AIM:To investigate whether peripheral corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), which is up-regulated in intestinal inflammation, mediates the post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity in a rat model of colitis. METHOD...AIM:To investigate whether peripheral corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), which is up-regulated in intestinal inflammation, mediates the post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity in a rat model of colitis. METHODS:We measured mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as a marker of inflammation, plasma CRH level, and abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) to colorectal distension as a visceral nociceptive response at 2, 7 and 14 d after the induction of colitis with 4% acetic acid. RESULTS:Colonic inflammation, quantified by MPO activity, significantly increased on d 2 and subsided thereafter, which indicated a resolution of inflammation within 7 d. On the contrary, plasma CRH level and AWR score were increased on d 2, remained high on d 7, and returned to control level on d 14. Intraperitoneal injection of a CRH antagonist, astressin (30 μg/kg), significantly attenuated the post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity on d 7. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of CRH (3 and 10 μg/kg) mimicked the post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity in naive rats. CONCLUSION:These results suggest that increased peripheral CRH mediates the enhanced visceral nociception in rats recovered from experimental colitis.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH) in the colon, spinal cord, and hypothalamus of rats with chronic visceral hypersensitivity.METHODS: A rat model of chronic v...AIM: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH) in the colon, spinal cord, and hypothalamus of rats with chronic visceral hypersensitivity.METHODS: A rat model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity was generated according to the internationally accepted method of colorectal balloon dilatation. In the 7th week after the procedure, rats were randomly divided into a model group(MG), electroacupuncture group(EA), and sham electroacupuncture group(S-EA). After treatment, the abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR) score was used to assess the behavioral response of visceral hyperalgesia. Immunohistochemistry(En Vision method), ELISA, and fluorescence quantitative PCR methods were applied to detect the expression of CRH protein and m RNA in the colon, spinal cord, and hypothalamus.RESULTS: The sensitivity of the rats to the colorectal distension stimulus applied at different strengths(20-80 mm Hg) increased with increasing stimulus strength, resulting in increasing AWR scores in each group. Compared with NG, the AWR score of MG was significantly increased(P < 0.01). After conducting EA, the AWR scores of the rats were decreased compared with MG rats. The relative expression of CRH m RNA in the colon, spinal cord, and hypothalamus of MG rats was significantly increased compared with NG rats(P < 0.01). CRH m RNA in the colon and spinal cord of EA and S-EA rats was decreased to varying degrees(P > 0.05) compared with normal rats(NG). However, the decrease in EA compared with MG rats was statistically significant(P < 0.01). The average optical density of CRH expression in the colon of the MG rats was significantly enhanced compared with NG(P < 0.05), while the average optical density of CRH expression in the EA and S-EA rats was significantly decreased compared with MG rats(P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). Compared with MG rats, the CRH concentration in the spinal cord of EA rats was significantly reduced(P < 0.01), but there was no significant change in S-EA rats(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at the Shangjuxu acupoint was able to significantly reduce the visceral hypersensitivity in rats, and regulated the expression of CRH protein and m RNA in the colon, spinal cord and hypothalamus at different levels, playing a therapeutic role in this model of irritable bowel syndrome.展开更多
Purpose: Can Cortisol Releasing Hormone (CRH) levels in follicular fluid predict outcomes following assisted reproductive treatment (ART) cycles? Methods: Prospective cohort study of 50 women undergoing in vitro ferti...Purpose: Can Cortisol Releasing Hormone (CRH) levels in follicular fluid predict outcomes following assisted reproductive treatment (ART) cycles? Methods: Prospective cohort study of 50 women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF)/intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles over a two month study period. All patients were treated on the long stimulation protocol;follicular fluid was aspirated and pooled for each patient. The samples were processed appropriately and assayed using CRH radioimmunoassay (RIA). Results: This study confirmed that CRH was present in follicular fluid. The average level detected was 173 ± 9 pg/mL (mean ± standard error of mean [SEM]). The data suggests a positive correlation of CRH follicular fluid levels greater than 145 pg/mL with successful ART outcomes. Conclusion: The data indicates a positive correlation between ART outcomes and the presence of follicular fluid CRH levels greater than 145 pg/mL. The results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size and pooling of follicular fluid per patient. Furthermore, the pooling of follicular fluid is not representative of CRH levels in an individual follicle, and thus, mature oocyte. This study serves as a reminder to what has previously been hypothesised.展开更多
