Heterogeneous vestibulocerebellar mossy fiber projections revealed by single axon reconstruction in the mouse

A significant population of neurons in the vestibular nuclei projects to the cerebellum as mossy fibers (MFs) which are involved in the control and adaptation of posture, eye-head movements, and autonomic function. However, little is known about their axonal projection patterns. We studied the morphology of single axons of medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) neurons as well as those originating from primary afferents, by labeling with biotinylated dextran amine (BDA). MVN axons (n = 35) were classified into three types based on their major predominant termination patterns. The Cbm-type terminated only in the cerebellum (15 axons), whereas others terminated in the cerebellum and contralateral vestibular nuclei (cVN/Cbm-type, 13 axons), or in the cerebellum and ipsilateral vestibular nuclei (iVN/Cbm-type, 7 axons). Cbm- and cVN/Cbm-types mostly projected to the nodulus and uvula without any clear relationship with longitudinal stripes in these lobules. They were often bilateral, and sometimes sent branches to the flocculus and to other vermal lobules. Also, the iVN/Cbm-type projected mainly to the ipsilateral nodulus. Neurons of these types of axons showed different distribution within the MVN. The number of MF terminals of some vestibulocerebellar axons, iVN/Cbm-type axons in particular, and primary afferent axons were much smaller than observed in previously studied MF axons originating from major precerebellar nuclei and the spinal cord. The results demonstrated that a heterogeneous population of MVN neurons provided divergent MF inputs to the cerebellum. The cVN/Cbm- and iVN/Cbm-types indicate that some excitatory neuronal circuits within the vestibular nuclei supply their collaterals to the vestibulocerebellum as MFs.     

The role of pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide in affective signs of nicotine withdrawal

Recent evidence implicates endogenous pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the aversive effect of nicotine. In the present study, we assessed if nicotine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) or affective signs of nicotine withdrawal would be altered in the absence of PACAP and if there were any sex-related differences in these responses. Male and female mice lacking PACAP and their wild-type controls were tested for baseline place preference on day 1, received conditioning with saline or nicotine (1 mg/kg) on alternate days for 6 days and were then tested for CPP the next day. Mice were then exposed to four additional conditioning and were tested again for nicotine-induced CPP 24 hr later. Controls were conditioned with saline in both chambers and tested similarly. All mice were then, 96 hr later, challenged with mecamylamine (3 mg/kg), and tested for anxiety-like behaviors 30 min later. Mice were then, 2 hr later, forced to swim for 15 min and then tested for depression-like behaviors 24 hr later. Our results showed that male but not female mice lacking PACAP expressed a significant CPP that was comparable to their wild-type controls. In contrast, male but not female mice lacking PACAP exhibited reduced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors compared to their wild-type controls following the mecamylamine challenge. These results suggest that endogenous PACAP is involved in affective signs of nicotine withdrawal, but there is a sex-related difference in this response.     

Omentin-1 attenuates adipose tissue inflammation via restoration of TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Omentin-1 is an adipokine expressed by the adipose tissue and is reduced in obesity. This study was designed to calculate the protective efficiency and mechanism of omentin-1 against inflammation of the adipose tissue in obese mice. A transgenic mouse model with omentin-1 protein overexpression was established by crossing omentin-1 transgenic mice with Fabp4-Cre mice. Obesity was induced in the mice by feeding them a high-fat diet for 10 weeks. Fabp4-Cre-mediated overexpression of omentin-1 significantly increased serum omentin-1 level, serum anti-inflammatory factor levels, and expression of M2-specific mRNAs; inhibited body weight and adipose tissue weight gain; improved glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, and insulin sensitivity; decreased serum levels of insulin and proinflammatory factors, adipocyte size, and expression of M1-specific mRNAs; suppressed macrophage infiltration; downregulated expression of proinflammatory factors; upregulated expression of anti-inflammatory factors; and inhibited thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP)/NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) signaling in the adipose tissue of obese mice. An NLRP3 inhibitor (20 mg/kg MCC950) exhibited the same effects as overexpression of omentin-1. Pretreatment with omentin-1 inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation via TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling in RAW 264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that omentin-1 suppresses adipose tissue inflammation in obese mice, at least partly, via inhibiting the TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway.     

紫柏凝胶通过调节ERK及P38/MAPK信号通路下调宫颈癌荷瘤裸鼠E6、E7蛋白表达研究

目的:观察ERK及P38/MAPK信号通路在紫柏凝胶影响宫颈癌裸鼠移植瘤致癌蛋白E6、E7表达中的作用。方法:体外培养Siha细胞,成功建立人宫颈癌荷瘤裸鼠模型,随机分为模型组,顺铂组(腹腔内注射0.5 ml顺铂,4 d1次),紫柏凝胶高、中、低剂量组(外用紫柏凝胶0.9428、0.4714、0.2357 g/kg,1 d1次),试验期28 d。称取瘤重并测量瘤体积,HE染色观察移植瘤组织病理学变化,免疫组化SP法检测瘤体中的p-p38、p-ERK、E6及E7蛋白表达水平。结果:紫柏凝胶各组的裸鼠肿瘤体积均明显小于模型组(P<0.05),高、中、低剂量组抑瘤率分别为36.23%、31.24%和14.94%。HE染色紫柏凝胶各剂量组移植瘤组织出现明显坏死样改变。与模型组比较,高、中剂量紫柏凝胶组瘤组织的E6、E7蛋白表达水平降低(P<0.05),同时p-ERK及p-p38蛋白水平明显下降(P<0.05)。结论:紫柏凝胶对HPV(+)宫颈癌Siha细胞裸鼠移植瘤的生长具有明显抑制作用,可下调致癌蛋白E6和E7的表达,其机制可能与抑制ERK及P38/MAPK信号通路有关。     

