Rui Zou

Publications (3)2.52 Total impact

• Article: Tensile strain induces integrin beta1 and ILK expression higher and faster in 3D cultured rat skeletal myoblasts than in 2D cultures.

  Xiaofeng Fan, Rui Zou, Zhihe Zhao, Pu Yang, Yu Li, Jinlin Song
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  ABSTRACT: According to previous research, integrin beta1 and ILK play an important role in the extracellular matrix (ECM)-integrin-cytoskeleton pathway for mechanotransduction. The aim of this study was to investigate strain induced integrin beta1 and ILK expression in three-dimensional (3D) and in two-dimensional (2D) cultured rat skeletal myoblasts. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat skeletal myoblasts were isolated and seeded on the PLGA-collagen composite scaffolds. The 3D cultured and the conventionally 2D monolayer cultured myoblasts were loaded 2000 microstrain tensile strain at 0.5Hz for 2h, 4h, 8h, 12h and 24h, respectively with the self-made four-point bending system. The expressions of integrin beta1 and ILK mRNA were measured by RT-PCR and the different changes between the 3D and 2D cultures were compared. The mRNA expression levels of both integrin beta1 and ILK were up regulated after mechanical loading (P<0.05), meanwhile, it was higher and peaked faster in 3D cultures than in the 2D cultures. It can be concluded that the ECM-integrin-cytoskeleton pathway responds to tensile strain by elevated expression of integrin beta1 and ILK, and the response is stronger in 3D cultures than in conventional 2D monolayer cultures.
  Tissue and Cell 02/2009; 41(4):266-70. · 1.04 Impact Factor
• Article: Establishment of a three-dimensional culture and mechanical loading system for skeletal myoblasts.

  Yu Li, Jinlin Song, Pu Yang, Rui Zou, Xiaofeng Fan, Zhihe Zhao
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  ABSTRACT: Establishment of a three-dimensional (3-D) culture and mechanical loading system which simulates the in vivo environment is critical in cytomechanical studies. The present article attempts to do this by integrating porous PLGA scaffolds with a four-point bending strain unit. Three types of PLGA scaffolds with three average pore sizes were synthesized, i.e., type I (60-88 microm), type II (88-100 microm) and type III (100-125 microm). To establish the 3-D mechanical loading system, PLGA membrane was integrated with conventional force-loading plates and the third passage skeletal myoblasts from neonatal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were seeded. Small PLGA membranes were put in 24-well plates followed by cell implantation and MTT assay was performed on days 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 to compare biocompatibility of the three types of scaffolds. After 3 days' culture, many more cells had grown in type II than in type I or type III under fluorescence microscopy. In the MTT assay, OD of type II was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the other two, especially at the early stage. As type II proved to be the best among the three, it was used as the scaffold in the preliminary mechanical loading study and 4000 mu-strain cyclic uniaxial strain was imposed. The system worked well and it was found that short to median time of stretching enhances while prolonged time of stretching inhibits cell proliferative activity of the 3-D cultured skeletal myoblasts(P < 0.05). It is concluded that the combination of PLGA scaffolds with a four-point bending strain unit provides a satisfactory 3-D mechanical loading system.
  Cell Biology International 12/2008; 33(2):192-8. · 1.48 Impact Factor
• Article: [Effects of osteoporosis on experimental tooth movement in aged rats].

  Li-jun Tan, Jun Wang, Zhi-he Zhao, Ling-yong Jiang, Rui Zou
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  ABSTRACT: To examine the experimental tooth movement and recruitment of new osteoclasts in aged variotomized (OVX) rats. Eighty-two 3-month female virgin health rats were divided into two groups. Each group was divided into seven sub-groups of tooth movement: 0,1,3,5,7,10 and 14 days. The tooth movement and the population of osteoclasts were measured and comparatively analyzed. The osteoporosis rats showed larger and faster tooth movement (P<0.05). In the osteoporosis group, the instantaneous tooth movement lasted longer time and traversed larger distance, the delay period was shorter, the population of osteoclasts was larger and displayed a faster recruitment. These findings indicate that osteoporosis accelerates tooth movement in aged OVX rats.
  Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition 06/2006; 37(3):449-51.