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Aim To establish and compare asthma models among different strains of obese mice. Methods Different strains of SPF female mice, namely Kunming ( KM ) , C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice, were randomly divided into four groups ( control group, asthma group, obesity group and obese asthma group). The mice were fed a high-fat diet or a normal diet for 12 weeks, following which they were sensitized and challenged with ovalbu-min ( OVA) or phosphate-buffered saline ( PBS) . Body weight, fat weight, liver weight, Lee′s index, OVA-specific IgE concen-tration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) , serum total cho-lesterol ( TC) and triglyceride ( TG) levels, and lung and adi-pose morphologies were evaluated. The specific airway resistance ( sRaw) was measured using double-chamber plethysmography. Results The mice on a high-fat diet showed a more rapid in-crease in body weight compared with those on a normal diet. Af-ter 12 weeks of feeding, body, fat, and liver weights and Lee′s index were higher for the obese mice than for the lean mice. The adipocyte cross-sectional area was significantly greater in the obese BALB/c and KM mice than in their lean counterparts;the C57BL/6J groups showed no significant differences. The BALB/c mice demonstrated more significant symptoms of acute asthma, local inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness ( AHR ) . Conclusion Compared with C57BL/6J and KM mice, BALB/c mice fed a high-fat diet and sensitized and challenged with OVA provide the most suitable model for evaluating the relationship between obesity and asthma.
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Objective To real?timely monitor the environment in the forestry schistosomiasis control project(CFSCP)area and to early warn the status of Oncomelania hupensis snails in the schistosomiasis endemic area. Methods Based on ArcGIS Engine 10.1 software,the Geographic Information System(GIS)platform of the forestry schistosomiasis project of real?time mon?itoring,early warning and emergency management in Renshou County,Sichuan Province,was designed and established. Re?sults The functions of the platform mainly included real?time monitoring of the environment in CFSCP area,and early warning of the crisis status of O. hupensis snails,as well as editing the map of snail distribution,query,spatial analysis and other GIS functions. Conclusion This platform could provide the scientific support to the forestry administrative department of the CF?SCP area.
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Aim To investigate the effect of catalpol from Radix Rehmanniae on M_2 receptor density in CHO cells transfected with gene of M_2 receptors(CHO m2).Methods Cultured CHOm2 cells were randomly divided into 4 groups:three concentrations of catalpol :10-6、10-5、10-4 mol?L-1,and saline control.After addition of catalpol and saline for 72 h,M_2 Receptor density was measured by single point 3H-NMS binding assay,the content of protein was measured with Lowry's method.Competitive binding assay using the binding system of 3H-NMS was performed to address the question about whether catalpol could occupy the M receptor binding site.Addition of catapol to brain homogenate and measuring the enzyme activity with the Ellman's colorimetric method were performed to address the question about whether catalpol could in-hibit acetylcholinesterase activity.Results Catalpol can elevate the M_2 receptor density in CHO m2 cells significantly at the doses of 10-5、10-4 mol?L-1(P
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Aim To observe the effect of ZDY102, a C25 stereo-isomer of ZMS, the active component of Zhimu, on brain M receptor density of dementia model animals and the correlation with its effect on learning/memory ability. Methods The rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, model group, model given orally for 2 months with 3.6 mg?kg -1?d -1 of ZDY102 treatment, model treated with 9.0 mg?kg -1?d -1 of ZDY102, and model treated with 18.0 mg?kg -1?d -1 of ZDY102. Dementia model was produced by single unilateral injection of 4 ?l of normal saline containing 4 ?g of ?-amyloid (25～35) and 1 ?g of ibotenic acid into right basal ganglion region with the aid of a stereotaxic equipment. The brain muscarinic receptor density was analyzed with single-site binding assay using 3H-quinuclidinyl benzilae(QNB). The learning/memory ability was measured by Y-maze performance. Results Two months after model production, the learning and memory ability as well as the density of muscarinic receptor in brain were significantly decreased in model rats compared with those in control rats. Parallel models treated with daily oral administration of ZDY102 for two months improved in learning and memory ability and their muscarinic receptor density was significantly increased when compared with model rats. The correlation coefficient between total M receptor densities and the learning/memory ability was significant when examined with linear regression. Conclusion ZDY102 can significantly improve the learning and memory ability and increase the brain muscarinic receptor density of the model. Since brain muscarinic receptors are closely correlated to learning and memory, up-regulation of M receptor density might play a very important role in the therapeutic effect of ZDY102.
ABSTRACT
AIM To study the effect of ZMS, an active component of traditional Chinese herb Zhimu, on two neurotrophins in brains of aged rats. METHODS The function of learning and memory was detected by Y-maze. BDNF and NGF in brain were determined by ELISA. Rats were divided into three groups, young, aged, and aged treated with ZMS for two months at a dose of 18mg/kg/d which is equivalent to the dose recommended for clinical use. RESULTS The learning and memory ability are impaired in aged animals and ZMS is effective in improving the learning and memory ability of such animals. BDNF content of whole brain is lowered in aged rats when compared with young rats. ZMS is able to raise the BDNF content to a higher level. The NGF contents of young, aged and aged treated with ZMS groups were not significantly different from each other. CONCLUSIONS ZMS is able to raise brain BDNF in aged rats and thus to protect cholinergic neurons from degeneration. It is very probable that this action is one of the mechanisms of ZMS in improving the ability of learning and memory.