Objective To investigate the effect of parecoxib pretreatment on focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Methods Sixty-four male SD rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n= 16 each): sham operation group (group S); focal cerebral I/R group; focal cerebral I/R + parecoxib 5 mg/kg group (group P5); focal cerebral I/R + parecoxib 10 mg/kg group (group P10). Focal cerebral I/R was produced by occlusion of middle cerebral artery for 2 h followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Parecoxib 5 and 10 mg/kg were injected intravenously through the internal jugular vein 30 min before ischemia in group P5 and P10 respectively. The neurologic deficit scores (NDSs) were measured at 24 h of reperfusion and then the rats were decapitated.Brains were rapidly removed for determination of the infarct volume, apoptosis rate and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. The ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax (Bcl-2/Bax) was calculated. Results The NDSs, apoptosis rate and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were significantly higher, Bcl-2/Bax was significantly lower, and the infarct volume was significantly larger in group I/R than in group S ( P ＜ 0.01 ). The NDSs were significantly lower in group P10, and the apoptosis rate and Bax expression were significantly lower, the infarct volume was significantly smaller, Bcl-2 expression and Bcl-2/Bax were significantly higher in group P5 and P10 than in group I/R (P ＜0.05 or 0.01). The infarct volume was significantly smaller, the apoptosis rate and Bax expression were significantly lower, and Bcl-2 expression and Bcl-2/Bax were significantly higher in group P10 than in group P5 ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ). Conclusion Pretreatment with parecoxib can attenuate focal cerebral I/R injury in a dose-dependent manner through inhibition of cell apoptosis via up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression and down-regulation of Bax expression in rats.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and synaptophysin(SYN) proteins in different developmental stages of human embryonic esophagus.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of NSE and SYN proteins in embryonic esophagus tissues of fetuses of 2, 3 and 4 month gestational age (n=16). One-way ANOVA and LSD-t test were employed to compare the staining intensity and number of positive expression cells in embryonic esophageal tissues of different gestational age.

RESULTSIn fetuses with 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation, the number of NSE-positive nerve cells in the myenteric nerve plexus and submucosa of human embryonic esophageal tissues were 18.38 ± 8.37, 25.00 ± 11.54 and 38.00 ± 15.09, respectively; the staining intensity of NSE-positive nerve cells and nerve fibers in myenteric nerve plexus and submucosa of embryonic esophageal tissues were 74.38 ± 14.93, 62.25 ± 18.59 and 56.44 ± 14.70, respectively. NSE-positive cells were detected in the esophageal epithelium only at the third month. In the fetuses at 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation, SYN in all layers of esophageal tissue were positively or strong positively expressed, especially in the myenteric plexus and submucosal plexus. The staining intensity of SYN-positive cells in embryonic esophagus tissues of 2, 3 and 4 month gestation were 54.69 ± 9.34, 51.84 ± 6.10 and 46.41 ± 6.44, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSYN and NSE may be involved in the regulation of nerve system of esophageal tissues during the human embryonic development.

Esophagus ; embryology ; Female ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

Dermatofibrosarcoma ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Skin Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of oxidative stress on periprosthetic osteolysis induced by TCP wear particles in mouse calvaria and its mechanism. METHODS: Thirty-six male ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups (=12):sham group, TCP wear particles (TCP) group and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) group. Aperiprosthetic osteolysis model in mouse was established by implanting 30 mg of TCP wear particles onto the surface of bilateral parietal bones following removal of the periosteum. On the 2nd day post-operation, NAC (1.0 mg/kg) was locally injected to the calvarium under the periosteum every other day for 2 weeks. Then, all the mice were sacrificed to obtain blood and the calvaria. Periprosthetic osteolysis in the mouse calvaria was observed by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining; serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6); total anti-oxidation capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were examined by ELISA and chemical colorimetry, respectively; protein levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK), phospho-PERK (p-PERK), eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) and phospho-eIF2α (p-eIF2α) in periprosthetic bone tissue were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with sham group, serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and osteolysis area were increased obviously in TCP group (<0.05), and serum level of T-AOC and SOD activity were decreased significantly in TCP group (<0.05), GRP78 expression, the ratio of p-PERK and PERK, p-eIF2α and eIF2α in the mouse calvaria of TCP group were up-regulated markedly. Compared with TCP group, serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and osteolysis area were decreased markedly in NAC group (<0.05), serum level of T-AOC and SOD activity were increased obviously in NAC group (<0.05), and GRP78 expression, the ratio of p-PERK/PERK and p-eIF2α/eIF2α were obviously down-regulated. CONCLUSIONS Inhibition of oxidative stress can prevent periprosthetic osteolysis induced by TCP wear particles, which may be mediated by inactivation of PERK/eIF2α signaling pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Osteolysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Skull ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVE: To study whether tricalcium phosphate(TCP) wear particles cause injuries of periprosthetic osteocytes in the mouse calvaria, and to explain its molecular mechanism. METHODS: Thirty six-week(ICR)male mice were randomly divided into sham group, model (TCP) group and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) group. A murine calvarial model of osteolysis was established by 30 mg of TCP wear particles implantation over the periosteum around the middle suture of calvaria in mice. On the second postoperative day, the autophagy specific inhibitor 3-MA (1.0 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected to the calvaria in the 3-MA-treated mice every other day. After 2 weeks, blood and the calvaria were obtained. Micro-CT was used to detect bone mineral density(BMD), bone volume fraction (BVF) and porosity number. HE staining and flow cytometry were performed to analyze the viability and apoptosis of periprosthetic osteocytes. The serum levels of dentin matrix protein 1(DMP-1) and sclerostin (SOST) were determined by ELISA. The proteins expressions of DMP-1, SOST, Beclin-1 and microtuble-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC-3) were detected by Western blot in the calvaria osteocytes. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, the mice in the TCP group showed that a significant decrease in the viability of periprosthetic osteocytes, but obvious increases in number of osteocytes death and osteocytes apoptosis (<0.05), and in serum level and protein expression of SOST; significant decreases in serum level and protein expression of DMP-1 (<0.05), and remarkable up-regulation of autophagy-related factors beclin-1 and the conversion of LC3-Ⅱ from LC3-I in the calvaria osteocytes. Compared with TCP group, the mice in the 3-MA group showed that injuries of calvaria osteocytes were obviously aggravated, and osteocytes apoptosis was significantly increased (<0.05). CONCLUSIONS TCP wear particles can cause injuries of periprosthetic osteocytes via activation of apoptosis and autophagy, which promotes osteolysis around the prosthesis osteolysis and joint aseptic loosening.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Beclin-1 ; metabolism ; Bone Density ; Calcium Phosphates ; adverse effects ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Osteocytes ; pathology ; Osteolysis ; Prostheses and Implants ; adverse effects ; Skull

