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Yang Z, Jia H, Bai Y, Wang W. Spatiotemporal expression of neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1 in developing caudal spinal cord of fetuses with anorectal malformations from ETU-fed rats. J Mol Histol 2020; 51:519-530. [PMID: 32783102 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-020-09900-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Complications, such as fecal soiling, incontinence, and constipation, are major health issues for patients with anorectal malformations (ARMs) after surgery. Dysplasia of the caudal spinal cord is an increasingly pivotal area in the field of postoperative complications for patients with ARMs. However, the existing research has not fully defined the mechanism underlying ARMs development. The neurogenic locus notch homolog (Notch) signaling pathway comprises several highly conserved proteins that are involved in spinal cord developmental processes. In the present study, the emerging role of Notch1 in fetal lumbosacral spinal cords was investigated in a rat model of ARMs using ethylene thiourea. Immunohistochemical staining, western blot and quantitative reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction were utilized to analyze spatiotemporal expression of Notch1 on embryonic days (E) 16, E17, E19, and E21. The expression levels of the neuronal marker neurofilament and recombination signal-binding protein-J protein were evaluated for temporal correlations to Notch1 expression. The results implied that Notch1 expression was reduced in lumbosacral spinal cord neurons of ARMs embryos compared to control embryos. These results showed that, in ARMs embryos decreased Notch1 expression is related to the dysplasia of the caudal spinal cord during embryogenesis, indicating that Notch signaling may participate pathogenic embryonic lumbosacral spinal development and may be associated with postoperative complications of ARMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Weilin Wang. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Huimin Jia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Weilin Wang. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuzuo Bai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Weilin Wang. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Weilin Wang. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China.
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Yang Z, Li X, Jia H, Bai Y, Wang W. BMP7 is Downregulated in Lumbosacral Spinal Cord of Rat Embryos With Anorectal Malformation. J Surg Res 2020; 251:202-210. [PMID: 32169723 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) comprise a highly conserved signaling protein family, which are involved in spinal cord formation, development and differentiation. Malformations of the lumbosacral spinal cord are associated with postoperation complications of anorectal malformation (ARM). However, the mechanism underlying the development of these malformations remains elusive. MATERIALS AND METHODS Embryonic rat ARM model induced by ethylenethiourea (ETU) was introduced to investigate BMP7 expression in lumbosacral spinal cord. BMP7 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining, qRT-PCR, and Western blot analysis on embryonic (E) days 16, 17, 19, and 21. The expression of the neuronal marker neurofilament (NF) and pSmad1/5 was determined by immunofluorescence double staining and Western blot analysis during peak BMP7 expression. RESULTS BMP7 mRNA (E16, 1.041 ± 0.169 versus 0.758 ± 0.0423, P < 0.05; E17, 1.889 ± 0.444 versus 1.601 ± 0.263, P < 0.05; E19, 2.898 ± 0.434 versus 1.981 ± 0.068, P < 0.01; and E21, 2.652 ± 0.637 versus 1.957 ± 0.09, P < 0.05;) and protein (E16, 1.068 ± 0.065 versus 0.828 ± 0.066, P < 0.01; E17, 1.728 ± 0.153 versus1.4 ± 0.148, P < 0.05; E19, 2.313 ± 0.141 versus 1.696 ± 0.21, P < 0.01; and E21, 2.021 ± 0.13 versus 1.43 ± 0.128, P < 0.01) were downregulated, and their expressions were specifically low in interneurons (IN) located in the dorsal horn of the lumbosacral spinal cord in embryos with ARM. On E19, Western blot analysis revealed reduced P-Smad1/5(1.13 ± 0.08 versus 0.525 ± 0.06, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS An implication of this study is the possibility that BMP7 downregulation contributes to maldevelopment of the lumbosacral spinal cord during embryogenesis in fetal rats with ARM, indicating that BMP7 may play an important role in ARM pathogenesis and the complications thereof.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Huimin Jia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuzuo Bai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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Yang Z, Gao L, Jia H, Bai Y, Wang W. The Expression of Shh, Ptch1, and Gli1 in the Developing Caudal Spinal Cord of Fetal Rats With Anorectal Malformations. J Surg Res 2018; 233:173-182. [PMID: 30502245 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postoperative incontinence and constipation still remain the major complications of anorectal malformations (ARMs), despite improvements in their treatment. One of the most important factors that affect postoperative anorectal function is malformations in the lumbosacral spinal cord. However, far too little attention has been paid to the underlying mechanism that produces these malformations. MATERIALS AND METHODS The levels of sonic hedgehog (Shh), patched homolog 1 (Ptch1), and zinc finger-containing transcription factors 1 (Gli1) expression were investigated in the lumbosacral spinal cord in ethylenethiourea-exposed rat fetus