Pancreatic insulin release and peripheral insulin sensitivity in German black headed mutton and Finish Landrace ewes: evaluation of the role of insulin resistance in the susceptibility to ovine pregnancy toxemia

German black headed mutton (GBM) ewes are recognized as being highly susceptible to ovine pregnancy toxemia (OPT). The present trial was performed to evaluate whether a breed-dependent gestational diabetes mellitus-like insulin resistance during late pregnancy might be responsible for the high incidence of OPT in the GBM breed. Modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance tests (300 mg glucose and 0.03 IU insulin per kg of BW) were performed during mid and late pregnancy, the periparturient, and the dry period in polytocous 3.5-yr-old GBM and Finnish Landrace (FL) ewes fed according to their requirements. The corresponding blood samples were analyzed for plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB). In addition, the baseline plasma cortisol concentrations were determined during late pregnancy. The BW gain during pregnancy and the rearing success did not differ between the GBM and FL ewes. In both breeds, late pregnancy was associated with decreased basal plasma glucose concentrations and enhanced glucose disposal, as well as elevated baseline β-HB values. Only in the GBM ewes did the plasma NEFA concentrations increase significantly during advancing pregnancy. Moreover, significantly higher baseline plasma NEFA concentrations as well as lower (P < 0.05) basal plasma glucose values were recorded during late pregnancy in the GBM than in the FL ewes. The first-phase insulin secretion, the peripheral insulin sensitivity, and the baseline plasma cortisol values did not differ between both breeds during late pregnancy. It is concluded that increased lipolysis during late pregnancy is a characteristic of the GBM breed. Moreover, elevated plasma NEFA concentrations may contribute to impaired pancreatic insulin response and peripheral insulin resistance in GBM ewes and thus promote OPT.     

Metabolism of energy substrates of in vitro and in vivo derived embryos from ewes synchronized and super ovulated with norgestomet and porcine follicle stimulating hormone

The synchronization and ovulatory responses of Sangsari cross bred ewes and metabolism of energy substrates in 8-cell stage embryos to hatched blastocysts stage produced in vitro or in vivo were investigated. Ewes were assigned randomly to receive 37.5 IU of porcine follicle stimulating hormone (FSH-P) daily for the 3 days preceding implant removal (Day 0). Synchronization of estrus was carried out using a 1.5 mg norgestomet (Crestar) ear implant for 12 days. Ewes in estrus were mated two to three times with rams of proven fertility. At the time of first mating each ewe was administered 1000 IU of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) to induce ovulation. Surgical embryo recovery was performed on Days 4 and 6 after onset of estrus (Day 0) and recovered embryos were subjected to comparative metabolism studies with in vitro derived embryos at the same stage of development. The number of corpora lutea (CL), unovulated follicles and overall ovarian activity were recorded for each ewe during the breeding and non-breeding seasons. While the pattern of oxidation was similar among in vitro and in vivo derived embryos, a low pyruvate to lactate ratio was the preferred substrate of embryos derived in vitro. A high level of production of CO2 and lactate resulted from a stress response to the suboptimal culture environment. The first marked increase in the metabolism of glucose by ovine embryos was detected in compact morula stage, but there was no significant increase in the oxidation of glucose after the morula stage. Two different concentrations of glucose were compared, but this did not affect metabolism. However, the rate of incorporation and metabolism of glucose tended to be higher at the 0.56 mmol/L glucose dosage.     

竹的纤维素提取·诱导和葡萄糖化的研究

[目的]以竹材为原料制备葡萄糖,为竹基生物资源的高效转化和利用提供有益的参考。[方法]采用热化学液化法提取竹纤维素、经乙酰化诱导、酸水解和精制等过程制备葡萄糖。[结果]产物通过1H NMR推定为α型和β型葡萄糖混合物(总收率为24.3%),酸水解反应的最佳温度应在100℃左右。[结论]该方法简单易行,可操作性强。     

