We detected the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell marker CD133 using immunogold labeling during angiogenesis in a three-dimensional collagen gel culture. CD133-positive cells were present in capillary tubes newly formed from aortic explants in vitro. The CD133-positive cell population had the capacity to form capillary tubes. Lovastatin strongly inhibited cell migration from aortic explants and caused the degradation of the capillary tubes. The present study provides insight into the function of CD133 during angiogenesis as well as an explanation for the antiangiogenic effect of statins.

We have developed an in vitro model for studying vascular injury. After 7-10 days in a three-dimensional collagen gel culture, capillary-like tubes were formed in the collagen gels. We injured these capillary-like tubes with a laser microdissection system or a scrape method with razors and then examined the collagen gel culture by phase contrast and electron microscopy. After laser injury, profuse necrotic cells were observed around the injured capillary-like tubes and within the tubular lumen compared to the razor injury. We then isolated total RNA from these cultures and prepared cDNA for investigations by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Quantitative real time RT-PCR revealed the up-regulation of transcription factor early growth response-1 (Egr-1) after both laser and razor injury, accompanied by the up-regulation of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), a proangiogenic factor downstream of Egr-1. The effective laser energy is concentrated on the minute focal spot only. These methods provide a useful in vitro model for studying vascular injury.

Fluorescence histochemical examination of biogenic amines of the frog esophageal mucosa revealed that a serotonin-like monoamine exhibiting an yellow fluorescence was present in a certain type of cells. The new type of cells was specifically stained by the immunohistochemical method using anti-serotonin antiserum. From these observations, it is suggested that the new cell type in the esophageal mucosa probably contains 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin). The serotonin-containing cells were argentaffin, but negative for Grimelius' silver stain.

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Abstract:In this paper, a method to generate gradation of typical coloring techniques in order to promote a content production environment in consideration of KANSEI (sensitivity) engineering is discussed. We considered a color cube with coordinates in three axes, representing RGB 3-dimensional space. There are various gradations in a color cube. We have developed an interactive tool to generate a gradation by displaying the inner area of the color cube. We then proposed a new method to generate gradation using this tool. Regarding parameters of display area, we considered inputting pattern data from color scatter charts obtained from paintings or photos. The possibility of a tool which can generate gradation from images corresponding to the KANSEI words is discussed.