Regulatory Effects of Zuogui Pill on Apoptosis of Follicles in Rats Injured by 60Co-γRays Based on PI3K/Akt/m TOR Signaling Pathway

[Objectives]To explore the protective effects of Zuogui Pill on ^(60)Co-γ-ray-induced premature aging of rats based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin(PI3K/Akt/mTOR)signaling pathway.[Methods]Sixty sexually mature female SD rats were irradiated with ^(60)Co-γ-ray(6.0 Gy,LD 40)for 24 h at one time.These rats were randomly divided into model group,Progynova group[0.18(g·kg)/d],Progynova[0.09(g·kg)/d]+Zuogui Pill high dose[23.625(g·kg)/d)]group,Zuogui Pill high dose[23.625(g·kg)/d)]group,Zuogui Pill medium dose[9.45(g·kg)/d)]group and Zuogui Pill low dose[4.725(g·kg)/d]group.The administration(once a day)lasted 21 d.The rat serum[follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH)and estradiol(E_(2))]were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The morphological changes of ovary were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The apoptosis rate of granulosa cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL).The protein expression of phosphorylated(p)-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR,B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)in ovarian tissues were detected by Western blot.[Results]Compared with the normal group,the model group showed significant increase in the serum FSH(P<0.01),significant decrease in serum E_(2)(P<0.05),and decrease in the number of early follicles and luteum in the ovary(P<0.01).Besides,the apoptosis rate of granulosa cells increased significantly(P<0.01);the expression of p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR and Bcl-2 in ovarian tissue decreased significantly,while the expression of Bax increased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the number of early follicles in the ovary increased and the apoptosis rate of granulosa cells decreased after intervention in each administration group.In addition,the protein expressions of p-PI3K,p-Akt,p-mTOR and Bcl-2 increased,while the expression of Bax decreased,especially in Progynova+Zuogui Pill high dose group,the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05,P<0.01).[Conclusions]Zuogui Pill may protect the radiation-injured ovary through activating the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR protein in ovarian tissue,increasing the amount of Bcl-2 protein and inhibiting the expression of Bax protein.

Spinal cord decompression reduces rat neural cell apoptosis secondary to spinal cord injury

Objective： To determine whether spinal cord decompression plays a role in neural cell apoptosis after spinal cord injury. Study design： We used an animal model of compressive spinal cord injury with incomplete paraparesis to evaluate neural cell apoptosis after decompression. Apoptosis and cellular damage were assessed by staining with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase （TdT）-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labelling （TUNEL） and immunostaining for caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax. Methods： Experiments were conducted in male Sprague-Dawley rats （n-78） weighing 300-400 g. The spinal cord was compressed posteriorly at T10 level using a custom-made screw for 6 h, 24 h or continuously, followed by decompression by removal of the screw. The rats were sacrificed on Day I or 3 or in Week 1 or 4 post-decompression. The spinal cord was removed en bloc and examined at lesion site, rostral site and caudal site （7.5 mm away from the lesion）. Results： The numbers of TUNEL-positive cells were significantly lower at the site of decompression on Day 1, and also at the rostral and caudal sites between Day 3 and Week 4 post-decompression, compared with the persistently compressed group. The numbers of cells between Day 1 and Week 4 were immunoreactive to caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）-associated X-protein （Bax）, but not to Bcl-2, correlated with those of TUNEL-positive cells. Conclusion： Our results suggest that decompression reduces neural cell apoptosis following spinal cord injury.

木犀草素对小鼠T淋巴细胞体外增殖及凋亡的作用

目的：研究木犀草素对小鼠T淋巴细胞体外增殖及凋亡作用的影响。方法：设置刀豆蛋白A（Con A）组和空白组,设置3个木犀草素药物组,终质量浓度分别为2.5,5,10 mg·L-1,细胞毒性活性检测-8（CCK-8）法检测各组细胞增殖情况,末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导的d UTP缺口末端标记测定法（TUNEL）和Annexin V-FITC/PI双染法检测各组细胞凋亡情况,蛋白免疫印迹法（Western blot）检测各组细胞凋亡通路蛋白B淋巴细胞瘤-2（B-cell lymphoma-2,Bcl-2）,Bcl-2相关X蛋白（Bcl-2-associated X protein,Bax）表达水平。结果：CCK-8实验结果显示3个木犀草素药物组细胞数明显低于Con A组和空白组（P〈0.01）,差异有统计学意义。TUNEL实验结果显示,Con A组的凋亡细胞数量显著低于3个木犀草素药物组（P〈0.01）,差异有统计学意义。流式细胞仪检测结果显示3个木犀草素药物组的细胞凋亡率显著高于Con A组和空白组（P〈0.01）,细胞凋亡率随着药物浓度增加而增高,呈明显的量-效关系。Western blot检测结果显示,2.5,5 mg·L-1木犀草素药物组中Bcl-2表达量高于对照组,Bax表达量低于对照组;10 mg·L-1药物组中Bcl-2表达量低于对照组,Bax表达量高于对照组。结论：2.5,5,10 mg·L-1木犀草素能够抑制T淋巴细胞增殖,能够诱导T淋巴细胞凋亡,10 mg·L-1木犀草素可能主要通过下调Bcl-2,上调Bax影响线粒体凋亡通路诱导细胞凋亡,2.5,5 mg·L-1木犀草素可能通过其他通路诱导细胞凋亡。