精卵细胞非整倍性研究进展

非整倍性是人类染色体异常中最常见的一种类型。本文通过对精卵细胞非整倍性研究的进展进行综述，阐述非整倍性与父母年龄、减数分裂不分离和染色体基因重组的关系，并简介非整倍性机理的几种假说。

光子晶体光纤色散特性的数值分析

光子晶体光纤日益成为目前研究的热点,但一般只局限于理论上的定性分析,没有进行准确的定量计算。应用平面波法和整胞方法对二维光子晶体光纤进行了全数值模拟,计算了有效折射率、V参数以及波导色散特性。研究了上述参数与光子晶体光纤的结构参量孔距a,相对孔径f等于D/a的关系。显示出光子晶体光纤的无限单模性质和可控色散特性。

酶法合成生物表面活性剂

总结了外源酶催化法和整胞微生物代谢法合成生物表面活性剂的特点,并将外源酶催化法对整胞微生物代谢法及传统化学合成法的优势进行了比较.详细介绍了单甘酯、糖酯、(溶血)磷脂、纯异头烷基糖苷和氨基酸型表面活性剂等生物表面活性剂的酶催化合成方法及其研究进展;展望了酶工程的进步、化学 酶催化技术进展、外源多酶联合催化技术的开发与应用、酶膜反应器和其它连续酶反应器的开发,以及反应 分离耦合技术在酶催化过程中的应用将给酶法合成生物表面活性剂带来的机遇.

Regeneration and Characterization of Plants Derived from Asymmetric Protoplast Fusion in Citrus

Protoplasts of Valencia sweet orange ( Citrus sinensis Osb.),irradiated by X_ray with a dose rate of 3.8 krad/min for 45 min, were electrically fused with protoplasts of Murcott tangor ( C. reticulata×C. sinensis ) that were treated with 0.25 mmol/L iodoacetic acid for 15 min. It took nearly 15 months for the fusion_derived calli to develop into embryoids that were only originated in the medium of MT supplemented with 2% glycerol. The shoots were recalcitrant to rooting in the root_induction medium. In vitro grafting was employed to produce whole plants though one self_rooting plant was obtained. Cytological determination of root and shoot tips showed mainly diploid and aneuploid cells, together with few tetraploid cells in some plants. RAPD (random amplified polymorphism DNA) analysis with 10_mer primers demonstrated that bands specific to the fusion parents were detected in the regenerated plants, indicating that interspecific somatic hybrids have been obtained via protoplast asymmetric fusion in Citrus .

Dynamic regulation of alternative splicing and chromatin structure in Drosophila gonads revealed by RNA-seq

Both transcription and post-transcriptional processes, such as alternative splicing, play crucial roles in controlling developmental programs in metazoans. Recently emerged RNA-seq method has brought our understanding of eukaryotic transcriptomes to a new level, because it can resolve both gene expression level and alternative splicing events simultaneously. To gain a better understanding of cellular differentiation in gonads, we analyzed mRNA profiles from Drosophila testes and ovaries using RNA-seq. We identified a set of genes that have sex-specific isoforms in wild-type （WT） gonads, including several transcription factors. We found that differentiation of sperms from undifferentiated germ cells induced a dramatic downregulation of RNA splicing factors. Our data confirmed that RNA splicing events are significantly more frequent in the undifferentiated cell-enriched bag of marbles （barn） mutant testis, but downregulated upon differentiation in WT testis. Consistent with this, we showed that genes required for meiosis and terminal differentiation in WT testis were mainly regulated at the transcriptional level, but not by alternative splicing. Unexpectedly, we observed an increase in expression of all families of chromatin remodeling factors and histone modifying enzymes in the undifferentiated cell-enriched bam testis. More interestingly, chromatin regulators and histone modifying enzymes with opposite enzymatic activities are coenriched in undifferentiated cells in testis, suggesting that these cells may possess dynamic chromatin architecture. Finally, our data revealed many new features of the Drosophila gonadal transcriptomes, and will lead to a more comprehensive understanding of how differential gene expression and splicing regulate gametogenesis in Drosophila. Our data provided a foundation for the systematic study of gene expression and alternative splicing in many interesting areas of germ cell biology in Droso- phila, such as the molecular basis for sexual dimorphism and the regulation of the proliferation vs terminal differentiation programs in germline stem cell lineages. The GEO accession number for the raw and analyzed RNA-seq data is GSE16960.

Enrichment of putative human epidermal stem cells based on cell size and collagen type IV adhesiveness

The enrichment and identification of human epidermal stem cells （EpSCs） are of paramount importance for both basic research and clinical application. Although several approaches for the enrichment of EpSCs have been established, enriching a pure population of viable EpSCs is still a challenging task. An improved approach is worth developing to enhance the purity and viability of EpSCs. Here we report that cell size combined with collagen type IV adhesiveness can be used in an improved approach to enrich pure and viable human EpSCs. We separated the rap- idly adherent keratinocytes into three populations that range in size from 5-7 μm （population A）, to 7-9 μm （population B）, to ≥9μm （population C） in diameter, and found that human putative EpSCs could be further enriched in population A with the smallest size. Among the three populations, population A displayed the highest density of plintegrin receptor, contained the highest percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase, showed the highest nucleus to cytoplasm ratio, and possessed the highest colony formation efficiency （CFE）. When injected into murine blastocysts, these cells participated in multi-tissue formation. More significantly, compared with a previous approach that sorted putative EpSCs according to pl-integrin antibody staining, the viability of the EpSCs enriched by the improved approach was significantly enhanced. Our results provide a putative strategy for the enrichment of human EpSCs, and encourage further study into the role of cell size in stem cell biology.

Adhesion of different cell cycle human hepatoma cells to endothelial cells and roles of integrin β_1

AIM: To investigate the adhesive mechanical properties of different cell cycle human hepatoma cells (SMMC-7721) to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECV-304), expression of adhesive molecule integrinβ1 in SMMC-7721 cells and its contribution to this adhesive course. METHODS: Adhesive force of SMMC-7721 cells to endothelial cells was measured using micropipette aspiration technique. Synchronous G1 and S phase SMMC-7721 cells were achieved by thymine-2-deoxyriboside and colchicines sequential blockage method and double thymine-2-deoxyriboside blockage method, respectively. Synchronous rates of SMMC-7721 cells and expression of integrinβ1 in SMMC-7721 cells were detected by flow cytometer. RESULTS: The percentage of cell cycle phases of general SMMC-7721 cells was 11.01% in G2/M phases, 53.51% in G0/G1 phase, and 35.48% in S phase. The synchronous rates of G1 and S phase SMMC-7721 cells amounted to 74.09% and 98.29%, respectively. The adhesive force of SMMC-7721 cells to endothelial cells changed with the variations of adhesive time and presented behavior characteristics of adhesion and de-adhesion. S phase SMMC-7721 cells had higher adhesive forces than d phase cells [(307.65±92.10)×10-10N vs(195.42±60.72)×10-10N, P<0.01]. The expressive fluorescent intensity of integrinβ1 in G1 phase SMMC-7721 cells was depressed more significantly than the values of S phase and general SMMC-7721cells. The contribution of adhesive integrinβ1 was about 53% in this adhesive course. CONCLUSION: SMMC-7721 cells can be synchronized preferably in d and S phases with thymine-2-deoxyriboside and colchicines. The adhesive molecule integrinβ1 expresses a high level in SMMC-7721 cells and shows differences in various cell cycles, suggesting integrin β1 plays an important role in adhesion to endothelial cells. The change of adhesive forces in different cell cycle SMMC-7721 cells indicates that S phase cells play predominant roles possibly while they interact with endothelial cells.

