Effect of recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on fracture healing was investigated using a tibial fracture in beagle dogs. Transverse fractures in the middle of the diaphyses were created in the right tibiae and bFGF was injected into the fracture sites at a single dose of 200 g. The time course of changes in callus volume and morphology of the fracture sites were evaluated at weeks 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 after treatment, and the fracture strength was analyzed at weeks 16 and 32. At week 2, a radiogram of the fracture site showed obvious membranous ossification in the group injected with bFGF. Basic FGF extended the callus area at week 4 and increased the bone mineral content (BMC) in the callus at week 8. bFGF also increased the osteoclast number in the periosteal callus at weeks 2 and 4. In the bFGF group, a maximal increase in the osteoclast index was found at week 4, and an identical increase was recognized in the control group at weeks 8 and 16. These findings strongly suggested that bFGF stimulated not only callus formation but osteoclastic callus resorption. BMC in the bFGF group was followed by a rapid decrease from week 8, while that in the control group was identical from week 4. Fracture strength of the bFGF group showed significant recovery by week 16, and recovery was still evident by week 32. We conclude that bFGF promotes the fracture healing in dogs by the stimulation of bone remodeling. (J Bone Miner Res 1998;13:942-949)

Cry j II is an as important a major allergen as Cry j I.

ABSTRACT. The authors examined testis tissues and blood which were collected from free-ranging Japanese monkeys of the Takasakiyama troop during four periods in 1971 (mating season: late January-early February; early birth season: June; late birth season: August; and intermediate season between birth season and mating season: October), and studied their sexual maturation and seasonal changes in reproductive phenomena.Results of observations on the testis and plasma testosterone concentration were in agreement with each other. Except in a few cases, the testis was infantile until October at 4 years old and developed rapidly during the following two months, and spermatogenesis started in the mating season at 4 years old (in exceptional cases, it started one year earlier). After the following two-year process of sexual maturation, monkeys attained full maturation in the mating season at 6 years old.For seasonal changes in reproductive phenomena also, results of observations on the testis and the plasma testosterone were in agreement with each other. Activity of the testis repeated an annual cycle of being maximal in the mating season, regressing in the birth season, and redeveloping toward the following mating season. Such seasonal changes were noticeably observed with 4-to 6-year-old animals, which are in the process of sexual maturation.

No abstract

The birth rate and mortality rate of infants with congenital malformations of the limbs were examined in the Awajishima free‐ranging group of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Of the 606 infants born between 1978 and 1995, 86 (14.2%) were malformed. The male‐female ratio did not differ between malformed and normal infants. Most kin‐groups included females who gave birth to malformed infants at least once. The mortality rate within the first year after birth for malformed infants (28.2%) was significantly higher than that for normal infants (10.0%). However, this indicates that more than 70% of malformed infants were able to survive for the first year of life, even though they were unable to cling to their mothers ventrum due to their limb deformities. This finding indicates that maternal care‐taking is sufficient to enable malformed infants to survive during the early stages of development and that clinging by the infant is not necessary for the display of maternal care. Am. J. Primatol. 42:225–234, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

No abstract

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis has been reported to occur naturally in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) as well as humans. Using monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific to Cry j 1, a major allergen in Japanese cedar pollen, we identified five independent epitopes (EP‐1 to EP‐5) on the molecule. The epitopes recognized by IgE antibodies in the sera of humans and monkeys with the pollinosis were analysed by an IgE enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay inhibition method with these mAb. In human patients, the mAb to EP‐1 strongly blocked the binding of IgE antibodies in all patients’ sera to Cry j 1. The reaction patterns of IgE antibodies in monkeys, however, varied among the troops of monkeys. In some troops, the mAb to EP‐1 showed a blocking pattern similar to that for human patients. In other troops, mAb to EP‐4 and EP‐5 blocked binding of IgE. These results indicate that some, but not all, monkeys have antibody responses to the major allergen similar to those of humans.

Testjs size, seminifereus tubuSes and plasma testosterone concentrations showed conspicuous annuat changes in Sika deer of Hekkaido, Japan, The onset of the spermatogenic process occurred in July or August. Spermatogenic activity had already reachcd its height in late October, at the beginning ofthe rutting season, and had begun to decline in latc December. Sperrnatogenesis had stopped in Fcbruary or March. Plasma testosteronc concentrations showed very high ]evels in late October and early November, but was almost at the basal ]evel in February, March, June and December.