Germ cell removal after induction of cryptorchidism in adult rats.

Cryptorchidism is associated with male infertility due to germ cell loss in response to elevated temperature. However, there is a great deal of contradictory information prevalent on the status of germ cells and their process of removal in the cryptorchid testis. In the present study, we investigate the cell removal from cryptorchid rat testis by the methods of morphology and stereology.

Drug synergistic antifertility effect of combined administration of low-dose gossypol with steroid hormones in rats.

Background: Our previous studies suggested that low-dose gossypol combined with steroid hormones has a reversible antifertility role in adult male rats, and the course of treatment was shorter than that of either gossypol or steroid hormones alone. This result suggested that low-dose gossypol and steroid hormones have a drug synergistic effect on antifertility. The aim of the study was to find the target organs of the antifertility synergistic effect of the combined regimen.

Expression of Hsf1, Hsf2, and Phlda1 in cells undergoing cryptorchid-induced apoptosis in rat testes.

Surgery-induced cryptorchidism, in which the testes are prevented from descending into the scrotal sac, results in testicular germ cell death, and it is commonly used as an experimental tool in the study of spermatogenesis. However, the molecular events underlying the activation of germ cell death remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigate selective cell loss from cryptorchid rat testis by using DNA flow cytometry and by determining protein and mRNA expression of Hsf1, Hsf2, and Phlda1.

Effects of combined administration of low-dose gossypol with steroid hormones on the mitotic phase of spermatogenesis of rat.

Our previous studies suggested that combined low-dose gossypol with steroid hormones possesses a reversible antifertility role on adult male rat. Spermatocyte apoptosis during the meiosis of spermatogenesis is the main reason for the antifertility. This study evaluates the effects of the regimen on the mitosis of spermatogenesis.

Soluble transforming growth factor-beta1 receptor II might inhibit transforming growth factor-beta-induced myofibroblast differentiation and improve ischemic cardiac function after myocardial infarction in rats.

Objective: Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) regulate myocardial fibrosis and remodeling through proliferation and differentiation. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) plays a critical role in the development of myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inhibiting TGF-beta1 action on myofibroblast differentiation and cardiac function after MI.

Stereological measurement of rat's seminiferous tubule.

Background: The morphological measurements of seminiferous tubules are important in the studies of testis tissues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a stereological method to measure the geometric parameters of seminiferous tubule and to optimize the method.

Methods: A stereological image processing program was developed with Delphi for the stereological measurement.

Fin regeneration from tail segment with musculature, endoskeleton, and scales.

It is well known that fish caudal fins can be completely regenerated after fin amputation. Although much research on fin regeneration has been carried out, there have been very few reports regarding fin regeneration after tail amputation. In this study, we used grass carp, common carp, koi carp, and zebrafish as experimental organisms.

Protein expression profile in the differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells into Schwann cell-like cells.

During the last decade, increasing evidence suggested that bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) have the potential to differentiate into neural lineages. Many studies have reported that MSCs showed morphological changes and expressed a limited number of neural proteins under experimental conditions. However, no proteomic studies on MSCs differentiated into Schwann cell-like cells have been reported.

Modulation of experimental osteoporosis in rats by the antioxidant beverage effective microorganism-X (EM-X).

Osteoporosis is a disease of aging associated with bone loss that often occurs without symptoms until microarchitectural deterioration becomes so significant that bone fracture occurs. The effective microorganism-X (EM-X) is an antioxidant beverage derived from ferment of unpolished rice, sea weeds and papaya with effective microorganisms of lactic acid bacteria, yeast and photosynthetic bacteria (containing minerals, alpha-tocopherol, lycopene, ubiquinone, saponin and flavonoids). The levels of serum estradiol (E(2)) and the bone density of the middle and epiphysis of femurs were assessed in order to determine the effect of EM-X on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rat (an animal model of postmenopausal osteoporosis).

Selective down-regulation of extracellular matrix gene expression by bone marrow derived stem cell transplantation into infarcted myocardium.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis is a major component of ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of the present study was to determine the outcome of transplantation into ischemic myocardium of bone marrow derived stem cell (MSC) on left ventricular (LV) function and remodeling, and to look closely at extracellular matrix gene expression.

Methods And Results: MI was induced by direct ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery in rats, followed by MSC transplantation into the ischemic myocardium.

Effects of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on extracellular matrix after myocardial infarction in rats.

Objective: The present study was to determine the effects of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation into ischemic myocardium on left ventricular (LV) function and remodeling, especially the changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) and in transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 after myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: In this study, we investigated the changes in ECM involving collagen type I, collagen type III, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and in TGF-beta1 mRNA expressions by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization after MSC transplantation into infarcted myocardium in rats. Protein expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot.

A combined regimen of gossypol plus methyltestosterone and ethinylestradiol as a contraceptive induces germ cell apoptosis and expression of its related genes in rats.

Attempts to develop gossypol and steroidal hormones alone as a male contraceptive have been tested for many years; however, both caused undesirable side effects that have prevented their acceptance. In this study, we formulated a regimen of combined gossypol at a low dose of 12 mg/kg or a high dose of 50 mg/kg plus methyltestosterone 20 mg/kg and ethinylestradiol 100 g/kg daily (12 mg G+H and 50 mg G+H) administered for 6 weeks in adult rats. The possible roles of germ cell apoptosis and related genes expression were studied by techniques of TdT-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL), agarose gel electrophoresis of low-molecular-weight DNA, in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction detection.

[Expression of type II collagen gene and structural change in bone tissues of rats with experimental fluorosis].

Objective: To investigate the effects of excessive intake of fluoride on the expression of type II collagen gene and types and morphological change of collagen fiber in the bone tissues of rats.

Methods: A rat model with fluorosis was established by adding 221 mg/L of sodium fluoride (NaF) to drinking water for the rats for 15 days, 30 days and two months, respectively. Type II collagen alpha1 (II) cDNA probe was prepared, and cDNA-mRNA in-situ hybridization was employed to detect change in expression of type II collagen mRNA in the bone tissues of rats with excessive intake of fluoride (221 mg/L NaF).