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Yes / Articular cartilage, a connective tissue, contains chondrocytes and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) which aid in water retention, providing the tissue with its magnificent ability to prevent friction, withstand loads and absorb compressive shocks however, cartilage, does not have the ability to regenerate and repair. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative disease, which includes reduction of cartilage thickness between two bones in a joint, causing painful bone-to-bone contact. OA affects over 8 million people in the UK alone. , and as the primary causes are unknown, available treatments including surgical and non-surgical techniques which only reduce the symptoms created by the disorder instead of providing a cure. This project focused on utilizing TGF-β1, a cytokine found in elevated amounts in healthy cartilage when compared to degraded cartilage, in order to observe the effects of the growth factor on both healthy and osteoarthritic chondrocytes. The healthy and the osteoarthritic chondrocytes were cultured in two different media (DMEM with and without TGF- β1) before utilizing the SpectraMax M2/M2e plate reader to observe and analyze the effect of TGF-β1 on water retention properties of cells. This has been achieved by quantifying the GAG content using DMMB dye. Results showed that although TGF-β1 did displayed an increase in glycosaminoglycan synthesis, the statistical increase was not vast enough for the alternative hypothesis to be accepted; further experimentation with TGF-β1, alongside other cytokines within the growth factor family is needed to perceive the true influence of the growth factor on un cured degenerative diseases. It was concluded that both the healthy and osteoarthritic cells treated with TGF-β1 absorbed considerably more DMMB in comparison to the cells, suggesting that TGF-β1 indeed works to aid in water retention. TGF-β1 is a key factor to be exploited when constructing treatments for osteoarthritis

A osteoaderina (OSAD) tem sido identificada nos tecidos mineralizados, porém, seu papel na mineralização óssea não está claro. Foi feita uma comparação do momento em que a OSAD aparece na ossificação intramembranosa e endocondral, em relação aos estágios iniciais de mineralização. O osso parietal de fetos de ratos Wistar com 17, 18 e 21 dias e o côndilo mandibular de ratos com 30 dias foram removidos. A expressão de OSAD foi analisada por imunocitoquímica e Western blotting. Nos dois tipos de ossificação, a imunomarcação foi detectada nos osteoblastos; porém, na matriz extracelular a OSAD apareceu somente na fase fibrilar de mineralização, mantendo-se constante posteriormente. A análise por Western blotting revelou que os fetos com 17 dias continham pouco menos OSAD que os de 18 dias, enquanto a imunorreatividade diminuía nos fetos com 21 dias. Os resultados sugerem que a OSAD tem um papel na mineralização da matriz, atuando, provavelmente como organizadora de seu arcabouço ou retendo o mineral, além de exercer atividades de adesão entre os componentes da matriz. / Osteoadherin (OSAD) had been identified in mineralized tissues, but its specific role in mineralization remains unclear. The present study compared the appearance of OSAD at early stages of mineralization during both intramembranous and endochondral ossification. Parietal bone of 17, 18 and 21 days-old fetus and mandibular condyle of 30 days-old Wistar rats were removed. The expression of OSAD was analyzed by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. In both types of ossification the labeling was uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm of osteoblasts but it only appeared in the mineralizing matrix when the fibrilar stage was taking place, remaining as a component of the mineralized bone matrix. Western blots revealed that 17-days-old embryos contained slightly less OSAD than 18- days-old fetus, while immunoreactivity was weak in 21 days-old fetus. The results suggest that OSAD plays a role in collagen fibril mineralization maybe by organizing the matrix assembly or by retaining the mineral into the matrix, besides exerting binding activities among its components.

A erupção dentária depende de uma coordenada interação entre o germe dentário e o tecido ósseo da cripta que o envolve. Para que seja formada a via eruptiva, a reabsorção da porção oclusal da cripta óssea por osteoclastos é indispensável. Os bisfosfonatos são drogas com reconhecida capacidade de inibir a atividade clástica e foram empregados no presente estudo a fim de interferir no tecido ósseo da cripta alveolar durante a formação e erupção de molares de ratos. Doses diárias dos bisfosfonatos alendronato ou etidronato de 2,5 e 8 mg/kg, respectivamente, foram administradas a ratos recém nascidos. Os controles foram injetados com solução salina. Nos períodos de 4, 8, 14, 21 e 28 dias, as maxilas foram fixadas em 2,5% de formaldeído + 2% de glutaraldeído, 4% de formaldeído + 0,1% de glutaraldeído ou fixador Zamboni, descalcificadas em EDTA a 4,13% e processadas para análise em microscopias de luz, eletrônica de transmissão e confocal, histoquímica TRAP, imunocitoquímica para OPN, BSP, RANK, RANKL e OPG. Alguns espécimes não foram descalcificados para análise em microscopia eletrônica de varredura, ou congelados em nitrogênio líquido para extração e análise e da expressão de proteínas por Western Blotting. O etidronato ocasionou alterações no metabolismo ósseo da cripta que resultaram no atraso da erupção e da formação radicular em relação ao controle. O alendronato aumentou o número de osteoclastos no osso alveolar, porém a maioria apresentou estado latente, o que diminuiu a reabsorção óssea da cripta ao redor do germe dentário e impediu a erupção dos molares e a formação radicular. A expressão de RANKL, molécula ativadora dos osteoclastos, durante o início do processo eruptivo, diminuiu em comparação ao controle. Com a diminuição da remodelação óssea, o tecido apresentou distribuição de OPN e BSP típica de osso primário. Os resultados demonstram que a reabsorção óssea é importante em todos os pontos da cripta e não apenas em sua porção oclusal durante a formação da via eruptiva, para que a formação e erupção dentária ocorram adequadamente. / Tooth eruption depends on coordinated interactions between the tooth germ and the surrounding bony crypt. The formation of the eruptive pathway requires the resorption of the occlusal portion of the bony crypt by osteoclasts. The bisphosphonates are drugs with known capability to inhibit clastic activity, and were employed in the present study with the aim of interfering in the alveolar bony crypt during the formation and eruption of rat molars. Daily alendronate or etidronate 2.5 and 8 mg/kg doses, respectively, were administered to newborn rats. The controls were injected with saline solution. At 4, 8, 14, 21 and 28 days, the maxillae were fixed in 2.5% formaldehyde + 2% glutaraldehyde, 4% formaldehyde + 0,1% glutaraldehyde or Zambonis fixative, decalcified in 4.13% EDTA and processed for light, confocal and transmission electron microscopy analyzes, TRAP histochemistry, and immunocytochemistry for OPN, BSP, RANK, RANKL and OPG. Some specimens were left undecalcified for scanning electron microscopy analyzes, or frozen in liquid nitrogen for protein extraction and Western Blotting protein expression analyzes. Etidronate occasioned alterations in the alveolar bony crypt metabolism that resulted in the delay of tooth eruption. Alendronate increased osteoclast number in the alveolar bone; however, most of them were latent, which decreased the resorption of the bony crypt surrounding the tooth germ and impeded the eruption and root formation of the molars. The expression of RANKL, an osteoclast-activating molecule, was decreased. The inhibition of the bone remodeling resulted in typical primary bone OPN and BSP labeling pattern. These results demonstrate that bone resorption at the entire surface of the crypt, and not only during the eruptive pathway formation, is crucial for adequate tooth eruption and formation.

A polpa dentária pode responder a uma agressão pela produção de dentina reacional e reparativa. Osteopontina (OPN), proteína abundante no osso, e proteína da matriz dentinária 1 (DMP1) podem estar presentes nessas dentinas. O objetivo do trabalho foi examinar a ultra-estrutura e a presença da OPN e DMP1 na dentina induzida pela extrusão de incisivos. Os incisivos de ratos foram extruídos e depois reposicionados. Após períodos de tempo determinados, as maxilas foram processadas para MET, MEV e imunocitoquímica. Após extrusão, houve formação de dentina reacional e reparativa, as quais variaram em aspecto, espessura e células secretoras. A OPN foi observada apenas na dentina reparativa num padrão semelhante ao encontrado no osso. A DMP1 foi detectada na matriz em mineralização de todas as dentinas estudadas, mas praticamente não foi observada nas suas pré-dentinas, o que confirmou o seu papel na mineralização. Tais achados mostraram que a dentina reparativa e o osso primário, além de semelhantes morfologicamente, são também similares com relação às suas composições / Reactionary dentine (Rc) and (Rp) reparative dentine are two strategies used by the dentine?pulp complex to respond to injury. Osteopontin (OPN) and dentine matrix protein 1 (DMP1) may be present in the matrix secreted after tissue injury. The aim of the present study was to examine the ultrastructure, as well as the presence of OPN and DMP1 in Rc and Rp by provoking extrusion of the rat incisor. The right upper incisors of rats were extruded and then repositioned. After certain periods of time, the maxillae were processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopy and for immunocytochemistry. After extrusive trauma, there was formation of Rc and Rp, which varied in aspect and thickness. OPN was only detected in the Rp in a pattern similar to bone. DMP1 was immunodetected in all the dentine types, but rare colloidal gold particles were observed in predentin, that confirmed its role in mineralization. The present findings showed that Rp shares some compositional characteristics with primary bone, especially in relation to its OPN content

Das Membranstrommuster von Oligodendrozyten verändert sich während der Entwicklung dieser zellen sehr stark. Während die Membranleitfähigkeit von Oligodendrozyten-Vorläuferzellen von auswärts rektifizierenden Kaliumkanälen geprägt ist, exprimieren reife Oligodendrozyten passive, nicht spannungsabhängige Kaliumkanäle. Die Aktivität dieser Kanäle beeinflußt die Proliferation und Differenzierung dieser Zellen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die Expression von spannungsaktivierbaren Kaliumkanälen des Kv1-Typs (Shaker-Typ) in kultivierten Oligodendrozyten-Vorläuferzellen anhand der Transkriptexpression, der Expression von Kv1-Proteinen und der elektrophysiologischen und pharmakologischen Analyse der Membranströme untersucht. Auf mRNA Ebene wurden unterschiediche Kombinationen von Kv1.1, Kv1.4; Kv1.5 und Kv1.6 Transkripten gefunden. Ebenfalls wurde in einigen Zellen eine signifikante Menge an Kv1.2 und Kv1.3 Transkripten gefunden. Die Heterogenität der Transkriptexpression konnte nicht mit Unterschieden in den elektrophysiologischen Eigenschaften korrelliert werden. Die Expression der Kv1 Proteine wurde mit Hilfe von immunozytochemischen Färbungen mit spezifischen polyklonalen Antikörpern gegen die Kanäle Kv1.1 bis Kv1.6 untersucht. Alle Oligodendrozyten-Vorläuferzellen exprimierten die Kanäle Kv1.4 (85% der Zellen), Kv1.5 (99 %) und Kv1.6 (99 %), Kv1.1 Proteine wurden von 10 % der Zellen gebildet. Um den funktionellen Beitrag der Kv1 Kanäle zum Gesamtzellstrom zu bestimmen, wurde die Stromaktivierung und -inaktivierung sowie die Sensitivität der Ströme gegen die spezifischen Kaliumkanalblocker getestet. Dabei wurden durch TEA (1-100 mM), 4-AP (0,125-1 mM) und Chinidin (5-100 mM) jeweils ein großer Teil der Ströme gehemmt, durch CTX, DTX und MCDP wurde die Kanalaktivität nicht beeinflußt. Um den Beitrag der Kanalproteine Kv1.4 bzw. Kv1.1 zu den elektrophysiologischen Eigenschaften des Gesamtzellstromes zu testen, wurden an einzelnen Oligodendrozyten-Vorläuferzellen kombinierte elektrophysiologische Untersuchungen und immunozytochemische Färbungen durchgeführt. Dabei konnten keine signifikanten Unterschiede zwischen Kv1./Kv1.4 positiven und Kv1.1/Kv1.4 negativen Zellen festgestellt werden. Aus den Untersuchungen ergeben sich folgende Schlußfolgerungen: Oligodendrozyten exprimieren eine Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Kv1 Transkripte.Die überwiegende Mehrzahl der Oligodendrozyten-Vorläuferzellen exprimieren die Kv1 Proteine Kv1.4, Kv1.5 und Kv1.6.Der Gesamtzellstrom kann vorwiegend durch Kv1.5 Kanäle oder durch eine Kombination von Kv1.4/Kv1.6 Kanälen sowie durch Mitglieder anderer Familien spannungsabhängiger Kaliumkanäle getragen werden. Um zu untersuchen, ob spannungsabhängige Kaliumkanäle durch die Aktivierung von inhibitorischen Neurotransmitterrezeptoren beeinflußt werden, wurden kultivierte Körnerzellen als Modellsystem verwendet, da diese eine hohe Dichte an Kv Kanälen sowie an GABA Rezeptoren exprimieren. Im "cell-attached" Modus der Patch-Clamp-Technik wurde die Reaktion von einzelnen auswärts rektifizierenden Kaliumkanälen während der GABA-Antwort untersucht. Mit diesem Ansatz konnte gezeigt werden, daß die Öffnungswahrscheinlichkeit dieser Kanäle während der Reaktion der Zelle auf GABA stark zurückgeht. Da Oligodendrozyten-Vorläuferzellen ebenfalls GABAA-Rezeptoren exprimieren, ist anzunehmen, daß deren Aktivierung über einen analogen Mechanismus zur Blockierung von Kaliumkanälen führt. / The membrane current pattern of oligodendrocytes changes dramatically during cell development. In oligodendrocyte precursor cells the membrane conductance is dominated by outwardly rectifying potassium channels, mature oligodendrocytes on the other hand express passive, not voltage-gated potassium channels. The activity of these channels influences the proliferation and differentiation of the cells. In the present work the expression of outwardly-rectifying potassium channels of the Kv1-type (Shaker-type) was analysed in oligodendrocyte precursor cells in culture. Expression of Kv1 transcripts, Kv1 proteins as well as electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of these channels were tested. Different combinations of Kv1.1, Kv1.4, Kv1.5 and Kv1.6 transcripts were detected at mRNA level. In some cells also a significant amount of Kv1.2 and Kv1.3 transcripts was found. The heterogeneity of transcript expression could not be correlated with differences in electrophysiological properties. The expression of Kv1 channel proteins was analysed using immunocytochemical stainings with specific monoclonal antibodies against the channel molecules Kv1.1 to Kv1.6. All oligodendrocyte precursor cells expressed the channel molecules Kv1.4 (85 % of the cells), Kv1.5 (99 %) and Kv1.6 (99 %), Kv1.1 proteins were detected in 10 % of the cells. To find out the functional contribution of Kv1 channels to the whole-cell current of the cells the activation and inactivation characteristics as well as the sensitivity of the potassium current to different potassium channel specific antagonists was tested. Parts of the current were inhibited by TEA (1-100 mM), 4-AP (0,125-1 mM) and Chinidin (5-100 mM), CTX, DTX and MCDP had no effect on the channel activity. To isolate the contribution of the channel molecules Kv1.1 and Kv1.4 the electrophysiological properties of the whole cell current electrophysiological analysis of single cells using whole-cell patch-clamp technique and immunocytochemical stainings were combined. With this method no significant differences between Kv1.1/Kv1.4-positive and Kv1.1/Kv1.4 negative cells could be detected. From these findings the following conclusions could be drawn: Oligodendrocyte precursors express various different Kv1 transcripts.The majority of oligodendrocyte precursor cells expresses the Kv1 proteins Kv1.4, Kv1.5 and Kv1.6.The total current (whole-cell current) most likely is carried through Kv1.5 channels or a combination of Kv1.4/Kv1.6 channels and probably another type of voltage-gated potassium channels. To find out if voltage-gated potassium channels are related to the activation of inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors a model system of cultured granule cells was used. This cell type was selected because they are known to express a high density of Kv channels as well as GABAA receptors as well. The activity of single outwardly rectifying potassium channels was detected using the cell-attached mode of patch-clamp technique. With this method it could be demonstrated that the open probability of voltage-gated potassium channels is markedly decreased during GABAA response. It could be concluded that the activation of GABAA receptors on oligodendrocyte precursor cells leads to the inhibition of potassium channels in the same way as in cultured granule cells.

Precise control of stem cell fate is a fundamental issue in the use of human embryonic stem (hES) cells in the context of cell therapy We examined three ways in which the microenvironment can be controlled to alter hES cell behavior, providing insight into the best conditions for maintenance of pluripotency and neural differentiation in developmental and therapeutic studies. We first examined the effects of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) growth surfaces on hES cell survival and maintenance of pluripotency. Lightly cured, untreated PDMS was shown to be a poor growth surface for hES cells. Some of the adverse effects caused by PDMS could be mitigated with increased curing or UV treatment of the surface, but neither modification provided a growth surface that supported pluripotent hES cells as well as polystyrene. This work provides a basis for further optimizing PDMS for hES cell culture, moving towards the use of microdevices in establishing precise control over stem cell fate. The second study explored the use of an easily constructed diffusion-based device to grow hES cells in culture on a defined, physiologic oxygen (O₂) gradient. We observed greater hES cell survival and higher levels of pluripotency markers in the lower O₂ regions of the gradient. The greatest benefit was observed at O₂ levels below 5%, narrowing the potential optimal range of O₂ for the maintenance of pluripotent hES cells. Finally, we developed a small molecule-mediated adherent and feeder-free neural differentiation protocol that reduced the cost and time scale for in vitro differentiation of neural precursors and functional neurons from human pluripotent cells. hES cell-derived neural precursors transplanted into a murine model of focal ischemic stroke survived, improved neurogenesis, and differentiated into neurons. Transplant also led to a more consistent and measurable sensory recovery after stroke as compared to untransplanted controls. This protocol represents a potentially translatable method for the generation of CNS progenitors from human pluripotent stem cells.

Conductive hearing loss (otitis media) in young children can effect speech and language development. However, little is known about the effects of conductive loss on neural activity in the auditory system. Hypothesis: Conductive hearing loss will change resting activity levels at the inner hair cell synapse, and lead to auditory deprivation of central auditory pathways. A conductive loss was produced by blocking the ear canals in mice. Resting neural activity patterns were quantified in brainstem and midbrain using c-fos immuno-labelling. Experimental subjects were compared to normal hearing controls and subjects with cochlear ablation. Conductive loss subjects showed a trend in reduction in c-fos labelled cells in cochlear nucleus and the central nucleus of inferior colliculus compared to normal controls. Results seen in this study may indicate the influence of conductive hearing loss on the developing auditory brain during early postnatal years when the system is highly plastic.