Effect of stellate block on vasomotor factor, vascular endothelial nitricoxide synthase and pulmonary arterial pressure in rabbits with hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension

BACKGROUND： At present, inhalation of nitrogen monoxidum （NO） or other angiotenic is widely used to cure hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension. In addition, recent researches demonstrate that postganglionic fiber of stellate ganglion can regulate contents of blood vessel endothelium-calcitonin gene-related peptide （BVE-CGRP） and nitricoxide synthase （NOS） in lung tissue. Therefore, stellate ganglion which is blocked with the local anesthetic may cause therapeutic effects on hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effects of stellate block on calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） of vasodilation factors, prostacyclin, endothelin-i of vasoconstriction factors, thromboxan, blood vessel endothelium-nitricoxide synthase （BVE-NOS） and mean arterial pressure of lung tissue in rabbits with hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension. DESIGN： Randomly controlled animal study. SETTING： Neurological Institute of Taihe Hospital Affiliated to Yunyang Medical College. MATERIALS： A total of 24 adult Japanese rabbits of both genders and weighing 2.3 - 2.6 kg were provided by Animal Experimental Center of Hubei Academy of Medical Science. SP kit was provided by Beijing Zhongshan Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; moreover, kits of endothelin-1, CGRP, prostacyclin and thromboxan were provided by Radioimmunity Institute, Scientific and Technological Developing Center, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, and color image analytical system （Leica-Q500IW） was made in Germany. METHODS：The experiment was carried out in the Neurological Institute of Taihe Hospital affiliated to Yunyang Medical College from February to December 2002. ① Rabbits were performed with aseptic manipulation to exposure left stellate ganglion and then it was put in epidural catheter for 1 week. In addition, one end of epidural catheter was fixed near by stellate ganglion and the other end was fixed through dorsal neck. All rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, including normal control group, stellate block group, hypoxia group and hypoxia ＋ stellate block group, with 6 in each group. Rabbits in the normal control group were perfused with saline through epidural catheter with 0.5 mL once for three times per day and 3 successive days in total; in addition, rabbits in the stellate block group were perfused with 2.5 g/L bupivacaine through epidural catheter with 0.5 mL once for three times per day and 3 successive days in total. Rabbits in the hypoxia group were used to establish hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension models. That was to say, the experimental rabbits were put in hypoxic box （containing sodalime and calcium chloride to absorb CO2 and water） and given various flows of oxygen and nitrogen through the two lateral wells simultaneously. And then, oxygen was monitored with oxygen-concentration monitoring device to control the concentration in （10±2）% for 8 hours per day and 2 successive weeks in total. Rabbits in the hypoxia ＋ stellate block group were used to establish hypoxia models as the same as those in the hypoxia group. Two weeks later, 2.5 g,/L bupivacaine was pushed into epidural catheter with 0.5 mL once for three times per day and 3 successive days in total. Breast was directly opened to measure mean pulmonary artery pressure.② 6 mL blood was collected through pulmonary arterial duct to measure levels of plasma CGRP, prostacyclin, endothelin-I and thromboxane with radio-immunity technique; meanwhile, immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the changes of BVE-NOS content of the experimental rabbits in all groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Changes of CGRP, prostacyclin, endothelin-1 and thromboxane and BVE-NOS. RESULTS： A total of 24 experimental rabbits were involved in the final analysis. ①As compared with those in the normal control group, hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension of the experimental rabbits was higher in the hypoxia group and hypoxia ＋ stellate block group after hypoxia [（3.8±0.30）, （3.16±0.45）, （2.60± 0.27） kPa, P 〈 0.05, 0.01]; CGRP was lower [（68.20 ±8.78）, （108.24 ±14.35）, （130.25 ±22.70） ng/L, P 〈 0.05, 0.01]; prostacyclin was lower [（94.45± 10.68）, （98.77± 12.31）, （155.27±20.67） ng/L, P 〈 0.01]; endothelin-1 was higher [（184.7±29.66）, （115.27± 13.62）, （98.20±11.52）, ng/L, P 〈 0.05, 0.01]; thromboxan was higher [（226.27 ±30.46）, （207.67 ±27.32）, （124.25 ± 16.89） ng/L, P 〈 0.01 ]. As compared with that in hypoxia group, hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension was decreased in hypoxia ＋ stellate block group （P 〈 0.05）, CGRP was increased （P 〈 0.01）, and endothelin-1 was decreased remarkably （P 〈 0.05）. ② Level of BVE-NOS of the experimental rabbits was higher in stellate block group, hypoxia group and hypoxia ＋ stellate block group than that in the normal control group [（0.25±0.06）, （0.27±0.07）, （0.46± 0.12）, （0.14±0.03）, P 〈 0.05], and NOS level was higher in the hypoxia ＋ stellate block group than that in hypoxia group （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Mean arterial pressure is decreased in rabbits with hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension after stellate block and level of endothelin-1 is also decreased; however, levels of CGRP and NOS are increased respectively.

