Changes of intracellular potassium activity and membrane potential in guinea pig ventricular myocardium during superfusion with low sodium solutions and effects of low pH

AIM:To investigate the changes in intracellular potassium activity(aⁱK) and membrane potential(V_m) induced by low external sodium infusion (Low [Na]_o) and to detect the mechanisms involved and the relationship between aⁱK and V_m. METHODS:aⁱK and V_m were measured in infusion with different sodium concentrations using methods of convenient and ion selective microelectrodes in guinea pig ventricular myocardium. RESULTS:Low [Na]_o resulted in a decrease in aⁱK and an increase in V_m in a Na⁺ concentration-dependent manner.At the same time,contraction and resting potential increased, and action potential duration decreased markedly,but action potential amplitude was not affected. A change of the pH from 7.4 to 7.0 in low [Na]_o solution reduced the decrease in aⁱK, but did not affect the increase in V_m.CONCLUSION:A better linear relationship appeared between the changes in aⁱk and [Na]_o or in V_m and [Na]_o,while during each low [Na]_o the change in both aⁱK or V_m may reach a new balance level.     

Branched‐chain amino acid ratios in low‐protein diets regulate the free amino acid profile and the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolism‐related genes in growing pigs

Liver metabolism is affected by nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of low‐protein diets (17% crude protein, CP) supplemented with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val), on hepatic amino acid profile and lipid metabolism in growing pigs. The ratio of Leu : Ile : Val in all groups was 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (20% crude protein, CP), 1 : 1 : 1 (17% CP), 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 (17% CP), 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (17% CP) and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 (17% CP) respectively. Results revealed that compared to the positive control group (1 : 0.51 : 0.63, 20% CP), the low‐protein diets significantly augmented the concentrations of most essential amino acids and non‐essential amino acids (p < .05), with the greatest values observed in the 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 group. Moreover, relative to the control, the low‐protein diets with the Leu : Ile : Val ratio ranging from 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 to 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 markedly downregulated the mRNA abundance of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP‐4) (p < .05), and upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐g coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L‐CPT‐1) (p < .05). Therefore, our data suggest that protein‐restricted diets supplemented with optimal BCAA ratio, that is, 1 : 0.75 : 0.75–1 : 0.25 : 0.25, induce a shift from fatty acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation in the liver of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Effects of oxidized high-density lipoprotein on membrane fluidity and the expression of lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 of monocyte

AIM: To investigate the effects of oxidized high-density lipoprotein (oxHDL) on membrane fluidity and the expression of lymphocyte function associated antigen(LFA-1) of monocyte. METHODS: The membrane fluidity of THP-1 cells was assayed by fluorescence anisotropy with DPH (1,6-dipheny-1,3,5-hexatriene), a fluorescent probe; The LFA-1 expression on THP-1 cells were assayed by flow cytometry with indirect immunofluorescence.RESULTS: The membrane fluidity of THP-1 cells was reduced by 45% and 52% respectively (P＜0.01) after incubation with 100 μg protein/mL oxHDL and oxLDL for 20 h; oxHDL could stimulated the expression of LFA-1 on THP-1 cells, the positive cell rate and mean fluoresence intensity (MFI) increased by 39% and 45% respectively versus control group (P＜0.01) after incubation with cells for 24 h. CONCLUSIONS: By increasing the expression of LFA-1 on monocyte, oxHDL can promote the monocyte-endothelium adhesion; oxHDL also can reduce the membrane fluidity of monocyte, that will limit the returning of monocytes from subendothelium back to the circulation. This suggested that oxHDL may play an important role in atherogenesis.     

Youssoufenes A2 and A3, Antibiotic Dimeric Cinnamoyl Lipids from the ΔdtlA Mutant of a Marine-Derived Streptomyces Strain

Two new dimeric cinnamoyl lipids (CL) featuring with an unusual dearomatic carbon-bridge, named youssoufenes A2 (1) and A3 (2), were isolated from the ΔdtlA mutant strain of marine-derived Streptomyces youssoufiensis OUC6819. Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on extensive MS and NMR spectroscopic analyses, and their absolute configurations were determined by combination of the long-range NOE-based ¹H-¹H distance measurements and ECD calculations. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate growth inhibition against multi-drug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis CCARM 5172 with an MIC value of 22.2 μM.     

人工模拟高温环境下白三叶草相对生理指标测定

研究了高温胁迫条件下白三叶叶片相对含水量、膜透性、脯氨酸含量和叶绿素含量的变化规律。结果表明:25~35℃处理0.5 h后,白三叶的膜透性、脯氨酸含量逐渐上升,相对含水量、叶绿素含量逐渐下降,但幅度不大;45℃以上高温处理后,以上生理指标均有显著性大幅度的变化。与CK比较,温度每升高5℃,白三叶细胞质膜透性、脯氨酸含量平均增加50.62%、59.89%,而相对含水量、叶绿素含量分别下降34.22%、4.61%。在实验条件下,白三叶能适应35℃的高温,40~45℃为其忍耐高温的临界温度范围,50℃为致死温度上限。     

何首乌对兔血脂及脂肪肝形成的影响

为观察何首乌对高脂饮食兔血清脂质代谢和脂肪肝形成的影响,采用高脂饮食建立兔高脂血症模型,动态检测对照组、高脂模型组、何首乌高剂量组、中剂量组和低剂量组血清中TC、TG、LDL—C、HDL—C含量,实验8周末进行肝脏病理组织学观察。结果：何首乌高、中、低剂量组能明显降低高脂饮食兔血清中TC、TG、LDL—C含量（P〈0．01）,并能提高HDL—C含量（P〈0．05）;光镜下何首乌高、中剂量组肝脏脂肪病变减轻,肝细胞脂变率明显下降（P〈0．05）。结果表明,何首乌具有一定的调节血脂,抑制高脂饮食所致兔脂肪肝形成的作用。     

卵黄中脂肪酸含量的变化对鸡胚组成的影响

对孵化过程中,卵黄囊中各种脂肪酸的含量变化和鸡胚或出壳雏鸡机体的水分、脂肪和蛋白质的含量变化关系进行了两次试验。试验1于入孵的第6,9,12,15,18和21 d测定胚胎或出壳雏的湿重和干重、水分、粗蛋白质和粗脂肪的含量。试验2于入孵的第6,9,1 2,15和18 d测定胚胎的干重、湿重、卵黄脂类和脂肪酸的含量。结果表明试验1:胚体水分含量和胚体蛋白含量呈正相关,但和干胚重、体脂肪含量呈负相关。试验2卵黄中脂类含量和湿胚重、胚胎水分含量、卵黄中亚油酸含量呈正相关。而卵黄中脂类含量和干胚重、相对卵黄重呈负相关。相对干胚重(以入孵蛋重为基础)表现出和硬脂酸呈负相关,孵化过程中胚胎的水分、粗脂肪、粗蛋白含量受来自卵黄脂肪的影响是不同的。胚胎摄取的硬脂酸和亚油酸对胚胎的干物质组成和卵黄的花生四烯酸浓度的影响是不同的。