[Effects of CACNA1H gene knockout on autistic-like behaviors and the morphology of hippocampal neurons in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of CACNA1H gene knockout (KO) on autistic-like behaviors and the morphology of hippocampal neurons in mice. METHODS: In the study, 25 CACNA1H KO mice of 3-4 weeks old and C57BL/6 background were recruited as the experimental group, and 26 wild type (WT) mice of the same age and background were recruited as the control group. Three-chamber test and open field test were used to observe the social interaction, anxiety, and repetitive behaviors in mice. After that, their brain weight and size were measured, and the number of hippocampal neurons were observed by Nissl staining. Furthermore, the CACNA1H heterozygote mice were interbred with Thy1-GFP-O mice to generate CACNA1H-/--Thy1+(KO-GFP) and CACNA1H+/+-Thy1+ (WT-GFP) mice. The density and maturity of dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons were observed. RESULTS: In the sociability test session of the three-chamber test, the KO mice spent more time in the chamber of the stranger mice than in the object one (F1, 14=95.086, P < 0.05; Post-Hoc: P < 0.05), without any significant difference for the explored preference index between the two groups (t=1.044, P>0.05). However, in the social novelty recognition test session, no difference was observed between the time of the KO mice spend in the chamber of new stranger mice and the stranger one (F1, 14=18.062, P < 0.05; Post-Hoc: P>0.05), and the explored preference index of the KO mice was less than that of the control group (t=2.390, P < 0.05). In the open field test, the KO mice spent less time in the center of the open field apparatus than the control group (t=2.503, P < 0.05), but the self-grooming time was significantly increased compared with the control group (t=-2.299, P < 0.05). Morphological results showed that the brain weight/body weight ratio (t=0.356, P>0.05) and brain size (t=-0.660, P>0.05) of the KO mice were not significantly different from those of the control group, but the number of neurons were significantly reduced in hippocampal dentate gyrus compared with the control group (t=2.323, P < 0.05). Moreover, the density of dendritic spine of dentate gyrus neurons in the KO-GFP mice was significantly increased compared with the control group (t=-2.374, P < 0.05), without any significant difference in spine maturity (t=-1.935, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: CACNA1H KO mice represent autistic-like behavior, which may be related to the decrease in the number of neurons and the increase in the density of dendritic spine in the dentate gyrus.

Clinical effects and safety of interventional therapy for parenchyma vascular malformation.

Parenchyma vascular malformation (VM) is a common disease in modern society. Here, we investigated the clinical effects and safety of interventional therapy (IT) on the treatment of parenchyma VM. From January 1998 to December 2010, 31 patients with VM who elected IT were investigated, including 11 cases of venous VM and 20 cases of arteriovenous malformation. There were 19 males and 12 females, ranging from 12 to 51 years in age. VM often occurred in the four limbs and other areas, such as the trunk and reproductive organs. Under the guidance of digital subtraction angiography, vascular hardener was injected into the VM spot via percutaneous puncture. Then, embolotherapy was conducted via the transcatheter feeding artery. We found that, in all cases, the malformed vessels were completely or partially blocked. After treatment, the local swelling of vessels was alleviated and the diabrosis and bleeding ceased. The soft tissue lump shrank, then stiffened and became fixed. There was no occurrence of severe intraoperative or postoperative complications in any patient. In summary, IT is an effective method for treating parenchyma VM, causes only a minor operative wound, and should be viewed as the first choice intervention.

Three new C-flavonoids from Corallodiscus flabellata.

Three new C-glycosylflavones, named 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-6-methoxy-8-C-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl- (1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl flavonoside (1), 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-8-methoxy-6-C-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl flavonoside (2), and 5,3',4'-trihydroxy-7,8-dimethoxy-6-C-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl flavonoside (3), along with two known compounds 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-6-C-glucopyranosyl-flavonoside (4), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymethyl benzoate (5) were isolated from 70% acetone extract of Corallodiscus flabellata. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic techniques and chemical methods.

Two new saponins, congmuyenosides A and B, from the leaves of Aralia elata collected in Heilongjiang, China.

Two new triterpenoidal saponins, congmuyenosides A and B, were isolated from the leaves of Aralia elata collected in Heilongjiang Province, China, and established as 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)][beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]- beta-D-glucopyranosyl hederagenin and 3-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2))] [beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3 )]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl hederagenin, respectively, on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence.

[Study on the chemical composition of leaves and stalks of Trollius macropetalus].

A new constituent and four known compounds have been separated from the dry leaves and stalks of Trollius macropetalus Fr. Schmidt. By means of physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods, the structures of these compounds have been determined as vitexin-2''-O-beta-D-pyranxyloside (I), orientin-2''-O-beta-D-pyranxyloside (II), vitexin (III), orientin (IV) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyl-5-(3'-methyl-2'-)butylenzylbenzoic acid (V). I and II are found in the Trollius genus for the first time, V is a new compound named proglobeflowery acid.

Chemical constituents of pericarps of Rosa davurica Pall., a traditional Chinese medicine.

From pericarps of Rosa davurica (Rosaceae), a traditional Chinese medicine, eight known tetracyclic triterpene acids, three known flavonoids, ethyl beta-fructopyranoside and methyl 3-O-beta-glucopyranosyl-gallate were isolated.