Ambient PM2.5 caused cardiac dysfunction through FoxO1-targeted cardiac hypertrophy and macrophage-activated fibrosis in mice.

Plenty of epidemiological evidences have shown that ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure increased the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, but the potential mechanism has not been known clearly. We established mice models by ambient PM2.

[Protective effect of sesamin against myocardial injury induced by cadmium chloride in rats].

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of sesamin against cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control group, CdCl2 group, and low-, middle-, and high-dose sesamin groups. The control group was given normal saline.

[Effect of castration on restenosis after precutaneous transluminal angioplasty in male rats].

Objective: To observe the developing changes of adventitia in restenosis after precutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA), and investigate the effect of androgen on restenosis through contrasting the castrated male rat models and its mechanism.

Methods: Models were constructed of castrated male rats and restenosis of the common carotid artery, and specimens were collected at the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th day respectively after modeling. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining, and electronic microscopy were performed to observe the condition of restenosis.

[Effect of lead acetate on the apoptosis and the expression of bcl-2 and bax genes in rat brain cells].

Objectives: To explore the effect of lead acetate on the apoptosis of rat brain neural cells and the relationship between the apoptosis and the bcl-2 as well as bax gene expression.

Methods: Lead acetate was given to SD rats by intraperitoneal injection for 5 days at the dosage of 25, 50 and l00 mg/kg body weight respectively. The rates of apoptosis and the expression of bcl-2 (Bcl-2) and bax (Bax) in neural cells from cerebral cortex, hippocampus and carebellum were measured respectively by flow cytometry (FCM).