Ginkgo biloba extract enhances c-jun expression and attenuates motoneuron death induced by root avulsion

AIM: To investigate the influence of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) on c-jun expressions and motoneurons survival following root avulsion. METHODS: One hundred and eighty adult Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into control and EGb761 groups. Immediately after avulsion of C5-T1 nerve roots, the rats were injected ip with either 1 mL of EGb761 25 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 or the same volume of normal saline, and the treatment repeated everyday. At 4 h to 6 weeks following avulsion, the C7 spinal segments of all rats were collected and prepared for c-jun immunocytochemistry and neutral red stain. The numbers of c-jun positive and survival motoneurons were counted and compared between two groups at each time point. RESULTS: In control rats following avulsion, c-jun positive motoneurons appeared at 4 h, reached its maximum at 1 d and declined to 2 weeks. Avulsion-induced motoneurons death started at 2 weeks, climbed to its maximum at 4 weeks-6 weeks. In EGb761 treated rats, both numbers of c-jun positive and survival motoneurons were more than that in control group at each time point. CONCLUSION: EGb761 attenuates avulsion-induced motoneurons death, and this effect may be related to up-regulation of c-jun gene in avulsed motoneurons.     

除草剂靶标酮醇酸还原异构酶(KARI)研究进展

酮醇酸还原异构酶(KARI)是植物和微生物体内支链氨基酸生物合成的关键酶之一,可以作为设计除草剂的靶标,通过抑制酶的活性中断支链氨基酸的合成使植物死亡,达到除草目的。文章综述了KARI的催化性质、晶体结构以及作为除草剂靶标的研究现状。     

Osmolarity,cell volume and proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate the relationship between osmolarity, cell volume and cell proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. METHODS: MTT method was applied to detect the proliferation ability of the poorly-differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell (CNE-2Z) under various osmolarity conditions. The flow cytometry was used to analyse cell cycle distribution. Cell volume was obtained by the image analysis of living cells and cell viability was determined by the trypan blue assay. RESULTS: Cultivation of cells under the hypertonic conditions of 370 and 440 mOsmol/L increased cell volume by 8.7% and 27.8% and facilitated cell proliferation by 22.2% and 33.9%, respectively. However, hypotonic incubation of cells with osmolarity of 160 and 230 mOsmol/L decreased cell volume by 12.8% and 4.1% and inhibited cell proliferation by 34.0% and 15.6%, respectively. Cell volume was positively correlated with cell proliferation rate. Long-term cultivation of cells under anisotonic conditions did not significantly alter cell cycle distribution, but hypotonic cultivation decreased cell viability. CONCLUSION: Proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells was closely correlated with the osmolarity of culture medium and cell volume. Hypotonic cultivation may inhibit cell proliferation by decreasing cell volume to facilitate cell death mechanisms.     

Effects of component of some Chinese herbs on proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro

AIM: To observe the effects of some component of Chinese herbs for external use on proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and investigate the mechanism of promoting tissue repair. METHODS: The method of MTT was used to examine the effects of Rg1, Rh1, perlolyrine, cinnamyl aldehyde, muscone, astragaluspolysaccharin (APS), velver antler polypeptide (VAP) and soluble extract of boswellia carterii birdw (BCB) on proliferation of HUVEC. RESULTS: APS did not promote proliferation of HUVEC at 9.75 mg/L-2.5 g/L; Rh1 promoted proliferation of HUVEC at 1.94 mg/L-0.5 g/L (P<0.05 or P＜0.01), and Rg1 inhibited proliferation of HUVEC at 31 mg/L (P<0.05); VAP promoted proliferation of HUVEC at 1 mg/L-0.5 g/L with optimal dose of 10 mg/L (P<0.01), Cinnamyl aldehyde promoted proliferation of HUVEC at 2 g/L(P＜0. 05); Muscone and soluble extract of BCB inhibited proliferation of HUVEC at 1 g/L, 0.5-2.5 kg/L(P＜0. 01), respectively; Perlolyrine inhibited proliferation of HUVEC at 0.125 g/L-0.5 g/L(P＜0. 01). CONCLUSION: The external herbs for supplementing Qi and warming Yang can promote HUVEC proliferation and improve angiogenesis during tissue repair. The external herbs for promoting blood circulation and accelerating capillary movement may have influence upon other stages of tissue repair.     

