Neurodegenerative diseases represent significant global health challenges, with rising incidence rates. A substantial body of evidence indicates that excitotoxicity may be a critical target in the context of these diseases. However, effective pharmacological interventions aimed at mitigating excitotoxicity remain elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of the mitochondrion-targeted NOX inhibitor, mito-apocynin, in the context of kainic acid (KA)-induced excitotoxicity. Our findings demonstrate that KA disrupts mitochondrial morphology, leading to impaired energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction. Western blotting experiments revealed that KA compromises mitochondrial quality control. Additionally, Nissl staining and CCK8 assays indicated that mito-apocynin (administered at 75 μg/kg in vivo and 1 μM in vitro) significantly reduced neuronal death resulting from KA-induced excitotoxic damage in both in vivo and in vitro models. Furthermore, mito-apocynin improved neurobehavioral deficits induced by KA and mitigated mitochondrial dysfunction observed in vitro. Notably, mito-apocynin significantly reversed the KA-induced increase in NOX4 levels within the striatal mitochondria, reduced the ratio of phosphorylated DRP1 (Ser616) to total DRP1, and enhanced the expression of PGC-1α, PINK1, and Parkin proteins throughout the total striatum. In summary, mito-apocynin alleviates oxidative stress, preserves normal mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, and promotes mitochondrial quality control by modulating NOX expression in mitochondria, thereby reducing KA-induced excitotoxic damage.

Osthole possesses anti-tumor activities. However, whether osthole can have a radiosensitization effect on hepatic cancer remains unclear. Here, an HCC-LM3 cells-inoculated subcutaneous transplanted tumor was adopted to explore the effect of osthole. The tumor-bearing mice were treated with 100 mg/kg osthole for 12 days, 4 Gy irradiation twice, or their combination. The tumor volume and weight, lactic acid content, glycolytic enzyme activities, and protein expression of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), p‑GSK-3β, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p‑mTOR, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), p‑AMPK, glucose transporter 1/3, and pyruvate kinase M2 were determined. The GSK-3β-overexpressed HCC-LM3 or SK-Hep‑1 cell models were also adopted to verify the effects of osthole on expression of these proteins. The tumor volume and weight, lactic acid content, and glycolytic enzyme activities in tumor tissues were lower in the osthole + radiation group than in the radiation group. Moreover, osthole could reverse the radiation-induced increments of p‑GSK-3β/GSK-3β and p‑mTOR/mTOR protein ratios and the expression of glucose transporter 1/3 and pyruvate kinase M2 proteins in tumor tissues, and increase the protein ratio of p‑AMPK/AMPK. The effects of osthole on these glycolysis-related proteins were also observed in GSK-3β-overexpressed HCC-LM3 or SK-Hep‑1 cell models. Osthole has a radiosensitizing effect on subcutaneous transplanted hepatocellular carcinoma, and its mechanism may be related to inhibition of GSK-3β/AMPK/mTOR pathway-controlled glycolysis.

Osthole is a natural coumarin substance that has an inhibitory effect on hepatic cancer, but its radiosensitization effect on hepatoma cells has not been reported. This study aimed to investigate the effect of osthole. Human HCC-LM3 and SK-Hep-1 hepatoma cells were used and treated with or without osthole, irradiation, or their combination; the cell survival, migration, colony formation, DNA damage repair, intracellular lactic acid content, and glycolysis-related glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), p-GSK-3β, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), p-AMPK, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p-mTOR, glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1), GLUT-3, and pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2) protein expressions were determined. Compared with the irradiation group, the osthole plus irradiation group could further decrease the survival rate, migration, colony formation, and DNA damage repair of both hepatoma cells, indicating a synergistic effect of the combination treatment. Moreover, the combination of osthole and irradiation could decrease the content of intracellular lactic acid, ratios of intracellular p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β and p-mTOR/mTOR proteins, and expressions of intracellular GLUT-1/3 and PKM2 proteins, and increase the ratio of intracellular p-AMPK/AMPK proteins. Osthole can increase the radiosensitivity of hepatoma cells, and its radiosensitization mechanisms may be related to glycolytic inhibition by attenuating the GSK-3β/AMPK/mTOR pathway.

