OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of ischemic postconditioning on ischemic reperfusion injury of rat liver graft and to investigate the possible mechanism.

METHODSMale Sprague Dawley rats were used as donors and recipients of orthotopic liver transplantation, and the period of cold preservation and anhepatic phase were 100 min and 18 min, respectively. Sixty rats were randomly divided into three groups, twelve rats in control group, twenty-four rats in ischemic reperfusion injury group and ischemic postconditioning group respectively. Control group is sham operation group, only the ligaments around liver were cut off; donor livers in ischemic reperfusion injury group were infused through portal vein with heparinized saline before harvested; ischemic postconditioning group: at very onset of reperfusion after donor liver was implanted, several brief reperfusion-ischemia were given before persistent reperfusion of portal vein. Half recipients of ischemic reperfusion injury group and ischemic postconditioning group were taken blood samples and hepatic tissue samples after 2 hours of reperfusion of liver graft. Rest recipients were taken samples of hepatic tissue after 6 hours of reperfusion. Recipients of control group were taken blood and hepatic tissue samples at corresponding time after abdomen was sutured.

RESULTSCompared with ischemic reperfusion injury group, liver functional parameters, cytokines and peroxidized products contents were lower in ischemic postconditioning group (P < 0.05); meanwhile, the antioxidases contents of hepatic tissue were higher in ischemic postconditioning group than those in ischemic reperfusion injury group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIschemic postconditioning could relieve the ischemic reperfusion injury of rat liver graft. Through improving antioxidation capability and cutting down cytokines contents, ischemic postconditioning could apply its protective effect.

Animals ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Elastase ; blood ; Liver ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the anti-aging effect of artemisia burning products (ie. smoke of moxibustion) and its proper intervention parameters.

METHODSAccording to factorial experiment design, 70 SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into one model group (group M) and 6 intervention groups: low concentration with 15 min group (group A1), low concentration with 30 min group (group A2), middle concentration with 15 min group (group B1), middle concentration with 30 min group (group B2), high concentration with 15 min group (group C1), high concentration with 30 min group (group C1). There were 10 cases in each group. Ten age-matched SAMR1 mice were used as normal group (group Z). All the mice in the 6 intervention groups were fumed with artemisia burning products of different concentration and time. The content of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSH-Px) were tested.

RESULTSMDA content in group M was significantly higher than that in group Z (both P < 0.05), while SOD and GSH-Px activity were significantly lower in group M than that in group Z (both P < 0.05). Results of MDA, SOD and GSH-Px in 6 intervention groups were either of no statistically significant differences, or better than that in group M. Among 6 intervention groups, results of MDA and GSH-Px were better in group B1, while the result of SOD was better in group B2. Time factor didn't make any difference, while concentration of artemisia burning products is meaningful. As to SOD and GSH-Px, there's a strong interaction between the two factors.

CONCLUSIONWith certain concentration and time period, the intervention of artemisia burning products can exert anti-aging effect by increasing antioxydative capability and reducing metabolites of free radicals. Middle concentration and 30 minutes are recommended when intervened with artemisia burning products.

Aging ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Glutathione Reductase ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Mice ; Moxibustion ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changing of T4 5'-and 5-deiodinase within rat brain under various iodin-nutritional states.

METHODSAnimal model of iodine-deficiency rat was performed and the rats were divided into 4 groups by the intake of iodine-nutrition, and then killed at an age of 20 days. The thyroid hormones level in serum was measured by ELISA and the activity of T(4) 5'-and 5-deiodinase within brain was analyzed.

RESULTSIn less-iodine (LI) group,TT4 and FT4 were accounting for 3.5% of the neutral-iodine (NI) group's, and FT3 was 174.0% of NI group's (P < 0.05). In NI group,TT4 and FT4 were 114.5% and 127.7% of NI group's (P < 0.05). In high-iodine (HI) group, TT4 and FT4 were 61.86% and 62.0% of NI group's, and FT3 was 184.9% of NI group's (P < 0.05). In LI group, the activity of T4 5'-deiodinase tissue of per gram (1.95 +/- 0.32) ngT3.microgT4(-1).h was significantly higher than that of NI group (P < 0.05), and the activity of 5-deiodinase (1.38 +/- 0.21) ngrT3.microg T4(-1).h(-1) is significantly less than that of NI group (1.59 +/- 0.23) (P < 0.05). In HI group the activity of T4 5'-and 5-deiodinase tissue of per gram (1.12 +/- 0.19 and 1.73 +/- 0.36) ngrT3.microgT4(-1).h(-1)was significantly less than that of NI group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe activity of T4 5'-deiodinase in iodine deficiency heightens and that in iodine excess is debased, the activity of T4 5-deiodinase in iodine deficiency and in iodine excess is debased.

