bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of Functional Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Receptors in Immortalized Gonadotrophin‐Releasing Hormone‐Secreting Neurones
Authors: Dozio E. , Watanobe H. , Ruscica M. , Maggi R. , Motta M. , Magni P. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractCiliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), a cytokine of the interleukin‐6 superfamily, is known to exert pleiotropic actions, including regulation of food intake and permissive effects on reproduction, by facilitating the release of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins. CNTF activates membrane receptors (CNTF‐Rs) composed of one ligand‐specific binding subunit, defined CNTFRα, and two signal transducing subunits, termed leukaemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) and gp130. However, it is not clear whether the effects of CNTF on GnRH release result from either a direct or an indirect action on GnRH‐secreting hypothalamic neurones, or from a combination of these events. The hypothesis of a direct effect of CNTF was thus tested using the GT1‐7 GnRH‐secreting cell line. CNTF‐R expression and CNTF‐induced modulation of the Janus kinase (JAK2)‐signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway and of GnRH release were evaluated. GT1‐7 cells were found to express CNTFRα, LIFR and gp130 genes, as shown by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction analysis, and the corresponding proteins, analysed by immunofluorescence and western blot. CNTFRα, LIFR and gp130 immunoreactive bands had an approximate size of 50, 190 and 130 kDa, respectively. Treatment of GT1‐7 cells with 10−12 M CNTF for 15–60 min resulted in a marked and transient increase of STAT3 phosphorylation via activation of JAK2. A 30‐min exposure of GT1‐7 cells to different CNTF concentrations increased the accumulation of GnRH into the culture medium, with a maximal effect at 10−11 M. In conclusion, the present results provide new information about the regulation of the reproductive axis by CNTF, and suggest that it might operate at the hypothalamic level by directly influencing the activity of GnRH‐secreting neurones, in addition to the possible indirect effects via interneurones proposed by previous studies.
GABAergic Modulation of the Expression of Genes Involved in GABA Synaptic Transmission and Stress in the Hypothalamus and Telencephalon of the Female Goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Authors: Martyniuk C. J. , Crawford A. B. , Hogan N. S. , Trudeau V. L. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractGABA is one of the most abundant neurotransmitters in the vertebrate central nervous system and is involved in neuroendocrine processes such as development, reproduction, feeding and stress. To examine the effect of GABA on gene expression in the brain, we used a cDNA macroarray containing 26 genes involved in GABA synaptic transmission (GABA receptor subunits, GABA transporters), reproduction (gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone isoforms and oestrogen receptor α), feeding (neuropeptide Y and cholecystokinin), and stress [corticotrophin‐releasing factor (CRF)]. To elevate GABA levels in the brain, we injected female goldfish with gamma‐vinyl GABA (300 µg/g of body weight) (24 h), an irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme GABA transaminase (GABA‐T). We found that increased levels of GABA in the hypothalamus resulted in a 2.2‐fold down‐regulation of GABAA receptor β4 subunit mRNA. In the telencephalon, we found that increased GABA levels resulted in a 1.5‐fold increase of CRF mRNA and a 1.8‐fold decrease of GABAA receptor β2 subunit mRNA. Increasing GABA in the hypothalamus and telencephalon of the goldfish did not significantly affect the mRNA abundance of genes involved in GABA synthesis (glutamic acid decarboxylase isoforms) and degradation (GABA‐T), feeding, or reproduction. Our preliminary study suggests that the regulation of GABA receptor subunit mRNA expression by GABA may be a conserved evolutionary mechanism in vertebrates to modulate GABAergic synaptic transmission.
Subduction of arc basaltic andesite: implications for the tectonic history of the southern New England Fold Belt
Authors: OFFLER R. , GLEN R. A. , HYODO H. , JIANG Z. 
Published: May 2005

