Effects of bFGF on neuronal apoptosis and fractalkine expression in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats

AIM: To study the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on neuronal apoptosis and fractalkine expression in ischemic penumbra after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats.METHODS: Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation group, ischemia/reperfusion group and bFGF group. The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was established by the method of intraluminal filament blockage. The middle cerebral arteries were blocked for 1 h and then reperfused for 24 h. Neurological performances of all rats were scored with Bederson's standard. The brain tissues of the rats were stained and the average infarct volume was calculated. TUNEL method was used to determine the number of apoptotic neurons, and the expression of fractalkine was detected by the method of immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: The score of neurological performances in bFGF group was 2.23±0.59, lower than that in ischemia/reperfusion group (3.18±0.65). The number of apoptotic neurons in bFGF group (13.22±1.35) was lower than that in ischemia/reperfusion group (17.28±1.01, P<0.05), which was the lowest in sham operation group (0.91±0.65). Compared with sham operation group, the expression of fractalkine in ischemia/reperfusion group was decreased. The expression of fractalkine in bFGF group was mainly higher than that in ischemia/reperfusion group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Up-regulation of fractalkine may be one of the molecular mechanisms of bFGF to protect neurons against ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

Metanephric cell microenvironment induces embryonic stem cells to differentiate toward renal cells

AIM: To explore the effects of metanephric cell microenvironment on inducing embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to differentiate toward renal cells.METHODS: Embryoid bodies (EBs) of D3 mouse embryonic stem cells were prepared by hanging drop culture, and the EBs were co-cultured indirectly with metanephric cells derived from E12.5 d mouse embryo. The EBs cell with spontaneous differentiation was used as the control. The proteins of Pax2 and WT-1 were analyzed by immunofluorescence assay. The mRNA expression of Pax2, WT-1, Lim1, Sall1, Emx2, GDNF, Wnt4, BMP7, Nephl, Nephrin, KSP and CD24 genes was detected by RT- PCR.RESULTS: The genes related to kidney development were expressed in the EBs cells after co-culture on day 3, and the mRNA expression of Pax2, WT-1, Emx2, GDNF, Nephl, Nephrin, KSP and CD24 was stronger than those in control group. Pax2 positive cells were found on day 3 in the co-cultured EBs cells, and the positive cells increased on day 5 and day 7. WT-1 protein positive cells were found in the co-cultured EBs cells on day 5. No Pax2 or WT-1 positive cell was observed in control group.CONCLUSION: Metanephric cell microenvironment promotes ESCs differentiation toward renal cells.     

Supportive effects of human AGM region and fetal liver stromal cells on differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells into hematopoietic stem cells and in vivo hematopoietic reconstitution

AIM: To investigate the differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the supportive effects of human aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region and fetal liver (FL) stromal cells.METHODS: E14 ESCs were induced into embryoid body (EB) first. Then the cells from EB were further co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells in non-contact system. On day 6, the cells derived from EB were collected for Sca-1⁺c-Kit⁺ cell analysis by flow cytometry, colony forming unit (CFU) assay and teratoma formation checking. BALB/c female mice conditioned with lethal dose of γ-ray irradiation were transplanted with EB cells from different culture systems. The survival rates, engraftment of donor cells, reconstitution of hematopoietic were monitored.RESULTS: Sca-1⁺c-Kit⁺ cells in EB cells co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells had the value of (21.96±2.54)%, and the total CFU was as (520±52)/10⁵ cells, which were statistically greater than those in EB cells only cultured with human AGM region stromal cells (P＜0.05). No teratoma was found in NOD-SCID mice after subcutaneous injection of EB cells co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells. In BALB/c female mice transplanted of EB cells co-cultured with human AGM region and FL stromal cells, the survival rate was 77.8%, and the peripheral blood cell count was obviously improved on day 14. PCR results showed the recipients all had sry gene copies from donor in bone marrow. The recipient mice transplanted with EB cells only cultured with human AGM region stromal cells all died within 15 days.CONCLUSION: Stromal cells from human AGM region and FL enhance the directed differentiation of ESCs into HSCs which can reconstruct hematopoiesis in vivo.     

Injury Induces a Change in the Functional Characteristics of Cells Recovered from Equine Tendon

Injury initiates a repair process characterized by influx of fibroblasts and the rapid formation of fibrous scar tissue and subsequent tissue contraction. The response to injury and behavior of the different tendon fibroblast populations, however, has been poorly characterized. We hypothesized that the fibroblasts recovered from tendon with acute injury would exhibit different cell properties relating to adhesion, migration and tensegrity. To test this hypothesis we evaluated the ability of fibroblasts recovered from normal and injured equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs). The injured tendon-derived cells showed greater contraction of the collagen gel but poorer adhesion to pepsin-digested collagen, and migration over extracellular matrix proteins compared to normal SDFT-derived fibroblasts. Thus, the cells present within the tendon after injury display different behavior related to wound healing.     

岷县黑裘皮羊肾组织成纤维细胞系的建立及其生物学特性研究

采集岷县黑裘皮羊肾组织,用胰蛋白酶热消化法制备原代细胞,通过差速消化和差速贴壁法进行继代培养和细胞纯化,并对复苏细胞的形态、活力、生长曲线、荧光蛋白质粒转染表达、核型以及乳酸脱氢酶同工酶等生物学特性进行了分析。结果显示:原代和传代细胞生长形态均好,群体倍增时间为28.3 h;染色体2 n=54,二倍体占主体(84%)乳酸脱氢酶同工酶电泳图谱有明显特征,未见LDH4、LDH5谱带,与其它羊有明显区别;外源性荧光蛋白转染质粒在该细胞中能进行复制和表达;细菌、真菌、病毒、支原体检测呈阴性。表明该研究已成功建立岷县黑裘皮羊肾组织成纤维细胞系,为在细胞水平上保存岷县黑裘皮羊种质资源以及进行相关研究提供了理想的生物材料。     

Low reproductive success of leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, is due to high embryonic mortality

We examined the mechanism responsible for low reproductive success in leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) at Playa Grande, Costa Rica: low egg fertilization versus high rates of embryonic death. Leatherbacks at this beach had a high rate of fertility (=93.3%±2.5%, n=819). We incubated 10 eggs from every clutch encountered of 19 females during 3 months of the 1998-1999 nesting season. Fertility rate of some females decreased during the nesting season, but overall was high. Detection of fertility was difficult using standard methods because fertility rates cannot be determined accurately from nests excavated after hatching because of egg decomposition. Removal and incubation of eggs from nests provided a better estimate. Embryonic death, particularly in the beginning of incubation before embryos are visible to the unaided eye, was the cause of low hatching success in this population. Hatching success increased with increasing fertility and differed between females, with some mothers having 71-81% success and others 23-32%. Embryonic death and not low egg fertility drives poor recruitment at Playa Grande. Improved conservation of this species at Playa Grande will require a better understanding of the mechanism behind embryonic death.     

鹅肌球蛋白重链1基因MyHC1全长cDNA克隆、序列及胚胎期表达特征分析

肌球蛋白是组成肌原纤维粗丝的主要成分,在肌肉生长发育和运动收缩过程起重要作用。本研究采用反转录PCR和快速扩增cDNA末端(rapid amplification cDNA ends,RACE)方法,从太湖鹅(Anser anser)肌肉中克隆到肌球蛋白重链1基因(myosin heavy chain 1,MyHC1)的全长cDNA,并运用生物信息学的方法对其进行分析,实时荧光定量PCR(Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,qRT-PCR)检测MyHC1基因在鹅胚胎期的表达情况。研究结果表明,鹅MyHC1基因(Gen Bank登录号:KM675469)cDNA全长6028 bp,包含5 823 bp的开放性阅读框,57 bp的5’端非编码区和148 bp的3’端非编码区,共编码1 940个氨基酸。经预测,鹅MyHC1基因编码的蛋白质由31 478个原子组成,分子式为C9746H15817N2753O3096S66,相对分子质量为223 kD,等电点为5.62,平均亲水性为-0.786,属于不稳定亲水蛋白。在线预测鹅和鸡(Gallus gallus)的MyHC1蛋白质三维结构呈高度相似,由多螺旋和折叠片聚集成球状头部,并带有长纤维状α-螺旋尾部。鹅MyHC1的编码区(coding sequence,CDS)序列与鸡的同源性最高,为92.86%,与哺乳类同源性多数在84%左右,与两栖类同源性相对较低。鹅与鸡氨基酸同源性最高,为96.45%,与哺乳类的同源性多数在90%左右,与非洲爪蛙(Xenopus laevis)同源性较低,为78.13%。系统进化树分析表明,哺乳动物形成一个大分支,两栖类自成一支,鹅和红原鸡聚成一支,分子进化地位的关系最近,验证了鹅和鸡属于近缘物种。qRT-PCR检测到MyHC1基因在胚胎期第7天开始表达,以后表达量逐渐升高,在15d表达量达到高峰后下降,25d之后逐渐趋于平稳,表明,MyHC1基因在鹅胚胎期mRNA水平的表达量呈先上升再下降的趋势。本研究首次获得了鹅MyHC1的全长cDNA序列、分子的结构特点和表达特征,显示该基因在鹅肌肉生长发育过程起重要作用,为该基因的功能及鹅肉质性状研究提供了基础资料。     

细胞外环境中分化抑制物对动物胚胎干细胞克隆率的影响

介绍了饲养层、条件培养基、分化抑制因子对哺乳动物胚胎干细胞分离与克隆的影响，并探讨了白血病抑制因子影响胚胎干细胞克隆的机理。     

软体动物胚胎发育的温度效应研究进展

软体动物具有重要的经济价值和药用价值。对软体动物胚胎发育速率、胚胎不同阶段生长发育的温度效应及胚胎发育的温度适应性和耐受力等研究进行了综述,以期为软体动物的保护及养殖提供科学依据。     

河曲马睾丸组织成纤维细胞系的建立及生物学特性研究

采集河曲马睾丸组织,用热消化法制备原代细胞,通过差速消化和差速贴壁法纯化细胞,扩大培养至第3代用液氮保存,细胞复苏后进行活力、形态、生长曲线、微生物污染、核型、乳酸脱氢同工酶谱及荧光蛋白质粒转染表达等特性研究。结果显示,河曲马睾丸组织原代和传代细胞呈成纤维型,生长良好,最大增殖数量为4.32×105 mL-1,倍增时间为34.58h;细菌、真菌、病毒、支原体检测呈阴性;染色体2 N=64,二倍体为85%,占主体;乳酸脱氢酶同工酶电泳图谱有明显特征,共有4条谱带,其中LDH3浓度较高,活性较强;外源质粒在该细胞中能进行复制和表达。表明已成功建立河曲马睾丸组织成纤维细胞系,使河曲马这一重要种质资源在细胞水平上得以保存。