ABSTRACT
Blood cell and bone marrow cell counts were carried out for male C.B-17 scid/scid (SCID) mice aged 3, 6, 9, 18 and 26 weeks and the values were compared with those in C.B-17 +/+ (C.B-17) mice. In the peripheral blood, SCID mice had markedly low numbers of leucocytes and lymphocytes throughout the study. In the bone marrow, SCID mice had relatively low levels of erythroblasts at an early age, low levels of lymphocytes and plasma cells were absent.
Subject(s)
Bone Marrow Cells , Mice, SCID/blood , Animals , Blood Cell Count/veterinary , Erythroblasts/cytology , Female , Lymphocyte Count , Male , Mice , Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms , Time FactorsABSTRACT
We examined the effects of tranilast, an anti-allergic agent, on hypersensitive inflammation and on morphology and functions of fibroblasts. In vivo, tranilast suppressed the content of collagen in granulation tissue of hypersensitive granulomatous inflammation induced by methylated bovine serum albumin (m-BSA) in rats. In culture, tranilast inhibited the TGF-beta-independent inflammatory exudate-induced stimulation of morphological changes of fibroblasts to myofibroblast-like cells and their proliferation. Collagen gel contraction by myofibroblast-like cells and fibroblasts was also inhibited by tranilast. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that tranilast suspended the cell cycle of fibroblasts at the G0/G1 phase. These results suggest that tranilast modulates the fibrosis and contraction of granulation tissue by inhibiting the growth of myofibroblast-like cells and fibroblasts.
Subject(s)
Collagen/drug effects , Fibroblasts/cytology , Granuloma/metabolism , Hypersensitivity/metabolism , ortho-Aminobenzoates/pharmacology , Administration, Oral , Animals , Cell Division/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , Collagen/metabolism , Fibroblasts/drug effects , Fibroblasts/physiology , Granuloma/chemically induced , Inflammation/metabolism , Male , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms , ortho-Aminobenzoates/administration & dosageABSTRACT
Observation and recording methods of the ocular-fundus in small laboratory animals were studied using the industrial endoscope and VTR systems, respectively. The ocular-fundus was observed widely, brightly and clearly in the usual animal facility. In addition, the ocular-fundus was recorded easily and it was possible to examine the ocular-fundus recorded by the VTR systems.