Serpentinite mélange in the Peel–Manning Fault System, southern New England Fold Belt hosts tectonic blocks of varying size and lithology. One of the largest occurs at Woodsreef, northern New South Wales, as multiply deformed amphibole schists recording at least three phases of deformation (D1–D3). They have a peralkaline, composition (molecular Na2O+K2O = 0.083–0.189; Al2O3 = 0.046–0.130) and contain aegirine, quartz, albite, arfvedsonite and less common actinolite, neptunite, aenigmatite and bafertisite, as well as relict pre‐D1 aegirine. The Zr/TiO2and Nb/Y ratios suggest that the protoliths had originally basaltic to basaltic andesite composition, indicating that they have been altered to a rock of peralkaline composition. Chondrite normalised patterns [(Ce/Yb)N = 4.98–9.36], Hf/3–Th–Ta, Hf/3–Th–Nb/16 and Y/15–La/10–Nb/8 discrimination diagrams, and rock/MORB plots indicate that the protoliths had a calc‐alkaline, arc composition.143Nd/144Nd data (εNd(500) = 2.8–3.3; −4.8; εNd(400) = 2.0–2.5; −5.8) imply that they have been derived from isotopically mildly depleted and enriched sources. Single‐grain40Ar–39Ar dating of felsic and mafic fractions from one sample, produces ages of 1200–1100 Ma (albite–quartz vein) and 335.2 ± 2.1 Ma, 332 ± 3.7 Ma and 291 ± 3.7 Ma (arfvedsonite‐rich matrix). The Neoproterozoic age obtained from the felsic fraction is attributed to the presence of excess40Ar in quartz and albite, and the 291 Ma age to partial resetting. The 335–332 Ma ages are interpreted as cooling ages related to uplift after subduction. The basalts and basaltic andesites underwent alteration either within a volcanic pile or during subduction after collision with a ?west‐dipping subduction zone at the proto‐Gondwana margin. With continuing subduction, they were recrystallised and deformed in the deeper levels of the subduction zone, producing aegirine with up to 38% jadeite in solid solution. Replacement of the high‐P assemblages by lower P/high‐T arfvedsonite‐bearing assemblages then took place during uplift atca 334 Ma.
The Narooma Terrane: implications for the construction of the outboard part of the Lachlan Orogen
Authors: GLEN R. A. , STEWART I. R. , PERCIVAL I. G. 
Published: May 2005

In its type area around Narooma, the Narooma Terrane in the Lachlan Orogen comprises the Wagonga Group, which consists of the Narooma Chert overlain by the argillaceous Bogolo Formation. Conodonts indicate that the lower, largely massive (ribbon chert) part of the Narooma Chert ranges in age from mid‐Late Cambrian to Darriwilian–Gisbornian (late Middle to early Late Ordovician). The upper Narooma Chert consists of shale, containing Eastonian (Late Ordovician) graptolites, interbedded with chert. Where not deformed by later faulting, the boundary between the Narooma Chert and Bogolo Formation is gradational. At map scale, the Narooma Terrane consists of a stack of imbricate thrust slices caught between two thrust faults that juxtaposed the terrane against the coeval Adaminaby Superterrane in Early Silurian time. These slices are best defined where Narooma Chert is thrust over Bogolo Formation. The soles of such slices contain multiply foliated chert. Late extensional shear bands indicate a strike‐slip component to the faulting. The Narooma Terrane, with chert overlain by muddy ooze, is interpreted to be an oceanic terrane that accumulated remote from land for ∼50 million years. The upward increase in the terrigenous component at the top of the Wagonga Group (shale, argillite, siltstone and sandstone of the upper Narooma Chert and Bogolo Formation) records approach of the terrane to the Australian sector of the Gondwana margin. Blocks of chert, argillite and sandstone reflect extensional/strike‐slip disruption of the terrane as it approached the transform trench along the Gondwana–proto‐Pacific plate boundary. Blocks of basalt and basalt breccia represent detritus from a seamount that was also entering the trench. There is no evidence that the Narooma Terrane or the adjacent Adaminaby Group formed in an accretionary prism/subduction complex.
Changes in the heart rate and plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations of the stallion during copulation
Authors: TERADA MISAO , MOMOZAWA YUKIHIDE , KOMANO MICHIO , KUSUNOSE RYO , SATO FUMIO , SAITO TORU R. 
Published: May 2005

