A spontaneous thymic carcinosarcoma in a young Sprague Dawley rat.

We encountered a case of spontaneous thymic carcinosarcoma in a young Crl:CD (Sprague Dawley) rat. Grossly, a white multinodular mass replaced the thymus in the thoracic cavity. Histologically, multiple nodules were separated by fibrous stroma, and each nodule included isolated regions that were composed of epithelial or non-epithelial tumor cells. The epithelial tumor cells were relatively large and round to polygonal cells with large nuclei and weakly eosinophilic cytoplasm. These cells were cytokeratin-positive and vimentin-negative. These cells infiltrated the lungs. The non-epithelial tumor cells were poorly differentiated, small, round to spindle-shaped cells with small nuclei and basophilic cytoplasm. These cells were vimentin-positive and mostly cytokeratin-negative. Many islands of cartilage were observed near non-epithelial cells. Based on these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a primary thymic carcinosarcoma consisting of a malignant thymoma composed of epithelial tumor cells and a mesenchymal chondrosarcoma composed of non-epithelial tumor cells.

Paradoxical development of polymyositis-like autoimmunity through augmented expression of autoimmune regulator (AIRE).

Autoimmunity is prevented by the function of the autoimmune regulator [AIRE (Aire in mice)], which promotes the expression of a wide variety of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) from medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) and from a subset of peripheral antigen-presenting cells (APCs). We examined the effect of additive expression of human AIRE (huAIRE) in a model of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. Unexpectedly, we observed that mice expressing augmented AIRE/Aire developed muscle-specific autoimmunity associated with incomplete maturation of mTECs together with impaired expression of Aire-dependent TRAs. This led to failure of deletion of autoreactive T cells together with dramatically reduced production of regulatory T cells in the thymus. In peripheral APCs, expression of costimulatory molecules was augmented. We suggest that levels of Aire expression need to be tightly controlled for maintenance of immunological tolerance. Our results also highlight the importance of coordinated action between central tolerance and peripheral tolerance under the common control of Aire.

Intermediate-grade mammary gland adenocarcinoma in an 18-year-old female black leopard (Panthera pardus) with acute pancreatic necrosis and chronic interstitial nephropathy.

An 18-year-old female black leopard (Panthera pardus) showed renal failure, leukocytosis and presence of subcutaneous masses in the lower abdominal region and right shoulder; she eventually died. Histopathological observations included a mammary gland carcinoma with comedo, solid and tubulopapillary patterns in subcutaneous tissue, and highly proliferated tumor cells in systemic organs. The tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3. The mammary gland tumor was diagnosed as intermediate-grade adenocarcinoma, based on a previously reported histological grading system of feline mammary carcinomas. Chronic interstitial nephritis was estimated to have been ongoing for 5 years, whilst acute necrotic pancreatitis in relation to tumor metastasis could have been the cause of death.

Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor in a female wolf (Canis lupus lupus).

A 17-year-old female wolf (Canis lupus lupus) had a right lung mass that was adhered to the thoracic cavity. Histopathological examination revealed that the mass consisted of sheets, cord or ribbon-like structures of monotonous, small, cuboidal cells with round, oval or short-spindle nuclei and scant clear cytoplasm, demarcated by a fine fibrovascular stroma. Focal necrosis, congestion and thrombi were observed. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells diffusely expressed cytokeratin AE1/AE3, and some expressed chromogranin A, neural cell adhesion molecule (CD56) and thyroid transcription factor-1. The number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive tumor cells was low. A diagnosis of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor was based on the resemblance to carcinoids.

Immunohistochemistry of aberrant neuronal development induced by 6-propyl-2-thiouracil in rats.

