Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells are induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes by hepatocyte growth factor in vitro

AIM: To explore a new method of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. METHODS: Bone marrow MSC was cultured with DMEM media (10% fetal calf serum) 4-6 passages, and induced by HGF (10 μg/L) for 30 d. Automatical beating of the differentiated cells was observed daily with transverse microscopy, or under condition of 0.1% isoproterenol or cal-cium-deprived incubation. Specific cardiac myosin in the cells was indentified by immunochemistry. RESULTS: At 14-20 d of differentiation, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells formed clones, in 10%-50% of which spontaneous beating cell-mass had come to continuously exist. Isoproterenol increased the beating rate and calcium-deprived media inhibited the beating. The cells were identified to be cardiomyocytes by expression of cardiac myosin heavy chain. CONCLUSION: HGF may induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into cardiomyocytes with high efficiency, but the differentiating pathway of stem cells remains to be further studied.     

The role of adrenomedullin in diabetic nephropathy

AIM: To investigate the role of adrenomedullin (AM) in diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: We observed the changes in the expression and secretion of AM, TGF-β₁ in the cultured human mesangial cells under high glucose condition and the contents of the laminin and type IV collagen in the supernatants. The effect of intervention with AM was also observed. RESULTS: High glucose condition resulted in increase in the expression and secretion of AM、 TGF-β₁、 laminin and type IV collagen. AM reversed the influence of high glucose on the cultured human mesangial cells. CONCLUSION: These results showed that high glucose condition is one of stimulating factors of AM and the renal protective action of AM may be associated with suppression of TGF-β₁ and reducing excessive accumulat ion of laminin and type IV collagen.     

Effect of YIGU capsule on IGF-I mRNA and protein expression in rat osteoblasts in vitro

AIM: The effects of YIGU capsule on proliferation and IGF-I mRNA protein expressions in osteoblasts were studied. METHODS: (1) Forty 12-month old Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided randomly into four groups (YIGU capsule high dose group, medium dose group and low dose group; saline group), the drug-containing serum and control serum were prepared. (2) The new-born Sprague-Dawley rat osteoblasts were cultured with different YIGU capsule drug-containing serum at different concentrations and different exposure time. MTT method was used to observe proliferation of osteoblasts. (3) RT-PCR method was used to measure the relative IGF-I mRNA levels and ELISA method was used to measure IGF-I secretion at different exposure time. (4) ELISA method was used to measure IGF-I secretion at different exposure time. RESULTS: (1) Proliferation of osteoblasts was more than the control groups after 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively (P<0.01); (2) The relative IGF-I mRNA levels and IGF-I protein expression were higher than those in control group after 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively (P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that YIGU capsule drug-containing serum promoted proliferation, IGF-I mRNA and protein expression. These results may be parts of the mechanisms of YIGU capsule to prevent and treat osteoporosis.     

Effect of atrial natriuretic peptide on acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide

AIM: To investigate effect of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rat. METHODS: Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was recorded with model 6280 physiology intelligentialize grapher, nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) concentrations in plasma were measured after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or following LPS ,ANP was injected into vein in rats. After experiment,lung water as well as pulmonary histopathological changes was measured and observed, respectively. RESULTS: Administration of LPS elicited a persistence decrease in MAP (8.1 kPa±2.6 kPa,at 4 h,P<0.01 vs control); NO and ET concentration in plasma was evident higher than that in control group, respectively (P<0.01); Wet-dry ratio of lung was higher than that in control group (5.15±0.43,at 4 h) (P<0.05); Alveolus detelectasis was observed and pulmonary mesenchyme was thicker than that in control group. No erythrocyte and leukocytes in alveolus,which show an interstitial pulmonary edema, was observed in LPS+ANP group, ANP maintained MAP at higher levels (13.35 kPa±2.93 kPa, at 4 h, P<0.05 vs LPS) after an transient decline when LPS was injected; NO and ET concentration of plasma had all significantly decrease, respectively (P<0.05 vs LPS, at 4 h); Wet-dry ratio of lung was lower than LPS group (4.57±0.35, P<0.05). Compared with control group the ratio was not evident difference (P>0.05); The histopathological of lung displayed markedly improved. CONCLUSION: ANP attenuates ALI induced by LPS in the rat. The effect of ANP may be via decreasing secretion of ET,NO and regulation arterial blood pressure.     

