OBJECTIVETo explore possible mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) for regulating immune function in anxiety disorder (AD) rats by observing the effect of acupuncture on the histology of thymus and expressions of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and natriuretic peptide receptor type A (NPR- A) in thymus.

METHODSTotally 34 SD healthy rats were randomly divided into the blank control group (n = 10), the model group (n = 12), the EA group (n = 12). Anxiety model was established in rats of the model group and the EA group by using chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) stimulation. EA (15/25 Hz) at Neiguan (PC6) and Shenmen (HT7) was performed in the EA group, with 15-min needle retaining, once every other day, 15 days in total. Needle was fixed at same acupoints for 15 min without electric stimulus in the other two groups. Anxiety-like behavior was measured by elevated plus-maze (EPM) test. Pathological changes of thymus tissue were observed by optical microscope. Expressions of ANP and NPR-A in thymus were measured by immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSThe thymus tissue in the model group was severely atrophied, with unclear structure of thymic lobules, unclear margin of thymic medulla, loosely arranged lymphocytes ,and obviously enlarged volume of thymic corpuscle. The thymus tissue in the EA group was mildly atrophied, with existent structure of thymic lobules, clear margin of thymic medulla, densely arranged lymphocytes in cortical region, and widened medullary area. Com- pared with the blank control group, the percentage of open-arms entries (OE%) in the total QE times ob- viously decreased in the model group (P < 0.05), ANP expression obviously increased (P < 0.05), and NPR-A expression obviously decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, OE% was obviously elevated (P < 0.05), ANP expression obviously decreased (P < 0.05), and NPR-A expression obviously increased (P < 0.01) in the EA group.

CONCLUSIONEA not only could reduce anxiety of rats, but also could improve chronic stress induced thymus injury through intervening synthesis and secretion of ANP, as well as the expression of NPR-A (a specific receptor of ANP).

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Anxiety Disorders ; therapy ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism ; Thymus Gland ; pathology

BACKGROUNDVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the thymus was mainly produced by the thymic epithelial cells (TECs), the predominant component of the thymic microenvironment. The progression of TECs and the roles of VEGF in the neonatal thymus during sepsis have not been reported. This study aimed to explore the alterations of TECs and VEGF level in the neonatal thymus involution and to explore the possible mechanisms at the cellular level.

METHODSBy establishing a model of clinical sepsis, the changes of TECs were measured by hematoxylin-eosin staining, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. Moreover, the levels of VEGF in serum and thymus were assessed based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe number of thymocytes and TECs was significantly decreased 24 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, (2.40 ± 0.46)×10 7 vs. (3.93 ± 0.66)×10 7 and (1.16 ± 0.14)×10 5 vs. (2.20 ± 0.19)×10 5 , P < 0.05, respectively. Cortical TECs and medullary TECs in the LPS-treated mice were decreased 1.5-fold and 3.9-fold, P < 0.05, respectively, lower than those in the controls. The number of thymic epithelial progenitors was also decreased. VEGF expression in TECs was down-regulated in a time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONVEGF in thymic cells subsets might contribute to the development of TECs in neonatal sepsis.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Mice ; Thymus Gland ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo confirm the anticancer effect of total annonaceous acetogenins (TAAs) abstracted from Annona squamosa Linn. on human hepatocarcinoma.

METHODSThe inhibitory effect of TAAs was demonstrated in H22-bearing mice. The potency of TAAs was confirmed as its 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) on Bel-7402 cell under Sulfur Rhodamine B staining. Both underlying mechanisms were explored as cellular apoptosis and cell cycle under flow cytometry. Mitochondrial and recipient apoptotic pathways were differentiated as mitochondrial membrane potential under flow cytometry and caspases activities under fluorescence analysis.

RESULTSThe inhibitory rate of TAAs in mice was 50.98% at 4 mg/kg dose. The IC50 of TAAs on Bel-7402 was 20.06 µg/mL (15.13-26.61µg/mL). Effective mechanisms of TAAs were confirmed as both of arresting cell cycle at G1 phase and inducing apoptosis dose- and time-dependently. Mitochondrial and recipient pathways involved in apoptotic actions of TAAs.

