Increased expression of both constitutive and inducible forms of nitric oxide synthase in the delayed phase of acute experimental testicular torsion

To elucidate the roles of both constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS) in acute experimental testicular torsion, the expression of iNOS and constitutive eNOS and nNOS were studied in the rat testis with ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Western blot analysis showed that all three isoforms of NOS increased significantly at 24-48 hr after I/R and declined slightly thereafter. After I/R, immunoreactivity for both iNOS and nNOS was detected, mainly in the interstitial space around damaged tubules, while germ cells in the damaged tubules were immunostained intensely for eNOS. We postulate that increased expression of the three NOS isoforms in the testis after I/R, which might generate nitric oxide, affects delayed germ cell death following I/R via paracrine or autocrine fashion.     

Activation of Akt/protein kinase B and extracellular signal-regulated kinase in rats with acute experimental testicular torsion

The Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways are involved in cell survival. This study examined the temporal profiles and localization of Akt/PKB and ERK1/2 activation in rat testis after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Testicular tissue was collected from normal control rats and rats exposed to reperfusion for 6, 24, and 48 hr after ischemic injury; the tissues were analyzed via Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis showed that the levels of phosphorylated Akt/PKB (pAkt/PKB) and ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) increased significantly during the first 6-24 hr of reperfusion after ischemia. However, both of these activated proteins were decreased slightly at 48 hr after reperfusion. Immunohistochemically, low levels of pAkt/PKB expression were observed in Sertoli cells from the normal control. After I/R, pAkt/PKB expression increased mainly in the adluminal portion of the Sertoli cells, as well as in spermatogenic cells. In addition, pERK1/2 expression was observed in Sertoli and Leydig cells in the normal control. After I/R, pERK1/2 expression increased in some surviving spermatogenic cells (mainly spermatocytes), as well as in the adluminal portion of Sertoli cells. These results suggest that both Akt/PKB and ERK1/2 are involved in the survival of testicular cells during the early phase of testicular I/R. These pathways may represent important targets for increasing cell survival in testicular injury, including testicular torsion.     

Participation of different macrophage populations and myofibroblastic cells in chronically developed renal interstitial fibrosis after cisplatin-induced renal injury in rats

To shed some light on the mechanisms behind renal fibrogenesis, the present study immunohistochemically investigated the participation of different macrophage populations and myofibroblastic cells in rat renal interstitial fibrosis developed chronically after repeated injection of cisplatin (2 mg/kg body weight, once weekly for 7 weeks). During the 19-week recovery period after the final injection, fibrotic lesions progressively developed in the corticomedullary junction, with the greatest level at post-final injection (FPI) week 5, and then the lesions were gradually repaired by PFI week 19, indicative of a healing process. In conformity with the development of fibrotic lesions, the number of myofibroblastic cells reacting with an anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin antibody was increased, with a peak at PFI week 3, and collagens (types I, III, and IV), fibronection, and laminin were excessively accumulated in these areas. Interstitial cells forming the fibrotic lesions showed mitotic activity at the early stages, whereas they disappeared by apoptosis in the healing process. A large number of cells reacting with an antibody of ED1 (for exudate macrophages), ED2 (for resident macrophages), or OX6 (for major histocompatibility complex class II-presenting macrophages and interstitial dendritic cells) had already appeared at PF1 week 1, and then their numbers increased, with a peak at PFI weeks 7, 3, and 9 in ED1-, ED2-, and OX6-positive cells, respectively. Thereafter, the number of ED1- and ED2-positive cells decreased, whereas the number of OX6-positive cells persisted at a high level until PFI week 19. In the healing process, clusters of lymphocytes were present, the development of which might have been related to OX6-positive cells. The present study demonstrated that chronically developing rat renal interstitial fibrosis might be produced by the complicated mechanisms evoked by interactions between different macrophage populations and myofibroblastic cells, because macrophages show heterogeneous functions depending on microenvironmental factors.     

Immunohistochemical study of cathepsin D in the spinal cords of rats with clip compression injury

This study examined the temporal expression of cathepsin D protein and its cellular localization in the spinal cords of rats after a clip compression injury to determine the involvement of cathepsin D in spinal cord injury (SCI). Western blot analysis showed a significant increase in the approximately 31-kDa active form of cathepsin D on days 4 and 7 after the SCI, while the level of the approximately 44-kDa inactive form remained relatively unchanged. Immunohistochemistry revealed cathepsin D with constitutive localization in most neurons and some gliocytes in the normal spinal cord to be intensely immuno-detected primarily in CD68-positive activated macrophages/microglia in the SCI lesions. Overall, these findings suggest that cathepsin D plays an important role in the phagocytosis and lysosomal activation of macrophages/microglia during the central nervous system inflammation caused by trauma.     

Immunohistochemical characterization of macrophage and dendritic cell subpopulations of the spleen,thymus, tongue and heart in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed rat

This study was undertaken to investigate the immunohistochemical characterization of different subpopulations of macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) of the spleen, thymus, tongue and heart in cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressed rat. After CY treatment, remarkably, ED1+, ED2+ and ED3+ macrophage subpopulations, in general exhibited signs of cellular activation such as an increase in number and size of cell, and an upregulation of the ED1, ED2 and ED3 reactive surface molecule expression in all the organs studied, except for some macrophage subpopulations including ED1+ macrophages in the non-lymphoid tissues. Subpopulations of DCs showed a differential sensitivity to CY. Lymphoid DCs were more sensitive to CY than non-lymphoid interstitial DCs. CY induced a conspicuous upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in the vascular endothelial cells, splenic marginal zone and thymic cortex. In this study, we demonstrated the in vivo effects of CY treatment on subpopulations of macrophages and DCs as well as on ICAM-1 expression in the rat spleen, thymus, tongue and heart. Moreover, our results shed more light on the activation effects of CY on certain subpopulations of macrophages, on the differential sensitivity of DCs to CY between the immature and mature ones, on the functional role of different subpopulations of macrophages, and on the significance of upregulated ICAM-1 expression in the splenic marginal zone and thymic cortex after CY treatment.     

MMP13和TIMP2在肝缺血再灌注损伤介导肝纤维化进程中的动态变化及作用

探讨肝缺血再灌注损伤(HIRI)介导肝纤维化进程中基质金属蛋白酶-13(MMP13)和基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制剂2(TIMP2)的动态变化及作用。将70只C57雄性小鼠随机分为假手术组(Sham组)及肝缺血再灌注组(I/R 0 h组、I/R 3 h组、I/R 6 h组、I/R 72 h组、I/R 7 d组及I/R 15 d组)。夹闭肝门静脉、左叶和中叶的肝动脉,缺血90 min后开夹,分别再灌0、3、6、72 h、7 d及15 d,处死小鼠。检测小鼠血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)的水平;测定肝组织中羟脯氨酸(Hyp)的含量;免疫组化法检测肝组织中α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)表达量;RT-PCR检测肝组织MMP13和TIMP2 mRNA的表达水平;HE染色观察肝纤维化程度。结果显示,与Sham组相比,I/R 0 h、I/R 3 h及I/R 6 h组血清ALT、AST升高(P<0.05),I/R 72 h、I/R 7 d及I/R 15 d组下降(P<0.05)。I/R各组肝组织Hyp含量随再灌注时间延长逐渐升高,其中I/R 72 h、I/R 7 d、I/R 15 d组显著高于Sham组(P<0.05)。免疫组化显示,肝组织α-SMA的蛋白表达量随再灌注时间延长而逐渐增加。RT-PCR显示,I/R各组MMP13 mRNA的表达水平呈先高后低的趋势,与Sham组相比,I/R 0 h、I/R 3 h组显著升高(P<0.05)。而TIMP2的表达为先低后高,与Sham组相比,I/R 72 h、I/R 7 d及I/R 15 d组显著升高(P<0.05)。HE染色结果与上述变化趋势相一致。结果表明,在HIRI介导肝纤维化形成过程中MMP13与TIMP2呈动态的协同作用,共同促进肝纤维化的发生发展,是肝纤维化形成的关键因素。     

Phagocytotic activation of muscularis resident macrophages inhibits smooth muscle contraction in rat ileum

Intestinal muscularis resident macrophages distributed in myenteric region may play an important role in the immunological host defense against infection. In this study, we investigated the phagocytic stimulation of resident macrophages on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and smooth muscle contraction in the small intestine of rat. After the injection of FITC-dextran to rat, phagocytosed macrophages could be detected in the myenteric plexus. FITC-positive macrophages were also immunostained with COX-2 antibody. The number of COX-2 immunopositive cells increased in a time-dependent manner reaching its maximum at 4 hr after the injection, which then decreased gradually but considerable number of cells were still remained on 7 days. The injection of FITC-dextran, however, did not change the population of ED2-positive resident macrophages even on 7 days. Production of PGE2 was significantly higher in the dextran treated tissue as compared to control tissue. In the smooth muscle tissue phagocytosed dextran, carbachol-induced contraction was significantly decreased. The suppression of the carbachol-induced contraction was completely restored by COX inhibitor, indomethacin. Finally we demonstrated that, in freshly isolated macrophage cells, addition of dextran induced a slow and sustained increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. These results indicate that phagocytotic activation of muscularis resident macrophages induces COX-2 gene expression and then results in production of PGE2 to suppress the smooth muscle contractile activity.     

羊驼睾丸细胞凋亡及凋亡相关蛋白的定位

本研究旨在观察羊驼睾丸的出生后发育和精子发生过程中的细胞凋亡及凋亡相关蛋白Bcl2和Caspase3 的定位.取材新生、12月龄和24月龄羊驼的睾丸,用TUNEL法检测睾丸发育和精子发生过程的细胞凋亡,用免疫组织化学技术检测凋亡相关蛋白Bcl2和Caspase3在羊驼出生后发育和精子发生过程中的定位.结果显示在新生羊驼睾丸未检测到TUNEL阳性细胞,Caspase3和Bcl2表达于间质细胞,提示在新生期凋亡蛋白参与间质细胞凋亡的调节,为曲精小管的发育提供空间;12月龄羊驼睾丸TUNEL阳性细胞定位于曲精小管中央部分,Caspase3 和Bcl2定位于间质细胞和曲精小管中央生殖细胞,提示在青春期(12月龄)羊驼睾丸,细胞凋亡和凋亡相关蛋白参与曲精小管管腔形成的调节;24月龄羊驼睾丸TUNEL阳性细胞定位于精原细胞、精母细胞和精子细胞,Caspase3 和Bcl2定位于间质细胞和各个发育阶段的生精细胞,Caspase3阳性细胞在精原细胞最高,向精母细胞和精子细胞逐渐减少,Bcl2在精原细胞弱阳性表达,在血睾屏障以内的曲精小管近腔室部分呈弥散性强阳性表达,提示在性成熟(24月龄)羊驼睾丸精子发生过程中,细胞凋亡主要发生于精原细胞和早期精母细胞,Bcl2可能抑制精母细胞之后生殖细胞的凋亡.结果提示在羊驼睾丸出生后发育和精子发生过程中存在细胞凋亡现象;凋亡蛋白Caspase3和Bcl2参与羊驼睾丸发育和精子发生过程中细胞凋亡的调节.     

