Naringin ameliorates liver fibrosis in zebrafish by modulating IDO1-mediated lipid metabolism and inflammatory infiltration.

Liver fibrosis (LF) is an important reparative process in response to acute or chronic hepatic injury, which has the potential to advance towards cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Dietary naringin consumption contributes to protection against LF in animal studies, while the exact protective mechanism of naringin remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind the potential protective effect of naringin against TAA-induced LF in zebrafish.

[Irbesartan ameliorates cardiac inflammation in type 2 diabetic db/db mice].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of irbesartan against cardiac inflammation associated with diabetes and obesity in the db/db mouse model of type 2 diabetes and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Twenty- four 10-week-old diabetic db/db mice were equally randomized into irbesartan treatment (50 mg/kg per day) group and model group, using 12 nondiabetic littermates (db/+) as the controls, The mice were treated with irbesartan or saline vehicle for 16 consecutive weeks, after which the heart pathology was observed and the heart weight, body weight, and serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol(TC), and triglycerides(TG) were measured. The expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65 in the myocardium was assessed with immunohistochemistry, the protein levels of P-IκBα ,IκBα and β-actin were analyzed with Western blotting, and the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA were detected using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).

[Lead impairs ability of learning and memory and affects expression of synaptosomal-associated protein-25 in hippocampus of offspring].

Objective: To find the effects of lead taken by pregnant mice on learning and memory and the expression of synaptosomal-associated protein (SNAP)-25 mRNA and protein, in order to reveal the mechanism of neurotoxicity induced by lead.

Methods: Lead exposure was conducted through freely drinking the corresponding lead acetate solutions with dosages of 0.3, 1.

[Differences in the response to sepsis between C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice].

Objective: To compare the responses to sepsis between C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice.

Methods: Thirty C57BL/6 mice and 30 BALB/c mice were randomized into sham-operated group and sepsis group (n=15). Sepsis model was established by cecal ligation puncture (CLP) in the mice, and 6 h after the operation, 5 mice from each group were selected randomly for cytokine detection including IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, GM-CSF, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha by Bio-plex.