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Objective: To culture rabbit endometrial cells by using sex steroids to provide adequate seeding cells for endometrium reconstruction and uterine tissue engineering., Design: Prospective experimental study., Setting: Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Academy of Military Medical Sciences., Animal(s): New Zealand rabbit and Kunming white strain mice., Intervention(s): Rabbits were primed with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and hCG. Endometrial cells were cultured with E(2) and P(4) of different concentrations. The endometrium was reconstructed by using endometrial cells as seeding cells and collagen-basement membrane matrix as scaffolds., Main Outcome Measure(s): Assay with 93-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometric analysis, hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining, and developmental rate of embryos., Result(s): The expression patterns of estrogen receptor and P receptor of rabbit endometrium were different before and after treatment with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin-hCG. One hundred nanomolar E(2) with 10 nmol/L P(4) facilitated the proliferation of epithelial cells whereas 100 nmol/L P(4) facilitated that of stromal cells. The epithelial cells could be stable if cultured for seven or eight passages. Cells in the epithelial layer of the reconstructed endometrium were cytokeratin positive. Some showed columnar morphology akin to the luminal epithelium in vivo. Reconstructed endometrium could improve the developmental rate and quality of one-cell mice embryos., Conclusion(s): Rabbit endometrial cells could be cultured with a long-standing proliferation capability by sex steroids and applied in uterine tissue engineering. Reconstructed endometrium with proliferated endometrial cells was akin to native endometrium in structure and function., (Copyright 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study attempted to reconstruct engineered uterine tissues (EUTs) containing smooth muscle layer, akin to the normal uterine wall., Methods: EUTs were reconstructed by seeding epithelial cells on top of the constructed stromal layer over smooth muscle layer. A self-made mold was used to keep the EUTs from contraction. At the same time, it provided static stretch to the EUTs. After 14 days of culture, the structure of the EUTs was analyzed histologically and immunohistochemically, or by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression of integrin beta3 subunit, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HB-EGF), and HOXA-10 was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The ability of the EUTs supporting the development of embryos was estimated by coculturing embryos on the EUTs. We also tried a new method to reconstruct EUTs by mixing epithelial cell and stromal cells (1:2) in collagen/Matrigel to form an endometrial layer and putting it on top of the smooth muscle layer. The self-assembling ability of the endometrial epithelial cells and stromal cells in the reconstructed EUTs was analyzed histologically and immunohistochemically., Results: The results found that the constructed EUTs with the first and the second method showed three-layered structures. The epithelial layer, stromal layer, and smooth muscle layer were stained by cytokeratin 18, vimentin, and alpha-actin, respectively. TEM showed that the cells in the EUTs reconstructed by the first method were attached to each other by apical tight junctions and rivet-like desmosomes. SEM showed protruded pinopodes, microvilli, and cilium of epithelial cells. The RT-PCR analysis showed that integrin beta3 subunit, HB-EGF, and HOXA-10 were expressed in EUTs. The coculture system of EUTs improved the development rate and quality of murine embryo significantly in comparison with those of control Chatot Ziomek Bavister culture. In the EUTs reconstructed by the second method, the epithelial cells demonstrated self-assembling ability and formed epithelial cell layer on top of the stromal layer and glandular tube-like structures in the stromal layer. Columnar epithelial cells existed in some parts of the epithelial layer., Conclusion: We engineered EUTs containing smooth muscle layer by two methods. The reconstructed EUTs could support the development of embryos. The epithelial cells showed self-assembling ability in the EUTs.

Transplantation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can improve cardiac function in treatment of myocardial infarction. The low rate of cell retention and survival within the ischemic tissues makes the application of cell transplantation techniques difficult. In this study, we used a temperature-responsive chitosan hydrogel (as scaffold) combined with ESCs to maintain viable cells in the infarcted tissue. Temperature-responsive chitosan hydrogel was prepared and injected into the infarcted heart wall of rat infarction models alone or together with mouse ESCs. The result showed that the 24-h cell retention and 4 week graft size of both groups was significantly greater than with a phosphate buffered saline control. After 4 weeks of implantation, heart function, wall thickness, and microvessel densities within the infarct area improved in the chitosan + ESC, chitosan, and ESC group more than the PBS control. Of the three groups, the chitosan + ESC performed best. Results of this study indicate that temperature-responsive chitosan hydrogel is an injectable scaffold that can be used to deliver stem cells to infarcted myocardium. It can also increase cell retention and graft size. Cardiac function is well preserved, too.

Objective: To clone the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) from the mouse testis, construct the eukaryotic expression vector and transfect this vector into Sertoli cells in order to use the gdnf-transfected Sertoli cells as the feeder layer to cultivate spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs)., Methods: Total RNA was extracted from the testes of normal mature mice and gdnf was cloned and amplified using RT-PCR, inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector and transfected into sertoli cells (TM4 cell line). Immunofluorescence with anti-GDNF antibodies was performed at 40 h following the transfection., Results: gdnf cDNA was cloned successfully, and GDNF expressed after transfected into Sertoli cells., Conclusion: This study provides a basis for culturing SSCs with gdnf-transfected Sertoli cells as the feeder layer.

Aim: To investigate whether estrogen stimulates the proliferation of spermatogonia or induces spermatogenesis in cryptorchid mice., Methods: Mice were surgically rendered cryptorchid, then treated with different doses of 17beta-estradiol (E2) s.c. once a day. Mice were killed at sexual maturity (45 days of age), and histological analysis and immunofluorescence were performed. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured., Results: Low doses of E2 had no notable effect on spermatogonia, but at higher doses, E2 stimulated the proliferation of spermatogonia., Conclusion: E2 has a dose-related mitogenic effect on spermatogonia.

Taking the genome DNA of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus (IBRV) as the template, the gG gene was amplified with PCR and cloned into the T cloning vector pMD18-T. After being identified by restriction digestion and DNA sequencing, the insert was subcloned into the expression vector pGEX-KG. Sodium docecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot assay showed that this gene was expressed as both soluble form and inclusion body by the transformed E. coli BL21 strain (DE3). The fusion protein was purified and used as the coating antigen to develop the indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Comparison between this gG-ELISA and commercial IBRV gB-ELISA Kit (IDEXX) was made in the detection of 380 cow serum samples. The results demonstrated an agreement of 92%. By using this novel gG-ELISA, 1248 cow serum samples were tested and the average positive rate of IBRV antibodies for imported cows is 21.7%, while the positive rate ranged greatly from 0.0%-41.5% for Hubei local Chinese Black and White Dairy Cows.

To screen factors related to spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) proliferation, and to investigate the mechanism of infertility caused by cryptorchidism, ten-day-old Kunming (KM) mice were used and experimental cryptorchidism was conducted. On the 35th day after cryptorchid operation, the left testes were fixed in Bouin's fluid and used for histological analysis. The testes of 45-day-old mice were subjected to the same histological analysis, and it was found that they contained germ cells at every stage of development, from SSCs to sperm, indicating that the animals were fully sexually mature at this age. While in experimental cryptorchid mice, the spermatogenesis was arrested at the stage of spermatocytes, and only spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes were present in cryptorchid testes. The proportion of spermatogonia to other types of germ cells was much higher than that in sexually mature mice. On the other hand, the right testes were used for proteomic analysis. The total protein in testes was extracted on the 35th day after cryptorchid operation. The differentially expressed proteins in cryptorchid mice and sexually mature mice were screened and compared by the proteomic techniques. Through the separation of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), 20 differential protein spots were found, and 9 of them were digested and identified by the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrum. In cryptorchid mice, 6 out of 9 proteins were down-regulated, and 3 were up-regulated. Among these proteins, 4 proteins were identified, and they were Stathmin, phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein1 (PEBP1), HES-related basic helix-loop-helix protein (HERP), and one unnamed protein (we temporarily named it Px). More Stathmin, PEBP1 and Px were expressed in sexually mature mice than in experimental cryptorchid mice. But HERP1 was the other way round. In the present study, we have screened 4 proteins related to cryptorchidism. It is helpful to study the mechanism of SSC proliferation and infertility caused by cryptorchidism.

Objective: To produce BMI1 polyclonal antibody, mouse Bmi1 cDNA was cloned from mouse testis and expressed in E. coli BL21., Methods: Bmi1 gene was amplified from mouse testis by RT-PCR and inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-28c(+). Subsequently the recombined vector was transformed and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and the immunogenicity of recombined protein BMI1 (rBMI1) was tested by Western blot., Results: Mouse Bmi1 cDNA of 975 bp was successfully cloned and recombined. E. coli BL21 strains expressed rBMI1 were screened. The expression protein amounted to 12% of the total bacterial protein after induced with IPTG, which included inclusion body and soluble protein. Inclusion body was the major pattern of the expression that amounted to 71% of the insoluble protein. Western blot analysis showed that rBMI1 could be specially recognized by mouse monoclonal IgG1 anti-BMI1 and His-tag antibody., Conclusion: There was expression of Bmi1 gene in mouse testis. Mouse Bmi1 cDNA was successfully cloned and expressed prokaryoticly.

Background: Cardiac tissue engineering aims to construct cardiac tissue with characteristics similar to those of the native tissue. Engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs) can be constructed using synthetic scaffold or liquid collagen. We report an initial study using our own newly designed cardiac muscle device to construct heart tissue. We investigated the effects of cell seeding density and collagen quantity on the formation of liquid collagen-based cardiac muscle., Methods: We obtained cardiac myocytes from neonatal rats mixed with collagen type I and matrix factors cast in circular molds to form circular strands. Cell densities (0.1 x 10(7) to 6 x 10(7)) and collagen quantity (0.3 to 1.0 ml/ECT) were tested. Cell gross morphology, cell orientation, spatial distribution and ultrastructure were evaluated using histologic analyses, confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy., Results: Histologic analyses of ECTs revealed that cardiac cells reconstituted longitudinally oriented, cardiac bundles with morphologic features characteristic of the native tissue. Confocal and electron microscopy demonstrated that, using optimized cell density and collagen quantity, we made ECTs with characteristic features similar to those of native differentiated myocardium., Conclusions: ECTs comparable to native cardiac tissue can be engineered under optimized conditions. This construct is a first step in the development of cardiac tissue engineered in vitro, and may be used as a basis for studies of cardiac development, drug testing and tissue replacement therapy.

The present study identified the favorable environment conditions for Spermatogomial stem cells in vitro according to their unique biological properties. Three growth factors, stem cell factor (SCF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were all found to independently contribute to the proliferation of mouse spermatogonial stem cell. The percentage of cell proliferation significantly enhanced by SCF at 30 ng/mL but decreased with heightening its combination after cultured 120 hours. The mice spermatogonial stem cells were significantly proliferated after 120 hours' culture with 10 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL (P < 0.01) of LIF, between 20 ng/mL and 50 ng/mL (P < 0.01) for bFGF. SCF and bFGF were significantly enhanced mice spermatogonial stem cells proliferation after these three factors combination. For LIF, no obvious effect was observed.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of newborn bull serum(NBS), vitamin C and vitamin E on cryopreservation of mouse seminiferous epithelial cells., Methods: The seminiferous epithelial cells from 7-day-old mice were cryopreserved in different freezing solutions. The cell recoveries were examined by Trypan blue exclusive staining after thawing. The freezing solutions composed of DMEM, 10% dimethylsulphoxide(DMSO), and 0, 5%, 10%, or 20% NBS, respectively, or composed of DMEM, 10% DMSO, 10% NBS, and 150 micrograms/ml vitamin C or 50 micrograms/ml vitamin E, respectively., Results: The cell recoveries in freezing solution containing 0, 5%, 10%, or 20% NBS were 83.4%, 84.7%, 85.7% and 83.6%, respectively. There were no significant differences between them. The cell recoveries in freezing solution containing vitamin C or vitamin E were 88.0% and 82.9%, respectively. There was no significant differences compared with that in freezing solution containing 10% DMSO and 10% NBS., Conclusions: NBS, vitamin C and vitamin E have no significant protecting effects on mouse seminiferous epithelial cells, and can not significantly improve the cell recoveries.