人胎儿卵巢异种移植的组织学研究

目的探讨人胎儿卵巢组织异体移植的最佳条件。方法观察胎儿卵巢进行异种移植后的组织学变化,并计算各组移植卵巢内各期卵泡的发育情况及卵泡构成比。结果新鲜的卵巢组织、体外培养的卵巢组织以及冷冻复苏后经体外培养的卵巢组织移植后,其内有原始卵泡发育,而且可见丰富的血管网;未见明显的淋巴细胞浸润现象。结论人胎儿卵巢组织(包括新鲜的卵巢组织、体外培养的卵巢组织以及冷冻复苏后经体外培养的卵巢组织)异种移植后原始卵泡在受体体内能进一步发育,生长卵泡分泌的雌激素有调节子宫内膜周期性变化的作用。     

冻融小鼠卵巢移植后细胞凋亡及血管内皮生长因子表达的变化及意义研究

目的:探讨冻融小鼠卵巢同种异体移植后细胞凋亡及血管内皮生长因子表达的变化及意义。方法:收集C57BL/6j雌鼠和BALB/c雄鼠杂交后F1代4周龄小鼠卵巢,慢冻速融后移植至杂交后F1代8～12周雄鼠的肾被膜下,分别于移植后1d(24h)、2d(48h)和7d回收移植物,将冻融以及移植后不同时间段的卵巢组织进行HE染色、全卵巢卵泡计数、电镜观察、免疫组织化学分析细胞凋亡及RT-PCR检测VEGF基因表达。结果:冻融小鼠卵巢移植后随着时间的推移、各级卵泡数和卵泡存活率逐渐下降;移植后48h内细胞凋亡指数最高;电镜观察发现小鼠卵巢组织移植后损伤主要发生在移植后48h内;移植后VEGF的表达有上升的趋势,至第7d仍维持较高水平;移植后48hVEGF120mRNA和VEGF188mRNA水平明显升高(P0.05),至7d下降恢复至移植前水平,而VEGF164mRNA水平移植后无明显变化(P0.05)。结论:小鼠卵巢组织移植后48h内细胞凋亡最为严重,移植后引起大量卵泡的丢失;在移植后血管化的过程中VEGFmRNA表达量增加,VEGF120mRNA和VEGF188mRNA可能参与卵巢移植后早期血管化过程。     

观察卵巢移植后血管重建的墨汁灌注法

组织器官的墨汁灌注是一种传统的观察血管分布的检测方法,由于其不与一般的化学试剂发生反应,灌注后可同时附加其它组织学制片技术,因此可用于血管走向和重建的研究。为了观察促血管化因素对无血管吻合卵巢组织移植物血管化的影响,我们使用了墨汁灌注法,目的在于观察移植物与受体移植部位的血供重建时间。     

生物血管异种移植的初步研究

目的为了寻求一种新的小口径血管代用品,建立异种移植的动物实验模型,以观察异种移植物的安全性、可靠性、通畅性及组织学改变。方法共采用17只杂种雌性犬,实验组10只,植入经环氧化物处理的猪血管移植物;对照组7只,植入人造血管。手术方法为右侧股动静脉瘘。术后通过超声和血管造影方法来观察移植血管的通畅性,并在术后3月将移植物取出,进行病理学检查,观察移植前后移植物的组织学改变。结果术后第一周、二周行Doppler超声检查结果,两组动静脉瘘均通畅,2周内血管通畅率为100%。术后3个月动脉造影检查后,生物血管组(PG)通畅5只,通畅率62.5%,e-PTFE组通畅4只,通畅率66.7%。两组数据统计学处理,差异无显著性(P>0.05)。术后3月对移植物取材,进行光镜及扫描电镜病理学检查,通畅的生物血管吻合口无狭窄,吻合部位有新的内膜覆盖,周围组织无钙化,有新生的内皮细胞覆盖。结论经环氧化物处理的猪的血管移植物(PG)生物血管作为异种移植物,生物相容性好,具有一定的可行性。     

