[Electroacupuncture improved learning-memory ability by reducing hippocampal apoptosis and suppressing JNK signaling in rats with vascular dementia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation on the expression of c-Jun terminal kinase(JNK)signaling pathway-related proteins in the hippocampus of vascular dementia (VD) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of VD. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model and EA groups (n＝10 rats per group). The VD model was prepared by repeated occlusion of the bilateral common carotid arteries for 10 min and reperfusion for 10 min (3 times in total). The rats in the EA group received EA (2 Hz, 2 mA) at "Dazhui"(GV14)，"Baihui"(GV20), and bilateral "Housanli"(ST36) ，"Geshu"(BL17) for 10 min, once daily for 14 days. The learning-memory abi-lity was detected by Morris water maze tests, the distribution of hippocampal neurons detected by Nissl staining, and the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons detected by using TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. The expressions of JNK, phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK), cysteine-containing aspartate-specific proteases-8 (Caspase-8) and Caspase-3 proteins were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: After modeling and compared with the sham operation group, the escape latency was significantly prolonged (P<0.01) and the number of safe-platform quadrant crossing obviously decreased (P<0.01), suggesting a reduction of learning-memory ability. The number of hippocampal neurons was considerably reduced (P<0.01), and that of hippocampal apoptotic neurons remarkably increased in the model group (P<0.01). Whereas, the expression levels of hippocampal apoptosis-related proteins as JNK, p-JNK, Caspase-8 and Caspase-3, as well as the apoptotic index were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). Following EA intervention, the learning-memory ability was apparently improved (P<0.01), and the number of hippocampal neurons was considerably increased (P<0.01), the hippocampal apoptotic cell number, apoptosis index and the expression levels of JNK, p-JNK, Caspase-8 and Caspase-3 were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EA intervention can improve the learning-memory ability of VD rats, which may be associated with its effects in reducing hippocampal apoptosis by suppressing JNK signaling pathway.

[The influence of satellite cells on meat quality and its differential regulation].

Satellite cell is a kind of myogenic stem cells, which plays an important role in muscle development and injury repair. Through proliferation, differentiation and fusion of muscle fiber can satellite cells make new myonuclear, leading to the hypertrophy of skeletal muscle and fiber type transformation, and this would further affect the meat quality. Here, we review the relationship between muscle fiber development and meat quality attributes as well as the influence of the satellite cell differentiation on muscle fiber character. Besides, we also summarize the classical signaling pathway (i.e., Notch etc.) and influence of epigenetic regulation (i.e. miRNA) on muscle quality.

[Growth differentiation factor 9 gene and its role in reproduction.].

Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) secreted by oocyte is essential for follicular growth and differentiation. This review introduced the structure, function and regulation of GDF9, as well as the cloning and structure, developmental expression, mapping and polymorphism of GDF9 gene. The relationship between GDF9 gene and reproductive performance was also discussed in mammals.