Expressions of microtubule-associated protein 2 and nestin in the development of human embryo and fetal tongue muscles / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and nestin in the development of tongue muscles of human embryos and fetuses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PV immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of MAP-2 and nestin proteins in the tongue tissues of human embryos and fetuses at the second, third and fourth months of gestation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MAP-2 and nestin positivity was detected in the tongue muscles of human embryos at 2 to 4 months of gestation. In the embryos at the second month of gestation, no obvious MAP-2 positive cells were found in the tongue muscles; at 3 and 4 months, the number of MAP-2-positive cells in the tongue muscles was 24.14∓8.28 and 15.86∓3.89, with the expression intensity of 109.42∓11.62 and 124.27∓8.73, respectively. At 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation, the number of nestin-positive cells in the tongue muscles was 12.50∓3.17, 19.00∓7.63, and 22.80∓6.91, with expression intensity of 119.99∓24.02, 102.20∓11.76, and 98.24∓10.66, respectively. As the gestational age increased, the number of MAP-2-positive cell number continued to decline following a transient increase but the expression intensity kept increasing; nestin-positive cells increased continuously but the expression intensity kept decreasing in the embryonic or fetal tongue muscles.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MAP-2 and nestin proteins are involved in the regulation of the development of tongue muscles in human embryos and fetuses.</p>

Expression of neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin in esophageal development of human embryos / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and synaptophysin(SYN) proteins in different developmental stages of human embryonic esophagus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of NSE and SYN proteins in embryonic esophagus tissues of fetuses of 2, 3 and 4 month gestational age (n=16). One-way ANOVA and LSD-t test were employed to compare the staining intensity and number of positive expression cells in embryonic esophageal tissues of different gestational age.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In fetuses with 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation, the number of NSE-positive nerve cells in the myenteric nerve plexus and submucosa of human embryonic esophageal tissues were 18.38 ± 8.37, 25.00 ± 11.54 and 38.00 ± 15.09, respectively; the staining intensity of NSE-positive nerve cells and nerve fibers in myenteric nerve plexus and submucosa of embryonic esophageal tissues were 74.38 ± 14.93, 62.25 ± 18.59 and 56.44 ± 14.70, respectively. NSE-positive cells were detected in the esophageal epithelium only at the third month. In the fetuses at 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation, SYN in all layers of esophageal tissue were positively or strong positively expressed, especially in the myenteric plexus and submucosal plexus. The staining intensity of SYN-positive cells in embryonic esophagus tissues of 2, 3 and 4 month gestation were 54.69 ± 9.34, 51.84 ± 6.10 and 46.41 ± 6.44, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SYN and NSE may be involved in the regulation of nerve system of esophageal tissues during the human embryonic development.</p>

Effects of Citalopram on frontal cortical neurons' bax mRNA bcl-2 mRNA expression and cell apoptosis of rat after stress / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Citalopram on the mRNA expression of bax and bel-2 in frontal cortical neurons and on cell apoptosis of rats after stress.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8). The control group did no receive any treatment, the stress group was subject to stress and given normal saline and experimental group was given Citalopram irrigation stomach after stress. Rats were forced to swim to establish chronic stress model (15 min/d, 4 weeks), bax, bcl-2 mRNA expression were tested by in situ hybridization technique (ISH), TUNEL assay was used to determine cell apoptosis, Nikon image analysis software were used to measure the number of positive cells in each index.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the stress group showed a larger number of bax mRNA expressing cells( P < 0.01), a smaller number of bcl-2 mRNA expressing cells (P < 0.01), and the staining intensity of positive cells was significantly reduced( P < 0.01). Compared with the stress group, the experiment group showed more reduced number of bax mRNA positive cells( P < 0.01) and significantly increased bcl-2 mRNA positive cells( P < 0.05), a small amount of positive cells were found, compared with that in the stress group, nuclear condensation in the experimental group was reduced significantly and the staining was obviously weaker( P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Citalopram significantly antagonizes bax mRNA and potentiatesbcl-2 mRNA protein expression and inhibits apoptosis of rat prefrontal cortical neurons caused by chronic stress, which might be one possible mechanism of Citalopram for prevention and treatment of psychosis caused by chronic stress.</p>

