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Immunohistochemical localization of d-aspartate oxidase in porcine peripheral tissues

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Abstract

d-Aspartate (d-Asp) is an endogenous substance in mammals. Degradation of d-Asp is carried out only by d-aspartate oxidase (DDO). We measured DDO activity in porcine tissues, and produced an anti-porcine DDO antibody to examine the cellular localization of DDO. All the tissues examined showed DDO activities, whereas the substrate d-Asp was not detected in kidney cortex, liver, heart, and gastric mucosa. In the kidney, intensive immunohistochemical staining for DDO was found in the epithelial cells of the proximal tubules. In the liver, the epithelial cells of interlobular bile ducts, liver sinusoid-lining cells with cytoplasmic processes, and the smooth muscle cells of arterioles were strongly stained for DDO. In the heart, cardiomyocytes and the smooth muscle cells of arterioles showed DDO-immunoreactivity. In the gastric mucosa, only the chief cells were DDO-positive. These newly identified DDO-positive cells seem to actively degrade d-Asp to prevent an excess of d-Asp from exerting harmful effects on the respective functions of porcine tissues.

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Abbreviations

DDO:

d-Aspartate oxidase

d-Asp:

d-Aspartate

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

HRP:

Horseradish peroxidase

DAB:

3,3′-Diaminobenzidine

NMDA:

N-Methyl-d-aspartate

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Acknowledgments

We thank Mr. Takefumi Yamamoto, Central Research Laboratory of our University, for technical advice regarding immunohistochemistry. The present study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Sciences and Technology of Japan, Grant-in-aid for Cooperation of Innovative Technology and Advanced Research in City Area Program in the Southern Area of Lake Biwa, 2007–2009, and Grants-in-aid (Heisei era 19 and 20) from Shiga University of Medical Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Ohtsu, Shiga, 520-2192, Japan

    Atsushi Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Tetsuo Ishida & Kihachiro Horiike

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  1. Atsushi Yamamoto
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  2. Hiroyuki Tanaka
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  3. Tetsuo Ishida
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  4. Kihachiro Horiike
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Correspondence to Tetsuo Ishida.

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Yamamoto, A., Tanaka, H., Ishida, T. et al. Immunohistochemical localization of d-aspartate oxidase in porcine peripheral tissues. Amino Acids 41, 529–536 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-010-0785-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-010-0785-y

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