ABSTRACT
Oketsu is a characteristic pathophysiology in Kampo and traditional East Asian medicine that includes multiple aspects of hemodynamic disorder. Anti-oketsu drugs or the Kampo formulation used for oketsu show significant clinical effects on various disorders; however, their underlying mechanisms still remain unclear. We aimed to clarify the characteristics of the pharmacological effects of anti-oketsu drugs on the microcirculation using a microscopic live imaging technique. Three Kampo formulations, namely tokakujokito, keishibukuryogan, and tokishakuyakusan were orally administrated to C57BL/6 mice at a dose of 300 mg/kg diluted in distilled water. Live imaging was performed on the subcutaneous vessels of the mice, including the arteries (diameter > 50 μm), arterioles (diameter 10-50 μm) and capillaries (diameter < 10 μm). Tokakujokito widely increased erythrocyte flow velocity and blood flow volume from arteries to capillaries within 60 min of administration. The effects of keishibukuryogan on the vasodilation of the arterioles were remarkable, and continued up to 120 min after administration. The pharmacological target of tokishakuyakusan was the capillaries, increasing their erythrocyte velocity and blood flow volume;its effect was more slowly expressed than those of the other formulations. Our results clearly demonstrate the sequential and special effects of anti-oketsu drugs on hemodynamics. These differences may provide pharmacological information on the clinical usage of traditional Kampo formulations.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of β-arrestin1 overexpression on tumor progression in a NCG mouse model bearing T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (T-ALL) Molt-4 cell xenograft.@*METHODS@#Molt-4 cells were tagged with firefly-luciferase (F-Luc) by lentiviral infection, and fluorescence intensity of the cells was detected using a luminescence detector. Molt-4 cell lines with β-arrestin1 overexpression or knockdown were constructed by lentivirus infection and injected the tail vein in sub-lethal irradiated NCG mice. Body weight changes and survival time of the xenografted mice were observed, and the progression of T-ALL in the mice was evaluated using an fluorescence imaging system. Sixteen days after xenografting, the mice were euthanatized and tumor cell infiltration was observed in the slices of the liver and spleen.@*RESULTS@#We successfully tagged Molt-4 cells with F-Luc and overexpressed or knocked down β-arrestin1 in the tagged cells. Bioluminescent imaging showed obvious luminescence catalyzed by F-Luc in Molt-4 cells. After injection of Molt-4-Luc cells into irradiated NCG mice, a gradual enhancement of luminescence in the xenografted mice was observed over time, while the body weight of the mice decreased. Compared with the control mice, the mice xenografted with β-arrestin1-overexpressing Molt-4 cells had significantly prolonged survival time ( < 0.001), while the survival time of the mice xenografted with Molt-4 cells with β- arrestin1 knockdown was significantly shortened ( < 0.001). Histological examination revealed fewer infiltrating tumor cells in the liver and spleen of the mice xenografted with β-arrestin1-overexpressing Molt-4 cells in comparison with the mice bearing parental Molt-4 cell xenografts.@*CONCLUSIONS@#β-arrestin1 overexpression suppresses tumor progression in mice bearing Molt-4 cell xenograft.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Mice , Disease Progression , Heterografts , T-Lymphocytes , Transplantation, Heterologous , beta-Arrestin 1ABSTRACT
Objective The diolistic assay has been modified to make it simpler and more efficient in labeling neurons and glia. Methods CNS neurons and glial cells were labeled with DiI diolistic assay in fixed tissue and living brain slices of C57/B6J mice. Results The method allowed the visualization of the fine structure of neurons and glia including synaptic structures such as dendritic spines. Conclusion With the method, the labeling efficacy of cell's fine structure is improved, making it preferable for the analysis of dendritic spine. In addition, the ability to label the living neuron and glia will extend its application vastly.