Characterization of the gut microbiota in leptin deficient obese mice – Correlation to inflammatory and diabetic parameters

Gut microbiota have been implicated as a relevant factor in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and its diversity might be a cause of variation in animal models of T2DM. In this study, we aimed to characterise the gut microbiota of a T2DM mouse model with a long term vision of being able to target the gut microbiota to reduce the number of animals used in experiments. Male B6.V-Lep^ob/J mice were characterized according to a number of characteristics related to T2DM, inflammation and gut microbiota. All findings were thereafter correlated to one another in a linear regression model. The total gut microbiota profile correlated to glycated haemoglobin, and high proportions of Prevotellaceae and Lachnospiraceae correlated to impaired or improved glucose intolerance, respectively. In addition, Akkermansia muciniphila disappeared with age as glucose intolerance worsened. A high proportion of regulatory T cells correlated to the gut microbiota and improved glucose tolerance. Furthermore, high levels of IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-α correlated to impaired glucose tolerance, blood glucose or glycated haemoglobin. The findings indicate that gut microbiota may contribute to variation in various disease read-outs in the B6.V-Lep^ob/J model and considering them in both quality assurance and data evaluation for the B6.V-Lep^ob/J model may have a reducing impact on the inter-individual variation.     

Fundamentals of host immune response against Brucella abortus: what the mouse model has revealed about control of infection

The studies reviewed here evaluated the role cellular immune system components play in control of brucellosis by conducting comparative studies with brucella-resistant C57BL/10 or C57BL/6 mice and susceptible BALB/c mice. We have shown by both in vitro and in vivo studies that activation of macrophages with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is an important factor for control of infection with B. abortus in the mouse model and that the mechanism of anti-brucella activity largely involved reactive oxygen intermediates. Differences in control of the organism by resistant and susceptible mice was not related to inherent differences in the ability of their macrophages to control infection either with or without IFN-γ activation nor was it attributable to NK cells since we found no role for them in control of brucellosis in either mouse strain. However, relative resistance to brucellosis did correlate with increased production of IFN-γ by CD4 T cells during the first weeks after infection while IL-10 contributed to susceptibility in BALB/c mice. Moreover, by 3 weeks post-infection splenocytes from the susceptible BALB/c mice failed to produce IFN-γ and relied on TNF- as well as CD8 T cells to control infection until the end of the plateau phase around 6 weeks post-infection when IFN-γ production resumed and clearance began. In contrast, IFN-γ was crucial for control throughout the infection in the more resistant C57BL/6 mice and the mice died in its absence by 6 weeks post-infection compared to 12 weeks for the more susceptible mice that relied on additional mechanisms of control. In contrast to the IFN-γ knock-out mice, both β2 microglobulin knock-out C57BL/6 mice, which do not express conventional MHC class I molecules and thus cannot present antigen to CD8 T cells, or perforin knock-out C57BL/6 mice, which have no T cell cytotoxic activity, controlled and cleared the infection as well as normal C57BL/6 mice. The hiatus of IFN-γ production in BALB/c mice correlated with very high levels of total IL-12 and it was postulated that the lack of IFN-γ was a consequence of p40 homodimer blocking activity. However, reduction of p40 IL-12 in vivo through administration of indomethacin reduced the infection without a concomitant measurable increase in IFN-γ. Current studies are aimed at elucidating the mechanism of the IFN-γ hiatus.     

Differences in the kinetics of T cell accumulations in C3H/HeN (Bcg-resistant) and C57BL/6 (Bcg-susceptible) mice infected with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis

The accumulation of various T cell subsets in Bcg-susceptible (C57BL/6) and -resistant (C3H/HeN) strains of mice were compared following an intraperitoneal infection with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. Groups of mice from both strains were killed at 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 150 days after infection and lymphocytes were harvested from the peritoneal exudate cells (PEC), spleen, intestinal epithelial lymphocytes (IEL), lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL), Peyer's patches, and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) and labelled with monoclonal antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, γδ TCR, CD25, and CD44 for flow cytometric analysis. Uninfected C3H/HeN mice had higher proportions of CD4+ cells in the spleen, MLN, LPL, IEL and Peyer's patches, while uninfected C57BL/6 mice had higher proportions of CD8+ and/or γδ T cells. Significant increases in accumulation of CD8+ and γδ T cells were detected in the peritoneum and other tissues in both strains of mice after infection. Higher CD4/CD8 ratios were observed in most lymphoid tissues of C3H/HeN mice, while increased proportions of CD8+ and/or γδ T cells were present in C57BL/6 mice. These results indicate that significant differences in T cell profiles exist between these two strains of mice, both inherently and in response to infection with M. paratuberculosis. Innately lower levels of CD4+ cells and/or higher percentages of CD8+ and γδ T cells may play a role in the increased susceptibility of C57BL/6 mice to infection with M. paratuberculosis.     

