Research progress on chemical compositions and pharmacological action of Drynariae Rhizoma / 中国中药杂志

Drynariae Rhizoma is warm in nature and bitter in taste, mainly acting on liver and kidney systems. It is a common Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of fracture and bone injury. The chemical compositions of Drynariae Rhizoma mainly include flavonoids, triterpenoids, phenylpropanoids and lignans. At present, modern pharmacological and clinical studies have shown that Drynariae Rhizoma has the effects of anti osteoporosis, promoting fracture healing, kidney protection, anti-inflammatory, promoting tooth growth, preventing and treating aminoglycoside ototoxicity and lowering blood lipid. In addition, the toxicity evaluation experiment of Drynariae Rhizoma has also shown that it has no obvious toxic and side effects. Naringin is a kind of dihydroflavone in Drynariae Rhizoma. Many studies have shown that naringin and other total flavonoids play an important role in anti-osteoporosis, promoting fracture healing, anti-inflammation, promoting tooth growth and lowering blood lipid. In this study, the research progresses on chemical consti-tuents and pharmacological activities of Drynariae Rhizoma in recent years were reviewed, and some mechanisms of action were summarized, to provide references for the further research and development of Drynariae Rhizoma.

Effect of hydrogen molecule on apoptosis-related proteins and Nrf2 signa-ling pathway in glomerular mesangial cells cultured with high glucose / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the role of hydrogen molecule on apoptosis-related proteins in glomerular me-sangial cells cultured with high glucose and to explore its possible mechanism.METHODS:Mouse glomerular mesangial cells cultured in vitro were divided into 4 groups:normal control group(C group,5.5 mmol/L glucose),mannitol group(G group,5.5 mmol/L glucose+19.5 mmol/L mannitol),high glucose group(H group,25 mmol/L glucose),high glu-cose+hydrogen-rich water group(HH group,25 mmol/L glucose+hydrogen-rich water),and cultured for 48 h.The pro-tein levels of Bax,Bcl-2,cleaved caspase-3,nuclear factor E2-related factor-2(Nrf2),heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1(NQO-1)were determined by Western blot ,and the mRNA expression of HO-1 and NQO-1 was determined by RT-PCR.The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)was detected by dihydro-ethidium method,and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)was measured by WST-8 assay.RESULTS:Compared with C group,the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were up-regulated,and Bcl-2 was down-regulated in H group(P <0.05).No significantly difference of the protein levels mentioned above between C and HH group was observed. Compared with H group,the protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were down-regulated,and Bcl-2 was up-regulated in HH group(P <0.05).The level of intracellular ROS was higher and the activity of SOD was lower in H group than those in C group(P<0.05).However,there was no difference of the SOD activity between C group and HH group.The level of intracellular ROS decreased and the activity of SOD increased in HH group as compared with H group(P<0.05). Compared with C group,clearly reduced protein expression of Nrf2,HO-1 and NQO-1,and decreased mRNA expression of HO-1 and NQO-1 in H group were observed(P<0.05).Compared with H group,the protein levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and NQO-1 as well as the mRNA levels of HO-1 and NQO-1 were obviously increased in HH group(P<0.05 ).CONCLU-SION:Hydrogen molecule inhibits the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and induces the expression of anti-apoptotic pro-teins in glomerular mesangial cells cultured with high glucose.The mechanism may be related to activation of Nrf 2 signaling pathway.

Biological properties of spermatogonial stem cell niches / 中华男科学杂志

The self-renewal and differentiation of adult stem cells are closely related to their niches. Naturally, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the only adult stem cells in the body, which can transfer genetic information into the offspring. An insight into the modulation of the self-renewal and differentiation of SSCs can help elucidate the mechanisms of spermatogenesis and investigate the proliferation and differentiation of other adult stem cells. Therefore, the SSC system provides an ideal model for researches on the adult stem cell niche. More and more evidence indicates that the self-renewal and differentiation of SSCs are regulated by their niches. Based on our previous work and other related findings recently reported, this article presents an overview on the biological properties of SSC niches and their relationship with the self-renewal and differentiation of SSCs, focusing on the basic properties and components of SSC niches and various regulatory factors they produce.

