Effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy with a 915 Nm Wavelength Diode Laser on the Healing of Intraoral Mucosal Wound: An Animal Study and a Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background and objectives: Diode laser has been the most popular low-level laser therapy (LLLT) technique in dentistry due to its good tissue penetration, lower financial costs, small size for portable application, and convenience to use. A series of recent studies with 940 nm or 980 nm lasers demonstrated that LLLT showed positive effects after third molar extraction or periodontal flap surgery. However, the effects of LLLT on intraoral mucosal wound healing after surgical incision have not yet been determined in human clinical study. Materials and Methods: The present study was performed to determine the efficacy and safety of 915 nm wavelength low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in mucosal wound healing. A total of 108 Sprague-Dawley rats were used. They were divided into three groups: Abrasive wound group, immediate LLLT once group, and daily LLLT group. As a clinical study, a total of 16 patients with split-mouth design subjected to bilateral mandibular third molar extraction were allocated into the LLLT group and placebo group. The process of LLLT was performed on postoperative days 0, 1, and 7, and parameters related to wound healing were analyzed on days 1, 7, and 14. Results: Repeated laser irradiation promoted mucosal wound healing of the rats. In the clinical study, although there were no significant statistical differences between the LLLT and placebo groups in all inflammatory parameters, the early stage mucosal healing tendency of wound dehiscence was higher in the LLLT group than in the placebo group clinically on postoperative day 1. Conclusions: The present results showed that 915 nm LLLT could be applied safely as an auxiliary therapy for mucosal wound healing.

Negr1 controls adult hippocampal neurogenesis and affective behaviors.

Recent genome-wide association studies on major depressive disorder have implicated neuronal growth regulator 1 (Negr1), a GPI-anchored cell adhesion molecule in the immunoglobulin LON family. Although Negr1 has been shown to regulate neurite outgrowth and synapse formation, the mechanism through which this protein affects mood disorders is still largely unknown. In this research, we characterized Negr1-deficient (negr1-/-) mice to elucidate the function of Negr1 in anxiety and depression. We found that anxiety- and depression-like behaviors increased in negr1-/- mice compared with wild-type mice. In addition, negr1-/- mice had decreased adult hippocampal neurogenesis compared to wild-type mice. Concurrently, both LTP and mEPSC in the dentate gyrus (DG) region were severely compromised in negr1-/- mice. In our effort to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we found that lipocalin-2 (Lcn2) expression was decreased in the hippocampus of negr1-/- mice compared to wild-type mice. Heterologous Lcn2 expression in the hippocampal DG of negr1-/- mice rescued anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and restored neurogenesis and mEPSC frequency to their normal levels in these mice. Furthermore, we discovered that Negr1 interacts with leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) and modulates LIF-induced Lcn2 expression. Taken together, our data uncovered a novel mechanism of mood regulation by Negr1 involving an interaction between Negr1 and LIFR along with Lcn2 expression.

Low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field pretreated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells promote the regeneration of crush-injured rat mental nerve.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been shown to promote the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) reportedly promotes the proliferation and neuronal differentiation of BMSCs. Low-frequency PEMF can induce the neuronal differentiation of BMSCs in the absence of nerve growth factors. This study was designed to investigate the effects of low-frequency PEMF pretreatment on the proliferation and function of BMSCs and the effects of low-frequency PEMF pre-treated BMSCs on the regeneration of injured peripheral nerve using in vitro and in vivo experiments. In in vitro experiments, quantitative DNA analysis was performed to determine the proliferation of BMSCs, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect S100 (Schwann cell marker), glial fibrillary acidic protein (astrocyte marker), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor (neurotrophic factors) mRNA expression. In the in vivo experiments, rat models of crush-injured mental nerve established using clamp method were randomly injected with low-frequency PEMF pretreated BMSCs, unpretreated BMSCs or PBS at the injury site (1 × 106 cells). DiI-labeled BMSCs injected at the injury site were counted under the fluorescence microscope to determine cell survival. One or two weeks after cell injection, functional recovery of the injured nerve was assessed using the sensory test with von Frey filaments. Two weeks after cell injection, axonal regeneration was evaluated using histomorphometric analysis and retrograde labeling of trigeminal ganglion neurons. In vitro experiment results revealed that low-frequency PEMF pretreated BMSCs proliferated faster and had greater mRNA expression of growth factors than unpretreated BMSCs. In vivo experiment results revealed that compared with injection of unpretreated BMSCs, injection of low-frequency PEMF pretreated BMSCs led to higher myelinated axon count and axon density and more DiI-labeled neurons in the trigeminal ganglia, contributing to rapider functional recovery of injured mental nerve. These findings suggest that low-frequency PEMF pretreatment is a promising approach to enhance the efficacy of cell therapy for peripheral nerve injury repair.

Highly palatable food access during adolescence increased anxiety-/depression-like behaviors in male, but not in female, rats.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the sexual dimorphic effects of highly palatable food (HPF) access during adolescence on the neurochemistry and depression-/anxiety-like behaviors of rats. METHODS: Male and female Sprague-Dawley pups had free access to chocolate cookie rich in fat (HPF) from postnatal day 28 in addition to ad libitum chow, and the control groups received only chow. The food conditions were continued throughout the entire experimental period, and the neurochemical and behavioral measurements were performed during young adulthood. Rats were subjected to the ambulatory activity, elevated plus maze, and forced swim tests. Corticosterone levels during 2 h of restraint stress were analyzed with radioimmunoassay, and ΔFosB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) with Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Cookie access did not affect body weight gain and total caloric intake in both sexes; however, it increased retroperitoneal fat depot only in males. The time spent in open arms during elevated plus maze test was decreased and immobility during forced swim test was increased in cookie-fed males, but not in cookie-fed females. Main effect of food condition on the stress-induced corticosterone increase was observed in males, but not in females, and cookie access increased BDNF expression in the NAc only in males. CONCLUSIONS: Increased BDNF expression in the NAc and fat depot, in addition to the stress axis dysfunction, may play roles in the pathophysiology of depression- and/or anxiety-like behaviors induced by cookie access.

Decreased hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor and impaired cognitive function by hypoglossal nerve transection in rats.

The hypoglossal nerve controls tongue movements, and damages of it result in difficulty in mastication and food intake. Mastication has been reported to maintain hippocampus-dependent cognitive function. This study was conducted to examine the effect of tongue motor loss on the hippocampus-dependent cognitive function and its underlying mechanism. Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to the initial training of Morris water maze task before or after the bilateral transection of hypoglossal nerves (Hx). When the initial training was given before the surgery, the target quadrant dwelling time during the probe test performed at a week after the surgery was significantly reduced in Hx rats relative to sham-operated controls. When the initial training was given after the surgery, Hx affected the initial and reversal trainings and probe tests. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, cell numbers and long-term potentiation (LTP) were examined in the hippocampus on the 10th day, and BrdU and doublecortin staining on the 14th day, after the surgery. Hx decreased the hippocampal BDNF and cells in the CA1/CA3 regions and impaired LTP. BrdU and doublecortin staining was decreased in the dentate gyrus of Hx rats. Results suggest that tongue motor loss impairs hippocampus-dependent cognitive function, and decreased BDNF expression in the hippocampus may be implicated in its underlying molecular mechanism in relation with decreased neurogenesis/proliferation and impaired LTP.

P2X7 receptor and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in head and neck cancer.

In this study, we investigated purinergic receptor P2X7 and NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome expressions, and their role in head and neck cancer. We found upregulation of purinergic receptor P2X7 and all NLRP3 inflammasome components in biopsied head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tissues. Similarly, the expression of purinergic receptor P2X7, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD, and pro-form caspase 1 in A253 cells derived from epidermoid carcinoma were highly upregulated in comparison to normal Human Salivary Gland cell line. Active caspase-1 and its final product, active interleukin-1ß, both increased in primed A253 cells stimulated with purinergic receptor P2X7 agonists, while this elevated NLRP3 inflammasome activity was suppressed by purinergic receptor P2X7 antagonists. However, we observed none of these effects in Human Salivary Gland cells. Inhibition of both NLRP3 inflammasome and purinergic receptor P2X7 led to the significant cell death of primed A253 cells, but had no effect on the viability of primed HSG cells or the primary cultured human fibroblast cells. Furthermore, inhibition of either purinergic receptor P2X7 or NLRP3 inflammasome decreased invasiveness of A253, and this effect became more evident when both purinergic receptor P2X7 and NLRP3 inflammasome were simultaneously blocked. Therefore, it is concluded that the purinergic receptor P2X7 and the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome play important roles in the survival and invasiveness of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in humans.

