The Interactions of Nitric Oxide and Acetylcholine on Penicillin-Induced Epilepsy in Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between nitric oxide (NO) and acetylcholine (ACh) in penicillin-induced experimental epilepsy. Adult male Wistar rats weighing 220 ± 35 g were used in the experiments. The epileptiform activity was induced by microinjection of penicillin (200 IU/1 μl) into the left sensorymotor cortex. Electrocorticogram was recorded by using Ag/AgCl ball electrodes. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, given intracortically 30 min after penicillin significantly reduced the spike frequency whereas ACh increased the epileptiform activity for 5 min. Atropine, an antagonist for muscarinic receptors, was given intracortically 30 min after penicillin and did not significantly affect epileptiform activity for 30 min. SNP given after atropine significantly suppressed the epileptiform activity. ACh given 10 min after Nω-nitro-L: -arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nonspecific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, did not have a significant effect on spike frequency. When ACh and SNP were administered together, penicillin induced epileptiform activity and spike frequency were significantly suppressed from the 10th minute onwards. It can be concluded that ACh increases the penicillin-induced epileptiform activity while co-administration of ACh and SNP produces a potent anticonvulsant effect as compared to SNP alone.     

丹参和甘遂在重症急性胰腺炎治疗中的联合应用

目的:探讨丹参和甘遂联合应用对重症急性胰腺炎(SAP)的治疗价值。方法:我院收治的SAP患者62例随机分为常规治疗组和联合治疗组(常规治疗加丹参和甘遂联合治疗)两组。比较两组间腹痛缓解时间、肠鸣音恢复时间、体温恢复时间、血淀粉酶恢复正常时间;局部并发症;ARDS、休克、肾功能衰竭、胰性脑病等全身并发症;平均住院时间、ICU住院时间、中转手术数和死亡例数。结果:与常规治疗组比较,联合治疗组中腹痛缓解时间、肠鸣音恢复时间、局部和全身并发症发生率、平均住院时间、ICU住院时间、死亡率显著减少(P<0.05),但体温恢复时间、血淀粉酶恢复正常时间和中转手术数无明显变化(P>0.05)。结论:在常规治疗基础上,联合应用丹参和甘遂对SAP具有缓解病情,降低平均住院时间和死亡率的作用。     

丹参抗肝纤维化有效部位化学成分研究

从丹参抗肝纤维化有效部位提取物中分离得到7个化合物,经物理常数测定、波谱分析等鉴定为,4、5、4’、5’-四羟基1、2双苯醚(1),原二茶醛(2),原二茶酸(3),异阿魏酸(4),咖啡酸(5),丹参甲素(6),丹酚酸D(7),其中化合物1为首次从丹参中分得的化合物。     

The Beneficial Effect of Probiotics Supplementation on Penicillin-Induced Focal Seizure in Rats

The focal epilepsy is a chronic neurological brain disorder which affects millions of people in the world. There is emerging evidence that changes in the gut microbiota may have effects on epileptic seizures. In the present study, we examined the effect of probiotics on penicillin-induced focal seizure model in rats. Male Wistar Albino rats (n: 21) were randomly divided into three groups: control (no medication), penicillin and penicillin?+?probiotic. Probiotic VSL#3 (12.86 bn living bacteria/kg/day) was given by gavage for 30 days. The seizures were induced by intracortical injection of penicillin G (500 IU) into the cortex. An ECoG recordings were made for 180 min after penicillin G application. The spike frequency and the amplitude were used to assess the severity of seizures. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin (IL-6) levels in the brain were studied biochemically. Our results indicated that probiotic supplementation improved focal seizures through increasing the latency (p?<?0.001) and decreasing the spike frequency (p?<?0.01) compared to the penicillin group. Penicillin-induced seizure in rats significantly enhanced TNF-α (p?<?0.01), NO (p?<?0.01) and IL-6 (p?<?0.05) compared to the control. Probiotic supplementation significantly decreased IL-6 (p?<?0.05), TNF-α (p?<?0.01) and NO (p?<?0.001) compared to the penicillin group. When the body weights were compared before and after the experiment, there was no difference between the control and penicillin groups, but it was observed that the body weight decreased after probiotic supplementation in the penicillin?+?probiotic group. Probiotic supplementation may have anti-seizure effect by reducing proinflammatory cytokine and NO levels in epileptic rat brain.

