Altered expression of securin (Pttg1) and serpina3n in the auditory system of hearing-impaired Tff3-deficient mice.

INTRODUCTION: Tff3 peptide exerts important functions in cytoprotection and restitution of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract epithelia. Moreover, its presence in the rodent inner ear and involvement in the hearing process was demonstrated recently. However, its role in the auditory system still remains elusive. Our previous results showed a deterioration of hearing with age in Tff3-deficient animals. RESULTS: Present detailed analysis of auditory brain stem response (ABR) measurements and immunohistochemical study of selected functional proteins indicated a normal function and phenotype of the cochlea in Tff3 mutants. However, a microarray-based screening of tissue derived from the auditory central nervous system revealed an alteration of securin (Pttg1) and serpina3n expression between wild-type and Tff3 knock-out animals. This was confirmed by qRT-PCR, immunostaining and western blots. CONCLUSIONS: We found highly down-regulated Pttg1 and up-regulated serpina3n expression as a consequence of genetically deleting Tff3 in mice, indicating a potential role of these factors during the development of presbyacusis.

[Analysis of the discriminative capacity of hematological tests used in the diagnosis of sideropenia and microcythemia]. / Analisi della capacità discriminativa dei test ematologici impiegati nella diagnosi di sideropenia e microcitemia.

The significance of haematological tests has been measured on a statistical base. The purpose of such an inquiry is the simplification of diagnosing thalassemia and sideropenia. A pilot research has been performed on a sample of 10 thalassemic male subjects and 14 female subjects, 10 male subjects and 14 sideropenic female subjects compared with the same number of "normal" subjects of two sexes. This research has pointed the particular sensibility of some tests. There are reasons to consider best tests, in the order, HbA2, Hcv, MCHb for discrimination between "normal" and "thalassemic" and "sideropenic" subjects; Sideremia, Hb, GR for that between "normal" and "sideropenic" subjects. By combining such tests one obviously obtains more reliable results. Combination of tests Hb, Sideremia, GR appears a useful test for the classification of the subjects. Particularly we propose for the "double cases" the consideration of the test HbA2.

Goat PRND expression pattern suggests its involvement in early sex differentiation.

Expression of the goat prion protein gene locus was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on testes and ovaries at various developmental stages. A weak and stochastic expression of the PRNP and PRNT genes was observed. For PRNT, it is consistent with the detected deletions of two single nucleotides within its open reading frame in ruminant genes. PRND was expressed in both tissues at all stages. Whereas its expression is constant in the ovaries, it increases in testes between 36 and 46 days postcoitum (dpc) and remains high thereafter. In testes, Doppel was found in the nucleus of germinal cells and in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells at 44 dpc. It was detected in the cytoplasm of Leydig cells and of some Sertoli and germinal cells at 62 dpc. In the ovaries, it was observed in the nucleus of germinal cells at 44 dpc and mainly in their cytoplasm at 62 dpc. This expression pattern was shown to parallel that of C-kit and suggests Doppel involvement in early testis differentiation.