AIM　To investigate the structural and functional remodeling of thoracic aortae in sinoaortic- denervated (SAD) rats. METHODS　SD rats underwent either SAD or sham-operation at the age of 10 weeks. Sixteen weeks after operation, the contraction and relaxation of the thoracic aortae were measured in isolated preparations; The morphological changes of arteries were examined by using histopathological method and computer image analysis. RESULTS　The NE-induced contraction was increased and Ach-induced relaxation of aortic rings was depressed in SAD rats; The structural remodeling of thoracic aortae was characterized by medial VSMC hypertrophy and matrix accumulations. CONCLUSION　Vascular functional and structural remodeling can be found in sinoaortic-denervated rats.

AIM To investigate the structural and functional remodeling of thoracic aortae in sinoaortic denervated (SAD) rats. METHODS SD rats underwent either SAD or sham operation at the age of 10 weeks. Sixteen weeks after operation, the contraction and relaxation of the thoracic aortae were measured in isolated preparations; The morphological changes of arteries were examined by using histopathological method and computer image analysis. RESULTS The NE induced contraction was increased and Ach induced relaxation of aortic rings was depressed in SAD rats; The structural remodeling of thoracic aortae was characterized by medial VSMC hypertrophy and matrix accumulations. CONCLUSION Vascular functional and structural remodeling can be found in sinoaortic denervated rats.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between polymorphism of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) exon 4 gene and different syndromes in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Two hundred patients with CHD were divided into four groups according to syndrome differentiation, including syndrome of phlegm (PS), syndrome of blood stasis (BSS), syndrome of phlegm-blood stasis blocking (PBBS) and syndrome of non-phlegm and non-blood stasis (NPNBS). One hundred healthy volunteers were included in control group. Blood lipids were measured by routine examination. Total DNA of peripheral blood was extracted. ApoE genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. All data were analyzed by SAS software. RESULTS: (1)The occurrence rate of epsilon4 allele of ApoE in patients with CHD was 19.5%, significantly higher than 9.5% in the control group (P<0.05), and the E 3/4 genotype was especially more frequent (P<0.01). (2) The levels of total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with epsilon4 were higher than those in patients without epsilon4 (P<0.01). (3) The frequencies of epsilon4 allele and E3/4 genotype in patients with PS were significantly higher than those in patients with BSS (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: ApoE epsilon4 allele, especially E3/4 genotype, is the risk factor of CHD. There is a relatively close relationship between patients with ApoE epsilon4 allele and PS. It may be one of the main susceptible genes in CHD patients with PS.

Objective To investigate the effects of microRNA-21-5p (miR-21-5p) on hyperoxic acute lung injury (HALI) in rats and provide a theoretical basis for HALI gene therapy. Methods One hundred and sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups with number table:hyperoxia control group, phosphate buffer saline (PBS) group, blank virus group and miRNA-21-5p group (each, n = 40). The rats in hyperoxia control group were fed directly in the hyperoxia box (oxygen concentration > 90%); in the other three groups, 200 μL PBS, 200μL slow virus and 200μL miRNA-21-5p slow virus were dropped into the nose respectively, and then they were fed in the hyperoxia box. The rats were exposed to hyperoxia in the boxes for 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours in all the groups, and at each time point, 10 rats were taken randomly from each group to perform arterial blood-gas analysis, calculate oxygenation index (OI) and respiratory index (RI). Afterwards the rats were sacrificed by blood-letting from carotid artery under intra-peritoneal anesthesia, and the lung tissues were obtained to measure the left lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, hemotoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was made and the pathological changes of the right lung were observed under light microscope and the pathological score was measured. Results At 0 hour, the OI, RI, lung W/D ratio and the lung tissue pathology score in rats with hyperoxic injury had no statistically significant differences among the four groups (all P>0.05). With the extension of time, the level of OI was gradually reduced, and the levels of RI, pathologic score and W/D ratio of lung tissues were gradually increased. Compared with the hyperoxia control group, in miRNA-21-5p group, the levels of OI were increased significantly at 24, 48 and 72 hours after the exposure to hyperoxia [mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 24 hours 358.10±29.25 vs. 306.19±37.23, 48 hours 336.67±29.27 vs. 269.70±29.00, 72 hours 323.81±19.05 vs. 203.81±43.40, all P < 0.05], whereas the levels of RI were decreased significantly (24 hours 0.23±0.05 vs. 0.31±0.06, 48 hours 0.28±0.07 vs. 0.38±0.06, 72 hours 0.30±0.04 vs. 0.46±0.07, all P <0.05), the pathologic scores were decreased significantly (24 hours 0.60±0.52 vs. 0.90±0.74, 48 hours 1.30±0.95 vs.2.90±1.20, 72 hours 1.90±0.88 vs. 4.70±1.57, all P < 0.05) and the levels of W/D ratio were decreased obviously (24 hours 3.77±0.38 vs. 4.14±0.46, 48 hours 3.83±0.31 vs. 4.56±0.34, 72 hours 3.89±0.31 vs. 5.32±0.27, all P<0.05). Compared with the hyperoxia control group, the index results of the PBS group and the blank virus group after staying in the box had no statistical significant differences at each time point (all P>0.05). Under the optical microscope, along with the prolongation of exposure to hyperoxia, the structure of alveoli was gradually disturbed, their walls fractured and damaged, alveolar septa widened, edematous, infiltrated with inflammatory cells and in part of the rats a small amount of red blood cell exudates could be seen, but the degree of lung pathological injury in miRNA-21-5p group was much milder than that of the other groups. Conclusion The rat persistently exposed to hyperoxia for 24 hours can establish the rat model of HALI successfully, and the miRNA-21-5p can protect the lung tissue from the damage to some degrees in HALI rats.

