Exploring Independent Effects of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone In Vivo in a Mouse Model.

During the transition from a reproductive to a nonreproductive phase (menopause), many women experience significant physiological and pathological changes, including decreased bone mass, increased blood lipids, and increased visceral adiposity. Levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) rise during the menopausal transition. Many studies have shown that FSH in various extragonadal tissues and organs is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. Thus, building an animal model that can help study the independent effects of FSH in vivo is particularly important. In this study, C57BL/6 female mice were ovariectomized and supplemented with estradiol valerate (OVX + E2) to eliminate the effect of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The OVX + E2 mice received solvent (N.S.) or different doses of recombinant FSH via intraperitoneal injection to create a mouse model (OVF) characterized by relatively stable estrogen and rising FSH levels. Thus, we successfully generated an experimental mouse model to mimic the early stage of menopause transition, characterized by elevated serum FSH levels. The OVF model has the advantages of being stable, low cost, and easy to operate, which is suitable for studies to explore the extragonadal actions of FSH. Here, we describe detailed protocols for the mouse OVF model.

Pharmacokinetics of two alkaloids after oral administration of rhizoma coptidis extract in normal rats and irritable bowel syndrome rats.

A comparative pharmacokinetic study of berberine and palmatine after oral administration of Rhizoma Coptidis extract (96 mg/kg, containing berberine 22 mg/kg and palmatine 5 mg/kg based on body weight) was performed in normal and postinflammation irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) rats, induced by intracolonic instillation of acetic acid and restraint stress. Quantification of berberine and palmatine in rat plasma was achieved by using a sensitive and rapid UPLC-MS/MS method. Plasma samples were collected at 13 different time points and the pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed by WinNonlin software. The significant differences in the pharmacokinetic behaviors, such as C max⁡, AUC(0-t), V d /F, and CL/F, of berberine and palmatine were found between normal and PI-IBS model rats. The results indicated that PI-IBS pathological conditions in rats could alter the pharmacokinetic behavior of drug. Preclinical pharmacokinetic studies are usually carried out on healthy animals. However, we should pay more attention to the fact that the change of pharmacokinetic behavior plays an important role on efficacy. It is essential to investigate the pharmacokinetics of the drug in disease status.

[Renovation of acupuncture teaching based on opposite points].

The definition and content of opposite points is updated, and renovation of acupuncture teaching is explored in this article. Opposite points interconnect meridians and acupoints. Location of one point reminds that of the other in pairs. When manipulating, point-to-point puncture from two opposite sides or penetrating method from one side are both applicable. It has the advantages of less point selection and regulating yin and yang. Its application in teaching of meridians, acupoints, acupuncture technique and treatment may bring enthusiasm into the study as well as improve the level of teaching.

[Effect of Shenlian extracts on blood flow and vessel pathological changes in rabbits carotid atherosclerosis model induced by low shear stress].

Lipid accumulation in the vessel wall and tunica intima vasorum pathological changes are important factors in the development of atherosclerosis, which are closely related with hemodynamics. In this paper, we established a model of local low shear stress in rabbits using carotid artery cannula and a high cholesterol diet for 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. The effects of Shenlian extract on blood flow, vascular pathology formation and lipid metabolism were assessed by electromagnetic blood flow meter and hematoxylin-eosin staining of the proximal end in carotid artery at different times. The results demonstrate that the relationship between blood flow and shear stress for control, atorvastatin, Shenlian extract high-dose, Shenlian extract middle-dose, and Shenlian extract low-dose were linearly related. The blood flow and the shear stress of proximal end in carotid artery of Shenlian extract (1.12, 2.24, 4.48 g x kg(-1)), and atorvastatin (4.7 x 10(-4) g x kg(-1)) were significantly (P < 0.05)increased compared with the control. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ,and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were markedly decreased with the increasing of dose and time. This study is the first to prove that the inhibition of Shenlian extract on low shear stress (LSS) induces rabbits carotid atherosclerosis with increasing blood flow and decreasing lipids and vessel pathological changes.