Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Sun

Publications and source records attributed to H Sun.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources

Three-dimensional structure of CA1 pyramidal cells in rat hippocampus--optical recording of LSM and computer simulation of fractal structure.

The optical recording of three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of CA1 pyramidal cells was derived from the studies on the CA1 region of the hippocampus in adult male Wistar rats. The recording was produced by the Confocal Laser Scan Microscope (LSM-10). The attemption was to outline the morphological neural network of CA1 pyramidal cells organization, following the trail of axo-dendritic connections in 3-D spatial distributions among neurons. The fractal structure of neurons with their dendritic and axonal trees using fractal algorithm was noticed, and 2-18 simulated cells were obtained using PC-486 computer. The simulational cells are similar in morphology to the natural CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells. Therefore, the exploitation of an advanced neurohistological research technique combining optical recording of the LSM-10 and computer simulation of fractal structure can provide the quantitative fractal structural basis for chaosic dynamics of brain.

Animals↗

A MAP kinase-dependent spindle assembly checkpoint in Xenopus egg extracts.

Like early Xenopus embryos, extracts made from Xenopus eggs lack the cell cycle checkpoint that keeps anaphase from occurring before spindle assembly is complete. At very high densities of sperm nuclei, however, microtubule depolymerization arrests the extracts in mitosis. The arrested extracts have high levels of maturation-promoting factor activity, fail to degrade cyclin B, and contain activated ERK2/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. The addition of the purified MAP kinase-specific phosphatase MKP-1 demonstrates that MAP kinase activity is required for both the establishment and maintenance of the mitotic arrest induced by spindle depolymerization. Increased calcium concentrations, which release unfertilized frog eggs from their natural arrest in metaphase of meiosis II, have no effect on the mitotic arrest.

Animals↗

Inhibition of Ras-induced DNA synthesis by expression of the phosphatase MKP-1.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) are common components of signaling pathways induced by diverse growth stimuli. Although the guanidine nucleotide-binding Ras proteins are known to be upstream activators of MAP kinases, the extent to which MAP kinases directly contribute to the mitogenic effect of Ras is as yet undefined. In this study, inhibition of MAP kinases by the MAP kinase phosphatase MKP-1 blocked the induction of DNA synthesis in quiescent rat embryonic fibroblast REF-52 cells by an activated mutant of Ras, V12Ras. These results suggest an essential role for activation of MAP kinases in the transition from the quiescent to the DNA replication phase of the eukaryotic cell cycle.

Animals↗

Split tolerance induced by orthotopic liver transplantation in mice.

Spontaneous orthotopic liver allograft acceptance associated with microchimerism in mice induces tolerance to subsequent skin or heart transplants from the donor but not third-party animals. Despite in vivo hyporesponsiveness, in vitro MLC and CTL assays showed continuing antidonor reactivity. Cells isolated from recipients' spleens and grafted livers, when tested in MLC and CTL assays, were antidonor reactive out to 3 months to the same degree as splenocytes obtained from either naive or presensitized (with skin or heart) mice. Nevertheless, passive transfer of splenocytes or liver lymphocytes from liver tolerant mice, but not naive or sensitized donor strain mice, were able to prolong skin graft survival significantly in naive irradiated recipients. By using a strain combination in which the donor but not the recipient expressed the stimulatory endogenous super-Ag (Mlsf), it was possible to determine whether super-Ag-reactive T cells bearing V beta 5 and V beta 11 were deleted or anergic. Phenotypic analysis of cells isolated from recipients' spleens and grafted livers (up to 90 days after transplant), when compared with naive animals, showed no significant difference in V beta 5 and V beta 11 TCR expression. Additionally, when these isolated spleen cells were tested for antibody-mediated stimulation, both anti-V beta 5 and V beta 11 TCR mAb led to marked proliferation of cells obtained from naive and liver-transplanted recipients, but as expected, proliferation was very low in cells from naive donors. These results suggest that liver transplantation induces donor-specific tolerance in vivo, which may not be reflected in in vitro proliferative and cytotoxicity assays (split tolerance). Furthermore, this tolerance does not seem to be induced by clonal deletion or anergy of minor-lymphocyte-stimulating-antigen-reactive T cells in the recipients.

