The successful establishment of animal models of cardiac arrest-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA-CPR) undoubtedly provided an important basis for exploring the method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS). However, pathophysiology varied with the etiology of cardiac arrest (CA). Therefore, preparation of similar animal models according to etiology was the basis for pathophysiological changes research. Compared with other animals, the rabbits had both the advantages of large and small animals, so they became common research object for the CA-CPR model. This paper reviewed the common methods of animal models of CA-CPR in rabbits. In this review, the methods, criteria, advantages, disadvantages and precautions of each model were analyzed, which would provide useful reference for CPR researchers.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a pituitary glycoprotein hormone that is essential for the development of ovarian follicles and testicular seminiferous tubules. The relatively short half-life of FSH in vivo requires daily injections for more than 10 days that is inconvenient and possibly contribute to the stress perceived by the patients. The goal of the present study was to increase FSH glycosylation, in order to develop a long-acting recombinant FSH. The cDNA of native alpha and beta subunit of human FSH was linked by a sequence with two N-linked glycosylation sites, and the resulted DNA was inserted into pcDNA3.1 vector to generate a recombinant vector of pcDNA3.1-FSH. The pcDNA3.1-FSH was linearized and transfected into CHO-K1, positive transformants were selected by G418 and confirmed by PCR and Western blotting. A single chain recombinant FSH was expressed, with molecular weight of about 49 kDa. The recombinant FSH expression level in CHO-K1 cell strain in serum-free culture was 3 mg/L. Single injection of this recombinant FSH could induce folliculogenesis and ovulation in rats, the efficacy was similar with the commercially available FSH preparation (Folltropin-V) administrated 8 times consecutively. The results suggested a long-acting FSH was produced successfully.
Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human ; biosynthesis ; Genetic Vectors ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Ovarian Follicle ; drug effects ; Ovulation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Transfection

Connexin43 has been shown to play a pivotal role in wound healing process. Wound repair is enhanced by acute downregulation of connexin43, by increasing proliferation and migration of keratinocyte and fibroblast. Angiogenesis is also a central feature of wound repair, but little is known about the effects of connexin43 modulation on functions of endothelial cells. We used connexin43 specific small interference RNA (siRNA) to reduce the expression of connexin43 in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC), and investigated the effects of connexin43 downregulation on intercellular communication, viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of HUVEC. Treatment of siRNA markedly reduced the expression of connexin43 by -80% in HUVEC (P < 0.05), and decreased the intercellular communication by -65% (P < 0.05). The viability, proliferation, migration and angiogenic activity of HUVEC decreased significantly (P < 0.05), compared with that of the normal cells. The results suggest that temporally downregulation of connexin43 expression at early stage of wound to inhibit the abnormal angiogenesis characterized with leaky and inflamed blood vessels, maybe a prerequisite for coordinated normal healing process.
Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; Wound Healing

Objective To study the changes of PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway during resuscitation with neck cooling in order to explore the relationship between the protective effect of neck cooling and the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt and GSK3β.Methods Thirty rabbits were randomly(random number) divided into five groups, and models of cadiac arrest were induced by ventricular fibrillation(VF, the positive electrode in the right ventricle and negative pole on the apex of heart) for 4 min.In sham group,a electrode was placed into right ventricle without electric current conducted, and CA was not induced.The rabbits were sacrificed and specimens were taken at 24 hours after modeling.In normothermia treat group(NT group),resuscitation was carried out to restoration of spontaneous circulation(ROSC),and the rabbits were sacrificed and specimens were taken at 24 hours after modeling.In intra-arrest therapeutic hypothermia group (IATH group), rapid neck cooling was initiated at the same time with CPR,and the target brain temperature was set at 34 ℃ maintained for 4 hours after ROSC.Rabbits were sacrificed and specimens were taken at 24 hours after modeling.In recovery period cooling + LY294002 group(PATH+LY294002 group), LY294002 was injected intra-ventricularly at 20 minutes before resuscitation.Rapid neck cooling was started at the same time with CPR,and the target brain temperature was set at 34 ℃ maintained for 4 hours after ROSC.The rabbits were sacrificed and specimens were taken at 24 hours after modeling.In post-arrest therapeutic hypothermia group (PATH group), rapid neck cooling was begun after CPR for 1 hour,and the target brain temperature was set at 34 ℃ maintained for 4 hours after ROSC.The rabbits were sacrificed and specimens were taken at 24 hours after modeling.Animals were sacrificed by using overdose anesthetic drug.Western blot was used to detect the level of Akt p-Akt GSK-3β p-GSK-3β (ser9) protein, and TUNEL was used to observe apoptosis of tissues in each group.Multiple comparisons were performed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results Compared with Sham group, Akt (Thr-308) phosphorylation (P-AKT) and P-GSK-3β levels in the brain neuron cytoplasm in 24 hours after CPR resuscitation in NT group was significantly reduced, and showed a gradual reduction trend (P<0.05);the P-AKT and P-GSK-3β levels in the brain neuron cytoplasm in 24 hours after CPR resuscitation in IATH group were significantly enhanced compared with NT group (P<0.05);the levels of these two kinds of protein at one hour after resuscitation in PATH group were significantly enhanced compared with NT group (P<0.05), but lower in IATH group.Intra-ventricularly injection of LY294002 made the effect of hypothermia lost, indicating that LY294002 inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt.Apoptosis cells were significantly reduced in IATH group and normothermia theatment group compared with PATH group and LY294002 group(P<0.05).Conclusions Neck cooling can reduce apoptosis in rabbit brain cells after recovery, and the protective effect on brain is best in intra-arrest therapeutic hypothermia group.LY294002 specifically block the PI3K/Akt pathway, and the protective effect of cooling on the brain can be abolished,indicating hypothermia protects the neurological function via activation of PI3K/Akt pathway.Neck cooling protects the neurological function by activating PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β, promoting the Akt activation, and increasing the expression of P-GSK3β.Specific Akt inhibitor LY294002 inhibits Akt phosphorylation of brain tissue recovery and further inhibit the phosphorylation of GSK-3β, thus abolishing protective effect of cooling on neurological function.

