Objective To evaluate the characteristics of a rat model of heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF)induced by combined factors,and to investigate the correlation of myocardial strain parameters to myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis.Methods Eight WKY rats and eight spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR)served as control groups and were fed normal feed until the end of the experiment.Thirty-two SHR rats were equally divided into SHR+S,SHR+F,SHR+SF,and SHR+Combined groups,and fed high-salt,high-fat,high-salt-fat,or high-salt-fat-sugar feed,respectively,in combination with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin for 30 weeks.After modeling,the heart weight/body weight(HW/BW)ratio,systolic blood pressure(SBP),and diastolic blood pressure(DBP)were measured.Echocardiography was performed to measure the left ventricular(LV)end-diastolic internal diameter(LVIDd),LV anterior wall thickness(LVAWd),LV posterior wall thickness(LVPWd),LV ejection fraction(LVEF),isovolumetric diastolic time(IVRT),and peak early diastolic passive filling velocity(E)/early diastolic mitral annular velocity(e').Speckle tracking echocardiography was conducted to determine the global longitudinal strain(GLS)and strain rate(GLSr),global radial strain(GRS)and strain rate(GRSr),as well as the global circumferential strain(GCS)and strain rate(GCSr).Serum was collected and analyzed for triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),glucose(GLU),and glycated serum protein(GSP).ELISA were used to measure serum B-type brain natriuretic peptide(BNP),angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ),and galectin-3(Gal-3).Myocardial tissue was subjected to HE and Masson staining for cardiomyocytes and myocardial fibrosis,and the cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area(CSA)and collagen volume fraction(CVF)were calculated.Additionally,the correlation of myocardial strain parameters to CSA and CVF was analyzed.Results Compared with the control group,in model groups,especially the SHR+combined group,HW/BW,SBP,DBP,serum indexes(TC,TG,LDL-C,GLU,GSP,BNP,AngⅡ,and Gal-3)and echocardiographic parameters(LVIDd,LVAWd,LVPWd,IVRT,and E/e')were significantly up-regulated.Absolute values of speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters(GLS,GLSr,GRS,GRSr,GCS,and GCSr)were decreased considerably.HE and Masson staining of myocardial tissues suggested marked cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis,and significant increases were observed in CSA and CVF(P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed that GLSr,GCS,and GCSr were strongly linked to CSA,and GLS,GLSr,and GCSr were strongly linked to CVF(P＜0.01).Conclusions A rat model of HFpEF induced by hypertension and dysregulation of glucolipid metabolism replicated the basic characteristics of HFpEF in terms of etiology,clinical features,and myocardial pathological changes,and might be a reliable animal model of metabolic syndrome-related HFpEF.Moreover,myocardial strain indices were closely related to myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis and might indirectly reflect subtle myocardial lesions and dysfunction.

Objective To explore the potential regulatory mechanism of resistance exercise in senescence accelerated-prone 8 mice(SAMP8)by evaluating the effects of exercise on the expression of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)and mRNA in quadriceps muscles by RNA-sequencing(RNA-seq)technology.Methods Twenty-eight-week-old male SAMP8 mice were divided into a model group(M group)and resistance-exercise group(R group)(n=6 mice per group).Another eight normally aging SAMR1 mice of the same age were used as the control group(C group).Mice in R group received 8 weeks of increasing weight climbing exercise training.Relative grip strength was measured every week and the rotarod test was performed every 2 weeks.Histological changes in the right quadriceps femoris were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and the left quadriceps was used for RNA-seq.Differentially expressed lncRNA and mRNA were screened and analyzed for enrichment by Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analyses.Finally,key differentially expressed genes were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to verify the accuracy of the RNA-seq result.Results(1)Relative grip strength and rotarod test time were significantly decreased in M group compared with C group(P＜0.01),but were significantly increased after 8 weeks of Rgroup compared with M group(P＜0.01).(2)The cross-sectional area of the muscle fibers was significantly lower in M group compared with C group,as shown by HE staining(P＜0.01),while the cross-sectional area of the muscle fibers was significantly increased in the R group compared with M group(P＜0.01).(3)Differential expression analysis identified 182 upregulated and 218 downregulated lncRNA,and 454 upregulated and 289 downregulated mRNA between M group and R group.The KEGG pathways of lncRNA target genes that were differentially expressed between M group and R group were significantly enriched in intestinal immune network for IgA production,nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway,and inflammatory bowel disease.Conclusions(1)This study demonstrated that resistance exercise can improve skeletal muscle function in SAMP8 mice with sarcopenia.We identified lncRNA and mRNA that were differentially expressed as a result of resistance exercise,and which might be potential targets of sarcopenia therapy.(2)Furthermore,analyzing the biological functions of the target genes of the differentially expressed lncRNA and mRNA may further our understanding of the mechanism of resistance exercise for improving sarcopenia.

