Effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide and nerve growth factor on spatial learning and memory abilities of rats following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion

BACKGROUND: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nerve growth actor (NGF) cam improve spatial learning and memory abilities of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion; however, the effect of combination of them on relieving learning and memory injury following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion should be further studied. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of exogenous CGRP and NGF on learning and memory abilities of rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal study. SETTING: Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Hospital of Xiamen; Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Department of Neurobiology, Basic Medical College of China Medical University. MATERIALS: A total of 30 healthy male SD rats, aged 8 weeks, of clean grade, weighing 250-300 g, were provided by Experimental Animal Department of China Medical University. All rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, ischemia/reperfusion group and treatment group with 10 in each group. The main reagents were detailed as the follows: 100 g/L chloral hydrate, 0.5 mL CGRP (2 mg/L, Sigma Company, USA), and NGF (1× 106 U/L, 0.5 mL, Siweite Company, Dalian). METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Department of Neurobiology, Basic Medical College of China Medical University from February to July 2005. Rat models of middle cerebral artery occlusion were established by method of occlusion, 2 hours after that rats were anesthetized and the thread was slightly drawn out for 10 mm under direct staring to perform reperfusion. Rats in the ischemia/reperfusion group received intraperitoneal injection of 1 mL saline via the abdomen at two hours later, while rats in the treatment group at 2 hours later received intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/L CGRP (0.5 mL) and 1×106 U/L NGF (0.5 mL) once a day for 10 successive days. First administration was accomplished within 15 minutes after ischemia/reperfusion. Rats in the sham-operation group were separated of the vessels without occlusion or administration. The neural function was evaluated with Zea Longa 5-grade scale. Animals with the score of one, two and three points received Morris water-maze test to measure searching time on platform (omitting platform-escaping latency). Meanwhile, leaning and memory abilities of animals were reflected through testing times of passing through platform per minute. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Experimental results of omitting platform-escaping latency and spatial probe. RESULTS: Three and two rats in the ischemia/reperfusion group and treatment group respectively were not in accordance with the criteria in the process, and the rest were involved in the final analysis. ① Comparisons of platform-escaping latency during Morris water-maze test in all the three groups: Ten days after modeling, the platform-escaping latency in the ischemia/reperfusion group was obviously longer than that in sham-operation group (P < 0.01), and was significantly shorter than that in the treatment group (P < 0.01). ② Comparisons of times of passing through platform in all the three groups: Times of passing through platform were remarkably less in the ischemia/reperfusion group than those in the sham-operation group [(1.79±0.39), (4.30±0.73) times/minute, P < 0.01], and those were markedly more in the treatment group than the ischemia/reperfusion group [(3.16±1.03), (1.79±0.39) times/minute, P < 0.01]. CONCLUSION: CGRP and NGF are capable of ameliorating the abilities of spatial learning and memory in MCAO rats, which indicates that CGRP and NGF can protect ischemic neurons.

Visible light cross-linking and bioactive peptides loaded integrated hydrogel with sequential release to accelerate wound healing complicated by bacterial infection

The effective management of bacterial infections that are resistant to multiple drugs remains a substantial clinical challenge.The eradication of drug-resistant bacteria and subsequent promotion of angiogenesis are imperative for the regeneration of the infected wounds.Here,a novel and facile peptide containing injectable hydrogel with sustained antibacterial and angiogenic capabilities is developed.The antibacterial peptide that consists of 11 residues(CM11,WKLFKKILKVL)is loaded onto acrylate-modified gelatin through charge interactions.A vascular endothelial growth factor mimetic peptide KLT(KLTWQELYQLKYKGI)with a GCG(Gly-Cys-Gly)modification at the N-terminal is covalently coupled through a visible light-induced thiol-ene reaction.In this reaction,the acrylate gelatin undergoes cross-linkage within seconds.Based on the physical/chemical double crosslinking strategy,the bioactive peptides achieve sustained and sequential release.The results show that the hydrogel significantly inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)growth through the rapid release of CM11 peptides at early stage;it forms obvious growth inhibition zones against pathogenic bacterial strains.Moreover,cell counting kit-8 assay and scratch test confirm that the CM11/KLT-functionalized hydrogels promote cell proliferation and migration through the later release of KLT peptides.In a mouse skin wound infected with self-luminous MRSA,the CM11/KLT-functionalized hydrogels enhance wound healing,with rapidly bacterial infection reduction,lower expression of inflammatory factors,and neovascularization promotion.These results suggest that the rationally designed,sustained and sequential release CM11/KLT-functionalized hydrogels have huge potential in promoting the healing of multi-drug resistant bacterial infected wounds.