Zerumbone attenuates MPP+-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by inhibition of oxidative stress

AIM: To investigate the role of zerumbone (ZER) in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced cytotoxicity of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. METHODS: Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and the protective effect of ZER against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxicity was measured by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The expression of Parkinson disease protein 7 (PARK7) was knocked-down by using PARK7-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The protein levels of PARK7, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: MMP⁺ remarkably reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established by treatment with MPP⁺ at 600 μmol/L for 24 h. ZER up-regulated the protein levels of PARK7 and Nrf2 (P<0.05), alleviated apoptosis (P<0.05), and reduced ROS production (P<0.05) in the SH-SY5Y cell injury model. Meanwhile, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) had the similar functions. Moreover, significant reductions in the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 (P<0.05), and obvious increases in apoptosis (P<0.05) and ROS level (P<0.05) were demonstrated in PARK7-knockdown cells. CONCLUSION: ZER protects SH-SY5Y cells against MPP⁺-induced cytotoxi-city, which may be related to activation of PARK7/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and subsequent attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.     

Genome-wide association mapping of phenolic acids in tetraploid wheats

Phenolic acids are major components of cell walls in wheat and have important implications on human health as antioxidants with anti-tumor activity. Our objectives were to identify phenolic acid genes in wheat by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected within the coding sequences of candidate genes, and to identify chromosomal regions associated with single phenolic acids and total soluble phenolic compounds. A set of candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives were identified by comparative genomics. SNPs found in the coding sequences of six genes (PAL1, PAL2, C4H, C3H, COMT1 and COMT2) were used to determine their chromosomal location and accurate map position on two reference consensus linkage maps. The genome-wide association study (GWAS), based on genotyping a tetraploid wheat collection with 81,587 gene-associated SNPs, detected 22 quantitative trait loci (QTL) distributed on almost all durum wheat chromosomes. Two QTL for p-coumaric acid were coincident with the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL2) and p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (C3H) genes on chromosome arms 2AL and 1AL, respectively. The availability of candidate gene-based markers can allow elucidating the mechanism of phenolic acids accumulation in wheat kernels and exploiting the genetic variability of phenolic acids content for the nutritional improvement of wheat end-products.     

脂肪细胞膜免疫降脂的研究

本文综述了利用脂肪细胞膜免疫技术进行畜禽脂肪代谢研究的成果，其技术路线主要包括试验途径和方法、免疫机理、降脂效果及特异性脂肪膜蛋白的研究启示，从而为脂肪细胞膜免疫降脂试验提供成功的范例和科学的依据，并开辟降低脂肪、提高瘦肉率研究的新领域。     

略论骆驼的耐干渴能力

荒漠水源奇缺,常有干渴威协。骆驼长期在这种自然选择下,造就出一种十分惊人的耐干渴能力,十日不饮可照常供使役,30～40日内缺水不致有生命危险。据研究认为,骆驼高度耐渴的机理主要在于:一次能饮入60～80升甚至更多的水;能饮用含盐量相当高的水;血液和体液中保存水的能力很强;能节约散热、呼吸、排尿、排粪过程中的水份消耗;有较高排泄浓缩尿的能力;可有效利用体内的代谢水;即使高度失水(达体重的30%)也能短期耐受过去。正因其耐渴能力强,所以才使人类开发利用荒漠成为可能;使大面积缺水草埸和其它家畜所不能利用的灌木类植物得到合理利用;还能在缺水条件下持续分泌稀薄的低脂肪驼乳,为沙漠旅行者提供上等饮料。     

永丰草地的类型及其生产力评估

本文描述了甘肃省天祝县永丰草地的主要草地类型、生产能力及利用模式。研究工作显示,草地改良措施,对不同植被的生物量分布,将产生显著的效果。灌溉和施肥,将促进河谷草甸的地下生物量向地上生物量的转化过程。灌溉可使河谷草甸中禾草组分的增加超过50％,使产草量增加50％～100％。上年秋天和当年春天土壤的含水量,是全年产草量的决定因素,其对产草量的重要性超过全年平均降水量的影响。除了植被组分、产草量的变化外,河谷草地在可消化粗蛋白、可消化能、代谢能等方面也有重大变化,9月份与4月份相比,这三项指标分别高出376％、86％和86％。不同年龄组的绵羊饲料消耗显示,7岁羊的饲料消耗是10月龄羊的17倍;但是7岁羊的胴体重量仅是10月龄羊的2倍。根据永丰滩草地、饲草、家畜的这些特点,当地的畜牧业,不应当在毫无经济意义的情况下,保持太多的牲畜头数,优化畜产品生产的最好方法,就是实行季节畜牧业。季节畜牧业(其中繁殖母羊数达67％)与其他草地改良措施相结合,将使该地区单位面积上的绵羊的产肉量提高4.9倍。     

Role of Akt signal pathway in inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by Chinese medicine Zuogui pill in adult rats treated with monosodium glutamate

AIM: To explore the role of Akt signal pathway in apoptosis of neural cells in adult rats treated with Zuogui Pill, a Chinese medicine. METHODS: Flowcytometry and Western blotting methods were used to investigate the changes of cellular apoptosis rate and Akt signal pathway. RESULTS: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) could increase cellular apoptosis rate and significantly restrained the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) and Akt (Thr308), and markedly increased the levels of phospho-FKHR (ser256), GSK-3β (Ser9) and PTEN. Zuogui Pill partly inhibited the above effects of MSG. CONCLUSION: Zuogui pill effectively inhibits the neural apoptosis induced by MSG, and Akt pathway is involved in the neuronal protection of Zuogui pill.     

