OBJECTIVE: Aquaporin (AQP) is a recently discovered protein that regulates water homeostasis. The present study examines changes in AQP 1 and 4 in kaolin induced experimental hydrocephalic rats to elucidate the pathophysiology of water homeostasis in the disease. METHODS: Hydrocephalus was induced by percutaneous intracisternal injection of kaolin. The brain parenchyma and choroid plexus were obtained at 3, 7, 14 and 30 days after injection. Protein expressions of AQP 1 and 4 were measured by western blot, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) stains. RESULTS: In the choroid plexus of the kaolin-induced hydrocephalus group, AQP 1 expression identified by western blot exhibited sharp decrease in the early stage (55% by the 3rd day and 22% by the 7th day), but indicated a 2.2-fold increase in the later stage (30th day) in comparison with control groups. In the parenchyma, a quantitative measurement of AQP 4 expression revealed variable results on the 3rd and 7th days, but indicated expression 2.1 times higher than the control in the later stage (30th day). In addition, the IHC and IF findings supported the patterns of expression of AQP 1 in the choroid plexus and AQP 4 in the parenchyma. CONCLUSION: Expression of AQP 1 decreased sharply in the choroid plexus of acute hydrocephalus rats and increased at later stages. Expression of AQP 4 in the brain parenchyma was variable in the early stage in the hydrocephalus group, but was higher than in the control in the later stage. These findings suggest a compensating role of AQPs in water physiology in hydrocephalus.
Animals ; Aquaporin 1* ; Aquaporins ; Blotting, Western ; Brain* ; Choroid Plexus* ; Choroid* ; Coloring Agents ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Homeostasis ; Hydrocephalus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kaolin ; Physiology ; Rats* ; Water

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Armillariella tabescens on cisplatin chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal tract reaction.

METHODSForty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into control group, model group, low dose Armillariella tabescens group, middle dose Armillariella tabescens group, high dose Armillariella tabescens group and ondansetron group. The rats were injected intraperitoneally with cisplatin to induce pica, and observe the effect of Armillariella tabescens on consumption of kaolin, food, water and body weight.

RESULTS24-72 h after cisplatin administration, in the middle dose Armillariella tabescens group, the high dose Armillariella tabescens group and the ondansetron group, the kaolin intake was significantly lower than that in the model group, respectively (P<0.05). The most significant difference was between the high dose Armillariella tabescens group [(0.58 +/- 0.23) g/24 h] and the control group [(2.16 +/- 0.98) g/24 h] at 24 h after cisplatin administration. The variables, such as consumption of food during 48-72 h (P<0.05), water during 48-72 h (P<0.05), and body weight at 72 h (P<0.05) in the middle dose Armillariella tabescens group were significantly higher than those in the model group, but no statistically significant difference between the ondansetron group and the model group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSArmillariella tabescens can effectively inhibit the cisplatin-induced pica response, and the middle dose Armillariella tabescens group is significantly better than the model group in improving the food intake reduction, water intake reduction and body weight loss.

Agaricales ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antiemetics ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; toxicity ; Biological Therapy ; methods ; Body Weight ; Cisplatin ; toxicity ; Drinking ; Eating ; Kaolin ; Male ; Ondansetron ; therapeutic use ; Pica ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDAlthough low-molecular-weight heparin has replaced unfractionated heparin to become the primary anticoagulation drug for treatment of acute coronary syndrome, there is no convenient bedside monitoring method. We explored the best laboratory monitoring method of low-molecular-weight heparins (enoxaparin, dalteparin, and nadroparin) by use of the Sonoclot coagulation analyzer to monitor the activated clotting time.

METHODSA total of 20 healthy volunteers were selected and 15 ml of fasting venous blood samples were collected and incubated. Four coagulants, kaolin, diatomite, glass bead, and magnetic stick, were used to determine the activated clotting time of the low-molecular-weight heparins at different in vitro anti-Xa factor concentrations. A correlation analysis was made to obtain the regression equation. The activated clotting time of the different low-molecular-weight heparins with the same anti-Xa factor concentration was monitored when the coagulant glass beads were applied.

