Abstract: Objective 　To explore the effects of different types of drinking water on the growth and fecal flora of mice. Methods 　Specific pathogen-free NIH mice were randomly divided into five groups, 32 mice each group,with half males and half females in each group. The group were given either purified water (control group), acidified water, alkalized water, weakly acidic water or solid water. Diet and body weight were monitored continuously for 20 days. After the experiment, animal fecal samples were collected, and the V3-V4 region was amplified with bacterial 16S rDNA universal primers. An Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing platform was used for high-throughput sequencing, and microbial community, α diversity and β diversity were analyzed by bioinformatics method. Results 　The body weight of female mice given different pH values of weakly acidic water was higher, while the weight of the other groups was lower, than that of the control group (P> 0. 05). The body weight of male mice in the acidified water group was higher, while that of other groups was lower, than that of control group, but there was no statistical difference between the groups (P> 0. 05). The body weights of male and female mice in the solid water group were lower than those in the control group (P< 0. 05). The food and water intake of the female animals in the alkaline water group and the water intake of female animals in the solid water group were lower than those of the other groups. OTU clustering analysis showed that the data volume of the sequencing was reasonable, and the fecal flora species of NIH mice were divided into five phyla, among which Bacteroides and Firmicutes were dominant. Unclassified Pseudopurpuromonas, Lactobacillus and Alistipes were the main genera. There were differences in fecal flora abundance and diversity among the mice given the five drinking water types. α analysis showed that the acidified water group had the highest flora abundance and diversity, while the solid water group had the lowest flora diversity. β analysis showed that the fecal flora composition in the solid water group was the closest to that of the control group, followed by the alkalized water group, acidified water group and weakly acidic water group. Conclusions Through an exploration of the effects of consuming different forms of water, this study revealed that solid water consumption had the greatest effects on body weight, feed intake, water consumption, and fecal flora of mice. The abundance and diversity of fecal flora in mice were affected by different pH values of drinking water, especially acidified water.

Abstract: Objective 　Optimizing the preparation method to improve the quality of mouse lung cryosections to help enhance the specificity of immunofluorescence staining and obtain more accurate and reliable experimental result. Methods 　C57BL/6 mouse lung tissue was used to make cryosections via the traditional post-freezing fixation method, prefreezing fixation method, and a modified perfusion pre-freezing fixation method. A laser-scanning confocal microscope was used to observe lung tissue immunofluorescence staining. Whole areas of mouse lung slices were scanned by fluorescence microscope, and the numbers of intact airways per unit area of lung tissue were calculated. Results 　In the lung cryosections made via the traditional post-freezing fixation method, the alveoli structure was damaged, the airway wall was seriously disrupted, and there was non-specific staining. Lung cryosections made via the pre-freezing fixation method showed relatively intact alveolar and airway structures but collapsed alveoli and several destroyed airways. In the lung cryosections obtained via the modified perfusion pre-freezing fixation method, the structure and morphology of the alveoli and airways were intact and clear. Additionally, the locations of multiple proteins targeted with immunofluorescence staining were accurate. The number of intact airways (diameter ≥100 μm) per unit area in the lung cryosections obtained via the modified perfusion pre-freezing fixation method was higher than that from cryosections made using the pre-freezing fixation method ((0. 66±0. 15) / mm2 vs (0. 33±0. 14) / mm2, P< 0. 05) and was also significantly higher than that from sections made using the traditional post-freezing fixation method ((0. 66 ± 0. 15) / mm2 vs (0. 02 ± 0. 04) / mm2, P< 0. 01). Conclusions 　The modified perfusion pre-freezing fixation method for cryosections is conducive to maintaining the integrity of mouse lung tissue morphology and obtaining high-quality multiplex immunofluorescence staining result.

Abstract:As the intelligence level gradually improves in domestic laboratory animal facilities, a large amount of valuable data have been accumulated. These data have not been fully exploited because of the lack of analytical method. In the context of big data, machine learning has achieved remarkable result in biomedicine, building science, and other fields, and provides a reference for its application in laboratory animal facility management. In this article, the contents, methods and models of machine learning applied to various systems of laboratory animal facilities at home and abroad are reviewed and discussed.

Abstract:Based on the development history that the modern medicine and laboratory animal science have long been hindered by animal welfare groups and animal-rights activists in Western countries, and considering the relevant circumstance in China, the author appeals and recommends that the laboratory animal practitioners and biomedical researchers, the scientific community in China should recognize and identify the boundaries of our professional activities. Firstly, do not participate in the activity related to so called “World (Lab) Animal Day” that is said in some Chinese websites, to originate from NAVS, an antivivisection society Ltd. , London. Secondly, do not participate in the activity related to so called “animal memorial stone” that was originated in Japan. These movements have nothing to do with biomedicine and laboratory animal sciences, and fundamentally are antiscientific and are incompatible to traditional Chinese culture. Thirdly, distinguish the standpoints of laboratory animal science from various viewpoints of animal welfare/ rights activists, promote scientific management of the institutional animal care and use for better supporting biomedical research in China.

Abstract:As the basic carrier and key condition for research in the fields of life science, medicine and pharmacy, laboratory animals have played an extremely important role in the development of modern science. Animal welfare ethics is built on the moral foundation of human civilization and is a product of social and economic development to a certain stage. From a scientific point of view, treating animals well is both a humanitarian need and a need for scientific experiments. This paper elaborates the role and significance of laboratory animal welfare from the aspects of the development of laboratory animal welfare ethics and the content of regulations and policies, whether and how to establish a memorial day and monument for laboratory animals, and calls on experimental personnel to follow the “3R” principle and enhance their sense of responsibility and awareness of norms.

