KChIP1 and frequenin modify shal-evoked potassium currents in pyloric neurons in the lobster stomatogastric ganglion

The transient potassium current (I(A)) plays an important role in shaping the firing properties of pyloric neurons in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) of the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus. The shal gene encodes I(A) in pyloric neurons. However, when we over-expressed the lobster Shal protein by shal RNA injection into the pyloric dilator (PD) neuron, the increased I(A) had somewhat different properties from the endogenous I(A). The recently cloned K-channel interacting proteins (KChIPs) can modify vertebrate Kv4 channels in cloned cell lines. When we co-expressed hKChIP1 with lobster shal in Xenopus oocytes or lobster PD neurons, they produced A-currents resembling the endogenous I(A) in PD neurons; compared with currents evoked by shal alone, their voltage for half inactivation was depolarized, their kinetics of inactivation were slowed, and their recovery from inactivation was accelerated. We also co-expressed shal in PD neurons with lobster frequenin, which encodes a protein belonging to the same EF-hand family of Ca(2+) sensing proteins as hKChIP. Frequenin also restored most of properties of the shal-evoked currents to those of the endogenous A-currents, but the time course of recovery from inactivation was not corrected. These results suggest that lobster shal proteins normally interact with proteins in the KChIP/frequenin family to produce the transient potassium current in pyloric neurons.     

Changes of plasma volume and plasma composition in water-deprived rats

Summary Plasma volume, hematocrit, protein and electrolyte concentrations in plasma were measured in control and water-deprived rats every three days after starting the experiment until the 15th day. Plasma volume variations, as related to body weight, suggest that water loss from plasma was proportional to total body water at three days and after 9 days of water deprivation. Greater plasma water than body water loss was found during the period between 3 and 9 days. Plasma protein and electrolyte variations suggest that during water deprivation there is a loss of protein, sodium and potassium from plasma, which is proportionally less than that of plasma water. Potassium, calcium and inorganic phosphorus were lost proportionally to plasma water. The variations in plasma volume changes were partially explained as due to variations in plasma protein and electrolyte concentrations.     

The dysregulated glomerular cell growth in Denys–Drash syndrome

While diffuse mesangial sclerosis is traditionally described as being the glomerulopathy of Denys–Drash syndrome (DDS), the podocyte proliferative lesions may be overlooked in these DDS cases. In the present study, an evolving process is extrapolated from a selected case of DDS that demonstrated glomerulopathy with conspicuous podocyte proliferation. The observation that podocytes express proliferation markers (Ki67, proliferating-cell nuclear antigen and topoisomerase II) in non-proliferative, mature-looking glomeruli suggests an initial pathogenic act to activate or to keep podocytes from quiescence. The subsequent proliferation of podocytes is in keeping with downregulation of WT1 and cyclin kinase inhibitors of p16 and p21. The emergence of cytokeratin-positive cells in glomeruli that show typical mesangial sclerosis implies elimination of podocytes and replacement with tubular and/or parietal epithelial cells. The final scene of evolving glomerulopathy displays apoptosis and expression of Fas-L and Bax in sclerotic mesangial lesions, which eventually end up with global sclerosis. This novel concept of DDS glomerulopathy implies complex molecular mechanisms involved in glomerular injury.     

Regaining chondrocyte phenotype in thermosensitive gel culture

Chondrocyte tissue engineering continues to be a challenging problem. When chondrocytes are duplicated in vitro, it is imperative to obtain an adequate number of cells of optimal phenotype. A temperature-sensitive polymer gel, a copolymer of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and acrylic acid (PNiPAAm-co-Aac), has the ability of gelling at 37 degrees C (the lower critical solution temperature, LCST) or above and liquefying below that temperature (Vernon and Gutowska, Macromol. Symp. 1996;109:155-167). The hypothesis of this study was that chondrocytes could (1) duplicate in the copolymer gel; (2) regain their chondrocyte phenotype; and (3) be easily recovered from the gel by simply lowering the temperature below 37 degrees C. Chondrocytes from adult rabbit scapular cartilage were harvested and cultured in a monolayer culture until confluency (approximately 2 weeks). Next, the cells were harvested and seeded into the copolymer gel and cultured for 2-4 weeks. The phenotype of the cultured cells was then characterized. Two groups of control cultures, monolayer and agarose gel, were used to compare their ability to maintain chondrocyte phenotype. The results showed that chondrocytes isolated from rabbit scapula can re-express chondrocyte phenotype in agarose culture and polymer gel culture but not in monolayer culture. Also, cultured chondrocytes can be easily recovered from polymer gel culture by simply lowering the temperature. This new in vitro method of chondrocyte culture is recommended for chondrocyte propagation and regaining chondrocyte phenotype before cell seeding or transplantation.     