RESULTSThe activated clotting time measured using the glass beads, diatomite, kaolin, and magnetic stick showed a linear correlation with the concentration of nadroparin (r = 0.964, 0.966, 0.970, and 0.947, respectively). The regression equation showed that the linear slopes of different coagulants were significantly different (glass beads 230.03 s/IU, diatomite 89.91 s/IU, kaolin 50.87 s/IU, magnetic stick could not be calculated). When the concentration of the anti-Xa factor was the same for different low-molecular-weight heparins, the measured activated clotting time was different after the application of the glass bead coagulant.

CONCLUSIONSThe glass bead coagulant is most feasible for monitoring the in vitro anticoagulation activity of nadroparin. The different effects of different low-molecular-weight heparins on the activated clotting time may be related to the different anti-IIa activities.

Adult ; Anticoagulants ; pharmacology ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Blood Coagulation Tests ; Coagulants ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glass ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Kaolin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nadroparin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of protein kinase C (PKC) activity and its role in the development of presyrinx state in rabbits.

METHODSPresyrinx state was established in 56 rabbits by intra-cisternal injection of kaolin. At 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after the injection, the water content in the upper cervical spinal cord was measured, its pathological changes observed microscopically and the PKC activity determined with substrate phosphorolysis kinase assay.

RESULTSSpinal cord edema occurred in rabbits one day after kaolin injection, with water content of (68.35-/+0.70)%, which increased to (72.70-/+0.88)% on day 3, reaching the peak level of (72.92-/+0.86)% on day 7, followed by gradual decline after 3 weeks [(70.03-/+0.77)%]. The membrane PKC activity increased from 5.67-/+0.26 pmol.mg(-1).min(-1) on day 1 after the injection to reach the peak level on day 7 (13.27-/+3.15 pmol.mg(-1).min(-1)), which was maintained till day 14 with subsequent decrease to 8.85-/+1.56 pmol.mg(-1).min(-1) on day 21. The cytoplasmic PKC activity showed changes of a reverse pattern.

CONCLUSIONIn rabbits with experimental presyrinx state, PKC translocation and activation is involved in ischemic spinal edema.

Animals ; Female ; Kaolin ; Male ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Spinal Cord ; enzymology ; Syringomyelia ; chemically induced ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo isolate the bioflocculant-producing bacteria from activated sludge and investigate the flocculating characteristics of the newly isolated bioflocculant.

METHODSBacteria were screened from activated sludge samples to isolate bioflocculant-producing bacteria. Flocculating activity was used as a measure of the flocculating capability of the bioflocculant.

RESULTSA novel bioflocculant-producing bacterium was isolated, which was identified to belong to genus Aeromonas and named as Aeromonas sp. N11. Flocculating activity increased in the presence of K+, Na+, or Ca2+. The highest flocculating activities for kaolin suspension were obtained in acidic pH ranges, and optimum pHs for it were 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 with 1 mmol/L K+, Ca+, and Na+ present, respectively. The highest flocculating activities for soil suspension were observed at pH 8.0. The bioflocculant had a good flocculating activity and could achieve a flocculating activity of 92.4% for kaolin suspension at a dosage of only 1 mgxL(-1), and its activity in kaolin suspension was decreased by only 9.2% after heating at 100 degrees C for 60 min.

CONCLUSIONThe bioflocculant produced by Aeromonas sp. N11 has strong flocculating activity and high stability, which affords high possibility of its practical use.

Aeromonas ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Flocculation ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kaolin

