A real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms at codon 171 in the prion gene for the genotyping of scrapie susceptibility in sheep.

The objective of this study was to report a reliable real-time polymerase chain reaction assay compatible with the Roche LightCycler 2.0 capable of genotyping sheep for scrapie susceptibility at codon 171. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the prion protein gene in sheep that may govern resistance to scrapie at codon 171 encode for lysine (K), histidine (H), glutamine (Q), and arginine (R). A modified proteinase K method for leukocytes or whole blood was used to isolate genomic DNA from sheep blood. Fluoresentric developed and optimized primers and probes for the codon 171 SNP assay. The assay was initially validated using 218 determinations from whole blood of known genotypes with 100% correct identity. The assay was further validated through a whole-blood check test provided annually by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory with a correct identification rate of 100%. From January 2005 to December 2006, 3,672 samples from blood were genotyped at codon 171. The genotypes were QR(171) (n = 1,838, 50.05%), RR(171) (n = 1,423, 38.75%), QQ(171) (n = 407, 11.08%), HR(171) (n = 2, 0.05%), and HQ(171) (n = 2, 0.05%). The combination of this simple extraction method and the novel Fluoresentric assay is very accurate, is capable of identifying all 4 SNPs at codon 171 in one reaction, and has proven to be a useful tool for producers in their selective breeding programs.     

Hydrogen radicals, nitrogen radicals, and the production of O3 in the upper troposphere

The concentrations of the hydrogen radicals OH and HO2 in the middle and upper troposphere were measured simultaneously with those of NO, O3, CO, H2O, CH4, non-methane hydrocarbons, and with the ultraviolet and visible radiation field. The data allow a direct examination of the processes that produce O3 in this region of the atmosphere. Comparison of the measured concentrations of OH and HO2 with calculations based on their production from water vapor, ozone, and methane demonstrate that these sources are insufficient to explain the observed radical concentrations in the upper troposphere. The photolysis of carbonyl and peroxide compounds transported to this region from the lower troposphere may provide the source of HOx required to sustain the measured abundances of these radical species. The mechanism by which NO affects the production of O3 is also illustrated by the measurements. In the upper tropospheric air masses sampled, the production rate for ozone (determined from the measured concentrations of HO2 and NO) is calculated to be about 1 part per billion by volume each day. This production rate is faster than previously thought and implies that anthropogenic activities that add NO to the upper troposphere, such as biomass burning and aviation, will lead to production of more O3 than expected.     

蓝刺头花絮水提物的降血糖作用研究

【目的】研究蓝刺头花絮水提物的降血糖作用。【方法】采用煎煮法制备蓝刺头花絮水提物。使用四氧嘧啶诱导糖尿病小鼠模型,并随机分为4组,每组10只,蓝刺头高、中、低剂量组小鼠每天分别灌胃1.00,0.50和0.25g/mL的蓝刺头花絮水提物,对照组灌等量蒸馏水,于试验0,7,14和21d测定糖尿病小鼠空腹血糖、体质量;21d测定小鼠口服糖耐量、肝糖原、血清胰岛素、胰高血糖素及肾上腺素的含量。【结果】蓝刺头花絮水提物能够显著降低糖尿病小鼠的空腹血糖,改善糖尿病小鼠的口服糖耐量,升高肝糖原及血清胰岛素水平,极显著降低血清肾上腺素含量,对体质量和血清胰高血糖素含量无显著影响。【结论】蓝刺头花絮水提物能够降低糖尿病小鼠的血糖水平,且呈剂量依赖关系。     

盐碱胁迫对燕麦幼苗Na~+、K~+含量及产量的影响

以燕麦耐盐碱性品种白燕二号和盐碱敏感性品种草莜一号为试验材料,采用中性盐NaCl、Na2SO4及碱性盐Na2CO3、NaHCO3按摩尔比1∶1混合,研究不同盐、碱胁迫对燕麦生物产量及吸收Na+、K+的影响。结果表明,随着盐、碱胁迫浓度的增加,2个品种根、茎、叶中Na+含量增加,K+含量减少,K+/Na+和生物量下降,盐胁迫下K+/Na+及生物量降幅小于碱胁迫,Na+含量增幅小于碱胁迫;且同浓度胁迫下,盐胁迫较碱胁迫叶片中Na+含量较低,K+含量、K+/Na+较高。2个品种间存在差异,盐、碱胁迫下白燕二号中增加的Na+含量小于草莜一号,减少的K+含量、K+/Na+及生物量小于草莜一号,尤其在高盐、碱胁迫下叶片中K+含量及K+/Na+远大于同浓度下的草莜一号;白燕二号比草莜一号根中截留Na+和地上部选择性吸收K+能力强。