OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunolocalization of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), and to explore the correlation between their expressions and activity of osteoclast during first mandibular molar eruption.

METHODSMouse mandibles dissected from postnatal day 1.5 to 14.5 were stained respectively for multinucleated osteoclasts using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, and RANKL and OPG protein expression was examined by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe two peak values of osteoclast/acreage in the occlusal and basal region were both observed on the P1.5 and P9.5; while the two peak values in the lateral region were on P3.5 and P9.5. During the mouse molar eruption, burst of osteoclastogenesis was associated with high expression of RANKL and low expression of OPG.

CONCLUSIONSRANKL and OPG could have a close relationship with the osteoclast activity and two developmental apexes were observed during the molar eruption. The occlusal movement was relatively stable, meanwhile the temporarily accelerative movement to the basal and lateral regions could occur.

Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Osteoprotegerin ; immunology ; metabolism ; RANK Ligand ; immunology ; metabolism ; Tooth Eruption ; immunology

Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Liver Failure ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

To investigate the active compounds from on the heart and brain of mice at simulated high altitude.Fifty healthy male adult BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal control group, hypoxic model group, acetazolamide group, petroleum ether extract of (PESI) group and octacosan group with 10 mice in each group. Acetazolamide group, PESI group and octacosan group were treated with acetazolamide PESI (200 mg/kg) or octacosan by single tail vein injection, respectively. Except normal control group, the mice were exposed to a simulated high altitude of for in an animal decompression chamber. After the mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, the heart and brain were histologically observed by HE staining; superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, total anti-oxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma, heart and brain tissues were detected by WST-1 method, ABTS method and TBA method, respectively; lactic acid and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in plasma, heart and brain tissues were detected by colorimetric method and microwell plate method, respectively; ATP content and ATPase activity in heart and brain tissues were detected by colorimetric method. PESI and octacosane significantly attenuated the pathological damages of heart and brain tissue at simulated high altitude; increased SOD activity, T-AOC and LDH activity, and decreased the contents of MDA and lactic acid in plasma, heart and brain tissues; increased the content of ATP in heart and brain tissues; increased the activities of Na-K ATPase, Mg ATPase, Ca ATPase and Ca-Mg ATPase in myocardial tissue; and increased the activities of Mg ATPase, Ca-Mg ATPase in brain tissue. PESI and octacosan exert anti-hypoxic activity by improving the antioxidant capacity, reducing the free radical levels, promoting the anaerobic fermentation, and alleviating the energy deficiency and metabolic disorders caused by hypoxia in mice.
Altitude ; Animals ; Brain/metabolism* ; Heart ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) on bone metabolism of mice in vivo.

METHODSTwenty-four male BALB/c mice were divided into a control group and 2 experimental groups (n=8). The whole-body of mice in experimental groups were exposed to 50 kV/m and 400kV/m EMP, 400 pulses daily for 7 consecutive days at 2 seconds intervals. Alkaline phosphotase (ALP) activity, serum calcium concentration and osteocalcin level and trabecular bone volume (BV/TV, %) were measured immediately after EMP exposure by biochemical, ELISA and morphological methods.

RESULTSThe ALP activity, serum calcium concentration and osteocalcin level and BV/TV in experimental groups remained unchanged after EMP exposure. Conclusion Under our experimental conditions, EMP exposure cannot affect bone metabolism of mice in vivo.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Osteocalcin ; blood

