The effects of emotional stressors on the release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) within the rat hypothalamus and the origin and physiological significance of AVP released within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were investigated. First, adult male Wistar rats with a microdialysis probe aimed at the PVN or the supraoptic nucleus were exposed to either a dominant male rat (social defeat) or a novel cage. Release of AVP within the PVN was significantly increased in response to social defeat but not to novelty. In contrast to an activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system, neither stressor stimulated the hypothalamic-neurohypophysial system (unchanged plasma AVP and OXT and unchanged release within the supraoptic nucleus [AVP] and the PVN [OXT]). Next, we demonstrated by simultaneous microdialysis of the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the PVN that AVP measured in PVN dialysates during social defeat was probably of intranuclear origin. Finally, a mixture of a V1 AVP and the alpha-helical corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor antagonists administered via inverse microdialysis into the PVN caused a significant increase in the plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration compared with vehicle-treated controls both under basal conditions and during social defeat, indicating inhibitory effects of intra-PVN-released AVP and/or CRH on HPA system activity. The antagonists failed to affect anxiety-related behavior of the animals as assessed with the elevated plus-maze. Taken together, our results show for the first time that AVP is released within the PVN in response to an emotional stressor. We hypothesize that this intranuclear release provides a negative tonus on ACTH secretion.

Our results suggest that HLA-B*59:01 is a risk factor for CIAG in the Japanese population. Furthermore, if our model is true, the results suggest that rechallenging certain CIG subjects with clozapine may not be always contraindicated.

Our data did not reach statistical significance regarding the efficacy of YKS against BPSD; however, YKS improves some symptoms including "agitation/aggression" and "hallucinations" with low frequencies of adverse events. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 211-218.

Leaf mold of tomato is caused by the biotrophic fungus Cladosporium fulvum which complies with the gene-for-gene system. The disease was first reported in Japan in the 1920s and has since been frequently observed. Initially only race 0 isolates were reported, but since the consecutive introduction of resistance genes Cf-2, Cf-4, Cf-5 and Cf-9 new races have evolved. Here we first determined the virulence spectrum of 133 C. fulvum isolates collected from 22 prefectures in Japan, and subsequently sequenced the avirulence (Avr) genes Avr2, Avr4, Avr4E, Avr5 and Avr9 to determine the molecular basis of overcoming Cf genes. Twelve races of C. fulvum with a different virulence spectrum were identified, of which races 9, 2.9, 4.9, 4.5.9 and 4.9.11 occur only in Japan. The Avr genes in many of these races contain unique mutations not observed in races identified elsewhere in the world including (i) frameshift mutations and (ii) transposon insertions in Avr2, (iii) point mutations in Avr4 and Avr4E, and (iv) deletions of Avr4E, Avr5 and Avr9. New races have developed by selection pressure imposed by consecutive introductions of Cf-2, Cf-4, Cf-5 and Cf-9 genes in commercially grown tomato cultivars. Our study shows that molecular variations to adapt to different Cf genes in an isolated C. fulvum population in Japan are novel but overall follow similar patterns as those observed in populations from other parts of the world. Implications for breeding of more durable C. fulvum resistant varieties are discussed.