ABSTRACT
Objective To study the radiation-protective effect of diallyl disulfide(DADS)in germ cells of male mice. Methods Male mice were whole-body exposured to 4 Gy X-ray irradiation to establish a animal radiation damage model. Testicular histology, sperm motility and sperm deformity rate were observed, protein carbonyl content, malondialdehyde(MDA)and 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG)content were tested to assess the degrees of radiation damages of sperm cells and protective effect of DADS. Testicular tissue antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD),catalase(CAT),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-px)activity and glutathione(GSH)content were examined. The expression of Nrf2 signal protein was detected to explore the radiation-protective mechanism of DADS. Results Compared with the pure exposure group, the testicular tissue damages in the DADS pretreatment group were milder, sperm motility increased significantly(P< 0.05)and sperm deformity rate decreased(P< 0.05), and the protein carbonyl content, MDA and 8-OHdG levels significantly reduced(P< 0.05). The antioxidant indexes of SOD, CAT, GSH-px and GSH were markedly improved(P< 0.05),and the expression of Nrf2 was dramatically enhanced. Conclusions DADS has a protective effect on acute radiation injury in germ cells of male mice by means of anti-oxidative ability.
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Objective To investigate the expression and distribution of Diacylglycerol Kinase α (DGKα) mRNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),and to explore the function of DGKα in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Tissues from 30 cases of HCC and 5 normal liver tissues were collected immediately after surgical resection.Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization were used to detect the expression levels and distribution of DGKα mRNA,respectively.Results Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that the expression level of DGKα mRNA in HCC (0.798±0.317) and normal tissues (0.908±0.425) was significantly higher than those in carcinoma adjacent tissue with cirrhosis (0.205±0.102,P<0.05).In situ hybridization demonstrated that the number of DGKα mRNA positive hepatocytes in HCC [(57.6±6.3)/mm2] and normal tissues [69.8±8.7)/mm2] was significantly higher than those in carcinoma adjacent tissue with cirrhosis [(26.3±4.9)/mm2,P<0.05]; DGKα mRNA was expressed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in HCC and carcinoma adjacent tissue with cirrhosis,and in the nuclear of hepatocytes in normal tissues.Conclusion The present study suggests that DGKa may play important roles in carcinogenesis and progressing of HCC.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>There have been a lot of studies about surface adhesion molecule (CD44) in recent years, however study on osteopontin (OPN) is still few. The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of OPN and CD44v6 in lung cancer and their correlation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>OPN and CD44v6 expression were detected in 78 lung cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate of OPN and CD44v6 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was 58.46% and 66.15% respectively, but no positive case in small cell lung cancer. The expression of OPN and CD44v6 in NSCLC was closely related to TNM stages (P < 0.01), but not to cell differentiation (P > 0.05). There was a remarkably positive correlation between the expression of OPN and CD44v6 (r=0.255, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The co-expression of OPN and CD44v6 may be involved in progression and metastasis of lung cancer. The interrelationship of OPN and CD44v6 was coordinative with development and metastasis of lung cancer. It might be helpful to predict the metastasis and prognosis of NSCLC.</p>
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Objective To investigate the localization and the morphological changes of manchette during mouse spermiogenesis.Methods Immunofluorescence staining with FITC and costaining with DAPI were used to demonstrate the cellular localization of the manchette at different stages during mouse spermiogenesis.The structural changes of the manchette were observed during the maturing of the spermatid.Results Immunofluorescence staining showed that manchette existed exactly around the nuclei of the spermatids.Manchette began to form,when the shape of the nucleus changed from spherical to slightly elongated.While the nucleus of the spermatids condensed and elongated at later stages,manchette moved gradually to the caudal position of the spermatids.At last,the manchette diminished as the spermatids became mature.During mouse spermiogenesis,manchette underwent a transition from a cap-like to a tubular configuration.ConclusionThe formation and diminishment of the manchette is in step with the condensation and elongation of the nucleus of the spermatid.Both the structural and positional changes of the manchette coincide with the changes of the nucleus.These results imply that manchette might play an important role in mouse spermiogenesis.