Effect of Fangji Huangqitang on DBA/1 Mice Collagen Induced Arthritis and Synovial Angiogenesis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of Fangji Huangqitang （FJHQT） on collagen induced arthritis （CIA） and synovial angiogenesis in DBA/1 mice. Method:DBA/1 mice were randomly divided into normal group， CIA group and FJHQT group. DBA/1 mice in CIA group and FJHQT group were immunized with bovine type Ⅱ collagen and complete Freund's adjuvant on the first day， and DBA/1 mice were immunized with bovine type Ⅱ collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant on the 21^st day to establish CIA model. On the day of the second immunization， the drug was given by gavage once a day for 28 days. On the 22^nd day， the arthritis score and other symptoms of CIA mice were observed. On the 49^th day， Hematoxylin eosin （HE） staining was carried out to observe the angiogenesis in the synovium of CIA mice， the expression of vascular endothelial cell marker platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 （CD31） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） in the synovium of CIA mice were detected. Immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the mature and immature vessels in the synovium of CIA mice. And the microvascular growth of the rat thoracic aortic ring was induced by VEGF （20 μg·L^-1）. The effects of FJHQT （0.25， 0.5， 1 g·L^-1） at different concentrations were observed under microscope. Result:Compared with the normal group， the inflammation， joints， red and swelling of the inflammatory joints of the CIA group were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The scores of clinical arthritis， the incidence rate， synovial inflammation and angiogenesis were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The density of blood vessels， the positive expression of CD31 and VEGF， the number of immature vessels in synovial membrane were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. And compared with the CIA group， the inflammation， joint swelling， and malformation of the FJHQT group were significantly improved， the clinical arthritis score， incidence rate， synovial inflammation and angiogenesis were significantly reduced （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The vascular density， the positive expression of CD31 and VEGF， and the number of immature blood vessels in synovial membrane were significantly increased （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with blank group， VEGF could significantly induce the growth of microvasculature in rat thoracic aortic ring （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with VEGF group， FJHQT（0.25， 0.5， 1 g·L^-1） could significantly inhibit the formation of microvasculature in rat thoracic aortic ring （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:FJHQT can effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms and condition of CIA mice， reduce the clinical arthritis score and incidence rate，and inhibit the synovial angiogenesis of CIA mice joints and VEGF induced microvascular formation in rat thoracic aortic rings.

Development of neonatal mouse and fetal human testicular tissue as ectopic grafts in immunodeficient mice / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the stepwise development and germ cell gene expression in allografted neonatal mouse testes and the differentiation of immature human testicular cells in xenografted human testes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunodeficient nude mice were used as hosts for allografting of neonatal mouse testes and xenografting of human fetal testicular tissues. Stepwise development and stage-specific gene expression of germ cells in allografts were systematically evaluated and parallel compared with those in intact mice by periodically monitoring the graft status with measurement of graft weight, histological analysis and determination of five stage-specific genes. Human testicular tissues from 20 and 26 weeks fetuses were used for the xenografting study. Histological analysis of xenografts was performed 116 and 135 d after the grafting procedure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the allografting study, progressive increase in tissue volume and weight as well as in tubule diameter in grafts was observed; the appearance time of various germ cells in seminiferous tubules, including spermatogonia, spermatocytes, round and elongate spermatids and sperm, was comparable with that in intact donors; the initiation of gene transcription in grafts showed a similar trend as in normal mice. Graft weight ceased to increase after 7-8 weeks and degradation of grafts was observed after 5 weeks with progressive damage to seminiferous epithelium. In the xenografting study using immature human testicular tissues, graft survival and development was indicated by increasing graft weight, Sertoli cells differentiation into advanced stage, germ cells migration and location to the basal lamina and formation of a niche-like structure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The developmental course and gene expression pattern of germ cells in allografts were similar to those in intact mice. The best time point for retrieval of mouse sperm from grafts was 5-7 weeks after grafting procedure. An accelerated development of immature human testicular cells could be achieved by ectopic xenografting of human testes.</p>