The present study is an attempt to further asertain the histological location and afferent connections of the "Groaning Center" of cat.In 1952, by electrical stimulation of the lateral tegmental area of cats, a restricted region was found to give rise to the groaning response and it was designated as the "Groaning Center", which on excitation would also produce various viseral and motor reactions.According to our microscopic study of the position of the "Groaning Center", we found that the nucleus subcuneiformis in the lateral tegmental region is the focal point of the center. It lies ventralateral to the nucleus trochlear, medial to the lateral lemniscus and the nucleus paralemniscalis (Jasper atlas, 1954), dorsal to the nucleus cuneiformis. This center extends about 1.0 mm. anteroposteriorly, 1.0 mm. mediolaterally and about 1.5 mm. dorsoventrally. This area cheifly consists of fibers and scattered cells of medium and small size. A cluster of larger cells has been observed in the ventral region of the center.By HRP retrograde transport study, we found that after injection of HRP into the center, the reactive cells were found in extensive brain areas. The labelled cells were mainly found in the ipsilateral side of the hypothalamus, especially in the lateral and posterior nucleus of hypothalamus as well as the dorsomedial nucleus of hypothalamus. The reactive cells were also found in the forebrain regions, such as the cingulate gyrus, globus pallidus, zona incerta, nucleus parafa-sicularis, etc.The relation between the center with vocalization and emotional responses is discussed.

The effects of foot-shock (FS) on ir-?-EP and ir-NT in the brain and pituitary of unanaesthetized rats were studied by means of radioimmunoassay (RIA). It was found that the content of ir-?-EP decreased significantly in pituitary and increased in hypothalamus, and the content of ir-NT increased both in pituitary and hypothalamus 2 min after FS. However, ir-?-EP increased in pituitary and decreased in hypothalamus, and ir-NT decreased both in pituitary and hypothalamus 20 min after FS. These results indicate that at the early period of FS induced stress, the release of ir-?-EP may be increased from pituitary, and ir-NT may be decreased from both pituitary and hypothalamus.

Diabetic neuropathy is the most common peripheral neuropathy,and it is important to enhance both nerve regeneration and prevent nerve degeneration in its treatment. Disturbed nerve regeneration in diabetes has been ascribed,at least in part,to decreases of some neurotrophic factors or the decreases of their receptor expressions.This paper reviewed the effect of some major neurotrophic factors on diabetic neuropathy and their application in clinical treatment.

In this study, acute cardiac ischemia was induced by ligation of the anterior descending branch of the coronary artery in rats. Radioimmunoassay was conducted to measure the contents of immunoreactive beta - en-dorphin (ir-?-EP)after ischemia and fructose -1,6 - diphosphate (FDP) treatment. Results showed that the contents of ir-?-EP were in-cereased in the plasma, some brain areas, pituitary and myocardium after ligation of the left coronary artery of the rats which resulted in the deterioration of the cardiac function includingdp/dtmax, Lvsp, total areas of force loop and blood pressure. Intravenous administration of FDP improved cardiac function and reduced the contents of ir - ? - EP in the above mentioned tissues suggesting that ir-?-EP correlate closely with cardiac function after ischemia,the reduction of which was possibly involved in the improve ment of cardiac function by FDP.

[ABSTRACT]AIM:Toinvestigatetheeffectofsilencingisocitratedehydrogenase2(IDH-2)genebysmallinter-fering RNA (siRNA) on the biological characteristics of human small cell lung cancer cell line NCI -H446.METHODS:IDH-2 expression was knocked down in human small cell lung cancer cell line NCI -H446 by siRNA-IDH-2.The expression level of IDH-2 was determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting .The cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 as-say , the protein expression of MAPK p 42 was detected by Western blotting , and the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytome-try.The migration was observed using Transwell cell migration system .BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously injected on the back with NCI-H446 cells transfected with siRNA-IDH-2/negative control siRNA or non-transfected cells to study the tumor growth .RESULTS:siRNA-IDH-2 remarkably down-regulated the expression of IDH-2 and MAPK p42 in the NCI-H446 cells.siRNA-IDH-2 inhibited both the proliferation and migration abilities of NCI-H446 cells, and the cell cycle was arrested in S phase as compared with negative control group .Additionally, the volume of xenograft tumors in siRNA-IDH-2 group was significantly decreased as compared with control group .CONCLUSION:siRNA-IDH-2 down-regulates the expres-sion of IDH-2 in NCI-H446 cells, reduces the cell migration efficiency and inhibits the tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.

AIM To study the influence of chronic stress on the level of CNTF and CNTF mRNA in hippocampal neurons of rats. METHODS The chronic stress model was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress, openfield test was performed to detect the behavior of rats. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to observe the level of CNTF and CNTF mRNA. RESULTS Compared to control group, the CNTF like immunoreactivity and signals of CNTF mRNA in situ hybridization in the hippocampal neurons of chronic stress group were significantly decreased. CONCLUSION These results show that chronic stress can significantly decrease the level of CNTF and CNTF mRNA in the hippocampal neurons of rats.

