[Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain: a national multi-center survey of 35 566 population].

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.

[Expression of pepsin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its correlation with quality of life after radiotherapy].

Objective: By analyzing the expression of pepsin in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues, to investigate the correlation between laryngeal reflux (LPR) and NPC, as well as the effect of LPR on the quality of life of patients with NPC after radiotherapy. Methods: A total of 133 patients with NPC who underwent radiotherapy at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from 2005 to 2019 were enrolled consecutively, including 90 males and 43 females, aged (44.32±7.47) years old. At the same period, 58 patients with chronic nasopharyngitis who underwent nasopharyngeal biopsy were selected as the control group. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of pepsin in nasopharyngeal specimens of the two groups. In addition, 188 normal individuals were selected as the normal group in the same period. NPC patients before and within 6 months after radiotherapy were inverstigated by the General Information Questionnaire and the Quality of Life Scale, and the pepsin levels in saliva of NPC patients before and after radiotherapy and the individuals in normal group were measured. SPSS 21.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Pepsin expression in 133 specimens of NPC patients was strongly positive in 24 cases (18.05%), positive in 21 cases (15.79%), weakly positive in 69 cases (51.88%), and negative in 19 cases (14.29%). The specimens of control group had 10 cases of weakly positive (17.24%), 48 cases of negative (82.76%), but no strong positive or positive pepsin expression. The rate of positive pepsin expression in the NPC group was higher than that in the control group, with a statistically significant (χ2=83.15, P<0.001). The pepsin content in the saliva of NPC patients after radiotherapy ((30.31±7.82) ng/ml) was higher than that before radiotherapy ((20.47±8.21) ng/ml) and the normal group (5.11±2.13) ng/ml), and the pepsin content in saliva before radiotherapy was higher than that in the normal group, and all differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). After radiotherapy, the five functional domains of quality of life and overall quality of life of NPC patients decreased, while the related symptom scores increased (all P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that pepsin content in saliva was the influential factor of five functional domains of quality of life, related symptoms and overall quality of life in NPC patients after radiotherapy (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The positive rate of pepsin expression in NPC tissues is high, and the pepsin in saliva before and after radiotherapy of NPC patients is significantly higher than that in normal, suggesting that LPR may be involved in the process of NPC and affect the quality of life after radiotherapy in NPC patients.

[Analysis of differences and influencing factors of liver injury associated with different strains of 2019-nCoV infection].

Objective: To analyze whether there are differences and related influencing factors in liver injury associated with different strains of 2019-nCoV/SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: Data of epidemiology, clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, and treatment outcomes of patients with COVID-19 infection confirmed with Alpha and Delta virus strain in Zhejiang Province were retrospectively collected. Statistical analysis was performed using independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test or Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 788 and 381 cases with Alpha and Delta virus strain were included. Vaccination ratio was 0% in Alpha and 85.30% in Delta group (P<0.001), The proportion of patients with fever (80.71% vs. 40.94%, P<0.001) was significantly higher in Alpha than Delta strain group. The proportion of critical ill patients was significantly higher in Delta group (9.90% vs. 1.57%, respectively, P<0.001). The virus negative conversion time was significantly longer in Delta than Alpha group (22 d vs. 11 d, P<0.001), but the incidence of liver injury was significantly higher in Alpha than Delta group (20.05% vs. 13.91%, P=0.011). Univariate analysis showed that Alpha virus strain infection, male sex, body mass index, chronic liver disease, fever, diarrhea, shortness of breath, severe/critical illness, elevated creatine kinase (CK), elevated international normalized ratio (INR) and an elevated neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was significantly associated with an increased risk of liver injury occurrence, and in patients with pharyngeal pain the risk of liver injury occurrence was significantly reduced. Multivariate analysis showed that shortness of breath [OR, 2.667 (CI: 1.389-5.122); P=0.003], increased CK [OR, 2.544 (CI: 1.414-4.576); P=0.002] and increased INR [OR, 1.721] (CI: 1.074-2.758); P=0.024] was significantly associated with an increased risk of liver injury occurrence, and in patients with pharyngeal pain the risk of liver injury occurrence was significantly reduced [OR, 0.424 (CI: 0.254-0.709); P=0.001]. Conclusion: Although the virulence of the Delta is stronger than Alpha strain, most patients infected with Delta strain vaccinated against COVID-19 in Zhejiang province had milder clinical symptoms and a lower incidence and degree of liver injury. Notably, the infection risk even remains after vaccination; however, symptoms and the incidence of severe and critical illness can be significantly reduced.