Differences in adipose tissue inflammation and oxidative status in C57BL/6 and ApoE−/− mice fed high fat diet

Apolipoprotein E deficient (Apo E?/?) mice are more resistant to the development of obesity compared to C57BL/6 wild type mice. They also hold a high basal oxidative status due to the loss of antioxidant action of apolipoprotein E. Since obesity is also an inducer of inflammation, we studied the effect of high‐fat diet on obesity and oxidative stress in C57BL/6 and Apo E?/? mice for 9 weeks. The results confirmed that Apo E?/? mice fed high‐fat diet are more resistant to the increase of both body weight and adiposity compared to C57BL/6 mice. Despite this, Apo E?/? mice presented a higher basal oxidative stress that was enhanced by high‐fat diet. Macrophage infiltration, macrophage forming crown‐like structures and proinflammatory adipokines (interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha) were all higher in adipose tissue from Apo E?/? compared to C57BL/6 mice, regardless of diet type. In conclusion, although Apo E?/? mice are more resistant to becoming obese, they develop more severe adipose tissue inflammation companied by its consequences.     

CD8(+) T cell knockout mice are less susceptible to Cowdria ruminantium infection than athymic, CD4(+) T cell knockout, and normal C57BL/6 mice

The role of T cells in immunity to Cowdria ruminantium was investigated by studying the responses to infection of normal, athymic, CD4(+) T cell knock out (KO) and CD8(+) T cell KO C57BL/6 mice. Normal C57BL/6 mice could be immunized by infection and treatment, and immunity was adoptively transferable from immune to naive mice by splenocytes. Following infection, athymic mice died sooner than normal mice (P=0.0017), and could not be immunized by infection and treatment. CD4(+) T cell KO mice were as susceptible to infection as normal mice and could be immunized by infection and treatment. In contrast, CD8(+) T cell KO mice were less susceptible than normal and CD4(+) T cell KO mice and 43% self-cured, while those that died did so after a prolonged incubation period. Antibody responses to C. ruminantium were CD4(+) T cell dependent, because responses were detected in immune normal and CD8(+) T cell KO mice but not in immune CD4(+) KO mice (P=0.005). Since CD8(+) T cell KO mice were less susceptible to infection, and since CD4(+) T cell KO mice could be immunized, it can be concluded that immunity to C. ruminantium can be mediated by both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells.     

SPRN转基因小鼠脏器质量和动物行为学的比较分析

采用统计学计算Tg(Mosprn-B)/C57BL/6转基因小鼠与C57BL/6野生型小鼠雌雄两性的主要脏器质量与系数,并利用水迷宫观察游泳路径及时间以探讨SPRN基因对小鼠生理结构、生长发育等影响。结果表明,相同年龄的Tg(Mosprn-B)/C57BL/6转基因小鼠,雄性的体质量及心、肺、肝、肾质量显著大于雌性(P<0.01),脑质量差异比较显著(P<0.05);比较脏器系数,脑和肝的差异比较显著(P<0.05)。与C57BL/6野生型小鼠相比较,Tg(Mosprn-B)/C57BL/6转基因小鼠脑更重(P<0.01);比较脏器系数发现,脑差异极显著(P<0.01),肺、肾、脾差异较显著(P<0.05)。水迷宫定位航行结果显示,Tg(Mosprn-B)/C57BL/6转基因小鼠的逃避潜伏期小于野生型小鼠,第4天的潜伏期具有显著差异性(P<0.05);在空间搜索试验中,Tg(Mosprn-B)/C57BL/6转基因小鼠第1次穿越平台时间小于C57BL/6野生型小鼠,穿越平台的次数大于C57BL/6野生型小鼠。     

Obese mice on a high‐fat alternate‐day fasting regimen lose weight and improve glucose tolerance