Animals ; Brain ; enzymology ; Female ; Iodide Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Iodine ; administration & dosage ; deficiency ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thyroxine ; blood ; Triiodothyronine ; blood

Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Blood ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

To investigate the changes and role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in myocardial damage in endotoxemic rats, a rat model of endotoxemia induced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was developed. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control group, LPS group, LPS + propargylglycine (PPG, a metabolic enzyme inhibitor of H2S) group and LPS + NaHS (H2S donor) group. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) of rats within 4 h was observed, TNF-alpha and H2S contents in plasma, TNF-alpha and H2S contents, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in cardiac muscles were determined. The morphological structure of cardiac muscle was observed. Administration of LPS caused a sustained fall in MAP within 4 h, and significant increases in TNF-alpha and H2S contents in plasma (P<0.05). Plasmic H2S content was negatively correlated with MAP (r = -0.936, -0.913 and -0.908 at 1, 2 and 4 h, respectively, P<0.05). LPS also induced increases in TNF-alpha and H2S contents, LDH and MPO activity in cardiac muscles and myocardial damage. Treatment with PPG reduced the increases in TNF-alpha and H2S contents in plasma, TNF-alpha and H2S contents, LDH and MPO activity in cardiac muscles, ameliorated the hypotensive effect and myocardial damage caused by LPS administration (P<0.05). However, treatment with NaHS increased TNF-alpha and H2S contents in plasma, TNF-alpha and H2S contents, LDH and MPO activity in cardiac muscles, and aggravated the hypotensive action and tissue injuries caused by LPS administration (P<0.05). It is suggested that hypotension and myocardial damage in endotoxemic rats are partly induced by increase in H2S content.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Endotoxemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Male ; Myocardium ; chemistry ; pathology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in myocardial injury induced by hind-limb ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in rats.

METHODSRat models of bilateral hindlimb IR established using a tourniquet were randomized into 9 groups, including a normal control group normal, 2 ischemic groups with hindlimb ischemia for 2 and 4 h, and 6 IR groups with a 4-h ischemia followed by reperfusion for 0.5, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h. The plasma and myocardial levels of MPO and TNF-α in each group were measured, and the myocardial expression of TNF-α was determined with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the rats with a 2-h ischemia showed significantly increased levels of MPO and TNF-α in the plasma and myocardium. Compared with those in rats with a 4-h ischemia, the plasma and myocardial MPO levels increased significantly at 0.5 and 2 h of reperfusion, respectively; the plasma TNF-α level increased significantly at 4 h of reperfusion and myocardial TNF-α level decreased obviously at 12 h; plasma levels of MPO and TNF-α both significantly decreased at 24 h. The plasma MPO and TNF-α and myocardial TNF-α reached the peak levels at 4 h of reperfusion, and the peak myocardial MPO level occurred at 6 h. Immunohistochemistry showed that TNF-α positivity moderately increased after hindlimb ischemia, and further increased at 4 h of reperfusion but obviously reduced at 24 h.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of systemic and local neutrophils and inflammatory cytokines may play an important role in myocardial injury induced by hindlimb IR in rats.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hindlimb ; blood supply ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

This research is designed to detect the dynamic changes of microcirculatory ultrastructure and the MDA content, SOD and GSH-px activity in rat cerebrum immediately, 24h and 48h after exhaustive swimming. The results showed that there were obvious changes of ultrastructure in rat cerebral microcirculation immediately after exhaustive swimming. The changes were resumed in some degree after 24h and recovered almost to the normal after 48h. Immediately after exhaustive swimming, the MDA content did not change obviously; the activity of SOD increased markedly, and then it decreased markedly after 24h, but it increased again after 48h. The activity of GSH-px descended markedly after 24h; it descended synchronously with the decrease of SOD activity, showing that the consumption of SOD and GSH-px should be the most at this time. Therefore, the free radical should be removed in time for reducing the cerebral injury and promoting the recovery of cerebral microcirculation.
Animals ; Brain ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Capillaries ; ultrastructure ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Physical Exertion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the variety of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system activity of neutrophils in newborns during bacterial infection and the effect of cord plasma on the activation of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system.

