Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone which mainly acts on the reproductive system and plays an important role in penile erection and ejaculation. Prolactin receptors have a variety of short forms apart from the classic long form, which are widely expressed in male reproductive glands. High levels of prolactin can induce erectile dysfunction and results in secondary male infertility, which are mainly associated with the inhibition of dopaminergic activity, reduction of the testosterone level, and contraction of the cavernous smooth muscle. Moreover, low levels of prolactin can result in ejaculatory dysfunction. This article updates the views on the expressions of prolactin receptors in the male reproductive system, the effects of prolactin on penile erection and ejaculation, and its action mechanisms.
Ejaculation ; physiology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; physiopathology ; Penile Erection ; physiology ; Prolactin ; physiology ; Receptors, Prolactin ; physiology ; Reproduction

OBJECTIVETo establish and evaluate a BA-ELISA method for the quantitative detection of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein.

METHODSWe deliberately selected three tables of CFTR and made the synthetic peptide be expressed in E. coli, then used the antigen to immunize rabbits to obtain the anti-CFTR polyclonal serum. After that, 96 well plates were coated with the purified antibody against CFTR. The antigen CFTR which was extracted from human sperm was detected by anti-CFTR antibody labeled with biotin, horseradish peroxidase conjugated avidin, and the substrate. The concentrations of two kinds of antibodies and the experiment parameters were optimized. Thereby, the double antibody sandwich BA-ELISA method for the quantitative detection of CFTR protein was established. Furthermore, the reproducibility, specificity and so on were evaluated by clinical specimens of sperm.

RESULTSThe optimal concentration of coated anti-CFTR IgG was 4 µg/ml, while the biotin labeled anti-CFTR IgG was 10 µg/ml; the optimal blocking buffer was 1% BSA-PBST, the optimal time of the reaction between antigen and antibody was 60 min, the optimal chromogenic time was 15 min, the intra-assay and inter-assay coefficient were 2.16%-9.23% and 2.29%-11.71% respectively; The lowest detectable limit was 0.15 ng/ml; the standard curve had a good linear correlation of R2 = 0.962.

CONCLUSIONThe BA-ELISA method for the quantitative detection of CTFR protein is successfully established, and it is demonstrated that the method has strong specificity, high sensitivity and good reproducibility. It provides the basis and evidence of the further application of the method.

Animals ; Antibodies ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Peptides ; Rabbits ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To investigate the impact of reduced glutathione(GSH) on the prolifera- tion,oxidative stress and transforming growth factor?1(TGF-?1) expression of human hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)(LX-2 cell line).Methods Human hepatocytes and HSCs were incubated with various concentrations of GSH(0.5—50 mmol/L or 0.5—10 mmol/L).The effects of GSH on the proliferation of hepatocytes and HSCs were studied by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphennyhera- zolium bromide colorimetric assay.Human hepatocytes and HSCs were co-cultured with GSH and ferric nitrilotriacetic acid,superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were detected.HSCs were incubated with high(5.0 mmol/L),media(2.5 mmol/L) and low (0.5 mmol/L) concentrations of GSH,the expressions of TGF-?1 mRNA and protein were detected by ELISA and real- time PCR.Results In concentration ranged from 2.5 to 10 mmol/L,the GSH could promote the pro- liferation of hepatocytes but no HSCs,significantly increased the activity of SOD and decrease the con- tents of MDA in hepatocytes and HSCs,and inhibited the expression of TGF-?1 in HSCs.Conclusions GSH can not only promote the proliferation of hepatocytes,but also protect hepatocytes and HSCs from oxidative stress,and inhibit the secretion of TGF-?1 in HSCs.GSH may play a role in hepatocellular protection,antioxidation and anti-fibrosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the expressions of gastric mucosal proteins in chronic gastritis (CG) rats of Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome (PWDHS), to investigate the pathogenesis correlated to CG rats of PWDHS, to observe the differential expressions of gastric mucosal proteins in CG rats of PWDHS, and to investigate the mechanisms of Sanren Decoction (SD) for treating CG rats of PWDHS.

METHODSTotally 36 male SD rats were adaptable fed for 3 days and randomly divided into 3 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the CG of PWDHS rat model group (abbreviated as the model group), and the SD treatment group, 12 in each group. The CG of PWDHS rat model was prepared by composite factors. The gastric mucosal protein was separated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis technique, and stained by Coomassie brilliant blue. The protein spots expressed differently were analyzed by PDquest 8.0 software. The protein spots expressed differently was identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS.

RESULTSThe protein spots were 1 025 +/- 3 9, 994 +/- 51, 1 087 +/- 33 in the normal control group, the model group, and the SD treatment group respectively detected from two-dimensional gel electrophoresis profiles. Compared with the normal control group, there were 74 protein spots differentially expressed in the model group, 30 spots up-regulated and 44 spots down-regulated. Compared with the model group, there were 75 protein spots differentially expressed in the SD treatment group, 49 spots up-regulated and 26 spots down-regulated. Five protein spots differentially expressed were successfully identified, i.e., heat shock protein 72 (HSP72), heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), protein disulfide-isomerase (PDI), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and unnamed protein.

CONCLUSIONSThe pathogenesis of CG of PWDHS may be correlated to energy metabolism disturbance and stress. The mechanisms of SD for treating it may possibly adjust differential expressions of gastric mucosal proteins.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Gastritis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Proteome ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo establish a solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatographic (SPE-HPLC) method for determining plasma scutellarin concentration, and study its pharmacokinetics after i.v. breviscapine in rabbits.

METHODSMethanol-water-phosphoric acid (50:50:0.5) mixture was used as mobile phase, Nucleosil C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm ID) was selected. The wavelength of UV detection was 335 nm. Fifteen rabbits, randomized into 3 groups, were given breviscapine i.v. at the dose of 10, 20 and 40 mg.kg-1. Scutellarin in plasma was determined by SPE-HPLC method.

RESULTSLinearity was obtained over the range of 0.02-10.0 mg.L-1 of scutellarin. The method recovery was 96.15%-99.31%; the within-day and between-day RSDs were all below 10%. After i.v. 10, 20 and 40 mg.kg-1 of breviscapine to rabbits, the concentration-time curve of scutellarin fitted to a three compartment model. The main pharmacokinetic parameters showed no significant difference between low and medium doses, but the difference was significant between high dose and other doses.

CONCLUSIONThis assay method was accurate, sensitive, simple and suitable for the measurement of plasma scutellarin concentration. The pharmacokinetic characteristics were found to fit a three-compartment model following i.v. injection of breviscapine to rabbits. The changes of drug concentration in vivo exhibited linear kinetics ove the dosage range of 10-20 mg.kg-1, but when the dosage was 40 mg.kg-1, the linear kinetic properties disappeared.

Animals ; Apigenin ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flavonoids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rabbits