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution pattern of the expressions neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), Pax3 and connexin 43 (Cx43) proteins in the early developing posterior horn of embryonic and fetal human spinal cord.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of nNOS, Pax3 and Cx43 proteins in the posterior horn of the spinal cord during the second, third and fourth month of human embryonic and fetal development.

RESULTSIn the second to fourth month of gestation, the expressions of nNOS and Pax3 proteins increased gradually from weak expression to strong expression in the posterior horn of the spinal cord. In the second to third month of development, Cx43 protein expression was negative in the posterior horn of the spinal cord, but positive in the myelin sheath. In the fourth month, positive Cx43 expression was detected in some of the cells in the posterior horn of the spinal cord.

CONCLUSIONnNOS, Pax3 and Cx43 proteins are closely related to the growth and development of the spinal cord in human embryos and fetuses.

Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Fetus ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; PAX3 Transcription Factor ; Paired Box Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Posterior Horn Cells ; metabolism ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and nestin in the development of tongue muscles of human embryos and fetuses.

METHODSPV immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of MAP-2 and nestin proteins in the tongue tissues of human embryos and fetuses at the second, third and fourth months of gestation.

RESULTSMAP-2 and nestin positivity was detected in the tongue muscles of human embryos at 2 to 4 months of gestation. In the embryos at the second month of gestation, no obvious MAP-2 positive cells were found in the tongue muscles; at 3 and 4 months, the number of MAP-2-positive cells in the tongue muscles was 24.14∓8.28 and 15.86∓3.89, with the expression intensity of 109.42∓11.62 and 124.27∓8.73, respectively. At 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation, the number of nestin-positive cells in the tongue muscles was 12.50∓3.17, 19.00∓7.63, and 22.80∓6.91, with expression intensity of 119.99∓24.02, 102.20∓11.76, and 98.24∓10.66, respectively. As the gestational age increased, the number of MAP-2-positive cell number continued to decline following a transient increase but the expression intensity kept increasing; nestin-positive cells increased continuously but the expression intensity kept decreasing in the embryonic or fetal tongue muscles.

CONCLUSIONMAP-2 and nestin proteins are involved in the regulation of the development of tongue muscles in human embryos and fetuses.

Fetus ; metabolism ; Humans ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Nestin ; metabolism ; Tongue ; embryology ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and nestin in gastric development in human embryos and fetuses.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of MAP-2 and nestin proteins in the gastric cardia, pyloric and gastric tissues of human embryos and fetuses during the second, third and fourth month of development.

RESULTSIn the second to fourth months of gestation, MAP-2 and nestin expressions were detected in the neural cells and neural fibers of the intermuscular nerve plexus and submucosal plexus in the gastric cardia, pyloric and gastric tissues. As the gestational age increased, the number of MAP-2- and nestin-positive cells and the expression intensity all increased in the myenteric plexus, but MAP-2 and nestin expressions were negative in the glandular and mucosal tissues of human embryonic and fetal gastric cardia, pylorus or gastric walls.

CONCLUSIONMAP-2 and nestin participate in the regulation of the development of gastric tissues in human embryos.

Fetus ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Nestin ; Stomach ; embryology ; metabolism

The development of heart is an accurate, coordinated process including primordial cardiac cell differentiation, migration, and multi-cell combination. This process is accompanied by cell apoptosis, and by a series of gene regulation. If gene gets out of regulation, abnormal cell apoptosis will occur, which will lead to abnormal development of embryonic heart, or even malformation. By studying gene expression on apoptosis, we investigated the relationship between apoptosis and embryonic heart development, clarified the relevant mechanism for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases.
Apoptosis ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Heart ; embryology ; Humans