Cardiomyocyte marker expression in a human lymphocyte cell line using mouse cardiomyocyte extract

The Effects of Chicken Embryo Brain Extract on Sciatic Nerve Regeneration of Male Rat; An Experimental Study

Objective:

To determine the effects of chicken embryo brain extract (BE) on transects sciatic nerve in male rats.

Methods:

Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200 to 250 g, were randomized into three groups treated with (1) sham surgery, (2) normal saline (NS), and (3) brain extract (BE). The BE was taken from incubating chick embryos at day 8. The sciatic nerve was exposed and sharply transected at the mid thigh level. Immediate epineurial repair was then performed. The BE treated animals were given 400 µl/kg of the chick embryo BE intraperitoneal, once daily, for 2 weeks. All animals were evaluated by sciatic functional index (SFI), electrophysiology, histology, and immunohistochemistry at days 28, 90 after surgery.

Results:

The mean SFI difference between BE and NS groups at days 28, 60 and 90 after surgery was statistically significant (p=0.086). The mean number of myelinated fibers in the BE group was significantly greater than that of the NS group on days 28 and 90 after surgery (p=0.034). At days 28 and 90 after surgery, the mean nerve conduction velocity (NCV) in the BE group was significantly faster than that of the NS group (p=0.041).

Conclusion:

These results indicate for the first time that chick embryo brain extract can enhance peripheral nerve regeneration in rat.

Role of spermatogonial stem cells extract in transdifferentiation of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine-treated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into germ-like cells

As one of the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) methods, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCS ) extract is considered as new approach in stem cell therapy of infertility. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) inhibits methyltransferase enzyme, and induces gene reprogramming; herein, the effects of SSCS extract incubation in 5-aza-dC-treated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) has been surveyed. BMMSCs were isolated from femurs of three to four weeks old male NMRI mice, and the cells at passage three were treated with 2 µM 5-aza-dC for 72 hours. SSCs were isolated, cultured, and harvested at passage three to collect SSCS extract; BMMSCs were then incubated with SSCS extract in the three time periods: 72 hours, one week and two weeks. There were five groups: control, sham, extract, 5-aza-dC and extract-5-aza-dC. After one week of incubation, flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) exhibited high levels of expression for β1- and α6-integrins and promyelocytic leukaemia zinc finger (PLZF) in extract and extract-5-aza-dC groups (P < 0.05 vs. control and 5-aza-dC), and cells in these two groups had two forms of morphology, round and fusiform, similar to germ-like cells. 5-aza-dC had no significant effects during the three time periods of evaluation. These data disclose the effectiveness of SSCs extract incubation in transdifferentiation of BMMSCs into germ-like cells; this strategy could introduce a new approach for treatment of male infertility in clinic.

Sulforaphane protects H9c2 cardiomyocytes from angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy

BACKGROUND

Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive process of the heart in response to various stimuli, but sustained cardiac hypertrophy will finally lead to heart failure. Sulforaphane-extracted from cruciferous vegetables of the genus Brassica such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cabbage-has been evaluated for its anticarcinogenic and antioxidant effects.

AIMS

To investigate the effect of sulforaphane on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cardiac hypertrophy in vitro.

METHODS

Embryonic rat heart-derived H9c2 cells were co-incubated with sulforaphane and Ang II. The cell surface area and mRNA levels of hypertrophic markers were measured to clarify the effect of sulforaphane on cardiac hypertrophy. The underlying mechanism was further investigated by detecting the activation of Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways.

RESULTS

We found that H9c2 cells pretreated with sulforaphane were protected from Ang II-induced hypertrophy. The increasing mRNA levels of ANP, BNP, and β-MHC in Ang II-stimulated cells were also down-regulated after sulforaphane treatment. Moreover, sulforaphane repressed the Ang II-induced phosphorylation of Akt, GSK3β, mTOR, eIF4e, as well as of IκBα and NF-κB.

CONCLUSION

Based on our results, sulforaphane attenuates Ang II-induced hypertrophy of H9c2 cardiomyocytes mediated by the inhibition of intracellular signaling pathways including Akt and NF-κB.