ABSTRACT
Vitamin A (VA) is a fat-soluble vitamin with all-trans-retinoic biological activities. In addition to maintaining the normal functions of the eye, skin, immune, and reproductive systems, VA is also widely distributed in brain tissues, and important to the generation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells in the developing nervous system. Pregnant women are susceptible to vitamin A deficiency (VAD). Retinoic acid, the active form of VA, is very important to the brain development of offspring. This article reviews the literatures of maternal VAD during pregnancy, summarizing the risk factors of maternal VAD during pregnancy, and the research findings of the effects of maternal VAD during pregnancy on offspring neurodevelopment based on both human studies and animal experiments, and the possible underlying mechanisms by which maternal VAD affects the development of embryonic layers, brain structures, hippocampal synaptic transmission, and the biological clock in offspring.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of Changji'an prescription on intestinal permeability in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) rats and explore its mechanism for treatment of IBS-D. Method:Male SD neonatal rats were randomly divided into five groups:normal group, model group, pinaverium bromide group(0.018 g·kg-1), high-dose(33.48 g·kg-1) and low-dose (16.74 g·kg-1)Changji'an prescription groups. Except for the normal group, the IBS-D model was established by the combination of maternal and infant separation+acetic acid stimulation+restraint stress. After drug treatment, the ultrastructure of rat intestinal mucosa was observed by using transmission electron microscopy and the plasma D-lactate level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of tight junction proteins Occludin and Claudin-1 were detected by Western blot. The mRNA expression levels of Occludin,Claudin-1 and zonula occluden(ZO)-1 were detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Result:As compared with the normal group, the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells were damaged in IBS-D model group, and the microvilli arrangement was sparse and tight junction was widened, and some were not obvious,and the plasma D-lactate level in IBS-D rats was increased significantly (PPD-lactate level in pinaverium bromide group and high-dose Changji'an prescription group was significantly decreased (PD-lactate level in the low-dose group Changji'an prescription group had a tendency to decrease with no statistical difference. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Occludin and Claudin-1 and the mRNA expression of ZO-1 in the colon of rats in each administration group were higher than those in the model group (PConclusion:The therapeutic effect of Changji'an prescription on IBS-D may be achieved by improving the intestinal permeability.
ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of aralosdie C (SMC)isolated from aralosides on contractile func-tion and calcium transients in ischemia / reperfusion(I/R)-induced rat myocardial injury and the role of CaMK II. Methods The cardiomyocytes were divided into control group,I/ R group,I/ R + SMC group,KN-93+ I/ R + SMC group. The effect of SMC on the con-tractile function and calcium transient of I/ R cells was measured by cell shrinkage and ion concentration sim-ultaneous detection system. Results SMC(8 μmol· L - 1 )improved the contractile function of I/ R cardio-myocytes and the calcium transients,and SMC in-creased the rate of calcium transient and [Ca2 +]i up /down regulation significantly. While CaMK II was blocked by KN-93,the effect of SMC on contractile function and calcium transients was weakened. Con-clusions SMC can significantly improve the systolic function and calcium transients of cardiomyocytes in I/R rats,and the protective effect of SMC on cardiomyo-cytes may be related to CaMK II.
ABSTRACT
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is one of the most important sensor molecules which regulates biological energy homeostasis,activating the upstream kinase LKB1 and CaMKK beta and Tak1 and so on.AMP/ATP ratio can modulate AMPK activity,controlling the decomposition and synthesis pathway of energy metabolism,activating AMPK during skeletal muscle contraction and myocardial ischemia,adjusting metabolism of fat cells and blood vessel function,promoting glucose transport and fatty acid oxidation.With atherosclerosis,hypertension and other potential causes ruled out,diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an independent primary disease resulted from abnormal structure and function of myocardium induced by diabetes,and DCM even brings about death in patients.Due to its regulation of blood sugar levels,fatty acid oxidation and glycogen metabolism,AMPK may play a vital role in the process of DCM.Based on literature review,this paper summarizes the role of AMPK pathway in the process of DCM.