Changes in neurofilament gene expression occur after axotomy of dorsal root ganglion neurons: Anin situ hybridization study

Neurofilaments (NFs) are predominant elements in large myelinated axons, where they are thought to serve the important function of maintaining axonal caliber. Previous studies have shown that changes in NF synthesis and axonal transport occur after axonal injury in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells. The resulting reduction in the NF supply to DRG axons is thought to be largely responsible for the observed decrease in axonal diameter in the proximal axonal stump after an injury. In the present study, we test the hypothesis that a change in NF gene expression precedes the changes in synthesis and transport of NF proteins. To address this hypothesis, the levels of mRNA encoding the 68-kilodalton (kd) neurofilament protein (NF68) in adult rat DRG neurons were assessed at different times after peripheral axotomy usingin situ hybridization. For these studies we used a³⁵S-labeled cDNA probe to NF68. The levels of NF68 mRNA in sensory neurons located in ipsilateral fourth and fifth lumbar DRG at 1, 7, and 14 days after sciatic nerve crush were compared to those in normal DRG neurons using quantitative autoradiography. In large DRG neurons (> 1000m²), the levels of NF68 mRNA were significantly reduced relative to normal at 1, 7, and 14 days after axotomy. Medium-sized cells (601–1000m²) exhibited a reduction only at 14 days postinjury, and small-sized cells were not significantly affected. These findings indicate that larger DRG neurons which give rise to large myelinated sensory axons exhibit a change in NF gene expression after axonal injury. The observed changes in NF68 mRNA levels temporally precede changes in NF synthesis and transport in injured DRG cells. Thus, a change in NF gene expression may be an important component of an effective regenerative response and a critical step at which axonal caliber is regulated in injured neurons.     

Postmortem Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in Nasopharyngeal Mucosa

Analyses of infection chains have demonstrated that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is highly transmissive. However, data on postmortem stability and infectivity are lacking. Our finding of nasopharyngeal viral RNA stability in 79 corpses showed no time-dependent decrease. Maintained infectivity is supported by virus isolation up to 35 hours postmortem.     

Strand-Specific Reverse Transcription PCR for Detection of Replicating SARS-CoV-2

We developed an assay that detects minus-strand RNA as a surrogate for actively replicating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. We detected minus-strand RNA in 41 persons with coronavirus disease up to 30 days after symptom onset. This assay might inform clinical decision-making about patient infectiousness.     

The current perspective on genetic and epigenetic factors in sperm maturation in the epididymis

Male infertility affects approximately 30% of infertile couples. As spermatozoa mature in the epididymal lumen, their potential for mobility increases, and their protein, lipid and small RNA (sRNA) content changes, whereas capacitation and fertilisation take place in the female reproductive tract. Both of the latter processes are affected by maturation, because impaired maturation causes premature capacitation and fertilization. The epididymis produces a suitable environment for sperm maturation via ion transport, vesicle secretion and protein matrix formation. The microenvironment for sperm maturation varies in three broad segments: the caput, the corpus and the cauda epididymis. Epididymosomes transfer proteins, lipids and sRNAs from the epididymal epithelium to spermatozoa and genetic alterations of epididymal genes can lead to decreased sperm motility, morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa and subfertility. Genetic factors are involved in all aetiological categories in male infertility. However, studies conducted on the genes involved in epididymal functions are limited. The sRNA content of spermatozoa changes during epididymal migration, and these sRNAs play a role in embryo development and epigenetic inheritance. This review aims to clarify the role of the epididymal epithelium in the maturation of spermatozoa in light of the current molecular genomic knowledge.     

首次及重复感染HCV后抗体及HCV RNA的动态观察

本文报道对首次感染ＨＣＶ的１４人与重复输入含ＨＣＶ血的１１位感染者进行长达一年半的动态观察，总结出输入大量含ＨＣＶ血后导致的感染者在自然状态下ＨＣＶ ＲＮＡ及抗体变化的规律。７／８再次输入４００ｍｌ以上含ＨＣＶ血的感染者，其自身存在的高滴度抗体在受血后１～３个月下降０．５～１．０ＯＤ值。首次输出含ＨＣＶ血的感染者中，１１／１４的感染者３个月内ＡＬＴ高于参考值的３倍以上，而再次输入含ＨＣＶ血的患者中     

促排卵治疗对黄体中期子宫内膜雌、孕激素受体及其mRNA表达的影响

目的 :了解促排卵治疗对黄体中期子宫内膜雌激素受体 (estrogenreceptor,ER)、孕激素受体 (progesteronereceptor,PR)及其mRNA表达的影响。方法 :应用光学显微镜检测着床窗口子宫内膜、采用免疫组化及原位杂交方法检测正常及多囊卵巢综合征 (polycysticovariansyndrome ,PCOS)妇女促排卵治疗后子宫内膜黄体中期ER、PR及其mRNA的表达 ,放射免疫法测定同期血中雌激素 (estradiol,E2 )及孕激素 (progesterone,P)水平。 结果 :正常妇女黄体中期子宫内膜组织形态 2 2例中有 2 0例为分泌中期改变 ,2例为分泌早期改变。ER、PR弱表达 ,ERmR NA及PRmRNA的表达也较弱 ,而PCOS妇女治疗后黄体中期氯米芬 9/人绒毛膜促性腺激素组及氯米芬 /绝经期促性腺激素 /人绒毛膜促性腺激素组各 15例分别有 8/ 15及 7/ 15光镜下为分泌中期改变 ,其它为分泌早期改变。ER、PR的表达增强 ,其基因的表达也明显增强 ,血清P的水平相对较低。促性腺激素释放激素激动剂 /绝经期促性腺激素 /人绒毛膜促性腺激素组共 10例 ,E2 、P及P/E2 接近对照组 ,上述标志物的表达与对照组相似。但 3组PCOS分泌中期子宫内膜均有不同程度的间质增生、致密 ,腺体与间质发育不同步 ,且间质致密处ER、PR及其mR NA表达均下降。结论 :氯米芬 /人绒毛膜促性腺