Production of nitric oxide and change of nitric oxide synthase activity in brains mitochondria of the rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

AIM and METHOD:To determine the production of nitric oxide(NO) and change of NO synthase(NOS) activity in mitochondria isolated from the rat brains of the ischemia/reperfusion rat model produced by transient occlusion of middle cerebral artery on the following time points:2 h after occlusion of artery and 30 min,2 h, 4h after reperfusion.RESULTS:After the occlusion of middle cerebral artery,the respiratory control rate(RCR) of mitochondria significantly decreased and slightly increased at 4h after reperfusion.Meantime,the production of NO in mitochondria increased significantly.But with the increase of perfusion, production of NO gradually decreased and reached normal level as in the control group.It also shows that cerebral ischemia increased NOS's activity significantly in the mitochondria and still kept a higher level than the control group although it decreased gradually after reperfusion.But the iNOS's activity did not show obvious change.The change of total NOS's activity depends on the change of cNOS's activity.CONCLUSION: The activation of NO/NOS system in the mitochondria might play an important role in the reperfusion injury during reperfusion of ischemic brain.     

急性中毒性脑病的CT诊断

目的探讨急性中毒性脑病的CT表现,提高对本病的认识.方法收集急性中毒性脑病18例,回顾性分析其脑部CT表现特点.结果CT表现：脑水肿18例,脑实质密度减低,脑室及脑池受压变小,严重者全脑密度呈均一性减低;蛛网膜下隙出血14例,表现为后纵裂池及天幕等处条片状高密度影;脑内出血2例,呈斑片状高密度影.结论CT能够反映中毒性脑病的病变范围、严重程度和预后情况,对临床及时正确诊治,减少后遗症具有重要意义.     

Tumor stem cells and glioma initiating cells

The tumor stem cell theory supposed that tumor stem cells are the origin of tumor abnormal proliferation, invasion, metastasis, drug resistance and recurrence. As the theory is put forward, it redefines the functions of classic stem cells in tumorigenesis. It is a great event for recent studies on glioma initiating cells as brain tumor stem cells were identified and isolated successfully. A lot of evidence from experiments in vivo and in vitro demonstrates that brain tumor stem cells might play an important role in glioma tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss the relationship between tumor stem cells and tumorigenesis, and the research on the correlation between brain tumor stem cells and glioma genesis.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

出生前山羊脑和脊髓的生长发育规律

测量了6～21周山羊胎儿脑和脊髓的相关指标,并绘制生长曲线.结果表明:山羊胎儿脑和脊髓生长发育具有快慢交替的阶段性变化规律.发育早期脑的生长速度要快于同期脊髓的生长速度.出生前,山羊大脑在长、宽、高3个方向上的发育表现出不均衡的特点.脊髓不同节段的生长高峰期出现的时间、数量和增长趋势都不一致,可能与脊髓内不同组份发育先后次序有关.     

Apoptosis mechanism by which diabetes aggravate brain damage

Many clinical and basic researches have revealed that brain damage can be deteriorated by diabetes significantly.However,its pathogenesis remains unclear.Recently,apoptosis have become the focus of research on brain damage.This article introduces the related investigations.