Amentoflavone protects hippocampal neurons: anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antiapoptotic effects.

Amentoflavone is a natural biflavone compound with many biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and neuroprotective effects. We presumed that amentoflavone exerts a neuroprotective effect in epilepsy models. Prior to model establishment, mice were intragastrically administered 25 mg/kg amentoflavone for 3 consecutive days. Amentoflavone effectively prevented pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in a mouse kindling model, suppressed nuclear factor-κB activation and expression, inhibited excessive discharge of hippocampal neurons resulting in a reduction in epileptic seizures, shortened attack time, and diminished loss and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Results suggested that amentoflavone protected hippocampal neurons in epilepsy mice via anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and antiapoptosis, and then effectively prevented the occurrence of seizures.

[Effect of moderate acupuncture-stimulation of "Taichong" (LR 3) on blood pressure and plasma endothelin-1 levels in spontaneous hypertension rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of different strength of acupuncture stimulation on blood pressure and plasma endothelin (E)-1 in spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR) ,so as to seek a better acupuncture parameter for clinical treatment of hypertension. METHODS: Twenty-eight 9-week-old SHRs were randomized into mild-stimulation group, moderate-stimulation group, strong-stimulation group and model group (n = 7 in each group). Seven normotensive SD rats served as a normal control group. Acupuncture stimulation with mild, moderate and strong stimulation was applied to bilateral "Taichong" (LR 3) for 5 min, once daily for 7 days. Blood pressure (BP) was determined by using a non-invasive BP-6 detection system. Plasma ET-1 was assayed by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the systolic pressure of the moderate-stimulation group on the 6th and 7th day was decreased significantly after acupuncture of "Taichong" (LR 3) (P<0. 01), being significantly lower than that of the mild- and strong-stimulation groups (P<0. 01). In comparison with the normal control group, plasma ET-1 level in the model group was increased significantly (P<0.01), while compared with the model group, only that in the moderate-stimulation group was down-regulated considerably (P<0. 01). No significant differences were found between the mild-stimulation and model groups, between the strong-stimulation and model groups, and between the mild-stimulation and strong-stimulation groups in plasma ET-1 level (P>0. 05). CONCLUSION: Moderate-stimulation of "Taichong" (LR 3) can lower blood pressure and plasma EA-1 level in spontaneous hypertension rats. The reduced level of plasma ET-1 may be one of its mechanisms underlying improving hypertension.

Effects of phytoestrogen on mitochondrial structure and function of hippocampal CA1 region of ovariectomized rats.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether estrogen deprivation might lead to mitochondrial alteration of hippocampal neurons of ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and to evaluate the protective effect of estrogen and phytoestrogen on the mitochondrial alteration. First, OVX rats were used to mimic the pathologic changes of neurodegeneration of postmenopausal female, and we looked into the alteration of the mitochondrial ultrastructure and ATP content of hippocampal CA1 region after ovariectomy on different phase by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and found the best phase points of the alteration of the mitochondrial ultrastructure and ATP content. Next, estrogen and phytoestrogen were administered to the OVX rats for the protective effects on the mitochondrial ultrastructure and ATP content. Meanwhile, the density, size, shape, and distribution parameters of mitochondrial ultrastructure were analyzed according to the morphometry principle. The experimental results presented that (1) The alteration of mitochondrial ultrastructure elicited by ovariectomy worsened with the days going on, and the changes were the most noteworthy in volume density (Vv), average surface area (S), specific surface area (delta), and particle dispersity (Clambdaz) on 12th day (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, there was no statistical significance of the numerical density (Nv) among the five groups in the first step experiment. (2) The treatment with estrogen, genistein (Gs), and ipriflavone (Ip) significantly reversed the effect elicited by ovariectomy on Vv, S, delta, Clambdaz, Nv, and particle average diameter (D) of mitochondria of hippocampal CA1 region (P < 0.05). (3) Furthermore, ATP content of hippocampal CA1 region after ovariectomy declined significantly on 7th day (P < 0.05), and estrogen and phytoestrogen could reverse the alteration (P < 0.05). Taken together, these results revealed that phytoestrogen may have a protective role against the neurodegeneration after menopause via protecting mitochondrial structure and functions. Phytoestrogen may be a good alternative as a novel therapeutic strategy for menopausal syndrome.

[Study on the meridians and acupoints based on fasciaology: an elicitation of the study on digital human being].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlativity of meridians and acupoints with fascial system. METHODS: The lines and beads-like structures seen by fasciaology and scanning connective tissue, were combined with traditional meridians and collaterals, and acupoints to investigate channels, collaterals and acupoints. RESULTS: The high correlativity of the meridians and acupoints with the fascial system was found. CONCLUSION: The concept, functions, clinical application and mechanisms of meridians and acupoints can be preliminarily explained.