This study examines the effects of zearalenone(ZEA)on the survival and function of lu-teinized granulosa cells,and studies the role of activating transcription factor 6(ATF6)in regula-ting apoptosis and functional abnormalities of luteinized granulosa cells induced by ZEA.An in vitro model of luteinized granulosa cells was utilized to examine the effects of ZEA treatment on apoptosis,hormone secretion,and the expression of relevant proteins.Furthermore,the expression of ATF6 was manipulated using siRNA to elucidate its regulatory function in the ZEA-induced damage of luteinized granulosa cells in mice.Our findings revealed that ZEA inhibited the activity of luteinized granulosa cells and reduced the secretion of estradiol(E2)and progesterone(P4)in a dose-dependent manner.The expression levels of p-IRE1,ATF6 and StAR in both low(20 pmol/L)and high(40 μmol/L)ZEA groups were significantly increased after 24 h(P＜0.05).GRP78 had no significant change at low concentration treatment(P＞0.05),but significantly increased at high concentration treatment(P＜0.05).Similarly,ATF4 and p-EIF2α had no significant change at low concentration treatment(P＞0.05),but significantly decreased at high concentration treat-ment(P＜0.05).HSD3B2 and CYP19A1 were significantly decreased in both low and high concentration treatments(P＜0.05).After 48 h of treatment,ATF6 and GRP78 were significantly increased in both low and high concentration treatments(P＜0.05).p-IRE1 was significantly de-creased at low concentration treatment(P＜0.05),but remained unchanged at high concentration treatment(P＞0.05).ATF4,p-EIF2α,HSD3B2 and CYP19A1 were significantly decreased in both low and high concentration treatments(P＜0.05).St AR was significantly increased in both low and high concentration treatments(P＜0.05).Interference with the expression of ATF6 could sig-nificantly reduce the apoptosis induced by low concentration group(P＜0.05),and enhanced the hormone secretion in both high and low concentration groups(P＜0.05).In conclusion,ZEA can cause damage to luteinized granulosa cells and activate ATF6 signaling pathway.Interference with ATF6 can alleviate apoptosis and hormone secretion disturbance induced by low concentration ZEA,but has limited effect on damage caused by high concentration ZEA.

This study examines the effects of zearalenone(ZEA)on the survival and function of lu-teinized granulosa cells,and studies the role of activating transcription factor 6(ATF6)in regula-ting apoptosis and functional abnormalities of luteinized granulosa cells induced by ZEA.An in vitro model of luteinized granulosa cells was utilized to examine the effects of ZEA treatment on apoptosis,hormone secretion,and the expression of relevant proteins.Furthermore,the expression of ATF6 was manipulated using siRNA to elucidate its regulatory function in the ZEA-induced damage of luteinized granulosa cells in mice.Our findings revealed that ZEA inhibited the activity of luteinized granulosa cells and reduced the secretion of estradiol(E2)and progesterone(P4)in a dose-dependent manner.The expression levels of p-IRE1,ATF6 and StAR in both low(20 pmol/L)and high(40 μmol/L)ZEA groups were significantly increased after 24 h(P＜0.05).GRP78 had no significant change at low concentration treatment(P＞0.05),but significantly increased at high concentration treatment(P＜0.05).Similarly,ATF4 and p-EIF2α had no significant change at low concentration treatment(P＞0.05),but significantly decreased at high concentration treat-ment(P＜0.05).HSD3B2 and CYP19A1 were significantly decreased in both low and high concentration treatments(P＜0.05).After 48 h of treatment,ATF6 and GRP78 were significantly increased in both low and high concentration treatments(P＜0.05).p-IRE1 was significantly de-creased at low concentration treatment(P＜0.05),but remained unchanged at high concentration treatment(P＞0.05).ATF4,p-EIF2α,HSD3B2 and CYP19A1 were significantly decreased in both low and high concentration treatments(P＜0.05).St AR was significantly increased in both low and high concentration treatments(P＜0.05).Interference with the expression of ATF6 could sig-nificantly reduce the apoptosis induced by low concentration group(P＜0.05),and enhanced the hormone secretion in both high and low concentration groups(P＜0.05).In conclusion,ZEA can cause damage to luteinized granulosa cells and activate ATF6 signaling pathway.Interference with ATF6 can alleviate apoptosis and hormone secretion disturbance induced by low concentration ZEA,but has limited effect on damage caused by high concentration ZEA.

Objective To explore the altered expression of circular RNA (circRNA) and mRNA in the mouse cortex in the early phase of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and possible biological functions of the circRNA in early brain injury (EBI).Methods A total of 18 C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into a sham and a SAH group (n=9).SAH models were prepared by endovascular perforation.Total RNAs of brain samples were extracted to construct the cDNA library 24 h after operation.RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was carried out by HiSeqTM 2500 User Guide and followed by RT-qPCR for confirmation.Reads were aligned to the mouse transcriptome to obtain expression profiles ofcircRNA and mRNA.Bioinformatic study included GO analysis,KEGG pathway analysis and forecast of targeted miRNA of circRNA.Results A total of 26 circRNA (6 up-regulated and 20 down-regulated) and 804 mRNA (396 up-regulated and 408 down-regulated) were significantly changed.These altered mRNA were mainly related to regulation of neuronal synaptic plasticity,inflammatory and immune response.Bioinformatics showed that some significantly altered circRNA contained binding sites for many miRNA.The RT-qPCR analysis of 4 randomly selected circRNA (circFoxj3,circSetbp1,circArpp21 and circ2010111 I01Rik) confirmed the accuracy of RNA-seq.Conclusions SAH alters the expression of circRNA in mouse cortex and the differentially expressed circRNA may be involved in regulation of EBI following SAH,promising a potential therapeutic target for the diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of SAH.

Objective To investigate expression changes of Tau protein in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and oligodendrocytes (Ols) after stretch injury in rats and explore the relationship of Tau protein with pathological changes after axonal injury. Methods Morphological changes of optic nerves, RGCs and OLs after stretch injury were examined under light microscope in control group, stretch only group, heat stress only group and heat stress pretreatment plus stretch group. The expressions of Tau protein in RGCs and OLs after heat stress and/or stretch injury were observed by using immunohistechemical stai-ning. Results Pathological changes of axons, RGCs and OLs were identified morphologically or quan-titatively after stretch injury to the optic nerves, which was significantly ameliorated through pretreatment with heat stress plus stretch injury. The expressions of Tau protein in RGCs and OLs were increased in stretch only group. There was no significant expression change of Tau protein in heat stress only group. Expression of Tan protein was obviously decreased in heat stress pretreatment plus stretch group. Con-clusions Both neurons and glial cells are involved in pathological process after axonal injury. The ex-pression changes of Tau protein are probably related to delayed axotomy and neuron apoptosis. Heat stress can relieve the impairment of cystoskeleton through decreasing and delaying the expression of Tau protein.