Effect of aging on expression of nitric oxide synthase I and activity of nitric oxide synthase in rat penis

<abstract>Aim: To investigate the effect of aging on the expression of nitric oxide synthase I (NOS I) and the activity of NOS in rat penis. Methods: Sixty male rats from 3 age groups (adult, old and senescent) were investigated. The expression of NOS I protein and mRNA in rat penis were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR respectively and the NOS activity, with ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Results: In the old and senescent group, NOS I protein expression was significantly decreased as compared with the adult. NOS I mRNA expression was well correlated with the protein expression. NOS activity was not statistically different between the adult and old groups, but it was significantly reduced in the senescent compared with the adult group (P<0.01). Conclusion: The aging-induced decreases in NOS I expression and NOS activity may be one of the main mechanisms leading to erectile dysfunction in the senescent rats.

Regeneration of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-containing nerve fibers in rat corpus cavernosum

Aim: To investigate the effect of cavernous nerve injury on the nNOS-containing nerve fibers in rat corpus cavernosum.Methods: Thirty-three male SD rats were randomized into 3 groups: 5 rats underwent pelvic exploration without tran-section of cavernous nerve as the sham-operated controls, the unilateral injury group (14 rats) had the cavernous nerve cuton one side, and the bilateral injury group (14 rats) had the nerves cut on both sides. Corpora cavernosa were harvestedat the 3rd week and 6th month after surgery, nNOS-positive nerve fibers were examined with strepavidin peroxidase im-munohistochemistry techniques (SP method). Results: After bilateral ablation, the nNOS-positive nerve fibers weresignificantly decreased at both the 3rd week ( 17 ± 4) and the 6th month (16 ± 4). For the unilateral injury group, thenNOS-positive nerve fibers were similarly decreased on the side of the neurotomy at the 3rd week (18 ± 6), but by the 6thmonth, the number increased significantly (61±9) and approximated the level on the contralateral side (81 ± 13). Con-clusion: In rats after unilateral cavernous nerve ablation, nNOS-containing nerve fibers might regenerate 6 months afteroperation, but regeneration did not occur in animals with bilateral cavernous nerve injury. Results suggest that duringpelvic radical surgery, the cavernous nerve should be preserved at least on one side in order to accomplish adequate regen-eration. (Asian J Androl 1999 Sep ; 1: 135 - 138)

Interventional effect of magnesium sulfate on nitric oxide synthase activity after acute craniocerebral injury

