腰椎终板、椎间盘退变及椎间盘造影疼痛激发试验的相关性研究

目的探讨下腰痛患者腰椎终板Modic退变、椎间盘退变及CT引导下腰椎间盘造影疼痛激发试验的相关性.方法对45例下腰痛患者常规行腰椎X线和MR检查,分别按Modic终板退变标准（0～3级）与Pearce椎间盘退变标准（Ⅰ～Ⅴ级）对终板和椎间盘进行评估.在CT引导下对45例患者中的40例（120个椎间盘）进行造影和疼痛激发试验,并按Dallas椎间盘造影分级系统（DDD）测评椎间盘退变程度.采用SPSS 11.5统计学软件分析腰椎终板Modic退变、椎间盘退变与腰椎间盘造影疼痛激发试验之间的相关性.结果40例下腰痛患者的腰椎终板Modic分级与椎间盘退变Pearce分级存在较强的相关性（Pearson x^2=43.326,P=0.000）,与椎间盘造影疼痛激发试验有显著相关性（Pearson x^2=27.858,P=0.000）;椎间盘退变Pearce分级与CT椎间盘造影椎间盘退变Dallas分级也呈较强的相关性.结论腰椎终板Modic退变分级与椎间盘退变Pearce分级密切相关,而与椎间盘疼痛激发试验有显著相关性,提示终板Modic退变可能是下腰痛的原因之一.     

转化人关节软骨细胞的Ⅱ型胶原表型诱导

目的 用离心管聚集体培养（Aggregate culture)诱导转化人关节细胞的Ⅱ型胶原。方法 将体外长期培养的第30，40，50代转化软骨细胞消化后进行离心管培养，比较细胞在单层培养，离心管聚集体培养，以及在普通培养基，RAI诱导培养基下[2型骨形态发生蛋白（BMP－2）＋抗坏血酸盐（Ascorbate) 胰岛素（insulin)]，Ⅰ，Ⅱ，Ⅲ型胶原的表达和胞外基质发生情况。结果 在单层培养条件下，转化软骨细胞只表达Ⅰ型胶原，而在BAI诱导培养基及离心管聚集体培养下转化软有细胞表达的Ⅱ型胶原和大量胞外基质。结论 离心管聚集体培养是诱导转化软骨细胞Ⅱ型胶原的有效方式。     

Distinct osteogenic mechanisms of bones of distinct origins

Mammalian bones have three distinct origins (paraxial mesoderm, lateral plate mesoderm, and neural crest) and undergo two different modes of formation (intra-membranous and endochondral). Bones derived from the paraxial mesoderm and lateral plate mesoderm mainly form through the endochondral process. During this process, hypertrophic chondrocytes play a vital role in inducing both osteogenesis and angiogenesis. One of the essential osteogenic factors secreted from hypertrophic chondrocytes is Indian hedgehog (Ihh). In contrast, bones derived from the neural crest mainly form through the intramembranous pro-cess and do not require Ihh. Thus, depending on their origin, bones have distinct signaling properties, which need to be considered in the research and application of bone biology.Presented at the 18th Annual Research Meeting of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, Kitakyushu, Japan, October 17, 2003     

牵张力对体外培养兔鼻软骨细胞影响的实验研究

目的：探讨牵张力对体外培养的不同年龄兔鼻软骨细胞增殖活性的影响及牵张力大小与兔鼻软骨细胞增殖活性改变的量效关系。方法：将第4代体外培养的新生及6周龄新西兰白兔兔鼻软骨细胞置于细胞膜式牵张力施加装置上培养，流式细胞仪检测不同的牵张力(5kPa、10kPa)在0-12h内对兔鼻软骨细胞增殖活性的影响。结果：0-10h内5kPa牵张力组软骨细胞增殖指数随着牵张力作用时间的延长不断上升，增殖指数峰值位于10h处；0～8h内10kPa牵张力组软骨细胞增殖指数随着牵张力作用时间的延长不断上升，增殖指数峰值位于8h处；5kPa较10kPa牵张力对体外培养兔鼻软骨细胞具有更大的促增殖作用；牵张力对体外培养的新生兔兔鼻软骨细胞具有更大的促增殖作用。结论：牵张力可促进体外培养的新生及六周龄新西兰白兔兔鼻软骨细胞增殖活性。提示我们鼻软骨牵张方法不仅适用于临床矫治新生儿唇腭裂伴发鼻畸形，而且有可能用于矫治1岁左右婴儿甚至更大年龄患儿的唇腭裂伴发鼻畸形。     

软骨细胞老化特征及机制的研究进展

软骨细胞的老化是一个极其复杂的过程，其特征包括：细胞不可逆的生长停滞于G1期；老化相关β-半乳糖苷酶的表达；端粒长度缩短；软骨细胞分化特征的改变。目前认为其机制为基因表达的程序性或减进性改变，包括肿瘤抑制基因p53和pRb等在细胞生长停滞中的作用；端粒结合蛋白和端粒酶对端粒长度的调节；细胞骨架蛋白的重组使软骨细胞形态的变化；基质降解酶类表达增加以及各种细胞因子的变化对软骨细胞代谢的影响。     

Cyclic tensile stretch load and oxidized low density lipoprotein synergistically induce lectin-like oxidized ldl receptor-1 in cultured bovine chondrocytes, resulting in decreased cell viability and proteoglycan synthesis.

