OBJECTIVETo study the ability of aqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus mushroom in the treatment of nerve injury following peroneal nerve crush in Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODSAqueous extract of Hericium erinaceus was given by daily oral administration following peroneal nerve crush injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. The expression of protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways; and c-Jun and c-Fos genes were studied in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) whereas the activity of protein synthesis was assessed in peroneal nerves by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSPeripheral nerve injury leads to changes at the axonal site of injury and remotely located DRG containing cell bodies of sensory afferent neurons. Immunofluorescence studies showed that DRG neurons ipsilateral to the crush injury in rats of treated groups expressed higher immunoreactivities for Akt, MAPK, c-Jun and c-Fos as compared with negative control group (P <0.05). The intensity of nuclear ribonucleoprotein in the distal segments of crushed nerves of treated groups was significantly higher than in the negative control group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONH. erinaceus is capable of promoting peripheral nerve regeneration after injury. Potential signaling pathways include Akt, MAPK, c-Jun, and c-Fos, and protein synthesis have been shown to be involved in its action.

Agaricales ; chemistry ; Animals ; Axons ; pathology ; Female ; Ganglia, Spinal ; metabolism ; Glucans ; analysis ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Nerve Crush ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Peripheral Nerves ; enzymology ; physiology ; Peroneal Nerve ; physiology ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

deltaFosB, a naturally occurring truncated isform of fosB gene, existed in many tissues stably and played an important role in formation and differentiation of adipocyte and osteoblast. deltaFosB may be related to the metabolism of calcium in bone and mammary gland and regulate the signal pathway of calcium transfer from bone to mammary gland. We first sub-cloned deltafosB gene of goat into the vector pET32a to construct prokaryotic expression vector pET32a-deltafosB. Then we induced for deltafosB gene expression efficiently by IPTG. Finally we immunized the adult rabbits with purified recombinant deltaFosB to prepare rabbit anti-goat deltaFosB polyclonal antibody. iELISA analysis showed the antibody with the titer of 1:51 200, and Western blotting result showed that the antibody could specifically detect the deltaFosB protein expressed in prokaryotic cell and HEK-293 cell, respectively. Further Western blotting assay showed that deltaFosB expressed in various tissues of goat in vivo.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Goats ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo examine modulations caused by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors on altered microenvironments and overbalanced neurotransmitters in pilocarpine-induced epileptic status rats and to investigate possible mechanisms.

METHODSCelecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) was administered 45 min prior to pilocarpine administration. The effects of COX-2 inhibitors on mIPSCs (miniature GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents) of CA3 pyramidal cells in the hippocampus were recorded. Expressions of COX-2, c-Fos, newly generated neurons, and activated microgliosis were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, and expressions of alpha-subunit of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA(A)) receptors and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) activity were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSPretreatment with celecoxib showed protection against pilocarpine-induced seizures. Celecoxib prevented microglia activation in the hilus and inhibited the abnormal neurogenesis and astrogliosis in the hippocampus by inhibiting MAPK/ERK activity and c-Fos transcription. Celecoxib also up-regulated the expression of GABA(A) receptors. NS-398 (N-2-cyclohexyloxy-4-nitrophenyl-methanesulfonamide), another COX-2 inhibitor, enhanced the frequency and decay time of mIPSCs.

CONCLUSIONThe COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib decreased neuronal excitability and prevented epileptogenesis in pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus rats. Celecoxib regulates synaptic reorganization by inhibiting astrogliosis and ectopic neurogenesis by attenuating MAPK/ERK signal activity, mediated by a GABAergic mechanism.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Celecoxib ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrocystic Breast Disease ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Nitrobenzenes ; pharmacology ; Pilocarpine ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Pyrazoles ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, GABA-A ; biosynthesis ; Status Epilepticus ; chemically induced ; enzymology ; pathology ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Synapses ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of rosiglitazone (RSG, the activator of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor lambda) for inhibiting endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced neonatal rat cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and the role of protein kinase C (PKC) and c-fos.

METHODSIn vitro cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes were treated with ET-1, phorbol ester (PMA, the PKC activator), ET-1+RSG, ET-1+chelerythrine (che, the PKC inhibitor), PMA+RSG, or without treatment (control), respectively. The effects of RSG on the protein content, (3)H-leucine incorporation, PKC activity and C-fos protein expression were observed in the cardiac myocytes stimulated with ET-1 or PMA.