αV integrin:A new gastrin target in human pancreatic cancer cells

AIM： To analyse αv integrin expression induced by gas- trin in pancreatic cancer models.METHODS： αv integrin mRNA expression in human pan- creatic cancer cells was analysed using a ＂cancer genes＂ array and confirmed by real-time reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction （PCR）. Western blotting and semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry were used to examine protein levels in human pancreatic cancer cell lines and pancreatic tissues, respectively, The role of αv integrin on gastrin-induced cell adhesion was examined using blocking anti-αv integrin monoclonal antibodies. Adherent cells were quantified by staining with crystal violet.RESULTS： Using a ＂cancer genes＂ array we identi- fied c^v integrin as a new gastrin target gene in human pancreatic cancer cells. A quantitative real-time PCR approach was used to confirm αv integrin gene expression. We also demonstrate that Src family kinases and the PI 3-kinase, two signalling pathways specifically activated by the CCK-2 receptor （CCK2R）, are involved in gastrin-mediated αv integrin expression. In contrast, inhibition of the ERK pathway was without any effect on αv integrin expression induced by gastrin. Our results also show that gastrin modulates cell adhesion via αv integrins. Indeed, in vitro adhesion assays performed on fibronectin show that gastrin significantly increases adhesion of pancreatic cancer cells. The use of blocking anti-αv integrin monoclonal antibodies completely reversed the increase in cell-substrate adhesion induced by gastrin. In addition, we showed in vivo that the targeted CCK2R expression in the pancreas of Elas-CCK2 mice, leads to the overexpression of αv integrin. This process may contribute to pancreatic turnout development observed in these transgenic animals.CONCLUSION： αv integrin is a new gastrin target in pancreatic cancer models and contributes to gastrin effects on cell adhesion.

The Effect of Benzyltetrahydropalmatine (BTHP) on Action Potentials and the Two Components of Delayed Rectifying Potassium Currents in Guinea Pig Ventricular Myocytes

The effects of BTHP on Ca 2+ independent action potential and the two components of delayed rectifier potassium currents were studied in guinea pig single ventricular myocytes by using whole cell patch clamp technique. BTHP 30 μmol·L -1 significantly prolonged APD 90 from 143±16 ms to 184±21 ms ( P 【0.01, n=5) without affecting either the RP or APA, and the APD prolonging effects of BTHP were independent of extracellular Ca 2+ . BTHP inhibited both I kr (IC 50 =7 9 μmol·L -1 ) and I ks (IC 50 =22 4 μmol·L -1 ) in a concentration dependent fashion. The results demon strated that BTHP had no obvious selectivity for I kr and I ks .

The α_Mβ_2 integrin and its role in neutrophil function

Neutrophils are the first cell type to arrive at the in-jury sites and play a critical role in host defense, by virtueof its ability to adhere and transmigrate through endothe-lium, to phagocytose foreign pathogens, and to producefree oxygen radicals and proteolytic enzymes. Yet, inap-propriate neutrophil activation causes tissue damage andvarious inflammatory diseases. These physiological andpathological functions of neutrophils depend on the en-gagement of certain surface receptors, especially αMβ2,the ma jor β2 integrin receptor present on neutrophil sur-face. Understanding of the molecular mechanisms under-lying ligand binding by αMβ2, as well as the roles of αMβ2-ligand interactions in neutrophil functions will enable usto regulate more precisely neutrophil activities: that is,to promote their host defense functions, and at the sametime to minimize their deleterious effects on normal cells.

Organ-specific enhancement of metastasis by spontaneous ploidy duplication and cell size enlargement

Aneuploidy is commonly observed in breast cancer and is associated with poor prognosis. One frequent type of aneuploidy, hypertetraploidy, may derive from ploidy duplication of hyperdiploid cells. However, the pathological consequences of ploidy duplication in breast cancer progression have not been characterized. Here, we present an experimental system demonstrating spontaneous appearance of hypertetraploid cells from organ-specific metastatic variants of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line through ploidy duplication in vitro and in vivo. The hypertetraploid progenies showed increased metastatic potential to lung and brain, but not to bone, which may be partially explained by the distinct capillary structures in these organs that confer differential lodging advantages to tumor cells with enlarged size. Our results suggest a potential mechanistic link between ploidy duplication and enhancement of metastatic potentials, as was observed in previous clinical studies of breast cancer.

