Molecular Mechanism of Aurora Kinase A Regulating the Meiosis of Oocyte / 中国医学科学院学报

Aurora kinase A (AURKA),a family member of aurora kinases,is involved in mitotic entry,maturation and separation of centrosome,assembly and stabilization of bipolar spindle,and condensation and separation of chromosome.Studies have demonstrated that AURKA plays a similar role in meiosis,while the specific mechanism and the similarities and differences in its role between meiosis and mitosis remain unclear.Therefore,we reviewed the studies about the localization and activation of AURKA in oocyte meiosis,and compared the role of AURKA in regulating spindle formation,activating spindle assembly checkpoint,and correcting the kinetochore-microtubule attachment between the meiosis of oocytes and the mitosis of somatic cells.This review will lay a theoretical foundation for revealing the mechanism of AURKA in the regulation of cell division and for the clinical research related to cancer and reproduction.

Effect of SUMO Modification on the Chromosomal Aneuploidy in Oocytes / 中国医学科学院学报

The chromosomal aneuploidy in oocytes is one of main causes of abortion and neonatal birth defects.It is mainly due to the premature separation of sister chromatid caused by the loss of Cohesin protein complex and the non-disjunction sister chromatids caused by abnormal microtubule dynamics aneuploidy.As a pathway of protein post-translational modification,SUMO modification(or SUMOylation)involves many physiological regulation processes including cell proliferation,differentiation,apoptosis,and cycle regulation.In the oocytes,SUMOylation can regulate the localization of Cohesin protein complex on the chromosome to affect the chromosomal aneuploidy in oocytes caused by premature separation of sister chromatid.On the other hand,SUMOylation can regulate the microtubule dynamics to affect the chromosomal aneuploidy in oocytes caused by non-disjunction sister chromatids.Therefore,SUMOylation plays an important role in regulating the chromosomal aneuploidy of oocytes;the exact mechanisms via which the SUMOylated substrates affect aneuploidy in oocytes remain unclear.This articles reviews the roles of SUMOylation in premature separation and non-isolated chromatid aneuploidy in oocyte from the effects of SUMOylationon Cohesin protein complex and microtubule dynamics.

Study of sleep features in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy / 天津医药

Objective To study sleep characteristics in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) through polysomnography (PSG). Methods Twenty-five TLE patients (TLE group) and eighteen healthy volunteer subjects (control group) were recruited to our study. Patients of two groups were evaluated by whole-night PSG, including total time in bed (TIB), total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), sleep latency (SL), rapid eye movement latency (REML), wake after sleep onset (WASO), the percentages of non-REM (NREM) 1, 2 and 3 stages and the percentages of rapid eye movement (REM) occupied TST (N1％, N2％, N3％and REM％), the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), hypopnea index, mean oxygen saturation (SpO2) and nadir SpO2, periodic leg movements (PLMs) index and PLMs index of REM sleep, sleep stage shifts (SSS) and sleep stage shifts per hour (SSS/h), NREM1, NREM2, NREM3 and REM sleep stage and wake shifts (abbreviated as N1, N2, N3, REM and W) and their proportions of SSS (abbreviated as N1/SSS, N2/SSS, N3/SSS, REM/SSS and W/SSS). Results Compared with control group, WASO, PLMs, PLMs index of REM sleep, SSS, SSS/H and N2 were significantly increased in TLE group. Moreover, compared with control group, SpO2 was decreased in TLE group (P<0.05). Conclusion Our results suggest that TLE patients have sleep disorder manifested as disorder of sleep structure, increased incidents of respiratory and motion events.

