The present study was performed to explore the role of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) in the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) in spatial learning and memory of rats. The latency, distance and swimming path to find the platform were measured by Morris water maze after intra-NBM injections of 0, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.4 nmol of CRF. Intra-NBM injections of 0.1 or 0.4 nmol of CRF induced significant increase of the latency for spatial learning and memory, and there were no significant changes in the swimming speed in Morris water maze test. The results suggest that CRF plays an inhibitory role in spatial learning and memory consolidation in the NBM of rats.

BACKGROUND: As a kind of semitransparent membrane, human amniotic membrance contains many kinds of nutrients, which is a good biological material loaded with keratinocytes.OBJECTIVE: To construct epidermal substitute of the skin from human amniotic membrane loaded with porcine keratinocytes and examine the morphological characteristics of the growth and proliferation of keratinocytes seeded on human amniotic membrane.DESIGN: Single sample study and repetitive measured observation based on the cells.SETTING: Institute of Combined Injuries of Chinese PLA, Academy of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed in the State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury and Institute of Combined Injuries of Chinese PLA, Academy of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from January to November 2001. Porcine keratinocytes was collected from Guizhou minipigs aged 3 weeks.METHODS: The primarily cultured keratinocytes of Guizhou minipigs were subcuhured, expanded and bred on the stroma surface of human amniotic membrance at the density of 1.63 × 105/cm2. The growth and proliferation of keratinocytes were observed under inverted microscope every day. From the 3rd day and the 15th day after being cultured, the growth of keratinocytes on human amniotic membrane was examined under light microscope and electron microscope.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The growth of keratinocytes on human amniotic membrane was examined RESULTS: Keratinocytes evidently adhered to the stroma surface of human amniotic membrane about 30 minutes after being cultured, which was observed under inverted microscope. Most keratinocytes grew and adhered to the stroma surface of human amniotic membrane within 24 hours. Monolayer of keratinocytes formed and completely covered human amniotic membrane within 3 days. It was observed under the light microscope that the monolayer of keratinocytes adhered to human amniotic membrane and arrayed tightly. The keratinocytes presented in the shape of polygon, and plasmalemmas of keratinocytes formed many pseudopods under the observation with scanning electron microscope. Keratinocytes adhered to human amniotic membrane well and with many keratinofilaments in them under the observation with transmission electron microscope. Keratinocytes arrayed on human amniotic membrane densely with many cellular debris and some keratinocytes formed cavitations in them due to aging after growth for 15 days under the observation with inverted microscope.CONCLUSION: Human amitotic membrane is a good carrier of keratinocytes cultured on it in vitro, and is able to promote the proliferation of keratinocytes significantly. However, when keratinocytes were loaded on the human amniotic membrane for 15 days, some keratinocytes formed cavitations in them due to aging.

Epilepsy is a complex neurological disease and its pathogenesis has not yet been clear. More and more evidence shows that epilepsy is closely related to epigenetic mechanisms such as histone deacetylation. Histone deacetylase inhibitors, a kind of epilepsy targeting drug potentially, are involved in the protection of neurogenesis and the regulation of a variety of neural signal cascade reactions. This article reviews the research progress of histone deacetylation in the pathogenesis of epilepsy and application prospect of histone deacetylase inhibitors in treating epilepsy.