Rapid steady-state analysis of blood-brain glucose transfer in rat

A new kinetic analysis of blood-brain glucose transport is described, based on a steady-state model that takes account of cerebral blood flow, mean capillary glucose concentration, and cerebral metabolic rate. The maximal rate (T_max) and half-saturation constant (K_m) of glucose transport from blood to brain were determined in rats by measuring the rate of blood-to-brain glucose transfer at different blood glucose concentrations. Each determination lasted 20 seconds. For whole-brain, T_max and K_m averaged 258±33 (S.E.) μmol (100 g)^-1 min^-1 and 5.9±1.6 (S.E.) mmol 1^-1, respectively. The regional variations were insignificant. The new approach permits kinetic parameters to be measured locally in brain in rapidly changing functional states.     

CO对局灶性缺血脑组织血脑屏障通透性的影响

目的:研究一氧化碳及其限速酶(血红素氧合酶-1)对局灶性缺血脑组织血脑屏障通透性的影响。方法:将SD大鼠随机分为3组(n=6),使用血红素氧合酶诱导剂及抑制剂腹腔注射,用等量生理盐水腹腔注射作为对照组,12h后复制MCAO模型。梗塞后24h后检测血液中一氧化碳浓度、血脑屏障通透性。结果:诱导剂组一氧化碳浓度明显高于对照组(P＜0.01),血脑屏障通透性明显低于对照组(P＜0.05),而抑制剂组一氧化碳浓度明显低于对照组(P＜0.01),血脑屏障通透性明显高于对照组(P＜0.05)。血红素氧合酶诱导剂、抑制剂对非梗塞侧的血脑屏障通透性没有影响(P＞0.05)。结论:一氧化碳作为一种信使分子,脑缺血时浓度升高具有保护血脑屏障的作用。     

Prevention of de-novo adhesion formation after laparoscopic myomectomy: a randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an oxidized regenerated cellulose absorbable barrier

To evaluate the effectiveness of the oxidized regenerated celluloseabsorbable barrier (Interceed®, TC7) in the prevention ofde-novo adhesion formation after laparoscopic myomectomy, aprospective and randomized study was performed at the Departmentof Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Cagliari,Cagliari, Italy. A total of 50 pre-menopausal non-pregnant women,aged 23—42 years, who submitted to laparoscopic myomectomyfrom January 1993 to June 1994, were randomized to surgery alone(control group, n = 25) or surgery and oxidized regeneratedcellulose barrier (Interceed group, n = 25). Neither group receivedany other treatment for adhesion prevention. A second-look laparoscopywas performed 12—14 weeks after laparoscopic myomectomy.The incidence of adhesion-free patients was assessed at second-looklaparoscopy by an investigator not informed of the treatment.The numbers of adhesion-free patients were three out of 25 (12%)in the control group and 15 out of 25 (60%) in the treatmentgroup (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the oxidized regeneratedcellulose absorbable barrier significantly reduced de-novo adhesionformation after laparoscopic myomectomy.     

Integrity of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier in early Parkinson's disease

Dysfunction of the blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCB) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, we assayed serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 30 parkinsonian patients and 30 controls for concentrations of albumin and IgG. The CSF/serum ratio for albumin (AQ), IgG (GQ), IgG-index as well as determination of oligoclonal bands were used to evaluate BCB function and to quantify humoral immune response within the central nervous system (CNS). Levels of AQ, GQ and IgG-index did not significantly differ in both groups. We found no dysfunction of the blood–CSF barrier or signs of local synthesis of IgG in the central nervous system of parkinsonian patients. Our data do not support the hypothesis of a dysfunctional BCB that contributes to pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PD.     

Intracerebral xenografts of dopamine neurons: the role of immunosuppression and the blood-brain barrier

