Effects of phytosterol ester on aortic aging and expression of related genes in rats

AIM: To explore the protective effect of phytosterol ester (PSE) on aortic aging in rats. METHODS: The female SD rats (12 months old, n=42) were randomly divided into control group, model group and PSE group. During the experiment, the rats in control group, model group and PSE group were treated with basic feed, high-fat diet (HFD) and HFD with 2% PSE (W/W) for 6 months, respectively. The morphological changes of the aorta were observed by HE staining and Masson staining, and the absolute area of smooth muscle cells and collagen fiber in the vascular wall were measured by image analysis. The levels of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the plasma were detected. The expression of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) at mRNA and protein levels in the vascular tissue was determined by real time PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: PSE significantly lowered plasma TC and LDL-C, and increased plasma HDL-C level (P<0.05), but had no effect on plasma TG level. PSE significantly attenuated the thickening of intima and media of aging aortic, and decreased the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and the amount of VSMC and collagen fiber in the aorta (P<0.05). PSE significantly reduced the contents of AGEs and MDA (P<0.05), but had no effect on the activity of SOD and CAT in the plasma. PSE also down-regulated the expression of PPARγ and up-regulated the expression of SIRT1 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PSE is able to attenuate the senescence process in the aorta by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species in plasma, and activating SIRT1, or inhibiting the expression of PPARγ in vascular tissues.     

Inorganic and organic carbon dynamics in forested soils developed on contrasting geology in Slovenia—a stable isotope approach

Purpose

Soil carbon dynamics were studied at four different forest stands developed on bedrocks with contrasting geology in Slovenia: one plot on magmatic granodiorite bedrock (IG), two plots on carbonate bedrock in the karstic-dinaric area (CC and CD), and one situated on Pleistocene coalluvial terraces (FGS).

Materials and methods

Throughfall (TF) and soil water were collected monthly at each location from June to November during 2005–2007. In soil water, the following parameters were determined: T, pH, total alkalinity, concentrations of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and Cl^? as well as δ¹³C_DIC. On the other hand, in TF, only the Cl^? content was measured. Soil and plant samples were also collected at forest stands, and stable isotope measurements were performed in soil and plant organic carbon and total nitrogen and in carbonate rocks. The obtained data were used to calculate the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and DOC fluxes. Statistic analyses were carried out to compare sites of different lithologies, at different spatial and temporal scales.

Results and discussion

Decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) controlled by the climate can explain the ¹³C and ¹⁵?N enrichment in SOM at CC, CD, and FGS, while the soil microbial biomass makes an important contribution to the SOM at IG. The loss of DOC at a soil depth of 5 cm was estimated at 1 mol m^?2 year^?1 and shows no significant differences among the study sites. The DOC fluxes were mainly controlled by physical factors, most notably sorption dynamics, and microbial–DOC relationships. The pH and pCO₂ of the soil solution controlled the DIC fluxes according to carbonate equilibrium reactions. An increased exchange between DIC and atmospheric air was observed for samples from non-carbonate subsoils (IG and FGS). In addition, higher δ¹³C_DIC values up to ?19.4?‰ in the shallow soil water were recorded during the summer as a consequence of isotopic fractionation induced by molecular diffusion of soil CO₂. The δ¹³C_DIC values also suggest that half of the DIC derives from soil CO₂ indicating that 2 to 5 mol m^?2 year^?1 of carbon is lost in the form of dissolved inorganic carbon at CC and CD after carbonate dissolution.

Conclusions

Major difference in soil carbon dynamics between the four forest ecosystems is a result of the combined influence of bedrock geology, soil texture, and the sources of SOM. Water flux was a critical parameter in quantifying carbon depletion rates in dissolved organic and inorganic carbon forms.

     

Apo-9′-Fucoxanthinone,Isolated from Sargassum muticum,Inhibits CpG-Induced Inflammatory Response by Attenuating the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway

Sargassum muticum (S. muticum) is a brown edible alga and widely distributed in Korea. This report was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of apo-9′-fucoxanthinone (APO-9′) isolated from S. muticum on pro-inflammatory cytokine production. S. muticum extract (SME) exhibited significant inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory cytokine production in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and dendritic cells (BMDCs). APO-9′ pre-treatment in the CpG DNA-stimulated BMDMs and BMDCs showed a strong dose-dependent inhibitory effect on interleukin (IL)-12 p40, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production with IC₅₀ values ranging from 5.31 to 13.79. It exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and on activator protein (AP)-1 reporter activity. APO-9′ pre-treatment exhibited significant inhibition of CpG DNA-induced production of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Taken together, these data suggest that SME and APO-9′ have a significant anti-inflammatory property and warrant further studies concerning the potentials of SME and APO-9′ for medicinal use.     

Trp548Met mutation of acetolactate synthase in rice confers resistance to a broad spectrum of ALS-inhibiting herbicides

Herbicide resistance in crop plants is valuable for integrated weed management in agriculture. Herbicide resistant rice, in particular, is important to manageme...     