6-Propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism disrupts neuronal/glial development. This study sought to identify the sensitive immunohistochemical parameters of developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) following PTU-exposure, as well as their responses in a 28-day toxicity study in adults. In the developmental exposure study, pregnant rats were treated with 0, 1, 3, and 10ppm PTU in drinking water from gestational day 6 to postnatal day (PND) 21 and pups were examined on PNDs 21 and 77. In the adult-stage exposure study, 5-week-old male rats were treated with 0, 0.1 and 10mg PTU/kg by oral gavage for 28 days. In the developmental exposure study on PND 21, there were fewer GFAP+, PAX6+, and DCX+ cells in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampal dentate gyrus at ≥3 or 10ppm. Regarding synaptic plasticity-related molecules, there were fewer EPHA4+ and ARC+ cells in the dentate granule cell layer. Regarding GABAergic interneuron subpopulations, there were more RELN+, CALB2+, and SST+ cells and fewer PVALB+ cells in the dentate hilus. There were also differences in the numbers of RELN+, PVALB+, CALB2+, and NPY+ cells in the cerebral cortex, and RELN+, PVALB+, and SST+ cells in the cerebellar cortex. Most of these changes were sustained until PND 77. Following adult-stage exposure (10mg/kg), there were fewer SGZ DCX+ cells, but more RELN+ and SST+ cells in the dentate hilus. Results suggest that GABAergic interneuron populations in cortical tissues, hippocampal neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity are sensitive to PTU-induced DNT during development. In contrast, only hippocampal neurogenesis was sensitive to adult-stage exposure.

Gene expression profiling of the hippocampal dentate gyrus in an adult toxicity study captures a variety of neurodevelopmental dysfunctions in rat models of hypothyroidism.

We previously found that developmental hypothyroidism changed the expression of genes in the rat hippocampal dentate gyrus, a brain region where adult neurogenesis is known to occur. In the present study, we performed brain region-specific global gene expression profiling in an adult rat hypothyroidism model to see if it reflected the developmental neurotoxicity we saw in the developmental hypothyroidism model. Starting when male rats were 5 weeks old, we administered 6-propyl-2-thiouracil at a doses of 0, 0.1 and 10 mg kg(-1) body weight by gavage for 28 days. We selected four brain regions to represent both cerebral and cerebellar tissues: hippocampal dentate gyrus, cerebral cortex, corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis. We observed significant alterations in the expression of genes related to neural development (Eph family genes and Robo3) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal dentate gyrus and in the expression of genes related to myelination (Plp1 and Mbp) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. We observed only minor changes in the expression of these genes in the corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis. We used real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction to confirm Chrdl1, Hes5, Mbp, Plp1, Slit1, Robo3 and the Eph family transcript expression changes. The most significant changes in gene expression were found in the dentate gyrus. Considering that the gene expression profile of the adult dentate gyrus closely related to neurogenesis, 28-day toxicity studies looking at gene expression changes in adult hippocampal dentate gyrus may also detect possible developmental neurotoxic effects.

Exposure to MnCl2 · 4H2O during development induces activation of microglial and perivascular macrophage populations in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of rats.

Developmental exposure to Mn caused Mn accumulation in the brain tissue and transient disruption of granule cell neurogenesis, targeting the late stage differentiation of progenitor cells in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus of rats. Because neurogenesis is influenced by proinflammatory responses, this study was performed to determine whether Mn exposure causes microglial activation in the dentate hilus, a region anatomically close to the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. Pregnant rats were treated with dietary MnCl2 · 4H2O at 32, 160 or 800 ppm from gestational day 10 to day 21 after delivery. An immunohistochemical analysis revealed increases in Iba1(+) microglia in the hilus on postnatal day 21 following exposure to MnCl2 · 4H2O in a dose-unrelated manner at 32 and at 800 ppm and an increase in CD163(+) macrophage at 800 ppm in the hilus. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed increases in the mRNA levels of Il1α, Il6, Nos2 and Tnf after 800 ppm MnCl2 · 4H2O. These results suggest that activation of microglia and perivascular macrophages occurs in the hilus after developmental exposure to MnCl2 · 4H2O at 800 ppm, and probably involves the disruption of neurogenesis through the accumulation of Mn in the brain tissue.

Downregulation of immediate-early genes linking to suppression of neuronal plasticity in rats after 28-day exposure to glycidol.

