Study on the Hepatoprotective Effect of Oxalis coriniculata L. and Related Mechanism by Regulating Oxidative Stress and TLR-2/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

[Objectives]This study aimed to explore the protective effect of Oxalis coriniculata L.on rats with acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)and ...     

Genetic variation in root development responses to salt stresses of quinoa

Soil salinity has become a serious environmental abiotic stress limiting crop productivity and quality. The root system is the first organ sensing the changes in salinity. Root development under elevated salinity is therefore an important indicator for saline tolerance in plants. Previous studies focused on varietal differences in morphological traits of quinoa under saline stresses; however, variation in root development responses to salinity remains largely unknown. To understand the genetic variation in root development responses to salt stress of quinoa, we conducted a preliminary screening for salinity response at two salinity levels of a diverse set of 52 quinoa genotypes and microsatellite markers were used to link molecular variation to that in root development responses to salt stresses of represented genotypes. The frequency distribution of saline tolerance index showed continuous variation in the quinoa collection. Cluster analysis of salinity responses divided the 52 quinoa genotypes into six major groups. Based on these results, six genotypes representative of groups I to VI including Black quinoa, 2-Want, Atlas, Riobamba, NL-6 and Sayaña, respectively, were selected to evaluate root development under four saline stress levels: 0, 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl. Contrasts in root development responses to saline stress levels were observed in the six genotypes. At 100 mM NaCl, significant differences were not observed in root length development (RLD) and root surface development (RSAD) of most genotypes except Black quinoa; a significant reduction was observed in this genotype as compared to controls. At 200 mM NaCl, significant reduction was detected in RLD and RSAD in all genotypes showing this as the best concentration to discriminate among genotypes. The strongest inhibition of root development was found for all genotypes at 300 mM NaCl as compared to lower saline levels. Among genotypes, Atlas of group III shows as a saline-tolerant genotype confirming previous reports. Variation in root responses to salinity stresses is also discussed in relation to climate conditions of origins of the genotypes and reveal interesting guidelines for further studies exploring the mechanisms behind this aspect of saline adaptation.     

Protective effect of Huangqi injection combined with puerarin injection on myocardium of type 2 diabetes mice

AIM:To investigate the effect of Huangqi injection combined with puerarin injection on the myocardium of the mice with type 2 diabetes. METHODS:Diabetic KKAy mice were randomly divided into model group and treatment group (Huangqi injection combined with puerarin injection). The male KKAy mice of the same age were used as control group. All mice were sacrificed at 21, 24 and 28 weeks. Morphological changes of the myocardium were observed by HE staining. Apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes was measured by TUNEL staining. The mRNA levels of glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78), C/EBP hoinologous protein (CHOP) and p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) were detected by real-time PCR, and the protein levels of GRP78, CHOP, PUMA, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-9, cleaved caspase-9, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and cleaved PARP were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, partly dissolved sarcoplasm and necrosis were observed in model group, and these lesion were alleviated in treatment group. Obvious increased apoptosis in model group and significantly decreased apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in treatment group was observed (P<0.05). At 21, 24 and 28 weeks, the mRNA and protein levels of GRP78, CHOP and PUMA and the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved PARP in model group were increased significantly as compared with control group (P<0.01), and these in treated group were decreased compared with model group. CONCLUSION:Huangqi injection combined with puerarin injection has cardioprotective effects on type 2 diabetes mice and its mechanism of the action was implemented via inhibiting the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and caspase pathway, thus resulting in suppressed apoptosis.     

下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴参与动物采食调控的研究进展

采食是动物维持生命活动的基本生理过程，是动物生长发育的基础。畜禽采食量的高低直接影响到营养物质的摄入量及生产性能的发挥。在畜牧业生产中，影响采食的因素很多，而应激是其中一个非常重要的影响因素。动物机体的应激反应主要由下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴来调控。下丘脑、垂体和肾上腺皮质通过释放促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）、促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）和糖皮质激素（GC）这3种应激激素来协同调控动物的应激反应。应激激素对采食行为的调节是一个非常复杂的过程，主要通过稳态和非稳态途径来调节采食，可以双向调控食物的摄入量。稳态途径指的是通过调控机体能量稳态而调控采食。CRH和ACTH通过抑制下丘脑促食欲肽的表达而抑制采食；而GC在中枢和外周发挥着完全相反的作用。非稳态途径指的是通过影响中脑奖赏系统调控采食的愉悦感，是近年来食欲调控研究的热点，越来越多的研究证明了应激激素与奖赏系统的联系。作者针对应激激素调控采食的最新研究报道进行综述，以期为生产实践中新型的采食调控技术研发提供一定的参考。     