Adenovirus vector-mediated ex vivo gene transfer of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) tohuman umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) promotescrush-injured rat sciatic nerve regeneration.

This study was designed toinvestigate the efficacy of adenovirus vector-mediated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) ex vivo gene transfer to human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) in a rat sciatic nerve crush injury model. BDNF protein and mRNA expression after infection was checked through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250g, 6 weeks old) were distributed into threegroups (n=20 each): the control group, UCB-MSC group, and BDNF-adenovirus infected UCB-MSC (BDNF-Ad+UCB-MSC) group. UCB-MSCs (1×106cells/10µl/rat) or BDNF-Ad+UCB-MSCs (1×106cells/10µl/rat)were transplantedinto the rats at the crush site immediately after sciatic nerve injury. Cell tracking was done with PKH26-labeled UCB-MSCs and BDNF-Ad+UCB-MSCs (1×106cells/10µl/rat). The rats were monitored for 4 weeks post-surgery. Results showed that expression of BDNF at both the protein and mRNA levels was higher inthe BDNF-Ad+UCB-MSC group compared to theUCB-MSC group in vitro.Moreover, BDNF mRNA expression was higher in both UCB-MSC group and BDNF-Ad+ UCB-MSC group compared tothe control group, and BDNF mRNA expression in theBDNF-Ad+UCB-MSC group was higher than inboth other groups 5days after surgeryin vivo. Labeled neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), axon counts, axon density, and sciatic function index were significantly increased in the UCB-MSC and BDNF-Ad+ UCB-MSCgroupscompared to the controlgroup four weeksaftercell transplantation. Importantly,the BDNF-Ad+UCB-MSCgroup exhibited more peripheral nerve regeneration than the other two groups.Our results indicate thatboth UCB-MSCs and BDNF-Ad+UCB-MSCscan improve rat sciatic nerve regeneration, with BDNF-Ad+UCB-MSCsshowing a greater effectthan UCB-MSCs.

Decreased expression of 5-HT1A in the circumvallate taste cells in an animal model of depression.

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that stress can cause anhedonia, a core symptom of depression, and also affect taste responses of the stressed subjects. Anhedonia refers to a reduction of the ability to experience pleasure, which can be detected by decreased response to palatable food in rats. The present study was conducted to examine if stress-induced anhedonia is accompanied by changes in gene expression for taste. DESIGN: For anhedonia test, rats had free choices of cookies, a palatable food, and chow for 1h following 1h of daily restraint sessions. To examine the development of behavioral depression by restraint stress, ambulatory activity and forced swim tests were performed. Taste cells were harvested from the circumvallate papillae of rats on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day of stress exposure and subjected to the analysis of gene expression for taste. RESULTS: One hour of daily stress exposure did not affect chow intake during the entire experimental period. However, from day 2 cookie intake was suppressed, suggesting the development of anhedonia. Ambulatory activity was significantly decreased, and immobility during forced swim test was increased, after the 7th day of stress exposure, but not before. 5-HT1A mRNA expression, but not T1R2, T1R3, T2R6, α-gustducin or PLCß2 mRNA expression, appeared to be decreased after the 3rd day of stress exposure. CONCLUSION: Reduced expression of 5-HT1A in the taste cells, possibly leading to a reduced processing of taste information for palatable food, may additively contribute to the development of anhedonia as a pre-symptomatic feature of depression in stressed subjects.

