miRNA and piRNA expression profiles of breeder cock testes detected by next-generation sequencing.

miRNAs are small non-coding regulatory RNAs that play key roles in diverse biological processes. In this study, we used the Solexa sequencing technique to profile miRNAs in breeder cock testes to illustrate their functions. A total of 663 co-expressed miRNAs and 3,180 co-expressed piRNAs were detected in three libraries. Based on Mir-X™ miRNA qRT-PCR, three miRNAs representing low, medium and high expression levels according to the sequencing results were selected randomly to validate the miRNAs' expression profiles. Results suggested that the miRNA expression profiles data could represent actual miRNA expression levels. Moreover, target genes prediction of the co-expressed miRNAs and further Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were performed, which revealed that some candidate miRNAs were involved in the regulation of the spermatogenesis process, spermatozoa function and testicular metabolism. In conclusion, we provided a useful resource for further elucidation of the miRNAs' regulatory role in spermatogenesis, contributing to a preliminary database for functional and molecular mechanistic studies in testicular metabolism, spermatogenesis and other testes functions.

[Protective effect of compound bismuth and magnesium granules on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of compound bismuth and magnesium granules on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Acute gastric mucosal injury model was developed with intraperitoneal injection of aspirin in Wistar rats. The rats were divided into normal control group, injury group, sucralfate protection group, compound bismuth and magnesium granules protection group and its herbal components protection group(each group 12 rats). In the protection groups, drugs as mentioned above were administered by gavage before treated with intraperitoneal injection of aspirin. To evaluate the extent of gastric mucosal injury and the protective effect of drugs, gastric mucosal lesion index, gastric mucosal blood flow, content of gastric mucosal hexosamine, prostaglandins (PG), nitric oxide(NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin (IL) -1, 2, 8 were measured in each group, and histological changes were observed by gross as well as under microscope and electron microscope. RESULTS: Contents of hexosamine, NO, and PG in all the protection groups were significantly higher than those in the injury group (all P<0.01), and content of NO in the compound bismuth and magnesium granules group was significantly higher than that in the sucralfate group ((11.29±0.51) vs(10.80±0.36)nmol/ml, P<0.05). The gastric mucosal lesion index, contents of TNF, and IL-1, 2, 8 were significantly lower in all the protection groups than in the injury group (all P<0.01), and contents of IL-2 and IL-8 in the compound bismuth and magnesium granules group were significantly lower than those in the sucralfate group ((328.17±6.56) vs(340.23±8.05)pg/ml, P<0.01; (170.82±7.31) vs(179.31±7.80)pg/ml, P<0.05). Tissue injury and inflammatory reaction in all the protection groups were obviously mitigated compared with the injury group. CONCLUSION: Compound bismuth and magnesium granules and its herbal components may have significant protective effect on aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury.

The application of high frequency ultrasound in the muscles, bones and the thoracodorsal artery in subscapular region and analysis of ultrasonic characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the application value of high-frequency ultrasound in the muscles, bones and the thoracodorsal artery in the subscapular region and summarize the characteristics of ultrasound. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Subscapularis muscle, bone and thoracodorsal artery of 72 healthy subjects were examined using high-frequency ultrasound, the initial segment diameter of the thoracodorsal artery and peak systolic blood flow velocity were recorded, and the ultrasonographic characteristics of subscapularis muscle, bone and thoracodorsal artery were summarized. RESULTS: The spinous processes of 7th thoracic vertebrae, 9th thoracic vertebrae and 11th thoracic vertebrae all showed strong echoes with posterior acoustic shadow. The vertebral plates of 8th thoracic vertebrae, 10th thoracic vertebrae and 11th thoracic vertebrae showed a strong linear echo on both sides of the spinous process, and the lateral side was connected with the transverse processes of 8th thoracic vertebrae, 10th thoracic vertebrae, and 11th thoracic vertebrae. The inferior scapular artery was launched from the axillary artery, along with the deep side of the inferior scapular muscle, the latissimus dorsi and teres major muscle, and then it went inferior and backward which was then divided into arteriae dorsalis scapulae and thoracodorsal artery, showing a tubular structure with no echo. Color Doppler Flow Imaging (CDFI) showed the endovascular blood flow signal of the inferior scapular artery and its branches. The internal diameter of the initial segment of the thoracodorsal artery of the male subjects was bigger than that of the female subjects, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency ultrasound can provide a reliable reference for the anatomical structure and adjacent relationship of subscapular muscles, bones and thoracodorsal artery, and is worthy of being promoted as a non-invasive and reliable mean of examination.