Analysis of nuclear proteome in C57 mouse liver tissue by a nano-flow 2-D-LC-ESI-MS/MS approach

The analysis of whole cell or tissue extracts is too complex for current protein identification technology and not suitable for the study of proteins with low copy levels. To concentrate and enrich low abundance proteins, organelle proteomics is a promising strategy. This approach can not only reduce the protein sample complexity but also provide information about protein location in cells, organs, or tissues under analysis. Nano-flow two-dimensional strong-cation exchange chromatography (SCX)-RPLC-ESI-MS/MS is an ideal platform for analyzing organelle extracts because of its advantages of sample non-bias, low amounts of sample required, powerful separation capability, and high detection sensitivity. In this study, we apply nano-scale multidimensional protein identification technology to the analysis of C57 mouse liver nuclear proteins. Organelle isolation has been optimized to obtain highly pure nuclei. Evaluation of nucleus integrity and purity has been performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the optimized isolation procedure. The extracted nuclear proteins were identified by five independent nano-flow on-line SCX-RPLC-ESI-MS/MS analyses to improve the proteome coverage. Finally, a total of 462 proteins were identified. Corresponding analyses of protein molecular mass and pI distribution and biological function categorization have been undertaken to further validate our identification strategy.     

Elemental analysis of biological tissues of Dmdmdx/J and C57BL/6J mice strains investigated by neutron activation analysis

Radioactivity measurement of short-lived nuclides is the basis of decay data measurement, which requires rapid separation and purification of the interested nuclides from complicated fission products. A rapid separation system based on SISAK and extraction chromatography technique was established to isolate ⁹⁵Y, which half-life is 10.3 min. With the best conditions studied in this paper, ⁹⁵Y was separated successfully from complicated fission products under the mini-reactor in the China Institute of Atomic Energy. Decontamination factors to other nuclides except ⁹⁴Y are higher than 2 × 10³.     

Preconceptional Resveratrol Supplementation Partially Counteracts Age-Related Reproductive Complications in C57BL/6J Female Mice

Aging is associated with a drastic decline in fertility/fecundity and with an increased risk of pregnancy complications. Resveratrol (RES), a natural polyphenolic compound, has shown anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in both human and animal models, thus representing a potential therapeutic and prophylactic anti-aging supplement. Here, we investigated whether preconceptional resveratrol supplementation improved reproductive outcomes in mid-aged (8-month-old) and old (12-month-old) C57BL/6J female mice. Female siblings were cohoused and assigned to either RES or vehicle supplementation to drinking water for 10 consecutive weeks. Subsequently, females were mated with non-supplemented males and their pregnancy outcomes were monitored. RES improved mating success in old, but not in mid-aged females, and prevented the occurrence of delivery complications in the latter. These results indicate that preconceptional RES supplementation could partially improve age-related reproductive complications, but it was not sufficient to restore fecundity in female mice at a very advanced age.     

THE EFFECT OF PORPHYRIN PHOTOSENSITIZERS ON THE TOXICITY OF l,3-BIS(2-CHLOROETHYL)-1- NITROSOUREA IN C57BL/6J MICE

Abstract The most widely used agents for photodynamic therapy are the porphyrin photosensitizers. It has been shown that hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) can cause murine marrow hypercellularity and splenic hypertrophy. We have examined the effect on survival and marrow cellularity of high dose l,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-l-nitrosourea (BCNU) after HpD or dihematoporphyrin ether (DHE) pretreatment in C57BL/6J mice.
The lethal toxicity of the LD_S0+ 10% dose of BCNU (60 mg kg⁻¹) was significantly reduced by pretreatment with HpD when the HpD was administered at least 3 days prior to the BCNU. HpD administered 1 or 2 days prior to BCNU or after BCNU had no effect. The percent death rate was reduced from 80 to 0% when HpD was administered 7 and 5 days prior to BCNU.
No alteration of the lethal toxicity rate of BCNU at doses of 80 mg kg⁻¹ were identified with DHE pretreatment although some increase in median survival was noted in two groups. Some reduction in lethal toxicity was noted when 60 mg kg⁻¹ BCNU was used and the pretreatment dose of DHE was 10 or 25 mg kg⁻¹ given twice 3 days apart. Furthermore, a significant reduction of BCNU induced marrow cell depletion was found when low doses of DHE were used as pretreatment. High doses of DHE resulted in marrow depletion. Both HpD and DHE altered the toxicity of BCNU.
Should porphyrin photosensitizers, which alone have little toxicity, prove to protect against nitrosourea toxicity then an important dose limiting factor (myelotoxicity) could be altered if not reduction in the tumouricidal activity occurs.     

