Morphology of the endometrial microvasculature during early placentation in the rat

Summary The morphology of the uterine microvasculature during early placentation was investigated by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy of microvascular corrosion casts and transmission electron microscopy in rats 26 and 50 h after initiation of implantation. Increased vascular permeability at implantation sites was observed as a positive blue-dye test, spacing of vessels, and as localized extravasations of resin from postcapillary venules in the center of the endometrium. The subepithelial capillary plexus in the primary decidual zone adjacent to the blastocyst was shut down 50 h after initiation of implantation, most probably due to swelling of the metabolically activated endothelium and volume expansion of the decidual cells. This phenomenon coincided with the mesometrial orientation of the inner cell mass of the blastocyst; it may be a uterine mechanism to direct the ectoplacental cone toward the patent vessels in the mesometrial portion of the uterus. The remaining vessels at implantation sites were generally fewer, larger in diameter, more irregular in caliber, and more uniformly oriented along the implantation axis than their counterparts at inter-implantation sites. No vascular sprouts were observed during the interval studied.     

Effects of ultra-strong static magnetic field on the gut microbiota of humans and mice

To explore the effect of ultra-strong static magnetic field on gut microbiota, 16 T static magnetic field was used to study the changes in the structure and composition of human and mouse gut microbiota in this environment. In the mouse gut microbiota, at the genus level, the magnetic field significantly decreased the relative abundances of Escherichia-Shigella, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, Parasutterella, and Ralstonia and significantly increased those of Parabacteroides, Alloprevotella, Alistipes, Odoribacter, Bacteroides, Mucispirillum, Sutterella, and Prevotellaceae_UCG-001. Similarly, at the genus level, the relative abundances of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Romboutsia, and Streptococcus significantly decreased in the human gut microbiota. Contrary to the changing trend of the abundance in the mouse gut, the abundances of Bacteroides and Parabacteroides in the human gut were significantly reduced under magnetic field. The BugBase phenotypic prediction analysis showed that the relative abundances of five phenotypes, including anaerobism, mobile elements, potential pathogenicity, stress-tolerant, and biofilm formation, changed significantly in the mouse gut microbiota, while the relative abundances of two phenotypes, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative phenotypes, changed significantly in the human gut microbiota. The 16 T magnetic field could differently affect the composition, structure, and phenotypes of gut microbiota in human and mice, suggesting the importance of model selection in studying the biological effects of magnetic field.     

Effects of serotonin depletion byp-chlorophenylalanine,p-chloroamphetamine or 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine on central dopaminergic neurons: Focus on tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons and serum prolactin

Three serotonin (5-HT) neurotoxins,p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 125 and 250 mg/kg, i.p.),p-chloroamphetamine (PCA, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT, 200 µg/rat, i.c.v.) were used to examine whether depletion of central 5-HT has an effect on central dopaminergic (DA) neuronal activities or on prolactin (PRL) secretion. Adult ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats primed with estrogen (polyestradiol phosphate, 0.1 mg/rat, s.c.) were treated with one of three neurotoxins and then decapitated in the morning after 3–7 days. Blood sample and brain tissues were collected. The acute effect of PCA (from 30 to 180 min) was also determined. The concentrations of 5-HT, DA and their metabolites, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, in the median eminence, striatum and nucleus accumbens were determined by HPLC-electrochemical detection. All three toxins significantly depleted central 5-HT stores by 11–20%. Except for PCPA, neither PCA nor 5,7-DHT had any significant effect on basal DA neuronal activities or PRL secretion. PCA also exhibited an acute effect on the release and reuptake of 5-HT and DA. In summary, depletion of central 5-HT stores to a significant extent for 3–7 days did not seem to affect basal DA neuronal activity and PRL secretion.     

Physical Activity and the Metabolic Syndrome in a Tri-ethnic Sample of Women

Objective: To determine the association of moderate-intensity physical activity (PA), vigorous-intensity PA, and maximal treadmill duration with the metabolic syndrome among African-American (n = 49), Native-American (n = 46), and white (n = 51) women (ages, 40 to 83 years), enrolled in the Cross-Cultural Activity Participation Study. Research Methods and Procedures: The metabolic syndrome was defined as three or more of the following risk factors: waist circumference >88 cm, blood pressure ≥130/85 mm Hg, fasting glucose ≥110 mg/dL, hypertriglyceridemia (≥150 mg/dL), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol <50 mg/dL. PA was determined from detailed PA records that included all PA performed during two consecutive 4-day periods. Maximal treadmill duration was determined from a graded exercise test. Women were categorized into quartiles of moderate-intensity PA, vigorous-intensity PA, and maximal treadmill duration. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios of the metabolic syndrome as a function of the four PA categories, adjusted for age, ethnicity, study site, menopausal status, and use of hormone-replacement therapy. Results: The adjusted odds ratio for the metabolic syndrome was 0.18 (95% confidence interval, 0.33 to 0.90) for women in the highest category of moderate-intensity PA compared with women in the lowest category (p = 0.01 for trend). Similar associations were observed for the metabolic syndrome with vigorous-intensity PA (p = 0.01 for trend) and maximal treadmill duration (p = 0.0004 for trend). Discussion: Higher levels of moderate and vigorous-intensity PA and greater maximal treadmill duration were inversely associated with the metabolic syndrome among an ethnically diverse sample of women.     

Platycodin D induces anoikis and caspase‐mediated apoptosis via p38 MAPK in AGS human gastric cancer cells

Mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) cascades play important roles in cell proliferation, death, and differentiation in response to external stimuli. However, the precise role of MAPKs in platycodin D (PD)‐induced cytotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effect of PD and its underlying mechanism on AGS human gastric cancer cells. PD significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced anoikis, which is a form of apoptosis in which cells detach from the substrate. It showed phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA fragmentation, increase of sub‐G1 phase, and activation of caspases in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. This apoptosis has been associated with the extrinsic pathway via Fas‐L and the intrinsic pathway via mitochondrial Bcl‐2 family members. Moreover, PD led to the phosphorylation of stresses‐activated protein kinases such as JNK and p38, followed by the activation of AP‐1. However, pretreatment with SB203580 (a p38 specific inhibitor) suppressed PD‐induced p38 and AP‐1 activation, and subsequently attenuated the PD‐induced apoptosis in AGS cells. These results suggest that p38 activation is responsible for PD‐induced apoptosis in AGS cells and PD might be useful for the development as the anticancer agent of gastric cancer. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 456–470, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.