Influence of predator stress on levels of IL-1β, IL-6 in BALB/C mice with brain asymmetry

AIM: To investigate the influence of predator stress on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and IL-1β, IL-6 in mice with brain asymmetry. METHODS: By using paw preference test, right-pawed, left-pawed, and ambidextrous-pawed mice model were established. Mice with brain lateralization were exposed to their predator (cat). After acute and chronic predator stress by cats, EIA and ELISA were applied to detect plasma levels of corticosterone (CS), IL-1β and IL-6. RESULTS: (1) The level of plasma CS: in both acute and chronic predator stress group, right-pawed and ambidextrous mice had a higher level than that in their corresponding normal group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the two groups also showed higher level than left-pawed in acute stress. Compared with the corresponding group under acute stress, left-pawed had much higher level of CS under chronic stress (P<0.05). (2) The level of plasma IL-1β: in normal group, left and right-pawed mice were higher than that in ambidextrous mice (P<0.01), of which left-pawed was the highest. In chronic stress group, the left-pawed exhibited higher level than that in right-pawed mice (P<0.05). (3) The level of IL-6: after chronic predator stress, ambidextrous mice had much higher level than that in other two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Under predator stress, the HPA axis and plasma proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6) in BALB/C mice were modulated by the brain asymmetrically, and brain lateralization may influence the function of immuno-endocrine network in psychological circumstances.     

Effect of polyamines on intracellular calcium of the rat cardiomyocytes with anoxia and reoxygenation

AIM: To study the effect of extrogenous low concentration polyamine on cardiomyocyte calcium overload caused by anoxia and reoxygenation. METHODS: Enzymatically isolated rat ventricular myocytes were perfused with normal Tyrode solution for 8 min, then change to anoxia solution for 32 min, at last back to normal Tyrode solution perfusion for 8 min to establish the cardiomyocyte model of anoxia and reoxygenation. Spermine was added extracellularly to the bath before anoxia and spermine, spermidine or putrescine was added extracellularly after reoxygenation. Intracellular calcium fluorescence intensity (FI) was measured continuously by laser scan confocal microscope (LSCM). RESULTS: In the unstimulated state, exogenous spermine (1 mol/L) did not change resting ［Ca2+］i in the rat cardiomyocytes. Adding spermine before anoxia antagonized the ［Ca2+］i elevating caused by anoxia/reoxygenation. Adding spermine after reoxygenation also lowed the enhanced ［Ca2+］i caused by reoxygenation. Considering the potency of two conditions, the former was more efficacious than the later. Spermidine and putrescine also lowed the enhanced ［Ca2+］i caused by reoxygenation, but they were less efficacious than spermine. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that spermine given before anoxia or after reoxygenation, antagonized or lowed the cardiomyocytes calcium overload caused by anoxia/reoxygenation, but the later was weaker than the former. The order of potency of the polyamine lighten cardiomyocytes calcium overload caused by anoxia/reoxygenation was spermine>spermindine>putrescine.     

Role of lipopolysaccharide in the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome

AIM: The goal of the present study was to evaluate the possibility about enterogenous endotoxemia in pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome. METHODS: The rat model of cirrhosis was prepared with compound factors. A small dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered intraperitoneally once to aggravate endotoxemia of animal with cirrhosis. The normal rats injected with LPS or injected with LPS combined with glycine (LPS antagonist) were designed as controls. RESULTS: Hepatopulmonary syndrome of rats with cirrhosis had occurred in the end of eighth weeks. Pulmonary pathological changes of cirrhosis rats were exacerbated after administration of a given dose of LPS. Glycine sharply antagonized the biological effect of LPS in vivo and in vitro, inhibited the production of TNF-α by LPS and alleviated various pathological changes of hepatopulmonary syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Enterogenous endotoxemia in cirrhosis rats might be an important mechanism in the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome. Endotoxin and its mediating effect by way of cytokines (TNF-α) may play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome.     

Hypoxia upregulates CD73 expression in mouse microvascular endothelial cells

AIM: To study the effect of hypoxia on CD73 expression in mouse microvascular endothelial cell line bEnd.3. METHODS: ① bEnd.3 cells were exposed to different periods of hypoxia. ② Concentration of LDH released by bEnd.3 cells into the culture medium was detected. ③ Surface CD73 activity in bEnd.3 cells was measured by HPLC according to the conversion of E-AMP to E-ADO. ④ CD73 mRNA expression were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. ⑤ Cell surface proteins were biotinylated and CD73 was detected by avidin blots of immunoprecipitation with mAb TY23. RESULTS: ① bEnd.3 cells exposed to hypoxia for 24 h demonstrated a significant increase in LDH release (P<0.01). ②Hypoxia induced CD73 activity in bEnd.3 cells in a time-dependent manner. ③ CD73 mRNA expression increased markedly in hypoxia for 4 h and 8 h (P<0.05). ④ bEnd.3 cells exposured to hypoxia induced a time-dependent increase in expression of CD73 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Hypoxia induces CD73 mRNA, protein expression and increases CD73 activity in mouse microvascular endothelial cells.     

Effects of panax notoginseng saponins on pneumocyte apoptosis and Fas/FasL expression in rabbits with lung ischemia/reperfusion injury

AIM: AIM: To explore the relationship between apoptosis in the lung tissues and lung ischemia/reperfusion injury, and observe effects of panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on apoptosis in lung ischemia/reperfusion injury. METHODS: Single lung in situ ischemia/reperfusion animal model was used. Eighty four Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into control group (control), ischemia/reperfusion 1 h group (IR1h), IR3h, IR5h, Panax Notoginseng Saponins 1 h group (PNS1h), PNS3h and PNS5h. TUNEL, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques were used to observe apoptosis and Fas/FasL expression in various phases of lung ischemia/reperfusion. RESULTS: Cell apoptosis in lung tissues were significantly high, Fas/FasL mRNA and its protein were up-regulated in lung tissues of lung ischemia/reperfusion injury compared with control (all of P<0.01). The PNS suppressed apoptosis as well as expression of Fas/FasL mRNA and its protein (P<0.05 or P<0.01, respectively). There was a significant correlation between expression of Fas/FasL protein, Fas/FasL mRNA and cell apoptosis (r=0.540，0.658，0.668，0.686；all P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Activation of Fas/FasL system and its initiating cell apoptosis of lung tissues may contribute to the pathogenesis of lung ischemia/reperfusion injury. The protective effects of PNS include suppressing the activation of Fas/FasL system and blocking apoptosis in lung tissues in lung ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

气候变化对陇东塬区冬小麦生长发育及产量的影响

分析西峰农业气象试验站冬小麦生育期的观测资料表明,气候变暖使陇东塬区冬小麦全生育期天数缩短,主要是越冬期天数缩短,而冬小麦实际生长的天数并未缩短;气候变暖使冬小麦播种期推迟,成熟期提前,从而使麦田的休闲期延长,延长了复种作物的生长期,为提高气候资源的利用率和单位面积的产量提供了保证。气候变化对冬小麦气候产量的影响具有明显的周期性。     

新疆草地生态安全问题、现状与对策分析

简要介绍新疆草地生态问题的由来及现状，运用新的生态安全理论分析新疆草地生态安全时空特征，指出新疆草地生态安全问题是长期人地矛盾不断尖锐与发展演变而来。人口膨胀引起的资源环境破坏、超载过牧造成对资源的掠夺经营等，使草地稳定自协调机制破坏，草地自然生态系统由稳定走向严重危机，并引发新的牧业危机。分析指出，实现人地关系的和谐，需综合考虑生态、经济、社会历史等方面的因素。其中，绿洲区牧民定居点的综合发展水平是维护草地生态安全、实现牧业可持续发展的关键。实现生态安全与可持续发展的主要对策有：依法监理草地放牧状况、合理利用、改良与保护天然草地、高效经营人工草料基地、提高畜牧业经营水平等。依托的关键技术有：草地资源监测技术、退化草地治理及草地利用实用技术等。     

丝绸之路南道旅游资源开发研究-以和田地区为例

丝绸之路南道不论在自然旅游资源,还是在人文旅游资源方面都有其独特之处。本文通过对和田地区旅游资源和客源市场现状分析,提出围绕丝绸之路文化旅游为核心,突出以玉石故乡,大漠风光,田园绿洲,佛国古城及伊期兰教四大特色为主题,重点推出“和田玉石文化”、“尼雅寻梦”等精品,以此为龙头,带动区域旅游业发展的旅游资源开发策略。并提出“一主线,六干线”的各具特色的旅游线路。     

西安临潼人工林土壤干化与恢复研究

通过野外调查和室内测定,本文研究了西安临潼人工林下0-6m土壤含水量和土壤干层的变化。结果表明,临潼14龄杨树林和16龄梧桐树林下150-350cm之间土层的含水量分别为8.7%和9.0%。按土壤干层划分标准(含水量<10%),这已属于发育弱的土壤干层,说明西安地区人工林下有土壤干层存在。而在丰水年中,杨树林和梧桐树林下原有的土壤干层带水分含量增加到21.6%和21.7%,土壤干层消失,说明在降水量增加的条件下,西安地区发育弱的土壤干层可以得到恢复,人工林能够正常生长。由此推断,西安及其降水量与其类似的其他地区可以种植一些高大乔木或果树经济林。在土壤干层发育严重的黄土高原北部地区不适于广泛造林,可以优先考虑发展疏林和森林草原植被。