Humanized C3 Mouse: A Novel Accelerated Model of C3 Glomerulopathy

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Lycium barbarum polysaccharide-glycoprotein preventative treatment ameliorates aversive stimuli-induced depression

Previous studies have shown that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide,the main active component of Lycium barbarum,exhibits antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects in treating neurological diseases.However,the therapeutic action of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on depression has not been studied.In this investigation,we established mouse models of depression using aversive stimuli including exposure to fox urine,air puff and foot shock and physical restraint.Concurrently,we administered 5 mg/kg per day Lycium barbarum polysaccharide-glycoprotein to each mouse intragastrically for the 28 days.Our results showed that long-term exposure to aversive stimuli significantly enhanced depressive-like behavior evaluated by the sucrose preference test and the forced swimming test and increased anxietylike behaviors evaluated using the open field test.In addition,aversive stimuli-induced depressed mice exhibited aberrant neuronal activity in the lateral habenula.Importantly,concurrent Lycium barbarum polysaccharide-glycoprotein treatment significantly reduced these changes.These findings suggest that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide-glycoprotein is a potential preventative intervention for depression and may act by preventing aberrant neuronal activity and microglial activation in the lateral habenula.The study was approved by the Jinan University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee(approval No.20170301003) on March 1,2017.     

2017—2019 年武汉市血吸虫病重点水域哨鼠监测报告

目的 及时发现武汉市血吸虫病重点水域水体感染性,减少血吸虫病传播风险。 方法 选择血吸虫病易感重点水域长江武汉段、府河-沦河水系、东荆河-通顺河水系和金水河水系,采用哨鼠监测法监测水体血吸虫感染风险。 结果 2017—2019 年共开展哨鼠监测 38 点次,涉及全市 8 个区 21 个行政村。 三年共投放哨鼠 760 只,回收哨鼠 742 只,总回收率为 97. 63%;共解剖哨鼠 742 只,未发现阳性,未检获成虫,哨鼠感染率为 0。 结论 武汉市血吸虫病重点水域的水体感染性较低。     

茯苓多糖对ApoE-/-AS小鼠肝脏脂质沉积及胆固醇逆向转运相关蛋白表达的影响＊

目的 探讨茯苓多糖对载脂蛋白E基因敲除（ApoE^-/-）动脉粥样硬化（Atherosclerosis，AS）小鼠肝脏脂质沉积及胆固醇逆向转运的影响。方法 采用随机数字表法将30只ApoE^-/-小鼠随机分为模型组、茯苓多糖组、辛伐他汀组，每组10只，10只C57BL/6J小鼠作为正常组。正常组给予基础饲料喂饲，其余小鼠给予高脂饲料喂饲12周。茯苓多糖组以0.2 g/kg/d灌胃，辛伐他汀组以2.275 mg/kg/天灌胃，正常组和模型组给予等体积生理盐水灌胃，共干预4周。全自动生化分析仪检测小鼠血清三酰甘油（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）水平，苏木素-伊红（HE）染色观察小鼠肝脏病理形态学变化，油红O染色观察小鼠肝脏脂质沉积情况，ELISA检测各组小鼠血清载脂蛋白A1 （ApoA1）、对氧磷酶-1（PON1）含量，Real-time RT-qPCR法及Western Blot法检测肝脏胆固醇酯转运蛋白（CETP）、磷脂转运蛋白（PLTP）、卵磷脂胆固醇酰基转移酶（LCAT）mRNA及蛋白表达。结果 与正常组比较，模型组小鼠血清TG、TC、LDL-C含量均明显上升，HDL-C含量明显下降（P<0.01），肝细胞脂肪变性明显，肝脏脂质沉积明显，小鼠血清ApoA1、PON1含量均明显下降（P<0.01），小鼠肝脏CETP、PLTP mRNA及蛋白表达明显上升，LCAT mRNA及蛋白表达明显下降（P<0.01）。与模型组相比，茯苓多糖组血清TG、TC、LDL-C含量均显著下降（P<0.01），HDL-C含量呈上升趋势（P>0.05），肝细胞脂肪变性、脂质沉积程度均有所减轻，茯苓多糖组ApoA1含量明显上升（P<0.01），PON1含量呈上升趋势（P>0.05），茯苓多糖组CETP、PLTP mRNA及蛋白表达有所下降，LCAT mRNA及蛋白表达有所上升（P<0.05，P<0.01）。结论 茯苓多糖可能通过调控血脂水平与胆固醇逆向转运过程，改善ApoE^-/- AS小鼠肝脏脂质沉积，进而发挥防治AS作用。     

Animal models to evaluate anti‐atherosclerotic drugs

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial condition characterized by endothelial injury, fatty streak deposition, and stiffening of the blood vessels. The pathogenesis is complex and mediated by adhesion molecules, inflammatory cells, and smooth muscle cells. Statins have been the major drugs in treating hypercholesterolemia for the past two decades despite little efficacy. There is an urgent need for new drugs that can replace statins or combined with statins. The preclinical studies evaluating atherosclerosis require an ideal animal model which resembles the disease condition, but there is no single animal model which mimics the disease. The animal models used are rabbits, rats, mice, hamsters, mini pigs, etc. Each animal model has its own advantages and disadvantages. The method of induction of atherosclerosis includes diet, chemical induction, mechanically induced injuries, and genetically manipulated animal models. This review mainly focuses on the various animal models, method of induction, the advantages, disadvantages, and the current perspectives with regard to preclinical studies on atherosclerosis.