Effects of Ginseng Fruit Saponins on Serotonin System in Sprague-Dawley Rats with Myocardial Infarction, Depression, and Myocardial Infarction Complicated with Depression / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Our previous studies have demonstrated that the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-HT 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) in serum and platelet were associated with depression and myocardial infarction (MI), and pretreatment with ginseng fruit saponins (GFS) before MI and depression had an effect on the 5-HT system. In this study, the effects of GFS on the 5-HT system in the Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with MI, depression, and MI + depression were evaluated.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of eighty SD rats were allocated to four groups: MI, depression, MI + depression, and control groups (n = 20 in each group). Each group included two subgroups (n = 10 in each subgroup): Saline treatment subgroup and GFS treatment subgroup. The levels of 5-HT, 5-HT2AR, and serotonin transporter (SERT) were quantified in serum, platelet lysate, and brain tissue through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those in the saline treatment subgroups, the levels of 5-HT in serum and platelet lysate statistically significantly increased in the GFS treatment subgroups of MI, depression, and MI + depression groups (serum: all P = 0.000; platelet lysate: P = 0.002, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). However, the 5-HT levels in brain homogenate significantly decreased in the GFS treatment subgroups compared with those in the saline treatment subgroups in MI and depression groups (P = 0.025 and 0.044 respectively), and no significant difference was observed between saline and GFS treatment subgroups in MI + depression group (P = 0.663). Compared with that in GFS treatment subgroup of control group, the 5-HT2AR levels in the platelet lysate significantly decreased in GFS treatment subgroups of MI, depression, and MI + depression groups (all P = 0.000). Compared to those in the saline treatment subgroups, the serum SERT levels significantly decreased in the GFS treatment subgroups in MI, depression, and MI + depression groups (P = 0.009, 0.038, and P = 0.001, respectively), while the SERT levels of platelet lysate significantly decreased in GFS treatment subgroup of MI group (P = 0.000), significantly increased in GFS treatment subgroup of depression group (P = 0.019), and slightly changed in GFS treatment subgroup of MI + depression group (P = 0.219). No significant changes for SERT levels in brain homogenate could be found between the saline and GFS treatment subgroups in MI, depression, and MI + depression groups (P = 0.421, 0.076 and P = 0.642).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study indicated that GFS might inhibit the reuptake of 5-HT from serum to platelet according to decreased 5-HT2AR in platelet and SERT in serum and platelet. The change of 5-HT in serum after GFS treatment was inconsistent with that in the brain. It seemed that GFS could not pass through the blood-brain barrier to affect the central serotonergic system.</p>

Effect of two Pi deficiency syndrome models on the configuration and function of the skeletal muscle in mice / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the relation between Pi deficiency syndrome (PDS) and the configuration and functions of extensor digitorum longus (EDL)and soleus (SOL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 36 ICR mice were randomly divided into 3 groups according to weight matching principle, the control group, the exhausted group, and the rhubarb group, 12 in each group. Two PDS models were established by either purgation with rhubarb diarrhea (as Group A) or exhausted swimming plus sleep deprivation (as Group B).The cross sectional area (CSA) of type I and II fibers of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus (SOL), relative proportions of type I and II fibers were measured by m-ATPase histochemical method. The isotonic contraction and the maximum tetanus contraction of EDL and SOL were detected by PowerLab system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the body weight, body temperature, and the general health condition of PDS model rats obviously decreased; the spleen index and the thymus index were also lower; the maximal isotonic contraction and the maximum tetanus contraction obviously decreased; the cross section areas of EDL and SOL were reduced with loosely arranged cells. In EDL, the proportion of type I fibers was added and the proportion of type II fibers was lowered. In SOL, there was no change in the proportion of type I and type II fibers.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EDL and SOL were obviously atrophied in the two PDS model mice. The type I fibers of SOL was more significantly atrophied in Group B.</p>

