新型小分子化合物对银屑病模型小鼠尾部鳞片颗粒层细胞的影响

银屑病是一种慢性易复发的炎性皮肤疾病,为了探讨新型小分子化合物FMS样的酪氨酸激酶3(fms-like tyrosine kinase 3,FLT3)抑制剂对银屑病的治疗作用,采用了小鼠尾部鳞片表皮颗粒层形成模型,分别进行口服及外用给药,并取尾部皮肤制作病理切片,计算有颗粒层形成的鳞片数。结果显示:口服给药及外用给药组小鼠尾部鳞片颗粒细胞数均显著高于空白对照组(P0.01),同时实验组小鼠颗粒细胞体积增大,胞浆内颗粒粗大且染色较深,细胞分界清楚,细胞核及核仁明显,但是各实验组内不同浓度间差异不显著,此外口服给药及外用给药组小鼠内脏器官均未出现明显的毒副作用。以上结果说明该新型小分子化合物FLT3抑制剂能使小鼠尾部鳞片颗粒细胞显著增多,而且口服和外用制剂均能有效拮抗银屑病,并对小鼠内脏器官无明显的毒副作用。     

柚皮苷及其与吴茱萸碱联合用药对APP~（swe）/PS~（ΔE9）转基因痴呆模型小鼠学习记忆能力的影响

目的探讨柚皮苷及柚皮苷与吴茱萸碱联合用药对APPswe/PSΔE9转基因痴呆模型小鼠学习记忆能力的影响,研究柚皮苷与吴茱萸碱联合使用是否具有协同或叠加作用。方法 APPswe/PSΔE9转基因痴呆模型小鼠随机分组,每组12只,雌雄各半,分别选择在3月龄和5月龄两个时间段开始进行治疗,各给药组按设定剂量分别单独或联合加入鼠粮中。3月龄给药16周、5月龄给药4周后进行水迷宫实验,以安理申作为阳性药对照,并与安慰剂组小鼠进行比较。Thioflavin-S荧光染色检测单独使用柚皮苷治疗转基因小鼠脑组织老年斑的形成。结果单独使用柚皮苷4周和16周,缩短寻找平台的潜伏期分别为22%、32%;单独使用吴茱萸碱4周和16周,缩短寻找平台的潜伏期分别为33%、10%。柚皮苷治疗16周减少海马老年斑26%。柚皮苷与吴茱萸碱联合应用能够显著缩短寻找平台的潜伏期47%。结论单独使用柚皮苷或吴茱萸碱均能改善痴呆模型小鼠的学习记忆能力,柚皮苷长期的使用优于短期的治疗效果,但是吴茱萸碱短期有效,长期作用反而下降;柚皮苷与吴茱萸碱联合应用能够显著改善APPswe/PSΔE9痴呆模型小鼠的学习记忆能力,但联合用药组并未表现出强于单独给药组的协同保护效应。     

大鼠内毒素血症不同时期血浆CGRP和背根神经节CGRP mRNA水平的变化

本文采用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）方法测定大鼠内毒素血症不同时期胸腰段背根神经节降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）mRNA水平的改变,结合血浆CGRP水平的改变,以期全面了解大鼠内毒素血症不同时期CGRP释放与合成的变化。结果显示：注射内毒素（5mg／kg）后30min时,大鼠血浆CGRP开始增高,而背根神经节CGRPmRNA水平无明显变化;注射内毒素后3h时,血浆CGRP及背根神经节CGRPmRNA均明显增高．分别为142％和32％,8h时则进一步增高,分别为216％和85％。提示内毒素不仅刺激外周组织释放CGRP,而且还能通过某些机制激活背根神经节CGRPmRNA的转录,使CGRP合成增加,以作为CGRP大量释放的重要补充来源。     

齐墩果酸通过调控STAT3通路改善咪喹莫特诱导的银屑病样小鼠皮损表现

摘要 目的：观察齐墩果酸对咪喹莫特诱导的银屑病样小鼠的皮损及STAT3通路的干预作用。方法：72只BALB/c雄性小鼠,按随机数字表法随机分为空白组、模型组、甲氨蝶呤组、齐墩果酸低、中、高剂量组,每组12只,于背部备皮。除空白组外,其余各组小鼠每日于背部备皮区域涂抹5%咪喹莫特乳膏诱导银屑病样皮损;甲氨蝶呤组及齐墩果酸各浓度组每日灌胃对应药物0.2 mL/只;每日观察皮损状态并拍照记录,每日对小鼠皮损面积及严重程度（Psoriasis Area and Severity Index,PASI）进行评分;造模第4、7天取小鼠皮损区域皮肤,免疫印迹法检测皮损中STAT3信号通路中STAT3磷酸化表达情况;第7天称量小鼠体重及脾重,计算脾指数,同时取小鼠皮损区域皮肤;苏木素-伊红（HE）染色观察皮损组织病理学改变,并测量表皮厚度;免疫组织化学法及免疫组织荧光法检测皮损中CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺T细胞浸润情况及Ki67表达情况;实时荧光定量PCR法检测皮损中白介素-17（Interleukin-17,IL-17）mRNA相对表达情况。结果：与空白组相比,造模后模型组小鼠背部皮肤出现红斑、鳞屑、浸润性皮损,第4天及第7天PASI评分升高（P<0.01）;第7天模型组表皮厚度明显增加,体重下降,脾指数上升,皮损中Ki67、CD3⁺、CD4+⁺、CD8⁺T细胞表达量升高,皮损中IL-17的mRNA相对表达量升高（均P<0.01）;第4及第7天,模型组小鼠皮损中p-STAT3的表达量均明显升高（P<0.05,P<0.01）;与模型组相比,第4天各治疗组在PASI评分略降低（P>0.05）,第7天各治疗组PASI评分明显降低（均P<0.01）;第7天齐墩果酸各剂量组小鼠体重略有上升（P>0.05）;甲氨蝶呤组小鼠脾指数明显下降（P<0.01）,齐墩果酸低、中剂量组小鼠脾指数略下降（P>0.05）;各治疗组小鼠表皮厚度较模型组明显下降（P<0.01或P<0.05）,小鼠皮肤中Ki-67表达量、CD4⁺、CD8⁺T细胞表达量均明显降低（均P<0.01）;甲氨蝶呤组、齐墩果酸低、中、高剂量组小鼠皮损中CD3⁺T细胞表达量均下降（P<0.05,P>0.05,P<0.01,P<0.01）,其中在齐墩果酸各剂量组中,中剂量组在脾指数下降、表皮厚度变薄、CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺T细胞减少方面均略优于低、高剂量组（P>0.05）;甲氨蝶呤组及齐墩果酸中剂量组小鼠皮损中IL-17的mRNA水平较模型组明显下降（P<0.01,P<0.05）;造模给药第4天,甲氨蝶呤组小鼠皮损中p-STAT3水平较模型组明显下降（P<0.05）,齐墩果酸中剂量组略下降（P>0.05）;造模给药第7天,两个治疗组小鼠皮损中p-STAT3水平较模型组均明显下降（均P<0.01）。结论：齐墩果酸低、中、高剂量均可以改善咪喹莫特诱导的小鼠银屑病样皮损的严重程度,减轻炎性细胞浸润,中剂量组疗效较好,其机制可能通过抑制STAT3通路中p-STAT3的表达从而降低了IL-17的含量,且药效随作用时间的延长而逐渐增加。     

富氢盐水对咪喹莫特诱导小鼠银屑病的抑制作用

为了探讨富氢盐水是否可以减轻咪喹莫特诱导小鼠银屑病的发生发展及其作用机制,通过对8~12周龄的雄性BALB/C小鼠腹腔注射富氢盐水和生理盐水7 d后,背部给予5%的咪喹莫特乳膏（imiquimod cream,IMQ）的同时,继续给予富氢盐水或者生理盐水腹腔注射7 d。采用改良的银屑病皮损严重程度评分对银屑病模型小鼠的疾病临床参数进行独立评分。皮肤组织切片用苏木精-伊红染色,并利用Baker进行评分。应用ELISA试剂盒以及定量RT-PCR检测炎症细胞因子的表达水平。通过丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）试剂盒以及对氧磷酶-1（paraoxonase-1,PON-1）活性进行血浆氧化指标的测定。结果显示,生理盐水组和富氢盐水组咪喹莫特诱导的小鼠银屑病模型临床和组织学改变均符合银屑病的表现,同时富氢盐水组的这些表现较生理盐水组均明显减轻（P<0.05）;与生理盐水组小鼠相比,富氢盐水组小鼠的组织中炎症因子白细胞介素-1（interleukin-1, IL-1）、IL-6、IL-17A水平以及血浆中IL-1、IL-6、IL-17A和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平均明显降低（P<0.05）;富氢盐水组小鼠的组织中IL-1、IL-6、IL-17 mRNA水平均低于生理盐水组;富氢盐水组MDA水平低于生理盐水组,而PON-1活性高于生理盐水组。研究结果表明,在咪喹莫特诱导的银屑病小鼠模型中,富氢盐水可以减轻小鼠银屑病的病理表现,可能与平衡机体氧化还原环境、降低炎症水平有关。     

疏毛吴茱萸化学成分的研究

从疏毛吴茱萸干燥近成熟果实的95％乙醇提取物中分离得到8个化合物,经谱学数据分析并与文献报道的数据进行比较,确定其分别为：吴茱萸次碱（1）,吴茱萸碱（2）,7β-羟基吴茱萸次碱（3）,N^14 -甲酰二氢吴茱萸次碱（4）,去氢吴茱萸碱（5）,吴茱萸果酰胺-I（6）,胡萝卜苷（7）和金丝桃苷（8）。其中,化合物3,4,6—8为首次从该植物中分离得到。     

燕麦纤维改善高脂饮食诱导的肥胖小鼠胰岛素抵抗的机制研究

目的：研究燕麦纤维对高脂饮食诱导小鼠胰岛素抵抗的影响。方法：采用8w龄C57BL/6J雄性小鼠高脂喂养16w,同时预防性给药,监测血液生化指标,进行糖耐量实验,ELISA法测胰岛素并计算HOMR-IR指数,解剖分离小鼠的内脏脂肪组织并称重,以及取部分组织做HE染色进行形态学观察,研究燕麦纤维对高脂诱导小鼠肥胖和胰岛素抵抗的影响。结果：与模型组比较,阳性药小檗碱组与燕麦纤维组的血糖（GLU）、甘油三酯（TG）、游离脂肪酸（FFA）、总胆固醇（TC）均能显著降低;燕麦纤维组低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）也显著降低,血浆胰岛素水平极显著降低,能增强胰岛素敏感性,改善胰岛素抵抗;血浆中炎症因子TNF-α、IL-6、L-1β及MCP-1显著降低,分别降低了27%、81%、31%、50%。小鼠体质量和内脏脂肪显著减少。脂肪细胞面积减小。结论：燕麦纤维通过减少小鼠内脏脂肪,减少FFA和炎症因子的分泌,改善由高脂饮食诱导的胰岛素抵抗,增加胰岛素敏感性。     