Background: Stevioside is a natural diterpenoid compound that possesses anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, and renal protective effects, but its effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells, an important immune pathological mechanism of renal fibrosis, remains unknown. This study employed the renal proximal tubular cells NRK-52E to investigate the effect of stevioside. Methods: The LPS-stimulated renal NRK-52E cells were treated with 50, 100, or 200 mu M stevioside in the presence or absence of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) antagonist GW9662, the expression levels of intracellular E-cadherin, vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), PPAR gamma, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) p65, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), p-STAT3, Smad2/3, and p-Smad2/3 proteins were detected by Western blot analysis. Results: In LPS-stimulated NRK-52E cells, stevioside treatment could reverse the expressions of EMT-related E-cadherin, vimentin, and alpha-SMA proteins, increase the expression of PPAR gamma protein, and decrease the expressions of NF-kappa B p65, TGF-beta 1, p-STAT3, Smad2/3, and p-Smad2/3 proteins, especially in the 200 mu M stevioside-treated group. However, these beneficial effects of stevioside were attenuated or canceled by pretreatment with PPAR gamma antagonist GW9662. Conclusions: Stevioside can inhibit the LPS-induced EMT via the reductions of NF-kappa B, TGF-beta 1, Smad2/3, p-Smad2/3, and p-STAT3 protein expressions by PPAR gamma activation in NRK-52E cells, which may provide a pharmacological basis for the potential application of stevioside in the prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis.

目的:研究青稞多糖(HVP)对糖尿病模型小鼠的降血糖作用及机制.方法:对小鼠腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(120 mg/kg)以复制糖尿病模型.将造模成功的小鼠随机分为模型组、二甲双胍组(阳性对照,200 mg/kg)和HVP高、中、低剂量组(300、150、75 mg/kg),另设空白对照组,每组10只.各给药组灌胃相应药物,空白对照组和模型组小鼠灌胃等量水,每天1次,连续30天.给药10、20、30天时测定小鼠的空腹血糖(FBG);末次FBG测定后,小鼠腹腔注射10％葡萄糖溶液(2 g/kg),于注射后30、120 min时测定糖耐受量(GTT)曲线下面积;测定小鼠血清中胰岛素水平和肝组织中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、丙二醛(MDA)的含量;采用苏木精-伊红染色法观察小鼠胰腺组织病理学变化.结果:与空白对照组比较,模型组小鼠FBG、GTT曲线下面积和肝组织中MDA含量均显著升高或增加(P<0.01);血清中胰岛素水平和肝组织中SOD、GSH-Px含量均显著降低(P<0.01);胰腺组织损伤严重,形态不完整,有明显的空泡.与模型组比较,HVP高剂量组小鼠FBG、GTT曲线下面积和肝组织中MDA含量均显著降低或减少(P<0.05或P<0.01),血清中胰岛素含量和肝组织中SOD、GSH-Px含量均显著升高(P<0.05或P<0.01),HVP低、中剂量组上述指标部分改善,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01);胰腺组织损伤有所减轻,形态较为完整,胰岛细胞排列紧密,空泡减少.结论:HVP可降低糖尿病模型小鼠的血糖水平,升高胰岛素水平并减轻胰腺组织损伤;该作用机制可能与其抗氧化作用有关.

Osthole, a coumarin derivative, can increase hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) expression and reduce hepatic steatosis and inflammatory response in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this study, a cell model of NASH was induced with oleic acid (OA)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and treated for 36 h with different osthole concentrations. Results showed that intracellular lipid and inflammatory cytokine levels gradually decreased after osthole treatment. These effects, however, were abolished or attenuated after PPARα gene silencing. Accordingly, PPARα gene silencing reversed the osthole-mediated expressions of proteins involved in lipid synthesis and fatty acid oxidation. PPARα gene silencing also abrogated the inhibitory effect of osthole on nuclear factor kappa B p65 protein expression. These findings demonstrate that osthole activates PPARα signaling pathway to inhibit lipid accumulation and inflammatory response in OA/LPS-stimulated hepatocytes.

Luteolin, a natural flavonoid, can attenuate hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin resistance in obese mice. Therefore, we hypothesized that luteolin may also improve the abnormal glucolipid metabolism of hypertrophic myocardial cells. This study aimed to investigate the effect and possible molecular mechanisms of luteolin. Hypertrophic H9c2 cells were induced by angiotensin II/hypoxia and simultaneously treated with 2 to 8 μg/mL luteolin for 24 h. Luteolin might dose-dependently decrease intracellular total protein, atrial natriuretic peptide, and free fatty acid levels, and increase supernatant glucose levels. Western blot assay showed that luteolin could inhibit the expressions of intracellular hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) proteins, and increase the expressions of intracellular peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1A (CPT-1A), and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-4 (PDK-4) proteins. These findings demonstrate that luteolin can improve abnormal glucolipid metabolism in angiotensin II/hypoxia-induced hypertrophic H9c2 cells, and its mechanisms are related to the inhibition of HIF-1α expression and subsequent modulation of PPARα-mediated target genes, including CPT-1A, PDK-4, and GLUT-4.

