OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of bitumen fume on neurotransmitter and ultrastructure of mice brain and to investigate the toxicity of bitumen fume on nerve system of mice brain.

METHODSThe experimental mice were forced to inhale the bitumen fume at different exposure level and in different time periods. The contents of the three transmitters dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in mice brain were measured by the fluorescence meanwhile ultrastructure of mice brain was observed by electronic microscope. The ultrastructure of mice brain was observed under transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe contents of DA, NE and 5-HT in all groups decreased with the increasing of dose and prolonging of time (after 8 week, with the increasing of exposure lever, the content of DA, NE, 5-HT was respectively 2.194, 2.190, 2.181, 2.178 microg/g and 1.148, 1.138, 1.135 and 1.407, 1.403, 1.395 microg), but the results did not show significant differences. The structure of the mitochondria changes included the swollen mitochondria, chromatin margination, pyknosis and apoptosis in neuro cells and the processes of swollen astrocyte cells.

CONCLUSIONThe bitumen fume could induce changes of the ultrastructure of mice brain and affect the contents of neurotransmitter of mice brain.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Female ; Hydrocarbons ; toxicity ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; analysis

Animals ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; Leptin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains

Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

Animals ; Female ; Hypoxia ; prevention & control ; Ketamine ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Selenium ; pharmacology ; Tea

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Zuojin Pill and Fanzuojin Pill (ZJP and FZJP) on the growth metabolism of enterobacteria from the biothermodynamic viewpoint, and to objectively validate the difference between the two drugs for investigating a new way in congener Chinese drugs research.

METHODSThe growth metabolism power-time curves of enterobacteria affected by ZJP and FZJP in different concentrations were obtained by microcalorimetry. And the activities of the two drugs were assessed depending some related characteristic parameters, including growth rate constant (k), maximum output power (P(max)), peak time (T(p)) , maximum heat-output (Q1), and bacteria inhibition rate (I).

RESULTSWith the drugs' concentration increasing, T(p) was prolonged, k value reduced in enterobacteria, i.e. , the two drugs both inhibited the growth of enterobacteria in different extents. Comparison of inhibiting rates showed that the bacteriostasis activity of ZJP was greater than that of FZJP.

CONCLUSIONSThere was objective difference in activities of inhibiting enterobacteria between ZJP and FZJP. Microcalorimetry could express the features at real-time, on-line and sensitively. It was able to determine the activity of drugs accurately and quickly in appraising congener Chinese drugs, like ZJP and FZJP, by microcalorimetry.

Animals ; Calorimetry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Enterobacteriaceae ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains

Animals ; Beverages ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Receptors, Complement 3b ; metabolism

Acrylonitrile ; toxicity ; Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Testis ; drug effects ; pathology

Air Pollution, Indoor ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Male ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains

OBJECTIVETo study the ultrastructural localization of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in the endolymphatic sac (ES) of the mouse inner ear and explore the function of the AQP1 in ES.

METHODSThe cellular localization of AQP1 in ES of the mouse inner ear was investigated by immunocytochemistry. The ultrastructural localization of AQP1 in the mouse inner ear was performed by immunogold electron microscopy which is characterized as cryoprotection and high sensitivity.

RESULTSIn the ES, strong AQP1 labeling was observed in the sub-epithelial connective tissue. Fibroblasts of sub-epithelial connective tissue of the ES present densely labeling of gold particles. But the epithelial cells of the ES were devoid of labeling. AQP1 was localized on the cell processes of the fibrocytes.

CONCLUSIONSAQP1 in the ES may play an important role in absorbing water and regulate the balance of fluid and ion in the inner ear.

Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; metabolism ; Endolymphatic Sac ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Microscopy, Electron

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Electrophysiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurons ; physiology ; Potassium Channels ; physiology ; Spiral Ganglion ; physiology