Alternate‐day fasting (ADF) causes body weight (BW) loss in humans and rodents. However, it is not clear that ADF while maintaining a high‐fat (HF) diet results in weight loss and the accompanying improvement in control of circulating glucose. We tested the hypotheses that a high‐fat ADF protocol in obese mice would result in (i) BW loss, (ii) improved glucose control, (iii) fluctuating phenotypes on ‘fasted’ days when compared to ‘fed’ days and (iv) induction of torpor on ‘fasted days’. We evaluated the physiological effects of ADF in diet‐induced obese mice for BW, heart rate (HR), body temperature (T_b), glucose tolerance, insulin responsiveness, blood parameters (leptin, insulin, free fatty acids) and hepatic gene expression. Diet‐induced obese male C57BL/6J mice lost one‐third of their pre‐diet BW while on an ADF diet for 10 weeks consisting of HF food. The ADF protocol improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, although mice on a fast day were less glucose tolerant than the same mice on a fed day. ADF mice on a fast day had low circulating insulin, but had an enhanced response to an insulin‐assisted glucose tolerance test, suggesting the impaired glucose tolerance may be a result of insufficient insulin production. On fed days, ADF mice were the warmest, had a high HR and displayed hepatic gene expression and circulating leptin that closely mimicked that of mice fed an ad lib HF diet. ADF mice never entered torpor as assessed by HR and T_b. However, on fast days, they were the coolest, had the slowest HR, and displayed hepatic gene expression and circulating leptin that closely mimicked that of Chow‐Fed mice. Collectively, the ADF regimen with a HF diet in obese mice results in weight loss, improved blood glucose control, and daily fluctuations in selected physiological and biochemical parameters in the mouse.     

Temporal Mycobacterium paratuberculosis infection in T-cell receptor (TCR)-alpha and TCR-delta-deficient mice

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis is the causative agent of paratuberculosis (Johne's disease), a chronic inflammation of the terminal portion of the ileum in ruminants. The predominance of cell-mediated immunity in early stages of the disease suggests that T lymphocytes are essential to protect the host from infection with M. paratuberculosis. In this study, we investigated the role of alphabeta and gammadelta T cells in resistance to M. paratuberculosis infection using a T-cell receptor (TCR) knockout mouse model. Weanling TCR-alpha-deficient, TCR-delta-deficient, and C57BL/6 control mice (5-6 weeks of age) were acclimated for 2 weeks and then inoculated intraperitoneally with 10(8)CFU/ml of M. paratuberculosis (either strain 19698 or strain Ben). Groups of mice within each treatment group were euthanized at 1, 3 and 6 months post-inoculation. Sections of spleen, liver, ileum and mesenteric lymph node were prepared for bacterial culture and histologic examination. At all time points of infection and regardless of bacterial strain, TCR-alpha-deficient mice had higher levels of M. paratuberculosis colonization in their tissues compared to TCR-delta-deficient mice or C57BL/6 control mice. Lesions were located predominately in the liver and the ileum, depending upon period of infection, and lesion scores were higher for TCR-alpha-deficient mice compared to the other treatment groups. These results suggest that alphabeta T cells play a major role in resistance to infection with M. paratuberculosis and that gammadelta T cells may play a lesser role and potentially confound protective immune responses.     

A2a基因敲除小鼠生物学特性的初步研究

为了解A2a基因敲除小鼠的生物学物性,给研究心血管疾病及神经疾病提供部分基础资料,试验采用全自动生化分析仪及血细胞分析仪分别对60日龄C57BL/6、A2a雌雄小鼠的常用血液学指标及生化指标值进行检测,并测定了各小鼠的脏器。结果:C57BL/6和A2a小鼠血液的血小板计数、红细胞分布宽度差异显著(P0.05)。C57BL/6和A2a小鼠的丙氨酸转氨酶、肌酸激酶差异显著(P0.05),乳酸脱氢酶差异极显著(P0.01),脏器系数无显著差异(P0.05)。     

Hypoglycemic Effect of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitors on Diabetic Mice