[Effects of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis on olfaction dysfunction in allergic rhinitis].

Objective: To explore the relationship between NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and olfactory dysfunction (OD) in allergic rhinitis (AR), and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of CY-09, a selective NLRP3 inhibitor for OD. Methods: An AR mouse model was established with ovalbumin, and the olfactory function of AR mice was detected by the buried food pellet test. Mice with OD were intraperitoneally injected with CY-09 or saline. The activation of microglia and astrocytes in olfactory bulb was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression level of pyroptosis associated protein was detected by Western blot. The level of pyroptosis associated proinflammatory factor mRNA was determined by real-time PCR. SPSS 24.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: After the test, ovalbumin successfully established AR mice model, in which 52.5% (21/40) of them showed OD. The number of activated microglia and astroglia in olfactory bulb tissue in OD group were more than those in non-OD group (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) was significantly increased in the olfactory bulb of the OD group (all P<0.05). CY-09 could significantly reduce the level of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1ß and IL-18 expression, and inhibite the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the olfactory bulb tissues (all P<0.05). Conclusion: NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis is closely related to the OD associated with AR. CY-09 could improve the olfactory function in AR mice, which may be related to blocking the NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis.

[Predictive diagnostic value of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps].

Objective: To compare the value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-(OH)D3) with other clinical parameters in the prediction and diagnosis of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (ECRSwNP). Methods: Eligible chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) patients and healthy subjects in the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from January to April of 2021 were included for this study. The age, gender, past history and other basic characteristics of all subjects were recorded. The CRSwNP patients were classified into ECRSwNP and non-eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (nECRSwNP) endotypes by the percentage of tissue eosinophils. Serum 25-(OH)D3 levels measurements were performed in all subjects. Paranasal sinus CT scans, blood eosinophil counts, and determination of total immunoglobulin E (total IgE), Th1/Th2 plasma cytokines and nasal nitric oxide (nNO) levels were performed before surgery. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the related factors of ECRSwNP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used to evaluate the predictive potential of the clinical parameters. Results: One hundred and twenty-seven CRSwNP patients and 40 healthy subjects were recruited, including 74 males and 93 females of the patients, with the age of (38.73±13.05) years. In patients with ECRSwNP, serum 25-(OH)D3 levels were significantly lower than those in nECRSwNP patients ((26.14±4.58) ng/ml vs (35.71±7.86) ng/ml, t=-8.564, P<0.01). The prevalence of asthma, prevalence of allergic rhinitis, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, total IgE levels, nNO levels and CT scores ratio for ethmoid sinus and maxillary sinus (E/M ratio) of ECRSwNP patients were significantly higher than those in nECRSwNP patients (all P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in Th1/Th2 cytokines levels between the histological types of CRSwNP (all P>0.05). Among the predictive indicators, 25-(OH)D3 had the highest predictive value, with ROC area under curve (AUC) value of 0.882. The best cut-off point of 28.5 ng/ml for 25-(OH)D3 demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.871 and a specificity of 0.762 for ECRSwNP. Conclusion: Measurement of serum 25-(OH)D3 level may be used as an effective method to distinguish between ECRSwNP and nECRSwNP.

Downregulation of miRNA-429 and upregulation of SOX2 were unfavorable to the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to uncover the correlations of expression levels of microRNA-429 (miRNA-429) and SOX2 with clinical parameters and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (n=95) and nasopharyngitis patients (n=95) in the same period were enrolled. The relative levels of miRNA-429 and SOX2 in nasopharyngeal tissues collected from these patients were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Then, the potential correlation between miRNA-429 and SOX2 was analyzed by Pearson correlation test. Next, the influences of miRNA-429 and SOX2 levels on clinical parameters of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were assessed. At last, the factors influencing the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were determined using the Cox regression model. RESULTS: It was found that downregulated miRNA-429 and upregulated SOX2 were observed in nasopharyngeal tissues collected from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. MiRNA-429 level was negatively correlated with that of SOX2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues. In addition, miRNA-429 and SOX2 levels were related to age, tumor differentiation, T stage, N stage, and clinical grade of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Moreover, worse prognosis was seen in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients expressing low level of miRNA-429 or high level of SOX2. Furthermore, Cox regression analysis showed that T3-T4 stage, moderate to high differentiation, and high level of SOX2 were risk factors, while high level of miRNA-429 was the protective factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of miRNA-429 and upregulation of SOX2 are unfavorable to the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