     

Effects of a Daisaikoto Extract on the Biliary Constituents in Mice and Rats

The effects of an extract of Daisaikoto (a traditional Chinese medicine) on biliary constituents was studied in mice fed with a lithogenic diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 0.25% sodium cholate (the control diet) and in rats fed with a cholesterol-free diet. The Daisaikoto extract was added to the control diet at a level of 0.5%. A high incidence of cholesterol gallstones were found in the control mice, but not in the mice given the Daisaikoto extract. This difference was concluded to have been due to the absolute concentration of bile acid in the bile being significantly higher in the mice given the Daisaikoto extract than in the control mice. The result from rats fed with the cholesterol-free diet also demonstrated that the Daisaikoto extract caused an increase in the absolute concentration of bile acid in the bile.     

油橄榄叶提取物对大鼠酒精性脂肪肝的保护作用

目的观察油橄榄叶提取物(OLE)对酒精性肝损伤的保护作用及机制。方法用递增法灌胃乙醇24周建立大鼠肝损伤模型,造模同时用OLE(250 mg·kg~(-1)、500 mg·kg~(-1)、1 000 mg·kg~(-1))进行灌胃治疗。利用生物显微技术观察肝脏组织结构的变化,检测血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(TC)水平,用放射免疫法检测肝脏肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素1(IL-1β)的含量,用比色法检测肝脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量,用免疫组织化学法检测固醇调节元件结合蛋白-1c(SREBP-1c)的表达情况。结果与模型组比较,OLE治疗后,血清ALT、AST、TG、TC水平降低;肝脏TNF-α、IL-1β、MDA含量及SREBP-1c表达呈降低趋势;SOD、CAT、GR水平均显著升高;肝脏损伤程度明显减轻。结论 OLE对酒精性肝损伤有一定的保护作用,可能与其减少自由基损伤、减轻炎症反应、抑制SREBP-1c表达有关。     

Effects of Artichoke Extract Supplementation on Gonads of Cadmium-Treated Rats

The present study was designed to determine whether artichoke (Cynara scolymus) exerts a protective effect on gonads of cadmium-treated rats and if there is a relationship between artichoke supplementation and nitric oxide (NO) formation in cells. Forty Wistar albino male rats, weighing an average of 90 g each, were equally divided into four groups receiving 1 mg/100 g cadmium chloride by injection (group 1), the same dose CdCl₂ plus 3 mg/100 g artichoke extract (group 2), the same dose of artichoke extract (group 3), and male controls (group 4). Four additional groups, labeled 5–8, consisted of identically treated and control female rats. After 4 weeks of treatment, the animals were killed and their gonads were removed for histological examination. As expected, the seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells were damaged by cadmium. Ovarian tissue was not damaged to the same extent as testicular cells. Artichoke extract exerted a clear protective effect against Cd-induced testicular damage and lowered NO production to the same level of that in the control groups.     

丹参注射液对同种异体肌腱移植后粘连防治的实验研究

目的:探讨局部应用丹参注射液(Salvia Miltiorrhiza,SM)对异体肌腱移植后粘连的影响.方法:使用深低温冷冻处理的同种异体肌腱修复缺损的大鼠屈趾肌腱,72只大鼠随机分为2组,A组为试验组,腱周局部注射丹参注射液,B组为对照组,注射生理盐水(Saline).术后2、4、8周处死动物,标本进行大体观察、组织学观察及生物力学测定.结果:A组粘连范围小,粘连等级评分与B组相比有统计学意义,力学测定结果显示A组与B组无统计学意义.结论:丹参注射液能有效减轻肌腱移植后粘连.     

