Effects of social isolation, re-socialization and age on cognitive and aggressive behaviors of Kunming mice and BALB/c mice.

Both Kunming (KM) mice and BALB/c mice have been widely used as rodent models to investigate stress-associated mental diseases. However, little is known about the different behaviors of KM mice and BALB/c mice after social isolation, particularly cognitive and aggressive behaviors. In this study, the behaviors of KM and BALB/c mice isolated for 2, 4 and 8 weeks and age-matched controls were evaluated using object recognition, object location and resident-intruder tests.

[The alterations of apoptosis factor Bcl-2/Bax in the early Parkinson's disease rats and the protective effect of scorpion venom derived activity peptide].

Objective: To explore the alterations of apoptosis factor Bcl-2/Bax in the early Parkinson's disease (PD) rats and the protective effect of scorpion venom derived bioactive peptide.

Methods: Healthy male SD rats (180-220 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10): early PD model group, sham operation group, scorpion venom derived bioactive peptide control group, scorpion venom derived bioactive peptide therapy group. 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was used to prepare the early PD rat model.

Neuroprotection by scorpion venom heat resistant peptide in 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of early-stage Parkinson's disease.

Neuroprotective effect of scorpion venom on Parkinson's disease (PD) has already been reported. The present study was aimed to investigate whether scorpion venom heat resistant peptide (SVHRP) could attenuate ultrastructural abnormalities in mitochondria and oxidative stress in midbrain neurons of early-stage PD model. The early-stage PD model was established by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) (20 μg/3 μL normal saline with 0.

[Establishing the model of kappaB-decoy inhibiting the activity of NF-kappaB in PC12 cells].

Objective: Observing the time course and establishing the model of kappaB-decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (rcB-decoy) inhibiting the activity of NF-kappaB in the PC12 cells.

Methods: PC12 cells cultivating in the 6 wells plate were divided into 3 groups, experimental group: adding kappaB-decoy complex (6 microg DNA/well), the control group: adding scrambled-decoy complex, the normal group: adding lipid-Lipofectamine 2000, transfer and cultivate 48 h, then lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 200 ng/ml) was added in the cells for 0.5-4 h.

[The protective effect of nicotine on dopaminergic neuron of Parkinson's disease mice].

Aim: To investigate the protective effect of nicotine on dopaminergic neurons and its mechanisms in mice with Parkinson's disease (PD) induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP).

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were injected with MPTP for 8 days to establish PD model. Nicotine was given for 10 days in the pretreatment group.

[Effects of scorpion venom heat-resistant protein on kainic acid induced-damage of cultured primitive rat hippocampal neuropeptide Y-nergic neurons].

Aim: To investigate the effects of scorpion venom heat-resistant protein (SVHRP) on kainic acid induced-damage of cultured primitive rat hippocampal neuropeptide Y-nergic neurons.

Methods: We observed morphological changes, celluar vigor, NPY-immunoreactivity and NPY mRNA expression by means of Thionine staining, MTT assay, immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively, on the primitively cultured Sprague-Dawley rat hippocampal neuron treated with KA and SVHRP for 24 h.

Results: MTT assay and morphologic analysis showed that SVHRP markedly increased neuron survival-rate, and protected them from kA-induced damage.