We previously found that the 28-day oral toxicity study of glycidol at 200mg/kg/day in rats resulted in axonopathy in both the central and peripheral nervous systems and aberrations in the late-stage of hippocampal neurogenesis targeting the process of neurite extension. To capture the neuronal parameters in response to glycidol toxicity, these animals were subjected to region-specific global gene expression profiling in four regions of cerebral and cerebellar architectures, followed by immunohistochemical analysis of selected gene products. Expression changes of genes related to axonogenesis and synaptic transmission were observed in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, cingulate cortex and cerebellar vermis at 200mg/kg showing downregulation in most genes. In the corpus callosum, genes related to growth, survival and functions of glial cells fluctuated their expression. Immunohistochemically, neurons expressing gene products of immediate-early genes, i.e., Arc, Fos and Jun, decreased in their number in the dentate granule cell layer, cingulate cortex and cerebellar vermis. We also applied immunohistochemical analysis in rat offspring after developmental exposure to glycidol through maternal drinking water. The results revealed increases of Arc(+) neurons at 1000ppm and Fos(+) neurons at ≥300ppm in the dentate granule cell layer of offspring only at the adult stage. These results suggest that glycidol suppressed neuronal plasticity in the brain after 28-day exposure to young adult animals, in contrast to the operation of restoration mechanism to increase neuronal plasticity at the adult stage in response to aberrations in neurogenesis after developmental exposure.

Expression alterations of genes on both neuronal and glial development in rats after developmental exposure to 6-propyl-2-thiouracil.

The present study was performed to determine target gene profiles associated with pathological mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity. For this purpose, we selected a rat developmental hypothyroidism model because thyroid hormones play an essential role in both neuronal and glial development. Region-specific global gene expression analysis was performed at postnatal day (PND) 21 on four brain regions representing different structures and functions, i.e., the cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, dentate gyrus and cerebellar vermis of rats exposed to 6-propyl-2-thiouracil in the drinking water at 3 and 10ppm from gestational day 6 to PND 21. Expression changes of gene clusters of neuron differentiation and development, cell migration, synaptic function, and axonogenesis were detected in all four regions. Characteristically, gene expression profiles suggestive of affection of ephrin signaling and glutamate transmission were obtained in multiple brain regions. Gene clusters suggestive of suppression of myelination and glial development were specifically detected in the corpus callosum and cerebral cortex. Immunohistochemically, immature astrocytes immunoreactive for vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein were increased, and oligodendrocytes immunoreactive for oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor 2 were decreased in the corpus callosum. Immunoreactive intensity of myelin basic protein was also decreased in the corpus callosum and cerebral cortex. The hippocampal dentate gyrus showed downregulation of Ptgs2, which is related to synaptic activity and neurogenesis, as well as a decrease of cyclooxygenase-2-immunoreactive granule cells, suggesting an impaired synaptic function related to neurogenesis. These results suggest that multifocal brain region-specific microarray analysis can determine the affection of neuronal or glial development.

N-methyl-N-nitrosourea during late gestation results in concomitant but reversible progenitor cell reduction and delayed neurogenesis in the hippocampus of rats.

N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) is an alkylating agent having genotoxic potential to cause gene mutations and antiproliferative cytotoxic activity on developing brains to cause microcephaly by mid-gestational exposure in rodents. This study investigated the transient genotoxic and cytocidal effect of MNU at the beginning of the subgranular zone (SGZ) formation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus on neurogenesis in later life using rats. Pregnant rats were injected with MNU at 0 (vehicle controls), 1 or 3mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally from gestational day (GD) 18 to GD 20 once a day. In offspring, effects were observed at 3mg/kg. Fetal brains on GD 21 after the last MNU injection increased TUNEL(+) apoptotic cells in the tertiary germinal matrices. At postnatal day (PND) 21 on weaning, offspring displayed decrease of doublecortin (Dcx)(+) cells and cell proliferation in the SGZ and increase of calbindin (Calb1)(+) interneurons in the dentate hilus. Postnatal single bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) injection on PND 3 resulted in an increase of BrdU(+)/Dcx(+) cells. On PND 77, Dcx(+) cells recovered in number, but cell proliferation increased in the SGZ. Thus, late-gestational maternal MNU exposure may induce reversible reductions of type-3 progenitor and/or immature granule cells and cell proliferation on weaning in response to progenitor cell apoptosis, as well as delayed neurogenesis due to cell cycle arrest. Increases of Calb1(+) interneurons on weaning and SGZ cell proliferation later on may reflect compensatory mechanism for MNU-induced aberrant neurogenesis. Considering the lack of effects on PND 77, MNU may mainly target transient populations of highly proliferative progenitor cells without affecting their stem cells to undergo progenitor production. Protective and plasticity mechanism may be operated against genotoxic agents on hippocampal neurogenesis.