Objective To investigate the effect of embryonic inflammatory exposure on the response of mouse offspring to interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein(IRBP)-induced experimental autoimmune uveitis(EAU).Methods RNA transcriptome sequencing data from eyeballs of C57BL/6J mouse offspring born to mothers with active EAU were used to screen immune-associated differentially expressed genes in the eyes of the exposed offspring.Gene fragments overlapping in the two datasets were screened using Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses to identify biological pathways associated with the gene fragments.Hub genes were identified from these intersecting genes by protein-protein interaction network analysis.EAU models of maternal uveitis were established by immunization with IRBP651-670,and expression levels of the pivotal genes in the offspring exposed to inflammation by maternal uveitis were examined by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction.EAU severity,T lymphocyte proliferation,and serum cytokines were detected to investigate the immune effect in offspring from mothers with an active inflammation response to IRBP induction.Results Microarray analysis identified 72 immune-related differentially expressed genes in exposed samples compared with the findings in control samples.These genes were mainly enriched in Toll-like receptor signaling,mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling,and B cell receptor signaling pathways.Protein-protein interaction network interaction analysis screened out four hub genes,Psmc5,Psmc3,Psmd4,and Psmd8,and mRNA levels of these four genes were increased in the adult offspring from mothers with active uveitis compared with the findings in healthy offspring.In addition,the group induced with 150 μg IRBP showed an increase in the severity of clinical and pathological outcomes in offspring with EAU affected by active inflammation,compared with the healthy offspring group(P=0.0087,P=0.0410).Meanwhile,T cell proliferation in the offspring was enhanced during the inflammatory activity stage and secretion of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin(IL)-17 and IL-6 was increased(P=0.0450,P=0.0300).Conclusions Psmc5,Psmc3,Psmd4,and Psmd8 may be important genes exacerbating uveitis in offspring of mothers with active uveitis,associated with increased T cell proliferation and production of IL-17 and IL-6.

Objective To establish a human α-synuclein nuclear localization signal transgenic mouse model and investigate the effects of α-synuclein nuclear localization on the behavior of mice.Methods Human α-synuclein nuclear localization signal and EGFP lentiviral vectors were constructed.Transgenic mice were created with the microinjection method.Using PCR and Western Blot method to identify the genotypes and protein expression of the transgenic founder mice and their offsprings.The immunofluorescence was used to examine the localization of human α-synuclein in the mouse brain tissue.The behavioral changes of the transgenic mice were evaluated by the open field test,rotarod test,and O maze test.Results The h SNCA-NLS gene was successfully inserted into the mouse genome,the human α-syn was successfully expressed,and the human α-syn has localized with the nuclear.Further studies found that human α-synuclein nuclear localization signal transgenic mice had significant motor dysfunction,astrocyte proliferation and inflammatory response at 2 months of age and exhibited significant anxiety-like symptoms and reduced expression of the γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)gene at 9 months of age,which persisted until 12 months of age.Conclusions A human α-synuclein nuclear localization signal transgenic mouse model has been successfully established.The mice exhibit significant motor dysfunction and anxiety-like symptoms.The successful establishment of this model provides a foundation for studying the role of α-syn nuclear localization in Parkinson's disease.

