Involvement of Fas/FasL system in apoptotic signaling in testicular germ cells of male Wistar rats injected i.v. with microcystins

Previous studies have shown that gonads were the second target organ of microcystins (MCs), and that MCs exposure exerted obvious toxic effects on male reproductive system of mammals. However, relevant molecular evidences are still lacking. Fas-signaling pathway plays a key role in toxicant-induced germ cell apoptosis. This study was to evaluate the responses of Fas/FasL system related genes and proteins in testes of rats injected intravenously with MCs. Enhanced apoptosis of germ cells in the testes of MCs-treated rats was detected by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxy-UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) associated with up-regulation of the Fas/FasL system. Both Fas and FasL protein expression were induced evidently from I h post-injection, and this high expression level maintained throughout the experiment. In addition, the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3 protein was also observed, which were indicators of apoptosis. These results suggested the likely involvement of Fas/FasL system in the MCs-induced germ cell apoptosis. It is also suggested that MCs can cause damage to Sertoli cells directly. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In vivo study on the effects of microcystin extracts on the expression profiles of proto-oncogenes (c-fos, c-jun and c-myc) in liver, kidney and testis of male Wistar rats injected i.v. with toxins

Microcystins (MCs) are a potent liver tumor promoter, possessing potent tumor-promoting activity and weak initiating activity. Proto-oncogenes are known to be involved in the tumor-promoting mechanisms of microcystin-LR. However, few data are available on the effects of MCs oil proto-oncogenes in the whole animal. To investigate the effects of MCs on the expression profile of the proto-oncogenes in different organs, male Wistar rats were injected intravenously with microcystin extracts at a dose of 86.7 mu g MC-LR eq/kg bw (MC-LR eq, MC-LR equivalents). mRNA levels of three proto-oncogenes c-fos, c-jun and c-myc in liver, kidney and testis were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR at several time points post-injection. Significant induction of these genes at transcriptional level was observed in the three organs. In addition, the increase of mRNA expression of all three genes was much higher in liver than in kidney and testis. Meanwhile, the protein levels of c-Fos and c-Jun were investigated by western blotting. Both proteins were induced in the three organs. However, elevations of protein levels were Much lower than those of mRNA levels. These findings suggest that the expression of c-fos, c-jun and c-myc might be one possible mechanism for the tumor-promoting activity and initiating activity of microcystins. (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Distribution of microcystins in various organs (heart, liver, intestine, gonad, brain, kidney and lung) of Wistar rat via intravenous injection

The distribution of microcystins (MCs) in various tissues of Wistar rats was studied under laboratory conditions. Rats were injected intravenously (i.v.) with extracted MCs at a dose of 80 mu g MC-LRequivalent/kg body weight. MCs concentrations in various tissues were detected at 1, 2. 4, 6, 12 and 24 h post-injection using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The highest concentration of MCs was found in kidney (0.034-0.295 mu g/g dry weight), followed by lung (0.007-0.067 mu g/g dry weight), stomach (0.010-0.058 mu g/g dry weight) and liver (0.003-0.052 mu g/g dry weight). The maximum MCs content in the whole body of rat, 2.9% of the injected dose, was observed at 2 h post-injection. MCs concentration was higher in kidney than in liver during the experiment, and two peaks of MCs concentration (at 2 and 24 h, respectively) were observed in kidney, indicating that MCs can be excreted directly via kidney of rat. Though heart, intestine, spleen, brain, gonad and stomach contained less than 0.2% of injected MCs during the whole experiment stage, the presence of MCs in these tissues represents potential damage to them. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All Fights reserved.

Species of lanthanum in Wistar rat liver

The metabolic accumulation and species of lanthanum in Wistar rat liver were investigated by ICP-MS, gel exclusion chromatography and ultrafiltration after the rats were fed by low dose of lanthanum for a long time. It was found that the content of La in the liver increased regularly with arise of dose and time of drug delivery. After the administration was stopped for a certain time a part of lanthanum in the liver Tvas metabolized, but;the metabolic rate was very slow, The lanthanum in rat liver was distributed in the soluble protein with molecular weight: of more than 60000 mostly. Rare Earth existed in the six elution peaks separated by Sephacryl S-200. The amount of lanthanum in the first elution fraction is the largest, which was 88 percent in the whole content of lanthanum in proteins with molecular weight more than 60000.

