Testosterone and androstanediol production by regenerating Leydig cells in the ethylene dimethane sulphonate-treated mature rat

Mature (60-65 day old) male Sprague-Dawley rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of ethylene dimethane sulphonate (EDS; 100 mg/kg) and were subsequently killed at various times from day 2 to day 40 post-treatment. Testes were removed from these animals and age-matched controls and utilized either for light and electron microscopical analyses or for in-vitro assessment of Leydig cell function. Interstitial cells were prepared by collagenase digestion and used to measure 125I-labelled human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) binding capacity and androgen production in the presence or absence of hCG or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP). At day 2 after EDS treatment, 125I-labelled hCG binding capacity was reduced to 10% of control values, while the production of testosterone and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol (adiol) were non-detectable. Histological observations confirmed the lack of identifiable Leydig cells at day 2-16 after EDS treatment. Between days 24 and 40 post-treatment, Leydig cell regeneration occurred, as indicated by a rise in 125I-labelled hCG binding capacity, increased androgen production and the presence of histologically identifiable Leydig cells. A pattern of adiol production similar to that seen in the immature rat during Leydig cell development was observed with peak synthesis occurring at day 30 post-treatment. Adiol production fell to barely detectable levels by day 36 and remained low at day 40. It is concluded that the steroidogenic pattern of regenerating Leydig cells in the EDS-treated animal is similar to that of developing Leydig cells in the immature animal.     

Evaluation of filling materials in membrane‐protected bone defects. A comparative histomorphometric study in the mandible of miniature pigs.

In recent years, bone grafts and bone substitutes have been increasingly utilized underneath barrier membranes to optimize the treatment outcome of bone reconstructive therapy for defects in the alveolar process. In the present study, 4 different filling materials were evaluated in bone defects of similar dimensions in the mandible of miniature pigs. Blood clots and autografts were used as controls. The defects were covered with barrier membranes and allowed to heal for 4, 12 or 24 weeks. Histologic examination demonstrated that bone repair progressed through a programmed sequence of maturation steps closely resembling the pattern of bone development and growth regardless of whether bone grafts or substitutes were present or not. Histomorphometric analysis showed that autologous bone grafts (autografts) had the best osteoconductive properties during the initial healing period, with 39% of newly formed bone inside the membrane-covered defects at 4 weeks of healing. In addition, 87% of the graft surfaces were already covered by bone at this time. Both values were significantly higher for autografts than for the 4 alternative bone fillers (P < or = 0.05). At 12 weeks, these differences were no longer apparent, with all 5 filling materials showing similar values. Among the tested bone substitutes, tricalcium phosphate (TCP) showed a significantly higher percentage of bone fill at 24 weeks of healing. It can be concluded that sites filled with autografts clearly demonstrated the best results underneath barrier membranes in the early phase of healing. As far as degradation and substitution are concerned, TCP showed the most promising results. This filler, however, needs to be tested further in a more demanding animal model. Less favorable results were obtained for coral-derived hydroxyapatite granules and for demineralized freeze-dried bone allografts.     

Effect of Tisseel on healing after periodontal flap surgery.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect on healing of fast and slow absorbable Tisseel in combination with periodontal flap surgery. Mucoperiosteal flaps were raised on the buccal aspect of maxillary premolars and mandibular premolars and first molars in 4 beagle dogs. The underlying buccal, interproximal and inter-radicular bone was then removed to a level of approximately 5 mm apically to the original bone crest and half way into the interdental spaces and bifurcations. The exposed root surfaces were curetted in order to remove the periodontal ligament tissue, and a notch was made in the root surface at the base of the defects. On the control teeth, the flaps were sutured immediately after creation of the defects, while on the test teeth, a layer of fast (group I) or slow (group II) absorbable Tisseel was applied between the curetted roots and the subsurface of the flaps prior to suturing. Postoperatively, the teeth were brushed 2 x weekly. The dogs were sacrificed after 4 months. Histological analysis revealed that the amounts of new attachment and bone regrowth were similar in the test and control groups, although the results tended to be most favorable for the group of teeth treated with fast absorbable Tisseel (Group I).     

Angiogenesis and the blood-brain barrier in intracerebral solid and cell suspension grafts

