Hierarchically clustering to 1,033 genes differentially expressed in mouse superior colliculus in the courses of optic nerve development and injury.

Tempo spatially specific expression of many development-related genes is the molecular basis for the formation of the central nervous system (CNS), especially those genes regulating the proliferation, differentiation, migration, axon growth, and orientation of nerve cells. The development-related genes are usually prominent during the embryonic and newborn stages, but rarely express during the adulthood. These genes are believed to be suitable target genes for promoting CNS regeneration, despite majority of which remains unknown.

[Association between high sensitivity C-reactive protein and contrast induced acute kidney injury in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: impact of atorvastatin].

Objective: To observe the association between preprocedural high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level and incidence of contrast induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the impact of atorvastatin pretreatment on CI-AKI.

Methods: According to the level of preprocedural hs-CRP, 270 ACS patients were divided into three groups: high hs-CRP group (hs-CRP ≥ 3 mg/L, n = 176), moderate hs-CRP group (hs-CRP 1-3 mg/L, n = 60) and normal hs-CRP group (hs-CRP < 1 mg/L, n = 34). According to the dosage of preprocedural atorvastatin, the high hs-CRP group was further divided into 10 mg group (n = 49), 20 mg group (n = 66) and 40 mg group (n = 61).

[Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells transfected with hepatocyte growth factor gene improves heart function in rats with heart failure].

Aim: To investigate the effects of hepatocyte growth factor gene transfected MSCs transplantation on cardiac function and fibrosis in rats heart failure model induced by adriamycin.

Methods: MSCs were isolated from SD rats by density gradient centrifugation, purified, and transfected with Ad-hHGF. ELISA were used to detect the protein expression of hHGF in these MSCs.

Downregulation of P2X7 receptor expression in rat oligodendrocyte precursor cells after hypoxia ischemia.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are the predominant oligodendrocyte-lineage stage in the cerebral hemispheres of neonatal rat. Prior studies have shown that OPCs are highly vulnerable to hypoxic-ischemic injury, yet the mechanisms are not well understood. P2X(7) receptor (P2X(7)R) is an ATP-gated ion channel that has unusual properties and plays very complex roles in a variety of neuropathologic conditions.

A morphological and electrophysiological study on the postnatal development of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the rat brain.

A widespread population of cells in CNS is identified by specific expression of the NG2 chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan and named as oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC). OPCs may possess stem cell-like characteristics, including multipotentiality in vitro and in vivo. It was proposed that OPCs in the CNS parenchyma comprise a unique population of glia, distinct from oligodendrocytes and astrocytes.

Poly-lactic acid and agarose gelatin play an active role in the recovery of spinal cord injury.

Objective To investigate the role of poly-lactic acid and agarose gelatin in promoting the functional recovery of the injured spinal cord. Methods Poly-lactic acid (PLA) or agarose was embedded in the space between two stumps of the hemisectioned spinal cord. Immunohistochemistry was used to show astroglia proliferation and the infiltration of RhoA-positive cells.

Repair of spinal cord injury by neural stem cells modified with BDNF gene in rats.

Objective To explore repair of spinal cord injury by neural stem cells (NSCs) modified with brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (BDNF-NSCs) in rats. Methods Neural stem cells modified with BDNF gene were transplanted into the complete transection site of spinal cord at the lumbar 4 (L4) level in rats. Motor function of rats' hind limbs was observed and HE and X-gal immunocytochemical staining, in situ hybridization, and retrograde HRP tracing were also performed.

[Recent advances on the study between steroids and brain function].

It is vital for steroid hormones synthesized in the gonad gland, adrenal gland and placenta to the development and physiological metabolism of the body. In particular, its regulatory effect on brain functions has attracted more and more attention, as nearly all the steroid hormones can be synthesized de novo in the brain. This means steroids derived from brain and peripheral gland can modulate the physiology and pathology of the brain reciprocally and importantly on many aspects such as learning and memory, synaptic transmission, neuroprotection, neurodegenerative diseases (especially Alzheimer's disease), emotion, stress, and menstrual-cycle-linked disorders.

SVZa neural stem cells differentiate into distinct lineages in response to BMP4.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) reside in the anterior portion of the forebrain subventricular zone (SVZa) and generate the progenitors which will differentiate into neurons, and via a tangential migratory pathway, known as the rostral migratory stream (RMS), migrate to the olfactory bulbs (OB). Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play significant roles in neural development at different stages and locations, but their roles have not been determined in the SVZa. To explore possible roles of BMPs in SVZa NSCs, BMP4 at various concentrations were tested for their capacity to induce SVZa NSCs.