Reduced Phagocytotic Activity of Macrophages in the Bovine Retained Placenta

This study was carried out to investigate the distribution of immune cells in the bovine placenta during the postpartum period and to compare these cells between normal and retained placenta. Within 1 h after normal calving, biopsy samples of placentomes were collected from 10 cows. The occurrence of retention of fetal membranes was monitored for more than 8 h post-calving, and the samples obtained were divided into two groups: normally discharged and retained placenta (n = 5 each). Immunohistochemical procedures were utilized to detect macrophages and T lymphocytes. Numerous CD14-positive macrophages were found in the stroma of both normal placenta and retained placenta whereas only a few CD3-positive T lymphocytes were found in both cases. However, histochemical staining for acid phosphatase, a predominant lysozomal enzyme, revealed that almost all macrophages showed strong enzyme activity in the normally discharged placentas, whereas in retained placenta the activity of acid phosphatase was conspicuously decreased in intensity. These results indicate that there are functional differences in placental macrophages between normal and retained placenta.     

Expression characteristics of immune factors in the yak (Bos grunniens) testis

The goal of this study was to characterize and evaluate the main markers of macrophages, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and plasmocytes in the testis of juvenile and adult yaks by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Within the same age group, the mRNA expression of CD68 was always highest, followed by that of CD3ε, CD79α, IgG and IgA. Moreover, CD68, CD3, CD79α, IgA and IgG positive cells were all located in the testicular interstitial tissues of juvenile and adult yaks. In the same age group, the frequency of CD68 positive macrophages was higher than that of CD3 positive T lymphocytes, which was followed by that of CD79α positive B lymphocytes and IgA and IgG positive plasmocytes. No significant difference was observed between the B lymphocyte and plasmocyte frequencies in yak testes. Furthermore, CD68, CD3ε, CD79α, IgA and IgG mRNA expression levels and the frequencies of CD68, CD3, CD79α, IgA and IgG positive cells increased from juveniles to adults. Similarly, the frequencies of CD68, CD3, CD79α, IgA and IgG positive cells also increased with age. These results suggest that in the yak testis, the immune defence system against pathogens might primarily comprise macrophages and T lymphocytes in the testicular interstitial tissue. Moreover, the testicular immune environment may mature and expand to a fully functional state in adult yaks. The low frequencies of B lymphocyte and plasmocyte in yaks, differing from those in rodents and humans, might be related to the fact that yaks live in low-oxygen plateaus.     

Expression of macrophage CD44 receptor in the course of experimental inflammatory response of bovine mammary gland induced by lipopolysaccharide and muramyl dipeptide

The aim of this study was to investigate development over time of the surface expression of CD44 on macrophages during an inflammatory response of bovine mammary gland. Intramammary instillation of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in a significant increase in the total count of CD44+ non-vacuolised macrophages (_NMAC) after 24 h. During resolution of the inflammatory response, there was observed a gradual decrease in the total count CD44+ _NMAC. The lower total count and proportion of CD44 + vacuolised macrophages (_VMAC) was observed as the effect of MDP and LPS at 24 h after induction (P < 0.01). During resolution, the total count and proportion of CD44 + _VMAC increased. We have demonstrated CD44 receptor is expressed during the inflammatory response caused by LPS and MDP and the effect of these components on CD44 expression was particularly evident during initiation of the inflammatory response. High expression of CD44 in resolution of inflammatory response may relate to macrophages´ involvement in the processes leading to restitution of injured tissues.     

Flow cytometric analysis of thymocyte subpopulations in mice after whole-body X-irradiation.

To determined the cellular kinetics of thymocyte subpopulations in DBA1 mice after whole-body 6.8 Gy X-irradiation, they were analyzed for the expression of several cell surface antigens using flow cytometry. The results show that i) The majority of thymocytes rapidly depleted by irradiation was CD4+8+ cells. ii) radioresistant CD4+8- and CD4-8+ survived 18-48 hr after X-irradiation were considered to be relatively mature type, since they expressed high levels of CD3 and LECAM-1. iii) CD3-positive cells were detected in CD4-8- cells at 72 hr after irradiation.     

Immunophenotypical characterization of monocytes in canine distemper virus infection

Canine distemper virus (CDV) infection induces multifocal demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). It is thought that the resident macrophages of the CNS, the microglia, as well as invading monocytes associated with the inflammatory reaction may play a central role in the demyelinating process. To evaluate changes in peripheral monocytes in CDV infection their immunophenotype was characterized by flow cytometry during the course of an experimental CDV infection in dogs. The highest number of CDV-infected monocytes was found in dogs developing demyelinating lesions. In CD18, CD45, CD44, and CD14 neither up- nor down-regulation was observed. Marked up-regulation occurred in a number of surface molecules including CD1c, B7-1 and B7-2, MHC I, and CD11b. Peak expression was found at 4-5 weeks post-infection (PI), regardless of clinical outcome. All these molecules play an important role in the host's immune response, notably antigen presentation and cell adhesion. These results demonstrate that CDV infection in vivo may enhance several macrophage functions. This could lead to more effective clearance of the virus but may also increase demyelination through a bystander effect in animals that accumulated significant amounts of CDV in the CNS.     

A comparison of the immunological effects of propofol and isoflurane for maintenance of anesthesia in healthy dogs

Most anesthetics have an immuno-suppressive effect on cellular and neurohumoral immunity, and research shows that total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol has a greater immuno-protective effect than inhalational anesthesia in human medicine. However, in veterinary clinics, these effects remain ambiguous. To clarify the details, we focused on propofol and isoflurane, investigating clinical blood hematology and immunological profiles drawn from healthy dogs under and after two anesthesia techniques. Twelve healthy adult beagles were included in this study, randomly assigned to the propofol anesthesia group (group P: n=6) or the isoflurane anesthesia group (group I: n=6). In both groups, the number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood decreased after 2 hr of anesthesia (2 hr), but group P showed significantly less decrease than group I. For T-lymphocyte subsets examined by flowcytometry, the ratio of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of group P at 2 hr also exhibited a high level compared to group I. Moreover, for mRNA expression of cytokines measured by real-time PCR, the IL2 (pro-inflammatory cytokine) of group P showed no decrease like group I. The IL10 (anti-inflammatory cytokine) of group P also showed no increase like group I, while both cytokines maintained nearly the same level until 2 hr. These results suggest that, compared to propofol, isoflurane had more strongly immuno-suppression caused by anesthesia, and propofol itself might have some immuno-protective effects. Thus, TIVA with propofol might benefit immunological support in the perioperative period of dogs.     

The role of CD44 adhesion factor in canine mammary carcinomas

CD44 is an adhesion molecule implicated in the progression of human breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to describe CD44 antigen expression in canine mammary carcinomas and to evaluate its prognostic significance in relation to other clinico-pathological variables.A reduction in CD44 expression was significantly related to variables such as tumour size and adherence to underlying tissues but was not related to tumour location or to ulceration of the overlying skin. Complex (grade I) and anaplastic (grade III) carcinomas exhibited more intense expression of this antigen than did some tubulopapillary and most solid carcinomas (grade II). Although reduced CD44 expression was associated with infiltrative growth and vascular invasion in solid carcinomas, intense expression was also observed in anaplastic tumours. Although overall these findings suggest a role for this adhesion factor in canine mammary tumour development and progression, the complexity and apparently paradoxical nature of some of the findings currently limit the use of this immunohistochemical marker as a prognostic indicator.     

Increased phosphorylation of caveolin-1 in the spinal cord of irradiated rats

Phosphorylation of caveolin-1 occurs during cell activation by various stimuli. In this study, the involvement of caveolin-1 in an irradiation injured spinal cord was examined by analyzing the phosphorylation of caveolin-1 in the spinal cord of rats after irradiation with a single dose of 15 Gray from a ⁶⁰Co γ-ray source at 24 h post-irradiation (PI). A Western blot analysis showed that the phosphorylated form of caveolin-1 (p-caveolin-1) was expressed constitutively in the normal spinal cords and was significantly higher in the spinal cord of irradiated rats at 24 h PI. The increased expression of ED1, which is a marker of activated microglia/macrophages, was matched with that of p-caveolin-1. In the irradiated spinal cords, there was a higher level of p-caveolin-1 immunoreactivity in the isolectin B4-positive microglial, ependymal, and vascular endothelial cells, in which p-caveolin-1 was weakly and constitutively expressed in the normal control spinal cords. These results suggest that total body irradiation induces activation of microglial cells in the spinal cord through the phosphorylation of caveolin-1.     

FGF22及其受体在庆阳黑山羊正常睾丸与隐睾中的表达比较

试验旨在研究成纤维生长因子22（fibroblast growth factor 22,FGF22）及其受体2（fibroblast growth factor receptor 2,FGFR2）、硫酸乙酰肝素糖蛋白（heparan sulfate proteoglycans,HSPG）在庆阳黑山羊正常睾丸与隐睾中的分布与表达,探究其在山羊睾丸发育和隐睾形成中的作用。采用HE和特殊染色观察其组织学结构特征,进而以免疫组织化学及免疫荧光法结合形态计量学统计研究FGF22、FGFR2和HSPG在山羊正常睾丸及隐睾中的定位。结果表明,山羊隐睾较正常睾丸生精小管缩窄,腔内各级生精细胞排列紊乱,间质的胶原纤维和网状纤维增多,糖原类物质阳性反应较弱,FGF22在隐睾组织的Leydig、Sertoli细胞、管周肌样细胞及血管内皮细胞整体表达密度相较于正常睾丸显著减弱（P<0.05）。HSPG在正常睾丸表达显著强于隐睾（P<0.05）,间质组织变化尤其明显。FGFR2在隐睾组表达显著增高（P<0.05）,且以Sertoli细胞强阳性表达为主。庆阳黑山羊隐睾较正常睾丸发育异常,间质组织有纤维化趋势,糖原类物质含量减少;FGF22及HSPG表达降低应与隐睾局部环境温度变化密切相关;FGFR2在隐睾组表达增高提示其在发生隐睾时可能通过Sertoli细胞进行适应性调节。     

Expression of β2-integrin on monocytes and blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the periparturient period in dairy cows

The hypothesis that an altered expression of CD11/CD18 on bovine circulating monocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), or both, contributes to an increased mastitis susceptibility in periparturient cows was tested. Expression of CD18 and CD11a, -b, -c on bovine monocytes and PMN were assessed in 8 Friesian-Holstein cows by flow cytometry from 2 wk before calving to 5 wk after calving. Minor changes in adhesion molecule expression levels were detected throughout the experimental period. Compared with PMN, monocytes exhibited an expression level that was similar for CD18, higher for CD11a and CD11c, but lower for CD11b. Differences in density may reflect the relative importance of these adhesion molecules on both leukocyte types. In this study, the decreased number of milk resident macrophages and PMN observed during the periparturient period could not be attributed to changes of CD11/CD18 levels on circulating leukocytes.     

CD44 is highly expressed on milk neutrophils in bovine mastitis and plays a role in their adhesion to matrix and mammary epithelium

Mastitis, inflammation of the mammary gland, is a common and economically important disease in dairy animals. Mammary pathogenic organisms, such as Escherichia coli, invade the teat canal,milk ducts, and mammary alveolar space, replicate in mammary secretions, and elicit a local inflammatory response characterized by massive recruitment of blood polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes (PMN) into the alveoli and milk ducts. CD44 is a trans-membrane glycoprotein previously shown to play a role in mediation and control of blood PMN recruitment in response to inflammatory signals. Here we show, for the first time, increased expression of CD44 on recruited milk PMN in bovine mastitis and the expression of a CD44 variant, CD44v10, on these PMN. Furthermore, we demonstrate that CD44 mediates specific adhesion of bovine blood PMN to hyaluronic acid and mammary epithelial cells. Our results suggest that in mastitis CD44 plays a role in recruiting blood PMN into the mammary glands, the exact nature of this role needs to be elucidated.