Gene expression profile of brain regions reflecting aberrations in nervous system development targeting the process of neurite extension of rat offspring exposed developmentally to glycidol.

We previously found that exposure to glycidol at 1000 ppm in drinking water caused axonopathy in maternal rats and aberrations in late-stage hippocampal neurogenesis, targeting the process of neurite extension in offspring. To identify the profile of developmental neurotoxicity of glycidol, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given drinking water containing glycidol from gestational day 6 until weaning on day 21 after delivery, and offspring at 0, 300 and 1000 ppm were subjected to region-specific global gene expression profiling. Four brain regions were selected to represent both cerebral and cerebellar tissues, i.e., the cingulate cortex, corpus callosum, hippocampal dentate gyrus and cerebellar vermis. Downregulated genes in the dentate gyrus were related to axonogenesis (Nfasc), myelination (Mal, Mrf and Ugt8), and cell proliferation (Aurkb and Ndc80) at ≥ 300 ppm, and upregulated genes were related to neural development (Frzb and Fzd6) at 1000 ppm. Upregulation was observed for genes related to myelination (Kl, Igf2 and Igfbp2) in the corpus callosum and axonogenesis and neuritogenesis (Efnb3, Tnc and Cd44) in the cingulate cortex, whereas downregulation was observed for genes related to synaptic transmission (Thbs2 and Ccl2) in the cerebellar vermis; all of these changes were mostly observed at 1000 ppm. Altered gene expression of Cntn3, which functions on neurite outgrowth-promotion, was observed in all four brain regions at 1000 ppm. Gene expression profiles suggest that developmental exposure to glycidol affected plasticity of neuronal networks in the broad brain areas, and dentate gyrus neurogenesis may be the sensitive target of this type of toxicity.

Glycidol induces axonopathy and aberrations of hippocampal neurogenesis affecting late-stage differentiation by exposure to rats in a framework of 28-day toxicity study.

Developmental exposure to glycidol induces aberrations of late-stage neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of rat offspring, whereas maternal animals develop axonopathy. To investigate the possibility whether similar effects on adult neurogenesis could be induced by exposure in a framework of 28-day toxicity study, glycidol was orally administered to 5-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats by gavage at 0, 30 or 200 mg/kg for 28 days. At 200 mg/kg, animals revealed progressively worsening gait abnormalities as well as histopathological and immunohistochemical changes suggestive of axonal injury as evidenced by generation of neurofilament-L(+) spheroids in the cerebellar granule layer and dorsal funiculus of the medulla oblongata, central chromatolysis in the trigeminal nerve ganglion cells and axonal degeneration in the sciatic nerves. At the same dose, animals revealed aberrations in neurogenesis at late-stage differentiation as evidenced by decreases of both doublecortin(+) and dihydropyrimidinase-like 3(+) cells in the subgranular zone (SGZ) and increased reelin(+) or calbindin-2(+) γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic interneurons and neuron-specific nuclear protein(+) mature neurons in the dentate hilus. These effects were essentially similar to that observed in offspring after maternal exposure to glycidol. These results suggest that glycidol causes aberrations in adult neurogenesis in the SGZ at the late stage involving the process of neurite extension similar to the developmental exposure study in a standard 28-day toxicity study.

