Expression profile of an operationally-defined neural stem cell clone

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are the most primordial and least committed cells of the nervous system, the cells that exist before regional specification develops. Because immunocytochemically-detectable markers that are sufficiently specific and sensitive to define an NSC have not yet been fully defined, we have taken the strong view that, to be termed a "stem cell" in the nervous system--in contrast to a "progenitor" or "precursor" (whose lineage commitment is further restricted)--a single neuroectodermally-derived cell must fulfill an operational definition that is essentially similar to that used in hematopoiesis. In other words, it must possess the following functional properties: (1) "Multipotency", i.e., the ability to yield mature cells in all three fundamental neural lineages throughout the nervous system--neurons (of all subtypes), astrocytes (of all types), oligodendrocytes--in multiple regional and developmental contexts and in a region and developmental stage-appropriate manner. (2) The ability to populate a developing region and/or repopulate an ablated or degenerated region of the nervous system with appropriate cell types. (3) The ability to be serially transplanted. (4) "Self-renewal", i.e., the ability to produce daughter cells (including new NSCs) with identical properties and potential. Having identified a murine neural cell clone that fulfills this strict operational definition--in contrast to other studies that used less rigorous or non-operational criteria for defining an NSC (e.g., the "neurosphere" assay)--we then examined, by comparing gene expression profiles, the relationship such a cell might have to (a) a multipotent somatic stem cell from another organ system (the hematopoietic stem cell [HSC]); (b) a pluripotent stem cell derived from the inner cell mass and hence without organ assignment (an embryonic stem cell); (c) neural cells isolated and maintained primarily as neurospheres but without having been subjected to the above mentioned operational screen ("CNS-derived neurospheres"). ESCs, HSCs, and operationally-defined NSCs--all of which have been identified not only by markers but by functional assays in their respective systems and whose state of differentiation could be synchronized--shared a large number of genes. Although, as expected, the most stem-like genes were expressed by ESCs, NSCs and HSCs shared a number of genes. CNS-derived neurospheres, on the other hand, expressed fewer "stem-like" genes held in common by the other operationally-defined stem cell populations. Rather they displayed a profile more consistent with differentiated neural cells. (Genes of neural identity were shared with the NSC clone.) Interestingly, when the operationally-defined NSC clone was cultured as a neurosphere (rather than in monolayer), its expression pattern shifted from a "stem-like" pattern towards a more "differentiated" one, suggesting that the neurosphere, without functional validation, may be a poor model for predicting stem cell attributes because it consists of heterogeneous populations of cells, only a small proportion of which are truly "stem-like". Furthermore, when operational definitions are employed, a common set of stem-like genes does emerge across both embryonic and somatic stem cells of various organ systems, including the nervous system.     

Sensory innervation of normal and hypospadiac prepuce: possible implications in hypospadiology

Sensory innervation of the skin influences wound healing through the release of neuropeptides from the nerve endings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the sensory innervation of the normal and the hypospadiac prepuce. The prepuce from 10 healthy children undergoing routine circumcision and 10 age-matched children undergoing hypospadias repair were submitted for immunohistochemistry, using antibodies against protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and substance P (SP). The hypospadiac prepuce was found to be hypo-innervated for PGP 9.5 and CGRP positive nerves when compared with the normal prepuce (p<0.05). The number of SP-positive nerves were increased in the hypospadiac prepuce, but not to statistical significance (p=0.06, confidence interval >95%). There may be differences in the sensory innervation of the normal and hypospadiac prepuce. These differences in tissue environment may partly explain the postoperative edema, poor wound healing leading to urethrocutaneous fistula (UF), and increased analgesia requirements in patients undergoing hypospadias surgery.     

Capsaicin facilitates carotid sinus baroreceptor activity in anesthetized rats

AIM: To study the effect of capsaicin on carotid sinus baroreceptor activity (CBA). METHODS: The functional curve of carotid baroreceptor (FCCB) was constructed and the functional parameters of carotid sinus baroreceptor were measured by recording sinus nerve afferent discharge in anesthetized rats with perfused isolated carotid sinus. RESULTS: Low-concentration of capsaicin (0.2 μmol/L) had no significant effect on CBA, while perfusion of the isolated carotid sinus with middle-concentration of capsaicin (1 μmol/L) could shift FCCB to the left and upward, with peak slope (PS) increased from (2.47 %±0.14 %)/mmHg to (2.88 %±0.10 %)/mmHg (P<0.05) and peak integral value of carotid sinus nerve discharge (PIV) enhanced from 211 %±5 % to 238 %±6 % (P<0.01). The threshold pressure (TP) and saturation pressure (SP) were significantly decreased from 68.0±1.1 to 62.7±1.0 mmHg (P<0.01) and from 171.0±1.6 to 165.0±0.6 mmHg (P<0.01). By perfusing with high-concentration of capsaicin (5μmol/L), FCCB was shi     

Histamine releasing peptide (HRP) has proinflammatory effects and is present at sites of inflammation

Albumin, the most abundant plasma protein, readily enters sites of inflammation during the period of increased vascular permeability. There it encounters proteases released from mast cells and invading leukocytes which earlier work has shown can act on albumin to liberate the peptide, histamine releasing peptide (HRP), first identified and named by its ability to stimulate histamine release from isolated mast cells. In this report we show that HRP releases histamine from cutaneous mast cells in vivo resulting in increased vascular permeability and persistent edema while in vitro, HRP promotes chemotaxis of leukocytes and enhances macrophage phagocytosis. Moreover, we show that the level of HRP is increased with the induction of an acute cutaneous inflammatory response in rats, that HRP is present at sites of acute and chronic inflammation in humans and that HRP is rapidly degraded by proteases thereby limiting its action to the area of its generation. We suggest that HRP is a pro-inflammatory peptide that helps amplify and perpetuate the inflammatory response. Inhibitors of inflammatory proteases or antagonists that block the action of peptides like HRP may, therefore, be useful in breaking the cycle of inflammation.     