Aim: The physiological indexes of the copulatory behavior of the stallion have not been investigated in detail and may differ from those of other species, such as humans and rats.Methods: In order to understand the breeding capability of various stallions, their behavior during copulation was observed, and heart rate (HR) and the plasma concentrations of norepinephrine (NA) and epinephrine (Ad) were measured sequentially for a total of 13 copulations carried out during 2 days.Results: The mean HR at rest was 35.3 ± 0.9 beats per minute (b.p.m.) and it peaked during mounting (162.1 ± 5.4 b.p.m.). The HR at ejaculation was 145.7 ± 5.1 b.p.m, which was less than the peak. The plasma concentrations of NA and Ad showed similar changes to the HR; immediately after ejaculation they were, respectively, 4.7‐fold and 1.9‐fold higher than the resting values and there was a difference in the degree of increase of each catecholamine.Conclusions: The present results show that in the stallion the HR peaks at mounting and there is a greater change in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system because of the short‐term, highly intense exercise performed during copulation. It is considered that this, combined with the particular mental stress placed on the stallion during copulation, has the potential to cause sudden cardiac death. (Reprod Med Biol 2005;4: 143–148)
Pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, and embryo quality: Clues for single blastocyst transfer from double blastocyst transfer in an unselected population
Authors: HARA TETSUAKI , KATSUKI TAKAFUMI , KUSUDA TOMOYO , OHAMA KOSO 
Published: May 2005

Objective:  Minimizing multiple pregnancy is a priority in assisted reproduction. As implantation rates are critical to success and reduce multiple pregnancy, we investigated whether blastocyst grade determined implantation rate following double blastocyst transfer in unselected cases.Materials and Methods:  We studied 69 three‐cleavage stage embryo transfers and 64 two‐blastocyst transfers. Two blastocysts, or one when two blastocysts were not available, were transfered after evaluating the grade of blastocysts. The difference in pregnancy and implantation rates to patient age, the number of retrieved oocytes and grade of blastocysts were analyzed.Results:  Blastocyst and grade 3AA rates per fertilized egg were 50.3% and 26.0%, respectively. Following two‐blastocyst transfer, pregnancy rate per transfer, implantation rate per embryo, and multiple pregnancy rate per pregnancy were 39.1%, 26.5%, and 24.0%, respectively. Two‐blastocyst transfer achieved implantation more often than three‐cleavage‐stage embryo transfer, but did not reduce multiple pregnancy. Pregnancy, implantation, and multiple pregnancy rates did not reflect maternal age. Higher pregnancy and implantation rates per transfer were attained for with six or more oocytes retrieved or transfer of two‐blastocyst graded 3AA or higher especially when two or more blastocysts graded 3AA or higher are available, but the latter showed a high multiple pregnancy rate (38.5%).Conclusions:  Single embryo transfer could be carried out when two or more blastocysts of grade 3AA or higher have been developed. (Reprod Med Biol 2005; 4: 153–160)
Survival of mouse ovarian tissue transplanted into the uterine horn of post‐partum rats nursing pups of various numbers and sizes
Authors: KAGABU SATOSI , UMEZU MOTOAKI 
Published: May 2005

Aim and background:  To investigate the effect of the number of pups being nursed on the survival of mouse ovarian tissue transplanted into the post‐partum rat uterus.Methods:  Mouse ovarian tissue was transplanted into the uterine horn of post‐partum rats. The number of pups nursed by each recipient rat was adjusted in a manner predetermined. Examinations were undertaken at 1–11 weeks after transplantation. Ovarian tissue containing healthy follicles was considered to have taken successfully.Results:  In rats with 12 pups, ovarian tissue remained viable at 11 weeks post‐transplantation. No viable ovarian tissue remained when there were one or two pups. Viability improved as the number of pups increased.Conclusion:  When mouse ovarian tissue is transplanted into post‐partum lactating rats, viability improves as the number of pups increases. We concluded that these findings may be explained in terms of progesterone levels in the recipient rats. (Reprod Med Biol 2005; 4: 149–152)
Microtubule organization during rabbit fertilization by intracytoplasmic sperm injection with and without sperm centrosome
Authors: MORITA JUNKO , TERADA YUKIHIRO , HOSOI YOSHIHIKO , FUJINAMI NAHOKO , SUGIMOTO MIKI , NAKAMURA SOU‐ICHI , MURAKAMI TAKASHI , YAEGASHI NOBUO , OKAMURA KUNIHIRO 
Published: May 2005

