Effect of SAPK/JNK signal pathway on neuronal apoptosis in cerebral infarction rats

AIM: To investigate the molecular mechanism of neuronal apoptosis by observing the changes of key proteins in SAPK/JNK and Bcl-2/Bax signal pathways after brain infarction. METHODS: The cortical infarction was induced by photochemistry, namely photothrombotic cortical injury (PCI). Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: PCI group and sham-operated group. The ipsilesional cortex was harvested for histomorphometry and transmission electron microscopy 7 days after PCI. Some key proteins including p-JNK1, p-JNK2, p-c-Jun, p-ATF-2, total JNK1, total JNK2, Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by Western blotting analysis.RESULTS: The cortical infarction in rats was successfully induced by photochemistry. The apoptosis of neurons in cortex was more obvious in PCI group than that in sham-operated group 7 days after PCI. The levels of p-JNK1, p-JNK2, p-c-Jun and p-ATF-2 in PCI group were significantly higher than those in sham-operated group, whereas the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax was significantly lower(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Apoptosis is a major contributor to neuronal loss induced by cerebral hypoxia-ischemia for a long period after cortical infarction. The process is related to some apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2/Bax and the SAPK/JNK signal pathways activated by ischemic injury.     

Effect of autophagy in traumatic brain injury

Autophagy is a metabolic process of eukaryotic cells. When lacking of nutrient and energy, the cells obtain biosynthetic materials by degrading the organelles and recycling the proteins to maintain homeostasis. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common kind of mechanic injury, usually with a poor outcome. Accumulated evidence indicates that the activity of autophagy increases after TBI. However, its implication for nervous tissue is still controversy. On one hand, autophagy exerts a protective effect on the neural cells. On the other hand, autophagy can also induce cell death exacerbating neural injury. This review focuses on the processes of autophagy and its roles in TBI, which may provide some novel therapeutic strategies.     

Changes of neuropeptides and electrolytes in patients with acute traumatic brain injury

AIM: To investigate the levels of neuropeptides and electrolytes in the patients with acute traumatic brain injury.METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with acute brain injury were divided into mild, moderate and severe groups according to their GCS scores. The serum levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin II (Ang II) were measured on day 1, 3 and 7 after injury. The serum levels of electrolytes were also measured on day 1. Forty-one subjects who received healthy check-up served as normalcontrols. RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, the serum levels of AVP and Ang II significantly increased in the patients with traumatic brain injury (P<0.01), depending on the severity of brain injury. Both neuropeptides reached the peak on day 3 after injury. The concentrations of serum potassium and calcium decreased in the patients with acute brain injury(P<0.01),also showing a severity-dependent tendency. No significant change of serum sodium in the patients with brain injury was observed. CONCLUSION: The serum levels of arginine vasopressin and angiotensin II canalso be used as the severity indicators of traumatic brain injuries. Decrease in serum potassium and calcium can also be used to evaluate the severity in patients with acute traumatic brain injury.     

Erythropoietin attenuates cerebral ischemia-induced cognitive dysfunction through stimulation of hippocampal CREB phosphorylation in C57BL/6 mice

AIM: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on cognitive dysfunction and neuronal injury in hippocampal CA1 region induced by cerebral ischemia in mice. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 green fluorescent protein-transgenic mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation group (sham), ischemia/reperfusion group (I/R) and EPO-treated group. Transient cerebral global ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2-VO). The step-down test was used to measure the capacity of learning and memory of the animals in each group. Nissl staining was applied to examine the neuronal number in hippocampal CA1 region. The expression of phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) was determined by Western blotting. Alterations of dendritic morphology in hippocampal CA1 region were evaluated using laser scanning confocal microscopy and Neurolucida software. RESULTS: Transient cerebral ischemia caused deficits of spatial learning and memory, and delayed neuronal death and loss of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 region were also obvious. The EPO treatment significantly improved the cognitive function in cerebral ischemic mice, and the protein expression of pCREB was obviously increased. At the same time, neuronal death and loss of dendritic spines were reduced in hippocampal CA1 region. CONCLUSION: Erythropoietin increases the protein expression of pCREB, and reduces neuronal death and loss of dendritic spines. These processes may be responsible for erythropoietin-mediated neuroprotective effects and the improvement of cognitive function in cerebral ischemic mice.     

火鹤组织培养与快繁技术研究

以火鹤茎尖作为外植体进行组织培养，得出了愈伤组织的诱导发生、不定芽的分化诱导、生根的最佳培养基分别为：MS＋NAA0．05mg／L＋6-BA1．0mg／L，MS＋NAA0．20mg／L＋6-BA0．5mg／L，1／2MS＋NAA0．10mg／L；蛭石是火鹤组培苗移栽炼苗的最佳基质，成活率可达到100％。     

西洋百合“卢浮宫”的组培技术研究

以鳞片为外植体、MS为基本培养基,以不同激素成分及不同质量浓度水平下诱导西洋百合"卢浮宫"的小鳞茎状突起,进行组培试验。结果表明:"卢浮宫"百合的诱导以取其完整的鳞片为外植体、并以鳞片背部突起处紧贴于MS 6 BA2 0mg·L-1 NAA0 2mg·L-1的培养基上诱导效果为最好。"卢浮宫"百合的诱导是由外植体(鳞片)产生小鳞茎状突起而分化成苗的,并不经愈伤组织分化产生。筛选出的最佳继代增殖培养基为MS 6 BA0 7mg·L-1 IBA0 3mg·L-1,生根培养基为1 2MS 6 BA0 3mg·L-1 IBA0 7mg·L-1。移植基质选择河泥和珍珠岩(体积比7∶3)混合,成活率达98%。     

柠条锦鸡儿组培苗继代培养中矿质元素的吸收规律

比较柠条锦鸡儿在MS、WPM、B5三种基本培养基中对P、K、Ca、Mg、Mn、Cu等主要矿质元素的吸收规律,用向量分析方法找出三种基本培养基中的限制因子.结果表明:矿质养分整体供应水平是影响柠条锦鸡儿组培苗吸收矿质元素的关键因子;除此之外,MS培养基的Ca、P水平偏低,WPM和B5培养基的主要限制因子分别为K、Mn和Ca、P、K.     

红叶石楠组培苗瓶外生根技术研究

以苗龄为40 d的红叶石楠组培继代芽苗为瓶外生根试验材料,采用多因素正交试验设计研究不同栽培基质、不同激素、不同激素浓度处理及处理时间对红叶石楠继代芽苗瓶外生根诱导的影响,继代芽苗扦插前的不同炼苗方式及扦插后施肥方式对芽苗瓶外生根率的影响。结果表明:A3B1C3D2组合(珍珠岩、生根粉ABT 200 mg.L-1浸泡处理30 min)获得59%瓶外生根率,而A3B1C1D2(珍珠岩、ABT 50 mg.L-1浸泡处理30 min)为最理想的组合;芽苗在自然散射光下炼苗15~20 d,生根率可提高到81%;栽后适时追施营养液有利于芽苗的高生长。继代芽苗瓶外生根技术的应用减少组培苗培养工序,促进红叶石楠的组培快繁效率,降低组培苗的生产成本。     

菊叶薯蓣组织培养及快速繁殖

菊叶薯蓣组织培养以大田栽培苗地上部分幼嫩茎段作外植体。芽诱导培养基为MS+6-BA0.5～2.0mg·L-1+NAA0.1mg·L-1,继代增殖培养基为MS+6-BA1.0mg·L-1+NAA0.1 mg·L-1,生根培养基1/2MS+NAA0.5mg·L-1,每个过程均培养30d,每节段增殖2～3倍,生根率为85%以上。移栽基质为土壤∶珍珠岩(1∶3),遮光率为80%,保持较高湿度,每7d喷施1/2MS无机盐,1个月后成活率可达60%～80%。     

两种外源激素在白掌组织培养不同阶段的剂量研究

文章研究了不同浓度的细胞分裂素6-BA对白掌外植体诱导、愈伤组织增殖、不定芽增殖及生长素IBA对诱导生根的影响。结果表明：初代培养基以1／2MS CM100ml／L 蔗糖30g／L 琼脂6g／L 6-BA 1.0mg／L效果最好；在培养基MS NAA 0．1mg／L 蔗糖30g／L 琼脂6g／L中添加6-BA 1.0mg／L愈伤组织和不定芽的增殖倍数最高；在培养基1／2MS 活性炭2g／L 蔗糖30g／L 琼脂6g／L中添加2．0mg／L IBA可显著提高生根率。