BACKGROUND： Abnormal changes in magnesium ion are closely related to cerebral injury. At present, some evidence indicates that magnesium reagent can improve nerve function and prognosis of patients with cerebral injury. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of magnesium sulfate on changes in nitric oxide synthase （NOS） activity in brain tissue of rats with acute craniocerebral injury. DESIGN： Completely randomized grouping design and randomly controlled study. SETTING： Laboratory of Neurosurgery, the Third Hospital of Chinese PLA. MATERIALS： Fifty-four male SD rats of clean grade and weighing 220 - 250 g were randomly divided into normal control group （n =6）, cerebral injury group （n =24） and magnesium sulfate group （n =24）. Especially, rats in cerebral injury group and magnesium sulfate group were equally divided into four subgroups and observed at 0.5, 2, 6 and 24 hours after model establishment. A solution of 125 g/L of magnesium sulfate was provided by the Seventh Pharmaceutical Factory of Wuxi and the NOS assay kit by Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute. METHODS： The experiment was carried out in the Institute of Neurosurgery, the Third Hospital of Chinese PLA from August 2000 to August 2002. ① Rats in the cerebral injury group and magnesium sulfate group were anesthetized to establish cerebral injury models based on modified Feeney technique; magnesium sulfate group were intraperitoneally injected 600 mg/kg magnesium sulfate （125 g/L）, but rats in the normal control group remained untreated. ② At 0.5, 2, 6 and 24 hours after cerebral injury, rats in cerebral injury group and magnesium sulfate group were decapitated and brains were dissected. Cerebral cortex of rats in cerebral injury group was selected for NOS assay; in addition, at 0.5 hour after cerebral injury, a portion of the parietal lobe was selected from the brains of rats in the normal control group. Brain samples were homogenized, the homogenated centrifuged and the supernatants were used to measure NOS activity with NOS kit. ③ Differences among the three groups were compared with t test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： NOS activity in cerebral cortex of rats in each group. RESULTS： A total of 54 SD rats were involved in the final analysis. At 0.5 hour after cerebral injury, NOS activity in cerebral cortex was （42.45 ± 13.46） nmol/L in cerebral injury group and （41.17 ± 12.53） nmol/L in magnesium sulfate group, respectively, which was higher than that in normal control group [（39.45 ± 11.84） nmol/L, P 〈 0.05]. At 2 hours after cerebral injury, NOS activities were （66.48 ±21.43） and （63.24 ± 19.18） umol/L, respectively, while at 6 hours after cerebral injury, NOS activities were （62.45 ± 24.18） and （51.97 ±20.46） nmol/L, respectively, which were higher than those in normal control group （P 〈 0.0 1）. At 24 hours after cerebral injury, NOS activity returned to basal level. Moreover, NOS activity was significantly lower in the magnesium sulfate group than that in the cerebral injury group at 2 and 6 hours after cerebral injury （P 〈 0.05, 0.01）.CONCLUSION： NOS activity is increased in injured brain tissue of rats with craniocerebral injury, and treatment with magnesium sulfate provides some degrees of protection possibly through inhibition of NOS activity after cerebral injury.

Puerarin decreases hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha in the hippocampus of vascular dementia rats

In this study, a rat vascular dementia model was established by permanent bilateral common carotid arterial occlusion. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with puerarin 3 days before modeling, for 45 successive days. Results demonstrated that in treated animals hippocampal structures were clear, nerve cells arranged neatly, and cytoplasm was rich in Nissl bodies. The number of cells positive for hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha, erythropoietin and endothelial nitric oxide synthase was reduced; and the learning and memory abilities of rats were significantly improved. Our experimental findings indicate that puerarin can significantly improve learning and memory in a vascular dementia model, and that the underlying mechanism may be associated with the regulation of the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha.

血清一氧化氮及一氧化氮合酶水平与病毒性肝炎的关系

【目的】探讨血清一氧化氮 (NO)及一氧化氮合酶 (NOS)水平与病毒性肝炎的关系。【方法】作者检测了 5 9例病毒性肝炎患者的血清NO及NOS水平。【结果】各型肝炎患者的NO含量均显著高于正常对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ,NOS含量以肝硬化 (LC)、急性肝炎 (AVH)、重型肝炎 (HG)增高显著 (P <0 .0 1) ,其中以LC组增高最为明显。在急性、慢性、重型肝炎的急性期或活动期时 ,NO含量与谷丙转氨酶 (ALT)及总胆红素 (TBIL)呈正相关。【结论】肝脏发生炎症时 ,NOS被诱导生成增多 ,从而产生大量的NO。NO含量升高与肝功能损害的程度有关。重症肝炎时 ,由于肝细胞大量坏死 ,导致NOS降低 ,NO生成也相应减少。肝硬化患者的血清NO及NOS增高 。

