OBJECTIVETo observe protective effects of Schisandra extract (SE) on embryotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of early pregnant rats exposed to Benzo[a]pyrene (Bap).

METHODSPregnant rat model was prepared using periodic screening cage method. Totally 50 female pregnant SD rats were divided into five groups by randomized block design according to the weight, i.e., the BaP model group, the low dose SE group, the middle dose SE group, the high dose SE group, the normal control group, 10 rats in each group. Rats in the BaP model group were administered with BaP at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in low, middle, and high dose SE groups were administered by gastrogavage with BaP (at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg) plus SE at a daily dose of 40, 200, and 1 000 mg/kg, respectively. Equal volume of olive oil was administered to rats in the normal control group by gastrogavage. All medication was performed for 8 successive days. Changes of rat body weight in each period were observed. The uterus embryonic total quality and ovary quality were measured, and organ index calculated. The number of corpus luteum, the number of embryo implantation, and the number of absorbed embryo were statistically calculated respectively. The implantation rate and the absorbed embryos rate were calculated. Serum levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin β (β-HCG) and progesterone (PROG) were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the weight of 9-day pregnant rats, the number of embryo implantation, the uterus embryonic total index, ovary index, serum levels of β-HCG and PROG all decreased in the Bap model group with significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the Bap model group, body weight, the uterus embryonic total index, and the PROG level increased in 3 dose SE groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Ovary index and serum β-HCG increased in middle and high dose SE groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The number of implantation obviously increased in the high dose SE groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSE could reduce the embryotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of early pregnant rats exposed to Benzo[a]pyrene.

Animals ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Embryo Implantation ; drug effects ; Female ; Ovary ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Uterus ; drug effects

Objective To study the anti-fatigue effects of enzymatic hydrolyzed protein from Pinctada martensii.Methods Swimming time,contents of liver glycogen and serum urea nitrogen after swimming were determined.Results Three dosages of EPA were all able to prolong swimming time and decrease liver glycogen consumption and serum urea nitrogen content after exhausted swimming in various degree.Conclusion The EAP has evident anti-fatigue effects.

Chitosan oligosaccharide(COS)is the N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucosamine oligomer linked to β(1→4)glycoside bond, which is an amino oligosaccharide with positive charge. GOS can be prepared via the deacetylation and hydrolysis of chitin from the exoskeleton of arthropod and insect and the cell wall of fungi. GOS is soluble in water, not cytotoxic, easy to be absorbed through intestinal tract, and mainly excreted from urine. COS and its derivatives have been known to have a variety of biological activities, including the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective and antioxidant activities. This paper reviews the research progress in the preparation method, pharmacokinetics, bioactivity and the safety of GOS in recent years, hoping to provide a reference for related future researches.

Objective To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE)and the underlying mechanism of immunoregulation.Method The Wistar rats were used to establish EAE model.After oral administration of 2, 8 mg? kg~(1)?d~(1)of atorvastatin, the rats were examined for the development of neurological signs, changes of histopathology and the expression of IL-4 and MMP-9.Result Though high dose treatment with atorvastatin, the frequency of EAE attacks degreased from 76.67% to 33.33%(P=0.008);the extent of inflammation degreased from 3.2?1.1 to 1.3?0.4(P=0.01);and the number of MMP-9 positive cells degreased from 37?7 to 26?5(P= 0.001), the expression of IL-4 could be increased from(0.35?0.12)ng/ml to(0.68?0.23)ng/ml (P=0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin can reduce the inflammation and produce the recover of the neurological harm because of the changes of MMP-9 and IL-4.