Schwann-like cells differentiated from human dental pulp stem cells combined with a pulsed electromagnetic field can improve peripheral nerve regeneration.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Schwann-like cells combined with pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on peripheral nerve regeneration. Schwann-like cells were derived from human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and verified with CD104, S100, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), laminin, and P75NTR immunocytochemistry. Gene expression of P75NTR and S100 were analyzed. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250g, 6-week-old) were divided into seven groups (n = 10 each): control, sham, PEMF, hDPSCs, hDPSCs + PEMF, Schwann-like cells, Schwann-like cells + PEMF. Cells were transplanted (1 × 106 /10µl/rat) at crush-injury site or combined with PEMF (50 Hz, 1 h/day, 1 mT). Nerve regeneration was evaluated with functional test, histomorphometry and retrograde labelled neurons. Schwann-like cells expressed CD104, S100, GFAP, laminin, and p75 neurotrophin receptor (P75NTR ). P75NTR and S100 mRNA expression was highest in Schwann-like cells + PEMF group, which also showed increased Difference and Gap scores. Axons and retrograde labeled neurons increased in all treatment groups. Schwann-like cells, hDPSCs with or without PEMF, and PEMF only improved peripheral nerve regeneration. Schwann-like cells + PEMF showed highest regeneration ability; PEMF has additive effect on hDPSCs, Schwann-like cell in vitro and nerve regeneration ability after transplantation in vivo. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:163-174, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of electromagnetic field (PEMF) exposure at different frequency and duration on the peripheral nerve regeneration: in vitro and in vivo study.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to clarify the influence of frequency and exposure time of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on the peripheral nerve regeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immortalized rat Schwann cells (iSCs) (1 × 10(2)/well) were exposed at four different conditions in 1 mT (50 Hz 1 h/d, 50 Hz 12 h/d, 150 Hz 1 h/d and 150 Hz 12h/d). Cell proliferation, mRNA expression of S100 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were analyzed. Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were divided into six groups (n = 10 each): control, sham, 50 Hz 1 h/d, 50 Hz 12 h/d, 150 Hz 1 h/d and 150 Hz 12 Hr/d. Mental nerve was crush-injured and exposed at four different conditions in 1 mT (50 Hz 1 Hr/d, 50 Hz 12 Hr/d, 150 Hz 1 h/d and 150 Hz 12 h/d). Nerve regeneration was evaluated with functional test, histomorphometry and retrograde labeling of trigeminal ganglion. RESULTS: iSCs proliferation with 50 Hz, 1 h/d was increased from fourth to seventh day; mRNA expression of S100 and BDNF was significantly increased at the same condition from first week to third week (p < .05 vs. control); difference score was increased at the second and third week, and gap score was increased at the third under 50 Hz 1 h PEMF compared with control while other conditions showed no statistical meaning. Axon counts and retrograde labeled neurons were significantly increased under PEMF of four different conditions compared with control. Although there was no statistical difference, 50 Hz, 1 h PEMF showed highest regeneration ability than other conditions. CONCLUSION: PEMF enhanced peripheral nerve regeneration, and that it may be due to cell proliferation and increase in BDNF and S100 gene expression.

Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in lithium-induced conditioned taste aversion learning.

Intraperitoneal injections (ip) of lithium chloride at large doses induce c-Fos expression in the brain regions implicated in conditioned taste aversion (CTA) learning, and also activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and increase the plasma corticosterone levels in rats. A pharmacologic treatment blunting the lithium-induced c-Fos expression in the brain regions, but not the HPA axis activation, induced CTA formation. Synthetic glucocorticoids at conditioning, but not glucocorticoid antagonist, attenuated the lithium-induced CTA acquisition. The CTA acquisition by ip lithium was not affected by adrenalectomy regardless of basal corticosterone supplement, but the extinction was delayed in the absence of basal corticosterone. Glucocorticoids overloading delayed the extinction memory formation of lithium-induced CTA. ip lithium consistently induced the brain c-Fos expression, the HPA activation and CTA formation regardless of the circadian activation of the HPA axis. Intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of lithium at day time also increased the brain c-Fos expression, activated the HPA axis and induced CTA acquisition. However, icv lithium at night, when the HPA axis shows its circadian activation, did not induce CTA acquisition nor activate the HPA axis, although it increased the brain c-Fos expression. These results suggest that the circadian activation of the HPA axis may affect central, but not peripheral, effect of lithium in CTA learning in rats, and the HPA axis activation may be necessary for the central effect of lithium in CTA formation. Also, glucocorticoids may be required for a better extinction; however, increased glucocorticoids hinder both the acquisition and the extinction of lithium-induced CTA.

