Ahmad Jusuf

Wound heals itself spontaneously as physiological process. However, in some individuals, small wounds such as parenteral injections or body piercings may cause increased expression of collagen synthesis. The condition is known as keloid. Histopathology of keloid demonstrates extensive tissue proliferation that extends beyond the margin of primary wound. As a result, it develops uncontrolled or excessive fibrogenesis and tremendous source of collagen that still causes clinical problems until now. A wound, no matter how small the size is, will be followed by increased expression of collagen synthesis. Procollagen I and III is one of markers indicating the development of fibrosis. In fibrosis, there is hypoxia, which is characterized by stabilization of HIF-1α. Therefore, our study was aimed to obtain information about expression of collagen I and III in hypoxic keloid tissue. The study design was observational descriptive. Keloid specimens were obtained from biopsy and preputium skins...

Expression of beta 2 subunit of Ca²+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I (CaMKIβ2) of the rat retina during the developmental period and in the adulthood was studied immunohistochemically. The immunoreactivity of CaMKIβ2 was detected in the earliest development of the primordial retina at embryological day (E) 12. The inner neuroblastic layer from which the presumptive ganglion cells are generated showed the ubiquitous CaMKIβ2 immunoreactivity at E15 and persistently expressed at the same level until postnatal day (P) 0 when the inner neuroblastic layer divides into the ganglionic cell layer and the inner plexiform layer. The strong immunoreactivity was detected in the ganglion cell layer and the moderate one in the internal plexiform layer. CaMKIβ2 immunoreactivities were persistantly expressed throughout the postnatal development at the same level. The low level of intensity was first found in the inner nuclear layer at P7, followed by the outer plexiform, outer nuclear and rod-...

Ncx/Hox11L.1 knockout mice have a megacolon with an increased number of neuronal cells in the enteric ganglia. Since Ncx/Hox11L.1 is expressed in neuronal cells in the vesical ganglia, we examined lower urinary tract function and the number of neuronal cells in the vesical ganglia in Ncx/Hox11L.1 knockout mice. Female knockout and control mice were investigated in regard to voiding frequency, and cystometry and histological studies were done. The number of neuronal cells in the vesical ganglia was observed by staining with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase and cuprolinic blue. In knockout mice voiding frequency was 2-fold and bladder capacity was less than in controls. Although bladder structure was histologically similar in knockout mice and controls, cystometry showed that threshold and remaining pressure was less in knockout mice. Neuronal cells positive for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase or cuprolinic blue were more numerous in the vesical ganglia of knockout mice than controls. The intraperitoneal injection of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor increased threshold and remaining pressure on cystometry in knockout mice to the control level. The increased number of neuronal cells in the vesical ganglia induces vesicourethral sphincter muscle dysfunction in knockout mice. Since administering a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor somewhat overcomes the dysfunction, the amount of nitric oxide in vesical nerve cells is important for controlling vesicourethral sphincter muscle function.

Recently, we reported the mRNA localization of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase I beta 2 isoform (CaMKIbeta2) in the mouse nervous system. In the present study, polyclonal antibody against CaMKIbeta2 was generated and used to investigate the distribution of the enzyme within the central nervous system of the rat. Interestingly some differences were observed between the enzyme localization and previous mRNA detection [J. Neurochem. 268 (1999) 26512]. The strongest expression of the enzyme was found in pontine nuclei. Immunopositive fibers could be traced through the middle cerebellar peduncle until they reached the cerebellum. Quite strong staining could also be observed in almost all of the neurons in the neocortex, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus, brainstem and cerebellum, including the nuclei of the cranial nerves and Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellar cortex which was not clearly detected in the previous in situ hybridization study. In the spinal cord, CaMKIbeta2 could be detected in the gray matter with stronger expression in the dorsal horn. CaMKIbeta2 showed very strong nuclear localization but was also present in the cytoplasm of some neurons. Such localization suggests that CaMKIbeta2 may be involved in many neuronal functions in the central nervous system, including the possibility of important roles in nuclear signal transduction.