Transient suppression of late-stage neuronal progenitor cell differentiation in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of rat offspring after maternal exposure to nicotine.

To examine the developmental exposure effect of nicotine (NIC) on hippocampal neurogenesis, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with (-)-NIC hydrogen tartrate salt through drinking water at 2, 10 or 50 ppm from gestational day 6 to day 21 after delivery. On postnatal day (PND) 21, immunohistochemically doublecortin (Dcx)(+) cells increased at ≥10 ppm in the dentate subgranular zone (SGZ) as examined in male offspring; however, dihydropyrimidinase-like 3 (TUC4)(+) cells decreased at 2 ppm, and T box brain 2 (Tbr2)(+) cells were unchanged at any dose. Double immunohistochemistry revealed decreases in TUC4(+)/Dcx(+) and TUC4(+)/Dcx(-) cells, an increase in TUC4(-)/Dcx(+) cells at 2 and 10 ppm and an increase in Tbr2(-)/Dcx(+) cells at 50 ppm, suggesting an increase in type-3 progenitor cells at ≥2 ppm and decrease in immature granule cells at 2 and 10 ppm. The number of mature neuron-specific NeuN(-) progenitor cells expressing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 in the SGZ and mRNA levels of Chrna7 and Chrnb2 in the dentate gyrus was unchanged at any dose, suggesting a lack of direct nicotinic stimulation on progenitor cells. In the dentate hilus, glutamic acid decarboxylase 67(+) interneurons increased at ≥10 ppm. All changes disappeared on PND 77. Therefore, maternal exposure to NIC reversibly affects hippocampal neurogenesis targeting late-stage differentiation in rat offspring. An increase in interneurons suggested that their activation affected granule cell differentiation. The lowest observed adverse effect level was at 2 ppm (0.091 mg/kg/day as a free base) by the affection of hippocampal neurogenesis at ≥2 ppm.

Suppressive effect of liver tumor-promoting activities in rats subjected to combined administration of phenobarbital and piperonyl butoxide.

Phenobarbital (PB) is a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B inducer, and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is a CYP1A/2B inducer. These inducers have liver tumor-promoting effects in rats. In this study, we performed a rat two-stage liver carcinogenesis bioassay to examine the tumor-promoting effect of PB and PBO co-administration. Male rats received an intraperitoneal injection of N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) for initiation. Two weeks after DEN administration, rats were given PB (60 or 120 ppm in drinking water), PBO (1,250 or 2,500 ppm in diet) or 60 ppm PB+1,250 ppm PBO for 6 weeks. One week after the PB/PBO treatment, all rats were subjected to a two-thirds partial hepatectomy. To evaluate the effect of the combined administration, we used two statistical additive models. In the isoadditive model, the average values of the area of GST-P positive foci in the PB+PBO group were significantly lower than those in the High PB or High PBO groups. In the heteroadditive model, the net values of Cyp1a1 mRNA level and microsomal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the PB+PBO group were significantly lower than the sum of those in the Low PB or Low PBO groups. On the contrary, there was no interactive effect in the PCNA-positive hepatocyte ratio, mRNA levels of Cyp2b1/2, Gstm3, Gpx2 and Nqo1, and the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the PB+PBO group. These results suggest that PB and PBO co-administration causes suppressive effects in liver tumor-promoting activity in rats resulting from inhibited microsomal ROS production because of suppression of CYP1A induction.

Aberration in epigenetic gene regulation in hippocampal neurogenesis by developmental exposure to manganese chloride in mice.