不同水稻种质中渗透胁迫抗性基因DREB2A的遗传多样性分析

本研究旨在分析转录因子DREB2A基因在不同水稻种质中的遗传多样性,以期为水稻耐渗透胁迫遗传改良提供分子工具。利用单倍型分析、系统进化树、遗传距离和密码子偏好性分析,对85份不同类型水稻种质中DREB2A基因的功能性核苷酸序列变异及遗传多样性进行了研究。共鉴定出55个核苷酸变异位点,其中12个位于编码区,43个位于非编码区;鉴定出12个DREB2A等位基因型,其中来自非洲栽培稻(Oryza glaberrima)的3个等位基因型表现大片段变异;根据DREB2A基因的序列变异鉴定出39个单倍型,其中33个为新单倍型;将所有单倍型分为三组（Group I、II和III）,其中非洲栽培稻(Oryza glaberrima)中的10个单倍型单独分为一组(Group III);系统进化树、遗传距离和密码子偏好性分析均表明Group III与其他两组具有较大差异。对85份不同类型水稻种质中DREB2A基因的序列分析表明,非洲栽培稻(Oryza glaberrima)中的DREB2A等位基因在序列变异、系统进化关系和密码子偏好性方面均明显不同于其他种质材料中的等位基因。     

水分胁迫对花生不同器官非结构性碳水化合物含量的影响

为探讨不同生育时期水分胁迫对花生不同器官非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)“库—源—流”间的变化动态,以‘花育20号’和‘花育27号’花生品种为试材,采用控制条件下的防雨棚池栽方法,研究了花生生长发育过程中不同生育时期水分胁迫下,非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)在花生叶片、茎、根和荚果等器官中的动态变化。结果表明,全生育期干旱胁迫使花生叶片、茎和根中可溶性总糖含量和淀粉均明显升高,但荚果中可溶性糖含量却明显降低。无论何生育时期受到干旱胁迫均使得叶片中可溶性糖含量峰值提前15天左右出现,“源”物质输出提前但输出量降低,叶片提前衰老。生育前期干旱胁迫使滞留在荚果中的NSC含量增加,结荚期后干旱胁迫反而利于荚果中NSC的转化。全生育期水分适宜处理叶片中NSC含量相对较低且变化较小。由此表明,干旱胁迫降低了NSC由源至库的运输和转化,使荚果“库”容量降低。     

直立型扁蓿豆对干旱胁迫和复水的响应及适应策略

以直立型扁蓿豆[Medicago ruthenica（L.）Sojak.cv.Zhilixing]为材料，于苗期连续干旱处理12 d后复水4 d，研究直立型扁蓿豆幼苗形态结构特征、生理代谢及生物量分配对干旱胁迫及复水的响应，揭示直立型扁蓿豆对干旱胁迫及复水的适应策略。结果表明：随着干旱胁迫时间延长，直立型扁蓿豆叶片气孔开放率逐渐降低，处理9 d后气孔及表皮细胞密度比正常浇水处理（CK）分别增加48.5%和36.6%，形成小而密的表皮细胞和气孔。生理上，除MDA含量随胁迫时间的延长逐渐增加外，其余指标均先升高后降低，干旱胁迫9 d时达最高，SOD、POD、叶绿素、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白及脯氨酸分别较CK提高88.9%、111.2%、86.7%、140.5%、147.8%和124.6%。同时，生物量随胁迫时间的延长先增大后减小，于干旱胁迫9 d达最大值，比CK增加16.4%，总的分配格局表现出地上生物量投资高于地下，地下生物量投资比例随胁迫时间的延长逐渐增加，而地上生物量变化与其相反。复水后各指标均能恢复至CK水平或超过CK，表现出极强的复水敏感性和潜在恢复能力。该品种扁蓿豆对干旱胁迫及复水的适应主要分为3个时期：主动适应期，其生理参数的可塑性指数为形态参数的1.33倍，主要通过抗氧化及渗透调节来减少水分散失增加水分吸收、缓解氧化伤害以适应干旱逆境；被动适应期，其形态参数的可塑性指数为生理参数的1.31倍，主要采用牺牲生物量的生存策略以及降低色素含量减少光吸收的光保护机制来提高逆境下的生存能力；复水恢复期，根冠比、气孔开放率、气孔及表皮细胞密度比CK分别增加25.9%、29.7%、24.2%和16.3%，其较高的根冠比和叶片较高的气孔开放率及小而密的气孔及表皮细胞特征，保证了直立型扁蓿豆吸水能力以及水分运输效率的迅速恢复。综上，直立型扁蓿豆抗旱能力较强，能够通过形态生理的改变以及调整不同器官的生物量分配来应对与适应干旱逆境及复水，且在不同处理阶段采取不同的适应策略以达到生存目的。     

