Testicular germ cell transplantation into the seminiferous tubules is at present the only way to induce spermatogenesis from a given source of spermatogonial stem cells. Here we show an alternative method that harnesses the self-organizing ability of testicular somatic cells. The testicular cells of embryonic or neonatal mice or rats and of newborn pigs were dissociated into single cells. Each of them reorganized into a tubular structure following implantation into the subcutis of immunodeficient mice. When mouse germline stem (GS) cells derived from spermatogonial stem cells and expanded in culture were intermingled with testicular cells of rodents, they were integrated in the reconstituted tubules and differentiated beyond meiosis into spermatids. Normal offspring were produced by the microinjection of those spermatids into oocytes. This method could be applicable to various mammalian species and useful for producing functional gametes from GS cells in a xenoectopic environment.

We used a half-sib family of purebred Japanese Black (Wagyu) cattle to locate economically important quantitative trait loci. The family was composed of 348 fattened steers, 236 of which were genotyped for 342 microsatellite markers spanning 2,664 cM of 29 bovine autosomes. The genome scan revealed evidence of 15 significant QTL (<5% chromosome-wise level) affecting growth and carcass traits. Of the 15 QTL, six QTL were significant at the 5% experiment-wise level and were located in bovine chromosomes (BTA) 4, 5, and 14. We analyzed these three chromosomes in more detail in the 348 steers, with an average marker interval of 1.2 cM. The second scan revealed that the same haplotype of the BTA 4 region (52 to 67 cM) positively affected LM area and marbling. We confirmed the QTL for carcass yield estimate on BTA 5 in the region of 45 to 54 cM. Five growth-related QTL located on BTA 14, including slaughter and carcass weights, were positively affected by the same region of the haplotype of BTA 14 (29-51 cM). These data should provide a useful reference for further marker-assisted selection in the family and positional cloning research. The research indicates that progeny design with moderate genotyping efforts is a powerful method for detecting QTL in a purebred half-sib family.

Combined antihypertensive therapy plays a crucial role in achieving targeted blood pressure reductions and renoprotection. We therefore compared the antihypertensive and antiproteinuric effects of combined therapy with either a calcium channel blocker (CCB) plus an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) or an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) plus an ARB in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by overt nephropathy and mild to moderate hypertension. After a 12-week dietary control period, diabetic patients with mildly to moderately impaired renal function were randomly assigned to either a CCB (amlodipine 5 mg once daily) or an ACE-I (temocapril 2 mg once daily) for 12 weeks (monotherapy period). Both groups then received add-on therapy with an ARB (candesartan 4 mg once daily) for an additional 12 weeks. During the monotherapy period, blood pressure was decreased equally well in both groups. Daily urinary protein excretion remained unchanged in the CCB-treated group (control period, 4.0 +/- 1.8 g/day vs. CCB period, 4.1 +/- 1.9 g/day; ns; n = 8), but decreased in the ACE-I-treated group (control period, 4.3 +/- 1.8 g/day vs. ACE-I period, 3.5 +/- 1.7 g/day; p < 0.05; n = 9). After the combined therapy period, blood pressure was decreased to the same degree in both groups. Although ARB plus CCB significantly reduced urinary protein excretion (to 3.5 +/- 1.5 g/day; p < 0.05 vs. control period; n = 8), a more profound reduction was achieved with ARB plus ACE-I (to 2.6 +/- 1.3 g/day; p < 0.01 vs. control period; n = 9). Monotherapy with the ACE-I increased the serum potassium concentration, and this elevation was sustained after addition of the ARB. In contrast, the serum potassium concentration was not influenced by monotherapy with the CCB, but was significantly increased after addition of the ARB. A decreased hematocrit was observed in the ARB plus ACE-I group. The present study suggests that combined antihypertensive therapy with either a CCB plus an ARB or an ACE-I plus an ARB exerts an antiproteinuric effect in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy with mildly impaired renal function. Although the latter combination had a more profound effect, it was associated with an increased serum potassium concentration and worsening of renal anemia. Thus, the combination of a CCB and an ARB should be the first line antihypertensive therapy in those with overt diabetic nephropathy. The long-term efficacy of these combined antihypertensive therapies will need to be further addressed in a future study.

A novel glutelin gene was cloned from a cDNA library of maturing rice seeds (Oryza sativa L. cv Nipponbare) . The 2.0kbp insert contained an open reading frame encoding a 510 amino acid polypeptide (Mr 57,116). This novel glutelin shares 46 to 49% amino acid identity with previously identified rice glutelins. A phylogenetic analysis of cloned glutelins indicates that this gene constitutes a new, fifth class of glutelin gene families. The Asn-Gly processing sequence which is highly conserved in 11S seed storage proteins is replaced by Asn-Val in the sequence of the novel glutelin. The amino acid composition extending 50 residues both upstream and downstream of the Asn-Val site was less hydrophilic than in other glutelins. The N-terminal half corresponding to the acidic domains of other glutelins possesses a higher pI value (7.46) than found in other glutelins. Expression of the gene was detected in maturing seeds, but not in roots or leaves.

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