OBJECTIVE To determine the role of endogenous carbon monoxide(CO) in oxidant-mediated organ injury following limb ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats. METHODS: Sixty-four SD rats were divided into 4 groups: Sham group, Sham + zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase activity), 2-hour ischemia followed by 4-hour reperfusion (I/R) group and I/R + ZnPP group. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level in the artery blood, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the lung, heart, liver and kidney were detected. The 24-hour survival rate of rats was studied. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, the COHb level and MDA content significantly increased, while the SOD activity and the survival rate significantly decreased in I/R group (P lt; 0.05). Compared with the I/R group, MDA content significantly increased, while the SOD activity, the 24-hour survival rate and COHb level significantly decreased in I/R + ZnPP group (P lt; 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Limb I/R could lead to the oxidant-mediated multiple organ injury accompanied by the increase of CO level which play an important role in the defense against I/R-induced remote multiple organ injury in rats.
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo establish an efficient, effective hepatocyte isolation technique in order to increase cell production and decrease the prime cost. Methods The inferior vena cava below diaphragm was dissected and ligatured, and the inferior vena cava below liver was separated. Subsequently, the liver was perfused with EGTA through the portal vein while the inferior vena cava below liver was opened, and then the liver was harvested. The liver tissue was cut into 1 mm×1 mm×1 mm and digested at 37 ℃ water bath with Ⅳ collagenase for 30-40 minutes, then the hepatocytes were purified and cultured in CO2 incubator. The production and function of hepatocytes were assessed. ResultsThe isolated hepatocytes using this technique were more than 95% among the all isolated cells. No statistic difference was found in cell production and cell function comparing with traditional technique. But this technique was simplified and more economically. ConclusionThis modified hepatocyte isolation technique is efficient and effective. It can ensure the amount of production and purity of hepatocytes.
Objective To investigate the effect of cold ischemia on the development of transplant arteriosclerosis (TA) in rat aortic isografts. Methods Aorta grafts from SD and Wister rats were stored in a cold perfusion solution for 0.5 hours and 4 hours respectively before being orthotopically transplanted to Wister recipients. After observation times ranging from 15 to 60 days, the grafts were examined by using histological and electron microscopy techniques. Regional changes in the lumen, intima and media layers were measured by using an image analysis system. Results Partial intima thickings were showed in control isografts at 60 day posttransplantation. Pronounced intima thickings were seen in experimental isografts and control allografts at the same time. The thicking neointimas consist mainly of monocyte/macrophage and smooth muscle cells (SMC). The broken interior elastic lamina (IEL) and necrosis SMC in media were detected in allogenic grafts. Conclusion The damage due to prolonged cold ischemia time is sufficient to cause pronouced graft arteriosclerosis.
The present study is to explore the change process and distribution of phosphorylated DARPP-32 (p-DARPP-32) in rat brain including cortex, hippocampus and striatum and to further deduce whether p-DARPP-32 was possibly involved in epilepsy induced by repetitive low doses of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). PTZ-induced epilepsy model in rat was established with 30 male SD rats randomly divided into 6 groups, control group and five trial groups [PTZ 1 h,PTZ 6 h,PTZ 24 h,PTZ 48 h and PTZ 72 h respectively, after onset of status epilepticus (SE)]. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double-labeling were used to detect the temporal time change and distribution of p-DARPP-32 expression and to analyze the coexpression of DARPP-32 and p-DARPP-32 in rat brain after the onset of PTZ-induced generalized SE. The results showed that there was a temporal time change of p-DARPP-32 expression in rat brain after the onset of SE. The number of p-DARPP-32-positive cells increased significantly and reached the peaks at the ends of 1 hour and 6 hours after the onset of SE, but decreased at the end of 24 hours. The moderate to strong p-DARPP-32-immunopositive neurons were observed in cortex, hippocampus and striatum, and located in cell cytoplasm and cell nucleus. Further immunofluorescence double-labeling revealed that denser colocalization of p-DARPP-32 and DARPP-32 in the neurons existed in the area mentioned above. Therefore, PTZ-induced SE may cause phosphorylation of DARPP-32 in rat brain. The temporal time change and distribution of p-DARPP-32 suggest that phosphorylation of DARPP-32 may be involved in PTZ-induced epilepsy in rat brain including cortex, hippocampus and striatum, and p-DARPP-32 may play a central role in the onset of SE.
