High frequency exercise after human cranial bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells transplantation enhances motor functional recovery following traumatic brain injury in mice.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes a neurological impairment of the central nervous system that may induce severe motor deficits. In this study, human cranial bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hcMSCs) were transplanted into a mouse TBI model, and the effects of differences in exercise frequency were examined as a rehabilitation approach to improve motor function after cell transplantation. Twenty-four hours after TBI induction, phosphate-buffered saline or hcMSCs were intravenously injected into mice that were divided into a non-exercise group, a low-frequency exercise group (LF Ex), and a high-frequency exercise group (HF Ex).

Enhanced anxiety-like behavior induced by chronic neuropathic pain and related parvalbumin-positive neurons in male rats.

Anxiety commonly co-occurs with and exacerbates pain, but the interaction between pain progression and anxiety, and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Inhibitory interneurons play a crucial role in maintaining normal central nervous system function and are suggested to be involved in pain-induced anxiety. This study aimed to elucidate the time-dependent effects of neuropathic pain on the developmental anxiety-like behaviors and related inhibitory interneurons; parvalbumin (PV)- and cholecystokinin (CCK)-positive neurons in corticolimbic regions.

Hypergravity enhances RBM4 expression in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and accelerates their differentiation into neurons.

Introduction: The regulation of stem cell differentiation is important in determining the quality of transplanted cells in regenerative medicine. Physical stimuli are involved in regulating stem cell differentiation, and in particular, research on the regulation of differentiation using gravity is an attractive choice. We have shown that microgravity is useful for maintaining undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Comparisons of Neurotrophic Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Different Tissues on Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Rats.

Cell-based therapies with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered as promising strategies for spinal cord injury (SCI). MSCs have unique characteristics due to differences in the derived tissues. However, relatively few studies have focused on differences in the therapeutic effects of MSCs derived from different tissues.

Early Transplantation of Human Cranial Bone-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Enhances Functional Recovery in Ischemic Stroke Model Rats.

We analyzed the cell characteristics, neuroprotective, and transplantation effects of human cranial bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hcMSCs) in ischemic stroke model rats compared with human iliac bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hiMSCs). The expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF ) as neurotrophic factors were analyzed in both MSCs. hiMSCs or hcMSCs were intravenously administered into ischemic stroke model rats at 3 or 24 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and neurological function was evaluated.

Simulated microgravity-cultured mesenchymal stem cells improve recovery following spinal cord ischemia in rats.

Spinal cord ischemia is a potential complication of thoracoabdominal aortic surgery that may induce irreversible motor disability. We investigated the therapeutic efficacy of simulated microgravity-cultured mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) injection following spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), normal gravity-cultured MSC (MSC-1 G), and simulated microgravity-cultured MSC (MSC-MG) groups.

Changes in lipid metabolism and capillary density of the skeletal muscle following low-intensity exercise training in a rat model of obesity with hyperinsulinemia.

Although exercise is effective in improving obesity and hyperinsulinemia, the exact influence of exercise on the capillary density of skeletal muscles remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of low-intensity exercise training on metabolism in obesity with hyperinsulinemia, focusing specifically on the capillary density within the skeletal muscle. Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats were used as animal models of obesity with hyperinsulinemia, whereas Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats served as controls (no obesity, no hyperinsulinemia).

Analysis of Gene Expression in Experimental Pressure Ulcers in the Rat with Special Reference to Inflammatory Cytokines.

Pressure ulcers have been investigated in a few animal models, but the molecular mechanisms of pressure ulcers are not well understood. We hypothesized that pressure results in up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines and those cytokines contribute to the formation of pressure ulcers. We measured genome-wide changes in transcript levels after compression, and focused especially on inflammatory cytokines.

Regulation of the microvascular circulation in the leg muscles, pancreas and small intestine in rats.

To study the microvascular circulation, we examined the proportion of open and functioning capillaries in the leg muscles, pancreas and small intestine of anesthetized rats. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Lycopersicon esculentum lectin was injected into the heart and allowed to circulate for 3 min to label open and functioning capillaries. Specimens were removed, frozen, sectioned and double-immunostained.

Intermittent whole-body vibration attenuates a reduction in the number of the capillaries in unloaded rat skeletal muscle.

Background: Whole-body vibration has been suggested for the prevention of muscle mass loss and muscle wasting as an attractive measure for disuse atrophy. This study examined the effects of daily intermittent whole-body vibration and weight bearing during hindlimb suspension on capillary number and muscle atrophy in rat skeletal muscles.

Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (CONT), hindlimb suspension (HS), HS + weight bearing (WB), and HS + whole-body vibration (VIB) (n = 15 each).

Microvascular circulation at cool, normal and warm temperatures in rat leg muscles examined by histochemistry using Lycopersicon esculentum lectin.

Local cooling and/or warming of the body are widely used for therapy. For safer and more effective therapy, microvascular hemodynamics needs to be clarified. To examine blood circulation in rat leg muscles at 20, 30, 37 and 40°C, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Lycopersicon esculentum lectin was injected into the cardiac ventricle.

Effects of the magnitude of pressure on the severity of injury and capillary closure in rat experimental pressure ulcers.

Experimental pressure ulcers were successfully produced in the rat abdominal wall at 100 mmHg in our previous study. We hypothesized that injury is less severe when pressures are lower than 100 mmHg and explored a critical pressure in the production of pressure ulcers. At 70 and 60 mmHg, repeated compressions for 4 h daily for 5 consecutive days resulted in partial skin necrosis and eschar formation in the majority of rats, whereas skin injuries were absent or very mild in most of the rats at 50 mmHg.

Regulation of connective tissue remodeling in the early phase of denervation in a rat skeletal muscle.

Denervation alters the metabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in skeletal muscle; however, the underlying mechanisms of ECM remodeling are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to elucidate the dynamic features of the ECM regulatory process in the early phase of denervated skeletal muscle in male Wistar rats. We investigated the expression of collagens (total, type I, and type III), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) together with their endogenous inhibitors (TIMPs), at the mRNA and/or protein level in the soleus muscles of control animals and at days 3, 7, and 14 post-denervation.

Reduced soleus muscle injury at long muscle length during contraction in the rat.

Muscle injury was studied to test the hypotheses that maintaining the soleus muscle at a long muscle length during contraction prevents muscle injuries and that the prevention of initial muscle injuries reduces subsequent muscle damage. The rat sciatic nerve was stimulated for 30 min with plantar or dorsal flexion of the foot, and the time course of contraction-induced injuries was examined. The soleus muscle injuries were first classified into one of five types, and the percentages of aberrant sarcomere areas observed in the soleus muscle were then separately quantified by electron microscopy at 0, 1, 6, 12, and 24 h (n = 3) post-stimulation.

Comparison between a weight compression and a magnet compression for experimental pressure ulcers in the rat. Histological studies and effects of anesthesia.

To develop an experimental model and evaluate the effects of the magnitude and duration of pressure, the rat abdominal wall (25x20 mm) was subjected to compression either by a weight or by two magnets. In the weight compression tests, a steel plate was inserted under anesthesia into the rat peritoneal cavity, and the abdominal wall was compressed in situ between the underlying steel plate and a weight placed on the abdominal wall. This method resulted in moderate changes in the subcutaneous connective tissue and muscle at 100 mmHg (13.

The skeletal muscle vascular supply closely correlates with the muscle fiber surface area in the rat.

The skeletal muscle capillary supply (capillarity) dynamically changes in response to muscle conditions such as growth, atrophy, and hypertrophy. The capillary number-to-fiber ratio is reported to correlate closely with the muscle fiber cross sectional area. However, little information is available regarding the capillarity of neonatal and very young skeletal muscles.

Changes in the rat subcutaneous connective tissue after saline and histamine injection in relation to fluid storage and excretion.

An experimental design was developed for morphometric analysis of the subcutaneous connective tissue after the subcutaneous injection of 0.1 ml of saline or a histamine solution (0.01, 0.

Distribution and change of collagen types I and III and elastin in developing leg muscle in rat.

The distribution of collagen types I and III and elastin in the developing leg muscles were studied by immunohistochemistry in rat. From 0-day to 8-weeks old, the size of the gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles increased. The muscle connective tissue developed in the order of epimysium, perimysium and finally endomysium.

Formaldehyde concentration in the air and in cadavers at the gross anatomy laboratory in Hiroshima University.

The formaldehyde concentration in the air and in various tissues of 35 human cadavers were measured during a gross anatomy course held at the Faculty of Medicine of Hiroshima University in the 2003 educational year. Atmospheric formaldehyde levels were 0.25-0.

Structure of the rat subcutaneous connective tissue in relation to its sliding mechanism.

Mammalian skin can extensively slide over most parts of the body. To study the mechanism of this mobility of the skin, the structure of the subcutaneous connective tissue was examined by light microscopy. The subcutaneous connective tissue was observed to be composed of multiple layers of thin collagen sheets containing elastic fibers.