METHODSAn infection model with Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and a non-infection model with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) were established to investigate the activation of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system in neutrophils. According to the intensity of fluorescence, the activation of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system of neutrophils was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The blood cells and plasma were separated from cord blood and adult blood and cross-mixed in order to investigate the opsonic activity.

RESULTSIn the non-infection model, the activation of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system with PMA stimulation in cord blood was lower compared with that in adult blood, the statistical difference was significant (t = 3.378, P < 0.01). In the infection model, the activations of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system in cord blood were also lower compared with those in adult blood, while the statistical difference could only be found in the model with E. coli stimulation (t = 12.150, P < 0.001). Furthermore the experiments demonstrated that cord plasma could deeply depress the non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system activity with E. coli stimulation. On the contrary, adult plasma could successfully recruit the potential of non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system activity of neutrophils in newborns.

CONCLUSIONThe function of neonatal neutrophils might not developed very well. As a stimulant, E. coli failed to induce the non-myeloperoxidase-mediated system activity in neonates, which might be related to the lower level of immunoglobulins in cord blood. This result indicated that immunoglobulins played a more important modulating role in bacterial killing during gram-negative bacterial infections.

Escherichia coli ; immunology ; Fetal Blood ; immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neutrophils ; enzymology ; immunology ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Staphylococcus aureus ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of EA in treatment of acute pancreatitis.

METHODSTwenty-four healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, a control group, a model group and an EA group. In the model group, rat acute pancreatitis model was prearpared by intraperitoneal injection of Caerulein, and in the EA group, EA was given at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Tianshu" (ST 25) of the model rat. The gastric emptying rate, small intestinal impelling ratio, myeloperoxidase activity in the pancreas tissue, pathological score of the pancreas and serum amylase were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, both the gastric emptying rate and the intestinal impelling ratio significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.05), and they significantly increased in the EA group compared with the model group (P<0.05). Myeloperoxidase activity in the pancreas tissue, pathological score of the pancreas and serum amylase activity significantly decreased in the EA group as compared with the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA can significantly improve the disturbance of gastrointestinal motility induced by acute pancreatitis and relieve pathological damage of pancreas.

Acute Disease ; Amylases ; blood ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Male ; Pancreas ; pathology ; Pancreatitis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

This study was undertaken to investigate the antioxidant/oxidant status in recurrent miscarriage patients. Antioxidants including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), reduced glutathione (GSH) and selenium (Se), as well as the oxidants hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), oxidised glutathione (GSSG) and lipid peroxidation were assayed in plasma, whole blood and placental tissue of non-pregnant women (NP), healthy pregnant women (HP), and recurrent miscarriage (RM) patients. Results indicated that all antioxidant activities and levels in plasma and whole blood of HP women were consistently moderately lower, and much more significantly lower in RM patients when both were compared to those seen in NP women (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). Furthermore, whereas plasma antioxidant activities and levels were significantly lower in RM patients, those of whole blood and placental tissue were much more significantly lower when compared with HP women (P<0.001). Concurrent with these findings there were consistent increases of equal statistical significance and magnitude in the levels of all investigated oxidants assayed in all samples when compared in between subjects of the study as indicated above. Data thus illustrated a distinct shift in favor of oxidative reactions and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and very significant decreases in the GSH/GSSG ratios in whole blood and placental tissue of RM patients when compared to HP and NP women (P<0.001). The above noted oxidative stress could have been a major causative factor of recurrent miscarriage.
Abortion, Habitual/*blood/*epidemiology ; Adult ; Antioxidants/analysis ; Biomarkers/*blood ; Catalase/blood ; Female ; Glutathione/blood ; Glutathione Peroxidase/blood ; Glutathione Reductase/blood ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide/analysis ; Lipid Peroxidation ; *Oxidative Stress ; Placenta/metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; Saudi Arabia/epidemiology ; Selenium/blood