[Effects of tail suspension on learning and memory function of mice].

Objective. To study the effects of simulated weightlessness on learning and memory capability of the brain. Method.

[Protective effects of Chinese herb-compound on cellular immunological function (correction of funcion) in tail-suspended rats].

Objective. To observe the protective effects of two kinds of Chinese herb-compounds (Dan-huang-ci compound and Shen-chuan-shu compound) on cellular immunology in tail-suspended rats. Method.

[Application of degree of complexity in heart rate variability analysis during orthostatic (correction of orthosatic) standing].

Objective. To introduce the degree of complexity in characterizing heart rate variability (HRV), and to discuss the changes in complexity of the cardiovascular system during orthostatic standing posture. Method.

[Effects of running armored car on dynamic posture equilibrium].

Objective. To study the effects of training in running armored car on dynamic posture equilibrium. Method.

[Changes of learning and memory function under weightlessness or simulated weightlessness].

The work efficiency of astronauts has an intimate connection with the brain function state during space flight. The research results of the learning and memory mechanism of the brain in recent years were introduced. The effects of weightlessness or simulated weightlessness on brain's learning, memory, focused attention and many other higher neural activities and on the relative neural transmitters were summarized.

[Approximate entropy and its application in heart rate variability analysis].

Objective. To introduce approximate entropy in the analysis of heart rate variability, and to discuss the changes of the complexity of cardiovascular system during orthostatic standing posture. Method.

[Changes of cardiovascular indices during head up tilt plus lower body negative pressure].

Objective: To understand the change of the cardiovascular function and to evaluate the usefulness of sphygmography and heart rate variability (HRV) spectrum techniques on estimating cardiovascular function during HUP + LBNP.

Method: Blood pressure, ECG, cerebral oxygen saturation and sphygmogram of 16 subjects were studied during 75 degrees head up tilt plus lower body negative pressure (HUP + LBNP).

Result: (1) During HUP + LBNP, heart rate, blood pressure, normalized low frequency component (LFn), LFn/HFn increased significantly, the cerebral blood oxygen saturation, T wave (ECG), HFn decreased significantly; (2) Blood pressure, heart rate and cerebral blood oxygen saturation decreased significantly in presyncopal state; (3) The heart rate in low tolerance group was higher than that in high tolerance group during the initial stage of HUT + LBNP; (4) The shape of pulse wave changed enormously during HUP + LBNP, so that no analysis could be made.

[Research proceeding on the effect of microgravity on erythropoiesis].

The reduction of red blood cell mass is a main change of hematology under microgravity. It is considered that the decrease of erythroid cell production is the key cause. The studies on reticulocytes, Price-Jones curve, ferrum turn over, cytology of bone marrow and Erythropoietin (Epo) level suggested the suppression of erythropoiesis was due to microgravity.

[Changes of blood circulation, muscle and skeletal systems in 30 d tail-suspended [correction of tail-suspented] rats].

Objective: To confirm the tail-suspended rat model for the study of countermeasures against weightlessness.

Method: The changes of blood circulation, muscle and skeletal systems in control group rats (n = 15) and 30 d tail-suspended rats (n = 15) were compared.

Result: Compared with the control group, the hemorrheology and erythrocyte deformability decreased significantly, muscle-fiber atrophy, muscle contraction function decreased, the type I muscle fibers transformed to the type II muscle fibers, bone-mineral content of L3 and load capacity of femur declined, bone metabolism changed in the suspended rats.

In vitro induction of PDT resistance in HT29, HT1376 and SK-N-MC cells by various photosensitizers.

Our approach to examine the mechanism(s) of action for photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been via the generation of PDT-resistant cell lines. In this study we used three human cell lines, namely, human colon adenocarcinoma (HT29), human bladder carcinoma and human neuroblastoma. The three photosensitizers used were Photofrin, Nile Blue A and aluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate.

Stimulation of endogenous GH and interleukin-6 receptors selectively activates different Jaks and Stats, with a Stat5 specific synergistic effect of dexamethasone.

The interaction of GH, interleukin (IL)-6 and glucocorticoids is likely to be important in regulating the GH-insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I axis. The signalling cascades activated by GH and IL-6 appear to be very similar, as demonstrated by studies using overexpression of the receptor and other components of the Jak-Stat and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways. Here we show that the human embryonic kidney cell line 293 (HEK293) expresses GH and IL-6 receptors endogenously.

Cirrhotic liver expresses low levels of the full-length and truncated growth hormone receptors.