TRPP2 promotes the proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through upregulating Skp2/c-Myc.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the promotive role of TRPP2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) proliferation by targeting Skp2/c-Myc, thus accelerating the malignant progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TRPP2 levels in NPC patients with different T stages were detected. Correlation between TRPP2 level and clinical features of NPC patients was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier curves were depicted for assessing the prognostic value of TRPP2 in NPC. Subsequently, regulatory effects of TRPP2 on viability and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU)-positive ratio were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and EdU assay, respectively. Relative levels of Skp2 and c-Myc in NPC cells transfected with si-TRPP2 were examined. At last, the involvement of c-Myc in TRPP2-regulated proliferative ability of NPC was evaluated by performing rescue experiments. RESULTS: TRPP2 was upregulated in NPC tissues. TRPP2 level was higher in NPC patients with T3+T4 than those with T1+T2. Worse survival was observed in NPC patients expressing high level of TRPP2. TRPP2 level was correlated to T stage, N stage, M stage, and locoregional failure of NPC patients. Knockdown of TRPP2 reduced viability and EdU-positive ratio in NPC cells. In addition, relative levels of Skp2 and c-Myc in NPC cells transfected with si-TRPP2 were downregulated. Overexpression of c-Myc could partially reverse the regulatory effects of TRPP2 on NPC proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: TRPP2 stimulates NPC cells to proliferate by upregulating expressions of Skp2/c-Myc, thus deteriorating the development of NPC.

[Evaluation and analysis of anxiety, depression and quality of life in vasomotor rhinitis].

Objective: To evaluate the mental state and quality of life in patients with vasomotor rhinitis (VMR) before and after treatment, and to provide guidance for improving the overall health of VMR patients. Methods: Two hundred and twenty VMR patients (VMR group, 118 males, 102 females; aged from 18 to 72 years old), three hundred and twenty allergic rhinitis (AR) patients (AR group, 178 males, 142 females; aged from 18 to 79 years old) from January 2016 to September 2019 were selected in the otolaryngology clinic of Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, four hundred and twenty-three healthy people (control group, 243 males, 180 females; aged from 19 to 70 years old) were selected in physical examination center at the same time by continuous enrollment method, symptom check list (SCL-90), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the mental state of VMR patients before and after treatment, and 12-item short form health survey version 2.0 (SF-12v2) was used to evaluate their quality of life, statistical data were collected and analyzed by ANOVA and t-test. Results: The scores of eight factors (physical function, role physical function, general health, vitality, role-emotional, mental health) of SF-12v2 in VMR patients before treatment were lower than that of posttreatment, that of AR patients and the control group, the differences were significant (all P<0.05), the scores of somatization, obsession, depression, anxiety and psychosis in SCL-90 in VMR patients before treatment were significantly higher than that of posttreatment, that of AR patients and the control group (all P<0.05), the SAS and SDS in VMR patients before treatment (51.28±16.32; 53.28±18.55) were significantly higher than that of posttreatment (38.53±13.21; 39.35±13.34), that of AR patients (42.23±14.32; 43.32±13.78) and the control group (29.78±10.07;33.46±10.55; t(SAS) were 9.007, 6.813 and 20.59; t(SDS) were 9.043, 7.154 and 17.260, all P<0.05). Conclusion: VMR patients generally suffer from psychological damage, which seriously affects the quality of life of the patients. On the basis of routine treatment, we should attach more importance to the negative psychology of VMR patients and intervene when necessary.

[Observation of Flupentixol and melitracen on curative effect of sudden deafness patients with anxiety and depression in different stages].