Background Noninvasive methods such as in vivo confocal microscopy and Orbscan Ⅱ corneal topography have been used to examine ocular surface structure at the cellular level.However,very few domestic reports about the corneal structures of experimental animals investigated by confocal microscopy are available.Objective This study was to compare the anatomical differences of the corneal structures of three frequently used experimental animals presented by in vivo confocal microscopy,and to offer a database on the information provided by the in vivo study of the corneal structures of these animals.Methods Bilateral corneas of 3 clean adult male New Zealand rabbits,3 clean adult male Lewis rats and 3 clean adult male Swiss mice were examined by in vivo confocal microscopy.The morphological characteristics of every layer of the corneas and the endothelial cell densities were analyzed and compared.Results Superficial epithelium cells of the three animal models were characterized as polygon cells with high or low reflective border.The arrangement of the basal epithelial cells was regular with tight contacts but these cells lacked visible nuclei.The Bowman' s layer of cornea presented as an amorphous sheet containing abundant subepithelial plexus.In the rabbits,a highly reflective structure in the corneal stroma wasconfirmed as the nucleus,and the cell density of the posterior stroma was significantly lower than that of anterior stroma(387.5 cells/mm2 versus 223.5 cells/mm2)(U =0.000,P =0.000).Massive light-reflecting astreoids were displayed in the stroma of the rats and the mice.Corneal endothelial cells(CECs)of the three animal models had similar shapes and arrangements,presenting with high refractive cell bodies with dark borders and honeycomb-like arrangements.The CECs densities were 2192.5,1936.0,1565.0 cells/mm2 in the New Zealand rabbits,Lewis rats and Swiss mice,respectively,showing a statistically significant difference among them(H =49.940,P =0.000),and that of the rabbits was significantly higher than that in the rats and mice(x2 =0.000,P =0.000;x2 =0.000,P=0.000).Significant difference was also seen between the rats and the mice in the CECs densities(x2=0.000,P=0.000).Conclusions The CECs of the three animal modes are similar in morphology.But the structures of their stromal cells and endothelial cell densities are different.The combination of in vivo confocal microscopy and Orbscan Ⅱ corneal topography offers high-resolution imaging for each layer of the cornea.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) on evaluation the cardiopulmonary function of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods The cardiopulmonary function of 54 stable COPD patients with the cardiopulmonary function of Ⅱ~Ⅳ were evaluated, following a symptom-limited Steep protocol with simultaneous respiratory gas measurement,they were performed exercise tests on a treadmill, simultaneously the oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2),peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), minute ventilation (VE), and respiratory gas exchange rate (RER) were measured. OUES was derived from the relation between VO2 and VE during incremental exercise and was determined by VO2=algVE+b, where a=OUES, to measure anaerobic threshold (VAT) meanwhile. Results OUES correlated with the VO2peak (P<0.001). 75% OUES, 90% OUES and 100% OUES were not significantly different (F=0.239, P=0.830). Conclusion OUES can respond the cardiopulmonary function in patients with COPD, 75% OUES from sub-maximal exercise can be an index for cardiopulmonary function.

Objective To investigate the spatiotemporal expression patterns of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) receptors type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ and their relationships with development of outflow tract(OFT) in mouse embryonic heart. Methods Serial sections of mouse embryos from embryonic day 9 (E9d) to embryonic day 14 (E14d) were stained using PAP immunohistochemical methods. Results Expressions of TGF-β receptors type Ⅰ (TGF-βRⅠ) and type II(TGF-βRⅡ) in the myocardial wall of OFT started at E10d, reached the reflection with splanchnic epithelium on the dorsal wall of the pericardial cavity at E11d. At E12d, expression intensity of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ in myocardium increased to its highest level, and TGF-βRⅡ positive mesenchymal cells in OFT ridges could be detected. After E13d the staining intensity of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ decreased rapidly,and at E14d,their expressions had fallen at the lowest.Conclusion The expressions of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ in OFT are confined to the period of E10d to E14d, they may play important roles in regulating the myocardial cell proliferation, remodeling and septation of OFT, and promoting the differentiation from mesenchymal cells in the secondary heart field into smooth muscle cells in the distal end of OFT.

