Effect of hyperoxic exposure on the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and glutamate-L-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit in lung tissue of preterm rats / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the effect of hyperoxic exposure on the dynamic expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutamate-L-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) in the lung tissue of preterm neonatal rats.@*METHODS@#Cesarean section was performed for rats on day 21 of gestation to obtain 80 preterm rats, which were randomly divided into air group and hyperoxia group after one day of feeding. The rats in the air group were housed in room air under atmospheric pressure, and those in the hyperoxia group were placed in an atmospheric oxygen tank (oxygen concentration 85%-95%) in the same room. Eight rats each were selected from each group on days 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14, and lung tissue samples were collected. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissue at different time points after air or hyperoxic exposure. Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to measure the protein and mRNA expression of HO-1 and GCLC in the lung tissue of preterm rats at different time points after air or hyperoxic exposure.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the air group, the hyperoxia group had a significant reduction in the body weight (P<0.05). Compared with the air group, the hyperoxia group had structural disorder, widening of alveolar septa, a reduction in the number of alveoli, and simplification of the alveoli on the pathological section of lung tissue. Compared with the air group, the hyperoxia group had significantly lower relative mRNA expression of HO-1 in the lung tissue on day 7 and significantly higher expression on days 10 and 14 (P<0.05). Compared with the air group, the hyperoxia group had significantly lower mRNA expression of GCLC in the lung tissue on days 1, 4, and 7 and significantly higher expression on day 10 (P<0.05). Compared with the air group, the hyperoxia group had significantly higher protein expression of HO-1 in the lung tissue on all days, and the protein expression of GCLC had same results as HO-1, except on day 1 (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Hyperoxia exposure may lead to growth retardation and lung developmental retardation in preterm rats. Changes in the protein and mRNA expression of HO-1 and GCLC in the lung tissue of preterm rats may be associated with the pathogenesis of hyperoxia-induced lung injury in preterm rats.

Expression of nNOS and ultrastructural changes in the penile tissue of rats with prolactinoma-induced erectile dysfunction / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of nNOS and ultrastructural changes in the penile tissue of rats with prolactinoma-induced erectile dysfunction (ED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We established the model of prolactinoma in 20 male Westar rats by peritoneal injection of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and treated the control rats with normal saline (n = 10) or sterilized arachis oil (n = 10). After 8 weeks, we performed the apomorphine test and measured the weight of the pituitary gland and the levels of serum prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) to confirm the successful construction of the prolactinoma-induced ED model. Then we determined the expression of nNOS in the penile tissue by immunohistochemistry and examined the ultrastructural changes of the penile cavernosum under the transmission electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prolactinoma-induced ED model was successfully established in 15 rats. The weight of the pituitary gland was significantly increased in the rats treated with DES as compared with the normal saline and sterilized arachis oil controls ([46.7 ± 15.5] vs [11.7 ± 2.4] and [12.4 ± 2.3] mg, both P < 0.05). The level of serum PRL was markedly higher while that of T remarkably lower in the former than in the latter two groups ([1,744.9 ± 304.5] vs [11.5 ± 2.4] and [10.6 ± 1.9] ng/ml, both P < 0.0l; [1.54 ± 0.46] vs [3.11 ± 1.08] and [3.04 ± 1.11] ng/ml, both P < 0.05). The rate of penile erection was significantly reduced in the prolactinoma-induced ED model rats in comparison with the normal saline and arachis oil controls (16.7% vs 100% and 87.5%, both P < 0.05), and so was the expression of nNOS in the penile tissue (0.024 ± 0.011 vs 0.066 ± 0.019 and 0.058 ± 0.021, both P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy manifested significant ultrastructural changes in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the cavernous tissue in the prolactinoma-induced ED models.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ultrastructural changes of the penile cavernous tissue and the reduced expression of nNOS in penile tissue may be the most important mechanisms of prolactinoma-induced ED in rats.</p>

Risk factors of prostate cancer in urban Qingdao: a case-control study / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the risk factors of prostate cancer in urban Qingdao and provide some theoretical evidence for the scientific prevention and treatment of the disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed a hospital-based matched case-control study in Qingdao Municipal Hospital. The cases and controls were matched in age, gender, nationality and the place of residence. All the subjects were interviewed face to face in the hospital using a questionnaire, and the data analyzed by the conditional logistic regression method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to the 258 valid questionnaires collected, the prostate cancer risk was significantly higher in the cases with a family history of cancer than in those without (OR = 2.58), and so was it in the men with the first spermatorrhea at the age of < or = 15 years than in those at the age of > or = 18 years (OR = 2.27). A decreased risk of prostate cancer was found among the men with the first experience of sexual intercourse between 25 to 30 years of age (OR = 0.76). An increased risk was shown in those with sexual intercourses > or = 4 times per week before 35 years old (OR = 2.57), masturbations > or = 3 times per week (OR = 2.30) and a drinking history (alcohol > or = 150 g/d) of > or = 10 years (OR = 2.83).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Positive family history of cancer, earlier age of the first spermatorrhea, sexual intercourses > or = 4 times per week before 35 years old, frequent masturbations, and heavy drinking for more than 10 years are risk factors for prostate cancer.</p>