Animals↗

Body segment growth during infancy.

In order to better understand relationships between physical growth and motor development during infancy, changes in segment inertias were examined. A rationale based on dynamic systems theory and intersegmental moments was used to select the variables: the segment mass and principal moments of nine segments. The hypothesis was that there are differences in growth velocity between segments and these are consistent with the principles of cephalocaudal development and distal to proximal growth. A mathematical model of the segments was used to examine changes of the inertia parameters. Twenty-seven normal infants carried to full term and aged between 2 and 9 months at the beginning of the study were photographed once a month for 6 months. Outlines of segments from front and side 35 mm images were digitized and mass and principal moments of inertia estimates obtained. Polynomial regression was used to give the development curves regression coefficients for the 155 data points. Also, linear regressions were fitted to the six growth data points of each subject. Most of the relationships between chronological age and segment mass and principal moments were significant and linear. The differences in growth velocity between segments were significant and partially consistent with the growth principles. However, there were considerable differences, in particular for the lower trunk and the shank, where it appears that growth may be irregular until after the age of 15 months.

Anthropometry↗

The coordinated action of protein tyrosine phosphatases and kinases in cell signaling.

The levels of tyrosine phosphorylation required for cell growth and differentiation are achieved through the coordinated action of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Depending upon the cellular context, these two types of enzymes may either antagonize or cooperate with each other during the signal transmission process. An imbalance between these enzymes may impair normal cell growth, leading to cellular transformation. Both PTKs and PTPs have evolved to a level of structural diversity that allows them to regulate many cellular processes. This review will focus on several specific examples that highlight the interplay between PTPs and PTKs in cell signaling.

Animals↗

Epicardial strains in embryonic chick ventricle at stages 16 through 24.

Embryonic cardiac development depends, in part, on the local biomechanical environment. Tracking the motions of microspheres attached to the embryonic chick ventricle, we computed two-dimensional epicardial strains at Hamburger-Hamilton stages 16, 18, 21, and 24 (2.5, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 days, respectively, of a 21-day incubation period). First, in a cross-sectional study, strains were measured in separate embryos at each stage (n > or = 19 per stage). Then, in a longitudinal study, strains were measured serially on the same heart, with the eggs resealed and reincubated between successive stages (n > or = 4 per stage). Although the heart undergoes major changes in mass, morphology, and loading during the studied stages, both studies showed that peak circumferential and longitudinal strains relative to end diastole were similar in magnitude (0.13 to 0.16) and did not change significantly across the stage range. The peak principal strains also showed no significant changes, with magnitudes of approximately 0.11 and 0.18. The shear strains were small, and their signs varied from one heart to another. These results suggest that wall strain is maintained within a relatively narrow range during primary cardiac morphogenesis.

Animals↗

Establishment of the microorganism growth model at an inhibitory condition by microcalorimetric method.

The growth thermograms of Staphylococcus albus and Staphylococcus aureus were determined by using the 2277 thermal activity monitor, using a microorganism growth model with inhibitory conditions, the specific growth rate and the thermogram curves at different temperature and acidities were determined. From these curves, the microorganism optimum growth temperature and acidity were defined.

Calorimetry↗

[Quantitative analysis of 6,7-dimethylesculetin and capillarisine in Artemisia capillaris Thunb. and prescriptions containing the crude drug].

In this report, an accurate method for quantitatively analysing the 6,7-dimethylesculetin and capillarisine in Artemisia capillaris and the prescriptions containing the crude drug has been established by three dimension gradient HPLC, by which the trace amount of these compounds in the samples can be determined. 6,7-Dimethylesculetin is calculated by the regression equation Y = 84.15X-0.023 (r = 1.000), and capillarisine is calculated by Y = 62.17X - 0.149 (r = 1.000). In the formula, Y represents concentration of compounds and X represents area of the peak.

Cholagogues and Choleretics↗