小球藻自养、异养和混养特性的研究

[目的]为小球藻的高密度培养及开发高附加值代谢产物提供基础参数。[方法]从细胞生长、营养物质吸收、细胞生理生化特性等方面,研究小球藻自养、异养和混养特性。[结果]在异养和混养条件下小球藻生物量显著提高,最大生物量分别是自养时的3.2、4.0倍,对葡萄糖的吸收与生长状态相对应;在不同营养方式下细胞组分存在差别,在异养和混养条件下蛋白质和碳水化合物含量降低,但总脂含量增加;与自养相比,异养和混养时叶绿素含量降低,激发能在2个光合系统间的分配比PSII/PSI降低。[结论]混合培养在高密度高油脂含率小球藻培养方面具重要的应用前景。     

Establishment of insulinoma animal models and observation of tumor characteristics

AIM：To establish the animal model of insulinoma and to analyze the properties of insulinoma for further study. METHODS：The hormone-releasing ability of rat insulinoma cell line INS-1 was detected in vitro. INS-1 cells were transplanted into the left kidney capsule of nude mice. The islets of the animals were destroyed by intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ) 3 d before transplantation or 2 weeks after transplantation. The venous blood was sampled, and the level of blood glucose less than 2.8 mmol/L was defined as successful establishment of insulinoma model. Different irritants were given to the model animals, and the changes of blood glucose and insulin content in serum were observed. The pancreatic tissues and the renal tissues in the injecting sites were taken from all mice for detecting insulin and glucagon by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS：Insulinoma cells expressed insulin and glucagon at the same time. The blood glucose was less than 2.8 mmol/L 3 to 4 weeks after inoculation of INS-1 cells. Apparent tumor formed in the left kidneys where INS-1 cells were transplanted and the tumor diameters were more than 1 cm. The level of blood glucose transiently increased to higher than the normal level in the mice with tumor cell transplantation after intraperitoneal injection of STZ, and then decreased gradually and returned to less than 2.8 mmol/L after 2 weeks. The level of blood glucose in the normal nude mice after administration of STZ increased significantly. After transplantation of INS-1 cells, the level of blood glucose decreased gradually, and returned to less than 2.8 mmol/L after 4 weeks. After stimulated with high glucose, the blood glucose levels in the mice with 3 methods to establish the insulinoma models showed lower glucose peaks than that in the normal control mice. After stimulated with high glucose plus arginine or acetylcholine in the normal animals, the blood glucose peak was lower than that in the normal animals only stimulated with high glucose, and rapidly recovered to the normal level. However, the levels of blood glucose in the mice with 3 methods to establish the insulinoma models under the same stimulations were significantly higher than that in the mice only stimulated with high glucose. After stimulated with high glucose plus norepinephrine, the blood glucose peak time in the normal animals delayed, and the blood glucose level declined slowly. After stimulated with high glucose plus norepinephrine, the levels of blood glucose in the mice with 3 methods to establish the insulinoma models increased as compared with that in the mice only stimulated with high glucose. Compared with normal control group, serum insulin in insulinoma mice increased significantly. CONCLUSION：The insulinoma animal model is successfully established by transplantation of INS-1 cells into the renal capsule of nude mice. The insulinoma cells express both insulin and glucagon, and are not easily damaged by STZ.     

Microbial responses to fluctuation of soil aeration status and redox conditions

 The response of the microbial community to changes in aeration status, from oxic to anoxic and from anoxic to oxic, was determined in arable soil incubated in a continuous flow incubation apparatus. Soil incubated in permanently oxic (air) and/or anoxic (O₂-free N₂) conditions was used as the control. Before experiments soil was preincubated for 6 days, then aeration status was changed and glucose added. Glucose concentration, extractable C, CO₂ production, microbial biomass, pH and redox potential were determined 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36 and 48 h after change of aeration status. If oxic conditions were changed to anoxic, the amount of glucose consumed was reduced by about 60%, and CO₂ production was 10 times lower at the end of incubation compared to the control (permanently oxic conditions). Microbial biomass increased by 114% in glucose-amended soil but did not change in unamended soil. C immobilization prevailed over C mineralization. Redox potential decreased from +627 mV to –306 mV. If anoxic conditions were changed to oxic, consumption of glucose and CO₂ evolution significantly increased, compared to permanently anoxic conditions. Microbial biomass did not change in glucose-amended soil, but decreased by 78% in unamended soil. C mineralization was accelerated. Redox potential increased from +238 to +541 mV. The rate of glucose consumption was low in anoxic conditions if soil was incubated in pure N₂ but increased significantly when incubation was carried out in a CO₂/N₂ mixture. Received: 6 January 1999     

Critical sulphur concentration and sulphur requirement of microbial biomass in a glucose and cellulose-amended regosol

 The critical S concentration and S requirement of the soil microbial biomass of a granitic regosol was examined. S was applied at the rate of 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 μg S as MgSO₄·7H₂O, together with either 3000 μg glucose-C or 3333 μg cellulose-C, 400 μg N, and 200 μg P g ^–1 soil and 200 μg K g^–1 soil. Microbial biomass, inorganic SO₄ ^2–-S, and CO₂ emission were monitored over 30 days during incubation at 25  °C. Both glucose and cellulose decomposition rates responded positively to the S made available for microbial cell synthesis. The amounts of microbial biomass C and S increased with the level of applied S up to 10 μg S g^–1 soil and 30 μg S g^–1 soil in the glucose- and cellulose-amended soil, respectively, and then declined. Incorporated S was found to be concentrated within the microbial biomass or partially transformed into soil organic matter. The concentration of S in the microbial biomass was higher in the cellulose- (4.8–14.2 mg g^–1) than in the glucose-amended soil (3.7–10.9 mg g^–1). The microbial biomass C:S ratio was higher in the glucose- (46–142 : 1) than in the cellulose-amended soil (36–115 : 1). The critical S concentration in the microbial biomass (defined as that required to achieve 80% of the maximum synthesis of microbial biomass C) was estimated to be 5.1 mg g^–1 in the glucose- and 10.9 mg g^–1 in the cellulose-amended soil. The minimum requirement of SO₄ ^2–-S for microbial biomass formation was estimated to be 11 μg S g^–1 soil and 21 μg S g^–1 soil for glucose- and cellulose-amended soil, respectively. The highest levels of activity of the microbial biomass were observed at the SO₄ ^2–-S concentrations of 14 μg S g^–1 soil and 17 μg S g^–1 soil, for the glucose and cellulose amendments, respectively, and were approximately 31–54% higher during glucose than cellulose decomposition. Received: 20 October 1999     

外源脱落酸和赤霉素对红肉脐橙果肉糖含量的影 响

在红肉脐橙幼果期和着色前分2次喷施不同浓度的外源 ABA和 GA3,研究其对红肉脐橙果肉糖含量的影响。结果表明：10 mg/L ABA处理显著或极显著提高了果实成熟时的葡萄糖、果糖和总糖含量,50 mg/L ABA处理极显著提高了果实蔗糖含量,而100 mg/L ABA处理极显著降低了果实葡萄糖含量;中低浓度的 GA3（10、50和250 mg/L）极显著提高了果实蔗糖含量,10 mg/L GA3处理对果实葡萄糖和果糖含量无明显影响,但极显著提高了果实总糖含量,50、250和500 mg/L GA3处理极显著降低了果实葡萄糖、果糖和总糖含量。表明着色前较低浓度的外源 ABA处理（10和50 mg/L）可提高果实中一种或几种糖的含量,而较高浓度的 GA3处理（250和500 mg/L）则严重阻碍了果肉中糖的积累。     

Dopamine modulates the physiological response of the tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon

Levels of glucose, lactate, pO₂, pCO₂, HCO₃⁻, TCO₂, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, protein, and oxyhemocyanin in the hemolymph and its osmolality and pH were measured when tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon (13.5 ± 1.5 g body weight), were individually injected with saline or dopamine at 10^− 8, 10^− 7, or 10^− 6 mol shrimp^− 1. Results showed that hemolymph glucose, lactate, pCO₂, HCO₃⁻, and TCO₂ values increased from 2 to 4 h; hemolymph osmolality, Na⁺, and total protein had increased at 2 h; and hemolymph K⁺ decreased from 2 to 8 h after the dopamine injection. All physiological parameters returned to the control values 4–16 h after receiving dopamine. The dopamine injection also significantly decreased the oxyhemocyanin/protein ratio of P. monodon which occurred at 2 h, resulting from an elevation of hemolymph protein and a slight decrease of oxyhemocyanin. These results suggest that stress-inducing dopamine caused a transient period of modulation of energy metabolism, osmoregulation, respiration, and the acid–base balance in P. monodon in adapting to this environmental stress.