Objective To investigate the effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on brain edema and injury and their mechanisms. Methods Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, an ischemia-reperfusion group, a 30 ppm hydrogen sulfide group, and a 60 ppm hydrogen sulfide group (n =15 in each group; 1 ppm =1 mg/L). A model of focal cerebral ischemia for 2 h and reperfusion for 24 h was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. The neurological scores were observed after 24 h cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. The cerebral infarction volume, the degree of brain edema, and the changes of blood-brain barrier permeability were measured. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of occludin and zonula occludens-1 protein (ZO-1) in ischemic penumbra. Results Compared with the ischemia-reperfusion group, the neurological function scores in the 30 ppm and 60 ppm hydrogen sulfide group significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner (al P <0.05) and the neurological deficits and infarct volume reduced (al P < 0.05), and the
brain edema aleviated (al P < 0.05). The content of Evans blue in the ischemic brain tissue in the ischemia-reperfusion group increased significantly compare with the sham operation group (0.74 ±0.14 μg/100 mg vs. 0.19 ±0.06 μg/100 mg; P <0.05). The content of Evans blue in the brain tissue in the 30 ppm hydrogen sulfide group (0.55 ±0.10 μg/100 mg ) and the 60 ppm hydrogen sulfide group (0.35 ±0.08 μg/100 mg ) decreased significantly compared with the ischemia-reperfusion group (al P < 0.05), among them the 60 ppm hydrogen sulfide group was significantly lower than the 30 ppm hydrogen sulfide group (P <0.05). Western blot analysis showed that expression levels of occludin in penumbra (0.621% ±0.101% vs.0.787% ±0.087% vs.0.453% ± 0.127%; P <0.05) and ZO-1 (0.602% ±0.118% vs.0.778% ±0.805% vs.0.426% ±0.146; P <0.05) in the 30 ppm and 60 ppm hydrogen sulfide groups increased significantly compared with the ischemia-reperfusion group, among them, the expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 in the 60 ppm hydrogen sulfide group were significantly higher than those in the 30 ppm hydrogen sulfide group (al P < 0.05). Conclusions Inhalation of exogenous hydrogen sulfide can significantly attenuate brain edema after ischemia-reperfusion in a dose dependent manner, reduce infarct volume, and improve neurological function.Their mechanisms may be associated with inhibiting the downregulated expressions of occludin and ZO-1 and maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier.

Aconitine ; poisoning ; Aconitum ; chemistry ; poisoning ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Charcoal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hemoperfusion ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Poisoning ; drug therapy

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; Juxtaglomerular Apparatus ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Nephrectomy ; Vimentin ; metabolism

The cytokines have close relationship with the rejection and infection in organ transplantation.The cytokine gene polymorphism influences the secretion of cytokines.The relationship between the rejection and infection in organ transplantation and some cytokines gene polymorphism is reviewed in this article.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on the isolated Langendorff perfused rat hearts and the isolated papillary muscles.

METHODSThe left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), maximal rise/fall rate of left ventricular pressure (+/-dP/dt(max)), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), heart rate (HR) and coronary flow (CF) were recorded in isolated Langendorff perfused rat hearts. The average contractile force was measured in the isolated papillary muscles of rat right ventricle.

RESULTIFN-alpha (10 - 10,000 U/ml) induced a concentration-dependent decrease of LVDP and +/-dP/dt(max), and increase of LVEDP and CF in the isolated perfused rat heart (P < 0.05), and decrease of the average contractile force of the papillary muscle (P <0.05). Pretreatment with L-NAME (10(-4) mol/L), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, attenuated the effect of IFN-alpha in the isolated rat hearts and the isolated papillary muscles (P <0.05). Isoproterenol (ISO, 10(-9) - 10(-6)mol/L) increased the contractile force of the rat papillary muscles in a concentration-dependent manner. Perfusion for 10 min with IFN-alpha at 1,000 U/ml attenuated the enhancing effect of ISO. Pretreatment with L-NAME reduced the effects of IFN-alpha on the isolated papillary muscles.

CONCLUSIONIFN-alpha may induce a negative inotropic effect in normal and beta-adrenergic activated cardiac muscles and this effect at least partly be mediated by nitric oxide.

Animals ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiology ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Male ; Myocardial Contraction ; drug effects ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Papillary Muscles ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Perfusion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; adverse effects ; methods ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Hematoma ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Thyroid Nodule ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of acupuncture on the level of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in adrenal gland and the content of corticosterone (CORT) in plasma in rats withchronic emotional stress anxiety, and to explore the partial action mechanism of acupuncture on anxiety disorder.

METHODSThirty-two healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, after 7 days of feeding and domestication, were randomly divided into a blank group (10 rats), a model group (11 rats) and an acupuncture group (11 rats). The rats inthe model group and acupuncture group were treated with unpredictable chronic emotional stress (CES) method toestablish the model of anxiety. Rats in the acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6)and "Shenmen" (HT 7), once every other day, 30 minutes each time. The model establishment and treatment lasted 15 days. Rats in the blank group were treated with identical immobilization but no treatment was given. Theelevated plus maze was used to test the behavioral changes of rats with anxiety; the level of CORT in plasma wasdetected by ELISA, and the expression level of CNP and ANP in adrenal cortex and medulla was detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS(1) The percentage of open-arms time in total time (OT%) in elevated plus maze in the model group was significantly lower than that in the blank group (P<0. 05); the OT% in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.01). (2) The content of CORT in plasma in the model group was higher than that in the blank group (P<0. 05), while that in the acupuncture group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0. 05). (3) The expression of ANP in adrenal medulla and cortex in the model group was lower than that in the blank group (P<0. 01), while the expression of CNP in adrenal medulla and cortex in the model group was higher than that in the blank group (P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONThe effects of acupuncture against anxiety are likely to be related to the regulation on the expression of ANP and CNP in adrenal medulla, affecting the release of CORT and inhibition on the activity !f hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis).

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adrenal Glands ; metabolism ; Animals ; Anxiety ; blood ; psychology ; therapy ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; blood ; metabolism ; Behavior, Animal ; Corticosterone ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; blood ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Psychological

The mRNA levels of adiponectin in adipose tissue and adiponectin receptor R1 in skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic rats were examined by semi-quatitative RT-PCR.The expression of adiponectin receptor R1 was not altered in the skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic rats as compared with normal rats.The serum adiponectin level was decreased in diabetic rats due to the decline of adiponectin mRNA level in adipose tissue and rosiglitazone improved the adiponectin deficiency.

Objective To observed the immigration and proliferation of Schwann cells in acellular xe- no-nerve graft in rats.Methods The sciatic nerves on the right side of the rats were exposc.d and 0.8cm long segments of the nerves were removed from the mid-thigh level and replaced by 1.0cm long rabbit nerves made acellular through chemical extraction.After 4 months,the immigration and proliferation of Schwann cells in the graft were revealed by HE staining,S-100 immunohistochemieal staining and transmission electromicro- scope.Results In the rats repaired by acellular nerves,regenerated axons upgrow into the graft,and a- round regenerated axons there were abundant cells aligned,the cytoplasm of which were S-100 immunoreac- tive.Electromicroscope observing showed that regenerated axons were surrounded by myelin formed by the mi- grated cells reoccupied the acellular segments.Conclusion The host Schwann cells can immigrate into rab- bit nerve grafts made acellular through chemical extraction and form myelin enwrapping regenerated axons in rats.