5-HT3A receptors maintain hippocampal LTP in a CB1 and GABAA receptor- dependent manner for spatial memory.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: As the only ionotropic receptor in the 5-HT receptor family, the 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3 R) is involved in psychiatric disorders and its modulators have potential therapeutic effects for cognitive impairment in these disorders. However, it remains unclear how 5-HT3 Rs shape synaptic plasticity for memory function. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Extracellular as well as whole-cell electrophysiological recordings were used to monitor hippocampal LTP and synaptic transmission in hippocampal slices in 5-HT3 AR knockout or 5-HT3 AR-GFP mice. Immunocytochemistry, qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to measure receptor expression. We also assessed hippocampal dependent cognition and memory, using the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition. KEY RESULTS: We found that 5-HT3 R dysfunction impaired hippocampal LTP in Schaffer collateral (SC)-CA1 pathway in hippocampal slices, by facilitating GABAergic inputs in pyramidal cells. This effect was dependent on 5-HT3 Rs on axon terminals. It resulted from reduced expression and function of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1 R) co-localized with 5-HT3 Rs on axon terminals, and then led to diminishment of tonic inhibition of GABA release by CB1 Rs. Inhibition of CB1 Rs mimicked the facilitation of GABAergic transmission by 5-HT3 R disruption. Consequently, mice with hippocampal 5-HT3 R disruption exhibited impaired spatial memory in MWM tasks. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These results suggest that 5-HT3 Rs are crucial in enabling hippocampal synaptic plasticity via a novel CB1 R-GABAA -dependent pathway to regulate spatial memory.

[Effect of application at Shu-Mu acupoint on serum uric acid in hyperuricemic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of application at Back-Shu with Front-Mu acupoints on serum uric acid (SUA) and kidney uric acid transport related proteins in hyperuricemia rats, so as to explore the mechanism of Shu-Mu acupoint application on treatment of hyperuricemia. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into blank control, model, vaseline application and medication application groups, with 8 rats in each group. The hyperuricemia rat model was established by gavage of potassium oxonate. Rats in the vaseline application group received application of vaseline at bilateral "Ganshu"(BL18) and "Qimen"(LI14), "Pishu"(BL20) and "Zhangmen"(LR13), "Shenshu" (BL23) and "Jingmen"(GB25). Rats in the medication application group received application of traditional Chinese medicine at the same acupoints. The contents of SUA and creatinine (SCr) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. H.E. staining was used to observe the pathological changes of kidney. And the protein expression levels of organic anion transporter 1(OAT1) and adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter G2(ABCG2) were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Rats in the model group showed symptoms such as polydipsia, polyuria, loose stools, fatigue, weakness, etc. The renal tubules atrophied, and urate crystals can be seen in the lumen. Compared with the control group. the SUA content in the model group increased (P<0.01)and the expressions of OAT1 and ABCG2 protein in kidney decreased (P<0.01). After intervention and in comparison with the model group showed that, the diet, excretion function, and mental state of the rats in the medication application group returned to normal, and the pathological changes of the kidney tissue were alleviated, the SUA content was down-regulated(P<0.01)and the expression levels of OAT1 and ABCG2 in the kidney up-regulated (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the SCr content among the 4 groups (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION: Medication application at Shu-Mu points can effectively reduce the SUA level of hyperuricemia rats, which may be related to its effects in up-regulating the protein expressions of OAT1 and ABCG2 in the kidney and reducing the damage to the kidneys.

[Location of acupoint Xuanzhong(GB39)].

For a long time, there have been many opinions about the location of Xuanzhong(GB39) point in the academic field. The author analyzed the location of GB39 in the main acupuncture literature in ancient times, textbooks of universities and colleges of traditional Chinese medicine after the founding of the People's Republic of China, national standards and more influential acupuncture works. From ancient times to the evolution of the location of the point, it is believed that the point should be located 3 cun above the lateral malleolus, between the tibial anterior ridge and the anterior edge of the fibula.

[Effect of acupuncture stimulation of "Shenshu"(BL23)-"Taixi"(KI3)on levels of serum uric acid and renal URAT1 and OAT1 protein expression in hyperuricemia rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture at "Shenshu"(BL23)-"Taixi"(KI3)on the levels of serum uric acid (SUA) and expression of renal urate-anion transporter 1 (URAT1) and organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) proteins in hyperuricemia (HUA) rats, so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in improving HUA. METHODS: A total of 25 male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: control (n＝6), HUA model (n＝7), BL23-KI3 (n＝6) and Ganshu (BL18)-Taichong (LR3, BL18-LR3 in short, n＝6). The HUA model was established by gavage of Oteracil Potassium (2 g/kg), once daily for 10 days, then once every other day. For rats of the BL23-KI3 group, BL23 and KI3 were stimulated with filiform needles which were rotated for 10 s at a frequency about 100 r/min, and for rats of the BL18-LR3 group, BL18 and LR3 were stimulated with the same methods to those of the BL23-KI3 group. The treatment of both acupuncture groups was conducted once daily, 6 times a week (except Sundays) for 3 weeks. The contents of SUA and serum creatinine (SCr) were assayed by using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The pathological changes of the right kidney tissue were observed under light microscope after hematoxylin eosin (H.E.) staining, the immunoactivity of URAT1 and OAT1 of the right kidney tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of URAT1 and OAT1 proteins of the left kidney tissue detected by Western blot (WB). RESULTS: After modeling, the content of SUA and the expression of renal URAT1 protein (shown by both immunoactivity and WB) were significantly increased (P<0.01), but that of renal OAT1 protein was obviously decreased in the model group compared with the control group (P<0.01). There was no notably change in the level of SCr in the model group relevant to the control group (P>0.05). Following acupuncture intervention, the SUA content and URAT1 expression in both BL18-LR3 and BL23-KI3 groups were considerably down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression of OAT1 protein in the BL23-KI3 group (not the BL18-LR3 group) were obviously up-regulated relevant to the model group (P<0.01). The effects of BL23-KI3 were significant superior to those of BL18-LR3 in down-regulating the expression of URAT1 and up-regulating OAT1 protein (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture of "BL23" and "KI3" can effectively down-regulate SUA level in HUA rats, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating the expression of URAT1 and up-regulating the expression of OAT1 in the kidney tissue.

Associations between maternal BMI as well as glucose tolerance and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

This retrospective, cohort study examined the association between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), independent of glucose tolerance and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), for which there are few previous studies. Medical records from 2012 to 2015 at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, China were reviewed for women previously diagnosed with PCOS with normal 2-h 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results (n = 1249). The separate and joint effects of maternal BMI and glucose levels on pregnancy outcomes were assessed. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.02-1.45), preterm birth (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08-2.17), and large for gestational age (LGA) (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.16-2.20). Elevated fasting glucose and maternal pre-pregnancy BMI were jointly associated with increased risks of HDP, preterm birth, and LGA. Therefore, among women with PCOS and normal glucose tolerance, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is an independent risk factor of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Dynamic concision for three-dimensional reconstruction of human organ built with virtual reality modelling language (VRML).

This research studies the process of 3D reconstruction and dynamic concision based on 2D medical digital images using virtual reality modelling language (VRML) and JavaScript language, with a focus on how to realize the dynamic concision of 3D medical model with script node and sensor node in VRML. The 3D reconstruction and concision of body internal organs can be built with such high quality that they are better than those obtained from the traditional methods. With the function of dynamic concision, the VRML browser can offer better windows for man-computer interaction in real-time environment than ever before. 3D reconstruction and dynamic concision with VRML can be used to meet the requirement for the medical observation of 3D reconstruction and have a promising prospect in the fields of medical imaging.