AIM:To investigate the changes of histone modifications during the activation of primarily cultured rat hepatic stellate cells ( HSCs) and the relationship between histone modification patterns andα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, and to explore the roles of histone modifications in the activation of HSCs.METHODS:The rat HSCs were isolated by in situ perfusion of collagenase combined with density gradient centrifugation, cultured in vitro and identi-fied by immunofluorescence staining.The morphological features of the cells were observed under inverted microscope.The changes of desmin and α-SMA during the activation of HSCs were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting.The levels of histone 3 lysine 4 dimethylation (H3K4me2), histone 3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), his-tone 3 lysine 9 acetylation (acH3K9) and histone 4 lysine 12 acetylation (acH4K12) in quiescent HSCs and activated HSCs were determined by Western blotting.RESULTS: The morphology of HSCs shifted from a quiescent phenotype to highly activated myofibroblast during the culture.Immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting showed that the expres-sion levels of α-SMA and desmin were increased over time and reached maximum at 15 d.According to the results of cell morphology and immunofluorescence staining, the cells cultured for 24 h and 15 d were quiescent and activated HSCs, re-spectively.Compared with quiescent HSCs, there were higher H3K4me2 and lower H3K9me2, acH3K9 and acH4K12 modification levels in activated HSCs ( P<0.01 ) .CONCLUSION: Histone modifications show anomalous expression during the activation of primarily cultured rat HSCs.Histone modifications may contribute to the transdifferentiation of HSCs and the development of hepatic fibrosis.

Objective To discuss the microanatomy features of microvascular decompression for trigeminal nerve through minimally invasive approach based on virtual reality image models.Methods CT and MRI scans were performed to five adult cadaver heads, and then, image data were inputted into vitrea virtual reality system to establish three-dimensional anatomy models of cerebellopontine angle.Suboccipito-retrosigrmoidal approach was simulated by selecting asterion as osseous landmark points of craniotomy and cistern segment of trigeminal nerve as exposed target.Anatomic exposures in surgical trajectory were observed and measured before and after minimally invasive design, respectively.Results Routes simulating microvascular decompression for trigeminal nerve through suboccipito-retrosigmoidal approach passed under the inferior edge of transverse sinus.Spacial relationship among route and surrounding nerves and vessels were displayed clearly.Measurement and comparative analysis among different routes indicated the volumes of routes: route b＞ route c ＞ route a, and involved cerebellar volumes: route a ＞route c ＞ route b.Conclusion Minimally invasive routes of suboccipito-retrosigmoidal approach can reduce surgical injure without sacrifice of anatomic exposure in microvascular decompression for trigeminal nerve.