Objective To observe the distribution of parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons in the hippocampal formation of human fetuses. Methods The distribution of parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons in the hippocampal formation of human fetuses at 30 week were investigated by ABC immunocytochemical technique. Results The abundant parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons were localized in all regions of hippocampal formation, especially in the stratum pyramidale. In the stratum oriens of CA1\|3, the triangle or shuttle parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons with some processes were smaller and scattered in this layer. In the stratum pyramidale, the parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons distributed densely, and the processes run out to the stratum oriens and stratum moleculare. In the stratum moleculare the parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons were sparser than in the stratum oriens and stratum moleculare. The parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons in hilus were denser in the hippocampal formation, compared with the other regions, however, delamination of them was not distinct. The processes of parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons run out to the dentate gyrus. The parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons in the dentate gyrus were mainly localized in the stratum granule. Few immunoreactive neurons distributed in the other layers, which were lightly stained and with no processes. In the subicular complex, the lightly stained neurons with few processes were mainly localized in the stratum pyramidale. Conclusion The abundant parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons presented in all regions of the hippocampal formation, especially in the stratum pyramidale. However, the ripe time of these neurons might be different, neurons in CA3 and hilus were earlier than in the dentate gyrus and subicular complex.

AIM: To observe the effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on the subsequent permanent ischemic rat retina. METHODS: A model of two-vessel occlusion (2VO) was used to give an ischemic insult to rat retina. Bilateral carotid arteries were occluded directly in the simple ischemic groups. A procedure of double 2 min ischemia- 3 min reperfusion was applied to IPC groups before their carotid arteries were occluded. Experimental control groups received the same operation except that their exposed vessels were not occluded. Other 6 normal rats served as immunohistochemical controls. Eyeballs were taken out after being subjected to 1, 3 and 7 days of ischemia. The morphometry of retina was measured by stereologic methods. The apoptosis during the retinal ischemia was detected by TUNEL. Immunohistochemistry staining was used for the localization of bcl-2 in retina. RESULTS: In IPC groups, the thickness of retina was thinner than that in simple ischemic groups. The apoptosis was less when compared with the simple ischemic groups at the same ischemic time. The apoptotic cells show only in INL and the apoptosis of RGCs was not appeared until 7 days postischemia. There was no significant difference of the numerical density of RGCs at the different time after the operation. The bcl-2 immunoreactivity was weaker than that of the simple ischemic groups too. CONCLUSION: IPC reduced the injury caused by ischemia in retina, showing a protective effect.

BACKGROUND:No particularly effective medicine could treat human immunodeficiency virus 1(HIV 1) associated dementia(HAD) at present,which mainly because the mechanism of HIV 1 infection induced neural damage and necrosis is still not completely clarified. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of human immunodeficiency virus I type(HIV 1) enveloped protein(EP) gp120 on the synaptic transmission and plasticity in hippocampal CA1 area of rat to clarify the mechanism of HAD generation. DESIGN:A paired design. SETTING:Department of Pathophysiology of Medical College of Jinan University. MATERIALS:The study was conducted in the Department of Pathophysiology(a tertiary national key laboratory of National Administration for Traditional Chinese Medicine,registration number: TCM 03 131) of the Medical College of Jinan University from January to October of 2003.Male SD rats aged between 2 and 5 weeks were used in the study. INTERVENTIONS:Brain slice perfusion and recording technique was employed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:To record the excitatory postsynaptic potential(EPSP) in hippocampal CA1 area in rat;to investigate the effects of gp120 on long term potentiation(LTP) induced by high frequency electric stimulation in Schaffer lateral branch. RESULTS:gp120 had inhibitive effect on LTP in hippocampal CA1 area in rat [the average amplitude of LTP decreased from normal (216.1± 14.0) % to(90.8± 6.0) % ,n=12,P< 0.01],but had no effect on basic EPSP.PKA/PKC protein kinase(PK) inhibitor H7 could reverse this inhibitive effect [the average amplitude of LTP was(198.8± 16.2) % ,n=8,P< 0.01]. CONCLUSION:gp120 might participate the generation of HAD through inhibiting LTP in hippocampal CA1 area.