Anti-Asthmatic Effects of an Amomum compactum Extract on an Ovalbumin (OVA)-Induced Murine Asthma Model

Despite ongoing intensive asthma research, the incidence of asthma is increasing worldwide. We investigated in this study the effects of Amomum compactum on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in a mouse model, and studied the possible mechanism for its anti-asthmatic action. Our data show that an A. compactum treatment markedly decreased the number of infiltrating eosinophils and the hypersecretion of mucus when compared with the effects on mice treated with OVA alone. The A. compactum treatment dose-dependently decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and T helper (Th)2 cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and a high dose of A. compactum effectively reduced the level of total immunoglobulin (Ig)E in the serum. Taken together, these data indicate that the administration of A. compactum may have potential therapeutic value when used as an adjuvant for the immunomodulatory treatment of allergic asthma.     

丹参对毛细支气管炎患儿体液免疫调节作用的观察

目的:探讨丹参佐治毛细支气管炎的疗效及其可能的机理。方法:73例毛细支气管患儿随机分为常规组和丹参组,均用常规方法治疗,但后者加用复方丹参静脉滴注。在治疗前、后用全自动散射比浊法测定并比较两组患儿血清IgE、IgG、IgA、补体C3和C4水平。结果:丹参组和常规组总有效率依次为94.44%和78.38%,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后,丹参组患者血清IgE、C3和C4水平下降,IgG、IgA水平上升,与治疗前相比均有一定程度差异(P<0.01-0.05)。治疗后,常规组患者仅IgE水平下降(P<0.01),但其余指标与治疗前差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:丹参佐治毛细支气管炎,临床效果较好,且可调节机体的体液免疫应答,增强机体的抗感染能力。     

Hepatoprotective Effects of Purple Potato Extract against D-Galactosamine-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

We investigated the hepatoprotective effect of purple potato extract (PPE) against D-galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury in rats. PPE (400 mg) was administered once daily for 8 d, and then GalN (250 mg/kg of body weight) was injected at 22 h before the rats were killed. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and asparate aminotranferase (AST) levels increased significantly after injection of GalN, but PPE inhibited GalN-induced alterations in serum TNF-α, LDH, ALT, and AST levels. Hepatic lipid peroxide and glutathione levels in the control + GalN group were higher and lower respectively than those in the control group, and those in the PPE + GalN group did not differ from that in the control group. The lipid peroxide level in hepatic microsomes treated with 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride in the PPE group was significantly lower than that in the control group. This suggests that PPE has hepatoprotective effects against GalN-induced hepatotoxicity via inhibition lipid peroxidation and/or inflammation in rats.     

栀子水提取物对实验性2型糖尿病大鼠血糖及同型半胱氨酸水平的影响

观察栀子提取物对实验性2型糖尿病大鼠血糖、血脂及同型半胱氨酸水平的影响.采用Wistar雄性大鼠70只,随机抽取10只作为正常对照组,喂以普通维持饲料,其余60只高糖高脂饲料喂养4周后,ip链脲佐菌素(STZ)30 mg/kg建立2型糖尿病模型,7d后选取成模大鼠50只随机分为模型对照组(生理盐水)、盐酸二甲双胍对照组、栀子提取物低、中、高剂量组(0.2、0.4、0.6 g/kg),每组10只.连续ig给药4周后,观察各组大鼠血糖、血脂及同型半胱氨酸水平等变化.栀子提取物ig能降低糖尿病大鼠的血糖、甘油三酯(TG)、胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白(LDLC),同时能升高高密度脂蛋白(HDLC),降低同型半胱氨酸水平.     

Antihypertensive Effect of an Extract of Passiflora edulis Rind in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Orally administered methanol extract of Passiflora edulis rind (10 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) or luteolin (50 mg/kg), which is one of consistent polyphenols of the extract, significantly lowered systolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Quantitative analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) showed that the extract contained 20 μg/g dry weight of luteolin and 41 μg/g dry weight of luteolin-6-C-glucoside. It also contained γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA, 2.4 mg/g dry weight by LC-MS/MS or 4.4 mg/g dry weight by amino acid analysis) which has been reported to be an antihypertensive material. Since the extract contained a relatively high concentration of GABA, the antihypertensive effect of the extract in SHRs might be due mostly to the GABA-induced antihypertensive effect and partially to the vasodilatory effect of polyphenols including luteolin.     

