Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mice ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Virus Diseases ; drug therapy

Objective To observe the influence of taurine supplementation during early postnatal life on body weight and ultrastructure of islet ? cells in neonatal rats with low birth weight(LBW).Methods LBW neonatal rats were made by feeding 20%(C group) or 10%(R group) protein diet to fetal rats during gestation and lactation.Half of femal rats in group R were given a supplementation with 2.5% taurine drinking water(RT group) only during lactation,while other femal rats freely drunk.At postnatal day 1 and 21,the neonatal rats were weighted and their pancreas were removed.The ultrastructural changes of ? cells were observed by electron microscopy.Results At postnatal 21 days,the body weight of offsprings in group RT was significantly highter than that in group R(P=0.003);and the ultrastructure of ? cells in group RT got more improvement than that in group R.Conclusion Taurine supplementation can improve the growth-catch-up and the ultrastructure of islet ? cells of neonateal rats with LBW.

Objective To investigate the effect of high power microwave(HPM) irradiation on neuropeptide Y (NPY) and neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression in the cerebral cortex and hippoeampus of Wistar rats. Methods A total of 110 Wistar rats were used for this study.Three groups of 30 Wistar rats were exposed to HPM irradiation at intensities of 3,10,30 and 100 mW/cm~2,respectively.Twenty rats served as controls and were ex- posed to sham HPM irradiation.At 6 h,and at 1,3,7,14 and 28 d after irradiation,five rats from each group were sacrificed,and their cerebral cortices and hippocampi were harvested.HE staining was used to highlight any change in the structure of the cerebral cortex or hippocampus.Immunohistochemistry techniques and image analysis were used to study the changes in NPY and nNOS expression.Results 10 to 100 mW/cm~2 HPM irradiation caused pyc- nosis and deep staining of some neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.The increase in nNOS expression and decrease in NPY expression observed were significant at 3 days after irradiation.Conclusion HPM irradiation can induce injury in neurons of the cerebral cortex and hippoeampus,and abnormal NPY and nNOS expression.

Objective　To investigate the role of β-endorphin (β-EP) in conA-induced spleen cell proliferation after traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Methods　①Wistar rats with traumatic hemorrhagic shock were used and killed 0, 1, 3, 6,12 and 24 h after traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Plasma specimens were collected and β-EP levels in plasma were detected. Rats with sham-operation served as the control. ②Spleen cells isolated from normal rats were cultured in shock plasma (group Ⅰ), inactivated shock plasma (group Ⅱ) and shock plasma+β-EP antiserum (group Ⅲ) respectively. Con A-induced spleen cell proliferation was observed. Results　①The plasma β-EP level was elevated significantly immediately after shock, and reached the peak 1 h later, then showed a deceasing tendency and restored to the level as before shock at 24 h. ②Shock plasma remarkedly suppressed spleen cell response to the mitogen conA (P<0.01) compared with control; ConA-induced spleen cell proliferative function in group Ⅱ was significantly increased than that in group Ⅰ (P<0.01), so did in group Ⅲ, which still lower than in control. Conclusion　The significantly elevated β-EP in the plasma after hemorrhagic shock might play an important role in inhibiting the proliferation of spleen cells.

AIMTo study the effects of hydrocortisone sodium succinate on sodium current in human atrial myocytes and in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

METHODSSingle cardiac myocytes were isolated by enzyme. The effects of hydrocortisone sodium succinate on sodium current (INa) were assessed by applying whole-cell patch clamp techniques.

RESULTSHydrocortisone sodium succinate (1, 3, 10 micromol x L(-1)) was shown to inhibit INa of both human atrial myocytes and guinea pig ventricular myocytes in concentration dependent manner and the IC50 were 6.97 and 8.74 micromol x L(-1), respectively. The inhibition effects acted quickly (1-3 min) and the maximal activating voltage of INa was not changed in both human and guinea pig cardiac myocytes.

CONCLUSIONHydrocortisone sodium succinate can exhibit inhibitory effects on INa in both human and guinea pig cardiac myocytes, and its inhibitory effects act rapidly, which are not consistent with genomic effects, so there may be nongenomic effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Cell Separation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Guinea Pigs ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; pathology ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathological characteristics and the dynamic change regularity of the testis induced by high power microwave (HPM) radiation.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-five male Wistar rats were exposed to 0, 3, 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 HPM radiation for five minutes, and changes of testicular morphology and teratogenic ratio of epididymal spermatozoa were observed through light microscope and electron microscope at 6 h, 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 90 d after radiation.

