Triptolide suppresses growth and hormone secretion in murine pituitary corticotroph tumor cells via NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

Triptolide is a principal diterpene triepoxide from the Chinese medical plant Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., whose extracts have been utilized in dealing with diverse diseases in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Recently, the antitumor effect of triptolide has been found in several pre-clinical neoplasm models, but its effect on pituitary corticotroph adenomas has not been investigated so far. In this study, we are aiming to figure out the antitumor effect of triptolide and address the underlying molecular mechanism in AtT20 murine corticotroph cell line. Our results demonstrated that triptolide inhibited cell viability and colony number of AtT20 cells in a dose- and time-dependent pattern. Triptolide also suppressed proopiomelanocortin (Pomc) mRNA expression and extracellular adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion in AtT20 cells. Flow cytometry prompted that triptolide leaded to G2/M phase arrest, apoptosis program and mitochondrial membrane depolarization in AtT20 cells. Moreover, dose-dependent activation of caspase-3 and decreased Bcl2/Bax proportion were observed after triptolide treatment. By western blot analysis we found that triptolide impeded phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 subunit and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), along with reduction of cyclin D1, without any impact on other NF-κB related protein expression like total p65, p50, IκB-α, p-IκB-α. Furthermore, the mouse xenograft model revealed the inhibition of tumor growth and hormone secretion after triptolide administration. Altogether this compound might be a potential pharmaceutical choice in managing Cushing's disease.

Effects of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance, intestinal morphology, non-specific immunity and mRNA expression in weanling piglets.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of dietary lysozyme levels on growth performance, gut health and non-specific immunity of weanling piglets. A total of 150 weanling piglets were allocated to six treatments. The piglets were fed the same basel diet supplemented with 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics for 28 days. From day 14 to day 28 of dietary treatment, piglets fed 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. During the whole experimental period, piglets fed 120 mg/kg lysozyme tended to have greater average daily gain than piglets fed control diet. Compared with piglets fed control diet, piglets fed diets containing antibiotics and 90 mg/kg lysozyme had greater villus height to crypt depth ratio in duodenum and jejunum. Additionally, dietary supplementation of 60 and 90 mg/kg lysozyme as well as antibiotics enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in piglets. In conclusion, dietary lysozyme can accelerate the growth of weanling piglets by improving gut health and non-specific immunity and supplementing 90 mg/kg lysozyme is as effective as antibiotics (20 mg/kg colistin sulphate + 50 mg/kg kitasamycin) in improving the growth performance of weanling piglets.

[Expressions of CSE and CBS in the penile corpus cavernosum of hyperglycemia rats and their implications].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of hyperglycemia on the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) signaling pathway in rat penile tissue and its relationship with erectile function. METHODS: Twenty healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into groups A (4-week healthy control), B (4-week diabetes mellitus model), C (6-week healthy control) and D (6-week diabetes mellitus model). The rats in groups B and D were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin at 50 mg/kg to induce diabetes mellitus, while those in groups A and C with the same volume of normal saline. The animals were killed at 4 (groups A and B) and 6 weeks (groups C and D) after treatment for measurement of the maximal intracavernous pressure/mean arterial blood pressure (ICP(max)/MAP) by electrostimulation, determination of the H2S concentration in the plasma and penile tissue, and detection of the expressions of cystathionine-beta-synthetase (CBS) and cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) in the penile corpus cavernosum by immunohisto- chemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: With electrostimulation of the pelvic ganglia at 5V and 7 V, ICP(max)/MAP was significantly reduced in groups B (0.19 +/- 0.03 and 0.29 +/- 0.04) and D (0.14 +/- 0.04 and 0.25 +/- 0.04) as compared with A (0.46 +/- 0.07 and 0.68 +/- 0.09) and C (0.43 +/- 0.07 and 0.65 +/- 0.16) (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in the level of serum testosterone either between groups A and B ([469.19 +/- 126.46] ng/dl vs [359.08 +/- 60.06] ng/dl, P > 0.05) or between C and D ([470.44 +/- 209.28] ng/dl vs [297.01 +/- 96.58] ng/dl, P > 0.05). Groups B and D showed remarkable reduction in the H2S concentration (P < 0.05) and the expressions of CBS and CSE (P < 0.05) in comparison with A and C, and the CBS and CSE expressions were even more significantly decreased in D than in B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The reduced concentration of H2S and decreased expressions of CBS and CSE in the penile corpus cavernosum of the diabetic rats suggested that the H2S signaling pathway might be involved in hyperglycemia-induced erectile dysfunction.

[Main sources of dietary calcium in perimenopausal women in Changsha].

OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze the main food sources of dietary calcium intake in perimenopausal women in Changsha,China. METHODS: Twenty-four hour recall method was used for 3 consecutive days to collect food intake information. Total calcium intake and proportion of each food were calculated. RESULTS: The average calcium intake was (506.61+/-33.94)mg,and calcium intake in only 6.25% women reach standard. The main sources of dietary calcium were vegetable, milk, wheat, meat, and fruits. Thirty-three kinds of food, including 15 vegetables, 3 bean and its products, 4 kinds of milk, 5 kinds of wheat, 3 kinds of eggs, 1 kind of oil and 1 kind of fruit supplied about 90% of the dietary calcium. CONCLUSION: The average calcium intake is low in perimenopausal women in Changsha. To improve the situation, we should increase intake of milk, bean, and its products, with calcium supplementation among these people.

[Effect of soybean isoflavone on the cognitive function in ovariectomized mice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of soybean isoflavone on the cognitive function in ovariectomized mice and to study the cognitive function mechanism of soybean isoflavone. METHODS: Forty-five Kunming female mice were randomly assigned into 5 groups: A (sham operated); B (ovariectomized, OVX); C (OVX + low dose soybean isoflavone); D (OVX + moderate dose soybean isoflavone); and E (OVX + high dose soybean isoflavone). The experiment lasted 60 days. RESULTS: Ovariectomy significantly elongated the destination time of water maze, shortened the latent time of step-down test, decreased SOD of serum and Na+ K+ -ATPase and Ca2+ Mg2+ -ATPase of brain, and increased malonaldehyde of serum and monoamine oxidase of brain, which-could be inhibited by soybean isoflavone consumption. CONCLUSION: The continuous oral administration of soybean isoflavone can improve the cognitive function of ovariectomized mice.

[Inhibitive effect of soybean isoflavone on prostate hyperplasia in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibitive effect of soybean isoflavone on benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats. METHODS: By subcutaneously injecting testosterone propionate to induce prostate hyperplasia in rats, the changes of prostate wet weight, prostatic index, morphological change, prostate-specific acid phosphatase (PAP), acid phosphatase in the control, the model, low, moderate, high dose of soybean isoflavone groups were observed. RESULTS: The ventral prostate wet weight, prostatic index, and PAP in the low, moderate, and high dose groups were significantly lower than those in the models (P < 0.05). The ventral prostate wet weight, prostatic index, and PAP in the moderate, and high dose groups were significantly lower than those in the low dose group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Soybean isoflavone inhibits prostate hyperplasia and the increase of acid phosphatase and PAP in a dose-dependent manner in rats. Soybean isoflavone may serve as supplementary therapy and prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia.