Astragalus Polysaccharide Promotes Neuronal Injury Repair via the Notch1/NFκB Signaling Axis in the Ventroposterior Thalamic Nucleus in Rats with Focal Cerebral Ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke is the most common form of stroke and the second most common cause of death and incapacity worldwide. Its pathogenesis and treatment have been the focus of considerable research. In traditional Chinese medicine, the root of Mongolian astragalus has been important in the treatment of stroke since ancient times. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a key active ingredient of astragalus and offers therapeutic potential for conditions affecting the neurological system, the heart, cancer, and other disorders. However, it is not yet known how APS works to protect against ischemic stroke. METHODS: Rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to imitate localized cerebral ischemia. Each of four experimental groups (normal, sham, MCAO, and MCAO+APS) contained 12 adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats selected randomly from a total of 48 rats. Following successful establishment of the model, rats in the MCAO+APS group received intraperitoneal injection of APS (50 mg/kg) once daily for 14 days, whereas all other groups received no APS. The Bederson nerve function score and the forelimb placement test were used to detect motor and sensory function defects, while Nissl staining was used to investigate pathological defects in the ventroposterior thalamic nucleus (VPN). Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to evaluate the expression of Neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1 (Notch1), hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes1), phospho-nuclear factor-κB p65 (p-NFκB p65), and nuclear factor-κB p65 (NFκB p65) proteins in the VPN on the ischemic side of MCAO rats. RESULTS: APS promoted the recovery of sensory and motor function, enhanced neuronal morphology, increased the number of neurons, and inhibited the expression of Notch1/NFκB signaling pathway proteins in the VPN of rats with cerebral ischemia. CONCLUSION: After cerebral ischemia, APS can alleviate symptoms of secondary damage to the VPN, which may be attributed to the suppression of the Notch1/NFκB pathway.

Application of 3D-printed pulmonary segment specimens in experimental teaching of sectional anatomy.

BACKGROUND: Lung cross-section is one of the emphases and challenges in sectional anatomy. Identification of the complex arrangement of intrapulmonary tubes such as bronchi, arteries, and veins in the lungs requires the spatial imagination of students. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has become increasingly used in anatomy education. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of 3D-printed specimens used for the experimental teaching of sectional anatomy. METHODS: A digital thoracic dataset was obtained and input into a 3D printer to print multicolor specimens of the pulmonary segment after software processing. As research subjects, 119 undergraduate students majoring in medical imaging from classes 5-8 in the second-year were chosen. In the lung cross-section experiment course, 59 students utilized 3D printed specimens in conjunction with traditional instruction as the study group, while 60 students received traditional teaching as the control group. Preclass and postclass tests, course grading, and questionnaire surveys were used to assess instructional efficacy. RESULTS: We obtained a set of pulmonary segment specimens for teaching. The students in the study group scored better in the postclass test than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and the students in the study group scored higher in satisfaction with the teaching content and spatial thinking for sectional anatomy than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The course grades and excellence rates in the study group exceeded those in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The application of high-precision multicolor 3D-printed specimens of lung segments in experimental teaching of sectional anatomy can improve teaching effectiveness and is worth adopting and promoting in sectional anatomy courses.

Expression changes of c-Fos and D1R/p-ERK1/2 signal pathways in nucleus accumbens of rats after ketamine abuse.