Expression of β2-integrin on leukocytes in liver cirrhosis

AIM： To analyze β2-integrin expression on blood leukocytes in liver drrhosis.METHODS： In 40 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 healthy individuals, the evaluation of expression of CD11a （LFA-1α）, CD11b （Mac-1α）, CD11c （αX） and CD49d （VLA-4α） on peripheral blood leukocytes was performed using flow cytometry. The analysis was carried out in groups of patients divided into B and C according to Child-Pugh＇s classification. RESULTS： An increased CDlla, CD11b, CD11c and CD49d integrin expression was observed on peripheral blood leukocytes in liver cirrhosis. The integrin levels were elevated as the advancement of liver failure progressed. The highest expression of integrins occurred predominantly on monocytes. A slight expression of VLA-4 was found on lymphocytes and granulocytes and it increased together with liver failure. A positive correlation was noted between median intensity of fluorescence （MIF） expression on polymorphonuclear cells of CD11a and CD11c and CD49d （r = 0.42, P 〈 0.01; r = 053, P 〈 0.01, respectively） in liver cirrhosis stage C. However, no correlation was observed between integrin expression on leukocytes. The concentrations of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and TNFα, were significantly elevated in liver cirrhosis. CONCLUSION： β2-integrin expression on leukocytes increases in liver cirrhosis decornpensated as the stage of liver failure increases, which is a result of permanent activation of leukooytes circulating through the inflamed liver environment.β2-integrin expression on circulating leukocytes can intensify liver cirrhosis,

A critical role of PUMA in maintenance of genomic integrity of murine spermatogonial stem cell precursors after genotoxic stress

Neonatal gonocytes are precursors of spermatogonial stem cells. Preserving their integrity by elimination of damaged germ cells may be crucial to avoid the transmission of genetic alterations to progeny. Using 7-irradiation, we investigated by immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and real-time PCR components of the death machinery in neonatal gonocytes. Their death was correlated with caspase 3 activation but not with AIF translocation into the nu- cleus. The in vivo contribution of both the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathways was then investigated. We focused on the roles of TRAIL/Death Receptor 5 （DR5） and PUMA. Our results were validated using knockout mice. Whereas DR5 expression was upregulated at the cell surface after radiation, caspase 8 was not activated. However, we detected caspase 9 cleavage associated with cytochrome c release. In mice deficient for PUMA, radiation-induced gonocyte apoptosis was reduced, whereas invalidation of TRAIL had no effect. Overall, our results show that genotoxic stressinduced apoptosis of gonocytes is caspase-dependent and involves almost exclusively the intrinsic pathway. Furthermore, PUMA plays a critical role in the maintenance of genomic integrity of spermatogonial stem cell precursors.

Mechanistic Insights of Cells in Porous Scaffolds via Integrated Culture Technologies

This research aimed to combine 3 cell and tissue culture technologies to obtain mechanistic insights of cells in porous scaffolds. When cultivated on 2D （2-dimensional） surfaces, HDFs （human dermal fibroblasts） behaved individually and had no strict requirement on seeding density for proliferation; while HaCat cells relied heavily on initial densities for proliferation and colony formation, which was facilitated when co-cultured with HDFs. Experiments using a 3D CCIS （3-dimensional cell culture and imaging system） indicated that HDFs colonised openpores of varying sizes （125-420 ~tm） on modular substrates via bridge structures; while HaCat cells formed aperture structures and only colonised small pores （125 txm）. When co-cultured, HDFs not only facilitated HaCat attachment on the substrates, but also coordinated with HaCat cells to colonise open pores of varying sizes via bridge and aperture structures. Based on these observations, a 2-stage strategy for the culture of HDFs and HaCat cells on porous scaffolds was proposed and applied successfully on a cellulosic scaffold. This research demonstrated that cell colonisation in scaffolds was dependent on multiple factors; while the integrated 2D＆3D culture technologies and the 3D CCIS was an effective and efficient approach to obtain mechanistic insights of their influences on tissue regeneration.