Objective To investigate the effects of insulin-like growth factor 1（IGF-1） and ethanol (EtOH) on the changes in the osteoblast proliferation and the osteoblast function under the normal serum concentration and serum starvationMethodsThe osteoblasts harvested from the SD rat calvaria were incubated in the following six conditions according to the supplements in DMEM: the F15group：15% newborn calf serum (NCS)； the F15/EtOH group：100 mmol/L of EtOH added to 15% NCS； the F2 group：2% NCS； the F2/EtOH group：100 mmol/L of EtOH added to 2% NCS；the F2/IGF-1 group：25ng/ml of IGF-1 added to 2% NCS；the F2/IGF-1/EtOH group：100 mmol/L EtOH added to 25 ng/ml IGF-1 and 2% NCS. The osteoblasts were analyzed by the MTTassay, alkaline phosphatase（ALP） activity, and RTPCR at 24, 48, 72 and 96h ours after the culture. Results The absorbance (A), the ALP activity, and the expression of BGP mRNA (the proliferation and function indicators of the osteoblasts) were significantly decreased in the F15/EtOH group at all the time points when compared with those in the F15the group (P＜ 0.05); the above 3 indicators were significantly decreased in the F2 groupwhen compared with those in the F15 group (P＜0.05); they were significantly decreased in the F2/EtOH group when compared with those in the F2 group (P＜0.05); however, the indicators in the F2/IGF-1 group were significantly increased when compared with those in the F2 group (P＜0.05); the A value in the F2/IGF-1/EtOH group was not significantly decreased when compared with that in the F2/IGF-1 group, with an exception of the A value at 24 hours (P＞0.05); however, ALP and BGP mRNA were significantly decreased (P＜0.05). All the indicators were significantly increased when compared with those in the F2/EtOH group (P＜0.05) Conclusion Ethanol can inhibit the osteoblast proliferation and the osteoblast function, and can increase the inhibition when the osteoblasts were cultured under the serum starvation. This may be one of the mechanisms for alcoholic bone disease. IGF-1 can prevent the inhibition of the osteoblasts under the serum starvation and counteract the ethanolinduced proliferation inhibition; therefore, IGF-1 is an alternaive therapeutic intervention for alcoholic bone disease.
Objective To investigate the effect of glucocorticoid on the expression levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)-matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)/tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) system in bone tissues of femoral head of rats, and to discuss its interrelated action mechanism in glucocorticoid-induced avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH). Methods Forty adult Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, half males and half females, were randomly divided into 4 groups: high dose glucocorticoid group (HD, n=10), medium dose glucocorticoid group (MD, n=10), low dose glucocorticoid group (LD, n=10), and control group (n=10). The rats in HD group, MD group, and LD group were intramuscularly injected with 25.0, 12.5, and 7.0 mg/kg of prednisolone respectively, and the rats in the control group were injected with physiological saline. After 4 weeks intervention, the osteonecrosis of left femoral heads was observed by HE staining, total RNA was extracted from the right femoral head bone tissue and the mRNA expression levels of OPG, RANKL, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were detected by RT-PCR. Results After injection of prednisolone, 4 rats of HD group and 1 rat of MD group died of systemic failure caused by the decreased food and weight culminating in cachexia. HE staining showed that the integrity of bone trabecula and osteon was destroyed at different levels, discontinuous bone chips formed, and osteocytes were replaced by granulation tissue in some lacunae in HD, MD, and LD groups; the integrated osteon was observed, the lamellar structure formed concentric circles around the blood vessel and osteocytes were seen in the lacunae in the control group. The necrosis rates of femoral head were 83.3% (5/6), 66.7% (6/9), 30.0% (3/10), and 0 (0/10) in HD, MD, LD, and control groups. The results of RT-PCR showed: the mRNA expression levels of the OPG, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 in HD, MD, and LD groups were lower than those in the control group, showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05) and there was negative correlation with the hormone dosage. The difference in OPG expression was significant between the hormone groups (P lt; 0.05); the differences in the TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expressions were not significant between the LD group and MD group (P gt; 0.05), but there were significant differences when compared with HD group (P lt; 0.05). The RANKL, MMP-2, and MMP-9 mRNA expression levels in HD, MD, and LD groups were higher than those in the control group and there was a positive correlation with the hormone dosage, showing significant differences when compared MD and HD groups with control group (P lt; 0.05); there was no significant difference in RANKL expression between HD group and MD group (P gt; 0.05), but there was significant difference when compared HD and MD groups with LD group (P gt; 0.05); no significant difference was observed in the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression between MD group and LD group (P gt; 0.05), but the differences were significant when compared with HD group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Glucocorticoid-induced ANFH may be related to the expression levels of OPG/RANKL-MMP/TIMP mRNA regulated by glucocorticoid.