Objective To establish an ideal modeling method for diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome(IBS-D)with anxiely and depression in rats,and to provide a basis for the clinical study of IBS-D.Methods 60 rats were used in this study.(1)At first,20 rats were randomly divided into blank,3%acetic acid enema,4%acetic acid enema,and 5%acetic acid enema groups.After the modeling and observation period,the diarrhea status and the degree of colon injury caused by different modeling concentrations were observed by diarrhea related index and colon histopathology.(2)After the optimal modeling concentration was assessed,40 rats were randomly divided into control(a),acetic acid enema(b),acetic acid+binding(c),and acetic acid+binding+tail clip(d)groups and correspondingly treated for 8 days.After the treatments,the general condition,diarrhea-related index,open field test(OFT)score,and colonic histopathology of rats were evaluated.Results(1)Compared with the blank group,the fecal trait score of 4%acetic acid enema group was increased on days 1 to 3 after intervention(P＜0.001),and gradually decreased on days 4 to 7 after intervention.After 1 week,there was no significant difference between the fecal trait score and that of the blank group(P＞0.05).Body weight was lower(P＜0.01),fecal water content was higher(P＜0.001).Compared with blank group,body weight of the 5%acetic acid enema group was decreased(P＜0.001),the fecal trait score and diarrhea index were increased(P＜0.01).No significant difference was found between 3%acetic acid enema and blank groups.The pathological colon tissue showed that,compared with the blank group,the mucosal structure of the 4%acetic acid enema group was complete with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration,and the pathological tissue score showed no significant difference(P＞0.05),whereas the 5%acetic acid enema had a medium to large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration,and the pathological tissue score was increased(P＜0.01).(2)Compared with group a,group b had lower body weight(P＜0.001),and higher fecal trait score,fecal water content and diarrhea index(P＜0.01).Compared with a and b groups,the body weight of c and d groups was lower(P＜0.001),the fecal traits score,fecal water content,and diarrhea index were increased(P＜0.01),and the colon running time was decreased(P＜0.01).Compared with group c,Fecal water content in group D was higher(P＜0.001).In the OFT score,compared with a and b groups,the OFT distance,standing times,and upright times in c and d groups were lower(P＜0.05).Compared with c,the OFT distance,standing times,and upright times in d group were lower(P＜0.05).The pathological tissue of colon showed that the mucosal structure of the four groups was complete,and there were different degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration.The pathological tissue scores of groups c and d were higher than those of groups a and b(P＜0.05).Conclusions The 4%acetic acid concentration is appropriate for IBS-D modeling.After superposition and binding,the IBS-D diarrhea and internal hypersensitivity characteristic state can be better simulated.After superposition of a tail clip,the IBS-D model of liver stagnation and spleen deficiency can be established successfully.

Objective To explore the otherness of orthotopic injection of cell suspensions and transplantation of tumor tissue blocks to establish orthotopic implantation models of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice,and to provide a technical reference for the establishment of an orthotopic implantation model.Methods Healthy KM mice were divided into four groups:group A,direct injection of H22 cells;group B,direct injection of H22 ascitic cells;group C,transplantation of tissues;and group D,direct injection of saline.Activity and weight changes were observed regularly in each group and survival times were recorded.Liver tumor formation,tumor size,abdominal organ adhesion degree,and metastasis were observed in all groups.B-ultrasound imaging was performed,concentrations of alpha fetoprotein(AFP)and abnormal prothrombin(DCP)were detected,and liver histopathological changes were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Results Mice molding operation time in groups A,B,and C were(3.36±0.44)min,(3.30±0.41)min,and(5.68±0.65)min,respectively.After modeling for 25 days,the rates of model formation in groups A,B,and C were all 100.0%.Severe abdominal adhesions occurred in 40.0%of mice in group A and 60.0%in group B,but in no mice in group C or D.Ascites occurred in 40.0%,100.0%,and 0.0%and abdominal wall tumors in 30.0%,60.0%,and 0.0%of mice in groups A,B,and C,respectively,while 40.0%of mice in group B also had liver metastasis.B-ultrasound imaging,detection of serum AFP and DCP levels,and histopathological result showed smooth liver margins,uneven echo and slightly lower echo mass,maintained high AFP and DCP secretion,and large numbers of inflammatory cells and tumor cells in mice in groups A,B,and C.Conclusions At day 25,all three methods can thus be used to establish orthotopic transplantation models of HCC.Among these,inj ection of cell suspensions demonstrated the advantage of simplicity in operation and the presence of multiple metastatic nodules within the liver,compared to transplantation of tumor tissue.Conversely,transplantation of tumor tissue showed the advantage of causing less impact on the abdomen and other organs when compared to inj ection of cell suspensions.