The effect of some Frescon analogs on the aquatic snail,Lymnaea stagnalis: II. Correlation of neurotoxicity to Molluscicidal effectiveness

Although the molluscicide Frescon is a strong neurotoxin to the Lymnaea stagnalis central nervous system in vitro, it is probable that the exposure of the whole animal to this molluscicide fails to result in central nervous system abnormalities: Frescon does not appear to reach the brain in sufficient quantity to disrupt its normal activity. However, only those Frescon analogs found to be neurotoxic were molluscicidal, suggesting some related mode, if not site, of action. Frescon and its analogs may act by affecting excitable tissues other than the nervous system (e.g., the snail musculature) by altering certain functional and/or structural membrane properties.     

发菜形态特征及其与环境因子的关系

通过野外调查和室内观察分析 ,天然发菜原植体的形态主要有柱状和带状两种 ;群体形态有单丝体、团块状、辫状、束状和网状。原植体的形态特征受环境湿度的影响较大 ,在降水量较大的地区 ,发菜原植体增粗 ,直径在 0 .0 5～ 0 .2 5 mm之间 ,带状发菜的比例较大 ,占 30～ 60 % ,吸水后藻体的颜色一般呈棕褐色 ;在降水量较小或极端干旱地区 ,发菜以细丝状为主 ,直径在 0 .0 2～ 0 .2 2 mm之间 ,带状发菜的比例不足 2 5 % ,吸水后藻体的颜色呈绿色或浅棕褐色。发菜群体形态的形成和发育与自身的生长特性有关外 ,主要与环境因子特别是降雨量、地形及自然外力 (地面径流和空气流动 )有关。     

Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α in rat fatty liver

AIM:To investigate the role of expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α(PPAR α) in pathogenesis of rat fatty liver.METHODS:The rats were treated with a low dose of carbon terachloride (CCl₄) and fed a high fat diet to produce fatty liver. We determined the concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acid (FFA) in liver and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), FFA in serum and the degree of hepatocytic steatosis. Total RNA of liver was extracted, and the expression of PPAR α were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR method.RESULTS:In model group, the hepatocytic PPAR α mRNA expression decreased to 0.41±0.28, compared to 1.41±0.29 in the control group (P＜0.01). The contents of TG, TC, FFA in model rat liver were (1.88±0.20) mmol·L^-1, (11.03±1.12) mmol·L^-1 and (1 260.38±151.27) μmol·L^-1, respectively, compared to (0.53±0.10) mmol·L^-1, (1.25±0.25) mmol·L^-1 and (334.30±27.09) μmol·L^-1 in the control group (P＜0.01). The activity of ALT, concentrations of TNF-α and FFA in serum were also increased remarkably in model group.CONCLUSION:Oxidation of fatty acid and utilization of lipids in liver are affected by reducing the expression of PPAR α, which result lipid accumulation in liver.     

Expression and role of CD134 and NF-κB in renal tissue of lupus nephritis

AIM:To investigate the role of CD134 (OX40) and NF-κB in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN).METHODS:Renal in situ CD134 and NF-κB expression were examined in 40 biopsy specimens from LN patients by immunohistochemistry and microwave-based immunohistochemistry, respectively. The relationship between expression of CD134 and NF-κB was analyzed.RESULTS:The expression of glomerular and tubular CD134 and NF-κB in LN were higher than that in normal control, especially in class Ⅳ LN, where there was intense staining of endothelial cell, distal tubules, and interstitial mononuclear cell. The CD134 expression of glomerular and tubular was closely related to NF-κB expression, respectively (r=0.5542, P＜0.05;r=0.6279, P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The abnormal expression of costimulatory molecule CD134 was well evidenced in LN. Strong expression of renal in situ NF-κB was likely mediated by CD134 signal pathway, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LN.     

