Objective To investigate the effect of valsartan (angiotensinⅡtypeⅠreceptor antagonists) on neointimal proliferation and expression of CD34 after angioplasty in rabbits.Method Twenty-four male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into three groups:the control group,fed up with common diet;the model group and the valsartan group,fed up with hypercholesterolemic diet for 4 weeks,f then and ballon angioplasty.At 4 weeks after operation,the model group was fed up with common diet,whereas the valsartan group was fed up with the admixture of valsartan 10 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) and common diet.All the rabbits were killed at the end of the 12th weeks.The abdominal aorta was performed with pathologic and morphologic analysis,and expression of CD34 in endothelial cells was analyzed with immunohistochemical method.Results Compared with the model group,the neointimal thickness and area of the valsartan group decreased by 56.58%and 66.81%, respectively.The expression of CD34 of the valsartan group was significantly higher (P

A mixed bacteria culture F6 isolated from oil field wastewater can degrade petroleum hydrocarbons efficiently. The bacteria were suitable to treat oil-polluted wastewater of oil field. Simulated result treating oil-polluted wastewater in laboratory showed that after "XingyiLian" wastewater of Liaohe Oil Field was treated by fluidized-bed bioreactor system with the vehicle of activated carbon , the amount of oil and CODcr of the flow out water were decreased from 45mg/L to 4. 1mg/L and 470mg/L to 42mg/L separately , according with first class standards of Chinese Wastewater Discharge Regulation.

Adenoma ; diagnosis ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pituitary Gland ; pathology ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo explore the protection of high intensity microwave radiation on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) activity and hippocampal CA1 structure in rats and the protectiveeffect of Qindan Granule (QG) on radiation injured rats.

METHODSTotally 48 Wistar rats were randomlydivided into 8 groups, i.e., the normal control group, post-radiation day 1, 7, and 10 groups, 7 and 10days prevention groups, day 7 and 10 treatment groups, 6 in each group. Rats in prevention groups wererespectively administered with QG liquid (1 mL/100 g, 4. 75 g crude drugs) for 7 days and 10 days bygastrogavage and then microwave radiation. Then preventive effect for radiation injury was statisticallycalculated with the normal control group and the post-radiation day 1 group. Rats in treatment groupswere firstly irradiated, and then administered with QG liquid (1 mL/100 g, 4.75 g crude drugs). Finally preventive effect for radiation injury was statistically calculated with the normal control group, post-radiation day 7 and 10 groups. Contents of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), beta endorphin (beta-EP), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were detected. Morphological changes and structure of hippocampal CA1 region were observed under light microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, contents of CRH and beta-EP significantly decreased in each radiation group. Serum contents of ACTH and beta-EP significantly increased in post-radiation day 1 and 7 groups (P < 0.05). Compared with radiation groups, beta-EP content in serum and pituitary significantly increased, and serum ACTH content significantly decreased in prevention groups (P < 0.05). Pituitary contents of CRH and beta-EP significantly increased in prevention groups. Serum contents of ACTH, beta-EP, and HSP70 were significantly lower in day 7 treatment group than post-radiation day 7 group (P < 0.05). Morphological results showed that pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region arranged in disorder, with swollen cells, shrunken and condensed nucleus, dark dyeing cytoplasm, unclear structure. Vessels in partial regions were dilated with static blood; tissues were swollen and sparse. In prevention and treatment groups pathological damage of hippocampal CA1 region was obviously attenuated; neurons were arranged more regularly; swollen, pycnotic, or deleted neuron number were decreased; vascular dilatation and congestion was lessened.