RESULTSInjury of testicular spermatogenic cells in rats might be induced by 3 to approximately 100 mW/cm2 HPM radiation, and the main pathological changes were degeneration, necrosis, shedding of spermatogenic cells, formation of multinuclear giant cells, decrease or loss of sperm and interstitial edema. Injury of spermatogenic cells underwent such phases as death and shedding, cavitation, regeneration and repair, characterized by being focalized, inhomogenous and phased. And the severity of pathological changes of the testis increased with power density. There was only scattered degeneration, necrosis, shedding of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubule one day after 3 mW/cm2 radiation, and the pathological changes six hours after 10 mW/cm2 radiation was similar to those one day after 3 mW/cm2 radiation, but with the formation of multinuclear giant cells, and the above-mentioned pathological changes aggravated from one day to seven days after radiation. There was a significant increase in degeneration, necrosis, shedding of spermatogenic cells, as well as a significant decrease in spermatozoa and focal necrosis in simple seminiferous tubules six hours after 30 and 100 mW/cm2 radiation, and the subsequent changes were similar to those of 10 mW/cm2 radiation. There was a significant increase in teratogenic ratio of epididymal spermatozoa at 3 d, 1 to approximately 7 d, 6 h to approximately 7 d after 3, 10, 30 and 100 mW/cm2 microwave radiation respectively (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHPM radiation may cause injury of testicular spermatogenic cells in rats, which has a positive correlation to radiation dosage and time.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Male ; Microwaves ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spermatozoa ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Testis ; pathology ; radiation effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate approach and possibility of transferring basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene into rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs).

METHODSThe eukaryotic expression vectors harboring bFGF cDNA were constructed and transfected into rabbit BMSCs mediated by liposome. The transcription and expression of bFGF gene in the transfected BMSCs were detected by means of morphological observation, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RT-PCR. The changes in the biological characteristics of the transfected MSCs were also observed.

RESULTSStable overexpression of bFGF protein was detected in the transfected BMSCs, which showed differentiation towards chondrocyte lineage.

CONCLUSIONStable expression of bFGF gene in transfected BMSCs can induce cell differentiation into chondrocyte lineage.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Male ; Rabbits ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the biocompatibility of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) for culturing bFGF gene-transfected bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and assess the feasibility of this cell complex for repairing cartilage defect in rabbits using tissue engineering method.

METHODSBMSCs transfected by bFGF gene were cultured on PLGA matrix to assess the biocompatibility of PLGA. The cell complex was then implanted into the cartilage defect in rabbits, and its effect in cartilage defect repair was evaluated by histological observation and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSBMSCs transfected by bFGF gene grew normally on PLGA matrix. After implantation, the complex showed good effect for cartilage defect repair in rabbits.

CONCLUSIONPLGA has good biocompatibility with the transfected BMSCs, and the cell complex can be used for repairing rabbit cartilage defect and may potentially serve as a substitute of cartilage autograft.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cartilage, Articular ; injuries ; surgery ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; genetics ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Implants, Experimental ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Male ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Transfection

Objective To investigate the clinical method of closing defect and regain the sensory on forefoot injury.Methods Lateral tarsal artery,flap was designed as a reverse flow flap to close forefoot de- fect in dorsal lateral foot while perforating branche of lateral tarsal artery as turning point.Lateral cutaneous nerve was inosculated to lateral plantar fascia.Donor site was covered by skin-grafting.Results seventeen cases survived satisfactorily with good shape and regaining sensory.Conclusion Lateral tarsal artery flap can be used in coveraged of forefoot defect.Lateral tarsal artery flap was thin flap with good shape and to regain the sensory of forefoot.

BACKGROUNDRecent clinical and preclinical studies have suggested that deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be used as a tool to enhance cognitive functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of DBS at three separate targets in the Papez circuit, including the anterior nucleus of thalamus (ANT), the entorhinal cortex (EC), and the fornix (FX), on cognitive behaviors in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) rat model.

METHODSForty-eight rats were subjected to an intrahippocampal injection of amyloid peptides 1-42 to induce an AD model. Rats were divided into six groups: DBS and sham DBS groups of ANT, EC, and FX. Spatial learning and memory were assessed by the Morris water maze (MWM). Recognition memory was investigated by the novel object recognition memory test (NORM). Locomotor and anxiety-related behaviors were detected by the open field test (OF). By using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), behavior differences between the six groups were analyzed.

RESULTSIn the MWM, the ANT, EC, and FX DBS groups performed differently in terms of the time spent in the platform zone (F(2,23) = 6.04, P < 0.01), the frequency of platform crossing (F(2,23) = 11.53, P < 0.001), and the percent time spent within the platform quadrant (F(2,23) = 6.29, P < 0.01). In the NORM, the EC and FX DBS groups spent more time with the novel object, although the ANT DBS group did not (F(2,23) = 10.03, P < 0.001). In the OF, all of the groups showed a similar total distance moved (F (1,42) = 1.14, P = 0.29) and relative time spent in the center (F(2,42) = 0.56, P = 0.58).

CONCLUSIONSOur results demonstrated that DBS of the EC and FX facilitated hippocampus-dependent spatial memory more prominently than ANT DBS. In addition, hippocampus-independent recognition memory was enhanced by EC and FX DBS. None of the targets showed side-effects of anxiety or locomotor behaviors.

Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Animals ; Anterior Thalamic Nuclei ; physiology ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; methods ; Entorhinal Cortex ; physiology ; Fornix, Brain ; physiology ; Male ; Memory ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spatial Learning ; physiology