Objective: To establish the aortic regurgitation model in Chinese miniature pigs under echocardiography guidance. Methods: The animal models were established by following steps: general anesthesia, measuring body weight and then receiving echocardiography examination to exclude aortic valve lesions; carotid artery was exposured by surgery, catheter was sent to aortic sinus with stiff guide wire penetrates and the position of catheter was adjusted to obtain aortic valve damage. The aortic valve injury and regurgitation were evaluated by ultrasound; then the pigs were killed and the heart was taken to observe aortic valve damage. Results: A total of 7 pigs were used including 4 male and 3 female with the mean body weight of (24.7 ± 3.6) kg. Aortic regurgitation model was successfully established in 5 pigs including 1 mild, 1 mild-moderate, 2 moderate, 1 severe aortic valve regurgitation, and 4 were with valve lealfets perforation and 1 with lealfets tearing. Conclusion:①Echocardiography can smoothly guide wire go through aortic valve and make valve damage at different degrees, it is reliable to establish aortic valve regurgitation model in experimental pigs.②Echocardiography may clearly identify the position and degree for aortic valve injury.

OBJECTIVETo construct a RNA interference lentiviral vector for human glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2) gene and observe the effect of GPX2 knockdown on cell apoptosis.

METHODSThe sequence of the small interfering RNA (siRNA) for GPX2 interference was inserted into the pSicoR vector. HepG2 cells were infected by the packaged si-GPX2 lentivirus and the expression of GPX2 in the infected cells was detected by both RT-PCR and Western blotting. Changes of cell apoptosis following the infection were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe lentiviral particles pSicoR-GPX2 were successfully packaged. The expression of GPX2 in the infected cells was obviously down-regulated at both RNA and protein levels. GPX2 knockdown caused increased apoptosis rate, increased Bax expression and lowered Bcl-2 expression in HepG2 cells.

CONCLUSIONWe have successfully constructed the lentiviral vector for RNA interference of human GPX2 gene.

Apoptosis ; Down-Regulation ; Genetic Vectors ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; genetics ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering