Strontium ranelate promotes differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts by increasing expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2

AIM: To explore whether strontium ranelate (Sr) promotes differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to osteoblasts by increasing the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2). METHODS: Rat BMSCs were isolated, purified and cultured, then were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts. The cells were treated with different concentrations of Sr or noggin (an inhibitor of BMP-2) according to the experimental purposes. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was measured by colorimetry. Mineralized nodules were measured by alizarin red staining. The expression of BMP-2 was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment with Sr at concentrations of 0.1 mmol/L to 7 mmol/L for 7 d obviously increased the activity of ALP,and Sr at concentration of 3 mmol/L produced the maximum effect. Exposure of the cells to Sr at concentration of 3 mmol/L for 21 d significantly increased mineralized nodules. Exposure of the cells to Sr at concentrations of 0.1 mmol/L to 7 mmol/L for 7 d markedly increased the expression of BMP-2. Preconditioning with noggin at concentration of 100 μg/L for 2 h not only inhibited Sr-induced expression of BMP-2, but also antagonized the increase in the activity of ALP and mineralization induced by Sr in BMSCs. CONCLUSION: Up-regulation of the expression of BMP-2 may be one of the mechanisms by which Sr promotes differentiation of rat BMSCs to osteoblasts.     

Strontium renelate promotes osteogenesis via regulation of Sonic hedgehog signaling molecules in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

AIM：To study the role of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) in strontium ranelate (Sr)-induced osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). METHODS：BMSCs was isolated from 4-week-old rats by adherent culture. The cells in the 3rd～5th generations were induced to differentiate into obteoblasts, and then were treated with different concentrations of Sr and cyclopamine (Cy). The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was mea-sured by colorimetry. Mineralized nodules were observed by alizarin red staining. The cellular Shh and Runx2 expression was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS：Sr at concentration of 3 mmol/L increased the activity of ALP and induced the formation of mineralized nodules. Sr at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 5 mmol/L increased the expression of Shh and Runx2 in the BMSCs at 7 d. Furthermore, the peak expression of Shh occurred following the exposure of Sr (1 mmol/L) or Runx2 (3 mmol/L). On the other hand, Sr at concentration of 1 mmol/L showed a time-dependent increase in the expression of Shh and Runx2 from 1 d to 7 d. Cy at concentration of 10 μmmol/L not only obviously inhibited Sr-induced expression of Shh and Runx2, but also antagonized the increase in the ALP activity and mineralization induced by Sr in the BMSCs. CONCLUSION：Sr promotes osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by increasing the expression of Shh and Runx2.     

Strontium ranelate promotes osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells through Hedgehog/Gli1 signaling pathway

AIM: To explore whether strontium ranelate(Sr) promotes osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) through the Hedgehog/Gli1 signaling pathway. METHODS: BMSCs were isolated from 4-week-old rats by adherent culture and induced to differentiate into osteoblasts. According to the experimental purposes, the cells were exposed to different concentrations of Sr, cyclopamine(Cy, an inhibitor of Hedgehog receptor) or Gli1-siRNA. The expression of Gli1 and Runx2 in the cells was detected by Western blotting. The activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) was measured by the method of colorimetry, and the mineralized nodules were observed under microscope with alizarin red staining. RESULTS: Exposure to Sr at concentrations of 0.1 to 5 mmol/L for 7 d markedly increased the expression of Gli1 in the BMSCs, and the increase in Gli1 expression was the most obvious following Sr exposure at concentration of 3 mmol/L. Cy at concentration of 10 μmol/L inhibited Sr-induced up-regulation of Gli1 expression. Transfection of the BMSCs with Gli1-siRNA not only obviously inhibited Sr-induced up-regulation of Gli1 and Runx2(a downstream protein of Gli1) expression, but also antagonized Sr-induced enhancement of ALP activity and the formation of mineralized nodules. CONCLUSION: The Hedgehog/Gli1 pathway is involved in Sr-induced osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs.     

Citronellol: geraniol ratios and temperature in geranium (Pelargonium hybrid)

Summary

Concentrations of citronellol and geraniol in essential oil from rose geranium (Pelargonium hybrid) were monitored monthly over four years using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Geraniol concentrations fell in winter and citronellol concentrations increased in spring. The citronellol/geraniol (C:G) ratio was a more sensitive indicator of change in oil composition than the concentration of either alcohol in isolation. C:G ratios rose sharply if the minimum air temperature (T_min) fell below 5.58C for any time during the 5 d prior to monthly harvesting. A nonlinear model is proposed to predict the C:G ratio at any T_min. High C:G ratios indicated cold stress in geranium plants.     

Strontium ranelate promotes osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells through TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway

[ABSTRACT] AIM: To study the roles of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway in strontium ranelate (Sr)-induced osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). METHODS: In the process of osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs, the expression of phosphorylated Smad2 (p-Smad2) and Runx2 was detected by Western blotting after the cells were treated with Sr. BMSCs were pretreated with SB431542, a selective inhibitor of TGF-β1, or Smad2 small interfering RNA (Smad2-siRNA), followed by Sr treatment, and then the expression of p-Smad2 and Runx2 was observed. At the same time, the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and the level of calcium nodules were detected to determine the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. RESULTS: The expression levels of p-Smad2 and Runx2 were enhanced under the action of Sr in the process of osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs. The expression of p-Smad2 reached to maximum when BMSCs were treated with Sr at concentration of 1 mmol/L for 1 h. The expression of Runx2 reached to maximum when BMSCs were treated with Sr at concentration of 1 mmol/L for 5 d. The pretreatment with SB431542 or Smad2-siRNA inhibited not only the expression of p-Smad2 and Runx2, but also the activity of ALP and the level of calcium nodules. CONCLUSION: Sr promotes the osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs through the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.     

