ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: One of mechanisms involved in treating cerebral ischemia with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) implantation is paracrine action. However, few studies have reported this mechanism.OBJECTIVE: To observe the inhibitory effect of BMMSCs paracrine action on apoptosis and its mechanism after cerebral ischemia. METHODS: BMMSCs were isolated from rats with adherent culture. Rat cerebral ischemia model was established by the middle cerebral artery occlusion. A total of 24 rats were divided into 4 groups, with 6 animals in each group. Cell implantation medication group: rats were received U0126 medication after BMMSCs implantation; Non-implantation medication group: rats were received U0126 medication after PBS injection; Cell implantation control group: received solvent medication after BMMSCs implantation; Non-implantation control group: received solvent medication after PBS injection. At 7 days after operation, the expressions of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and p-ERK1/2 protein were measured by Western blot analysis, and the apoptosis cells in the area of ischemic penumbra and cortex were examined by TUNEL. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The VEGF protein content in the brain tissue was significantly greater in the cell implantation groups than that of the non-implantation group, with increased p-ERK1/2 and decreased apoptosis cells. The expression of p-ERK1/2 was down-regulated in rats which were administrated U0126 while the number of the apoptosis cells was increased, but the VEGF protein expression had no statistical difference. It suggested that BMMSCs can paracrine VEGF in the striatum of brain and play an inhibitory effect on apoptosis in the ischemia area via activating ERK1/2.
ABSTRACT
To study the effect of chinese herbal medicine preventing gallstone formation, morphology of livers and gallbladders as well as conjugated bile acids of the bile. 58 female guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups. The control group was fed on normal diet; the lithogenous groups was high cholesterol diet (HCD) and the antilithic group was high cholesterol and the chinese herbal medicine capsule (13.5 g/kg). 8 weeks later the guinea pigs were killed. Liver and gallbladder were removed for light and electroscope observation. Gallbladder bile were withdrawn and gallbladder were collected. The minute construction of gallstones were observed by scanning electron microscope and gallstone components were quantified by Fourier Transform Infrand Spectros Copy (FT-IR). The morphology of liver and gallbladder were observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Conjugated bile acid of biles were determined by Thin-layer Chromatograph. The effect of chinese herbal medicine preventing gallstone formation, morphololgy of livers and gallbladders as well as conjugated bile acids of the bile were also observed. We measured conjugated bile acids in all groups and found that decreased in lithogenic group and increased notably in antilithic group (P＜0.01). The gallstone formation rate was 100% when the animals were fed on HCD in lithogenic group. The rate decreased to 5.3% when the animals were fed on HCD and Chinese herbal medicine capsule inantilithic group. It indicates that changes in diet is an important factor in the process of gallstone formation and the chinese herbal medicine can prevent gallstone formation effectively.