Effect of pidotimod on renal function and inflammatory response in rat IgA nephropathy model

AIM:To explore the effect of pidotimod on the renal function in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) rat model, and to further study whether this effect is related to the inhibition of inflammatory response. METHODS:The SD rats (n=36) were randomly divided into control group, IgAN model group, IgAN with prednisone treatment group and IgAN with pidotimod treatment group, with 9 rats in each group. The IgAN model was induced by consecutive oral administration of bovine gamma globulin (BGG) for 8 weeks followed by injection of BGG through tail vein for 3 d. After the IgAN model was established, the drug was continuously used for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment, the urine protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were examined by an automated analyzer. IgA deposition in the renal tissues was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA expression levels of renal fibrosis markers transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and fibronectin 1 in the renal tissues were detected by RT-qPCR. The mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 in the renal tissues were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS:No significant difference of the body weight was observed in different groups. Compared with control group, the content of urine protein, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were significantly increased (P<0.01), whereas those were reversed by pidotimod treatment. The results of immunofluorescence staining showed that pidotimod inhibited IgA deposition in the IgAN rats. Pitomod treatment inhibited the mRNA expression levels of renal fibrosis markers TGF-β1 and fibronectin 1, and the mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 in the renal tissues of IgAN rats. CONCLUSION:Pidotimod alleviates IgAN progression in rats by inhibition of inflammatory response.     

Regulatory effect of astragaloside IV on SDF-1α/CXCR4 in EPCs

AIM: To investigate the effects of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α) in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and its mechanism. METHODS: Rat bone marrow-derived EPCs were cultured in vitro. The proliferation, adhesion, migration, apoptosis and tube formation capacity of EPCs treated with AS-IV and AMD3100, a specific blocker of CXCR4, were observed. The effects of AS-IV on the expression of SDF-1α/CXCR4 at mRNA and protein levels and the protein level of p-CXCR4 in the EPCs were determined. RESULTS: AS-IV significantly enhanced the proliferation, adhesion, migration and tube formation abilities of EPCs, reduced the apoptosis of EPCs, and up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of SDF-1α and CXCR4 and the p-CXCR4 protein level in the EPCs. On the other hand, AMD3100 blocked the up-regulating effect of AS-IV on the mRNA and protein expression of CXCR4 and the p-CXCR4 protein level in the EPCs, but did not affect the effect of AS-IV on the expression of SDF-1α. CONCLUSION: AS-IV might enhance the biological function of EPCs by regulating the expression of SDF-1α/CXCR in EPCs.     

水稻资源全生育期耐盐性鉴定筛选

对来自国内外不同地区的550份水稻资源进行全生育期耐盐性鉴定。设置淡水、0.3%和0.5%盐溶液浇灌3个处理,插秧10d后,通过浇灌不同体积的淡水与海水调至设计浓度对水稻进行不同浓度的盐胁迫处理。分别调查了淡水及0.3%盐处理下水稻株高、有效分蘖数、主穗长度、主穗结实率、单株产量、抽穗期6项农艺性状和0.5%盐处理下的水稻耐盐表型。与淡水浇灌相比,全生育期在0.3%盐溶液处理下,550份水稻(100%)株高显著降低;124份(22.55%)水稻有效分蘖数(90份增加, 34份减少)、414份(75.27%)水稻主穗长度(405份变短、9份增长)、145份(26.36%)水稻主穗结实率(84份减少, 61份增加)、375份(68.18%)水稻单株产量(343份减少, 32份增加)存在(极)显著差异;水稻资源的抽穗期无显著差异。主成分分析表明,主穗结实率、有效分蘖数及单株产量3项性状累计贡献77.25%的变异。根据产量耐盐系数筛选了121份耐盐水稻资源(产量耐盐系数≥0.8),在0.5%盐胁迫持续处理42 d后,筛选了78份耐盐水稻资源(耐盐表型为3级),其中25份水稻资源全生育期在0.3%盐处理下单株产量耐盐系数≥0.8,在0.5%盐胁迫持续处理42 d后的耐盐表型为3级。筛选的耐盐水稻资源为培育耐盐新品种及深入研究耐盐机制提供材料。     

