To further characterize the recently described gap junction gene connexin 47 (Cx47), we generated Cx47-null mice by replacing the Cx47 coding DNA with an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter gene, which was thus placed under control of the endogenous Cx47 promoter. Homozygous mutant mice were fertile and showed no obvious morphological or behavioral abnormalities. Colocalization o...

Intra-endolysosomal Ca(2+) release is required for endolysosomal membrane fusion with intracellular organelles. However, the molecular mechanisms for intra-endolysosomal Ca(2+) release and the downstream Ca(2+) targets involved in the fusion remain elusive. Previously, we demonstrated that endolysosomal P2X4 forms channels activated by luminal adenosine triphosphate in a pH-dependent manner. In...

The cellular mechanisms underlying Purkinje neuron death in various neurodegenerative disorders of the cerebellum are poorly understood. Here we investigate an in vitro model of cerebellar neuronal death. We report that cerebellar Purkinje neurons, deprived of trophic factors, die by a form of programmed cell death distinct from the apoptotic death of neighboring granule neurons. Purkinje neuro...

The clinical and laboratory findings of a patient with juvenile acid maltase deficiency are presented. The patient died from respiratory muscle weakness at age 31 years. Muscle biopsy shortly prior to his death showed remarkable vacuolation affecting exclusively type I fibres and mild myopathic changes of both types of muscle fibres, while the muscle biopsy at age 26 years had shown no evidence...

Indian flying barb (Esomus danricus) was exposed to sublethal concentrations of 636.3, 63.6 and 6.3 μgl-1 Cadmium for 28 days and intestinal histopathology was observed by light microscopy after staining with Haematoxylin-Eosine. Exposed fishes showed severe to mild superficial erosion of mucosa, dense lamina propria, chronic inflammatory cell infiltration as well as vacuolation. With the incre...

A chordoma was examined by electron microscopy. It was composed of stellate and physaliphorous cells. The fine structure of these cells is described. Transitional type cells are also described and it is suggested that the physaliphorous cells develop from the stellate cells through a process of vacuolation. Two types of vacuoles are described, ;smooth-walled' and ;villous' endowed with numerous...