In recent years, the rapid development of stem cell transforming technology and regeneration pose great re?search value. With maturation of transformation induction, other cell lineages were shown to be able to transform into neu?rons. In addition, astrocytes are widely distributed in the gray and white matter of the central nervous system, whose exces?sive proliferation contribute to glial fibrillary scar formation, which is the key obstacle in recovery of neurological function. Therefore, the study of transforming astrocytes into neurons draw attention from many scientists. Astrocytes transformation not only prevent the formation of glial scar, but also generate new neurons. This article summarized relevant studies that re?port function of astrocytes and its transformation into neurons.

Objective To analyze the efficacy of kaolin intake amount as an index for motion sickness (MS)induced by different motion patterns stimulating the vestibular receptors of rats.Methods Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups.Three groups were subjected to one of the following stimulations,respectively-linear acceleration along either the interaural axis(IA)or body axis (AP),and double rotation(DR)stimulation.Other 2 groups were used as control.Kaolin intake was recorded for consecutive 6 d,3 d before and 3 d after stimulation,and the data were statistically analyzed.Results It was found that:1)following IA,AP and DR stimulations,25%,17% and 58% of the rats in each group increased mean kaolin intake by 1 g in the 3 d phase post-stimulation compared with that in the same duration of pre-stimulation,respectively;2)in contrast to some prewous reports,the present observation showed that high Ievel of kaolin intake post-stimulation may persist for more than one day.Conclusion All 3 tvpes of stimulation methods can serve as ways of specifically stimulating vestibular end-organs to induce kaolin intake increase,and double rotation iS the most effective.

Objective To investigate the effect of the overexpression of NeuroD1 on mediating transdifferentiation of spinal reactive astrocytes into neurons. Methods Spinal cord astrocytes were cultured from the SD rat, and reactive astrocytes were prepared by scratches treatment. Cells were divided into blank groups (NV group), control virus group (GFP group) and NeuroD1 virus group (NeuroD1 group). At 7 d after scratches treatment, GFP and NeuroD1 groups were infected with retroviruses carrying the GFP gene and and GFP gene plus NeuroD1 gene, respectively,whereas NV group was not infected with the virus. Twenty-four hours late, the culture medium were replaced by neuron conditioned medi?um. Cell morphology was examined at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14 d. DCX positive and NeuN positive cells were detected at 7 d and 14 d after infection by using immunofluorescence staining method, respectively. Results After replacement with the neuron conditioned medium, the nucleus was obviously plump, the cytoplasm was thin and neurites was reduced and ex?tended. Compared with the NeuroD1 group, neurites of NV group and GFP group were shorter with many branches and the nucleus was smaller. At 7 d after infection, cell morphology of NV group and GFP group gradually recovered, but cell morphology of NeuroD1 group did not. Compared with NV group and GFP group, NeuroD1 group had more DCX(9.84 ± 2.06%)and NeuN(8.25±2.78%)positive cells [F values 40.107 for DCX and 21.73 for NeuN (P<0.05)]. Conclusion The overexpression of NeuroD1 can mediate the transdifferentiation of spinal reactive astrocytes into neurons.

