Melatonin promotes sheep Leydig cell testosterone secretion in a co-culture with Sertoli cells.

Leydig cells synthesize and secrete testosterone, and are regulated by Sertoli cells. These two cell types may work together to regulate testicular androgen production. Studies have shown that Leydig cell androgen synthesis can be dramatically enhanced by Sertoli cells in the presence of melatonin, which can regulate the secretory function of Leydig and Sertoli cells.

[Study on Polygonum multi florum Thunb and extracts by DRIFTS and atr-ftir].

The diffuse-reflectance FTIR spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and attenuated total reflection FTIR (ATR-FTIR) were used to study polygonum multi florum Thumb and its extracts. The result shows that when acetone is used as extraction agent, the contents of extracts in polygonum multi florum Thunb's phloem are highest, those in polygonum multi florum Thunb's xylem are the lowest. Compared with DRIFTS and ATR-FTIR, it can be found that there are some differences between polygonum multi florum Thunb and its extracts.

Differences between femoral artery and vein smooth muscle cells in volume-regulated chloride channels.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the differences between the role of volume-regulated Cl⁻ channels (VRCCs) in veins and arteries. We used the whole cell patch clamp and fluorescence imaging techniques to evaluate swelling-induced Cl⁻ current (I(Cl,vol)) and changes in the intracellular concentrations of Cl⁻ ([Cl⁻](i)) induced by hypotonic solutions in rat femoral artery cells (FASMCs) and vein smooth muscle cells (FVSMCs). I(Cl,vol) and [Cl⁻](i) decline induced by hypotonic solution were more prominent in FASMCs than in FVSMCs.

Involvement of Chk1-Cdc25A-cyclin A/CDK2 pathway in simvastatin induced S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells.

Statins have been demonstrated to effectively inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cells by inhibition of geranylgeranylation, however its novel molecular mechanism remains to be determined. Recently simvastatin has been found to result in the synergistic induction of apoptosis with 7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) (a Chk1 inhibitor) in myeloma cells. Therefore we hypothesized that Chk1 plays a role in the anti-myeloma effect of simvastatin.

Associations between 45T/G polymorphism of the adiponectin gene and plasma adiponectin levels with type 2 diabetes.

1. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 45T/G and plasma adiponectin levels and the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Uygurs of the Xinjiang region, China. 2.