Ketamine is a commonly used dissociative anesthetic in clinical applications. However, the abuse potential has posted limits to its use and the mechanism remains to be studied. We aimed to investigate the changes of dopamine D1 receptors (D1R), phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2), and c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of ketamine abuse rats. Ketamine induced severe anxiety in rats, as shown by an open field test. Nissl staining demonstrated clearly different morphologies between neurons of ketamine abuse rats and normal rats. The molecular expression changes were examined using immunohistochemistry assay and western blotting. D1R, p-ERK1/2, and c-Fos were significantly highly-expressed in NAc during ketamine exposure and were decreased by D1R antagonist SCH23390 and MAPK kinases inhibitor U0126. Taken together, the results suggest that ketamine abuse may induce the overexpression of c-Fos in NAc by up-regulating the expression of D1R and p-ERK1/2.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on expressions of Gas7 and NGF in arcular nucleus of rats with focal cerebral ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expressions of growth arrest-specific protein 7 (Gas7) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in arcuate nucleus (ARC) of rats with focal cerebral ischemia and explore the potential action mechanism of EA in treatment of focal cerebral ischemia. METHODS: A total of 50 SD rats were randomized into 4 groups, named a normal group (n =12), a sham-operation group (n =12), a model group (n =14) and an EA group (n =12). In the model group and the EA group, the thread embolization method was adopted to duplicate the model of the right middle cerebral arterial embolism. In the sham-operation group, the skin of the neck was opened and sutured without any other intervention. In the EA group, EA was applied to "Baihui" (CV 20) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) on the left side, once a day, 30 min each time, consecutively for 21 days, while there was no any intervention in the normal group, the sham-operation group and the model group. Using the immunohistochemistry (IHC) method and Western blot method, the expressions of Gas7 and NFG of ARC on the ischemic side were determined. Using Nissle staining, the morphological changes in ARC neurons were observed. RESULTS: The results of Nissle staining showed that there was no significant change in the morphology of ARC neurons in the normal group and the sham-operation group. In the model group, the volume of neuron cells was atrophied obviously and the cells were arranged irregularly. In the EA group, the morphology of ARC neuron was similar to the normal group. The results of IHC and Western blot indicated that the expressions of immunoreactive neurons and protein of Gas7 and NGF in ARC of the rats in the model group were increased obviously as compared with the normal group and the sham-operation group and the expressions in the EA group were further enhanced as compared with the model group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Gas7 and NGF may be participated in the compensatory process of partial protection of the body in the patients with focal cerebral ischemia. EA up-regulates the expressions of Gas7 and NGF in ARC, which may be one of the neuroprotective mechanisms of EA in treatment of cerebral ischemia.

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Expression of D1 Receptor (D1R), Phosphorylation of Extracellular-Regulated Protein Kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2), and c-Fos in the Insular Cortex of Ketamine-Addicted Rats.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on expression of the D1 receptor (D1R), phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) and c-Fos in the insular cortex (IC) of ketamine-addicted rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 7 groups: the normal group, the normal saline (NS) group, the ketamine (Ket) group, the U0126+Ket group, the SCH23390+Ket group, the Ket+acupoints EA (EA1) group, and the Ket+ non-acupoints EA (EA2) group. We used immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of D1R, p-ERK1/2, and c-Fos. We also used Nissl staining techniques to study the morphology of IC neurons. RESULTS Our study demonstrated that the ketamine group had sparsely distributed neurons, large intracellular vacuoles, nuclei shift, and unclear nucleolus. The number of Nissl-positive (neuronal) cells in the ketamine group were decreased than in the normal group. Our results also indicated that there was significantly lower expression of D1R, p-ERK1/2, and c-Fos in the IC of the U0126+Ket group, SCH23390+Ket group, and Ket+EA1 group as compared with that of the Ket group. CONCLUSIONS Ketamine addiction induces c-Fos overexpression in the IC by increasing the expression of D1R and p-ERK1/2. Acupoints EA downregulate D1R and p-ERK1/2 by reducing the overexpression of c-Fos.

[Effect of Electroacupuncture Combined with Polysaccharide of Gastrodia elata Blume on Ex- pression of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in the Paraventricular Nucleus of Hypothalamus in Cerebral Ischemia Rat].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) in combination with administration of polysaccharide of Gastrodia elata Blume (PGB) on the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus(PVN) of cerebral ischemia (C) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of Cl. METHODS: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into five groups: normal control, model, EA, PGB, and EA+ PGB (n = 8/group). The cerebral ischemia model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). EA (2 Hz, 2 V) was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 30 min, once daily for 14 days. The rats of the PGB and PGB+ EA groups were treated by intragastric gavage of PGB at a dose of 100 mg/kg, once daily for 14 successive days. The expression of BDNF and VEGF in the PVN of hypothalamus was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After MCAO, the BDNF and VEGF immunoreactions (IR) positive neuron numbers and expression level in the PVN of the hypothalamus were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05) and were further up-regulated after administration of EA and PBG ( P<0. 05). The effects of EA+ PGB were evidently superior to those of simple EA and simple PBG in up-regulating BDNF and VEGF IR-positive neuron numbers and expression levels in the PVN ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA combined with PGB can up-regulate the expression of BDNF and VEGF in the PVN of hypothalamus in cerebral ischemia rats, which might contribute to its effect in improving cerebral ischemia.