Role of cAMP/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway in anti-depressive effect of vortioxetine in mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of vortioxetine on cAMP/CREB/BDNF signal pathway.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty Kunming mice were randomized into control group and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) group. After establishment of depressive models verified by sucrose preference test, the mice in CUMS group were divided into model group, fluoxetine group and vortioxetine group. The antidepressive effect of vortioxetine was analyzed by tail suspension test, forced swim test and open field test. The levels of cAMP were detected using a commercial ELISA kit, and the expressions of pCREB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were evaluated with Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Vortioxetine significantly shortened the immobility time of the depressive mice in tail suspension test and forced swim test without affecting the locomotor activity of the mice in open fields, suggesting the antidepressive effect of against depression in mice. Vortioxetine significantly increased the levels of cAMP and promoted the expression of pCREB and BDNF in the hippocampus of the mice (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Vortioxetine improves the behaviors of mice with depression possibly by affecting the cAMP/CREB/BDNF signal pathway.</p>

Effects of piperphentonamine hydrochloride on cognitive deficits in rats induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of piperphentonamine hydrochloride (PPTA) on cognitive deficits induced by ischemia-reperfusion and explore the possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, ischemia-reperfusion group (with saline injection), PPTA-treated groups (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) and edaravone-treated group (6 mg/kg). Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion, and the agents were administrated 1 h after ischemia. At 24 h after ischemia, step-through passive avoidance test was carried out, and 24 h later IL-1β, TNF-α, caspase-3 and HSP-70 mRNA expressions in the ischemic brain tissues were measured with RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the step-through passive avoidance test, the rats in the ischemia-reperfusion group showed significantly shorter latency and more error times than those in the sham group, and these behavioral changes were improved significantly by treatments with PPTA and edaravone. Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion caused significantly increased expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, caspase-3 and HSP-70 mRNA, and these changes were obviously reversed by PPTA, but not by edaravone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PPTA can reverse cognitive deficits induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion probably by decreasing the inflammatory responses and cell apoptosis in the brain, suggesting its potential as a new therapeutic agent for improving the cognitive function following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.</p>

Protective effect of polydatin on a PC12 cell model of oxygen-glucose deprivation / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the protective effect of polydatin on a PC12 cell model of oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A pheochromocytoma cell injury model was induced by OGD to simulate the cerebral ischemic changes. The protective effects of polydatin were investigated in this model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Polydatin treatment significantly enhanced the cell viability and reduced the levels of lactate dehydrogenase, nitric oxide and the malondialdehyde of the pheochromocytoma cells as compared with the OGD group. Polydatin also increased the activity of superoxide dismutase in the cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Polydatin offers protective effect against OGD-induced injury in pheochromocytoma cells.</p>

Construction and screening of plasmid expression vectors encoding the short hairpin RNA targeting hVEGF(165) gene / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct a plasmid expression vector coding for the short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting hVEGF(165) mRNA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three plasmid expression vectors coding for shRNA targeting exons 5 and 7 of hVEGF(165) gene sequence and a control vector containing random DNA fragment were constructed. The recombinant plasmids were identified by PCR, and then transfected separately into BHK cells expressing hVEGF(165) gene via Viofect(TM) reagent. The hVEGF(165) gene silencing effect was detected by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>he expected band was amplified from the plasmids coding for shRNA by PCR. Transfection of BHK cells expressing hVEGF(165) gene with the shRNA plasmids resulted in a inhibition of hVEGF(165) mRNA and protein expressions by 77% and 70%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The plasmid expression vectors coding for shRNA targeting hVEGF(165) mRNA have been constructed successfully, of which pDC316- EGFP-U6-shRNA(2) most effectively silences hVEGF(165) gene in BHK cells.</p>

Effect of nattokinase on restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the abdominal artery in rabbits / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of nattokinase on intimal hyperplasia in rabbit abdominal artery after balloon injury and explore a novel strategy for the preventing restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 7 groups, namely the solvent control group, model group, natto extract lavage group, refined nattokinse lavage group, intravenous refined nattokinse injection group, clopidogrel group and clopidogrel-aspirin group. Balloon injury was induced by inserting the catheter through the femoral artery into the thoracic aorta of the rabbits. The platelet counts were notad and platelet aggregation was observed, and the abdominal artery was taken for pathological analysis. The expressions of MMP-2 and -9 in the abdominal artery were detected immunohistochemically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in the platelet counts, platelet aggregation rate or MMP-2 and -9 expression between the model group and the nattokinse-treated groups (P>0.05). The stenosis index in each nattokinse-treated group was significantly greater and the neointimal proliferation index smaller than that of the model group (P<0.01 or 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Nattokinse can inhibit restenosis of rabbit abdominal artery after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, which is independent of its actions on the platelet or MMP-2 and -9 expressions.</p>

Effects of Saponin B from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge on tau hyperphosphorylation induced by beta-amyloid peptide (25-35) in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in the expressions of p53, DKK (the inhibitor of Wnt pathway) and phosphorylated tau in rat bilateral hippocampus after beta-amyloid peptide (beta-AP) (25-35) injection, and observe the effect of saponin B from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (SAaB) in this model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After bilateral injection of beta-AP (25-35) into the hippocampus of rats, RT-PCR was performed for observing the changes in p53 and DKK mRNA expressions and immunochemistry carried out to detect the changes in phosphorylated tau protein.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RT-PCR showed increased p53 and DKK mRNA expression and immunochemistry revealed increased phosphorylated tau-positive cells in rat hippocampus after beta-AP (25-35) injection, and administration of SAaB significantly ameliorated these changes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SAaB can significantly ameliorate beta-AP-induced tau hyperphosphorylation by inhibiting increased p53 and DKK mRNA expressions in response to beta-AP injection.</p>

Effects of Yizhi Capsule on learning and memory disorder and beta-amyloid peptide induced neurotoxicity in rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of Yizhi Capsule (YZC) on learning and memory disorder and beta-amyloid peptide induced neurotoxicity in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Various doses of YZC were administered to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 8 consecutive days, twice a day. On the 8th day of the experiment, scopolamine hydrobromide was intraperitoneally injected to every rat and Morris water maze test and shuttle dark avoidance test were carried out respectively to explore the changes of learning and memory capacities in the rats. Besides, after the cerebral cortical neurons of newborn SD rats aged within 3 days were cultured in vitro for 7 days, drug serum containing YZC was added to the cultured neurons before or after beta amyloid peptide(25 - 35) (Abeta(25 - 35)) intoxication to observe the protective effect of YZC on neurotoxicity by MTT assay and to determine the LDH content in the supernatant.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those untreated with YZC, the rats having received YZC treatment got superiority in shorter time of platform seeking in Morris water maze test, as well as elongated latent period and less times of error in shuttle dark avoidance test. On the cultured neurons, YZC drug serum could effectively increase the survival rate of Abeta(25 - 35) intoxicated neurons and reduce the LDH contents in cultured supernatant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YZC has an action of improving learning and memory disorder, and good protective effect on Abeta(25 - 35) induced neurotoxicity in SD rats.</p>

Determination of organochlorine pesticide residue in nine Chinese herbs by gas chromatography / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine organochlorine pesticide residue in 9 Chinese herbs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The organochlorine pesticides were extracted from the herbs with mixed solvents of n-hexane and acetone by a solid-phase extraction cartridge Florisil. Capillary gas chromatography was used to separate the samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Good linearities were obtained for 11 organochlorine pesticides. The average recoveries at two concentration levels ranged from 79.9% to 89.0%,and from 86.3% to 104.8%, with relative standard deviations of 1.8% to 7.1%, respectively and detection limit of 2 g/kg. The residues of the organic pesticides exceeded national standard in Pogostemon cablin and Panax notoginseng.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Capillary gas chromatography combined with electron capture detection provides a practical means for detecting organic pesticide residue in Chinese herbal medicines, and the limits of pesticide residues should be formulated in Chinese pharmacopoeia.</p>