In cirrhosis, as in other conditions of protein catabolism, there is a state of acquired GH resistance, as defined by high circulating GH levels with low insulin-like growth factor I levels. However, patients with end-stage liver failure respond to supraphysiological doses of GH with an increase in circulating insulin-like growth factor I levels. The present study represents a detailed analysis of GH receptor (GHR) expression in cirrhotic liver from 17 patients with end-stage liver disease.

A short isoform of the human growth hormone receptor functions as a dominant negative inhibitor of the full-length receptor and generates large amounts of binding protein.

The GH receptor (GHR) is a member of the cytokine receptor family. Short isoforms resulting from alternative splicing have been reported for a number of proteins in this family. RT-PCR experiments, in human liver and cultured IM-9 cells, using primers in exon 7 and 10 of the GHR, revealed three bands reflecting alternative splicing of GHR mRNA: the predicted product at 453 bp and two other products at 427 and 383 bp.

Lead cytotoxicity in primary cultured rat astrocytes and Schwann cells.

The cytotoxic effects of lead acetate on primary cultured astrocytes and Schwann cells (SCs) were studied for comparing the sensitivity of the two kinds of cells and exploring the possible mechanism of lead cytotoxicity. The results indicated that the number of astrocytes detached from the culture surfaces were dependent on the concentration and time of lead exposure. Under phase contrast microscopy, increases in the number of vacuoles were observed at doses of 50 and 100 micrograms ml-1 lead after 96 h of lead exposure for astrocytes and 1, 5 and 10 micrograms ml-1 lead after 24 h of lead exposure for SCs.

Regulation of hepatic mRNA levels for the growth hormone receptor in rats with altered thyroid status.

Changes in thyroid status have a major effect on the GH/IGF-I axis. In the rat, there is a single gene for the growth hormone receptor (GHR), that is transcribed into two different sized mRNA transcripts following alternative splicing, one transcript codes for the GHR (4.0-4.

The study on the mechanism of G intolerance of rabbits after simulated weightlessness.

The direct consequence of cardiovascular adaptation to weightlessness (WL) is the decrease of G tolerance. In studying the mechanism of G intolerance after WL, respiration, heart rate, electrocardiogram, temporal arterial flow, loss of vision were usually used as the indices for evaluation of G tolerance. However the changes of microcirculation and blood rheological indices were seldom observed.

Identification of high density lipoprotein binding proteins in mature adipocyte plasma membranes.

High density lipoprotein (HDL) binding proteins were identified in nonreduced detergent extracts of plasma membranes or crude membrane fractions of rat adipocytes by ligand blotting. Using 125I-labelled human apolipoprotein-E-free HDL ([125I]HDL3), two binding proteins in adipocyte membranes were detected with apparent molecular masses of 122 and 88 kilodaltons (kDa), respectively. The binding of HDL3 to both binding proteins was abolished by pronase treatment and was inhibited by excess unlabelled HDL3.

Effect of intracerebroventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine on the peripheral catecholamine and angiotensin II in SHR.

This investigation revealed that the contents of A II and NE in plasma, heart and aorta and E content in plasma were significantly increased in SHR at the age of 12th week. At the same time the systolic blood pressure of SHR was much higher than that of the age-matched WKY. The intracerebroventricular administration of 6-OHDA in SHR at the age of 8th week not only prevented the development of hypertension, but also reduced the contents of NE and E in the brain regions, heart, aorta and plasma.

Thrombin-induced expression of the KC gene in cultured aortic endothelial cells. Involvement of proteolytic activity and protein kinase C.

The KC gene, first identified in platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated BALB/c 3T3 cells, shares structural similarities with a new family of genes that code for secreted cytokines which appear to be involved in wound healing and inflammation. Thrombin is a coagulation system proteinase likely to be present in vivo at sites of tissue injury. This enzyme is known to stimulate multiple responses in cultured endothelial cells (EC), including the production of eicosanoids, the expression of growth factor genes and the adhesion of leukocytes.

Lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of the competence gene KC in vascular endothelial cells is mediated through protein kinase C.

The KC gene is a cell cycle-dependent competence gene originally identified in platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated BALB/c-3T3 cells. This gene is also induced in murine peritoneal macrophages in response to activation stimuli. We have examined the expression of the KC gene in cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells following treatment with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a first step in defining the early molecular events involved in endothelial cell stimulation by physiologically relevant modulators.

Conversion of 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid to 11-hydroxyhexadecatrienoic acid by endothelial cells.

Cultured endothelial cells take up 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE), a lipoxygenase product formed from arachidonic acid, and incorporate it into cellular phospholipids and glycerides. Uptake can occur from either the apical or basolateral surface. A substantial amount of the 15-HETE incorporated into phospholipids is present in the inositol phosphoglycerides.