A simple procedure for quantification of neurite outgrowth based on stereological principles

The molecular mechanisms controlling formation and remodelling of neuronal extensions are of considerable interest for the understanding of neuronal development and plasticity. Determination of neurite outgrowth in cell culture is a widely used approach to investigate these phenomena. This is generally done by a time consuming tracing of individual neurites and their branches. We have used stereological principles to determine the length of neurites. The total neuritic length per cell was estimated by counting the number of intersections between neurites and test lines of an unbiased counting frame superimposed on images of cell cultures obtained by conventional computer-assisted microscopy. The absolute length, L, of neurites per cell was subsequently estimated from the number of neurite intersections, I, per cell by means of the equation L=(πd/2)I describing the relationship between the number of neurite intersections and the vertical distance, d, between the test lines used. When measuring neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells and primary hippocampal neurons, data obtained by counting neuritic intersections correlated statistically significantly with data obtained using a conventional tracing technique. However, information was acquired more efficiently using the stereological approach. Thus, using the described set-up, the stereological procedure was approximately five times less time consuming than the conventional method based on neurite tracing. The study shows that stereological estimation of neuritic length provides a precise and efficient method for the study of neurite outgrowth in cultures of primary neurons and cell lines.     

A continuous fluorometric assay for phospholipase A(2) activity in brain cytosol

Alterations in phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) activity have been implicated in Alzheimer disease and other neurological disorders, although brain PLA₂ activity is currently measured using lengthy, non-continuous assays. We describe herein a rapid, continuous assay in which we measured PLA₂ activity in mouse brain cytosol (CB-57). Brains were homogenized in HEPES buffer (pH 7.5) and the cytosolic fraction was prepared by centrifugation at 25 000×g for 20 min, followed by centrifugation of the supernatant at 100 000×g for 60 min. Cytosolic protein content was determined using the Bradford assay. Pyrene labeled phosphatidylcholine was added to 50 μg of cytosolic protein in Tris buffer (pH 8.0) containing fatty acid free-bovine serum albumin for a final assay volume of 2 ml. Assay temperature was maintained at 30±1°C. The excitation wavelength was 345 nm and emission was measured at 377 nm. Fluorescence intensity was converted to molar concentrations using a standard curve. Under these conditions, bromoenol lactone inhibited up to 58% of the PLA₂ activity with an IC₅₀ of 0.5 μM. In a separate experiment, lack of appreciable alternative acylhydrolase activity was verified chromatographically. Using this method, brain PLA₂ activity can be measured in a continuous, rapid, and sensitive manner.     

超声循环法提取扁蓄总黄酮

目的在超声条件下寻找提取扁蓄总黄酮的优化条件。方法采用正交设计法,以超声功率、超声时间、提取温度、溶剂体积分数为因素,每个因素3个水平,用紫外分光光度法测定总黄酮作为评价指标。结果最佳提取条件为超声功率800W,超声时间105(35×3)min,提取温度40℃,溶剂体积分数65%。最佳提取条件下总黄酮的质量分数为1.908%。结论采用超声循环提取技术提取扁蓄中总黄酮,提取温度低、时间短,提取效率高,具有广阔前景。     

Attempted suicide and polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene in Chinese patients with schizophrenia

Abnormalities of serotonin synthesis and metabolism may be associated with suicidality. The serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) is one of the important genes involved in the regulation of serotonin neurotransmission. We examined the association of suicidal behavior in Chinese schizophrenic patients with a functional polymorphism of the promoter region of the 5-HTT gene (5-HTTLPR). The 5-HTTLPR genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction for 76 suicidal and 262 non-suicidal patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM-IV criteria). All subjects were unrelated to each other, and all were Chinese. There was no significant genotypic or allelic association of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism with history of attempted suicide. From our results, this 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is unlikely to have a major effect on suicidal behavior in Chinese patients with schizophrenia.     