SRAP分析体系的优化及在枇杷种质资源研究上的应用

以me7(5’-TGAGTCCAAACCGGTCC-3’)和em7(5’-GACTGCGTACGAATTCAA-3’)正反向引物组合对西班牙枇杷品种Javierin进行了SRAP分析体系的优化,结果表明,在25μL反应体系中,5种主要成分的适宜浓度或用量分别是:dNTPs0.3mmol/L,Mg2+2.5mmol/L,TaqDNA聚合酶1.0U,引物0.3μmol/L,模板DNA20ng,优化的扩增程序为:94℃预变性5min,94℃变性1min,35℃复性1min,72℃延伸1min30s,5个循环;之后94℃变性1min,50℃复性1min,72℃延伸1min30s,35个循环;最后72℃下延伸10min。并将该优化的体系在来自中国、西班牙、日本、意大利和美国的46份枇杷种质资源上进行了SRAP扩增的初步应用,经琼脂糖和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳均获得了清晰、重复性好的SRAP指纹图谱。     

Studies on sulphur nutrition and flavour production in watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (L) Hayek)

The effects of sulphate nutrition on watercress were investigated with respect to visual deficiency symptoms, growth response and flavour content as determined by sensory and gas-chromatographic methods. The plants were grown in a glasshouse, both in solution culture using plants propagated vegetatively and in sand culture using plants raised from seed, at six concentrations of sulphate in the nutrient medium. The two methods were complementary and led to substantially similar conclusions. There were steep increases in weight per plant, sulphur content and flavour strength with initial increases of sulphate concentration in the nutrient medium, followed by levelling off^- at the highest sulphate concentrations. Sulphur requirements for maximum growth were satisfied at lower sulphate concentrations (0.20-0.25 meq/1) than those for maximum flavour development (0.75 meq/1).

There is evidence that watercress flavour consists of at least two types of components: (a) components which impart a bland, generalized vegetable taste and odour and (b) a specific component or components which are perceived as a burning sensation in the mouth accompanied by a characteristic odour. Production of the former is independent of sulphur nutrition. Enzymatic production of ß-phenylethyl isothiocyanate from the corresponding glucosinolate is believed to be responsible for the latter. There were highly significant correlation coefficients between the isothiocyanate content of fresh tissues and their total and organic sulphur contents.

The possibility of controlling watercress flavour in commercial production, with a view to meeting consumer preferences, is briefly discussed.     

芥蓝的组织培养研究

以尖叶中迟芥蓝为材料,取其带柄子叶和下胚轴进行组织培养,用不同浓度的6-BA和不同浓度的NAA处理,之后在生根培养基上分化根.结果表明:不同配方的培养基和不同浓度的6-BA显著影响芥蓝愈伤组织的增殖和不定芽的分化,最佳配比为:MS 3%蔗糖 0.8%琼脂 2 mg/L 6-BA 0.2 mg/L NAA.不同浓度的NAA、不同外殖体之间对芥蓝组培芽分化的影响不显著,不同激素的不同浓度也不能显著地提高根的分化率,但含0.2 mg/L 6-BA的生根培养基较合适.     

Essential and non-essential element composition of tomato plants fertilized with poultry manure

Poultry manure (PM) must be disposed of from poultry farms, but is a potentially valuable source of macro- and micronutrients for plant growth. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of poultry manure on the growth of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants. Yields of fruits and vegetative material of plants grown in soil with 0, 10, 20 and 40 g kg⁻¹ PM added were measured. Concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mo, Cl, Si, Br, Rb, Sr and Ba in leaves at flowering and at final harvest and in fruits were determined by polarized energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (PEDXRF). Poultry manure fertilization improved tomato shoot growth and also fruit yield and increased leaf N concentrations at the harvest stage. In addition, P concentrations of the leaves and fruits were increased as the application rate of PM was increased. Fruit Ca and Mg were significantly reduced by increased rate of PM application, but not to the extent to cause the calcium deficiency disorder blossom end rot. Applied high levels of PM slightly increased the concentrations of leaf Mo and Br at the harvest stage. Poultry manure applications had a positive effect on the concentrations of leaf Zn, Cu, Cl and Rb at both sampling stages, but leaf Si concentration was reduced by PM treatments. The concentrations of Zn and Rb were increased in the fruits by PM treatments, but the concentrations of Br were decreased. Applied PM levels had no significant effects on the concentrations of K, S, Fe, Sr or Ba in tomato plants. It is concluded that the increased fruit yield, and the increased concentration of Zn (an element required in the human diet) and the lowered concentration of potentially harmful Br in the fruit make poultry manure a valuable growing medium for tomato production.     

淀粉作物竹芋组织培养体系的建立及研究

以竹芋的吸芽、顶芽、腋芽为外植体建立了组织快繁体系,研究了植物激素的种类、浓度、培养温度对竹芋组织快繁的影响.结果表明:最适增殖培养基为MS+6-BA 5 mg/L,最适生根培养基为1/2MS+NAA 0.3 mg/L,生根率达100%,移栽成活率迭90%以上.