Biomedical subjects

Li-fan Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Li-fan Zhang.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

[Daily 4-h standing can prevent soleus atrophy induced by 4 weeks tail suspension in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of intermittent standing in counteracting the soleus atrophy induced by simulated microgravity. METHOD: Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups: control (CON), four-week tail-suspension (TS), and TS plus daily 4 h standing (TS + STD4). After 4 weeks, bilateral adrenal glands and soleus muscle were dissected and weighed. The left soleus was sectioned with cryostat and stained with ATPase staining. The cross sectional area (CSA) of type I and II fibers and the relative proportion of type I fibers were measured using Leica image analysis system. The right soleus was homogenized and stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue following electrophoresis on 8% SDS-PAGE under 70 V and < 4 degrees C for 28 h. The Scion image software was used to evaluate the result of the densitometry of different types of MHC. RESULT: In TS, wet weights of the soleus, CSA of type I and II fibers, and proportion of type I fibers decreased obviously, as compared with those rats in CON (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The SDS-PAGE showed similar results as by ATPase staining in the proportion of MHC I. Whereas in TS + STD4, there were no significant differences of those parameters compared with those rats in CON. CONCLUSION: Daily 4-h standing fully prevented the soleus atrophy induced by simulated microgravity for 4 wk in rats.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed2005

[Effects of simulated weightlessness on ALP, ACP, collagen I, and biomechanics of hind-limb bones in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of 3 weeks simulated weightlessness on biomechanical parameters, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP) and collagen I of hind-limb bones in tail-suspended rats. METHOD: Fourteen male SD rats were divided equally into control group (CON) and experimental group; tail-suspended (TS) was used to simulate weightlessness. After 3 weeks tail-suspension, biomechanical parameters of femur were measured; ALP, ACP and collagen I of tibia were observed. RESULT: Elastic load, maximum load, and bending rigidity coefficient decreased significantly (P<0.01), while the maximum deformation and bending toughness coefficient increased markedly (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Morphological results showed that ALP declines significantly in TS group, ACP and type I collagen increased significantly in TS group. CONCLUSION: After tail-suspension for 3 weeks, growth of rat's weight bearing bones are suppressed, biomechanical capability declines, and collagen I metabolism becomes disordered.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed2003

[Changes of potassium channel activity of hindlimb arterial smooth muscle cells in tail-suspended rats].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the change of potassium channel function in hindlimb arterial smooth muscle cells in tail-suspended rats and to elucidate the underlying electro-physiological mechanisms responsible for the depressed vascular responsiveness of hindlimb arteries induced by simulated weightlessness. METHOD: The contractile responsiveness of femoral arterial rings of 1-wk and 4-wk tail-suspended rats to potassium channel blockers, tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), were recorded, and the currents of large conductance calcium-dependent potassium channel (BK(Ca)) and voltage activated potassium channel (Kv) of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in saphenous arteries from 1-wk tail-suspended rats were recorded using the whole cell recording mode of patch clamp technique. RESULT: The femoral arteries from of 1-wk and 4-wk tail-suspended rats showed a decreased contractile response to 60 mM KCl, and the ratio of their contractile responses induced by TEA or 4-AP to their responses induced by 60 mM KCl increased significantly after 1-wk and 4-wk simulated weightlessness. However no difference was found between 1-wk and 4-wk tail-suspended rats. The whole cell current recording showed that BK(Ca) current densities and K(v) current densities of VSMCs in saphenous artery increased significantly after 1-wk simulated weightlessness. CONCLUSION: The contractile response of hindlimb arteries to KCl decreased after simulated weightlessness. The activities of BK(Ca) and K(v) of smooth muscle cells in hindlimb arteries from tail-suspended rats increased, and these changes might be among the electro-physiological mechanisms involved in the depressed vasoreactivity of hindlimb arteries due to simulated weightlessness.

