Lithium promotes proliferation and suppresses migration of Schwann cells.

Schwann cell proliferation, migration and remyelination of regenerating axons contribute to regeneration after peripheral nervous system injury. Lithium promotes remyelination by Schwann cells and improves peripheral nerve regeneration. However, whether lithium modulates other phenotypes of Schwann cells, especially their proliferation and migration remains elusive. In the current study, primary Schwann cells from rat sciatic nerve stumps were cultured and exposed to 0, 5, 10, 15, or 30 mM lithium chloride (LiCl) for 24 hours. The effects of LiCl on Schwann cell proliferation and migration were examined using the Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, Transwell and wound healing assays. Cell Counting Kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays showed that 5, 10, 15, and 30 mM LiCl significantly increased the viability and proliferation rate of Schwann cells. Transwell-based migration assays and wound healing assays showed that 10, 15, and 30 mM LiCl suppressed the migratory ability of Schwann cells. Furthermore, the effects of LiCl on the proliferation and migration phenotypes of Schwann cells were mostly dose-dependent. These data indicate that lithium treatment significantly promotes the proliferation and inhibits the migratory ability of Schwann cells. This conclusion will inform strategies to promote the repair and regeneration of peripheral nerves. All of the animal experiments in this study were ethically approved by the Administration Committee of Experimental Animal Center of Nantong University, China (approval No. 20170320-017) on March 2, 2017.

Biological characteristics of dynamic expression of nerve regeneration related growth factors in dorsal root ganglia after peripheral nerve injury.

The regenerative capacity of peripheral nerves is limited after nerve injury. A number of growth factors modulate many cellular behaviors, such as proliferation and migration, and may contribute to nerve repair and regeneration. Our previous study observed the dynamic changes of genes in L4-6 dorsal root ganglion after rat sciatic nerve crush using transcriptome sequencing. Our current study focused on upstream growth factors and found that a total of 19 upstream growth factors were dysregulated in dorsal root ganglions at 3, 9 hours, 1, 4, or 7 days after nerve crush, compared with the 0 hour control. Thirty-six rat models of sciatic nerve crush injury were prepared as described previously. Then, they were divided into six groups to measure the expression changes of representative genes at 0, 3, 9 hours, 1, 4 or 7 days post crush. Our current study measured the expression levels of representative upstream growth factors, including nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, fibroblast growth factor 2 and amphiregulin genes, and explored critical signaling pathways and biological process through bioinformatic analysis. Our data revealed that many of these dysregulated upstream growth factors, including nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, fibroblast growth factor 2 and amphiregulin, participated in tissue remodeling and axon growth-related biological processes Therefore, the experiment described the expression pattern of upstream growth factors in the dorsal root ganglia after peripheral nerve injury. Bioinformatic analysis revealed growth factors that may promote repair and regeneration of damaged peripheral nerves. All animal surgery procedures were performed in accordance with Institutional Animal Care Guidelines of Nantong University and ethically approved by the Administration Committee of Experimental Animals, China (approval No. 20170302-017) on March 2, 2017.

[Ecological effect of different types land consolidation in Hubei Province of China].

A model for estimating the ecosystem services value under effects of land consolidation was built to quantitatively evaluate the ecological effects of three different types of land consolidation projects in Jianghan Plain, middle hilly region, and western mountainous area of Hubei Province. With the implementation of the projects, the total value of ecosystem services in Jianghan Plain was decreased by 0.3%, among which, the values of food production service and other three services increased but those of water conservation and other four services decreased. In hilly region, the total value of ecosystem services was decreased by 14.6%, with the value of food production service increased by 55.2% and those of other eight services all decreased. In mountainous area, the total value of ecosystem services was decreased by 19.9%, with the value of food production service increased by 24.9% while the values of other eight services all decreased. In the land consolidation in the middle hilly region and western mountainous area of Hubei Province, there was an obvious conversion process 'from ecology to production' in the ecosystem services value.

In vivo length changes of carpal ligaments of the wrist during dart-throwing motion.

PURPOSE: The dart-throwing motion is an important movement pattern during most wrist actions. The aim of this study was to investigate length changes in the wrist ligaments in different positions of the dart-throw motion in vivo. METHODS: We obtained computed tomography scans of the wrists of 6 volunteers at 5 positions of the wrist during the dart-throw motion: 20° of radial deviation with 60° of extension; 10° of radial deviation with 30° of extension; the neutral position of the carpus; 20° of ulnar deviation with 30° of flexion; and 40° of ulnar deviation with 60° of flexion. We reconstructed the 3-dimensional carpal and distal radioulnar joint structures with customized software and computed changes in length of 8 palmar and dorsal wrist ligaments. RESULTS: From wrist radial deviation with extension to ulnar deviation with flexion, the radioscaphocapitate, long radiolunate, ulnocapitate, and ulnotriquetral ligaments decreased significantly in length but the dorsal radiocarpal ligament and the dorsal intercarpal (DIC) ligament inserting on the trapezoid lengthened significantly; the ulnolunate ligament and the DIC ligament inserting on the scaphoid were shortest in neutral position. CONCLUSIONS: At wrist radial extension, the radioscaphocapitate, long radiolunate, ulnocapitate, and ulnotriquetral ligaments are lengthened and under increased tension. At wrist ulnar flexion, the dorsal radiocarpal ligament and the DIC ligament inserting on the trapezoid are lengthened and under increased tension. The ulnolunate ligament and the DIC ligament inserting on the scaphoid are the shortest and under the least tension in neutral position. These findings will help us understand the biomechanics of the carpus during the dart-throwing motion.