AIM: In order to understand the pathological changes, characteristic of degeneration in optic nerve and retina after strike of optic nerve. METHODS: According to methods of Allen's spinal injury, a 600gcm-strike power was put on the intraocular portion of the optic nerve and created a striking injury on optic nerve. After a survival interval of 48 h, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 3 months, the animal's optic nerves and retinas were collected and fixed for morphological examination. RESULTS: Forty-eight hours after nerve injuries, the optic nerves were slight enlargement and vacuolation. In 1 week, the optic nerve began to degenerate in injured part and the glia cell had proliferated, but the forms of retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) were normal. In 2 weeks, the vacuolation and focal necrosis were appeared between nerve fiber. The number of RGCs began to decrease. Condensed nuclei presented in the retina. In three month, the diameter of the optic nerve decreased in injury part and collo-scar was formed. The phenomenon mentioned above was more obviously. The internal nuclear neurons and outer nuclear neurons appeared rare. The thickness of retina decreased. The number of RGCs began to decrease in 48 hours and progressed thereafter. It decreased about 3.35%, 13.23%, 19.74%, 23.20%, 29.28% in 48 h, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months compared with the number of normal RGCs. RGCs began to apoptosis in 48 h. CONCLUSION: The model in this experiment could make definite uncompleted optic nerve and retina injuries. The degree of neuron injuries decreased from RGC, internal nuclear neurons to outer nuclear neurons. The number of RGCs began to decrease in 48 hours, and most quickly periods from 48 hours to one week.

Objective: To study the antiviral effect of polysaccharides from brown seaweed Lobophora variegata. Method: The crude polysaccharide was extracted with boiling water and precipitated with ethanol,and then fractionated with ion exchange chromatography. Its antiviral activity was tested by cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay and plaque reduction assay. The cytotoxicity of the water crude extract was determined by MTT method. Results: The crude water extract showed markedly antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2 including ACV resistant strain and clinical strains with low EC50 values of 18.2 and 6.25 μg/ml respectively. It also showed very low cytotoxicity to Vero, HEp-2 and MDCK cells. Therefore, the crude extract possessed high selective index for antiviral effect. It also had some inhibitory effect on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) but had no effect on influenza A virus. Two fractions were isolated from the water crude extract and they exhibited anti-HSV activity in the test of CPE reduction assay in Vero cells. Conclusion: Seaweed Lobophora variegata contains antiviral polysaccharides with high inhibitory effect on herpes simplex virus.

[Objective]To investigate the effects of the seed extract of Clausena lansium,N-methyl-N-cis-styryl-cinnamamide,on the penicillin-induced epilepsy in rats.[Methods]Thirty-two Sprague-Dawely rata were randomly divided into four groups with 8 rats in each group:normal control(20 mL/L Tween 80+Normal Saline),model control(20 mL/L Tween 80+Penicillin),low dose treatment(Cinnamamide 75 mg/kg+Penicillin),hish dose treatment(Cinnamamide 150 mg/kg+Penicillin).The epilepsy rat model was established by localized intracortical injections of penicillin.The effects of pretreatments of the rats with N-methyl-N-cis-styryl-cinnamamide(intraperitoneal injection,ip)on the penicillin-induced seizure activities and the epileptiform discharges recorded by electrocorticogram(ECoG)were observed.[Results]The penicillin-induced seizure was significantly lightened in both the pretreatment groups(75 and 150 mg/kg N-methyl-N-cis-styryl-cinnamamide),compared with the model group.N-methyl-N-cis-styryl-cinnamamide(75 and 150 mg/kg)could significantly prolonged the latency of epileptiform activities,shorten the duration of epileptiform discharges and decreased the mean spike frequency in the late stage(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).However,there was no significant difference in the highest value or the lowest value of the epileptiform waves between the model and cinnamamide treatment groups.[Conclusion]The seed extract of Clansena lansium,N-methyl-N-cis-styryl-cinnamamide,can significantly inhibit the seizure and epileptiform discharges caused by penicillin-localized injections in the cortex of rats,suggesting that the natural substance has an anticonvulsive function.

