Quick detection of sex determining region protein gene in mouse fetuses

AIM: To detect quickly the Y-chromosome specific sex determining region protein (Sry) gene in mouse fetuses on embryonic day 14.5 with a PCR method. METHODS: We designed specific primers with the OLIGO 5. 0 software. Templates were prepared in 30 minutes by the following way. About 1 mg embryonic tissue but not fetal liver was suspended, and treated with 200μL of lysis buffer, consisting of PCR buffer containing 20 mg/L proteinase K, 0. 5% NP-40, and 0.05% Tween 40, at 60°C for 15 minutes, heated for 5 minutes at 100 °C, 10μL was used as template. The PCR react ion was performed in 50μL, using two sets of primers specific for Sry gene (chromosome Y) and IL-3 gene (chromosome 11) . PCR conditions and cycle numbers were optimized. The assessment of the results was done by electrophoresis in 3% agarose run at high voltage. The specificity of the method was conf irmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using a specific male probe on embryonic tissue cells. RESULTS: Electrophoresis showed that PCR product of male control DNA consisted of a 649 bp product representing the IL-3 gene and a 444 bp product representing the Y-specific Sry gene, female control DNA only one 649 bp product. Fetuses with two bands matching those as seen inmale control DNA are the presumpt ive male fetuses. Fetuses, only the IL-3-associated 649 bp band, are the presumptive female fetuses. These were confirmed by FISH. The ent ire procedure took <3. 5 h. CONCLUSION: The established PCR assay offers a quick, simple, accurate, and sensitive detection of sex determining region protein gene in mouse fetuses. This method allowed the preparation and culture of pure male and female hematopoietic stem cells from fetal tissue.     

Inhibitory effects of LDL-ACM complex on subcutaneous implanted tumors in nude mice()

AIM: In order to evaluate the applicable value of LDL as a targeted vehicle for chemotherapeutic agents, we investigated and compared the inhibitory effects of LDL-ACM complex and free ACM on nude mice's subcutaneous implanted tumors derived from gastric cancer cell lines, SGC-7901 and NKM-45. METHODS: LDL-ACM complex was prepared and the tumor model of nude mice was established by subcutaneous implantation of SGC-7901 and NKM-45. Then, the groups of nude mice developed subcutaneous implanted tumors were received either LDL-ACM complex or free ACM. Subsequently, the tumor size, weight and leukemia cell counts were measured and the rates of tumor-inhibition and the survival were compared among the groups. RESULTS: The inhibitory effects of LDL-ACM complex on the tumors, especially on SGC-7901 implanted tumors were much more obvious than that of free ACM. It was also indicated that the action of LDL-ACM complex was mediated by LDL receptor. CONCLUSION: These results showed that LDL-ACM complex had significant inhibitory effects on the implanted tumors and the effect might be mediated by LDL receptor.     

Sca-1+ cells from mouse fetal liver can differentiate into neurons in vitro

AIM: To study whether Sca-1⁺ cells from fetal liver can be induced to differentiate into neuronal cells in vitro. METHODS:Sca-1⁺cells from 14 5-days-old murine fetal liver were isolated with a magnetic cell sorting kit, and were cultured in Dulbecco s modif ied Eagle s medium(DMEM)/F12 supplemented with 10%fetal bovine serum(FBS), and passaged at a rat io of 1 3 when cells reached more than 80%confluence.The 5 passage cells were induced by 10^-3mol/Lβ-mercaptoethanol(β-ME)and 5×10^-7 mol/L all-trans-retinoic acid(RA)for 24 hours, and then incubated in serum-free medium for 5 hours to 5 days.The characteristics of treated cel s were assayed by immunocytochemistry staining analysis at 5 hours, or 5 days.RESULTS: Cells treated with β-ME and RA exhibited neuronal phenotype and expressed neuron-specific protein such as neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN), neuronfilament-M, and neuron-specific tubulin-1 (TuJ-1) but not tau, MAP-2, or the astrocyte-specific marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).CONCLUSION: Sca-1⁺ cells from fetal liver, of which most are regarded as hematopoietic stem cells, could differentiate into early immature neuronal cells in vitro. These findings suggest that Sca-1⁺ cells from fetal liver may be an alternative source in cell therapy and gene therapy of neural dysfunction.     

Effects of riboflavin and ascorbic acid on apoptosis and proliferative inhibition of mouse thymocytes induced by deoxynivalenol in vivo

AIM: To explore the effects of riboflavin and ascorbic acid on the apoptosis induced by deoxynivalenol(DON) in mouse thymocytes. METHODS: The effects of riboflavin and ascorbic acid on the apoptosis and proliferation inhibition of thymocytes induced by DON in KM mice were studied with animal experiment, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometric DNA content analysis. RESULTS: Apoptosis rate of thymocytes in DON (4 mg/kg) treated group was13.73%±15.3% The percentages of apoptosis in riboflavin (1.25 mg/kg-10mg/kg) and ascorbic acid (25 mg/kg-100mg/kg) pretreated thymocytes groups were significantly lower than that in DON group (P <0.05). The result of DNA agarose gel electrophoresis showed that the characteristic ladder pattern of apoptosis was found in DON-treated thymocytes, but not in control and riboflavin pretreatment and ascorbic acid pretreatment groups The significant differences in proliferation index were not found among DON-treated thymocytes and riboflavin and ascorbic acid-pretreated thymocytes CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with riboflavin and ascorbic acid inhibit apoptosis of mouse thymocytes induced by DON in certain extent and have no effect on proliferation inhibition by DON.     

Study on the electrophysiological characteristics of ion channels of stem cell derived cardiomyocytes of mouse

AIM: To study the electrophysiological characteristics of ion channels of stem cell derived cardiomyocytes(SCDC) of mouse. METHODS: Embryonic stem cells of D₃ line(ES-D₃) were cultured on the MEF feeder layer with BRL conditioned medium, and fetal mouse heart cells(FMHC)were cultured in vitro. Then ES-D₃ cells were induced to differentiate into many kinds of cells. SCDC were harvested on day 12 after differentiation initiating and identified by electro-microscope and immunocytochemistry. SCDC and FMHC were prepared for the patch-clamp research. Sodium and calcium currents together were elicited and compared between SCDC and FMHC. RESULTS: The current characteristics of sodium and calcium channels of SCDC were very similar to FMHC. CONCLUSION: The functional expression of ion channels occurred during ES-D₃ cells differentiation and the electrophysiological characteristics of sodium and calcium channels of SCDC are very similar to FMHC.     

灵芝多糖提取物胶囊对小鼠免疫功能的影响

通过设3个浓度的药物组和空白对照组,分别进行脏器指数测定,ConA诱导的小鼠脾淋巴细胞转化试验,绵羊红细胞诱导小鼠DTH试验,小鼠血清溶血素测定,抗体生成细胞检测,小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬鸡红细胞试验,小鼠碳廓清试验,NK细胞活性测定试验。结果表明,灵芝多糖提取物胶囊能增加ConA诱导的小鼠脾淋巴细胞的增殖能力和小鼠左后足跖部厚度差24 h测量值,提高小鼠血清溶血素抗体积数和溶血空斑数。表明灵芝多糖提取物胶囊具有较强的免疫调节作用。     

鹿茸对昆明小鼠精子质量的影响

目的本试验旨在探究鹿茸对昆明小鼠精子质量的影响。方法雄性昆明小鼠48只随机分为空白对照组以及3mg/kg低剂量组、6mg/kg中剂量组和12mg/kg高剂量组,连续经口灌胃鹿茸14d。结果灌胃给雄性昆明小鼠6mg/kg鹿茸和12mg/kg鹿茸时精子活动率、精子数量和精子成活率显著高于对照组;高、中、低三个剂量组对精子畸形率均无显著影响。结论灌胃给药6mg/kg和12mg/kg鹿茸时,可提高雄性昆明小鼠的精子质量。     

鹿茸对雌性小鼠生殖功能的影响

目的本试验旨在探究鹿茸对雌性小鼠生殖功能的影响。方法雌性昆明小鼠48只随机分为空白对照组以及3mg/kg低剂量组、6mg/kg中剂量组和12mg/kg高剂量组,连续经口灌胃鹿茸14d。结果高剂量组小鼠的雌二醇水平、性器官脏器指数显著高于空白对照组;中剂量组和高剂量组小鼠的子宫外径显著高于空白对照组。结论灌胃给药12mg/kg鹿茸时,可使雌二醇含量增高,促进雌性器官生长发育,增强雌性昆明小鼠生殖功能。     

两种激活处理促进小鼠孤雌胚胎原核形成

不同人工处理方法激活哺乳动物卵母细胞的机理相似,但其激活效率存在差异。本研究以昆明（KM）、129/Sv×KM F1和C3H×KM F1雌鼠来源的卵母细胞为对象,利用氯化锶（SrCl2,Sr2＋）联合细胞松弛素B（cytochalasin B,CB）（Sr2＋＋CB）和离子霉素（ionomycin,Ion）联合6-二甲胺基嘌呤（6-dimethylaminopurine,6-DMAP）（Ion＋6-DMAP）两种激活方法处理下对比分析不同品系小鼠卵母细胞的激活效率,并以卵母细胞原核形成率、原核数量和孤雌胚胎体外发育来评价两种激活剂的激活效率。研究结果表明,Ion＋6-DMAP激活卵的1原核比率显著高于2原核（p〈0.05）,Sr2＋＋CB激活卵的2原核比率显著高于1原核（p〈0.05）;KM、129/Sv×KM F1和C3H×KM F1各组孤雌胚胎卵裂率和激活率没有显著差异（P〉0.05）,但129/Sv×KM F1和C3H×KM F1囊胚发育率显著高于KM组（p〈0.05）。3种小鼠品系的卵母细胞用Sr2＋＋CB处理的孤雌胚胎发育率显著高于Ion＋6-DMAP。结果证明,Sr2＋＋CB处理小鼠卵母细胞的激活效率明显优于Ion＋6-DMAP;129/Sv×KM F1和C3H×KM F1的孤雌胚胎体外发育率显著高于KM小鼠,为研究小鼠遗传背景影响孤雌胚胎发育的机理提供参考。     

嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白（OMP）的原核表达及其对BALB/c小鼠的免疫保护研究

为确定嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila,Ah)AS1.927株外膜蛋白(OMP)的原核表达产物是否具有抗原性及其对小鼠的免疫保护力.本研究根据GenBank上嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白ompA基因序列(GenBank登录号:AF146597)设计1对引物,克隆出ompA全长基因1020 bp(GenBank登录号:EU309491),经Sal Ⅰ和Xhol Ⅰ双酶切后连接pET-30a(+),转化大肠杆菌(Escherichia cDli)BL21,IPTG诱导表达,并进行SDS-PAGE及Westernblot分析鉴定.结果显示重组基因工程菌E.coli[pET-30a-ompA]表达的融合蛋白分子量约为40.7kD,可以被鼠抗嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白抗血清识别.将重组基因工程菌Ecoli[pET-30a-om-pA]口服免疫BALB/c小鼠(Mus mussulus);末次免疫1周后用放射免疫分析小鼠肠粘膜分泌型免疫球蛋白A(sIgA)水平,检测结果揭示,该重组基因工程菌能提高sIgA的分泌(P<0.05);同时在小鼠血清中测出特异性抗体IgG(P<0.05).末次免疫2周后用100 LD50的Ah AS1.927(3.3×105> cfu/mL)腹腔注射攻击小鼠,口服重组菌对小鼠的相对免疫保护力(relative percent survival,RPS)为75%,表明重组基因工程菌可诱导小鼠对AhAS1.927产生一定的免疫保护作用.