Beneficial Effects of Highly Palatable Food on the Behavioral and Neural Adversities induced by Early Life Stress Experience in Female Rats.

This study examined the effects of highly palatable food during adolescence on the psycho-emotional and neural disturbances caused by early life stress experience in female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley pups were separated from dam for 3 h daily during the first two weeks of birth (MS) or left undisturbed (NH). Half of MS females received free access to chocolate cookies in addition to ad libitum chow from postnatal day 28. Pups were subjected to the behavioral tests during young adulthood. The plasma corticosterone response to acute stress, ΔFosB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the brain regions were analyzed. Total caloric intake and body weight gain during the whole experimental period did not differ among the experimental groups. Cookie access during adolescence and youth improved anxiety-/depression-like behaviors by MS experience. ΔFosB expression was decreased, but BDNF was increased in the nucleus accumbens of MS females, and ΔFosB expression was normalized and BDNF was further increased following cookie access. Corticosterone response to acute stress was blunted by MS experience and cookie access did not improve it. Results suggest that cookie access during adolescence improves the psycho-emotional disturbances of MS females, and ΔFosB and/or BDNF expression in the nucleus accumbens may play a role in its underlying neural mechanisms.

Circadian activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may affect central, but not peripheral, effect of lithium in conditioned taste aversion learning in rats.

Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been implicated in conditioned taste aversion (CTA) learning induced by lithium chloride. This study investigated if circadian activation of the HPA axis affects the lithium-induced CTA formation. The pairing of conditioned stimulus (sucrose) and unconditioned stimulus (lithium chloride) was performed at night (shortly after light-off) when the HPA activity shows its circadian increase. Intraperitoenal injection of lithium chloride (0.15M, 3ml/kg or 12ml/kg) at night induced CTA formation and the HPA axis activation and increased c-Fos expression in both the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and the nucleus tractus of solitarius (NTS) in a dose dependent manner. However, intracerebroventricular lithium (0.6M, 5µl) at night failed to induce CTA or the HPA axis activation, although it increased c-Fos expression in the PBN and NTS. Results suggest that circadian activation of the HPA axis may affect central, but not peripheral, effect of lithium in CTA formation, and the lithium-induced c-Fos expression in brain regions may not be effective to induce CTA unless it is coupled with the HPA axis activation. It is concluded that the HPA axis activation may play an important role mediating not only peripheral but also central effect of lithium in CTA formation.

Anxiolytic efficacy of repeated oral capsaicin in rats with partial aberration of oral sensory relay to brain.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine if taste over load with oral capsaicin improves the adverse behavioural effects induced by partial aberration of oral sensory relays to brain with bilateral transections of the lingual and chorda tympani nerves. DESIGN: Male Sprague-Dawley rats received daily 1 ml of 0.02% capsaicin or water drop by drop into the oral cavity following the bilateral transections of the lingual and chorda tympani nerves. Rats were subjected to ambulatory activity, elevated plus maze and forced swim tests after 11th, 14th and 17th daily administration of capsaicin or water, respectively. The basal and stress-induced plasma corticosterone levels were examined after the end of behavioural tests. RESULTS: Ambulatory counts, distance travelled, centre zone activities and rearing were increased, and rostral grooming decreased, during the activity test in capsaicin treated rats. Behavioural scores of capsaicin rats during elevated plus maze test did not differ from control rats. Immobility during the swim test was decreased in capsaicin rats with near significance (P = 0.0547). Repeated oral capsaicin increased both the basal level and stress-induced elevation of plasma corticosterone in rats with bilateral transections of the lingual and chorda tympani nerves. DISCUSSION: It is concluded that repeated oral administration of capsaicin reduces anxiety-like behaviours in rats that received bilateral transections of the lingual and chorda tympani nerves, and that the increased corticosterone response, possibly modulating the hippocampal neural plasticity, may be implicated in the anxiolytic efficacy of oral capsaicin.

