Effect of electroacupuncture on astrocyte morphology of ischemia cortex penumbra zone in cerebral infarct rats

AIM: Effect of electron acupuncture on astrocyte morphology of cerebral ischemic penumbra zone in rats was observed.METHODS: The brain infarct model in male Sprague-Dawley rats was made by thread embolism cerebral middle artery.Immunochemistry method was used to observe the change of astrocyte morphology in cerebral ischemic penumbrazone.RESULTS: There was no statistically difference in astrocyte morphology between cerebral infarct group and electroacupuncture treatment group.CONCLUSION: Acupoint stimulation of 5 and 10 Hz electro-acupuncture with a current intensity of 2 mA may not affect on astrocytic morphology.     

Clinical and pathological findings in a goat with cerebral gliomatosis

This report describes a buck with cerebral gliomatosis. The animal was severely apathetic to somnolent. Neurological examination revealed generalised ataxia and hyper-metria of the fore limbs. There was bilateral mydriasis and severely decreased menace and pupillary light reflexes. Sensitivity to pricking with a needle was markedly reduced over the entire body. There was a delayed response to adduction, abduction and crossing of the limbs and rocking of the animal. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid indicated mild mixed-cell inflammation. Based on all of the findings, an abscess or tumour of the central nervous system with localisation in the cerebrum was suspected. Because of the grave prognosis, the goat was euthanased and a post mortem examination performed. No macroscopic abnormalities were seen in any of the organs including the brain. Histologically, there was extensive diffuse glial cell hyperplasia in the white matter of the cerebral hemispheres and in the brain stem.     

Effects of adrenal gland on the expression of bax and bcl-2 in hippocampus after cerebral ischemia

AIM: To observe the effects of adrenal gland on the hippocampus responses to cerebral ischemia. METHODS: 36 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated control group (sham), unilateral adrenalectomy were performed in ADX and GC group, and GC group were injected with 5 mg/per rat of dexamethasone before cerebral ischemia. Fourteen days after the first operation, all animals were performed occlusion of bilateral carotid artery for 15 min, and then reperfusion. 3 rats of each group were sacrificed at 1 h, 4 h, 8 h and 24 h after reperfusion and hippocampus were dissected. The total RNA was rapidly extracted from hippocampus tissue. The expressions of c-fos, bcl-2 and bax gene were quantified with the method of semiquantitive RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expressions of c-fos and bax in three groups showed no statistical differences (P>0.05). The expression of bcl-2 in sham group was significantly higher than that in GC and ADX groups (P<0.05). However, no differences of bcl-2 expression between GC and ADX group (P>0.05) was observed. The ratio of bax to bcl-2 in sham group was significantly lower than that in GC and ADX groups (P<0.05), no significant differences of the ratio displayed between ADX and GC group. CONCLUSION: The expression of c-fos and bax in hippocampus after cerebral ischemia is not affected by adrenal gland. The excision of unilateral adrenal gland downregulates bcl-2 expression and raises the ratio of bax to bcl-2 in rat hippocampus after cerebral ischemia. Dexamethasone treatment does not alter the expression of bcl-2 in ADX and GC groups. The results indicate that the adrenal gland can counteract cell apoptosis in hippocampus tissue induced by cerebral ischemia. Adrenal steroids are not sufficient to enable the compensatory increase in bcl-2 expression in steroid-deficient animal, some other mechanism may exist.     

OX1R expression in chronic ischemic brain tissue of rats

AIM: To study the orexin-1 receptor (OX1R) expression in chronic ischemic brain tissue of rats and the change following the ischemic process.METHODS: The cerebral ischemic model was established by ligating double carotid arteries in rats. The behavior of the models was evaluated by water maze. The OX1R expression was determined by immunohistochemical technique, and the location of OX1R expression was further confirmed by double immunofluorescent staining.RESULTS: The intelligence of rats 15 d after ligating double carotid arteries was impaired obviously, and improved in 1 month and 2 months compared with the model in 15 d. At the same time, the OX1R expression increased obviously from acute phase until 15 d of cerebral ischemia and decreased notably in 1 month compared to the model in 15 d, and then increased significantly for the second time in 2 months of model. From the histology, partial neurons of 15 d model rats got atrophy, and most neurons in 1 month model rats got cytomorphosis and atrophy, however partial neurons in 2-month model rats recovered normally. The OX1R expression was confirmed in neurons definitely by double immunofluorescent staining.CONCLUSION: During the pathologic process of chronic ischemic injury, orexin system has two-way regulatory functions through.     

Neuropathological survey of fallen stock: active surveillance reveals high prevalence of encephalitic listeriosis in small ruminants

This paper describes the prevalence of brain lesions in the Swiss fallen stock population of small ruminants. 3075 whole brains (75% sheep, 25% goats) were collected as part of a year-long active survey of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in small ruminants conducted by the Swiss authorities between July 2004 and July 2005. All fallen stock brains were systematically examined by histopathology to obtain reliable data on histologically identifiable brain lesions. Lesions were found in an unexpectedly high number of animals (8.1% of all examined brains). A wide spectrum of diseases was detected showing that this approach provides an excellent opportunity to screen for the prevalence of neurological diseases. Encephalitic listeriosis was by far the most frequent cause of CNS lesions in both species and its prevalence was unexpectedly high when compared to notified confirmed cases. In conclusion, the prevalence of listeriosis as estimated by passive surveillance based on the notification of clinical suspects has been underestimated in the past.     

