夹竹桃花挥发油的GC-MS分析及β-葡萄糖苷酶对夹竹桃花的增香和豚鼠离体子宫平滑肌的作用

目的:建立夹竹桃花挥发油GC-MS的色谱分离鉴定方法,分析夹竹桃花挥发油的化学成分和对豚鼠离体子宫平滑肌的作用。方法:采用挥发油提取器提取夹竹桃花挥发油,以GC-MS法进行分析鉴定,建立了豚鼠离体子宫模型。结果:分别从无酶和有酶的夹竹桃花挥发油提取物中确证了58和57个化合物,挥发油对豚鼠离体子宫平滑肌有收缩作用。结论:对夹竹桃的挥发油化学成分进行了比较分析结果表明,β-葡萄糖苷酶对夹竹桃花有较弱增香作用,也能增加豚鼠离体子宫平滑肌收缩。     

Muscarinic receptor subtypes in equine tracheal smooth muscle

Selective muscarinic receptor antagonists were used to identify muscarinic receptor subtypes in equine trachealis strips. The M₁ receptor antagonist pirenzepine (10^–7 mol/L to 3 × 10^–5 mol/L) and the M₃ receptor antagonist 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine (4-DAMP, 10^–9 mol/L to 3 × 10^–7 mol/L³) dose dependently inhibited the contractile responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) and exogenous acetylcholine (ACh). Schild plots yielded a pA₂ value for pirenzepine vs ACh of 6.75 ± 0.09, which is consistent with the affinity for M₂ or M₃ receptors, and a pA₂ value for 4-DAMP vs ACh of 8.47 ± 0.09, which is in agreement with the affinity for M₃ receptors. The M₂ receptor antagonist gallamine (10^–5 mol/L and 10^–4 mol/L) did not affect the response of trachealis to exogenous ACh and low-frequency EFS (0.1–2 Hz) but decreased the responses to high-frequency EFS (4–16 Hz). These results suggest that the muscarinic receptors mediating contractions induced by ACh in equine tracheal smooth muscle are of the M₃ subtype. The lack of an increase in the response to EFS following gallamine suggests that functional prejunctional inhibitory M₂ receptors are not present on the cholinergic nerves innervating equine tracheal smooth muscle.     

Metallothionein inhibits homocysteine-induced proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of metallothionein(MT) on proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by homocysteine and its mechanism. METHODS:VSMCs proliferation was measured by [³-H]-TdR incorporation, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)activity were determined by immunoprecipitation method, the intracellular contents of MT and malondialdehyde (MDA)were assayed by -hemoglobin saturation method and TBA reaction, respectively, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage was measured by NADH oxidation. RESULTS:Hcy(10^-6-10^-4 mmol/L) stimulated [³-H]-TdR incorporation by the VSMCs in a concentration-dependent manner. Compared with control, [³-H]-TdR incorporation in VSMCs treated with 0.1 mmol/L Hcy was increased by 4.2 fold (P＜0.01). Meanwhile, Hcy enhanced MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH release (P＜0.01)in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of VSMCs with MT alone did not change above parameters, compared with control. However, MT (10^-6-10^-4 mol/L)attenuated significantly Hcy-stimulated proliferation of VSMCs (P＜0.01)in a concentration-dependent manner. And MT inhibited obviously Hcy-induced activation of MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH release. Preincubation of VSMCs with 0.5 mmol/L ZnCl₂ for 6 h induced an increase cellular MT content by 5.7-fold (P＜0.01). The MT-overexpressed VSMCs resisted Hcy-stimulating action on MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH leakage (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION:These results show that MT has an inhibitory effect on Hcy-induced VSMCs proliferation, and that MT could inhibit Hcy-stimulated MAPK activity and lipid peroxidation.     

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 .     

Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in scar tissue and its relationship with apoptosis

AIM: To examine the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in scar tissue, and observe the phenomenon of apoptosis and its involvement in the process of pathological scarring and the presence of myofibroblasts or absence of cell in the dermis. To investigate the potential role of reparative cell apoptosis in hyperplastic scar formation. METHODS: The samples of scar were obtained from post-burn patients undergoing plastic operation in our burn unit recently, and the samples of control came from skin donor site of the same patient correspondingly. TUNEL assays were performed to evaluate the number of apoptotic cells in scar versus normal skin. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry staining technique were employed to determine the expression of different dermis cells markers in scar tissue and normal skin. RESULTS: There existed evident difference in apoptotic cells in the dermis between scars tissue and normal human skin. The expression positive cells were much more in hyperplastic scars than that in normal human skin; the apoptotic cells of proliferative stage were slight more than that of mature stage. However, in proliferative stage, the number of apoptotic cells was higher for the combination of hyperplastic scar than normally healed flat scars. But in mature stage, no obviously difference was detected between hyperplastic scar and normally healed flat scar. The monoclonal anti-α smooth muscle actin (ASMA) expression was significantly stronger in proliferative stage than that of mature stage. CONCLUSIONS: With reconstitution of dermal tissue, myofibroblasts containing alpha-SM actin disappear under normal wound healing, probably as a result of apoptosis. The myofibroblast play a critical role in wound closure and in the pathologic sequelae of healing.     