Objective To explore the proper dosage of establishment of stable hepatic oval cells （HOC） prolif-eration model by using 2-acetaminofluorene （2-AAF） combined with two-third partial hepatectomy （2/3 PH） surgery， and to explore isolated and cultured method of HOC in vitro. Methods The 174 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups （each group enrolled 30 rats）， saline group （n=30）， and untreated group （n=24）. Rats of 4 experi-mental groups were underwent gavage of 5， 10， 15， and 20 mg/（kg ? d） 2-AAF， corresponding to the groups from No.1 to No.4 group. Rats of saline group received saline gavage and rats of untreated group didn’t received any treatment. A standard 2/3 PH surgery was performed on the 5th day after gavage， then the same gavage method was still administrated as preoperation untill rats were sacrificed. The liver tissues of 6 selected rats were adopted and identified by HE staining and immunohistochemical staining on 4， 8， 12， and 16 days after PH for observation of the proliferation of HOC in every group， on 4 days， levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） were tested in addition. HOC were isolated and purified by collagenase perfusion method and percoll gradient centrifugation. Results The surv-ival rates of untreated group，saline group，No.1 group，No.2 group，No.3 group，and No.4 group were 100% （24/24），93% （28/30），93% （28/30），90% （27/30），90% （27/30），and 80% （24/30） respectively. Compared with the saline group and untreated group， the levels of serum ALT and AST increased significantly in No.2， No.3， and No.4 group on the 4th day after PH （P＜0.05）. The results of HE staining showed that No.2， No.3， and No.4 group were observed visibly different level of damage at liver tissue， and the proliferation level of HOC were most obviously in No.3 and No.4 group. The results of immunohistochemical staining revealed that proliferation cells were positively expressed oval cell marker-6 （OV-6）. The number of OV-6 positive cells were increased significantly with the increase of dosage of 2-AAF between 4 days and 12 days after operation， and proliferation levels were related with dosages of 2-AAF （P＜0.05）. In all cultured cells， 80% of cells were OV-6 positive cells after isolation and culture by using collagenase perfusion method and percoll gradient centrifugation. Conclusions The methods of gavage of 2-AAF at 15 mg/（kg ? d） combined with 2/3 PH surgery can establish the HOC proliferation model on the 12th day， as well as the rats have lower mortality and better tolerance， especially. The collagenase perfusion method and percoll gradient centrifugation can be used to isolate HOC effectively.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate a animal model of spinal cord injury in different degrees of impact. METHODS: A new weight-drop device was designed with the character of controlled degree of impact and time. After thirty-five rats underwent different degrees of impact, their motor function and pathological changes were observed. RESULTS: In control group, the rats could walk after reviving, and the micro-structure of spinal cord was normal. With 0.5 mm depth of impact, the rats also could walk, and the micro-structure of spinal cord did not change obviously. With 0.8 mm depth of impact, the rats could walk after several days of injury and only slight damage could be found in spinal cord. When the impact depth increased to 1.0 or 1.5 mm, the rats were paralyzed completely and could not walk after four weeks of injury. Severe injury was observed in spinal cord. CONCLUSION: This animal model of spinal cord injury is based on different degrees of impact. It has stable and repetitive characters for the research on spinal cord injury.
ObjectiveTo investigate the possibility and effect of chitosan porous scaffolds combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in repair of neurological deficit after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.MethodsBMSCs were isolated, cultured, and passaged by the method of bone marrow adherent culture. The 3rd generation BMSCs were identified by the CD29 and CD45 surface antigens and marked by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU). The chitosan porous scaffolds were produced by the method of freeze-drying. The BrdU-labelled BMSCs were co-cultured in vitro with chitosan porous scaffolds, and were observed by scanning electron microscopy. MTT assay was used to observe the cell growth within the scaffold. Fifty adult Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups with 10 rats in each group. The rat TBI model was made in groups A, B, C, and D according to the principle of Feeney’s free fall combat injury. Orthotopic transplantation was carried out at 72 hours after TBI. Group A was the BMSCs and chitosan porous scaffolds transplantation group; group B was the BMSCs transplantation group; group C was the chitosan porous scaffolds transplantation group; group D was the complete medium transplantation group; and group E was only treated with scalp incision and skull window as sham-operation group. Before TBI and at 1, 7, 14, and 35 days after TBI, the modified neurological severity scores (mNSS) was used to measure the rats’ neurological function. The Morris water maze tests were used after TBI, including the positioning voyage test (the incubation period was detected at 31-35 days after TBI, once a day) and the space exploration test (the number of crossing detection platform was detected at 35 days after TBI). At 36 days after TBI, HE staining and immunohistochemistry double staining [BrdU and neurofilament triplet H (NF-H) immunohistochemistry double staining, and BrdU and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry double staining] were carried out to observe the transplanted BMSCs’ migration and differentiation in the damaged brain areas.ResultsFlow cytometry test showed that the positive rate of CD29 of the 3rd generation BMSCs was 98.49%, and the positive rate of CD45 was only 0.85%. After co-cultured with chitosan porous scaffolds in vitrofor 48 hours, BMSCs were spindle-shaped and secreted extracellular matrix to adhere in the scaffolds. MTT assay testing showed that chitosan porous scaffolds had no adverse effects on the BMSCs’ proliferation. At 35 days after TBI, the mNSS scores and the incubation period of positioning voyage test in group A were lower than those in groups B, C, and D, and the number of crossing detection platform of space exploration test in group A was higher than those in groups B, C, and D, all showing significant differences (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between groups A and E in above indexes (P>0.05). HE staining showed that the chitosan porous scaffolds had partially degraded, and they integrated with brain tissue well in group A; the degree of repair in groups B, C, and D were worse than that of group A. Immunohistochemical double staining showed that the transplanted BMSCs could survive and differentiate into neurons and glial cells, some differentiated neural cells had relocated at the normal brain tissue; the degree of repair in groups B, C, and D were worse than that of group A.ConclusionThe transplantation of chitosan porous scaffolds combined with BMSCs can improve the neurological deficit of rats following TBI obviously, and also inhabit the glial scar’s formation in the brain damage zone, and can make BMSCs survive, proliferate, and differentiate into nerve cells in the brain damage zone.