大鼠癫痫持续状态后水通道蛋白-4的表达

目的 探讨癫痫持续状态（SE）后大鼠水通道蛋白-4（AQP4）的表达变化与脑水肿形成之间的关系。方法 54只SD大鼠随机分为对照组（n=6），SE后6h，12h，24h，48h，72h，96h，120h，168h组（n=6）。腹腔注射锂-匹罗卡品建立大鼠SE模型，免疫组织化学染色和逆转录PCR方法检测AQP4蛋白和基因在SE形成后的表达。结果 SE后AQV4蛋白和mRNA24h表达水平明显增加，48h达到高峰，持续72h后下降，168h时仍有表达。SE后AQP4表达变化和脑水肿形成过程在时间上呈明显的正相关（r=0．73，氏0．05）。结论 SE后AOP4表达明显增强，在时间上与脑水肿形成呈正相关，提示AQP4在SE后脑水肿形成过程中起着重要作用。     

Bronchiolar expression of aquaporin-3 (AQP3) in rat lung and its dynamics in pulmonary oedema

Aquaporins (AQPs) are water channel proteins that permit osmotically driven water movement. To determine their dynamics in pulmonary oedema, we examined the expression of mRNA and protein for AQP1, AQP3, AQP4, and AQP5 in the lungs of normal and thiourea-treated rats. In the thiourea group, lung water content increased significantly (vs. controls) with the peak at around 4 h. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR showed that AQP3 mRNA in the thiourea group rose significantly, peaking at around 4–8 h. The expression of AQP1, AQP4, AQP5, ENaC and CFTR mRNA each decreased significantly some time after the peak in lung water content. Immunoblot analysis showed that glycosylated AQP3 protein was increased 4–10 h after treatment. Expression of the other AQP proteins was not significantly altered, except for that of AQP4. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that AQP1 was expressed in endothelia, AQP3 in the basal cells of the large airways and in cuboidal cells in the bronchioles, AQP4 in the basolateral membrane of airway cells and AQP5 in type-I pneumocytes. Our results suggest that AQP3 is expressed not only in large airways, but also in bronchioles, and is related to water movement in pulmonary oedema.     

AQP4参与卵巢激素对单胺类神经递质的调节作用

目的：探讨AQP4对卵巢激素调节神经递质作用的影响。方法：应用雌性AQP4基因敲除型CD1小鼠与野生型CD1小鼠，测定AQP4基因敲除对小鼠血浆中雌孕激素水平的影响；两种基因型小鼠实施卵巢去势手术，测定纹状体和皮层中单胺类神经递质的含量。结果：AQP4基因敲除型小鼠动情后期血浆雌、孕激素水平显著低于野生型小鼠；去势后野生型小鼠纹状体多巴胺（DA）及皮层去甲肾上腺素（NE）含量明显降低，但去势不影响AQP4基因敲除型小鼠脑内相应的递质水平。结论：AQP4参与了卵巢激素对单胺类神经递质的调节。     

电针不同穴组对功能性便秘大鼠结肠黏膜超微结构及AQP3、AQP8表达的影响

目的 探讨电针不同穴组治疗功能性便秘（FC）大鼠的作用机理。方法 FC动物模型采用0 ℃ 0.9%氯化钠溶液对SD大鼠灌胃复制,随机分为模型组、电针1组（EAⅠ组）、电针2组（EAⅡ组）和电针3组（EAⅢ组）,正常组采用SD大鼠。EAⅠ组取天枢、大肠俞（双侧）、EAⅡ组取曲池、上巨虚（双侧）、EAⅢ组取天枢、大肠俞、曲池、上巨虚（单侧）进行电针治疗。观测粪便性状和肠道炭末推进率评定大鼠肠动力,透射电镜检测大鼠结肠黏膜超微结构,Western blot检测大鼠结肠AQP3、AQP8蛋白表达,qPCR检测大鼠结肠AQP3、AQP8 mRNA表达。结果 EAⅡ组大鼠24 h粪便粒数、24 h粪便含水量和肠道炭末推进率均显著增加,首次黑便时间显著减少（P<0.05）,结肠黏膜超微结构经EAⅡ干预后显著改善,模型组大鼠结肠黏膜AQP3、AQP8蛋白和AQP3、AQP8 mRNA表达显著高于正常组（P<0.05）,经EAⅡ干预后表达显著降低,具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 电针刺激曲池、上巨虚可能通过降低FC大鼠结肠黏膜AQP3、AQP8蛋白和AQP3、AQP8 mRNA表达,减少结肠水分重吸收,增加结肠粪便含水量,调节水分转运,改善结肠黏膜超微结构,增强肠动力,起到改善便秘症状的作用。      

