scholarly journals Effects of Chinese Formula Jueyin Granules on Psoriasis in an Animal Model

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tian Ma ◽  
Wen-cheng Jiang ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Jie Chen ◽  
Tie-jun Wu ◽  
...  

Although Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is known to be effective for psoriasis patients, the responsible mechanisms still remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of one formula, named Jueyin granules (JYG) in the mouse model of the vaginal epithelium and tail epidermis. Additionally, we also determined the anti-inflammatory effects of JYG in an imiquimod- (IMQ-) induced psoriasis-like skin mouse model. Our results show that JYG can attenuate the IMQ-induced psoriasis-like inflammation, accompanied with increased epidermal hyperplasia. We also measured estrogenic stage mitosis of vaginal epithelial cells and the formation of granular cell layers in male mouse tails per 100 scales, as well as the tissue nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels using the ELISA method. The results suggest that JYG significantly inhibited mitosis in mouse vaginal epithelial cells, promoted the formation of the squamous epidermal granular layer in mice tails, and reduced the levels of NO and MDA in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin mouse model after 14 d (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that JYG might be an effective clinical treatment for psoriasis and the effects may be related to inhibited keratinocytes proliferation, improved parakeratotic epidermal cells, and reduced expression of NO and MDA.

Author(s):  
C.N. Sun

The present study demonstrates the ultrastructure of the gingival epithelium of the pig tail monkey (Macaca nemestrina). Specimens were taken from lingual and facial gingival surfaces and fixed in Dalton's chrome osmium solution (pH 7.6) for 1 hr, dehydrated, and then embedded in Epon 812.Tonofibrils are variable in number and structure according to the different region or location of the gingival epithelial cells, the main orientation of which is parallel to the long axis of the cells. The cytoplasm of the basal epithelial cells contains a great number of tonofilaments and numerous mitochondria. The basement membrane is 300 to 400 A thick. In the cells of stratum spinosum, the tonofibrils are densely packed and increased in number (fig. 1 and 3). They seem to take on a somewhat concentric arrangement around the nucleus. The filaments may occur scattered as thin fibrils in the cytoplasm or they may be arranged in bundles of different thickness. The filaments have a diameter about 50 A. In the stratum granulosum, the cells gradually become flatted, the tonofibrils are usually thin, and the individual tonofilaments are clearly distinguishable (fig. 2). The mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum are seldom seen in these superficial cell layers.


Author(s):  
Jin-Soo Park ◽  
RyeonJin Cho ◽  
Eun-Young Kang ◽  
Yeon-Mok Oh

AbstractEmphysema, a pathological component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, causes irreversible damage to the lung. Previous studies have shown that Slit plays essential roles in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and organ development. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Slit2 on the proliferation and migration of mouse lung epithelial cells and its role in regeneration in an emphysema lung mouse model. Here, we have shown that Slit2/Robo signaling contributes to the regeneration of lungs damaged by emphysema. Mouse epithelial lung cells treated with Slit2 exhibited increased proliferation and migration in vitro. Our results also showed that Slit2 administration improved alveolar regeneration in the emphysema mouse model in vivo. Furthermore, Slit2/Robo signaling increased the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, which was mediated by Ras activity. These Slit2-mediated cellular signaling processes may be involved in the proliferation and migration of mouse lung epithelial cells and are also associated with the potential mechanism of lung regeneration. Our findings suggest that Slit2 administration may be beneficial for alveolar regeneration in lungs damaged by emphysema.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine M Ranard ◽  
Matthew J Kuchan ◽  
John W Erdman

ABSTRACT Studying vitamin E [α-tocopherol (α-T)] metabolism and function in the brain and other tissues requires an animal model with low α-T status, such as the transgenic α-T transfer protein (Ttpa)–null (Ttpa−/−) mouse model. Ttpa+/− dams can be used to produce Ttpa−/− and Ttpa+/+mice for these studies. However, the α-T content in Ttpa+/− dams’ diet requires optimization; diets must provide sufficient α-T for reproduction, while minimizing the transfer of α-T to the offspring destined for future studies that require low baseline α-T status. The goal of this work was to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of 2 breeding diet strategies on reproduction outcomes and offspring brain α-T concentrations. These findings will help standardize the breeding methodology used to generate the Ttpa−/− mice for neurological studies.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Suzan M. Hazzaa ◽  
Mabrouk A. Abd Eldaim ◽  
Amira A. Fouda ◽  
Asmaa Shams El Dein Mohamed ◽  
Mohamed Mohamed Soliman ◽  
...  

Intermittent fasting (IF) plays an important role in the protection against metabolic syndrome-induced memory defects. This study aimed to assess the protective effects of both prophylactic and curative IF against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced memory defects in rats. The control group received a normal diet; the second group received a HFD; the third group was fed a HFD for 12 weeks and subjected to IF during the last four weeks (curative IF); the fourth group was fed a HFD and subjected to IF simultaneously (prophylactic IF). A high-fat diet significantly increased body weight, serum lipids levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and H score in brain tissue and altered memory performance. In addition, it significantly decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in brain tissue and viability and thickness of pyramidal and hippocampus granular cell layers. However, both types of IF significantly decreased body weight, serum lipids, GFAP protein expression and H score and MDA concentration in brain tissue, and improved memory performance, while it significantly increased GSH concentration in brain tissue, viability, and thickness of pyramidal and granular cell layers of the hippocampus. This study indicated that IF ameliorated HFD-induced memory disturbance and brain tissue damage and the prophylactic IF was more potent than curative IF.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1895
Author(s):  
Azra Memon ◽  
Bae Yong Kim ◽  
Se-eun Kim ◽  
Yuliya Pyao ◽  
Yeong-Geun Lee ◽  
...  

Background: Phytoncide is known to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Purpose: This study was carried out to confirm the anti-inflammatory activity of two types of phytoncide extracts from pinecone waste. Methods: We made two types of animal models to evaluate the efficacy, an indomethacin-induced gastroenteritis rat model and a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mouse model. Result: In the gastroenteritis experiment, the expression of induced-nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), a marker for inflammation, decreased in the phytoncide-supplemented groups, and gastric ulcer development was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05). In the colitis experiment, the shortening of the colon length and the iNOS expression were significantly suppressed in the phytoncide-supplemented group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Through this study, we confirmed that phytoncide can directly inhibit inflammation in digestive organs. Although further research is needed, we conclude that phytoncide has potential anti-inflammatory properties in the digestive tract and can be developed as a functional agent.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2019
Author(s):  
Salvatore Desantis ◽  
Serena Minervini ◽  
Lorenzo Zallocco ◽  
Bruno Cozzi ◽  
Andrea Pirone

The pig has been increasingly used as a suitable animal model in translational neuroscience. However, several features of the fast-growing, immediately motor-competent cerebral cortex of this species have been adequately described. This study analyzes the cytoarchitecture of the primary motor cortex (M1) of newborn, young and adult pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus). Moreover, we investigated the distribution of the neural cells expressing the calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) (calretinin, CR; parvalbumin, PV) throughout M1. The primary motor cortex of newborn piglets was characterized by a dense neuronal arrangement that made the discrimination of the cell layers difficult, except for layer one. The absence of a clearly recognizable layer four, typical of the agranular cortex, was noted in young and adult pigs. The morphometric and immunohistochemical analyses revealed age-associated changes characterized by (1) thickness increase and neuronal density (number of cells/mm2 of M1) reduction during the first year of life; (2) morphological changes of CR-immunoreactive neurons in the first months of life; (3) higher density of CR- and PV-immunopositive neurons in newborns when compared to young and adult pigs. Since most of the present findings match with those of the human M1, this study strengthens the growing evidence that the brain of the pig can be used as a potentially valuable translational animal model during growth and development.


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