In vitro effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha on canine neutrophil apoptosis

Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes: PMNs) are essential for the host defense against various infections and are often injurious to the host, causing inflammatory diseases where tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is suggested to play an important role. Since an effect of TNF-alpha on canine PMN apoptosis has not been studied, canine PMNs were stimulated with recombinant human (rh)TNF-alpha in the present study to investigate the effect of TNF-alpha on canine PMN apoptosis. PMN apoptosis and function to produce ROS were assessed by flow cytometry. Delayed apoptosis was observed in the PMNs treated with rhTNF-alpha at 100 ng/ml, accompanied by retention of capability to produce ROS. However, PMN apoptosis was accelerated by rhTNF-alpha combined with cycloheximide. Therefore, it is indicated that TNF-alpha is able to activate anti- and pro-apoptotic pathways in PMNs and that the inhibition of PMN apoptosis by TNF-alpha requires protein synthesis in the PMNs.     

Antibody response in vaccinated pregnant mares to recent G3BP[12] and G14P[12] equine rotaviruses

Background

Both the G3P[12] and the G14P[12] type of equine group A rotavirus (RVA) have recently become predominant in many countries, including Japan. G3 types are classified further into G3A and G3B. The G3A viruses have been circulating in Europe, Australia, and Argentina, and the G3B viruses have been circulating in Japan. However, only an inactivated vaccine containing a single G3BP[12] strain is commercially available in Japan. To assess the efficacy of the current vaccine against recently circulating equine RVA strains, we examined antibody responses in pregnant mares to recent G3BP[12] and G14P[12] strains by virus neutralization test.

Findings

After vaccination in five pregnant mares, the geometric mean serum titers of virus-neutralizing antibody to recent G3BP[12] strains increased 5.3- to 7.0-fold and were similar to that against homologous vaccine strain. Moreover, antibody titers to recent G14P[12] strains were also increased 3.0- to 3.5-fold.

Conclusions

These results suggest that inoculation of mares with the current vaccine should provide foals with virus-neutralizing antibodies against not only the G3BP[12] but also the G14P[12] RVA strain via the colostrum.     

抗番茄黄化曲叶病毒病新品种苏粉12号的选育

苏粉12号是以TY-06-4为母本,以TY-06-1为父本育成的中早熟番茄一代杂种,无限生长类型,长势旺盛,第8～9节着生第1花序|果实近圆形,果面光滑,硬度高,耐贮运,畸形果率低。幼果无绿果肩,成熟果粉红色|平均单果质量200 g左右,大小均匀|可溶性固形物含量5.0％左右,酸甜适中,风味好,品质优|田间调查结果表明,高抗TYLCV,对叶霉病、ToMV、枯萎病的抗性均比对照苏粉8号和金棚1号强。每667 m2产量达7 000 kg左右。适宜番茄黄化曲叶病毒病暴发严重的地区栽培。     

Protective effect of progesterone on PC12 cells injured by oxygen-glucose deprivation

AIM: To investigate the effects of progesterone on the cell viability and expression of glucose transporter type 3(GLUT3) in PC12 cells injured by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in attempt to prove the neuroprotection of progesterone (PROG) against the hypoxic-ischemic injury in cultured cells in vitro. METHODS: Well-differentiated PC12 cells induced by nerve growth factor were randomly divided into 3 groups. In normal group, the cells were cultured without OGD treatment. In OGD group, the culture medium was replaced by glucose-free medium and the cells were transferred to a humidified incubation chamber flushed by a gas mixture of 95% N₂ and 5% CO₂ for 30 min. After that, the cells were fed with glucose-supplemented medium and cultured under normoxic condition for 24 h. In PROG+OGD group, the cells were given the same treatments as those in OGD group except that the medium contained progesterone at concentration of 10 nmol/L. Cellular morphological changes were observed after OGD for 30 min. The cell viability was assessed by WST-8 assay. The degree of the cell damage was evaluated by determining lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage. The expression of GLUT3 at mRNA and protein levels was examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: Progesterone attenuated the cellular swelling, decreased the leakage of LDH and improved the viability of PC12 cells injured by OGD (P<0.01). The expression of GLUT3 at mRNA and protein levels in PC12 cells in PROG+OGD group was significantly higher than that in OGD group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Progesterone has protective effect on in vitro cultured PC12 cells injured by OGD. The mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of GLUT3 protein.     

Protective effect of folate and vitamin B12 on Alzheimer-like pathological changes in brain of aged rats with hyperhomocysteinemia

AIM:To explore the effect of hyperhomocysteinemia on the Alzheimer-like pathological changes in the brain of aged rat. METHODS:The rats were treated with homocysteine(Hcy) by intravenous injection through vena caudalis with or without a simultaneous supplementation of folate and Vitamin B₁₂(FB) in the drinking water for 28 weeks. The distribution and aggregation of tau protein were detected by Bielschowsky silver staining. Western blotting was used to determine the protein levels of tau phosphorylation, glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK-3β) and protein phosphatase 2A(PP2A). RESULTS:Treatment with Hcy induced hyperhomocysteinemia in aged rats and resulted in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Supplementation of FB effectively reduced the tangles. Hyperhomocysteinemia also induced Alzheimer-like tau hyperphosphorylation at multiple sites(Ser^199/202and Ser³⁹⁶). Hyperhomocysteinemia activated GSK-3β and inhibited the activity of PP2A. Supplementation of FB alleviated the changes of tau and the activities of GSK-3β and PP2A. CONCLUSION:Supplementation of FB ameliorates the hyperhomocysteinemia-induced Alzheimer-like pathological changes of tau protein possibly through regulating the activity of GSK-3β and PP2A in aged rats.     

CoCl_2对酸胁迫下多花黑麦草种子萌发及幼苗抗性的影响

本研究以多花黑麦草（Lolium multiflorum）为试验材料,采用不同浓度CoCl2溶液浸种的处理方法,就CoCl2对酸胁迫下多花黑麦草种子萌发、幼苗生长及抗逆性的影响进行了探讨。酸胁迫过程中多花黑麦草种子的发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数、叶绿素含量和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性随着处理液酸度的增强显著下降,根长抑制指数、丙二醛（MDA）含量、 O-2·产生速率和H2O2含量明显增大,过氧化物酶（POD）活性先增加后下降,细胞膜稳定指数（MSI）下降。0.1 mmol·L-1 CoCl2明显促进酸胁迫下多花黑麦草种子萌发,提高幼苗叶绿素含量、芽长、地上部干质量和SOD活性,降低MDA含量和POD活性。从整体上看,0.1 mmol·L-1 CoCl2对多花黑麦草种子萌发及幼苗生长有促进作用,并提高了多花黑麦草的抗酸胁迫能力。     

早熟油桃新品种——‘中油桃12号’的选育

中油桃12号是通过人工杂交培育而成的早熟优质油桃新品种。果实近圆形,平均单果质量103 g,大果170 g以上。成熟时80%以上果面着玫瑰红色。果肉白色,软溶质,风味浓甜,汁液中多,含可溶性固形物12.5%,总糖9.04%,可滴定酸0.24%,维生素C 102 mg.kg-1。郑州地区3月下旬开花,5月下旬成熟,果实发育期约60 d。花铃型,花粉多,自花结实,产量稳定。黏核。     

茂县城区泥石流防治与“5·12”震后规划重建

茂县城区受龙洞沟、药沟和水西大沟3条泥石流沟的泥石流威胁,"5·12"汶川特大地震发生后危险程度进一步加重。介绍了3条泥石流沟的情况,在震后调查的基础上,分析了"5·12"地震对3条沟的影响,以及泥石流防治现状和存在的问题,提出了拦、挡、排与生物工程相结合的综合防治建议,建议在泥石流防治中充分考虑建筑规划重建、交通规划重建和旅游规划重建3个方面的问题,从而实现泥石流防治同震后规划重建的全面结合。     

高产优质胞核两系杂交油菜绵油12的选育

绵油12系采用阶梯式复合杂交,经多年优良基因重组逐渐积累,集型间、种间、地理及生态远缘之亲本的优良因子于一体的双低胞核两系杂交油菜新品种。它不但具有丰产性突出、增产潜力大、产量高的优点,而且芥酸、硫苷含量都达到国内自用标准,抗倒耐病力强,适应性广,适宜在长江中上游的平丘区种植,也可以在其它类似生态区种植。     

Phylogeography of the African common toad,Amietophrynus regularis,based on mitochondrial DNA sequences: inferences regarding the Cape Verde population and biogeographical patterns

The amphibian Amietophrynus regularis is distributed throughout equatorial Africa, with presumed introduced populations in the Cape Verde archipelago. Portions of the 12S and 16S rRNA mitochondrial regions of 30 specimens from Kenya, Uganda, Niger, Mali, Burkina-Faso, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde were used to assess genetic diversity and to identify the most probable geographic origin for the introduction of this toad on the latter archipelago. Two lineages with 1.4% genetic divergence between them were identified in western and eastern Africa. All sequences from the different Cape Verde Islands were identical to each other and to the Guinea-Bissau samples, indicating, together with other historical evidences, that an anthropogenic introduction event probably occurred, possibly from Guinea-Bissau, but further work is needed to confirm this. As previously noted, several individuals from previous genetic studies seem to have been misidentified.