镧在Wistar大鼠肝脏中的物种分布

采用ICP MS、凝胶过滤层析及超滤技术 ,通过动物实验研究了长时间、低剂量镧作用后 ,镧在Wistar大鼠肝脏中的代谢累积及其物种分布。结果表明 ,随着给药剂量的增加及作用时间的增长 ,镧在肝脏中的累积量有规律地增大 ;停止给药一段时间后 ,积累在肝脏中的镧有不同程度的代谢 ,其代谢速度很慢 ;累积在肝脏中的镧主要分布于分子量大于 6 0 0 0 0的水溶性蛋白中 ;经SephacrylS 2 0 0层析分离得到的六个蛋白洗脱峰中均含有稀土 ,在第一个洗脱峰中含量最大 ,约占肝脏含镧大分子蛋白 (分子量大于 6 0 0 0 0 )总量的 88%

Toxicological evaluation of fucoidan extracted from Laminaria japonica in Wistar rats

Fucoidans, the sulfated polysacchrides extracted from brown algae, have been extensively studied for their diverse biological activities. However, there is no detailed report investigating the toxicity of fucoidan. In this study, the acute and subchronic (6 months) toxicity of varying levels of fucoidan extracted from Laminaria japonica was investigated in Wistar rats after oral administration. The results showed that no significant toxicological changes were observed when 300 mg/kg body weight per day fucoidan was administered to rats. But when the dose was increased to 900 and 2500 mg/kg body weight per day, the clotting time was significantly prolonged. Besides this, no other signs of toxicity were observed. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the no adverse effect level of fucoidan from L. japonica is 300 mg/kg body weight per day. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Both stress experience and age determine the impairment or enhancement effect of stress on spatial memory retrieval

It has been documented that stress or glucocorticoids have conflicting effects on memory under different conditions. However, it is not fully understood why stress can either impair or enhance memory. Here, we have examined the performance of six age groups of Wistar rats in a water maze spatial task to evaluate the effects of stress under different conditions. We found that the impairment or enhancement effect of an 'elevated platform' (EP) stress on memory was dependent on previous stress experience and on age. EP stress impaired memory retrieval in water maze naive animals. but enhanced rather than impaired memory retrieval in young water maze stress-experienced animals. Furthermore, exogenously applied corticosterone or foot shock stress before water maze training prevented the impairment of memory retrieval that should be induced by treatment with corticosterone or foot shock before the 'probe trial'. Again, memory retrieval was enhanced in young animals under these conditions, and this enhancement can be prevented by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU 38486. Thus, glucocorticoid receptor activation not only induced impairment of memory but also increased the capacity of young animals to overcome a later stress. The present findings suggest that the effect of stress on memory can be switched from impairment to enhancement dependent on both stress experience and age.

Stress-facilitated LTD induces output plasticity through a synchronized-spikes and spontaneous unitary discharges the CA1 region of the hippocampus

Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) of the excitatory synaptic inputs plasticity in the hippocampus is believed to underlie certain types of learning and memory. Especially, stressful experiences, well known to produce long-lasting strong memories of the event themselves, enable LTD by low frequency stimulation (LFS, 3 Hz) but block LTP induction by high frequency stimulation (HFS, 200 Hz). However, it is unknown whether stress-affected synaptic plasticity has an impact on the output plasticity. Thus, we have simultaneously studied the effects of stress on synaptic plasticity and neuronal output in the hippocampal CA1 region of anesthetized Wistar rats. Our results revealed that stress increased basal power spectrum of the evoked synchronized-spikes and enabled LTD induction by LFS. The induction of stress-facilitated LTD but not LFS induced persistent decreases of the power spectrum of the synchronized-spikes and the frequency of the spontaneous unitary discharges; However, HFS induced UP in non-stressed animals and increased the power spectrum of the synchronized-spikes, without affecting the frequency of the spontaneous unitary discharges, but HFS failed to induce UP in stressed animals without affecting the power spectrum of the synchronized-spikes and the frequency of the spontaneous unitary discharges. These observations that stress-facilitated LTD induces the output plasticity through the synchronized-spikes and spontaneous unitary discharges suggest that these types of stress-related plasticity may play significant roles in distribution, amplification and integration of encoded information to other brain structures under stressful conditions. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and The Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.

