The development of the neurons of the glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagal (X) sensory ganglia in chick embryos

The timetable of cell generation, neuronal death and neuron numbers in the fused proximal glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagal (X) ganglion and distal IX and X ganglia were studied in normal and nerve growth factor (NGF) treated chick embryos. 3H-thymidine was injected between the 3rd and 7th days of incubation and embryos sacrificed on the 11th day. Neurons in the distal IX and X ganglia were generated between the 2nd and 5th days of incubation, the peak mitotic activity occurring on the 4th and 3rd days, respectively. Neurons of the proximal IX and X ganglion were generated between the 4th and 7th days, with maximum neuron generation on the 5th day of incubation. Counts of neurons in the 3 ganglia between the 5th and 18th days of incubation showed a maximum of 22,000 on the 8th day in the proximal IX and X ganglion and this decreased to 12,000 by the 13th day. In the distal IX ganglion, the neuron number decreased by 44% from 4,500 on the 6th day to 2,500 by the 11th day. A similar decrease of 43% was found in the distal X ganglion, the neuron number falling from 11,500 on the 7th day to 6,500 by the 11th day of incubation. Neuronal cell death in these ganglia extended from the 5th to the 12th day of incubation, maximum cell death occurring at or after the cessation of mitotic activity. NGF administration from the 5th to the 11th day of incubation did not have a measurable effect on the neurons of proximal IX and X and distal IX ganglia, but increased neuronal survival by 30% in the distal X ganglion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The Effects of Oral Consumption of Selenium Nanoparticles on Chemotactic and Respiratory Burst Activities of Neutrophils in Comparison with Sodium Selenite in Sheep

The present study was designed to compare the effects of nano-selenium and of sodium selenite on the chemotactic and respiratory burst activities of neutrophils in sheep. Fifteen sheep were randomly divided into three groups. Groups 1 and 2 received selenium nanoparticles (1 mg/kg) or sodium selenite (1 mg/kg) orally, respectively, for ten consecutive days, and the third group was considered as the control. To determine the chemotactic and respiratory burst activities of the neutrophils, the leading front assay and the NBT test were used on heparinized blood samples that were collected at different intervals (days 0, 10th, 20th, and 30th). The results obtained showed that the chemotactic activities in groups 1 and 2 increased significantly on the 10th, 20th, and 30th day, compared to day 0, and on the 20th day in comparison with the 10th day, while in group 2, there was a significant decrease on the 30th day compared to the 20th day. The chemotactic activities in group 1 were significantly higher than in group 2 on the 10th day and in the control group on the 10th, 20th, and 30th day, but the chemotactic activities in group 2 were significantly higher than those in the control group only on the 20th day. On the 30th day into the experiment, the respiratory bursts in groups 1 and 2 were significantly stronger in comparison with those at day 0. Overall, nano-selenium increased the chemotactic and respiratory burst activities more significantly than sodium selenite, which is suggestive of a stronger stimulatory effect of the Se nanoparticles on intracellular activities.     

Macrophage activation in the immune response

In inbred white rats, immunized with sheep erythrocytes, contents and phagocytic activity of the spleen and pulmonary macrophages have been studied on the 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 14th and 20th days of the experiment in the light, scanning and transmissive electron microscope, as well as the effect of the cells mentioned on proliferation of lymphoid elements. Maximal phagocytic activity of the splenic and alveolar macrophages is observed on the 7th day of the experiment. At the same time, certain drop in the lymphoid cells proliferation takes place. The change in the macrophages contents also influences proliferation of the lymphoid cells.     

Spleen and thymus lymphoid tissue in hypoxia (a biometric study)

The spleen and thymus have been studied macro- and microscopically in rats (180-200 g body mass) on the 1st, 3d, 5th, 7th, 14th and 28th days of adaptation to a decreased atmospheric pressure in the altitude chamber corresponding to lifting to 5,000 and 7,500 m (after a preliminary gradual acclimatization) and on the 14th, 28th, 42d, 56th days of readaptation. A relative mass of the organs, the white pulp section area--the transversal section area of the spleen ratio, the summation section area of its lymph nodules have been estimated. In the thymus the cortico-medullary index (CMI) has been defined. A relative mass of the spleen increases during the first week of hypoxia, and during adaptation period it somewhat decreases and stabilizes, remaining higher than in the control. At the altitude of 5,000 m the cross section area of the lymph nodules decreases by 17% on the 28th adaptation day and at the altitude of 7,500 m--by 27% beginning from the 14th up to the 28th adaptation days. In the thymus the CMI, after some decrease during the first days of hypoxia at the altitude of 5,000 m, increases and normalizes on the 28th adaptation day, and at the altitude of 7,500 m stabilizes on the 14th - 28th days of hypoxia. When the rats are at the altitudes of 5,000 and 7,500 m the thymus lymphoid tissue reacts more quickly to the hypoxia effect and much sooner normalizes during the readaptation period than does the white pulp of the spleen. The main changes in the lymphoid tissue of the spleen and thymus take place on the 7th - 28th days of hypoxia.     

Disorder of catecholamine synthesis in early ontogeny and hypophyseal-adrenal cortical function in adult rats

The effects of daily intraperitoneal (150 mg/kg of body weight) injections of alpha-methyl-dl-tyrosine (MT), an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase, on the 2nd to 4th, 5th to 7th or 10th to 12th days of life on the pituitary-adrenal function and brain adrenaline level in 3 to 4-month old rats were studied. MT treatment on the 5th to 7th days resulted in a decrease of noradrenaline content in hypothalamus and midbrain and chronic decrease of basal corticosterone level in blood, its diurnal fluctuations being preserved. MT injections on the 10th to 12th days were accompanied by a decrease of the basal corticosterone level, but the brain noradrenaline level remained unchanged. A study of pituitary-adrenal stress reactivity of adult rats has revealed no specific MT effect. A conclusion was drawn that the MT treatment applied exerted a long-term effect, predominantly, on the regulation of tonic corticosterone secretion.     

采收期对代料栽培桑黄子实体活性成分含量和抗氧化活性的影响

桑黄孔菌属Sanghuangporus 是一类具有重要药用价值的大型真菌,目前被国际公认为抗肿瘤效果最好的真菌之一。本研究以桑黄孔菌属中的杨树桑黄Sanghuangporus vaninii、鲍姆桑黄S. baumii为研究对象,通过测定代料栽培原基形成后第30、45、60、75、90天子实体多糖、三萜、总黄酮、总酚含量和抗氧化活性（ABTS和FRAP）,探究采收期对桑黄子实体活性成分含量和抗氧化活性的影响。结果表明,除杨树桑黄三萜含量外,采收期对上述6个指标均产生了极显著的影响。在多糖含量上,鲍姆桑黄在原基形成后75d时急剧升至最大,在原基形成后90d时有所下降;而杨树桑黄在原基形成后45、60、75d均维持较高水平。在三萜含量上,鲍姆桑黄在原基形成后30d时即达最大值,此后缓慢下降,而杨树桑黄则不同采收期差异不显著。关于总黄酮含量、总酚含量和抗氧化活性（ABTS、FRAP）,鲍姆桑黄和杨树桑黄均在原基形成后30、45、60d维持较高水平,在原基形成后75、90d急剧下降。相关性分析结果表明,总黄酮含量、总酚含量、抗氧化活性（ABTS、FRAP）两两极显著正相关。鲍姆桑黄多糖含量与其上述4指标呈显著或极显著负相关,与三萜相关不显著。杨树桑黄多糖含量与其上述4指标相关不显著,与三萜含量呈显著负相关。主成分分析与聚类分析结果一致,表现为原基形成后30、45、60d的子实体聚为一类,原基形成后75、90d的子实体聚为另一类。适时采收,有利于桑黄活性成分含量和抗氧化活性的提升。研究结果为桑黄代料栽培适时采收、质量控制、药材质量综合评价提供了科学参考。     