Objective: To explore the effect of high dose of glucocorticoid (GC) on the synthesis of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and transcription of its mRNA in hypothalamus paraventricular nuclei (PVN) in order...Objective: To explore the effect of high dose of glucocorticoid (GC) on the synthesis of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and transcription of its mRNA in hypothalamus paraventricular nuclei (PVN) in order to investigate its difference with that of traditional GC effects and to add a new possible explanation to the mechanism of clinical applications of high dose of GC. Methods: A total of 60 rats were divided into 5 groups: blank control, 10^-6 mol/L dexamethasone (DEX) group, 10^-9 mol/L DEX group, 0.9% saline group and GR blocking group (10^-2mol/L RU486). All agents were administrated through the femoral vein. CRH protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry and laser confocal scanning microscopy (LCSM); CRH mRNA level was explored by in situ hybridization. Results: 10^-6 mol/L DEX made CRH mRNA transcripted after 20 min and its protein expressed in PVN after 30 min, while normal level of DEX and 0.9% saline could not. If GR was blocked in advance, the effect of high dose of DEX disappeared. Conclusion : High dose of GC can have CRH increased in PVN, which differs to the effect of traditional GC. And mGRH may play an important role in the effect of high dose of GC but not classic iGR.展开更多
Rat models of adjuvant arthritis were established, and anti-corticotropin release hormone serum injection in the lateral ventricles and electroacupuncture at right Jiaji (EX-B2) were performed. The pain threshold wa...Rat models of adjuvant arthritis were established, and anti-corticotropin release hormone serum injection in the lateral ventricles and electroacupuncture at right Jiaji (EX-B2) were performed. The pain threshold was decreased at 45 and 60 minutes after injection of the anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. Electroacupuncture at Jiaji can resist this effect. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the expression of corticotropin release hormone in the hypothalamic paraventdcular nucleus was greater in the electroacupuncture + anti-corticotropin release hormone serum group compared with the anti-corticotropin release hormone serum group. The expression of corticotropin release hormone was correlated with the pain threshold. The effect of endogenous corticotropin release hormone in pain modulation can be obstructed by anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. The analgesia of electroacupuncture can partially resist the depressed pain threshold caused by injection of anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. The analgesic effect of electroacupuncture is associated with the corticotropin release hormone content in the hypothalamus.展开更多
文摘AIM:To investigate whether peripheral corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), which is up-regulated in intestinal inflammation, mediates the post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity in a rat model of colitis. METHODS:We measured mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as a marker of inflammation, plasma CRH level, and abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) to colorectal distension as a visceral nociceptive response at 2, 7 and 14 d after the induction of colitis with 4% acetic acid. RESULTS:Colonic inflammation, quantified by MPO activity, significantly increased on d 2 and subsided thereafter, which indicated a resolution of inflammation within 7 d. On the contrary, plasma CRH level and AWR score were increased on d 2, remained high on d 7, and returned to control level on d 14. Intraperitoneal injection of a CRH antagonist, astressin (30 μg/kg), significantly attenuated the post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity on d 7. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of CRH (3 and 10 μg/kg) mimicked the post-inflammatory visceral hypersensitivity in naive rats. CONCLUSION:These results suggest that increased peripheral CRH mediates the enhanced visceral nociception in rats recovered from experimental colitis.