柚皮苷及其与吴茱萸碱联合用药对APPswe/PS△E9转基因痴呆模型小鼠学习记忆能力的影响

目的 探讨柚皮苷及柚皮苷与吴茱萸碱联合用药对APPswe/PS△E9转基因痴呆模型小鼠学习记忆能力的影响,研究柚皮苷与吴茱萸碱联合使用是否具有协同或叠加作用.方法 APPswe/PS△E9转基因痴呆模型小鼠随机分组,每组12只,雌雄各半,分别选择在3月龄和5月龄两个时间段开始进行治疗,各给药组按设定剂量分别单独或联合加入鼠粮中.3月龄给药16周、5月龄给药4周后进行水迷宫实验,以安理申作为阳性药对照,并与安慰剂组小鼠进行比较.Thioflavin-S荧光染色检测单独使用柚皮苷治疗转基因小鼠脑组织老年斑的形成.结果 单独使用柚皮苷4周和16周,缩短寻找平台的潜伏期分别为22％、32％;单独使用吴茱萸碱4周和16周,缩短寻找平台的潜伏期分别为33％、10％.柚皮苷治疗16周减少海马老年斑26％.柚皮苷与吴茱萸碱联合应用能够显著缩短寻找平台的潜伏期47％.结论 单独使用柚皮苷或吴茱萸碱均能改善痴呆模型小鼠的学习记忆能力,柚皮苷长期的使用优于短期的治疗效果,但是吴茱萸碱短期有效,长期作用反而下降;柚皮苷与吴茱萸碱联合应用能够显著改善APPswe/PS△E9痴呆模型小鼠的学习记忆能力,但联合用药组并未表现出强于单独给药组的协同保护效应.     

卵巢激素调节大鼠胃运动及感觉功能的机制

女性患者在孕期及月经周期的黄体期常有腹痛、腹胀及腹泻等胃肠道功能紊乱的症状.本文探讨雌二醇（estradiol benzoate,EB）和孕酮（progesterone,P4）对卵巢切除大鼠血浆胆囊收缩素（cholecystokinin,CCK）及胃组织内胆囊收缩素受体A（CCKA）、血浆降钙素基因相关肽（calcitonin gene-related peptide,CGRP）及胃组织内其受体表达水平的影响,以期阐明卵巢激素调节胃肠道运动及感觉功能的机制.给予卵巢切除大鼠EB和P4替代治疗,用放射免疫分析法测定血浆CCK、CGRP的浓度,用Western blot法检测胃组织内CCKA受体的表达量,用125I-CGRP放射配体结合分析法测定胃组织内CGRP受体的表达量.EB可以升高血浆CCK的浓度,同时引起胃组织内CCKA受体表达增高.P4对血浆CCK的浓度以及胃组织内CCKA受体的表达无明显影响,但P4可以升高血浆CGRP的浓度,上调胃组织内CGRP受体的活性.EB、P4联合作用升高血浆CCK、CGRP的浓度,增加胃内CCKA、CGRP受体的表达.因此EB通过促进CCK的分泌以及上调胃内CCKA受体的表达,抑制胃排空;而P4可以通过增加CGRP的释放上调胃内CGRP受体的活性,从而增加肠神经系统对外来刺激的敏感性.结果提示,可以利用CCKA、CGRP受体的拈抗剂治疗女性患者中与月经周期有密切关系的胃肠道功能紊乱症状,如腹胀、早饱、腹痛等.     

中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶在小鼠实验性结肠炎中的表达及意义

目的：观察中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶（NE）在葡聚糖硫酸钠（DSS）诱导的小鼠实验性结肠炎中的表达情况并探讨其表达的意义。方法：健康雄性BALB/c小鼠随机分为正常对照组、模型组。模型组小鼠予5%DSS溶液自由饮用制备小鼠急性实验性结肠炎模型,正常对照组小鼠予蒸馏水自由饮用。每日观察小鼠的一般状况及疾病活动指数（DAI）评分,于实验第5、9天分批处死小鼠,取小鼠结肠行组织学损伤评分;ELISA法检测小鼠血浆中性粒细胞弹性蛋白酶浓度;Western blot法检测远端结肠组织中NE蛋白的表达。结果：与正常对照组相比,模型组小鼠在实验第5天及第9天DAI评分显著升高（P〈0.001）、结肠组织学损伤评分明显升高（P〈0.01）、血浆NE浓度明显升高（P〈0.01）、远端结肠NE蛋白表达增加显著（P〈0.001）。在实验第5天及第9天,模型组小鼠DAI评分与组织学损伤评分呈显著正相关（P〈0.05）,血浆中NE浓度及结肠中NE蛋白的表达与DAI评分、组织学评分均呈显著正相关（P〈0.05）。结论：NE在实验性结肠炎小鼠血浆及结肠组织中表达明显增加,且与疾病活动指数及组织学评分呈正相关,提示NE可能参与实验性结肠炎小鼠的发病。     