Role of integrin β1 in sensitivity to chemotherapy of pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549

Objective:The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of integrin β1 on influencing the sensitivity to chemotherapy of human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 cells.Methods:Human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 multicellular spheroids(MCS) were constructed with three dimensional cell culture methods.Cell counting using blood cell counter was employed to detect the sensitivity to ADM of A549 MCS before and after blocking integrin β1;integrin β1 expression of A549 MCS and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Results:A549 MCS were successfully established.The integrin β1 expression of A549 MCS elevated with the concentration of ADM(< 0.02 μg/mL).Blocking of integrin β1 lead to higher sensitivity to ADM,and IC50 decreased from 0.19 μg/mL to 0.11 μg/mL,and apoptosis rate increased from(15.81 ± 1.87)% to(30.14 ± 2.89)%.Conclusion:The cell adhesion molecules integrin β1 could influence the sensitivity to chemotherapy of A549 MCS and inhibiting of cell apoptosis might be its mechanism.

Integrin-linked kinase in gastric cancer cell attachment,invasion and tumor growth

AIM： To investigate the effects of integrin-linked kinase （ILK） on gastric cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS： ILK small interfering RNA （siRNA） was transfected into human gastric cancer BGC-823 cells and ILK expression was monitored by real-time quan- titative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting analysis and immunocytochemistry. Cell attachment, proliferation, invasion, microfilament dynamics and the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） were also measured. Gastric cancer cells treated with ILK siRNA were subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice and tumor growth was assessed. RESULTS： Both ILK mRNA and protein levels were significantly down-regulated by ILK siRNA in human gastric cancer cells. This significantly inhibited cell attachment, proliferation and invasion. The knockdown of ILK also disturbed F-actin assembly and reduced VEGF secretion in conditioned medium by 40% （P 〈 0.05）. Four weeks after injection of ILK siRNA-transfected gastric cancer cells into nude mice, tumor volume and weight were significantly reduced compared with that of tumors induced by cells treated with non-silencing siRNA or by untreated cells （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Targeting ILK with siRNA suppresses the growth of gastric cancer cells both in v/tro and /n vivo. ILK plays an important role in gastric cancer progression.

rAdinbitor, a novel disintegrin from Agkistrodon halys brevicaudus stejneger inhibits adhesion and proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells

Objective： To investigate the effects of rAdinbitor on the adhesion and proliferation of human hepatoma cell strain 8MMC-7721. Methods： Cell adhesion assay was used to observe the effect of rAdinbitor on the adhesion of 8MMC-7721 cells to fibronectin （FN）. Crystal violet staining was performed to detect the influence of rAdinbitor on the adhesion of 8MMC- 7721 cells. MTT assay was employed to detect the inhibitory effects of different concentration of rAdinbitor on the proliferation of 8MMC-7721 cells. The morphologic changes of the control 8MMC-7721 cells and the apoptotic cells induced by 200μg/mL rAdinbitor for 36 h were observed under light microscope after HE staining. Flow cytometry analysis was applied to determine the apoptosis rate of 8MMC-7721 cells. Results： （1） FN promoted the adhesion of human hepatoma cell strain 8MMC-7721 in a dose-dependent manner. （2） rAdinbitor could dose-dependently inhibit the adhesion of SMMC-7721 cells to FN. The higher the concentration was, the stronger the inhibition was. There was significant difference among the groups （P 〈 0.05）. （3） rAdinbitor had a strong inhibition on the proliferation of 8MMC-7721 cells and showed a dose-dependent manner （P 〈 0.05）. After a 48 h exposure, the IC50 value of rAdinbitor was 177.83 μg/mL. （4） After exposure of 8MMC-7721 cells to 200μg/mL rAdinbitor for 36 h, the early morphologic changes appeared and the apoptosis rate was 20.68%, significantly higher than that of the control group （2.38%, P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion： rAdinbitor can dose-dependently inhibit the 8MMC-7721 cells adhesion to FN, and can inhibit the proliferation in dose-dependent manner and promote their apoptosis.