CONCLUSIONQG could affect HPAA function and activity of high intensity microwave radiated rats, showing certain preventive and therapeutic effects of microwave radiated rats by adjusting synthesis and release of partial bioactive peptides and hormones in HPAA, improving pathological injury in hippocampal CA1 region.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; blood ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; beta-Endorphin ; blood ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells have the potential of differentiation into alveolar epithelial cells in vitro, but so far no study has indicated that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) can be differentiated into alveolar epithelial cells through long-term Transwell co-culture. OBJECTIVE: To observe whether rat lung epithelial-T-antigen negative cell lines (RLE-6TN) can induce rat ADSCs to differentiate into type II alveolar epithelial cells by long-term Transwell co-culture. METHODS: Three SPF health female Sprague-Dawley rats were used as donors to separate, extract, culture and identity ADSCs. The experimental group was subjected to the Transwell co-culture of ADSCs and RLE-6TN, while the control group was subjected to the culture of ADSCs alone. The morphological changes of ADSCs were observed by the inverted phase contrast microscope at 21 days after co-culture. Immunofluorescence staining using surfactant protein C (SP-C) was performed on the co-cultured ADSCs. The fluorescence staining was observed using the inverted fluorescence microscope. Integral optical density (IOD) analysis was conducted by Image pro plus 6.0 software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: RLE-6TN cells were identified by fluorescence staining with stable expression of SP-C protein (red fluorescence) in the experimental group, and there was no red fluorescence in the control group. After 21-day co-culture, the cell shape in the experimental group was transformed from the long spindle shape into oval or polygon shape gradually, while the cell shape in the control group remained fibroblast-like. These results show that RLE-6TN can induce ADSCs to differentiate into type II alveolar epithelial cells after a long-term (21 days) co-culture.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of ER isoforms in endometriosis and eutopic endometrium.

METHODSTissue samples of patients with ovarian endometriosis, treated in People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2004 to December 2006, were retrieved. A total of 60 cases of ovarian endometriotic cysts with their corresponding eutopic endometrium (30 cases of proliferation phase and 30 of secretary phase eutopic endometrium) and 30 cases of normal endometrium (15 proliferative and 15 secretary phase endometrial samples respectively) were included. Expressions of ERalpha and ERbeta were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and the expression ratio was statistically analyzed by using SPSS 12.0 software.

RESULTSExpressions of both ERalpha and ERbeta in epithelial cells were positively correlated with that of the stromal cells. The expression of ERalpha in eutopic endometrium (73.3% in epithelium and 76.7% in stroma) was significantly higher than that in ovarian endometriotic cysts (43.3% in epithelium and 46.7% in stroma), or normal control (56.7% in epithelium and 50.0% in stroma, respectively, each P < 0.05. However, the expression of ERbeta (90.0% in epithelium and 76.7% in stroma) was higher in ovarian endometriotic cysts than that in the eutopic endometrium (68.0% in epithelium and 63.3% in stroma respectively, P < 0.05), and ERbeta expression in eutopic endometrium was higher than that in the normal control endometrium (36.7% in epithelium and 26.7% in stroma, respectively, P < 0.05). The expressions of both ERalpha and ERbeta changed periodically in eutopic and normal endometrium, whereas ERalpha and ERbeta level were less variable in the ectopic endometrium. The expression of ERbeta was statistically higher than that of ERalpha (P < 0.05) in ectopic endometrium, whereas no significant difference was seen between the two isoforms in the eutopic or normal endometrium.

CONCLUSIONSBoth ERalpha and ERbeta have higher expression levels in eutopic endometrium of patients with ovarian endometriotic cysts. ERbeta is predominantly expressed in endometriotic cysts, where the expression of ERalpha is limited. The different distribution of ERalpha and ERbeta may play an important role in the development of ovarian endometriosis.

Adult ; Choristoma ; pathology ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endometrium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelium ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; analysis ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Protein Isoforms ; analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis ; Stromal Cells ; metabolism

Mammalian oocyte maturation and early embryo development processes are Ca(2+)-dependent. In this study, we used confocal microscopy to investigate the distribution pattern of Ca2+ and its dynamic changes in the processes of bovine oocytes maturation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), parthenogenetic activation (PA) and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryo development. During the germinal vesicle (GV) and GV breakdown stage, Ca2+ was distributed in the cortical ooplasm and throughout the oocytes from the MI to MII stage. In IVF embryos, Ca2+ was distributed in the cortical ooplasm before the formation of the pronucleus. In 4-8 cell embryos and morulas, Ca2+ was present throughout the blastomere. In PA embryos, Ca2+ was distributed throughout the blastomere at 48 h, similar to in the 4-cell and 8-cell phase and the morula. At 6 h after activation, there was almost no distribution of Ca2+ in the SCNT embryos. However, Ca2+ was distributed in the donor nucleus at 10 h and it was distributed throughout the blastomere in the 2-8 cell embryos. In this study, Ca2+ showed significant fluctuations with regularity of IVF and SCNT groups, but PA did not. Systematic investigation of the Ca2+ location and distribution changes during oocyte maturation and early embryo development processes should facilitate a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in oocyte maturation, reconstructed embryo activation and development, ultimately improving the reconstructed embryo development rate.
Aniline Compounds/chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium/*physiology ; Cattle/*physiology ; Embryonic Development/*physiology ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro/*veterinary ; Microscopy, Confocal/veterinary ; Oocytes/*physiology ; Parthenogenesis/*physiology ; Xanthenes/chemistry

AIMTo establish a method for cynomolgus monkey sperm cryopreservation in a chemically defined extender.