with ARMs, and Shh, Ptch1, and Gli1 expression was confirmed with immunohistochemical staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analyses during lumbosacral spinal cord development both in the ARMs and normal rat embryos. RESULTS Our results have shown that Shh, Ptch1, and Gli1 expression in the lumbosacral spinal cord of rat embryos with ARMs was decreased at both the messenger RNA and protein levels, when compared with their expression levels in normal tissues (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that the expression of Shh, Ptch1, and Gli1 in lumbosacral spinal cord was remarkably reduced during late developmental stages in fetal rats with ARMs. These findings offered some important insights into the involvement of the Shh-Ptch1-Gli1 signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of lumbosacral spinal cord maldevelopment in rat fetus with ARMs, which leads to complications after procedures for ARMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Linlin Gao
- Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Huimin Jia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuzuo Bai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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Yang Z, Jia H, Bai Y, Wang W. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 expression in the developing lumbosacral spinal cord of rat embryos with anorectal malformations. Int J Dev Neurosci 2018; 69:32-38. [PMID: 29959980 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Although there are improvements in treatment of anorectal malformations (ARMs), patients can still develop fecal incontinence, constipation, and soiling with loss in quality of life. Recent evidence suggests that malformations in the lumbosacral spinal cord are one of the factors that affect postoperative anorectal function. However, the underlying mechanism that produces these malformations has yet to be elucidated. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) comprise a large group of highly conserved molecules that are involved in multiple processes and play important roles in the formation, development, and differentiation of the spinal cord. This study was designed to investigate the levels of BMP4 expression in the lumbosacral spinal cord in ARMs rat embryos induced by ethylenethiourea (ETU). Specifically, we assessed the association of BMP4 levels with the maldevelopment of the lumbosacral spinal cord and whether BMP4 acted through the canonical intracellular pathway in embryonic rats with ARMs. BMP4 expression was confirmed with immunohistochemical staining, RT-qPCR and western blot analyses of embryonic day (E) 16, E17, E19 and E21 embryos, moreover Smad1/5 and pSmad1/5 expression were confirmed with western blot analyses at peak time point of BMP4 expression. Our results reveal that BMP4 expression in the lumbosacral spinal cord of ARMs rat embryos is decreased at both the mRNA and protein levels and could decrease the phosphorylation of smad1/5, when compared with their expression levels in normal tissue. These results also suggest that reductions in BMP4 expression were possibly responsible for dysfunction of the lumbosacral spinal cord during late developmental stages in ARMs fetal rats. Taken together, we conclude a role for BMP4 in the pathogenesis of lumbosacral spinal cord maldevelopment in developing ARMs rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Yang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Huimin Jia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yuzuo Bai
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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Yang Z, Geng Y, Yao Z, Jia H, Bai Y, Wang W. Spatiotemporal Expression of Bcl-2/Bax and Neural Cell Apoptosis in the Developing Lumbosacral Spinal Cord of Rat Fetuses with Anorectal Malformations. Neurochem Res 2017; 42:3160-3169. [DOI: 10.1007/s11064-017-2354-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Faria DJF, Simões MDJ, Teixeira LC, Faria ATP, Cintra ÁESU, Martins JL. Effect of folic acid in a modified experimental model of anorectal malformations adriamycin-induced in rats. Acta Cir Bras 2016; 31:22-7. [PMID: 26840352 DOI: 10.1590/s0102-865020160010000004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the effect of a single dose of adriamycin (ADR) to induce anorectal malformations (ARMs) and determine the effect of folic acid (FA) in this model. METHODS Ten female Wistar rats were divided randomly in two groups. Group A - ADR; Group B - FA+ADR. Dams from group B received daily, since two weeks before the pregnancy to the end of pregnancy, FA (50mg/kg) by gavage. Dams from both groups received ADR (6mk/kg) by intraperitoneal injection on gestational day (GD) 8. Their fetuses were harvested by cesarean section on GD21 and were examined looking for ARMs. The thickness of anal stratified squamous epithelium (ASSE) and intestinal epithelium (IE) were analyzed. p≤0.05*. RESULTS 81 fetuses were harvested. The number of fetuses; number of ARMs; mean (∆%) (± SD) were determined to be, respectively: ADR - 41[29;65%(±37%)] versus FA+ADR - 40[04;16%(±36%)] (p=0.05). AMRs were significantly lower in FA+ADR group than in ADR group (p=0.05). The thickness (µm) of ASSE (± SD) and IE (± SD) were measured, respectively: ADR - [25.98(±0.74) and 19.48(±1.68)] versus FA+ADR - [24.74(±0.91) and 24.80(±0.81)] (p<0.005). The thickness of IE was significantly enlarged when FA was given (p<0.005). CONCLUSIONS Single dose of adriamycin on D8 was able to induce anorectal malformations. Folic acid reduces the number and enlarged the IE of ARMs ADR-induced.