CONCLUSIONTAAs is effective for hepatocarcinoma, via inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis.

Acetogenins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Annona ; chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mice ; Organ Specificity ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; Thymus Gland ; drug effects ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

The thymus is the central lymphoid organ for the development of bone marrow-derived precursor cells into mature T-cells. Understanding the molecular mechanism of thymic involution and regeneration is critical to develop methods to normalize or improve host immunity from the decreased immune function caused by thymic involution. In this study, the regenerating thymus cDNA library was constructed in the rat from a model of thymic involution and regeneration induced by cyclophosphamide. Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were obtained by partial sequencing of 700 randomly selected insert-containing clones. A total of 630 ESTs were analyzed, of which 486 ESTs (78%) matched to known genes and 125 ESTs (19%) matched to other ESTs (unknown genes). The 19 ESTs (3%) did not match with any known sequences. The ESTs were grouped into six main functional categories: metabolism (44%), signaling components (20%), membrane transport (7%), cytoskeleton (2%), cell division (2%) and defense (2%). As a result of RT-PCR analysis, expression of putative gene 01, putative E2IG2 gene, musculin and osteoactivin significantly increased in rat thymus during regeneration. The putative gene 01 showed complete homology with mitochondrial ribosomal protein S4 by homology search and multiple alignment of amino acid. These results provide the extensive molecular information on thymus regeneration and will be useful source to identify various genes which may play an important role in the thymus regeneration as well as to clone novel genes. Furthermore, the availability of these data will serve as a basis for further research to understand the molecular mechanism of thymus regeneration.
Animals ; Cell Division ; Clone Cells ; Cyclophosphamide* ; Cytoskeleton ; Expressed Sequence Tags* ; Gene Expression ; Gene Library ; Membranes ; Metabolism ; Rats* ; Regeneration* ; Ribosomal Proteins ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymus Gland*

Ginseng and its effective components are famous for their influence to enhance human immunity, regulate endocrine and antioxidant action. However, the different effects of different components are not clear. In this study, Wistar rats were used to study the effects of main components of ginseng, including total ginsenoside, panaxadiol saponins, panaxtrol saponin and ginseng polysaccharide. The results showed that the effects of panaxadiol saponins and ginseng polysaccharide on improving animal immune organ weight, plasma interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6), plasma gamma-interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were better than that of the other groups. Total ginsenoside and panaxtrol saponin can effectively increase the concentration of spleen NK cells (NKC) while panaxadiol saponins and ginseng polysaccharide can significantly increase the concentrations of rat plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone (CORT) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). As for the effect of increasing organization nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA), total ginsenoside is better than that of other groups. In brief, different components in ginseng possess different effects on enhancing immunity, regulating endocrine and resisting oxidation. Panaxadiol saponins and ginseng polysaccharide are better in enhancing immune, and total ginsenoside shows advantages in resisting oxidation and stress.
Adrenal Glands ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Corticosterone ; blood ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Immune System ; drug effects ; physiology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Panax ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Spleen ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Thymus Gland ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Thyrotropin ; blood

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of Artemisia capillaris (AC) extract on disorders of hepatic functions and lipid metabolism induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), an endocrine disrupter, using male rats (SD, five weeks old) for a period of three weeks. These 37 animals were divided into four groups. AC extract was added as 1.5% or 3% levels to basal diets, respectively. TCDD (40 ug/kg B.W) was administered by intraperitoneal injection into rats after a week from the beginning of the experiment. AC extract alleviated the increase of rat's relative liver weights induced by TCDD. Thymuses of all rats treated with TCDD were apparently shrunken by approximately 80%. Levels of white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrits were significantly increased by treatment with TCDD, however, WBC tended to decrease by AC extract diets. In hepatic function, the elevation of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase activities by TCDD treatment was diminished by AC extract diets. Serum HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly elevated by AC extract diets. The apparent increase of triglyceride levels of rat livers induced by TCDD was significantly suppressed in the AC extract diet groups. Hepatic cytosolic catalase activities significantly decreased by treatment with TCDD showed a recovering trend by AC extract diets. In histochemical observation, the fat droplets and apoptosis of hepatocytes treated with TCDD were markedly alleviated by AC extract diets. These results indicated that AC could exert recovering effects on some disorders of hepatic functions, lipids metabolism, and antioxidant activities resulting from TCDD treatment.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Artemisia ; Catalase ; Cytosol ; Diet ; Erythrocytes ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Leukocytes ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; Male ; Rats ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ; Thymus Gland ; Weights and Measures