Simultaneous inferior alveolar nerve regeneration and osseointegration with a nerve growth factor-supplying implant: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: Although nerve growth factor (NGF) has been proved to enhance inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) regeneration, its clinical application remains a challenging issue. This study investigated the functional regeneration of IAN injury by supplying NGF using an NGF-supplying implant and its effect on the osseointegration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In canine IAN transection-and-repair models (n = 9), NGF-supplying implants connected to osmotic pumps were installed just above the transection site. In the right IAN, NGF 300 µg in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) 2 mL was loaded in the pump and pure PBS 2 mL was loaded in the left IAN. The gross clinical finding was evaluated by wound healing, inflammation, implant exposure, and loss of fixture. To evaluate IAN regeneration, electrophysiologic (amplitude, latency, conduction velocity, and peak voltage) and histomorphometric (axon count and density, myelin thickness, and ratio of axon diameter to fiber diameter) analyses were performed. Implant stability quotient, bone-to-implant contact ratio, and new bone area were measured to assess the osseointegration of the NGF-supplying implant. RESULTS: The conduction velocity (2.675 m/second) and peak voltage (1.940 µV) of the NGF group at 6 weeks were considerably higher than those of the PBS group (1.892 m/second and 1.300 µV, respectively). The same results were observed for axon count (NGF vs PBS, 4,576.107 ± 270.413 vs 3,606.972 ± 242.876), axon density (10,707.458 ± 638.835 vs 7,899.781 ± 1,063.625/mm(2)), and myelin thickness (1.670 ± 0.555 vs 1.173 ± 0.388 µm). There were no meaningful differences for the other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Supplying NGF with specially designed dental implants can be a new therapeutic approach to enable IAN regeneration and osseointegration simultaneously.

Co-treatment effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) with human dental pulp stromal cells and FK506 on the regeneration of crush injured rat sciatic nerve.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether crush injured rat sciatic nerve could be benefit from pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) combined with human dental pulp stromal cells (hDPSCs), with FK506 (Tacrolimus) for immune suppression and neuropromotion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g, 6 week old) were distributed into 6 groups (n = 18 each): control, PEMF, FK506, PEMF + hDPSCs, PEMF + FK506, and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 groups. hDPSCs (cell = 1 × 106/10 µl/rat) were injected at the crush site immediate after injury. FK506 was administered 3 weeks in FK506 group (0.5 mg/kg/d) while pre-op 1 d and post-op 7 d in PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 group; cell tracking was done with PKH26-labeled hDPSCs (cell = 1 × 106/10 µl/rat). The rats were follow-up for 3 weeks. RESULTS: PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 group showed a sharp increase in sciatic function index (SFI), axon counts, densities, and labeled neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) than control at 3 weeks. Other three treatment groups also showed higher axon counts, densities, and labeled neurons than control. Higher axon counts and densities were found in PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 groups comparing with PEMF group. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression pattern in nerve segment and DRG was almost same. Higher expression level in all the treatment groups was discovered in the follow-up period, but there was no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: All treatment groups can improve regeneration of neurons following crushed injury, PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 groups showed higher regeneration ability than other three groups. FK506 plays an important role during hDPSCs transplantation.

Highly Palatable Food during Adolescence Improves Anxiety-Like Behaviors and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Dysfunction in Rats that Experienced Neonatal Maternal Separation.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to examine the effects of ad libitum consumption of highly palatable food (HPF) during adolescence on the adverse behavioral outcome of neonatal maternal separation. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley pups were separated from dam for 3 hours daily during the first 2 weeks of birth (maternal separation, MS) or left undisturbed (nonhandled, NH). Half of MS pups received free access to chocolate cookies in addition to ad libitum chow from postnatal day 28 (MS+HPF). Pups were subjected to behavioral tests during young adulthood. The plasma corticosterone response to stress challenge was analyzed by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Daily caloric intake and body weight gain did not differ among the experimental groups. Ambulatory activities were decreased defecation activity and rostral grooming were increased in MS controls (fed with chow only) compared with NH rats. MS controls spent less time in open arms, and more time in closed arms during the elevated plus maze test, than NH rats. Immobility duration during the forced swim test was increased in MS controls compared with NH rats. Cookie access normalized the behavioral scores of ambulatory and defecation activities and grooming, but not the scores during the elevated plus maze and swim tests in MS rats. Stress-induced corticosterone increase was blunted in MS rats fed with chow only, and cookie access normalized it. CONCLUSION: Prolonged access to HPF during adolescence and youth partly improves anxiety-related, but not depressive, symptoms in rats that experienced neonatal maternal separation, possibly in relation with improved function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

Increase of glucocorticoids is not required for the acquisition, but hinders the extinction, of lithium-induced conditioned taste aversion.