Cytokine profile of Ehrlich ascites tumor treated with Bothrops jararaca venom

We previously demonstrated that Bothrops jararaca venom (BjV) has an antitumor effect on Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells and induces an increase of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in early stages of tumor growth. It has been reported that this venom presents an important inflammatory effect when inoculated in animal models and in human snakebites, and that cytokine levels have been detected in these cases. To evaluate whether the cytokines can be involved with the suppression of the tumoral growth, we evaluate the cytokine profile in the peritoneal cavity of mice inoculated with EAT cells and treated with BjV. Swiss mice were inoculated with EAT cells by the intraperitoneal route and treated with BjV venom (0.4 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), on the 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, and 13th day. Mice were evaluated for cytokine levels on the 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th and 14th day. Analysis was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-2, IL4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in the peritoneal washing supernatant. Results were analyzed statistically by the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests at the 5% level of significance. We observed that EAT implantation induces IL-6 production on the 11th and 14th days of tumor growth, IL-10 on the 11th day and TNF-alpha on the 14th day. The treatment with BjV suppresses production of these cytokines. In addition, IL-13 was produced by animals that were inoculated only with venom on the 11th and 14th days, and by the group inoculated with EAT cells and treated with venom on the 2nd and 14th days. Furthermore, we suggest that the IL-6 detected in the present study is produced by the EAT cells and the suppression of its production could be associated with the antitumor effect of BjV.     

Biochemical and Molecular analysis of the beta-globin gene on Saudi sickle cell anemia

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is one of the most common hematologic diseases affecting humans. Detection of a single base pair mutation at 6th codon of β-globin gene is important for the diagnosis of SCA. The aim was to study the nucleotide sequences and the molecular survey of β-globin gene in Saudi patients.Blood samples from 77 unrelated SC patients were obtained from the KKUH, between 2015 and 2017. In this study, DNA was extracted then PCR was performed. Twelve overlapping fragments covering β-globin gene, have been generated by PCR.A total of 47 alterations have been recognized in β-globin gene. These alterations composed of: deletions, insertion or substitutions as follows:- one mutation identified on the 1st segment; three alterations on 2nd fragment; two alterations on 3rd segment; seven alterations on 4th segment; three substitution on 5th fragment; two changes on 6th fragment; five alterations on 7th fragment; seven substitution changes on 8th fragment; two heterozygous substitution changes on 9th fragment; three changes on 10th fragment and eight substitution changes on 11th fragment, and four changes on 12th fragment.SCA had profound negative effects on many organs, causing many complications. The results should be taken further to set up management strategies to improve outcomes.     

Characteristics of depressive behavior induced by feeding thiamine-deficient diet in mice

We produced thiamine-deficient (TD) mice by TD diet treatment. The growth curve of mice on TD feeding was sharply increased until on the 10th day and subsequently the body weight gradually decreased. The mortality rate in mice was about 67% on the 30th day after the start of TD feeding. We performed the forced swimming test on the 10th and 20th day after the start of TD feeding. The duration of immobility in the forced swimming test was increased on the 20th day of TD feeding. Locomotor activity and motor co-ordination between the pair-fed control group and TD group on the 20th day of TD feeding were not significantly changed. Only a single injection of thiamine HCI (50 mg/kg, s.c.) on the 10th day after the start of a TD diet shortened the increased duration of immobility in the forced swimming test on the 20th day after the start of TD feeding. Whereas these reversal effects of thiamine treatment on the 20th day were not found when the treatment was given on the 19th day after the start of a TD diet. On the 20th day after the start of TD feeding, the increased duration of immobility time induced by TD was shortened by chronic administration of the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine (10 mg/kg, i.p.). These results suggested that behavioral changes in the forced swimming test might be involved in the degeneration of serotonergic and noradrenergic neurons.     

Haemolymph levels of juvenile hormone,ecdysteroids and protein during the last two larval instars of Locusta migratoria

The radioimmunoassay of ecdysteroids and juvenile hormone has enabled us to relate hormone levels to haemolymph protein concentrations and weight increase during the 4th and 5th instar of the migratory locust. The two hormones are never present in high concentrations in the blood simultaneously. The levels of ecdysteroids are high on the 5th day during the 4th larval stage: they show a small peak on the 3rd day, and then a large peak on the 8th day during the 5th instar. JHI-immunoreactive substances are high during the first 4 days of the 4th instar, and during the first 5 hr during the 5th instar. Protein concentrations in the haemolymph begin to rise when ecdysteroid levels increase during stage 4, and immediately after the small peak (on day 3) in the 4th stage larva. The rise in protein levels is correlated with an increase in weight.     