雌性生殖系统中血管生成的分子调控

血管生成是新血管在原有血管的基础上向无血管区扩展的过程。成年生理性血管生成仅限于雌性生殖道中卵巢、子宫、胎盘的周期性发育。因此,血管生成对这些组织的生长和功能起重要作用。血管生成异常会导致多种妇科疾病。近来的研究证实,多种因素包括血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和血管生成素(Ang)及其受体参与了血管生成的调节。本文主要介绍近年来雌性生殖系统中有关血管生成调控的研究进展。     

卵巢冷冻保存和移植的研究进展

卵巢冷冻保存和移植是建立卵子库的一项有效技术,近年来取得了很大进展。本文介绍了卵巢组织冷冻保存和移植的方法及近年来的研究情况。     

异体异位卵巢移植对卵巢切除后大鼠生理生化指标的影响

目的探讨异体异位卵巢移植大鼠在生理、生化指标方面的影响变化情况。方法24只健康成年雌性大鼠,随机分为三组,每组8只。Ⅰ组：去势组;Ⅱ组：经新鲜卵巢移植组;Ⅲ组：经冷冻卵巢移植组。观察术前（第0个月）、术后1个月、术后2个月、术后3个月、术后4个月的体温（T）、体重（W）变化情况及甘油三酯（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、血钙（Ca）、总胆固醇（TC）。     

微囊化新生大鼠卵巢组织体外及异体移植

为探讨海藻酸钠-聚左赖氨酸-海藻酸钠(APA)微囊化新生大鼠卵巢组织用于治疗实验性卵巢功能丧失大鼠的可行性,应用高压静电法,用海藻酸钠-聚左赖氨酸-海藻酸钠(APA)生物膜包裹新生大鼠卵巢组织,体外培养微囊,用免疫化学分析法检测雌二醇(E2)、孕酮(P)分泌情况,透射电镜观察卵巢组织形态,并将微囊移植到去势大鼠(切除双侧卵巢的雌性大鼠)腹腔中,检测大鼠血清中雌、孕激素变化情况,同时用阴道涂片观察大鼠动情周期恢复情况,并在不同时间回收观察微囊。结果显示在相同条件下制得的微囊粒径均匀、表面光滑;体外培养条件下持续分泌E2、P;卵巢组织中颗粒细胞发育成为粒性黄体细胞;大鼠腹腔移植微囊后无异常,E2、P水平上升,动情周期未恢复;回收的微囊大部分形态完整。提示用高压静电法制备的APA微囊化新生大鼠卵巢组织能持续稳定释放E2、P,明显改善大鼠卵巢功能,在大鼠体内有良好的生物相容性。     

肿瘤血管生成及抗血管生成的分子影像学研究进展

血管生成是肿瘤发生、发展的重要生物学过程,因此针对其的抗肿瘤血管生成治疗成为肿瘤治疗的重要策略.随着分子影像学的出现,以及对血管生成机制研究的不断深入,活体监测肿瘤血管生成及评价靶向介入治疗的疗效成为可能.本文就血管生成与肿瘤血管生成、肿瘤抗血管生成治疗,以及介入导向的抗血管生成治疗在肿瘤分子影像学领域的研究进展做一综述.     

雄性受体小鼠性腺对移植卵巢卵母细胞生长发育的影响

目的探索雄性受体性腺对移植卵巢卵母细胞生长发育的影响。方法将1日龄小鼠卵巢移植入成年雄鼠肾囊下,将雄性受体小鼠分为性腺摘除组和性腺在位组,于21d回收移植卵巢,以评价雄性小鼠性腺对新生小鼠卵巢移植体卵母细胞生长发育的影响。结果移植后21d,性腺摘除组和性腺在位组卵巢回收率分别为80.0%和92.9%,移植体生长增大;每个卵巢平均回收卵母细胞数分别为(30.4±4.3)和(42.4±11.1)个,两者差异不显著(P0.05);性腺摘除组回收的均为GV期卵母细胞,性腺在位组大部分为GV期卵母细胞,有的达到MII期。结论雄性受体小鼠能够支持移植卵巢卵母细胞的生长发育,雄性受体的性腺对其影响不明显。     

Additive effect of endothelial progenitor cell mobilization and bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation on angiogenesis in mouse ischemic limbs

Summary The methods of therapeutic angiogenesis include endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) mobilization with cytokines [e.g., granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)] and bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) transplantation. Combined angiogenic therapies may be superior to a single angiogenic therapy for the treatment of limb ischemia. Therefore, we investigated whether the angiogenic efficacy of a combination of two angiogenic strategies is superior to either strategy alone. One day after the surgical induction of hindlimb ischemia, mice were randomized to receive either no treatment, EPC mobilization with G-CSF administration, BMMNC transplantation using a fibrin matrix, or a combination of EPC mobilization with BMMNC transplantation using a fibrin matrix. EPC mobilization with G-CSF or BMMNC transplantation using a fibrin matrix significantly increased the microvessel density compared with no treatment. Importantly, a combination of EPC mobilization with BMMNC transplantation using a fibrin matrix further increased the densities of microvessels and BrdU-positive capillaries compared to either strategy alone. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was higher in the EPC mobilization with G-CSF or BMMNC transplantation group than in the no treatment group. The combination therapy of EPC mobilization with G-CSF and BMMNC transplantation resulted in more extensive expression of bFGF and VEGF than the single therapy of either EPC mobilization with G-CSF treatment or BMMNC transplantation. This study demonstrates that the combination therapy of BMMNC transplantation and EPC mobilization potentiates the angiogenic efficacy of either single therapy in mouse limb ischemia models.     

Expression of the human fast-twitch skeletal muscle troponin I cDNA in a human ovarian carcinoma suppresses tumor growth

To explore the efficiency and mechanism of ovarian carcinoma gene therapy with the human fast-twitch skeletal muscle troponin I gene (Tnl-fast), Tnl-fast cDNA was transferred into human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell-line SK-OV-3. In vitro, the cell growth and cell cycle of Tnl-fast-, vector-, and mock-transfected cells were determined by MTT and flow cytometry assay, respectively. The conditioned media of Tnl-fast-, vector-, and mock-transfected SK-OV-3 cells were collected, and the cell proliferation inhibiting rates of human umbilical cord venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) by the three conditioned media were assayed. All the three cell lines were implanted into node mice, and the tumor growth, cell apoptosis, angiogenesis, and expression of Tnl-fast were observed or analyzed, respectively. In vitro, expression of Tnl-fast protein had no inhibiting effect on the growth of the dominant and stable transfectant cells, but endothelium, when compared with vector-transfected cells and nontransfected parental SK-OV-3 cells. Implantation of stable clone expressing Tnl-fast in the female BALB/c nude mice inhibits primary tumor growth by an average of 73%. The nude mice grafts expressing Tnl-fast exhibit a significant decrease of microvascular density, a higher rate of tumor cells apoptosis and a comparable proliferation rate as control. Our study, to our knowledge, shows the slowed down growth of the primary ovarian carcinoma, suggested that grafts were self-inhibitory by halting angiogenesis. Our data might also provide a novel useful strategy for cancer therapy by antiangiogenic gene therapy with a specific angiogenesis inhibitor Tnl-fast.     

Expression of the human fast-twitch skeletal muscle troponin I cDNA in a human ovarian carcinoma sup-presses tumor growth

To explore the efficiency and mechanism of ovarian carcinoma gene therapy with the human fast-twitch skeletal muscle troponin I gene (TnI-fast), TnI-fast cDNA was transferred into human ovarian adeno-carcinoma cell-line SK-OV-3. In vitro, the cell growth and cell cycle of TnI-fast-, vector-, and mock-transfected cells were determined by MTT and flow cytometry assay, respectively. The condi-tioned media of TnI-fast-, vector-, and mock-transfected SK-OV-3 cells were collected, and the cell pro-liferation inhibiting rates of human umbilical cord venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) by the three conditioned media were assayed. All the three cell lines were implanted into node mice, and the tumor growth, cell apoptosis, angiogenesis, and expression of TnI-fast were observed or analyzed, respec-tively. In vitro, expression of TnI-fast protein had no inhibiting effect on the growth of the dominant and stable transfectant cells, but endothelium, when compared with vector-transfected cells and nontrans-fected parental SK-OV-3 cells. Implantation of stable clone expressing TnI-fast in the female BALB/c nude mice inhibits primary tumor growth by an average of 73%. The nude mice grafts expressing TnI-fast exhibit a significant decrease of microvascular density, a higher rate of tumor cells apoptosis and a comparable proliferation rate as control. Our study, to our knowledge, shows the slowed down growth of the primary ovarian carcinoma, suggested that grafts were self-inhibitory by halting angio-genesis. Our data might also provide a novel useful strategy for cancer therapy by antiangiogenic gene therapy with a specific angiogenesis inhibitor TnI-fast.     

