PURPOSE To study the morphology of the murine optic nerve (ON). METHODS Eyes of C57/Bl6 and BalbC mice were studied by light and electron microscopy. Microvascular castings of the ON region were prepared by transcardial injection of liquid plastic and studied with a scanning electron microscope. Immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)...

Cardiomyocytes in pulmonary veins (PVs) have been reported in rodents and humans. In humans they were related to atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AF). To investigate histological similarities and differences in PV cardiomyocyte localization and distribution, we performed comparative light and electron microscopic studies on humans, rats and mice, and generated a transgenic mou...

The human pneumovirus respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common pathogen causing lower respiratory tract disease in young children worldwide. A hallmark of severe human RSV infection is the strong neutrophil recruitment to the airways and lungs. Massive neutrophil activation has been proven detrimental in numerous diseases, yet in RSV the contribution of neutrophils to disease severi...

A lethal cardiotoxic-cytotoxic protein (mol. wt. 6.76 kDa) has been purified from the Indian monocellate cobra (Naja kaouthia) venom by ion-exchange chromatography and HPLC. CD spectra indicated the presence of 23% alpha helix, 19% beta sheets and 35% coil. Complete amino acid sequence was determined by MALDI, which showed similar homology with cardiotoxins/cytotoxins isolated from venom of oth...

Mechanisms leading to breakdown of immunological tolerance and initiation of autoimmunity are poorly understood. Experimental autoimmune gastritis is a paradigm of organ-specific autoimmunity arising from a pathogenic autoimmune response to gastric H/K ATPase. The gastritis is accompanied by autoantibodies to the gastric H/K ATPase. The best characterized model of experimental autoimmune gastri...

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States today. We employed a model for AAA development using apolipoprotein E knock out mice fed a high-fat diet and treated with ANG II and β-aminopropionitrile (β-APN) for 4 wk. ANG II induces hypertension and atherosclerotic disease, whereas β-APN inhibits the activity of the lysyl oxidase/ lysyl oxid...

Erratum Following publication of the original version [1] of the article in BMC Gastroenterology, it was brought to our attention that there was a mistake in the references list. Please see updated references below: 32. Gomez-Gallego C, Collado MC, Perez G, Ilo T, Jaakkola UM, Bernal MJ et al. Resembling breast milk: influence of polyamine-supplemented formula on neonatal BALB/cOlaHsd mouse mic...

Tolerance to dsDNA is broken in mice with a high-affinity anti-DNA H chain transgene, 56R, on the C57BL/6 background (B6.56R). B6.56R produce more anti-dsDNA Abs than BALBc.56R. To investigate how anti-DNA Abs are regulated on the B6 background, phenotypic and genetic studies were performed. B6.56R have reduced numbers of B cells and phenotypically altered B cell subsets, including relative inc...

Squalamine is a novel anti-angiogenic aminosterol that is postulated to inhibit neovascularization by selectively inhibiting the sodium-hydrogen antiporter exchanger. To determine how to most effectively use this agent in patients with cancer, we examined the antitumor effects of squalamine with or without cytotoxic agents in human lung cancer xenografts and correlated these observations with t...

Supplementation of spermidine, an autophagy-inducing agent, has been shown to protect against neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in aged animal models. The present translational study aimed to determine safety and tolerability of a wheat germ extract containing enhanced spermidine concentrations. In a preclinical toxicity study, supplementation of spermidine using this extract did not resu...