AIM Taurine was reported neuroprotective under several ischemic models in vivo. In this study, the direct effect of taurine against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) inducing acute neuronal injury and the underlying mechanisms in vitro were investigated. METHODSFour hours OGD was used to induce in vitro ischemic injury in rat cortical neurons. Taurine 5, 10 and 20 mmol·L-1 was added 20 h before and during 4 h OGD period respectively. Mortality rate of neuron was assayed by MTT and flow cytometry methods. Level of neuronal [Ca2+]i was detected by Fura 2/AM loading. Amino acid concentrations in culture media were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS Under OGD conditions, neuronal death was markedly increased, and the levels of neuronal [Ca2+]i and extracellular glutamate level were enhanced obviously. Taurine pretreatment obviously decreased the percentage of neuronal death induced by OGD. In addition, abnormal elevation of neuronal [Ca2+]i and extracellular glutamate level induced by OGD both were markedly repressed by taurine. CONCLUSION Taurine can alleviate rat cortical neuron injury induced by OGD, the mechanisms were likely due to repressing calcium overload and inhibiting excessive release or leakage of glutamate under such conditions.

Objective Using mouse autoimmune premature ovary failure (POF) model to seek theoretical evidence for a possible clinical therapy of autoimmune POF with glucocorticoid (GC) or an-drogen. Methods After autoimmune POF was induced in 60 mice by Pzp3, the mice were randomly as-signed into 3 groups (n=20) : Two groups were treated with GC or androgen and the control group was treated with distilled water. We observed the changes in the sexual cycles of the mice, the serum level of AzpAb, infiltration of cells positively expressing CD45 in the ovary, and pathological alterations of the ovary. Results The sexual cycle of each therapy group was significantly different from that of the control group. The mean serum level of AzpAb of each therapy group was significantly lower than that of the con-trol group, and the mean serum level of AzpAb in the GC group was significantly higher than that of the androgen group. The percentage of growing follicles in the ovary of each therapy group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Ovaries infiltrated by cells positively expressing CD45 of each thera-py group were significantly fewer than those of the control group. Conclusion GC or androgen in mice with autoimmune POF could obviously ameliorate the pathogenetic conditions of the disorder, and both treatments have similar therapeutic efficacy.

AIM: To investigate the expression and effects of sialyl Lewis X (SLeX) on the invasion and migration of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.METHODS: The expression of α1,3-fucosyltransferase VII (FUT7) in HepG2 cells and L-02 cells was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.The SLeX expression in HepG2 cells and L-02 cells was determined by Western blot and immunocytochemical staining.The invasion and migration abilities of the treated cells were evaluated by Transwell assay.RESULTS: The expression of FUT7 and SLeX in the HepG2 cells, but not in the L-02 cells, was observed.The invasion rates of the HepG2 cells treated with SLeX monoclonal antibody at 0.05, 0.5 and 5 mg/L were significantly decreased as compared with control group (P<0.05).The migration ability of the HepG2 cells treated with SLeX monoclonal antibody at 0.05, 0.5 and 5 mg/L was also significantly reduced as compared with control group (P<0.05).The invasion rate and migratory cell number were significantly different between any 2 groups in the HepG2 cells treated with SLeX monoclonal antibody at 0.05, 0.5 and 5 mg/L (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: HepG2 cells express SLeX.SLeX is closely related to the migration and invasion abilities of the HepG2 cells.

AIM: To observe the effect of Jiawei sinisan (JWSNS) on some amino acids in hippocampus of rats with chronic stress. METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control, model and JWSNS group. OPA (HPLC) was adopted to detect the contents of amino acids in hippocampus. RESULTS: The contents of Glu and Asp in hippocampus of model group increased significantly ( P

Objective To analyze the correlation between serum lipoprotein associated phospholipase A 2(Lp‐PLA2) with five traditional inflammatory factors of TC ,TG ,LDL‐C ,hs‐CRP and Hcy in the patients with coronary heart disease(CHD) ,and to in‐vestigate the relationship between its concentration with the lesions and severity of CHD .Methods Two hundreds cases of CHD were selected as the lesion group(which was subdivide into single vessel lesion ,double vessel lesion and three vessel lesion) ,at the same time ,100 persons undergoing physical examination were selected as the control group .The correlation between Lp‐PLA2 with five traditional inflammatory factors of TC ,TG ,LDL‐C ,hs‐CRP and Hcy was analyzed .The differences of Lp‐PLA2 in the lesion group and the control group were compared and the relation between Lp‐PLA2 level with lesion vessels number was analyzed .Re‐sults Lp‐PLA2 was significantly correlated with LDL‐C ,Hcy ,TC and hs‐CRP(P<0 .05) and had no relation with TG(P>0 .05) , the level of Lp‐PLA2 in the lesion group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0 .01) ,the Lp‐PLA2 level was elevated with the number of coronary lesion vessels ,but the correlation is unobvious(P>0 .05) .Conclusion High concentration of Lp‐PLA2 is a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis ,but the correlation between the Lp‐PLA2 level and the severity of coronary arterial lesion needs further study .

