Adolescent ; Adult ; Arsenic Poisoning ; drug therapy ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

To observe the effect of intracarotid administration of adrenomedullin (AM) on the spontaneous electrical activity of area postrema (AP) neurons, 78 spontaneous active units were recorded from 63 sino-aortic denervated Sprague-Dawley rats using extracellular recording technique. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Following intracarotid administration of AM (0.3 nmol/kg), the discharge rate of 47 out of 78 units increased markedly from 2.99+/-0.24 to 4.79+/-0.29 spikes/s (P<0.001), 20 units decreased from 3.24+/-0.46 to 1.97+/-0.37 spikes/s (P<0.001), and the remaining 11 showed no response. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) did not change throughout the experimentation. (2) Pretreatment with intracarotid administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist CGRP8-37 (3 nmol/kg) did not change the effects of AM. (3) Following intracarotid injection of NO precursor L-arginine (30 mg/kg), the excitatory effect of AM was attenuated. The above results indicate that AM can excite spontaneous electrical activity of AP neurons, this effect is not mediated by calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor but may be attenuated by NO precursor L-arginine.
Action Potentials ; physiology ; Adrenomedullin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta ; innervation ; physiology ; surgery ; Area Postrema ; physiology ; Carotid Sinus ; innervation ; physiology ; surgery ; Denervation ; Injections, Intra-Arterial ; Male ; Neurons ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of microinjection of adrenomedullin (AM) into rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) on mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in 34 anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Following microinjection of AM (10 micromol/L, 200 nl) into the RVLM, MAP, HR and RSNA were significantly increased from 99.09+/-3.32 mmHg, 370.78+/-7.84 bpm and 100+/-0% to 113.57+/-3.64 mmHg (P>0.001), 383.28+/-7.38 bpm (P>0.001) and 123.72+/-2.74% (P>0.001), respectively. (2) Pretreatment with microinjection of calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist CGRP8-37 (100 micromol/L, 200 nl) did not change the effects of AM. (3) L-arginine (100 mg/kg, 0.2 ml, i.v.), an NO precursor, abolished the effects of AM. This study demonstrates that AM acting at the rostral ventrolateral medulla may produce significant cardiovascular responses, the effects are not mediated by CGRP receptor but may be abolished by NO.
Adrenomedullin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Kidney ; innervation ; Lateral Thalamic Nuclei ; drug effects ; Medulla Oblongata ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; drug effects ; physiology

Objective To observe the expression of matrix metalloproteinases(MMP)-1,MMP-3 and iNOS in cartilage of experimental rabbit osteoarthritis at different time intervals after anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)operation.The aim of this study is to provide the theoritical evidence for using ACLT rabbit model in Osteoarthritis(OA)research.Methods Unilateral ACLT was performed on 27 randomly selected while rabbits and underwent unilateral arthrotomy was performed on the other 9 white rabbits as the control group.Nine randomly selected white rabbits in experimental group were killed and 3 white rabbits in the control group at 4th,8th and 12th week respectively.Cartilage degradation of femoral condyles was evaluated macr-oscopically,mRNA expression level and protein expression level of MMP-1,MMP-3 and iNOS was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and immunohistochemistry respectively.Results Forepart OA cartilage degradation was observed at the 4th week and became more severe at the 8th week after ACLF.Afterpart cartilage degradation was evident at the 12th week after ACLT while cartilage still remained normal in the control group,mRNA expression level and protein expression level of MMP-1.MMP-3 and iNOS were increased at the 4th week and became higher gradually at the 8th,12th week after ACLT compared with the control group.Expression distribution of MMP-1,MMP-3 and iNOS bad different patterns respectively.Conclusion It is suggested that the process of OA cartilage degradation can be simulated by ACLT model and MMP-1,MMP-3 and iNOS may be good markers in therapeutical research of OA.

Objective To establish serological detection methods of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8).Methnds Three potent antigenic fusion proteins.K8.1,ORF65 and ORF73 C of HHV- 8 were synthesized using E.coli system.The sera were detected using lhese antigenic proteins.The positive sera were from 12 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma and 32 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Kaposi's sarcoma.The negative sera were from 20 patients with cutaneous tumors and children under 15 years old.Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EI.ISA)were employed to determine the immunogenicity of each recombinant protein and the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA using the complex antigens.Results Three types highly purified HHV 8 specific recombinant pro teins with potent antigenicity were successfully synthesized.The sensitivity of ELISA using the above complex antigens was significantly higher than traditional immuno-flurescent assay (IFA)detecting the positive and negative sera,whieh were 81.8%,34.4%,respectively.And the specificity of ELISA was 97.9%.Conclusion K8.1,ORF65 and ORE73 C are good candidate antigens for establishing HHV-8 serological detection methods,which have better sensitivity and specificity.

AIMTo study the effect of bupleurum root on epileptic seizure.

METHODSThe rabbits and rats were injected by pilocarpine as epileptic models, and observed the effect of bupleurum on the electroencephalogram (EEG) and hippocampal slice by electroencephalograph and glass microelectrode extracellularly.

