The Effect of Light on the Production of Reserpine in Cultured Rauwolfia serpentina Cells

Yamamoto, Osamu The Korean Society of Pharmacognosy 1996 Natural Product Sciences Vol.2 No.2

When reserpine-producing cell strains of Rauwolfia serpentina were transferred from the dark to the light irradiation, the production of reserpine was extremely enhanced whereas the cell growth was suppressed. In an incubation period of 20 days, the most effective culture condition for reserpine production was the combination of 8 days of dark culture and following 12 days of light culture. The time courses of both cell growth and reserpine production were measured in vitro in order to clarify the effect of wave length range of light on the biosynthesis of reserpine. Although the growth of cultured cells which had been incubated under continuous red, yellow, and green lights, respectively, was similar to that of the cultured cells subcultured in the dark. The cells cultured under red light irradiation produced less reserpine than dark-grown cultures. Both blue and near-ultraviolet light inhibited the growth of cultured cells. The production of reserpine was strikingly enhanced by blue light, but was strongly inhibited by near-ultraviolet light.

Multimorbidity of Allergic Diseases Is Associated With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in a Young Japanese Population

( Yasunori Yamamoto ),( Shinya Furukawa ),( Teruki Miyake ),( Junichi Watanabe ),( Yukihiro Nakamura ),( Yoshihiro Taguchi ),( Tetsuya Yamamoto ),( Aki Kato ),( Katsunori Kusumoto ),( Osamu Yoshida ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회 2024 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.30 No.2

Background/Aims Although certain allergic diseases have been reported to be associated with the prevalence of functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it is unclear whether the presence of multiple allergic diseases further increases the prevalence of FD and IBS. The aim of this study is to determine this issue in young people. Methods A cohort of 8923 Japanese university students was enrolled and diagnoses of FD and IBS were confirmed using Rome III criteria. Allergic disorders diagnosed at medical institutions were obtained by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Results The prevalence of FD, IBS, and their overlap was found to be 1.9%, 6.5%, and 1.1%, respectively. Pollen allergy was independently positively correlated with FD, IBS, and overlap of FD and IBS. Allergic rhinitis was positively linked to IBS. Drug allergy was positively associated with FD. The presence of multiple allergic diseases was positively correlated with FD and IBS (FD: adjusted OR for 2 allergic diseases: 1.95 [95% CI, 1.24-2.98], P for trend = 0.003; and IBS: adjusted OR for 1 allergic disease: 1.40 [95% CI, 1.15- 1.69], 2 allergic diseases 1.47 [95% CI, 1.12-1.91], and 3 or more allergic diseases: 2.22 [95% CI, 1.45-3.28], P for trend = 0.001). Additionally, the concomitant existence of multiple allergic diseases was also demonstrated to have a trend that correlated with the overlap of FD and IBS (P for trend = 0.018). Conclusion Allergic disease multimorbidity is positively correlated with the prevalence of FD and IBS in a young population. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2024;30:229-235)

Peptides from Bombyx Fibroin Counter D-Galactose-induced Hair Aging in Mice

Yamamoto, Kei-Ichiro,Tsushima, Masaaki,Yoshida, Atsushi,Karimazawa, Mayumi,Nagasuna, Osamu,Uchidate, Michimasa,Iwabuchi, Akira,Goryo, Masanobu,Yamashita, Tetsuro,Suzuk, Koichi Korean Society of Sericultural Science 2011 International Journal of Industrial Entomology Vol.23 No.2

Using proteases, we produced a peptide mixture from fibroin of the silkworm $Bombyx$ $mori$. Mice received D-galactose by subcutaneous injection for 8 weeks to accelerate aging, and then received the peptide mixture orally for 7 weeks. In the mice aged with D-galactose, the coefficient of friction of hair increased significantly up to 1.6-fold, but in the mice subsequently given the peptide mixture, it was normal. Scanning electron microscopy showed improved hair cuticles in the latter mice too. These results indicate that oral administration with peptides from $Bombyx$ fibroin counters the aging of hair cuticles.