Effects of citalopram on the expression of PCNA and C-fos and cell apoptosis in rat frontal cortical neurons after stress / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of citalopram on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and proto-oncogene protein (C-fos) and cell apoptosis in frontal cortical neurons of rat after stress.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8): control group, stress group (treated with saline, ig) , experimental group (treated with Citalopram 4 mg/kg x d for 28 days, ig). Rats were forced to swim to establish chronic stress model. The protein expression levels of PCNA and C-fos were tested by immunohistochemistry assay. TUNEL assay was used to test cell apoptosis. Nikon image analysis software was used to determine the number of positive cells in each index.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the stress group showed a smaller amount of PCNA-positive cells, a larger number of C-fos positive cells, and the volume of positive cells was significantly reduced. Compared with the stress group, the PCNA positive cells were increased significantly, the C-fos positive cells and TUNEL positive cells were decreased significantly, nuclear condensation phenomenon in frontal cortical neurons and the staining was significantly lighter in experimental group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Citalopram significantly antagonize PCNA, C-fos protein expression and cell apoptosis of rat prefrontal cortical neurons caused by chronic stress, which might be the one of mechanisms of citalopram for prevention and treatment of psychosis caused by chronic stress.</p>

Expression of PCNA, C-fos and Bax proteins in human embryonic tongue tissues / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), C-fos and Bax proteins in human embryonic tongue tissue of different developmental stages.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of PCNA, C-fos and Bax proteins in embryonic tongue tissues of fetuses with 2, 3 and 4 month gestational age (n=16). One-way ANOVA and LSD-t test were employed to compare the number of positive expression cells in tongue tissues of fetuses with different gestational age.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the fetuses at 2, 3 and 4 months of gestation, the numbers of PCNA-positive cells in tongue epithelial tissues were 20.20 ± 7.13, 39.10 ± 13.44 and 26.00 ± 9.02, respectively; those in tongue muscle and fiber tissues were 17.20 ± 8.99, 22.30 ± 6.57 and 32.40 ± 14.72, respectively. In fetuses at 2 month of gestation, no C-fos-positive cells were found in tongue tissues; while at 3 and 4 months of gestation, the numbers of C-fos-positive cells in the tongue epithelial layers were 25.10 ± 7.91, 17.40 ± 2.80; those in tongue muscle and fiber tissues were 24.50 ± 4.67 and 28.00 ± 7.75, respectively. Only weak positive expression of Bax protein was observed in the third month of gestation in embryonic tongue tissues. A significant difference was noted in PCNA expression in tongue epithelial layers, the muscle and fiber tissues (P<0.01 and P<0.05) among 3 embryonic periods. A significant difference was found in C-fos expression in tongue epithelial layers (P<0.01), but not in tongue muscle and fiber tissues (P>0.05) among 3 periods.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dynamic changes were seen in PCNA and C-fos expressions in embryonic tongue tissues in different gestational ages of fetus, indicating these two proteins may participate in regulation of the development and differentiation of tongue tissues in human embryos and fetuses.</p>

Expression of nNOS, Pax3 and Cx43 proteins in early developing posterior horn of embryonic and fetal human spinal cord / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the distribution pattern of the expressions neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), Pax3 and connexin 43 (Cx43) proteins in the early developing posterior horn of embryonic and fetal human spinal cord.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of nNOS, Pax3 and Cx43 proteins in the posterior horn of the spinal cord during the second, third and fourth month of human embryonic and fetal development.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the second to fourth month of gestation, the expressions of nNOS and Pax3 proteins increased gradually from weak expression to strong expression in the posterior horn of the spinal cord. In the second to third month of development, Cx43 protein expression was negative in the posterior horn of the spinal cord, but positive in the myelin sheath. In the fourth month, positive Cx43 expression was detected in some of the cells in the posterior horn of the spinal cord.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>nNOS, Pax3 and Cx43 proteins are closely related to the growth and development of the spinal cord in human embryos and fetuses.</p>

Expression of Cx43 and Pax3 in the small intestinal muscular layers of early human embryos / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the patterns of Cx43 and Pax3 protein expressions in the small intestinal muscular layers of human embryo during early development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry with SABC method was employed to examine the expression of Cx43 and Pax3 proteins in the muscular layers of the small intestine in early human embryos in the second to fourth months of gestation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the second month of gestation, the muscle layer of the small intestine was negative for Cx43 and Pax3 protein expressions. In the third month, Cx43 and Pax3 expressions were negative in the inner circular muscle layer, but some positive cells were found in the longitudinal muscle layer and the myenteric plexus. In the fourth month, positive expression of Cx43 and Pax3 proteins were seen in the entire muscle layer.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cx43 and Pax3 proteins are closely related to the growth and development of the cells and tissues in the small intestinal muscle layer in human embryos.</p>