药理学是医药学教育中的重要必修课之一.探索在药理学教学中开展基于PBL/CBL的微课翻转课堂教学法的实施效果.研究表明,微课具有时间短、学习时间自由、观看方便、针对性解决知识点等优点,基于PBL/CBL的微课翻转课堂教学激发了学生的学习兴趣,提高了学生的自主学习能力、交流表达能力、独立思考能力、解决问题能力和小组合作能力,显著提升了学习效果.多数学生对基于PBL/CBL的微课翻转课堂教学实施持肯定和欢迎的态度,微课教学与传统教学相结合的模式值得推广.

目的:采用干酪乳杆菌细胞壁提取物(LCWE)诱导川崎病(KD)小鼠模型,探讨阿司匹林对KD小鼠的治疗作用及其可能的新的作用机制.方法:采用LCWE诱导KD小鼠模型,给予6.25～25.00 mg/ml阿司匹林治疗10 d,观察小鼠实验期间的一般情况和冠状动脉(冠脉)病变情况,以及测定小鼠血清中肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、前列腺素E2(PGE2)、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)和基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子-1(TIMP-1)含量,并计算MMP 9/TIMP 1比值.结果:小鼠单次腹腔注射LCWE后,在前3d内,KD小鼠进食、饮水、活动量明显减少;给阿司匹林治疗10d后,与正常对照组比较,KD小鼠冠脉周围有大量炎细胞浸润,血清中TNF-α和PGE2含量显著升高(P＜0.01),同时伴有MMP-9、TIMP-1以及MMP-9/TIMP-1比值的明显升高(P＜0.05),而阿司匹林组小鼠则冠脉周围炎性细胞明显减少,还能不同程度降低血清中TNF-α、PGE2、MMP-9的含量,以及降低MMP-9/TIMP-1比值(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).结论:阿司匹林对KD引起的冠脉损伤有一定的疗效,可能与降低KD小鼠血清中的炎性因子TNF-α和PGE2的含量,以及降低与细胞外基质降解密切相关的MMP-9含量和MMP-9/TIMP-1比值有关.

Objective:To compare the lethal dose 50 (LD50 ) of Najanajaatra venom (NNAV) with two routes of drug administration and to explore the target organs of acute toxicity of NNAV ,and to observe the acute poisoning symptoms of the mice and organ lesions with oral and intravenous administration of NNAV . Methods: Two different modes of drug administration (oral administration and intravenous injection) were used to determine the LD50 .Within 14 of survival time period ,the activities ,signs and death of the mice were observed .Then ,pathology analysis was applied to the main organs of the dead and survival mice .Results:The LD50 of NNAV by oral administration and intravenous injection was 102 .3 and 0 .624 mg/kg ,and the 95% confidence limit range was 84 .9-123 .3 mg/kg and 572 .3-680 μg/kg ,respectively .The poisoning does by oral administration was 100 times larger than that by intravenous injection ,indicating NNAV could be absorbed through gut . Conclusions:The toxicity of NNAV by intravenous administration is larger than that by oral administration .The death caused by acute intoxication is mainly due to respiratory failure .The organ damage caused by acute intoxication mainly occurred in lung and liver and it was more sever by intravenous injection .

Apigenin is a natural flavonoid compound that can inhibit hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α expression in cultured tumor cells under hypoxic conditions. Hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy is always accompanied by abnormal myocardial glucolipid metabolism due to an increase of HIF-1α. However, whether or not apigenin may ameliorate the cardiac hypertrophy and abnormal myocardial glucolipid metabolism remains unknown. This study aimed to examine the effects of apigenin. Rats with cardiac hypertrophy induced by renovascular hypertension were treated with apigenin 50-100 mg kg(-1) (the doses can be achieved by pharmacological or dietary supplementation for an adult person) by gavage for 4 weeks. The results showed that after treatment with apigenin, the blood pressure, heart weight, heart weight index, cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area, serum angiotensin II, and serum and myocardial free fatty acids were reduced. It is important to note that apigenin decreased the expression level of myocardial HIF-1α protein. Moreover, apigenin simultaneously increased the expression levels of myocardial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α, carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT)-1, and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK)-4 proteins and decreased the expression levels of myocardial PPARγ, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase genes (GPAT), and glucose transporter (GLUT)-4 proteins. These findings demonstrated that apigenin could improve hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy and abnormal myocardial glucolipid metabolism in rats, and its mechanisms might be associated with the down-regulation of myocardial HIF-1α expression and, subsequently increasing the expressions of myocardial PPARα and its target genes CPT-1 and PDK-4, and decreasing the expressions of myocardial PPARγ and its target genes GPAT and GLUT-4.

“药理学实验教学体系整体优化”以学科发展为指导,通过对药理学实验教学体系的整体优化,包括实验报告英文书写、实验考试方案改革、实验教学中引入“规范化实验操作录像”、实验成绩的综合评价、网络教学环境、评估等方式,培养中国学生和外国留学生的基本科研素养、严谨的科研态度和扎实的实验技能,开拓学生的思维能力和创新能力,从而提高药理学教学质量,培养优秀医药人才.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α/γ may control lipid metabolism and inflammatory response by regulating the downstream target genes, and play a crucial role in the process of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) formation, but the difference and interaction between PPARα and PPARγ are poorly understood. The rat model with NASH was established by orally feeding high-fat and high-sucrose emulsion for 6weeks. The results shown that after the model rats were simultaneously treated with PPARα/γ agonists, the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and inflammatory cytokine levels in serum and hepatic tissue, the hepatic steatosis and inflammatory cellular infiltration were decreased, and were consistent with the results of hepatic lipogenic gene and nuclear factor (NF)-κB protein expressions. Conversely, these indexes were increased by PPARα/γ antagonist treatment. Compared with the model group, the serum free fatty acid (FFA) level was increased in the PPARα agonist-treated group, decreased in the PPARγ agonist-treated group, and unchanged in the PPARα/γ agonists-treated group. The hepatic FFA level was low in the PPARα/γ agonists-treated groups, but no significant variation in the PPARα/γ antagonists-treated groups. The increments of hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) contents in the PPARα/γ agonists-treated groups were accompanied by decreased hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content. These findings demonstrated that PPARα/γ activation might decrease the hepatic lipid accumulation, oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokine production, and PPARγ could counterbalance the adverse effect of PPARα on circulating FFA. It was concluded that the integrative application of PPARα and PPARγ agonists might exert a synergic inhibitory effect on NASH formation through the modulation of PPARα/γ-mediated lipogenic and inflammatory gene expressions.

目的 研究芹菜素降低柔红霉素的心脏毒性作用及其可能的机制.方法 将小鼠分为正常组、模型组及芹菜素100、200 mg∶ kg-1组.预先ig给药8d后,除正常组外,其余小鼠ip给予柔红霉素30 mg· kg-1.在给药2d后,测定小鼠血清中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、肌酸激酶(CK)和谷草转氨酶(AST)的活性,心肌中总超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)的活性及心肌中丙二醛(MDA)和还原型谷胱甘肽的含量.结果 与模型组小鼠相比,芹菜素处理组的小鼠血清LDH、CK、AST活性下降,而心肌组织中的GR和GSH-Px活性增加,尤以200 mg· kg-1组的作用更为明显.芹菜素也可使心肌组织中的MDA含量下降.结论 芹菜素可减轻柔红霉素的心脏毒性,可能与增加心肌中GSH-Px、GR的活性而发挥的抗氧化作用有关.

A high-fat diet may result in changes in hepatic clock gene expression, but potential mechanisms are not yet elucidated. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that is recognized as a key regulator of energy metabolism and certain clock genes. Therefore, we hypothesized that AMPK may be involved in the alteration of hepatic clock gene expression under a high-fat environment. This study aimed to examine the effects of timed high-fat evening diet on the activity of hepatic AMPK, clock genes, and lipogenic genes. Mice with hyperlipidemic fatty livers were induced by orally administering high-fat milk via gavage every evening (19:00-20:00) for 6 weeks. Results showed that timed high-fat diet in the evening not only decreased the hepatic AMPK protein expression and activity but also disturbed its circadian rhythm. Accordingly, the hepatic clock genes, including clock, brain-muscle-Arnt-like 1, cryptochrome 2, and period 2, exhibited prominent changes in their expression rhythms and/or amplitudes. The diurnal rhythms of the messenger RNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorα, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1α, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 were also disrupted; the amplitude of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγcoactivator 1α was significantly decreased at 3 time points, and fatty liver was observed. These findings demonstrate that timed high-fat diet at night can change hepatic AMPK protein levels, activity, and circadian rhythm, which may subsequently alter the circadian expression of several hepatic clock genes and finally result in the disorder of hepatic lipogenic gene expression and the formation of fatty liver.