脑血管病患者NO、NOS、SOD、MDA的检测及其意义

[目的]探讨高血压、高脂血症、高血糖（三高）患者一氧化氮（NO）、一氧化氮合成酶（NOS）、超氧化物岐化酶（SOD）和血清丙二醛（MDA）检测的临床意义.[方法]检测125例典型三高患者NO、NOS、SOD和MDA的水平,分析脑血管事件与上述指标的关系,并与健康对照组比较.[结果]与健康对照组（CNⅠ组）及未发生脑血管事件组（CNⅡ组）比较,脑出血组（CH组）和脑梗死组（CI组）NO含量明显降低（P〈0.05）;NOS含量无显著差异（P〉0.05）;SOD含量无显著差异（P〉0.05）,但CH组和CI组的SOD含量均有降低趋势;MDA含量均明显升高（P〈0.05）,CH组和CI组之间MDA含量无显著差异（P〉0.05）.CNⅡ组与CNⅠ组比较,各检测值含量差异无显著性,但CNⅡ组的NO、NOS偏低,SOD偏低,MDA偏高.[结论]血清NO、NOS、SOD和MDA的测定有助于发现其变化规律,对脑血管疾病患者的发生、预防和治疗有参考意义.

The effects of androgen on penile reflex, erectile response to electrical stimulation and penile NOS activity in the rat

Aim: To investigate the effects of androgen on penile erection through the reflex arc and penile corpus cavernosum,and study the respective roles of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in penile erection in rats. Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were castrated and implanted with silastic brand silicone tube containing T or DHT, with orwithout daily injections of a 5α-reductase inhibitor, MK-434. The penile reflex, erectile response to electrical stimula-tion (ES) of the cavernous nerves and penile nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) activity were observed under varying andro-genic status. Results: Penile reflex erection in the rat was, on the whole, related to serum T levels though the numberof glans engorgements was not. The number of cups and flips was significantly decreased by castration, and restoredto the control level by T supplementation. Erectile response to ES and NOS activity in penile tissue was also related toserum T level. T administered together with a 5α-reductase inhibitor no longer restored the number of reflex erection,erectile responses to ES and NOS activity in the corpus cavernosum. Conclusion: Androgen influenced the penile re-flex arc, corpus cavernosum, and the perineal striated muscles. In reflex erection, erectile response to ES and penileNOS activity in the rat, T seems to be first converted to DHT, the more active androgen modality. (Asian J Androl1999 Dec; 1: 169-174)

High-frequency (50 Hz) electroacupuncture ameliorates cognitive impairment in rats with amyloid beta 1–42-induced Alzheimer＇s disease

Acupuncture has been shown to ameliorate cognitive impairment of Alzheimer’s disease.Acupoints and stimulation frequency influence the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture.Rat models of Alzheimer’s disease were established by injecting amyloid beta 1–42（Aβ_（1–42））into the bilateral lateral ventricles.Electroacupuncture at 2,30,and 50 Hz was carried out at Baihui（GV20;15°obliquely to a depth of 2mm）and Shenshu（BL23;perpendicularly to 4–6 mm depth）,once a day for 20 minutes（each）,for 15 days,taking a break every 7 days.The Morris water maze test was conducted to assess the learning and memory.The expression levels of glycogen synthase kinase-3β（GSK-3β）,p Ser9-GSK-3β,p Tyr216-GSK-3β,amyloid precursor protein and Aβ_（1–40） in the hippocampus were determined by western blot assay.Results demonstrated that electroacupuncture treatment at different frequencies markedly improved learning and memory ability,increased synaptic curvatures,decreased the width of synaptic clefts,thickened postsynaptic densities,and downregulated the expression of GSK-3β,amyloid precursor protein,and Aβ_（1–40）.pSer9-GSK-3βexpression markedly decreased,while p Tyr216-GSK-3βexpression increased.High-frequency（50 Hz）electroacupuncture was more effective than low（2 Hz）or medium-frequency（30 Hz）electroacupuncture.In conclusion,electroacupuncture treatment exerts a protective effect against Aβ_（1–42）-induced learning and memory deficits and synapse-ultrastructure impairment via inhibition of GSK-3βactivity.Moreover,high-frequency electroacupuncture was the most effective therapy.

