Generation and characterization of cerebellar granule neurons specific knockout mice of Golli-MBP.

Golli-myelin basic proteins, encoded by the myelin basic protein gene, are widely expressed in neurons and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system. Further, prior research has shown that Golli-myelin basic protein is necessary for myelination and neuronal maturation during central nervous system development. In this study, we established Golli-myelin basic protein-floxed mice to elucidate the cell-type-specific effects of Golli-myelin basic protein knockout through the generation of conditional knockout mice (Golli-myelin basic proteinsfl/fl; E3CreN), in which Golli-myelin basic proteins were specifically deleted in cerebellar granule neurons, where Golli-myelin basic proteins are expressed abundantly in wild-type mice. To investigate the role of Golli-myelin basic proteins in cerebellar granule neurons, we further performed histopathological analyses of these mice, with results indicating no morphological changes or degeneration of the major cellular components of the cerebellum. Furthermore, behavioral analysis showed that Golli-myelin basic proteinsfl/fl; E3CreN mice were healthy and did not display any abnormal behavior. These results suggest that the loss of Golli-myelin basic proteins in cerebellar granule neurons does not lead to cerebellar perturbations or behavioral abnormalities. This mouse model could therefore be employed to analyze the effect of Golli-myelin basic protein deletion in specific cell types of the central nervous system, such as other neuronal cells and oligodendrocytes, or in lymphocytes of the immune system.

[Characteristics of the Z-resolution Measurement in the Digital Breast Tomosynthesis].

PURPOSE: Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) offers a choice of image acquisition conditions. The object of observation is the entire detector in the full depth (Z-axis) direction. In this study, we investigated the effect of each acquisition condition on Z-resolution with a micro-metallic sphere (bead) as an imaged object in DBT images. METHOD: DBT images were acquired in two imaging modes with different angular ranges, varying with the height of the bead, the bead placement position, and the bead diameter. The depth profile of the bead image was obtained, and the Z-resolution was defined by its full width at half maximum. The Z-resolution was compared with each acquisition condition. RESULT: The Z-resolution values decreased with increasing height from the breast support and decreasing bead diameter. The Z-resolution values were larger at the edges than at the detector center. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the bead diameter and the geometry of the bead and detector affect the Z-resolution measurement.

Arm-cleavable microgel star polymers: a versatile strategy for direct core analysis and functionalization.

Arm-cleavable microgel star polymers were developed, where the arm chains can readily be cleaved by acidolysis after the synthesis, allowing isolation of the core, direct analysis of its structure, and also the creation of functional nanometer-sized microgels. The key is to employ a macroinitiator (PEG-acetal-Cl) that carries an acetal linkage between a poly(ethylene glycol) arm chain and a chloride initiating site. From this, star polymers were synthesized via the linking reaction with a divinyl monomer and a ruthenium catalyst in living radical polymerization. The arms were subsequently cleaved by acidolysis of the acetal linker to give soluble microgels (cores free from arms). Full characterization revealed that the microgel cores are spherical, nano-sized (<20 nm), and of relatively low density. Amphiphilic, water-soluble, and thermosensitive arm-free microgels can be obtained by additionally employing functional methacrylate upon arm linking.