Xenotransplantation of human fetal adipose tissue: a model of in vivo adipose tissue expansion and adipogenesis

Obesity during childhood and beyond may have its origins during fetal or early postnatal life. At present, there are no suitable in vivo experimental models to study factors that modulate or perturb human fetal white adipose tissue (WAT) expansion, remodeling, development, adipogenesis, angiogenesis, or epigenetics. We have developed such a model. It involves the xenotransplantation of midgestation human WAT into the renal subcapsular space of immunocompromised SCID-beige mice. After an initial latency period of approximately 2 weeks, the tissue begins expanding. The xenografts are healthy and show robust expansion and angiogenesis for at least 2 months following transplantation. Data and cell size and gene expression are consistent with active angiogenesis. The xenografts maintain the expression of genes associated with differentiated adipocyte function. In contrast to the fetal tissue, adult human WAT does not engraft. The long-term viability and phenotypic maintenance of fetal adipose tissue following xenotransplantation may be a function of its autonomous high rates of adipogenesis and angiogenesis. Through the manipulation of the host mice, this model system offers the opportunity to study the mechanisms by which nutrients and other environmental factors affect human adipose tissue development and biology.     

The ultrastructure of the human fetal pineal gland

Summary The ultrastructure of the pineal gland of 18 human fetuses (crown-rump lengths 30–178 mm) was investigated.The pineal gland exhibits a pyramidal shape and consists of an anterior and posterior lobe. Only one parenchymal cell type, the pinealocyte, was observed. Few neuroblasts were seen between the pinealocytes and in the extended perivascular space. The pinealocytes possess all the organelles necessary for hormone synthesis. No specific secretory granule could be observed. The organ is abundantly vascularized and richly innervated. The morphology of the capillaries indicates the existence of a blood-brain barrier.The ultrastructure of the human fetal pineal gland suggests that the gland has a secretory function in early intrauterine life. Acknowledgements. The author is grateful to Mrs. Yael Balslev and Miss Inger Ægidius for their able technical assistance. This investigation was supported in part by The Carl and Ellen Hertz's foundation and the Johann and Hanne Weimann foundation.     

The ultrastructure of the human fetal pineal gland

Summary The innervation of the pineal gland, the cell junctions in this organ and junctions between ependymal cells in the pineal recess were investigated in 27 human fetuses (crown-rump length 30–190 mm).Free nerve boutons containing clear and a few dense core vesicles were present in the pineal parenchyma and in the perivascular spaces. The boutons did not make synaptic contacts with the pinealocytes. No evidence for the presence of noradrenaline in the vesicles of nerve boutons was found.Gap junctions, intermediate-like junctions and desmosomes were frequently seen between the pinealocytes. Ruthenium red was used in three fetuses as an extracellular marker.The continuous endothelial cells surrounding the capillary lumen were connected by tight junctions. This indicates the presence of a blood-brain barrier.Tight junctions were present between the ependymal cells in the pineal recess. These junctions constitute an extracellular barrier between the pineal and the cerebrospinal fluid. Acknowledgements: The author wishes to thank Inger Ægidius and Jb Machen for their technical, Ruth Fatum for her linguistic and Karsten Bundgaard for his photographical assistance     

Developmental potential of oocytes fertilized by conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) after cryopreservation and mesometrial autotransplantation of rabbit ovarian tissue

Objective: To evaluate mesometrial transplantation of frozen-thawed ovarian tissue in rabbit and to choose the optimized fertilization method for oocytes retrieved from grafts by investigating the capability of oocyte fertilization and further development. Forty rabbits were divided into three groups randomly: control group, fresh tissues transplantation group and frozen-thawed tissues transplantation group. Three months after the transplantation, rabbits were stimulated with FSH and oocytes were retrieved 13 h after human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injection. Oocytes matured in vivo or in vitro were then fertilized by conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), followed by observation and evaluation of fertilization rate and blastocyst formation rate. Blastocytes embryos were transferred to pseudopregnancy rabbits to observe pregnancy rate and birth rate. There were no significant differences in the percentage of oocytes matured either in vivo or in vitro among the three groups. The fertilization rate, cleavage rate and blastocyst formation rate of in vivo-matured oocytes had no difference among the three groups, whether they were fertilized by IVF or ICSI. Significantly higher fertilization rates of in vitro-matured oocytes were observed with ICSI compared with IVF in each group. The blastocyst formation rate of in vitro-matured oocytes was significantly lower than that of in vivo-matured oocytes in each group. The birth rate of in vivo-matured oocytes was significantly higher than that of in vitro-matured oocytes, although the pregnancy rate was similar between them. Mesometrial transplantation of frozen-thawed ovarian tissue may provide favorable conditions for follicle development. Oocytes retrieved from mesometrial grafts can develop to the blastocyst stage and produce live offspring. ICSI can optimize the fertilization rate of in vitro-matured oocytes retrieved from grafts.     

Effects of in vitro culture of mouse fetal gonads on subsequent ovarian development in vivo and oocyte maturation in vitro

Under organ culture, female fetal gonads in mice cannot develop beyond the preantral follicle stage unless the follicles are individually isolated and cultured again. In this study, we investigated the effect of in vitro culture of female fetal gonads before transplantation on subsequent in vivo development. The gonads derived from female fetuses 12.5 days postcoitum were organ-cultured for 0, 7 and 14 days, and then were grafted underneath the kidney capsules of severe combined immunodeficient mice and recovered at 21, 14 and 7 days post-transplantation, respectively. The histological analysis of the grafts showed that the in vitro culture of the fetal gonads restricted follicular development to the antral follicle stage post-transplantation. In the grafts cultured for 14 days, particularly, no antral follicle was observed. However, the oocytes in these follicles had grown to around 65 µm in diameter and had competence to resume meiosis in vitro . When the fetal gonads were grafted after culture for 7 and 14 days, 13.0% and 6.8% of the oocytes progressed to the metaphase II stage, respectively. These data showed significant differences ( P  < 0.05) in comparison with the control group (25.3%). Our results indicate that the in vitro culture of female fetal gonads before transplantation affects the subsequent in vivo development of both follicular cells and oocytes, and in vitro oocyte maturation. However, this effect seems to be more severe in terms of follicular development when compared with oocyte growth and maturation.     

The effect of intrauterine inflammation on mTOR signaling in mouse fetal brain

Fetuses exposed to an inflammatory environment are predisposed to long‐term adverse neurological outcomes. However, the mechanism by which intrauterine inflammation (IUI) is responsible for abnormal fetal brain development is not fully understood. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is closely associated with fetal brain development. We hypothesized that mTOR signaling might be involved in fetal brain injury and malformation when fetuses are exposed to the IUI environment. A well‐established IUI model was utilized by intrauterine injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to explore the effect of IUI on mTOR signaling in mouse fetal brains. We found that microglia activation in LPS fetal brains was increased, as demonstrated by elevated Iba‐1 protein level and immunofluorescence density. LPS fetal brains also showed reduced neuronal cell counts, decreased cell proliferation demonstrated by low Ki67‐positive density, and elevated neuron apoptosis evidenced by high expression of cleaved Caspase 3. Furthermore, we found that mTOR signaling in LPS fetal brains was elevated at 2 hr after LPS treatment, declined at 6 hr and showed overall inhibition at 24 hr. In summary, our study revealed that LPS‐induced IUI leads to increased activation of microglia cells, neuronal damage, and dynamic alterations in mTOR signaling in the mouse fetal brain. Our findings indicate that abnormal changes in mTOR signaling may underlie the development of future neurological complications in offspring exposed to prenatal IUI.