The method of homogeneity evaluation for active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) spatial distribution in lyophilized product was investigated for the first time with confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy mapping, using pemetrexed disodium for injection as a model drug. Certain areas of the lyophilized product were scanned to obtain Raman spectra. The classical method ("peak clipping" method) was employed for mapping with characteristic Raman peaks of the API and the excipient. Due to the API being finely dispersed in the excipient in lyophilized products, the classical method cannot discriminate between the two ingredients making the distribution homogeneity difficult to evaluate. The "ratio of characteristic peak intensities" method was then utilized. Using this method, the relative intensity of the characteristic Raman peaks of the API to the excipient was applied for mapping and the relative content of API to excipient was calculated for a homogeneity evaluation of the drug distribution. The validation of this method showed a good linear relationship between the relative intensity and the relative content of API to excipient (r² > 0.99), and the precision and recovery were adequate for homogeneity evaluation of API by Raman spectroscopy mapping. Five products of pemetrexed disodium for injection from different manufacturers were tested through Raman maps applying this method and the histograms of relative Raman intensity were also plotted by frequency to help the homogeneity evaluation of drug distribution. The results showed that there were obvious differences in the drug distribution homogeneity from different products, where a more homogeneous API distribution was found in the brand product. This research provides a reliable method for the homogeneity evaluation of API distribution, which facilitates quality evaluation and process optimization of lyophilized products.

The optimal plane for measurement of the right ventricular (RV) volumes by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) was determined and the feasibility and accuracy of RT3DE in studying RV systolic function was assessed. RV "Full volume" images were acquired by RT3DE in 22 healthy subjects. RV end-diastolic volumes (RVEDV) and end-systolic volumes (RVESV) were outlined using apical biplane, 4-plane, 8-plane, 16-plane offline separately. RVSV and RVEF were calculated. Meanwhile tricuspid annual systolic excursion (TASE) was measured by M-mode echo. LVSV was outlined by 2-D echo according to the biplane Simpson's rule. The results showed: (1) There was a good correlation between RVSV measured from series planes and LVSV from 2-D echo (r = 0.73; r = 0.69; r = 0.63; r = 0.66, P < O. 25-0. 0025); (2) There were significant differences between RVEDV in biplane and those in 4-, 8-, 16-plane (P < 0.001). There was also difference between RV volume in 4-plane and that in 8-plane (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between RV volume in 8-plane and that in 16-plane (P > 0.05); (3) Inter-observers and intro-observers variability analysis showed that there were close agreements and relations for RV volumes (r = 0.986, P < 0.001; r = 0.93, P < 0.001); (4) There was a significantly positive correlation of TASE to RVSV and RVEF from RT3DE (r = 0.83; r = 0.90). So RV volume measures with RT3DE are rapid, accurate and reproducible. In view of RV's complex shape, apical 8-plane method is better in clinical use. It may allow early detection of RV systolic function.
Cardiac Volume ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Electrocardiography ; Systole ; Ventricular Function, Right/*physiology

Objective To investigate the origin of α-SMA positive cells in the outflow tract ridge of the embyonic mouse heart and to explore the ultrastructure change of the mesenchymal cells during the ridges fusion. Methods Sections of embryonic day 10(E10d) to E14d mouse embryonic hearts were stained by immunohistochemistry assay with monoclonal antibodies against α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), α-sarcomeric actin(α-SCA) and in situ hybridization method with PlexinA2 probe. The outflow tract ridges fusion was observed by transmission electron microscopy at E12.5d. Results From E10d to E11d, PlexinA2 positive cells were seen in the neural tube with mesenchymes around it, the aortic sac and aortic arch. These cells also migrated into the outflow tract ridge along the aortic sac wall and part of them expressed α-SMA. At E12d, PlexinA2 was expressed in the spinal ganglia, the pharyngeal mesenchyme, the aorto-pulmonary septum and the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk. The septum showed α-SMA strongly positive. But only a few of α-SMA positive cells were observed in the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk. At E12.5d, two clusters of condensed mesenchymal cells in the outflow tract ridges formed and began to express PlexinA2 weakly and α-SMA strongly. When the ridges began to fuse, the endothelial cells formed a cellular seam, which rapidly broke into pieces and disappeared and were replaced by the sparsed mesenchymal cells containing a few of microfilaments. Two clusters of condensed mesenchymal cells gradully moved to merge. It was noted that some mesenchymal cells contained plenty of microfilament bundles, mitochondria and focal contacts between them. Some mesenchymal cells only had a few of microfilaments and plasma membrane fusion was seen between them. Conclusionα-SMA positive cells in the outflow tract cushion may be derived from cardiac neural crest. The endothelial cells might participate in the fusion of the outflow tract ridges by endothelial-mesenchymal transformation. Mesenchymal cells of the condensed cell mass contain plenty of microfilament bundles and focal contacts or membrane fusion, which contribute to the ridges fusion.