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Edema ; therapy ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective:To study the qualitative identification and quantitative analysis of Paeoniae radix Rubra in Fufang Fuqing lotion. Methods:TLC was used to identify Paeoniae radix Rubra. The content of paeoniflorinl was determined by HPLC. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0. 01% phosphonic acid (13 ∶87), and the detection wavelength was 230 nm,the flow rate was 1. 0ml·min-1, the column temperature was 40℃,and the sample size was 10μl. Results:The results of TLC showed that the relevant spots were clear without any interference from the negative sample. The calibration curve of paeoniflorinl was linear within the range of 0. 070-4. 500 μg (r=1. 000 0). The average recovery was 98. 36% with RSD of 2. 73%(n=6). Conclusion:The methods are accurate and quick in the qualitative identification and quantitative assay of the preparation, which can be used for the quality control of Fufang Fuqing lo-tion.

Objective To identify the effects of androgen on mouse model of autoimmune ovary failure.MethodsFifty mice were randomly divided into five groups as control group,early therapeutic group and its model group,late therapeutic group and its model group.Autoimmune POF was induced in forty mice by Pzp3.Then,the animals were randomly divided into four groups: two were treated with androgen from the 15th and 20th day after immune.The control group was treated with distilled water.The therapeutic efficacy of each treatment was evaluated by the changes in sexual cycles of mice,the serum level of AzpAb,infiltration of cells positively expressing CD45 in the ovary as well as the percentage of growing follicles of the ovary.Results The sexual cycles,serum level of AzpAb,infiltration of CD45 cells in the ovary of each model group were more significant than those in control group;early therapeutic group was less than model group;and serum level of AzpAb in early therapeutic group was lower than that of late therapeutic group.The percentage of growing follicles in the ovary of each model group was lower than that of control group;early therapeutic group was higher than model group and late therapeutic group.Conclusion The use of androgen in mice with autoimmune POF may notably ameliorate the pathogenetic conditions of the disorder,and the treatment during prophase was apparently more effective than that during the advanced stage.

WRKY transcription factors are novel transcriptional regulatory factors, which play an important role in regulating plant development, metabolism and other physiological processes. In this study, a new Dendrobium officinale WRKY transcription factor, designated as DoWRKY1 was cloned by using RT-PCR and RACE (GenBank Accession No. KF953910). Bioinformatic analysis demonstrated that, the full-length cDNA of DoWRKY1 was 1,704 bp. And DoWRKY1 contained a 1,629 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoding a peptide of 542 amino acid residues. The putative DoWRKY1 protein contained two conserved WRKY domains and it belonged to the group I WRKY family protein. Yeast one-hybrid experiment showed that DoWRKY1 had transcriptional activation ability in yeast, and it could activate the expression of downstream report genes (His3 and Ade2). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR experiment showed that DoWRKY1 expressed in roots, stems, leaves and protocorm-like bodies. Real-time qRT-PCR proved that DoWRKY1 could be induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and chitosan (Chitosan), and the expression level of this gene can reach the expression peak at 2 h and 1 h, respectively. These results are useful for further determination of the regulation function of this gene in secondary metabolism of D. officinale.
Cloning, Molecular ; Dendrobium ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