We have shown that maternal manganese (Mn) exposure caused sustained disruption of hippocampal neurogenesis of mouse offspring. To clarify the effects of maternal Mn exposure on epigenetic gene regulation contributing to the sustained disruption of hippocampal neurogenesis, we treated pregnant ICR mice with MnCl2 in diet from gestational day 10 through day 21 after delivery on weaning and searched epigenetically downregulated genes by global promoter methylation analysis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of male offspring on postnatal day (PND) 21 and PND 77. By CpG promoter microarray analysis on PND 21 following 800-ppm Mn exposure, sustained promoter hypermethylation and transcript downregulation through PND 77 were confirmed with Mid1, Atp1a3, and Nr2f1, whereas Pvalb showed a transient hypermethylation only on weaning. The numbers of Pvalb⁺ and ATP1a3⁺ neurons suggestive of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons, Mid1⁺ cells suggestive of late-stage granule cell lineage and GABAergic interneurons, and COUP-TF1⁺ cells suggestive of early-stage granule cell lineage were all reduced on PND 21, and reductions were sustained on PND 77 except for no change in Pvalb⁺ cells. Mid1⁺ cells showed asymmetric distribution with right-side predominance, and Mn exposure abolished it by promoter hypermethylation of the right side. These findings indicate epigenetic mechanisms as mediators, through which Mn exposure modulates neurogenesis involving both granule cell lineage and GABAergic interneurons with long-lasting and stable repercussions. Disruption of asymmetric cellular distribution of Mid1 suggests that higher brain functions specialized in the left or right side of the brain were affected.

Liver tumor promoting effect of orphenadrine in rats and its possible mechanism of action including CAR activation and oxidative stress.

Orphenadrine (ORPH), an anticholinergic agent, is a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B inducer. CYP2B inducers are known to have liver tumor-promoting effects in rats. In this study, we performed a rat two-stage liver carcinogenesis bioassay to examine the tumor-promoting effect of ORPH and to clarify its possible mechanism of action. Male rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) as an initiation treatment. Two weeks after DEN administration, rats were fed a diet containing ORPH (0, 750, or 1,500 ppm) for 6 weeks. One week after the ORPH-administration rats were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy for the acceleration of hepatocellular proliferation. The number and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci significantly increased in the DEN-ORPH groups. Real-time RT-PCR revealed increased mRNA expression levels of Cyp2b1/2, Mrp2 and Cyclin D1 in the DEN-ORPH groups and of Gpx2 and Gstm3 in the DEN-High ORPH group. Microsomal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative stress markers such as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were increased in the DEN-High ORPH group. Immunohistochemically, constitutively active/androstane receptor (CAR) were clearly localized in the nuclei of hepatocytes in the DEN-ORPH groups. These results suggest that ORPH causes nuclear translocation of CAR resulting in the induction of the liver tumor-promoting activity. Furthermore, oxidative stress resulting from ROS production is also involved in the liver tumor-promoting activity of ORPH.

Enhanced liver tumor promotion activity in rats subjected to combined administration of phenobarbital and orphenadrine.

Phenobarbital (PB) and orphenadrine (ORPH) are cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B inducers and have liver tumor-promoting effects in rats. In this study, we performed a rat two-stage liver carcinogenesis bioassay to examine the tumor-promoting effect of PB and ORPH co-administration. Twelve male rats per group were given an intraperitoneal injection of N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) for initiation. Two-week after DEN administration, rats were given PB (60 or 120 ppm in drinking water), ORPH (750 or 1,500 ppm in diet) or 60 ppm PB+750 ppm ORPH for 6-week. One-week after the PB/ORPH treatment, all rats were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy. To evaluate the effect of the combined administration, we used two statistical models: a heteroadditive model and an isoadditive model. In the heteroadditive model, the net values of the number and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive foci, Cyp2b1/2, Gstm3 and Gpx2 mRNA levels, microsomal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances level in the PB+ORPH group were significantly higher than the sum of the net values of those in the Low PB and Low ORPH groups. In the isoadditive model, the average values of the area of GST-P positive foci and PCNA positive hepatocyte ratio and Gstm3 mRNA level in the PB+ORPH group were significantly higher than the average values of those in the High PB and High ORPH groups. These results suggest that PB and ORPH co-administration causes synergistic effects in liver tumor-promoting activity in rats resulting from oxidative stress due to enhanced microsomal ROS production.

Methacarn as a whole brain fixative for gene and protein expression analyses of specific brain regions in rats.

