Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is one of the common equipments being used to observe the intracellular substances like nitric oxide (NO) and calcium ions (Ca2). The intracellular substances detection relies on the proper analysis of the fluorescence images obtained by CLSM. At present, the outlines of the cells in CLSM images from fluorescence are manually drawn by judging the contrast between the object and the background. This method is subjective and may have the possibility of inaccuracy. In this paper we have designed a technique based on digital imaging processing to automatically detect the outlines or contours of the cells and assess the production of NO labeled by fluorescence probes. The developed technique was tested on a series of images obtained from CLSM and the spread ofNO during the time course was satisfactorily estimated.

Jujuhoside A (JUA) is a main component of jujubogenia exrracted from the seed of Ziziphus jujuba Mill var spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H F Chou (Ziziphus), which is widely used in Chinese traitional metiicine for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety. Previously, we reported the inhibitinry effects of JuA on hippocampal forma-tion in vivo and in vitro, the present study was carried out to ex amine the effects of JuA on glutamate (Glu)-mediated excitatory signal pathway in hippocamput. Microdialysis coupled with high-performance Liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to monitor the changes of Glu Levels in the hippocampus induced by penicillin sodium, or a mixture of penicillin sodium and JuA. The results showed that penicillin increased the hippocampal GlU concentration (p<0.Ol) and a high dose of JuA (0.1g/L) sig-mificantly blocked penicillin-indued Glu release (P<0.05). Moreover, the effect of JuA on intracellular Ca2+ changes after the stimulation by Glu was studied in cultured hippocampal neurons with can focal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). It was found that Clu (O.5 mM) reduced an intracellular [Ca2+], increase (p<0.01), and JuA significantly inhibited the Glu-induced Ca2+. increase. The calmodulin (CAM) antatgonist trifluoperazine (TFP) showed a similar inhibitory effect as JuA. These observations suggested tbat JuA has inhibitory effects on Glu-mediated excita-tory signal pathway in hippocampus and probably acts through its anti-calmodulin action

In a photochemical reaction microvessel thrombosis model, the anti-thrombotic effect of PT was evaluated and the results sbowed that PF could significantly prolong thromobosis time. The anti-thrombotic effect of PF may relate to the inhibi-tion of arachidonic acid metabolism, the increase of t-PA activi ty, and the protective effect against free radical.

Brevlseapine is a flavonoid extracted from Engeron breviscapus. Hand. Mazz, and it has been reported that breviscapine can actirate K+ channels and block Ca2+ channels, In this paper, we stud-led the cardloprotective effects of breviscapine on elect rocardio gram (ECG) changes (ST segment elevation), infarction size in dog heart subjected to myocardial infarction caused by left co-onacy artery ligation and lactate dehydrngenase (LDH) leakage. changes of [ntracellular free Ca2+ levels, apoptosis and necrosis in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia. Adidonally, the effect of breviscapine on myocardial oxygen consumption was detected in dog myocardium in vitro. The re suits showed that breviscapine treatment (1mg/kg, 2 mg/kg and 4mg/kg) significantly reduced ST-segment elevation and in-farction size in hearts subjected to myocardial infarction, that breviscapine treatment (1429ug/mL, 28.57ug/m L and 57.14ug/mL) significantly decreased oxygen consumption in myoear-dium, and that breviscapine treatment (5 Ug/mL. 10Ug/mL and 20Ug/mL) significantly reduced LDH leakage, intracellular free Ca2+levels, apoptosis and necrosis in cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia. In conclusion, the present study indicates that blevis-capine is in favor of myocardial protection.