Lithium chloride at doses sufficient to induce conditioned taste aversion (CTA) causes c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus and increases the plasma level of corticosterone with activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This study was conducted to define the role of glucocorticoid in the acquisition and extinction of lithium-induced CTA. In experiment 1, Sprague-Dawley rats received dexamethasone (2mg/kg) or RU486 (20mg/kg) immediately after 5% sucrose access, and then an intraperitoneal injection of isotonic lithium chloride (12ml/kg) was followed with 30min interval. Rats had either 1 or 7 days of recovery period before the daily sucrose drinking tests. In experiment 2, rats were conditioned with the sucrose-lithium pairing, and then received dexamethasone or vehicle at 30min before each drinking test. In experiment 3, adrenalectomized (ADX or ADX+B) rats were subjected to sucrose drinking tests after the sucrose-lithium pairing. Dexamethasone, but not RU486, pretreatment blunted the formation of lithium-induced CTA memory. Dexamethasone prior to each drinking test suppressed sucrose consumption and prolonged the extinction of lithium-induced CTA. Sucrose consumption was significantly suppressed not only in ADX+B rats but also in ADX rats during the first drinking session; however, a significant decrease was found only in ADX rats on the fourth drinking session. These results reveal that glucocorticoid is not a necessary component in the acquisition, but an important player in the extinction, of lithium-induced CTA, and suggest that a pulse increase of glucocorticoid may hinder the extinction memory formation of lithium-induced CTA.

Disruption of oral sensory relay to brain increased anxiety- and depression-like behaviours in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Sensory information plays an important role to determine psycho-emotional behaviours of individuals. Lingual nerve can be damaged by dental surgery or trauma, such as physical irritation, radiation, chemotherapy, or viral infection. This study was conducted to examine the psycho-emotional effects of lingual nerve damage in which oral sensory relay to the brain is disrupted. DESIGN: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were tested for anxiety and depression-related behaviours after bilateral transections of the lingual and chorda tympani nerves (Nx) or sham operation. Tissue contents of serotonin and its metabolite in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and nucleus accumbens were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Sucrose preference was reduced in Nx rats compared with sham rats, suggesting the development of anhedonia, decreased pleasure seeking behaviour, by the lingual nerves transection. Ambulatory activity was decreased, anxiety-related behaviours during the activity test increased, time spent in the open arms during elevated plus maze test decreased, and immobility duration during forced swim test increased in Nx rats compared with sham rats. Serotonin level in the hippocampus of Nx rats was decreased significantly compared with sham rats. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that aberration of oral sensory relay to brain may lead to the development of depression- and anxiety-related disorders, and decreased serotonergic neurotransmission in the hippocampus may play a role in its underlying mechanism.

Human periodontal ligament stem cells repair mental nerve injury.

Human periodontal ligament stem cells are easily accessible and can differentiate into Schwann cells. We hypothesized that human periodontal ligament stem cells can be used as an alternative source for the autologous Schwann cells in promoting the regeneration of injured peripheral nerve. To validate this hypothesis, human periodontal ligament stem cells (1 × 10(6)) were injected into the crush-injured left mental nerve in rats. Simultaneously, autologous Schwann cells (1 × 10(6)) and PBS were also injected as controls. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed that at 5 days after injection, mRNA expression of low affinity nerve growth factor receptor was significantaly increased in the left trigeminal ganglion of rats with mental nerve injury. Sensory tests, histomorphometric evaluation and retrograde labeling demonstrated that at 2 and 4 weeks after injection, sensory function was significantly improved, the numbers of retrograde labeled sensory neurons and myelinated axons were significantly increased, and human periodontal ligament stem cells and autologous Schwann cells exhibited similar therapeutic effects. These findings suggest that transplantation of human periodontal ligament stem cells show a potential value in repair of mental nerve injury.