4-Aminopyridine↗

PubMed2003

[Changes of osteocalcin in bone and bone marrow in tail suspended rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study osteocalcin [correction of osteocakin] (OC) changes in bone and marrow and calcium deposition in bone and cartilage under simulated weightlessness. METHOD: Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into 14 d and 28 d tail suspension group and 2 corresponding control groups. Histological samples were in situ hybridized and trichrome stained. RESULT: OC expression of bone and marrow of rats were lower in tail suspended rats than that in the control (P<0.05). OC expression in 14 d tail suspended rats were higher than that in 28 d tail suspended group (P<0.05). Mineralization was inhibited, and demineralization of femur [correction of furmer] and cartilage mineralized matrix was prominent. Demineralization was more prominent in 28 d group. CONCLUSION: OC levels in bone and marrow of rats were lower after tail suspension. Calcium deposition was inhibited in bone and cartilage. Demineralization was prominent after long term hindlimb unloading.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[Changes of bone morphogenesis proteins and transforming growth factor-beta in hind-limb bones of 21 d tail-suspended rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes of bone morphogenesis proteins (BMP), transforming growth [correction of grouth] factors-beta (TGF-beta) in tibia and the growing of femur in tail-suspended rats after 21 d simulated weightlessness. METHOD: Fourteen male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (CON) and tall-suspension group (TS). After 21 d tail-suspension, basic physical parameters of the femur were measured; changes of BMP, TGF-beta in tibia were assayed by immunohistochemical method. RESULT: During 21 d tail-suspension, all rats grew well without apparent stress reaction. After 21 d weightlessness simulation, wet weight, dried weight, ash, diameter and density of femur in TS group declined significantly (P<0.01). Immunohistochemical results of tibia showed that both BMP and TGF-beta declined in tissues from all regions of the tibia. CONCLUSION: After 21 d tall-suspension, the growth of rat's weight bearing bones were suppressed, production and secretion of BMP and TGF-beta was holdback.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

[Recent advances in multi-variate and multi-dimensional analysis of heart rate variability and blood pressure variability].

Heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure variability (BPV) reflect the modulation activity of autonomic nervous system on cardiovascular function. There have been important advances in multi-variate, multi-dimensional and dynamic analysis of HRV and BPV during recent years. Modern signal processing methods, such as multi-variate system identification, time-frequency analysis and nonlinear dynamics analysis, could be adopted in the risk prediction, severity evaluation and therapeutic treatment assessment of cardiovascular diseases. These new methods might also be useful in special environmental medicine.

Aerospace Medicine↗

PubMed2002

[Decrease in tetanic tension in 4-week tail-suspended rat soleus and analysis of its underlying mechanisms].

Objective. To observe the dynamic changes in tetanic tension in 4-week tail-suspended rat soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. Method. After 4 weeks of tail suspension SOL and EDL of the rats were isolated and perfused. Their isometric twitch and tetanic tensions were recorded. Result. Atrophy occurred in the SOL, but not in the EDL. The maximum twitch tension (Pt) decreased significantly and was more dependent on stimulation voltage in SOL of tail-suspended rat. Time to maximum twitch tension (TPT) and time from maximum twitch tension to half relaxation (TR50) were reduced in the SOL. Pt also decreased in the EDL, but TPT and TR50 did not change in the EDL. The maximum tetanic tension reduced in SOL and EDL of tail-suspended rats. The decline rate of tetanic tension in SOL was faster than the control. The profile of tetanic contraction curve in atrophic SOL approached that in EDL. Conclusion. The above results suggested that the underlying mechanisms of reduced maximum twitch and tetanic tension in 4-week tail-suspended rat SOL may involve the reduction in number of cross-bridge per cross-section area or force produced per cross-bridge. The rapid decline rate in atrophic SOL may be related to the shift in myosin heavy chain and troponin I isoforms or to decrease in excitability.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

[A study on gene expression of angiotensin receptors in arteries from tail-suspended rats].

Objective. To investigate whether simulated microgravity [correction of microgravtiy] can result in alterations of mRNA expression of angiotensin receptors in rat arteries. Method. Rats were divided into simulated microgravity group and synchronous control group. Simulated microgravity rats were subjected to tail-suspension for 4-wk to simulate the effect of weightlessness. Result. Results from RT-PCR demonstrated that mRNAs of angiotensin II receptors, AT1a, AT1b, and AT2 were expressed in carotid arteries, abdominal aorta and femoral arteries, whereas only mRNAs of AT1a and AT1b were expressed in basilar arteries. There were no significant differences between the simulated-microgravity and control rats in the expression of mRNAs of AT1a, AT1b, and AT2 in these arteries. Conclusion. Angiotensin II receptors may play no regulatory role in the occurrence of the differentiated vascular adaptation during simulated microgravity.

Adaptation, Physiological↗