Objective To evaluate the role of hypoxia inducible factor?1α ( HIF?1α) in reduction of apoptosis in cortical neurons of rats by sevoflurane preconditioning and the relationship with Slit2∕Robo signaling pathway. Methods Primary cortical neurons obtained from neonatal Sprague?Dawley rats were seeded in 6?well (2 ml∕well) or 96?well plates (100 μl∕well) at a density of 1×106∕ml, and randomly divided into 4 groups ( n=24 each ) using a random number table: control group ( C group ) , anoxia?reoxygenation ( A∕R ) group, sevoflurane preconditioning group ( SP group ) and HIF?1α inhibitor 2?methoxyestradiol group ( H group ) . The neurons were subjected to O2?glucose deprivation for 90 min followed by restoration of O2?glucose supply for 24 h. In group SP, the neurons were exposed to 2%sevoflurane for 2 h followed by 5 min washout with phosphate buffered saline for 3 times, and then sevoflurane preconditioning was performed immediately. In group H, sevoflurane preconditioning was performed with 5μmol∕L 2?methoxyestradiol at 72 h of incubation. The apoptosis in neurons was assessed using AnnexinⅤ?FITC∕PI assay, and apoptosis rate ( AR) was calculated. The amount of lactic dehydrogenase ( LDH) released was measured using colorimetric method. The expression of Slit2, Robo1 and Robo4 mRNA and protein was detected by fluorescent quantitative real?time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot. Results Compared with group C, the amount of LDH released and AR were significantly increased, Silt2 and Robo1 mRNA and protein expression was up?regulated, and no significant change was found in Robo4 mRNA and protein expression in A∕R group. Compared with group A∕R, the amount of LDH released and AR were significantly decreased in SP and H groups, and Silt2 and Robo1 mRNA and protein expression was up?regulated, and no significant change was found in Robo4 mRNA and protein expression in SP group. Compared with group SP, the amount of LDH released and AR were significantly increased, and Silt2 and Robo1 mRNA and protein expression was down?regulated in H group. Conclusion HIF?1α mediates reduction of apoptosis in cortical neurons of rats by sevoflurane preconditioning, and the mechanism is associated with Slit2∕Robo1 signaling pathway, but not with Slit2∕Robo4 signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the role of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in reduction of apoptosis in cortical neurons of rats by sevoflurane preconditioning.Methods Primary cortical neurons obtained from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were seeded in 6-well plates (2 ml/well),and randomly divided into 4 groups (n =15 each) using a random number table:control group (C group),anoxiareoxygenation (A/R) group,sevoflurane preconditioning group (SP group) and HIF-1α inhibitor 2-methoxyestradiol group (H group).The neurons were subjected to O2-glucose deprivation for 90 min followed by restoration of O2-glucose supply for 24 h.In group SP,the neurons were exposed to 2.0％ sevoflurane for 2 h followed by 5 min washout for 3 times,and then sevoflurane preconditioning was performed immediately.In group H,sevoflurane preconditioning was performed at 72 h of incubation with 5 μmol/L 2-methoxyestradiol.The apoptosis in neurons was assessed using Annexin V-FITC/PI assay,and apoptosis rate was calculated.The expression of Bid,Bim,Puma and activated caspase-3 in neurons was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with group C,apoptosis rate was significantly increased,and the expression of Bid,Bim,Puma and activated caspase-3 was up-regulated in group A/R.Compared with group A/R,apoptosis rate was significantly decreased,and the expression of Bid,Bim,Puma and activated caspase-3 was down-regulated in group SP.Compared with group SP,apoptosis rate was significantly increased,and the expression of Bid,Bim,Puma and activated caspase-3 was up-regulated in group H.Conclusion HIF-1α mediates reduction of apoptosis in rat neurons by sevoflurane preconditioning,and down-regulated expression of Bid,Bim,and Puma is involved in the mechanism.

Objective To explore the relationship of sevoflurane neurotoxicity with the expres-sion of Bid,Bim,Puma.Methods The cortical neuron from newborn SD rat (within 24 h)were see-ded in 6 or 12 well plate,and then randomly divided into 4 groups.Rat culture cortical neurons in vitro exposed in 1%,2%,4% and 0% sevoflurane for 6h were divided into A,B,C and D group. The effect of neuron viability,death and apoptosis were assessed using CCK-8,LDH and caspase-3 cleavage 1 7kDa expression assay.The expressions of Bid,Bim and Puma were assessed by western blot.Results Compared with group D, there were significant increases of neuron death and apoptosis,but a decrease of neuron viability,and upregulated expressions of Bid,Bim and Puma in group B (P <0.05);Compared with group B,Group C had increased death and apoptosis and de-creased viability of neurons,as well as upregulated expressions of Bid,Bim and Puma (P <0.05 ). Conclusion Along with the increase of the concentration,sevoflurane neurotoxicity was increased by upregulation of Bid,Bim,Puma expression.

