Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the major obstacle for drug delivery into the central nervous system (CNS). However, there is no ideal model animal for the study of BBB permeability till now. Currently zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a powerful model organism for the study of vertebrate biology. In this study, the feasibility of using zebrafish as model animal was investigated for BBB permeability by comparing the results of administration of BBB-penetrating peptide and protein to mouse and zebrafish. The results showed that the BBBs of mouse and zebrafish were similar in molecular permeability. Additionally, zebrafish has advantageous features as a model animal, such as small size, fertile and easy to breed. Therefore, it is suggested that zebrafish may be a favored model for the study of BBB permeability.

Objective To investigate the effects of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and combined intravenous and inhalation anesthesia on blood glucose and cortisol in spinal neurosurgery.Methods Forty-four spinal neurosurgery patients were divided into propofol combined with remifentanil group (PR group) and sevoflurane combined with remifentanil group (SR group ), 22 cases in each group,they were induced with propofol, sufentanil and rocuronium. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane in SR group while propofol in PR group. Depth of anesthesia adaption according to bispectral index (BIS)(45 -55). Blood glucose, cortisol, haemodynamics were observed at different time points. Results The mean arterial pressure(MAP) was higher after induction in PR group than that in SR group(P ＜ 0.05 ). Sixty minutes after induction, MAP was lower than that before induction in PR group (P ＜ 0.05 ). Heart rate ( HR )in both SR group and PR group were lower at 60 and 120 minutes after induction than those before induction (P ＜ 0.05). HR was lower at 5 minutes after induction in PR group than that in SR group (P ＜ 0.05). No significant difference was showed in blood glucose and cortisol between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05 ). Cortisol level was significantly lower at 120 minutes after induction than that before induction [(40.6 ± 18.3) μg/L vs. ( 129.7 ± 36.7 ) μg/L, P ＜ 0.05 ] and at 24 hours postoperative [ (93.6 ± 19.8 ) μg/L ] recovered to the level before induction in PR group. Cortisol level was significantly higher before induction than 120 minutes after induction [ ( 130.5 ± 32.1 ) μg/L vs. (51.6 ± 16.8 ) μg/L, P ＜ 0.05 ] and 24 hours postoperative was (75.9 ± 18.2) μg/L in SR group. Conclusions Two anesthetic regimens are compatible during spinal neurosurgery, with no apparent fluctuations of perioperative blood glucose. However, longer cortisol inhibition is probably happened when using sevoflurane.

SD rats were injected with streptozotocin and fed with high fat diet,used as type 2 diabetic model. Transcription factor Fox01 [in nucleus (15.00±1. 15 vs 6.45±0. 62) %, P<0.05], Caspase-3 [(23.73 ±1.48 vs 6.30±2.20)% ,P<0.01] expressions in pancreatic istet β cells and the positive rate of islet β cells apoptosis[(22.29±1.84 vs 6.25±2.42) %, P<0.01] in diabetic rats were higher than those of control rats. The islet cells which highly expresed Fox01 (in nucleus)and caspase-3 were just the apoptotic islet cells. Therefore,Fox01 may be involved in regulating apoptosis of islet β cells in type 2 diabetes.

Objective To evaluate the effect of amitriptyline on the phosphorylation of histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) of rats with neuropathic pain.Methods Thirty healthy male Wistar rats,weighing 250-300 g,were divided into 3 groups (n=10 each) using a random number table method:sham operation group (S group),neuropathic pain group (NP group) and amitriptyline group (A group).Spared nerve injury was produced by exposing the sciatic nerve and its branches and ligation and transection of tibial nerve and common fibular nerve in anesthetized rats.Amitriptyline 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected every day on 14-35 days after establishing the model in group A,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead of amitriptyline in S and NP groups.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured on 3,7,14,21,28 and 35 days after establishing the model in each group.The forced swimming test was performed on day 36 after establishing the model,and immobility time,climbing time and swimming time were recorded.The rats were then sacrificed,and brain tissues in BLA were obtained for determination of the expression of HDAC5 and phosphorylated HDAC5 (p-HDAC5) (by Western blot) and expressionof HDAC5 mRNA (by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction).Results Compared with group S,the MWT was significantly decreased at each time point,the immobility time was prolonged,and the swimming time and climbing time were shortened in group NP,and the MWT was significantly decreased on days 14,21 and 28 after establishing the model,the expression of p-HDAC5 was down-regulated,and the expression of HDAC5 mRNA was up-regulated in group A (P＜0.05).Compared with group NP,the MWT was significantly increased on days 21,28 and 35 after establishing the model,the immobility time was shortened,the climbing time was prolonged,the expression of p-HDAC5 was up-regulated,and the expression of HDAC5 mRNA was down-regulated in group A (P＜0.05or 0.01).Conclusion The mechanism by which amitriptyline improves depression is associated with promoting the phosphorylation of HDAC5 in BLA of rats with NP.