Changes of Serotonin (5-HT), 5-HT2A Receptor, and 5-HT Transporter in the Sprague-Dawley Rats of Depression, Myocardial Infarction and Myocardial Infarction Co-exist with Depression / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To evaluate whether serotonin (5-HT), 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2AR), and 5-HT transporter (serotonin transporter [SERT]) are associated with different disease states of depression, myocardial infarction (MI) and MI co-exist with depression in Sprague-Dawley rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After established the animal model of four groups include control, depression, MI and MI with depression, we measured 5-HT, 5-HT2AR and SERT from serum and platelet lysate.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum concentration of 5-HT in depression rats decreased significantly compared with the control group (303.25 ± 9.99 vs. 352.98 ± 13.73; P = 0.000), while that in MI group increased (381.78 ± 14.17 vs. 352.98 ± 13.73; P = 0.000). However, the depression + MI group had no change compared with control group (360.62 ± 11.40 vs. 352.98 ± 13.73; P = 0.036). The changes of the platelet concentration of 5-HT in the depression, MI, and depression + MI group were different from that of serum. The levels of 5-HT in above three groups were lower than that in the control group (380.40 ± 17.90, 387.75 ± 22.28, 246.40 ± 18.99 vs. 500.29 ± 20.91; P = 0.000). The platelet lysate concentration of 5-HT2AR increased in depression group, MI group, and depression + MI group compared with the control group (370.75 ± 14.75, 393.47 ± 15.73, 446.66 ± 18.86 vs. 273.66 ± 16.90; P = 0.000). The serum and platelet concentration of SERT in the depression group, MI group and depression + MI group were all increased compared with the control group (527.51 ± 28.32, 602.02 ± 23.32, 734.76 ± 29.59 vs. 490.56 ± 16.90; P = 0.047, P = 0.000, P = 0.000 in each and 906.38 ± 51.84, 897.33 ± 60.34, 1030.17 ± 58.73 vs. 708.62 ± 51.15; P = 0.000 in each).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The concentration of 5-HT2AR in platelet lysate and SERT in serum and platelet may be involved in the pathway of MI with depression. Further studies should examine whether elevated 5-HT2AR and SERT may contribute to the biomarker in MI patients with depression.</p>

Simultaneous determination of nine compounds in Bergenia purpurascens by HPLC-MS / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To develop a method for the determination of arbutin, gallic acid, bergenin, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, and ferulic acid in Bergenia purpurascens by HPLC-MS/MS. METHODS: The samples were separated on a Diamonsil C18 column (4.6 mm × 150 mm, 5 μm) by gradient elution using methanol and 0.2‰(V/V) formic acid aqueous solution as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 mL · min-1. The column temperature was room temperature. Multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning was employed for quantification with switching electrospray ion source polarity in negative mode. RESULTS: Complete separation was achieved within 10 min for the nine compounds (arbutin, gallic acid, bergenin, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, ferulic acid): The nine regression equations showed linear relationships between peak areas and contents of each compound. The average recoveries (n=9) of the compounds listed above were 100.2%, 100.0%, 99.8%, 99.9%, 97.9%, 101.2%, 99.8%, 101.7%, 102.4% and RSD were 0.80%, 3.06%, 2.72%, 3.28%, 3.58%, 1.44%, 0.95%, 0.96%, 0.48%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, accurate and has good reproducibility, thus can be used for the determination of the nine compounds in Bergenia purpurascens.

Role of renal sympathetic nerves in renal sodium transport in ouabain-hypertensive rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of renal sympathetic nerves in renal sodium transport in ouabain-hypertensive rats (OHR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen male SD rats with sham renal denervation (Sham-RDNX) and 16 with renal denervation (RDNX) were randomly into normal control group and ouabain group to receive intraperitoneal injection of normal saline (1 ml/kg) and ouabain (27.8 µg/kg) once a day, respectively. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate and body weight were recorded weekly. Food consumption of the rats was determined twice a week. After a 4-week treatment, blood and 24 h urine samples were collected to measure the serum and urinary concentration of sodium, trace lithium and creatinine. Endogenous creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), fractional excretions of sodium (FENa), fractional excretions of lithium (FELi) and fractional reabsorption of sodium in the postproximal tubules (FDRNa) were calculated. Plasma renin activity was determined by radioimmunoassay. Norepinephrine was extracted from the renal tissue and assayed for norepinephrine content by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The body weight, food intake and heart rate showed no significant difference among the 4 groups (P > 0.05). After 4 weeks, the SBP of control RDNX group (CDNX) was significantly lower than that of the control Sham-DNX group (Csham)(P < 0.05); the SBP of ouabain RDNX group (ODNX) was also significantly lower than that of ouabain Sham-DNX group (Osham) (P < 0.05); RNDX lowered SBP by about 10 mmHg in both ouabain groups and control groups. The SBP was significantly higher in Osham and ODNX groups than in the corresponding control groups (P < 0.01), also significantly higher in ODNX group than in Csham group (P < 0.01). Ccr showed no significant difference among the 4 groups(P > 0.05). FENa, FELi and FDRNa were significantly lower in ouabain groups than in the corresponding control groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but FENa, FELi and FDRNa of ODNX group were similar with those of Osham group (P > 0.05); FENa , FELi and FDRNa were similar between CDNX and Csham groups (P > 0.05). The plasma renin activity was comparable between the 4 groups (P > 0.05). Renal norepinephrine level was markedly reduced in RDNX group compared with that in Sham-RDNX group in both ouabain and control groups (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increase of proximal tubule sodium reabsorption in OHR is not dependent on the renal sympathetic nerve.</p>

