AIMTo study the effect of diabetes-like environment on the cardiac hypertrophy, cultured cardiomyocytes were used to study the effect of high insulin and high glucose on norepinephrine (NE)-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

METHODSUsing cultured myocardial cells as a model, the cellular hypertrophy was observed. The contracting frequency was counted by the inverted microscope, the protein content was assayed with Lowry's method, the cardiomyocytes' volumes were measured by computer photograph analysis system, the protein synthesis was assayed with [3H] leucine intake method.

RESULTSThe total cellular protein content, cellular volumes, cellular protein synthesis showed an increase in high insulin group and high glucose group compared with control group. High insulin and high glucose and NE group showed a further increase compared with high glucose and NE group.

CONCLUSIONThe high insulin itself induces hypertrophy of the cultured myocardial cells slightly. Meanwhile, imitating diabetes-like environment with high insulin and high glucose and NE can further accelerate hypertrophy of the cultured myocardial cells.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cardiomegaly ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Norepinephrine ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of LRG-1 in clinical specimens and Tca8113 cell line of tongue carcinoma and analyze the relationship between LRG-1 expression and the clinicopathological parameters.

METHODSLRG-1 expression was detected in 40 tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) tissues and paired normal adjacent tissues, 20 atypical hyperplasia tissues of the tongue, and 20 tissues of tongue cancer in situ using immunohistochemical method. The expression of LRG-1 in Tca8113 cell line was detected using flow cytometry. The expression of LRG-1 was also detected in human TSCC tissues and Tca8113 cells with Western blotting. The effect of LRG-1 on the proliferation of HUVECs was determined using MTT assay, and its effect on angiogenesis was evaluated with Matrigel tube formation assays.

RESULTSHuman TSCC tissues had a significantly higher rate of positive expression for LRG-1 (85%, 34/40) than the adjacent tissues (10%, 4/40), invasive tongue cancer (30%, 6/20), and tongue cancer in situ (50%, 10/20) (P<0.05). LRG-1 expression was correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis of the tumor (P<0.05) but not with the patients' age or gender. In the in vitro experiment, LRG-1 promoted HUVEC proliferation and angiogenesis.

CONCLUSIONAbnormal LRG-1 expression is present in the human TSCC tissue and Tca8113 cells. LRG-1 can promote HUVEC proliferation and angiogenesis in vitro, suggesting its possible role in promoting tumor angiogenesis.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Tongue ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tongue Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

Animal medicine is a unique part of traditional Chinese medicine. They have strong effects, but their effective compounds are not entirely known. The efficiency and safety of animal medicines can't be effectively controlled by current quality assurance system and evaluation method, which has deeply influenced the development of animal medicines. Biological assay does not focus on efficacy of single component, but directly reflects the pharmacodynamics and safety of animal medicines by biological effect. With the development of biotechnology, many new technologies have emerged, such as biochip and high content analysis. Based on the related targets, pathways and key biochemical factors, the field of biological assay has been expanded. With advantages of pharmacology andoverall controllability, as well as the characteristics of in line with the quality control of Chinese Medicine, biological assay will become one of the important development directionsfor quality standardization of animal medicines.