ObjectiveTo study the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in inducing apoptosis of typeⅡalveolar epithelial cell (AECⅡ) after overexpression by adenoviral transfection of micro RNA-21-5p (miR-21-5p), and to explore the mechanism of its anti-apoptosis.Methods Subculture AECⅡ were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (normal saline), H2O2 challenge group ( 0.5 mmol/L H2O2), miR-21-5p overexpression group (miR-21-5p adenovirus+ 0.5 mmol/L H2O2), miR-21-5p negative transfection group (adenovirus void+0.5 mmol/L H2O2). Transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry were used to detect apoptotic morphology and early apoptotic rate. Real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-21-5p in AECⅡ, and Western Blot was used to detect the protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 at the highest transfection efficiency at different time points (6, 12, 24, 48 hours).Results ① AECⅡ identification: fluorescence microscopy showed the presence of characteristic structure of AECⅡ, i.e. microvilli and osmiophilic lamellar bodies.② Apoptotic morphology: transmission electron microscopy showed cytoplasmic retraction, chromatin condensation, margination, lack of cell surface microvilli, and emptying of osmiophilic lamellar bodies in AECⅡ.③ The expression of miR-21-5p in AECⅡ: the highest transfection efficiency was found at 48 hours. The expression of miR-21-5p in miR-21-5p overexpression group was significantly higher than that of the normal control group, H2O2 challenge group and miR-21-5p negative transfection group (A value: 1.54±0.02 vs. 1.02±0.02, 0.56±0.03, 0.58±0.02, allP< 0.05).④ The rate of early apoptosis: compared with normal control group, the early apoptotic rates in H2O2 challenge group, miR-21-5p negative transfection group and miR-21-5p overexpression group were gradually elevated with the prolongation of injury time. The early apoptotic rate in miR-21-5p overexpression group was significantly lower than that of the H2O2 challenge group and miR-21-5p negative transfection group at all time points except 6 hours [12 hours: (10.73±2.80)% vs. (16.26±0.59)%, (16.04±0.70)%; 24 hours:(16.00±3.44)% vs. (23.29±2.78)%, (23.58±2.31)%; 48 hours: (31.30±3.55)% vs. (50.53±2.17)%, (49.41±1.97)%, allP< 0.05]. There was no significant difference in early apoptotic rate between miR-21-5p negative transfection group and H2O2 challenge group at each time point.⑤ Protein expression: the expressions of Bax and caspase-3 in miR-21-5p overexpression group were significantly lower than those of the H2O2 challenge group and miR-21-5p negative transfection group [Bax (A value): 0.07±0.01 vs. 0.18±0.01, 0.13±0.01; caspase-3 (A value): 0.07±0.01 vs. 0.23±0.01, 0.12±0.01, allP< 0.05], and Bcl-2 protein expression was significantly higher than that of the H2O2 challenge group and miR-21-5p negative transfection group (A value: 0.26±0.01 vs. 0.06±0.01, 0.10±0.01, both P< 0.05).Conclusions① miR-21-5p has the function of anti-apoptosis of AECⅡ.② Adenoviral vector is a successful gene transfer vector when transfected with AECⅡ.③ The anti-apoptosis of AECⅡ by miR-21-5p may be associated with reduced Bax and caspase-3 protein levels and raised expression levels of Bcl-2 protein.

