Molecular alterations of newly formed mandibular bone caused by zoledronate.

Bone quality is defined by structural and material characteristics. Most studies on the mandible have focused on the analysis of structural characteristics, with insufficient investigation of material characteristics. This study tested whether zoledronate affects the material characteristics of newly formed mandibular bone. Thirty-six female Wistar rats were assigned to three groups: sham-ovariectomized rats (SHAM, n=12), ovariectomized rats (OVX, n=12), and ovariectomized rats treated with zoledronate (ZOL, n=12). The left side of the mandibular ramus of all rats was drilled bicortically. Twenty-eight days after surgery, all surviving rats were euthanized and all mandibles were removed. Raman microspectroscopy was performed, and five spectra per specimen of newly formed mandibular bone were analysed. Compared with OVX rats, the mineral/matrix ratio in ZOL rats was significantly increased (5.43±1.88 vs. 7.86±2.05), while crystallinity (0.055±0.002 vs. 0.050±0.002), relative proteoglycan content (0.43±0.10 vs. 0.31±0.05), and collagen structural integrity (1.16±0.21 vs. 0.72±0.06) were significantly decreased. These changes in material characteristics may explain why rats that received zoledronate exhibited peculiar biological phenomena such as bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Hypoxic regulation of stability of connective tissue growth factor/CCN2 mRNA by 3'-untranslated region interacting with a cellular protein in human chondrosarcoma cells.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) can be induced by various forms of stress such as exposure to high glucose, mechanical load, or hypoxia. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism involved in the induction of ctgf/ccn2 by hypoxia in a human chondrosarcoma cell line, HCS-2/8. Hypoxia increased the ctgf/ccn2 mRNA level by altering the 3'-untranslated region (UTR)-mediated mRNA stability without requiring de novo protein synthesis. After a series of extensive analyses, we eventually found that the cis-repressive element of 84 bases within the 3'-UTR specifically bound to a cytoplasmic/nuclear protein. By conducting a UV crosslinking assay, we found the cytoplasmic/nuclear protein to be a 35 kDa molecule that bound to the cis-element in a hypoxia-inducible manner. These results suggest that a cis-element in the 3'-UTR of ctgf/ccn2 mRNA and trans-factor counterpart(s) play an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation by determining the stability of ctgf/ccn2 mRNA.

Comparative study on isolation calls emitted from hamster pups.

Waveforms of isolation calls emitted from hamster pups, which were Syrian hamsters, Djungarian hamsters, and Chinese hamsters, were compared in a basic study on improving reproduction by decrease of cannibalism, because it was reported that maternal behavior was induced by isolation calls in rodents. Isolation calls of hamster pups, isolated from their mother and receiving cold stress, were collected by Real-Time Spectrogram (RTS), and calculated to spectrograms and power spectra by SIGNAL. Isolation calls consisted of ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and audible vocalizations (ADVs) in each species. Waveforms of isolation calls emitted by the hamster pups, were shown to have several characteristic features. In this study, the species specificity of isolation calls was shown in hamster pups. It would seem that the species specificity originates in the differences of sensitivity to cold stress via the autonomic nerve in hamsters.

Simultaneous observation of ingestive and copulatory behavior of the male rat.

In a preliminary test male rats were allowed to ingest a 1 M solution of sucrose from a drinking spout. After daily intake of sucrose became stabilized, the males were given a sexually receptive or non-receptive female and the bottle filled with sucrose solution simultaneously. The ingestive and copulatory behavior was observed for 60 min under illumination by a red lamp. The data obtained from this study showed that the ingestive behavior of males was suppressed by the presence of sexually receptive females and, conversely, the sexual behavior of males was not affected by the presence of a bottle of sucrose. These results suggest that the presence of a sexual partner inhibits appetitive ingestive behavior, i.e., the responses used by male rats to obtain food.

Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinomas: five new clinicopathologic case studies.

Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinomas (PIOSCCs) are rare malignant tumours which arise from odontogenic epithelial remnants. Herein we report five new PIOSCC cases, affecting three female and two male patients with a mean age of 64.4 years. One case involved the maxilla and four cases occurred in the mandible. Typical radiographic findings were ill-defined radiolucencies. Histopathologically, four cases were diagnosed as well-differentiated PIOSCCs arising de novo or from odontogenic cysts. The remaining case was a moderately differentiated de novo PIOSCC. In four cases, treatment consisted of surgical removal with perioperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy. To date, there have been no recurrences or distant metastases in three cases. The lesion was not locally controlled in one case and curative treatments were rejected in another case. PIOSCCs are thought to be important among radiolucent jaw lesions, and early diagnoses and surgical excision with sufficient margins of safety may allow for good prognoses.