No abstract available.
Animals ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Intestines* ; Rats*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of vitamin D (VD) against hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in newborn mice and explore the mechanism. METHODS: Thirty-six newborn mice were randomly divided into air + VD group, air + saline group, hyperoxia + VD group, and hyperoxia + saline group. In all the groups, saline or VD was administered on a daily basis intramuscular injection. After 3 weeks of treatment, the mice were weighed and cardiac blood was collected for measurement of serum VD level using ELISA, and histological examination of the lungs was performed. Radial alveolar counting (RAC) and alveolar secondary interval volume density were measured using image analysis software. The expression levels of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in the lung tissues were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: The weight gain rate of the mice and the weight of the lungs were significantly higher in air + saline group and air + VD group than in the hyperoxia + saline group. The RAC was significantly lower in hyperoxic+saline group than that in hyperoxia+VD group ( < 0.001), and was significantly higher in hyperoxic+VD (125 times) than in hyperoxia + VD (1250 times) group ( < 0.01). The alveolar secondary protrusion count was significantly higher in hyperoxic+VD (1250 times) group than in hyperoxic+saline group ( < 0.001), and was significantly higher in hyperoxia+VD (125 times) group than in hyperoxia + VD (1250 times) group ( < 0.01). Compared with that in air + saline group, VEGFR2 expression was significantly lowered in hyperoxia+saline group ( < 0.05) and in air+VD group ( < 0.05); VEGFR2 expression was significantly higher in hyperoxia+VD (1250 times) group than in hyperoxia+saline group ( < 0.001) and hyperoxia+VD (125 times) group ( < 0.001); VEGFR2 expression was significantly higher in hyperoxia+VD (125 times) group than in hyperoxia+ saline group ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In newborn mice with BPD, VD supplement can increase the weight of the lungs and promote lung maturation, and a higher concentration of VD can better protect the lungs and promote the growth of pulmonary blood vessels.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Hyperoxia ; Lung ; Mice ; Vitamin D

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of asiaticoside against hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonatal rats based on the microRNA-155 (miR-155)/suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS1) axis. METHODS: Neonatal rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a low-dose asiaticoside group (10 mg/kg), a middle-dose asiaticoside group (25 mg/kg), a high-dose asiaticoside group (50 mg/kg), and a budesonide group (1.5 mg/kg), with 12 rats in each group. All rats except those in the control group were exposed to a high concentration of oxygen for 14 days to establish a neonatal rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The low-, middle-, and high-dose asiaticoside groups were given asiaticoside at different doses by gavage, and those in the budesonide group were given budesonide aerosol treatment. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe lung tissue development and measure radial alveolar count (RAC) and mean linear intercept (MLI). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) detection kits were used to measure the levels of SOD and MDA in lung tissue. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of miR-155 and SOCS1 in lung tissue. Western blotting was used to measure the protein expression of SOCS1 in lung tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the model group had the symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia such as a disordered structure of lung tissue, enlargement of alveolar fusion, uneven alveolar septa, enlargement of average alveolar space, and a reduction in alveolar number. The model group also had significant increases in MLI, MDA level in lung tissue, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and miR-155 level in lung tissue (P<0.05) and significant reductions in RAC, SOD level, and mRNA and protein expression of SOCS1 in lung tissue (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the low-, middle-, and high-dose asiaticoside groups and the budesonide group had significant improvement in the above symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, significant reductions in MLI, MDA level in lung tissue, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, and miR-155 level in lung tissue (P<0.05), and significant increases in RAC, SOD level, and mRNA and protein expression of SOCS1 in lung tissue (P<0.05). Asiaticoside improved the above symptoms and indices in a dose-dependent manner. There were no significant differences in the above indices between the high-dose asiaticoside and budesonide groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Asiaticoside can alleviate inflammation injury induced by hyperoxia in neonatal rats and improve the symptoms of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in a dose-dependent manner, possibly by down-regulating the expression of miR-155 and up-regulating the expression of SOCS1.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Hyperoxia ; Lung ; MicroRNAs ; Rats ; Triterpenes

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) remains an important cause of neonatal death and disability in infants and young children, but it has a complex mechanism and lacks specific treatment methods. As a new type of programmed cell death, ferroptosis has gradually attracted more and more attention as a new therapeutic target. This article reviews the research advances in abnormal iron metabolism, glutamate antiporter dysfunction, and abnormal lipid peroxide regulation which are closely associated with ferroptosis and HIBD.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ferroptosis ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Infant, Newborn ; Neurons

OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of gut microbiota on hematopoiesis in a neonatal rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). METHODS: Neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group and a model group (NEC group), with 6 rats in each group. Formula milk combined with hypoxia and cold stimulation was used to establish a neonatal rat model of NEC. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of intestinal tissue and hematopoiesis-related organs. Routine blood tests were conducted for each group. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the changes in specific cells in hematopoiesis-related organs. Flow cytometry was used to measure the changes in specific cells in bone marrow. 16S rDNA sequencing was used to observe the composition and abundance of gut microbiota. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the NEC group had intestinal congestion and necrosis, damage, atrophy, and shedding of intestinal villi, and a significant increase in NEC histological score. Compared with the control group, the NEC group had significantly lower numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocytes (P<0.05), nucleated cells in the spleen, thymus, and bone marrow, and small cell aggregates with basophilic nuclei in the liver (P<0.05). The NEC group had significant reductions in CD71⁺ erythroid progenitor cells in the liver, CD45⁺ lymphocytes in the spleen and bone marrow, CD3⁺ T lymphocytes in thymus, and the proportion of CD45⁺CD3^-CD43⁺SSC^hi neutrophils in bone marrow (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the composition of gut microbiota between the NEC and control groups, and the NEC group had a significant reduction in the abundance of Ligilactobacillus and a significant increase in the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella (P<0.05), which replaced Ligilactobacillus and became the dominant flora. CONCLUSIONS Multi-lineage hematopoietic disorder may be observed in a neonatal rat model of NEC, which may be associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and abnormal multiplication of the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia-Shigella.
Rats ; Animals ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing/etiology* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Animals, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases

BACKGROUND: In mammals, the activity of antioxidant enzymes is increased in adult lung to adapt to hyperoxia. The increase of these activities is augmented in neonates and is known as an important mechanism of tolerance to high oxygen levels. Peroxiredoxin(Prx) is an abundant and ubiquitous intracellular antioxidant enzyme. Prx I and II are major cytosolic subtypes. The aim of this study was to examine the Prx I and II mRNA and protein expression levels in adult rat lungs and to compare then with those of neonatal rat lungs exposed to hyperoxia. METHODS: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats and neonates that were delivered from timed-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rat were randomly exposed to normoxia or hyperoxia. After exposure to high oxygen level for a set time, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue were obtained. The Prx I and II protein expression levels were measured by western blot analysis using polyclonal rabbit anti-Prx I or anti-Prx II antibodies and the relative expression of the Prx I and Prx II per Actin protein were obtained as an internal standard. The Prx I and II mRNA expression levels were measured by northernblot analysis using Prx I and Prx II-specific cDNA prepared from pCRPrx I and pCRPrx II, and the relative Prx I and Prx II expression levels per Actin mRNA were obtained as an internal standard. RESULTS: Hyperoxia induced some peak increase in the Prx I mRNA levels after 24 hour in adult rats. Interestingly, hyperoxia induced a marked increase of Prx I mRNA at 24 hour in neonatal rats. However, hyperoxia did not induce an alteration in the expression of Prx II mRNA in both the adult and neonatal rat lungs. Hyperoxia did not induce an alteration in the expression of the Prx I and Prx II protein in both the adult and neonatal rat lungs. Hyperoxia did not induce an alteration in the amount of Prx I and Prx II protein all the times in the bronchoalveolar fluid of adult rats. CONCLUSION: Prx I and II is differently regulated by hyperoxia in adult and neonatal rat lung at the transcriptional level. The prominent upregulation of Prx I mRNA in neonates compared to those in adults by hyperoxia may be another mechanism of resistance to high oxygen levels in neonate.
Pregnancy ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Animals

Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in establishing a behavior. An animal study was done to determine the characteristics of interaction between genetic (nature) and environmental (nurture) factors. Delivery of footshocks (0.8 mA x 60 times, at random) early in life was used as the environmental stimulus. As the footshock was delivered repeatedly, a rat showed helplessness behavior and the number of shocks necessary to elicit helplessness was measured to quantify the trait of an animal in coping with the aversive environmental stimulus. The nocturnal ambulatory activity at adulthood was measured as a behavioral expression of the nature-nurture interaction. Although the experience of footshocks early in life did not significantly alter average activity levels at adulthood, the activity was positively correlated with the number of shocks necessary to elicit helplessness (nature) while receiving footshocks (nurture) on postnatal day 14. Additionally, a second exposure to identical shock parameters on postnatal day 21 reversed the relationship. These results clearly showed that an interaction between nature and nurture during infancy leads to substantial behavioral alterations later in life, and suggest that the nature-dependent determination of an adult behavior can be modified in different directions by the conditions of an environmental experience early in life.
Aging/physiology* ; Animal ; Animals, Newborn/physiology* ; Animals, Newborn/growth & development ; Electroshock* ; Foot* ; Motor Activity/physiology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Testis transplantation is an important and effective way to treat abdominal impalpable cryptorchidism, male hypogonadism and male infertility. Since 1990s a lot of advances have been made in microsurgical autotransplantation, homotransplantation, testicular tissue transplantation and Leydig cell transplantation. The main achievements include the application of laparoscopy in autotransplantation, researches on the influential factors in spermatogenesis after homotransplantation, explorations of new treatment methods such as fetal testis transplantation, spermatogonial stem cell transplantation and so on. The advances in testis transplantation are summarized in this paper based on the related literature of recent years.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; transplantation ; Male ; Rats ; Testis ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo establish the patent ductus arteriosus model in preterm rats using the improved natural development method.

METHODSIn the light of the flaws of the natural development method in establishing the patent ductus arteriosus model, the experimental technology was modified to avoid the influence of fixation, dehydration, and section method on blood vessel diameter. Cesarean section was performed for a Wistar rat pregnant for 19 days, and 8 neonatal rats were obtained. After they were sacrificed by dislocation, they were embedded as a whole to avoid dehydration, and the microsection and horizontal section were made. After hematoxylin and eosin staining, a microscope was used to measure the inner diameters of the ductus arteriosus, the main pulmonary artery, and the descending aorta.

RESULTSAfter the cesarean section for the rat pregnant for 19 days, patent ductus arteriosus occurred in all the 8 neonatal rats. The measurements of the inner diameters of blood vessels were as follows: the long diameter and short diameter of the descending aorta were 354±106 and 182±140 μm, respectively; the short diameter of the ductus arteriosus was 155±122 μm, and its area was 36,847±42,582 μm(2); the long axis and short axis of the main pulmonary artery were 589±150 and 174±170 μm, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe improved natural development method can help to successfully establish the patent ductus arteriosus model in preterm rats.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; etiology ; Female ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the reliability of establishing a neonatal piglet model of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).

METHODSFourteen neonatal piglets were randomly assigned into Experiment group (n=9) and Control group (n=5). MODS model was established in the piglets from the Experiment group by CLP. The Control group underwent a sham-operation. Serum biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, ALB, BUN, Cr, CK-MB and lactic acid), blood platelet counting and blood gas analysis(PaO2 and PaCO2) were tested at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hrs after operation. The histomorphological changes of important vital organs were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining under a light microscope.

RESULTSThe levels of serum ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, CK-MB and lactic acid in the Experiment group began to increase 24 hrs after operation. Significant differences were observed between the Experiment and the Control group at 48 hrs in ALT (83.0 +/- 9.3 U/L vs 57.8 +/- 15.8 U/L), AST (348.8 +/- 132.9 U/L vs 106.4 +/- 12.5 U/L), BUN (10.5 +/- 2.5 micromol/L vs 4.3 +/- 1.0 micromol/L), Cr (79.2 +/- 9.0 micromol/L vs 53.6 +/- 6.8 micromol/L), CK-MB (5152.0 +/- 1 857.8 U/L vs 1243.0 +/- 354.5 U/L), and lactic acid (12.3 +/- 4.0 mmol/L vs 4.6 +/- 1.5 mmol/L) (P < 0.01). The high levels of the above parameters persisted until 96 hrs after operation in the Experiment group and then decreased but were still higher than those at 0 h after operation. After operation, the blood platelet counting decreased significantly at 96 hrs, and PaO2 decrease and PaCO2 increase were observed at 48 hrs in the Experiment group compared with the Control group. All animals, except one, in the Experiment group died within 120 hrs after operation (with the MODS incidence of 56%), while none died in the Control group. The tissue injuries with different degrees were observed in the lungs, liver, heart, kidneys and gastrointestinal tracts of the Experiment group.

CONCLUSIONSNeonatal piglet MODS model can be established successfully by CLP.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; blood ; etiology ; pathology ; Swine