In order to study the hypoglycemic effect of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors (sEHI) on diabetic mice,the diabetic mice model were successfully induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ). The diabetic mice (C57BL/6J) were randomly divided into three groups,including normal control group,diabetic control group and sEHI group,the mice in three groups were fed high-fat diet+1 mg/kg sEHI (t-AUCB),high-fat diet+same volume normal saline,normal diet+same volume normal saline,respectively,and intervention last for 4 weeks. During the experiment,the body weight,blood glucose were recorded,and performed oral glucose tolerance test was conducted. After the experiment,indicators of serum lipids,liver peroxidation and pathological analysis of pancreatic tissue were measured. The results showed that compared with diabetic control group,the fasting blood glucose of mice in sEHI group was significantly reduced (P<0.05),and their glucose tolerance was improved. And the TC (P<0.05),TG (P<0.05) and LDL (P>0.05) in sEHI group were decreased,while the LDL/TC was significantly increased (P<0.05).The SOD and CAT activity in liver of diabetic mice treated with sEHI were significantly increased (P<0.05) and MDA activity was significantly decreased (P<0.05).Based on mouse pancreatic tissue sections,we speculated that sEHI had ability to repair activity on damaged islet tissue. In conclusion,the sEHI could reduce the blood glucose level and the free radical damage,inhibit lipid peroxidation,repair of damaged islet tissue in mice.     

可溶性环氧化物水解酶抑制剂的降血糖功效研究

为探究可溶性环氧化物水解酶抑制剂（soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors,sEHI）的降血糖功效,试验以高脂饲料与链脲佐菌素（streptozotocin,STZ）联合诱导的Ⅱ型糖尿病小鼠为研究对象,将C57BL/6J小鼠随机分为：正常对照组、糖尿病模型组和sEHI组,sEHI组饲喂高脂饲料,每日灌胃sEHI （t-AUCB）1 mg/kg,连续灌胃4周;糖尿病模型组饲喂高脂饲料,每日灌胃同等计量的生理盐水;正常对照组饲喂普通饲料,每日灌胃同等体积的生理盐水。期间各组小鼠均自由采食及饮水,记录小鼠体重、血糖并进行口服葡萄糖耐量试验。试验结束后,测定血清血脂指标、肝脏过氧化指标并对小鼠胰岛组织进行病理学分析。结果显示,与糖尿病模型组相比,采用sEHI干预后糖尿病小鼠的空腹血糖显著降低（P<0.05）,而葡萄糖耐量水平升高;小鼠血清总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白（LDL）水平明显降低,其中TC、TG水平与糖尿病模型组相比差异显著（P<0.05）,而高密度脂蛋白与胆固醇比值（HDL/TC）水平则显著升高（P<0.05）;与糖尿病模型组相比,sEHI干预组小鼠肝脏的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性显著提高（P<0.05）,丙二醛（MDA）活性显著降低（P<0.05）;小鼠的胰岛组织切片分析结果表明,sEHI对小鼠胰岛组织有明显的修复作用。综上所述,sEHI具有降血糖、减轻自由基损伤、抑制脂质过氧化、修复受损胰岛组织的作用。     

Exposure of C57BL/6J male mice to an electric field improves copulation rates with superovulated females

It is well-known that there are considerable strain differences in the relative copulation rates between male and superovulated female mice. In particular, the C57BL/6J strain of mice has a lower rate of successful copulation. We examined the effect of exposure to an electric field on sexual behavior in C57BL/6J male mice. When C57BL/6J males were exposed to a 50 Hz, 45 kV/m electric field for 30 min per day for 11 days and placed in a cage with a superovulated female of the same strain, the successful copulation rates of males was significantly improved compared with unexposed males (P<0.05). These results suggest that the exposure of C57BL/6J male mice to an electric field improves their sub-fertility activity in mating with superovulated females.     

In vitro antibody response to the tetrapeptide repeats of Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein by splenocytes from mice infected with P. yoelii yoelii

The antibody response to the recombinant protein, R32tet32, which contained the repetitive sequence (NANP)n of Plasmodium falciparum CSP was determined in C57BL/6 mice during the course of nonlethal infection with Plasmodium yoelii 17X. Marked suppression of the IgG antibody response to R32tet32 occurred when mice were immunized at peak parasitemia (on day 16). In vitro antibody responses of spleen cells from acutely infected mice to R32tet32 were similarly suppressed. Stimulation of normal spleen cells cultured for 5 days with 100 ng/ml of R32tet32 gave an optimal IgG antibody response, but spleen cells from infected mice obtained at peak parasitemia failed to respond to a broad range of antigen concentrations. Cocultivation studies employing enriched lymphocyte populations from infected and uninfected C57BL/6 mice indicated that both T and B cells from infected mice were defective in their response to R32tet32. The response to the repetitive region was restored by the addition of recombinant mouse interleukin-2 (IL-2) at a dose of 50 U/ml to cultures of spleen cells from infected mice.     

