ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the army officers and soldiers (AOSs),and identify its relationship with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs).Methods PTSD and FGIDs were diagnosed based on the PTSD checklist--civilian (PCL-C) and Rome Ⅲ Modular Questionnaire respectively,the overlaps of PTSD and FGIDs and their correlation were diagnosed.The correlation of PTSD with traumatic and stressful events was investigated using Trauma History and Stressful Event Screening Questionnaire.The coexistence and relationship of PTSD and FGIDs were analyzed.Results Of 927 AOSs,33 were diagnosed with PTSD.The prevalence of PTSD was 3.56％.FGIDs were identified in 435 subjects and the incidence of FGIDs was 46.93％.Among 33 AOSs with PTSD,28 were diagnosed as having FGIDs and the prevalence of FGIDs was 84.85％,which was significantly higher than that of non-PTSD group (45.53％,P＜0.05).Moreover,the FGIDs group had a higher prevalence of PTSD,compared with the non-FGID group (6.43％ vs.1.02％,P＜0.05).Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS,33.33％),unspecified functional bowel disorder (24.24％),functional bloating (18.18％) and functional anorectal pain (18.18％) were the four most frequent FGIDs in PTSD AOSs.Multiple regression analysis showed PTSD was the risk factor for CVS (OR=9.118),functional anorectal pain (OR=3.373),functional bloating (OR=4.772),irritable bowel syndrome (OR=3.438),rumination syndrome (OR=16.033),functional vomiting (OR=10.329),functional dysphagia (OR=9.891)(P＜0.05).CVS (OR=4.063),the number of traumatic (OR=1.159) and stress events (OR=1.401) were the risk factors for PTSD in AOSs (P＜0.05).Conclusions PTSD and FGID interact as risk factor each other.The prevalence of PTSD differs significantly in different FGIDs.CVS is the most frequent FGID in PTSD AOSs and risk factor for PTSD,which deserves more concerns.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effect of long-term microwave radiation on the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR),brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and related molecules in signal pathways in the hippocampus of rats.Methods Fifty male Wistar rats were exposed to microwave radiation at an average power density of 0,5,10,20 and 30 mW/cm2for 6 min/time,3 times/week,and for 6 weeks,which were sacrificed and the hippocampus was quickly removed at 14 d and 28 d after exposure.The changes in NMDAR (NR1,NR2A,NR2B),postsynaptic density protein(PSD)-95,cortactin,BDNF and tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) in hippocampal neurons of each group were detected by Western blotting and image analysis techniques.Results Compared with the control group,the expressions of related proteins did not change significantly after microwave irradiation of 5 mW/cm2 at each time point.After 20 mW/cm2 microwave radiation,the expression of NR1 was increased at 14 and 28 d (P ＜0.05),the expression of NR2A was increased at 28 d (P ＜ 0.05),but the expression of NR2B was decreased at 14 and 28 d (P ＜ 0.05).At a average power density of 30 mW/cm2,the expressions of NR1,NR2A and PSD-95 and the expression of NR2B were decreased at 14 and 28 d(P ＜0.05),and cortactin,BDNF and TrkB were increased at 14 d after irradiation (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The effect of different dosages of long-term microwave radiation on the proteins of NMDAR and its signal pathway related molecules is different.Microwave radiation may affect the NMDAR of postsynaptic information transmission through the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathways,which might play an important role in the impediment of learning and memory function caused by microwave radiation.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate clinical manifestation of unspecified functional bowel disorder (UFBD), the features of coexistence with functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) and its relationship with psychological factors and sleep disturbance in the Chinese Army servicemen.Methodsc FGIDs were diagnosed based on the RomeⅢ Modular Questionnaire. The subjects were 189 servicemen with UFBD (UFBD group) and 372 without FGID (control group). All subjects completed symptom checklist 90 (SCL-90) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire.Results'Have to rush to the toilet when having a desire to defecate' was the most frequent symptom of UFBD (93.7%). More than one half of UFBD patients had the symptom 'a feeling of incomplete emptying as bowel movements' or 'straining during bowel movements'. Twenty-eight percent of UFBD subjects had combined FGID (namely cFGID). Among them, the most frequent was proctalgia fugax (7.9%), followed by cyclic vomiting syndrome (6.3%), functional fecal incontinence (6.3%), functional dyspepsia (4.8%) and belching (4.8%). The UFBD group scored significantly higher than the control group in the global severity index (GSI) and in all SCL-90 subscales (P0.05).ConclusionPathogenesis of UFBD may be closely correlated with psychiatric and psychological factors and sleep disturbance. cFGID are associated with an increased severity of psychopathological features.
