Objective To establish a spontaneous abortion rat model for a syndrome in traditional chinese medicine, kidney deficiency, and observe the changes of physiological indicators and related cytokine expression in the model. Methods 40 female and 20 male rats were used in this study. The female and male rats were mated (mating ratio 2:1). The day of vaginal smear with a large number of sperm was considered as the first day of pregnancy. The rats were randomly divided into control group and model group. The model group received 450 mg/kg hydroxyurea every day. Mifepristone was given on the eighth day in a dose of 3.75 mg/kg. The diet amount, the diameter index of kidney, ovary and embryos were analyzed. The mRNA expression of Th1/Th2 cytokine was detected by RT-PCR, and the expression of co-stimulating factors CD80, CD86, CD28, CTLA-4 were determined by flow cytometry.Results Comparing the model group with control group on the eighth day, there were significant differences between the model and control groups in quantity of food and water intake, and weight increase (P<0.05), and also in the embryonic diameter index, average of abortion rate, Th1/Th2 type cytokines, co-stimulating factor CD80, CD86, CD28, and CTLA-4 (P<0.05). Conclusion A rat model of spontaneous abortion due to kidney deficiency can be successfully established with hydroxyurea and mifepristone. The high expression of Th1 (TNF-α, IFN-γ) may cause abortion and be harmful to pregnancy. Th2 type (IL-4, IL-10) may facilitate pregnancy. The expression co-stimulating factor CD80, CD86, CD28, CTLA-4 may be relevant to the spontaneous abortion.

Objective To establish a reproducible rat model of acute rectal mucosal injury induced by acetic acid. Methods Fifteen healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group (3 rats) and experimental group (12 rats).Acute rectal mucosal injury was induced by 4%acetic acid using a cotton swab inserted into the rat rec-tum for 1 min to a depth of 3 cm.The morphological characteristics were analyzed by the naked eye and histology at 0.5 h and 1, 4, and 6 days after acetic acid intervention.Results All rats survived 6-day study period.The successful rate of model establishment was 100%.From 0.5 h to 1st day after acetic acid intervention, the gross morphology of recta showed congestion, edema and ulcer to ulcer complicated with hemorrhage.The histology showed necrosis and hemorrhage of the epithelial tissue of the mucosa to complete and extensive necrosis of the mucosa.The glandular structure showed partial to complete loss.The submucosa showed edema to edema complicated with hemorrhage and congestion.The interstitial tissues showed vasodilatation and congestion to inflammatory cell invasion.From 4 to 6 days after acetic acid intervention, the rectal mucosal changes were obviously improved.Epithelial and glandular regeneration and inflammatory granulation occurred, but not fully recovered, some edema and redness, partial lack of glands were still present.Conclusions 4%acetic acid for 1 min can be used to successfully induce rat model of acute rectal mucosal injury.This procedure is easy to operate, with a high success rate,reproducible, and the alterations are lasting more than 6 days.This animal model is very suitable for rapid screening of topical drugs for the treatment for rectal mucosal injury.

Objective To study the protective effect of vitamin C on UV-induced photoaged skin structure in rats and provide a basis for clinical medicine and health care.Methods Photoaging skin models were set up by chronic ultraviolet radiation in 24 SPF female Sprague-Dawley rats, irradiated twice weekly for 4 weeks.The rat photoaged skin was induced by exposure to a total dose of 123 J/cm2 UVA and 5 J/cm2 UVB for 4 weeks.Vitamin C was administered by gastric gavage in a dose of 50 mg/kg once daily for 30 days during the model development.We compared the pathological changes in the irradiated skin using HE, Masson’ s trichrome and Victoria blue B staining, and compared the ultrastructural changes by electron microscopy.Results Rat models with photoaged skin were developed successfully.The vitamin C group showed significant reduction of pathological severity including erythema, ulcers, epidermal cell proliferation, epidermal thickness, dermis vasodilation, inflammatory cell infiltration, fibroblast proliferation, endoplasmic reticulum dilatation, mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization, elastic fibers degeneration and focal accumulation, collagen fibers swelling with uneven thickness,compared with the rats of model group at the irradiation site.Conclusions Vitamin C is effective in reducing the structural damage of UV-induced photoaged skin in rats.

Objective To detect the blood parameter, blood biochemical and electrolyte indices of the F1 generation of Rongshui miniature pig ( RMP) .Methods The blood of 43 female and 42 male RMPs of 4 th month old, and 36 RMPs of 12th month old ( half male and female) were extracted from jugular vein.And the blood parameter, blood biochemical and electrolyte indices were detected by blood analyzer and automatic biochemical analyzer.Results In the same month-old RMP, no significant difference between male and female were found in most indices of blood parameter, blood biochemical and electrolyte indices.On the other hand, many indices were difference between 4th month old and 12th month old RMPs of same gender.Compared with the 4th month old RMP, the 12th month old RMP decreased significantly in WBC and PLT, increased in HGB ( P <0.05 ) while RBC was the same ( P >0.05 ) .Serum ALT, AST, ALP, CK (male), LDH(male), A/G, BUN, GLU (female), CHOL (male) and K+decreased significantly (P <0.05), while serum TP, TBIL, CR and Ca2+increased significantly (P <0.05),but serum CHOL, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C were not different.86.4%(19/22) biochemical and electrolyte indices in RMP were in/or close to the range of normal value of human.Conclusion Most of the blood parameter, blood biochemical and electrolyte indices of RMP were close to human’ s normal value.

Objective To explore the immune mechanism in the systemic lupus erythematosus MRL/lpr mice at different months of age, and to provide the basis for research of its pathogenesis. Methods 3-,4-,5- and 6-month old female MRL/lpr mice, and wild type C57 female mice were used in this study, 10 mice per each group. Their organ coefficients were determined. ELISA was performed to detect the serum levels of double stranded DNA(ds-DNA) antibody. The interleukins IL-2,IL-4,IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in spleen tissue were detected. Flow cytometry was used to assess the content of spleen lymphocyte CD3 cells and CD4/CD8 cell ratio. Results Compared with the 3-month old wild-type C57 mice,the spleen coefficient,the blood concentration of ds-DNA antibody,IL-2 and TNF-α in the 3- to 6-month old MRL/lpr mice were significantly increased(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the concentrations of interleukin IL-4(P> 0.05). The blood concentration of IL-17 in the 5- and 6-month old MRL/lpr mice was significantly lower(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)than that in the 3-month old MRL/lpr mice. The rest indexes of MRL/lpr mice showed no obvious changes or significant difference in the mice at different ages. Compared with the 3-month old C57 mice,the spleen CD3 lymphocyte concentration in the MRL/lpr mice was significantly decreased(P< 0.01). With the increasing age, the CD3 lymphocyte concentration and D4 +/CD8 +cell ratio in the MRL/lpr mice were decreased, however, showing a non-significant difference(P ﹥0.05). Conclusions The data obtained in this study indicate that 3-month old lupus MRL/lpr mice have already immune injury,increasing with the increase of age of the mice.