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of flupentixol melitracen on different stages of sudden deafness patients with anxiety and depression.Method:Totally one hundred and sixty-three sudden deafness patients with anxiety and depression were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group(81 cases) and control group (82 cases). All patients were given routine treatment for 2 weeks. The experimental group was given oral flupentixol melitracen (1 tablet/day)for a period of 3 months. The hearing, tinnitus effect and vertigo treatment course were observed and compared. Curing rate of tinnitus at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after treatment, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and depressive state scale (self-rating depression scale, SDS) score were collected and compared.Result:Total efficiency of hearing and tinnitus of experimental group(86.42%,84.21%)were higher than that of the control group(67.07%,61.29%);the vertigo cured the average treatment time of experimental group days was less than that of the control groupdays,all the differences were statistically significant.After treatment,the average hearing threshold value of the two groups of patients were lower than that before treatment,the low frequency descent type, high-frequency descent type,flat down type and total deafness type thresholds of the experimental group were lower than of the control group,all the differences were statistically significant.The tinnitus cure rate of experiment group were higher than the control group at 3months and 6 months after treatment,the differences were statistically significant;and after 3months and 6 months treatment tinnitus cure rate higher of the experimental group than that of after 2 weeks the treatment,the difference was statistically significant.After 2 weeks,3 months and 6 months treatment,the SAS and SDS scores of two groups were lower than that before treatment.The SAS and SDS scores of the experimental group decreased after 2 weeks,3 months and 6 months treatment, and the difference was statistically significant at different time points,the SAS,SDS scores of experimental group after treatment were lower than the control group at the same time,the differences were statistically significant.Conclusion:For the sudden deafness patients with anxiety and depression , the combination of flupentixol melitracen on the basis of conventional therapy can improve the clinical efficacy, the patient's mental status and long-term therapeutic effect of tinnitus..

Effects and mechanism of lipoic acid on beta-amyloid-intoxicated C6 glioma cells.

ß-amyloid peptides (Aßs) can exert neurotoxic effects through induction of oxidative damage, whereas lipoic acid (LA), a powerful antioxidant, can alleviate oxidative damage. In this study, we explored the effect and mechanism of action of LA on beta-amyloid-intoxicated C6 glioma cells. Cells were randomly divided into three groups: control (vehicle), Aß, and LA + Aß. The LA + Aß group was treated with LA for 2 h, then both the Aß-only and the LA + Aß groups were incubated with 25 µM Aß for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by the MTT method. Mitochondrial reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the GSH to GSSG ratio calculated. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were used to detect MnSOD mRNA and protein, respectively. Aß significantly inhibited C6 cell proliferation compared with the control group (P < 0.05). LA markedly increased cell viability compared with the Aß group (P < 0.05). The increased GSSH and decreased GSH mitochondrial accumulation induced by Aß was profoundly reversed by treatment with LA (P < 0.05). Aß significantly reduced MnSOD expression compared to controls (P < 0.05), whereas LA pretreatment increased MnSOD expression compared with the Aß-only group (P < 0.05); MnSOD protein levels showed similar patterns. These results suggest that LA might protect Aß-intoxicated C6 glioma cells by alleviating oxidative damage, providing a new treatment strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.

Analgesic effect of endomorphin-1.

AIM: To study the analgesic effect of endomorphin-1 (EM-1). METHODS: The experiment was performed in rats and mice to study the analgesic effect of intraperitoneal (ip) injection of EM-1 with tail stimulation-vocalization test, writhing test, adjuvant arthritis, and neuropathic pain model and to compare it with the analgesic effects produced by intracerebroventricular (icv) and intrathecal (it) administrations. RESULTS: 1) EM-1 raised the pain threshold dose-dependently in tail stimulation-vocalization test in rats and inhibited the writhing responses induced by ip acetic acid in mice. EM-1 also decreased the hyperalgesia in both adjuvant arthritis and neuropathic pain model. 2) The analgesic effect induced by central (icv and it) administration of EM-1 was faster and more powerful than that induced by peripheral (ip) administration. 3) The analgesic effect of EM-1 was reversed by naloxone (opioid receptor antagonist), as well as by cyprodime (mu-opioid receptor selective antagonist). Repeated administrations of EM-1 induced tolerance. CONCLUSION: EM-1 had a definite analgesic effect and the analgesic effect of EM-1 was mediated by central mu-opioid receptor.

The inhibitory effect of serotonin on the spontaneous discharge of suprachiasmatic neurons in hypothalamic slice is mediated by 5-HT(7) receptor.

