Reduced maximum capacity of glycolysis in brown adipose tissue of genetically obese, diabetic (db/db) mice and its restoration following treatment with a thermogenic beta-adrenoceptor agonist

The maximal activities of the key glycolytic enzymes hexokinase and 6-phosphofructokinase, were reduced in brown adipose tissue in db/db mice compared to their lean littermates. Treatment of db/db mice with the thermogenic beta-adrenoceptor agonist, BRL 26830, restored normoglycaemia. The only significant increase in activity of hexokinase and 6-phosphofructokinase in the BRL 26830-treated db/db mice occurred in brown adipose tissue where the total tissue activity increased 10- and 11-fold respectively. These changes together with increased 2-deoxyglucose uptake in vivo suggest that brown adipose tissue can play a quantitatively important role in the removal of glucose from the blood.     

透明质酸钠联合硫酸氨基酸葡萄糖钾胶囊对踝关节损伤患者血清骨性标志物水平及关节功能的影响

目的:探讨透明质酸钠联合硫酸氨基酸葡萄糖钾胶囊对踝关节损伤患者血清骨性标志物水平及关节功能的影响。方法:选择2015年1月至2017年1月在我院接受治疗的120例踝关节损伤患者,将其随机分为观察组和对照组,每组各60例。对照组患者采用透明质酸钠联治疗,观察组则在对照组治疗方案的基础上联合硫酸氨基酸葡萄糖钾胶囊进行治疗。检测和比较两组患者治疗前后血清骨钙素(BGP)、I型前胶原羧基端肽(PICP)、骨源性碱性磷酸酶(BALP)水平及Baird-Jackson踝关节评分的变化情况及治疗后的临床疗效。结果:治疗后,观察组的总有效率(91.67%)明显高于对照组(78.33%,P0.05)。两组患者治疗后的血清BGP、PICP、BALP水平及Baird-Jackson踝关节评分均较治疗前显著升高,且观察组明显高于对照组(P0.05)。两组治疗过程中均无明显不良反应发生。结论:透明质酸钠联合硫酸氨基酸葡萄糖钾胶囊治疗踝关节损伤患者的临床疗效显著优于单用透明质酸钠联治疗,其可有效改善血清骨性标志物水平,且利于踝关节功能的恢复。     

A molecular analysis of matrix remodeling and angiogenesis during long bone development

The replacement of cartilage by bone is the net result of genetic programs that control chondrocyte differentiation, matrix degradation, and bone formation. Disruptions in the rate, timing, or duration of chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation result in shortened, misshapen skeletal elements. In the majority of these skeletal disruptions, vascular invasion of the elements is also perturbed. Our hypothesis is that the processes involved in endochondral ossification are synchronized via the vasculature. The purpose of this study was to examine carefully the events of vascular invasion and matrix degradation in the context of chondrocyte differentiation and bone formation. Here, we have produced a ‘molecular map’ of the initial vascularization of the developing skeleton that provides a framework in which to interpret a wide range of fetal skeletal malformations, disruptions, and dysplasias.     

Sphingomyelinase amplifies BMP-4-induced osteocalcin synthesis in osteoblasts: role of ceramide

We previously reported that extracellular sphingomyelinase induces sphingomyelin hydrolysis in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells and that mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are involved in bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4-stimulated osteocalcin synthesis in these cells. In the present study, we investigated whether sphingomyelinase affects BMP-4-stimulated synthesis of osteocalcin in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. Sphingomyelinase significantly enhanced the BMP-4-stimulated osteocalcin synthesis. Among sphingomyelin metabolites, C(2)-ceramide enhanced the BMP-4-stimulated osteocalcin synthesis while sphingosine and sphingosine 1-phosphate had little effect on the synthesis. D-erythro-MAPP, an inhibitor of ceramidase, amplified the sphingomyelinase-effect on the osteocalcin synthesis. C(2)-ceramide suppressed the BMP-4-induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase, while having little effect on the phosphorylation of Smad1 and p38 MAP kinase. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that extracellular sphingomyelinase enhances the BMP-stimulated osteocalcin synthesis via ceramide in osteoblasts and that the effect of ceramide is exerted at a point upstream from p44/p42 MAP kinase.     