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Guanxinning(GXN)tablet on dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM),and to explore its effect and mechanism in pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes via the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway.Methods Rats were divided into GXN low-dose,GXN high-dose,digoxin,model control,and normal control groups.The DCM model was induced by multiple intraperitoneal injections of 17.5 mg/kg doxorubicin(DOX).The drug was administered at the same time as the model was established for 10 weeks.After the last administration,echocardiography was used to assess cardiac function indexes.After sacrificing the rats,serum was collected to measure IL-1β and IL-18 levels.RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,NF-κB,TXNIP,IL-1β,and IL-18.Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining and Western Blot were used to assess NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,and IL-18,GSDMD and GSDMD-NT protein,and TUNEL staining result.Changes in the microstructure of cardiomyocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy.Results Compared with the normal control group,IVSs,IVSd,LVPWs,FS,SV,EF,and HR of the model control group were significantly reduced,LVIDs,ESV,and serum IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly increased,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,NF-κB,TXNIP,IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA expression was significantly increased,and NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,IL-18 and GSDMD-NT protein expression and the TUNEL staining area were increased significantly,and the microstructure of cardiomyocytes changed significantly.Compared with the model control group,GXN significantly increased IVSs,SV,FS,EF,and HR,significantly reduced LVIDs,ESV,and the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18,and reduced NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,NF-κB,TXNIP,IL-1β,and IL-18 mRNA expression,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,IL-18 and GSDMD-NT protein expression,and the TUNEL staining area.Additionally,the microstructure was improved significantly.Conclusions GXN alleviates cardiomyocyte pyroptosis in rats with DCM by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway.

Objective The existing dyeing methods of myocardial fibrosis were optimized to make up for the problems of missing and misreading of collagen fibers in the quantitative analysis of the current common dyeing methods of myocardial fibers,and to provide a reference for the semi-quantitative and diagnosis of myocardial fibrosis.Methods Paraffin sections of cardiac tissue were prepared using a transgenic mouse model of cardiomyopathy with a specific laboratory-constructed cTnTR141W gene mutation.Four staining method were performed for comparative observations:Masson's trichrome(Masson)staining,picrosirius red(PSR)staining,van Gieson(VG)staining,and Sirius red/fast green(SR/FG)staining.Image J 2.1.0 software was used to quantitatively compare the areas of collagen fibers.SR/FG was optimized from three aspects:dye concentration,staining time,and acid solution prestaining,and the quantitative analysis of collagen fibers was then verified.Results The collagen fiber distribution was observed by the four staining method,among which SR/FG was notable.It involved prestaining with a 0.1%Sirius red-picric acid acidic solution for 5 min,adjusting the concentration of the dye solution to 0.1%Sirius red-picric acid and 0.04%fast green mixture,and incubating the sections in the mixed staining solution for 1 h.This method exhibited the lowest incidence of missed readings and loss in determining the proportion of collagen fibers.Conclusions Compared with other traditional collagen fiber staining method,the optimized SR/FG technique described in this paper produces bright coloring of collagen fibers and myocardial tissue,obvious color contrast,and high stability,convenience,and speed.It is suitable for subsequent quantitative analysis and determination of the collagen fiber proportion.

