In recent years, the rapid development of stem cell transforming technology and regeneration pose great re?search value. With maturation of transformation induction, other cell lineages were shown to be able to transform into neu?rons. In addition, astrocytes are widely distributed in the gray and white matter of the central nervous system, whose exces?sive proliferation contribute to glial fibrillary scar formation, which is the key obstacle in recovery of neurological function. Therefore, the study of transforming astrocytes into neurons draw attention from many scientists. Astrocytes transformation not only prevent the formation of glial scar, but also generate new neurons. This article summarized relevant studies that re?port function of astrocytes and its transformation into neurons.

Objective To study the effect of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene on pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells growth and tumorigenicity and explore the mechanism of FHIT gene in suppressing the deve lopment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods By the method of liposome transfection, pRC/CMV FHIT plasmid was transfected into 1990 cell lines which lose all of FHIT gene. Integration and expression of exogenous FHIT gene were confirmed by RT PCR and Western blot technique. 1990 pFHIT cell growth was observed in regular culture medium and tumorigenicity in nude mice. Its DNA was analyzed by electrophoresis. Results The growth of the cells transfected with FHIT gene (named as 1990 pFHIT cells) was suppressed significantly, and the tumorigenicity of the 1990 pFHIT cells was dramatically inhibited in nude mice as compared with that of the parental 1990 cells. Significantly increased apoptosis in 1990 pFHIT was found. Conclusions The growth and tumorigenicity of pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell can be inhibited by transduced exogenous FHIT gene. It's spectulated that FHIT suppress the development of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by the path of apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the changes of serum copper in mice after whole-body irradiation and analyze the feasibility of these changes as a biological dosimeter.Methods Serum copper in mice exposed to 60 Co γ-rays(0,1,2,3,5 Gy) was collected from the orbital of mice and detected with 5-Br-PADAP colorimetric method at 30 min and 7 d after radiation.One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the difference of serum copper in each group and Dunnett-t test was used to compare the difference between control group and irradiated groups.Linear and quadratic linear fitting function was used to analyze the relationship between serum copper and radiation dose.The change of serum copper was detected at 30 min,1,3,5,7,10,13 and 16 d after radiation to observe the persistence of serum copper.The established relationships were used to estimate the dose in 8 mice irradiated by a blind dose.Results The amount of serum copper in irradiated mice were significantly (F =208.20,145.98,P ＜ 0.05)dependent on the radiation doses with dose responses of y =-0.091x + 0.936 and y =-0.011x2-0.032x + 0.962 (r =0.989,0.995) at 30 min and 7 d post-irradiation,respectively.The concentration of serum copper at 2.0 Gy decreased at 30 min post-irradiation,increased at 1-7 d,then kept at a stable level at 7-14 d even increased slightly after 14 d.With these dose response curves,after radiation with a blind dose of 2 Gy,the absorb doses of mice were assessed to be (1.83-2.25) Gy and (1.82-2.11) Gy at 30 min and 7 d in 95％ confidence interval,respectively.Conclusions The serum copper is a quick,simple,and sensitive biomarker for the early assessment of absorb dose of irradiated mice.

Objective To simulate the chemical microenvironment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) under mild hypothermia, and investigate the effect of such microenvironment on umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) in vitro.Methods Eighteen SD rats were allocated to shamoperated group, TBI group and mild hypothermia group according to the random number table, with 6 rats per group.Rat models of TBI were made by electric cortical contusion impactor.After systemic mild hypothermia (33℃) for 4 h, brain tissue homogenate extracts were harvested.Polyacrylamide gels mimicking the elastic modulus of brain were manufactured.Human UCMSCs were isolated and cultured on the gels, added with brain tissue extracts from each group.After 24 h, the apoptosis level of UCMSCs was checked, and the medium was changed with normal one.Cell growth and morphological changes in each group were given dynamic observation.Seven days later, cell immunofluorescence was implemented, with the differentiation level of each group estimated.Results Apoptotic rate in TBI group was 73.47％,significantly higher than 10.42％ in sham-operated group (P ＜0.01).While the apoptotic rate was 28.57％ in mild hypothermia group, indicating mild hypothermia significantly reversed the apoptosis of cells in TBI group (P ＜ 0.01).Cell immunofluorescence demonstrated rate of neuronal differentiation of UCMSCs in sham-operated group, TBI group and mild hypothermia group was 16.48％, 2.59％ and 11.83％ respectively.Mild hypothermia resulted in significantly improved neuronal differentiation of UCMSCs after TBI (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions More apoptosis and lower neuronal differentiation ability are observed in UCMSCs in the chemical microenvironment after TBI.However, mild hypothermia significantly reverses the elevation of apoptosis and restores the neuronal differentiation capacity of UCMSCs after TBI.