Solid and suspension grafts of fetal central nervous system (CNS) tissue rapidly reform an intact blood-brain barrier (BBB), whereas solid grafts of peripheral nervous system (PNS) tissue fail to establish a BBB as detected by horseradish peroxide (HRP) leakage, administrated intravenously. We examined the acute changes in the BBB after grafting of fetal CNS tissue in solid and suspension form and superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and PNS tissue in the same manner. Adult rats (n = 20) received fetal (day 14–15) forebrain grafts (either solid or cell suspension) to their rostral corpus callosum bilaterally. A second group (n = 20) received SCG solid and cell suspension grafts at the same coordinates with the same technique. The animals were killed on first, third, seventh, and tenth days after grafting. Intravenous HRP (Sigma, type VI, 75 mg/5-g rat) was given 1 hour before perfusion with mixed aldehydes. Fifty-micron coronal sections were examined for the presence and location of the graft by cresyl violet and AChE staining and Mesulam's TMB method to detect HRP leakage. HRP leakage was detected in the parenchyma in all groups on the first and the third days post-transplantation indicating a disrupted BBB. No HRP reaction was seen at days 7 and 10 in groups receiving fetal forebrain tissue whether solid or cell suspension. Solid grafts of SCG consistently demonstrated HRP leakage from the first through the tenth day. However, cell suspension of SCG established a BBB by 7 days. These results suggest that within the solid grafts of CNS and PNS tissue, the permeability of the vessels is dictated by the transplanted tissue itself. When cell suspensions of the same tissue are introduced, host CNS tissue dominates as the local environment resulting in non-leaky vasculature within the graft.     

NGD及NRF对大鼠坐骨神经缺损修复的电生理学检测

目的 :观察神经生长液 ( NGD)及神经再生素 ( NRF)修复大鼠坐骨神经缺损的效果。方法 :用生理盐水( NS)、NRF桥接以及 NRF桥接 +口服 NGD修复大鼠坐骨神经缺损 ,术后 12周检测大鼠坐骨神经干动作电位传导速度及肌电图。结果 :行为方面 NGD+ NRF组比 NS组恢复早 ,NS组、NRF组、NRF+ NGD组神经干动作电位传导速度的平均值分别为 5 .72 0 m/ s、16 .5 14 m/ s、2 1.310 m/ s。NS组与 NGD+ NRF组的神经干动作电位传导速度经统计学分析有显著性差异 ( P<0 .0 1)。NGD+ NRF组与 NS组的肌电图比较 ,前者的潜伏期短、峰谷值大、运动神经传导速度快。结论 :NGD+ NRF具有良好促进神经再生作用     

Repair and reconstruction of peripheral nerve injuries

Axonal regeneration after transection is a complex biological process. It is not merely a process of tissue repair, but rather of cellular repair of a large number of nerve cells. Regeneration involves restoration of the original morphology of each single cell, rather than proliferation. Techniques in microneurosurgical reconstruction of peripheral nerve injuries have improved over the last two decades, with subsequent improvement in functional results. Nerve autografts are now routinely used to guide the regrowth of the proximal nerves to distal nerve segments. However, the limited source of expendable cutaneous nerves restricts the use of nerve grafting techniques and is associated with significant morbidity. With extensive injuries there is an insufficient quantity of nerve autograft material to facilitate optimal repair. In future, the use of artificial conduits or nerve allografts could provide a limitless source of material to reconstruct otherwise irreparable traumatic nerve injuries. Establishment of appropriate strategies to suppress host-immune reaction or donor antigenicity would facilitate clinical allogeneic nerve transplantation. Guest lecture presented at the 69th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association in Tokyo on April 13, 1996.     

Effect of experimental alcoholism on structure and regenerative powers of the neonatal myocardium and liver of the next generation of newborn rats

Department of Pathological Anatomy, I. N. Ul'yanov Chuvash University, Nizhnii Novgorod. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR D. S. Sarkisov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 112, No. 11, pp. 552–553, November, 1991.     

复方红芪减方对周围神经再生影响的实验研究

目的　研究复方红芪提取液进行减方后对周围神经再生的作用。方法　建立钳夹损伤大鼠双侧坐骨神经的动物模型。按术后每日灌服药物的不同将 40只SD雄性大鼠随机均分为 4组。对照组 :灌服生理盐水 ;复方红芪组 :灌服复方红芪提取液 2ml ;减方组 :灌服复方红芪减方后提取液 2ml;补阳还五汤组 :灌服补阳还五汤 2ml。术后 2周及 4周 ,观察坐骨神经功能指数、运动神经传导速度及单位视野有髓神经纤维计数。结果　坐骨神经功能指数 :红芪组和减方组与对照组、红芪组与减方组的差异均有显著意义 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,且减方组优于红芪组 (P >0 .0 5 )。有髓神经纤维计数 :复方红芪组优于对照组 (P<0 0 1) ,减方组明显优于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ,而红芪组与减方组间无显著差异。运动神经传导速度 :红芪组、减方组、补阳还五汤组与对照组相比 ,均优于对照组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,但前 3组间无明显差异。结论　复方红芪减方提取液早期可以促进周围神经再生 ,药效更为专一 ,且优于传统方剂补阳还五汤。     

中药药性量化方法对补虚药功效归类预测的研究

目的对中药药性依其重要性进行更深层次的多值量化分析,将比定性的文字表述和简单的二值量化表示更有意义.方法以补虚药为研究对象,药性为基本特征,在对其进行二值量化和多值量化的基础上,采用应用人工神经网络和决策树等数据库知识发现技术,进行对补虚药功效归类判别结果的影响研究.结论结果表明药性的不同量化方法对补虚药的功效归类预测有一定影响,多值量化比二值量化具有更为理想的判别结果.