[Effect of electroacupuncture on expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase protein and mRNA in cerebral cortex in rats with focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) on the expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) protein and gene in the cerebral cortex in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI/R) injury, so as to explore its molecular biological mechanism underlying anti-oxidative stress. METHODS: A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into sham operation (sham, n = 10), model (n = 10), and EA (n = 10) groups. CI/R model was established by right middle cerebral artery occlusion (modified Longa's thread occlusion method) for 2 hours and reperfusion for 24 hours. EA (3 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to "Dazhui" (GV 14) and "Baihui" (GV 20) for 30 min. gamma-GCS protein expression of the parietotemporal region of cerebral cortex was detected by immunohistochemistry and gamma-GCS heavy subunit (gamma-GCSh) mRNA and gamma-GCS light subunit (gamma-GCSI) mRNA expression levels were assayed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, the expression levels of gamma-GCS protein in the pyramidal cell layer of the cerebral cortical parietotemporal region, and y-GCSh mRNA and gamma-GCSI mRNA, and the number of gamma-GCS immuno-reaction positive cells had no remarkable changes in the model group (P > 0.05), while in comparison with the model group, the expression levels of cerebral cortical gamma-GCS protein, and gamma-GCSh mRNA and gamma-GCSI mRNA, and the number of gamma-GCS immuno-reaction positive cells were increased considerably in the EA group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA of GV 20 and GV 14 can upregulate expression levels of gamma-GCS protein, gamma-GCSh mRNA and gamma-GCSI mRNA of the cerebral cortical parietotemporal region in CI/R rats, which may contribute to its effect in protecting cerebral cortical cells from injury by clearing away excessive oxygen free radicals.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on cerebral cortex ultrastructure in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) on the ultrastructure of cerebral cortex in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion (CI/R) injury. METHODS: Fifteen SD rats were equally randomized into sham-operation (sham), model and EA groups. CI/R model was established by right middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1 h and reperfusion for 24 h. EA (20 Hz/80 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) for 30 min. The ischemic cerebral cortex tissue was taken, fixed in 2.5% glutaral solution, embedded in araldite, cut into sections and stained for observing the ultrastructure changes of cortical pyramidal cells, astrocyte and blood brain barrier (BBB) under transmission electronic microscope. RESULTS: In sham group, the anatomical structure of the cerebral pyramidal cells was normal basically. In model group, the neuronal mitochondria and the capillary endothelium and the processes of the astrocyte got swelling, the mitochondrial cristae were broken, the capillary lumens became narrow or were blocked up. In EA group, the injury degree of the pyramidal cells, glial cells and BBB were lighter. CONCLUSION: EA can reduce ischemic injury of the cerebral cortical neurons and blood brain barrier in rats with CI/R injury.

[Comparative study of the effects of Gypsum Fibrosum and Gypsum Fibrosum Preparatum in promoting granulation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Gypsum Fibrosum and Gypsum Fibrosum Preparatum in promoting granulation. METHODS: The wounds of muscle layer were produced in rats by using surgical operation. Two round wounds, with diameter about 1.5 cm, were cut at the depilatory area of two sides of the back of each rat, with an interval of 2 cm, deep to muscle layer, and the thickness of the knife wound of muscle layer was about 0.15 cm. Forty SD rats with the wounds were randomly divided into 4 groups: untreated group, beifuji-treated group, Gypsum Fibrosum-treated group and Gypsum Fibrosum Preparatum-treated group, with 10 rats in each group. Then the wounds were sprinkled with powders of Gypsum Fibrosum and Gypsum Fibrosum Preparatum, or sprayed with beifuji solution, respectively. The healing state of granulation tissues of the wounds was observed at the eighth and fourteenth day respectively. RESULTS: The number of fibroblasts, the number of capillary tubes and the area of capillary tubes in granulation tissue of wounds in the Gypsum Fibrosum Preparatum-treated group were significantly higher than those in the untreated group and Gypsum Fibrosum-treated group (P<0.01). There were no statistical differences between the Gypsum Fibrosum Preparatum-treated group and the beifuji-treated group. However, Gypsum Fibrosum-treated group showed no obvious differences compared to the untreated group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Gypsum Fibrosum Preparatum can accelerate the formation of collagenoblast and micrangium in wounds, and the proliferation of granulation tissues, thus promoting the skin wounds to healing. The effect of Gypsum Fibrosum is changed after being calcined, and Gypsum Fibrosum Preparatum has obvious effect in promoting granulation.

Therapeutic mechanism of ginkgo biloba exocarp polysaccharides on gastric cancer.

AIM: To study the therapeutic mechanism of Ginkgo biloba exocarp polysaccharides (GBEP) on gastric cancer. METHODS: Thirty patients with gastric cancer were treated with oral GBEP capsules. The area of tumors was measured by electron gastroscope before and after treatment, then the inhibitory and effective rates were calculated. The ultrastructures of tumor cells were examined by transmissional electron microscope. Cell culture, MTT, flow cytometry were performed to observe proliferation, apoptosis and changes of relevant gene expression of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. RESULTS: Compared with the statement before treatment, GBEP capsules could reduce the area of tumors, and the effective rate was 73.4%. Ultrastructural changes of the cells indicated that GBEP could induce apoptosis and differentiation in tumor cells of patients with gastric cancer. GBEP could inhibit the growth of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells following 24-72 h treatment in vitro at 10-320 mg/L, which was dose- and time-dependent. GBEP was able to elevate the apoptosis rate and expression of c-fos gene, but reduce the expression of c-myc and bcl-2 genes also in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic mechanism of GBEP on human gastric cancer may relate to its effects on the expression of c-myc, bcl-2 and c-fos genes, which can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis and differentiation of tumor cells.