ABSTRACT
Objective To examine the effects of acute hypobaric hypoxia on abilities of learning and memory,the water content in brain,the level of nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in hippocampus of mice.Methods The acute hypobaric hypoxia environment were made by putting the mice in a hypobaric chamber simulated at altitude of 6 000 meters for 8 hours.The capabilities of learning and memory of mice were detected by Morris water maze test.The content of water in hippocampus were examined by measuring the ratio of dry/wet weight,and the level of NO and ET-1 in brain was detected by colorimetric method.Results Morris water maze test showed that the mean escape latency of mice in the hypobaric hypoxia group were longer than that in the normobaric normoxia group((44.60±7.80) s vs (26.39±8.44)s,P<0.01),and the target quadrant residence time were decreased((19.78±2.74) s vs (22.98±6.14)s,P< 0.05).Compared with the normobaric normoxia group (NO:(2.37 ± 1.07) μmol/gProt,ET-1:(38.87 ± 6.17) ng/L),the water content in brain of mice in the hypobaric hypoxia group was increased (P< 0.05),meanwhile,both the level of NO ((4.48 ± 1.45) μmol/gProt) and ET-1 ((52.09±6.75)ng/L) in brain were increased too(P<0.01).Conclusion Hypobaric hypoxia can decrease the abilities of learning and memory of mice,and these changes might be related with the increased water content and the increased level of NO and ET-1 in hippocampus of mice.
ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the effects of eszopiclone (ESZ) on the pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping time and spontaneous activity in mice exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia.Methods 120 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups by using two factors 2×3 levels factorial design,in which two factors were interventions (ESZ and 0.9% sodium chloride,2 levels) and altitudes (800 m,3500 m and 6000 m,3 levels).The pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping test and the open field test were engaged to assess the effects of ESZ on sleeping time and spontaneous activity.Results (1) The drug and altitude had no interaction in the results of both the pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping test and the open field test(P>0.05).(2)The time of pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping of mice in the groups of ESZ at each altitudes were (37.77± 18.22) min,(37.02± 13.67) min,(95.67±47.68)min and in the groups of NS were(17.78± 14.10) min,(15.09± 12.46) min,(39.54±28.24) min respectively,and the sleep time in ESZ groups were significantly longer than those in the groups of NS (P<0.05).The time of pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping were longer in group of 6000 m than those in the other two groups,both the ESZ and NS groups (P<0.05).(3)No significant difference was found in the open field test between the ESZ and NS groups in the same altitude(P>0.05) ; while the mice at the altitude of 6000 m in groups of ESZ and NS decreased compared with the groups at the altitude of 800 m after the relevant drugs intra-perineally for 6 h (P<0.05).Conclusion ESZ may prolong pentobarbital sodium-induced sleeping time especially at the altitude of 6000 m and with no influence on the spontaneous activity in mice exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia.High altitude at 6000 m may prolong the sleep time induced by pentobarbital sodium and reduce the spontaneous activities.
ABSTRACT
Selective neuronal loss is closely associated with cognitive impairments that occur following status epilepticus (SE). Our previous study suggested that erythropoietin (Epo) pre-treatment suppressed hippocampal neuronal death in rats after 1 h of SE convulsions. However, the underlying protective mechanism remained unclear. In the present study, we investigated the anti-apoptotic mechanism of Epo pre-treatment in the hippocampus using Li-pilocarpine-induced SE in rats. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed to detect apoptosis and the Morris water maze was employed to assess spatial learning ability and to analyze the protective effects of Epo. Levels of Bcl-2 family (Bid, Bcl-2 and Bax) markers were examined via Western blot and immunofluorescence. We found that Epo pre-treatment prevented SE-induced cognitive impairments. The protection and cognitive effects were associated with higher levels of Bcl-2 and lower levels of Bax. The present results suggest that systemic Epo pre-treatment can confer neuroprotection following SE, and may provide novel insights into pathogenesis and treatment following SE injury.
