Role of transplanted bone marrow cells in response to skeletal muscle injury.

The recently discovered capacity of bone marrow cells (BMCs) to contribute to injury-induced skeletal muscle regeneration has brought new possibilities in the treatment of skeletal muscle diseases. However, a suitable method of BMC transplantation usable for such therapy has to be established. In this work, recipient mice were intramuscularly injected with cardiotoxin, then whole-body lethally irradiated to eradicate satellite cells in their injured tibialis anterior (TA) muscles and to suppress haematopoiesis, and subsequently intravenously transplanted with lacZ+ BMCs with the aim to investigate the role of exogenous BMCs in response to skeletal muscle injury.

Activation of TGF-β receptors and Smad proteins by atorvastatin is related to reduced atherogenesis in ApoE/LDLR double knockout mice.

Aim: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) plays important role in atherogenesis via TGF-β receptors and Smad proteins, which determine its signaling activity. In this study, we hypothesized, whether non-lipid related effects of atorvastatin, affect both endoglin/ALK-5/Smad2/eNOS and/or endoglin/ALK-1/Smad1/VEGF previously proposed pathways in ApoE/LDLR double knockout mice.

Methods: ApoE/LDLR double knockout mice were divided into two groups.

Modification of hepatic iron metabolism induced by pravastatin during obstructive cholestasis in rats.

Aims: To evaluate iron biochemistry and contributing liver mechanisms during obstructive cholestasis and pravastatin treatment in rats.

Main Methods: A rat model of cholestasis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) was used for the study. The detection of iron and the expression of relevant molecules were performed one week after surgery in the control, and cholestatic animals after treatment with either saline or pravastatin (1mg/kg/day).

Proliferative potential and phenotypic analysis of long-term cultivated human granulosa cells initiated by addition of follicular fluid.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop and optimize a strategy for long-term cultivation of luteinizing human granulosa cells (GCs).

Methods: GCs were cultivated in DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with 2% fetal calf serum. In vitro proliferation of GCs was supported by follicular fluid as well as FSH and growth factors.

Cholesterol effects on endoglin and its downstream pathways in ApoE/LDLR double knockout mice.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether cholesterol-rich diet affects transforming growth factor-β-RIII (endoglin) levels in blood and 2 endoglin-related pathways in the aorta of ApoE/LDLR double knockout mice.

Methods And Results: Mice were fed either chow diet (CHOW) (n=8) or by 1% cholesterol-rich diet (CHOL) (n=8). Biochemical analysis of cholesterol and endoglin levels in blood, lesion size area, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis in mice aortas were performed.