Astrocytes are the largest glial population in the mammalian brain. However, we have a minimal understanding of astrocyte development, especially fate specification in different regions of the brain. Through lineage tracing of the progenitors of the third ventricle (3V) wall via in-utero electroporation in the embryonic mouse brain, we show the fate specification and migration pattern of astrocytes derived from radial glia along the 3V wall. Unexpectedly, radial glia located in different regions along the 3V wall of the diencephalon produce distinct cell types: radial glia in the upper region produce astrocytes and those in the lower region produce neurons in the diencephalon. With genetic fate mapping analysis, we reveal that the first population of astrocytes appears along the zona incerta in the diencephalon. Astrogenesis occurs at an early time point in the dorsal region relative to that in the ventral region of the developing diencephalon. With transcriptomic analysis of the region-specific 3V wall and lateral ventricle (LV) wall, we identified cohorts of differentially-expressed genes in the dorsal 3V wall compared to the ventral 3V wall and LV wall that may regulate astrogenesis in the dorsal diencephalon. Together, these results demonstrate that the generation of astrocytes shows a spatiotemporal pattern in the developing mouse diencephalon.
Mice ; Animals ; Astrocytes ; Neuroglia/physiology* ; Diencephalon ; Brain ; Neurons ; Mammals

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of didymin (Did) on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity. Methods: After pretreatment with Did (2, 4, 8 mg/kg intraperitoneal i.p.) for 7 d, the male C57 mice were injected with single dose of DOX (20 mg/kg i.p.). The cardioprotective effect of Did was observed on the 7th day after DOX treatment. Results: DOX delayed body growth and caused cardiac tissue injury, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Similar experiments in H9C2 cardiomyocytes showed that DOX reduced cell viability, increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and fragmentation of DNA, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. However, all of these adverse effects were suppressed by Did pretreatment. Did increased protein expression of glutamate-L-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCL), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Besides, Did also induced activation of PI3K/AKT. Conclusion: These findings indicated Did prevented DOX-induced cardiac injury and apoptosis via activating PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Realtime xCELLigence analysis (RTCA) is a new cell detection technology to continuously monitor, record and analyze a variety of information generated by cell activity. In drug research, it plays an important role in assessing myocardial toxicity and cell biological activity. Here, we first introduce the underlying mechanisms and characteristics of RTCA. Then we review the applications of RTCA in the research of myocardial toxicity and cell biological activity, to provides the fundamental baseline for understanding and exploiting RTCA. With the real-time, unlabeled, non-invasive, high throughput, and high accuracy features, RTCA not only promotes drug research and development, but also has a broad and good application prospect in other fields.
Pharmaceutical Preparations

Objective　To explore the levels of peripheral blood IL-33 and the difference of arteriovenous fistula glucose (Da-jvGlu) after giving Shenqi glucose injection in acute cerebral infarction patients.Methods　The levels of plasma IL-33 and Da-jvGlu were detected in 126 patients of acute cerebral infarction and 10 normal controls.The correlation between IL-33 and cerebral infarction was analyzed.Results　Compared with those in normal control group and the pretherapy groups,the levels of IL-33 in large volume were significantly higher (P<0.05).After giving Shenqi glucose injection,the level of IL-33 in mid volume and small volume were significantly higher between groups (P<0.05).Compared with those in normal control group and the pretherapy groups,the level of Da-jvGlu in large volume was significantly higher (P<0.05).After giving Shenqi glucose injection,there was no significant difference of Da-jvGlu in statics between groups (P>0.05).Conclusion　Shenqi glucose injection can affect the levels of IL-33 to protect nerve cells and stabilize blood glucose concentration.

OBJECTIVE:To study the effect and its possible mechanism of Xuezhiping capsule on blood lipid levels of high blood lipid model golden hamsters. METHODS:Golden hamsters were randomly divided into normal control group,model group, atorvastatin group (3 mg/kg),combination group (Xuezhiping capsule 1.3 g/kg+atorvastatin 1.5 mg/kg),Xuezhiping capsule low-dose,medium-dose,high-dose groups(Xuezhiping capsule 1.3,2.6,5.2 g/kg),10 in each group. Hamsters in normal control group received normal diet,the other groups were given high-fat diet to establish high blood lipid model. Then relevant drugs were intragastrically given 2 weeks later. Normal control group and model group were intragastrically given equal volume of distilled wa-ter,once a day,for 4 weeks. After last administration,blood lipid indexes(TG,TC,HDL-C,LDL-C,FFA),mRNA and protein expressions of lipid metabolism related genes (PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX,SREBP-1c,ACC1) were detected. RESULTS:Com-pared with normal control group,serum contents of TC,TG,LDL-C,FFA in model group increased,HDL-C content decreased;PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX mRNA and protein expressions were weakened,SREBP-1c,ACC1 mRNA and protein expressions were enhanced(P<0.05). Compared with model group,above-mentioned indexes were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule high-dose group,atorvastatin group and combination group (except for HDL-C in Xuezhiping capsule high-dose group)(P<0.05);TC,TG,FFA contents,and PPAR-α,CYP7A1,ACOX,ACC1 mRNA,and CYP7A1,SREBP-1c,ACC1 protein were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule medium-dose group(P<0.05);TC,TG contents,and PPAR-α mRNA,and CYP7A1, SREBP-1c protein were obviously improved in Xuezhiping capsule low-dose group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Xuezhiping cap-sule has a promising effect of lowering blood lipid,the mechanism may be related to activating PPAR-α and inhibiting SREBP-lc signaling pathway.

Notch signaling, a highly conserved pathway, is wide-ly found in invertebrates and vertebrates. By mediating cell com-munication, it can regulate many physiological and pathological processes in various kinds of cells, including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in multi-cellular organism. Accu-mulating evidence shows that abnormality in Notch signaling is highly related to diabetes mellitus and its complications. Accord-ingly, this paper reviews the molecular basis of Notch signaling and the relations between its abnormal expression and diabetes mellitus, and focuses on the impact of key elements in the Notch signaling pathway on diabetic complications as well as correlative mechanisms.

Objective To select the optimal acupoints formula by evaluating the efficacy of different groups of acupoints in the treatment of post-stroke depression (PSD) with acupuncture. Method Totally 108 PSD patients were randomized into 3 groups, i.e. Neiguan (PC6) group, Taichong (LR3) group, and Baihui (GV20) group, 36 cases each. The acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 5 sessions a week, 3 weeks as a treatment course. The clinical efficacies were compared among the 3 groups after the intervention. The 3 groups were evaluated by the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and Quality of Life Scale (QOL) before and after the treatment, and the results were statistically analyzed. Result The effective rates were respectively 72.2%, 75.0%, and 86.1%in Neiguan group, Taichong group, and Baihui group, and the inter-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); the HAMD, NIHSS, and QOL scores were significantly changed after the intervention in the 3 groups (P<0.01);the inter-group differences in the NIHSS and QOL scores were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion The three groups of acupoints are effective in improving the depression symptoms, neural defect and QOL, while Baihui group can produce a more significant efficacy in improving the depression symptoms compared to Neiguan and Taichong groups;the effects in improving neural defect and QOL are equivalent among the 3 groups of acupoints.

Arsenic trioxide has a significantly positive effect on the treatment of acute promyelocyte leukemia( APL) , and it also has been proved that arsenic trioxide can protect against some other kinds of malignant tumors in recent years. However, with the further research about arsenic trioxide, the reports about car-diac toxicity of arsenic trioxide are increasing. Currently, the possible mechanisms of As2 O3-induced cardiotoxicity are mainly considered to be associated with changes in cardiac ion chan-nels, oxidative stress injury and apoptosis. Research advances on cardiac toxicity of arsenic trioxide and some ways of preven-tion are summarized.

Objective To study the chronic toxicity and its severity of a Chinese medicine, Anshen Bunao Liquid ( ABL) , in rats, provide the target organs and extent of reversibility of their adverse effects, determine its non-toxic dose, and to evaluate the safety of medication and provide reference for clinical trial dose and observation indexes.Methods Two hundred and forty healthy 6-week old Wistar rats ( male:female=1:1) were divided into low,middle, and high dose Anshen Bunao liquid groups (2.5, 5, 10 mL/kg),and solvent control group (distilled water 2 mL/100 g), with 60 rats in each group.The drug was orally administered to rats once a day and 6 days per week for 26 weeks.The general state, body mass and food intake were measured.By the end of 13 weeks, 26 weeks of experiment and 4-week recovery period after drug withdrawal, hematological and biochemical indexes were assayed, organ coefficients were determined, and histopathological observation was performed.Results Long-term continuous oral administration of Anshen Bunao liquid, the general state, behavior and gross appearance showed no significant abnormal changes.Compared with the control group, no significant differences in all checked items were found in the treatment groups.During 3 and 6 months, the size and location of organs,organ weight and organ coefficient had no obvious changes, with only non-significant increase of weight of some organs.All the organ coefficients of the animals in different groups were within normal range.Histopathology showed no obvious patho-logical and toxicological changes even in the high-dose drug treatment group, and no delayed toxicity occurred after with-drawal of drug administration.Conclusions The Chinese drug, Anshen Bunao liquid has no obvious toxicity and no de-layed toxicity after withdrawal of the drug in rats.It is expected that the planned dose in clinical use is a safe dose.

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury ( MI/RI) is a pathophysiological phenomenon commonly seen during thromboly-sis, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty ( PTCA ) , and coronary artery bypass grafting ( CABG ) . It is defined as restoration of blood flow to a previously ischemic region followed by complex pathological events leading to tissue injury greater than the original ischemic insult. Many experimental interven-tions have been reported to protect the ischemic myocardium in experimental animals; however, with the exception of early reperfusion, none has been translated into clinical practice. The root of Panax notoginseng ( Burk. ) F. H. Chen ( PN) is one of the iconic herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional pharmacopeia recommended it among the most efficacious herbs for‘promoting blood circulation ’ and hemostasis. Inspired by this, in the last decade, a large number of modern investigators made substantial efforts to search the PN activities against a vari-ety of MIRI. The systematic review was performed according to the protecting drug of the MIRI development guidelines.