Objective To examine the effects and mechanisms of siRNA targeting aquaporin 4 (AQP 4) in combination with hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBO) on cerebral edema and apoptosis in the brain tissue of rats after hemorrhage.Methods Rats were randomly divided into four groups,the control group,the hyperbaric oxygen group,the AQP-4 siRNA group and the combination therapy group (24 rats).Thrombin Ⅶ was injected into the caudate nucleus to establish the hemorrhage model.Construction of siRNA targeting aquaporin 4 was conducted.The mRNA expression of AQP-4 was detected by RT-PCR at day 3.Changes in brain moisture and blood-brain barrier perme ability were measured by a wet/dry weight method and Evans blue fluorometry.The nerve cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by Annexin V andTdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL).The expression of proteins including AQP-4,MMP-2,MMP-9,Bcl-2 and caspase-3 was detected by Western Blotting.All the animals were given a score for their nerve function at day 3.Results AQP-4 siRNA treatment obtained better effects than HBO in decreasing the brain edema leveland silencing AQP-4 mRNA(P＜0.05)while,the combination therapy group achieved the best results(P＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the percentage of apoptotic cells decreased in all the three treatment groups,with the most marked decrease observed in the combination treatment group(4.24± 0.04)％(F=13.76,P=0.001).The expression of AQP-4,MMP-2,MMP-9 and caspase-3 was lower (P＜0.05) and the expression of Bcl-2 was higher(P＜0.01)in the combination treatment group than in the other three groups.Compared with the control group,all the other three groups received better scores on nerve function defect evaluation at day 3 after hemorrhage(P＜0.05),with the combination treatment group again achieving the most favorable score (4.7 ± 1.1) (F=7.21,P =0.013).Conclusions Targeted siRNA interference combined with hyperbaric oxygen can effectively reduce cerebral edema after cerebral hemorrhage,inhibit neuronal apoptosis and promote neuron function recovery.The underlying mechanisms may be related to down-regulation of AQP-4,MMP 2,MMP-9 and caspase-3 expression and up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the level of serum testosterone and atherosclerosis in middle-aged and elderly men.

METHODSWe conducted a population-based study of 413 males aged 40-75 years in a community in Guangzhou. We obtained the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical data, physical measurements, and laboratory results of sex hormones, blood glucose, and blood lipid of the subjects. We also measured the carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) by color Doppler ultrasonography.

RESULTSThe subjects were divided into a carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) group (CIMT ≥ 0.9 mm) and a non-CAS group (CIMT < 0.9 mm). The medians of free testosterone (FT) were 57.41 and 59.72 pmol/L in the CAS and non-CAS groups, respectively (P = 0.005), and no significant difference was found between the two groups in total testosterone (TT). The levels of serum FT and TT were negatively correlated to CIMT, with Spearman's rank correlation coefficients of -0.126 (P = 0.011) and -0.188 (P < 0.001), respectively. The incidence rates of CAS were 23.30, 13.46, 17.48, and 7.77% in the Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups, respectively according to the quartile of FT (P for trend = 0.008) and 17.48, 18.27, 16.50, and 9.71% respectively according to the quartile of TT (P for trend = 0.116). Based on the quartile of FT and after adjustment for age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and HbAlc, the risk of CAS was significantly increased in the Q1 group as compared with Q4 (OR = 2.491, 95% CI 1.01-6.149), but no statistically significant differences were observed according to the quartile of TT.

CONCLUSIONA low serum FT level may be a risk factor of atherosclerosis in Chinese men aged 40 years or older.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; blood ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Wulongdan on the learning and memory abilities of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia and explore the mechanisms.