RESULTSAfter two days of culture, the intracellular protein content in ET-1 group and PMA group were increased by 15% (339-/+15 microg/ml) and 13% (329-/+14 microg/ml) as compared with the control cells (290-/+13 microg/ml), respectively (P<0.01). Compared with the ET-1 group, cells treated with ET-1+10(-8) mol/L RSG, ET-1+10(-7) mol/L RSG, and ET-1+che showed decreased intracellular protein content by 10% (303-/+14 microg/ml, P<0.05), 12% (292-/+11 microg/ml, P<0.05), and 13% (291-/+12 microg/ml, P<0.01), respectively. The intracellular protein content in PMA+10(-7) mol/LRSG group was decreased by 10% (P<0.05) in comparison with the PMA group. RSG inhibited protein synthesis enhancement and increased (3)H-leucine incorporation induced by ET-1 and PMA, and antagonized the effects of ET-1 and PMA in promoting PKC activity and c-fos protein expression in the myocytes.

CONCLUSIONThe inhibitory effect of RSG on ET-1- or PMA-induced myocyte hypertrophy is associated with PKC-c-fos pathway.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Enlargement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelin-1 ; pharmacology ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of proto-oncogene c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertrophy and effects of tanshinone II A (Tan) in the primary culture of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

METHODTwelve neonatal Wistar rats aged one day old of clean grade and both sexes were selected to isolate and culture cardiomyocytes. The cardiomyocytes were divided into: normal control group, Ang II (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) group, Ang II (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) +Tan (10(-8) g x L(-1)) group, Ang II (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) + valsartan (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) group, Tan (10(-8) g x L(-1)) group, valsartan (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) group. The cardiomyocyte size was determined by phase contrast microscope, the rate of protein synthesis in cardiomyocytes was measured by 3H-leucine incorporation. The c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression of cardiomyocytes were assessed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTAng II was added to the culture medium and 30 min later, the c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression of cardiomyocytes increased significantly (P < 0. 01). After Ang II took effect for 24 h, the rate of protein synthesis in Ang II group increased more prominently than that in normal control group (P < 0.01). After Ang II took effect for 7 days, the size of cardiomyocyte in Ang II group increased obviously (P < 0. 05). If tanshinone II or valsartan was added to the culture medium before Ang II, both of them could inhibit the increase of c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression (P < 0.01), cardiomyocyte protein synthesis rate (P < 0.01), and cardiomyocyte size (P < 0.05) induced by Ang II.

CONCLUSIONTanshinone II could ameliorate Ang II-induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy by inhabiting c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression.

Angiotensin II ; biosynthesis ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genes, fos ; genetics ; Genes, jun ; genetics ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture on heroin seeking behavior and FosB expression in relevant brain regions. METHODS: Rat model of heroin relapse behaviors was developed with progressive fixed ratio program,and model rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a restraint group, a needle retention group, and a electroacupuncture group. The heroin seeking behavior was elicited by a small dose of heroin. FosB expression in relevnt brain region was assessed with immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: Tests on reinstatement of drug seeking behavior induced by heroin priming showed that compared with the restraint group, active pokes in the electroacupuncture group decreased significantly(P<0.05). Compared with the restraint group, the expression of FosB positive nuclei in Acd, Pcg and CeA of rats brain both in the electroacupuncture group and the needle retention group (P<0.05) decreased significantly. In LC, the expression of FosB positive nuclei in the needle retention group decreased significantly compared with the restraint group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Continuous acupuncture and needle retention attentuate the reinstatement of heroin-seeking behaviors induced by heroin priming, and the inhibitory effect may be mediated partially by the expression of FosB in relevant regions which are involved in the process of heroin addiction.
Amygdala ; metabolism ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Brain ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Heroin Dependence ; metabolism ; psychology ; therapy ; Male ; Nucleus Accumbens ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the antisense c-fos oligonucleotides that control the expression of immediate-early gene c-fos in retina in order to better understand the mechanism by which antisense c-fos oligonucleotides induced myopia. In this study the signal transduction in the pathway linking visual experience and the regulation of the eye's growth was investigated. METHODS: Thirty-one 3-week guinea pigs were assigned into 3 groups: antisense and sense c-fos oligonucleotides were intravitreally injected every 3 days to the eyes of the experimental guinea pigs at different concentrations; and saline vehicle to control guinea pigs in the same way. The refraction and axial length of the eyes were measured before and after the treatment, and the immediate-early gene c-fos expression in the retina was quantified by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The moderate myopia was induced in high (1 nmol) and low (0.1 nmol) level of antisense c-fos oligonucleotide intravitreous injection (-5.425 D and -5.575 D, respectively) compared with the control ateral eyes. The refraction and axial length of the treated eyes increased, and the expression of immediate-early gene c-fos decreased significantly in the antisense c-fos oligonucleotides intravitreously injected eyes compared with the sense c-fos oligonucleotide intravitreously and saline vehicle injected eyes (P<0.01). The refraction and axial length were of no statistically significant differences among the sense c-fos oligonucleotides-treated eyes and saline-treated eyes and non-treated eyes (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The obvious myopia can be induced by antisense c-fos oligonucleotides in guinea pigs; antisense c-fos oligonucleotides inhibit c-fos expression in the retina. Immediate-early gene c-fos may be a potential factor in the prevention of myopia and plays an important role in the signal transduction of the retina.
Animals ; Genes, Immediate-Early ; genetics ; Guinea Pigs ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microinjections ; Myopia ; chemically induced ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; toxicity ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Retina ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

