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The effect of triacylglycerol (TAG) compositions and physical properties related to solid fat content (SFC) on the behavior of granular crystal formation was investigated. Four fat blends involving different 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoylsn-glycerol (POP) and 1-palmitoyl-2,3-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol (POO) compositions or SFC were prepared, and crystallization was investigated using polarizing microscopy, X-ray diffraction, SFC, whereas hardness was determined using a texture analyzer. Samples containing a higher saturated fattyacid content from palm and higher SFC showed higher β-type crystals in the initial period, yielding a number of small-sized crystals, with no growth occurring afterward. Growth of the granular crystals as a function of time was observed in the samples, transforming from the β'to β-type polymorph gradually. Large granular crystals at the initial stage were observed in the sample with a higher POO content and lowest SFC. These results suggested that POO promotes the rate of the crystals' polymorphic transformation, resulting in the growth of granular crystals. In contrast, excess high-meltingpoint TAG content, such as tripalmitin and POP, retarded granular crystal growth regardless of the increased β' to β transition rate. We concluded that the behavior of the growth of granular crystals is influenced by the combined effect of TAG composition and SFC.

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Using the olfactory placode of 12.5-and 14.5-day-old (E12.5, E14.5) rat embryos, we examined the migration of LHRH neurons by in vivo intraventricular transplantation and in vitro organotypic culture systems. In the transplantation, the olfactory placode of E12.5 embryos was co-transplanted with the cerebral cortex and also with medial basal hypothalamus (MBH). LHRH neurons that had migrated into the co-trans

The raw starch-binding a-amylase of C. butyricum, an acidogenic anaerobe found in mesophilic methane sludge, was purified by chromatographyon a column ofBio-Rex 70 after the enzymehad been liberated from potato starch granules. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was determined to be 89,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) disc electrophoresis.The iodine reaction completely disappeared at 9% hydrolysis of soluble starch by the enzyme, and the successive formation of maltooligosaccharides proceeded at pH 5.0 and 37°C. Decreases in the levels of maltopentaose and maltotetraose then took place as well as the formation of glucose, there being eventually almost 36% hydrolysis of the substrate.

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PCK rats develop age-related polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and liver disease and have been used to investigate pharmacotherapies to ameliorate hepatorenal lesions for patients with PKD. The PCK rat may be useful to understand the possible susceptibility to hepatotoxicity observed in the patient with PKD having hepatic polycystic lesions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the background blood biochemical changes that reflect the hepatorenal function of PCK rats as well as the terminal histopathology in order to determine whether this model would be suitable for extrapolating the susceptibility of hepatotoxicity in patients. The blood biochemical parameters of hepatorenal function and histopathology were investigated in PCK rats at ages 5 to 19 weeks and compared to those outcomes in the Sprague Dawley (SD) rat. There were notable blood biochemical changes possibly due to biliary dysgenesis in the PCK rat as early as 5 weeks of age. High levels of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bile acids persisted throughout the study compared to the SD rat. Increased aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and hyperlipidemia and a decrease in albumin were also evident at 10 to 19 weeks of age possibly due to progression of cholestatic liver dysfunction secondary to age-related liver cystic progression. Increased liver weights generally correlated with the severity of biliary and hepatic histopathological changes. In male PCK rats, age-related increases in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine at 10 to 19 weeks of age were observed, and the cystic progression was more severe than that in females. These data indicate that the PCK rat showed notable blood biochemical changes reflecting alteration of the liver function compared to the SD rat. Also, there was a large individual variation in these parameters possibly due to variable progression rate of biliary dysgenesis and subsequent liver damages in PCK rats.

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