巨菌草对七彩山鸡生长性能、免疫器官以及肠绒毛形态的影响

试验旨在探究日粮中添加巨菌草(Pennisetum giganteum)对七彩山鸡(Phasianus colchicus)生长性能、免疫器官以及肠绒毛形态的影响。试验选取1周龄健康的七彩山鸡(母)210只,随机分为1个对照组(0%组)和4个饲料处理组,每组3个平行。4个饲料处理组配制时,分别添加4%、8%、12%、16%的巨菌草添加剂于基础饲料中。结果表明,与0%组相比,12%组七彩山鸡的平均体重和平均日采食量显著增加(P<0.05);4%、8%、12%组平均日增重显著大于16%组(P<0.05);8%组料重比显著降低(P<0.05);饲料处理组免疫器官指数中肝脏、脾脏指数均在0%组的基础上有所增加,但差异不显著(P>0.05);8%的巨菌草添加剂可显著增加七彩山鸡肠道的绒毛长度(P<0.05),隐窝深度显著降低(P<0.05),扩大肠道黏膜吸收面积。说明日粮中添加巨菌草可以提高七彩山鸡肠道对营养的吸收能力,一定程度上改善七彩山鸡生长性能和免疫性能。     

Effect of DNA methylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region on hepatic injury induced by homocysteine

AIM: To explore the role of DNA methylation of microRNA-30a-5p(miR-30a-5p) promoter region in hepatic injury. METHODS: Four-week-old normal mice and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) single gene knockout mice were used and divided into normal (CBS^+/+, n=12) group and single gene knockout (CBS^+/-, n=12) group, and the mice were fed with high methionine diet for 8 weeks. HL-7702 hepatic cells were routinely cultured in vitro and divided into control group, homocysteine (Hcy) group and Hcy+5-azacytidne (AZC) group. Serum Hcy, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer. The levels of ALT and AST in the cells culture medium were determined by the microplate method. Hepatic injury in the mice were observed with HE staining. Cell viability staining was used to measure the viability of hepatocytes. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-30a-5p in the liver tissues and hepatocytes. The correlation between the expression of miR-30a-5p and serum ALT and AST levels was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. DNA methylation level of miR-30a-5p promoter region in the liver tissues and hepatocytes was detected by nested landing methylation-specific PCR (nMS-PCR). RESULTS: Compared with the CBS^+/+ mice, the serum levels of Hcy, ALT and AST in the CBS^+/- mice were significantly increased (P < 0.05). HE staining showed the hepatocyte swelling and nuclear fragmentation and dissolution. The expression level of miR-30a-5p in the liver tissues was decreased (P < 0.01). Besides, the expression level of miR-30a-5p in the mice was negatively correlated with serum ALT and AST levels (r²=0.4557, P=0.0003, r²=0.4626, P=0.0003), and the DNA methylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region was increased (P < 0.01). In the HL-7702 cells, compared with control group,the ALT and AST levels were increased in Hcy group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the cell viability was remarkablely decreased. DNA methylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region was increased (P < 0.01), which decreased after treated the cells with AZC (P < 0.05), while the expression level of miR-30a-5p in the cells was increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hypermethylation of miR-30a-5p promoter region may play an important role in hepatic injury.     

不同光质照射下真姬菇的生长发育与光受体的响应表达

采用 5 种不同光质光源，分别对真姬菇（Hypsizygus marmoreus）的菌丝、原基和子实体进行照射，检测菌丝生长速度、原基形成数量、子实体菌柄长度、菌柄直径、菌盖直径以及产量等。结果显示：真姬菇菌丝在黑暗和红光下生长较快，在红绿蓝复合光下生长最慢；在蓝光下形成的原基数量最多，而在红光下原基数量最少；子实体阶段，黑暗下菌柄的长度及直径最大，绿光下菌柄长度及直径最小；而在蓝光和红绿蓝复合光下菌盖直径最大。相同培养时间，真姬菇在黑暗和蓝光下产量较高，在绿光下产量最低。进一步检测真姬菇光受体基因 WC1 和 WC2 在不同光质条件下的差异表达。结果表明，在菌柄中 WC1 在黑暗下表达量最高，WC2 在蓝光下表达量最高；而在菌盖中 WC1 和 WC2 均在蓝光下表达量最高。     

LED补光组合对大棚越橘生长发育的影响

以2年生南高丛越橘‘Emerald’为材料，以大棚内自然光作为对照，研究LED光源的红蓝光（3︰1和6︰1）、紫外光（UVA）对植株长势、叶片光合作用、碳氮代谢、开花基因表达及开花率、果实品质的影响。结果表明：红蓝光组合处理下‘Emerald’的植株营养生长较旺盛，株高、1年生枝条长度和粗度显著高于对照。此外，红蓝光（6︰1）处理下叶片的叶绿素相对含量、比叶重和净光合速率均显著提高。红蓝光组合也可诱导植株开花，开花基因FT表达量和开花率明显高于对照。紫外光下叶片的氮含量、开花率及FT基因表达量显著高于对照。不同光质组合补光对‘Emerald’的果实品质有显著影响，红蓝光（3︰1）处理下果实的质量、横纵径、可溶性固形物、可溶性糖、花青素含量和糖酸比均高于对照。总之，不同光质补光会促进越橘‘Emerald’的生长发育，红蓝光6︰1组合对促进营养生长作用相对较大，红蓝光3︰1组合对提高果实品质效果较好。紫外光虽能改变植株形态和促进开花，但果实品质提高效果较红蓝光处理稍弱。     

生物饵料对赤点石斑鱼不同养殖阶段的影响

通过对赤点石斑鱼(Epinephelus akaara)亲本强化、苗种繁育阶段的饵料进行研究,结果表明:采用牡蛎作为赤点石斑鱼亲本营养强化饵料使得亲本成活率达89.33%,所产的卵子平均受精率达78.9%、孵化率达80.1%,均显著高于使用南美白对虾和蛏子组(P<0.05);苗种培育至摄氏卤虫阶段,采用鱼油(4 g/L)与经小球藻强化轮虫和虾青素(5 g/L)混合代替,成活率29.53%,全长增长率175.00%,效果最佳;苗种培育至摄氏桡足类阶段,采用鱼油(4 g/L)与桡足类和虾青素(5 g/L)培育,成活率和全长增长率均显著高于其他组(P<0.05);而后期采用软颗粒料(鳗粉:鳀鱼=3:2,添加虾青素5 g/kg)可极显著提高赤点石斑鱼的养成成活率和全长增长率(P<0.01)。     

羊角椒新品种寿研梦扬的选育

寿研梦扬是由母本CSVHPM1407001和父本CSVHPF1407002配制而成的羊角椒一代杂种。植株长势旺盛,连续坐果能力强;果实长羊角形,果长25～30 cm,果肩宽3～4 cm;青熟果黄绿色,老熟果红色;外表光亮,商品性好,耐贮运;单果质量100 g左右,辣味浓,宜鲜食;田间对病毒病、炭疽病和疫病的抗性强于对照喜洋洋。保护地栽培鲜椒产量可达12 840 kg·(667 m~2)~(-1)左右。适宜山东、河北等地区早春、秋延保护地种植。     

黑甜糯玉米新品种黑甜糯639的选育

黑甜糯639是以糯玉米自交系HNF为母本,以甜玉米自交系D91为父本配制而成的黑甜糯玉米一代杂种。生育期为91 d(天),株高263 cm,穗位151 cm,雄穗主轴与分枝角度中等,一级分枝18～23个,果穗筒型,籽粒黑紫色,甜糯籽粒比例为1∶3,籽粒可溶性糖含量为12.5%,支链淀粉占总淀粉含量的98.1%,口感佳。高抗丝黑穗病、茎腐病、大斑病,抗穗腐病和矮花叶病,平均每667 m~2鲜穗产量900 kg左右。适宜在山西省鲜食糯玉米主产区种植。