BACKGROUND: When one is in a stress state, some amino acids as neurotransmitter in his brain are of important regulating action to his cerebral functions and his psychic behaviors,and some traditional Chinese drugs can regulate the stress state of the body.OBJECTIVE:To observe the content changes of glutamic acid,aspartic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid and taurine in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats under repeatedly psychic stress so as to investigate the effects of tiaogan recipe, jianpi recipe, bushen recipe and ginsenoside on them.DESIGN: A randomized grouping and controlled observation trial.SETTING:Department of Basic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) of Basic Medical Science College, Guangzhou University of TCM.MATERIALS:The experiment was completed from March 2002 to January 2003 at the Animal Center of Guangzhou University of TCM.Totally60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal, model, tiaogan, bushen, jianpi and ginsenoside groups, with 10 in each group. Compositions and doses of tiaogan recipe: radix bupleuri 5 g, fruetus gardeniae 5 g,radix paeoniae alba 15 g,fructus lycii 15 g,fructus aurantii 6 g,radix rehmanniae 18 g, concha haliotidis 30 g. Compositions and doses of shenqi pill: radix rehmanniae 30 g, rhizoma dioscoreae 15 g, fructus corni 15 g,rhizoma alismatis 10 g,poria 10 g,cortex moutan radicis 10 g,ramulus cinnamomi 4 g, radix aconiti praeparata 4 g. Compositions and doses of sijunzi decoction:radix codonopsis pilosulae 20 g,rhizoma atractylodis macrocephalae 15 g, poria 15 g, radix glycyrrhizae preparata 6 g.METHODS:① The traditional Chinese medicines were conventionally decocted; and the tiaogan recipe condensed to the liquid containing1.69 g/mL crude drug, shenqi pill containing 1.76 g/mL crude drug,sijunzi decoction containing 1.01 g/mL crude drug.Ginsenoside was prepared as 7 g/L water solution.The rats in the normal and model groups were by gavage given 2 mL of 9.0 g/L sodium chloride injection.The rats in the tiaogan, bushen, jianpi and ginsenoside groups were respectively by gavage given 2 mL of tiaogan recipe, shenqi pill, sijunzi decoction and ginsenoside solution 1 hour before immobilization stress. ② Except for rats in the normal group, those in the rest groups were all conducted for establishment of psychic stress reaction model.The rats were put into an immobilization tube,their action space was gradually reduced by using a mobile insertion piece,they were regulated to a nervous state without prpduction of intense revolting, which was done once a day, starting with 4 hours immobilization on the first day, and later on increased by 30-60 minutes per day, for consecutive 14 days. ③ The whole brain of the rats in each group was collected by decapitation,OPA high-performance liquid chromatography was used for assays of the contents of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, γaminobutyric acid and taurine in hypothalamus and hippocampus of the rats.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The content changes of glutamic acid,aspartic acid,γ-aminobutyric acid and tanrine in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group.RESULTS: Totally 60 rats involved all entered into the result analysis. ①The content changes of glutamic acid in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group:Compared with normal group,the contents of glutamic acid in hypothalamus of rats in the tiaogan, jianpi,bushen and ginsenoside groups were markedly decreased [(21.85±8.19), (15.76±1.80),(14.68±7.91), (21.46±5.45), (13.43±7.68) μmoL/g]; compared with model group,the contents in the tiaogan, bushen, jianpi and ginsenoside groups were obviously raised [(11.04±3.65), (11.78±2.17), (18.67±2.98), (20.91 ±3.96),(17.71±1.83) μ moL/g, P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.05]. ② The content changes of aspartic acid in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group:Compared with model group,the contents of aspartic acid in the hypothalamus in the jianpi and ginsenoside groups were obviously decreased [(8.65±1.18), (5.72±1.32), (4.67±1.88) μmoL/g, P ＜ 0.01,P ＜ 0.01], while the contents in the hippocampus of rats in the jianpi,bushen and ginsenoside groups were markedly raised[(2.58 ±0.87),(3.93±0.49), (4.52±0.98), (3.83±0.41) μmoL/g, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.05].③ The content changes of γ-aminobutyric acid in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group:Compared with model group,the contents of γ-aminobutyric acid in the hypothalamus of rats in the tiaogan,jianpi,bushen and ginsenoside groups were markedly decreased[(20.92±4.96), (15.87±2.90), (13.84±2.63), (14.94±3.98), (10.94±3.68) μ moL/g,P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.01, P ＜ 0.01], while the contents in the hypothalamus were obviously raised [(4.12±1.66), (4.18±1.04), (6.67±1.29),(6.11±0.99), (6.37±0.78) μmoL/g, P＜ 0.05, P＜ 0.01, P＜ 0.01, P＜ 0.01].④ The content changes of taurine in the hypothalamus and hippocampus of rats in each group: Compared with model group, the contents of taurine in the hypothalamus of rats in the tiaogan, jianpi, bushen and ginsenoside groups were markedly decreased [(10.24±1.72), (7.82±1.14), (8.00±2.05),(6.42±3.17) μmoL/g, P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.01], while the contents in the hippocampus in the jianpi and ginsenoside groups were obviously raised [(12.61±3.51), (17.03±2.74), (18.04±2.14) μnoL/g, P＜ 0.01, P＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION:The central acting site of tiaogan recipe may mainly be in the hypothalamus,possibly being related with down-regulating amino acids.While the central acting sites ofjianpi recipe,bushen recipe and ginsenoside may include the hippocampus and hypothalamus, being mainly related with up-regulating amino acids,through enhancing the integration of the hippocampus on stress so as to gain the effect of anti-injury of stress.