Objective To investigate the effect of the overexpression of NeuroD1 on mediating transdifferentiation of spinal reactive astrocytes into neurons. Methods Spinal cord astrocytes were cultured from the SD rat, and reactive astrocytes were prepared by scratches treatment. Cells were divided into blank groups (NV group), control virus group (GFP group) and NeuroD1 virus group (NeuroD1 group). At 7 d after scratches treatment, GFP and NeuroD1 groups were infected with retroviruses carrying the GFP gene and and GFP gene plus NeuroD1 gene, respectively,whereas NV group was not infected with the virus. Twenty-four hours late, the culture medium were replaced by neuron conditioned medi?um. Cell morphology was examined at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14 d. DCX positive and NeuN positive cells were detected at 7 d and 14 d after infection by using immunofluorescence staining method, respectively. Results After replacement with the neuron conditioned medium, the nucleus was obviously plump, the cytoplasm was thin and neurites was reduced and ex?tended. Compared with the NeuroD1 group, neurites of NV group and GFP group were shorter with many branches and the nucleus was smaller. At 7 d after infection, cell morphology of NV group and GFP group gradually recovered, but cell morphology of NeuroD1 group did not. Compared with NV group and GFP group, NeuroD1 group had more DCX(9.84 ± 2.06%)and NeuN(8.25±2.78%)positive cells [F values 40.107 for DCX and 21.73 for NeuN (P<0.05)]. Conclusion The overexpression of NeuroD1 can mediate the transdifferentiation of spinal reactive astrocytes into neurons.

10.3969/j.issn.1008-9691.2013.03.005

Objective To investigate the effect of mild hypothermia on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NGCs) in hippocampal subgranular zone after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the underlying mechanism.Methods SD rats were divided into sham-injured group (only left dura mater exposed),hypothermia group (sham injury + mild hypothermia therapy for 72 hours),TBI group (unilateral fluid percussion was used to generate severe TBI),and TBI + hypothermia group (TBI + mild hypothermia therapy for 72 hours) according to the random number table,with 8 rats per group.Hippocampal homogenates or brain tissues were harvested after BrdU (100 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered to rats once a day for 7 days postTBI.Expressions of BrdU and double cortin in hippocampal subgranular zone were respectively detected by immunohistochemical or immunofiuorescence staining.Level of Sirt1 (silence information regulatory proteins,Sirt1) in hippocampus was detected by Western blot.Results BrdU-and double cortin-positive cells in rat hippocampal subgranular zone greatly increased at 7 days after TBI in comparison with sham-injured group (P ＜ 0.01).Moreover,BrdU and double cortin in rat hippocampal subgranular zone in TBI + hypothermia group was significantly higherthan that in TBI group [(257.4 ± 34.3) vs (196.4 ± 23.8) ; (346.4 ± 42.2) vs (245.7 ± 33.2),P ＜0.01].Moreover,mild hypothermia reversed TBI-induced over-expression of Sirt1 [(0.62 ± 0.075) vs(1.18 ± 0.11),P ＜ 0.01].Conclusion Mild hypothermia therapy can promote proliferation andneuronal differentiation of NSCs in hippocampal subgranular zone after TBI and the possible mechanismmay relate to the inhibition of over-expression of Sia1.