神经生长因子及其受体TrKA在山羊脊髓发育中的表达特点

运用免疫组织化学超敏 SP法对山羊胎儿脊髓发育中神经生长因子 (nerve growth factor,NGF)及其高亲和力受体 Tr KA的表达及其功能进行了系统的研究和探讨。结果显示 ,山羊胎儿脊髓灰质中存在 NGF及其受体 Tr KA,于 6周龄胚就可检测到 ,随胚龄增加 ,其表达范围及免疫反应着色程度逐渐增强。 NGF主要分布于腹角和背角的神经细胞 ,反应产物主要定位于胞质和突起 ;Tr KA的分布主要以腹角及胶状质为主 ,反应产物主要定位于胞核 ,后期胞质及突起也可见到阳性反应。在山羊胎儿脊髓白质中也可观察到 NGF及 Tr KA免疫阳性反应 ,其发育后期更为显著 ,阳性反应主要分布于神经胶质细胞核、神经纤维的轴索及雪旺氏细胞。结果提示 ,NGF不仅对交感和感觉神经元的发育起作用 ,而且还与腹角运动神经元的发育有关     

四川省外种猪雌激素受体基因对繁殖和生长性状的影响

本试验以四川省外种母猪的 3个品种 (大约克、长白、杜洛克 )为研究对象 ,采用PCR RFLPs的方法检测其ESR基因的PvuⅡ多态性 ,分析了该基因与产仔数及生长性状之间的关系。结果表明 :初产胎次中 ,ESR基因型间总产仔数 (TNB)和产活仔数 (NBA)差异极显著 (P <0 .0 1) ,BB和AA纯合子间TNB和NBA分别相差 5 .97和 3.72头 ,基因加性效应分别为每个B基因 2 .98和 1.86头 ;对于经产胎次 ,总产仔数 (TNB)在AA、AB基因型与BB基因型的差异达到 0 .0 1的极显著水平 ,产活仔数 (NBA)在AA基因型与BB基因型间显著差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,TNB和NBA母猪每窝BB纯合子比AA纯合子分别多 3.6 8和 2 .89头 ,基因的加性效应为每个B基因分别为 1.84和 1.4 4头。头胎和经产胎次中ESR基因型在初生窝重、2 0日龄头数和窝重、30 / 4 5日龄头数和窝重以及 70日龄窝重之间的差异普遍不显著 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,但是以上 6个性状在ESR基因的 3种基因型间存在BB >AB >AA的趋势     

黑毛和牛在内蒙古呼和浩特地区的繁育

黑毛和牛肉质在日本肉牛中占绝对优势，是世界闻名的独特肉牛品种。通过胚移在内蒙古呼和浩特繁育，表现良好，生长发育指标已达到日本国内品种标准。同黑白花奶牛杂交，其杂种经育肥，32月龄体重达624．8kg，屠宰率为56．3％，净肉率为49．9％；高档肉占净肉的11．6％，优质肉占净肉的22．7％，大理石花纹等级为1、2等级牛占76％。肉的品质均高于我国地方良种。     

Preliminary study of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during low- and high-dose radiation therapy of dogs with spontaneous tumors

High plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations are associated with radiation resistance and poor prognosis. After an exposure to ionizing radiation in cell culture an early phase and a late phase of increased VEGF have been documented. The activation was dependent on the radiation dose. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to measure baseline plasma VEGF and changes in VEGF over the course of fractionated radiation therapy in dogs with spontaneous tumors. Dogs with tumors had a significantly higher pretreatment plasma VEGF than did dogs without tumors. Immediately after irradiation no increased plasma VEGF was observed. Over the course of radiation therapy there was an increased plasma VEGF in dogs treated with low doses per fraction/high total dose, whereas plasma VEGF remained stable in dogs irradiated with high doses per fraction/low total dose. The regulatory mechanisms are very complex, and therefore the value of plasma VEGF measurements as an indirect marker of angiogenesis induced by radiotherapy is limited.     

Non-target toxicology of a new mosquito larvicide, trypsin modulating oostatic factor

Trypsin modulating oostatic factor (TMOF), a peptide hormone originally isolated from the ovaries of adult Aedes aegypti, is currently under commercial development as a new pesticide chemistry with a novel mode of action for the control of larval mosquitoes. The objective of the current research is to evaluate potential risks of the use of TMOF as an insecticide on non-target organisms. TMOF (YDPAP₆) was degraded in vitro (as determined by HPLC and LC/MS) to DPAP₆, PAP₆, and then AP₆ by leucine aminopeptidase, a pancreatic enzyme found in the digestive system of vertebrates. The rate of degradation of TMOF and PAP₆ was significantly greater than that of DPAP₆, while no metabolism of AP₆ was found. TMOF technical insecticide was produced on a commercial scale by recombinant yeast (heat-killed before application). The technical TMOF when administered in a single dose by gavage to male and female mice at 2000 mg dry weight/kg body weight produced no negative effects as compared to controls up to 12 days after treatment. When male and female mallard ducks were treated by gavage with 1250 mg dry weight of technical TMOF/kg body weight each day for 5 days, again no toxic effects were noted through 35 days after the last treatment. TMOF technical insecticide was also applied to the shaved skin of male and female rabbits at the rate of 2000 mg/kg for 1-2 days, with no effect. The end point observations in these in vivo experiments were mortality; changes in growth rate, behavior, body structure, and color; and possible lesions observed during necropsy. Finally, Daphnia incubated with technical TMOF in rearing water at the level of 1.0 × 10⁶ yeast cells/ml (10 mg/ml) also demonstrated no negative effects on mortality, growth, molting, time to first brood, and production of viable neonates. It appears from these studies that TMOF can be degraded by vertebrate digestive proteases and technical TMOF is not toxic to the non-target organisms examined.