Pharmacokinetics of mequindox and one of its major metabolites in chickens after intravenous, intramuscular and oral administration

Pharmacokinetics of mequindox and one of its major metabolites (M) was determined in chickens after intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and oral administration of mequindox at a single dose of 10 (i.v. and i.m.) or 20 mg/kg b.w. (oral). Plasma concentration profiles were analyzed by a non-compartmental pharmacokinetic method. Following i.v., i.m. and oral administration, the areas under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC(0-∞)) were 0.71±0.15, 0.67±0.21, 0.25±0.10 μg h/mL (mequindox) and 37.24±7.98, 36.40±9.16, 86.39±16.01 μg h/mL (M), respectively. The terminal elimination half-lives (t(1/2λz)) were determined to be 0.15±0.06, 0.21±0.09, 0.49±0.23 h (mequindox) and 5.36±0.86, 5.39±0.52, 5.22±0.35 h (M), respectively. The bioavailabilities (F) of mequindox were 89.4% and 16.6% for i.m. and oral administration. Steady-state distribution volume (V(ss)) of 1.20±0.34 L/kg and total body clearance (Cl(B)) of 13.57±2.16 L/kg h were determined for mequindox after i.v. dosing. After single i.m. and oral administration, peak plasma concentrations (C(max)) of 3.04±1.32, 0.36±0.13 μg/mL (mequindox) and 3.81±0.92, 5.99±1.16 μg/mL (M) were observed at t(max) of 0.08±0.02, 0.32±0.12 h (mequindox) and 0.66±0.19, 6.67±1.03 h (M), respectively. The results showed that mequindox was rapidly absorbed after i.m. or p.o. administration and most of mequindox was transformed to metabolites in chickens, with much higher C(max)s and AUCs of metabolite (M) than those of mequindox in plasma.     

Detection of virulence-associated genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine clinical mastitis milk samples in Guangxi

Staphylococcus aureus is recognized worldwide as a pathogen causing many serious diseases in humans and animals and is one of the most common etiological agents of clinical and subclinical bovine mastitis. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of genes encoding clfA, fnbA, fnbB, cap5, cap8, hla, hlb, nuc, sea, and tst of S. aureus strains (n?=?39) isolated from bovine clinical mastitis in Guangxi by polymerase chain reaction amplification. The results of the present study indicated that all isolates were found to contain one or more virulence-associated genes. The most frequently encountered genes were fnbA (97?%) and nuc (90?%), followed by hla (85?%) and hlb (82?%), respectively. None of the investigated S. aureus strains harbored fnbB and sea genes. The data in the present study showed a relatively wide distribution of the genes fnbA and nuc among the investigated isolates, indicating that they play an important role on bovine mastitis pathogenesis. The study provides a valuable insight into the virulence-associated genes of this important pathogen.     

细胞周期素家族基因在家蚕4龄幼虫蜕皮过程中的转录特征

细胞周期蛋白(cyclin)是真核生物细胞有丝分裂的重要调节蛋白,家蚕具有5种类型细胞周期蛋白基因。以4龄将眠蚕、4龄眠蚕和5龄起蚕为材料,采用定量PCR方法分析5种细胞周期蛋白基因在4龄幼虫蜕皮过程的组织表达特征为:5种类型cyclin基因在生殖腺中都高表达,其中cyclinE在眠中表达量最高,其它4种类型cyclin基因在将眠时表达量最高,证实4龄眠期是家蚕生殖腺细胞发生有丝分裂的重要时期;5种类型cyclin基因在马氏管中都有表达,其中cyclinA和cyclinB3在4龄将眠蚕的马氏管中存在表达高峰,推测和马氏管内表皮更新相关;除cyclinL1在眠蚕丝腺的表达量很低外,cyclinA、cyclinB、cyclinB3和cyclinE在眠蚕丝腺中都存在表达高峰,可能和丝腺的内表皮更新相关;cyclinA、cyclinB、cyclinB3在脂肪体中的表达量较高,且在将眠时或眠中存在表达高峰,推测和脂肪体中能量物质的积累相关;5种类型cyclin基因在脑、血液和中肠的表达量都很低,且蜕皮前后的变化规律不明显。研究结果提示:在家蚕4龄幼虫蜕皮过程中,cyclin基因的转录特征不仅和来源于外胚层组织的表皮更新相关,还和生殖腺的发育及脂肪体中能量物质的积累存在相关性。     