Objective To investigate the serum level of free fatty acid (FFA) and explore its relationship with cytokines and atherosclerosis (AS) in chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods The serum level of FFA was determined with enzymatic colorimetry.IL-1 β, IL-6 and TNFα were determined with ELISA.High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured with immunoturbidimetry.Prevalence of atherosclerosis was detected with carotid ultrasonography.We evaluated the relationship between serum levels of FFA and IL-1β,IL-6, TNFα, hsCRP as well as the renal function in 130 adult patients with CKD, stratified according to the GFR ( based on the National Kidney Foundation/Kidney Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiatives) and in 58 hemodialytic (HD) patients.The relationship between FFA level and cardiac geometry incidence in CKD patients was analyzed with logistic regression model.Results The serum level of FFA was significantly higher in CKD patients as compared with that in the healthy controls [(492.63 ± 143.59)vs (302.65 ± 142.18) μ mol/L, P ＜ 0.01], even in the early stage of CKD.The level of FFA increased with the progression of renal dysfunction.In the non-dialytic CKD group, the level of FFA was negatively related to GFR and positively related to the proteinuria (P ＜ 0.05), while in the HD group, it was positively correlated with dialysis duration ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The serum levels of FFA were higher in CKD patients with carotid artery atherosclerosis than those in patients without ( P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ).However, in both groups with impairment of renal function, the levels of FFA were positively correlated with hsCRP, IL-1 β, IL-6,TNFα and TG( all P ＜ 0.05 ).A positive correlation between the level of FFA and the clinical manifestations such as carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT) and AS was also found.A negative correlation was found between the level of FFA and the serum level of albumin and GFR( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Serum levels of FFA are significantly higher either in non-dialytic CKD or in HD patients and it is related with hsCRP, IL-1 β, IL-6, TNFα as well as carotid artery atherosclerosis, indicating that FFA is an independent risk factor of AS in CKD.

Objective To investigate the effects of levocarnitine combined with urimetazidine on left ventricular remodeling in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients.Methods All of 86 MHD patients and 40 healthy volunteers(health control group)were involved in the study.all of 86 MHD patients were randomly divided into two groups,disease treatment group(46 cases)and disease control group(40 cases),who had undergone hemodialysis for at least 3 months before the study and were in a stable clinical status without signs of infection or disease activity.In disease treatment group,1.0 g of levocarnitine was infused at the end of each dialysis treatment and 20 mg of trimetazidine was taken orally 3 times each day for 6 months,while the parameters for free fatty acid(FFA),free carnitine(FC),inflammation and oxidative stress were studied before and after the treatmenL In disease control group these two drugs were not used.The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVDd),left ventricuhr end-systolic diameter(LVDs),left atrial diameter (LAD),left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT),interventricular septal thickness(IVST)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)were detected by ultrasonic cardiography.Results Before treatment,the serum levels of FFA,high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP),intedeukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αand malondialdehyde(MDA)were higher in disease treatment group and disease control group than those in health control group(P<0.05 or<0.01),while the serum levels of FC,glutathione peroxidase(GSHPx)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)were lower in disease treatment group and disease control group than those in health control group(P<0.05 or<0.01).Compared with those before treatment,the serum levels of FFA,hs-CRP,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,MDA were decreased(P<0.05 or<0.01),FC,GSHPx,SOD were increased(P<0.05 or<0101),the scores of LVDd,LAD,IVST,LVPWT,LVMI were also decreased significantly(P<0.05),while LVEF increased markedly after treatmem in disease treatment group(P<0.05).There were significant differences in all indexes between disease treatment group and disease control group(P<0.05 or<0.01).Conclusion Supplements of levocarnitine combined with trimetazidine in MHD patients appear to be associated with an improvement of left ventricular remodeling.

Objective To investigate the effects of Ganmaidazao Decoction (GMDZD), Sinisan(SNS) and Sijunzi Decoction (SJZD) recipe on endogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) of rat with chronic stress.Methods In order to establish the rat models with chronic stress, the feet of animals were stimulated with a pat-tern of electrical impulses (long term, high voltage and constant current). The alterations of behavior of animals were observed and quantified by open-field and tail-suspension test. Levels of NGF in pitttitary,hypetholamus and blood plasma were quantified using radio-immunoassay (RIA) method. Results 1) In comparision with the wild-type (WT) control rats, locomotor activity decreased significantly in the models and groups treated by Chinese medicinal herbs (P<0.01). In addition,the Chinese medicinal herbs treated groups exhibited increased locomotor activity than the model groups (P<0.01). 2) The cross time of the model groups decreased significantly compared with the WT controls (P < 0. 01). Meanwhile, three Chinese medicinal herbs treated groups displayed longer cross time than the model groups (P< 0. 01). 3)The vertical movement times of the model groups decreased significantly compared with the WT controls (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, three Chinese medicinal herbs treated groups displayed in-creased vertical movement times than the model groups (P <0.05). 4)In the tail-suspension test, the duration of immobility increased significantly in the model groups compared with the WT controls (P < 0. 01). However, the duration of immobility of three Chinese medicinal herbs treated groups were less than the model groups (P < 0.01). 5) Compared to the model groups,the level of NGF in pituitary of animals treated by GMDZD and SNS in-creased significantly (P<0.01). In the hypothalamus,the level of NGF in SJZD treated groups decreased in com-parision with the WT control and model groups (P<0.05). Whereas, GMDZD and SNS treated groups decreased significantly than WT control and model groups (P<0.01). In the blood plasma,the level of NGF showed a signif-icant reduction in the model groups compared with the WT control. Conclusion The results suggest that the GM-DZD,SNS and SJZD recipe have positive effects on rat with chronic stress through regulating the level of endogenous NGF.

The neuropeptide orexins, including orexin A and orexin B, are located exclusively in hypothalamus OX1R and OX2R are receptors of orexin. OX1R is selective to orexin A while OX2R is not. The distributions of orexin neurons in human brain are the same as those of rats. Orexin was closely related with sleep and awakening behavior besides regulating the feeding behavior. Orexin-containing terminals are also found in areas modulating sleep and awakening such as the locus ceruleus, tuberomammillary nucleus, dorsal raphe, and the basal forebrain. In those areas, there are also lots of OX1R and OX2R and their precursors. Orexin neurons are extremely active during rapid wave sleep and awakening. If hypothalamus in some areas is destroyed and orexin neurons are reduced, sleep-awakening dysfunction will appear (for instance: narcolepsy).