Relationship between FRAS1 protein and brain metastases of NSCLC

AIM: To explore the relationship between FRAS1 protein and brain metastases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).METHODS: The mRNA expression of FRAS1 in the brain metastatic tumor tissues and primary tumor tissues of NSCLC was detected by qPCR. The protein expression of FRAS1 in the tumor tissues and normal tissues adjacent to tumor tissues of NSCLC was measured by SP method of immunohistochemistry. The protein expression of FRAS1 in NSCLC primary tumor tissues with or without brain metastases was also determined.RESULTS: The mRNA expression of FRAS1 in the brain metastatic zone was nearly 10 times higher than that in the primary tumor tissues, and there was significant difference between the 2 groups (P<0.05). FRAS1 protein was expressed in the NSCLC primary tumor tissues, but was not found in the normal tissues adjacent to primary tumor tissues. The protein expression of FRAS1 in the NSCLC with brain metastases was significantly higher than that without brain metastases (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: FRAS1 protein may be associated with the occurrence of NSCLC. The over-expression of FRAS1 protein may be related to brain metastases with NSCLC.     

Investigation of Known Genetic Mutations of Arabian Horses in Egyptian Arabian Foals with Juvenile Idiopathic Epilepsy

Background

The carrier status of lavender foal syndrome (LFS), cerebellar abiotrophy (CA), severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), and occipitoatlantoaxial malformation (OAAM1) in foals with juvenile idiopathic epilepsy (JIE) is unknown.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To determine the carrier status of LFS, CA, SCID, and OAAM1 in foals with JIE.

Animals

Ten foals with JIE.

Materials and Methods

Archived DNA samples were tested for known genetic mutations causing LFS, CA, SCID, and OAAM1. The inclusion criteria consisted of having been diagnosed with JIE by ruling out other causes of seizures in foals and supported by electroencephalographic examination.

Results

Ten Egyptian Arabian horses (5 females and 5 males) were phenotyped as foals with JIE by electroencephalography (EEG). All foals were negative for the genetic mutations that cause LFS, CA, SCID, and OAAM1 except for 1 foal that was a carrier of CA.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Juvenile idiopathic epilepsy of Egyptian Arabian foals and LFS appear to be phenotypically and genetically distinct disorders. There was no apparent association between JIE and LFS, CA, SCID, and OAAM1.     

Knockout mouse production assisted by Blm knockdown

Production of knockout mice using targeted embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is a powerful approach for investigating the function of specific genes in vivo. Although the protocol for gene targeting via homologous recombination (HR) in ESCs is already well established, the targeting efficiency varies at different target loci and is sometimes too low. It is known that knockdown of the Bloom syndrome gene, BLM, enhances HR-mediated gene targeting efficiencies in various cell lines. However, it has not yet been investigated whether this approach in ESCs is applicable for successful knockout mouse production. Therefore, we attempted to answer this question. Consistent with previous reports, Blm knockdown enhanced gene targeting efficiencies for three gene loci that we examined by 2.3–4.1-fold. Furthermore, the targeted ESC clones generated good chimeras and were successful in germline transmission. These data suggest that Blm knockdown provides a general benefit for efficient ESC-based and HR-mediated knockout mouse production.     

MiR-130c-5p靶向乌鳢水泡病毒g基因抑制病毒增殖

MicroRNA(miRNA)是一类内源性的非编码RNA,参与调节病毒复制、细胞增殖或凋亡以及肿瘤发生等生物反应。本研究探讨了miR-130c-5p在乌鳢水泡病毒(snakehead vesiculovirus, SHVV)感染中潜在靶基因g的靶向关系以及对病毒复制的影响。本研究以斑点叉尾鮰卵巢(Channel catfish ovary, CCO)为实验材料,通过qRT-PCR和Western blot测定SHVV不同感染时间和感染剂量条件下,病毒基因水平和蛋白水平以及miR-130c-5p变化情况。此外,将SHVV的g基因上miR-130c-5p对应的靶序列克隆到质粒pmirGLO,构建质粒pmirGLO-G用于双荧光素酶报告实验进行靶基因验证。结果显示,随着SHVV感染时间及剂量的不断增加,miR-130c-5p和g基因的表达水平都显著上调。进一步实验证明,miR-130c-5p类似物和pmirGLO-G质粒共转染可显著抑制荧光素酶活性强度,而转染miR-130c-5p抑制剂则明显上调了pmirGLO-G报告载体的荧光信号。此外,miR-130c-5p的过表达显著降低了病毒G基因的mRNA及蛋白表达,而抑制miR-130c-5p的表达则上调了g基因的mRNA及蛋白的表达水平。研究结果表明,miR-130c-5p通过靶向SHVV的g基因,引起G蛋白的降解,从而抑制SHVV的增殖。本研究结果为理解microRNA调控SHVV的致病机制提供了重要基础,为抗SHVV疫苗等药物的研发提供了理论支持。