Heme oxygenase-1 alleviates alcoholic liver steatosis: histopathological study

Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the most important causes of hepatic steatosis, which involves oxidative stress. In particular, increased oxidative stress has been strongly linked to stimulation of the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). This study aimed to investigate whether HO-1 could alleviates alcoholic steatosis in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: 1) the control group, 2) the EtOH group, 3) the EtOH + ZnPP-IX group and 4) the EtOH + Hemin group. Liver histopathology was investigated in weeks 1 and 4 after the start of the treatment period. Alcohol treatment significantly increased the hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, an oxidative stress marker. In addition, it increased the triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in both weeks. Gross examination demonstrated a yellowish and slightly enlarged liver in the alcohol-treated rats. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Oil Red O staining indicated hepatic steatosis, which was characterized by diffuse, extensive fatty accumulation and discrete lipid droplets of variable size in hepatocytes of the alcohol-treated rats. Administration of the HO-1 inducer hemin resulted in upregulation of hepatic HO-1 gene expression, reduced the MDA, triglyceride, ALT and AST levels and alleviated alcoholic hepatic steatosis, whereas administration of the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP-IX) resulted in downregulation of hepatic HO-1 gene expression and could not alleviate alcoholic hepatic steatosis either week. In conclusion, HO-1 could alleviate alcoholic hepatic steatosis in male Wistar rats and may be useful in development of a new therapeutic approach.     

白羊草R2R3-MYB转录因子的挖掘及对干旱胁迫反应的研究

本文以白羊草（Bothriochloa ischaemum）为材料，利用其目前已有的转录组序列，通过搜索、比对、功能域多态性分析、进化树构建和基因表达分析等手段，对白羊草R2R3-MYB型转录因子进行挖掘和干旱胁迫下的表达模式分析。结果从白羊草挖掘出43个R2R3-MYB转录因子，它们具有高度保守的[W]-X（19）-[W]-X（19）-[W]-X（n）-[W]-X（18）-[W]结构，主要参与生长发育、次生代谢和逆境响应等生物过程。通过进一步的分析，本研究筛选出8个可能参与干旱胁迫响应的R2R3-MYB转录因子。这为白羊草R2R3-MYB基因的功能研究和开发利用奠定了基础。     

文心兰HSP70基因的克隆及表达分析

为研究文心兰热激蛋白70基因（命名为OnHSP70）的分子特性及表达特点,以文心兰‘柠檬绿’（Oncidium hybridum ‘Honey Angel’）为材料,采用RT-PCR技术克隆OnHSP70,利用生物信息学方法分析其分子特性,通过qRT-PCR技术分析其在不同组织及不同非生物胁迫处理下的表达特点。生物信息学分析表明：该基因开放阅读框为1944 bp,编码647个氨基酸,翻译的蛋白为稳定蛋白,属于HSP70超家族,其蛋白二级结构由41.11%的α-螺旋、17.77%的延伸链、7.73%的β-转角和33.38%的无规卷曲组成,具有2个高度保守的功能域。聚类分析表明：该蛋白与铁皮石斛和深圳拟兰的HSP70亲缘关系较近。qRT-PCR分析表明：文心兰HSP70在4种不同组织器官中具有表达差异性,在花中的表达量最高;高温处理后基因的表达量明显上升;40 ℃高温胁迫4 h时表达量达峰值;茉莉酸甲酯及水杨酸处理时表达量呈现下调响应。本研究为后期该基因功能研究及提高文心兰对高温的适应性提供理论基础。     

44个紫花苜蓿品种的酸铝适应性与耐受性评价

为了解紫花苜蓿在贵州地区的适应性及耐酸铝胁迫机理，以44份紫花苜蓿品种为研究对象，研究紫花苜蓿处于酸铝胁迫下的生理变化，并揭示其生理变化与耐酸铝胁迫间的关系。利用基因与环境互作模型对两个地点1年的紫花苜蓿进行产量分析，筛选出阿尔冈金、新疆大叶苜蓿、Trifecta、Vernal和中牧1号苜蓿5个耐酸铝强适应品种。利用敏感型UC-1465和耐受型阿尔冈金进行酸铝胁迫试验。结果表明：相同处理下，耐受型紫花苜蓿的电导率、相对铝含量、死亡率显著低于敏感型；紫花苜蓿对酸铝胁迫的响应主要通过柠檬酸、苹果酸、乙酸、酒石酸、反丁烯二酸和草酸的显著（P<0.05）增加来体现，其中苹果酸的合成和分泌增多可能是其耐酸铝胁迫的重要原因。     

NaCl胁迫对白蜡种子生理特性的影响

为了给盐碱地造林树种选择提供依据,以采自秦皇岛和保定的白蜡种子为试材,采用不同浓度的NaCl胁迫处理,研究了其萌发过程中发芽率、细胞膜透性、保护酶活性、丙二醛MDA的变化,结果表明:(1)随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增加,两地白蜡种子发芽率均呈现逐渐降低的变化趋势,秦皇岛各处理的白蜡种子发芽率分别比对照降低了8.9%、52.6%、56.3%、61.6%、87.9%、91.1%,而保定的白蜡种子分别比对照降低20.2%、56.2%、68.7%、86.5%、89.9%、100.0%;(2)随着浓度的升高,种子的相对电导值、K+、Na+渗透率升高,种子的SOD酶活性降低,MDA含量增加,NaCl胁迫浓度越高,种子所受到的伤害越深;(3)0.20%浓度的NaCl胁迫对白蜡种子萌发影响不大。对于不同种源的白蜡种子,秦皇岛的白蜡种子抗盐性要优于保定的白蜡种子。     

干旱胁迫下山栏稻与栽培水稻品种苗期表型性状及生理差异

测定了在干旱胁迫条件下,山栏稻苗期的株高、叶面积等农艺性状以及叶片脯氨酸含量、MDA含量等生理指标,采用隶属函数法评估山栏稻抗旱能力。结果表明,在干旱胁迫下,山栏稻降低了地上部分的生物量并增加了地下部分的生物量,同时,山栏稻叶绿素含量、MDA含量以及脯氨酸含量均有不同程度的提高;所选山栏稻品种的隶属函数值为0.521和0.673。综合实验数据和田间观察,初步判断山栏稻苗期具有较强的抗旱特性。     

光胁迫对沙冬青叶绿素荧光特征和光呼吸的影响

使用LI-6400测定乌兰布和沙漠东北缘的沙冬青在不同光合有效辐射下的叶绿素荧光特征和光呼吸变化,进而研究其光破坏防御特征的变化。结果表明,PSⅡ最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)可作为衡量沙冬青光胁迫程度大小指标,有效光化学量子产量(Fv′/Fm′)、总光合速率(Pt)、非光化学猝灭(qN)、光呼吸速率(Rp)和Rp/Pt等指标的光进程曲线临界点值和临界点光强度与Fv/Fm的关系都具有明显的规律性。随着Fv/Fm降低,光胁迫程度增加,导致沙冬青光胁迫的最小光合有效辐射降低。可见,沙冬青光破坏防御的一种策略是在胁迫程度较小时通过提高热耗散和光呼吸相对比值(Rp/Pt)来消耗过剩能量,而在胁迫程度较大时可通过增加抑制热耗散和光呼吸的光合有效辐射实现对过剩光能的消耗。     

减少运输组织对机车能耗影响的建议

本文分析了引起南宁铁路局内燃、电力机车能源消耗同比上升的原因,提出优化列车运行方案及运输调度指挥,减少单机、欠轴列车的开行和机外停车,以及提高机车乘务员的操纵水平、科学合理进行防"关折"操作、加强机车能耗分析等措施,以进一步降低铁路运输成本支出。     

Physiological processes associated with salinity tolerance in an alfalfa half‐sib family

We previously reported an alfalfa half‐sib family, HS‐B, with improved salt tolerance, compared to parental plants, P‐B. In this study, we conducted additional experiments to address potential physiological mechanisms that may contribute to salt tolerance in HS‐B. Vegetatively propagated HS‐B and P‐B plants were treated with a nutrient solution (control) or a nutrient solution containing NaCl (EC = 12 dS/m). Shoots and roots were harvested at various time points after treatment for quantification of proline, soluble sugar, and H₂O₂ using spectrophotometers. Subcellular localization and quantification of Na in roots were conducted using a Na⁺‐specific dye under a confocal microscope. HS‐B produced 86 and 89% greater shoot and root dry biomass, respectively, compared to parental plants, P‐B, under salinity in the greenhouse. Under saline conditions the HS‐B shoots accumulated 115% and roots 55% more soluble sugars than P‐B counterparts. The non‐saline HS‐B shoots, however, showed 72% less soluble sugars than the non‐saline P‐B plants. Under saline conditions HS‐B accumulated 39% less proline in shoots, while roots accumulated 56% more proline, compared to their P‐B parents. HS‐B plants also showed a greater reduction of stomatal conductance under mild saline stress. HS‐B shoots and roots contained 3–4 times less reactive oxygen species (H₂O₂) after salt treatment compared to P‐B plants. Sodium localization and distribution analysis using Na⁺‐specific dye revealed HS‐B plants accumulated 88% and 48% less Na⁺ in stele and xylem vessels compared to P‐B. The study provides insights into the potential mechanisms that may contribute to salt tolerance in HS‐B: maintaining RWC by accumulating soluble sugars while reducing transpiration, maintaining healthy status by reducing oxidative stresses, and preventing salt toxicity by reducing accumulation of Na⁺ inside root cells and xylem.     

How to Assess Stress in Reptiles

Stress, as an adaptive response of any animal to a stimulus that presents a threat to homeostasis, can occur in reptiles. Yet, many veterinarians fail to recognize the signs of stress in reptiles. In this article, evaluation of reptile stress has been discussed with a focus on the analysis of behavioral changes, neuroendocrine correlation, and biochemical and physiologic effects in reptiles. If stress can be assessed and treated properly in captive reptiles, their health and well-being can be optimized.