EST analysis of regenerating newt retina

Hisatomi, Osamu,Hasegawa, Akiyuki,Goto, Tatsushi,Yamamoto, Shintaro,Sakami, Sanae,Kobayashi, Yuko,Tokunaga, Fumio Korean Society of Photoscience 2002 Journal of Photosciences Vol.9 No.2

A vertebrate retina is an organ belonging to the central nerve system (CNS), and is usually difficult to regenerate except at an embryonic stage in life. However, certain species of urodele amphibians, such as newts and salamanders, possess the ability to regenerate a functional retina from retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells even as adults. After surgical removal of neural retinas from adult newt eyes, the remaining RPE cells lose their pigment granules, transdifferentiate into retinal progenitor cells, which further differentiate into various retinal neurons, and then finally reform a functional neural network. To understand the molecular mechanisms of CNS regeneration, we attempted to investigate the genes expressing in regenerating newt retina. mRNAs were isolated from regenerating retinas at 18-19 days after the surgical removal of the normal retina, and a cDNA library (regenerating retinal cDNA library) were constructed. Our EST analysis of 112 clones in the regenerating cDNA library revealed that about 70% clones are closely related to the genes previously identified. About 40% clones are housekeeping genes, and about 15% clones encode proteins related to the regulation of gene expression and to the proliferation of the cells. Sequences similar to neural retina- and RPE-specific genes were not detected at all. These results led us to suppose that the regenerating retinal cells are in a state considerably different from those of neither neural retina nor RPE cells.

Evolution of Visual Pigments and Related Molecules

Hisatomi, Osamu,Yamamoto, Shintaro,Kobayashi, Yuko,Honkawa, Hanayo,Takahashi, Yusuke,Tokunaga, Fumio Korean Society of Photoscience 2002 Journal of Photosciences Vol.9 No.2

In photoreceptor cells, light activates visual pigments consisting of a chromophore (retinal) and a protein moiety (opsin). Activated visual pigments trigger an enzymatic cascade, called phototransduction cascade, in which more than ten phototransduction proteins are participating. Two types of vertebrate photoreceptor cells, rods and cones, play roles in twilight and daylight vision, respectively. Cones are further classified into several subtypes based on their morphology and spectral sensitivity. Though the diversities of vertebrate photoreceptor cells are crucial for color discrimination and detection of light over a wider range of intensities, the molecular mechanism to characterize the photoreceptor types remains unclear. We investigated the amino acid sequences of about 50 vertebrate opsins, and found that these sequences can be classified into five fundamental subfamilies. Clear relationships were found between these subfamilies and their characteristic spectral sensitivities. In addition to opsins, we studied other phototransduction proteins. The amino acid sequences of phototransduction proteins can be classified into a few subfamilies. Even though their spectral sensitivity is considerably different, cones fundamentally share the phototransduction protein isoforms which are different from those found in rods. It is suggested that the difference in phototransduction proteins between rods and cones is responsible for their sensitivity to light. Isoforms and their selective expression may characterize individual photoreceptor cells, thus providing us with physiological functions such as color vision and daylight/twilight visions.

Research Articles : Peptides from Bombyx Fibroin Counter D-Galactose-induced Hair Aging in Mice

( Kei Ichiro Yamamoto ),( Masaaki Tsushima ),( Atsushi Yoshida ),( Mayumi Karimazawa ),( Osamu Nagasuna ),( Michimasa Uchidate ),( Akira Iwabuchi ),( Masanobu Goryo ),( Tetsuro Yamashita ),( Koichi Su 한국잠사학회 2011 International Journal of Industrial Entomology Vol.23 No.2

Using proteases, we produced a peptide mixture from fibroin of the silkworm Bombyx mori. Mice received D-galactose by subcutaneous injection for 8 weeks to accelerate aging, and then received the peptide mixture orally for 7 weeks. In the mice aged with D-galactose, the coefficient of friction of hair increased significantly up to 1.6-fold, but in the mice subsequently given the peptide mixture, it was normal. Scanning electron microscopy showed improved hair cuticles in the latter mice too. These results indicate that oral administration with peptides from Bombyx fibroin counters the aging of hair cuticles.

Perspectives in environmental risk management training course for post graduate students and practioners in Osaka University

Tohru Morioka,Osamu Saito,Yugo Yamamoto,Masamichi Okano 환경독성보건학회 2004 한국독성학회 심포지움 및 학술발표회 Vol.- No.-

Comparative Analysis of Gastrointestinal Microbiota Between Normal and Caudal-Related Homeobox 2 (Cdx2) Transgenic Mice

( Hirotsugu Sakamoto ),( Takashi Asahara ),( Osamu Chonan ),( Norikatsu Yuki ),( Hiroyuki Mutoh ),( Shunji Hayashi ),( Hironori Yamamoto ),( Kentaro Sugano ) 대한장연구학회 2015 Intestinal Research Vol.13 No.1

