Impact of Long-Lasting Environmental Factors on Regulation Mediated by the miR-34 Family.

The present review focuses on the interactions of newly emerging environmental factors with miRNA-mediated regulation. In particular, we draw attention to the effects of phthalates, electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and a disrupted light/dark cycle. miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules with a tremendous regulatory impact, which is usually executed via gene expression inhibition.

Ni Porous Preforms Compacted with AlO Particles and Al Binding Agent.

This work presents an energy-efficient, cheap, and rapid production method of a metal-ceramic preform with open porosity suitable for liquid metal infiltration and filtration applications. It is based on cold isostatic pressing of a mixture of relatively hard Ni and AlO powders with the addition of small amount of Al powders, acting as a binding agent. Open porosity is primarily controlled by AlO particles partially separating Ni particles from mutual contacts.

Effect of Temperature on the Complex Modulus of Mg-Based Unidirectionally Aligned Carbon Fiber Composites.

Composite materials based on magnesium-lithium (MgLi) and magnesium-yttrium (MgY) matrices reinforced with unidirectional carbon fibers were prepared using the gas pressure infiltration method. Two types of carbon fibers were used, high-strength PAN-based T300 fibers and high-modulus pitch-based Granoc fibers. The PAN-based carbon fibers have an internal turbostratic structure composed of crystallites.

Prenatal and perinatal phthalate exposure is associated with sex-dependent changes in hippocampal miR-15b-5p and miR-34a-5p expression and changes in testicular morphology in rat offspring.

MicroRNAs are a large group of non-coding nucleic acids, usually 20-22 nt long, which bind to regulatory sections of messenger RNA (mRNA) and inhibit gene expression. However, genome activity is also regulated by hormones. Endocrine disruptors such as those from the phthalate group imitate or block these hormonal effects, and our previous study showed a long-lasting decrease in plasma testosterone levels in rat offspring exposed to a mixture of three phthalates and postnatally.

Effect of 17β-estradiol on the daily pattern of ACE2, ADAM17, TMPRSS2 and estradiol receptor transcription in the lungs and colon of male rats.

Covid-19 progression shows sex-dependent features. It is hypothesized that a better Covid-19 survival rate in females can be attributed to the presence of higher 17β-estradiol (E2) levels in women than in men. Virus SARS-CoV-2 is enabled to enter the cell with the use of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

Testosterone enhancement during pregnancy influences social coping and gene expression of oxytocin and vasopressin in the brain of adult rats.

Steroid hormones are important mediators of prenatal maternal effects and play an important role in fetal programming. The aim of our study was to investigate how testosterone enhancement during pregnancy influences neurobehavioral aspects of social coping of rat offspring in adulthood. Pregnant rat dams were exposed to depot form of testosterone during the last third of pregnancy (i.

Increased anxiety-like behaviour and altered GABAergic system in the amygdala and cerebellum of VPA rats - An animal model of autism.

Anxiety is one of the associated symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. According to the literature, increases in anxiety are accompanied by GABAergic system deregulation. The aim of our study, performed using an animal model of autism in the form of rats prenatally treated with valproic acid (VPA rats), was to investigate changes in anxiety-like behaviour and the gene expression of molecules that control levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain.

Increased sociability and gene expression of oxytocin and its receptor in the brains of rats affected prenatally by valproic acid.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by the disruption of social interactions. Autistic animal models play a crucial role in neurophysiologic research on this disorder. One of these models is based on rats that have been prenatally treated with valproic acid - VPA rats.

Habituation of exploratory behaviour in VPA rats: animal model of autism.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with multifactorial aetiology, represented as impairment in social behaviour, communication and the occurrence of repetitive activities, which can be observed in the early life. The core features are frequently accompanied by other manifestations, including limited environmental exploration. The aim of the presented study, realised on an animal model of autism - VPA rats, i.

Inhibitory effect of DIDS, NPPB, and phloretin on intracellular chloride channels.

We studied the effects of the chloride channel blockers, 5-nitro-2-(phenylpropylamino)-benzoate (NPPB), dihydro-4,4' diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS), and phloretin on H2O2-induced primary culture cardiomyocyte apoptosis and activity of intracellular chloride channels obtained from rat heart mitochondrial and lysosomal vesicles. The chloride channel blockers (100 micromol/l) inhibited the H2O2-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis. We characterized the effect of the blockers on single channel properties of the chloride channels derived from the mitochondrial and lysosomal vesicles incorporated into a bilayer lipid membrane.

Hypoxia modulates gene expression of IP3 receptors in rodent cerebellum.

Hypoxic brain cell injury is a complex process that results from a series of intracellular events. In this work, we tested whether severe hypoxia for 6 h can affect gene expression and protein levels of intracellular calcium channels, ryanodine receptors, and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors in mouse cerebellum. In addition, we tested the effect of hypoxia on cerebellar granular cells of rats.

Bongkrekic acid and atractyloside inhibits chloride channels from mitochondrial membranes of rat heart.

The aim of this work was to characterize the effect of bongkrekic acid (BKA), atractyloside (ATR) and carboxyatractyloside (CAT) on single channel properties of chloride channels from mitochondria. Mitochondrial membranes isolated from a rat heart muscle were incorporated into a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) and single chloride channel currents were measured in 250/50 mM KCl cis/trans solutions. BKA (1-100 microM), ATR and CAT (5-100 microM) inhibited the chloride channels in dose-dependent manner.

Distinct modulation of a gene expression of the type 1 and 2 IP(3) receptors by retinoic acid in brain areas.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptors belong to the intracellular calcium channels that release calcium from the intracellular stores after binding IP(3). Three types of IP(3) receptors occurred in a tissue specific manner and different promoters direct their gene expression. Thus, understanding of the transcriptional regulation is the first step towards comprehension of the function of these receptors.

Retinoic acid increased expression of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in the heart and brain.

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is an important calcium transport system, which regulates intracellular calcium homeostasis. In particular, NCX is highly expressed in the plasma membrane of excitable neuronal and cardiac cells. We report here that binding of retinoic acid enhances expression of the NCX1 in the rat cardiac atria, brain stem and hypothalamus, but not in cerebellum.

Monoclonal antibodies to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the VEGF receptor, FLT-1, inhibit the growth of C6 glioma in a mouse xenograft.

Monoclonal antibodies raised to peptide sequences of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the VEGF receptor, FLT-1, inhibited the growth of C6 tumors growing subcutaneously in nude mice. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated antibody targeting of blood vessels, tumor cells, and macrophages. A control antibody demonstrated no growth inhibition or tumor uptake.