Dexmedetomidine attenuates acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Kunming mice (n=50) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): normal saline control (NS) group, acute alcoholic hepatic injury model (E) group, low-dose (10 μg/kg) DEX (E+L) group, medium-dose (50 μg/kg) DEX (E+M) group and high-dose (100 μg/kg) DEX (E+H) group. The animals were sacrificed at 6 h after gavage of alcohol or normal saline. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. The livers were removed for evaluation of histological characteristics and determining the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) amd interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the liver tissues by ELISA. The expression levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the liver tissues were evaluated by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with NS group, the levels of ALT, AST and TG were obviously increased in E group, which were obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA were obviously increase in E group, which were obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the activity of SOD and the content of GSH were obviously decreased in E group, which were obviously increased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the expression of CYP2E1 and NF-κB was obviously increase in E group, which was obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, ethanol induced marked liver histological injury, which was less pronounced in E+M and E+H groups. CONCLUSION: DEX has a protective effect on mouse liver with acute alcoholic injury by the involvement in the processes of antioxidation and antiinflammation, and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of CYP2E1 and NF-κB expression.     

绿洲灌区不同密度玉米群体的耗水特性研究

针对水资源不足严重制约绿洲灌区玉米生产,密植对玉米耗水特性影响研究薄弱,以及生产实践中缺乏调控种植密度以同步提高产量和水分利用效率的理论依据等问题,2012—2015年,以先玉335为参试品种,在相同施肥、灌水制度下,设75 000株hm–2(低,D1)、87 000株hm–2(中,D2)、99 000株hm–2(高,D3)3个密度水平,探讨密度对玉米耗水的时间动态、耗水结构以及利用效率的影响,以期为优化密植增产节水技术提供理论依据。结果表明,随密度增大,玉米全生育期总耗水量(ET)增大,大喇叭口期至吐丝期是耗水量增大的主要时期,高、中密度处理与低密度处理相比,全生育期总耗水量4年平均分别高22.8%、14.4%,大喇叭口期至吐丝期平均分别高28.4%、18.2%,其他生育时期不同处理的耗水量差异不显著。增加密度可降低玉米的无效耗水,提高水分利用率,高、中密度处理较低密度处理全生育期的棵间蒸发量(E)4年平均分别减少56.5 mm、27.6 mm,密植降低棵间蒸发量的主要时期在拔节至灌浆期,其中大喇叭口期至吐丝期的日均棵间蒸发量分别减少0.51 mm、0.27 mm;高、中密度与低密度处理相比,全生育期的E/ET分别降低15.8%、6.2%,其中拔节至大喇叭口期减小幅度最大,分别为22.1%、10.7%。与低密度处理相比,高、中密度处理的籽粒产量分别提高了17.9%、14.8%,但高、中密度处理间的产量差异不显著;高、中、低密度处理的水分利用效率(WUE)分别为18.2、19.3和16.8 kg hm–2 mm–1,中密度处理的WUE显著高于低密度处理;与低密度处理相比,高、中密度处理4年平均灌溉水利用效率(IWUE)分别提高了34.5%、19.6%。本研究说明,在传统供水覆膜条件下,进一步增加种植密度是干旱绿洲灌区提高玉米产量和灌溉水利用效率的可行措施。     

日粮中添加β-胡萝卜素对牦牛皮下脂肪颜色及组织中维生素A含量的影响

试验旨在探究日粮中添加不同水平β-胡萝卜素（β-C）对牦牛皮下脂肪颜色及组织维生素A含量的影响。试验选取12头2~3岁牦牛为研究对象，随机分为4个组，每组3个重复。各处理组日粮分别在基础日粮中添加0（对照）、720（低剂量）、1 440（中剂量）、1 620 mg/d（高剂量）β-C，饲养90 d后，分别测定牦牛脂肪、肌肉色度、背膘厚度及不同组织中β-C和代谢产物维生素A的含量，结果表明：日粮中添加不同水平β-C，牦牛背部、胸部脂肪及半腱肌的黄度值（b^*）显著高于对照组（P<0.05），亮度值（L^*）和红度值（a^*）没有显著变化（P>0.05）；牦牛背膘厚度在中剂量组达到最大值；对照组牦牛血清中β-C及维生素A含量显著低于各试验组（P<0.05），且维生素A含量随β-C添加量的上升呈上升趋势（P<0.05）；牦牛皮下脂肪、腹腔脂肪、心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏及空肠等组织器官中β-C含量在中剂量组均达到最大值，除肝脏中维生素A含量较高外，其他组织中维生素A含量在各处理组间差异不显著（P<0.05）。综上所述，日粮添加β-C影响牦牛皮下脂肪颜色，且在中剂量组牦牛皮下脂肪、心脏、肝脏、脾脏及空肠等组织器官中β-C含量达到最大值，故推荐其最佳摄入量为1 440 mg/d；在日粮中添加β-C影响牦牛肝脏和血清中维生素A含量，对其余组织器官中维生素A含量没有影响。     

维生素A调节动物一氧化氮的生成及其相关机制

动物机体由于旺盛的新陈代谢或在受到外界有害因素刺激的情况下会产生大量一氧化氮(NO),进而损伤细胞中的蛋白质、类脂膜和DNA,引发细胞炎症并阻断细胞信号通路,使机体产生氧化应激。维生素A可以有效地调控NO的生成,提高机体抗氧化水平并清除自由基,预防细胞炎症及氧化应激的发生。本文主要综述了维生素A对动物NO生成的调节作用及其相关机理的研究进展,对今后深入研究其调节机理、科学补充维生素A及提高机体的抗氧化功能具有一定参考价值。     

The transition time from the juvenile phase to the adult phase differs in soybean cultivars ‘Enrei’ and ‘Peking’

Plants develop juvenile phase to adult phase in vegetative stage. Although soybean is a very important crop worldwide, there has been only one study of the juvenile–adult phase change. In this study, we determined that the juvenile–adult phase change occurred at different stages in two soybean cultivars that differ in their photosensitivity. Cultivar ‘Enrei’ (E1e2e3E4) is weakly photosensitive and cultivar ‘Peking’ (E1E2E3E4) is strongly photosensitive. In ‘Enrei’, the leaf size gradually increased at a constant leaf position regardless of the difference in day length. In ‘Peking’ plants transferred to short‐day conditions at several leaf development stages, leaf size gradually increased at different leaf positions. Expression of miR156 by ‘Enrei’ transferred to short‐day conditions had nearly the same pattern as that of ‘Enrei’ grown under long‐day conditions. In ‘Peking’, the expression of miR156 had different patterns in younger leaves of plants subjected to either a short‐day treatment or long‐day conditions. These results indicate that the E2 and E3 loci that regulate photosensitivity also regulate the expression of miR156 and the juvenile–adult phase change in soybean.     

欧美杂交杨Pnd-LRR3基因克隆及其抗锈菌侵染表达

为深入探究欧美杂交杨(Populus nigra×P.deltoides)感病的分子机理,以及抗病基因在发病过程中所起的作用,克隆了欧美杂交杨LRR3蛋白编码基因Pnd-LRR3。对Pnd-LRR3基因进行了生物信息学分析,并对其在抗锈菌过程中的功能进行了研究。Q-PCR结果显示,强致病性的落叶松-杨栅锈菌(Melampsora larici-populina)E4菌株接种6 h,Pnd-LRR3基因表达量上调增幅较大,168 h为显著下调。说明Pnd-LRR3基因在E4侵染过程中起到一定抗性作用,但最终无法阻止锈菌的侵染。     

Plant growth regulator and its interactions with environment and genotype affect maize optimal plant density and yield

Increasing planting density is important to raise maize yield, however, high density often leads to an increase risk of lodging due to dense canopy and weak stem. Maize yield and optimal plant density are increased by applying plant growth regulator compound of ethephon and DA-6, however, we do not know if this compound would interact with location and genotype. In this study, a novel plant growth regulator, as the synthesis of N, N- diethyl − 2 − hexanoyl oxygen radicals − ethyl amine (2-ethyl chloride) phosphonic acid salt (DHEAP), combining the effects of ethephon and DA-6 in one chemical, was developed and tested at three locations, five plant densities (6.75, 8.25, 9.75, 11.25 and 12.75 plants m⁻²) and three cultivars in 2014–2015. This study aimed to quantify the interactions between environment, genotype and management (Appling DHEAP and plant density) on lodging-related optimal plant density and yield. DHEAP significantly increased grain yield by 10.7% due to the increases of kernel weight by 3.2% and kernel number per ear by 4.4%. On average across genotypes and environments, applying DHEAP increased optimum plant density by 6%. The optimal plant density interacted with cultivar, DHEAP and environment. Applying DHEAP reduced lodging percentage by lowering ear height. The yield-lodging relationship was affected by genotype and location. We concluded that maize yield could be enhanced by optimizing plant density, applying DHEAP and cultivar selection, but climatic and environmental differences of locations should be considered.     

Molecular mapping of soybean seed tocopherols in the cross ‘OAC Bayfield’ × ‘OAC Shire’

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is cultivated primarily for its protein and oil in the seed. In addition, soybean seeds contain nutraceutical compounds such as tocopherols (vitamin E), which are powerful antioxidants with health benefits. The objective of this study was to identify molecular markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect accumulation of soybean seed tocopherols. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross ‘OAC Bayfield’ × ‘OAC Shire’ was grown in three locations over 2 years. A total of 151 SSR markers were polymorphic of which a one‐way analysis of variance identified 42 markers whereas composite interval mapping identified 26 markers linked to tocopherol QTL across 17 chromosomes. Individual QTL explained from 7% to 42% of the total phenotypic variation. Significant two‐locus epistatic interactions were identified for a total of 122 combinations in 2009 and 152 in 2010. The multiple‐locus models explained 18.4–72.2% of the total phenotypic variation. The reported QTL may be used in marker‐assisted selection (MAS) to develop high tocopherol soybean cultivars.     

Effect of eleutheroside B/E on proliferation and expression of PPARγ and TGF-β1 in HBZY-1 cells cultured with high glucose

AIM: To explore the effects and mechanism of eleutheroside (ETS) B or E on the proliferation of HBZY-1 cells treated with high glucose. METHODS: The HBZY-1 cells were cultured under high glucose condition. The 4th generation of HBZY-1 cells was used for determining the optimal cell density, which was consistent with the growth regulation curve of the cells. The cells were divided into 6 groups: low glucose (LG) group, high glucose (HG) group, high glucose plus ETS-B/E (low dose, medium dose and high dose) groups, and high glucose plus losartan (LTG) group. After all cells were treated with the corresponding drugs at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, the inhibitory rate of the proliferation was measured, and the expression of TGF-β1 and PPARγ was detected by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS: The best cell density was 2 000 cells/well, which was complied with the basic rules of the cell growth, and high glucose significantly promoted the HBZY-1 cell proliferation. At each time point, the inhibitory effects of ETS-B/E were significantly different between HG group and LTG group on the proliferation of the HBZY-1 cells (P<0.05). The expression of TGF-β1 was significantly inhibited, and the expression of PPARγ was significantly promoted by ETS-B/E (P<0.05). ETS-E showed stronger effect than ETS-B (P<0.05) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: ETS-B/E significantly inhibits the proliferation of HBZY-1 cells under high glucose condition by decreasing TGF-β1 expression and promoting PPARγ expression.     

Pathogen Analysis of Goat's Respiratory Diseases

To investigate the pathogens of goat's respiratory disease from a goat farm in Guangxi province, the epidemiological investigation, clinic observation, pathological examination, bacterium isolation and identification, biochemical test, PCR and animal experiment test were conducted.The preventive and control measures were taken on the basis of pathogen epidemiological characteristics and drug sensitive test results.The results showed that Mycoplasma, influenza virus and parasite were negative by isolation and culture or PCR, however, two strains of gram-negative bacteria named MS1 and MS2 were isolated from lung.MS1 was identified as Serratia marcescens by biochemical test and 16S rRNA sequencing, which shared 99% nucleotide homology with other Serratia marcescens in GenBank.And MS2 was identified as E.coil by the same methods that shared 99% nucleotide homology with other E.coli in GenBank.Animal experiment showed that two strains could cause death in mice.The drug sensitive tests showed two strains were highly sensitive to spectinomycin, amikacin, kanamicin and neomycin.Kanamycin and dexamethasone were used to treat the sick goats, and achieved good results.