The Association of Chalazal Cell Ultrastructure in Caryopsis and Grain Filling in Wheat

Using three wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L. ), Een1, Huamai8 and 95A-10, which ex-hibit different grain filling characters, the relationship of ultrastructure of the chalazal cells in wheat caryop-sis and grain filling was studied. The results indicate that the lipoid and polysaccharide deposited in vacuolesof the chalazal cells have no obvious inhibitory actions to the grain filling. It appears that a direct relationshipexists between the proceeding and end time of grain filling and the amount and appearing time of the lipoid,within lignin and suberin deposited on the inner wall of chalazal cells, and between grain filling rate and culti-vars characteristic. The appearing time of the lipoid, within lignin and suberin deposited on the inner wall ofchalazal cells in cultivar with large grain (Een1 and 95A-10) was later than that in cultivar with small grain(Huamai8), and the amount of deposits in the former was less than that in the latter. The late development ofcaryopsis and low rate of grain filling account for the wrinkled grain of 95A-10. The transport of assimilatesin chalazal cells coexists with symplastic and apoplastic pathways, but symplastic pathway plays a major roleafter 24 days of flowering.     

Establishment of an in vitro culture model to study milk production and the blood–milk barrier with bovine mammary epithelial cells

This study attempted to establish a culture model to recreate the milk production pathway in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). BMECs were isolated from Holstein cows (nonlactating, nonpregnant, and parous) and were stored by cryopreservation. To separate the apical and basolateral compartments, BMECs were cultured on a cell culture insert with a collagen gel in the presence of bovine pituitary extract and dexamethasone to induce milk production and tight junction (TJ) formation. The culture model showed the secretion of the major milk components, such as β‐casein, lactose, and triglyceride, and formed less‐permeable TJs in BMECs. Moreover, the TJs were distinctly separated from the apical and basolateral membranes. Glucose transporter‐1, which transports glucose into the cytoplasm through the basolateral membrane, localized in the lateral membrane of BMECs. Toll‐like receptor‐4, which binds to lipopolysaccharide in the alveolar lumen in mastitis, localized in the apical membrane. Beta‐casein was mainly localized near the Golgi apparatus and the apical membrane. Moreover, milk components were almost secreted into the upper chamber of the cell culture insert. These findings indicate that this model has clear cell polarity as well as in vivo and is effective to study of milk production and the blood–milk barrier in lactating BMECs.     

辣蓼黄酮正丁醇部分体外抗猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒的研究

为明确辣蓼黄酮正丁醇部分（n-butanol part of flavonoids from Polygonum hydropiper L.,FNB）体外抗猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PPRSV）的效果。本研究以Marc-145细胞和PPRSV弱毒疫苗毒株（TJM-F92）为对象,通过CCK-8法检测FNB对细胞的毒性作用,并检测先给药后接毒、先接毒后给药、药物与病毒同时作用这3种方式处理细胞后药物对病毒的抑制率。结果发现,FNB对细胞的最大安全浓度为500 μg/mL,因此,选择25~500 μg/mL浓度范围的FNB进行后续试验。各浓度的FNB处理病毒后,能不同程度的抑制PRRSV在细胞上的增殖,并呈现一定的剂量效应关系,药物的浓度越高,抗病毒效果越好。其中,先接毒后给药、药物与病毒同时作用这两种方式抗PRRSV效果显著,在25~500 μg/mL浓度范围内细胞存活率分别为21.55%~65.23%和24.85%~73.60%。而先给药后接毒,不能有效降低病毒的感染力,在药物最高剂量（500 μg/mL）时细胞存活率仅为7.00%,抗病毒效果不明显。FNB预先作用于Marc-145细胞虽未降低PRRSV感染细胞的能力,即药物对于PRRSV预防作用效果不理想,但是FNB对病毒感染细胞后呈现一定的作用,药物能够通过抑制病毒的合成、释放及直接杀灭病毒,进而能够有效抑制PRRSV在细胞上的增殖。本试验结果不仅为FNB在临床上治疗猪繁殖与呼吸综合征（PRRS）提供参考依据,而且可以为辣蓼的深度开发和利用提供理论依据。     

干扰lnc23后牛骨骼肌卫星细胞转录组测序的生物信息学分析

试验旨在分析lnc23在调控牛骨骼肌卫星细胞分化过程中转录组水平的变化,筛选出可能参与调节骨骼肌卫星细胞生长的调控通路及相关mRNAs。采用第二代测序技术（next-generation sequencing,NGS）基于Illumia hiSeq测序平台对成功构建的lnc23抑制模型及相应对照组的牛骨骼肌卫星细胞进行转录组测序,将数据整理、过滤及评估后,通过生物信息学方法分析样品间基因转录差异表达,对这些差异基因进行GO和KEGG富集分析,并应用实时荧光定量PCR技术对转录组数据结果进行验证。结果显示,转录组测序共鉴定到19 358个基因,筛选到1 297个差异表达基因,其中上调856个,下调441个。差异基因的GO功能分析共包括细胞组分、分子功能和生物学过程3大类222个分支,其中有大量的差异基因与催化活性、分子功能调节、信号转导、生物黏附、新陈代谢相关。KEGG分析显示,差异基因共涉及190个通路,显著富集在PI3K-Akt、P53、TNF、RIG-Ⅰ样受体、神经活性配体受体互作、细胞因子互作等信号通路上,进一步从中筛选出可能参与细胞生长、肌肉发育过程的差异基因,如CCNA2、RRM2、IL-6、MYL2等。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,所选的11个差异基因中有9个与转录组测序结果变化一致,表明了测序结果的可靠性。本试验完成了干扰lnc23及其对照后牛骨骼肌卫星细胞的转录组测序分析,获取差异基因的功能注释信息,初步揭示lnc23调控牛骨骼肌卫星细胞分化的潜在基因和通路,为深入探究lnc23调控牛骨骼肌卫星细胞的分化机制打下良好的基础。     

禽呼肠孤病毒σB和σC蛋白在昆虫细胞中的共表达

本研究旨在获得具有天然构象和活性良好的禽呼肠孤病毒（ARV）σB和σC蛋白,采用杆状病毒表达系统在昆虫细胞中共表达σB和σC蛋白,并对其活性进行鉴定。根据NCBI数据库中ARV σB和σC基因序列设计引物,将两个基因克隆至pFast-Dual载体,转化大肠杆菌DH10Bac感受态细胞,筛选获得重组穿梭杆粒。通过转染sf9细胞,筛选到含有σB和σC基因的重组病毒。将重组病毒感染sf9细胞,通过优化接毒量和收获时间等参数,确定最佳表达条件,在sf9细胞中高效共表达σB和σC蛋白。Western blotting和间接免疫荧光（IFA）检测结果表明,成功在sf9细胞中共表达了ARV σB和σC蛋白,并具有很好的生物学活性。本试验结果为开发鉴别诊断试剂以及ARV颗粒疫苗的研究奠定了基础。     

猪精原干细胞体外分离培养及移植的研究进展

精原干细胞（spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs）位于睾丸曲细精管基底小室内,因其具有持续的自我更新能力和分化为精子的能力,被认为是雄性哺乳动物体内唯一能将自身遗传物质传递给后代的成体干细胞。对SSCs的研究已成为干细胞学科研究的热点之一,但目前SSCs的研究多集中于啮齿类动物,而猪SSCs（porcine SSCs,pSSCs）的研究进展相对落后,主要是由于存在以下几个问题：睾丸中pSSCs本身数量极少,且缺乏特异的分子标记;pSSCs的分离纯化技术仍不成熟;pSSCs体外培养体系仍不够完善。这些问题的存在导致pSSCs分离纯化效率低,并且难以在体外长期稳定培养及传代,以至于pSSCs的相关机理研究缺乏稳定的材料,为其体外研究及应用带来了不便。基于以上现状,文章总结了pSSCs体外分离培养及移植的研究进展,详细介绍了pSSCs的分子标记、分离纯化和体外培养的相关方法,以及pSSCs移植技术的研究现状,旨在为pSSCs研究提供参考,以期加快pSSCs在猪的遗传育种与繁殖领域以及男性生殖医学领域的研究和应用。     

奶牛乳腺免疫细胞防御机理研究进展

奶牛乳腺中的初级吞噬细胞、嗜中性粒细胞(PMN)和巨噬细胞构成了抵御病原体入侵的第1道防线。在健康奶牛的乳腺中,巨噬细胞占主导地位且充当哨兵的角色。当病原体侵入乳腺时,巨噬细胞及乳腺上皮细胞就会释放出直接将PMN迁移到该区域的趋化剂,使PMN从循环中迅速流入并吞噬和杀灭细菌,起到保护的作用。抵御病原体入侵的第2道防线是由记忆细胞和免疫球蛋白组成的网络,它们与第1道防线相互作用。随着分子生物学技术的发展,更好地了解炎症反应的调节机制可为研究和调节宿主与病原体的相互作用提供理论基础,因此本文就奶牛乳腺免疫细胞防御机理的研究进展进行了综述。     

CPEB3 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of bovine cumulus cells

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element‐binding protein 3 (CPEB3) is a member of the Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element‐binding family, which has been found to regulate the translation of dormant and masked mRNA in Xenopus oocytes and plays potential roles in regulating biological functions in cells and tissues. However, its role in cumulus cells is not clear. In this study, the mRNA expression of CPEB3 in bovine cumulus cells was inhibited with small interfering RNA. Cell cycle progression, proliferation, and apoptosis were measured after inhibition of CPEB3. Subsequently, changes in intracellular Reactive oxygen species content, mitochondrial membrane potential and expansion‐related gene expression were examined. The results showed that after CPEB3 inhibition, cumulus cells had an abnormal cell cycle, the numbers of cells in the S and G2/M phases were significantly increased, cell proliferation was increased and apoptosis rates were decreased. These effects were likely due CPEB3 inhibition‐induced decreases in intracellular Reactive oxygen species levels; increases in mitochondrial membrane potential; decreases in apoptosis; downregulation of CCNA, CCND, CCNE, CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, p21, and p27 mRNA expression; and upregulation of CCNB, CDK1, HAS2, PTGS2, PTX3, and CEBPB mRNA expression. Therefore, CPEB3 plays potential roles in regulating the biological and physiological functions of bovine cumulus cell.     

A novel MCT1 and MCT4 dual inhibitor reduces mitochondrial metabolism and inhibits tumour growth of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) support tumour growth by regulating the transport of metabolites in the tumour microenvironment. High MCT1 or MCT4 expression is correlated with poor outcomes in human patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Recently, drugs targeting these transporters have been developed and may prove to be an effective treatment strategy for HNSCC. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive and treatment‐resistant malignancy resembling advanced or recurrent HNSCC. The goals of this study were to investigate the effects of a previously characterized dual MCT1 and MCT4 inhibitor, MD‐1, in OSCC as a novel treatment approach for feline oral cancer. We also sought to determine the potential of feline OSCC as a large animal model for the further development of MCT inhibitors to treat human HNSCC. In vitro, MD‐1 reduced the viability of feline OSCC and human HNSCC cell lines, altered glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism and synergized with platinum‐based chemotherapies. While MD‐1 treatment increased lactate concentrations in an HNSCC cell line, the inhibitor failed to alter lactate levels in feline OSCC cells, suggesting an MCT‐independent activity. In vivo, MD‐1 significantly inhibited tumour growth in a subcutaneous xenograft model and prolonged overall survival in an orthotopic model of feline OSCC. Our results show that MD‐1 may be an effective therapy for the treatment of feline oral cancer. Our findings also support the further investigation of feline OSCC as a large animal model to inform the development of MCT inhibitors and future clinical studies in human HNSCC.     

A selectively suppressing amino acid transporter: Sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 inhibits cell growth and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 pathway in skeletal muscle cells

Sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter 2 (SNAT2), also known as solute carrier family 38 member 2 (SLC38A2), is expressed in the skeletal muscle. Our research previously indicated that SNAT2 mRNA expression level in the skeletal muscle was modulated by genotype and dietary protein. The aim of this study was to investigate the key role of the amino acid transporter SNAT2 in muscle cell growth, differentiation, and related signaling pathways via SNAT2 suppression using the inhibitor α-methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB). The results showed that SNAT2 suppression down-regulated both the mRNA and protein expression levels of SNAT2 in C2C12 cells, inhibited cell viability and differentiation of the cell, and regulated the cell distribution in G0/G1 and S phases (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, most of the intercellular amino acid content of the cells after MeAIB co-culturing was significantly lower (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of system L amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), silent information regulator 1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator 1 alpha, as well as the protein expression levels of amino acid transporters LAT1 and vacuolar protein sorting 34, were all down-regulated. The phosphorylated protein expression levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), regulatory-associated protein of mTOR, 4E binding protein 1, and ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 after MeAIB treatment were also significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05), which could contribute to the importance of SNAT2 in amino acid transportation and skeletal muscle cell sensing. In conclusion, SNAT2 suppression inhibited C2C12 cell growth and differentiation, as well as the availability of free amino acids. Although the mTOR complex 1 signaling pathway was found to be involved, its response to different nutrients requires further study.