Objective: To study the influence of negative electrets on apoptosis of fibroblast cells and to probe its mechanism. Methods: Fibroblast cell were treated with -300, -500 and -1 000V PTFE electrets for 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively, and the influence of negative electrets on cell apoptosis was studied by means of flow cytometry and transmission electron microscope. Results: Compared with control group, apoptosis cells increased from 0.5% to 10% (some even to 15%) after 24，48 and 72 h action of -300, -500 and -1 000 V electrets. After action of -500 V PTFE electrets for 48-72 h, fibroblast cells showed characteristic morphological features of apoptosis. These features included chromatin aggregation, nuclear and cytoplasmic condensation and partition of cytoplasm and nucleus into membrane bound-vesicles (apoptotic bodies). The effect of negative electrets on apoptosis was in proportion to the time and electric field intensity. Conclusion: Negative electrets can enhance apoptosis of fibroblast cells.

Objective To investigate morphological and synthetic alteration of enterochromaffin(EC) cells of intestinal mucosa in patients with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). Methods Fifty cases of IBS were classified into diarrhea predominant and constipation predominant in accordance with RomeⅡ criteria. Colon biopsy tissues were stained through Envision immunohistochemistry. Morphological changes of EC cells in intestinal mucosa were also studied by electron microscopy. Results EC cells were seen in the crypt of intestinal mucosa. The shapes and the number of EC cells in diarrhea predominant IBS and constipation predominant IBS increased remarkably, compared with those in controls (15.90 ?5.09, 14.73?2.73 vs. 7.27?2.50). It was shown that EC cells synthesized excessive 5 hydroxytryptamine (5 HT) by immunohistochemistry. The function of EC cells in IBS was active under electron microscopy. Conclusions Active enteral EC cells noticed in IBS indicate that excessive 5 HT may play an important role in the pathogenesis of IBS.

To investigate the effect of crocin on the progression and generalized seizure of temporal lobe epilepsy in mice.Hippocampus rapid kindling model was established in C57BL/6J mice. The effects of crocin on seizure stage, afterdischarge duration (ADD), number of stimulation in each stage and final state, the incidence of generalized seizure (GS), average seizure stage and ADD were observed.Crocin (20 mg/kg) significantly retarded behavioral seizure stages (<0.05) and shortened cumulative ADD (<0.01) during hippocampus rapid kindling acquisition in mice compared with vehicle group. Meanwhile, number of stimulations in stage 1-2 was significantly increased (<0.05) and the incidence of fully kindled animals was significantly decreased (<0.01). However, 10 or 50 mg/kg crocin showed no significant effect on the above indexes (all>0.05). Crocin (100 or 200 mg/kg) significantly decreased the incidence of GS (all<0.01) and reduced average seizure stages (all<0.01) in fully-kindled mice compared with vehicle group; Fifty mg/kg crocin only reduced average seizure stages (<0.05).Low-dose crocin can retard the progression in hippocampus rapid kindling acquisition in mice, while high-dose crocin relieves the GS in fully-kindled mice, which suggests that crocin may be a potential anti-epileptic compound.
Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; pharmacology ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electric Stimulation ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Kindling, Neurologic ; drug effects ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Seizures ; classification ; drug therapy