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Salamander axolotl has been emerging as an important model for stem cell research due to its powerful regenerative capacity. Several advantages, such as the high capability of advanced tissue, organ, and appendages regeneration, promote axolotl as an ideal model system to extend our current understanding on the mechanisms of regeneration. Acknowledging the common molecular pathways between amphibians and mammals, there is a great potential to translate the messages from axolotl research to mammalian studies. However, the utilization of axolotl is hindered due to the lack of reference databases of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data. Here, we introduce the proteome analysis of the axolotl tail section searched against an mRNA-seq database. We translated axolotl mRNA sequences to protein sequences and annotated these to process the LC-MS/MS data and identified 1001 nonredundant proteins. Functional classification of identified proteins was performed by gene ontology searches. The presence of some of the identified proteins was validated by in situ antibody labeling. Furthermore, we have analyzed the proteome expressional changes postamputation at three time points to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of the regeneration process. Taken together, this work expands the proteomics data of axolotl to contribute to its establishment as a fully utilized model.

Recent evidence exists that enoxaparin can reduce brain injury because of its anticoagulant activity. To investigate the potential therapeutic effect of enoxaparin on cold-induced traumatic brain injury, at 20 minutes after modeling, male BALB/c mouse models of cold-induced traumatic brain injury were intraperitoneally administered 3 and 10 mg/kg enoxaparin or isotonic saline solution. Twenty-four hours later, enoxaparin at 10 mg/kg greatly reduced infarct volume, decreased cell apoptosis in the cortex and obviously increased serum level of total antioxidant status. By contrast, administration of enoxaparin at 3 mg/kg did not lead to these changes. These findings suggest that enoxaparin exhibits neuroprotective effect on cold-induced traumatic brain injury in a dose-dependent manner.

IntroductionKisspeptins, the peptide products of the KiSS-1 gene, bind to the G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54), a critical regulator of GnRH secretion. The N-terminally truncated peptide metastin 45-54 exhibits 10-fold higher receptorbinding affinity than full-length metastin; it also shows agonistic KISS-1R activity (1).Kisspeptins are known to play a role in puberty, cancer metastasis, and vasoconstriction (2,3-7). They are synthesized in the arcuate and anteroventral periventricular hypothalamic neurons and in the perioptic area (8). Kisspeptin expression is variable according to sex in rats; its expression is more marked in female animals (9). Its known derivatives are kisspeptin-10, kisspeptin-13, kisspeptin-14, and kisspeptin-54 (10-12). All kisspeptins seem to have the same interactions under in vitro conditions. Kiss-10 is well characterized in mammals, in which it is found in large concentrations (10,11). It has been suggested, however, that Kiss-54 is the most effective form (12). Kisspeptin has been reported to also be synthesized in the testes, ovaries, pancreas, gut, liver, lung, muscle tissue, kidney, nervous system, and most densely in the placenta (13,14). As for its receptor, G protein-coupled receptor-54 (GPR54) is mostly expressed in the hypophysis, placenta, and pancreas (10,15,16). Kisspeptins are highly potent neuropeptides that stimulate the secretion of LH and FSH from the hypophysis, an effect exerted through the release of GnRH (7,17). While this pathway has been satisfactorily defined in several mammal species, the molecular and cellular events at the proencephalic origin of this process are incompletely elucidated. In recent years, studies have indicated that kisspeptin plays a role in the transition to puberty (18,19). Kiss-1 knockout mice showed hypogonadism and low Background/aim: To study the effect of kisspeptin, a gonadotropin release stimulator, on the testicular tissue of the rat.Materials and methods: Four groups were formed as follows: control, Kiss-10 50 nmol administration for 1 day, Kiss-10 administration for 13 days, and one last group kept for 7 days following Kiss-10 applied for 13 days. Testicular tissues were stained with hematoxylineosin, periodic acid Schiff, Masson trichrome staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferased UTP nick-end labeling, and Ki-67 immune staining. Serum testosterone levels were determined.Results: Serum testosterone level increased following acute application, while it was reduced by chronic treatment. Spermatogenic cells as stained by Ki-67 and TUNEL increased in the treated groups compared to the controls. Following a 7-day rest after treatment, a decrease in testosterone levels and Ki-67-stained cell numbers and an increase in TUNEL-stained cells were observed. Leydig cells showed increased vacuolization in the Kiss-1 group. Leydig cell vacuolization continued in the Kiss (13) group and was reduced in the Kiss (13 + 7) group. Conclusion:Kiss-10 increased spermatogenic cell proliferation, while testosterone level and proliferation de...

With the development of gold nanorods (AuNRs) for a number of biomedical applications, understanding their various biological effects has become important. Surface functionalization of AuNRs is attracting increasing attention with regard to toxicity, cellular uptake, localization, therapeutic potential, and biodistribution. The aim of the study is to synthesis of stable AuNRs functionalized with polyethylenimine (PEI) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), multiparametric investigation of their cellular effects on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) primary sensory neurones, evaluation of the in vitro/in vivo biodistribution, and toxicity. PEI and PEG surface coatings increased both biocompatibility and biodistribution of the AuNRs. With the near‐infrared laser of the two‐photon microscope, very strong radiations are taken from the nucleolus parts of the neurones particularly and these localizations of the AuNRs‐PEI are confirmed by the transmission electron microscope images. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis shows the presence of AuNRs in liver, spleen, kidney, heart, blood, and brain within a 30 day period. It is observed that the surface coatings of the AuNRs significantly increase the biodistribution and biocompatibility. The surface functionalization, stability, and biocompatibility of the AuNRs are very important parameters for the potential nanotheranostic applications of AuNRs in the next studies.