolism, have been studied. The amount of metallothionein in rat liver was increased 11-fold by a high dose of X irradiation (1000 R). Increased metallothionein content (about 15 times) was also observed in liver of rats exposed to high oxygen tension for 3 days.

Increased metallothionein content in rat liver and kidney following X-irradiation

Hepatic and renal metallothionein (MT) contents were measured in rats following whole-body X-irradiation. When compared with control rats, the hepatic MT-Zn content increased fivefold and MT protein content increased 15-fold by 18 hr following irradiation (2000 rad). Administration of actinomycin-D inhibited both the mobilization of zinc to the liver and the irradiation-induced increase in metallothionein synthesis. Serum zinc levels did not change after irradiation alone, although serum zinc following actinomycin-D treatment and irradiation was significantly elevated. An increase in renal MT-Zn was also observed. In comparison with control, the increase in renal MT-Zn content after irradiation (2000 rad) did not occur earlier than 12 hr but was increased twofold by 24 hr. In comparison with kidney, the hepatic MT-Zn content following irradiation was already elevated threefold by 6 hr. Dose-response studies (250-3000 rad, 72 hr) indicated that similar dose-response relationships for the appearance of MT in the liver and kidney were observed. Total zinc was decreased in the spleen and thymus, and increased in the liver or kidney 18 hr after irradiation (2000 rad). These data indicate that X-ray treatment produces an in vivo induction of hepatic and renal MT synthesis.

Elevation in metallothionein messenger RNA in rat tissues after exposure to X-irradiation

Metallothionein (MT) mRNA levels in tissues were measured in rats following whole-body X-irradiation (2 and 20 Gy). When compared with control rats, the elevation in MT mRNA levels of liver, kidney, and thymus was observed in irradiated rats at 9 or 72 hr after irradiation. However, the elevation in MT mRNA levels was not observed in brain, spleen, lung, heart, and testis. When compared with other tissues, testicular MT mRNA levels in control rats were extremely high, and treatment with X-irradiation produced a slight decrease of testicular MT mRNA levels. Time-course experiments indicated that hepatic and renal MT mRNA reached a maximum at 6 hr after irradiation. In low-dose (2 Gy) irradiated rat, these values were returned to control values by 4 days after irradiation. However, in high-dose (20 Gy) irradiated rat, the values were not decreased to control values. These data indicate that treatment with X-irradiation produces an elevation in MT mRNA in rat tissues.

Copper metabolism in the macular mutant mouse: an animal model of Menkes's kinky-hair disease.

The tissue copper contents were measured in mutant (hemizygous macular male and homozygous macular female), heterozygous macular female and normal mice. The copper content in kidney and small intestine from 7-day-old mutant and heterozygote were extremely high compared to normal mice, whereas the copper content in other tissues (liver, brain, spleen and serum) was low. Copper content in whole body of mutant mice was extremely low at three stages (18 days gestation, 1 day old, and 7 days old) compared to normal mice with the exception of the mutant fetus at 14 days of gestation. Renal copper contents in the mutant fetus at 18 days of gestation and in the 1-day-old mutant were not changed compared to normal mice, whereas that in 7- and 14-day-old mutant mice was significantly elevated. Hepatic copper content of the mutant mice was extremely low at all stages compared to normal mice. Copper therapy was applied to 7-day-old mutant mice. At 1 day after injection, hepatic copper content in the mutants had increased slightly in comparison with the normal control mice, whereas renal copper content was extremely increased. At 7 days after injection, hepatic copper content in the mutants was decreased greatly in comparison with normal control mice, whereas an increase in renal copper content had remained.

Distribution of protein-bound zinc in serum of analbuminemic rat.

The distribution of protein-bound zinc in serum of rat with analbuminemia was analyzed with gel filtration and affinity chromatography. From the profiles of chromatography, the zinc present in analbuminemic rat serum is composed of two principal species in similar to that of Sprague-Dawley rat: one fraction is firmly bound to alpha 2-macroglobulin, and a second fraction is more loosely bound to various proteins.

Evaluation of several imaging techniques for a diagnosis of inflammation of jaw bones

Recent developments of various imaging techniques have resulted in a great improvement in the diagnostic capabilities of the diseases of the dento-maxillo-facial region. Therefore, a combination of the conventional radiograph and some of the new imaging techniques may provide the most valuable information in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases. A retrospective study was conducted on 331 patients attending the Okayama University affiliated hospital between April, 1982 and January, 1987, that presented inflammation of the jaw bones. Inflammatory diseases were compared with the effectiveness of the various imaging systems i. e. conventional radiography, ultrasound sonography, RI scintigraphy, and thermography. Resul ts 1. Clinical and radiographic study Inflammation of the jaw bone area was classified as chronic osteomyelitis and acute perimaxillary (perimandibular) inflammation according to the clinical and radiographic features. The sex ratio was 1.8 to 1 in favor of males in osteomyelitis cases and 1.3 to 1 in favor of males in perimaxillary inflammation (Table 1). Osteomyelitis occurred most

The application of magnetic resonance imaging in maxillo-facial region: A comparison with CT

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were obtained in 49 cases of various diseases in the maxillo-facial region and the results compared with X-ray computed tomography (CT). Bot MRI and CT scans were performed in 44 cases. In 31 cases (70%), MRI provided similar or superior information to that of CT in the evaluation of various diseases. In 10 cases, MRI was superior to CT in defining the images of diseases, 7 cases of these were carcinomas. CT was superior to MRI in 5 cases, especially in demonstrating calcifications and bony changes. Artifacts caused by prosthetic metals and patient motion disturbed MR images. Our experience with MRI lead us the conclusion that it holds great potential and that it already had some advantages over CT in the maxillo-facial region.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were obtained in 49 cases of various diseases in the maxillo-facial region and the results compared with X-ray computed tomography (CT). Bot MRI and CT scans were performed in 44 cases. In 31 cases (70%), MRI provided similar or superior information to that of CT in the evaluation of various diseases. In 10 cases, MRI was superior to CT in defining the images of diseases, 7 cases of these were carcinomas. CT was superior to MRI in 5 cases, especially in demonstrating calcifications and bony changes. Artifacts caused by prosthetic metals and patient motion disturbed MR images. Our experience with MRI lead us the conclusion that it holds great potential and that it already had some advantages over CT in the maxillo-facial region.

Alterations of white blood cell histograms before and after radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy in oral cancer patients

SummaryThe patterns of the white blood cell histogram, which showed white blood cell differentials by size through electrical resistance, were evaluated for oral cancer patient. The alterations of their patterns coincided with those of white blood cell differentials by morphological analysis on the manual smears. White blood cells, especially, lymphocytes and monocytes, have a close relation to the immunocompetence for cancer paient as already reported. Therefore, the white blood cell histogram will have a possibility to use as a simple immunocompetent parameter, when further direct study related to the immunocompetency is performed.The patterns of the white blood cell histograms in the course of the radiotherapy were different depending on the antitumor agent combined. The differences of the patterns were clearly observed in the region of the lymphocytes and the monocytes.