ABSTRACT
To investigate the effect of Siwu decoction on improving iron deficiency anemia in infant rats and observe its regulatory effects on iron metabolism. SD rats were fed with low iron fodder for 2 weeks, and then the rats with hemoglobin level less than 75 g•L ⁻¹ were screened out and randomly divided into model group, Ferrous succinate 50 mg•kg ⁻¹ group, Siwu decoction 4 g•kg ⁻¹, 8 g•kg ⁻¹ and 16 g•kg ⁻¹ groups. After 4 weeks' gavage administration, Wright-Giemsa's staining of blood smear and HE staining of the livers were conducted, and all rats were tested for blood routine, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, serum ferritin, serum hepcidin and liver hepcidin. The expression levels of liver ferritin, transferrin and transferrin receptor 1 were also detected. The results showed that as compared with normal group, the activity level of model group was decreased, and the color and lustre of auricles and toes were pale white; the number of red blood cells was decreased; the volume was smaller, with an increased zone of central pallor; the body weight and blood routine parameters were decreased significantly; the livers were pale red, and the hepatic cords around thecentral veins were unclear and misaligned; the serum iron, serum ferritin, liver iron levels and the expression of liver ferritin were decreased significantly; the total iron binding capacity, serum hepcidin, liver hepcidin, the expression levels of liver transferrin and transferrin receptor 1 were significantly increased, indicating successful establishment of models. As compared with the model group, activity was increased in Siwu decoction group; the color and lustre of auricles and toes were ruddy; the number of red blood cells was increased; the volume was larger, with a decreased zone of central pallor; the body weight and blood routine parameters were increased significantly; the livers were red, hepatic cords around the central veins were clear and aligned;the serum iron, serum ferritin, liver iron levels and the expression of liver ferritin were significantly increased, the total iron binding capacity, serum hepcidin, liver hepcidin, the expression of liver transferrin and transferrin receptor 1 were decreased significantly. The results demonstrated that Siwu decoction had a certain effect on improving iron deficiency anemia in infant rats, and the mechanism may be associated with the regulatory effect of hepcidin iron metabolism.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the changes in TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway in infant and adult mice infected with influenza virus, and to provide experimental evidence for the study of immunopathological mechanism in pediatric respiratory virus susceptibility. Methods Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were applied to detect the expressions of lung TLR4 and NF-κB P65 mRNA and proteins in the infant and adult mice, and to compare the changes in TLR4-NF-κB P65 signaling pathway after infection with influenza virus.Results (1) The infant model group showed the strongest expression of TLR4 protein in the lung tissue, compared with that in the normal group and adult model group showing significant differences (P<0.05).(2) The expression of NF-κB P65 protein in the lung tissue was strongest in the infant model group, and it was gradually increased over time, showing a significant difference between each time point and the next time point (P<0.05).(3) The infant model group showed the strongest expression of TLR4 mRNA in lung tissue, significantly higher than that in the normal and adult model groups (P<0.05).(4) The expression of NF-κB P65 mRNA in the lung tissue was highest in the infant model group, and significantly higher than that in the normal and the adult model groups ( P<0.05) , and it was gradually increased with the time.Conclusions The over-activation of TLR4-NF-κB P65 signaling pathway may be one of the immunopathological mechanisms of serious injury in the lung tissue in infant rats.
ABSTRACT
Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are essential communicative sounds used between rodent pups and their mother. Rat pups emit USVs in stressful situations, such as when they are cold or separated from the nest. We verified the ontogenetic changes in USVs emitted by infant rats isolated from their mother during the pre-weaning period. The number of calls, and the median frequency and first peak of frequency of the calls were measured at 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, and 14 days postnatal age in Wistar-Imamichi rats. Pups were placed in a cold glass beaker and USVs were recorded for 5 min. The number of calls increased to a peak on day 5 and then gradually decreased. The median frequency of calls decreased slowly during the first 12 days, and then increased slightly on day 14. Similarly, the first peak frequency of calls was the highest on day 1, and then decreased gradually by day 12. A small increase was observed on day 14. These changes in frequency were correlated with the physical development of the pups, whose body weights increased significantly with age except during postnatal days 7-10.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Infant , Rats , Body Weight , Cold Temperature , Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique , Glass , Mothers , Rodentia , UltrasonicsABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of alcohol exposure during pregnancy on learning and memory and content of hydrogen sulfide(H2S) in the hippocampus of infant rats.MethodsThe animal models of alcohol exposure during pregnancy were made,and the learning and memory were evaluated by Y-maze in adult offspring.Content of H2S and activity of cystathionine-beta-synthase(GBS) in the hippocampus of the brain were evaluated with spectrophotometry;and CBS protein expression in the hippocampus was detected by immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe learning and memory ( (43.00 ± 15.33 ) times) of alcohol exposure during pregnancy group was significantly decreased compared with that of control and drinking groups (( 25.13 ± 12.35 )times and (26.12 ±11.95 ) times,P ＜ 0.05 ) ; spectrophotometry results showed that the content of H2S ( ( 30.32 ± 5.84 ) nmoL/g) of alcohol exposure during pregnancy group was significantly increased compared with that of control ( ( 52.51 ±7.85 ) nmol/g) and drinking groups( (49.93 ± 4.29 ) nmol/g),and the activity of CBS( ( 55.13 ± 4.45 ) nmol/g)of alcohol exposure during pregnancy group was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01 ) compared with that of control ( (71.06 ± 5.58 ) nmol/g) and drinking groups( (69.96 ± 6.13 ) nmol/g) ; immunohistochemistry showed that the expressionof CBSproteinofalcoholexposureduringpregnancygroupwassignificantlyincreased.ConclusionThe damage effect of alcohol exposure during pregnancy on nerve system of infant rats may interrelate with down-regulation of H2S/CBS in the hippocampus.