Summary Fetal mesencephalic mouse tissue, rich in dopamine neurons, was xenografted as a dissociated cell suspension into the striatum of rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine induced lesions of the mesostriatal pathway. The rats were either assigned to a 10-day, 21-day or 42-day Cyclosporin A (CyA) immunosuppression scheme, or given no immunosuppression. The functional effects of the grafts were followed over 6 months by monitoring changes in the recipient rats' amphetamine-induced turning behaviour. Without immunosuppression no grafts were functional at the end of the experiment. In the 10-, 21-and 42-day CyA treatment groups there was a significant reduction of rotational asymmetry at some timepoint following grafting in 26 of the 33 rats. However, by 6 months only 8 grafts remained functional suggesting that in several rats an immunological rejection took place following the termination of immunosuppression. This was supported by catecholamine histofluorescence analysis which revealed evidence of surviving grafts only in the few rats which had shown sustained functional graft effects at 6 months after grafting. In animals in which the grafts had undergone rejection, there was scarlike tissue in the striatum which appeared more extensive in rats that had lost their grafts after several weeks compared to rats in which the grafts were rejected at an early time-point. In a subgroup of the grafted animals the humoral antibody response against major transplantation antigens present on the grafted cells was investigated. All the studied rats were found to be immunized against the grafted mouse tissue following the intrastriatal implantation. This occurred irrespective of prior immunosuppressive treatment. In a parallel group of rats, the leakage of the blood-brain barrier was studied following intrastriatal implantation of a syngeneic fetal neural cell suspension. Evans Blue was infused into rats 3–12 days following transplantation surgery. At the early time-points there was a marked barrier leakage at the implantation site. This subsided with time such that there was minor leakage after 7–8 days and no leakage after 12 days. In summary, the results indicate the CyA is effective in promoting survival of intracerebral xenografts of fetal neural tissue, but that cessation of immunosuppressive treatment in most cases results in rejection of the grafted tissue. Temporary CyA treatment, even exceeding the time it takes for the blood-brain barrier to reform after transplantation surgery, is thus not sufficient to reliably support long term survival of xenografted dopamine neurons.     

The relationship of free and conjugated catecholamines in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in cerebral and meningeal disease

Summary The concentration of free and conjugated norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E) and dopamine (DA) were measured by a modified radioenzymatic assay in the plasma and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 45 patients with normal and in 21 patients with disturbed blood-CSF barriers. In patients with an undisturbed blood-CSF barrier the free NE and E in CSF were 128±45 ng/l and 27±20 ng/l (mean values±S.E.), respectively, and represented about 50 % of the average plasma values. Mean DA was not different in plasma (47±22 ng/l) and in CSF (41±19 ng/l). Both in plasma and in CSF, considerable higher free catecholamine (CA) levels were measured in patients with dysfunction of the blood-CSF barrier. In one patient with bacterial meningitis twofold higher concentrations of free NE and DA in CSF as compared with plasma were detectable. Sulfate conjugates of catecholamines are predominant in plasma and CSF.The contribution of conjugated CA to total CA in plasma from patients with normal blood-CSF barrier averaged 69.7 %, 63.1 % and 98.1 % for NE, E and DA, respectively and was significantly lower in the CSF (p<0.001). In patients with disturbed blood-CSF barrier, the increases of conjugated CA were more pronounced in CSF than in plasma. Further, the contribution of conjugated NE and E to total NE and E in CSF was not only increased in patients with bacterial meningitis, but also in patients with renal insufficiency compared to the control patients (p<0.02 and p<0.001 resp.). Free and conjugated NE, E and DA in the plasma and CSF were related significantly (p<0.01 resp.) with stronger correlation for conjugated CA (p<0.001 resp.). These results together with findings in the literature, suggest that there is little or no rostral-caudal gradient in CSF CA conjugate concentrations and that even in patients with intact blood-CSF barrier plasma conjugated CA concentrations influence those in CSF. Thus only free CA levels in CSF may reflect the central adrenergic activity.     

A possible paracellular route for the resolution of hydrocephalic edema

Summary Considering the possibility of a paracellular route for edema resolution we studied the microvasculature of the subependymal and subcortical white matter in hydrocephalic rats. Normal adult rats were used as controls. After injection of kaolin suspension into the cisterna magna, the animals were killed at intervals of 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. In hydrocephalic rats at 1 week after kaolin injection, widening of the interendothelical cleft between the tight junction (dehiscence) was seen in 27 of 76 (35%) vessels. At 2 weeks after kaolin injection, the number of the dehiscences had increased (39/7:56%) and some were enlarged, forming interendothelial blisters. At 4 weeks in hydrocephalic rats, both dehiscences and blisters were still prominent (45/7363%) and at 8 weeks the dehiscences were still prominent, but the number of the blisters had decreased (25/8131%). The blisters and dehiscences were most pronounced in the corpus callosum and occipital regions. Following i.v. injection of horseradish peroxidase, the interendothelial dehiscences and blisters were completely devoid of the marker substance. These findings indicate that in obstructive hydrocephalus the tight junctions may constitute part of a paracellular pathway for the resorption of interstitial edema fluid.     