8种不同来源菜籽饼粕的生长猪氨基酸回肠消化率评定

本研究旨在评定8种不同来源菜籽饼粕对生长猪的氨基酸回肠消化率。选取初始体重相近(33.21±1.56)kg、在回肠末端安装简单T-型瘘管并恢复良好的DLY生长阉公猪12头,随机分配到2个6×6拉丁方试验中,每个拉丁方均含1个无氮饲粮、1个基础饲粮和4个试验饲粮处理。试验共6期,每期7 d,前5 d为适应期,后2 d收集回肠食糜。结果表明:除蛋氨酸外,不同来源菜籽饼粕中其他氨基酸回肠表观(标准)消化率差异显著(P<0.05)。赖氨酸、蛋氨酸、苏氨酸和色氨酸4种限制性氨基酸回肠表观消化率变化范围依次为41.73%~60.19%、69.35%~76.90%、50.72%~61.37%和52.49%~68.14%;回肠标准消化率变化范围依次为48.65%~66.14%、73.85%~81.15%、57.42%~67.67%和57.10%~73.04%。总之,菜籽粕中绝大部分氨基酸回肠表观(标准)消化率显著高于菜籽饼。     

自然霉变玉米及添加甘露寡糖对断奶仔猪肝脏结构与功能的影响

本试验旨在研究自然霉变玉米对断奶仔猪生长性能、肝脏结构与功能的影响,并初步探讨甘露寡糖可能的缓解作用。试验采用2×2因子设计,20头体重(8.10±0.32)kg的35日龄PIC断奶仔猪随机分为4组,分别饲喂添加不同水平霉变玉米(0、100%)和甘露寡糖(0、0.2%)的饲粮。结果表明:霉变玉米组仔猪全期平均日增重(P<0.01)和平均日采食量显著降低(P<0.05);肝细胞发生严重颗粒和空泡变性,肝脏丙二醛含量显著升高(P<0.05)和Bax mRNA表达量极显著升高(P<0.01)。添加甘露寡糖极显著提高仔猪肝脏总抗氧化力(T-AOC)(P<0.01),缓解霉变玉米导致的肝脏病理损伤,且霉变玉米与甘露寡糖对T-AOC的影响具有显著的交互效应(P<0.01)。由此可见,自然霉变玉米降低仔猪生长性能,诱导肝脏氧化应激并损伤肝脏结构;添加甘露寡糖对自然霉变玉米导致的肝损伤有一定程度的缓解作用。     

Establishment of an in vitro plant regeneration protocol for Casuarina cunninghamiana Miq. via indirect organogenesis

An in vitro plant regeneration protocol via indirect organogenesis from morphogenetic callus was established for Casuarina cunninghamiana Miq. Effects of plant growth regulator NAA (naphthaleneacetic acid) and BAP (6-benzylaminopurine), sucrose and AgNO₃ on callus induction, adventitious bud differentiation and shoot development were examined. Explants used were epicotyl fragments from 45-day-old seedlings. The largest callus (4.29 mm in diameter) was obtained after 1 month on a basic culture medium consisting of Murashige and Skoog ? macro- and full strength micro- elements, Nitsch and Nitsch vitamins, supplemented with 0.54 μM NAA, 3.30 μM BAP, and 30 g L⁻¹ sucrose. The calli were subcultured in the same medium above for 2 months. They were then cultured for another 2 months for adventitious bud differentiation and shoot development. The highest mean adventitious bud differentiation, number of shoots formed per callus and number of shoots ≥2 cm long per callus (47.50%, 27.38 and 4.75, respectively) were achieved on the above medium modified with NAA at 0.27 μM and supplemented with AgNO₃ 1 mg L⁻¹. Shoots were successfully rooted without plant growth regulator and the rooted plantlets survived and grew normally. This protocol for in vitro plant regeneration provides a tool not only for vegetative propagation but also for plant genetic transformation and gene function studies of C. cunninghamiana.     

Bioassay-guided isolation and identification of active compounds from Semen pharbitidis against Dactylogyrus intermedius (Monogenea) in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

The present study was undertaken to isolate the active compounds responsible for the anthelmintic activity of methanol extract of Semen pharbitidis against Dactylogyrus intermedius in goldfish (Carassius auratus). The active methanol extract was fractionated on silica gel column chromatography in a bioassay-guided fractionation, eventually yielding two bioactive compounds: palmitic acid and pharnilatin A by comparing spectral data (NMR and ESI-MS) with literature values. According to in vivo anthelmintic assays, they were found to be 50% effective at the concentrations (EC(50)) of 5.3 and 1.4 mg L(-1), respectively. The promising palmitic acid and pharnilatin A from S. pharbitidis were also subjected to acute toxicity tests for the evaluation of their safety to the host (goldfish). After 48h exposure, the mortalities of goldfish were recorded, and the established LC(50) values were 2.45- and 5.29-fold higher than the corresponding EC(50), demonstrating that pharnilatins A may have better application potential than palmitic acid. The present results provide evidence that pharnilatins A might be potential source of new anti-parasitic drug for the control of Dactylogyrus.     

Effects of tripterygium glycosides combined with dexamethasone on TLRs/NF-κB signaling pathway in EAE rats

AIM: To investigate the role of TLRs/NF-κB pathway in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) rats treated with tripterygium glycosides (TG) + dexamethasone (DX). METHODS: Lewis rats were used in the study and divided into control group, EAE model group, therapy 1 group (EAE rats treated with DX) and therapy 2 group (EAE rats treated with DX+TG). The mean clinical score of the rats was determined. The expression of TLR4 and TLR9 at mRNA and protein levels was detected by the methods of real-time quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The protein level of NF-κB p65 was also measured. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were assayed by ELISA. RESULTS: The mean clinical scores at 5th, 16th and 20th day were lower in therapy 1 group and therapy 2 group than that in EAE model group. The mean clinical score in therapy 2 group was even lower than that in therapy 1 group. At the 16th day (the peaking period), the mRNA expression of TLR4 and TLR9 in therapy 1 group and therapy 2 group were obviously lower than that in EAE model group. The protein levels of TLR4, TLR9 and NF-κB p65 were also significantly lower in therapy 1 group and therapy 2 group than those in EAE model group at peak stage of EAE. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were lower in therapy1 group and therapy2 group than those in EAE model group. The significant differences of the mean clinical score, the mRNA expression of TLR4 and TLR9, the positive ratio of NF-κB p65 and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 between therapy 1 group and therapy 2 group were found. The result of orthogonal factorial analysis of variance indicated that the difference of therapeutic effect between DX and DX+TG was significant (F=75.749, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The TLRs/NF-κB pathway takes part in the pathological process of EAE. TG combined with DX alleviates the symptoms of EAE by suppressing inflammatory and immunological reactions of EAE.     

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine Dan-shao-hua-xian capsule on expression of miR-200s in rat fibrotic livers

AIM: To investigate the effect of Dan-shao-hua-xian (DSHX) capsule on the expression of the family of microRNA-200 (miR-200s) in rat fibrotic livers. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats weighing 180 g to 220 g were divided into 5 groups (control group, two model groups and two interference groups). The rats in model groups and interference groups were induced by hypodermic injection of CCl4 for 4 weeks and 8 weeks. The rats in interference groups were also treated with DSHX capsule (0.5 g/kg) once daily for 4 weeks and 8 weeks at the same time. The liver index and serum activity of ALT and AST were analyzed. The liver fibrosis was observed under microscope. Additionally, the expression of miR-200a, -200b, -200c, -141 and -429 was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: The liver index, and serum activity of ALT and AST in model groups and 4-week interference group were obviously higher than those in normal control group. The apparent liver fibrosis was observed in 8-week model group. The expression of miR-200a,-200b, -200c, -141 and -429 in the liver of 8-week model groups was obviously higher than that in control group. CONCLUSION: In the process of liver fibrosis induced by CCl4, the obvious changes of miR-200s may play an important role in the development of liver fibrosis. The miR-200s might be the potential target that DSHX capsule inhibits the process of liver fibrosis.     

Up-regulation of Snail1 expression in renal tubular epithelial cells through Akt/GSK-3β pathway under high-glucose condition

AIM: To examine the effects of high glucose (HG) on the expression of Snail1 and protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) in primary renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs). METHODS: The primary RTECs were randomly treated with normal glucose, high glucose or D-mannitol for 30 min~72 h. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to observe the expression of Snail1, Akt and GSK-3β at mRNA and protein levels in these cells. The primary cultured RTECs were pretreated with LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor, 25 μmol/L) to observe the specific inhibitory effects of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) on HG-induced expression of Snail1 protein. RESULTS: Treatment of RTECs with HG resulted in increased mRNA and protein levels of Snail1, Akt1, and phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3β. LY294002 blocked the HG-induced up-regulation of p-Akt, p-GSK-3β and Snail1 expression at protein level, but no effect of LY294002 was seen on the total protein expression of Akt1 and GSK-3β. HG did not affect the expression of GSK-3β at mRNA and protein levels. CONCLUSION: HG-induced up-regulation of Snail1 may be regulated by Akt/GSK-3β pathway in RTECs.