Obestatin ameliorates water retention in chronic heart failure by downregulating renal aquaporin 2 through GPR39, V2R and PPARG signaling.

Aims: Obestatin regulates water metabolism by inhibiting arginine vasopressin (AVP) release and upregulated obestatin has been detected in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the significance of obestatin in CHF, particularly with regard to water retention and aquaporin 2 (AQP2) expression, remains unknown.

Main Methods: Using a CHF rat model, the effects of 2-week exogenous obestatin administration were evaluated.

Obestatin Downregulating Aquaporin 2 Plasma Membrane Distribution Through a Short-Term Regulatory Effect.

Background: Previous studies have found that obestatin significantly inhibited water drinking and reduced the arginine vasopressin levels in the brain to decrease renal water reabsorption. However, obestatin is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier. Its effect on the body's kidney water metabolism in peripheral remains unknown.

Increased expression of microRNA-378a-5p in acute ethanol exposure of rat cardiomyocytes.

Alcohol abuse is a risk factor for a distinct form of congestive heart failure, known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM). Here, we investigate how microRNAs may participate in the induction of cardiomyocyte apoptosis associated with ethanol exposure in vitro. Increasing the concentrations of ethanol to primary rat cardiomyocytes resulted in elevated apoptosis assessed by annexin V and propidium iodide staining, and reduced expression of an enzyme for alcohol detoxification aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2).

Adeno-associated virus-mediated osteoprotegerin gene transfer protects against joint destruction in a collagen-induced arthritis rat model.

Objective: To evaluate the in vivo joint protection effect of recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer of human osteoprotegerin (rAAV-hOPG).

Methods: Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model was established. CIA rats were randomly divided into three groups: CIA control group (PBS), rAAV-EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) group and rAAV-hOPG (100 μL/d) group, which received corresponding intra-articular injection treatment.