Role of angiotensin II and angiotensin II receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells migration

AIM:To determine the effects of Angiotensin II(AngII) on migration of rat smooth muscle cells and to investigate the mechanisms underlying Ang II action in the development of injured vascular disease. METHODS:VSMCs isolated from aortic media of Wistar rats and cultured by the modified explant method were adopted. In prersence and absence of AngII, the expression of AngII receptor and reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton of VSMCs were studied by immunocytochemistry technique, fluorocytochemistry technique. The migration assays were performed by a modified Boyden's chamber. And the effects of AT₁R antagonist (CV-11974), AT₂R antagonist (PD123319) on aforementioned target were studied.RESULTS:VSMCs migration was stimulated by addition of AngII. The dynamic reorganization of actin cytoskeleton may be an important mechanism by which AngII facilitates VSMC motility. The expression of AT₁R in VSMCs can be upregulated after treatment with AngII initially, then decreased gradually. The expression of AT₁R was downregulated by AT₁R antagonist. The effect of AngII on VSMCs migration was mediated by AT₁R, while AT₂R had no significant effect.CONCLUSION:The dynamic reorganization of actin cytoskeleton is required for AngII-induced VSMC migration, and this effect is mediated by AT₁R .     

Effects of external counterpulsation on renin-angiotensin system and hemodynamics in dogs with myocardial ischemia

AIM:To examine the effect of external counterpulsation(ECP) on renin-angiotensin system(RAS) and hemodynamics in dogs with myocardial ischemia and their relationship. METHODS:Acute myocardial ischemia was induced by occluding the left anterior descending of the dogs. The local renin activity, angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) level, angiotension-converting enzyme(ACE) activity were tested by biochemical methods and hemodynamics was recorded by a 8-channel physiological recorder.RESULTS:Ischemia could actiivate renin,ACE and AngⅡ in cardiovasculature and ECP reduced them except for renin in ischemic myocardium. Ischemia also could activate RAS in lung and kidney, which play an important role on circulating RAS, and ECP reduced them. Furthermore, ECP could improve hemodynamics and there existed a close relationship between local AngⅡlevel and hemodynamics. CONCLUSION:ECP can reduce local RAS and improve hemodynamics in dogs with myocardial ischemia, which might be one of mechanisms underlying the protective effect of ECP on ischemic myocardium.     

Se-containing spirulina phycocyanin attenuated liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice

AIM:To investigate the effect of Se-containing spirulina phycocyanin (Se-SPC) on liver injury of mice induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). METHODS:The mouse model was conducted by intragastric feeding with 2% CCl₄ oil for three times, meanwhile Se-SPC, spirulina phycocyanin (SPC) and Na₂SeO₃ were injected (ip) to various groups for 7 days. Then selenium (Se), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), malondiaoldehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in blood and liver were measured. RESULTS:The level of Se,GPx and SOD activities were obviously higher(P<0.05)but ALT activity,MDA and NO₂^-/NO₃^- levels were remarkably lower(P<0.05)in Se-SPC treated groups than those in CCl₄ groups,and effects of high dose Se-SPC on Se,GPx,MDA and NO₂^-/NO₃^- were even more significant(P<0.01).Under the same dose of Se or protein,effects of all selected targets in Se-SPC groups were more efficient than those in SPC groups and inorganic-Se groups.Furthermore,Se levels had a positive correlation with GPx activity(r=01705),which had negative correlation with levels of MDA,NO₂^-/NO₃^- and ALT(r=-0.629,r=-0.336,r=-0.457,respectively), and positive correlations between ALT activity and MDA or NO₂^-/NO₃^- level were found (r=0.519,r=0.641). CONCLUSION:These results indicated that Se-SPC may attenuate liver injury of mice induced by CCl₄ through its anti-inflammatory action and enhancing selenoenzyme expression.     

Expression of IL-6 mRNA in endometrium with endometriosis

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between interleukin-6 mRNA expression and endometriosis. METHODS: Using the rat model, IL-6 mRNA expression in the endometrium was examined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of IL-6 mRNA in control rats did not change at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after sham operation (P>0.05), but in model rats it gradually increased at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks after endometriosis (P<0.01). The expression of IL-6 mRNA in uterine endometrium with endometriosis was lower than in endometriotic tissue, but higher than in endometrium from healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The IL-6 mRNA expression may contribute to the development of endometriosis . The increase in IL-6 mRNA expression may promote the implantation and growth of endometriotic tissue.     

Effects of protein kinase C on modulation of vascular endothelium permeability

Protein kinase C pathway is an important intracellular signal transduction pathway. A growing number of evidences showes that activation of PKC influences endothelial cell permeability. In this review, we briefly summarize the effects and regulating pathways of protein kinase C in modulation of vascular endothelium permeability.     

Change of central noradrenergic system in Alzheimer's disease

The abnormality of the central noradrenergic system in Alzheimer's disease has two cases: decrease or increase. The former is easy to be understood, because it is resulted from the outstanding forfeit of the noradrenergic neurons in the nucleus locus ceruleus (nLC); but the noradrenalin concentration does not change and enen increase, it seems to disagree with the loss of the noradrenergic neurons in the nLC. This article put emphasis on it, enumerated the related evidence and analyzed the possible causes. At present time, the drugs to increase noradrenalin is used mostly in clinic. This paper summarized it and put forth our own opinions.     

菜豆普通花叶病毒长豇豆分离物外壳蛋白基因的序列分析及原核表达

 根据普通生物学和血清学特性,长豇豆病毒病的病原被鉴定为黑眼豇豆花叶病毒(Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus,Bl CMV)、豇豆蚜传花叶病毒(Cowpea aphidborne mosaic virus,CABMV)和黄瓜花叶病毒(Cucumbermosaic virus,CMV)。     

棉疫病菌elicitin基因的克隆与序列分析

 棉疫病菌是我国棉花和苎麻疫病的主要病原菌,引起棉花烂铃、死苗,苎麻叶斑和茎腐,严重影响棉花和苎麻的产量和品质^[1,2],该菌的主要寄主有棉花、苎麻和构树^[3]。     

食用菌复合保水颗粒菌种生产工艺及其应用研究

运用微生物发酵技术，配合新型合成材料，研制出食用菌复合保水颗粒菌种。这类菌种可保持活力60d。这一工艺可用于糙皮侧耳、金针菇、灵芝、白灵菇、杏鲍菇、鸡腿蘑和鲍鱼菇等多种食用菌苗种的制作。栽培试验证明，此类菌种的菌丝生长速度、现蕾时间、生物学效率与常用的棉籽壳菌种相似。