Aim: In most mammalian fertilization, the sperm introduces the centrosome, which acts as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC) and is essential for pronuclear movement. In rabbit fertilization, biparental centrosomal contribution in microtubule organization has been suggested.Methods: To reveal the function and inheritance of the centrosome during rabbit fertilization, we compared microtubule organization and early embryonal development following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with and without sperm centrosome. Sperm centrosome was removed by sonication, and the isolated sperm head was injected by a Piezo‐driven micromanipulator. Samples were studied by light microscope after immunocytological stain.Results: The sperm aster formation was observed 2–3 h after ICSI with intact sperm. In contrast, microtubules were organized between the male and female pronucleus without a nucleation site in the eggs after ICSI with an isolated sperm head. In the late pronuclear stage following ICSI with an isolated sperm head, microtubule organization was the same as in late pronuclear stage eggs after intact sperm injection. The first mitotic spindle was organized in eggs following ICSI with an isolated sperm head, as observed in eggs following ICSI with an intact sperm.Conclusions: These results indicate that the MTOC is in oocyte cytoplasm during fertilization and fulfils the function when the sperm centrosome is absent. (Reprod Med Biol 2005; 4: 169–178)
Estrogen‐related receptor in reproductive organs
Authors: FUJIMOTO JIRO , NAKAGAWA YUMIKO , TOYOKI HIROSHI , SAKAGUCHI HIDEKI , SATO ERIKO , TAMAYA TERUHIKO 
Published: May 2005

Estrogen‐related receptor (ERR) was studied in the placenta and uterine endometrium, especially endometrial cancers, among reproductive organs. In the placenta, the estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta mRNA levels increased from the first to the second trimester, and then decreased until normal term delivery. Estrogen‐related receptor alpha, beta and gamma mRNA levels gradually increased up to the second trimester, and then comparatively rapidly increased until normal term delivery. In endometrial cancers, ER alpha and beta mRNA levels decreased with clinical stage, myometrial invasion and dedifferentiation. Estrogen‐related receptor alpha levels increased with clinical stage and myometrial invasion, and the ERR gamma levels increased with myometrial invasion. Estrogen‐related receptors can bind to the steroid receptor coactivator family without any ligands, and drive transcription activity of the target genes. The manner of ERR and ER gene expressions might show a competitive interaction associated with the use of common cofactors. It is speculated that the upregulation of ERR is related to the placental growth after the downregulation of ER from the second trimester until delivery, and that ERR alpha and gamma are candidates for prognostic factors in endometrial cancer, although ERR are not directly related to tumor growth and advancement of endometrial cancer. (Reprod Med Biol 2005; 4: 129–131)
Adult motor neurons show increased susceptibility to axotomy‐induced death in mice lacking clusterin
Authors: Wicher Grzegorz K. , Aldskogius Håkan 
Published: May 2005

AbstractClusterin is a highly conserved, amphiphatic glycoprotein present in most tissues. It has been shown to be involved in the regulation of lipid transportation, clearance of cellular debris from the extracellular space and intracellular signal transduction. Clusterin is markedly up‐regulated after neural injury but the functional significance of this response is unclear. Here, we show that clusterin up‐regulation is substantially greater in hypoglossal motor neurons after hypoglossal nerve avulsion compared with nerve transection. Quantitative analyses of motor neuron numbers after the same lesions in clusterin(–/–) and clusterin(+/+) mice showed significantly larger numbers of surviving motor neurons in clusterin(+/+) mice. These results suggest that clusterin has a neuroprotective role after axotomy.
Spontaneous electrical activity and dendritic spine size in mature cerebellar Purkinje cells
Authors: Harvey Robin J. , Morando Laura , Rasetti Roberta , Strata Piergiorgio 
Published: May 2005

