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.     

水牛精子在胞质内注射后的早期形态变化

应用胞质内精子注射 (intracytoplasmic sperm injection,ICSI)技术探讨了水牛卵母细胞胞质与注射精子间的相互作用以及 ICSI精子的形态变化。ICSI后 13h,5 9.4 %的精子头部已膨大 ,且有 18.8%的精子进入解聚状态。雌雄原核发育不同步 ,雄原核在 ICSI后 16 h和 19h的形成率分别为 3.2 %和 4 0 .0 % ;雌原核在 ICSI后 13h已达到 71.9% ,16 h时提高到 90 .3%。经离子霉素与 6 - DMAP联合激活 ,ICSI后 19h产生的胚胎核型以 2 PN PB1 为主 ,其雌原核形成 (激活 )率为 91.3% ,雄原核形成率为 4 0 .0 % ,5 1.3%为孤雌胚。用 5 mm ol/ L 的 DTT预处理精子 1h,可提高精子的解聚率 (30 .9%比 12 .7% ,P<0 .0 5 ) ,但对雄原核的形成率无显著影响 (33.3%比 32 .7% ,P>0 .0 5 )。结果表明 ,水牛精子 ICSI后的雄原核形成时间晚于卵子雌原核形成时间 ,且其比率低于卵子 ,DTT处理精子能提高其解聚率 ,但对雄原核形成无影响     

In vitro studies of Norwegian Red bovine semen immobilized and cryopreserved in alginate solid gel network

Development of new semen cryopreservation techniques improving sperm survival and ensuring availability of viable spermatozoa for a prolonged time‐period after AI is promising tools to reduce sensitivity of timing of AI and enhance overall fertility. The SpermVital^® technology utilizes immobilization of bull spermatozoa in a solid network of alginate gel prior to freezing, which will provide a gradual release of spermatozoa after AI. The objective of this study was to compare post‐thaw sperm quality and in vitro sperm survival over time of Norwegian Red bull semen processed by the SpermVital^® (SV) technology, the first commercialized production line of SpermVital^® (C) and by conventional procedure applying Biladyl^® extender (B). Post‐thaw sperm motility was not significantly different between SV, C and B semen (p > .05). However, sperm viability and acrosome intactness were higher for SV than C and B semen (p < .05). Small differences in DNA quality were observed (p < .05). Sperm viability after storage in uterus ex vivo was higher for SV than for C semen (p < .05). Furthermore, sperm survival in vitro over time at physiological temperature was significantly higher for SV semen than C semen as well as B semen during the incubation period of 48 hr (p < .05). In conclusion, the SpermVital^® technology is improved and is more efficient in conserving post‐thaw sperm quality and results in higher sperm viability over time in vitro for SV than for C and B semen.     

Disaccharide combinations and the expression of enolase3 and plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase isoform in sturgeon sperm cryopreservation

Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser dabryanus are critically endangered species, so germplasm conservation via cryopreservation of sperm is necessary. Disaccharides can act as membrane‐impermeable cryoprotectants, and enolase3 (ENO3) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase isoform (PMCA2) are proteins associated with sperm quality. We considered seven characteristics of sperm quality in cultured brood stock from A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. We tested use of sucrose or trehalose alone and in combination at different concentrations for cryopreservation of A. dabryanus sperm. A low concentration of sucrose plus trehalose (S₁₅T₁₅) was optimal. Mixing of the extender with sucrose, lactose, or trehalose alone or with pairwise mixtures revealed that a mixture of lactose and trehalose (L₁₅T₁₅) gave the best results for both A. sinensis and A. dabryanus. Enolase3 and PMCA2 expression levels were measured in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm via Western blotting. Relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were examined, and the relationship between disaccharide composition, sperm quality and protein expression was explored in A. sinensis. The results showed that relative ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels were the highest at L₁₅T₁₅ in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. There were significant positive correlations between ENO3 expression and percentage membrane integrity, and between PMCA2 expression and sperm motility parameters (percentage of motile sperm, curvilinear velocity, straight‐line velocity and average path velocity; p < .05) in cryopreserved A. sinensis sperm. Our results indicate the optimal disaccharide combination and concentrations for cryopreservation of A. sinensis and A. dabryanus sperm and suggest that ENO3 and PMCA2 expression levels could serve as a valuable indicator of sperm quality in A. sinensis.     

硫酸铜对泥鳅精子活力的影响

以泥鳅精子为受试材料,应用计算机辅助精子分析系统,研究硫酸铜(0.1、1、10 mg/L)对泥鳅的精子活力的影响.结果表明,在0 h试验组,0.1 mg/L的硫酸铜明显降低泥鳅精子运动速度,1 mg/L的硫酸铜对运动时间和速度产生显著抑制作用,10 mg/L的硫酸铜时运动百分数、运动时间和速度都产生明显影响(P<0.0...