Influence of copper on the early post-implantation mouse embryo: An in vivo and in vitro study

Summary Female mice were injected intravenously with copper sulphate on either the 7th day (early egg cylinder stage of development), the 8th day (late egg cylinder stage), or the 9th day (early somite stage of development), and examined on the 10th day of gestation. Injection on the 7th day was found to be embryo-lethal; when females were injected on the 8th day, the majority of the surviving embryos exhibited anomalies of the neural tube and/or the heart, while injection on the 9th day resulted in a very low incidence of anomalies. The most common malformations seen on the 10th day involved failure of closure of the neural tube in the head region of the embryo, and various types of anomalies of cardiac rotation and shape. When additional females injected on the 8th day were examined on the 12th day, a high proportion of the fetuses examined had developed exencephaly.A further group of embryos from untreated females were explanted on the 9th day and cultured in vitro in various concentrations of copper sulphate. The lowest levels tested had little obvious effect on neural tube closure. Intermediate doses resulted in, retarded and anomalous embryonic development, while the highest levels employed resulted in neural tube and cardiac anomalies similar to those produced in vivo.The results demonstrate both the direct toxic effect of copper on embryonic development and that the stage of embryonic development at the time of exposure determines both the nature and the extent of the effect.     

肿瘤坏死因子α在大鼠肝肺综合征发病机制研究

目的:探讨TNF-α在大鼠肝肺综合征形成中的作用与机制.方法:采取胆总管结扎方法建立肝肺综合征模型,随机将45只大鼠分为对照组(非手术组)、模型组(胆总管结扎组)和实验组(胆总管结扎+抗TNF-α单克隆抗体组),每组15只,实验组于术后3周、4周、5周、6周分别给予腹腔注射抗TNF-α单克隆抗体;术后4周、5周、6周、...     

Gender differences in development of exploratory activity in rats

The dynamics of exploratory activity in male and female Wistar rats before weaning and over the course of puberty was investigated. Behavior of animals was examined on the 18th, 35th, and 50th postnatal days in a modified light-dark test and on the 24th postnatal day in an open-field test. It was found that exploratory activity of males considerably changed over the course of puberty period. From the 18th to 35th postnatal days, the number of animals exploring a light compartment increased. From the 35th to 50th postnatal days, the duration of the light compartment investigation increased. The only change in exploratory activity of female rats consisted in an increase in the number of transitions between the light and dark compartments from 35th to 50th postnatal days. The results suggest different mechanisms of exploratory behavior development in male and female rats.     

小鼠胚胎发育过程中表皮生长因子受体的免疫荧光定位研究

用间接免疫荧光法研究了第12—19天小鼠胚胎的表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)在各种组织中的分布。结果表明,特异性荧光出现在EGFR阳性细胞的细胞膜上。第14.5天鼠胚鼻粘膜上皮首先显示很强的EGFR特异性荧光,此后荧光稍为减弱,直至第19天后消失。消化系统中,舌味觉上皮在第16天、胃粘膜上皮在第17—18天间、十二指肠上皮在第17.5—18.5天、直肠粘膜上皮在第15.5—16天和肛管粘膜上皮在第15天均显示强特异性荧光。肝细胞从第14.5天起有弱阳性反应,随胎龄增大强度缓慢地增强。此外,在胚胎发育不同时期,还看到若干组织呈现阳性反应,包括膀胱粘膜变移上皮、眼睑原基、腺垂体上皮、舌下腺腺泡细胞、附属腺上皮细胞、胰岛细胞、颌下腺腺上皮和导管上皮细胞、降主动脉内皮以及卵巢髓质部富含血管的疏松结缔组织中的成纤维细胞等。     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen of the rat thyroid gland before and after birth]

We were studied the proliferative activity of the thyroid gland's cells of embryo and adult Wistar rats due to using the antiserum against the cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The 100% of cells in thyroid's embryo was a positive on the 16th, 17th, 18th stages of the embryonic development (stages by Kornegy). The percent of PCNA-positive cells considerably increased to 67% on the 19th stage. This fact the 20th and 21th stages of prenatal development relatively the previous stage coordinate with starting of the thyroid hormones in fetal thyroid gland and the first follicles formation. The small increasing of number of PCNA-positive cells detected on the 20th and 21th stages of prenatal development relatively the previous stage. Considerable elevation of the proliferating cells to 75% immediately before the birth (22th stage). An infant rats had have the 39% of proliferating cells. The 51% cells divided on the 5th day of postnatal development. Considerable decreased of the cell's division was occurred until the postnatal day 60. Using of the PCNA antiserum allowed to study cell proliferation in thyroid gland during pre- and postnatal rat development.     