海藻糖在气管低温保存中的保护机制

目的探讨海藻糖在气管低温保存中的保护作用和机制。方法新鲜配制4组保存液，其中：Ⅰ组LPD；Ⅱ组LPD 10％DMSO；Ⅲ组LPD 0．15M海藻糖；Ⅳ组LPD 10％DMSO 0．15M海藻糖。切取SD大鼠气管后立即分别放入含上述4种溶液的冻存管，在程序降温仪降至-80℃后投入液氮中保存。20d后对气管标本进行HE染色和Bcl-2、Pax蛋白检测(免疫组化)，并将其异位移植到Wistar大鼠腹腔，15d后取出移植气管，观察组织学变化。结果4种保存液低温保存气管20d后，Ⅲ组和Ⅳ组气管结构完整，软骨细胞Pax蛋白表达较低，尤其Ⅳ组保存效果最好，同种异体异位移植后生长良好。各组Bcl-2蛋白表达无明显区别。结论在气管低温保存中海藻糖的保护作用主要是通过对软骨细胞的保护实现的，抑制软骨细胞Pax基因的表达是其中的保护机制之一。海藻糖和DMSO合用保护作用更好。     

Renal and antibacterial effects induced by myotoxin I and II isolated from Bothrops jararacussu venom.

Bothrops jararacussu myotoxin I (BthTx-I; Lys 49) and II (BthTX-II; Asp 49) were purified by ion-exchange chromatography and reverse phase HPLC. In this work we used the isolated perfused rat kidney method to evaluate the renal effects of B. jararacussu myotoxins I (Lys49 PLA2) and II (Asp49 PLA2) and their possible blockage by indomethacin. BthTX-I (5 microg/ml) and BthTX-II (5 microg/ml) increased perfusion pressure (PP; ct120=110.28+/-3.70 mmHg; BthTX I=171.28+/-6.30*mmHg; BthTX II=175.50+/-7.20*mmHg), renal vascular resistance (RVR; ct120=5.49+/-0.54 mmHg/ml.g(-1)min(-1); BthTX I=8.62+/-0.37*mmHg/ml g(-1)min(-1); BthTX II=8.9+/-0.36*mmHg/ml g(-1)min(-1)), urinary flow (UF; ct(120)=0.14+/-0.01ml g(-1)min(-1); BthTX I=0.32+/-0.05*ml g(-1)min(-1); BthTX II=0.37+/-0.01*ml g(-1)min(-1)) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR; ct120=0.72+/-0.10 ml g(-1)min(-1); BthTX I=0.85+/-0.13*ml g(-1)min(-1); BthTX II=1.22+/-0.28*ml g(-1)min(-1)). In contrast decreased the percent of sodium tubular transport (%TNa(+); ct(120)=79,76+/-0.56; BthTX I=62.23+/-4.12*; BthTX II=70.96+/-2.93*) and percent of potassium tubular transport (%TK(+);ct120=66.80+/-3.69; BthTX I=55.76+/-5.57*; BthTX II=50.86+/-6.16*). Indomethacin antagonized the vascular, glomerular and tubular effects promoted by BthTX I and it's partially blocked the effects of BthTX II. In this work also evaluated the antibacterial effects of BthTx-I and BthTx-II against Xanthomonas axonopodis. pv. passiflorae (Gram-negative bacteria) and we observed that both PLA2 showed antibacterial activity. Also we observed that proteins Also we observed that proteins chemically modified with 4-bromophenacyl bromide (rho-BPB) decrease significantly the antibacterial effect of both PLA2. In conclusion, BthTx I and BthTX II caused renal alteration and presented activity antimicrobial. The indomethacin was able to antagonize totally the renal effects induced by BthTx I and partially the effects promoted by BthTx II, suggesting involvement of inflammatory mediators in the renal effects caused by myotoxins. In the other hand, other effects could be independently of the enzymatic activity of the BthTX II and the C-terminal domain could be involved in both effects promoted for PLA2.     

