Metallothionein inhibits homocysteine-induced proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells

AIM:To investigate the effect of metallothionein(MT) on proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stimulated by homocysteine and its mechanism. METHODS:VSMCs proliferation was measured by [³-H]-TdR incorporation, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)activity were determined by immunoprecipitation method, the intracellular contents of MT and malondialdehyde (MDA)were assayed by -hemoglobin saturation method and TBA reaction, respectively, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage was measured by NADH oxidation. RESULTS:Hcy(10^-6-10^-4 mmol/L) stimulated [³-H]-TdR incorporation by the VSMCs in a concentration-dependent manner. Compared with control, [³-H]-TdR incorporation in VSMCs treated with 0.1 mmol/L Hcy was increased by 4.2 fold (P＜0.01). Meanwhile, Hcy enhanced MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH release (P＜0.01)in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment of VSMCs with MT alone did not change above parameters, compared with control. However, MT (10^-6-10^-4 mol/L)attenuated significantly Hcy-stimulated proliferation of VSMCs (P＜0.01)in a concentration-dependent manner. And MT inhibited obviously Hcy-induced activation of MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH release. Preincubation of VSMCs with 0.5 mmol/L ZnCl₂ for 6 h induced an increase cellular MT content by 5.7-fold (P＜0.01). The MT-overexpressed VSMCs resisted Hcy-stimulating action on MAPK activity, MDA formation and LDH leakage (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION:These results show that MT has an inhibitory effect on Hcy-induced VSMCs proliferation, and that MT could inhibit Hcy-stimulated MAPK activity and lipid peroxidation.     

A reactive pattern of ischemia-induced nestin protein in the rat brain

AIM:To explore the expressive profile of nestin protein in the focal ischemic brain and to study the recovery mechanism of brain focal infarct.METHODS:Cellular morphology,time-course and distribution pattern of nestin positive response were immunohistochemically examined in different brain regions of 36 adult male SD rats. RESULTS:Nestin positive response of different brain regions in sham operated rats was present in small- and micro-vasculartures and the third ventricle bottom and ependyma. A large number of nestin positive cells were detected in ischemic brain, and were more remarkable in the cortical areas of parietal lobe and preoptic area as well as ischemic caudoputamen. Stellate nestin positive cells were located in the deep layer of ischemic cortex, but fibrillary cells were located in the shallow layer. Nestin positive cells in the ischemic caudoputamen showed the same changes of morphology as those cells in the deep layer of ischemic cortex. Morphological and number alterations of nestin positive cells were the most remarkable at 1 weeks post-ischemia, which showed more hypertrophy and proliferation in morphology, and a marked increase in number was present in the ischemic cerebral cortex and the ischemic caudoputamen. These alterations of nestin positive cells persisted up to 6 weeks post-ischemia, and then, the nestin positive response in the ischemic brain decreased gradually.CONCLUSION:Focal cerebral ischemia induces nestin re-expression on reactive astrocytes, which may be very important to the self-recovery of cerebral infarct.     

Effects of liver regeneration on the proliferation of rat fetal hepatocytes after intrasplenical transplantation

AIM:To study the effect of environment of liver regeneration on the proliferation of rat fetal hepatocytes after intrasplenical transplantation. METHODS:Fetal hepatocytes isolated from 3-week SD rat fetuses bred were transplanted into the spleens of liver regeneration model rats with 70% partial hepatectomy. The cell cycle of the hepatocytes in the remnants liver was analyzed by flow cytometer and the density dimensions of the donor fetal hepatocytes in spleen were measured by image analysis system 7 and 30 days post-transplantation, respectively. RESULTS:Compared with the control group, the proportions of S and G₂ /M cells in the remnants liver were obviously decreased (P＜0.05), but the density dimensions of the donor fetal hepatocytes in spleen increased significantly (P＜0.05) in rats with hepatectomy 7 days post-transplantation. CONCLUSION:The environment of liver regeneration is propitious to the proliferation of fetal hepatocytes after transplantation into spleen.     

The genetic susceptibility of HLA-DRB1 alleles in esophageal neoplasm of Hubei Han Chinese

AIM: To probe into the genetic susceptibility of HLA-DRB1 alleles to esophageal neoplasm in Hubei Han Chinese. METHODS: HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphism in 42 patients with esophageal neoplasm and 136 normal control subjects was studied by PCR and sequence. RESULTS: Allele frequency of HLA-DRB1 *0901 allele was significantly higher in esophageal cancer patients than those in normal controls(0.2500 vs 0.1397, P =0.028; the odds ratiO².053; etiologic fraction 0.1282).There were no association between the rested HLA-DRB1 alleles with patients. CONCLUSION: Individuals carrying HLA-DRB1 *0901 may be susceptible to esophagealo carcinoma, its nucleotide sepuence approachs to the corresponded allele sequence(exoN²)published in GenBank.     

果梅幼树对春施~(15)N-硫铵的吸收与分配

以盆栽3年生细叶青梅/毛桃为试材,研究了早春施用~(15)N-(NH_4)_2SO_4条件下,果梅对~(15)N的吸收分配规律。结果表明:由于春季土温较低,限制了植株对肥料氮的利用率。在新梢旺长期,植株从肥料氮中吸收的氮素营养主要用于新生器官的建造,且新梢成为~(15)N的主要分配中心,其次即为果实,再其次为细根。至花芽分化期,植株的生长中心已发生转移和分散,但春施氮对促进当年生枝的花芽分化和维持叶片正常光合功能仍有重要作用,此期亦是根系生长的关键时期之一,且与贮氮相比,春施氮更有利于当年新根的萌发和根系的扩大。     

仔猪日粮中添加复合酸化剂的饲喂效果

选择7日龄哺乳仔猪126头，在玉米—豆粕型日粮中，分别添加6种自行研制的复合酸化剂饲喂仔猪，酸化剂的主要成分是柠檬酸、延胡索酸、磷酸、乳酸、草酸、酒石酸。结果表明，断奶仔猪的日增重比对照组分别提高11．94％、14．03％、7．46％、7．46％、17．31％、12．24％；饲料转化率分别提高13．92％、25．26％、7．73％、11．35％、21．65％、11．86％。仔猪的腹泻率也降低了。     

猕猴桃果实成熟前补钙对果实含钙量的影响

猕猴桃果实成熟前用喷叶法和喷果法补钙，可显著提高果实中的钙含量。喷叶较喷果效果好。用Ca(NO3)2喷叶，比用CaCl2处理效果好，差异显著。而果实对CaCl2和Ca(NO3)2的吸收选择性差异不显著。经补钙处理的果实采后进行贮藏效果观察发现：用Ca(NO3)2喷叶处理的果实贮藏性较好，用其喷果处理次之；用CaCl2喷果和喷叶处理的果实贮至28天软果率均达到90％。     

铺散诸葛菜的组织培养及植株再生

 以铺散诸葛菜的叶柄及叶片为外植体, 研究了不同的再生方式。在6-BA 和NAA 配合使用的MS 培养基上, 叶柄和叶片外植体有高的成芽率, 具有强的器官再生能力。在2,4-D 与6-BA、NAA 结合的培养基上, 叶柄和叶片有较高的愈伤组织诱导率, 在含6-BA 的培养基上也易于分化。叶柄、叶片再生的芽和经愈伤组织分化而得来的芽快速繁殖后, 在生根培养基上形成完整植株。研究表明铺散诸葛菜具有极强的器官分化能力。     

世界葡萄抗寒育种的成就与展望

近2个世纪,通过选种和杂交育种,世界葡萄抗寒育种在抗寒性与果实优质性状的结合方面取得了突破,育成许多抗寒性极强(耐-30～-40℃低温)、品质优良的鲜食、酿酒和制汁品种。由于葡萄的抗寒性是受多基因控制的数量性状,杂交后代的抗寒性基本呈以亲中值为峰顶的正态分布,所以我国应积极引进这些品种,在华北、西北等葡萄主产区试验、推广露地越冬栽培的同时,利用它们与现有抗寒性较弱的主栽品种(抗寒性-15～-18℃)杂交,培育适合我国冬季气候条件的抗寒品种(抗寒性在-25℃左右),迅速提高我国葡萄抗寒育种水平。     

Role of vascular remolding induced by nitric oxide and matrix metalloproteinase in aneurysm

Nitric oxide (NO) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important in vascular remolding, especially in abdominal aortic aneurysm. NO may be associated with aneurysms by modulating MMPs expression and activity.