Kinetin (Kn) is a cytokinin growth factor that exerts several anti-aging and antioxidant effects on cells and organs. To investigate the mechanism underlying apoptotic events in aging cells induced by D-galactose (D-gal), we examined the effect of Kn delivered via nuchal subcutaneous injection on D-gal-induced aging and apoptosis in rats. Our results showed that interleukin (IL)-2 levels and mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) were decreased by Kn in aging rats while IL-6 production and apoptosis increased. In addition, the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was low while that of Bax was high in the aging group. After treated with Kn, compared with aging group, there showed obvious difference in Kn group with elevated IL-2, proliferation index, Bcl-2, DeltaPsim and decreased IL-6 and Bax in splenic lymphocyte. Based on these results, we concluded that Kn can effectively protect the rat spleen from aging, apoptosis, and atrophy.
Aging/drug effects/physiology ; Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects/*physiology ; Female ; Galactose/*pharmacology ; Interleukin-6/physiology ; Interleukins/physiology ; Kinetin/pharmacology/*physiology ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects/physiology ; Rats ; Spleen/*cytology/drug effects/physiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of Oviductus Ranae (OR) capsules on the reproductive organs in an aged mouse model established by D-galactose injection.

METHODSForty-eight female Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 equal groups, namely the high- and low-dose OR groups, diethylstilbestrol (DT) group, and model group. The mice received subcutaneous injection of D-galactose for 6 weeks to establish aging models. Another 12 mice were injected daily with normal saline (NS) to serve as the normal control group. From the third week of the experiment, the mice were given oral OR at low or high doses (in the OR groups) or vegetable oil (in the model or control groups) till the sixth week. In the last two weeks, the vaginal smears were obtained from the mice for evaluating the changes of the vaginal keratinocytes and counting the days of estrus. After completion of drug administration, all the mice were sacrificed and the serum content of estradiol (E(2)) was detected by radioimmunoassay, with the ovarian and uterine indices determined. The ovarian and uterine pathologies were observed using HE staining, and SOD and MDA activities in the ovary and uterus were also assessed.

RESULTSOR obviously increased E(2) level and the ovarian and uterine indices in the aged mice, also alleviating the pathological change of the ovary and uterus. OR substantially depressed MDA content and enhanced SOD activity in the ovary and uterus.

CONCLUSIONOR has definite antioxidative effects and ameliorates the degenerative changes of the reproductive organs in mouse models of aging.

Aging ; Animals ; Capsules ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Ovary ; drug effects ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Uterus ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate effect of Epimedium flavonoids (EF), positively controlled by caloric restriction (CR) method, in retarding aging of the model organism C. elegans, in order to establish a basis for studying its action mechanism.

METHODSExperiment for life-time analysis was conducted on animals grouped into the blank group, the CR group, and the high and low dose EF groups to observe their mean lifespan, maximum lifespan and age-dependent mortality. And the reproductive capacity test and acute heat-stress analysis were carried out in the blank group and the high dose EF group to observe the subalgebra and the mean survival time under acute heat-stress at 35 degrees C.

RESULTSAs compared with the blank group, the mean lifespan in the two EF group and the maximum lifespan in the high dose EF group were higher, and the age-dependent mortality in the high dose EF group was lower significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01); as compared with the CR group, the mean lifespan and maximum lifespan in the high dose EF group were higher (P<0.01); but no significant difference of the subalgebra between the blank group and the high dose EF group was shown (P>0.05). Compared with the blank group, the mean lifespan in the high dose EF group was significantly prolonged under acute heat-stress at 35 degrees C (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONEF can retard the aging of C. elegans without damage on the reproductive capacity, and significantly improve its capacity against acute heat-stress.

Aging ; drug effects ; physiology ; Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; drug effects ; physiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Hot Temperature ; adverse effects ; Longevity ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Stress, Physiological ; drug effects

Maximizing peak bone mass is advocated as a way to prevent osteoporosis. To evaluate the peak bone mass and the affecting factors in Korean women, we analyzed bone stiffness in 116 middle school students, 118 high school students and 115 female college students by using the Achilles densitometer (Lunar Corporation). Peak bone stiffness of Korean women was relatively lower than that of white women (94% of white women) and a rapid rise of bone stiffness was observed in those subjects 3-4 years after menarche. In adolescent females without menstruation, the bone stiffness was lower than that of adolescent girls with menstruation. The factors affecting the peak bone mass was similar to the risk factors of post menopausal osteoporosis: menstruation status, calcium intake and physical activity. The amount of calcium intake in Korean girls at the critical age (3-4 years after menarche) was lower than the RDA (requirement of daily allowance) at this age. To improve any program aimed at maximizing peak bone mass, further intensive study will be required to evaluate some other common factors affecting peak bone mass in Korean.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aging/physiology ; *Bone Density ; Bone and Bones/drug effects/physiology ; Calcium, Dietary/pharmacology ; Child ; Elasticity ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Menarche

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of total fiavonoids from Chrysanthemun morifolium (TFCM) on learning and memory, and cholinergic system function in aging mice.

