Antihypertensive properties of aqueous extracts of vegetable leaf‐fortified bread after oral administration to spontaneously hypertensive rats

This study investigated the potential cardiovascular health benefits of leavened bread produced from wheat flour that contained 1%, 2% and 3% additions of leafy vegetable powders obtained from Amaranthus viridis (AO), Solanum macrocarpon (SM) or Telfairia occidentalis (TO). Dried breads were extracted with water at 60 °C followed by analysis for total polyphenolic content (TPC), as well as in vitro inhibitions of angiotensin‐converting enzyme and renin activities. HPLC analysis of the bread extracts indicated the presence of mainly rutin, gallic acid, myricetin and caffeic acid. TPC of the vegetable‐fortified breads was significantly (P < 0.05) higher (5.8–7.6 mg gallic acid equivalent, GAE/g) than that of control bread (5.5 mg GAE/g). Oral administration of 100 mg dried extract/kg body weight to spontaneously hypertensive rats led to reductions (up to 42 mmHg) in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure in comparison with 20 mmHg for the control bread.     

依达拉奉对大鼠缺血再灌注心肌的保护作用

目的 探讨依达拉奉对心肌缺血再灌注的保护作用及机制.方法 将50只成年SD大鼠按随机数字表法分为假手术组、再灌注组、低剂量组、中剂量组和高剂量组,每组10只.建立大鼠急性缺血再灌注模型,描记术中心电图变化.假手术组：开胸,分离左冠状动脉并穿线,不结扎,旷置225 min;再灌注组：缺血45 min,再灌注3 h,灌注前1 min将生理盐水按0.2 mL·kg-1经右股静脉注入;低剂量组：再灌注前1 min,将依达拉奉按3 mg·kg-1经右股静脉注入;中剂量组：灌注前1 min将依达拉奉按6 mg·kg-1经右股静脉注入;高剂量组：灌注前1 min将依达拉奉按9 mg·kg-1经右股静脉注入.于再灌注末测定血清肌钙蛋白、心肌组织Ca2＋、SOD、MDA及Na＋-K＋-ATPase 、Ca2＋-ATPase的含量或活性.结果 再灌注组与低剂量组、中剂量组、高剂量组相比,再灌注后ST段回落程度较低、室性心律失常发作例数稍高,但4组间比较差异均无统计学意义（均P＞0.05）.低剂量组、中剂量组和高剂量组的血清肌钙蛋白明显低于再灌注组（均P＜0.05）;中剂量组、高剂量组及再灌注组血清肌钙蛋白明显高于假手术组（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）.与假手术组比较,再灌注组心肌组织MDA活性、Ca2＋含量明显增高,SOD活力及Na＋-K＋-ATP酶、Ca2＋-ATP酶活性明显降低（均P＜0.05）;与再灌注组比较,低剂量组、中剂量组和高剂量组的MDA活力及Ca2＋含量降低,SOD活力及Na＋-K＋-ATP酶、Ca2＋-ATP酶活性明显增加（均P＜0.05）.结论 在再灌注前注射依达拉奉可减轻心肌缺血再灌注损伤.其作用机制是有效地清除氧自由基、提高机体抗氧化应激能力.     

丙泊酚对急性肺损伤大鼠肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞凋亡及 PI3K／Akt 通路的影响

