FSHR ablation induces depression-like behaviors.

Alteration in reproductive hormones profile is associated with the increasing risk of menopausal depression in women. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level is changed during the menopause transition, while the effect of FSH on menopausal depression has remained undefined. In this study we investigated whether or how FSH affected menopausal depression in postmenopausal (ovariectomized) FSHR knockout mice (Fshr-/-). We found that Fshr-/- mice displayed aggravated depression-like behaviors, accompanied by severe oxidative stress in the whole brain, resulted from significantly reduced glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLm) in glutathione synthesis and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in NADP/NADPH transition. Importantly, administration of ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC, 150 mg · kg-1 · d-1, i.p. for 12 weeks) attenuated the depression-like behaviors of Fshr-/- mice. Consistent with these in vivo experiment results, we found that pretreatment with FSH (50, 100 ng/mL) dose-dependently increased protein levels of GCLm and G6PD, and decreased the ROS production in N2a mouse neuroblastoma cells. These findings demonstrate that FSH signaling is involved in pathogenesis of menopausal depression, and likely to maintain the redox-optimized ROS balance in neurons.

FSH signaling is involved in affective disorders.

Affective disorders are a set of mental disorders and particularly disrupt the mental health of susceptible women during puberty, pregnancy, parturition and menopause transition, which are characterized by dramatic changes in reproductive hormone profiles. The serum FSH level changes significantly during these periods; yet, the role of FSH in mood regulation is poorly understood. In the current study, FSHR knockout (Fshr-/-) mice displayed enhanced affective disorder behaviors in an open field test and a forced swim test, accompanied by altered gene expression profiles. The differentially expressed genes between Fshr-/- mice and Fshr+/+ mice were enriched in multiple neuroendocrine metabolic pathways. FSHR deletion significantly increased/decreased the mRNA and/or protein expression levels of AOX1, RDH12, HTR3a and HTR4 in mood-mediating brain regions, including the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These results reveal that FSH signaling is involved in the development of affective disorders.

Methods used for evaluation of volume retention rate in autologous fat grafting for breast augmentation: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat grafting has gained popularity in breast augmentation. Various methods can be used to estimate the volume retention rate. This systematic review aimed to establish whether the type of method used for measuring breast volume is a factor that influences the reported volume retention rate. METHODS: Studies were identified using the electronic databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science from inception of the database up to February 2019. Articles describing autologous fat grafting for breast augmentation were selected based on pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The characteristics of the included studies were summarized, and the reported volume retention rate from the studies was compared. A quality assessment of all included articles was performed using the methodological index for non-randomized studies criteria. RESULTS: A total of 618 articles were identified, of which 12 studies, with a total of 1337 cases, were eligible. The retention rate of injected adipose tissue varied when the method of fat grafting and volume analysis used were both the same, as well as when the method of fat grafting was the same but the method of volumetric evaluation used was different. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, the tools available for estimating the volume retention rate come with limitations. In order to objectively evaluate the percentage of graft retention, a standard protocol that applies to the different methods should be established in the future.

Quantitative proteomics study of protective effects of grape seed procyanidin B2 on diabetic cardiomyopathy in db/db mice.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress appears to play a substantial role in cardiomyopathy. Grape seed procyanidin B2 (GSPB2) has been known as an anti-oxidant in treating diabetes mellitus; however, little is known about its effects and underlying mechanisms on diabetic cardiomyopathy. The present study is to explore the molecular targets of GSPB2 responsible for the anti-oxidative effects in db/db mice by quantitative proteomics. GSPB2 (30 mg/kg body weight/day) were intragastric administrated to db/db mice for 10 weeks. Proteomics of the heart tissue extracts by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification analysis was obtained from db/db mice. Our study provides important evidence that GSPB2 protect against cardiomyopathy in diabetes mellitus, which are believed to result from regulating the expression of key proteins involving cardiac fibrosis and proliferation. GSPB2 could be expected to become novel clinical application in fighting against diabetic cardiomyopathy.