Objective To investigate the expression of exogenous gene transferred by piggyBac (PB) transposon in various gynecological malignant cell lines and reveal its potential application of gene therapy in gynecological cancer.Methods Amplified herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene coding region by PCR and integrated it into PB expression vector, PB[Act-RFP]DS, for reconstructing PB[Act-RFP, HSV-tk]DS (pPB/TK).By using different transfection reagents: FuGENE HD, jetPEI, lipofectamine 2000, pPB/TK together with helper plasmid Act-PBase were cotransfected into four mostly common gynecological malignant tumor cell lines HeLa, JEG-3, SKOV3 and HEC-1B.The mRFP1 report gene expressions was observed and detected by fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry to analyze transfection efficiency.The expressions of HSV-tk and mRFP1 gene were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR).The cytotoxic effect of various concentration of pro-drug ganciclovir (GCV) for transfected cells was detected by methyl thiazole tetrazolium assay.The transfected cells were positive sorted by flow cytometry and limiting diluted to obtain the stable transfected cell line.The insertion sites of foreign gene tranferred by PB transposon in genome were analyzed by inverse PCR.Results (1) Double digests analysis and sequences test demonstrated that pPB/TK vector was reconstructed successfully.(2) Using three different transfective reagents, PB trausposon transferred HSV-tk gene and mRFP1 gene into HeLa, HEC-1 B, SKOV3 and JEG-3 cell efficiently, and the transfection efficiency of pPB/TK for the same cell was different by using different transfective reagents; in Hela cell, the transfection efficiency of FuGENE HD [(78.7 ± 9.2) %]was higher than that of lipofectamine 2000 [(54.1 ± 11.4) %]and jetPEI [(46.5 ± 7.4) %, all P < 0.05] ; using the same transfective reagent, the transfection efficiency of pPB/TK was also different on various cell lines, using FuGENE HD, the transfeetion efficiency of pPB/TK on HeLa, JEG-3 and SKOV3 cell was (78.7 ± 9.2) %, (74.4 ± 8.9) % and (83.2 ± 9.7) % respectively, which all were higher than that on HEC-1B [(39.5 ± 8.7) %, P < 0.05] .(3) RT-PCR showed that there were the mRNA expression of HSV-tk and mRFP1 in all cell lines.(4) 50% inhibitory concentration of GCV for transfected cells, HeLa, JEG-3, SKOV3 and HEC-1B, was 1.29, 3.35, 0.09 and 13.28 μg/ml respectively.Inhibitory effect of GCV (10 μg/ml) on SKOV3 transfected with pPB/TK was (86 ± 9) %, which was superior to that transfected with pORF-HSVtk alone [(52 ± 12)%, P < 0.05] .(5) The insertion sites of PB transposon in the target cells genome were located at TTAA sites, mRFP1 expression still could be detected in three months after transfected.Conclusions PB transposon could transfer exogenous gene into various gynecological malignant cells, which could integrated into genome and obtain a long-term and stable expression.It is expected that PB transposon may supply a more efficient and safer transgene technology platform for gene therapy in gynecological cancer.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head （ONFH） is a painful and debilitating disease caused by impaired blood supply to the femoral head and cellular and tissue degeneration， leading to gradual destruction of the bone structure and progressive collapse of the femoral head. The main pathological mechanism of ONFH is the disruption of the balance between bone absorption and the reconstruction of new bone， resulting from microcirculation damage and decreased cellular tissue ability. This imbalance leads to biomechanical changes and accelerates the pathological progression of ONFH. In the early stages， clinical manifestations may not be obvious， mainly presenting as pain or discomfort in the hip or groin area， which can be relieved after rest. In the later stage of the disease， pain intensifies， and limb shortening， lower limb weakness， difficulty walking， or limping may occur. Currently， western medicine commonly uses osteogenic agents， anticoagulants， and artificial joint replacement for treatment， but there are also many issues such as prosthesis loosening and infection. Research has shown that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment of ONFH takes a holistic approach and employs multi-functional， multi-target， and multi-system Chinese medicine therapies， ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. The osteoprotegerin （OPG）/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB （RANK）/RANK ligand （RANKL） signaling pathway plays a crucial role in maintaining the dynamic balance of bone remodeling. TCM treatments utilize this pathway to promote apoptosis of osteoclasts， reduce bone resorption， and accelerate bone formation， thereby playing an important role in the prevention and treatment of ONFH. This paper reviewed the role of OPG/RANK/RANKL signaling pathway and related cytokine expression in ONFH by reviewing relevant literature in China and abroad and research status of Chinese medicinal monomers， Chinese medicinal formulations， and combinations with physical therapy in increasing osteoblast secretion， promoting OPG expression， enhancing cytokine expression levels， and inhibiting osteoclast activity for the prevention and treatment of ONFH. This paper is expected to provide new ideas and directions for TCM in the prevention and treatment of ONFH.