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Estrogen may induce the proliferation of leiomyoma cells, at least in part, by activating the K(ATP) channel. Increased expression of the K(ATP) channel may be a causal factor for the high growth rate of uterine leiomyoma.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of heavy metal contamination in the aquatic environment on the fishes (Opsariichthys bidens, Cyprinus carpio, Hemiculter eigenmanni and Culter brevicauda) inhabiting Andong and Imha reservoirs by comparing and analyzing the heavy metal contents accumulated in their tissues. Heavy metal contents were shown to be higher in the Andong reservoir than in the Imha reservoir. Accumulated heavy metals, Cr, Cu and Pb, were detected in tissues and bone tissues, but Cd was also found in the kidneys. Zn content was the highest among accumulated metals, whereas Cu content was the lowest in all tissues from the fishes in the Andong and Imha reservoirs. However, the amount of Cr in the tissues showed a twofold higher level in the Andong reservoir than that in Imha reservoir. The heavy metal contents of fish inhabiting the Andong reservoir were detected to be higher than those in the Imha reservoir. We also proposed that heavy metal contamination in water and its inhabiting fish is attributed to various heavy metals derived from water and sediments in the water environment of the Andong reservoir.

In analyzing the in vitro pattern of protein synthesis by the fat body and ovaries of the Hawaiian species Drosophila grimshawi, we have found that the ovaries synthesize much more protein than the female fat body and that the majority of the synthesized proteins are retained by the ovarian tissues. In contrast, the fat body secrets most of the proteins into the culture medium. Vitellogenins are the major class of proteins synthesized and released into the medium by both tissues. The synthesis of the three vitellogenin proteins (V1, V2, V3) is noncoordinate in the two tissues. Ovaries synthesize much more of the V2 protein, less V1 and very little V3, whereas fat body synthesizes more V1 protein with lesser quantities of the other two. The follicle cells were identified as the site of ovarian vitellogenin synthesis in D. grimshawi, confirming the findings in D. melanogaster. In D. grimshawi, the three vitellogenins are synthesized by the follicle cells in a noncoordinate and developmentally regulated manner. V2 and V1 are the predominant proteins at the onset of vitellogenesis (S8-9); their production peaks together with that of V3 a few hours later (S10) and then decreases to quantities equal to that of V3 during early choriogenesis (S11). During active choriogenesis (S12), V2 and V1 cease to be synthesized, but V3 synthesis continues. The vitellogenins synthesized by the follicles in vitro are released into the medium and not incorporated into the oocyte.