Effects of Excess Copper Ions on Decidualization of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of copper ions on decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) cultured in vitro. Firstly, non-toxic concentrations of copper D-gluconate were screened in HESCs based on cell activity. Then, the effects of non-toxic concentrations of copper ions (0~250 μM) were examined on decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells.

Copper-Induced Spermatozoa Head Malformation Is Related to Oxidative Damage to Testes in CD-1 Mice.

The molecular mechanism for copper toxicity on spermatozoa quality in mice is not well understood. In a 4-week experiment, we challenged 24, 6-week-old male CD-1 mice with twice-a-week intraperitoneal copper chloride injections and evaluated spermatozoa quality, copper levels in the testes, serum testosterone, the expression of key antioxidant glutathione peroxidase 5 (GPx5), and the regulated androgen receptor (AR) in the mice testes. We compared these outcomes for four groups of six mice given doses of 0, 1.

[Mechanism of rat sciatic nerve regeneration induced by human hair keratin].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of human hair keratin (HHK) in peripheral nerve repair and explore the mechanism of sciatic nerve regeneration.

Methods: Rat models of sciatic nerve damage was established by creating a 10-mm gap in the sciatic nerve, which was bridged with a HHK implant. Histological examinations of the nerve tissues were performed at different time points after the surgery.

[Construction of artificial nerve bridge by three-dimensional culture of Schwann cells with human hair keratins].

Objective: To culture Schwann cells (SCs) and human hair keratins (HHKs) for artificial nerve bridge construction.

Methods: SCs were purified by primary culture and labeled with BrdU, which were then cultured with HHKs decorated by ECM. The artificial nerve bridge was implanted into the defect of sciatic nerve, beneath the skin, and in the skeletal muscles of SD rat, respectively.

[A new method for screening mutant yeast strains with green fluorescent protein].

Objective: To establish a fast and simple method for screening mutant yeast strains.

Materials And Methods: Homologous recombination technique was used to detect mutant yeast strains in yeast genomic library, with the green fluorescent protein gene as the reporter gene in the transposon.

Results: The strains that emitted green fluorescence were isolated, indicating that the gfp gene was inserted into the yeast genome by homologous recombination.

[Association of receptor-mediated endocytosis and autophagy with apoptosis].

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between receptor-mediated endocytosis, autophagosome formation and apoptosis by observing the morphological changes of mouse peritoneal macrophages in the course of receptor-mediated endocytotic activities, autophagy and apoptosis.

Methods: Mouse peritoneal macrophages were incubated with horseradish peroxidase-labeled concanavalin A (ConA-HRP), and morphological examinations were performed at different time points after the incubation.

Results: After the incubation of the macrophages with ConA-HRP, ConA-HRP was observed to enter the vesicles by way of receptor-mediated endocytosis.