METHODSSemen samples were collected by electro-ejaculation from four sexually mature male cynomolgus monkeys. The spermatozoa were frozen in straws by liquid nitrogen vapor using egg-yolk-free Tes-Tris mTTE synthetic extender and glycerol as cryoprotectant. The effects of glycerol concentration (1 %, 3 %, 5 %, 10 % and 15 % [v/v]) and its equilibration time (10 min, 30 min, 60 min and 90 min) on post-thaw spermatozoa were examined by sperm motility and sperm head membrane integrity.

RESULTSThe post-thaw motility and head membrane integrity of spermatozoa were significantly higher (P0.05) for 5 % glycerol (42.95 +/- 2.55 and 50.39+/- 2.42, respectively) than those of the other groups (1%: 19.19 +/- 3.22 and 24.84 +/- 3.64; 3%: 34.23 +/- 3.43 and 41.37 +/- 3.42; 10%:15.68 +/- 2.36 and 21.39 +/- 3.14; 15%: 7.47 +/- 1.44 and 12.90 +/- 2.18). The parameters for 30 min equilibration(42.95 +/- 2.55 and 50.39 +/- 2.42) were better (P0.05) than those of the other groups (10 min: 31.33 +/- 3.06 and 38.98 +/- 3.31; 60 min: 32.49 +/- 3.86 and 40.01 +/- 4.18; 90 min: 31.16 +/- 3.66 and 38.30 +/- 3.78). Five percent glycerol and 30 min equilibration yielded the highest post-thaw sperm motility and head membrane integrity.

CONCLUSIONCynomolgus monkey spermatozoa can be successfully cryopreserved in a chemically defined extender, which is related to the concentration and the equilibration time of glycerol.

Animals ; Cryopreservation ; Cryoprotective Agents ; Glycerol ; chemistry ; Macaca fascicularis ; Male ; Semen Preservation ; Spermatozoa ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo establish a stable method for obtaining large quantity of highly purified immature dendritic cells (imDCs) in vitro, and identify the morphology, function and surface markers of the cells.

METHODSCD117(+) hemopoietic stem cells (HSCs) were isolated and purified from the bone marrow of healthy C57 mice by magnetic affinity cell sorting. After cell expansion by treatment with stem cell factor (SCF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3), the HSCs were induced for directional differentiation into imDCs by treatment with GM-CSF, IL-4 and IL-10. The imDCs obtained were identified by morphological and functional observation under inverted microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope, followed by detection of the expressions of the surface markers using flow cytometry.

RESULTSAfter 3, 5 and 7 days of culture in the presence of SCF+IL-3, the cells were expanded by 10.34-/+1.43, 22.65-/+2.71 and 54.39-/+3.08 folds, respectively. The HSCs were successfully induced to differentiate into imDCs with phagocytotic activity. The dendrites of the imDCs were short small, and appearing spinous. The expressions of surface markers were detected from the cells showing the phenotype of CD11c(+), I-A/I-E(low), CD40(-), CD80(-), CD86(-).

CONCLUSIONThe method described allows steadily acquisition of large quanty of highly purified imDCs and of their effective identification in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit

AIMTo explore the effects of calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) on LPS-induced MMP-9 secretion by alveolar macrophages (AM) in vitro.

METHODSThe supernatant of LPS-induced Wistar rat AM from different intervention groups were collected to measure the activity by gelatin zymography.

RESULTS(Only secreting a small amount of MMP-9 with unstimulated AM, LPS stimulated MMP-9 production in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.01). (2) The activity of MMP-9 in CGRP intervention groups at different levels were significantly lower than those in non-intervention group (p < 0.01). (3) The inhibiting effects of CGRP were diminished by H-7 and W-7, an antagonist of protein kinase C (PKC) and calmodulin (CaM) (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese data suggested that CGRP involved in the MMP-9 secretion by AM, partly, via PKC and CaM pathway.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; secretion ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism