Tubulin expression of basal cells in patients with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia

AIM: To investigate quantitatively the tubulin expression of basal cells in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD) and evaluate its significance in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: α-tubulin of basal cells was examined using LSAB immunohistochemical technique, and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by image analyzer. RESULTS: The integrated absorbance (IA, 261.43±25.21) and the average absorbance (AA, 1.89±0.14) in the AD group were significantly higher than those (IA, 120.55±19.71 and AA, 0.85±0.14, respectively) in the VD group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the α-tubulin of basal cells could be served as a extraneuronal biological marker in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease early.     

木材年轮间细胞尺寸数学关系的建模理论

在总结国内外木材年轮细胞几何尺寸计算理论的基础上,研究木材年轮间相关参数与细胞断面形状数学关系的基础理论。通过细胞模型的几何尺寸定量计算细胞与年轮的相关参数,定性地解释木材生长变化的年轮间细胞变化的几何特征。由于绝大多数木材年轮的相关参数随细胞壁尺寸变化而改变,在微观观察年轮间的细胞几何尺寸变化可以定量地描述木材材性的变化。在宏观分析同一树种年轮的不同变化时,采用细胞尺寸差异比较,根据细胞模型形状计算出各树种和材种间尺寸和密度的不同,根据细胞密度显著的变化从微观解释木材强度的变化,将使我们从微观理论的高度来认识木材宏观性质的变化,为木材年轮细胞描述理论开创新的研究领域。     

Effects of berberine on IL-1 or tumour necrosis factor induced polymorphonuclear leucocyte－endothelium adhesion

AIM:To investigate the effect of berberine on IL-1 or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) induced polymorphonuclear leucocyte(PMN)-endothelium adhesion and adhesion molecules.METHODS:Based on the model of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC), this study adopted Rose Bengal Stain, cell ELISA, immunocyto-chemical techniques to investigate the effect of berberine on PMN-endothelium adhesion and the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs).RESULTS:Berberine inhibited IL-1, TNF-induced HUVEC adhesion for PMN when pretreated HUVEC and antagonised IL-1, TNF-induced upregulation of ICAM-1 on HUVEC. Meanwhile, TNF-stimulated PMN adhesion for HUVEC and CD18 upexpression on PMN was diminished in the presence of berberine.CONCLUSION: Inhibite PMN-endothelium adhesion by downregulating the CAMs expression to inhibite PMN migration across endothelium is one of the mechanisms of antiinflammation of berberine.     

奶牛乳腺上皮细胞的原代培养

1材料与方法 1．1材料 1．1．1乳腺组织。从屠宰场选取健康的泌乳期奶牛,无菌手术切取乳腺实质组织,置于DMEM／F12完全培养液（含10％胎牛血清、100IU／ml青霉素和链霉素）中,尽快运回实验室。     

Metallothionein inhibits homocysteine-induced proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of metallothionein(MT) on proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by homocysteine and its mechanism. METHODS:VSMCs proliferation was measured by [³-H]-TdR incorporation, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)activity were determined by immunoprecipitation method, the intracellular contents of MT and malondialdehyde (MDA)were assayed by -hemoglobin saturation method and TBA reaction, respectively, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage was measured by NADH oxidation. RESULTS:Hcy(10^-6-10^-4 mmol/L) stimulated [³-H]-TdR incorporation by the VSMCs in a concentration-dependent manner. Compared with control, [³-H]-TdR incorporation in VSMCs treated with 0.1 mmol/L Hcy was increased by 4.2 fold (P＜0.01). Meanwhile, Hcy enhanced MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH release (P＜0.01)in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of VSMCs with MT alone did not change above parameters, compared with control. However, MT (10^-6-10^-4 mol/L)attenuated significantly Hcy-stimulated proliferation of VSMCs (P＜0.01)in a concentration-dependent manner. And MT inhibited obviously Hcy-induced activation of MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH release. Preincubation of VSMCs with 0.5 mmol/L ZnCl₂ for 6 h induced an increase cellular MT content by 5.7-fold (P＜0.01). The MT-overexpressed VSMCs resisted Hcy-stimulating action on MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH leakage (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION:These results show that MT has an inhibitory effect on Hcy-induced VSMCs proliferation, and that MT could inhibit Hcy-stimulated MAPK activity and lipid peroxidation.     

Effect of cocaine on caspase-3 in myocardiac cells of male rats in different age

AIM: To study the effect of cocaine on caspase-3 in myocardiac cells of male rats in different age. METHODS: Three-week-old(n=16), six-week-old(n=16) and twelve-week-old (n=16) male Sprague-Dawley rats were all divided into control groups and experiment groups randomly, each group had eight animals, experiment groups were given cocaine hydrochloride (15 mg·kg^-1 body weight) subcutaneously daily for four weeks. The ratio of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW, mg/g) were measured. DNA fragmentation of myocardia cells was determined by gel electrophoresis, and caspase-3 activity in myocardia cells was tested by flow cytometry (FCM). RESULTS: In three experiment groups, the DNA isolated from myocardial cells displayed clear ladder pattern. The HW/BW and the caspase-3 activity were increased significantly than those of control groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Cocaine induced apoptosis in rat myocardial cells. The increase in caspase-3 activity may be the one of important pathways related to the induction of apoptosis.     

Effect of compound salvae-dropping-pill on intracellular free calcium concentration of cultured rat myocardial cells in case of hypoxia and reoxygenation

AIM:To examine the effect of compound salvae-dropping-pill (CSDP) on intracellular free calcium in cultured rat myocardial cells subjected to hypoxia and reoxygenation.METHODS:The Fluo- 3/AM was applied to probe intracellular calcium concentration and the fluorescent intensity was detected using laser confocal microscopy technique.RESULTS:Fluorescent intensity in hypoxia plus CSDP group was significantly lower (1 217.78±312.07) than that of hypoxia group (1 509±508.48), and the Fluorescent intensity of hypoxia/reoxygenation plus CSDP group was also markedly lower (1 567.91±577.61) than that of hypoxia/reoxygenation group (1 617.60±477.53).CONCLUSION:The cultured rat myocardial cells could be effectively protected by administration of CSDP in case of hypoxia and reoxygenation through decreasing the intracellular calcium concentration.     

芦荟蒽醌类物质对紫外线照射下洋葱和大蒜根尖细胞分裂的影响

以大蒜和洋葱为试材,研究了用波长为308nm的UV-B辐射灯照射,不涂抹芦荟蒽醌类物质;先涂抹芦荟蒽醌类物质,再进行UV-B照射;先进行UV-B照射,然后再涂抹芦荟蒽醌类物质,通过根尖压片法观察根尖细胞分裂过程等方式下洋葱和大蒜根尖细胞分裂的影响,根尖在自然条件下生长,不经UV-B辐射灯照射为对照(CK).结果表明:经紫外线照射过的洋葱和大蒜根尖细胞中出现了畸形核、染色体桥、落后染色体、游离染色体等异常现象.但先涂抹芦荟蒽醌类物质,然后进行UV-B照射的一组,根尖细胞中的异常现象明显减少.说明芦荟叶中的蒽醌类等次生代谢物质有屏蔽紫外线辐射、防止紫外线辐射伤害的功能.     

Comparison of different conditions inducing embryonic stem cells

AIM: To evaluate the different conditions inducing mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) in vitro to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. METHODS: BRL conditioned medium was used to promote the growth of ESC and maintain them in an undifferentiated state. During the inducing process, retinoic acid (RA), DMSO, activin-A and TGF-β₁ were used as inducing reagents, and made up six kinds of differentiating medium. Then a three-step method inducing ESC cultured in hanging drops, in suspension and in plating was used to induce the differentiation of ESC. RESULTS: ESC were induced in vitro to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Of all groups, the highest differentiating rate was observed in the group induced by activin-A (20 μg/L) and TGF-β₁ (2 μg/L). CONCLUSION: The inducing conditions including activin-A (20 μg/L) and TGF-β₁ (2 μg/L) is very valuable in inducing ESC differentiation into cardiomyocytes.