Objective To investigate the effect of silence regulatory protein 1 (Sirt1) on axonal outgrowth. Methods The hippocampal neurons was first isolated in vitro from rat embryos. The distribution and expression of Sirt1 were then detected 72 h later. The down-regulation of Sirt1 was induced by RNAi technology and up-regulation of Sirt1 was in-duced by overexpression of Sirt1 and resveratrol (RES). Immunofluorescence staining was used to examine the axon length. Results Immunofluorescence staining showed that Sirt 1 was located in neuronal cell body and neurite, especially in the distal axons. Down-regulation of Sirt1 significantly decreased axonal length compared with siRNA control group [(178.3 ± 3.2) μm vs. (110.2 ± 18.30) μm, P< 0.01 ]; Overexpression of Sirt1 significantly increased axonal length com-pared with eGFP control group [(178.3±3.2)μm vs (310.6±39.5)μm, P<0.01 ];Activation of Sirt1 by RES treatment al-so significantly increased axonal length compared with vehicle control group (DMSO treated group) [(291.7±13.2)μm vs. (525.1±49.1)μm, P<0.01 ]. Conclusions Sirt1 plays a key role in axonal growth which may be used as a potential thera-peutic target of axon regeneration.

Objective To estimate whether the ligation of bilateral internal carotid artery in combination with one vertebral artery can lead to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Methods The sham operation, 2?VO and 3?VO rat models were subjected to the matching operation. Four weeks after operation,the cortical blood flow was determined. The learning and memory abilities were measured with Morris water maze test eight weeks later,then the rats were sacrificed to observe the morphological change of hippocampal CA1 region. Results Compared with the sham operation group((47±8.797)ml·min-1·100 g-1),the cerebral blood flow of 2?VO((24.30±8.999)ml ·min-1·100 g-1) and 3?VO((9.870±2.208)ml·min-1·100 g-1) were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the sham operation group((8.33±4.88)s),escape latencies of Morris water maze of 2?VO group ((14.78±7.84)s) and 3?VO group((14.86±7.96)s) in the fifth days also presented significantly increased (P<0.01),but rare difference between the two groups. Compared with the sham operation group[ (37.20±9.21) s, (10.01.±2.91)times],the target quadrant swimming time and crossing times of 2?VO group((20.13±5.80)s, (6.60±3.19)times) and 3?VO group((20.05±5.76)s,(6.55±2.59)times) in the fifth days also presented signifi?cantly decreased (P<0.01). There were distinct pathomorphology changes in hippocampal CA1 region of the two groups. Conclusion The ligation of bilateral internal carotid artery in combination with one vertebral artery can lead to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion,and can make the similar ethology representation with the 2?VO models.

Objective To evaluate the design formulas of the optimal location for splitting pectoralis major in terms of making type Ⅰ or Ⅱ dual-plane implant pocket.Methods Sixty-five patients with micromastia were collected.Breasts were divided into two types according to the soft-tissue pinch thickness of the lower pole:type Ⅰ (thickness＞2 cm;34 cases) and type Ⅱ (thickness ≤2 cm;31 cases).The optimal levels at which the pectoralis major (PM) was severed were 3/4 or 2/4 of the distance of new inframammary fold for type Ⅰ or Ⅱ dual-plane pockets,respectively.All patients completed the pre-and post-operative BREAST-Q augmentation modules before and 6 months after surgery.The scores were changed into hundred-mark system by QScore software.Results The recovery processes were well-off.The breasts contour was good.Patients reported higher scores of satisfaction with breasts,psychosocial well-being and sexual well-being after surgery than before surgery (62.0±8.9 vs 27.9± 4.3,65.0± 17.2 vs 17.4±8.3,60.5± 14.2 vs 30.3±5.5,P＜0.05).The mean satisfaction score for the overall outcome was 90.6±5.4.However,there was no significant difference in physical well-being between before operation and aftre operation (85.3±9.5 vs 84.7± 10.6).No complications such as severe capsular contracture,or displacement occurred.Conclusions The design formulas make the determining procedure of the optimal location for pectoralis major splitting for two types dual-plane implant pockets easier and more exactly.Our modified design method can provide the implant with the optimal soft tissue coverage,and bring desired and stable breast aesthetic outcomes.The higher satisfaction and quality of life reported by patients indicate that the formulas are feasible and worth to recommend.