BACKGROUND: Recent research has shown that Gastrodia elata Bl (GEB) has a cardiovascular protective effect and relaxes blood vessels with important therapeutic implication to treat coronary heart disease and hypertension. However, the mechanism is still unclear.OBJESTIVE: To study the effect of the water decoction of GEB on noradrenaline (NA) or KC1 precontracted aortic rings and the possible mechanisms.DESIGN: A grouping observational experiment of animal tissue in vitro.SETTING: Department of Physiology, North Sichuan Medical College.MATERIALS: Twelve health New Zealand、White rabbits (2.5-3.0 kg, 7-8 months, SPF, either gender) were provided by the Experimental Animal Center, North Sichuan Medical College. The water decoction of GEB was prepared by Huirentang Drugstore and diluted into 10%, 20%, 40%and 80% solution. The following drugs were used: Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, Sigma, USA); Methylene blue (MB, Merck, Germany); Acetylcholine (ACh) and Propranolol (Prop) (The Second Beijing Pharmaceutical Company, China); Indomethacin (Indo, Jingsu Taicang Pharmaceutical Company, China).METHODS: The experiment was performed in the Institute of Materia Medica, North Sichuan Medical College between January 2006 and January 2007. Rabbit smooth muscles of aortic rings were isolated and precontracted with NA. The thoracic aortic rings were treated with GEB with cumulative concentrations of 1.0,2.0,4.0,8.0 and 16g/L respectively. The aortic tings were treated with one of the following signaling inhibitors for 15 minutes, including 1×104mol/L L-NNA, 1×10-5mol/L MB, 1×10-5mol/L Indo and 1×10-5mol/L Prop. The changes of tension in aortic rings were recorded using a force transducer and processed by BL-410 Experimental System of Biological Function. The aortic rings were incubated with 8g/L GEB followed by the NA and KCl dose response experiments.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood vessel tension ex vivo.RESULTS: GEB did not change the resting tension of rabbit aortic rings, but GEB treatment resulted in an obvious relaxation in NA-precontracted aortic rings (r=0.85, t=18.45, P＜0.01) and the relaxant effect was dose-dependent. The relaxant effect of GEB was significantly reduced by removal of endothelium and by treatment with 1×10-4mol/L nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NNA (1×10-4mol/L), or 1×10-5mol/L guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue (1×10-5mol/L MB), but not by treatment with prostaglandin synthase inhibitor of blockage of the adrenergic β-receptor (1×10-5mol/L Prop). In addition, GEB (8g/L) decreased the dose response curves of aortic rings to NA or KCl in the absence of endothelial cells, and changed the PD2 values for NA from (6.90±0.93)mol/L in control group to[(5.61±0.70)mol/L, t=2.41, P＜0.05] and for KCl from (1.53±0.55) mmol/L in control group to (1.10±0.25)mmol/L, t=3.82, P＜0.05] respectively.CONCLUSION: GEB can relax isolated rabbit aorta not only in an endothelium-dependent, nitric oxide involved manner, but also is related to blockage of receptor-operated and potential-dependent calcium channels.

Physiology course has become an important teaching part of non-medical professions in medical colleges,but there are no normative teaching textbooks and the corresponding teaching syllabus for these non-medical professions,which causes teaching contents chaos and affects the teaching effect.According to their attributes and characteristics,the research group explores continuously the physiology teaching contents suitable for non-medical professions,pays attention to contents settings which are common-sense,practical,systematic and flexible,in order to promote physiology teaching development in non-medical professions.

BACKGROUND: Fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) of certain dosage plays a protective role in the pancreatic islets damaged by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and there are different effects of FDP of low and high dosages.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of FDP of low and high dosages on the islet cells damaged by IL-1β.DESIGN: A grouped design and controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Department of Physiology, North Sichuan Medical College.MATERIALS: The experiments were carried out in the Tumor Laboratory and Central Laboratory of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Surgery, North Sichuan Medical College between July 2004 and February 2006. Twenty Wistar rats within 1-3 days after birth were selected.METHODS: The pancreases of the rats were removed to collect islet cells, and then the cells were divided into normal control group, IL-1β damaged group, IL-1β+1, 25, 50 mmol/L FDP groups. The cellular activity was detected with methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium (MTT) assay, basic amount of insulin secretion and that stimulated by high glucose with radioimmunoassay, content of nitric oxide and activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with nitric oxide and NOS kits, and the with [Ca2+]i with Fura-2fluorescent assay.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Activity of islet cells; basic amount of insulin secretion and that stimulated by high glucose; content of nitric oxide and activity of NOS; [Ca2+]i.RESULTS: ① The activities (A values) of the islet cells in the IL-1β damaged group, IL-1β+1, 25, 50 mmol/L FDP groups were obviously lower than that in the normal control group (0.116±0.012, 0.129±0.008, 0.125±0.015, 0.120±0.016, 0.252±0.020, P ＜ 0.01). The activities (A values) of the islet cellswere not significantly different from that in the IL-1β damaged group (P ＞ 0.05) when the FDP dosage was too low (1 mmol/L) or too high (25 mmol/L). ② The basic amount of insulin secretion and that stimulated by glucose were significantly lower in the IL-1β damaged group, IL-1β+1, 25, 50 mmol/L FDP groups than in the normal control group [(237.00±22.21), (230.83±11.58), (225.16±12.46), (220.50±15.63),(425.67 ±16.85) mIU/L; (90.17 ±6.11), (96.62 ±8.64), (87.66-±8.24),(85.46±9.59), (204.50±10.78) mIU/L, P ＜ 0.01], and there were no significant differences between the FDP groups of Iow and high dosages and the IL-1β damaged group (P ＞ 0.05). ③ The NOS activity and content of nitric oxide in the supernatant were obviously higher in the IL-1β damaged group than in the normal control group [(332.07±25.34), (144.86±12.17) μkat/L;(457.64±19.29), (84.67±10.23) μmol/L, P ＜ 0.01], and those in the IL-1β+1, 25, 50 mmol/L FDP groups were not significantly different from those in the IL-1β damaged group. ④ The [Ca2+]i concentration in islet cells was obviously higher in the IL-1β damaged group than in the norrmal control group [(328.50±26.28), (73.42±1.79) nmol/L, P ＜ 0.01], but obviously lower in the IL-1β+1, 25, 50 mmol/L FDP groups than in the IL-1β damaged group [(152.72± 11.86), (216.39±15.32), (233.61±21.76),(328.50±26.28) nmol/L, P ＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION: FDP of low and high dosages can not protect the islet cells damaged by IL-1β.

OBJECTIVETo study the vasodilation effects of the Total alkali Sophora alopecuroids L (TASa) on rabbit thoracic aortic rings in vitro and the possible mechanisms.

METHODRabbit aortic rings were isolated and precontracted with noradrenaline (NA) and then were divided into six groups including control group, TASa group, TASa + 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) indomethacin (Indo), TASa + 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) propranolol (Prop), TASa + 1 x 10(-10 mol x L(-1) N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), TASa + removal of endothelium. The vasodilation effects of TASa were investigated. In addition, the thoracic aortic rings were pre-treated with TASa (40 mg x L(-1)) and then the thoracic aortic rings were treated with cumulative NA (110(-8)-110(-5) mol x L(-1)), KCl (6.3-100 mmol x L(-1)) or CaCl2 (110(-5)-110(-2) mol x L(-1)). The dose response curves of aortic rings were recorded.

RESULTTASa can relax isolated rabbit aorta and has an obvious concentration-dependent relaxation (r = 0.94, P < 0.01). The relaxant effect of TASa was no significant reducing by removal of endothelium and by treatment with L-NNA, Indo or Prop. In addition, TASa can decrease the dose response curves of aortic rings to NA, KCl or CaCl2.

CONCLUSIONThe vasodilation effects of TASa are related to not only inhibition of intracellular calcium release, but also reduction to calcium flow to the interior of the cell with blockage of calcium channels.

Alkalies ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiology ; Myocardial Contraction ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Vasodilator Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the vasorelaxant effect of procyanidin (PC) extracted from grape seeds on rabbit thoracic pulmonic rings in vitro.

METHODRabbits thoracic pulmonic rings were isolated, pre-contracted with noradrenalin (NA) and their responses to different concentrations of PC were investigated. The effects of endothelium and different signaling pathway inhibitors on PC-induced relaxation, including nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), methylene blue (MB), prostaglandin synthase inhibitor indomethacin (Indo) and blockage of the adrenergic beta-receptor propranolol (Prop), were also assessed.

RESULTPC change the resting tension of rabbit's pulmonic rings but caused an obvious dose-dependent relaxation in 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-) NA precontracted pulmonic rings (r = 0.69, P < 0.01). The relaxant effect of PC was significantly reduced by removal of endothelium or by treatment with either 1 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) L-NNA or 1 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) MB, but not by treatment with prostaglandin synthase inhibitor or blockage of the adrenergic beta-receptor. In addition, PC (20 mg x L(-1)) dropped the dose-effect curves of NA, KCl and respectively on pulmonic rings denuded endothelium. PC can also inhibit the vasoconstriction caused by NA in the first phase, but has no impact on the constriction induced by CaCl2 in the second phase.

CONCLUSIONPC has an endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation on isolated rabbit's pulmonic rings, which is possibly mediated by nitric oxide (NO) pathways and blockage of receptor operated and voltage dependent calcium channels.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Proanthocyanidins ; pharmacology ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

The mixed evaluation system uses the network platform as a carrier to construct a dynamic evaluation model that spans time and space between online and offline, between individuals and teams. Mixed evaluation system of physiology was performed for two years, and the process evaluation and the summative evaluation in the mixed evaluation system showed a good correlation, and the students' learning ability and learning effect showed consistency with the evaluation results. Practice has proved that the mixed evaluation system not only optimizes the traditional evaluation system, but also fully expands the five principles of formative evaluation; however, while reflecting the advantages of the network platform, it also exposes the defects of insufficient supervision of the network platform. Thus, we should further improve the mixed evaluation system of physiology.