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Faria DJF, Simões MDJ, Martins JL. Is it possible folic acid reduce anorectal malformations ethylenethiourea induced in rats? Acta Cir Bras 2016; 30:517-22. [PMID: 26352330 DOI: 10.1590/s0102-865020150080000001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the effect of folic acid (FA) in an experimental model of anorectal malformations (ARMs) ethylenethiourea (ETU) induced. METHODS Eight female Wistar rats were divided randomly in two groups. Group A - ETU; Group B - FA+ETU; Dams from group B received daily, since two weeks before pregnancy to the end of pregnancy, FA (50mg/kg) by gavage. Dams from groups A and B, received 1% ETU (125 mk/kg) by gavage on gestational day (GD) 11. Their fetuses were harvested by cesarean section on GD21 and were examined looking for ARMs. The thickness of anal stratified squamous epithelium (ASSE) and intestinal epithelium (IE) were analyzed. p < 0.05*. RESULTS One hundred and one embryos were harvested. The number of embryos; number of ARMs; mean statistical % (± SD) were determined to be, respectively: ETU - 49 [30;65% (± 24%)] versus FA+ETU - 52 [1;02% (± 3%)] (p = 0.025). AMRs were significantly lower in FA+ETU group than in ETU group (p = 0.025). The thickness (µm) of ASSE (± SD) and IE (± SD) were measured, respectively: ETU - [27.75 (± 0.56) and 18.88 (± 0.93)] versus FA+ETU - [28.88 (± 0.61) and 21.11 (± 0.16)] (p = 0.001). The thickness of IE was significantly enlarged when FA was given (p=0.001). CONCLUSION Folic acid reduces the number and enlarged the IE of ARMs ETU-induced.
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Cleeve S, Lawson J, Martin J, Ward H. Immunohistochemical confirmation of the presence of smooth muscle in the normal neonatal anorectum and in neonates with anorectal malformations. Pediatr Surg Int 2011; 27:1069-74. [PMID: 21800141 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-011-2952-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the presence of smooth muscle in relation to the anorectum in neonates that are normal and in neonates with anorectal malformations using immunohistochemical staining of antibodies specific to smooth muscle actin (SMA). METHODS Research ethics committee approval was obtained to study historical neonatal tissue sections. 7-15-μ thickness, sagittal sections of both normal anorectums (NA) and neonates with anorectal malformations (ARM) were available to study. The fragile tissue predates the development of charged glass microscope slides that are inherent to contemporary immunohistochemistry (IHC). Normal appendix sections on non-charged slides were used to establish and optimise a novel, steam generated heat, antigen retrieval protocol. This technique of "gentle" antigen retrieval allows preservation of tissue architecture whilst maintaining adequate staining of tissue on non-charged glass microscope slides. NA and ARM tissue was stained and compared to control NA and ARM sections. RESULTS SMA staining was observed in sagittal sections of both normal neonatal anorectums and neonates with anorectal malformations, confirming the presence of smooth muscle. CONCLUSION This preliminary work confirms the presence of smooth muscle in the anorectum of neonates that are normal and in neonates with anorectal malformations. It is likely that the smooth muscle complex demonstrated represents the internal anal sphincter in the normal anorectum. It is postulated that the smooth muscle complex seen in anorectal malformations may represent a similar internal anal sphincter complex which maybe of functional significance. Further IHC of tissue sections will allow reconstruction of the exact three-dimensional smooth muscle structure of the anorectum in neonates that are normal and neonates with anorectal malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stewart Cleeve
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Barts and The London Children's Hospital, Whitechapel, London, E1 1BB, UK.
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