Megumi Mizuno

Effects of gemfibrozil administration on very low density lipoprotein receptor mRNA levels in rabbits

To elucidate the regulation of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor gene expression, we administered to rabbits for 14 days gemfibrozil, a fabric acid derivative and a lipid lowering drug that is also included among peroxisome proliferators. VLDL receptor mRNA levels were examined by Northern blot analysis. The VLDL receptor mRNA levels in retroperitoneal adipose tissue and in gastrocnemius muscle were increased 6.9-fold and 3.7-fold, respectively, with gemfibrozil treatment, but no marked changes were observed in the heart, the organ in which VLDL receptor is most highly expressed. In the liver, VLDL receptor mRNA was not detected either before or after gemfibrozil administration. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and long-chain acyl coenzyme A synthetase (ACS) mRNA levels were also increased in parallel in adipose tissue. The enhanced expression of VLDL receptor mRNA may contribute to the increase of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein catabolism in peripheral tissues such as adipose tissue and muscles.

Photothermal fabrication of microstructures in transparent low-melting media doped with rare earth ions as a light absorber

Microstructures were fabricated by a photothermal process in a low-melting organic-inorganic hybrid material of tin silicophosphate doped with Nd3+ ion as a light absorber. The negative refractive index change of the order of 10−3 was photothermally induced inside the low-melting glass with a spatial resolution ranging from 10to100μm using a 514.5nm emission from an Ar+ laser of less than 30mW as the excitation source. The volume expansion due to the photogenerated heat at the laser focus is found to be responsible for the photothermally induced negative photorefractive index change.

DECREASED EXPRESSION OF THE VERY LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN RECEPTOR MRNA IN THE CARDIAC VENTRICLE OF SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

1. To elucidate the functional implication of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor, we studied the gene expression of VLDL receptor in rats. The VLDL receptor mRNA was highly expressed in the cardiac ventricle and skeletal muscle. Intermediate amounts of VLDL receptor mRNA were detected in adipose tissue, adrenal gland, brain and lung. Thus the tissue distribution of VLDL receptor mRNA in rats was similar to that reported previously in rabbits.