The selenium (Se)-containing imidazole compound selenoneine (2-selenyl-
N
α
,
N
α
,
N
α
-trimethyl-
l
-histidine) is a strong scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the blood and tissues of ...fish. Intravenous injection of selenoneine into yellowtail has been shown to delay changes in meat color and prevent met-myoglobin formation in red muscle. In this study, to determine whether selenoneine can improve stress tolerance and meat quality in fish, we examined the biological antioxidant functions of selenoneine in fish in vivo. Juvenile amberjack (
Seriola dumerili
) were cultured and fed a diet containing selenoneine for 9 weeks. Total Se and selenoneine concentrations increased in amberjack blood and muscles during the study period. We also measured the oxidative–redox potential (ORP) in fish muscle using an ORP electrode and found that muscle ORP and ROS levels were closely correlated with the Se concentration in blood and muscles. We conclude that dietary administration of selenoneine led to its accumulation in amberjack blood and muscles, resulting in reduced ORP and ROS levels in the muscles.
We have developed a simple method for converting the lipid envelope of an inactivated virus to a gene transfer vector. Hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ; Sendai virus) envelope vector was ...constructed by incorporating plasmid DNA into inactivated HVJ particles. This HVJ envelope vector introduced plasmid DNA efficiently and rapidly into various cell lines, including cancer cells and several types of primary cell culture. Efficiency of gene transfer was greatly enhanced by protamine sulfate and centrifugation. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled oligodeoxynucleotides (FITC-ODN) were also delivered to cells at > 95% efficiency. When HVJ envelope vector was injected into organs directly, reporter gene expression was observed in organs including liver, brain, skin, uterus, tumor masses, lung, and eye. When HVJ envelope vector containing luciferase gene was injected into mouse tail vein, luciferase gene expression was detected primarily in spleen. FITC-ODN were also delivered to spleen cells by intravenous injection of HVJ envelope. These results suggest that HVJ envelope vector will be useful for both ex vivo and in vivo gene therapy experiments.
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