The middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) in rats remained a focus cerebral ischemic model that is non-incisioned,reliable,as well as the ischemic and refusion time can be controlled,which is widely used since it was created.However,because it is needed complex operations,associatied with many factors,it is difficult to establish.Many scholars have modified the operation,shape of the occlusion line,as well as the variety,narcotic drugs and so on.

Ginseng is a typical adaptogen which has resistance to various stresses. This effect is related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. As the main active ingredients, saponin has the similar structure to steroids. The regulation characteristics of ginseng saponin on the HPA axis are narrated from the aspects of total saponin and saponin monomers in this paper after the introduction of adaptation definition and HPA axis regulation mechanisms. Pharmacological effects of ginseng saponin and the regulation effect of HPA axis are summarized finally.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; secretion ; Animals ; Corticosterone ; secretion ; Ginsenosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; secretion ; Panax ; chemistry ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; secretion

Objective To search for the optimal processing procedure and physico-chemical properties of Endothelium corneum amylase. Methods After dried under 50 ℃ ,amylase was extracted from Endothelium corneum with phosphate-buffered saline. The amylase activity was examined at different temperature,pH and different metal ions,and amylase isozyme was discerned on PAGE. Results The optimal pH,optimal temperature,and optimal substrate concentration for amylase activity were 8.67,50 ℃ and 1.8 g/mL,respectively. Under the experimental conditions,the amylase Km was 0.92 (starch was used as substrate of amylase). Four metal ions tested,including Ca2+,Fe2+,Zn2+,Mn2+,could inhibit the amylase activity to some extent. Furthermore,it showed one amylase isozyme band using PAGE,suggesting only one amylase isozyme existing in the Endothelium corneum tentatively. Conclusion The effects of metal ions should be considered in the process of Endothelium corneum amylase.

OBJECTIVETo study the role of PI3K/Akt pathway in the neuroprotective effect of paeoniflorin on PC12 cells.

METHODThe paeoniflorin group (5, 10, 20 μmol · L(-1)) was pretreated for 30 min, and then added with Aβ25-35 (20 μmol · L(-1)) for interaction for 24 h. Inhibitor LY294002 (10 μmol · L(-1)) was pretreated for 30 min before the action of paeoniflorin (10 μmol · L(-1)). The MTT colorimetric method was used to detect the cell viability. The apoptosis rate was tested by the FITC-Annexin V/PI staining. The protein expression of p-AKT, Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 protein were detected by Western blot analysis.

RESULTPaeoniflorin could significantly inhibit the Aβ25-35-induced PC12 cell toxicity and apoptosis. Its protection effect may be achieved by up- regulating AKT phosphorylation level, increasing Bcl-2 protein expression, reducing Bax protein expression, inhibiting the activation of caspase-3. Inhibitor LY294002 could weaken the above protective effects of paeoniflorin.

CONCLUSIONPaeoniflorin could activate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to protect the PC12 cell injury induced by Aβ25-35.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Monoterpenes ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Peptide Fragments ; toxicity ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

BACKGROUND: Temperature-responsive magnetic pluronic nanoparticles possess the capacity of drug release controlled by body temperature and can penetrate blood brain barrier.OBJECTIVE: To detect the capacity of magnetic pluronic nanoparticles to carrying ganglioside-1(GM-1) and its capacity of drug release in vivo, as well as its effects on repair of spinal cord injury.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A randomized, controlled, animal experiment was performed at the key laboratories of Beijing Institute for Neuroscience, Capital Medical University and Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences between June 2006 and February 2007.MATERIALS: GM-1 loaded magnetic pluronic nanoparticles were prepared by Laboratory of Separation Science and Engineering State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. GM-1 was provided by Trb Pharma S.A of Argentina.METHODS: Twenty Sprague-Dawiey rats were developed into acute complete spinal cord injury models and were then evenly MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Behavior evaluation and quantitative analysis (nerve fibers and glial cells) at 4 weeks post-surgery.were significantly greater in the treatment group than in the remaining 3 groups (P < 0.05), the control groups exhibited greater numbers of nerve fibers than the sham-operation groups, and the control group 2 had higher levels compared with the control compared with the remaining 3 groups (P < 0.05). In the rostral areas, the control groups exhibited higher area ratio of glial cells than the sham-operation group (P < 0.05), and in the caudal areas, control group 2 displayed higher levels compared with the sham-operation group (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Magnetic pluronic nanoparticles possess drug-carrying and drug-releasing capacities. GM-1 loaded magnetic pluronic nanoparticies can repair spinal cord injury and promote nerve regeneration.

Animals ; Cadmium Compounds ; toxicity ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Lung ; cytology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Quantum Dots

Oxytocin ( OT ) is a cyclic neuropeptide containing nine amino acids residues, in addition to the traditional roles of uterine contraction and lactation, it also plays important roles in the central nervous system and other peripheral organs, such as improving schizophrenia, autism - related psychiatric and psy-chological symptoms. Oxytocin exhibits its physiological func-tions by binding to its receptor (oxytocin receptor,OTR). Cur-
rently researchers are manipulating OT system by developing new OTR ligand ( agonists and antagonists ) , hoping to prevent and treat OTR related diseases. This paper reviews the latest devel-opment of OTR agonists, antagonists and its physiological roles in central nerve system and peripheral organs.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Ghrelin ; blood ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; blood ; Time Factors

Background & Objective: Early life stresses, such as social isolation, have lasting effects on the development of emotion and behavior, in which vasopressin plays important roles. This study aimed to assess the possible association of central release of vasopressin with social isolation. Methods: The social isolation model was performed in male mice who endured 6-week social isolation after weaning. Vasopressin expression in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) was measured with immunohistochemistry. Released vasopressin from PVN was measured with radioimmunoassay. Results: Vasopressin immunoreactive cells number decreased in the PVN, medial parvocellular division in social isolation-reared mice, compared to the group-reared counterparts. Social isolation decreased short social exposure-induced vasopressin release from PVN. Isolation-reared mice exhibited anxiogenic profile and difficulty in social recognition. Conclusions: This study provides new evidence for the important role of vasopressin in the development of emotional and social behaviors.