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the analgesic effect of needle electrical stimulation (NES) according to the electrode placement in acute arthritic rat model. METHOD: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (120 rats, 250+/-50 g) were injected with a mixture of 3% carrageenan and 3% kaolin into the right knee joint. Rats were randomly assigned into one of four groups: Group I, control group (n=30); Group II, arthritic limb-induced control group (n=30); Group III, NES application group on the ipsilateral arthritic limb (n=30); Group IV, NES application group on the contralateral arthritic limb (n=30). We applied the NES (2 Hz, 200micro s, 20 min) to group III and IV. We assessedthe change of paw withdrawal latency (PWL) and the immunoreactivity of c-fos by immunohistochemistry at baseline, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after induction of arthritis. RESULTS: NES was more effective in Group III and IV than group II 8 hours after the induction of arthritis (p < 0.001) based on the results of PWLs and c-fos immunoreactivity. The analgesic effects of Group III were greater than those of group IV (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Contralateral NES on arthritic limb reduced pain in arthritic rat model as effectively as ipsilateral NES.
Analgesia* ; Animals ; Arthritis ; Carrageenan ; Electric Stimulation* ; Electrodes* ; Extremities ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kaolin ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Needles* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: All currently available nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit both cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 and exhibit many complications. It has been suggested that the anti-inflammatory and also most of the analgesic effects of NSAlDs result from an inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolites synthesised via cyclooxygenase-2. In the present study, the extent of analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of ibuprofen (a non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor), indomethacin (a selective cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitor) and NS-398 (a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) are investigated in on acute model of arthritis in rats by a behavior test and pathologic examination. METHODS: Arthritis was induced with 2% kaolin and 3% carrageenan into the right knee joint cavity under enflurane anesthesia (2 - 4%). Before and after the injection, rats were allowed to walk freely through a pathway, constructed to record weight load by means of 8 weight sensors attached to 8 plates which function independently. Weight bearing, the weight of rat and the diameter of the knee joint were measured serially before and after the injection. At 6 hours after the injection, ibuprofen, indomethacin and NS-398 were injected intraperitoneally (1, 5 and 25 mg/kg/ml). RESULTS: In the control group, weight bearing decreased maximally and the weight bearing ratio increased maximally at 6 hours after inflammation and the diameter ratio increased maximally 1 day after inflammation. There were improvements in weight bearing with ibuprofen, indomethacin and NS-398 in a dose-dependent manner at 8, 10 and 12 hours after induction of arthritis. NS-398 demonstrated better analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects than ibuprofen or indomethacin at a low dose (1 mg/kg). In contrast to NS-398, significant analgesic effects of indomethacin on the behavior test was not shown at a low dose. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor plays an important role as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Arachidonic Acid ; Arthritis* ; Carrageenan ; Cyclooxygenase 1 ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Enflurane ; Ibuprofen* ; Indomethacin* ; Inflammation ; Kaolin ; Knee Joint ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Rats* ; Weight-Bearing

Arthritis is the most common disease of joint in old age and almost all the old human are suffering from arthritis. Arthritis gives so severe pain hard to endure that it can devastate human. But we still do not know where the arthritic pain comes from and the generation mechanism of it. For the study of effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on the c-fos immunoreactive neurons, substance P-and CGRPimmunoreactive neurons in dorsal horn and DRG, cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors indomethacin (0.5 mg/kg), piroxicam (0.5 mg/kg), NMDA receptor antagonist MK 801 (2 mg/kg), and capsaicin (50 mg/kg) were administered to the experimental arthritis model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for this study. Arthritis was induced by injection of 4% kaolin followed by 2% carrageenan into the articular capsule of left knee. Two hours, 24 hours and 7 days after injection, animals were sacrificed and processed for imunohistochemical staining for c-fos in spinal dorsal horn, for substance P (SP) and CGRP in DRG. The results were as follows; 1. The number of c-fos immunoreactive neurons were significantly decreased at 2 h after piroxicam and MK-801 administration and 1 week after indomethacin, MK-801 and capsaicin treatment in the inflamed side of dorsal horn. 2. There were the significant decrease of SP-and CGRP-immunoreactive area 2 h after indomethacin administration and 1week after capsaicin treatment in the inflamed side of dorsal horn. 3. The number of SP- and CGRP-immunoreactive neurons in DRG were decreased after drugs administration and no difference is in the degree of effectiveness between drugs. Indomethacin and piroxicam which is an inhibitors of COX, significantly reduced the expression of c-fos proteins and desensitized nociceptive primary afferents at the early time, and capsaicin, a pungent algesic substance, decreased the level of c-fos protein, SP and CGRP over a wider time in dorsal horn and DRG.
Animals ; Arthritis* ; Capsaicin ; Carrageenan ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Horns ; Humans ; Indomethacin ; Joint Capsule ; Joints ; Kaolin ; Knee ; Male ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neurons ; Piroxicam ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substance P

