Effects of cotransplantated Schwann cells and neural stem cells in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Schwann cells （SCs） are significantly better at promoting neural stem cell （NSCs） proliferation, differentiation and synaptic formation when cocultured with NSCs in vitro, compared with cultured in a single nerve growth factor. The present study transplanted NSCs and SCs into the brain of a rat model of Alzheimer＇s disease to investigate the effect of cotransplantation. Results show transplantation of both NSCs alone and NSCs ＋ SCs significantly promoted learning and memory functions in Alzheimer＇s disease rats, decreased glial fibrillary acidic protein and calcium binding protein S100β expression, but increased expression of the cholinergic neuron marker choline acetyl transferase mRNA. The effect of NSCs ＋ SCs cotransplantation was, however, more significant. NSCs and SCs cotransplantation significantly reduced the number of astrocytes and increased cholinergic neurons, facilitating the recovery of learning and memory function, compared with NSCs transplantation alone.

Midbrain enkephalin expression in a rat migraine model following intragastric scorpion powder administration

Scorpion has strong analgesic effects, but its analgesic mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of scorpion powder on enkephalin expression in the midbrain of rats with nitroglycerin-induced migraine at mRNA and protein levels. Results confirmed that migraine rat abnormal behavior was significantly improved, and proenkephalin mRNA expression was significantly increased following treatment with scorpion. The number of methionine-enkephalin- positive cells in the migraine rats following treatment with scorpion was significantly increased, but no significant difference in the number of leucine-enkephalin-positive cells was detectable compared with migraine and normal rats. Taken together, these results show that scorpion exerts potentially beneficial effects by promoting enkephalin expression in nitroglycerin-induced migraine rats.

Protective effects of transplanted neural stem cells on the brain of Alzheimer’s disease rats

BACKGROUND： To date, no drugs are able to halt the progression of Alzheimer＇s disease （AD）. Neural stem cells （NSCs） transplantation has been widely used to treat AD, but the mechanism of AD treatment remains unclear. OBJECTIVE： To observe changes in protein and factors in the hippocampus and frontal lobe of AD rats following NSCs transplantation, and to understand mechanism of action of NSCs transplantation in AD treatment. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled animal study was conducted at the First Clinical Hospital, Jilin University, China from July 2007 to March 2009. MATERIALS： NSCs were harvested from the hippocampus of 10 E16 Wistar rats. METHODS： A total of 57 male adult Wistar rats were equally and randomly divided into normal control, AD model and NSCs groups. AD models were established in the AD model and NSCs groups by bilateral removal of hippocampus. At 2 weeks postsurgery, NSCs were transplanted into the hippocampus of rats from the NSCs group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Protein levels were measured in the hippocampus of rats from normal control, NSCs and AD model groups using proteomics. Expression of choline acetyl transferase mRNA, glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100β was measured in the hippocampus and frontal lobe of rats using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS： Expression of choline acetyl transferase mRNA, heat shock protein 70, heat shock protein 90, F-actin and actin was significantly higher in the NSCs group compared with AD model group. Glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100β expression was less in the NSCs group compared with AD model group. CONCLUSlOIN： NSCs implanted into the brain may generate new neural cells, which can relieve damage to the cholinergic system and resist apoptosis. NSCs transplantation plays a protective role in the cholinergic system in the AD rats to some extent.

Effects of Toutongning capsule on enkephalin expression in a rat migraine headache model

Toutongning capsule is used for the treatment of migraine headaches, and has yielded therapeutically beneficial effects. However, whether Toutongning capsule exerts its effects via endogenous opioid peptides remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of Toutongning capsule on enkephalin expression in the midbrain of rats with nitroglycerin-induced migraine headache at the mRNA and protein levels. Results confirmed that proenkephalin mRNA levels were significantly upregulated following treatment with Toutongning capsule. The numbers methionine-enkephalin and leucine-enkephalin-positive cells were significantly greater in the migraine headache rats following treatment with Toutongning capsule compared with the model group. Taken together, these results show that Toutongning capsule exerts potentially beneficial effects by promoting enkephalin expression in nitroglycerin-induced migraine headache rats.