METHODSMale SD Rat models of chronic cerebral ischemia were established by permanent ligation of the bilateral carotid arteries. Three weeks after the operation, the rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, chronic cerebral ischemia group (model group), high-dose drug group, low-dose drug group and Yinxingye group and received the corresponding treatments on a daily basis for 5 consecutive weeks. Morris water maze was used to assess the learning and memory abilities of the rats, and Western blotting was carried out for detecting the expressions of NR1 and NR2B in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the rats in high-dose drug, low-dose drug and Yinxingye groups showed significantly shorter time of finding platform in Morris water maze test (P<0.05 or 0.01). The rats in the model group showed significantly lowered expressions of NR1 and NR2B of the cortex and hippocampus than those in the sham-operated group (P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, the high-dose Wulongdan group and Yinxingye group both showed significantly increase expressions of NR1 and NR2B (P<0.01), but their expression levels still remained significantly lower than those in the sham-operated group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONWulongdan can enhance the learning and memory abilities of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia, the mechanisms of which may involve increased expressions of NR1 and NR2B in the hippocampus and cortex.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of repeated gonadotropic stimulations on the developmental potential and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) expression of mouse oocytes.

METHODSFemale Kunming mice were treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for 3 times, and the control mice were treated with normal saline. The two groups of mice were both stimulated subsequently to obtain the mature oocytes. Immunocytochemical staining was employed to evaluate GDF-9 expression in the oocytes. The oocytes were then inseminated and cultured till the formation of blastocysts to compare the cleavage rate and blastocyst formation rate between the groups.

RESULTSA total of 253 mature oocytes were obtained in the repeated stimulation group, with a mean of 11.5 oocytes from each mouse; 521 mature oocytes were obtained in the control group with a significantly greater mean number of 32.6 from each mouse (P<0.05). The average optical density and integrated optical density for GDF-9 expression were significantly lower in the oocytes in repeated stimulation group than in the control group (P<0.05 and 0.01, respectively). After insemination, the cleavage rate were comparable between repeated stimulation group and the control group (85.6% vs 88.8%), but the blastocyst formation rate was significantly lower in repeated stimulation group (20.8% vs 35.2%, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONRepeated gonadal stimulation decreases the developmental potential of mouse oocytes possibly due to reduced GDF-9 expression.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Gonadotropins ; pharmacology ; Growth Differentiation Factor 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Oocytes ; cytology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Ovulation Induction ; adverse effects ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of acupuncture on the expression of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) in the subcutaneous fascia of SD rats.

METHODSEighteen SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=3) including 5 acupuncture groups and a control group. The rats in the 5 acupuncture groups received electro-acupuncture therapy in the regions of the inguinal groove, and at 0, 1, 6, 12, and 36 h after the last therapy, the superfacial fascia surrounding the acupuncture point (about 1.5 cm in diameter) were collected. The fascia tissues at the corresponding sites and at the acupoint Zusanli (ST36) were obtained from the control rats. The expression of ERK1/2 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in the tissues were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 expressions were detected in the tissues harvested from both the acupoint and the non-acupoint in the control rats with similar expression intensities. In the rats of each acupuncture group, ERK1/2 expression was significantly increased on the acupuncture side in comparison with the control side.

CONCLUSIONThe normal loose connective tissue may participate in tissue proliferation and differentiation possibly via phosphorylation of ERK. Acupuncture can promote the signal transduction pathway of ERK, which can be a possible mechanism for the effect of acupuncture in modulating the physiopathological conditions.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Fascia ; enzymology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; Time Factors

Objective To determine the prevalence rates and risk factors of hyperuricemia(HUA) and gout among residents aged over 20 years in Foshan areas. Methods A randomly stratified cluster sampling was conducted, and 7403 inhabitants were investigated on their prevalence rates of HUA and gout. Results (1) The prevalence of HUA was 15.09%, and the standardized rate was 15.27%, in which the prevalence in males was 19.90% and females was 10.54%. The prevalence of gout was 1.04% and the standardized rate was 1.08%,in which the prevalence in males was 1.73%and females was 0.39%. The prevalence of gout in patients with HUA was 6.89%. (2) Average serum uric acid was (336.4 ± 81.5) μmol/L, with (347.1 ± 88.6) μmol/L in males and (289.7±78.6) μmol/Lin females. The serum uric acid levels in male patients with HUA was higher than those in women.(3) Age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum uric acid, blood sugar, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol were significantly higher in patients with HUA and gout than in the normal group (P＜0.05-0.01). The incidence rates of patients with hyperuricemia and gout in the following indices as: overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P＜0.05). Patients having gout in the following indices as age, TG, serum uric acid levels were significantly higher than the HUA group (P＜0.05).(4) Data from non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that age, overweight, hypertension,diabetes, hyperlipidemia, use of diuretics, family history, alcohol uptake, eating seafood and drinking meat broth, post-menopausal women, and other factors were similar to those factors as patients with hyperuicemia. Tea, fresh vegetables, fruits seemed to be the protective factors. Conclusion Both the prevalence rates of HUA and gout had significantly increased in Foshan areas in recent years.Restricting the intake of food with rich purine, alcohol intake as well as controlling obesity and blood pressure, improving the status of lipid metabolic disorder together with programs as hypertension control etc. were important measures in the strategies on prevention and treatment on hyperuricemia and gout.