骨钙素减轻糖尿病大鼠血- 视网膜屏障的损伤

目的:研究骨钙素(Osteocalcin)对链脲佐菌素诱导的糖尿病大鼠血-视网膜屏障的影响。方法:取健康SD大鼠24只,随机分为正常对照组、糖尿病1月(DM1)组、糖尿病骨钙素干预(DM1+OCGY)组。尾静脉注射STZ建立DM模型,成模后DM1+OCGY组腹腔注射骨钙素(2.57 mg.kg-.1d-1),DM1组腹腔注射等量生理盐水,1个月后处死动物。用伊文思蓝方法检测大鼠血-视网膜屏障的改变。结果:造模1月后大鼠视网膜血管渗透性显著增加,共聚焦显微镜显示红色荧光斑点主要分布在视网膜血管周围,给予骨钙素后,红色荧光斑点明显减少,进一步定量显示1M糖尿病大鼠视网膜伊文思蓝含量为57.4±8.7μg.g-1,骨钙素能够改变这种变化,DM1+OCGY组伊文思蓝含量为26.1±3.8μg.g-1。结论:骨钙素能抑制糖尿病视网膜病的血管渗漏,对糖尿病引起的血-视网膜屏障破坏有保护作用。     

Expression of osteoblast marker genes in rat calvarial osteoblast-like cells, and effects of the endocrine disrupters diphenylolpropane, benzophenone-3, resveratrol and silymarin

Compelling evidence indicates that some endocrine disrupters (EDs), acting as selective estrogen-receptor modulators, interfere with osteoblast differentiation and function. Hence, we investigated whether four EDs [bisphenol-A (BSP), benzophenone-3 (BP3), resveratrol and silymarin] affect differentiation and growth of rat calvarial osteoblast-like (ROB) cells in primary in vitro culture. ROB cells were cultured for up 30 days in a medium supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS), and conventional RT-PCR detected the expression of collagen-1alpha and osteonectin mRNAs through the entire culture period. Real time-PCR demonstrated that at days 2 and 7 of culture the expressions of collagen-1alpha and osteonectin were very low, and underwent a 192- and a 334-fold increase, respectively, at day 21 of culture. In contrast, osteocalcin expression remained unchanged from days 2 to 21 of culture. EIA showed that ROB cells secreted sizeable amounts of osteocalcin and osteopontin between days 13 and 15 of culture. EDs were added at day 13 of culture at concentrations ranging from 10(-10) to 10(-6) M, being the culture medium deprived of FCS, and their effects were tested 48 h later. None of EDs was found to affect osteocalcin and osteopontin secretion from ROB cells, suggesting that their effects were tested at a relatively earlier stage of culture, when ROB cell differentiation into osteoblats is not fully accomplished, and/or the presence of estrogens contained in FCS is needed for EDs to exert their osteoblast-differentiation modulating action. BSP and BP3, but not resveratrol and silymarin, decreased proliferative activity of cultured ROB cells, a cytotoxic effect conceivably independent of their estrogen-receptor modulating activity.     

Does endurance running before orchidectomy prevent osteopenia in rats?

This experiment was performed to study the effects on femoral bone of endurance training performed during the 3 months before orchidectomy in rats which were then killed 90 days later. A total of 70 male Wistar rats were used at 8 weeks old. One day 0 of the experiment, 10 rats were killed by cervical dislocation and used as first controls. Among the 60 others, 30 were selected for treadmill running (60% maximal oxygen uptake, 1 h x day(-1), 6 days x week(-1) for 90 days). The 30 other rats remained at rest. On day 90, 10 exercised (IE) and resting (IR) rats were killed and used as intermediary controls. Among the 20 other animals of each group, 10 were surgically castrated (CXE, CXR) or 10 sham-operated (SHE, SHR) and killed on day 180. On day 90 femoral failure load (three-point bending test) was greater in IE than in IR. Simultaneously, the deoxypyridinolinuria was lower in IE than in IR. On day 180, femoral bones were thinner in CXR than in CXE. The lowest values for trabecular bone are in the distal femoral metaphysis were measured in CXE and CXR rats, but the value measured in CXE was no different from that measured in SHR. Simultaneously total femoral bone density was lower in CXR than in SHE, while no difference concerning femoral metaphyseal density was observed between CXE and SHR. These results confirmed that endurance running increased femoral bone growth and modelling and femoral trabecular area, and thereby peak bone mass, in 8-month-old male rats. In resting animals, castrated after the training period, androgen deficiency decreased femoral density, mineral content and trabecular area. This decrease was not observed in castrated but previously exercised rats. Thus, by increasing peak bone mass, it was considered that endurance training may have a preventive effect against orchidectomy-induced bone loss.