AbstractPrevious experiments have shown that in the mature cerebellum both blocking of spontaneous electrical activity and destruction of the climbing fibres by a lesion of the inferior olive have a similar profound effect on the spine distribution on the proximal dendrites of the Purkinje cells. Many new spines develop that are largely innervated by parallel fibers. Here we show that blocking electrical activity leads to a significant decrease in size of the spines on the branchlets. We have also compared the size of the spines of the proximal dendritic domain that appear during activity block and after an inferior olive lesion. In this region also, the spines in the absence of activity are significantly smaller. In the proximal dendritic domain, the new spines that develop in the absence of activity are innervated by parallel fibers and are not significantly different in size from those of the branchlets, although they are shorter. Thus, the spontaneous activity of the cerebellar cortex is necessary not only to maintain the physiological spine distribution profile in the Purkinje cell dendritic tree, but also acts as a signal that prevents spines from shrinking.
Arousal and differential Fos expression in histaminergic neurons of the ascending arousal system during a feeding‐related motivated behaviour
Authors: Valdés J. L. , Farías P. , Ocampo‐Garcés A. , Cortés N. , Serón‐Ferré M. , Torrealba F. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractArousal depends on the concerted activity of the ascending arousal system (AAS) but specific stimuli may primarily activate some nuclei of this system. Motivated behaviours are characterized by behavioural arousal, although it is not known which AAS nuclei are active during a motivated behaviour. To address this issue, rats were rendered motivated for food by fasting them for 1 day and then were enticed with food that they could not obtain for varying periods of time. We studied the level of arousal by polysomnography or radiotelemetry, and Fos‐ir in the AAS, during food enticing. We found a strong arousal and an early increase in Fos‐ir in the histaminergic neurons from the tuberomammillary nucleus, after 30 min of enticing, followed by increased Fos‐ir in the whole AAS if food enticing was prolonged to 1 or 2 hours. In contrast, food presentation to non‐motivated rats did not increase arousal or Fos‐ir in the tuberomammillary nucleus. As opposed to the active arousal of the motivated rats, passive arousal induced by sensory stimulation was associated with increased Fos‐ir in the locus coeruleus and the orexin neurons, but not with increased Fos‐ir in the tuberomammillary nucleus or in the other nuclei of the AAS. We conclude that the arousal during feeding‐related motivated behaviour is associated primarily with the activation of the tuberomammillary nucleus, while the other arousal‐related nuclei become active later on.
Selective cholinergic immunolesioning affects synaptic plasticity in developing visual cortex
Authors: Kuczewski N. , Aztiria E. , Leanza G. , Domenici L. 
Published: May 2005

AbstractCholinergic neurotransmission is known to affect activity‐dependent plasticity in various areas, including the visual cortex. However, relatively little is known about the exact role of subcortical cholinergic inputs in the regulation of plastic events in this region during early postnatal development. In the present study, synaptic transmission and plasticity in the developing visual cortex were studied following selective immunotoxic removal of the basal forebrain cholinergic afferents in 4‐day‐old rat pups. The lesion produced dramatic cholinergic neuronal and terminal fibre loss associated with decreased mRNA levels for the M1 and M2 muscarinic receptors, as well as clear‐cut impairments of long‐term potentiation (LTP) in visual cortex slices. Indeed, after theta burst stimulation of layer IV a long‐term depression (LTD) instead of an LTP was induced in immunolesioned slices. This functional change appears to be due to the lack of cholinergic input as exogenous application of acetylcholine prevented the shift from LTP to LTD. In addition, lesioned rats showed an increased sensitivity to acetylcholine (ACh). While application of 20 µm ACh produced a depression of the field potential in immunolesioned rat slices, in order to observe the same effect in control slices we had to increase ACh concentration to up to 200 µm. Taken together, our results indicate that deprivation of cholinergic input affects synaptic transmission and plasticity in developing visual cortex, suggesting that the cholinergic system could play an active role in the refinement of the cortical circuitry during maturation.
Forebrain projections to the hypothalamus are topographically organized in anurans: conservative traits as compared with amniotes
Authors: Moreno Nerea , González Agustín 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThe organization of the forebrain in amphibians (anamniotes) is currently being re‐evaluated in terms of evolution and several evidences have corroborated numerous traits shared by amphibians and amniotes, such as the organization of the basal ganglia and the amygdaloid complex. In the present study we have analysed the organization of forebrain afferent systems to the hypothalamus of the frog Rana perezi. In vivo and in vitro tract‐tracing techniques with dextran amines and immunohistochemistry for localizing nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in a series of single or combined experiments were used as NOS labelling reveals hypothalamic afferents arising from the lateral amygdala and the combination allowed analysis of the relationship between fibers of different origins in the same section. The results showed a large segregation of afferents in the hypothalamic region depending on their site of origin in the forebrain. Four highly topographically organized prosencephalic tracts reaching the anuran hypothalamus were observed: (i) the medial forebrain bundle, from the medial pallium and septal complex; (ii) the caudal branch of the stria terminalis formed by fibers arising in the lateral and medial amygdala; (iii) part of the lateral forebrain bundle with fibers from the central amygdala and (iv) the dorsal thalamo‐hypothalamic tract. Fibers coursing in each tract reach the hypothalamus and terminate in distinct fields. The resemblance in pattern of forebrain‐hypothalamic organization between amphibians and amniotes suggests that this feature represents an important trait conserved in the evolution of all tetrapods and therefore essential for the hypothalamic function.