AIM： To investigate the mechanism behind β-cell regeneration in neonatal rat pancreas treated with strep- tozotocin （STZ）. METHODS： Neonatal Sprague Dawley rats were intra- peritoneally injected with 70 mg/kg STZ...AIM： To investigate the mechanism behind β-cell regeneration in neonatal rat pancreas treated with strep- tozotocin （STZ）. METHODS： Neonatal Sprague Dawley rats were intra- peritoneally injected with 70 mg/kg STZ. Body weight, pancreas weight and blood glucose were recorded every two days after the treatment. To identify the expression and location of transcription factors in the rat pancreas, double immunofluorescent staining was performed using antibodies to specific cell markers and transcription factors. RESULTS： Expression of Neurogenin 3 （Ngn3）, a marker for endocrine precursor cells, was observed by immunofluorescence in a few β-cells and many a-cells. The expression reached a peak 12 d after treatment. Pax4, a transcription factor that lies downstream of Ngn3 and plays an important role in β-cell differentiation, was also expressed in the α-cells of STZ-treated rats. We did not observe significant changes in Nkx6.1, which is essential for β-cell maturation in the treated rats. CONCLUSION： α-cells dedifferentiated into endocrine precursor cells and acquired the ability to dedifferentiate in the neonatal rat pancreas after STZ treatment.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the mechanism of liver regeneration induced by fusing the omentum to a small traumatic injury created in the liver. We studied three groups of rats. In one group the rats were omentectomized; in ano...AIM:To investigate the mechanism of liver regeneration induced by fusing the omentum to a small traumatic injury created in the liver. We studied three groups of rats. In one group the rats were omentectomized; in another group the omentum was left in situ and was not activated,and in the third group the omentum was activated by polydextran particles. METHODS:We pre-activated the omentum by injecting polydextran particles and then made a small wedge wound in the rat liver to allow the omentum to fuse to the wound. We monitored the regeneration of the liver by determining the ratio of liver weight/body weight,by histological evaluation (including immune staining for cytokeratin-19,an oval cell marker),and by testing for developmental gene activation using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS:There was no liver regeneration in the omentectomized rats,nor was there significant regeneration when the omentum was not activated,even though in this instance the omentum had fusedwith the liver. In contrast,the liver in the rats with the activated omentum expanded to a size 50% greater than the original,and there was histologically an interlying tissue between the wounded liver and the activated omentum in which bile ducts,containing cytokeratin-19 positive oval cells,extended from the wound edge. In this interlying tissue,oval cells were abundant and appeared to proliferate to form new liver tissue. In rats pre-treated with drugs that inhibited hepatocyte growth,liver proliferation was ongoing,indicating that regeneration of the liver was the result of oval cell expansion. CONCLUSION:Activated omentum facilitates liver regeneration following injury by a mechanism that depends largely on oval cell proliferation.展开更多
基金Supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China,No. 81070620
文摘AIM： To investigate the mechanism behind β-cell regeneration in neonatal rat pancreas treated with strep- tozotocin （STZ）. METHODS： Neonatal Sprague Dawley rats were intra- peritoneally injected with 70 mg/kg STZ. Body weight, pancreas weight and blood glucose were recorded every two days after the treatment. To identify the expression and location of transcription factors in the rat pancreas, double immunofluorescent staining was performed using antibodies to specific cell markers and transcription factors. RESULTS： Expression of Neurogenin 3 （Ngn3）, a marker for endocrine precursor cells, was observed by immunofluorescence in a few β-cells and many a-cells. The expression reached a peak 12 d after treatment. Pax4, a transcription factor that lies downstream of Ngn3 and plays an important role in β-cell differentiation, was also expressed in the α-cells of STZ-treated rats. We did not observe significant changes in Nkx6.1, which is essential for β-cell maturation in the treated rats. CONCLUSION： α-cells dedifferentiated into endocrine precursor cells and acquired the ability to dedifferentiate in the neonatal rat pancreas after STZ treatment.
基金Supported by An Unrestricted Grant from the Hektoen Institute of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
文摘AIM:To investigate the mechanism of liver regeneration induced by fusing the omentum to a small traumatic injury created in the liver. We studied three groups of rats. In one group the rats were omentectomized; in another group the omentum was left in situ and was not activated,and in the third group the omentum was activated by polydextran particles. METHODS:We pre-activated the omentum by injecting polydextran particles and then made a small wedge wound in the rat liver to allow the omentum to fuse to the wound. We monitored the regeneration of the liver by determining the ratio of liver weight/body weight,by histological evaluation (including immune staining for cytokeratin-19,an oval cell marker),and by testing for developmental gene activation using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS:There was no liver regeneration in the omentectomized rats,nor was there significant regeneration when the omentum was not activated,even though in this instance the omentum had fusedwith the liver. In contrast,the liver in the rats with the activated omentum expanded to a size 50% greater than the original,and there was histologically an interlying tissue between the wounded liver and the activated omentum in which bile ducts,containing cytokeratin-19 positive oval cells,extended from the wound edge. In this interlying tissue,oval cells were abundant and appeared to proliferate to form new liver tissue. In rats pre-treated with drugs that inhibited hepatocyte growth,liver proliferation was ongoing,indicating that regeneration of the liver was the result of oval cell expansion. CONCLUSION:Activated omentum facilitates liver regeneration following injury by a mechanism that depends largely on oval cell proliferation.