Differential analysis of proteomic profiles between cryptorchid and normal mouse testes / 生理学报

To screen factors related to spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) proliferation, and to investigate the mechanism of infertility caused by cryptorchidism, ten-day-old Kunming (KM) mice were used and experimental cryptorchidism was conducted. On the 35th day after cryptorchid operation, the left testes were fixed in Bouin's fluid and used for histological analysis. The testes of 45-day-old mice were subjected to the same histological analysis, and it was found that they contained germ cells at every stage of development, from SSCs to sperm, indicating that the animals were fully sexually mature at this age. While in experimental cryptorchid mice, the spermatogenesis was arrested at the stage of spermatocytes, and only spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes were present in cryptorchid testes. The proportion of spermatogonia to other types of germ cells was much higher than that in sexually mature mice. On the other hand, the right testes were used for proteomic analysis. The total protein in testes was extracted on the 35th day after cryptorchid operation. The differentially expressed proteins in cryptorchid mice and sexually mature mice were screened and compared by the proteomic techniques. Through the separation of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), 20 differential protein spots were found, and 9 of them were digested and identified by the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrum. In cryptorchid mice, 6 out of 9 proteins were down-regulated, and 3 were up-regulated. Among these proteins, 4 proteins were identified, and they were Stathmin, phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein1 (PEBP1), HES-related basic helix-loop-helix protein (HERP), and one unnamed protein (we temporarily named it Px). More Stathmin, PEBP1 and Px were expressed in sexually mature mice than in experimental cryptorchid mice. But HERP1 was the other way round. In the present study, we have screened 4 proteins related to cryptorchidism. It is helpful to study the mechanism of SSC proliferation and infertility caused by cryptorchidism.

17beta-estradiol stimulates proliferation of spermatogonia in experimental cryptorchid mice / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate whether estrogen stimulates the proliferation of spermatogonia or induces spermatogenesis in cryptorchid mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mice were surgically rendered cryptorchid, then treated with different doses of 17beta-estradiol (E2) s.c. once a day. Mice were killed at sexual maturity (45 days of age), and histological analysis and immunofluorescence were performed. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Low doses of E2 had no notable effect on spermatogonia, but at higher doses, E2 stimulated the proliferation of spermatogonia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>E2 has a dose-related mitogenic effect on spermatogonia.</p>

Cloning of Bmi1 cDNA from mouse testis and its expression in E. coli BL21 / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To produce BMI1 polyclonal antibody, mouse Bmi1 cDNA was cloned from mouse testis and expressed in E. coli BL21.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bmi1 gene was amplified from mouse testis by RT-PCR and inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-28c(+). Subsequently the recombined vector was transformed and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and the immunogenicity of recombined protein BMI1 (rBMI1) was tested by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mouse Bmi1 cDNA of 975 bp was successfully cloned and recombined. E. coli BL21 strains expressed rBMI1 were screened. The expression protein amounted to 12% of the total bacterial protein after induced with IPTG, which included inclusion body and soluble protein. Inclusion body was the major pattern of the expression that amounted to 71% of the insoluble protein. Western blot analysis showed that rBMI1 could be specially recognized by mouse monoclonal IgG1 anti-BMI1 and His-tag antibody.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was expression of Bmi1 gene in mouse testis. Mouse Bmi1 cDNA was successfully cloned and expressed prokaryoticly.</p>

Study on antipyretic action of dipseudoephedrine glycyrrhizin and its effect on heart rate and blood pressure of rats / 中华中医药杂志

Objective: To study the antipyretic action of Dipseudoephedrine Glycyrrhizin and its effect on heart rate and blood pressure of rats.Methods: The model of pyretic rabbit was established by diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus triple vaccine,and to observe the effect of Dipseudoephedrine Glycyrrhizin on temperature of rabbit. Two-path physiological recorder was used to measure heart rate and blood pressure.Results: The experiment proved that Dipseudoephedrine Glycyrrhizin can decrease the anus temperature of pyretic rabbit obviously.Dipseudoephedrine Glycyrrhizanate had no remarkably effect on heart rate and blood pressure.Conclusion: Dipseudoephedrine Glycyrrhizin has antipyretic action and has no effect on heart rate and blood pressure within studied dose.

Effects of newborn bull serum and vitamins on cryopreservation of mouse seminiferous epithelial cells / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the effects of newborn bull serum(NBS), vitamin C and vitamin E on cryopreservation of mouse seminiferous epithelial cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The seminiferous epithelial cells from 7-day-old mice were cryopreserved in different freezing solutions. The cell recoveries were examined by Trypan blue exclusive staining after thawing. The freezing solutions composed of DMEM, 10% dimethylsulphoxide(DMSO), and 0, 5%, 10%, or 20% NBS, respectively, or composed of DMEM, 10% DMSO, 10% NBS, and 150 micrograms/ml vitamin C or 50 micrograms/ml vitamin E, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cell recoveries in freezing solution containing 0, 5%, 10%, or 20% NBS were 83.4%, 84.7%, 85.7% and 83.6%, respectively. There were no significant differences between them. The cell recoveries in freezing solution containing vitamin C or vitamin E were 88.0% and 82.9%, respectively. There was no significant differences compared with that in freezing solution containing 10% DMSO and 10% NBS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NBS, vitamin C and vitamin E have no significant protecting effects on mouse seminiferous epithelial cells, and can not significantly improve the cell recoveries.</p>