Immunocytochemical localization of estrogen receptor beta in the rat brain.

The localization of the new estrogen receptor, ER-beta, in the rat brain was studied by immunocytochemical technique, and the results revealed that ER-beta immunoactive material was predominantly localized in the neuronal nucleus, but it was also detectable in the cytoplasm and neuronal processes. High levels of ER-beta immunopositive signals were detected in the cerebral cortex, vertical limb of the diagonal band, Purkinje cells, locus ceruleus, and motor trigeminal nucleus. Moderate levels were found in the medial septum, lateral amygdaloid nucleus, substantia nigra, and central gray.

Antisense Noggin oligodeoxynucleotide administration decreases cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of adult rats.

The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is one of few regions in the adult mammalian brain characterized by ongoing neurogenesis. It has been demonstrated that Noggin antagonizes bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) to create a niche for subventricular zone neurogenesis. We previously demonstrated that Noggin and BMP4 showed strong expression in the proliferative subgranular layer of the dentate gyrus in adult rats.

[Construction and expression of adeno-associated virus vectors of Smad 6 and Smad 7 genes in human renal tubule epithelial cells].

Aim: To construct the adeno-associated virus(AAV) vectors of Smad 6 and Smad 7 genes and observe their expressions in human renal tubule epithelial cells.

Methods: The plasmids pcDNA3-Smad 6/flag and pcDNA3-Smad 7/flag were digested with BamH I and Xho I. Then the Smad 6/flag and Smad 7/flag gene fragments were cloned into plasmid pAAV-MCS, respectively to construct the recombinant pAAV-Smad 6/flag and pAAV-Smad 7/flag plasmids.

Immunolocalization of estrogen receptor beta in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of female mice during pregnancy, lactation and postnatal development.

Previous studies have shown that estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) is the predominant estrogen receptor in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of mouse, mediating estrogen regulation of the neuroendocrine activities of the PVN, but the exact roles that ERbeta plays in the PVN remain unclear. In this study, we used immunocytochemistry to investigate the expression of ERbeta in the maternal PVN of mice during pregnancy (pregnant days 8, 10, 12, 15 and 18), lactation (postpartum days 1, 4 and 8) as well as in the PVN of the females from postnatal days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 15, 30 and 70. We found out that ERbeta was predominantly localized in the magnocellular divisions of PVN.

Effect of antisense oligonucleotide of noggin on spatial learning and memory of rats.

Aim: To investigate the effect of antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) of noggin on rat spatial learning and memory.

Methods: Expression of noggin mRNA was measured by in situ hybridization method and the ability to spatial learning and memory was tested with Morris water maze.

Results: Compared with control rats, noggin mRNA positive neurons in dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3 region of hippocampus were markedly increased after the Morris water maze training (P<0.

[Relationship between level of sexual hormone in external blood and aromatase expression in cancer tissues of male patients with lung cancer].

Background & Objective: The conversion of androgen to estrogen is catalyzed by aromatase. Evidence to date indicates aromatase is the last rate-limited enzyme in this reaction. Previous studies have suggested that there is some imbalance and abnormality of sexual hormone of patients with lung cancer, but the reason is not clear yet.

[Progress in the study of CCN family].

The last 5-6 years have seen the emergence of a new gene family that currently comprises CTGF, Cyr61, nov, elm1, HICP and WISP-3. The translational products of most CCN family members are secreted proteins that contain 343 to 381 amino-acid residues to compose 4 distinct structural modules, each having 38 conserved cysteine residues. These proteins have a variety of properties to affect the cellular behaviors such as growth, differentiation, adhesion and locomotion.

Distribution and differences of estrogen receptor beta immunoreactivity in the brain of adult male and female rats.

Studies have shown that estrogen plays important roles in regulating neural structure and function in the brain, but the mechanism remains unclear. The actions of estrogen were thought to be mediated by a single estrogen receptor until the identification of another estrogen receptor, namely estrogen receptor-beta (ER-beta). Here we report a comprehensive study of the localization of ER-beta immunoreactivity and differences in the brains of adult male and female rats on the basis of a nickel ammonium sulfate-enhanced immunocytochemical method using a polyclonal antiserum sc-8974.