ABSTRACT
The effective exploitation of natural products is of great significance. Herein the essential oil from Herba Artimisiae Sieversianae in growth period and flower/ fruit bearing period was extracted by ethanol extraction method. The optimal extraction condition was determined by orthogonal experiment, including extracting 3 times, soaking for 90 min, and the ratios of liquid to solid for Herba Artimisiae Sieversianae in growth period and flower/ fruit bearing period were 10 mL : 1 g and 8 mL : 1 g, respectively. The main components of the products were confirmed by FT-IR and GC-MS, which were cineole, camphor, d-borneol, caryophyllene, cadina-1, 4-diene, calamenene, ethyl palmitate, etc. in herba artimisiae sieversianae in growth period, and camphor, caryophyllene, borneol, neryl formate, etc. in Herba Artimisiae Sieversianae in flower/ fruit bearing period. The radical scavenging activity of the products was determined. The results showed that the IC50 values of the essential oil from Herba Artimisiae Sieversianae in growth period and flower/fruit bearing period for 0. 05 mmol/ L DPPH solution were 0. 40 mg / mL and 1. 66 mg / mL, respectively. The essential oil extracted by ethanol from Herba Artimisiae Sieversianae was confirmed to possess good antioxidant activity.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of oatβ-glucan on gene expression in small intestine injury in sepsis. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group ( NC group) , experimental control group ( TC group) and oat β-glucan group ( Oglu group) . TC group and Oglu group were used to establish sepsis model with CLP method ,and oglu group with different doses of oatβ-glucan. After 12 h the small intestine tissue were collected. Western blot was used to detect gene expression in the small intestine tissue injury. Results 1 ) Oat β-glucan reduced sepsis-induced small intestine injury,and reduced the TNF-α, IL-1βand IL-6 levels in small intestine of septic rats. (2) The expression of small intestinal injury-related proteins such as Bax, caspase-3, Toll-like, apoptotic genes FAS and FASL and NF-κB were significantly increased,and Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated in the TC group. (3) The expressions of Bax, caspase-3, Toll-like, apoptotic genes FAS and FASL and NF-κB in oat β-glucan-treated rats were lower than that in the septic rats, while Bcl-2 expression was higher than the TC group. Conclusions Oat β-glucan regulates the expression of small intestinal injury genes in septic rats and protects the small intestinal epithelium against sepsis-induced injury.
ABSTRACT
Patient safety education is conducive to medical students' cognition on patient safety and to improvement of medical quality and safety. Developing patient safety education for medical students is more and more widely recognized by World Health Organization and countries all over the world. However, in China, patient safety courses aiming at medical students are relatively few, and there are few reports about the effect of patient safety courses. This paper explored the influence of patient safety curriculum on medical students' attitude to and knowledge of patient safety. The patient safety curriculum was carried out for 2011-grade undergraduates of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The students participated in the class according to free choice. After the curriculum, the information of gender, major, attended course, attitude toward patient safety, and knowledge of laws and regulations of the 2011-grade undergraduates were collected. After rejecting invalid questionnaires, the number of undergraduates that participated in the survey was 112 (61 students did not take part in the curriculum; 51 took part in). Chi-square test was applied to analyze patient safety education's influence on medical students' attitude to patient safety and their knowledge mastery situation. The influence of patient safety education on the attitude of medical students to patient safety was not significant, but that on their knowledge of patient safety was remarkable. No matter male or female, as compared with medical students who had not accepted patient safety education, they both had a better acquisition of knowledge after having this education (for male students: 95% CI, 4.556-106.238, P<0.001; for female students: 95% CI, 3.183-33.238, P<0.001). Students majoring in Western Medicine had a relatively better mastery of knowledge of patient safety after receiving patient safety education (95% CI, 6.267-76.271, P<0.001). Short-term patient safety education cannot change medical students' stereotyped cognition on matters related to patient safety, but it can effectively enhance their knowledge of laws and regulations of patient safety.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , China , Epidemiology , Curriculum , Education, Medical , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Patient Safety , Students, Medical , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
