Expression of relaxin receptor LRG7, canine relaxin, and relaxin-like factor in the pelvic diaphragm musculature of dogs with and without perineal hernia

OBJECTIVES: To compare the expression of canine relaxin, relaxin-like factor (RLF), and relaxin receptors within the muscles of the pelvic diaphragm of dogs with perineal hernia (PH) and clinically normal dogs. STUDY DESIGN: In vivo comparative study. ANIMALS: Fifteen client-owned intact male dogs with PH were studied. Four mature intact male dogs with no evidence of perineal pathology served as controls. METHODS: Biopsy samples from the levator ani, coccygeus, and internal obturator muscles were obtained. RNA samples were reverse transcribed and analyzed by real-time PCR for the expression of canine relaxin receptor LRG7, relaxin, and RLF. RESULTS: Significantly higher expression levels of canine relaxin receptors occurred in the musculature of the pelvic diaphragm and internal obturator muscle in dogs with PH compared with normal dogs. Expression of canine RLF revealed no significant difference between dogs with PH and controls. The difference in the expression of canine relaxin between groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Relaxin receptor up-regulation occurs in the coccygeus, levator ani, and internal obturator muscles of dogs with PH. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The higher expression of relaxin receptors within the muscles of the pelvic diaphragm in dogs with PH suggests that relaxin might play a role in the pathogenesis of PH. Atrophy of these muscles, which predisposes to PH, may be attributable to increased relaxin activity.     

Androgen receptor expression in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic hepatoid glands in the dog

Neoplasms of the perianal glands are common in the dog, particularly in the male. The occurrence of these tumours appears to be hormone related and castration, without excision of the tumour, has sometimes resulted in regression of the tumour. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of androgen receptors (AR) in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic hepatoid glands in the dog. Thirty-one samples of canine hepatoid gland tissues were investigated. The lesions, classified according to WHO criteria, were comprised of 19 hyperplastic tissues, 10 benign lesions (2 hepatoid gland epithelioma and 8 hepatoid adenomas), and 19 carcinomas. Five samples from normal hepatoid glands were also investigated. The AR expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using a streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method. The immunoexpression was scored by two pathologists as the percentage of positive nuclei. The intensity of staining was also considered. AR expression was detected in all normal and abnormal glands. However, in hyperplastic tissues the percentage of positive nuclei was significantly higher than in normal tissue and especially in reserve basaloid cells. A similar increase in the percent of positive nuclei was also observed in hepatoid epitheliomas, while in hepatoid adenoma the percent of AR-immunolabelling was only slightly increased compared to normal tissue. In hepatoid carcinomas the percent of AR-positive cells was similar to that observed in benign tumours. The grade of differentiation of hepatoid carcinomas did not affect AR expression. These results demonstrate that increased AR expression is maintained throughout perianal gland cancer progression and that hepatoid gland carcinomas still express AR. Although further studies may be required to evaluate the hormonal background of these diseases, dogs bearing those carcinomas might benefit from castration or anti hormonal therapy.     

Reduction in channel catfish hepatic growth hormone receptor expression in response to food deprivation and exogenous cortisol

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of food deprivation and exogenous cortisol administration on somatic growth of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, and examine the resultant changes in circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations and growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene expression. Integral to this objective, we report the isolation, sequence, and characterization of channel catfish GHR. Sequence analysis and characterization results indicate sequence identity and tissue distribution similar to GHRs in other teleost fish and several functional characteristics conserved in known vertebrate GHRs. The effects of food deprivation and dietary exogenous cortisol administration were assessed as part of a 4-week study. Growth was significantly reduced after 4 weeks in cortisol-fed fish compared to fed-control fish, and fasting resulted in weight loss. At the end of the 4-week study, both IGF-I plasma concentrations and hepatic GHR mRNA abundance were significantly reduced in fasted and cortisol-fed catfish. Levels of hepatic GHR mRNA were positively correlated to circulating IGF-I levels. These results suggest that a reduction in hepatic GHR gene expression might serve as a mechanism for the reduction of circulating IGF-I and growth in channel catfish during periods of food deprivation and stress.     

Transferrin-bound Yb2 uptake by U-87 MG cells and effect of Yb on proliferation of the cells

AIM:To investigate the role of transferrin/transferrin receptor system in transferrin-bound Yb₂ (Yb₂Tf) uptake by U-87 MG cells and the effect of transferrin-bound and -free Yb₂ on proliferation of U-87 MG cells.METHODS:Cell culture and ICP-MS measurement of Yb₂.RESULTS:Yb₂Tf uptake by U-87 MG cells increased with the concentrations of Yb₂Tf, and reached saturation as the concentration in the incubation medium was raised to about 2 μmol/L. Also, Yb₂ uptake by the cells increased with increase of the mole ratio (Yb₂: apoTf), reaching a maximum at 1.5 mole ratio. Yb₂Tf in 0.4 μmol/L significantly inhibited proliferation of U-87 MG cells, however, 10 μmol/L Yb³⁺ had no significant effect on proliferation of the cells.CONCLUSION:The uptake of Yb₂ by U-87 MG cells might be mediated by transferrin/transferrin receptor system. Transferrin-bound but not transferrin-free Yb₂ could significantly inhibit proliferation of U-87 MG cells.     