Objepctive To explore the protective effect of modified recombinant human aFGF ( Mrh-aFGF) on the neurons in ventral tegmental area of rats with Parkinson’ s disease ( PD) . Methods The 54 SD rats were ramdomly divided into the control group,the model group and the treatment group,and there were 18 rats in each group. PD rats of the model group and the treatment group were induced by in-jecting 6-OHDA into the left substantia nigra compacta ( SNC) and ventral tegmental area ( VTA) to build the PD model. Rats in the treat-ment group were given Mrh-aFGF injection after lateral ventricle injection,and the behavioral changes of the rats were detected after apomor-phine injection. The morphologic features and pathological changes of neurons in the ventral tegmental area were observed by Nissl’ s staining and electronic microscope. Results Compared to the right VTA of PD rats,the number of neurons in left side ( the injured side) decreased significantly in the model group(P<0. 05). In the treatment group,the structure of left (the injured side) VTA was markedly improved and the number of neurons was increased one week,two weeks and four weeks after operation compared with the model group (P<0. 05). The neurons in the VTA of the model group were found to have karyopyknosis,endoplasmic reticulum,degranulation,mitochondria swelling,cristae disappear,pre-synaptic and post-synaptic membranes swelling,and synaptic cleft disappear. In the treatment group,the ultrastructure of the neurons in the VTA,such as nuclei,mitochondria,synaptic structure,kept well compared to the model group. Conclusion Mrh-aFGF could protect the neurons in the ventral tegmental area from the loss and improve the ultrastructure of the neurons of PD rats.

Objective To observe the changes of rotation behavior and tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive neurons and investigate how Mrh-aFGF affects them in substantia nigra of Parkinson disease rats. Methods After building a rat model of Parkinson disease by injecting 6-OHDA into substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area,we used Mrh-aFGF to intervene rats by lateral ventricle injection to observe how behavior of rats induced by apomorphine and tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive neurons in substantia nigra of rats changes,then quantitatively analyzed the change of tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive neurons. Results Rotation behavior was not found in control group,otherwise,actuation time was shorted,time length was prolonged,and average velocity of rotation was accelerated in Parkinson disease rats(P

Objective: To study the influence of Xinmailong injection (XML) on the isolated thoracic aorta of rats in different states.Methods: A cumulative dosing method was utilized to evaluate the influence of XML on the isolated thoracic aorta of rats in resting state, and KCl or noradrenaline (NA) induced contracted state.Different tool drugs were used to analyze the mechanism of the effects.Results: Compared with the control group, a specific concentration range of XML could excite the isolated thoracic aorta in resting state, further increase the vascular tension after KCl action, while decrease the vascular tension after NA action.The vasodilative effect of XML on blood vessel after NA action was inhibited by propranolol and diclofenac, while showed no influence from Nω-Nitro-L-arginine.Conclusion: XML has different effects on the isolated thoracic aorta of rats in different states, and the mechanisms of the effects are related to calcium channel, β-receptor and prostaglandins.

This experiment was designed to observe the morphologic changes of aortic endothelial cells in diabetic rats and to investigate the influence of hyperglycemia. Diabetic rats were used and their aortic endothelial cells were observed under atomic force microscope, then these pictures were 3D reconstructed. The results showed that numerous microvilli and round window-hollow-like structures and insect- bitten-like caveloae were scattered on the surface of the vascular endothelia, and a few ball-like granules were adhering to the endothelial cells. In diabetic rats, microvilli decreased and the cells looked as if they were weather-beaten rocks. The adhering ball-like granules in the diabetic group were significantly more than those in the control group. They were most numerous at 12 weeks. The insect-bitten-like caveloae began deepening at 7 weeks, and their diameters markedly increased at 12 weeks, but they decreased in number. After 3D figures were reconstructed, the surface of cells manifested smoothness. However, in diabetic rats, the morphology of their endothelial cells was characterized by roughness and small surface projections. The quantitative results showed that the average roughness increased gradually as the experiment time prolonged. These indicate that excess sugar in the blood may destroy the endothelial structure, make the cells rougher, and hence cause the protein granules to adhere onto the endothelial cells. At the same time, the deepening and enlargement of the insect-bitten-like caveloae may indicate the increasing endocytosis.
Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; pathology ; Endothelial Cells ; pathology ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley