To investigate whether treatment with retinoic acid (RA) could improve level of lung alveolarization and influence lung collagen in newborn rats exposed to hyperoxia, newborn Sprague-Dawley rats aged 2 days were randomly assigned to 8 groups: (1) air, (2) O2, (3) air+NS, (4) O2+NS, (5) air+dex, (6) O2+dex, (7) air+RA and (8) O2+RA. Group 2, 4 6 and 8 were kept in chambers containing 85% oxygen, the values were checked 3 times a day. The other 4 groups were exposed to room air. Level of alveolarization and lung collagen were analyzed at age of 14 or 21 days through radial alveolar counts, alveolar airspace measurements, type I, II collagen immunohistochemical methods (SP method) and image processing system. Transforming growth factor-β receptors and procollagen mRNA accumulation were examined at age of 14 days through immunohistochemical methods andin situ hybridization. Our results showed that radial alveolar counts were increased and distal airspace was enlarged in group 8. Type I collagen was markedly increased, and transforming growth factor-β receptors and procollagen mRNA were decreased by retinoic acid in bronchial epithelial cells, alveolar epithelial cells and alveolar intersitium. It is concluded that retinoic acid can partially reverse lung development arrest during exposure to hyperoxia by increasing lung collagen.
To explore the causes of the postoperative complications of the penile elongation and the measures to prevent them in order to raise the success rate of the penile elongation. 1 000 patients who had received the penile elongation were reviewed and analyzed for the causes of postoperative complications, and the measures of prevention and treatment were discussed. Our results showed that, of the 1 000 cases, 64 had the postoperative complications, including 20 cases of edema of prepuce, 15 cases of flap necrosis, 12 hematoma, 9 infections, and 8 cases of fat and clumsy penis. It is concluded that correct operative manipulation, strict aseptic measures and necessary postoperative care and management could avoid or reduce the postoperative complications. When complications happened, a satisfactory result can be achieved with timely and correct treatment in the majority of the patients.
To study the expression of mTERT gene in the testis of SD rats and its significance, in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques were used to detect the expression of telomerase gene mTERT mRNA in the testis of SD rats. The expression of mTERT was detectable in different-age male SD rats testis. There was a positive correlation between the expression of mTERT and the location of germ cells (spermatogonia, spermatocyte, spermatid). In Sertoli cells, leydig cell and spermatozoa, telomerase mTERT was not detected. Type A spermatogonia expressed the highest level of telomerase mTERT mRNA. Our results suggest that the expression of mTERT gene in the testis of SD rats is of lifetime and coincide with the telomerase activity.
To clarify the effects of zinc on the proliferation and apoptosis of cultured human retinal pigment epithelia (RPE) and the expression of caspase-3 in RPE cells. The effect of Zinc on theproliferation of RPE were examined with MTT method. TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis of RPE cells. Caspase-3 was detected by immunohistochemistry. A concentration of zinc higher than 0.001 μM could inhibit the proliferation of RPE. And the relationship between concentration of zinc higher than 10 μM and growth prohibition rate of RPE cells was dose-dependent. All concentrations of zinc including 0.001 μM enhanced the expression of caspase-3 of RPE. But only the concentration of zinc higher than 0.01 μM could induce apoptosis of RPE. It is concluded that zinc could enhance the expression of caspase-3 of RPE cells and induce apoptosis of RPE cells. Caution should be taken when using zinc supplements for the treatment of ARMD patients without deficiency of zinc.