Response of osteoblasts to low fluid shear stress is time dependent

The process of mechanotransduction of bone, the conversion of a mechanical stimulus into a biochemical response, is known to occur in osteoblasts in response to fluid shear stress. In order to understand the reaction of osteoblasts to various times of flow perfusion, osteoblasts were seeded on three-dimensional scaffolds, and cultured in the following conditions: continuous flow perfusion, intermittent flow perfusion, and static condition. We collected samples on day 4, 8 and 12 for analysis. Osteoblast proliferation was demonstrated by cell proliferation and scanning electron microscopy assay. Additionally, the expression of known markers of differentiation, including alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, were tested by qRT-PCR and alkaline phosphatase activity assay, and the deposition of calcium was used as an indicator of mineralization demonstrated by calcium content assay. The results supported that low fluid shear stress plays an important role in the activation of osteoblasts: enhance cell proliferation, increase calcium deposition, and promote the expression of osteoblastic markers. Furthermore, the continuous flow perfusion is a more favorable environment for the initiation of osteoblast activity compared with intermittent flow perfusion. Therefore, the force and time of fluid shear stress are important parameters for osteoblast activation.     

PCR及其衍生技术在基因突变检测中的应用

许多人类遗传性疾病及某些抗艾滋病药物的抗性乃至细菌对某些抗生素的抗药性通常源于基因突变。本文对近年来在基因突变检测中应用日益广泛的各种PCR 衍生技术作一综述;重点介绍了错配PCR技术,以及我们实验室近期报道的一种快速检测喹诺酮类药物耐药大肠杆菌的错配PCR方案。 Abstract:Many inherited diseases and drug resistance have been attributed to mutations in corresponding genes.In this paper,several techniques based on PCR used in diagnosis were concluded.The development and research progress of Mismatch PCR were discussed in details.Some information about an assay that we developed for detection of antimicrobial resistance to quinolones was also described.     

Effect of ammonium-N on malic enzyme and lipid production in Rhodotorula glutinis grown on monosodium glutamate wastewater

Rhodotorula glutinis, an oil producing strain, can utilize monosodium glutamate (MSG) wastewater as a raw material for lipid production. The effects of ammonium-N in the MSG wastewater (ammonium 15,000–25,000?mg/L, COD 30,000–50,000?mg/L) on cell growth, lipid accumulation and malic enzyme activity of R. glutinis have been studied. Four initial ammonium sulfate concentrations in the medium were set, which were 20, 60, 100, and 140?g/L. With an increase in the ammonium sulfate concentration, the uptake of ammonia nitrogen and lipid accumulation increased while the biomass decreased at 72?h. The maximum value of ammonia nitrogen consumption reached 5.77?g/L for an initial ammonium sulfate concentration of 140?g/L at 72?h. In addition, 60?g/L ammonium sulfate concentration may be an appropriate concentration for R. glutinis cultivation. The activity of the malic enzyme was measured and the results showed that there was a linear relationship between the intracellular lipid content and the total malic enzyme activity.     

Temporal properties of dual-peak responses of mouse retinal ganglion cells and effects of inhibitory pathways

Dual-peak responses of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are observed in various species, previous researches suggested that both response peaks were involved in retinal information coding. In the present study, we investigated the temporal properties of the dual-peak responses recorded in mouse RGCs elicited by spatially homogeneous light flashes and the effect of the inhibitory inputs mediated by GABAergic and/or glycinergic pathways. We found that the two peaks in the dual-peak responses exhibited distinct temporal dynamics, similar to that of short-latency and long-latency single-peak responses respectively. Pharmacological studies demonstrated that the application of exogenous GABA or glycine greatly suppressed or even eliminated the second peak of the cells’ firing activities, while little change was induced in the first peak. Co-application of glycine and GABA led to complete elimination of the second peak. Moreover, application of picrotoxin or strychnine induced dual-peak responses in some cells with transient responses by unmasking a second response phase. These results suggest that both GABAergic and glycinergic pathways are involved in the dual-peak responses of the mouse RGCs, and the two response peaks may arise from distinct pathways that would converge on the ganglion cells.     

Involvement of cell proliferation in the process of follicular atresia in the guinea pig

Cell morphology and proliferation was investigated in the atretic follicles during estrous cycles in the guinea pig. Ovarian samples on days 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 of the estrous cycle in the guinea pig were taken in the morning for histologic staining with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), and immunohistochemical staining of the protein proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The results indicated that the granulosa cells degenerated and eliminated first in atretic follicles, while the fibroblast-like cells appeared in the innermost layer of theca interna cells. When the fibroblast-like cells migrated to the antrum, they proliferated and formed a new tissue in peripheral to the zona pellucida of the oocyte. Our results also revealed that the orientation of the theca interna cell arrangement changed twice during the process of atresia, and the loose connective tissue in the antrum was critical for follicular atresia. Therefore, follicular atresia was not a simple process of cell death and elimination, but coexisted with cell proliferation. To our knowledge, we have for the first time confirmed cell proliferation and the presence of new tissue in atretic follicles in guinea pigs.     

The Protective Effect of Selenium on Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cell Injury Caused by Depression of Thioredoxin Reductase

To elucidate the effect of selenium (Se) on antioxidant function of mammary glands in dairy cows and the underlying mechanism, an experiment was conducted using a single-factor completely randomized design study. Bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) were randomly divided into four groups: control, Se treatment, 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) inhibition, and Se prevention. Treatment of BMECs with Se was found to significantly reverse decreased cell proliferation and the expression of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) after DNCB exposure. DNCB-induced activation of apoptosis signaling kinase-1 (ASK-1), which activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, was reduced in BMECs treated with Se. Additionally, our results indicated that Se treatment resulted in lower intracellular accumulation of arachidonic acid (ARA) and 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HPETE) due to suppressed expression of cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂) regulated by p38MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in DNCB-stimulated BMECs. Taken together, these findings suggest that Se treatment improved the antioxidant function of dairy cow mammary glands and protected cells from oxidative damage primarily by increasing the activity of TrxR, inhibiting the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, and thus decreasing the content of ARA and its related metabolites.