This study was purposed to investigate the effects of high-dose dexamethasone on structure and function of thymic epithelial cells (TEC). Male C57BL/6 mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were used as experimental animals. The mice were injected intraperitoneally with dexamethasone (20 mg/kg), and the other mice treated with saline were used as controls. Thymus was harvested at day 5 after treatment. The histological changes of the treated thymus were monitored by HE staining and in situ immunofluorescence staining. The ratio of each subset in the thymus were analyzed by using flow cytometry, and quantitative PCR was applied to detect the expression levels of IL-22 and Foxn1, which represent the regenerative function of thymus. The results showed that compared with control mice, the structure of TEC in mice treated with high-dose dexamethasone was damaged and the thymic cell number was declined dramatically (P < 0.05); the ratios of thymus cell subsets were changed, the number of double positive (DP) thymus cells among these subsets declined sharply (P < 0.05); the expression levels of Foxn1 and IL-22 increased by 34 and 8 folds respectively. It is concluded that the use of high-dose dexamethasone can lead to damage of the structure and function of TEC, and induce up-regulation of the expression of genes related to thymus repair.
Animals ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Interleukins ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Thymus Gland ; cytology ; drug effects

Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are one of the most important components in thymic microenvironment supporting thymocyte development and maturation. TECs, composed of cortical and medullary TECs, are derived from a common bipotent progenitor, mediating thymocyte positive and negative selections. Multiple levels of signals including intracellular signaling networks and cell-cell interaction are required for TEC development and differentiation. Transcription factors Foxn1 and autoimmune regulator (Aire) are powerful regulators promoting TEC development and differentiation. Crosstalks with thymocytes and other stromal cells for extrinsic signals like RANKL, CD40L, lymphotoxin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and Wnt are also definitely required to establish a functional thymic microenvironment. In this review, we will summarize our current understanding about TEC development and differentiation, and its underlying multiple signal pathways.
Cell Communication ; genetics ; Cell Differentiation ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; Thymocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Thymus Gland ; cytology ; growth & development ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Adult ; CD5 Antigens ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Choristoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hamartoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Thymoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thymus Gland ; pathology ; Thymus Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy ; methods

The effects of retrograded rice on body weight gain, gut functions, and hypolipidemic actions in rats were examined. When the retrograded rice was produced by repetitive heating and cooling cycles, it contained significantly higher amounts of resistant starch (13.9 +/- 0.98%) than is found in common rice (9.1 +/- 1.02%) (P < 0.05). Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either common rice powder or retrograded rice powder, and mean body weight gain was significantly lower in the retrograded rice group (P < 0.05). The liver weight of the retrograded rice group (14.5 +/- 0.5 g) was significantly lower than that of the common rice group (17.1 +/- 0.3 g, P < 0.05). However, the weights of other organs, such as the kidney, spleen, thymus, and epididymal fat pad were not significantly affected by rice feeding. Intestinal transit time tended to be lower in rats fed retrograded rice when compared to rats fed the common rice, but the difference was not significant. The retrograded rice diet significantly increased stool output when compared to that in the common rice powder diet (P < 0.05), whereas fecal moisture content (%) was significantly higher in the retrograded rice group (23.3 +/- 1.2) than that in the common rice group (19.1 +/- 1.2) (P < 0.05). The retrograded rice group had significantly lower plasma cholesterol (P < 0.05), liver cholesterol (P < 0.05), and triacylglycerol contents in adipose tissue (P < 0.05) when compared to those in the common rice group. In conclusion, retrograded rice had higher resistant starch levels compared with those of common rice powder, and it lowered body weight gain and improved lipid profiles and gut function in rats.
Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Kidney ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; Plasma ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; Starch ; Thymus Gland ; Triglycerides ; Weights and Measures