Reversal of isoprenaline-induced cardiac remodeling by rutaecarpine via stimulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide production

Dysfunction of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves is involved in cardiac remodeling, and rutaecarpine has been shown to exert a beneficial effect on cardiac function through activating the sensory nerves. This study was conducted to explore the potential inhibitory effect of rutaecarpine on cardiac remodeling and the underlying mechanisms. A rat cardiac remodeling model was established by injection of isoprenaline (5 mg/kg per day, s.c.) for 10 days. Rutaecarpine (10 or 40 mg/kg, i.g.) was coadministrated with isoprenaline to evaluate the effect of rutaecarpine on cardiac remodeling. After echocardiographic analysis was performed, blood samples were collected to quantify calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), dorsal root ganglia were isolated for examining CGRP mRNA expression, and the hearts were weighed and saved for evaluating the parameters related to apoptosis and hypertrophy. Isoprenaline significantly increased the ratio of left ventricle weight to body weight, the cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes, cardiac apoptosis, and collagen deposition concomitantly with decreased CGRP production, which were reversed by rutaecarpine treatment. The beneficial effects of rutaecarpine were attenuated by pretreatment with capsaicin, which selectively depleted CGRP. These results suggest that rutaecarpine was able to reverse isoprenaline-induced cardiac remodeling through stimulating CGRP production.     

Anti-biofilm properties of a mupirocin spray formulation against Escherichia coli wound infections

Mupirocin ointment is a widely used topical drug for the treatment of bacterial skin infections. However, ointments have some limitations which motivated the development of a film forming spray of mupirocin. Mupirocin spray (2%) was formulated with Eudragit E100 as a film forming agent and tested for its antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities against Escherichia coli, a skin pathogen causing wound and surgical site infections. Treatment with mupirocin spray resulted in significant antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities (inhibition and disruption) with single spray and sub-actual dose concentrations at par with the commercial ointment concentration. The spray formulation was found to be non-toxic to fibroblast cells and greatly resisted removal from the site of application upon washing, in contrast to the ointment which was significantly removed after a single wash. This is the first study to develop and evaluate a spray formulation for mupirocin that forms a stable thin film for sustained release of the drug.     

Collagenase expression in transgenic mouse skin causes hyperkeratosis and acanthosis and increases susceptibility to tumorigenesis.

In a series of transgenic mice, the human tissue collagenase gene was expressed in the suprabasal layer of the skin epidermis. Visually, the mice had dry and scaly skin which upon histological analysis revealed acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, and epidermal hyperplasia. At the ultrastructural level, intercellular granular materials were absent in the transgenic skin epidermis but contact was maintained through the intact desmosomes. Despite a diversity of underlying etiologies, similar morphological hyperproliferative changes in the epidermis are observed in the human skin diseases of lamellar ichthyosis, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Subsequent experiments demonstrate that when the transgenic mouse skin was treated once with an initiator (7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene) and then twice weekly with a promoter (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate), there was a marked increase in tumor incidence among transgenic mice compared with that among control littermates. These experiments demonstrate that by overexpressing the highly specific proteolytic enzyme collagenase, a cascade of events leading to profound morphological changes which augment the sensitivity of the skin towards carcinogenesis is initiated in the epidermis.     

Reduction of asymmetric dimethylarginine in the protective effects of rutaecarpine on gastric mucosal injury

Our recent study has shown that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) plays an important role in facilitating gastric mucosal injury by multiple factors. To explore whether the protection of rutaecarpine against gastric mucosal injury is related to reduction of ADMA content, a model of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats was selected for this study. The ulcer index, the content of ADMA and NO, and the activity of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) in gastric tissues were measured in vivo after pretreatment with rutaecarpine. The in vitro effect of rutaecarpine on the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and NO from isolated gastric tissues was also determined. The results showed that ethanol significantly increased the ulcer index, decreased the DDAH activity and the NO level, and elevated the ADMA level, which was attenuated by pretreatment with rutaecarpine (0.6 mg/kg or 1.2 mg/kg). In the isolated gastric tissues, rutaecarpine significantly increased the release of both CGRP and NO; the release of NO, but not CGRP, was abolished in the presence of l-NAME (10(-4) mol/L). The present results suggest that rutaecarpine protects the gastric mucosa against injury induced by ethanol and that the gastroprotection of rutaecarpine is related to reduction of ADMA levels through stimulating the release of CGRP.     

Therapeutic efficacy in BALB/C mice of extract from marine alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Canistrocarpus cervicornis</Emphasis> (Phaeophyceae) against herpes simplex virus type 1

Studies with diterpenes from marine brown alga Canistrocarpus cervicornis showed the antiviral potential of the products from this alga in controlling the replication of HSV-1 and maintaining low cytotoxicity. Hence, the aim of this work was to evaluate the anti-herpetic efficacy of C. cervicornis extract ointment in BALB/c mice. To test the anti-herpetic efficacy in vivo, four groups of BALB/c mice (n?=?5) were used: 1—untreated, 2—extract ointment (2 % or 0.4 mg cm^?2 dose^?1), 3—Acyclovir cream (5 % or 1.0 mg cm^?2 dose^?1), and 4—ointment base. The right midflank of each mouse was clipped and depilated with a chemical depilatory. After 2 days, the skin area was scratched and inoculated with HSV-1. The ointments and cream were applied three times a day over a 16-day period, beginning 1 h after virus inoculation. The development of skin lesions was continuously monitored and scored. To evaluate the effect of C. cervicornis topical treatment on biochemical parameters and on body weight, two uninfected groups were formed: an untreated group and a group treated with ointment C. cervicornis extract (2 %). The signs of infection appeared from the second day after infection, while on the 10th day of the experiment, the ointment base and untreated groups had significantly more severe lesions than did the groups that were treated with extract (p?<?0.05) or acyclovir (p?<?0,01). The topical application of extract ointment did not change body weight, hepatic, or renal function suggesting that the extract has a low toxicity in this route of administration. These results suggest that the extract may be useful in reducing the severity of HSV-1 cutaneous lesions.     

Rutaecarpine suppresses atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− mice through upregulating ABCA1 and SR-BI within RCT

ABCA1 and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)/CD36 and lysosomal integral membrane protein II analogous 1 (CLA-1) are the key transporter and receptor in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT). Increasing the expression level of ABCA1 and SR-BI/CLA-1 is antiatherogenic. The aim of the study was to find novel antiatherosclerotic agents upregulating expression of ABCA1 and SR-BI/CLA-1 from natural compounds. Using the ABCA1p-LUC and CLA-1p-LUC HepG2 cell lines, we found that rutaecarpine (RUT) triggered promoters of ABCA1 and CLA-1 genes. RUT increased ABCA1 and SR-BI/CLA-1 expression in vitro related to liver X receptor alpha and liver X receptor beta. RUT induced cholesterol efflux in RAW264.7 cells. ApoE-deficient (ApoE^−/−) mice treated with RUT for 8 weeks showed ∼68.43, 70.23, and 85.56% less en face lesions for RUT (L), RUT (M), and RUT (H) groups, respectively, compared with the model group. Mouse macrophage-specific antibody and filipin staining indicated that RUT attenuated macrophages and cholesterol accumulations in atherosclerotic lesions, respectively. Additionally, ABCA1 and SR-BI expression was highly induced by RUT in livers of ApoE^−/− mice. Meanwhile, RUT treatment significantly increased the fecal ³H-cholesterol excretion, which demonstrated that RUT could promote RCT in vivo. RUT was identified to be a candidate that protected ApoE^−/− mice from developing atherosclerosis through preferentially promoting activities of ABCA1 and SR-BI within RCT.     