METHODSThe aging mice model was established by subcutaneous injection of D-galactose. ICR mice were divided into five groups (n=10): contrA group, model group, and TFCM groups. Mice in TFCM groups were given TFCM (50,100 or 150 mg/kg) by gastric irrigation once a day. Learning and memory ability were evaluated by Morris water maze test. The MDA content, SOD and Ach E activity were also measured.

RESULTSCompared with control group, learning and memory ability declined in the D-galactose-induced aging mice; meanwhile MDA content and AchE activity increased, SOD activity decreased. Treatment with TFCM (100, 150 mg/kg) ameliorated the decrease in learning and memory ability of aging mice. Compared with model group, TFCM (100, 150 mg/kg) could also decrease MDA content and Ach E activity, and increase SOD activity in aging mice.

CONCLUSIONTFCM may improve the learning and memory ability of aging mice. The mechanism is involved in its antioxidative characteristic and improvement of central cholinergic system function.

Aging ; drug effects ; physiology ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cholinergic Fibers ; physiology ; Cholinergic Neurons ; physiology ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; Female ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Cynomorium songaricum polysaccharide (CSP) on telomere length in blood and brain tissues of aged mice in order to provide some evidence for CSP's development and applying in the clinical uses.

METHODKunming mice were intraperitoneal injected D-galactose (500 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) to make the aging models, and different dosages of CSP (20, 40, 80 mg x kg(-1)) were given by gavage for 56 days. The average length of telomere was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.

RESULTThe relative T/S ratio of the group high and middle dosages of CSP in blood were 1.64 +/- 0.36 and 1.33 +/0.28, respectively, and higher than that of the group of senescence 1.01 +/- 0.13 (P < 0.01). Values of the group of high, middle, and low dosages of CSP in brain tissues were 3.34 +/- 0.58, 2.30 +/- 0. 75 and 1.55 +/- 0.58, respectively, and significantly higher than that of the group of senescence 1.04 +/- 0.33 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCSP can exert the anti-aging effects by increase telomere length f senescence mice.

Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; drug effects ; pathology ; Cellular Senescence ; drug effects ; Cynomorium ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Galactose ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Mice ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Telomere ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Renshen Yangrong decoction (RYD) in protecting membrane fluidity of mitochondrion in brain and liver of D-galactose induced subacute senile mice.

METHODSForty ICR mice were randomly divided into the youth control group, the model group, the high, middle and low-dose RYD groups. The membrane fluidity of mitochondrion in liver and brain cell was measured, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of mitochondrion was determined and analyzed.

RESULTSIn the model group, the membrane fluidity of mitochondrion in hepatic and cerebral cells significantly decreased, and the MDA concentration of mitochondrion increased. RYD could significantly reduce the MDA concentration of mitochondrion, markedly increase the membrane fluidity of mitochondrion in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONRYD plays a role in anti-aging through protecting the membrane fluidity of mitochondrion in hepatic and cerebral cells and decreasing the MDA concentration of mitochondrion changing with ageing.

Aging ; drug effects ; physiology ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Membrane Fluidity ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Mitochondria, Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Panax ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology

Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Arteries ; physiopathology ; Arteriosclerosis ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus ; physiopathology ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; physiology ; Guanidines ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Thiazoles ; pharmacology

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; physiology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Ranibizumab ; Visual Acuity ; drug effects

Many extracellular matrix molecules are expressed in the embryonic nervous system and there is some evidence that they are important regulators of neural development. Of these molecules, laminin appears to be the most potent, affecting virtually all neurons of the peripheral and central nervous system. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of laminin on the proliferation and differentiation of cultured neuroepithelial cells taken from fetal rat forebrains (embryonic day 17-19). The results are summarized as follows. 1) Neuroepithelial cells cultivated in epidermal growth factors containing serum-free medium subsequently differentiated into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. 2) Neuronal cells derived from neuroepithelial cells were immunoreactive for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or substance P, but were not for serotonin and tyrosine hydroxylase. 3) In western blot analysis, the phosphorylated neurofilament content in neuronal cells was higher in culture on laminin than in culture on poly-L-lysine (PLL). 4) The proliferation rate of GABAergic neurons was higher in culture on laminin than in culture on PLL. These results suggest that GABAergic and substance P-ergic neurons can be differentiated from neuroepithelial cells and that laminin promotes the differentiation of neuronal cells from neuroepithelial cells and the increased proliferation rate of GABAergic cells.
Animal ; Brain/drug effects* ; Brain/cytology ; Cell Aging/drug effects ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cell Division/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Epidermal Growth Factor/pharmacology* ; Epithelial Cells/drug effects ; Epithelial Cells/cytology ; GABA/physiology ; Laminin/pharmacology* ; Neurons/physiology ; Neurons/drug effects* ; Neurons/cytology* ; Rats/embryology