目的 观察祛栓灵胶囊对急性血瘀模型动物兔和大鼠的血液流变学的影响.方法 动物ig祛栓灵胶囊7d后,分别以iv 10％高分子右旋糖酐和sc肾上腺素加冰浴制备兔和大鼠急性血瘀模型,然后分别测定血液流变学指标的变化.结果 兔连续ig祛栓灵胶囊37.5～150 mg/kg 7 d后,可降低高分子右旋糖酐血瘀模型兔的全血黏度、全血还原黏度和红细胞聚集指数.大鼠连续ig祛栓灵胶囊62.5～250 mg/kg 7 d后,同样可降低sc肾上腺素+冷刺激所致急性血瘀模型大鼠的全血黏度、血浆黏度、红细胞压积和纤维蛋白原.结论 祛栓灵胶囊对急性血瘀兔和大鼠的血液流变学指标具有一定的改善作用.

Some polyphenols derived from plants may ameliorate hyperlipidemic fatty livers; therefore, we hypothesized that polyphenol-rich Chrysanthemum morifolium extract (CME) may exert an inhibitory effect on the formation of hyperlipidemic fatty livers in mice. This study aimed to examine the effects of CME on lipids in blood and liver and on peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR)α–mediated gene expression. Mice with hyperlipidemic fatty livers induced by orally administering high-fat milk via gavage and being simultaneously treated with 75 to 300 mg/kg CME for 6 weeks. After CME addition, the serum total cholesterol levels and hepatic weight coefficients decreased, but no significant reduction in the serum triacylglycerol levels were observed. It is important to note that CME might decrease hepatic lipid accumulation, sterol regulatory element binding protein–1c, and fatty acid synthase expression and increase hepatic PPARα, lipoprotein lipase, and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase expression. However, the expected reduction in hepatic diacylglycerol acyltransferase mRNA expression was not observed. These findings demonstrate that polyphenol-rich CME may prevent hyperlipidemic fatty liver in mice, and its mechanisms may be related to the modulation of sterol regulatory element binding protein–1c, FAS, lipoprotein lipase, and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase 1 expression through the PPARα-mediated pathway.

Osthol is an active constituent isolated from the fruit of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson (Apiaceae), and has obvious therapeutic effect on fatty liver, but its mechanisms are not yet understood completely. One potential link between adipose tissue and fatty liver may be circulating fatty acids. In the present study, the effect of osthol on fatty acid synthesis and release in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes was observed. Following treatment of adipocytes with osthol, the intracellular levels of free fatty acids (FFA) and triacylglycerols as well as cultured supernatant level of FFA were decreased, and some lipogenic gene and protein expressions were also decreased, while the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α/γ mRNA expressions were increased. Osthol-reduced lipogenic gene expressions were decreased or abrogated after pretreatment with specific inhibitor(s) of PPARα and/or PPARγ.

Background To identify the chemical structure of Coreopsis tinctoria extracts and their effect and mechanism on reducing blood lipid in hyperlipemia mice. Methods The flavonoids were extracted from Coreopsis tinctoria. The chemical structure was identified by HPLC. 59 mice were divided randomly into 5 groups. (group 1: normal diet control; group 2: hyperlipemia model; group 3: hyperlipemia mice treated with Coreopsis tinctoria, low dose 100 mg/kg; group 4: hyperlipemia mice treated with Coreopsis tinctoria high dose group 200 mg/kg; group 5 hyperlipemia mice treated with Fenofibrate. After 2 week of hyperlipid diet, the treatment of Coreopsis tinctoria and Fenofibrate were given for another 6 weeks with continuous hyperlipid diet. The TC, TG, HDL, histology, adipose differentiation-related protein (ADRP) expression in different groups were compared. Results Compared with normal diet group, TC, TG in hyperlipemia model group increased ( P < 0. 01). After treatment with Coreopsis tinctoria low dose group, high dose group, TC of the hyperlipemia mice decreased (P < 0. 05) without increasing AST, ALT and ALP. Fenofibrate can also decrease TC and TG but increase AST, ALT and ALP. Expression of hepatic ADRP increased in hyperlipemia mice. Coreopsis tinctoria high dose group 200 mg/kg can inhibit ADRP as Fenofibrate does. Conclusion The flavonoids from Coreopsis tinctoria extracts can reduce blood lipid without liver function damage, showing better anti- hyperlipemia effect than Fenofibrate by down-regulating ADRP.