Comparative study of dermal components and plasma TGF-β1 levels in Slc39a13/Zip13-KO mice

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a group of disorders caused by abnormalities that are identified in the extracellular matrix. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plays a crucial role in formation of the extracellular matrix. It has been reported that the loss of function of zinc transporter ZRT/IRT-like protein 13 (ZIP13) causes the spondylocheiro dysplastic form of EDS (SCD-EDS: OMIM 612350), in which dysregulation of the TGF-β1 signaling pathway is observed, although the relationship between the dermis abnormalities and peripheral TGF-β1 level has been unclear. We investigated the characteristics of the dermis of the Zip13-knockout (KO) mouse, an animal model for SCD-EDS. Both the ratio of dermatan sulfate (DS) in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) components and the amount of collagen were decreased, and there were very few collagen fibrils with diameters of more than 150 nm in Zip13-KO mice dermis. We also found that the TGF-β1 level was significantly higher in Zip13-KO mice serum. These results suggest that collagen synthesis and collagen fibril fusion might be impaired in Zip13-KO mice and that the possible decrease of decorin level by reduction of the DS ratio probably caused an increase of free TGF-β1 in Zip13-KO mice. In conclusion, skin fragility due to defective ZIP13 protein may be attributable to impaired extracellular matrix synthesis accompanied by abnormal peripheral TGF-β homeostasis.     

Plasma vitellogenin levels in male common carp Cyprinus carpio and crucian carp Carassius cuvieri of Lake Kasumigaura

In order to investigate the possible influence of estrogenic environmental endocrine disruptors on the reproductive activity of fish in Lake Kasumigaura, plasma levels of vitellogenin (VTG), a biomarker of estrogen exposure, were measured in wild and cultured male common carp Cyprinus carpio and wild crucian carp Carassius cuvieri . Testicular histology and plasma steroid hormone levels were also examined. Fish were collected from June 1998 to August 1999. Plasma VTG levels in most fish examined were below a detection limit (40 ng/mL) throughout the sampling period, and a small amount of VTG (43.5 ng/mL–1680 ng/mL) compared to that in females was detected in some fish. Active spermatogenesis in the testis and increased levels of plasma sex steroids were observed in most of the fish examined. Thus, no marked influence of estrogenic chemicals was detected in the reproductive activity of male common carp and crucian carp in Lake Kasumigaura collected from the sampling sites in the present investigation.     

乳酸菌制剂在黑毛和牛育肥中的使用效果

[目的]旨在通过黑毛和牛（Japanese Blackcattle）育肥后期投服乳酸菌制剂Entero—coccus faecalis FK-23粉末,探讨付与牛肉的附加价值和该制剂的实用性。[方法]供试牛10头,随机分为试验组和对照组,试验组5头,每头每日投服乳酸菌制剂8．0g。测量体重（BW）,静脉采血检测白细胞数（WBC）,维生素A（VA）,维生素E（VE）．总胆固醇（TC）,谷草转氨酶（GOT）,血尿素氮（BUN）及血糖（GLC）浓度;HPLC测验中性脂肪的脂肪酸成分。[结果]试验组与对照组比较。食欲亢进,日增重（DG）明显增加（P〈0．05）,血清VE和TC明显升高（P〈0．05）,VA维持预计水平走向不变。中性脂肪的不饱和脂肪酸比例出现增高趋势,出栏体重增长4．3％,胴体重增加9．3kg。[结论]结果提示,黑毛和牛育肥后期投服乳酸菌E．faecalisFK-23制剂可以获得VE含量较高的高附加价值牛肉并能提高其生产性能。