To analyze the effects of capsaicin administered to the arthritic rat model, immunohistochemical stains for c-fos protein in the spinal dorsal horn and for substance P and CGRP in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were done. Kaolin and careegenan were administered to the knee joint cavity of adult rats to induce arthritis, and capsaicin was administered immediately after kaolin-careegenan injection. A count was conducted of the c-fos immunoreactive dorsal horn neurons and substance P and CGRP immunoreactive cells in L5 and L6 DRG to elucidate the effect of capsaicin. The results were summarized as follows. 1. The number of c-fos immunoreactive neurons in the superficial dorsal horn was increased markedly 2 hours after the kaolin and careegenan injection to the knee joint, and decreased gradually to the control level 1 week after injection. 2. The number of c-fos immunoreactive neurons in the superficial dorsal horn of capsaicin- treated rats was less than in those rats not injected with capsaicin. 3. The number of c-fos immunoreactive neurons in the deep dorsal horn was increased later than those in the superficial dorsal horn and reached peak level 16 hours after the kaolin and careegenan injection, and decreased gradually therafter. 4. The number of c-fos immunoreactive neurons in the deep dorsal horn of the capsaicin treated rats was less than in those rats not treated with capsaicin. 5. The number of substance P and CGRP immunoreactive DRG neurons increased 24 hours after the kaolin and careegenan injection to the knee joint, and also apparently increased 1 week after injection. 6. The number of substance P and CGRP immunoreactive DRG neurons of capsaicin- treated rats was less than in those rats not treated with capsaicin administered rats. Capsaicin reduces the number of c-fos immunoreactive neurons in the spinal dorsal horn, and also reduces the number of substance P and CGRP immunoreactive neurons in the DRG of the arthritic rat model, which may be closely related to the analgesic effects of capsaicin.
Adult ; Animals ; Arthritis ; Capsaicin* ; Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Horns ; Humans ; Kaolin ; Knee Joint ; Models, Animal* ; Neurons ; Posterior Horn Cells ; Rats* ; Spinal Cord* ; Spinal Nerve Roots* ; Substance P

Ependymal cells line the surface of cerebral ventricles. They do not regenerate after they are fully matured and have a limited response to injury. In hydrocephalus, the expansile force of the ventricular wall is applied to ependymal cells and causes cell deformity to some degree. As it is known that the intermediate filaments of a cell act as a framework that resists changes in cellular shape, there may be some detectable changes of intermediate filaments of ependymal cells in hydrocephalus. In developing ependymal cells, it is also unclear if there are any changes to intermediate filaments in hydrocephalus. Developing ependymal cells are known to lose their immunoreactivity to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a kind of intermediate filaments which exist in some neuroglial cells. We experimentally induced congenital and postnatal hydrocephalus and investigated the changes of immunore-activity against GFAP as well as the ultrastuctures of rat ependymal cells in both types of hydrocephalus. To induce congenital hydrocephalus, 40 mg/kg of ethylenethiourea (ETU) was orally administered to pregnant rats on the 15th day after conception. Tissues taken from fetuses on the 17th day, from newborn rats immediately after birth, and from rats of 1 week and 2 weeks after birth were obtained and processed for immunohistochemistry for GFAP and electron microscopy. Postnatal hydrocephalus was induced by injecting kaolin suspension into the subarachnoid space of 15-day-old rats. Ependymal tissues were obtained and processed for immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy after 1 and 2 weeks following injection. The results were as follows; 1. Congenital hydrocephalus was induced more consistently and extensively than postnatal hydrocephalus. 2. In congenital hydrocephalus, GFAP-reactive ependymal cells were found in lateral ventricles of 1-week and 2-week-old rats, while in control and postnatal hydrocephalic groups, GFAP-reactive ependymal cells were not found. GFAP-reactive cells tended to be found in clusters. 3. Electron microscopy showed ependymal cells in congenital hydrocephalus had a less marked flattening figure, scarce apical cilia, often widened regions in the intercellular gap, spaces in subependymal tissue, and different figures in mitochondria. Above all, intermediate filaments, including GFAP, increased and were irregularly arranged in ependymal cell cytoplasm in congenital hydrocephalus. Therefore, in congenitally-induced hydrocephalus, the ependymal cells appeared to have a greater responsiveness to expansile force and remained in a more premature state than postnatally-induced hydrocephalus.
Animals ; Cerebral Ventricles ; Cilia ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Cytoplasm ; Ethylenethiourea ; Fertilization ; Fetus ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant, Newborn ; Intermediate Filaments* ; Kaolin ; Lateral Ventricles ; Microscopy, Electron ; Mitochondria ; Neuroglia ; Parturition ; Rats* ; Subarachnoid Space