肺癌患者红细胞免疫功能与血清NO及NOS的研究

目的研究肺癌患者红细胞免疫功能和血清一氧化氮 (NO)及一氧化氮合酶 (NOS)含量的变化规律 ,以探讨肺癌的免疫发病机制。方法应用形态学方法检测RBC C3bRR、RBC ICR、NTER ;采用化学比色法测定血清NO及NOS含量。结果肺癌患者RBC C3bRR、NTER均显著低于对照组 (均P <0 .0 1) ;而RBC ICR、血清NO及NOS含量均显著高于对照组 (均P <0 .0 1)。术后患者RBC C3bRR、NTER较术前明显升高 (P <0 .0 1及P <0 .0 5 ) ,但仍低于对照组 (均P <0 .0 1) ;而RBC ICR、血清NO及NOS含量较术前明显降低 (均P <0 .0 1) ,但仍高于对照组 (均P <0 .0 1)。另外 ,肺癌患者RBC C3bRR与血清NO及NOS含量呈显著负相关 (均P <0 .0 1)。结论肺癌患者红细胞免疫功能和血清NO及NOS含量均发生了明显改变 ,联合检测这些免疫指标对肺癌发病机理探讨。

Site-directed mutagenesis of bifunctional riboflavin kinase/FMN adenylyltransferase via CRISPR/Cas9 to enhance riboflavin production

Vitamin B_(2)is an essential water-soluble vitamin.For most prokaryotes,a bifunctional enzyme called FAD synthase catalyzes the successive conversion of riboflavin to FMN and FAD.In this study,the plasmid pNEW-AZ containing six key genes for the riboflavin synthesis was transformed into strain R2 with the deleted FMN riboswitch,yielding strain R5.The R5 strain could produce 540.23±5.40 mg/L riboflavin,which was 10.61%higher than the R4 strain containing plasmids pET-AE and pAC-Z harboring six key genes.To further enhance the production of riboflavin,homology matching and molecular docking were performed to identify key amino acid residues of FAD synthase.Nine point mutation sites were identified.By comparing riboflavin kinase activity,mutations of T203D and N210D,which respectively decreased by 29.90%and 89.32%compared to wild-type FAD synthase,were selected for CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing of the genome,generating engineered strains R203 and R210.pNEW-AZ was transformed into R203,generating R6.R6 produced 657.38±47.48 mg/L riboflavin,a 21.69%increase compared to R5.This study contributes to the high production of riboflavin in recombinant E.coli BL21.

布鲁氏菌LS蛋白(BLS)研究进展

LS蛋白(2,4-二氧四氢蝶啶合成酶)广泛存在于动物、植物和微生物中,是催化核黄素生物合成的重要合成酶之一。该酶最显著的特征之一是其在不同物种中具有空间结构差异。布鲁氏菌LS蛋白(BLS)是布鲁氏菌的一种优势抗原,是由两个五聚体组成的结构稳定的十聚体。BLS是光滑型和粗糙型布鲁氏菌所共有的抗原,用于布鲁氏菌病的诊断可提高其敏感性;BLS可以激发抗原特异性细胞应答产生IFN-γ,从而对宿主产生保护力,是一种理想的布鲁氏菌病亚单位疫苗的候选蛋白。本文综述了BLS的结构特性及应用研究进展,旨在为BLS的深入研究和开发应用提供参考。

Effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba with venlafaxine on brain injury in a rat model of depression

Background Recent studies have indicated that chronic stress may give rise to brain damage, which is related to the genesis of depression. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) and venlafaxine on depression.Methods Rats were treated with chronic and comprehensive stress to create a depression model. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampal CA3 neurons of rats treated with different drugs. Behavioral changes of these rats were also examined. Results The expression of BDNF in the hippocampal CA3 neurons of the depression model decreased with a reduction in exploring behavior and a significant increase in fecal production. The expression of neuron nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) protein also increased in the rats compared to normal controls. The rats treated with EGb and venlafaxine showed an increase in expression of BDNF and exploring behavior compared to untreated rats, but a decrease in nNOS and fecal production.Conclusions Rats sustain damage to the brain after being subjected to chronic and comprehensive stress. Our research has indicated that combined EGb with venlafaxine enhances the protection of neurons and decreases damage to the brain, while relieving the side effects of synthetic antidepressants.