Metabolomic analysis of normal (C57BL/6J, 129S1/SvImJ) mice by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: detection of strain and gender differences

Previous studies have shown that the C57 and 129 strains of mice display marked differences in behavioural performance, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry and synaptic plasticity. However, few metabolomic studies of their biofluids have been performed. As part of a series of metabolic phenotyping, the effects of gender and strain upon serum metabolite composition and variation are examined in this study using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in normal C57BL/6J and 129S1/SvImJ strains of mice. The 129S1/SvImJ strain is phenotypically distinct from the C57BL/6J strain and characteristic metabotypes are produced for both male and female mice of each strain. These data demonstrate that the C57BL/6J and 129S1/SvImJ strains of mice show a wide range of metabolic differences across glycine, serine and threonine metabolism; valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis; and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways. Remarkably, the concentration of glyceric acid in the 129S1/SvImJ strain is significantly increased compared to the C57BL/6J mouse strain, reflecting important considerations for studies that use the 129S1/SvImJ mouse as the human d-glycericaciduria model. We infer that a deficiency of d-glycerate kinase would explain such a glyceric acid accumulation in the 129S1/SvImJ strain. More importantly, this differential metabolite level data provide insight into specific metabolic pathways and lay the groundwork for integrated studies of the mouse models.     

A Peptide HEPFYGNEGALR from Apostichopus japonicus Alleviates Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury by Enhancing Antioxidant Response in Male C57BL/6J Mice

Liver-related disease caused by alcohol is a frequent disorder of the hepatic tract. Heavy consumption of alcohol in a short period causes oxidative damage to the liver. Sea cucumber is abundant in nutrients and its various extracts have been studied for antioxidant properties. One peptide was isolated and identified from Apostichopus japonicus in our recent study. We investigated the benefits of the peptide in a model of acute ethanol-induced male C57BL/6J mice. Dietary intake of the peptide could attenuate hepatomegaly, hepatitis and the accumulation of lipid droplets, and increase antioxidant enzyme activities in mice with acute alcoholic liver injury. The results indicated that a 20 mg/kg peptide supplement could activate the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and block the nuclear translocation of NF-κB to alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation. In addition, the preventive effects of peptide supplementation may be related to autophagy. This study suggests that dietary supplementation with a sea cucumber-derived peptide is one of the potential candidates to alleviate acute alcoholic liver injury.     

Immunotoxic effects of cis-urocanic acid exposure in C57BL/6N and C3H/HeN mice

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation results in increased levels of intradermal cis-urocanic acid (cUCA) and alters cutaneous immunity by interfering with processing and presentation of antigen by Langerhans cells. Reports on effects of systemic immunotoxicity with 30 day cUCA exposure in laboratory rodents include thymic atrophy, thymic hypocellularity and decreased T-cell-mediated immunity; however, immune effects of single exposure or 5 day cUCA administration, which may better mimic human exposures, are poorly defined. The present study initially evaluated immune effects of single, 5 day, and 4 week cUCA exposure in C57BL/6N mice. Single administration of intradermal cUCA resulted in decreased splenocyte phagocytosis that persisted for 30 days after cUCA exposure. Five day consecutive cUCA exposure decreased numbers of phenotypically mature CD4(+)CD8(-) and CD4(-)CD8(+) (single positive) thymocytes, increased CD4(+)CD8(+) (double positive) immature thymocytes and increased splenocyte proliferation. Prolonged cUCA exposure (4 weeks) caused profound thymic hypocellularity and splenic hypercellularity and increased splenic macrophage chemiluminescence. Because of this apparent sensitivity of C57BL/6N mice to cUCA, thymic hypocellularity was compared between C57BL/6N and C3H/HeN mice dosed with cUCA, and was found to be more pronounced in the C57BL/6N strain. These results are an extension of previous conclusions on immune modulation caused by cUCA in the spleen and thymus. Further, the observed variation in sensitivity between the mouse strains is consistent with known genetic susceptibility of these strains to the immunomodulatory effects of exposure to sunlight.     

FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool to Study Age-Related Changes in Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle of Female C57BL/6J Mice

Studying aging is important to further understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this physiological process and, ideally, to identify a panel of aging biomarkers. Animals, in particular mice, are often used in aging studies, since they mimic important features of human aging, age quickly, and are easy to manipulate. The present work describes the use of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to identify an age-related spectroscopic profile of the cardiac and skeletal muscle tissues of C57BL/6J female mice. We acquired ATR-FTIR spectra of cardiac and skeletal muscle at four different ages: 6; 12; 17 and 24 months (10 samples at each age) and analyzed the data using multivariate statistical tools (PCA and PLS) and peak intensity analyses. The results suggest deep changes in protein secondary structure in 24-month-old mice compared to both tissues in 6-month-old mice. Oligomeric structures decreased with age in both tissues, while intermolecular β-sheet structures increased with aging in cardiac muscle but not in skeletal muscle. Despite FTIR spectroscopy being unable to identify the proteins responsible for these conformational changes, this study gives insights into the potential of FTIR to monitor the aging process and identify an age-specific spectroscopic signature.     

Hair Growth Promoting Activity of Cedrol Nanoemulsion in C57BL/6 Mice and Its Bioavailability

As the main component of Platycladus orientalis, cedrol has known germinal activity. A range of cedrol formulations have been developed to prevent hair-loss, but compliance remains key issues. In this study, we prepared cedrol nanoemulsion (CE-NE) and determined the particle size and PDI (polydispersion coefficient), investigated the hair growth activity and studied the bioavailability in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that the average particle size of CE-NE is 14.26 ± 0.16 nm, and the PDI value is 0.086 ± 0.019. In vitro drug release investigation and drug release kinetics analysis showed release profile of CE from nanoparticles demonstrates the preferred partition of CE in buffer pH 4.0, the release profile of CE-NE showed a first-order kinetics reaching around 36.7% after 6 h at 37 °C. We artificially depilated the back hair of C57BL/6 mice and compared the efficacy of a designed cedrol nanoemulsion to an existing ointment group. The hair follicles were imaged and quantified using a digital photomicrograph. The results showed that compared with the ointment, CE-NE had positive effects on hair growth, improved drug solubility. Compared with the ointment and 2% minoxidil groups, 50 mg/mL CE-NE led to more robust hair growth. Pharmacokinetics analysis showed that the AUC_0–t of CE-NE was 4-fold higher than that of the ointment group, confirming that the bioavailability of the nanoemulsion was greater than that of the ointment. CE-NE also significantly reduced the hair growth time of model mice and significantly increased the growth rate of hair follicles. In conclusion, these data suggest that the nanoemulsion significantly improved the pharmacokinetic properties and hair growth effects cedrol, enhancing its efficacy in vitro and in vivo.     

Differential expression of proteins in fetal brains of alcohol‐treated prenatally C57BL/6 mice: A proteomic investigation

Alcohol is known to impede the growth of the central nervous system and to induce neurodegeneration through cellular apoptosis. We have previously shown that moderate prenatal alcohol exposure results in brain defects at different stages of development. In this study, we further characterize the proteomic architecture underlying ethanol teratogenesis during early fetal brain development using chromatography in conjunction with a LC‐MS/MS system. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were exposed from embryonic day 7 (E7) to E13 with either a 25% ethanol derived calorie or pair‐fed liquid diets. At E13, fetal brains were collected from five dams for each group. Individual brains were homogenized and the extracted proteins were then tryptically digested and analyzed by LC‐MS/MS. Label‐free quantitative proteomic analyses were performed on proteomes extracted from fetal brains of both alcohol‐treated (ALC) and pair‐fed groups. These analyses demonstrated that prenatal alcohol exposure induced significant downregulation (p<0.001) of the expression of mitochondrial enzymes including ADP/ATP translocase 1, ATP synthase subunit α and ubiquinol‐cytochrome‐c reductases. In addition, mitochondrial carrier homolog 1, which plays a role in apoptosis, was significantly downregulated (p<0.001) in the ALC group. Moreover, among the cytosolic proteins that were significantly downregulated (p<0.001) are Bcl‐2, 14‐3‐3 protein and calmodulin. Significant downregulation (p<0.001) of proteins that are critical for fetal brain development was observed such as prohibitin and neuronal migration protein doublecortin. These findings provide information about possible mechanisms underlying the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure during early embryonic stage.     

Synthesis,biological activity and toxicity of chromium(III) metformin complex as potential insulin-mimetic agent in C57BL/6 mice

As an oral hypoglycemic agent, metformin (Met) has become a best-selling inexpensive drug worldwide. In this thesis, [Cr(metformin)₃] (CrMet) complex was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis (EA), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), UV-visible (UV-vis), and molar conductivity. Meanwhile, the molecule structure of CrMet complex was optimized using Gaussian 09. Considering the therapeutic effect of Met and Met/Cr(III) complex on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the biological activities of CrMet in streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were evaluated in detail from the aspects of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FINS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels. These results indicated that CrMet had beneficial function on blood glucose (BG) and lipid metabolism for diabetes. Additionally, the results of cytotoxicity and toxicity experiments showed that CrMet had no damage to cells and relatively high safety in mice. It maybe a potential candidate as a therapeutic agent in T2DM.     

Animal models of acute photodamage: comparisons of anatomic, cellular and molecular responses in C57BL/6J, SKH1 and Balb/c mice

Human cutaneous photodamage is a major medical problem that includes premature aging and fragility of the skin. Nonxenografted animal models have not been comparatively evaluated for how well they resemble the changes seen in human skin. Here, we sought to identify a suitable mouse model that recapitulates key anatomic, cellular and molecular responses observed in human skin during acute UV exposure. Adult females from three strains of mice, C57BL/6J, SKH1 and Balb/c were exposed to UVB and then evaluated 3 or 20 h after the last irradiation. Skin from UVB-exposed C57BL/6J mice showed features resembling human photodamage, including epidermal thickening, infiltration of the dermis with inflammatory cells, induction of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA, accumulation of glycosaminoglycans, particularly hyaluronan in the epidermis and loss of collagen. Hairless SKH1 mouse skin responded similarly, but without any induction of TNF-α mRNA or chondroitin sulfate. Irradiated Balb/c mice were the least similar to humans. Our results in C57BL/6J mice and to a lesser extent in SKH1 mice, show cutaneous responses to a course of UVB-irradiation that mirror those seen in human skin. Proper choice of model is critical for investigating cellular and molecular mechanisms of photodamage and photoaging.     

基于1H NMR代谢组学方法分析马兜铃酸I诱导的雌雄小鼠急性肾毒性

基于¹H NMR的代谢组学方法, 分析了C57BL/6J小鼠尿样的代谢特征, 揭示出马兜铃酸I(AAI)导致急性肾毒性的分子机理及其在雌性和雄性小鼠上差异的根源. 研究结果表明, AAI的急性肾毒性主要来自AAI给药后抑制了体内的三羧酸(TCA)循环和能量代谢, 破坏了体内肠道菌群的生态平衡, 改变了肾脏细胞内外的渗透压, 从而引起了肾小管的损伤. 代谢模式分析显示雄性小鼠对AAI的肾毒性比雌性小鼠更敏感, 可能源于雄性小鼠本身更低的能量代谢. 结果表明, 基于尿样¹H NMR代谢组学方法有可能为药物的毒性机制和毒性性别差异研究提供新思路.     

Improvement of Obesity and Dyslipidemic Activity of Amomum tsao-ko in C57BL/6 Mice Fed a High-Carbohydrate Diet

Amomum tsao-ko Crevost et Lemaire (Zingiberaceae) is a medicinal herb found in Southeast Asia that is used for the treatment of malaria, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, etc. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an ethanol extract of Amomum tsao-ko (EAT) on obesity and hyperlipidemia in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD). First, the mice were divided into five groups (n = 6/group) as follows: normal diet, HCD, and HCD+EAT (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day), which were orally administered with EAT daily for 84 days. Using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis, we found that EAT inhibited not only body-weight gain, but also visceral fat and subcutaneous fat accumulation. Histological analysis confirmed that EAT decreased the size of fat tissues. EAT consistently improved various indices, including plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, atherogenic index, and cardiac risk factors, which are related to dyslipidemia—a major risk factor for heart disease. The contents of TC and TG, as well as the lipid droplets of HCD-induced hepatic accumulation in the liver tissue, were suppressed by EAT. Taken together, these findings suggest the possibility of developing EAT as a therapeutic agent for improving HCD-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia.     

Comprehensive analysis of nine monoamines and metabolites in small amounts of peripheral murine (C57Bl/6 J) tissues

Monoamines, acting as hormones and neurotransmitters, play a critical role in multiple physiological processes ranging from cognitive function and mood to sympathetic nervous system activity, fight‐or‐flight response and glucose homeostasis. In addition to brain and blood, monoamines are abundant in several tissues, and dysfunction in their synthesis or signaling is associated with various pathological conditions. It was our goal to develop a method to detect these compounds in peripheral murine tissues. In this study, we employed a high‐performance liquid chromatography method using electrochemical detection that allows not only detection of catecholamines but also a detailed analysis of nine monoamines and metabolites in murine tissues. Simple tissue extraction procedures were optimized for muscle (gastrocnemius, extensor digitorum longus and soleus), liver, pancreas and white adipose tissue in the range of weight 10–200 mg. The system allowed a limit of detection between 0.625 and 2.5 pg μL⁻¹ for monoamine analytes and their metabolites, including dopamine, 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3‐methoxytyramine, homovanillic acid, norepinephrine, epinephrine, 3‐methoxy‐4‐hydroxyphenylglycol, serotonin and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Typical concentrations for different monoamines and their metabolization products in these tissues are presented for C57Bl/6 J mice fed a high‐fat diet.     

A new technique for differentiating between 2J(C,H) and 3/4J(C,H) connectivities

We present a new pulse sequence that yields two simultaneously detected types of long‐range correlation spectra. The one spectrum is to show all ⁿJ(C,H) connectivities and the other is to show exclusively ²J(C,H) connectivities. The method is demonstrated by using strychnine as a test sample. A comparison with HMBC shows that the ²J(C,H)/ⁿJ(C,H) experiment supplies a ⁿJ(C,H) spectrum that is of equal standard with regard to sensitivity and spectral information. The additional ²J(C,H) spectrum allows the disentanglement of ²J(C,H) and ⁿJ(C,H) signals (n > 2) in HMBC type spectra, which greatly simplifies signal assignment and structure elucidation in general. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Die Ramanspektren der Jod(III)-nitrate CF3J(NO3)2, C6H5J(NO3)2 und J(NO3)3

Raman Spectra of the Iodine (III) Nitrates CF₃I(NO₃)₂, C₆H₅I(NO₃)₂, and I(NO₃)₃ The Raman spectra of the title compounds are recorded and discussed.