Silk fibroin hydrolysate exerts an anti-diabetic effect by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice

Components of silk including silk fibroin have long been used as anti-diabetic remedies in oriental medicine. However, detailed mechanisms underlying these anti-diabetic effects remain unclear. In this study, we examined the anti-diabetic activity of silk fibroin hydrolysate (SFH) in C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mice, a well-known animal model of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. When the db/db mice were administered SFH in drinking water for 6 weeks, hyperglycemia in the animals gradually disappeared and the level of glycosylated hemoglobin decreased, indicating that SFH plays important role in reducing the symptoms of diabetes. In addition, SFH-treated db/db mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance with increased plasma insulin levels. Immunohistochemical and morphological analyses showed that SFH up-regulated insulin production by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in the mice. In summary, our results suggest that SFH exerts anti-diabetic effects by increasing pancreatic β cell mass in a non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus mouse model.     

Correlation between B-cell mitogenicity and immunosuppressor effects of a protein released by porcine monocytes infected with African swine fever virus

Virus-free supernatants of cultured swine monocytes infected by African swine fever virus (ASFV) suppressed in vitro proliferation of porcine and human blood mononuclear cells in response to phytohemagglutinin and the in vivo primary immune response of C57BL/6 mice against sheep RBC. The supernatants were fractionated by discontinuous ion-exchange chromatography and subfractionated by double-step preparative isoelectric focusing. The pool of the most purified active subfractions (F5'EP-ASFV) is made up of heat-unstable material, can be stained by silver nitrate, and has an isoelectric point of 3.88, a maximal optical density at 280 nm, and a mass of 36,000 daltons. In vivo kinetic studies in nonimmunized C57BL/6 mice were performed on days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 after injection with 50 micrograms of F5'EP-ASFV protein. Compared with the untreated mice, the treated mice had a noticeable increase in nonspecific immunoglobulin-secreting splenic plaque-forming cells (PFC) with the following isotype profile: IgG2a greater than IgG2b greater than IgG3 greater than IgG1 congruent to IgM. Three days after treatment with the active material, specific IgM PFC against sheep RBC increased up to 23-fold. In C57BL/6 mice immunized against sheep RBC 2 days after treatment with F5'EP-ASFV, the increase in nonspecific PFC was followed by a suppression of specific PFC response in the respective isotype. When C57BL/6 mice were treated after priming with sheep RBC, however, there was little or no suppression of specific PFC and the increase in nonspecific PFC was considerably lower than that in the other F5'EP-ASFV-treated mice. In this case, kinetic curves of specific vs nonspecific PFC of each isotype were mirror images. Mice treated with 200 micrograms of F5'EP-ASFV protein died with hemorrhagic diastasis.     

A rodent model for allergic dermatitis induced by flea antigens

There have been very few reports of experimentally induced animal models of allergic dermatitis, an immunologic disorder. This report describes the induction of histopathology confirmed allergic dermatitis in C57BL/6 mice along with the consistent clinical sign of alopecia following the administration of flea antigens emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). By comparing different strains of mice, routes of injection, types of adjuvants and different dosages of flea antigens, C57BL/6 mice were found to be most susceptible to flea antigens administered intramuscularly (i.m.) and subsequently developed dermatologic excoriations and local alopecia. The level of specific IgE reactive to flea antigens in C57BL/6 mice after the onset of clinical signs was significantly higher than such levels in mice without clinical signs, suggesting that flea antigen-specific IgE level can be correlated to the severity of allergic hyper-reaction. CD4(+) T lymphocytes and IL-4 rather than IL-10, or IFN-gamma were found to be the predominant cytokines associated with the clinical onset of allergic symptoms in C57BL/6 mice. Further, histopathologic analysis indicated that not only mast cells had infiltrated into the area of the skin lesion, but the damage was found to be at a stage where mast cells were degranulating causing considerable exacerbation of the local injury. In conclusion, this murine allergic dermatitis model induced by flea antigens may provide a useful means to evaluate vaccines or immunodulatory drugs; thus providing researchers with a tool to study allergy-related disorders and other parameters needed in the area of allergic investigations.     