For molecular analysis in anatomically-specific brain regions for rodent studies, it is necessary to establish a fast and accurate procedure for tissue sampling to achieve high integrity and expression fidelity of extracted molecules. The present study was performed to examine suitability of whole brain fixation with methacarn and subsequent tissue sampling using punch-biopsy devices for gene expression analysis in rats. After fixation, each specific region, i.e., hippocampal dentate gyrus, corpus callosum, cingulate cortex or cerebellar vermis was collected, and the integrity and variability of expression data of extracted total RNAs and polypeptides were examined. Methacarn fixation, acetone fixation, and unfixed tissues were compared. Methacarn fixation resulted in high integrity of total RNAs sufficient for conducting global expression analysis and superior in terms of uniformity in the integrity among brain regions to that of acetone fixation. Extracted polypeptide after methacarn fixation revealed similar integrity to that without fixation or with acetone fixation. Methacarn fixation resulted in lower mRNA expression variability between samples than acetone fixation in microarray analysis. The fidelity of polypeptide expression was mostly equivalent between methacarn and acetone fixation in 2-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis, although the expression levels of a small number of polypeptides from acetone-fixed tissues were affected. These results suggest that whole brain fixation with methacarn retains advantages for global analyses of mRNAs and polypeptides in rodent studies.

Glycidol induces axonopathy by adult-stage exposure and aberration of hippocampal neurogenesis affecting late-stage differentiation by developmental exposure in rats.

To investigate the neurotoxicity profile of glycidol and its effect on developmental hippocampal neurogenesis, pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were given drinking water containing 0, 100, 300, or 1000 ppm glycidol from gestational day 6 until weaning on day 21 after delivery. At 1000 ppm, dams showed progressively worsening gait abnormalities, and histopathological examination showed generation of neurofilament-L(+) spheroids in the cerebellar granule layer and dorsal funiculus of the medulla oblongata, central chromatolysis in the trigeminal nerve ganglion cells, and axonal degeneration in the sciatic nerves. Decreased dihydropyrimidinase-like 3(+) immature granule cells in the subgranular zone (SGZ) and increased immature reelin(+) or calbindin-2(+) γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic interneurons and neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN)(+) mature neurons were found in the dentate hilus of the offspring of the 1000 ppm group on weaning. Hilar changes remained until postnatal day 77, with the increases in reelin(+) and NeuN(+) cells being present at ≥ 300 ppm, although the SGZ change disappeared. Thus, glycidol caused axon injury in the central and peripheral nervous systems of adult rats, suggesting that glycidol targets the newly generating nerve terminals of immature granule cells, resulting in the suppression of late-stage hippocampal neurogenesis. The sustained hilar changes may be a sign of continued aberrations in neurogenesis and migration. The no-observed-adverse-effect level was determined to be 300 ppm (48.8mg/kg body weight/day) for dams and 100 ppm (18.5mg/kg body weight/day) for offspring. The sustained developmental exposure effect on offspring neurogenesis was more sensitive than the adult axonal injury.

Reversible effect of developmental exposure to chlorpyrifos on late-stage neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in mouse offspring.

The effect of developmental exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF) on hippocampal neurogenesis was examined in male mice after maternal dietary exposure to CPF at 0, 4, 20, or 100ppm from gestation day 10 to postnatal day (PND) 21. Cholinesterase activity was dose-dependently decreased in red blood cells at ≥4ppm and in the brain at 100ppm both in dams and offspring on PND 21. Immunohistochemically, doublecortin(+) cells were decreased at ≥20ppm in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus, and NeuN(+)-expressing mature neurons were decreased at 100ppm in the hilus on PND 21. There were no differences in the numbers of progenitor populations expressing Tbr2 or M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Transcript levels of Dcx also decreased at ≥20ppm, and those of Pcna, Casp3, Bax, Bcl2, Pax6 and Tbr2 were unchanged in the dentate gyrus by real-time RT-PCR. At PND 77, hippocampal neurogenesis was unchanged. These results suggest that developmental CPF exposure directly but transiently suppresses maturation of late-stage granule cell lineages in the SGZ and affects interneuron populations in the hilus.