Radioligand binding assay of insulin receptor in rabbit kidney during ischemic and reperfusion

AIM: To observe the change of insulin receptor in rabbit kidney with acute ischemic-reperfusion injury. METHODS: 15 Japanese white rabbits were allocated randomly into control group, ischemic-reperfusion group(IR group). IR group received clamping for 1 h followed by 2 h or 48 h of reperfusion. At 2 h or 48 h after reperfusion, glucose and insulin in serum were determined. Insulin receptor in renal tissue was analyzed by radioligand binging assay(BAD). RESULTS: The level of serum glucose increased after 2 h reperfusion in 2 groups, but in IR group the value increased much more higher than those in control groups(P＜0.05). Plasma insulin of IR group was significantly higher than that in control after 2 h reperfusion(P＜0.05). Scatchard analysis of data resulted in curvilinear profiles, indicating that there are two classes of receptors with different affinity or the presence of a single class of receptors with a negative cooperative hormone-receptor interaction. Data analyzed for a two-site model showed that the values of Bmax₁(high affinity site), Bmax₂(low affinity site) and Kd₁, Kd₂ were significantly lower than that of control (P＜0.05) after 2 h perfusion. 48 h after IR there was no difference of Bmax₁, Bmax₂, and Kd₁ between 2 groups,but Kd₂ of IR group was higher than that of control (P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the effect of intrinsic insulin decreases in the progress of the renal ischemic-reperfusion. The resulting high serum glucose may aggravate renal injury in the progress of ischemic-reperfusion.     

披碱草和野大麦杂种F1与BC1F1代的生物学及农艺特性研究

对披碱草和野大麦及其杂种F1与BC1F1代的生物学及农艺特性进行了分析比较。结果表明,亲本野大麦生长发育节律较快,较早地开花结实,果后营养期较长,生育期74d,生长天数达206d,具有很强的分蘖能力;披碱草生长发育节律较慢,生育期124d,生长天数193d;杂种F1的生长天数介于双亲之间,生长动态偏向亲本披碱草,分蘖能力介于双亲之间;BC1F1代生长发育节律较F1代提早,不同株系生长天数不同,生长动态偏向轮回亲本野大麦,分蘖能力有较大的变异。杂种F1代表现出较强的杂种优势,BC1F1代产草量较F1代有所降低,不同株系间存在明显的差异。总体上,BC1F1代的生产性能倾向于轮回亲本野大麦。     

pH及阳离子浓度对柞蚕蛹蛋白溶解性的影响

对不同pH及阳离子浓度下柞蚕蛹蛋白的溶解性进行了研究。结果表明,柞蚕蛹蛋白的等电点pI为4.2~4.5。测定不同的阳离子对其溶解度的影响顺序为Zn2+>Ca2+>Mg2+>Na+,随着阳离子浓度的增加,蛹蛋白的溶解性增加,当离子浓度超过1.0 mol/L时,其溶解性则降低。     

动物生物钟基因研究进展

昼夜节律生物钟是一种以近似24小时为周期的自主维持的振荡器,由输人通路、中央振荡器和输出通路三部分组成的。生物钟机制的研究已深入到分子水平。生物钟相关基因相继被分离鉴定,它们及其编码的蛋白质产物构成的自主调节的转录和翻译反馈环是生物钟运转的分子机制。本文介绍了果蝇和小鼠主要生物钟基因的发现以及其突变体对生物昼夜节律的影响,展望了揭示生物钟调节机制在遗传学上的重要意义。     

sikFBA4基因启动子的克隆及低温表达模式分析

天山雪莲生长于常年积雪覆盖高海拔处的高山区域,具有很强的极端低温生境适应能力,属于研究植物低温适应的良好模式植物。前期的研究表明,sikFBA4基因可以显著提高番茄的抗寒能力。为进一步研究sikFBA4基因的耐寒响应模式,以天山雪莲为材料,采用实时荧光定量PCR分析sikFBA4在低温胁迫下的表达模式;利用高效热不对称PCR法(Hi-Tail PCR)克隆sikFBA4启动子序列并进行生物信息学分析。为分析PsikFBA4序列克隆的完整性及转录表达特性,将PsikFBA4与GUS基因融合在烟草中进行瞬时表达。结果表明,sikFBA4在低温胁迫条件下的表达发生瞬时显著上调,并在1 h达到峰值,而后表达下调。通过启动子克隆分析,在PsikFBA4序列-1648 bp位置处具有冷响应元件LTRE;进一步的GUS染色和酶活力测定结果表明,低温能够显著提高GUS基因的表达活性,说明sikFBA4属于低温诱导型基因。SikFBA4基因启动子的克隆、序列分析以及表达分析,为进一步探究雪莲果糖-1,6-二磷酸醛缩酶(sikFBAs)基因的表达与调控机制奠定了基础。