混合盐胁迫对马蔺幼苗根系构型及生长量的影响

为探讨不同种类盐胁迫对马蔺幼苗生长状况的影响,采用室内培养的方法,研究总质量浓度为0.3%的NaCl、NaHCO₃单盐溶液及其不同配比的混合盐溶液胁迫对马蔺(Iris lactea var. chinensis)幼苗生长量、地上部干鲜重比值、地下部干鲜重比值以及根系构型的影响。结果表明,随着胁迫时间的延长,0.3%NaCl溶液对叶数和株高增长量的影响最小,其次为3种混合盐溶液,各处理在第14天时株高增幅达到最大。经0.3%NaHCO₃处理后的幼苗地上部干鲜重的比值为空白对照的2.17倍,地下部干鲜重则为空白对照的56.61%,随着混合溶液中NaHCO₃浓度的上升,地上部干鲜重比值表现出上升的趋势,地下部干鲜重比值则表现出下降的趋势。经35天处理后,0.3%NaHCO₃胁迫的马蔺幼苗根系总长、根系表面积较对照均显著下降,降幅分别为39.73%、26.08%,而各处理间的根系体积却无显著差异。研究结果显示,0.3%NaHCO₃溶液对马蔺幼苗的胁迫作用最强,2种单盐对根系的胁迫作用强于混合盐胁迫,而0.3%NaCl溶液对生长量的胁迫作用最弱。     

Role of PERK pathway in morphine-induced myocardial protection of H9c2 cells

AIM: To explore whether morphine protects oxidative stress-damaged myocardial cells by inhibiting the PERK pathway to reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress and prevent mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. METHODS: Rat myocardial H9c2 cells were cultured to establish an oxidative stress model, and then randomly divided into control group, H₂O₂ group, H₂O₂+morphine group, H₂O₂+morphine+PERK pathway inhibitor GSK2656157 group, morphine group and GSK2656157 group. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the effects of morphine on expression of glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 78 and GRP94 induced by oxidative stress. The protein levels of PERK signaling pathway-related molecules were determined by Western blot. Confocal microscopy was used to observe the effects of morphine on mPTP opening and endoplasmic reticulum induced by oxidative stress. Cellular toxicity was detected by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) kit and cell viability was measured by MTT assay. RESULTS: Compared with control group, GRP78 and GRP94 proteins in H₂O₂ group were strongly expressed, and the brown-yellow particles were significantly increased, but morphine significantly inhibited this process. Compared with control group, the phosphorylation of PERK was significantly reduced with GSK2656157 treatment at different concentrations, among which 2 μmol/L had the most significant effect (P < 0.05). Oxidative stress significantly increased the protein levels of GRP78, GRP94, p-PERK and CHOP, but significantly decreased p-GSK-3β level. These changes were inhibited by morphine, and the effects of morphine were further enhanced by GSK2656157 (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, oxidative stress significantly reduced the fluorescence intensity of mitochondrial TMRE and ER-Tracker Red. Morphine significantly inhibited this effect even when mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced, mPTP was open, and endoplasmic reticulum was damaged, while GSK2656157 further enhanced the effect of morphine (P < 0.05). Compared with control group, H₂O₂ significantly increased cellular toxicity and decreased the cell viability. Morphine inhibited this effect and GSK2656157 significantly enhanced the effect of morphine (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Morphine protects cardiac H9c2 cells under oxidative condition by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress through PERK pathway and preventing the mPTP opening via GSK-3β inactivation.