三七总皂苷对海马CA1区长时程增强效应的影响

三七总皂苷(Panax notoginseng saponins,PNS)是从传统中药三七的根中提取的主要有效成分,具有改善血液循环、耐缺氧、改善记忆力、抗衰老等多方面的生理活性.本研究采用"盲法"全细胞膜片钳技术观察PNS对大鼠海马CA1区锥体神经元长时程增强效应(LTP)的影响,以分析其增强学习记忆功能的神经电生理机制.以断头法分离Wistar大鼠(3～4 周)海马半脑,用切片机切出400 μm厚度的海马脑片,以全细胞电压钳制方式记录CA1区锥体细胞的兴奋性突触后电流(EPSCs),给予高频刺激HFS(100 Hz)诱导LTP,分析PNS对大鼠海马CA1区EPSCs和LTP的影响.结果表明,PNS(0.1～0.4 g·L-1)能显著抑制EPSCs(P＜0.05),且对海马CA1区LTP无易化作用;但PNS(0.04～0.05 g·L-1)不影响CA1区的EPSCs基础突触传递(P＞0.05),却可以增强HFS诱发的LTP(P＜0.05).上述结果提示,PNS(0.04～0.05 g·L-1)能易化海马CA1区锥体神经元的长时程增强效应,该作用应是其增进学习记忆力的神经电生理机制.

三七总皂苷对大鼠海马CA1区突触传递的作用及机制

下载PDF阅读器目的 研究三七总皂苷(Panax notoginseng saponins,PNS)对大鼠海马脑片CA1区锥体神经元兴奋性和抑制性突触传递的作用.方法 断头法分离3～4周雄性Wistar大鼠海马半脑,用切片机切出400μm厚度的海马脑片,对CA1区锥体细胞采用"盲法"全细胞膜片钳技术记录,分别检测和分析PNS(0.05～0.4 g/L)对刺激CA1传人纤维引出的兴奋性突触后电流(EPSCs)和抑制性突触后电流(IPSCs)的影响,继而以脉冲间隔为50 ms的配对刺激代替单刺激,通过EPSC2/EPSC1(P2/P1)值的变化观察PNS对双脉冲易化(paired-pulse facilitation,PPF)的影响.结果 0.1～0.4 g/L PNS显著抑制EPSCs(P＜0.05),且PNS在抑制P1、P2的同时明显升高P2/P1值(P＜0.05),加强了双脉冲易化,但PNS对IPSCs无显著影响(P＞0.05).结论 PNS 显著减小大鼠海马CA1区锥体神经元的EPSCs而不影响IPSCs,说明PNS不是通过强化抑制性中间神经元的功能间接地抑制兴奋性神经元,而是对兴奋性突触传递直接产生抑制;PNS明显升高P2/p1值,说明 PNS是通过突触前机制抑制CA1区兴奋性突触传递.

γ-氨基丁酸受体和甘氨酸受体在大鼠丙泊酚麻醉中的作用

目的 研究丙泊酚对大鼠海马CA1区电刺激诱发兴奋性突触后电流(EPSC)的影响,分析γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)受体和甘氨酸受体在丙泊酚麻醉中的作用.方法 断头法分离wistar大鼠(13～19 d)海马半脑,切出400 μm厚度的海马脑片,全细胞膜片钳技术记录CA1区锥体神经元EPSC.80张脑片分为八组:脂肪乳剂组,50 μmol/L丙泊酚组,100 μmol/L丙泊酚组,200 μmol/L丙泊酚组,SR95531组,士的宁组,SR95531+100 μmol/L丙泊酚组,士的宁+100 μmol/L丙泊酚组,每组10张.SR95531+100 μmol/L丙泊酚组和士的宁+100 μmol/L丙泊酚组先在循环液中加入10 μmol/L SR95531或4 μmol/L士的宁预孵脑片30 min.八组均记录基础EPSC 10 min,然后加入不同药物,继续记录EPSC 40 min.膜钳制电压为-70 mV.结果 脂肪乳剂、SR95531和士的宁对EP-SC幅值无影响;丙泊酚呈剂量依赖性的抑制EPSC幅值,50、100、200 μmol/L丙泊酚最大抑制EPSC幅值为14.4%、52.3%、67.8%;SR95531+100 μmol/L丙泊酚组加入丙泊酚后,EPSC幅值基本无改变;士的宁+100 μmol/L丙泊酚组加入丙泊酚后,EPSC幅值仍然下降,最大抑制程度为34.7%.结论 丙泊酚主要通过增强GABAA受体功能使兴奋性突触活动降低,甘氨酸受体在其中起到协同和调节作用.

