Chronic progressive lymphoedema in draught horses

The objective of this review was to summarise and evaluate the current state of knowledge about chronic progressive lymphoedema in draught horses. Clinical signs of this multifactorial disorder are mainly restricted to the lower limbs, comprising progressively deteriorating skin, swelling and deformation. Although typical lesions were first reported at the beginning of the 20th century, chronic progressive lymphoedema was recognised as a specific syndrome only in 2003, and since then research has driven forward. Despite the high prevalence in some breeds and the serious economic impact, the pathogenesis is not fully understood, and the available treatment options remain symptomatic and noncurative. There is a need to improve diagnostic techniques and to develop selection tools.     

Endogenous hydrogen sulfide regulates oxidant/antioxidant balance in rat with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

AIM: To investigate the role of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in the protection against oxidative stress in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).METHODS: The rat model of COPD was established by cigarette smoking (CS) combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation. Thirty-two healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, CS+LPS group, CS+LPS+NaHS (H₂S donor) group and CS+LPS+PPG (DL-propargylglycine, an inhibitor of cystathionine-γ-lyase) group. After 30 days, the lung functions of the rats were measured, the histological changes of lungs were observed under light microscope and the pathological scores were calculated. The H₂S level in plasma and the protein expression of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) in the lung tissues were measured. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were detected to reflect oxidative stress.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the peak expiratory flow (PEF) decreased by 24% and intra-pressure (IP) increased by 66% in CS+LPS group. The pathological scores of the lung tissues also increased. Compared with CS+LPS group, no change in the lung function was observed after given NaHS or PPG, but the pathological scores decreased in CS+ LPS+ NaHS group. Compared with control group, the content of H₂S in plasma was increased by 26% on day 16. Compared with CS+LPS group, the content of H₂S in plasma of CS+LPS+PPG group was decreased by 22% after 30 days. Compared with control group, the protein expression of CSE increased, and no statistical difference among CS+LPS group, CS+ LPS+ NaHS group and CS+LPS+PPG group was observed. Compared with control group, MDA content in the lung tissues was increased by 24% in CS+LPS group, the activity of SOD was increased by 47% and the activity of CAT was increased by 52%. Compared with CS+LPS group, the MDA content in CS+LPS+NaHS group was decreased by 21%, and no statistical difference in the activity of SOD and CAT was observed. The activity of SOD decreased by 33% after given PPG.CONCLUSION: H₂S plays a role as anti-oxidant in the rats with COPD. The CSE/ H₂S pathway may be involved in the development of COPD.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN FOALS WITH INFECTIOUS ARTHRITIS

The magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of foals with infectious and noninfectious arthritis are described. Six foals with infectious arthritis and three foals with noninfectious arthritis were grouped based on synovial fluid analysis results and examined with radiography and MR imaging. Four out of six foals with infectious arthritis had osseous lesions in MR images indicative of osteomyelitis and only 4/19 lesions were detected on digital radiographs. The three foals with noninfectious arthritis had no osseous lesions in MR images or radiographically. Of the six joints that had osseous lesions detected with MR imaging, three had at least one lytic lesion detected radiographically. Osseous lesions in the epiphysis, metaphysis, and physis appeared in MR images as T2W, short tau inversion recovery, and proton density hyperintense foci with a hypointense halo. The same lesions appeared hyperintense in the 3D RSSG water excitation pulse sequence but lacked a surrounding hypointense halo. Most joints of foals with infectious arthritis had heterogenous signals within the synovial fluid whereas all of the nonseptic joints had homogenous synovial fluid signals. MR imaging appears to be better than radiography in the detection of osseous lesions in foals diagnosed with infectious arthritis and may be a valuable screening test for the presence of osteomyelitis.     