The effects of serotonin (5-HT) receptor agonists and antagonists on the spontaneous discharge of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons were investigated using rat hypothalamic slice. It was found that: (1) the SCN neurons showed a persistent rhythm in the spontaneous discharge rate, which was higher during the light phase than during the dark phase; (2) the effects of 5-HT on SCN neurons was inhibitory in nature and the sensitivity of SCN neurons to 5-HT during the light phase was lower than that during the dark phase; (3) both 5-HT and 5-HT(1/7) receptor agonist, (+/-)-8-hydroxy-2-(DL-N-propylamino) tetralin hydrobromide, could inhibit the spontaneous discharge of SCN neurons. This inhibitory effect could be blocked by 5-HT(2/7) receptor antagonist ritanserin and putative 5-HT(7) receptor antagonists clozapine, but neither by selective 5-HT(2) receptor antagonist ketanserin, nor by 5-HT(1) receptor antagonist pindolol. It was suggested that the inhibitory effect of 5-HT on the spontaneous discharge of SCN neurons in rat hypothalamic slice is mediated by 5-HT(7) receptor subtype.

[The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus and pineal gland in the circadian rhythmic organization of mammals].

The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a most important circadian pacemaker, which controls physiological and behaviour rhythm in mammals. SCN owns a intrinsic rhythm itself, and is entrained by photoperiodic signal and some endogenous chemical substances. Melatonin (MEL) is secreted by pineal gland, which is regulated by SCN. MEL triggers the second and third message systems, and regulates SCN circadian activity through high affinity MEL receptor within SCN. This regulation is time-sensitive.

Modulation of circadian rhythm of discharges of suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons in rat hypothalamic slices by melatonin.

Spontaneous firing of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons and the effect of melatonin (MEL) were examined in hypothalamic slices made from pinealectomized rats or from the rats exposed to constant light. The results are as follows. (1) Under normal light cycle (light dark=12 12), SCN neurons displayed a circadian rhythm in spontaneous discharges. A peak about 8.3 Hz was presented at CT (circadian time) 6 8 and a trough about 3.8 Hz at CT18 20. The circadian rhythm persisted after pinealectomy, but disappeared after constant light exposure. (2) The response of SCN neurons to MEL was mainly inhibitory. Under normal light exposure, the inhibitory proportion was higher during the subjective day with the largest proportion of about 42% at CT8 10, and was lower during the subjective night with the largest proportion of about 26% at CT22 24. Under both constant light exposure and pinealectomy, the circadian rhythm of the response of SCN neurons to MEL disappeared. (3) The inhibitory effect of MEL on spontaneous discharges of SCN neurons was blocked by ML-1 receptor antagonist luzindole, but not by ML-2 receptor antagonist prazosin. The above results suggest that pineal gland, as a regulator of the organization of circadian rhythm, regulates the circadian rhythm of SCN neurons at two responsive time windows (CT8 10 and CT22 24) through high affinity ML-1 receptors in SCN.

[Effect of dorsal raphe nucleus stimulation on unit discharges of light-sensitive neurons of suprachiasmatic nucleus in rats].

The effect of dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) stimulation on the unit discharge of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons was studied and analyzed pharmacologically in the Wistar rats. Experimental results showed that DR stimulation could significantly inhibit the light-induced discharge of SCN neurons. Pharmacologically, this inhibition could be enhanced by monoamine oxidase inhibitor pargyline, attenuated by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) synthesis inhibitor parachlorophenylalanine and blocked by 5-HT receptor antagonist cyproheptadine. It was suggested that the inhibitory effect of DR stimulation on the light-sensitive SCN neuron discharge might be mediated by 5-HT.

Effects of Coriolus versicolor polysaccharides peptides on electric activity of mediobasal hypothalamus and on immune function in rats.

AIM: The nervous mechanism of the immune potentiating effect of Coriolus versicolor polysaccharides peptides (PSP) was studied in Wistar rats. METHODS: The unit discharge of the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) neurons was recorded extracellularly and the lymphocyte proliferation was measured. RESULTS: PSP 1 g.kg-1 ig for 5 d increased the T-lymphocytes and promoted T-lymphocyte proliferation in spleen and peripheral blood. This promoting effect of PSP was blocked by MBH lesion. PSP increased the discharge frequency of MBH neurons, but no increase in discharge frequency was observed after treatment of PSP plus immune inhibitor, cyclosporin A. CONCLUSION: MBH is involved in the immune-potentiating effect of PSP.