Objective To explore a simpler, more economic and reproducible method to reproduce a model of high oxygen induced acute lung injury (HALI) in rats. Methods An animal feeding box equipped with a controllable high oxygen was designed. 100 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into normal control group and HALI group by random number table method, with 50 rats in each group. Each group was randomly subdivided into five subgroups according to the duration of exposure to high oxygen, namely 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96-hour subgroups, with 10 rats in each subgroup. The rats in normal control group were kept in cages with ambient air, and the rats in HALI group were kept in an oxygen tank in which the oxygen concentration was higher than 90% volume ratio, with the temperature maintained at 25-27 ℃, humidity of 50%-70%, and CO2 concentration < 0.5% for 23.5 hours every day. The arterial blood of rats was collected for analysis of blood gas at all time points, and the oxygenation index (OI) and respiratory index (RI) were calculated. Then the rats were sacrificed and the right lung was harvested, which was sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). The changes in histopathology were observed with light microscopy, and pathological score was recorded. The left lung was harvested for the measurement of the wet/dry weight ratio (W/D). Results With the prolongation of high oxygen exposure time, the degree of lung injury in HALI group was gradually increased, and the degree of derangement of alveolar structure appeared in an increasing degree, with destruction of the alveolar wall, widening of alveolar space, and appearance of edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration. A small quantity of red blood cells exudation could be found in some rats. The pathologic changes were most obvious at 48-72 hours after exposure. With the prolongation of high oxygen exposure time (0, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours), the OI (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) in HALI group was gradually decreased (446.67±29.93, 306.19±37.23, 269.70±29.00, 253.81±43.40 and 245.58±35.25), RI, pathological score of lung tissue and W/D ratio were gradually increased [RI: 0.25±0.04, 0.31±0.06, 0.38±0.06, 0.46±0.07 and 0.44±0.03; pathological score of lung tissue: 0.00±0.00, 0.90±0.74, 2.90±1.20, 4.70±1.57 and 4.80±1.23; lung W/D ratio: 3.84±0.61, 4.14±0.46, 4.56±0.34, 5.32±0.27 and 5.18±0.25]. Statistically significant differences were found in 72-hour group as compared with that of other groups (all P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found between 96 hours and 72 hours groups (all P > 0.05). There were significant differences in changes between 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours as compared with those of the normal control group: OI (mmHg): 24 h 306.19±37.23 vs. 435.65±25.34 and 96 h 245.58±35.25 vs. 465.42±24.75; RI: 24 h 0.31±0.06 vs. 0.24±0.04 and 96 h 0.44±0.03 vs. 0.24±0.06. The same as true in pathological scores of lung tissue: 24 h 0.90±0.74 vs. 0.00±0.00 and 96 h 4.80±1.23 vs. 0.00±0.00; lung W/D ratio: 24 h 4.14±0.46 vs. 3.79±0.44 and 96 h 5.18±0.25 vs. 4.12±0.91, all P < 0.05. Conclusions A self-designed high oxygen box is simple, easy to operate and reproduction of HALI model can be attained. Sustained exposure to high concentrations of oxygen (≥ 90%) for 24 hours can replicate the HALI model successfully, and the most serious injury appears at 48-72 hours after exposure.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of therapeutic bloodletting at Jing-well points and hypothermia on acute cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.

METHODSSeventy-five SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group (Sham), TBI group (TBI), bloodletting group (BL), mild-induced hypothermia group (MIH), and bloodletting plus MIH group (BL + MIH) (n = 15). The model of TBI was established by electric controlled cortical impactor (eCCI). The rats of BL group were bloodletting at Jing-well points immediately after injury, twice daily. While the MIH group was settled on a hypothermia blanket promptly after TBI for 6 hours, so that the temperature dropped to 32 degrees. Each of measurement was performed after 48 hours. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate the dynamic impairment of cerebral edema after TBI (n = 3). In addition, mNSS score, measurements of wet and dry brain weight, and Evans Blue assay were performed to investigate the neurologic deficit, cerebral water content (n = 8), and blood-brain barrier permeability (BBB), (n = 4), respectively.