Effects of diesel exhaust particles on the male reproductive system in strains of mice with different aryl hydrocarbon receptor responsiveness

Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) that bind to aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhRs) and decrease sperm production. Since it is not clear if AhR mediates DEP toxicity, we investigated the effect of DEPs in four strains of mice that have different AhR responsiveness. We treated BALB/c, C57BL/6, ICR and DBA/2 mice with DEP suspensions and compared their toxicity in each strain. In both the vehicle- and DEP-treated groups, ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, as an indirect index of AhR activity, was increased in the order of BALB/c > C57BL/6 > ICR > DBA/2. Only BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice had significantly lower daily sperm production (DSP) than vehicle-treated mice. All strains exhibited increased sperm abnormalities. In particular, the C57BL/6, ICR and DBA/2 mice exhibited significantly increased abnormalities. A significant correlation was found between EROD activity and DSP or incidence of morphologically abnormal sperm. These data suggest that DEP toxicity may affect the male reproductive system in an AhR-dependent manner.     

Sequence analysis and expression of Nramp-1 gene in Bcgr and Bcgs mice.

Nucleic acid sequence of complemental DNA open reading frame for Nramp-1 gene was compared among DBA/2 (Bcgr), C57BL/6 (Bcgs) and C57BL/6-Bcgr mice which was previously developed as M. avium-resistant mouse strain (Xu, et al. Veterinary Microbiology 50:73-79 (1996). Total RNA was isolated from various organs of DBA/2, C57BL/6 and C57BL/6-Bcgr. Nramp-1 cDNA was constructed from their mRNAs by gene amplification (PCR) technique and their open reading frame sequences were compared. The results clearly showed that our C57BL/6-Bcgr was almost identical with the DNA sequence of the DBA/2 mice. In contrast, C57BL/6-Bcgs mice differed only on the substitution of adenine for guanine of the nucleic acid at position 596. This corresponded to the site of amino acid substitution (glycine to asparate) at position 169 in predicted NRAMP which had been reported. The expression of Nramp-1 mRNA was more prominent in spleens and livers and there appeared to be no significant difference among the strains of mice.     

Embryo implantation is blocked by intraperitoneal injection with anti-LIF antibody in mice

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is essential for embryo implantation in mice and plays an important role in other mammals including humans. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections with anti-LIF antibody (7.5 μg/g body weight, 3 times) between D3 (D1 = day of vaginal plug detection) and D4 effectively blocked embryo implantation; complete inhibition was achieved in C57BL/6J mice, and implantation was dramatically reduced in ICR mice (reduced to 27%). Normal rabbit IgG used as the control did not disturb embryo implantation. Anti-LIF antibody was localized not only in the stroma, but also in the luminal epithelium and the glandular lumen after i.p. injections. Growth-arrested blastocysts were recovered from the uterus without any implantation sites in both strains. Blastocysts made contact with the LE on the antimesometrial side; however, uterine stromal cells did not undergo secondary decidual reaction, and the uterine lumen was open, even at D7. Several regions of decidualization in ICR mice treated with anti-LIF antibody were smaller than those of the control, and development of blastocysts was delayed. The expression of LIF-regulated genes, such as immune-responsive gene-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, was significantly decreased in C57BL/6J mice treated with anti-LIF antibody compared with the control, but not in ICR mice. The present study demonstrated that simple ip injections of an antibody are sufficient to block one of the important factors involved in embryo implantation in mice, and this method should also be easily applicable to the investigation of other factors involved in implantation.     

PrP~C蛋白对小鼠学习与记忆能力的影响

利用本实验室构建的C57BL/6背景下的PRNP基因敲除小鼠模型与C57BL/6野生型小鼠,通过避暗试验以及Morris水迷宫试验观察小鼠的行为。以此来研究PrPC蛋白的缺失对于小鼠学习与记忆能力影响,进而反映PrPC蛋白对于神经系统功能的影响。结果显示,PRNP敲除小鼠在避暗试验中对于电刺激的记忆比野生型小鼠强,且在第3天差异显著（P〈0.05）。在Morris水迷宫定位航行试验中,敲除鼠的逃避潜伏期明显长于野生小鼠,第3、5、6天差异显著（P〈0.05）。空间探索试验中,PRNP敲除鼠与野生小鼠相比较,首次穿越虚拟平台的时间以及穿越平台的次数差异并不显著。研究表明,PrPC蛋白缺失对于小鼠主动回避伤害的记忆能力有所提高,但是对于空间立体学习和记忆能力损害很大。