Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

Identification by isoelectric focusing of creatine kinase-MM isoforms in the plasma and striated muscle of pigs

Total creatine kinase (CK) and CK-MM isoforms were determined in plasma and longissimus dorsi muscle extracts from normal pigs. Based on their total CK activity, the pigs were divided into two groups. Pigs of group 1 (n=16) had a mean plasma total CK of 298±16 U/L and the distribution of the CK-MM isoforms was 65.7±2.5% CK-MM₃, 18.9±1.6% CK-MM₂ and 15.3±1.5% CK-MM. In group 2 (n=18; 826±75 U/L total CK) four isoforms were observed: 3.1±0.9% CK-MM, 67.9±3.0% CK-MM₃, 21.5±2.3% CK-MM₂ and 7.5±1.3% CK-MM₁. The differences between the two groups of pigs were significant (p<0.001) for CK-MM₁ and the presence of CK-MM. Four CK-MM isoforms were also detected in longissimus dorsi muscle homogenates: 45.6±8.1% CK-MM, 32.6±11.7% CK-MM₃, 16.6±2.3% CK-MM₂ and 5.1±2.8% CK-MM₁. The release of CK-MM isoforms from muscle into plasma seems to be unrelated to the concentration of these isoforms in striated muscle.     

Expression and modulation of connective tissue growth factor in renal interstitial fibrosis

CTGF, a member of the CCN family of immediate early genes, is a recently discovered profibrotic growth factor, which is involved in many pathophysiologic procedures. CTGF acts as a downstream effector of TGF-β acting on interstitial cells to enhance the progression of fibrotic renal diseases. It has been shown that CTGF gene expression can be induced or blocked by some kinds of cytokine and drugs. It is an interesting candidate target for future intervention strategies of renal interstitial fibrosis.     

Muscarinic receptor subtypes in equine tracheal smooth muscle

Selective muscarinic receptor antagonists were used to identify muscarinic receptor subtypes in equine trachealis strips. The M₁ receptor antagonist pirenzepine (10^–7 mol/L to 3 × 10^–5 mol/L) and the M₃ receptor antagonist 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine (4-DAMP, 10^–9 mol/L to 3 × 10^–7 mol/L³) dose dependently inhibited the contractile responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) and exogenous acetylcholine (ACh). Schild plots yielded a pA₂ value for pirenzepine vs ACh of 6.75 ± 0.09, which is consistent with the affinity for M₂ or M₃ receptors, and a pA₂ value for 4-DAMP vs ACh of 8.47 ± 0.09, which is in agreement with the affinity for M₃ receptors. The M₂ receptor antagonist gallamine (10^–5 mol/L and 10^–4 mol/L) did not affect the response of trachealis to exogenous ACh and low-frequency EFS (0.1–2 Hz) but decreased the responses to high-frequency EFS (4–16 Hz). These results suggest that the muscarinic receptors mediating contractions induced by ACh in equine tracheal smooth muscle are of the M₃ subtype. The lack of an increase in the response to EFS following gallamine suggests that functional prejunctional inhibitory M₂ receptors are not present on the cholinergic nerves innervating equine tracheal smooth muscle.     

贮藏中福桔果皮细胞结构的显微观察及果实理化成分测定

贮藏期间福桔果皮细胞始终具有分裂增殖能力,细胞生长的养分主要通过维管束向果肉吸取,因而促进果肉衰老,形成枯水.枯水果实在贮藏早期就发现果皮细胞层和油腔分泌细胞无丝分裂旺盛,双核细胞多,果皮增厚多.严重枯水时,果皮细胞还具细胞核、线粒体、有色体等超微结构,未枯水果实细胞分裂少见.经预贮后贮藏的果实,由于中断了果皮组织与维管束的联系,果皮细胞生长受抑制,果肉水分、养分消耗少,枯水率最低,     

In vitro expression and inhibition of procoagulant activity produced by bovine alveolar macrophages and peripheral blood cells

Local and systemic activation of coagulation is frequently associated with bacterial sepsis. The coagulopathy is due, at least in part, to expression of tissue factor (TF) by monocytes and macrophages. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of procoagulant activity by bovine alveolar macrophages, leukocytes and platelets, and to determine the relative potency of three chemical inhibitors of TF expression (pentoxifylline, retinoic acid, and cyclosporin A). Bovine alveolar macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Pasteurella haemolytica or recombinant bovine tumour nervous factor (TNF) and dose- and time-dependent effects on TF expression were studied. LPS and TNF induced TF expression in alveolar macrophages and LPS treatment of whole blood induced TF expression in mononuclear cells. Neutrophils and platelets also expressed procoagulant activity, but this activity was not inhibited by anti-bovine TF monoclonal antibody. Pentoxifylline (40 mol/L), retinoic acid (0.01 mmol/L) and cyclosporin A (0.08 mol/L) inhibited TF expression when added concurrently with LPS or TNF, but not when added 4 h after stimulation. TF mRNA was not detected in unstimulated alveolar macrophages by Northern blot analysis. In contrast, exposure to LPS or TNF for 6 h induced marked expression of TF mRNA, which was inhibited by treatment with pentoxifylline, retinoic acid and cyclosporin A. Expression of TNF by alveolar macrophages stimulated with LPS was also inhibited by these compounds. Our results indicate that procoagulant activity expressed by alveolar macrophages and monocytes is associated with expression of TF, whereas procoagulant activity expressed by neutrophils and platelets is not. The concentrations of pentoxifylline and retinoic acid necessary for inhibition of TF expression in vitro may not be achievable in vivo owing to their toxic effects. However, the in vitro concentration of cyclosporin A that inhibited TF expression did not exceed the plasma concentration observed in humans, and therefore may be useful for inhibition of TF expression in vivo.Abbreviations BAL bronchoalveolar lavage - LPS lipopolysaccharide - cDNA cloned deoxyribonucleic acid - cAMP cyclic adenosine monophosphate - GAPDH glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase - mRNA messenger ribonucleic acid - TF tissue factor - TNF tumour necrosis factor - DPBS Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline     

猕猴桃实生苗组织培养体系建立的研究

以饱满成熟的猕猴桃种子为起始材料,用 2. 5g·L-1赤霉素处理 5小时,再用次氯酸钠灭菌消毒后,将萌芽的种子接种到MS+蔗糖 20g·L-1 +肌醇 100mg·L-1和 0. 75%琼脂的培养基上,根、茎、叶生长表现良好,初步建立了猕猴桃实生苗组织培养体系。猕猴桃实生苗组织培养同利用茎段、茎尖组织培养一样,培养基中无须附加任何激素。     

红千层的离体培养及快速繁殖

 研究了红千层离体快繁的若干影响因素。结果表明: 叶片在MS + 6-BA 115 mg·L ^{- 1}+NAA015 mg·L ^{- 1}中的愈伤组织诱导率43% , 并可直接从愈伤组织表面分化出不定芽, 分化率为69.2%; 腋芽启动培养基为MS + 6-BA 1～1.5 mg·L ^{- 1} + NAA 0.5 mg·L ^{- 1} , 萌动率为77%; 继代和增殖培养基为MS + 6-BA 1 mg·L ^{- 1} +NAA 0.25 mg·L ^{- 1} , 平均增殖系数为16.7; 生根壮苗培养基为1 /2MS +NAA 0.25 mg·L ^{- 1} , 生根率96.1%; 试管苗生根培养30～35 d移栽, 成活率最高可达90%以上。     

木那格葡萄的组培快繁试验

以木那格葡萄的茎尖、单芽茎段为外植体，进行组培快繁试验。蛄果看出，适宜茎尖分化的培养基为B5 BA1．0mg／L IBA 0．1mg／L。适宜单芽茎段一次成苗生长的培养基为B3 BA0．05mg/L IBA0．2mg／L。适宜的生根培齐基为1／2MS IBA 0．2mg／L 蔗糖40g／L。健壮生根的试管苗要待4片叶以上移栽，移栽基质以蛭石较好。时间宜在4—5月份。     

Study on relationship between expression of PKCα in glomeruli and development of nephropathy in diabetic rats

AIM:To observe the dynamic changes of expression of PKCα, TGF-β₁ and α-SMA in glomeruli of diabetic rats induced by the alloxon and to invesitigate their roles in the diabetic nephropathy(DN).METHODS:Rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (group A), diabetic group of one week (group B), diabetic group of one month (group C), diabetic group of two months (group D). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of PKCα, TGF-β₁ and α-SMA in renal tissue of all groups. Blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine and urine protein were analysed by chemical methods. The morphological changes of renal tissue were checked through microscopy.RESULTS:The expression of PKCα and TGF-β₁ in renal tissue of diabetic groups were increased comparing with those of nomal control group(P<0.05). The mesangial cells expressed α-SMA in two months group. Chronologically the expression of PKCα, TGF-β₁ and α-SMA were positively correlative with each other and the impairment of kidney was also observed.CONCLUSIONS: During the DN process the expression of PKCα increased. PKCα raised GFR and the permeability of glomerular filtration membrane which enhanced urinary albumin excretion. PKCα also increased expression of TGF-β and therefore to induce the expression of α-SMA. The appearance of α-SMA was a marker of the phenotypic transform of renal cells.