Study on relationship between expression of PKCα in glomeruli and development of nephropathy in diabetic rats

AIM:To observe the dynamic changes of expression of PKCα, TGF-β₁ and α-SMA in glomeruli of diabetic rats induced by the alloxon and to invesitigate their roles in the diabetic nephropathy(DN).METHODS:Rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (group A), diabetic group of one week (group B), diabetic group of one month (group C), diabetic group of two months (group D). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of PKCα, TGF-β₁ and α-SMA in renal tissue of all groups. Blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine and urine protein were analysed by chemical methods. The morphological changes of renal tissue were checked through microscopy.RESULTS:The expression of PKCα and TGF-β₁ in renal tissue of diabetic groups were increased comparing with those of nomal control group(P<0.05). The mesangial cells expressed α-SMA in two months group. Chronologically the expression of PKCα, TGF-β₁ and α-SMA were positively correlative with each other and the impairment of kidney was also observed.CONCLUSIONS: During the DN process the expression of PKCα increased. PKCα raised GFR and the permeability of glomerular filtration membrane which enhanced urinary albumin excretion. PKCα also increased expression of TGF-β and therefore to induce the expression of α-SMA. The appearance of α-SMA was a marker of the phenotypic transform of renal cells.     

Effects of TGF-β1 and TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS on ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells(HSPC)

AIM:To study the effect of TGF-β₁ and TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS on ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC). METHODS:CD₃₄⁺cells were purified from fresh umbilical cord blood by immunomagnetic beads, and mononuclear cells were purified from bone marrow by Ficoll-hypaque. The effects of TGF-β₁ and /or TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS on ex vivo expansion of CD₃₄⁺ cells、CFU-GEMM、CFU-GM、CFU-E and BFU-E were detected by using liquid and semi-solid culture systems.RESULTS:TGF-β₁ antisense PS-ODNS cooperated with cytokines increased the number of CD₃₄⁺ cells, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E, which was as 4, 2.6, 2.7, 1.8, 2.1 times as that of the control (the cytokines combination), respectively. TNF-α antisense PS-ODNS cooperated with cytokines respectively increased the number of CD₃₄⁺ cells, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E by 4, 2.9, 2.6, 1.7, 1.8 times as that of the control. The above two antisense PS-ODNS cooperated with cytokines could respectively increased the number of CD₃₄⁺ cells, CFU-GEMM, CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E by 5.3, 2.1, 2.7, 1.9, 1.8 times as that of the control.CONCLUSION:Inhibition of endogenous TGF-β₁ and TNF-α by antisense PS-ODNS will be one of the effective methods to expand HSPC ex vivo.     

Therapeutic effects of recombinant human growth hormone on rat sepsis

AIM:To investigate therapeutic effects of recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) on rat sepsis and its possible mechanisms.METHODS:Mean arterial pressure (MAP), levels of plasma TNFα, IL-1β and endotoxin, leukocyte count and survival rate within 1 week were determined after E. coli injection among control group, sepsis group and sepsis+rhGH group.RESULTS:(1)rhGH diminished the decrease of MAP, reduced plasma endotoxin and TNFα levels and increased neutrophil ratio in total leukocytes in sepsis rat. rhGH increased survival rate within 1 week on sepsis rat. (2)No changes were found in IL-1β level among the three groups.CONCLUSION:rhGH showed desirable beneficial effects on rat sepsis, which may attribute to: improving circulatory function;maintaining intestinal mucosa barrier, attenuating bacteria/endotoxin translocation and inhibiting the production and release of TNFα.     

Effect of tea-polyphenols on the activation of NF-κB and the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in THP-1 cells incubated with VLDL,LDL or ox-LDL

AIM:To investigate the effect of tea-polyphenols (TP) on the activation of NF-κB and the expression of TGF-β₁ mRNA in THP-1 cells (a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line). METHODS:THP-1 cells were incubated with the different concentrations of TP, VLDL, LDL or ox-LDL. In the THP-1 cellls, the nuclear malposition rate of NF-κB was detected with immunohistochemistry technique, the positive index of the TGF-β₁ mRNA expression was detected by hybridization in situ, and accumulation of total cholesterol (TC) in cells incubated with 0.4-40 μg/L TP was determined with oxidase assay. RESULTS:The nuclear malposition rate of NF-κB, the positive index of the TGF-β₁ mRNA expression and TC in THP-1 cells incubated with 0.4-40 μg/L of TP were lower than those with 0 μg/L of TP in TP-V group, TP-L group and TP-O (P＜0.05). The differences of these markers in THP-1 cells incubated with more than 40 μg/L TP in TP-V group, TP-L group and TP-O were not statistically significant, compared with TP-C group (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION:TP inhibited the activation of NF-κB, the expression of TGF-β₁ mRNA and the foam cell formation in the mono-macrophage.