Subject(s)
Cognition Disorders/drug therapy , Cognition Disorders/etiology , Erythropoietin/pharmacology , Hippocampus/drug effects , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology , Status Epilepticus/complications , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/drug effects , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism , Animals , Apoptosis/drug effects , Apoptosis/physiology , Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/drug effects , Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/metabolism , Cognition Disorders/prevention & control , Disease Models, Animal , Erythropoietin/therapeutic use , Hippocampus/metabolism , Hippocampus/physiopathology , In Situ Nick-End Labeling , Male , Maze Learning/drug effects , Maze Learning/physiology , Muscarinic Agonists/pharmacology , Neuroprotective Agents/therapeutic use , Pilocarpine , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Status Epilepticus/chemically induced , bcl-2-Associated X Protein/drug effects , bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolismABSTRACT
Objective To detect the differential expression genes(DEGs)between Barrettg esophagus(BE)and normal esophagus with oligomicroarray,and to explore the target genes related to the development of BE.Methods The total RNAs of matched BE and normal esophagus mucosa from saIne patient were isolated with one step Trizol method.Matched RNAs were qualified with 10g/L agarose gel electrophoresis.After tRNA purification,cRNAs were synthesized and labeled with fluorescence.which were tIlen hybridized with Agilent oligomicroarray containing 30,968 probes.The fluorescence intensity features were detected by Agilent scanner and quantified by software Feature Extraction.Results On average,2 biopsies by disposable jumbo biopsy forceps provided approximately 5μg RNA required for microarray.The total RNA,reverse transcription product and fluorescence labeled cRNA were all of high quality.Among 2-fold DEGs,there were 142 up-regulated genes and 284 down-regulated genes including 15 bel-2 related genes such as bel-2,MCL1,BAX,BIK and BCLAF1 Conclusion Microarray-based studies are feasible in endoscopically obtained tissues.The development of BE is a complicated process involving multi-genes,in which abnormal expression of bel-2 family related genes might be involved,but the exact mechanism needs further research.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphism is associated with the onset of Alzheimer disease (AD), most of the researchers reported that ApoE ε4 allele accounts for familial AD as well as for sporadic AD.OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to validate the relationship between ApoE gene polymorphism and the sporadic AD in Aged Adults in Urumqi, and to evaluate the value of ApoE gene for prediction the risk of sporadic AD.DESIGN: Controlled comparative study based on patients.SETTING: It was conducted at the Institute of Clinical Medicine and the Neurological Department of Urumqi General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: From January 2001 to January 2003, 60 aged inpatients and outpatients at the Neurological Department of Urumqi General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA and elderly in the Old People's Home were screened for AD. Of all these participants,28 were males and 32 were females, with an age from 52 to 91, in average of (74.2±19.5) years old, They had 0-16 years education, in average of 4.43 years, 28 were illiterate, 13 were at primary school educational level,12 were at junior middle school educational level, 4 were at high school educational level and 3 were at college educational level. From February to December 2002, 90 genetically unrelated individuals with healthy physical examination findings in Xinjiang area were selected into control group, 59males and 31 females, with an age from 50 to 101 years old, in average of (69.9±25.5) years old, have 0-16 year's education, in average of 7.96years. Of all the controls, 14 were illiterate, 23 were at primary educational level, 25 were at junior middle school educational level, 21 were at high school educational level and 7 were at college educational level. Informed consents were obtained from all the participants.METHODS: 5 Ml blood samples, anticoagulated with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), were drawn from each participant. Then genome DNA was extracted from peripheral white blood cells using the phenolchloroform method. A fragment containing polymorphism site in exon 4 of ApoE were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were digested with Hha I and were identified using electrophoresis and silver staining. Then, ApoE genotypes and the frequency of ApoE alleles were compared between AD group and control group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① ApoE genotypes and the frequency of ApoE alleles were measured in AD group and control group. ② The frequency of ApoE alleles were calculated in participants with different sex,age and educational level in AD group and control group.RESULTS: Sixty patients with AD and 90 healthy individuals participated this investigation. All of them entered the statistical analysis procedure.① The frequency of ε3/ε4 and ε4/ε4 alleles was higher in AD group than in control group (26.67%,11.11%; 3.33%, 1.11%; P < 0.05). The frequency of e2/ε3 in AD group were lower than control group (5.00%,14.00%, P <0.05). ② The frequency of ApoE ε4 allele were higher in AD group as compared with control group (17.50%, 7.22%, P < 0.05). The frequency of ApoE ε2 allele were lower in AD group (6.67%, 13.33%, P < 0.05). ③ The frequency of ApoE ε4 allele in females were higher in AD group than in control group (20.97%, 5.00%, P < 0.01). ④ In AD group, patients ≥ 75 years old have a lower frequency of ApoE ε4 allele compared to those less than 75 years (8.57%, 30.00%, P < 0.01). And in individuals less than 75 years old, the frequency of ApoE ε4 allele were higher in AD group than that in control group (30.00%, 7.02%, P < 0.01). ⑤ In illiterate persons and the individuals with only primary school educational level, the frequency of ApoE ε4 allele were higher in AD group than that in control group (10.00%, 0.56%, P < 0.001; 5.00%,1.12%, P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: ① It is proved that ApoE ε4 allele is significantly associated with sporadicAD in Urumqi and ε3/ε4 is the major genotype. ② ApoE ε2 allele has a protective effect on onset of AD. ③ Those individuals,female,less than 75,lower educational level or carrying ApoE ε4 allele take a higher risk of AD.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the subjective sleep quality in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS). Methods Two hundred and seventeen patients with OSAS confirmed by an all-night (7 hrs) polysomnogram(PSG) were evaluated by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results According to the testing results of PSQI, 88 subjects (40.5%) were identified as "poor sleepers" (4≤PSQI