Baicalin suppresses iron accumulation after substantia nigra injury: relationship between iron concentration and transferrin expression

Previous studies have shown that baicalin prevented iron accumulation after substantia nigra injury, reduced divalent metal transporter 1 expression, and increased ferroportin 1 expression in the substantia nigra of rotenone-induced Parkinson＇s disease rats. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between iron accumulation and transferrin expression in C6 cells, to explore the mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of baicalin on iron accumulation observed in Parkinson＇s disease rats. Iron content was detected using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. Results showed that iron content decreased 41% after blocking divalent metal transporter 1 and ferroportin 1 proteins. After treatment with ferric ammonium citrate of differing concentrations （10, 50, 100, 400 ktg/mL） in C6 glioma cells, cell survival rate and ferroportin 1 expression were negatively correlated with ferric ammonium citrate concentration, but divalent metal transporter 1 expression positively correlated with ferric ammonium citrate concentration. Baicalin or deferoxamine reduced divalent metal transporter 1 expression, but increased ferroportin 1 expression in the 100 μg/mL ferric ammonium citrate-loaded C6 cells. These results indicate that baicalin down-regulated iron concentration, which positively regulat- ed divalent metal transporter 1 expression and negatively regulated ferroportin 1 expression, and decreased iron accumulation in the substantia nigra.

Friedrich Ackermann’s scientific research program

We sketch Friedrich Ackermann’s research program following the concept of Imre Lakatos,with some historical key developments in the theory and application of aerotriangulation and image matching.The research program,with its core being statistical estimation theory,has decisively influenced photogrammetry since the 60s,is still fully alive,and a challenge for today’s methods of image interpretation.We describe(1)Lakatos’concept of a scientific research program,with its negative and positive heuristics and(2)Ackermann’s research program,clearly made explicit in his PhD,with its mathematical model,the ability to predict theoretical precision and reliability,the potential of analyzing rigorous and approximate method,and the role of testing.The development of aerotriangulation,later augmented by image matching techniques,is closely connected to Ackermann’s successful attempts to integrate basic research and practical applications.