This study aims to investigate the regulatory effect of Sishen Pills(SSP) and its split prescriptions Ershen Pills(EP) and Wuweizi Powder(WP) on T follicular helper(Tfh) cell subset in the dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced colitis mice and the mechanism. A total of 60 male SPF BALB/c mice were used, 10 of which were randomly selected as the normal group. The rest 50 were induced with 3% DSS solution for colitis modeling. After modeling, they were randomized into 5 groups: model group, SSP group, EP group, WP group, and mesalazine group. Body mass, colon mass, colon mass index, colon length, and unit colon mass index in each group were observed. After hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, the pathological injury of colon tissue was scored. The expression levels of molecules related to the STAT/SOCS signaling pathway in colon tissues were analyzed by Western blot. Differentiation levels of Tfh cells such as CD4~+CXCR5~+IL-9~+(Tfh9), CD4~+CXCR5~+IL-17~+(Tfh17), and CD4~+CXCR5~+Foxp3~+(Tfr) in peripheral blood of mice were detected by flow cytometry. The results showed each treatment group demonstrated significant increase in body mass and colon length, decrease in colon mass, colon mass index, unit colon mass index, and histopathological score(P<0.05, P<0.01), reduction of the expression of p-STAT3, STAT3, p-STAT6, and STAT6(P<0.05, P<0.01), rise of the expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3(P<0.05, P<0.01), decrease of Tfh9 and Tfh17 cells, and increase of Tfr cells(P<0.05, P<0.01) compared with the model group. These results indicated that SSP and the split EP and WP may alleviate ulcerative colitis by inhibiting the activation of STAT/SOCS signaling pathway and regulating the balance of Tfr/Tfh9/Tfh17 cells.
Animals ; Colitis/genetics* ; Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Prescriptions ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Secretion of neurotransmitters is initiated by voltagegated calcium influx through presynaptic, voltage- gated N-type calcium channels. However, little is known about their cellular distribution in the mouse cerebellum. In the cerebellum, alpha1B immunoreactivity is found mainly on the cell bodies of all Purkinje cells. In addition, the immunoreactivity was detected on a subset of Purkinje cell dendrites, clustered to form a parasagittal array of bands. In the anterior lobe vermis, immunoreactive Purkinje cell dendrites form narrow stripes separated by broad bands of unstained dendrites. Moving caudally through the vermis, these stripes become thicker as a larger fraction of the Purkinje cell dendrites become immunoreactive. This localization study of the alpha1B pore-forming subunits in mouse cerebellum may guide future investigations of the role of calcium channels in neurological pathways.
Animals ; Calcium Channels, N-Type/*metabolism ; Cerebellum/cytology/*metabolism ; Dendrites/metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Purkinje Cells/metabolism

Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; metabolism ; virology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Virus Diseases ; metabolism

AIMTo observe change of binding activity of HIF-1 with erythropoietin (EPO) hypoxia response element (HRE) in the hippocampus of mice preconditioned to hypoxia and explore relationship between the changes and the preconditioning.

METHODSThe hippocampus was removed from mice exposed to hypoxia for 0 run (control group), 1 run (H1 group) and 4 runs(H4 group). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)and real time PCR were used to detect the change of activity of HIF-1 on HRE of EPO.

RESULTSBoth in vitro and in vivo binding tests showed that the HIF-1 DNA-binding activities were increased in group H1 and markedly increased in group H4.

CONCLUSIONThe increase of HIF-1 and HRE of EPO binding activities is thought be involved in hypoxic preconditioning.

Animals ; Erythropoietin ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Response Elements

Anemia, Aplastic ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of aquaporins (AQPs) in the mouse prostatic tissue and their significance, and to provide some evidence for a deeper insight into the physiological function and regulation of AQP expressions in normal and diseased prostatic tissues.

METHODSThe mRNA expressions of AQP0 - 4 in the mouse prostatic tissue were determined by RT-PCR, and the expressions and localizations of AQP1 and AQP3 proteins were characterized by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSRT-PCR exhibited the mRNA expressions of AQP1 and AQP3, but not those of AQP0, AQP2 and AQP4 in the prostate tissue, while Western blot showed the expression of the AQP1 protein with the relative molecular mass (RMM) of 28 000 and those of the glycosylated and non-glycosylated AQP3 proteins with the RMM of 35 000 and 27 000, respectively. Immunohistochemistry indicated the strong expression of AQP1 in the cyst and plasma membrane of the secretary cells and that of AQP3 in the stroma cells of the prostate.

CONCLUSIONThe AQP1 and AQP3 genes were expressed in the secretary epithelia of the mouse prostate tissue, which suggests that AQP1 and AQP3 may play an important role in the secretion of prostatic fluid.

Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Aquaporin 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Prostate ; metabolism ; pathology