加味补阳还五汤对易卒中自发性高血压大鼠血清微量元素的影响

目的观察易卒中自发性高血压大鼠服用加味补阳还五汤后,其血清微量元素锌、铜、铁、硒、锰含量的变化。方法将20只8周龄雄性易卒中自发性高血压大鼠分为两组,用药组(n=10):喂含补阳还五汤的饲料,对照组(n=10):常规饲养;另设同龄WKY大鼠为空白组(n=10)。实验周期3个月,观察指标为:大鼠血清微量元素锌、铜、铁、硒、锰含量。结果空白组锌、锰、硒含量明显高于用药组(P<0.01),用药组又明显高于对照组(P<0.01);而空白组铜含量低于用药组(P<0.05),用药组又低于对照组(P<0.05);血清内铁含量三组间无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论加味补阳还五汤对自发性高血压大鼠血清锌、铜、铁、硒、锰具有一定的调控作用。     

CLINICAL OBSERVATION ON ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY HICCUP

Since1992,theauthorshavetreated76cases0frefract0ryhiccupinducedbydifferentcauseswithacupunctureatNeiguan(PC6)andG0ngsun(Sp4)P0ints,withsatisfactorythera-peuticeffects,whicharereP0rtedinthefollow-ing.CLINICALDATAOfthe76cases,5lcasesweremaleand25female.Theyoungestwas26yearsoldandtheoldest7lyears;Theshortestduration0fdiseasewas2daysandthelongest4m0nths.Inthepe-riodofacupuncturetreatment,anyChineseandWesternmedicinesweresuspended.THERAPEUTICMETH0DS1.SelectedPOints:Left-rightcrossi…     

低氧急性肺损伤时肺表面活性蛋白的免疫组化研究

目的：探讨急性低氧油酸肺损伤大鼠肺组织中ＳＰ－Ａ和ＳＰ－Ｂ的表达,明确ＳＰ－Ａ和ＳＰ－Ｂ在肺表面活性物质（ＰＳ）中的作用,及其对该系统的影响。方法：采用低氧大鼠油酸肺损伤模型及免疫组化技术,采用己酮可可碱对急性肺损伤进行干预。结果：ＳＰ－Ａ和ＳＰ－Ｂ在肺内的表达主要以肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞为对象,ＳＰ－Ｂ的特异性较ＳＰ－Ａ高。肺泡腔和小支气管腔内可见一层免疫阳性物质沉着,肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞多位于肺泡隔部和角部并靠近肺泡腔。己酮可可碱可使ＳＰ－Ａ蛋白表达增加。结论：ＳＰ－Ａ和ＳＰ－Ｂ在肺内的表达主要以肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞为对象,气道上皮和血管内皮以及间质细胞均未见明显的表达,ＳＰ－Ｂ的特异性较ＳＰ－Ａ高。急性低氧油酸肺损伤时,肺组织ＳＰ－Ａ和ＳＰ－Ｂ免疫组化显示肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞的表达明显减弱。己酮可可碱可使ＳＰ－Ａ蛋白表达增加。     

归芪通便颗粒对脾虚便秘小鼠胃肠运动功能的影响

目的 研究归芪通便颗粒对脾虚便秘模型小鼠胃肠运动功能的影响及其作用机制.方法采用番泻叶泄泻、饥饱失常、限制饮水等复合因素建立脾虚便秘小鼠模型,观察归芪通便颗粒对小鼠一般情况、肠道推进率及血清D-木糖、血浆P物质(SP)、肠组织SP含量的影响.结果 与正常组比较,模型组小鼠体质量、大便日平均量、肠道推进率及血清D-木糖、...     

肠吉泰对腹泻型肠易激综合征大鼠CRH、SPmRNA表达的影响

目的观察肠吉泰对腹泻型肠易激综合征肝郁脾虚证模型大鼠促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）、P物质（SP）mRNA表达的影响,探讨其治疗机制。方法将60只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常组,模型组,肠吉泰低、中、高剂量组和匹维溴铵（得舒特）组。除正常组外,各组大鼠予束缚应激加大黄泻下及结直肠扩张法复制模型,并予以相应药物治疗。大鼠处死后剖取小肠,测量小肠墨汁推进率;取下丘脑及结肠标本用RT-PCR半定量检测CRH mRNA及SP mRNA的表达。结果与正常组比较,各组造模大鼠的下丘脑CRH、SPmRNA表达均升高,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;与模型组比较,除肠吉泰低剂量组大鼠下丘脑的SP mRNA表达差异无统计学意义外（P〉0.05）,其余各治疗组大鼠CRH、SPmRNA表达下调（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）;与得舒特组比较,肠吉泰高、中剂量组大鼠结肠SP mRNA降低,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。与模型组比较,各治疗组大鼠的大便频次显著降低、大便性状明显改善（P〈0.05）,小肠推进率降低（P〈0.05）,且肠吉泰与得舒特组大鼠大便频次、大便性状及小肠墨汁推进率差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论肠吉泰对于腹泻型肠易激综合征肝郁脾虚证模型大鼠具有改善应激状态、调节肠动力、解除内脏高敏感性等治疗作用。推测肠吉泰通过调节大鼠下丘脑CRH、SP mRNA表达及结肠SP mRNA表达,改善腹泻型肠易激综合征肝郁脾虚证模型大鼠对束缚应激反应导致肠动力的紊乱,改善内脏痛觉敏感状态。