【Abstract】 Objective To build nano-biomimetic tissue engineered blood vessel (NBTEBV) with nanotopology by using electrospinning (ELSP) technology. Methods Cony vascular endothel ial cell(VEC) on tubiform tooting in vitro was cultured. NBTEBV was built by use of multi-row nozzle with the suspension of cony vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and mimic ECM (MECM) solution. NBTEBV was cultured with bioreactor in vitro . VEC and VSMC viabil ity and prol iferation were observed with MTT; and HE staining, scanning electron microscopy(SEM) observation and biomechanical test were carried out after 24 hours of static culture and 7 days of dynamic culture. Results After 7 days of culture, the length of NBTEBV was 57 mm, the external diameter was 4 mm and the thickness of wall was 0.4 mm. The NBTEBV’s color was white and the texture was even and flexible. MTT results indicated the viabil ity of cells cultured on NBTEBV for 7 days was normal(8.9 × 106 /mg, 3.5 ×105/mg for 24 hours). SEM and HE staining indicated that the topologic character of NBTEBV was similar to that of the naturalblood vessel. The NBTEBV showed a network scaffolds structure with 100 nm thick fiber and 600 nm aperture. The HE stainingresult showed that the NBTEBV was composed of VEC and VSMC by layer. Vascular mechanical results showed that the NBTEBVultimate hydrostatic pressure was 950 mmHg, the compl iance of the NBTEBV under physio-pressure (110/70 mmHg) was 3.0%; the ultimate tensile strength of 20 mm × 5 mm tissue sl ice was 18.5 MPa. Conclusion The technology of ELSP can use VSMC and MECM scaffold simultaneously to build tissue engineered blood vessel with nanotopology mimic native blood vessel.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of power-assisted intravascular shunt in replantation of amputated limbs of rabbits.
MethodsEighty rabbits weighing 1.8-2.5 kg (male or female) were selected to establ ish the model of circular amputation at the hind groin, only femoral arteries and veins were completely preserved. After the femoral artery was clamped in 60 rabbits, the rabbits underwent power-assisted intravascular shunt with high-flow rate (group A, n=20), powerassisted intravascular shunt with low-flow rate (group B, n=20), and no power-assisted intravascular shunt (group C, n=20) to reconstruct blood supply; the femoral artery was not clamped in another 20 rabbits of sham group (group D). Before and after intravascular shunt (1, 3, 6, and 12 hours), the malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase (CK) of the serum were determined. The myeloperoxidase (MPO), MDA, and wet to dry weight ratio (W/D ratio) of the gastrocnemius muscle were measured, and the thrombogenesis and survival rate of limb were observed.
ResultsBefore intravascular shunt, MDA, LDH, and CK of the serum and MPO, MDA, and W/D ratio of the muscle showed no significant difference among 4 groups (P>0.05). At each time point after intravascular shunt, no significant difference was found in all indexes between groups A and D (P>0.05); the indexes of groups B and C were significantly higher than those of groups A and D (P<0.05); the values were the highest in group C (P<0.05), and reached the peak at 12 hours. All limbs of group A survived with low thrombosis rate, and less limbs could survive with high thrombosis rate in group C.
ConclusionThe power-assisted intravascular shunt with high-flow rate can effective ensure the blood supply of the amputated limbs of rabbits with lower limb injury and higher survival rate of amputated limbs after replantation.
Objective To develop an experimental model of abdominal aorta transplantation with nano-biomimetictissue engineered blood vessel (NBTEBV) and to investige the change of histomorphology in evolutionary process of degradation and remodel ing. Methods Twenty 6-month-old New Zealand rabbits were included, weighing 2-3 kg, male or female. The autologous seed cells of rabbits were harvested to build NBTEBV in vitro. After the branch of abdominal aorta under kidney was l igated, about 10 mm abdominal aorta was cut and replaced by NBTEBV; the anastomotic stoma was marked by Ti cl ips. NBTEBV’s evolutionary processes of degradation and rebuilding were observed. Twelve weeks after operation, DSA and color Doppler examinations were made. At 1, 4 and 12 weeks after operation, the gross and histological observations were made and 14C binding in PLGA was detected with X-ray photon spectroscopy. Results Of 20 rabbits, 17 showed that the NBTEBV was patency; 3 died from NBTEBV occlusion 36 or 72 hours after operation. The results of DAS and color Doppler showed the blood flow was patency, the blood flow rate was normal and there was no angiectasis. The lumen of transplanted blood vessel was covered with monolayer endothel ial cells. At 1 week, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) arranged regularly and much PLGA distributed in the EMCs. At 4 weeks, SMCs arranged in a layer, ECM was forming, mimic ECM degraded partly; PLGA decreased obviously. At 12 weeks, the SMCs arranged regularly, ECM formed, mimic ECM degraded, no PLGA was seen in the wall, the shape of graft was similar to the natural vessel. The decreasing crest value of 14C in specimen showed the degradation of PLGA. Conclusion NBTEBV has a good surgical maneuverabil ity and histocompatibil ity, its remodel ing evolutionary process fits in with tissue engineering specification. Building NBTEBV with ELSP is feasible.
Objective To evaluate the cell biological features and the effect of transplantation of transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3) gene-modified nucleus pulposus (NP) cells on the degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs in vitro. Methods NP cells at passage 2 were infected by recombinant adenovirus carrying TGF-β3 (Ad-TGF-β3) gene (Ad-TGF-β3 group), and then the cell biological features were observed by cell vital ity assay, the expression of the TGF-β3 protein was determined by Western blot, the expression of collagen type II in logarithmic growth phase was determined by immunocytochemistry. The cells with adenovirus-transfected (Adv group) and the un-transfected cells (blank group) were used as controls. The model of lumbar disc degeneration was establ ished by needl ing L3, 4, L4, 5, and L5, 6 in 30 New Zealand rabbits (weighing 3.2-3.5 kg, male or female). Then Ad-TGF-β3-transfected rabbit degenerative nucleus pulposus cells (100 μL, 1 × 105/ mL, group A, n=12), no gene-modified nucleus pulposus cells (100 μL, 1 × 105/mL, group B, n=12), and phosphatebuffered sal ine (PBS, 100 μL, group C, n=6) were injected into degenerative lumbar intervertebral discs, respectively. L3, 4, L4, 5, and L5, 6 disc were harvested from the rabbits (4 in groups A and B, 2 in group C) at 6, 10, and 14 weeks respectively to perform histological observation and detect the expression of collagen type II and proteoglycan by RT-PCR. Results The viabil ity of nucleus pulposus cells was obviously improved after transfected by recombinant Ad-TGF-β3 gene. At 3, 7, and 14 days after transfected, TGF-β3 expression gradually increased in nucleus pulposus cells. The positive staining of collagen type II was seen in Ad-TGF-β3 group, and the positive rate was significantly higher than that of Adv group and blank group (P lt; 0.05). The disc degeneration in group A was sl ighter than that in groups B and C. The expressions of collagen type II mRNA and proteoglycan mRNA in group A were significantly higher than those in groups B and C at 6, 10, and 14 weeks (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion TGF-β3 can improve the biological activity of NP cells and promote the biosynthesis of collagen type II and proteoglycan in intervertebral discs, alleviate the degeneration of intervertebral discs after transplantation.
Objective To investigate the effect of various concentration of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on osteogenic differentiation of rabbit skeletal muscle-derived stem cells (SMSCs) cultured in vitro. Methods Blood drawn from the central ear arteries of 9 one-year-old New Zealand white rabbits weighing 2.5-3.0 kg (male and female) was used to prepare PRP (Landesberg method). Full blood count and platelet count in PRP were tested. Soleus muscle of right hindl imb in rabbit was obtained and used to culture SMSCs in vitro. The cells at passage 3 were randomly divided into different groups: the experimental groups in which the cells were treated by conditioned culture media with various concentrations of autologousPRP (6.25%, 12.50%, 25.00%, 50.00%), and the control group in which the cells were treated with the media without PRP. At different time points after intervention, osteogenetic activity of the cells was detected by ALP staining observation, ALP activity detection was conducted, al izarin red staining for calcium nodules and immunofluorescence staining for osteocalcin were performed, and core binding factor α1 (Cbfα1) of osteogenic gene expression was tested by RT-PCR. Results The full blood PRP count and the platelet count in PRP was (3.06 ± 0.46) × 105/μL and (18.08 ± 2.10) × 105/μL, respectively. ALP staining: the cells in all the experimental groups were positive for the staining with many black sediment particles in cytoplasm; the cells in the control group were negative staining. ALP activity: all the experimental groups were higher than the control group (P lt; 0.05), the experimental group at 12.50% was superior to other experimental groups at each time point (P lt; 0.05). Al izarin red staining: at 14 days after culture, orange-red calcium nodules were evident in all the experimental groups; no orange-red calcium nodules were observed in the control group with a mineral ization rate of zero; there were significant difference between the experimental groups and the control group in terms of mineral ization rate (P lt; 0.05), the experimental group at 12.50% had a higher mineral ization rate than other experimental groups (P lt; 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining for osteocalcin: at 7 days after culture, the experimental groups were positive for the staining with yellow fluorescence in cytoplasm, and the result of the control group was negative. RT-PCR detection: no obvious changes of the gene expression were noted at 4, 12, and 24 hoursafter culture in the control group; the gene expression in all the experimental groups was significant superior to that of control group, especially at 12 hours, and the expression in the experimental group at 12.50% was the highest. Conclusion PRP can obviously promote the osteogenic differentiation of SMSCs cultured in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner, and the 12.50% is proved to be the ideal concentration.
Objective To separate each protein band from the nerve regeneration conditioned fluid(NRCF）and to study whether there are somenew and unknown neurotrophic factors in the protein bands with a relative molecular mass of 220×103. Methods The silicone nerve regenerationchambers were formed in the sciatic nerve of the 25 New Zealand rabbits (weight,1.8-2.5 kg), and NRCF was taken from it at 1 week after operation. The Nativepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Native-PAGE) was used for separating the proteins from NRCF and detecting the relative molecular mass. The Western blot and ELISA were used to observe whether the protein bands ［220×103 (Band a), (20-40)×103(Band c)］ of NRCF could combine with the antibody of the known antibody of neurotrophic factor (NTF):nerve growth factor(NGF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF), brainderived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), neurotrophin 3(NT-3)， NT-4, ciliang neurotrophic factor(CNTF). Results Separated by Native-PAGE, NRCF mainly contained two protein bands:Band a had a relative molecular mass about 220×103, and Band c had a relative molecular mass about (20-40)×103. Band a could not combine with the antibodies of the NGF, BDNF, CNTF, and NT-3, but could combine with the antibody of NT-4.Band c could combine with the antibodies of NGF, BDNF, CNTF and NT-3, but could not combine with the antibodies of NT-4 and GDNF. Conclusion The protein bands with a relative molecular mass of 220×103 have ber neurotropic and neurotrophic effects than the protein bands with a relative molecular mass of (20-40)×103, which contains NGF,CNTF, etc. NT-4 just has a weak or no effect on the sympathetic neurone. This indicates that there is a new NTF in the protein bands with a relative molecular mass of 220×103, which only combines with the antibody of NT-4.
Objective
To study the variation of CD105+/CD166+ cells and its multilineage potential in early osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage so as to lay a foundation for cartilage repair and pathologic cartilage remodeling in arthritis.
Methods
The knee OA model was established in the right knee of 30 adult New Zealand rabbits (8-12 months old). The chondrocytes were harvested from normal cartilage of the left knee (group A), OA cartilage of the right knee at 2 weeks (group B), at 4 weeks (group C), and at 8 weeks (group D) after modeling, and BMSCs were used in group E for the expression of CD105 and CD166. The percentage of CD105+/CD166+ cells in each group was counted by flow cytometry, and CD105+/CD166+ cells were isolated and purified by magnetic-activated cell sorting. The expressions of CD105 and CD166 were observed in 5 groups by laser scanning confocal microscope. Chondrogenesis, osteogenesis, and adipogenesis were evaluated with Alcian blue cytochemistry and collagen type II immunohistochemistry, by detecting the deposition of calcium, and with oil red O staining, respectively.
Results
The percentage of CD105+/CD166+ cells in group A, B, C, and D was significantly lower than that in group E (P lt; 0.05); it was significantly higher in groups B, C, and D than in group A (P lt; 0.05), and in group D than in groups B and C (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups B and C (P gt; 0.05). Laser scanning confocal microscope results confirmed the expressions of CD105+ and CD166+ cells in groups A, B, C, D, and E, no obvious difference in expression was shown among 5 groups. At 1 week after chondrogenic induction, positive expressions of proteoglycan and collagen type II were observed in 5 groups, no obvious difference was noticed among 5 groups. At 2 weeks after osteogenic induction, calcium level in group E was significantly higher than that in groups A, B, C, and D (P lt; 0.05), but no significant different was found among groups A, B, C, and D (P gt; 0.05). At 4 weeks after adipogenic induction, there were more red lipid droplets in group E than in groups A, B, C, and D.
Conclusion
CD105+/CD166+ cells in early OA cartilage increase, which show chondrogenic differentiation potential.
Objective To explore the biocompatibility of poly(lacticacid/glycolic acid/asparagic acid-co-polyethylene glycol) biomaterials (PLGA-ASP-PEG) and biological behaviors of cultured marrow stroml stem cells (MSCs) combined with this new type of scaffold in tissue engineering. Methods The PLGA-ASP-PEG tri-block copolymers were obtained through bulk ringopening copolymerization method.MSCs were isolated from the bone marrow of 4 week old New Zealand rabbits. The 3rdgeneration MSCs were cultured combining with PLGA-ASP-PEG in vitro, while cells cultured in PLGA as control group. The cell adhesion rate and the adhesivepower were examined by conventional precipitation method and micropipette aspiration technique respectively. The morphological features were studied by scanning electron microscope. The proliferation behavior of the cells was analyzed by MTT assay. The cell cycle, proliferation index, DNA index and apoptosis of the cells were detected by flow cytometry. The synthesis of protein and collagen were examined by Coomassie Brilliant Blue dyes and 3H-Proline incorporation test. Results The MSCs adhered and grew well on the surface of the biomaterial PLGA-ASP-PEG. The powers of cell adhesion, proliferation and protein and collagen synthesis of the cells were all significantly higher than those of PLGA group (P＜0.05), but the apoptosis rate was significantly lower than that of PLGA group (P＜0.05). The DNA indexes showed the cells of both PLGA-ASP-PEG group and PLGAgroup were normal diploid cells. Conclusion PLGA-ASP-PEG showedgood biocompatibilityand the biological properties improved greatly compared with the PLGA scaffold materials. These results demonstrated that the promise of PLGAASPPEG canbe used as an ideal scaffold material for construction of tissue engineered bone to restore bone defects in bone tissue engineering．
Objective To evaluate the effect of WO-1 on repair of the bone defect in the New Zealand rabbit radius by an oral or local administration. Methods Bone defects were surgically created in the bilateral radii of 36 Zealand rabbits (1.6-2.0 kg), which were randomly divided into3 groups. In Group A, the defective areas were given WO-1 0.1 ml (50 mg/ml) by the local injections; in Group B, the rabbits were given WO-1 5 mg each day by the oral administration. Group C was used as a control group. Among each of the 3 groups, 4 rabbits were randomly selected and were sacrificed at 20, 30 and 60 days after operation, respectively. Then, the serological, X-ray and histological examinations were performed. Results The serum alkaline phosphatase and bone glaprotein levels were significantly higher at 20 and 30 days after operation in Groups A and B than in Group C, but significantly lower at 60 days after operation in Groups A and B than in Group C（Plt;0.01）. The X-ray and histological examinations at 20, 30 and 60 days after operation revealed that the callus formation and remodeling were earlier in Groups A and B thanin Group C, and the remodeling was earlier and better in Group A than in Group B. Conclusion WO-1 can promote the repair of the radial defect in a rabbit; however, further studies on the doseeffect relationship, administration time, and administration route are still needed.
ObjectiveTo improve and assess the method of establishing myocardial infarction model in New Zealand rabbits.
MethodsA total of 60 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into two groups:the left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated in a LAD group (n=30); the left circumflex coronary artery was ligated in a LC group (n=30). Electrocardiogram (ECG), ultrasound cardiogram (UCG), hemodynamics and histology procedures were performed to detect the changes of cardiac structure and function after myocardial infarction induced by LAD and LC ligation.
ResultsSuccess rate of the LC group was significantly higher than that in the LAD group (P < 0.01), but the survival rate in the LC group was slightly lower than the LAD group (P < 0.05); ECG within 24 h and 1 week after surgery showed that the average values of ST segment elevation in the LC group were significantly higher than that in the LAD group (P < 0.05); UCG and hemodynamics results showed cardiac function in the LAD group did not decrease significantly (P > 0.05). In contrast, cardiac function in the LC group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Histopathologic analysis showed that the area of myocardial infarction in the LC group was significantly larger than that in the LAD group (P < 0.01).
ConclusionThe myocardial infarction induced by the left circumflex coronary artery ligation is more consistent than that induced by the left anterior descending coronary artery ligation, suggesting that the former is a more appropriate experimental model for evaluations.