The effect of magnetic Fe3O4 particles on cellulase in the enzymatic hydrolysis of sunflower seed hull was studied in different adding ways and additive amount. In the process of enzymatic hydrolysis of sunflower seed hull, the variations of cellulase activity, reducing sugar concentration and cellulose conversion were evaluated. After the reaction, the analysis of pH and surface tension of hydrolysate were also used to determine the mechanisms of cellulase by the magnetic effect. The results indicated that after adding magnetic Fe3O4, the cellulase activity, reducing sugar concentration and conversion of cellulose had an increased between the 0.5 g/L and 2.0 g/L cases after 48 h. When the additive amount of magnetic Fe3O4 was 2 g/L, the cellulase activity at 60 h was improved significantly by 25.9%. It was found that the concentration of reducing sugar was increased from 6.950 mg/mL to 8.775 mg/mL with magnetic Fe3O4 1.5 g/L. Simultaneously, compared with the blank, which the conversion of cellulose was 47.932%, the maximum celluloseconversion of samples with adding magnetic Fe3O4 was 60.531%. Besides, the stability of cellulase activity adding in times was better than in one time. After the reaction, the final surface tension of hydrolysate with 1.5 g/L magnetic Fe3O4 was the lowest in comparison with the blank. However, no significant differences were observed in the final pH of the hydrolysate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of ginsenoside on the cellular proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycles in LC A549 and HUVEC 304 cell lines. METHODS: A549 and HUVEC 304 cell lines were cultured with different concentrations of ginsenoside. Cellular proliferation was detected with MTT, apoptosis and cell cycles were checked with Flow Cytometer, and change of microstructure was observed by transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: The apoptosis rate was 29.8% in A549 cell lines after being interfered with ginsenoside at 3 x 10(-6) mol/L, significantly higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.05). No change was observed in the cell cycles after being interfered with ginsenoside. The inhibitive rate of ginsenoside was 12.53% for HUVEC 304 cell line at 1 x 10(-4) mol/L (P < 0.05 ). The cells induced by conditioned medium could be inhibited by ginsenoside, and apoptotic body could be found in cells induced by conditioned medium at 10(-6) mol/L. CONCLUSION The proliferation of vascular endothelial cell could be inhibited by ginsenoside, and apoptosis could also be found in both tumor cells and cells induced by conditioned medium after being interfered with ginsenoside.
Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate maternal-fetal transmission at human bocavirus (HBoV).

METHODSIgG antibody to HBoV in serum samples of 316 mothers were determined with ELISA and HBoV DNA was determined with real time PCR in the sera of the mothers and their infants.

RESULTSHBoV-IgG was positive in 40.20 percent (127/316) of the mothers, while it was positive in 29.43 percent (93/316) of the cord blood specimens of the infants. The difference between the two groups was significant (X2=8.12, P less than 0.005); 93 samples of both the mothers and the infants were positive for HBoV-IgG.

CONCLUSIONHBoV-IgG can cross the placenta to the fetuses through placenta. Further study is needed to answer the question whether vertical maternal-fetal transmission occurs.

Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Bocavirus ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Parvoviridae Infections ; transmission ; Pregnancy ; Prospective Studies

Objective: To establish a curve of dosage gradient-liver signal intensity of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in normal rats and to find an appropriate dose for enhancement. Methods: Seventy-two SD rats, 4 rats a group at random, underwent MR enhancement with 0, 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 100, 140, 210, 280 μmol/kg SPIO respectively after plane examination. The signal-to-noise ratio of liver was measured and a curve of dosage gradient-liver signal intensity was made. Results: (1)With the increase of SPIO dose, the signal intensity of both T1 and T2 weighted images of liver declined. (2)T2 weighted images was more sensitive than T1 weighted images in small dose, the ED50 of T1 weighted was 8 μmol/kg, and the ED50 of T2 weighted was 5 μmol/kg. (3)When the dose was greater than 15 μmol/kg, the signal intensity of T1 weighted images declined more rapidly than T2 weighted, the effect of enhanced T1 weighted images resembled T2 weighted ones, and its images was with more fine resolution. (4)At the dose of 40 μmol/kg, the signal intensity of T1 weighted images approached the background noise, and at the dose of 15 μmol/kg, the signal intensity of T2 weighted images approached the background noise. Conclusion: Good effect of T1 and T2 enhanced MR imaging can be acquired at the dose of 20-10 μmol/kg SPIO respectively, the best contrast-to-noise ratio is found on T2 weighted enhanced MR image.

Objective To study the different effects of valsartan and extended realse nifedipine tablets on lowering blood pressure of essential hypertension patients and their reversal effects on left ventricular hypertrophy. Methods 100 cases of essential hypertension patients with left ventricular hypertrophy were randomly divided into valsartan group(group A) and adalt group(group B).Other antihypertensive drugs except diuretic were removed for 3 weeks.There were 50 cases in group A using valsartan 4～8mg qd,and 50 cases in group B using adalt 30～60 mg qd,the stud),lasted for 24 weeks.The blood pressure was measured and the altrasowic cardiogram examed in baseline and 24 weeks later.Results BP could be significantly reduced after treatment(P