Role of potassium channels in the regulation of intracellular free Ca2+ concentration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in rats

AIM: To investigate the role of potassium channels in the regulation of intracellular free calcium concentration ( [Ca²⁺]_i) of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in rats. METHODS: The fluorescence Ca²⁺ indicator Fura-2/AM was used to observe [Ca²⁺]_i of rat PASMCs in normal and chronic hypoxic condition. The influences of potassium channels on PASMCs proliferation were assessed by MTT assay. RESULTS: 1. In normoxic condition, [Ca²⁺]_i was (156.91±8.60) nmol/L, and in hypoxic condition, [Ca²⁺]_i was (294.01±16.81) nmol/L. 2. In normoxic condition, the voltage-dependent K⁺-channel antagonist 4-aminopyridine (4AP), but not the Ca²⁺-activated K⁺-channel antagonist tetraethylammonium (TEA) and the ATP-sensitive K⁺-channel antagonist glibenclamide (Glib) increased [Ca²⁺]_i. 3. In hypoxic condition, 4AP and TEA caused the rise in [Ca²⁺]_i , but Glib had no effect on [Ca²⁺]_i. 4. MTT assay showed that 4AP increased the value of absorbing light degree (A value) in normoxic and hypoxic condition (0.582±0.062,0.873±0.043,respectively, P＜0.01), TEA increased A value only in hypoxic condition, and Glib had no effect on the proliferation of PASMCs. CONCLUSIONS: K_V plays an important role in the regulation of [Ca²⁺]_i and proliferation of PASMCs. K_Ca serves as distinct responsive roles in the regulation of proliferation of PASMCs in hypoxic condition. K_ATP has no effect on [Ca²⁺]_i and proliferation of PASMCs in normoxic and hypoxic conditions.     

Influence of Sini decoction on the proliferation and apoptosis of artery smooth muscle cells after balloon injury

AIM: To investigate the influence of Sini decoction (SND) on the proliferation and apoptosis of rabbit abdominal aorta smooth muscle cells after ballon injury and discuss the effect of vascular smooth muscle cell's (VSMCs) proliferation and apoptosis in post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) restenosis (RS) and the feasibility of SND preventing post-PCI RS. METHODS: The animal model of rabbit abdominal aorta ballon injury was set up and the therapertic group was treated with SND. The shape of proliferative and apoptotic cell were investigated by electron microscope. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed using α-actin,PCNA and Cyclin E monoclonal antibodies. In situ Cell Death Detection Kit was used to identify apoptotic cells. Abdomial aorta angiography was operated in the 84th day subgroup and the stenosis degree was evalued by quantitative angiographic analysis. RESULTS: As compared with the control group, the therapeutic group displayed a lower proliferative percentage and a higher apoptosic percentage (P<0.05). Moreover, the apoptosic peek time was on the 14th day after operation,which was longer than the control group. CONCLUSION: SND effectly inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs and iuduced apoptosis in VSMCs.     

Effect of xeroderma pigmentosum group D gene on proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells induced by Ox-LDL

AIM: To investigate the effects of xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) gene on the proliferation of human umbilical arterial smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL). METHODS: The recombinant plasmid pEGFP-N2/XPD was transfected into HUASMCs by liposome. The cells were divided into blank control group, pEGFP-N2 group, pEGFP-N2/XPD group, Ox-LDL group, Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2 group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group. The proliferation rate of the cells was detected by MTT and EdU assays. The apoptotic rate and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein levels of XPD, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with blank control group, the expression of XPD was increased in pEGFP-N2/XPD group (P<0.05). According to the results of MTT and EdU assays, the cell proliferation in pEGFP-N2/XPD group was reduced compared with blank control group (P<0.05). Compared with Ox-LDL group, the cell proliferation in Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group was significantly inhibited (P<0.05). According to the results of flow cytometry, the cell proportion of S phase decreased and the G₀/G₁-phase cell proportion increased significantly in pEGFP-N2/XPD group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group compared with blank control group and Ox-LDL group, repectively (P<0.05). Compared with blank control group and Ox-LDL group, the protein level of Bcl-2 decreased and the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 increased in pEGFP-N2/XPD group and Ox-LDL+pEGFP-N2/XPD group, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: XPD inhibits the proliferation of HUASMCs and promotes their apoptosis, and reduces the promoting effect of Ox-LDL on the proliferation of HUVSMCs. XPD may be the target for treatment of atherosclerosis.