基金Supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project,No.200801260,No.20080430117the National Basic Research Program of China 973 program,No.2009CB522900the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education No.20123107110008
文摘AIM: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH) in the colon, spinal cord, and hypothalamus of rats with chronic visceral hypersensitivity.METHODS: A rat model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity was generated according to the internationally accepted method of colorectal balloon dilatation. In the 7th week after the procedure, rats were randomly divided into a model group(MG), electroacupuncture group(EA), and sham electroacupuncture group(S-EA). After treatment, the abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR) score was used to assess the behavioral response of visceral hyperalgesia. Immunohistochemistry(En Vision method), ELISA, and fluorescence quantitative PCR methods were applied to detect the expression of CRH protein and m RNA in the colon, spinal cord, and hypothalamus.RESULTS: The sensitivity of the rats to the colorectal distension stimulus applied at different strengths(20-80 mm Hg) increased with increasing stimulus strength, resulting in increasing AWR scores in each group. Compared with NG, the AWR score of MG was significantly increased(P < 0.01). After conducting EA, the AWR scores of the rats were decreased compared with MG rats. The relative expression of CRH m RNA in the colon, spinal cord, and hypothalamus of MG rats was significantly increased compared with NG rats(P < 0.01). CRH m RNA in the colon and spinal cord of EA and S-EA rats was decreased to varying degrees(P > 0.05) compared with normal rats(NG). However, the decrease in EA compared with MG rats was statistically significant(P < 0.01). The average optical density of CRH expression in the colon of the MG rats was significantly enhanced compared with NG(P < 0.05), while the average optical density of CRH expression in the EA and S-EA rats was significantly decreased compared with MG rats(P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). Compared with MG rats, the CRH concentration in the spinal cord of EA rats was significantly reduced(P < 0.01), but there was no significant change in S-EA rats(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at the Shangjuxu acupoint was able to significantly reduce the visceral hypersensitivity in rats, and regulated the expression of CRH protein and m RNA in the colon, spinal cord and hypothalamus at different levels, playing a therapeutic role in this model of irritable bowel syndrome.
文摘Purpose: Can Cortisol Releasing Hormone (CRH) levels in follicular fluid predict outcomes following assisted reproductive treatment (ART) cycles? Methods: Prospective cohort study of 50 women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF)/intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles over a two month study period. All patients were treated on the long stimulation protocol;follicular fluid was aspirated and pooled for each patient. The samples were processed appropriately and assayed using CRH radioimmunoassay (RIA). Results: This study confirmed that CRH was present in follicular fluid. The average level detected was 173 ± 9 pg/mL (mean ± standard error of mean [SEM]). The data suggests a positive correlation of CRH follicular fluid levels greater than 145 pg/mL with successful ART outcomes. Conclusion: The data indicates a positive correlation between ART outcomes and the presence of follicular fluid CRH levels greater than 145 pg/mL. The results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size and pooling of follicular fluid per patient. Furthermore, the pooling of follicular fluid is not representative of CRH levels in an individual follicle, and thus, mature oocyte. This study serves as a reminder to what has previously been hypothesised.
文摘Objective: To explore the effect of high dose of glucocorticoid (GC) on the synthesis of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and transcription of its mRNA in hypothalamus paraventricular nuclei (PVN) in order to investigate its difference with that of traditional GC effects and to add a new possible explanation to the mechanism of clinical applications of high dose of GC. Methods: A total of 60 rats were divided into 5 groups: blank control, 10^-6 mol/L dexamethasone (DEX) group, 10^-9 mol/L DEX group, 0.9% saline group and GR blocking group (10^-2mol/L RU486). All agents were administrated through the femoral vein. CRH protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry and laser confocal scanning microscopy (LCSM); CRH mRNA level was explored by in situ hybridization. Results: 10^-6 mol/L DEX made CRH mRNA transcripted after 20 min and its protein expressed in PVN after 30 min, while normal level of DEX and 0.9% saline could not. If GR was blocked in advance, the effect of high dose of DEX disappeared. Conclusion : High dose of GC can have CRH increased in PVN, which differs to the effect of traditional GC. And mGRH may play an important role in the effect of high dose of GC but not classic iGR.
文摘Rat models of adjuvant arthritis were established, and anti-corticotropin release hormone serum injection in the lateral ventricles and electroacupuncture at right Jiaji (EX-B2) were performed. The pain threshold was decreased at 45 and 60 minutes after injection of the anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. Electroacupuncture at Jiaji can resist this effect. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the expression of corticotropin release hormone in the hypothalamic paraventdcular nucleus was greater in the electroacupuncture + anti-corticotropin release hormone serum group compared with the anti-corticotropin release hormone serum group. The expression of corticotropin release hormone was correlated with the pain threshold. The effect of endogenous corticotropin release hormone in pain modulation can be obstructed by anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. The analgesia of electroacupuncture can partially resist the depressed pain threshold caused by injection of anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. The analgesic effect of electroacupuncture is associated with the corticotropin release hormone content in the hypothalamus.