Mechanical stimulation is known to be an essential factor in the regulation of cartilage metabolism. We tested the hypothesis that expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) can be modulated by cyclic tensile stretch load in chondrocytes. Cyclic loading of repeated stretch stress at 10 cycles per minute with 10 kPa of stress for 6 h induced expression of LOX-1 to 2.6 times control in cultured bovine articular chondrocytes, equivalent to the addition of 10 microg/mL oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) (2.4 times control). Application of the cyclic load to the chondrocytes along with 10 microg/mL ox-LDL resulted in synergistically increased LOX-1 expression to 6.3 times control. Individual application of cyclic loading and 10 microg/mL ox-LDL significantly suppressed chondrocytes viability (84.6% +/- 3.4% and 80.9% +/- 3.2% of control at 24 h, respectively; n = 3; p < 0.05) and proteoglycan synthesis [81.0% +/- 7.1% and 85.7% +/- 5.2% of control at 24 h, respectively; p < 0.05 when compared with 94.6% +/- 4.6% for native-LDL (n = 3)]. Cyclic loading and 10 microg/mL ox-LDL synergistically affected cell viability and proteoglycan synthesis, which were significantly suppressed to 45.6% +/- 4.9% and 48.7% +/- 6.7% of control at 24 h, respectively (n = 3; p < 0.01 when compared with individual application of cyclic loading or 10 microg/mL ox-LDL). In this study, we demonstrated synergistic effects of cyclic tensile stretch load and ox-LDL on cell viability and proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes, which may be mediated through enhanced expression of LOX-1 and which has important implications in the progression of cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis.     

Acetylcholinesterase Adaptation to Voluntary Wheel Running is Proportional to the Volume of Activity in Fast, but not Slow, Rat Hindlimb Muscles

Chronic enhancement of neuromuscular activity by forced exercise training programmes results in selective adaptation of the G₄ acetylcholinesterase (AChE) molecular form in hindlimb fast muscles of the rat, with only minor and non-selective AChE changes in the soleus. In order to shed further light on the physiological significance of this G₄ adaptation to training, we turned to a voluntary exercise model. The impact of 5 days and 4 weeks of voluntary wheel cage running on AChE molecular forms was examined in four hindlimb fast muscles and the slow-twitch soleus from two rat strains. Inbred Fisher and Sprague– Dawley rats, placed in live-in wheel cages, exercised spontaneously for distances which progressively increased up to an average of ∼3 and 18 km/day, respectively, by the end of week 4. Fast muscles responded to this voluntary activity by massive G₄ increases (up to 420%) with almost no changes in A₁₂, so that by week 4 the tetramer became the main AChE component of these muscles. The additional G₄ was composed primarily of amphiphilic molecules, suggesting a membrane-bound state. The G₄ content of fast muscles was highly correlated with the distance covered by the rats during the 5 days before they were killed ( r = 0.850-0.879, P < 0.001 in three muscles). The soleus muscle, in turn, responded to wheel cage activity by a marked selective reduction of its asymmetric forms—up to 45% for A₁₂. This A₁₂ decline, already maximal by day 5 of wheel cage running, showed no relationship with the distance covered. The present results constitute strong new evidence suggesting that the role of AChE in neuromuscular transmission is not limited solely to the rapid inactivation of just-released acetylcholine.     

鹿茸生长素对家兔关节软骨细胞代谢的影响

目的 研究鹿茸生长素对关节软骨细胞增殖的影响。方法 采用家兔关节软骨细胞体外培养和加入同位素3H—TdR标记方法，观察其对3H—TdR掺入细胞DNA合成的影响。结果 加入鹿茸生长素组的3H—TdR的掺入值与对照组有明显差异，细胞增殖作用明显。结论 鹿茸生长素能明显刺激关节软骨细胞的增殖。     

An ultrastructural study of cartilage resorption at the site of initial endochondral bone formation in the fetal mouse mandibular condyle

An ultrastructural study was undertaken on cartilage resorption at the site of initial endochondral bone formation in the mouse mandibular condyle on d 16 of pregnancy. After resorbing the bone collar, the osteoclasts extended their cell processes into the cartilage matrix and made contact with hypertrophic chondrocytes. By means of cell processes or vacuolar structures, these osteoclasts entrapped the calcified cartilage matrices, cell debris, and the degraded uncalcified cartilage matrices. In particular, since the calcified cartilage matrices were sometimes seen to be disrupted within the osteoclastic vacuolar structures, they were probably disposed of by the osteoclasts. Invading endothelial cells giving rise to capillaries also directly surrounded the degraded uncalcified cartilage matrices and small deposits of cell debris. In addition, hypertrophic chondrocytes that had attached to or were in the process of attaching to the invading osteoclasts often enclosed the small calcified cartilage matrices. Other cell types that have often been reported in other regions of cartilage resorption were not seen at the site of initial endochondral bone formation in this study. Our findings in relation to cartilage resorption may therefore represent unique features of the site of initial endochondral bone formation site. We consider that the manner of cartilage resorption is likely to vary by site, age, and species.     

Plateau potentials evoked by climbing-fibre stimulation are restricted to the Purkinje cell dendrites of the cat

The present study investigated the duration of afterdepolarizations in Purkinje cell somata following climbing-fibre activation. Intracellular recordings revealed that, in cells with membrane potentials more negative than -50 mV and with normal spike-generating capabilities, climbing-fibre activation resulted in somatic responses with short afterdepolarizations. As the cell deteriorated and the resting membrane potential became more positive, the duration and form of the climbing-fibre response resembled the plateau potentials recorded from proximal dendrites. The absence of plateau potentials in undamaged Purkinje cell somata was confirmed by extracellular recording of test spike amplitudes following evoked climbing-fibre responses.