Dendritic cell migrations involving the pilosebaceous unit in the development of murine skin

Over the lint week of postnatal life, dermal dendritic cells stream upwards to invade the epidermis of the mouse tail and back skin. Their migrations seem associated with the development of distinct types of epidermal physiology:ortho- and parakeratosis. Changes from neonatal epidermal morphology occur at similar times in both back and tail skin. The hairv mouse back skin is alwavs orthokeratotic, but the initially orthokeratotic tail epidermis later becomes parakeratolir in the scale regions, remaining orthokeratotic in areas of hair production.
Dermal cells studied were adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase)-, non-specific esterase (NSE)-, naphthvl AS-D chloroacetate-, and dihydroxyphenvlalanine (dopa)-positive dendritic cells. The results are discussed in connection with hair growth and glabrous epidermal kcratinization. Dendritic cell regulation of epidermal physiology involving the dermis and pilosebaceous unit is discussed in relation to reviewed work on mesenchymal-epithelial interactions in animal and human skin.     

Regional specificity of anuran larval skin during metamorphosis: dermal specificity in development and histolysis of recombined skin grafts

Summary Skins from back and tail were dissected from tadpoles of Rana japonica prior to resorption of the tail and separated into epidermis and dermis by treatment with neutral protease. Homotypically and heterotypically recombined skins were constructed from the separated epidermis and dermis and transplanted into the tail of the original tadpole. Skin grafts using dermis from tail region degenerated simultaneously with resorption of the tail. However, skin grafts containing dermis from back region survived on the posterior part of the juvenile frog beyond metamorphosis. Furthermore, all epidermis underlaid with dermis from back region formed secretory glands and became flattened epithelia characteristic of adult back skin, regardless of region from which the epidermis came. Even when epidermis isolated from tail skin was cultured inside a back skin graft, the tail epidermis survived forming an epithelial cyst and developed secretory glands. These results suggest that regional specificities of anuran larval skin, i.e., development of back skin and even histolysis of tail skin, are determined by regionally specific dermis. The results also suggest that some of epidermal cells of tail skin are able to differentiate into epithelial cells similar to back skin of the adult under the influence of back dermis.     

Involvement of CGRP in the inhibitory effect of rutaecarpine on vasoconstriction induced by anaphylaxis in guinea pig

Previous investigations have indicated that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a principal transmitter in capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves, could alleviate cardiac anaphylaxis injury. Rutaecarpine relaxes vascular smooth by stimulation of CGRP release via activation of vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (VR1). In the present study, we examined the role of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves in anaphylactic vessels and the effect of rutaecarpine on antigen-challenged constriction in the guinea pig isolated thoracic aorta. The aortas were challenged with 0.01 mg/ml bovine serum albumin, and the tension of aorta rings was continuously monitored. The amount of CGRP released from thoracic aortas was determined in the absence or presence of rutaecarpine. Antigen challenge caused a vasoconstrictor response concomitantly with an increase in the release of CGRP from the isolated thoracic aorta, and the vasoconstrictor responses were potentiated by CGRP8-37 (10 microM) or capsaicin (1 microM). Pretreatment with diphenhydramine (1 microM) markedly decreased antigen-challenged vasoconstriction. Acute application of capsaicin (0.03 or 0.1 microM) significantly inhibited vasoconstrictor responses. Pretreatment with rutaecarpine (10 or 30 microM) significantly increased CGRP release concomitantly with decrease in antigen-challenged vasoconstriction, which was abolished by CGRP8-37 (10 microM) or capsazepine (10 microM). The present results suggest that an increase in the release of CGRP during vascular anaphylaxis may be a beneficial compensatory response, and that rutaecarpine inhibits antigen-challenged vasoconstriction, which is related to stimulation of endogenous CGRP release via activation of VR1.