RESULTSMRI analysis showed that the cerebral edema, hematoma and midline shifting of rats in TBI group was more serious than other treatment group. Meanwhile compared with TBI group, the mNSS scores of every treatment group were meaningfully lower (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, treatment with BL+ MIH group was superior to the separated BL and MIH group (all P < 0.01). In addition, brain water content of each intervention group reduced to varying degrees (all P < 0.05), especially that of MIH group and BL + MIH group (P <0.01). BBB permeability of each treatment group was also significantly improved (all P < 0.01), and the improvement in MIH group and BL + MIH group was much better than the BL alone group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOur major finding is that bloodletting at Jing-well points and MIH can reduce cerebral edema and BBB dysfunction and exert neuroprotective effects after TBI. The results suggest that the combination of BL and MIH is more effective than other treatment being used alone.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Bloodletting ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Edema ; prevention & control ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the apoptosis induction effect of Cantharidin on pancreatic cancer cell line PANC1 and CFPAC-1 and possible mechanism. Methods PANC1 and CFPAC-1 was treated with Cantharidin. Cell growth was determined by MTT. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Caspase activity was measured by using enzyme chemical method. Apoptosis-related gene expressions were determined by using RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results Cantharidin significantly inhibited the growth of pancreatic cancer cells PANC1, CFPAC-1 and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Seventy-two hours after 10 μmol/L Cantharidin treatment, the inhibitory rates of PANC1, CFPAC-1 were (52.95 ± 6.34)％ and (71.21 ±6.30)％. Twenty-four hours after treatment, the early and later period apoptotic cell of PANC1 was increased from 7.35％ to 24.89％, from 6.36％ to 17.73％. The early and later period apoptotic cell of CFPAC was increased from 6.39％ to 24.70％, from 9.21％ to 12.58％ (P＜0.01). Activity of caspase 8 and caspase 9 in PANC1 cells was (155.8 + 11.5)％ and (194.6 ± 14.7)％ when compared with that of control group. Activity of caspase 8 and caspase 9 in CFPAC- 1 was ( 182.5 ± 24.3 ) ％ and ( 215.8 ± 12.2) ％when compared with that of control group ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). The expression of pro-apoptotic genes, TNF-α,TRAILR1, TRAILR2, Bad, Bak and Bid was elevated, the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene was decreased. Conclusions Cantharidin can induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cell lines by activating caspase,up-regulating the expression of pro-apoptotic genes and down-regulating the expression of anti-apoptotic genes.

Objective To explore the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) apoptosis pathway in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mechanism of renal interstitial fibrosis in rats.Methods The rats were randomly divided into con-trol group and model group,UUO group line ligation of the left ureter,three days 3,7 and 14 days HE and Masson staining were used to observe the renal pathological changes;Take blood retinal venous plexus,separat and determina-tion of serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine;Western blot was used to find protein 78 (GRP78) glucose regula-tion,endoplasmic reticulum source sex transcription factor (CHOP) and apoptosis related proteins cysteine aspartic acid proteinase 3(caspase-3) and caspase-12 protein expression. Results Compared with control group,the visible UUO model group 1) expansion of renal tubule and renal interstitial fibrosis degree with the extension of ureteral ob-struction time and progressive increase;2) GRP78,CHOP,caspase-3 and caspase-12 protein expression in postoper-ative 3 d have to rise,as the obstruction prolonged,the protein expression more significantly(P<0.01).Conclusions Endoplasmic reticulum stress related trademark protein in UUO rat renal interstitial fibrosis is the increase in expres-sion may promote the early renal interstitial fibrosis and continuous progress.

Objective To explore the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) apoptosis pathway in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mechanism of renal interstitial fibrosis in rats.Methods The rats were randomly divided into con-trol group and model group,UUO group line ligation of the left ureter,three days 3,7 and 14 days HE and Masson staining were used to observe the renal pathological changes;Take blood retinal venous plexus,separat and determina-tion of serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine;Western blot was used to find protein 78 (GRP78) glucose regula-tion,endoplasmic reticulum source sex transcription factor (CHOP) and apoptosis related proteins cysteine aspartic acid proteinase 3(caspase-3) and caspase-12 protein expression. Results Compared with control group,the visible UUO model group 1) expansion of renal tubule and renal interstitial fibrosis degree with the extension of ureteral ob-struction time and progressive increase;2) GRP78,CHOP,caspase-3 and caspase-12 protein expression in postoper-ative 3 d have to rise,as the obstruction prolonged,the protein expression more significantly(P<0.01).Conclusions Endoplasmic reticulum stress related trademark protein in UUO rat renal interstitial fibrosis is the increase in expres-sion may promote the early renal interstitial fibrosis and continuous progress.