The relationship of vascularity and water content to tensile strength in a patellar tendon replacement of the anterior cruciate in dogs

The methods and materials for ACL reconstruction are important issues for the practicing orthopaedic surgeon. In this study a model was developed to study the biological and biomechanical characteristics of a patellar tendon autograft used for ACL reconstruction. Specifically it was hypothesized that since vascularity of these grafts reflects their "healthiness," strength and vascularity should be inversely related in the early period after implantation. Using an over the top technique, a patellar tendon graft was placed in three groups of dogs and studied at 37, 57, and 120 days. Vascularity of the grafts was measured using technetium-tagged red blood cells, and percent water by weight was determined by dessication. Tensile testing to failure was performed using an MTS machine. The grafts became more vascular, more hydrated, less stiff, and less strong (by 4 weeks) than controls. By 16 weeks the vascular response was subsiding but the grafts remained only 40% as strong as controls. Percent water increased significantly over controls for all time periods. Decrease in strength correlated poorly with vascularity but correlated well with increase in percent water. These findings suggest that the change in strength of an intraarticular ACL replacement relates more to a basic rearrangement of its collagen-ground substance relationships, and that vascularity may reflect the inflammatory response bringing about these changes. The model developed in this study serves as a basis for further studies, and the findings reveal important information about the behavior of ACL grafting materials.     

体外传代培养对关节软骨细胞成软骨能力的影响

目的　研究不同代体外培养关节软骨细胞成软骨能力 ,选择软骨组织工程最佳种子细胞。方法　将兔膝关节软骨消化分离出软骨细胞 ,传代培养至第 6代 ,每代细胞与模板支架材料Pluron icF 12 7混匀形成复合物 ,使细胞浓度达 5× 10 7/ml,将复合物注射于自体兔背部皮下 ,9周后取材 ,进行大体观察、新生软骨湿重与体积测量、组织学观察。结果　体外培养关节软骨细胞随传代次数的增加 ,形态从圆形逐渐向梭形转变。 1～ 3代软骨细胞成软骨能力最强 ,新生软骨的湿重与体积最大 ,组织结构与正常软骨相同 ;第 4代成软骨能力减弱 ,软骨基质分泌减少 ,新生软骨湿重和体积减小 ,与前 3代比较差异有显著性 ;第 5代仅形成分散于纤维组织内的软骨细胞团 ;第 6代则未发现有软骨样组织形成。结论　①在体外单层培养条件下 ,随传代次数的增加关节软骨细胞逐渐去分化 ,成软骨能力逐渐降低直到完全丧失。②前 3代软骨细胞均具备形成正常软骨的能力 ,都可用作组织工程的种子细胞 ,但传代培养的目的是使细胞得以最大限度扩增 ,因此第 3代关节软骨细胞是可被应用的最佳种子细胞     

梗阻性黄疸大鼠血清内毒素水平与生长激素／生长激素结合蛋白的关系

目的：探讨梗阻性黄疸大鼠血清内毒素水平与生长激素／生长激素结合蛋白的关系。方法：复制大鼠胆道梗阻－再通模型,对胆道再通前1d、术后1,3,7d的浆生长激素、生长激素结合蛋白、胰岛素样生长因子－I、内毒素、肝功能及前白蛋白水平进行检测,并与假手术组（对照组）进行对照。结果：生长激素、生长激素结合蛋白、胰岛素样生长因子－I在胆道梗阻组较对照组显著降低（P＜0．01） ,并与黄疸程度、内毒素水平、前白蛋白相关（P＜0．01）。结论：梗阻性黄疸大鼠生长激素／生长激素结合蛋白存在明显下降,其原因可能与营养障碍、内毒素血症引起的生长激素受体表达受抑有关,并可进一步加重营养障碍和内毒素血症,是介导梗阻性黄疸病理生理改变的重要因素。     

Schafer列线图在良性前列腺增生术前评价中的应用

目的 :研究Schafer列线图在确定前列腺手术适应证中的作用。方法 :对 45例前列腺增生症 (BPH)患者进行了压力 -流率测定 ,经Schafer列线图和线性被动尿道阻力关系 (Lin -PURR)定量分析BPH患者膀胱出口梗阻 (BOO)程度和逼尿肌收缩强度。结果 :本组患者无BOO和轻度BOO者为 2 0 .0 % ,逼尿肌收缩强度很弱者为 8.9% ,不适合前列腺手术者为 2 8.8%。结论 :对BPH患者术前作出准确的评价 ,在前列腺治疗的方法选择方面有十分重要的意义     

中药四性的生物热动力学研究（Ⅱ）参叶和参花药性的微量量热学比较

目的 从生物物时化学的角度,阐明中药四性（寒、热、温、凉）的客观真实性。方法 利用微量量热法,测定了大肠杆菌在不同条件下的生长热谱曲线,得到了相应的生物热动力学参数和生长速率常数（K）、抑制率（I）、半抑制率（IC50）、热焓（△H）。根据生物热动力学通用数值,结合本草文献报道,综合分析了参叶和参花药性的差异所在。结果 参叶和参花抑制细菌生长的热谱曲线,其形状基本相同,随着药物浓度的加大,代谢过程的停滞期延长,生长代谢峰后移;其移力学参数势焓（△H）存在较稳定的差异--参叶降低了细菌生长代谢过程中热量的释放,而参花增加了细菌生长代谢过程中热量的释放。结论 微量量热法可作为刻划中药药性的一个新的有效手段,亦可作为中药活性筛选的新工具。