ABSTRACT
To investigate whether the extract of Dendrobium nobile Lindl (DNL) has an antidepressant effect on chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depressive mice, 72 BALB/c male mice were randomly divided into the control group, the CUMS model group, the extract of DNL groups (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg DNL, i.g.) and the paroxetine group (10 mg/kg, i.g.). The different doses of DNL or the paroxetine was administered orally once daily to CUMS mice for 8 weeks (containing two-week preventive medication before the modeling). The same volume of distilled water was given to the control group and the CUMS group. Except for the control group, the other mice were exposed to chronic stress for 35 days. Behavioral tests were performed by using the sucrose preference test (SPT), the novelty-suppressed feeding (NSF) test, the tail suspension test (TST), and the forced swim test (FST). The levels of dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were measured by the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS)/MS. Compared with the control group, obvious behavioral changes were observed in the CUMS group after 5-week CUMS, including a decrease in the sucrose consumption, an increase in the latency to feeding in the NSF test and a prolongation of the immobility time in the TST. Compared with the CUMS group, the application of DNL resulted in a dose-dependent increase in sucrose consumption (P < 0.01) as paroxetine (10 mg/kg) did and a significant dose-dependent decrease in the latency to feeding in the NSF test (P < 0.05). In the TST, the application of paroxetine (10 mg/kg) and the high-dose DNL (200 mg/kg) obviously decreased the immobility time when compared with the CUMS group (P < 0.05). In the FST, compared with the CUMS group, all the groups had no significant differences in the immobility time (P > 0.05). In addition, in the hippocampus and cortex, the levels of 5-HT and DA were significantly decreased in the CUMS group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In comparison with the CUMS group, paroxetine obviously increased the DA levels in the hippocampus and the cortex and the 5-HT level in the hippocampus (P < 0.05). DNL (50 and 200 mg/kg) significantly increased the DA level in cerebral cortex of the brain, and DNL (100 and 200 mg/kg) increased the DA level in the hippocampus. The 5-HT level in the 200 mg/kg DNL group was notably increased in both two brain regions (P < 0.05), but the 5-HT level in the 100 mg/kg DNL group was significantly increased only in the hippocampus (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that the extract of DNL has an antidepressant-like effect on CUMS-induced depressive mice and its mechanism may be related to the changes in DA and 5-HT in the hippocampus and cortex.
ABSTRACT
The specific fragment of Pneumococcal surface protein A(PspA)and Pneumococcal Surface Adhesin A(PsaA)gene was amplified by PCR from Streptococcus pneumonia 5 and Streptococcus pneumonia 19.The amplified fragnent of PspA and PsaA gene was ligated into pET-27b(+)vector and transformed into BL 21 E.coli for expression and obtain the expressive production of PspA and PsaA.Induced by IPTG,the expression level was as high as 75 % of the total disolube protein.The result showed that the recombinant plasmid could express a specific 75 kDa and 37 kDa fusion protein in E.coli BL 21,which showed the good immunogenicity and a broadly cross reactivity with the other serotypes.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the correlation between cognitive dysfunction and cholinergic neuron changes in basal forebrain(BFB)and brainstem reticular formation(BSRF)areas after brain con- cussion(BC)in rats.Methods Eighty-four Spragne-Dawley rats weighing 250-310g were used.The BC rat models were reproduced by a self-made simple pendulum impact device,then the rats were ran- domized into one control group and six experimental groups(1 day,2 day,4 day,8 day,16 day,and 24 day groups;n=12 in each group).A Morris Water Maze(MWM)test was used to assess learning and memory function of the rats.Cholinergic neurons in the BFB and BSRF were identified with choline acetyltransferase(CHAT)antibody and quantitated.Results Compared with the control group,the la- tency to find the platform in MWM was much longer on days 1-3 after BC,but there was no statistical difference on days 4-21 after BC.The cell number and the ChAT expression activity of cholinergic neu- rons in the BFB were obviously decreased after BC,and reached the lowest level at 8 days after BC,then increased gradually and nearly reached the normal level at 24 days.The ChAT expression activity in BSRF declined on the first 2 days after BC,then went up gradually,and reached the peak at the 24th day.Conclusion The spatial cognition deficit of BC rats can be detected by MWM in the early period (1-3 days after BC).There are significant changes in the number and ChAT expression activity in BFB and BSRF after BC.The change of cholinergic neurons may be correlated with cognitive deficits in BC rats.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the mechanism of Astragalus membeanaceus and Angelica sinensis inrenal ischemia reperfusion injury of rabbits.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Thirty-four heathy mature Japanese big-ear rabbits were randomized into control group, IR model group, Astragalus Membeanaceus + IR groupand Danggui + IR group. Renal ischemia lasted for 1 hour and then the renal reperfusion lasted for 48 hours. At the end, kidneys were observed with Electron Microscopy and the level of Cr in serum and the level of TNF-alpha and bFGF in kidneys were measured.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The changes of kidneys in IR model group were significant, but they were slight in Astragalus Membeanaceus + IR group and Danggui + IR group. The level of Cr in serum and the level of TNF-alpha in kidneys of IR model group were higher and yet the level of bFGF decreased obviously. The level of Cr and TNF-alpha in Astragalus Membeanaceus + IR group and Danggui + IR group was lower than that in IR model group and the level of bFGF was higher than that in IR model group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mechanism of Astragalus Membeanaceus and Danggui in remedying renal IR injury may be relative to their regulation of TNF-alpha, bFGF and other cytokines.</p>