尿素水平对青山羊血液生化指标的影响

应用饲养试验与氮平衡试验,研究了不同尿素水平的日粮对青山羊血清总蛋白(STP)、血清清蛋白(ALB)、血清球蛋白(GLB)、血清清球蛋白比值(A/G)、血清尿素氮(SUN)及血清谷丙转氨酶的含量变化的影响。试验采用4×4拉丁方试验设计,试验分4个阶段,在基础日粮一致的情况下,采用4、9、14、0(对照)g/kg·DM4种不同的处理,试验结果表明:不同尿素水平极显著影响ALB、SUN浓度和GPT活性浓度(P<0.01),对血清清球比(A/G)无显著差异(P>0.05),尿素水平与STP、GLB浓度存在负相关;血清含氮生化指标STP、ALB、GLB、A/G、GPT、SUN随时间呈动态变化,出现高峰的时间比瘤胃氨浓度出现的时间平均推迟1～2h。进食尿素后,血液生化指标由平稳逐渐缓慢升高到高峰,随后又下降并趋于平衡。     

冷季放牧补饲对甘肃高山细毛后备母羊瘤胃代谢参数及瘤胃微生物数量的影响

旨在筛选出甘肃高山细毛羊后备母羊科学合理的补饲料,改变牧区由于营养供给不足导致甘肃高山细毛羊2.5岁才能配种的饲养方式。试验选择甘肃高山细毛羊(12月龄)48只,随机分为试验a(1号料)、b(2号料)、c(3号料)组和对照组(不补饲),进行90 d放牧补饲试验。结果表明,1)瘤胃pH试验a组和b组差异极显著(P<0.01)、c组显著(P<0.05)低于对照组,瘤胃氨态氮、蛋白氮、总氮浓度试验组均极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),总挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)试验a组和b组均极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),b组显著高于c组(P<0.05);乙酸和丙酸摩尔比a组极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),b和c组显著高于对照组(P<0.05);丁酸摩尔比a组极显著高于c组(P<0.01);乙/丙b组显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。2)瘤胃纤维降解菌和原虫数目试验组均极显著(P<0.01)或显著(P<0.05)高于对照组。综上所述,补饲均能正向影响甘肃高山细毛羊后备母羊瘤胃代谢参数及瘤胃微生物数量,以1号料补饲效果最优,2号料也能起到理想效果。     

UV‐light and dietary vitamin D and their effects on ionized calcium and 25‐OH‐D plasma concentrations in captive gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua)

In this study, the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light and dietary vitamin D on calcium metabolism in permanently indoor‐housed gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua ) was investigated. The study consisted of three periods, each completed with blood samples to analyse plasma concentrations of 25‐OH‐D, 1,25‐(OH)₂‐D, ionized (iCa) and total calcium (tCa). During the first study period (D), animals were housed under routine conditions without UV‐light and fed a diet of different fish species, supplemented with 1,000 IU vitamin D per animal and day. The following study period (Baseline) of 28‐day duration consisted of the same diet without any vitamin D supplementation and without UV‐light. During the study period (UVB) artificial UV‐light was added for 3 weeks. The vitamin D content of fish was measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography. It varied between fish species and between facilities, ranging from no measurable content in capelin (Mallotus villosus ) to 7,340 IU vitamin D/kg original matter (OM) in herring (Clupea spp). The average dietary vitamin D content was 311 IU/kg OM at facility 1 and 6,325 IU/kg OM at facility 2, resulting in a vitamin D intake per animal and day without supplementation of 130 IU (25.5 IU/kg body weight BW) and 2,454 IU (438.2 IU/kg BW) respectively. The supplementation of vitamin D elevated significantly the plasma concentrations of 25‐OH‐D by an intraindividual difference of 15 (range ?2 to 59) nmol/L and tCa by 0.1 (0.0–0.3) mmol/L only at facility 2. The exposure to UV‐light raised the blood concentrations of tCa at facility 2 by 0.15 (0.1–0.2) mmol/L, and of iCa and tCa for females at facility 1 by 0.23 (0.13–0.41) mmol/L and 1.8 (1.1–2.5) mmol/L respectively. No significant influence of the study periods (D) and (UVB) was found for the concentrations of 1,25‐(OH)₂‐D at both facilities.