Seizure Control of Current Shunt on Rats with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Neocortical Epilepsy

Purpose

To examine the effects of current shunt on rats with temporal lobe epilepsy and neocortex epilepsy.

Experimental Design

A kainic acid (KA)-induced model of temporal lobe seizure and a penicillin-induced model of neocortical partial seizure were used in this study. Rats of each model were randomly allocated into two groups: control and model groups. The model group was further divided into the KA or penicillin group, sham conduction group and conduction group. The current shunt was realized through the implantation of a customized conduction electrode. After surgery, electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded for two hours for each rat under anesthesia. Subsequently, the rats were video monitored for 72 h to detect the occurrence of behavioral seizures upon awakening. The average number and duration of seizures on EEG and the number of behavioral seizures were measured.

Results

In KA model, the number of total EEG seizures in conduction group (9.57±2.46) was significantly less than that in sham conduction group (15.13±3.45) (p<0.01). The duration of EEG seizures in conduction group (26.13±7.81 s) was significantly shorter than that in sham conduction group (34.17±7.25 s) (p = 0.001). A significant reduction of behavioral seizures was observed in the conduction group compared with KA (p = 0.000) and sham conduction groups (p = 0.000). In penicillin model, there was a 61% reduction in total EEG seizures in conduction group compared with sham conduction group (p<0.01), and the duration of EEG seizures in conduction group (6.29±2.64 s) was significantly shorter than that in the sham conduction group (12.07±3.81 s) (p = 0.002). A significant reduction of behavioral seizures was observed in conduction group compared with penicillin (p<0.01) and sham conduction groups (p<0.01).

Conclusion

Current shunt effectively reduces the onset and severity of seizures. Current shunt therapy could be an effective alternative minimally invasive approach for temporal lobe epilepsy and neocortex epilepsy.     

NADPH-Diaphorase-Stained Neurons after Experimental Epilepsy in Rats

The aim of this study was to determine the neuronal participation of nitric oxide (NO) in experimental epilepsy. To reach this objective, we established the amount of cells presenting nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the amygdaline concentrations in the-arginine–nitric oxide synthesis pathway. A group of fully epileptic rats, induced by the kindling procedure and that had reached at least 10 generalized seizures, was studied. We evaluated behavioral stages, electroencephalographic activities, and histochemical NOS-positive cells and carried out high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) determinations of arginine, citrulline, and glutamic acid. Our results showed that behavioral and electrographic frequency, and duration of epileptic activities, were increased during the kindling process. Image processing system of NOS cells showed two types of intensities in cell stains in hippocampus, caudate-putamen, and amygdala. When we independently counted the two types of NOS stain cells, a selective increase in the number and density of weak-stained cells was observed, while dark-stained cells did not change in the studied structures. Additionally, arginine, citrulline, and glutamic acid concentrations in amygdala increased in kindled animals. The differential and specific increase in the stained cells expressing the nitric oxide synthase, as well as the increase in concentrations of the-arginine–nitric oxide pathway in amygdala, suggested a relationship with the progressive augmentation in the electrophysiological hyperactivity characteristic of generalized epilepsy.     

Hippocampal Gene Network Analysis in an Experimental Model of Posttraumatic Epilepsy

In the present study, we performed comprehensive gene expression and gene network analyses using a DNA microarray to elucidate the molecular events responsible for the pathology of posttraumatic epilepsy at the partial seizure stage. We used an experimental posttraumatic epilepsy model of amygdalar focal FeCl₃-injected rats and compared gene expression profiles in the hippocampus at the partial seizure stage (less than stage 3 on Racine’s convulsion scale) and that of sham-operated animals. At the partial seizure stage, upregulation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and lipid metabolism were observed, which have been reported to be caused by brain injury and seizures in previous studies. Furthermore, significant upregulation of genes related to inflammation and the immune system was observed. These molecular changes in PLA2 and lipid metabolism may be related to seizure propagation.