Effect of ouabain on cardiac function and myocardium ultrastructure of rat / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the changes in rat cardiac function and myocardium ultrastructure in response to ouabain treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four male SD rats were randomized into two equal groups to receive daily intraperitoneal injection of ouabain or saline for 4 consecutive weeks, and their systolic blood pressure (SBP) was recorded weekly. After 4 weeks of injection, echocardiography was performed and the hemodynamic parameters were measured by invasive cardiac catheterization, and the changes in myocardium ultrastructure observed using transmission electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 4 weeks of ouabain injection, no significant changes in the mean SBP occurred in comparison with the saline group, but echocardiographic examination showed significant increases in the left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters, septum thickness, posterior wall thickness, left ventricular mass and isovolumetric relaxation time but significantly lowered E/A ratio, ejection fraction and fractional shortening after ouabain treatment (P<0.05). Invasive monitoring revealed significant attenuation of the left ventricular developed pressure, rate of pressure development (+dp/dt) and rate of pressure decay (-dp/dt), and increment of the left ventricular end diastolic pressure. Myofibrillar fragmentation, swelling of the cardiac myocytes, absence of the Z line, increases of the mitochondria and collagen fibers were found in ouabain group by transmission electron microscopy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ouabain can induce left ventricular enlargement, cardiac wall thickening, myocardial ultrastructural alterations, systolic and diastolic dysfunction in rats before blood pressure elevation is detected, indicating that ouabain can directly cause cardiac damage in rats.</p>

Renal sodium handling in ouabain-hypertensive rats / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate renal sodium handling of ouabain-hypertensive rats and the role of renal sodium handling in pathogenesis of hypertension using endogenous trace lithium as a marker of proximal sodium reabsorption.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats weighting 180-220 g were equally divided into normal control group and ouabain group randomly. Rats were infused with normal saline 1 ml/ (kg x d) or ouabain 27.8 microg/ (kg-d) intraperitoneally once a day respectively. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and body weight were recorded weekly. Rats were sacrificed after 2 and 6 weeks respectively. Blood and 24 hour urine sample were collected to measure the serum and urinary concentration of sodium, potassium, trace lithium, and creatinine. Endogenous creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), fractional excretions of sodium (FE(Na)), and fractional excretions of lithium (FE(Li)), the ratios of urinary lithium to sodium (U(Li)/U(Na)), the ratios of urinary potassium to sodium (U(K)/U(Na)), and fractional reabsorption of sodium in the postproximal tubules (FDR(Na)) were also calculated. All were studied on their normal diet and ate salt freely.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood pressure had no significant difference in these two groups after 2 weeks (P > 0.05); After 4 weeks, however, blood pressure was significantly higher in ouabain group than in control group (P < 0.01). Body weight of rats had no significant difference during the experiment period (P > 0.05). Ccr and FE(Na) were similar in these 2 groups (P > 0.05). FE(Li), U(Li)/U(Na), U(K)/U(Na), and FDR(Na) of ouabain group were significantly lower than control group after 2 and 6 weeks (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001 respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The reabsorption of sodium increases in the proximal tubule in ouabain-hypertensive rats, and such increase occurs before the development of hypertension. Therefore, increase of proximal reabsorption of sodium may be involved in the pathogenesis of ouabain-induced hypertension.</p>

A novel hormone found in circulation--endogenous ouabain / 中国医学科学院学报

Endogenous ouabain (EO) is a recently found hormone that may be secreted from adrenal cortex. As an endogenous mammalian analogue of cardiac glycosides and an inhibitor of the sodium pump, it regulates the body fluid balance, urine sodium extraction and vasoconstrictive tone, and thus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and some other cardiovascular disorders. This articke reviews its biological features, receptor and antibody, detection, effects on diseases and relationship with endothelial cells.