Objective To establish a fluoroscopic percutaneous vertebral augmentation model in dogs by measuring and analyzing canine spinal anatomy.We also assessed the effectiveness and safety of this modeling method by postoperative radiological analysis.Methods Morphological measurements were taken in six dogs,aged approximately 12～24 months,and the following parameters of the lumbar vertebrae were determined:height of the L1～L7 vertebrae,width of the vertebral base,distance from the upper edge of the intervertebral disc to the narrowest part of the vertebra,distance from the vertical line of the spinous process to the upper edge of the intervertebral disc,and vertical distance from the midpoint of the transverse process to the lower edge of the intervertebral disc.These measurements were obtained to clarify the anatomical characteristics of the canine vertebrae and determine the optimal location,direction,and depth for bone-cement injection.A percutaneous vertebral augmentation model was subsequently established in the L4,L5,and L6 vertebrae of six healthy Beagle dogs,weighing 20～25 kg.The dogs were euthanized 4 weeks post-surgery and examined radiologically.Primary observations included the surgical duration,postoperative distribution of the implanted bone cement,and integrity of the vertebral canal and anterior edge of the vertebrae.Results Anatomical observation of the canine vertebrae revealed that the vertebral height increased gradually from L1～L5 and then decreased from L5～L7.The width of the vertebral base increased consistently from L1～L7.The distance from the vertical line of the spinous process to the upper edge of the intervertebral disc showed an increasing trend from L1～L7(1.9～4.0 mm).The distance between the midpoint of the base of the transverse process and the lower edge of the intervertebral disc increased gradually from L1～L5(4.7～6.9 mm).There was no significant difference in the distance between the midpoint of the base of the transverse process and the lower edge of the intervertebral disc in the L4,L5,and L6 segments among the dogs(P=0.925).The midpoint of the root of the transverse process of the spine was taken as the puncture point,and the insertion direction and horizontal plane were at an angle of 20°～30°,with a head tilt of 5°～15° and a puncture depth of 1.2～1.5 cm.If the puncture was directed towards the caudal side of the vertebra,the angle of the needle tail was 30°～35°,with a penetration depth of 1.5～1.8 cm.This technique allowed the successful construction of a canine vertebral puncture surgical model.A total of 15 canine vertebral puncture surgical models were successfully created,with an average surgery time of 22.7±4.6 min(15～30 min)per vertebral segment.During surgery,one vertebral segment experienced spinal cord injury result ing in paralysis of the hind limbs and bowel and bladder incontinence.Two vertebral cortical bones fractured,but there were no deaths due to anesthesia or infection.Four weeks post-surgery,micro-computed tomography-based three-dimensional reconstructions consistently showed bone cement distributed within the trabecular bone of the canine vertebrae,with newly formed bone tissue enveloping the implanted material.There was no leakage,and no complications such as damage to the vertebral canal or the anterior wall of the vertebrae.Conclusions A safe and reliable canine vertebral augmentation puncture model can be successfully established based on the anatomy of the canine lumbar vertebrae(L4～L6)and using the midpoint of the base of the transverse process as a bony landmark.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of Isaria felina derived from Cordyceps sinensis combined with cyclophosphamide(CTX)in hepatoma H22 tumor-bearing mice.Methods An H22 tumor-bearing mouse model was established and mice were divided randomly into a normal control group(NC group,distilled water),model control group(MC group,distilled water),positive control group(CTX group,25 mg/kg),Isaria felina group(IF group,400 mg/kg),and combined administration group(IF+CTX group,IF 400 mg/kg+CTX 25 mg/kg),with 5 mice in each group.Distilled water and IF were administered by gavage,and CTX was administered by intraperitoneal injection.The administration cycle was 10 days.At the end of the experiment,the mean tumor volume and weight,tumor inhibition rate,q value,and immune organ index were calculated,and routine blood indexes and cytokine levels were determined.Histopathological changes in tumor tissues were observed by HE staining.Results The tumor volume and mass were significantly lower in mice in each treatment group compared with those in mice in the MC group(P＜0.05).The tumor inhibition rates in the CTX,IF,and IF+CTX groups were 49.3%,34.2%,and 72.8%,respectively,and the q value was 1.09.The numbers of white blood cells,Lymph,and platelets were significantly higher in the IF+CTX group than in the CTX group(P＜0.05).The spleen index was significantly higher in the MC group compared with that in the NC group,and significantly lower in the IF+CTX group compared with that in the MC group(P＜0.05).Serum interferon-γ levels were significantly lower in the MC group than in the NC group,and were significantly higher in the IF and IF+CTX groups compared with those in the MC and CTX groups(P＜0.05).Pathologically,tumor cells in the MC group grew well and were numerous and closely arranged,while cells in the CTX,IF,and IF+CTX groups were arranged loosely,with focal necrosis and nuclear pyknosis of necrotic cells in many places.Conclusions The combination of IF and CTX has an additive anti-tumor effect on H22 tumor-bearing mice,which can alleviate immunosuppression and have an immunomodulatory function.