小剂量四氯化碳结合乙醇制备小鼠慢性肝损伤模型

通过腹腔注射70 g/L四氯化碳/橄榄油及自由饮用100 mL/L乙醇建立稳定的小鼠慢性肝损伤模型。选择昆明小鼠25只,试验组15只,对照组10只,试验组腹腔注射70 g/L四氯化碳并自由饮用100mL/L乙醇溶液,连续造模4周。结果试验组小鼠血清中ALT、AST含量明显高于对照组,SOD含量显著低于对照组,病理学切片显示,试验组动物肝脏脂肪细胞增多,并出现少量纤维化。结果表明,小剂量四氯化碳结合乙醇可用于制备小鼠慢性肝损伤模型。     

微囊藻毒素-LR对生菜非结构性碳水化合物代谢的影响

【目的】研究低质量浓度微囊藻毒素-LR（MC-LR）慢性暴露对生菜（Lactuca sativa）叶片及根系非结构性碳水化合物代谢的影响，为富营养化水体在生菜灌溉中的应用提供理论指导。【方法】以散叶生菜为试验材料，采用土培试验方法，设置不同质量浓度（0（对照组），1，5，10，30 μg/L）MC-LR的水溶液灌溉生菜30 d，通过分析生菜叶片及根系中可溶性糖（葡萄糖、果糖和蔗糖）及淀粉含量、蔗糖和淀粉代谢相关酶活性的变化，探讨生菜非结构性碳水化合物代谢对MC-LR慢性暴露的响应。【结果】10和30 μg/L MC-LR组生菜对MC-LR的富集系数较5 μg/L MC-LR组分别显著上升10.85%和17.83%（P＜0.05），而对MC-LR的转运系数分别显著下降17.46%和13.85%（P＜0.05）。与对照组相比，1 μg/L MC-LR组生菜净光合速率显著提高了9.17%（P＜0.05），叶片中果糖含量及根系中葡萄糖含量和淀粉酶（AMS）活性分别显著增加了52.71%，19.13%和37.01%（P＜0.05）；5，10和30 μg/L MC-LR组生菜净光合速率提高，但差异不显著（P＞0.05），叶片和根系中葡萄糖、果糖和蔗糖含量均显著增加（P＜0.05），叶片中性转化酶（NI）活性分别显著降低了27.10%，38.01%和37.29%（P＜0.05），淀粉合成酶活性分别显著增加20.92%，24.57%和30.28%（P＜0.05），根系蔗糖合成酶、蔗糖磷酸合成酶（SPS）和AMS活性均显著增加（P＜0.05）。【结论】1 μg/L MC-LR水溶液灌溉对生菜叶片和根系中非结构性碳水化合物的分布和代谢影响较弱；而5～30 μg/L MC-LR水溶液灌溉通过促进生菜根系淀粉分解和蔗糖代谢活性，维持体内较高浓度的可溶性糖，从而提高生菜的抗逆性。     

钴圃慢照射小麦不同发育阶段植株的生物学效应

利用钴圃分别慢照射普通小麦减数分裂期前、配子体时期、合子幼胚期的植株。结果表明:照射合子幼胚期对当代(M_1)结实率的影响较小,对下一代(M_2)出苗率的影响较大,M_2代的出苗率可作为选择照射合子幼胚期适宜剂量的主要指标。慢照射当代是辐射损伤的主要世代,M_2代的损伤已很轻,是突变显现的第1个世代。文中讨论了照射植株的世代划分问题。     

绿茶抗大鼠肾间质纤维化作用的实验研究

采用"单肾切除加腺嘌呤灌胃法"建立大鼠慢性肾衰竭模型。治疗组予绿茶液灌胃治疗,对照组予尿毒清溶液灌胃治疗,连续治疗28天。取大鼠肾脏石蜡切片分别进行HE染色、PASM染色、Masson染色、Sirius Red染色、Mallory染色,光镜下观察大鼠肾组织5种染色的病理形态学改变,PASM染色、Masson染色、Sirius Red染色随机选择进行肾脏组织病理学图像分析。绿茶组在肾间质纤维化面积、肾小球系膜积分光密度值、肾间质中I、Ⅲ型胶原分布面积等方面的作用与模型组对比,P<0.05。说明绿茶能够减轻腺嘌呤对大鼠肾间质的病理损害,绿茶有抗肾间质纤维化的作用,并且能抑制I、Ⅲ型胶原纤维的增生,这可能是绿茶防治肾间质纤维化、延缓慢性肾衰竭发展进程的机制之一。