Mechanisms of estrogen action

Estrogen has widespread biological actions. Besides sexual organs, estrogen plays an important role in cardiovascular system, central nervous system and bone tissue. However, the mechanisms of estrogen action are very complex and not fully understood. The actions of estrogen are not identical and even completely different in some organs system. In this review, we will focus on the new development of molecular mechanisms of estrogen action.     

Characters of angiopoietins and their functions in the regulation of neovascularization

Neovascularization plays an important role in embyonic development and many diseases. VEGFs and angiopoietins are two known growth factor families that are specific to vascular endothelium. The action of angiopoietins is associated not only with angiogenesis but also with postnatal vasulogenesis. Thus there is a good prospective use for angiopoietins or their antagonists to promote or inhibit angiogenesis in clinical therapy.     

蜂王浆对初情期前雌性日本大耳兔生长发育的影响

本研究旨在探讨蜂王浆对雌性日本大耳兔初情期前的生长发育影响。将36只50日龄雌性日本大耳兔随机分为高剂量蜂王浆组(H-RJ)、低剂量蜂王浆组(L-RJ)以及对照组(C),每组12只。高、低剂量组分别按体质量0.2%和0.1%的量每天进行空腹灌胃蜂王浆,对照组灌胃体质量0.1%的生理盐水。每周同一时间空腹称重。40d后,所有兔子耳静脉取血后各组处死6只,摘取心脏、左侧卵巢和左侧子宫称重,并冷冻保存右侧卵巢和右侧子宫。采用放免法测定血清中雌二醇(E2)、促卵泡素(FSH)、促黄体素(LH)、孕激素(P4)、催乳素(PRL)和睾酮(T)的含量;用实时荧光定量PCR检测右侧卵巢中雌激素β受体(ERβ)mRNA和右侧子宫中雌激素α受体(ERα)mR-NA的表达。结果表明:灌胃蜂王浆12d后,对照组兔子没有换毛现象,低剂量和高剂量组分别有75%和67%的兔子换毛;蜂王浆对体质量和心脏、左侧子宫、左侧卵巢的脏器系数无显著影响(P>0.05)。试验组血液中E2浓度极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),而其它性激素无明显差异(P>0.05)。试验组ERα在子宫和ERβ在卵巢的表达量均低于对照组,对照组与高剂量组的差异极显著(P<0...     

Asia1型口蹄疫病毒含RSD受体识别位点感染性克隆的构建与病毒拯救

口蹄疫病毒(Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus,FMDV)具有高的突变率和很强的适应性,在环境条件变化时会迅速从准种种群中选择变异株来适应新的环境,这些变异株包括在RGD受体结合基序内部或附近氨基酸的替换。FMDV Asia1/JS/China/05株经不同宿主传代后产生含RSD和RDD受体识别基序的变异株,为了研究含RDD受体识别基序的FMDV在受体结合位点内1个氨基酸的变化是否影响感染性病毒子的产生,作者利用已构建的含RDD受体结合位点的FMDV Asia1/JS/China/05株的全长感染性cDNA克隆为骨架,采用融合PCR方法,构建了该毒株含RSD受体位点的全长cDNA克隆pFMDV-RSD。线性化的pFMDV-RSD重组质粒和表达T7RNA聚合酶的真核质粒pcDNAT7P共转染BHK-21细胞,56 h后可观察到典型的FMDV致细胞病变效应。对收获的病毒分别进行序列测定、间接免疫荧光试验、电子显微镜观察和乳鼠致病性分析,结果证实该毒株细胞受体位点1个氨基酸的替换不影响活病毒的拯救。该试验为进一步研究含RSD受体结合位点FMDV的生物学特性奠定了基础。     

猪睾丸中脂联素受体与LHR、CYP11A1、StAR基因表达的发育变化及其相关性研究

旨在了解皖南花猪睾丸组织脂联素受体mRNA与睾酮合成相关因子mRNA表达的发育性变化及其相关性,探讨脂联素与睾酮生成的关系.本研究用荧光实时定量PCR法检测0、30、45、90和180 d等不同日龄(各日龄样本数5头)皖南花猪睾丸组织脂联素受体(AdpR1、AdpR2)和LHR、CYP11A1、StAR mRNA的表达水平.结果,AdpR1、CYP11 A1和StAR mRNA的表达有极显著的发育性变化(P＜0.01),AdpR1 mRNA的表达先增加后降低,45 d达到最大值;CYP11A1和StAR mRNA的表达先升高后降低再升高,45 d达到最大表达量.LHR mRNA的表达也有显著的发育性变化(P＜0.05),整体表现为先升高后降低.AdpR1与CYP11A1 mRNA的表达量显著相关(r=0.587,P＜0.05);LHR与CYP11A1、StAR mRNA的表达量分别显著相关(r=0.528,P＜0.05;r=0.552,P＜0.05);CYP11 A1与StAR mRNA表达量极显著相关(r=0.709,P＜0.01).AdpR1mRNA在睾丸组织的高表达提示脂联素可能通过AdpR1介导对睾丸的调节作用,其发育性变化和CYP11A1 mRNA呈正相关,提示脂联素对睾酮的生成有一定的促进作用.     

SDC3的功能及其研究进展

鉴于Syndecan-3 (sdc3) 在能量平衡的调节中起到关键作用,本文对其基本结构和功能做了一个简单的介绍,对其杌理做了一些大胆的讨论,并对其以后的研究方向提供了一些建议.