清热抗感冲剂对小鼠IL-2水平影响的实验研究

目的:通过检测清热抗感冲剂对实验性免疫低下小鼠及正常小鼠血清IL-2水平的影响,探讨该冲剂对免疫功能的调节作用.方法:选取昆明种小鼠100只,雌雄各半,其中50只腹腔注射环磷酰胺3mg/0.2mL/只,每天给药1次,连续7天,造成免疫低下小鼠,然后随机分为模型组、中药对照组(银翘解毒片组)、西药对照组(γ-干扰素组)、小剂量组、大剂量组;其余50只随机分为正常空白对照组(即生理盐水组)、中药对照组、西药对照组、小剂量组、大剂量组.上述各组连续用药3天后,处死,采血,离心取血清,采用放免γ测量仪检测IL-2含量.结果:清热抗感冲剂能显著提高正常小鼠和注射环磷酰胺引起的免疫低下小鼠血清中IL-2生成水平(统计学处理P＜0.01).结论:清热抗感冲剂对小鼠的细胞免疫功能有明显的增强作用.     

CD44分子对胃癌细胞腹膜种植影响的体外实验研究

目的体外研究CD44分子对胃癌细胞(MKN45)腹膜种植转移的影响.方法在体外预先将抗CD44S抗体与MKN45细胞在细胞培养箱中作用45 min,然后在24孔培养板或Boyden小室中与生长良好的间皮细胞共同培养不同时间,在显微镜下直接计数与间皮细胞粘附的MKN45细胞,而用MTT法评估胃癌细胞在间皮细胞间的迁移和侵袭情况.结果在体外,抗CD44S抗体对MKN45细胞与间皮细胞间的粘附有明显的抑制作用(P＜0.01),在高浓度时对迁移和侵袭也有一定的抑制作用.结论CD44分子参与了胃癌细胞腹膜种植转移过程,抗CD44S抗体对胃癌细胞腹膜种植转移有一定的抑制作用.     

Phase II trial of fortnightly irinotecan (CPT-11) in the treatment of colorectal cancer patients resistant to previous fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy

Introduction This phase II study investigated the anti-tumour activity and toxicity of CPT-11 (250 mg/m2 i.v. infusion over 60 minutes) administered every 2 weeks as second-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Material and methods Patients (n=63) with histology diagnosis of advanced CRC and proven resistance to previous fluoropyrimidine therapy were enrolled. Results A total of 510 CPT-11 cycles were administered, with a mean of 8 cycles per patient (range: 1–32). The median relative dose intensity was 93%. Partial response (PR) was obtained in 11 patients (17.5%; 95%CI: 8.1%–26.7%) and 29 patients (46.0%) showed stable disease (clinical benefit of 63.5%). The median duration of response was 6.8 months (95%CI: 6.1–7.5 months), median survival was 8.8 months (95%CI: 6.3–11.5 months) and median time to disease progression was 4.5 months (95%CI: 3.9–5.0 months). Overall, this schedule of CPT-11 chemotherapy was well tolerated by the patient. Neutropenia was the most frequent grade 3/4 haematological toxicity (20.6% of patients and 4.1% of cycles). Neutropenia with concurrent fever or infection occurred in 7 patients (11.1%). Late onset diarrhoea was the most frequent grade 3/4 non-haematological toxicity (19.0% of patients and 2.3% of cycles). Other, lower-incidence, toxicities were anaemia, fever, infection, mucositis, nausea and vomiting. There were no toxic deaths. Conclusions We found that CPT-11, administered as 250 mg/m² i.v. infusion over 60 minutes every 2 weeks, was active and well tolerated schedule in the second-line chemotherapy of advanced CRC patients. This bi-weekly scheme could be used as an alternative to the weekly or the every-three-week schedule as well as in combined therapies with other chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of advanced, metastatic, CRC.