Catechins, components of green tea, reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is highly implicated in the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), resulting in atherosclerosis. The acting mechanisms of the catechins remain to be defined in the proliferation of VSMC induced by Ang II. Here we report that catechin, epicatechin (EC), epicatechingallate (ECG) or epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) significantly inhibits the Ang II-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation into the primary cultured rat aortic VSMC. Ang II increases the phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2), c-jun-N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK 1/2), or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and mRNA expression of c-jun and c-fos. The EGCG pretreatment inhibits the Ang II-induced phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, JNK 1/2, or p38 MAPK, and the expression of c-jun or c-fos mRNA. U0126, a MEK inhibitor, SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, or SB203580, a p38 inhibitor, attenuates the Ang II-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation into the VSMC. In conclusion, catechins inhibit the Ang II-stimulated VSMC proliferation via the inhibition of the Ang II-stimulated activation of MAPK and activator protein-1 signaling pathways. The antiproliferative effect of catechins may be associated with the reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases by the intake of green tea. Catechins may be useful in the development of prevention and therapeutics of vascular diseases.
Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun/metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology/*drug effects ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/*metabolism/physiology ; Female ; DNA/biosynthesis ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Proliferation/*drug effects ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Catechin/analogs & derivatives/*pharmacology/physiology ; Animals ; Angiotensin II/*pharmacology

Uniaxial stretch strain and compressive pressure of 2 atm were applied to rat's osteoblasts, and then immunohistochemistrical staining was used to detect the expression of osteoblasts' c-fos gene. The experiment result indicated the osteoblasts' FOS proteins increased prominently, and the FOS proteins concentrated in nucleolus after having endured two different kinds of loadings. It is very important to prompt stress and strain in promoting osteoblast proliferation.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Skull ; cytology ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo probe into the prelude marker of central nervous system injury in response to methyl mercury chloride (MMC) stimulation and the signal transduction molecular mechanism of injury in rat brain induced by MMC.

METHODSThe expression of c-fos mRNA in brain and the expression of c-FOS protein in cortex, hippocampus and ependyma were observed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemical methods. The control group was injected with physiological saline of 0.9%, while the concentrations for the exposure groups were 0.05 and 0.5, 5 mg/kg MMC respectively, and the sampling times points were 20, 60, 240, 1440 min.

RESULTSThe expression of c-FOS protein in cortex and hippocampus increased significantly, the accumulation of mercury in the brain induced by 0.05 mg/Kg MMC for 20 min had no significant difference compared with the control group. The mean value was 0.0044 mg/Kg, while the protein c-FOS expression had significant difference compared with the control group (P < 0.01). More sensitive expression occurred in hippocampus and cortex, but not in ependyma. Conclusion The expression of c-FOS protein in cortex and hippocampus can predict the neurotoxicity of MMC in the early time, and immediately early gene (IEG) c-fos participates in the process of brain injury induced by MMC.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Methylmercury Compounds ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley