ABSTRACT
Objective: To clarify whether the signal peptide of human nerve growth factor can mediate secretory expression of beta-endorphin and whether there is difference between the efficiency of signal peptides from human and mouse nerve growth factor. Methods: Two kinds of eukaryotic vectors containing human or mouse signal sequence-mediated secretory expression of beta-endorphin were constructed. The culture supernatant and cells were collected 48 h after NIH3T3 cells were transfected by the two kinds of vectors, and the cover slips with single-layer cells was prepared. The concentration of beta-endorphin in the culture was determined by radio-immunoassay. The total RNA was extracted from cells and mRNA from fusion genes was assayed by RT-PCR. Cells on cover slips were subjected to immunofluorescence staining. Results: RT-PCR showed that the fusion genes were expressed in NIH3T3 cells; the expression of beta-endorphin was mainly in the cytoplasm of NIH3T3 cells. The concentrations of beta-endorphin in the supernatants 48 h after transfection with pcDNA3. 1-hEP and pcDNA3. 1-mEP were (280.33±24.16) pg/ml and (191.04±7.96) pg/ml (P<0.05), respectively, and they were significantly different from that of the blank control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: The signal sequence of human nerve growth factor can mediate the secretory expression of protein and the efficacy of human signal peptide is higher than that of mouse signal peptide.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The objective of this anatomic study was to investigate the intramuscular neurovascular configuration and to evaluate whether the muscle could be split into two functional units in transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten fresh cadavers and ten preserved cadavers were used in the study. A mixture of lead oxide, gelatin and water was injected to the femoral artery of the fresh cadaver. The rectus femoris muscle with its neurovascular pedicles was dissected and radiographed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three vascular patterns of the rectus femoris muscle were found in the 40 cadaver legs. The muscle received its blood supply through a single vascular pedicle (12.5%), or a dominant pedicle with 1-2 ramified (80%), or two dominant vascular pedicles (7.5%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The study provided a detailed description on the intramuscular neurovascular territories of the rectus femoris muscle. Based on the neurovascular supply of the muscle, it is possible to subdivide the muscle into two functional units for segmental muscle transfer.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Cadaver , Quadriceps Muscle , TransplantationABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate a new technique for functional treatment of chronic facial paralysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on anatomy of intramuscular neurovascular structure in the rectus femoris muscle, 7 consecutive patients with facial paralysis were treated by using a technique of microsurgically free-transferring neurovascular rectus femoris muscle segment to the face in one-stage. Follow-ups were 10 to 24 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the 7 patients showed significantly improvement in the appearance of the oral commissure and oral competence. No complications occurred in the donor site.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The above mentioned technique may have the advantages of preventing the intramuscular nerve and vessel from the surgical injury during splitting the muscle. It could also maintain the transferred muscular segment in a proper tension in the recipient site.</p>