Substance P and neurokinin A immunoreactive nerve fibres in the developing salivary glands of the rat.

The time of appearance and distribution of substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) immunoreactive nerve fibres in developing salivary glands of the rat were studied by the use of indirect immunohistochemical methods. The glands were examined at daily intervals from the 15th day in utero (i.u.) until birth, and subsequently on the 2nd, 5th, 7th, 12th, 16th and 30th postnatal day. The findings were compared to samples from adult. The first SP- and NKA-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibres appeared on the 19th day i.u. in the parotid and submandibular glands and were abundantly distributed around developing ductal branches. In the mesenchyme around the developing ductal branches of the parotid gland the fibres appeared on the 20th day i.u. In the submandibular gland NKA-IR fibres appeared in the mesenchyme surrounding the developing ductal branches on the 19th day i.u. and SP-IR fibres on the 21st day i.u. Around blood vessels of both glands, SP- and NKA-IR fibres made their appearance only much later, on the second postnatal day. The number of SP- and NKA-IR nerve fibres in the developing salivary glands was already high on the 19th day i.u. when they were first detected. From this point up to the 16th postnatal day the glands were richly innervated by the fibres, but later the numbers slowly decreased to adult levels. The abundance of SP- and NKA-IR nerve fibres especially around the ductal branches and secretory structures in the developing salivary glands suggests a role in the functional maturation of salivary glands.     

The sternal glands of termites: segmental pattern,phylogenetic implications

Summary In Mastotermitidae, 3 sternal glands are observed on the 3rd, 4th and 5th abdominal segments. All other families only bear one gland, set on the 4th segment in Termopsidae and Hodotermitidae, and on the 5th in Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Serritermitidae and Termitidae. This character may be useful for a phylogenetic analysis.     

Effect of experimental arrest of eye growth on the proliferation and polyploidization of the retinal pigment epithelium in rats

Following the lens removal from the left eye of the newborn rats, animals were obtained with one normal (control) and another microphtalmic eye. The animals were sacrificed on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th days of postnatal development after four injections of 3H-thymidine during 19 hrs. The number of labelled nuclei and mono- and binuclear cells in the central zone of the eye fundus was counted on the autographs. After the initial increase of the index of labelled nuclei in the operated eyes (on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th days) it fell below the control level (on the 7th and 9th days). The number of binuclear cells in the operated eyes, as well as in the control, attains on the 5th day 50% of the total number of cells and remains at this level up to the end of the experiment, whereas in the control eyes the number of binuclear cells increases up to 60% on the 7th and 80% on the 9th day. The results obtained have shown that in rats the factors of total eye growth participate in the control of proliferative activity and polyploidization of the pigment epithelium cells in the retina.     

Substance P and neurokinin A immunoreactive nerve fibres in the developing salivary glands of the rat

The time of appearance and distribution of substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA) immunoreactive nerve fibres in developing salivary glands of the rat were studied by the use of indirect immunohistochemical methods. The glands were examined at daily intervals from the 15th day in utero (i.u.) until birth, and subsequently on the 2nd, 5th, 7th, 12th, 16th and 30th postnatal day. The findings were compared to samples from adult. The first SP- and NKA-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibres appeared on the 19th day i.u. in the parotid and submandibular glands and were abundantly distributed around developing ductal branches. In the mesenchyme around the developing ductal branches of the parotid gland the fibres appeared on the 20th day i.u. In the submandibular gland NKA-IR fibres appeared in the mesenchyme surrounding the developing ductal branches on the 19th day i.u. and SP-IR fibres on the 21st day i.u. Around blood vessels of both glands, SP- and NKA-IR fibres made their appearance only much later, on the second postnatal day. The number of SP- and NKA-IR nerve fibres in the developing salivary glands was already high on the 19th day i.u. when they were first detected. From this point up to the 16th postnatal day the glands were richly innervated by the fibres, but later the numbers slowly decreased to adult levels. The abundance of SP- and NKA-IR nerve fibres especially around the ductal branches and secretory structures in the developing salivary glands suggests a role in the functional maturation of salivary glands.