[Effects of prenatal taurine on mRNA expression of PKA CREB signal pathway and glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor in fetal rat brains of intrauterine growth restriction].

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of prenatal application of taurine on mRNA expression of protein kinase A cAMP response element binding protein (PKA-CREB) signal pathway and glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in fetal rat brains of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). METHODS: Pregnant rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control, IUGR model, low dose (100 mg/kg x d) and high dose (300 mg/kg x d) taurine treatment IUGR (n = 5 each). IUGR was induced by food restriction throughout pregnancy. PKA, CREB and GDNF mRNA expression in brains of newborn rats was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: PKA, CREB and GDNF mRNA expression in the IUGR model group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (p<0.05). Compared with the IUGR model group, mRNA expression of PKA and CREB in both the low dose and high dose taurine treatment groups increased significantly (p<0.05); GDNF mRNA expression in the high dose taurine treatment group also increased significantly (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Taurine can increase mRNA expression of PKA, CREB and GDNF in fetal rat brains of IUGR. This suggests that prenatal application of taurine may increase neurogenesis of the central nervous system and endogenous secretion of neurotrophic factors, thus providing neuroprotective effects.

Anatomy of arteries and veins of submandibular glands.

BACKGROUND: Transplanting a vascularized autologous submandibular gland (SMG) is considered an effective method to treat severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca. But the operation may fail due to the anatomic variances in the blood vessels of SMG. The present study aimed to investigate the submandibular glands at the microanatomy level. METHODS: The microanatomy of blood vessels including arteries and veins of submandibular gland was investigated using 30 adult corpses and 60 submandibular glands were anatomized under a surgical microscope. The lengths and diameters of the arterial and venous glandular branches were measured using sliding caliper. RESULTS: The submandibular gland was mainly supplied by the facial artery and submental artery, partly by the lingual artery and external jugular artery. The venous drainage of the submandibualr gland occurred through the anterior facial vein, the venae comitantes of facial artery, the vein close to the Whaston's duct (the hilum vein), and seldom drained to external jugular vein and other veins. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomy of SMG is a complicated structure. Determining the main blood vessels of the submandibular gland is very important to achieve a successful vascularized autologous SMG transplant.

[Application of Whole-cell Biosensor ADP1_pWHlux for Acute Toxicity Detection in Water Environment].

A whole-cell biosensor acinetobacter ADP1_pWHlux was constructed by genetic engineering for detecting acute toxicity, so as to overcome the harsh application conditions when detecting acute toxicity using natural luminescent bacteria or whole-cell biosensor constructed by model microorganisms as the host cell. Detection methods, detection sensitivity and detection range of acinetobacter ADP1_pWHlux were studied. The results showed that the luminescence of ADP1_pWHlux was inhibited by acute poison, poison dose and inhibition of luminescence exhibit dose-response relationship. ADPL_pWHlux was respond to 4 mg x L(-1) HgCl2 within 5 min. The detection limit for HgCl2 was 0.04 mg x L(-1). The detectable effects for indicators of Be2+, Ba2+, Cu2+, Ni2+ in standards for drinking water quality were obvious. The detection range of Be2+, Ba2+, Cu2+ were 0.025-250 mg x L(-1), the detection range of Ni2+, was 0.0025-250 mg x L(-1), the detection limit of Pb2+, BrO3(-) , ClO2(-) were 0.002 5 mg x L(-1), the detection limit of ClO3(-) was 0.025 mg x L(-1). The whole-cell biosensor ADPl_pWHlux detection method has been applied to evaluate acute toxicity in water environment of Qinghe river in Beijing, indicating the established method can be used to detect contaminated water samples.

Study of relationship between the blood supply of the extrahepatic bile duct and duct supply branches from gastroduodenal artery on imaging and anatomy.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation has become the treatment of choice for patients with end-stage acute or chronic hepatic disease. Bile duct complications are common events after liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood supply of the human bile duct and identify the underlying mechanisms of bile duct complications after liver transplantation. METHODS: The duct supply branches from gastroduodenal artery and blood supply of extrahepatic bile duct system were re-evaluated through selective hepatic angiography from 600 patients. In addition, 33 cadavers were injected with latex casting material into the common hepatic artery, then the extrahepatic bile duct and the branches from the common hepatic artery were carefully dissected to visualize the gastroduodenal artery and its branching to the extrahepatic bile duct. RESULTS: The bile duct artery arose from the branch of the gastroduodenal artery in 8.1% (49/600). Of these 49 individuals, the bile duct artery was supplied by the gastroduodenal artery (61.22%, 30/49), the proper hepatic artery (14.29%, 7/49), or both the gastroduodenal artery and the proper hepatic artery (24.49%, 12/49). In our study of 33 cadavers, the percentage that the bile duct artery arose from the gastroduodenal artery was 27.27%. The blood supply to the bile extrahepatic bile ducts was divided into different segments and formed longitudinal and arterial network anastomosed on the walls of the duct. CONCLUSIONS: There is a close relationship between the duct supply branches from gastroduodenal artery and the blood supplying patterns of the extrahepatic bile duct system. In liver transplant surgery, the initial part of the gastroduodenal artery is preferred to be preserved in the donor liver. It is of great significance to improve the success rate of operation and reduce complications.

Expression of caspase-8 and caspase-9 in rat hippocampus during postnatal development.

The role of caspases in the regulation of apoptosis of neurons during development is well established. An emerging body of evidence indicates that caspases may also play significant roles which are nonapoptotic. We have demonstrated previously that the executor caspase-3 exhibited a unique pattern of spatiotemporal expression in the postnatal rat hippocampal subregions, and the activation of caspase-3 in different hippocampal neurons appeared to have distinct roles during postnatal development. In the present study, we examined the expressions of initiator caspases in the hippocampus, using immunofluorescent staining for caspase-8 and caspase-9, and Hoechst 33342 staining for nuclear chromatin to assess caspase-8 and -9 expression in the CA1, CA3, and the dentate gyrus (DG) on postnatal days (P) 0, P2, P4, P7, P14, P21, P28, P56. The results indicate that caspase-8 and caspase-9 were expressed in pyramidal neurons of CA1 and CA3 fields, and granular neurons of the DG during development. Caspase-8 was expressed in a general upward trend while caspase-9 showed a slight downward pattern, but still remained at high levels in the adult hippocampus. The expression profiles of caspases-8 and -9 are distinct from that of the apoptotic cells. These data indicate that caspase-8 may be involved not only in the classical apoptotic function, but also in the cell death of necrosis, and in response to different insults and other nonapoptotic functions. Caspase-9 plays a role in apoptosis during postnatal development, but it may have other functions as well.