STUDY ON FUNCTION OF FOCAL ADHENSIVE KINASE AND INTEGRIN α_1 IN HYPERTROPHIC SCAR FIBROBLASTS

Objective To study the function of focal adhesion kinase （FAK） in the formation of hypertrophic scar and its interrelationship with integrin α1. Methods Original fibroblasts from human hypertrophic scar and human normal dermis were cultured, and immunocytochemistry was applied to detect localization of expres- sion of FAK and integrin α1 in hypertrophic scar and human normal skin fibroblasts. The expression of integrin α1 was detected before and after FAK antibody blocking hypertrophic scar fibroblasts （HSFB） 48 h later. Meanwhile the collagen synthesis was evaluated by [^3 H]-proline incorporation and HSFB cell proliferation was measured by MTT method. Results The expression of FAK and integrin aI of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts was higher than that of the normal skin fibroblasts significantly （ P 〈 0.01 ）. The expression of integrin α1 was reduced after FAK being blocked （ P 〈 0.01 ）. Meanwhile the collagen synthesis of human scar-derived fibroblasts by [^3H] -proline incor- poration was depressed respectively （ P 〈 0. 01 ）. The cell proliferation was inhibited by using 1：100 and 1：200 FAK antibody with MTI＂ method （ P 〈 0. 01 ）. Conclusion FAK is the key point of signal transmission pathway mediated by integrin α1 , which regulates protein synthesis of integrin α1 , it may play an important role in the proliferation and constriction of hypertrophic scar. FAK antibody can inhibit the collagen synthesis and cell proliferation of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts.

Integrin Activation and Viral Infection

Integrins are members of a ubiquitous membrane receptor family which includes 18 different α subunits and 8 β subunits forming more than 20 α/β heterodimers. Integrins play key functions in vascular endothelial cell and tumour cell adhesion, lymphocyte trafficking, tumor growth and viral infection. Current understanding of the molecular basis of integrins as viral receptors has been achieved through many decades of study into the biology of transmembrane glycoproteins and their interactions with several viruses. This review provides a summary of the current knowledge on the molecular bases of interactions between viruses and integrins, which are of potential practical significance. Inhibition of virus-integrin interactions at the points of virus attachment or entry will provide a novel approach for the therapeutic treatment of viral diseases.

Moxibustion eases chronic inflammatory visceral pain through regulating MEK, ERK and CREB in rats

AIM To investigate the effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion(HPM) on phosphorylation of mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(MEK)1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)1/2 and c AMP response element binding protein(CREB) in spinal cord of rats with chronic inflammatory visceral pain(CIVP), and to explore the central mechanism of HPM in treating CIVP.METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into normal, model, HPM, sham-HPM, MEK-inhibitor and dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) groups. The CIVP model was established using an enema mixture of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid and ethanol. HPM was applied at bilateral Tianshu(ST25) and Qihai(CV6) acupoints in the HPM group, while in the sham-HPM group, moxa cones and herb cakes were only placed on the same points but not ignited. The MEK-inhibitor and DMSO groups received L5-L6 intrathecal injection of U0126 and 30% DMSO, respectively. Abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR), mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency(TWL) were applied for the assessment of pain behavior. The colonic tissue was observed under an optical microscope after hematoxylin-eosin staining. Expression of phosphor(p)MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB in rat spinal cord was detected using Western blotting. The levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Compared with the normal group, the AWR scores were increased significantly(P < 0.01) and the MWT and TWL scores were decreased significantly(P < 0.05) in the model, sham-HPM and DMSO groups. Compared with the model group, the AWR scores were decreased significantly(P < 0.01) and the MWT and TWL scores were increased significantly in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups(P < 0.05). Compared with the sham-HPM and DMSO groups, the AWR scores were decreased significantly(P < 0.01) and the MWT and TWL scores were increased significantly(P < 0.05) in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups. Compared with the normal group, the expression of p MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB proteins and the levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were increased significantly in the model, sham-HPM and DMSO groups(P < 0.01 or < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of p MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB proteins and the levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were reduced significantly in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups(P < 0.01 or < 0.05). Compared with the sham-HPM and DMSO groups, expression of p MEK1, p ERK1/2 and p CREB proteins and the levels of MEK, ERK and CREB m RNA in rat spinal cord were reduced significantly in the HPM and MEK-inhibitor groups(P < 0.01 or < 0.05). CONCLUSION HPM down-regulates protein phosphorylation of MEK1, ERK1/2 and CREB, and m RNA expression of MEK, ERK and CREB, inhibiting activation of the MEK/ERK/CREB signaling pathway in the spinal cord of CIVP rats, which is possibly a critical central mechanism of the analgesic effect of HPM.