The coexistence of immunoreactivities for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and/or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was revealed in various brain regions in colchicine-injected and untreated rats, using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Consecutive 40 micron thick Vibratome sections were incubated in different antisera and those cells which were bisected by the plane of sectioning so as to be included at the paired surfaces of two adjacent sections were identified. The coexistence of the immunoreactivities for TH and GAD or GABA in the same cell could thus be determined by observing the immunoreactivity of the two halves of the cell incubated in two different antisera. In the olfactory bulb, retina, diencephalon, mesencephalic central grey and cerebral cortex, many TH-like immunoreactive neurons also showed GAD-like or GABA-like immunoreactivity, whereas in the substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area and locus ceruleus none of TH-like immunoreactive neurons showed either GAD-like or GABA-like immunoreactivity. In the olfactory bulb, retina and cerebral cortex, the majority of the TH-like immunoreactive neurons were also GAD-like or GABA-like immunoreactive. In the diencephalon of colchicine-injected rats, at least one-third of the TH-like immunoreactive neurons were GAD-like immunoreactive. Using serial 0.5 micron thick plastic-embedded sections, it was shown that immunoreactivities for three antigens, GAD, GABA and TH could occur in the same neurons in the olfactory bulb. These observations indicate the possible coexistence of two classical transmitters. GABA and catecholamine, in various brain regions of the rat.

No abstract

Objective: The effect of drinking deep-sea water on hair minerals was studied in patients with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS). Study of hair minerals revealed an imbalance of essential minerals and an increase in toxic minerals in AEDS patients. Design: After drinking deep-sea water (Amami no Mizu) for 6 months in AEDS patients, hair minerals (essential minerals and toxic minerals), clinical evaluation of the skin symptoms were compared before drinking with after drinking. Subjects: After obtaining informed consent, 33 patients (mean age 26 y, range 1-50 y, 13 male and 20 female subjects) with mild to moderate AEDS were enrolled. Results: After drinking deep-sea water, the levels of the essential mineral, potassium (K), were significantly decreased, while the levels of selenium (Se) increased. On the other hand, drinking deep-sea water significantly decreased the levels of the toxic minerals, mercury and lead. Moreover, after drinking deep-sea water, the skin symptoms were improved in 27 out of 33 patients. Conclusion: These results indicate that the mineral abnormalities/imbalance may be involved in the pathogenesis of AEDS, and that drinking deep-sea water may be useful in the treatment of AEDS.

Mineral ion, an essential element, plays a very important biochemical role in the body. It has been recognized that mineral ion imbalance is associated with several major diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and heart infarction. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] In addition, Iwata and Kinoshita reported mineral ion imbalance in the lens causes cataract. 8,9) Any alteration in the optical homogeneity of the lens or decrease in its transparency is known as a cataract, 10,11) and numerous factors have been implicated in its etiology. These involve genetic factors, diabetes, smoking, nutrition, the cumulative effect of X-rays, ultraviolet irradiation, and alteration in both endocrine and enzymatic equilibrium. [12][13][14][15][16][17] Cataractous lenses have been found to have an altered distribution of the intracellular ionic environment. The concentration of calcium ion (Ca 2ϩ ) was increased in many cataractous lenses. There have been many reports on the relationship between Mg 2ϩ and cataract. The Mg 2ϩ in the lens increased in diabetic 14) and ultraviolet-irradiated rats. 18) On the other hand, lipid peroxides 19) and cigarette smoke 17) reduced the Mg 2ϩ in the lens. In human senile cataract, Dilsiz et al. reported that lens ionic imbalance with increased levels of calcium and sodium, coupled with decreased levels of magnesium and potassium, is related to cataract development. 20)These lens ionic imbalances arise as a result of changes to lens membrane characteristics causing an increase in lens membrane permeability.Over the past several decades, there have been many studies exploring the mechanisms of cataract development. 21)Currently, reactive oxygen species (ROS), induced by UV rays in sunlight, are considered to be important in perturbing lens homeostasis. Therefore, exposure to ROS results in a breakdown of lens homeostasis, and the Ca 2ϩ concentration in the lens becomes elevated. The elevated Ca 2ϩ concentration in the lens has been induced to activate calpain, a Ca 2ϩ -dependent protease. Furthermore, the degradation of lens proteins such as crystallin proteins would result in an opaque lens. 20,22) This ROS is enhanced by hyperglycemia and Mg deficiency. 23)The Shumiya cataract rat (SCR), which was established by Shumiya and Nagase, is a hereditary cataractous rat strain. 24)Lens opacity in SCR appears spontaneously in the perinuclear and nuclear portions at 11-12 weeks of age, and cataract appearance in adult SCR was 66.7%.25) Previous investigations have revealed that oxidized glutathione concentrations in the SCR lens are increased, and reduced glutathione values are decreased.26) The proteolysis of some crystallins and cytoskeletal proteins was significantly enhanced in cataractous SCR lenses. The calcium concentrations in cataractous lenses rise markedly with age compared with non-cataractous lenses, and the autolytic product of calpain is also detected in cataractous lenses.27) It is noteworthy that SCR cataracts are not diabetic cataracts. T...

᭹, AA rats administered IM (2 mg/kg) and PW; ᭺, AA rats administered IM (2 mg/kg) and BW-5. The data are presented as meansϮS.E. of 5 independent rats.