Mechanism of electroacupuncture regulating the ligand pathway of tyrosine kinase receptor in improving vascular dementia / 解剖学报

Objective To observe the potential mechanism of electroacupuncture regulating the erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor B2/erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor-interacting B2/big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1(EphB2/EphrinB2/BMK1) signaling pathway to improve neural damage in vascular dementia rats. Methods Eighty SD male adult rats were randomly divided into a sham surgery group, a model group, a non acupoint electroacupuncture group, a nimodipine group, and an electroacupuncture three needle group. The vascular dementia rat model was made by the modified Pulsinelli four vessel occlusion method. After grouping, the rats in each group were subjected to water maze test, HE staining, Nissl staining, and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) to observe the pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 area, and the expression of EphB2 and BMK1 in the hippocampal CA1 area was detected by immunohistochemistry; Detection of EphB2 and BMK1 protein expression in rat hippocampal CA1 region was detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the model group, the escape latency of vascular dementia rats treated with electroacupuncture and nimodipine decreased (P0.05). Compared with the nimodipine group, the expression of EphB2 and BMK1 in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats in the electroacupuncture Zhisanzhen group significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture may improve the damage of hippocampal neurons in vascular dementia rats by increasing the expression of EphB2 and BMK1 in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, thereby improving the learning and memory of vascular dementia rats.

Acupoint catgut embedding inhibiting neuroinflammation in vascular dementia rats / 解剖学报

Objective To observe the effect of acupoint catgut embedding on the expression of inflammatory factor mRNA in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signal pathway of vascular dementia (VD) rats, and to explore the protective mechanism of acupoint catgut embedding on the brain inflammatory response of VD rats. Methods VD model was established by the modified Pulsinelli ' s four vessel blocking method. Totally 148 male rats were randomly divided into VD model group, non acupoint catgut embedding group and acupoint catgut embedding group. On the 7th day after operation, catgut embedding at acupoints and catgut embedding at non acupoints were performed in the two treatment groups respectively, and materials were taken out 15 days later. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of COX-2 and PGE2, and real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), interieukin(IL)-6, macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), IL-lβ, and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 ( MCP-1 ) in rat hippocampus. Results Compared with the sham group, the expressions of COX-2, PGE2, TNF-α, ICAM-1, IL-6, MIP-2, IL-lβ and MCP-1 in hippocampus of the other three groups were significantly higher (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expressions of COX-2, PGE2 protein and TNF-α, ICAM-1, IL-6, MIP-2, IL-lβ, MCP-1 mRNA in the hippocampus of the acupoint catgut embedding group and the non acupoint catgut embedding group decreased significantly (P<0.01). Conclusion Acupoint catgut embedding can protect the brain from inflammatory injury by down-regulating the expression of related inflammatory factors in COX-2/PGE2 signaling pathway and reducing the inflammatory response induced by VD rats.

Total triterpene acids, isolated from Corni Fructus, ameliorate progression of renal damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether total triterpene acids (TTAs), isolated from Cornus Fructus, attenuates renal function by reducing oxidative stress and down-regulating the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diabetes was induced by an injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg intravenously). Thirty rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, diabetic model group and TTAs treatment group (50 mg/kg, intragastrically) administrated for 8 weeks from 5th to 12th week. All rats were anaesthetized and then were killed to remove kidneys. The renal function and redox enzyme system parameters were tested. Glomerular morphology was observed by a light microscopy. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays were employed to determine the protein levels of TGF-β1.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TTAs attenuated the levels of urinary protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, although it did not significantly reduce the level of glucose. In addition, TTAs decreased the malondialdehyde while increased superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxide activities in diabetic rats. The renal pathological changes in TTAs treatment group were ameliorated. Furthermore, TTAs also ameliorated the expression of TGF-β1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TTAs improved renal function via reducing oxidative stress and down-regulation the expression of TGF-β1 in diabetic rats.</p>

Amelioration of icariin for the epididymis impairment induced by streptozocin (STZ) in rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of icariin on the streptozocin (STZ)-induced epididymis impair in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The epididymis impair was induced by injection of streptozocin at dosage of 60 mg/kg ip in SD rats. Animals were randomly divided into six groups (n = 14): normal control, model group, three icariin treated group with different dosages (P.O, 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg especially) and rosiglitazone group (P.O, 3 mg/kg), 12 weeks later, animals were sacrificed. The level of serum glucose, the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acid phosphatase (ACP), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT), alpha-glucosidase activity as well as sialic acid (SA), fructose level in the epididymis were determined. The pathological examination was performed under microscope after the epididymis was fixed by 4% poly-formalin and stained by HE.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control, the activity of LDH, ACP, gamma-GT and alpha-glucosidase in the epididymis revealed a decline, with lower level of SA and fructose. Histological examination showed that mature spermatocytes in the epididymis markedly decreased. These alterations were ameliorated in the groups with the treatment of icariin at 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, but not at 20 mg/kg.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Icariin ameliorated the signs of epididymis in diabetic rats induced by streptozocin, this effect might carry out by promoting the elevation of special enzyme and energy metabolism in the epididymis.</p>

Protective effect of total flavonoids of herba epimedii on testis degeneration in diabetic mice / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the protective effects and investigate the possible mechanism of total flavonoids of herba epimedii (TFE) on diabetic testopathy in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Diabetic animal model was produced by a single injection of alloxan ( 70 mg/kg, i.v.) in mice. The mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 10): control group, model group and TFE group (100 mg/kg, p.o.), administrated for 8 weeks continuously. The level of serum testosterone and blood glucose were measured after 24 hours in the last administration. Detect the specific biochemical indicators of testis: superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA). Meanwhile, the morphology of testis was observed under light microscope by HE and MASSION dyeing. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the level of matrix metalloprotein (MMP)9.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, glucose and the content of MDA in testicular tissues increased while the levels of serum testosterone and SOD decreased remarkably in model group. Detection of pathology showed that the diameters of seminiferous tubules, various grades of spermatogenic cell decreased and collagen fibrosis hyperplasia in testicular tissues, the expression of (MMP9) were decreased in model group. These alterations were significantly improved in TFE group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TFE ameliorated the alterations of testis inalloxan-induced mice through promoting the testosterone release, anti-oxidation and improving the expression of MMP9.</p>