The role of aquaporin-1 in idiopathic and drug-induced intracranial hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a common disorder affecting mainly healthy, young, overweight women. The pathogenesis of this condition is unknown, but it has been shown to follow treatment with several compounds including corticosteroids and vitamin A derivatives. This paper will offer a novel hypothesis and insight on the pathogenesis of drug induced intracranial hypertension following a review and analysis of the literature. Both corticosteroids and vitamin A derivatives have been shown to upregulate the expression of aquaporin 1, a water channel protein. Aquaporin 1 is widely distributed in the human brain and is associated with water secretion into the subarachnoid space. Aquaporin 1 was also shown to participate in the regulation of weight. Agents used for treating idiopathic intracranial hypertension reduce aquaporin 1 expression. Based on these observations, we propose that aquaporin 1 has a pathogenetic role in drug induced idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Over expression of this gene causes increased intracranial pressure, and downregulation reduces pressure and alleviates the symptomatology and complications of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.     

Toxic trace elements at gastrointestinal level

Many trace elements are considered essential [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu)], whereas others may be harmful [lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As)], depending on their concentration and chemical form. In most cases, the diet is the main pathway by which they enter our organism. The presence of toxic trace elements in food has been known for a long time, and many of the food matrices that carry them have been identified. This has led to the appearance of legislation and recommendations concerning consumption. Given that the main route of exposure is oral, passage through the gastrointestinal tract plays a fundamental role in their entry into the organism, where they exert their toxic effect. Although the digestive system can be considered to be of crucial importance in their toxicity, in most cases we do not know the events that occur during the passage of these elements through the gastrointestinal tract and of ascertaining whether they may have some kind of toxic effect on it. The aim of this review is to summarize available information on this subject, concentrating on the toxic trace elements that are of greatest interest for organizations concerned with food safety and health: Pb, Cd, Hg and As.     

Effects of Repeated Administration of Pilocarpine and Isoproterenol on Aquaporin-5 Expression in Rat Salivary Glands

Aquaporins are water channel proteins which enable rapid water movement across the plasma membrane. Aquaporin-5 (AQP5) is the major aquaporin and is expressed on the apical membrane of salivary gland acinar cells. We examined the effects of repeated administration of pilocarpine, a clinically useful stimulant for salivary fluid secretion, and isoproterenol (IPR), a stimulant for salivary protein secretion, on the abundance of AQP5 protein in rat salivary glands by immunofluorescence microscopy and semi-quantitative immunoblotting. Unexpectedly AQP5 was decreased in pilocarpine-administered salivary glands, in which fluid secretion must be highly stimulated, implying that AQP5 might not be required for fluid secretion at least in pilocarpine-administered state. The abundance of AQP5, on the other hand, was found to be significantly increased in IPR-administered submandibular and parotid glands. To address the possible mechanism of the elevation of AQP5 abundance in IPR-administered animals, changes of AQP5 level in fasting animals, in which the exocytotic events are reduced, were examined. AQP5 was found to be decreased in fasting animals as expected. These results suggested that the elevation of cAMP and/or frequent exocytotic events could increase AQP5 protein. AQP5 expression seems to be easily changed by salivary stimulants, although these changes do not always reflect the ability in salivary fluid secretion.