ABSTRACT
Alzheimer' s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease, which is seriously affecting people' s lives. Until now, the pathogenesis of AD is still unknown which result in its worldwide difficulties in prevention and treatment. Some studies have shown that AD might be a metabolic disease associated with glucose, lipid and energy metabolisms. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that the spleen is acquired foundation and the origination of Qi and blood. The function of spleen is not only closely related to the metabolism of substance and energy, but also related to the aging of human body. In this article, we summarized and analyzed the interrelationship of metabolism, AD and spleen, as well as the effect of spleen-invigorating prescription on AD. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the possible mechanism of TCM treating AD from the perspective of regulating metabolism, explore the potential value of spleen-strengthening TCM in the treatment or prevention of AD, and provide new ideas for exploring the drug development and TCM therapy of AD.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The present study was designed to investigate the modulating effect of Zhenxin Xingshui Yizhi Fang and its essential oil extract on cognitive deficits in mice.Method: For the purpose of this study 5 months old APP/PS1 double transgenic mice and wild-type C57BL/6JNju were selected as experimental animals.Then APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were randomly divided into model group,essential oil low and high-dose groups (12.13,48.50 mg·L-1),Zhenxin Xingshui Yizhi Fang group (0.46 g·kg-1).Meanwhile,wild-type C57BL/6JNju mice were used as a normal group.APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were treated with Zhenxin Xingshui Yizhi Fang and its essential oil extract for 22 consecutive days.Mice were subjected to a Morris water maze test and a platform test in order to determine their cognitive effect.Nissl's staining was used to observe pathological changes in brain tissue.Meanwhile,senile plaques (SP) were observed by employing Thioflavin-S staining.The expression of glucose transporter 1(GLUT1) and insulin receptor substrate-1(IRS-1) were analyzed using immunohistochemistry techniques.The levels of neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine (ACH),glutamate (GLU) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the hippocampus were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Result: The memory function was significantly reduced in model group,and severe brain injury and neuronal apoptosis were also observed in comparison to normal group (PPPPPPPConclusion: These results indicate that Zhenxin Xingshui Yizhi Fang and its essential oil extract could ameliorate cognitive deficits and GLUT1 and IRS-1 could be a possible therapeutic target for AD.It may be an interesting approach to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of c-src on the initiation of primordial follicles.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>2-days-old female SD rats' ovaries were cultured in Waymouth culture system and were used HE staining and immunohistochemy to observe the number of follicles after 0, 4, 8 days cultured. Use chemically synthesized small interference RNA (siRNA) transfected into ovarian tissue in cultured for RNA interference, and use HE staining and RT-PCR to detect the best siRNA and packaging it by lentiviruses to test the interference effect.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the increase of culturing days, the nummber of the primordial follicles in ovarian gradually reduced. We packed the best siRNA by lentiviruses to doing RNA interference and found comparing with the blank control group and blank vector group, c-src mRNA of the best interference group were significantly decreased. The total number of primordial follicles was relatively greater and the development of primordial folliculars was inhibited.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>c-src plays an important role in primordial follicle development and folliculogenesis initiation.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Rats , Animals, Newborn , Base Sequence , Culture Techniques , Molecular Sequence Data , Ovarian Follicle , Metabolism , Ovary , Metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins pp60(c-src) , Genetics , Physiology , RNA Interference , RNA, Messenger , Genetics , Metabolism , RNA, Small Interfering , Genetics , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , TransfectionABSTRACT
Our previous studies showed that the proto-oncogene c-erbB₂ played an important role in primordial follicles growth. The present study was conducted to investigate the role of MAPK and PKC signaling pathways in the primordial follicle onset in neonatal rats, and the relationship between c-erbB₂ and MAPK/PKC signaling pathways. Ovaries collected from 2-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in the Waymouth culture system in vitro. Ovaries were transfected with c-erbB₂ siRNA, or treated with PD98059 (50 mumol/L) or Calphostin (0.5 mumol/L) in the culture medium. RT-PCR was performed to measure the expression of c-erbB₂ mRNA, and Western blot analysis was performed to measure the expression of ErbB₂, MAPK and PKC protein after the neonatal rat ovaries were cultured for 8 d. The quantities of every-stage follicles of ovaries cultured for 8 d were obtained in histological section stained with hematoxylin eosin. The results showed that c-erbB₂ siRNA reduced the levels of c-erbB₂ mRNA (P<0.01) and the levels of ErbB₂, MAPK and PKC protein (P<0.01) significantly. But the levels of c-erbB₂ mRNA and ErbB₂ protein exhibited no change (P>0.05) in the ovaries cultured with PD98059 or Calphostin. After the ovaries were transfected with c-erbB₂ siRNA or cultured with PD98059 or Calphostin for 8 d, the quantities of primary follicles and second follicles were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but the quantity of the primordial follicles was higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). These results suggest that proto-oncogene c-erbB₂ promotes the initiation of primordial follicle growth through the MAPK and PKC signal transduction, and c-erbB₂ is possibly the upstream of PKC and MAPK signaling pathway in the regulation of primordial follicle onset.