AlM: To explore a formula between the diopter , cornea diopter ( CD ) , anteriou chamber depth ( ACD ) , lens thickness ( LENS ) , vitreous depth ( VlTR ) , and ocular axis longitude ( AL ) of high school students in certain middle school, and to predict the diopter with the biometry data of refractive factors on the students. METHODS: The related ocular examinations were performed to 364 eyes of 182 high school students in certain middle school by cluster sampling method. Optometry was for diopter and A-ultrasonic biometry was for ACD, LENS, VlTR, and AL. The data were analyzed with SPSS to sum up a poly-variation liner regression formula that can express their quantitative relationship.RESULTS: A poly-variation liner regression was got. The formula was D=69. 750-0. 724×CD-0. 630×ACD-2. 207× LENS-1. 728×VlTR (r=0. 87).CONCLUSlON: The diopter of high school students seems able to be predicted through biometric data of CD, ACD, LENS and VlTR.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the usefulness of head-space gas chromatography for the determination of methanol and ethanol in Haikesu I,a raw material of artificial musk.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The determination was performed on HP-5(30 m×0.53 mm,5 Μm)capillary column with an hydrogen flame ionization detector. The solvent was dimethyl sulfoxide and the internal standard was acetone. The injector temperature and the detector temperature were controlled at 180 ℃ and 250 ℃,respectively. The carrier gas was nitrogen. The containers of head-space injector were preheated at 90 ℃ for 15 minutes. The column temperature was programmed raised,which achieved baseline separation of the components.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed a good linear relationship for methanol and ethanol in their linearity range;and the limit of detection was 0.8 and 1.0 Μg/ml,respectively. The precision and average recoveries were satisfactory.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The head-space gas chromatography is simple,rapid,and precise technique for the measurement of residual solvents in Haikesu I.</p>
Subject(s)
Acetone , Chromatography, Gas , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Chemistry , Ethanol , Flame Ionization , Methanol , SolventsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine ethylacetate and petroleum ether(60-90 ℃)in Haikesu 2,which is one of the raw materials of artificial musk,using the head-space gas chromatography.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The determination was performed on HP-5(30 m×0.53 mm,5 Μm)capillary column with an hydrogen flame ionization detector. The solvent was dimethyl sulfoxide and the internal standard was methanol. The injector temperature and the detector temperature were controlled at 180 ℃ and 250 ℃,respectively. The carrier gas was nitrogen. The containers of head-space injector were preheated at 90 ℃ for 15 minutes. The column temperature was programmed raised,which achieved baseline separation of the components.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed a good linear relationship for ethylacetate and petroleum ether(60-90 ℃)in their linearity range;and the limit of detection was 0.7 and 0.3 Μg/ml,respectively. The good precision and good average recoveries were satisfactory.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The head-space gas chromatography is simple,rapid,and precise technique for the measurement of residual solvents in Haikesu 2.</p>
Subject(s)
Acetates , Chromatography, Gas , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Chemistry , Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated , Chemistry , Flame Ionization , SolventsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Inflammation serves as the initial pathologic step of cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis. Resveratrol possesses many pharmacological properties including antioxidant, cardioprotective and anti-cancer effects. In this study, we investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanisms of resveratrol in an atherosclerotic rabbit model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rabbit were assigned to six groups (n = 10 each): control, high fat diet group, resveratrol low, medium and high dose groups, resveratrol pretreatment group. The serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were analyzed by Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay(ELISA). Phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) cascades and NF-κB were determined by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the expression of serum inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α were increased in high-fat group (all P < 0.05). Compared with high-fat group, the expressions of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α were significantly reduced in resveratrol low, medium, high dose groups and resveratrol pretreatment group (all P < 0.01), and this effect is dose-dependent. In addition, the NF-κB, p38MAPK, JNK, ERK1/2 protein phosphorylation in high-fat group were significantly upregulated compared with control group (P < 0.05), which (except ERK1/2 phosphorylation level) were significantly downregulated in resveratrol treatment group and resveratrol pretreatment group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study indicates that resveratrol reduces serum inflammatory cytokines in this atherosclerotic rabbit model via down-regulation phosphorylation of NF-κB, and MAPKs signaling, which might serve as the anti-inflammatory molecular basis of resveratrol.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rabbits , Atherosclerosis , Drug Therapy , Metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Interleukin-1beta , Blood , Interleukin-6 , Blood , Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases , Metabolism , NF-kappa B , Metabolism , Phosphorylation , Signal Transduction , Stilbenes , Pharmacology , Therapeutic Uses , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , BloodABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical performance of free prostate-specific antigen (fPSA) detection by ECLIA method, and evaluate whether ECLIA is suitable for clinical use.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>341 samples were collected and tested prostate-specific antibodies with CMIA and ECLIA methods. These samples contain: 97 samples with abnormal high PSA value tested by CMIA method, and 244 normal PSA samples. Use CMIA as the reference method, and detect fPSA, tPSA levels, and the ratio of fPSA/tPSA. Analyze the testing results with statistical methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with CMIA, correlation coefficent of ECLIA fPSA detection is 0.99; correlation coefficent of f/tPSA ratio detection is 0.96; the sensitivity, specificity of ECLIA f/tPSA ratio detection are 85.71%, 92.6% respectively, the agreement rate with ECLIA is 87.4%. No cross reaction with bilirubin, lipohemia, hemolysis, RF, CEA, AFP, CA125, CA153, CA199 were found in the tests.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ECLIA method for free prostate-specific antigen detection showed good clinical performance; and is suitable for clinical use.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Electrochemical Techniques , Methods , Prostate-Specific Antigen , Blood , Prostatic Neoplasms , Blood , Diagnosis , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
By consulting the literatures relevant with the prevention and treatment of human rabies from Tang Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, it was discovered that rabies was caused by wind toxin in mad dog injuring human being. The pathogenesis of rabies was the invasion of dog toxin into the heart. The latent period was ranged from 7 to 100 days. Acupuncture-moxibustion, bloodletting, cupping and other therapies could be used in treatment. But of those different therapies, the various moxibustion methods achieved unique efficacy on the disease.
Subject(s)
Humans , Acupuncture Therapy , Moxibustion , Prognosis , Rabies , TherapeuticsABSTRACT
In order to search for novel inhibitors of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1 (NHE-1), nine feruloylagmatine analogues were designed and synthesized from ferulic acid and agmatine. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectra, among which compounds 5f-5i were novel compounds. The results of preliminary pharmacological test showed that some of the compounds possessed strong NHE-1 inhibitory activity, among which compounds 5a, 5b and 6c were more potent than cariporide in NHE-1 inhibition.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Rats , Agmatine , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Cardiotonic Agents , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Drug Design , Molecular Structure , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanical changes of the degenerated lumbar disc with finite element analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A three dimensional finite element model of a human lumbar spine at the L3-L4 disc was established by the software MIMICS and ABAQUS based on computer tomography images. Degeneration was modeled by changes in geometry and material properties. The model was loaded with 0.3 MPa in axial plane. The von Mises stress on the annulus fiber, nucleus pulposus, endplate and facet joints in healthy and degenerated discs was compared.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with healthy discs, the von Mises stress of disc distributed in the side of annulus fiber, the stress of nucleus pulposus decreased remarkably, the stress of endplate distributed in the posterior part, and the stress of facet joints increased for the degenerated disc.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The finite element models can provide a method of understanding the relationship between biomechanical performance of the disc due to disc degeneration.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Biomechanical Phenomena , Finite Element Analysis , Intervertebral Disc , Intervertebral Disc Degeneration , Diagnosis , Lumbar Vertebrae , Stress, Mechanical , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression in hypoxia-stressed SMMC-7721 cells and the role of FAK expression in the hypoxia-induced invasion of SMMC-7721 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SMMC-7721 cells were cultured in 21% O2 or 1% O2. FAK expression was determined by Western blot. The siRNA expression vector pshRNA-FAK targeting to FAK and the control vector pGensil-2 were transfected into SMMC-7721 cells. The hypoxia-induced migration and invasion ability of SMMC-7721 cells transfected with pshRNA-FAK were analyzed. In normoxia, invasion of SMMC-7721 cells transfected with pcDNA3-FAK was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of FAK was increased significantly in SMMC-7721 cells 24 h after hypoxia stress (P<0.01). The level of FAK protein was decreased by 74.6%+/-5.1% after the pshRNA-FAK transfection in normoxia and hypoxia. The migration and invasion of SMMC-7721 cells was increased in 1% O2 (P<0.01). However, the migration and invasion of SMMC-7721 cells transfected with pshRNA-FAK was decreased in 1% O2 (P<0.05). Overexpression of FAK significantly stimulated the invasion of SMMC-7721 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Up-regulation of FAK may play an important role in the invasion of SMMC-7721 cells induced by hypoxia.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Blotting, Western , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Genetics , Pathology , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement , Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases , Genetics , Metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic , Hypoxia , Liver Neoplasms , Genetics , Pathology , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Plasmids , Genetics , RNA, Small Interfering , Genetics , TransfectionABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effects of polymorphisms of Crohn's disease related NOD2 gene and human beta-defensin 2 (hBD-2) on transcription of hBD-2 gene and its mechanism. Methods HEK293T cells were transfected with hBD-2 gene and NOD2 eukaryotic expression plasmid, and were then stimulated with LPS, TNF-α, or BAY 11-7082 (antagonist of NF-κB), respectively. Transcriptional activity of hBD-2 was detected afterwards. Results LPS could suppress transcription of hBD-2 (P=0. 020), which was increased by TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner (P =0. 004). In the presence of LPS, there was sig-nificant difference in transcriptional activity of hBD-2 between wild-NOD2 transfected group and mutated NOD2 (P268S) transfected group (P=0. 008), but there was no significant difference between wild hBD-2 transfected group and mutated hBD-2 transfected group (P=0. 053). With the stimulation of TNF-α (5 ng/ml), there was a significant difference between mutated hBD-2 transfected group and wild hBD-2 transfected group (P=0. 006), but no significant difference between wild-NOD2 transfected and mutated NOD2 transfected group was defected (P = 0. 064). Pretreatment with BAY 11-7082 before TNF-α (5 ng/ml) significantly inhibited the transcriptional activity of hBD-2 (P < 0. 001). Conclusion The poly-morphism of NOD2 affects the innate expression of hBD-2, the polymorphism of site in hBD-2 promoter (-233) may lead to significant decline of the inducible expression of hBD-2, and NF-κB might be a key pathway that NOD2 protein mediates the expression of defensin.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the association of two single nuclear peptides(SNPs)polymorphisms(rs11209026 and rs11805303)which lies in interleukin-23 receptor(IL23R)gene with susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Methods The target SNPs were directly sequenced by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and gene polymorphisms of 50 healthy and 81 patients with IBD (Crohn's disease in 41 patients and ulcerative colitis in 40 patients)were analyzed using chromassoftware.Results The geno-type frequency and allelic frequency of rs11209026 were 7.3%and 3.7%in patients with Crohn's disease respectively,15.0%and 7.5%in patients with ulcerative colitis respectively as well as 14.0%and 7.0%in normal population respectively(all P value＞0.05).The geno-type frequency and allelic frequency of rs11805303 were 22.0%and 52.4%in patients with Crohn's disease respectively,15.0% and 41.2% in patients with ulcerative colitis respectively as well as 34.0%and 59.0%in normal population respectively(all P value＞0.05).But in allelic frequency there was significant difference between ulcerative colitis patients and normal population(P=0.018).The polymorphisms of rs11805303 loci did not correlate with age,gender,disease duration.activity and site in patients with ulcerative colitis.Conclusions IL23R gene polymorphism is not associated with the susceptibility to Crohn's disease.rs11805303 allele may be related with susceptibility to ulcerative colitis.But no correlation was found between the SNP polymorphisms and the clinical characteristic of ulcerative colitis.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the relationship between the susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ATG16L1 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) site, rs2241880.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peripheral blood samples were collected from 80 IBD patients (including 40 with Crohn's disease and 40 with ulcerative colitis) and 50 healthy controls, and the genomic DNA was extracted from the white blood cells. Specific primers were designed according to the target gene sequence for PCR amplification of the target gene fragment, and the PCR products were purified followed by sequence analysis of the target region of ATG16L1 gene. The results of the sequence analysis were compared with the BenBank data to analyze the relationship between the allele gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to Crohn's disease.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant differences were noted in the ATG16L1 gene SNP site rs2241880 polymorphisms among the patients with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and the control subjects (Chi(2)=4.94, P=0.293).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ATG16L1 gene polymorphisms in the SNP site rs2241880 are not found to correlate to the susceptibility to Crohn's disease as reported in literature. The SNP site associated with Crohn's disease susceptibility identified in foreign populations does not seem to be identical with that in Chinese population.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Autophagy , Genetics , Autophagy-Related Proteins , Base Sequence , Carrier Proteins , Genetics , Colitis, Ulcerative , Genetics , Crohn Disease , Genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genetics , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Genetics , Phagosomes , Genetics , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
Since Nature published the first report in 2002 on using immunodeficient mice as recipients and allogeneous or heterogeneous testes as donor tissues to study the ectopic development of spermatogenic cells, the technique has been widely applied in various species (including human). In comparison with other in vitro maturation methods for male germ cells, testicular allografting or xenografting technique has such advantages as similar environment for the development of germ cells in physiological conditions, and better reproducibility. Up to now, sperm has been successfully produced by this technique from the testicular tisues of the immature mouse, hamster, cat, rabbit, pig, goat, bovine and rhesus monkey, and their offspring have even been generated by ICSI technique using the mouse and rabbit sperm derived from testis grafts. This article comprehensively reviews the development of the technique by discussing the influencing factors on the germ cell development in grafts including the variety and age of donors, the sex, integrity and immunity of recipients, the graft location and grafting time. And the applications of the technique and the existing problems are discussed as well.
Subject(s)
Animals , Cats , Cattle , Cricetinae , Humans , Male , Mice , Rabbits , Goats , Macaca mulatta , Swine , Testis , Transplantation , Transplantation Immunology , Transplantation, Heterologous , Transplantation, Heterotopic , Transplantation, HomologousABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the stepwise development and germ cell gene expression in allografted neonatal mouse testes and the differentiation of immature human testicular cells in xenografted human testes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunodeficient nude mice were used as hosts for allografting of neonatal mouse testes and xenografting of human fetal testicular tissues. Stepwise development and stage-specific gene expression of germ cells in allografts were systematically evaluated and parallel compared with those in intact mice by periodically monitoring the graft status with measurement of graft weight, histological analysis and determination of five stage-specific genes. Human testicular tissues from 20 and 26 weeks fetuses were used for the xenografting study. Histological analysis of xenografts was performed 116 and 135 d after the grafting procedure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the allografting study, progressive increase in tissue volume and weight as well as in tubule diameter in grafts was observed; the appearance time of various germ cells in seminiferous tubules, including spermatogonia, spermatocytes, round and elongate spermatids and sperm, was comparable with that in intact donors; the initiation of gene transcription in grafts showed a similar trend as in normal mice. Graft weight ceased to increase after 7-8 weeks and degradation of grafts was observed after 5 weeks with progressive damage to seminiferous epithelium. In the xenografting study using immature human testicular tissues, graft survival and development was indicated by increasing graft weight, Sertoli cells differentiation into advanced stage, germ cells migration and location to the basal lamina and formation of a niche-like structure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The developmental course and gene expression pattern of germ cells in allografts were similar to those in intact mice. The best time point for retrieval of mouse sperm from grafts was 5-7 weeks after grafting procedure. An accelerated development of immature human testicular cells could be achieved by ectopic xenografting of human testes.</p>