黄芩汤对溃疡性结肠炎小鼠肠道菌群的影响及肠黏膜屏障的保护作用机制

目的：研究黄芩汤对溃疡性结肠炎(UC)模型小鼠的药效,并探究黄芩汤在UC中是否能调节肠道菌群,发挥屏障保护作用。方法：雄性Balb/c小鼠按体质量随机分为正常组、模型组、黄芩汤高(20 g·kg^-1)、中(10 g·kg^-1)、低(5 g·kg^-1)剂量组、菌群干扰组、菌群干扰模型组、菌群干扰黄芩汤组(黄芩汤,20 g·kg^-1)。灌胃抗生素(杆菌肽200 mg·kg^-1、万古霉素200 mg·kg^-1)8 d构建菌群干扰模型,自由饮用3%葡聚糖硫酸钠(DSS)溶液7 d构建UC模型,黄芩汤给药治疗7 d。实验结束后处死小鼠,取血、结肠及粪便,苏木素-伊红(HE)染色观察结肠病变,酶联免疫吸附测定法(ELISA)检测血清白细胞介素-4(IL-4)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、白细胞介素-10(IL-10)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)含量,实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Real-time PCR)及蛋白免疫印迹法(Western blot)检测结肠组织中紧...     

滋肾丸对db/db糖尿病模型小鼠肠道屏障功能及骨骼肌转录组的影响

目的 探索滋肾丸对自发型糖尿病模型db/db小鼠糖脂代谢的作用,并基于肠道屏障功能和骨骼肌转录组测序结果,探索其在体内改善糖尿病作用的可能机制。方法 使用液相色谱-质谱联用技术（LC-MS/MS）对滋肾丸进行成分分析。将6周龄db/db小鼠16只分为模型组、滋肾丸组,将野生型小鼠8只作为正常组。滋肾丸灌胃给药共6周,期间测量小鼠空腹血糖、体质量、进食量。检测小鼠血清总胆固醇（TC）及甘油三酯（TG）水平,检测小鼠空腹胰岛素水平并计算胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）。给药结束后,取小鼠骨骼肌、回肠组织,行苏木素-伊红（HE）染色,同时使用免疫组化法检测回肠紧密连接蛋白闭合蛋白（Occludin）和闭锁连接蛋白-1（ZO-1）的表达。使用转录组学测序检测小鼠骨骼肌转录本,并对差异表达基因进行富集分析。结果 从滋肾丸中识别出多种中药活性成分。与正常组比较,模型组小鼠空腹血糖、体质量、TC、TG和HOMA-IR显著升高（P<0.01）;与模型组比较,滋肾丸给药显著降低db/db小鼠的空腹血糖、体质量、TC、TG、HOMA-IR（P<0.01）,而对进食量差异无统计学意义。与正常组比较,模型组小鼠的骨骼肌出现脂质沉积,同时回肠结构改变,肠道Occludin和ZO-1的蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.01）;与模型组比较,滋肾丸改善了小鼠骨骼肌和回肠的病理改变,显著升高回肠Occludin和ZO-1的蛋白表达（P<0.01）。转录组提示,滋肾丸可能改善了小鼠骨骼肌的代谢,并增加了胰岛素敏感性。结论 滋肾丸可以改善db/db小鼠的糖脂代谢,此作用可能和其对肠道屏障功能的保护和对骨骼肌代谢相关基因的转录调控有关。     

Vitamin D and Allergy Susceptibility during Gestation and Early Life

Worldwide, the prevalence of allergies in young children, but also vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and in newborns is rising. Vitamin D modulates the development and activity of the immune system and a low vitamin D status during pregnancy and in early life might be associated with an increased risk to develop an allergy during early childhood. This review studies the effects of vitamin D during gestation and early life, on allergy susceptibility in infants. The bioactive form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D, inhibits maturation and results in immature dendritic cells that cause a decreased differentiation of naive T cells into effector T cells. Nevertheless, the development of regulatory T cells and the production of interleukin-10 was increased. Consequently, a more tolerogenic immune response developed against antigens. Secondly, binding of 1,25(OH)2D to epithelial cells induces the expression of tight junction proteins resulting in enhanced epithelial barrier function. Thirdly, 1,25(OH)2D increased the expression of anti-microbial peptides by epithelial cells that also promoted the defense mechanism against pathogens, by preventing an invasive penetration of pathogens. Immune intervention by vitamin D supplementation can mitigate the disease burden from asthma and allergy. In conclusion, our review indicates that a sufficient vitamin D status during gestation and early life can lower the susceptibility to develop an allergy in infants although there remains a need for more causal evidence.