Effects of hydrocortisone and aminophylline on the aggregation of equine platelets in vitro

The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro the effects of hydrocortisone and aminophylline on adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation in horses. Blood samples from 30 healthy Thoroughbred horses were collected by via jugular venipuncture to assess platelet aggregation. Platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma were prepared from all samples by centrifugation and divided into three different aliquots. In the first aliquot, platelet aggregation was measured after platelet activation with 1 µM and 0.5 µM ADP (Group A). In the other two aliquots, the effect of a 10 min preincubation with hydrocortisone (Group B) or aminophylline (Group C) on ADP-induced aggregation at final ADP concentrations of 1 µM and 0.5 µM was observed. Platelet aggregation, recorded by an aggregometer, was evaluated by measuring the maximum degree of platelet aggregation and the initial velocities of platelet aggregation were obtained. Our results demonstrated the inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone and the induction effect of aminophylline on equine platelet responses in vitro.     

豆科植物IPI基因密码子偏好性

异戊烯基焦磷酸异构酶（isopentenyl diphosphate isomerases,IPI）作为2-C-甲基-D-赤藓糖醇-4-磷酸（2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate,MEP）和甲羟戊酸（mevalonate,MVA）途径的关键酶,参与植物萜类化合物的生物合成。豆科植物含多种萜类物质,研究豆科植物IPI基因密码子偏好性对促进豆科植物IPI基因表达、增加萜类物质产率具有重要意义。运用Codon W、EMBOSS等程序分析32个IPI基因的碱基组成、相对密码子使用度（RSCU）、有效密码子数（ENc）、密码子适应指数（CAI）等参数,并结合ENC-GC3s与PR2-plot方法确定豆科植物IPI基因的密码子偏好性。结果表明,豆科植物IPI基因偏好性较强（RSCU>1）的密码子有7个,最优密码子是GGU,第3位碱基的GC含量（GC3s）[落花生2 (Arachis hypogaea 2)除外]与同义密码子GC含量（GC）<0.5,密码子偏好以A/U结尾。ENc为46.69~55.00,CAI为0.23~0.27,IPI基因表达水平偏低。ENc-GC3s与PR2-plot分析结果表明,自然选择是形成豆科植物IPI基因密码子偏好性的主要原因。相较于RSCU聚类树,基于编码序列的系统进化树更能反映物种真实的系统发育关系。大肠埃希菌、烟草与拟南芥可以作为豆科植物IPI基因外源表达的宿主,研究结果将为开展IPI基因的密码子改造与遗传工程操作奠定基础。     

Molecular approaches for enhancing sweetness in fruits and vegetables

The quality of fruits and vegetables is mainly dependant on the sweetness determined by the level of soluble sugars such as glucose, fructose and sucrose. Other fruit quality parameters include Brix content, acidity, aroma, color, size and shape. Total sugar content in fruits and vegetables is a function of genetic, nutritional, environmental and developmental factors. Understanding the factors controlling sweetness is important to design strategies for enhancing quality of fruits and vegetables. Modifying the activity of enzymes in carbohydrate metabolism such as sucrose synthase (SuSy), acid invertase, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose transporters were found to influence carbohydrate partitioning and sucrose accumulation in sink tissues of several food crops. Plant based taste-modifying sweet proteins such as brazzein, cucurmin, mabinlin, monellin, miraculin, neoculin and thaumatin have potential application for developing transgenic plants to improve the sweetness and quality of fruits and vegetables. The present review envisages various cultural, breeding and molecular approaches used for enhancing sugar content and sweetness in fruits and vegetables.     

苹果MdCPS基因的克隆、定位及其在柱型/普通型间的表达差异分析

为研究赤霉素合成途径关键酶基因,了解果树的矮化机理。以苹果品种富士当年生新梢的茎尖为试材,以苹果基因组数据库为依据,克隆了编码苹果CPS的基因MdCPS(GenBanK登录号：KC433942.1)。该基因gDNA序列含有15个外显子和14个内含子,其编码序列( Coding sequence,CDS)长度为2400 bp,共编码799个氨基酸。在已发表的金冠苹果基因组中,与该基因相对应的转录本是MDP0000147908,它的定位区间为chr11：32433834~32439214。同源性分析表明,MdCPS与其他植物的CPS间有较高的相似性(49%~67%)。以杂交组合富士(普通型)×舞姿(柱型)的亲本品种及F1后代当年生新梢的茎尖组织为试材,实时荧光定量PCR( qRT-PCR)分析表明,尽管该基因在柱型亲本中的表达水平显著低于普通型亲本,但在其后代的柱型与普通型群体间差异并不明显。同时,在柱型杂种及其普通型突变体间的分析结果也表明,MdCPS的表达水平与柱型性状没有明显的相关性。可见,柱型苹果茎尖组织中活性赤霉素含量偏低受其合成早期步骤关键酶基因MdCPS的影响不大。     

Pre-maturity α-amylase in wheat: The role of abscisic acid and gibberellins

The occurrence of pre-maturity α-amylase (PMA) is a major cause of poor bread-making quality (low Hagberg Falling Number) in wheat grain. In susceptible genotypes, it involves the excessive accumulation of high isoelectric point (pI) α-amylase in mature grain prior to germination and in the absence of pre-harvest sprouting. Several factors regulate PMA formation in developing grain, including genotype, agronomy, and environmental conditions. In particular, a cold period during mid-grain development has been found to be a major stimulus for PMA induction. Although the factors affecting the PMA occurrence are well known, little is known about the molecular mechanism governing its induction. The plant hormones abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs) influence various aspects of grain development, and it has been suggested that PMA involves changes in the amount of these hormones or the sensitivity of the grain to these hormones. This review summarizes recent studies investigating the role of ABA and GAs in PMA induction and PMA occurrence.     

Effects of fructose sodium diphosphate on expression of CHOP and JNK in endoplasmic reticulum stress and islet apoptosis in rats with type 2 diabetes

AIM: To study the effects of fructose sodium diphosphate (FDP) on the expression of CHOP and c-Jun N-terminal binase(JNK) in endoplasmic reticulum stress and islet apoptosis in the rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: T2DM model was established in male Wistar rats by feeding of high lipid diet and injection of streptozotocin. The rats were divided into 4 groups (n=8):normal control group, T2DM model group, T2DM+low-dose FDP (2 mL穔g^-1穌^-1, ip) group and T2DM+high-dose FDP (5 mL穔g^-1穌^-1, ip) group. The rats in the treatment groups received FDP for 8 weeks. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin (FINS) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were measured. TUNEL was used to detect the islet apoptosis. The protein levels of CHOP and JNK were determined by the method of immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: (1) Compared with normal control group, FBG, FINS, the expression of CHOP and JNK, and apoptosis in T2DM model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). The level of ISI was significantly decreased. (2) Compared with T2DM model group, the levels of FBG and FINS, the expression of CHOP and JNK, and apoptosis in high-dose FDP group were significantly decreased. The level of ISI was significantly increased (P<0.01). However, the level of FBG, the expression of CHOP and JNK, and apoptosis in low-dose FDP group were significantly decreased. Compared with low-dose FDP group, the levels of FBG and FINS, the expression of CHOP and JNK, and apoptosis in high-dose FDP group were significantly decreased. The level of ISI was significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSION: FDP may prevent islet cells from apoptosis in T2DM rats by decreasing the expression of CHOP and JNK.     

尿苷酸的营养代谢与生理功能研究进展

在猪乳的5种核苷酸(尿苷酸、胞苷酸、肌苷酸、鸟苷酸以及腺苷酸)中,尿苷酸的含量最为丰富,占乳汁中总核苷酸的90%以上。与母猪乳汁相比,仔猪教槽料中尿苷酸最为缺乏,这种现象在仔猪断奶早期尤其明显,因此,尿苷酸可能对仔猪正常的生长发育起着重要的作用。尿苷酸作为一种基础的嘧啶核苷酸类化合物,具有非常重要的生理功能。本文从尿苷酸的结构、吸收代谢、生理功能、与三大营养物质代谢关系及在动物生产中的潜在应用等方面予以综述,旨在为单核苷酸在动物生产中的添加和单核苷酸营养提供参考。     

二磷酸组织胺诱发奶牛蹄叶炎病变的病理学研究

本文给临床健康,蹄病成年奶牛８头皮下注射三磷酸组织胺（１５０μｇ／ｋｇ活重）,与对照组５ 期比较。给药前生屠宰前测量两组奶牛蹄前壁长度;屠宰后３３天,对两组占蹄真皮及表皮组织的组织学结构及病理学变化进行了观察,结果显示：实验组奶牛蹄角质的生长速度明显快于对照组,屠宰时测量,两组奶牛蹄前壁的长度差异显著（Ｐ〈０．０５）。组织病理学研究表明：正常蹄表皮组织的角化程序适中,没有完全角化的小叶远端有隔,隔