Molecular Plasticity of Male and Female Murine Gonadotropes Revealed by mRNA Sequencing.

Gonadotropes in the anterior pituitary gland are of particular importance within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis because they provide a means of communication and thus a functional link between the brain and the gonads. Recent results indicate that female gonadotropes may be organized in the form of a network that shows plasticity and adapts to the altered endocrine conditions of different physiological states. However, little is known about functional changes on the molecular level within gonadotropes during these different conditions.

Cellular delivery of polynucleotides by cationic cyclodextrin polyrotaxanes.

Cationic polyrotaxanes, obtained by temperature activated threading of cationic cyclodextrin derivatives onto water-soluble cationic polymers (ionenes), form metastable nanometric polyplexes with pDNA and combinations of siRNA with pDNA. Because of their low toxicity, the polyrotaxane polyplexes constitute a very interesting system for the transfection of polynucleotides into mammalian cells. The complexation of Cy3-labeled siRNA within the polyplexes was demonstrated by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.

Influence of particle size and material properties on mucociliary clearance from the airways.

Mucociliary clearance (MC), designed by evolution to eliminate inhaled and possibly noxious material from the airways, considerably limits the benefit of inhalation therapy. Although the principles of MC seem to be understood, there are still many open questions on mucociliary particle clearance. In this study a trachea-based in vitro model was used to investigate the effect of particle size, zeta-potential, and mucoadhesive particle properties on mucociliary particle clearance.