Abstract:This review clarifies that laboratory animal welfare and ethics in life science research should be humancentered, positive and responsible through the understanding of the connotation of laboratory animal welfare.

Abstract:In the practice of laboratory animal ethics and welfare, 3R is the core of contents. As the subject in this process, individuals working in laboratory animal field play a leading role and should take corresponding responsibility. In this article, the author discussed the function, realized route, and significance of subject responsibility in the practice of laboratory animal ethics and welfare by following aspects: proposal of subject responsibility, requirements of responsibility in the implementation of ethics and welfare regulation, in the application of ethics and welfare technique and method, in the development of ethics and welfare products, in the management and monitoring of ethics and welfare application, as well as establishing an anniversary and cenotaphs to embody subject responsibility.

Abstract:Depression is a major cause of disability and has adverse effects. Despite the many types of antidepressants, clinical treatments of depression remain poor. Therefore, novel anti-depressant mechanisms need to be explored. The beneficial effects of irisin on the nervous system are gradually being elucidated, and studies have found that irisin has an anti-depressant effect, which may become a new treatment for depression. This study explored the mechanism of irisin and its upstream and downstream anti-depressants by reviewing the existing studies explaining the link between irisin and depression, and proposes that SIRT1/ PGC-1α may mediate FNDC5/ irisin to regulate BDNF to promote neurogenesis and improve depression, which provides a new idea to study irisin and its upstream and downstream antidepressants.

Abstract:Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a common diabetic complication. Presently, our understanding of its pathogenesis is incomplete, and there are no effective treatment options. In-depth research requires the use of animal experiments. The criteria for modeling success and the evaluation method for peripheral nerve function recovery are critical for carrying out animal experiments into type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy. However, but there has been a lack of systematic interrogation and analysis of the evaluation method used with type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy models. Therefore, the author reviewed the recent data, summarized and analyzed the evaluation method used for animal models of type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy of small and large nerve fibers, and proposed future directions for development, providing a reference for related research.

Abstract:Pyroptosis is a programmed mode of cell death. Activated caspase-1 can induce the occurrence of pyroptosis, promote the release of inflammatory factors, and trigger a violent inflammatory response. Depending on the type of caspase involved, pyroptosis can be divided into a caspase-1-mediated typical inflammasome pathway and a human caspase-4/5 (or mouse caspase-11)-mediated atypical inflammasome pathway. In recent years, studies have found that pyroptosis is closely related to the occurrence, development, and prognosis of atherosclerosis. This article reviews the roles and mechanisms of endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and macrophage cells in the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis, with the aim of promoting new ideas for research into the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of atherosclerosis.

Abstract:Non-human primates (NHP) are becoming increasingly important laboratory animals, especially in the field of neuroscience, where many significant breakthroughs have been made, including research on brain development, neurodegenerative diseases, and psychiatric disorders. However, as their breeding and use grows, biosafety and animal ethics issues should be considered. This review summarizes the application and challenges of NHP laboratory animals in the neuroscience field from the aspects of an NHP overview, feeding and operation, biosafety, and animal ethics.

Abstract:Exosomes are small endosomally derived extracellular vesicles with a lipid bilayer structure, and they contain substances, such as proteins, lipids, DNA, RNA, micro(mi)RNA, and long non-coding(lnc)RNA. Exosomes participate in pathogen recognition, antigen presentation, autophagy regulation, immune activation and immunosuppression in bacterial infections. Studies have shown that miRNA, lncRNA, and proteins in exosomes play important roles in regulating antibacterial reactions in organisms. We reviewed the immunomodulatory effects of exosomes on several intracellular and extracellular bacterial infections to provide a reference for those studying the interactions between exosomes and bacterial infections.

Abstract:Ardisia Crenata Radix is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that belongs to the Myrsinaceae family, and its main active components are coumarins, saponins, flavonoids, and volatile oil. Bergenin, ardisicrenoside A, ardisicrenoside B, ardisiacripin A, ardisiacripin B, and embelin were identified as active anticancer compounds in in-depth studies into the anti-tumor effects of Ardisia Crenata Radix. They show high therapeutic potential in oral cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, liver cancer, colon cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, and leukemia, mainly by inducing tumor cell apoptosis, increasing tumor cytotoxicity, inhibiting cell proliferation, inhibiting tumor cell metastasis and migration, and inducing cell regulatory enzyme cascade reactions. However, most preclinical experimental data on cinnabar root’s anti-tumor mechanism have not been verified in high-quality, multi-sample, and repeated randomized controlled trials, and there are a lack of clinical research data on tumor prognosis, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics. Accurate research experiments and clinical trials should be designed to further explore the pharmacological effects of Ardisia Crenata Radix.

Abstract:Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the predominant cell group in the tumor microenvironment(TME) and are the most important regulatory cells of immune system suppression and tumor cell proliferation in TIME. Src homology-2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2) is a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase that plays an important role in the transmission of signals from the cell surface to the nucleus. SHP-2 is a key intracellular regulatory factor mediating cell proliferation and differentiation and is involved in a variety of growth factor and cytokine signaling pathways linking the cell surface to the nucleus. Recent studies have shown that SHP-2 is a key enzyme in determining the function of TAMs, but because of its variable function, it plays different or even opposite roles in different solid TMEs. This paper reviews the function of SHP-2 in TAMs and related solid tumors to provide a comprehensive reference for tumor immunity and targeted therapy research.