Effect of Enriched Environment on Motor and Social Function after Ischemic Brain Injury in Mice / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To explore the role of long-term enriched environment in promoting the recovery of motor and social function in mice after ischemic brain injury. Methods Sixteen adult male ICR mice underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The first day after operation, they were divided into enriched environment group (n=8) and standard condition group (n=8). The mice were tested with modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), rotarod test and smart cage 7, 14, 21, 28 days after modeling. Results The score of mNSS and the result of rotarod test improved more in the enriched environment group than in the standard condition group 28 days after MCAO (t>2.927, P2.480, P0.05) in the social behavior test; however, the occupancy time in the middle of smart cage was longer in the enriched environment group than in the standard condition group 14 to 28 days after MCAO (t>3.472, P<0.01), and the velocity of moving was higher 14 days after MCAO (P<0.05). Conclusion Enriched environment could promote the recovery of motor function, somehow of social function, in mice af-ter ischemic brain injury.

Research of the Thrombus Protection Device During the Cerebral Vascular Interventional Therapy / 中国医疗器械杂志

This article introduces a cerebral thrombus protection device for the cerebral interventional treatment, also introduces the principle, design and manufacturing process of the device, and confirmes the effectiveness in vitro experiment.

Effects of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) on focal cerebral ischemia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 during focal cerebral ischemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Left middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was undergone after the introduction of a nylon suture to the left internal carotid artery in 70 male adult CD-1 mice. ERK 1/2 phosphorylation was detected using Western blot analysis, and the morphological feature was determined by immunohistochemistry. An ERK pathway inhibitor, 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis[2-amino-phenylthio] butadiene (U0126), was administered intravenously 20 minutes before MCAO, and the neurological deficit levels and the infarct volumes were measured 24 hours after MCAO.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Phosphorylated ERK 1/2 (pERK 1/2) activity increased after 30 minutes of MCAO and peaked at 2 hours. The immunohistochemical study displayed a large number of pERK 1/2 positive cells in the ischemic basal ganglion and surrounding cortex. Double-labeled fluorescent staining identified the pERK1/2 positive cells as neurons or astrocytes. In U0126 treated mice which had undergone 24 hours of MCAO, the neurological deficit levels and the infarct volumes were 44.6% and 45.8% respectively, less than those of the control mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ERK plays an important role in focal cerebral ischemia and inhibition of the ERK pathway can help protect against ischemic brain injury, which may provide a therapeutic approach for cerebral ischemia.</p>

Protective effects of the intracerebral transfer of the adenoviral-mediated GDNF gene in a rat model of Parkinson's disease / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To study the neuroprotective effects of adeno viral mediated glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) gene transfer in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Methods Thirty five SD rats were divided into 3 groups which received perinigral injections of recombinant adenovirus encoding GDNF (Ad GDNF)/ LacZ(Ad LacZ) and PBS, respectively. One week later, intrastriatal injection of 6 hydroxydopamine (6 OHDA) was made to induce progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. The neuroprotective effects of Ad GDNF were evaluated by apomorphine induced rotational behavior, immunohistochemical assay of the tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) positive neurons in the midbrain and measurement of monoamine level in the striatum. RT PCR and ELISA were performed to check the expression of the exogenous GDNF gene in the brain. Results Ad GDNF treated rats showed improved motor functions, better survival of TH positive cells in the lesioned substantia nigra (70% vs 30%) and higher DA levels in the lesioned striatum. The exogenous GDNF gene was efficiently expressed in the midbrain. GDNF protein level in the injection site reached 1 ng/10 mg wet tissue 5 weeks after the adenoviral vector delivery, being 16 20 times of that of the Ad LacZ delivery or PBS treated groups. Conclusions Adeno viral mediated GDNF gene intracerebral transfer significantly protected the dopaminergic neurons of nigrostriatal system from 6 OHDA induced injury and is valuable in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.