Background/Aims: Caudal-related homeobox 2 (Cdx2) is expressed in the human intestinal metaplastic mucosa and induces intestinal metaplastic mucosa in the Cdx2 transgenic mouse stomach. Atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia commonly lead to gastric achlorhydria, which predisposes the stomach to bacterial overgrowth. In the present study, we determined the differences in gut microbiota between normal and Cdx2 transgenic mice, using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Methods: Twelve normal (control) and 12 Cdx2 transgenic mice were sacrificed, and the gastric, jejunal, ileac, cecal and colonic mucosa, and feces were collected. To quantitate bacterial microbiota, we used real-time qRT-PCR with 16S rRNA gene-targeted, species-specific primers. Results: The total numbers of bacteria in the gastric, jejunal, ileac, cecal, and colonic mucosa of the Cdx2 transgenic mice were significantly higher than those of the normal mice. The Bacteroi-des fragilis group and also Prevotella were not detected in the stomach of the normal mice, although they were detected in the Cdx2 transgenic mice. Moreover, the Clostridium coccoides group, Clostridium leptum subgroup, Bacteroides fragilis group, and Prevotella were not detected in the jejunum or ileum of the normal mice, although they were detected in the Cdx2 transgenic mice. The fecal microbiota of the normal mice was similar to that of the Cdx2 transgenic mice. Conclusions: Our results showed the differences in composition of gut microbiota between normal and Cdx2 transgenic mice, which may be caused by the development of gastric achlorhydria and intestinal metaplasia in Cdx2 transgenic mice. (Intest Res 2015;13:39-49)

Integrating Ant Colony Clustering Method to a Multi-Robot System Using Mobile Agents

Yasushi Kambayashi,Masataka Ugajin,Osamu Sato,Yasuhiro Tsujimura,Hidemi Yamachi,Munehiro Takimoto,Hisashi Yamamoto 대한산업공학회 2009 Industrial Engineeering & Management Systems Vol.8 No.3

This paper presents a framework for controlling mobile multiple robots connected by communication networks. This framework provides novel methods to control coordinated systems using mobile agents. The combination of the mobile agent and mobile multiple robots opens a new horizon of efficient use of mobile robot resources. Instead of physical movement of multiple robots, mobile software agents can migrate from one robot to another so that they can minimize energy consumption in aggregation. The imaginary application is making “carts,” such as found in large airports, intelligent. Travelers pick up carts at designated points but leave them arbitrary places. It is a considerable task to re-collect them. It is, therefore, desirable that intelligent carts (intelligent robots) draw themselves together automatically. Simple implementation may be making each cart has a designated assembly point, and when they are free, automatically return to those points. It is easy to implement, but some carts have to travel very long way back to their own assembly point, even though it is located close to some other assembly points. It consumes too much unnecessary energy so that the carts have to have expensive batteries. In order to ameliorate the situation, we employ mobile software agents to locate robots scattered in a field, e.g. an airport, and make them autonomously determine their moving behaviors by using a clustering algorithm based on the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). ACO is the swarm intelligence-based methods, and a multi-agent system that exploit artificial stigmergy for the solution of combinatorial optimization problems. Preliminary experiments have provided a favorable result. In this paper, we focus on the implementation of the controlling mechanism of the multi-robots using the mobile agents.

Effect of Starvation on Survival Rate and Body Composition of

Yang-Su Kim*, Shinj i Yamamoto, Chihiro Aoki, Amal Biswas,Yoshifumi Sawada, Kenj i Takii and Osamu Murata 전남대학교 수산과학연구소 2014 수산과학연구소논문집 Vol.22 No.-

The effect of starvation on Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis (PBT) juveniles was investigated according to two stages, weaning stage (0.8±0.2 g) at 25 days post hatching (dph) and transportation stage (3.8±1.2 g) at 36 dph. The juveniles were then transferred (0 h) into each tank from the mass production tank. Starved PBT juveniles were collected from one random tank at 3, 6, 9, 29 and 93 h (25 dph), and 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h (36 dph). The survival rate of 25 dph remained above 80% until 78 h: moreover the standard length and weight were increased until 9 h of starvation. However, the survival rate of 36 dph rapidly decreased to 42% at 48 h, and the standard length and weight were gradually decreased until the end of starvation. Whole body lipid and glycogen were rapidly consumed initially and moreover, the protein and energy contents were gradually and steadily decreased during starvation in both experiments. When compared to the linear regression analysis between energy consumption and starvation time, there was a statistical difference between the experiments (P < 0.05). These results suggest that energy mobilization differs between the weaning (25 dph) and transportation stages (36 dph). Further, it is assumed that the juveniles are more sensitive to starvation at 25 dph.