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.     

极早熟葡萄新品种‘90- 1’

 ‘90- 1’是从‘乍娜’的芽变中选出的葡萄新品种。该品种除保持母本的优质、丰产、适合保护地栽培等优良性状外, 其最突出的特点是极早熟, 果实6 月下旬成熟, 果实发育期仅35 d。     

醋栗优良品种——坠玉

 ‘坠玉’醋栗品种是从美国引进品种中筛选出的优良品种。该品种果实大, 品质好, 果梗较长, 采摘容易, 生长势强, 抗白粉病能力强, 对醋栗叶斑病感病极轻, 丰产稳产, 可在东北地区推广。     

气调及温度对杂拟谷盗发育和繁殖的影响

杂拟谷盗Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val是重要储藏物害虫之一,主要危害面粉。笔者研究了气调及温度对杂拟谷盗生长发育和繁殖的影响,旨在弄清杂拟谷盗在低氧、低药(双低)环境中的生物学及生态学特性,为有效地控制该虫提供理论依据。 1 材料与方法采用两种气调环境5％O_2、12％CO__2(CA_1)和9％O_2、16％CO_2(CA_2)以及非气调环境     

Indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aciculosporium take</Emphasis>, a causal agent of witches' broom of bamboo

 Aciculosporium take (Ascomycota; Clavicipitaceae) is a causal agent of witches' broom of bamboo plants. The symptoms of this disease are believed to be induced by plant hormones, particularly auxins. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was identified in cultures of this fungus in an l-tryptophan-supplemented liquid medium. IAA production was confirmed on 30 isolates of A. take from various hosts and locations at levels up to 1 mg/l. The biosynthetic pathway of IAA in A. take culture was examined by analyzing intermediate products and by feeding experiments. The results showed that the indole-3-pyruvic acid pathway (l-tryptophan → indole-3-pyruvic acid → indole acetaldehyde → IAA) was the dominant pathway in A. take. Received: June 3, 2002 / Accepted: July 25, 2002     

Inconspicuous restraint of rice seedling growth by root-infecting fungi in soil of a rice paddy field

 Rice seedling growth, estimated by plant height and root development and discoloration, was better in pasteurized soil than in unpasteurized soil obtained from a flooded rice field. Rice seedlings also grew better in sterilized soil modified by adding roots harvested from the pasteurized soil than in soil modified by adding roots harvested from the unpasteurized soil. The results demonstrate that seedling growth in the rice field soil was inhibited by soil microorganisms, even though no typical symptoms such as seedling blight or damping-off appeared. Pythium aristosporum is suggested to be involved in the inhibition. Thus, it appears that inconspicuous restraint of rice seedling growth could occur in soils of rice paddy fields. Received: May 20, 2002 / Accepted: October 16, 2002 Acknowledgments The authors thank Dr. T. Ichitani, former professor at Osaka Prefectural University, for providing an isolate of Pythium aristosporum for comparison, and Mr. Mitsuaki Sato of Akita Prefectural College of Agriculture for technical assistance.     

迟菜心新品种特青迟心4号的选育

特青迟心4号为迟熟种，株型矮壮，叶色深绿，薹色青绿，有光泽，菜薹匀条实心，主薹高25．4cm，薹粗2．10cm，单薹重62．58，商品率高，较耐霜霉病，品质脆嫩，风味好，适播期10月—翌牟2月，播种至初收50—55天，可连续采收20-25天，667m^2产量1000—1400kg。     

双季稻区稻水象甲的生物学特性研究

稻水象甲在浙江双季稻区每年发生２代，以成虫滞育越冬。春季越冬成虫迁入早稻田繁殖，形成１代致害种群；夏季１代成虫生殖滞育，绝大部分个体（９５％以上）迁出早稻田行夏蛰并越冬；秋季２代成虫羽化后，大部分迁飞山上草地越冬。     

百合组培中鳞片处理及其颜色变化与鳞茎形成的关系

 研究了百合鳞片发育程度、切割段数、形态及生理变化、培养基的P 和K含量与鳞茎形成的关系。结果表明: 取中层鳞片、每片横切6 段的繁殖系数最高, 基部鳞片结鳞茎数最多, 且鳞茎发生最早。鳞片由基部向顶部繁殖系数递减。培养过程中鳞片颜色和形态变化依次为乳白色、浅黄、浅紫色、绿紫、鳞片干枯、鳞茎增大, 鳞片由浅黄变为绿紫色过程中叶绿素含量增加, 淀粉和可溶性糖含量下降。适当增加培养基中P、K的含量可提高鳞茎形成的数量和质量。