NaCl胁迫对黄秋葵种子萌发和幼苗生理特性的影响

以8个黄秋葵(Abelmoschus esculentus L.)品种(系)为材料,研究不同浓度的NaCl溶液处理下种子萌发期发芽表现及其幼苗期生理特征。结果表明:萌发期超级五角耐盐性最强,Y116耐盐性中等,扬大K5、南平黄秋葵、台湾五福、黄羊角、Y112、红五角耐盐性较差。幼苗期随盐胁迫的加重,丙二醛(MDA)含量、Na+含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性逐步增加,K+含量逐渐减少,K+/Na+比值降低,过氧化物酶(POD)活性呈先升后降的趋势,且不同材料变化幅度不同。MDA、K+含量、K+/Na+比值等指标较好地反映了材料间的耐盐性,可以作为黄秋葵幼苗期耐盐评价的鉴定指标,SOD和POD酶活性的变化可以作为参考指标。     

Evaluation of left ventricular function with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography after administration of dobutamine and esmolol in healthy beagle dogs

Unlike echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cardiac MRI) results in a near-exact assessment of cardiac structures and function. However, most veterinary studies have focused on dogs with normal cardiac function. We hypothesized that there would be significant differences in cardiac measurements between cardiac MRI and echocardiography when left ventricular (LV) function was abnormal. This study was undertaken to compare measurements of LV function produced by cardiac MRI and echocardiography in dogs whose LV function was altered by pharmacological agents. This study was conducted with six healthy beagle dogs. We increased left ventricular contractility by administration of dobutamine; we decreased cardiac contractility with esmolol. Stroke volume measurements were made by using both cardiac MRI and echocardiography under seven different conditions with general anesthesia: control, three doses of esmolol (100, 200, and 500 µg/kg/min), and three doses of dobutamine (10, 20, and 50 µg/kg/min). Experiments involving each condition were conducted at least 1 week apart. When LV contractility was normal, ejection fraction (EF) and stroke volume (SV), as measured by echocardiography and cardiac MRI, were not significantly different. However, when contractility was changed by pharmacological agents, EF and SV were overestimated by echocardiography, compared to MRI. Evaluation of cardiac function in patients treated with pharmacological agents should be conducted carefully because EF and SV measured by echocardiography can be overestimated, compared with EF and SV obtained by cardiac MRI.     

赖氨酸抑制铜绿微囊藻生长的机理研究

为了探讨赖氨酸对铜绿微囊藻的抑制机理,采用人工光照培养箱培养方法,研究了不同浓度的赖氨酸对铜绿微囊藻各种生理生化特性的影响.结果表明,5 mg·L-1以上的赖氨酸对铜绿微囊藻具有致死作用.赖氨酸在抑制铜绿微囊藻细胞ca2 Mg2 -ATPase活性的同时,实现对铜绿微囊藻的抑制.赖氨酸在光照条件下抑制铜绿微囊藻叶绿素a含量并影响其藻胆蛋白组分构成;在黑暗条件下铜绿微囊藻具有微弱的化能异养生长能力;在微弱光照条件下对铜绿微囊藻没有抑制作用,微囊藻也不呈现光能异养生长能力.光合作用系统(PSⅡ)是赖氨酸抑制铜绿微囊藻生长的一个作用位点,赖氨酸通过使叶绿素a含量下降来抑制其光合作用能力.     

天津地区道路绿化中的植物配置结构与树种的选择

道路绿化是城市绿化系统中的重要组成部分,具有组织交通、美化市容、改善小气候等功能,通过对道路绿地植物配置结构和树种的研究,探讨绿地结构模式,使城市道路绿化不断完善。     

黑木耳漆酶酶学性质分析

从12个黑木耳菌株中筛选出一株黑木耳漆酶高产菌株——地茂1号,对其进行Native—PAGE,发现其含有3种漆酶同工酶。对其发酵液进行酶学性质分析,发现地茂1号在液体培养基中第11天酶活达到最大,为382．6U／L,最适温度为50℃,最适pH值为3．2,温度及pH稳定性较好。     

转抗虫基因Cry1Iem大豆的分子鉴定与功能验证

通过转抗虫基因来提高作物的抗虫性是一条有效途径,以此来提高作物的产量和品质。本研究以转抗虫基因Cry1Iem大豆的T2、T3株系作为试验材料,利用常规PCR检测、Southern杂交、荧光定量PCR技术对转抗虫基因Cry1Iem株系进行分子鉴定;同时对40个转基因阳性株系进行室内人工接虫、200个转基因阳性株系室外网室接虫并进行抗虫性鉴定。选取其中10个株系进行常规PCR检测,结果在T2、T3当中都检测到了Cry1Iem、Bar、启动子CaMV35S、Nos目标片段,表明目的基因已被顺利导入受体JN28大豆植株当中并得到了稳定遗传;选取其中5个T2、T3转基因株系进行Southern杂交,结果显示:目的基因以单拷贝的形式整合到了大豆基因组当中;荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,Cry1Iem基因在选取的3个转基因株系中均得到了表达,而在非转化的受体JN28当中未检测到荧光信号。室内抗虫性鉴定结果显示40个转Cry1Iem基因株系豆荚内活虫的成活数量明显低于受体材料JN28大豆豆荚内的活虫数量,表明转基因材料具有显著的抗虫性。室外抗虫性鉴定结果表明:JN28大豆受体植株的虫食率为6.72%,属于感虫品种;而200个转Cry1Iem基因株系的平均虫食率为3.81%,属于抗虫品系。本研究结果为中国转基因抗虫大豆新品种的选育提供部分参考数据。