RESULTSThe seizure time and duration of each major seizure of epilepsy were significantly shortened and the interval of seizure significantly prolonged (P < 0.05) after intraabdominal injection of bupleurum root. After instilling the injection of bupleurum root onto the slices could reduce the amplitude of evoked field potential in epileptic hippocampal slices remarkably, the average of fall is 20.41%, and restore in 6.86 minutes on average (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONBupleurum root can inhibit the brain electrical activities in epileptic model, it is suggest that bupleurum has the distinct effect of antiepilepsy.

Animals ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Bupleurum ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

AIM AND METHODSUsing double immunohistochemical method for Fos and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) to examine the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of adrenomedullin (AM) on catecholaminergic neurons and the expression of c-fos gene in rat brain nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation in order to define whether the effects of central administration of adrenomedullin (AM) were induced by activating the catecholaminergic neurons.

RESULTS(1) Following icy administration of AM (3 nmol/kg), Fos-like immunoreactivity neurons were markedly increased in several brain areas of the rat, including the brainstem, the hypothalamus and the forebrain. (2) Following icy administration of AM (3 nmol/kg), double-labeled neurons for Fos and TH increased significantly in the area postrema (AP), the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), the nucleus paragigantocellularis lateralis (PGL) and the locus coeruleus (LC). (3) Pretreatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonism CGRP (8-37) (30 nmol/kg) significantly reduced the action of AM (3 nmol/kg) in the brain.

CONCLUSIONAM activates the nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation in the forebrain, the hypothalamus and the brainstem, and that the central actions of AM are induced by activating the catecholaminergic neurons of brainstem nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation. CGRP receptor can mediate the effects of AM in brain.

Adrenomedullin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Brain Stem ; drug effects ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Prosencephalon ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; metabolism

Objective To observe the influence of nocturnal prolonged hemodialysis (INHD) on patients＇ nutrition status. Methods Thirty-two maintenance hemodialysis patients received INHD (3 times per week and 7.5 hours each session) and thirty-five maintenance hemodialysis patients received conventional hemodialysis (3 times per week and 4 hours each session) as control were observed for 6 months.The nutrition status of these patients on various aspects which concluded physical measurements,laboratory tests,and dietary record at baseline(0month) and exit (6 months) were recorded. Results (1)There were no differences in age,sex,body weight,and primary diseases between two groups.(2)The body weight,triceps skinfold thickness (TSF),and hand grip strength increased at exit point,but no statistical difference compared with the control group.Mid-upper arm circumference (MAC) increased signicantly from (27.1±4.2) to (30.5±6.1) cm (P＜0.05).Compared with the control group (26.9±3.4) cm,there was a significant difference (P＜0.05).(3)Serum phosphate decreased significantly from (0.5±0.5) to (0.1±0.6) μ mol/L (P=0.001) in INHD group.(4)The nutrition status were improved in INHD group evaluated by subjective global assessment (SGA)(P=0.03).(5) Dietary intake was recorded by a 3-day food record.Dietary intake of energy,protein,lipid,calcium,potassium,and phosphate increased in INHD group.None of the differences achieved statistical significance between two groups. Conclusion As compared with conventional hemodialysis,INHD can increase the dietary intake,decrease serum phosphate level,and improve patients nutrition status.

To define the action sites of adrenomedullin (ADM) in the rat brain, and to examine whether neuronal NO may participate in the actions of ADM, the present study was undertaken to examine the effects of i.c.v. administration of ADM on the induction of Fos protein and on nitric oxide-producing neurons in rat brain nuclei involved in cardiovascular regulation, using double immunohistochemical method for Fos and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Following i.c.v. administration of ADM (1 nmol/kg, 3 nmol/kg), Fos-like immunoreactivity neurons were markedly increased in several brain areas of the rat, including the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), the area postrema, the locus coeruleus, the parabrachial nucleus and the nucleus paragigantocelluaris laterialis (PGL) in the brainstem, the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus in the hypothalamus, as well as the central amygdaloid nucleus and the lateral habenular nucleus in the forebrain. Following i.c.v. injection of ADM (1 nmol/kg, 3 nmol/kg), the number of double-labeled neurons for Fos and nNOS was increased in the PVN and SON. Small numbers of double-labeled neurons were also found in the NTS and PGL following i.c.v. injection of ADM (3 nmol/kg), while i.c.v. injection of ADM (1 nmol/kg) did not change the number of double-labeled neurons in the NTS and PGL. Pretreatment with calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist CGRP(8-37) (30 nmol/kg) significantly reduced the action of ADM (3 nmol/kg) in the brain. These results suggest that centrally administered ADM may increase the expression of c-fos in the forebrain, the hypothalamus and the brainstem and activate nitric oxide-producing neurons in the PVN, SON, NTS and PGL. These effects may be partly mediated by CGRP receptors.
Adrenomedullin ; Animals ; Brain Stem ; metabolism ; Injections, Intraventricular ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; metabolism ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Solitary Nucleus ; physiology

Objective: To determine protein binding characteri stic and signal transmission pathway of melatonin（Mel） receptor(MR) in human e mbryonic peripheral organ tissues. Methods: MR was measured by radio ligand-binding assay and the effect of GTPγS on melatonin specific bindi ng was studied. Results: Mel specific binding sites were det ermined in 16 kinds of human embryonic tissue and this binding could be inhibit ed by GTPγS, supporting the theory that MR is coupled to inhibitory G-proteins system. Conclusion: MR is measured in human embryo tissue, the se results provide experimental data for elucidating the mechanism of the effect of Mel.