目的：探讨丙泊酚的肺保护作用及其可能作用机制。方法采用尾静脉注射内毒素建立急性肺损伤模型,丙泊酚和 LY294002同样经过尾静脉给药。将 Wistar 大鼠随机分入实验对照组（C 组）、脂多糖组（L 组）、脂多糖＋丙泊酚组（LP 组）和 LY294002组（LY 组）。每组16只,且每组随机选取8只进行肺泡Ⅱ型上皮细胞（ATⅡ）的分离。给药前及开始后第3、6和12 h 测定动脉血氧分压（PaO2）,实验结束后观察肺湿／干重（W／D）比值、肺组织病理学检查并进行肺损伤轻重程度评分,同时观察各组大鼠 ATⅡ Akt 活性、Bax 蛋白表达及凋亡率。结果实验前各组 PaO2无明显差异,注射 LPS 后 L 组 PaO2持续下降,和 C 组相比其 PaO2显著降低（P ＜0．05）。实验结束后 L组和 C 组相比其 W／D 比值、肺组织病理学检查评分、ATⅡBax 蛋白表达及凋亡率显著升高（P ＜0．05）,而 ATⅡAkt 活性显著降低（P ＜0．05）。而 LP 组和 L 组相比 W／D 比值、肺组织病理学检查评分、ATⅡBax 蛋白表达及凋亡率显著降低（P ＜0．05）,而 PaO2和 ATⅡAkt 活性显著升高（P ＜0．05）。而 LY 组加入 LY294002后明显抑制丙泊酚以上保护作用。结论丙泊酚具有肺保护作用,且该作用可能与其通过激活 PI3K／Akt 通路而抑制 ATⅡ的过度凋亡作用相关。     

草珊瑚、虫草菌粉及葛根对肝纤维化大鼠脏器指数的影响

目的：观察草珊瑚、虫草菌粉及葛根对肝纤维化大鼠脏器指数的影响。方法将50只 SD 大鼠按随机数字表法分为正常组、模型组、草珊瑚组、虫草组及葛根组,每组10只。模型组、草珊瑚组、虫草组及葛根组均采用40％四氯化碳皮下注射,每周2次,6周制作大鼠肝纤维化模型。第7周开始草珊瑚组、虫草组及葛根组分别给予草珊瑚流浸膏、发酵虫草菌粉及葛根灌胃;正常组及模型组不给药,只灌服蒸馏水。给药6周后在麻醉状态下解剖,分别取出肝脏、脾脏、肾脏和胸腺等脏器,称湿重并计算脏器指数。结果与正常组比较,模型组、草珊瑚组、虫草组及葛根组肝脏、脾脏和肾脏指数均明显增加（均 P ＜0．01）。虫草组肝脏质量较正常组及草珊瑚组明显增加（P ＜0．05或 P ＜0．01）、与模型组比较肝脏指数明显升高（P ＜0．05）。与模型组比较,草珊瑚组、虫草组及葛根组脾脏质量和脾脏指数有所降低,但差异均无统计学意义（均 P ＞0．05）。模型组、草珊瑚组、虫草组及葛根组肾脏质量和肾脏指数比较差异均无统计学意义（均 P ＞0．05）。与正常组比较,虫草组和葛根组胸腺质量均有明显减轻（P ＜0．05或P＜0．01）,葛根组胸腺质量和指数与模型组及草珊瑚组比较均有显著的降低（P ＜0．05或 P ＜0．01）。结论草珊瑚流浸膏、发酵虫草菌粉及葛根抗大鼠肝纤维化作用途径可能不同,其中葛根对机体免疫功能的影响更强。     

Nickel Nanoparticles Exposure and Reproductive Toxicity in Healthy Adult Rats

Nickel is associated with reproductive toxicity. However, the reproductive toxicity of nickel nanoparticles (Ni NPs) is unclear. Our goal was to determine the association between nickel nanoparticle exposure and reproductive toxicity. According to the one-generation reproductive toxicity standard, rats were exposed to nickel nanoparticles by gavage and we selected indicators including sex hormone levels, sperm motility, histopathology, and reproductive outcome etc. Experimental results showed nickel nanoparticles increased follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), and lowered etradiol (E₂) serum levels at a dose of 15 and 45 mg/kg in female rats. Ovarian lymphocytosis, vascular dilatation and congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration, and increase in apoptotic cells were found in ovary tissues in exposure groups. For male rats, the weights decreased gradually, the ratio of epididymis weight over body weight increased, the motility of rat sperm changed, and the levels of FSH and testosterone (T) diminished. Pathological results showed the shedding of epithelial cells of raw seminiferous tubule, disordered arrangement of cells in the tube, and the appearance of cell apoptosis and death in the exposure group. At the same time, Ni NPs resulted in a change of the reproductive index and the offspring development of rats. Further research is needed to elucidate exposure to human populations and mechanism of actions.