异丙酚对大鼠海马CAl区神经元兴奋性突触传递的影响

目的研究异丙酚对大鼠海马CA1区神经元兴奋性突触后电流(EPSC)和自发性兴奋性突触后电流(sEPSC)的影响。方法 Wistar大鼠断头后分离海马脑组织,制成400μm厚度的海马脑片,脑片随机分为5组(n=10)。脂肪乳剂Ⅰ组、异丙酚Ⅰ组、SR95531+异丙酚组:记录EPSC 10 min (基础值)后分别加入10％脂肪乳剂90μl、1％异丙酚90μl(相当于100μmol／L)、10μmol／L SR95531+100 μmol／L异丙酚,继续记录EPSC 40 min,分析EPSC幅值的变化。脂肪乳剂Ⅱ组、异丙酚Ⅱ组:细胞破膜后稳定10-15 min,分别加入10％脂肪乳剂90μl和1％异丙酚90μl,记录sEPSC 40 min,分析sEPSC频率、幅值和半衰期的变化。膜钳制电压均为-70 mV。结果与基础值比较,给药后脂肪乳剂Ⅰ组和 SR95531+异丙酚组EPSC幅值差异无统计学意义,异丙酚Ⅰ组EPSC幅值降低;给药后异丙酚Ⅰ组 EPSC幅值比脂肪乳剂Ⅰ组降低(P<0．05)。与脂肪乳剂Ⅱ组比较,异丙酚Ⅱ组sEPSC的频率、幅值降低、半衰期缩短(P<0．05)。结论异丙酚主要通过增强大鼠海马CA...

咪唑安定拮抗戊四氮对大鼠海马CAl区动作电位和突触传递的影响

观褰戊四氮对大鼠海马CAl区动作电位(action potential，AP)、兴奋性突触后电流(excitatory poBtsynapfic cu膈I吐，皿sc)的影响以厦眯唑安定的拮抗作用。方法断头法分离Wistar大鼠海马半脑，切片机切出 400脚厚度的海马脑片，奎细胞电流钳记录CAl区锥体神经元动作电位发放情况，全细胞电压钳记录电刺激 Sch踮如r侧支／联合鲆维诱发的CAl区锥体神经元EPSC的变化。结果戊四氮健动作电位发放频率增加．脚值降低；咪唑安定拮抗戊四氪的作用，使动作电值发放减少甚至消失，EPSC值上升互加八咪唑安定前的2．5倍左右。结论眯唑安定可以部分恢复大鼠海马cAl区戌四氮谤发的动作电位发放和E巧c的改变，从而产生抗癫痫作用。

异丙酚对大鼠海马CAI区自发性兴奋性突触后电流的影响

目的:研究异丙酚对大鼠海马CA1区自发性兴奋性突触后电流(sEPSC)的影响。方法:断头法分离Wistar大鼠(13~19 d)海马半脑,用切片机切出400μm厚度的海马脑片,全细胞膜片钳记录CA1区锥体神经元sEPSC。20张脑片分为两组:脂肪乳剂组(n=10)和异丙酚组(n=10)。两组细胞稳定10~15 min后,加入90μl脂肪乳剂或异丙酚(相当于100μmol/L),记录40 min sEPSC。膜钳制电压为-70 mV。结果:100μmol/L异丙酚降低sEPSC的频率达68.1%,降低sEPSC的幅值达29.1%,缩短sEPSC的半衰期达49.3%;另外,异丙酚缩短sEPSC的上升时间达29.1%,减少曲线下面积达74.7%。结论:异丙酚通过影响突触前膜递质释放和突触后膜受体功能两个因素抑制兴奋性突触活动

Lentivirus介导分泌神经营养因子-3的基因工程神经干细胞移植治疗脊髓损伤的实验研究

神经干细胞(NSC)是中枢神经系统中具有自我更新能力和多种分化潜能的细胞,是脊髓损伤(SCI)后再生修复的理想材料和基因载体。我们探讨了Lentivirus介导分泌神经营养因子-3(NT-3)的基因工程NSC移植治疗SCI的可行性,以期为SCI后功能恢复的实验研究以及进一步临床研究提供基础资料。材料与方法一、实验材料1.试剂与来源:DMEM/F12、B27、N2(Gibco公司),bFGF(Sigma公司),Nestin抗体、NF-200抗体、GFAP抗体(武汉博士德公司),羊抗鼠NT-3抗体(USB公司),超信号West Pico化学发光底物试剂盒(Pierce34079ZZ)、人胚肾293T细胞购自武汉大学保藏中心,携带NT-3和绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的Lentivirus的各种质粒由美国迈阿密大学Oudega M教授提供。2.实验动物:Wistar大鼠由成都军区昆明总医院实验动物中心提供。二、实验方法1.NSC的分离培养:取孕14d的Wistar胎鼠皮层组织,分离筋膜和血管,反复剪碎,再用200目细胞筛过滤,转入DMEM/F12,加B27添加剂、bFGF(20ng/ml);6~7d传代。