Effect of methotrexate exposure at late gestation on development of telencephalon in rat fetal brain

Pregnant rats were treated with 30 mg/kg of methotrexate (MTX) on gestation day (GD) 16, and fetal brainswere examined time-dependently. On GD 20, the appearance of the telencephalon in the MTX group was differentfrom that in the control group, and the major axis of the telencephalon of the MTX group was shortened,compared to that of the control group. In the sagittal section of the telencephalon in the MTX group on GD 20,histopathological findings of deformation and narrowing of the cerebral ventricle, the disturbance of thearrangement of the marginal cell layer of subventricular zone (SVZ) and thickening of telencephalic wall,cortical plate and ventricular zone (VZ)/SVZ were possibly attributable to neuronal migration disorders byMTX. Through all the experimental period, few pyknotic cells or TUNEL-positive cells were observed in theVZ/SVZ of the telencephalic wall and striatum in the control group. On the other hand, in the VZ/SVZ of thetelencephalic wall and striatum in the MTX group, pyknotic cells or TUNEL-positive cells were observed on GD17, and they increased significantly on GD18 and then decreased to the control levels from GD 19 onward. Thephospho-Histone H3-positive rate decreased remarkedly in the VZ/SVZ of the telencephalic wall and striatum ofthe MTX group on GDs 17 and 18, compared to the control group, but they recovered on and after GD 19. Theseresults suggested that there was a high possibility that development of the telencephalon in this periodrequired strong folic acid.     

Expression of genes encoding inflammasome sensor subunits in the duodenal and colonic mucosae of dogs with chronic enteropathy

Inflammasomes play a pivotal role in gastrointestinal homeostasis and inflammation. However, it remains elusive whether the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family inflammasomes, such as NLR family pyrin domain-containing (NLRP) 3, NLRP6, and NLRP12, are involved in the pathogenesis of canine chronic enteropathy (CE), which includes antibiotic-responsive enteropathy (ARE), food-responsive enteropathy (FRE), immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE), and non-responsive enteropathy (NRE). Thus, we measured mRNA expression of NLRP3, NLRP6, and NLRP12 in the intestinal mucosa of 35 dogs with CE (ARE, four dogs; FRE, 11 dogs; IRE and NRE, 20 dogs) and seven healthy dogs. As per real-time PCR analysis, significant increases in mRNA expression of NLRP3 and NLRP12 were noted in the colonic but not in the duodenal mucosa of dogs with FRE compared to healthy dogs. These findings suggested that the NLRP3 and NLRP12 inflammasomes might contribute to the development of colitis in dogs with FRE.     

中国蒺藜科3种旱生植物的木材解剖适应性

从木材次生木质部特性和径向变异两方面,对中国西部区的蒺藜科的3种旱生植物(Zygophyllumxanthoxylon,Nitrariatangutorum,Tetraenamongolica)进行了对比研究。3树种具有的共同特点为:生长轮分界明显,但是霸王和四合木的年轮有时不连续,半环孔到环孔材,具单穿孔,穿孔板倾斜,导管壁间纹孔互列,木纤维无横隔膜,联合傍管轴向薄壁组织,导管壁上呈现螺纹加厚和异型射线。所选树种明显区别是导管排列方式和导管的数量化指标:四合木导管直径较小,长度较短,频率较大,水分传导安全性增加。其他2种树种之间导管指标没有多大差别,但均比沙冬青的值大。树种导管要素长和纤维要素长的水平变动不规律,树种间和同一树种个体间差异显著。并且对该树种的解剖学特征和沙漠环境的适应性进行了讨论。图19表2参24。     

New anthraquinone glycosides from the roots of Morinda citrifolia

Six new anthraquinone glycosides: digiferruginol-1-methylether-11-O-β-gentiobioside (1); digiferruginol-11-O-β-primeveroside (2); damnacanthol-11-O-β-primeveroside (3); 1-methoxy-2-primeverosyloxymethyl-anthraquinone-3-olate (4); 1-hydroxy-2-primeverosyloxymethyl-anthraquinone-3-olate (5); and 1-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-2-methyl-7-primeverosyloxyanthraquinone (6) were isolated from Morinda citrifolia (Rubiaceae) roots together with four known anthraquinone glycosides. The structures of the new compounds were established using spectral methods. For five of the new compounds, the sugar is attached via the hydroxymethyl group of the anthraquinone C-2 carbon. This type of bond is rarely found for anthraquinone glycosides isolated from natural sources.     

Corynespora leaf spot of scarlet sage caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corynespora cassiicola</Emphasis>

A leaf spot disease of scarlet sage (Salvia splendens Sellow ex J.A. Shultes) found in Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures was demonstrated to be caused by Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. and Curt.) Wei based on inoculation experiments, and morphological identification of the pathogenic fungus. Isolates of C. cassiicola from cucumber, green pepper, and hydrangea were also pathogenic to scarlet sage leaves. Although the isolates from cucumber, green pepper, and hydrangea were pathogenic to scarlet sage leaves, the scarlet sage isolate was not pathogenic to cucumber, green pepper, hydrangea, eggplant, tomato or soybean.     

A new source of basaltic meteorites inferred from Northwest Africa 011

Eucrites are a class of basaltic meteorites that share common mineralogical, isotopic, and chemical properties and are thought to have been derived from the same parent body, possibly asteroid 4 Vesta. The texture, mineralogy, and noble gas data of the recently recovered meteorite, Northwest Africa (NWA) 011, are similar to those of basaltic eucrites. However, the oxygen isotopic composition of NWA011 is different from that of other eucrites, indicating that NWA011 may be derived from a different parent body. The presence of basaltic meteorites with variable oxygen isotopic composition suggests the occurrence of multiple basaltic meteorite parent bodies, perhaps similar to 4 Vesta, in the early solar system.     

Chemical constituents of Baeckea frutescens leaves inhibit copper-induced low-density lipoprotein oxidation

Oxidative modification of LDL plays an important role in the genesis of arteriosclerosis. This study focused on the effects of the leaves of Baeckea frutescens in the prevention of arteriosclerosis. The leaves of B. frutescens have afforded, besides known flavonoid and chromone glycosides, a novel biflavonoid glycoside, characterized as 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosylmyricetinyl-(I-2″,II-2″)-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosylmyricetin on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence. This compound exhibited marked inhibition of copper-induced LDL oxidation.     

2-arylalkanoates,a new group of synthetic pyrethroid esters not containing cyclopropanecarboxylates

Although structure modifications of natural pyrethrin constituents have disclosed a variety of potent synthetic analogues, all known examples are cyclopropanecarboxylate esters, a grouping that appeared to be essential for insecticidal activity. Some new substituted 2-phenylalkanoates, whose biological activities are of a similar nature and potency to those of conventional pyrethroids, are now reported. 5-Benzyl-3-furylmethyl and 3-phenoxybenzyl 3-methyl-2-phenylbutyrates and their analogues are potent insecticides. Activity is increased on the introduction of appropriate groups into the 3 and/or 4-positions of the aryl ring and the (S)-2-phenylalkanoates are far more active than their (R)-enantiomorphs. Structure/activity relationships are compared with those for conventional pyrethroids. Some of the new series compare favourably with typical insecticides in tests against Musca domestica, Spodoptera litura and Plutella xylostella.