PO-047 Expression of Aromatase and Synthesis of Sex Steroid Hormones in Skeletal Muscle Following Exercise Training in Ovariectomized Rats

Objective Age-related muscle wasting (sarcopenia) is accompanied by a decrease in estrogen levels which can compromise the health of aging women. Recent studies have shown that the key enzyme of estrogen synthesis (aromatase) is detected in the skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise on the expression of aromatase and the synthesis of sex steroid hormones in skeletal muscle following exercise training. Methods Fourteen female ovariectomized rats were divided into two groups, treadmill running (n=7) and sedentary (n=7) group. Exercise training on a treadmill (25 m/min, 60 min/day, 6 days/week) for 5 weeks. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect estradiol and aromatase levels in soleus muscle and plantar muscle. Detected the expression of AKT, Aromatase, FoxO1, MyoD protein level by Western blotting. Results We found that in ovariectomized rats, exercise training significantly increased the soleus and plantar muscles mass. The level of aromatase expression and 17-b-estradiol (E2) were increased significantly in skeletal muscle following exercise training(P < 0.05). In addition, the down-stream Akt-FoxO1-MyoD signaling pathway was significantly regulated in both soleus and plantaris muscles following exercise(P< 0.05). Conclusions These results demonstrate that exercise training increased the expression of aromatase and local estrogen production in skeletal muscle, which potentially influences skeletal muscle in ovariectomized rats through activation of Akt-FoxO1-MyoD signaling pathway

PO-275 Effect of acute photobiomodulation treatment on the recovery of exhaustive exercise-induced motor dysfunction: There is no full text article associated whit this abstract

Objective Photobiomodulation (PBM), originally known as “low-level laser therapy”, has been recognized as an effective methond to relieve pain, reduce inflammtion and improve healing. PBM induces photobiological effect at the the cellular level without thermal and toxic effects. Currently, PBM study on muscle recovery after exercise mainly focouses on the changes of molecular and immunological parameters. This study was designed to analyze the effect of acute PBM treatment on exhaustive exercise-induced behaviorial changes. Methods 1. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=8, each group): Control group without exhaustive exercise (Cont), Exhaustive exercise group (EE) and acute PBM treatment group (APBM). Acute PBM were conducted immediately using a diode laser with continuous wave (CW) at 808 nm (350 mW/cm2) after exhaustive exercise. Each paws were treated using PBM for 2 minutes. Grisp test were performed 24 hours after exhaustive exercise. The grisp strength score and the hanging time on the rope were recorded and analyzed using Sigmastat. Results 1. Signficant decreases of the grisp strength score and the hanging time were observed in the EE group compared with control group. 2. The motor function in the acute PBM treatment group were significantly improved. Conclusions Acute photobiomodulation treatment with 808 nm laser can signicicantly enchance the recovery of exhaustive exercise-induced motor dysfunction . &nbsp

PO-274 Photobiomodulation Preconditioning Prevents Hypoxia-ischemia Induced Dyscinesia in a Neonatal Rat Model

Objective Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) injury caused by oxygen deprivation is the most common cause of severe neurologic deficits and dyscinesia in neonates. The work was designed to evaluate the preventative effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) preconditioning on HI-induced Dyscinesia in a Neonatal Rat Model, and its underlying mechanism of PBM action on brain damage in a HI model in neonatal rats. Methods 10-day-old neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: (a) control group (animals without ligation); (b) HI group (HI animal with PBM pretreatment); (c) PBM group (HI animal with PBM pretreatment). The hanging wire test and cylinder test were conducted to evaluate the the strength and asymmetry of left (contralateral) paw usage, respectively. The volume shrinkage of the brain was analyzed on postnatal day 29. The neuronal loss, mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial fragmentation, cytochrome c release, neuronal apoptosis, dendritic and synaptic injury in hippocampus were tested using the brain collected on postnatal day 16. Results PBM preconditioning significantly attenuated motor function impairment, volume shrinkage, neuron loss, dendritic and synaptic injury after HI. Further mechanistic investigation showed that PBM preconditioning effectively restore HI-induced mitochondrial dynamic changes and inhibit mitochondrial fragmentation, accompanied by a robust suppression of cytochrome c release, and prevention of neuronal apoptosis by inhibition of caspase activation. Conclusions PBM preconditioning can prevent HI induced dyscinesia and brain injury by maintaining mitochondrial dynamics and inhibiting mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. &nbsp

PO-281 Vibration Training Restores Food Intake and Body Weight in a Rat Model of Depression

Objective Stress is well known to negatively affect body weight and food intake in animal models, but the underlying mechanisms have not yet been well elucidated and effective treatment is lacking. This project was initiated to study the potential beneficial effect of vibration training, a novel neuromuscular training method, in the treatment of depression. Methods Adult Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into the following three groups: 1) naïve control group, 2) depressive disorder group, and 3) depression with vibration training treatment group. To develop a depression phenotype, rats were individually and gently restricted in a modified, well-ventilated tube for 4 h every day for 21 days. Animals in vibration training treatment group were subjected to 30 min of vibration training (30 Hz, 5 days / week) for continuous 5 weeks. Body weight, physical and mental condition, and food intake were recorded daily and the data were statistically analyzed and compared between groups. Results 1. Daily body weight and food intake measurements revealed that both parameters decreased rapidly after the initiating daily restraint stress, compared with control group.  Intriguingly, both body weight and food intake of the depressive disorder group with 5-week vibration training were significantly improved. 2. The secretion of serotonin and dopamine in animals with chronic restraint stress were decreased compared with normal animals, and this attenuation was significantly prevented by vibration training. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that vibration training is capable of restoring food intake and body weight in a rat model of chronic restraint stress-induced depression

Activation of Testosterone-Androgen Receptor Mediates Cerebrovascular Protection by Photobiomodulation Treatment in Photothrombosis-Induced Stroke Rats

RATIONALE: Numerous epidemiological studies have reported a link between low testosterone levels and an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease in men. However, there is ongoing controversy surrounding testosterone replacement therapy due to potential side effects. PBMT has been demonstrated to improve cerebrovascular function and promote testosterone synthesis in peripheral tissues. Despite this, the molecular mechanisms that could connect PBMT with testosterone and vascular function in the brain of photothrombosis (PT)-induced stroke rats remain largely unknown. METHODS: We measured behavioral performance, cerebral blood flow (CBF), vascular permeability, and the expression of vascular-associated and apoptotic proteins in PT-induced stroke rats treated with flutamide and seven consecutive days of PBM treatment (350 mW, 808 nM, 2 min/day). To gain further insights into the mechanism of PBM on testosterone synthesis, we used testosterone synthesis inhibitors to study their effects on bEND.3 cells. RESULTS: We showed that PT stroke caused a decrease in cerebrovascular testosterone concentration, which was significantly increased by 7-day PBMT (808 nm, 350 mW/cm CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence that PBMT attenuates cerebrovascular injury and behavioral deficits associated with testosterone/AR following ischemic stroke. Our findings suggest that PBMT may be a promising alternative approach for managing cerebrovascular diseases

Photobiomodulation prevents PTSD-like memory impairments in rats

Abstract: A precise fear memory encoding a traumatic event enables an individual to avoid danger and identify safety. An impaired fear memory (contextual amnesia), however, puts the individual at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the inability to identify a safe context when encountering trauma-associated cues later in life. Although it is gaining attention that contextual amnesia is a critical etiologic factor for PTSD, there is no treatment currently available that can reverse contextual amnesia, and whether such treatment can prevent the development of PTSD is unknown. Here, we report that (I) a single dose of transcranial photobiomodulation (PBM) applied immediately after tone fear conditioning can reverse contextual amnesia. PBM treatment preserved an appropriately high level of contextual fear memory in rats revisiting the “dangerous” context, while control rats displayed memory impairment. (II) A single dose of PBM applied after memory recall can reduce contextual fear during both contextual and cued memory testing. (III) In a model of complex PTSD with repeated trauma, rats given early PBM interventions efficiently discriminated safety from danger during cued memory testing and, importantly, these rats did not develop PTSD-like symptoms and comorbidities. (IV) Finally, we report that fear extinction was facilitated when PBM was applied in the early intervention window of memory consolidation. Our results demonstrate that PBM treatment applied immediately after a traumatic event or its memory recall can protect contextual fear memory and prevent the development of PTSD-like psychopathological fear in rats

Targeting Alzheimer’s Disease: The Critical Crosstalk between the Liver and Brain

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), an age-related neurodegenerative disorder, is currently incurable. Imbalanced amyloid-beta (Aβ) generation and clearance are thought to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD. Historically, strategies targeting Aβ clearance have typically focused on central clearance, but with limited clinical success. Recently, the contribution of peripheral systems, particularly the liver, to Aβ clearance has sparked an increased interest. In addition, AD presents pathological features similar to those of metabolic syndrome, and the critical involvement of brain energy metabolic disturbances in this disease has been recognized. More importantly, the liver may be a key regulator in these abnormalities, far beyond our past understanding. Here, we review recent animal and clinical findings indicating that liver dysfunction represents an early event in AD pathophysiology. We further propose that compromised peripheral Aβ clearance by the liver and aberrant hepatic physiological processes may contribute to AD neurodegeneration. The role of a hepatic synthesis product, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), in the management of AD is also discussed. A deeper understanding of the communication between the liver and brain may lead to new opportunities for the early diagnosis and treatment of AD

Thin slice three dimentional (3D) reconstruction versus CT 3D reconstruction of human breast cancer

Background & objectives: With improvement in the early diagnosis of breast cancer, breast conserving therapy (BCT) is being increasingly used. Precise preoperative evaluation of the incision margin is, therefore, very important. Utilizing three dimentional (3D) images in a preoperative evaluation for breast conserving surgery has considerable significance, but the currently 3D CT scan reconstruction commonly used has problems in accurately displaying breast cancer. Thin slice 3D reconstruction is also widely used now to delineate organs and tissues of breast cancers. This study was aimed to compare 3D CT with thin slice 3D reconstruction in breast cancer patients to find a better technique for accurate evaluation of breast cancer. Methods: A total of 16-slice spiral CT scans and 3D reconstructions were performed on 15 breast cancer patients. All patients had been treated with modified radical mastectomy; 2D and 3D images of breast and tumours were obtained. The specimens were fixed and sliced at 2 mm thickness to obtain serial thin slice images, and reconstructed using 3D DOCTOR software to gain 3D images. Results: Compared with 2D CT images, thin slice images showed more clearly the morphological characteristics of tumour, breast tissues and the margins of different tissues in each slice. After 3D reconstruction, the tumour shapes obtained by the two reconstruction methods were basically the same, but the thin slice 3D reconstruction showed the tumour margins more clearly. Interpretation & conclusions: Compared with 3D CT reconstruction, thin slice 3D reconstruction of breast tumour gave clearer images, which could provide guidance for the observation and application of CT 3D reconstructed images and contribute to the accurate evaluation of tumours using CT imaging technology

NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in the Brain after Global Cerebral Ischemia and Regulation by 17 β

17β-Estradiol (E2) is a well-known neuroprotective factor in the brain. Recently, our lab demonstrated that the neuroprotective and cognitive effects of E2 require mediation by the estrogen receptor (ER) coregulator protein and proline-, glutamic acid-, and leucine-rich protein 1 (PELP1). In the current study, we examined whether E2, acting via PELP1, can exert anti-inflammatory effects in the ovariectomized rat and mouse hippocampus to regulate NLRP3 inflammasome activation after global cerebral ischemia (GCI). Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and expression of its downstream products, cleaved caspase-1 and IL-1β, were robustly increased in the hippocampus after GCI, with peak levels observed at 6-7 days. Expression of P2X7 receptor, an upstream regulator of NLRP3, was also increased after GCI. E2 markedly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activation, caspase-1, and proinflammatory cytokine production, as well as P2X7 receptor expression after GCI (at both the mRNA and protein level). Intriguingly, the ability of E2 to exert these anti-inflammatory effects was lost in PELP1 forebrain-specific knockout mice, indicating a key role for PELP1 in E2 anti-inflammatory signaling. Collectively, our study demonstrates that NLRP3 inflammasome activation and proinflammatory cytokine production are markedly increased in the hippocampus after GCI, and that E2 signaling via PELP1 can profoundly inhibit these proinflammatory effects