[Effect of Zhulian needle insertion by slow twirling technique on peroxidation and apoptosis of kidney tissue in aging rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Zhulian needle insertion by slow twirling technique on the contents of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and apoptosis rate in kidney tissue of aging model rats and explore the potential mechanism of such needling technique. METHODS: A total of 40 adult male SD rats were randomized into a blank control group, a model control group, a Zhulian needling technique group and a routine acupuncture group, 10 rats in each one. Except the blank control group, the sub-acute aging rat models were established by intraperitoneal injection with 10% D-galactose solution, 5 mL/kg in the rats of the other groups. In the Zhulian needling technique group and the routine acupuncture group, Zhulian needle insertion by slow twirling technique and the routine acupuncture technique were exerted at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) respectively. The needles were retained for 30 min, once a day, for 28 days totally. After intervention, the content of H2O2 in kidney tissue was detected by colorimetry, the content of MDA in kidney tissue was detected by thiobarbituric acid method and the apoptosis rate of kidney cells was detected by terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the contents of H2O2 and MDA in kidney tissue and kidney cell apoptosis rate were all increased in the model control group (P<0.05). Compared with the model control group, the contents of H2O2 and MDA in kidney tissue and kidney cell apoptosis rate were all reduced in the Zhulian needling technique group and the routine acupuncture group (P<0.05), and these indexes in the Zhulian needling technique group were all lower than the routine acupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Zhulian needle insertion by slow twirling technique delays aging probably by regulating peroxidation and apoptosis.

Tong-xin-luo capsule inhibits left ventricular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats by enhancing PPAR-gamma expression and suppressing NF-kappaB activity.

BACKGROUND: Tong-xin-luo capsule (TXL), used as a traditional Chinese herb, offeres a therapeutic potential for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. It has been shown to exert a variety of pharmacological effects, including antihypertensive effects, and is able to improve ventricular remodeling. However, the mechanisms of its action are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of Tong-xin-luo capsule on left ventricular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS: Sixteen eight-week-old SHRs were randomized into an SHR group (n = 8) and a TXL group (n = 8) that were given Tong-xin-luo capsule (1.5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)). Eight Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats fed with 0.9% NaCl served as the control group (WKY group). Systolic blood pressure (BP), body weight and heart rate were monitored once every two weeks. Ventricular remodeling was detected by histopathological examination. Nuclear factor kappa B P65 (NF-kappaB P65) and peroxisome proliferators activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) protein and phosphorylated inhibitor kappa alpha (IkappaBalpha) protein were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot respectively. The physical interaction of the P65-P50 heterodimer with IkappaBalpha and NF-kappaB were measured by co-immunoprecipitation. PPAR-gamma mRNA, collagen I mRNA and collagen III mRNA were measured by real-time PCR. RESULTS: TXL inhibited NF-kappaB P65 expression and ventricular remodeling and suppressed the activation of NF-kappaB compared with the SHR group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). TXL reduced IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, increased expression of PPAR-gamma protein and enhanced the physical interaction of the P65-P50 heterodimer with IkappaBalpha. The mRNA expression of PPAR-gamma was enhanced but the mRNA expression of collagen I mRNA and collagen I mRNA were suppressed by TXL. CONCLUSIONS: In spontaneously hypertensive rats, TXL could inhibit ventricular remodeling induced by hypertension, and the inhibitory effect might be associated with the process of TXL increasing the expression of PPAR-gamma that could result in the inhibition of the activation of NF-kappaB.

Root border cell development is a temperature-insensitive and Al-sensitive process in barley.

In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that border cell (BC) survival was dependent on root tip mucigel in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Hang 981). In aeroponic culture, BC development was an induced process in barley, whereas in hydroponic culture, it was a kinetic equilibrium process during which 300-400 BCs were released into water daily. The response of root elongation to temperatures (10-35 degrees C) was very sensitive but temperature changes had no great effect on barley BC development. At 35 degrees C, the root elongation ceased whereas BC production still continued, indicating that the two processes might be regulated independently under high temperature (35 degrees C) stress. Fifty microM Al could inhibit significantly BC development by inhibiting pectin methylesterase activity in the root cap of cv. 2000-2 (Al-sensitive) and cv. Humai 16 (Al-tolerant), but 20 microM Al could not block BC development in cv. Humai 16. BCs and their mucigel of barley had a limited role in the protection of Al-induced inhibition of root elongation, but played a significant role in the prevention of Al from diffusing into the meristems of the root tip and the root cap. Together, these results suggested that BC development was a temperature-insensitive but Al-sensitive process, and that BCs and their mucigel played an important role in the protection of root tip and root cap meristems from Al toxicity.