Dexmedetomidine attenuates acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice and to explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: Kunming mice (n=50) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10): normal saline control (NS) group, acute alcoholic hepatic injury model (E) group, low-dose (10 μg/kg) DEX (E+L) group, medium-dose (50 μg/kg) DEX (E+M) group and high-dose (100 μg/kg) DEX (E+H) group. The animals were sacrificed at 6 h after gavage of alcohol or normal saline. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. The livers were removed for evaluation of histological characteristics and determining the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) amd interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the liver tissues by ELISA. The expression levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the liver tissues were evaluated by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with NS group, the levels of ALT, AST and TG were obviously increased in E group, which were obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA were obviously increase in E group, which were obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the activity of SOD and the content of GSH were obviously decreased in E group, which were obviously increased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, the expression of CYP2E1 and NF-κB was obviously increase in E group, which was obviously decreased in E+M and E+H groups. Compared with NS group, ethanol induced marked liver histological injury, which was less pronounced in E+M and E+H groups. CONCLUSION: DEX has a protective effect on mouse liver with acute alcoholic injury by the involvement in the processes of antioxidation and antiinflammation, and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of CYP2E1 and NF-κB expression.     

Molecular mapping of soybean seed tocopherols in the cross ‘OAC Bayfield’ × ‘OAC Shire’

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is cultivated primarily for its protein and oil in the seed. In addition, soybean seeds contain nutraceutical compounds such as tocopherols (vitamin E), which are powerful antioxidants with health benefits. The objective of this study was to identify molecular markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) that affect accumulation of soybean seed tocopherols. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross ‘OAC Bayfield’ × ‘OAC Shire’ was grown in three locations over 2 years. A total of 151 SSR markers were polymorphic of which a one‐way analysis of variance identified 42 markers whereas composite interval mapping identified 26 markers linked to tocopherol QTL across 17 chromosomes. Individual QTL explained from 7% to 42% of the total phenotypic variation. Significant two‐locus epistatic interactions were identified for a total of 122 combinations in 2009 and 152 in 2010. The multiple‐locus models explained 18.4–72.2% of the total phenotypic variation. The reported QTL may be used in marker‐assisted selection (MAS) to develop high tocopherol soybean cultivars.     

The transition time from the juvenile phase to the adult phase differs in soybean cultivars ‘Enrei’ and ‘Peking’

Plants develop juvenile phase to adult phase in vegetative stage. Although soybean is a very important crop worldwide, there has been only one study of the juvenile–adult phase change. In this study, we determined that the juvenile–adult phase change occurred at different stages in two soybean cultivars that differ in their photosensitivity. Cultivar ‘Enrei’ (E1e2e3E4) is weakly photosensitive and cultivar ‘Peking’ (E1E2E3E4) is strongly photosensitive. In ‘Enrei’, the leaf size gradually increased at a constant leaf position regardless of the difference in day length. In ‘Peking’ plants transferred to short‐day conditions at several leaf development stages, leaf size gradually increased at different leaf positions. Expression of miR156 by ‘Enrei’ transferred to short‐day conditions had nearly the same pattern as that of ‘Enrei’ grown under long‐day conditions. In ‘Peking’, the expression of miR156 had different patterns in younger leaves of plants subjected to either a short‐day treatment or long‐day conditions. These results indicate that the E2 and E3 loci that regulate photosensitivity also regulate the expression of miR156 and the juvenile–adult phase change in soybean.     

绿洲灌区不同密度玉米群体的耗水特性研究

针对水资源不足严重制约绿洲灌区玉米生产,密植对玉米耗水特性影响研究薄弱,以及生产实践中缺乏调控种植密度以同步提高产量和水分利用效率的理论依据等问题,2012—2015年,以先玉335为参试品种,在相同施肥、灌水制度下,设75 000株hm–2(低,D1)、87 000株hm–2(中,D2)、99 000株hm–2(高,D3)3个密度水平,探讨密度对玉米耗水的时间动态、耗水结构以及利用效率的影响,以期为优化密植增产节水技术提供理论依据。结果表明,随密度增大,玉米全生育期总耗水量(ET)增大,大喇叭口期至吐丝期是耗水量增大的主要时期,高、中密度处理与低密度处理相比,全生育期总耗水量4年平均分别高22.8%、14.4%,大喇叭口期至吐丝期平均分别高28.4%、18.2%,其他生育时期不同处理的耗水量差异不显著。增加密度可降低玉米的无效耗水,提高水分利用率,高、中密度处理较低密度处理全生育期的棵间蒸发量(E)4年平均分别减少56.5 mm、27.6 mm,密植降低棵间蒸发量的主要时期在拔节至灌浆期,其中大喇叭口期至吐丝期的日均棵间蒸发量分别减少0.51 mm、0.27 mm;高、中密度与低密度处理相比,全生育期的E/ET分别降低15.8%、6.2%,其中拔节至大喇叭口期减小幅度最大,分别为22.1%、10.7%。与低密度处理相比,高、中密度处理的籽粒产量分别提高了17.9%、14.8%,但高、中密度处理间的产量差异不显著;高、中、低密度处理的水分利用效率(WUE)分别为18.2、19.3和16.8 kg hm–2 mm–1,中密度处理的WUE显著高于低密度处理;与低密度处理相比,高、中密度处理4年平均灌溉水利用效率(IWUE)分别提高了34.5%、19.6%。本研究说明,在传统供水覆膜条件下,进一步增加种植密度是干旱绿洲灌区提高玉米产量和灌溉水利用效率的可行措施。     

中雄4号杨选育研究

从中国林业科学研究院林业研究所引入39个美洲黑杨×甜杨杂交无性系,在黑龙江西部高纬度高寒地区对各无性系苗期生长、越冬及抗病虫性等性状进行多年测试,选择繁殖能力强、苗期长势好、无严重病虫害、抗逆性强、能安全越冬的优良品系进行大量繁殖,建立品系评比林进行复选。经20 a时间,开展苗期品系评比、区域试验与示范,筛选出杨树新品种中雄4号杨(Populus deltoides×P.suaveolens)。该品种为雄株,具有树干通直圆满、速生、材质好、耐寒、抗旱、抗病虫和不飞絮等优良特性,适合作纸浆材等工业用材林、防护林及绿化树种。     

酸藤果的营养和色素的研究

研究了酸藤果(E.laeta)的营养价值及pH值、温度、紫外光、食品添加剂等对酸藤果色素的影响。认为酸藤果富含营养,而且是一种很有开发前途的天然植物色素资源。     

仔猪大肠杆菌病三价蜂胶灭活疫苗猪体血清抗体消长规律

采用大肠杆菌C83549(O149:K88ac)、C83644(O68:K99)、C83710(O9:987P)菌株制备抗原,以蜂胶为佐剂,研制仔猪大肠杆菌病三价蜂胶灭活疫苗,疫苗成品检验均符合相关要求。将疫苗免疫妊娠母猪并用凝集试验测定其所产仔猪的抗体消长规律,并研究疫苗免疫保护相关性。结果表明:妊娠母猪产前40d和15d各免疫1次所产仔猪母源抗体效价较高,仔猪在整个哺乳期都可以得到保护。同时也可运用产前30d和10d进行免疫接种方法。     

巨桉人工林下土壤团聚体稳定性及分形特征

选择3年生巨桉纯林、巨桉+粮食作物、巨桉+果树土壤作为研究对象,农耕地作为对照,运用标准化平均质量直径及分形理论,分析不同巨桉人工林下的土壤团聚体稳定性及分形维数特征。结果表明,不同林地模式下,水稳性团聚体平均质量直径的变化顺序为农耕地>林粮>巨桉纯林>林果,农耕地与不同林地模式下水稳性团聚体平均质量直径差异显著,农耕地在退耕成巨桉人工林后不利于土壤大团聚体的形成;3种林地模式与农耕地比较有效磷、容重差异显著,土壤有机质、碱解氮、有效钾含量差异不显著,说明林地覆盖增强了土壤的紧实度;相关分析表明,影响土壤稳定性的最重要因素为大团聚体的含量,而其他因素影响不显著;分形维数与<0.25mm团聚体含量、容重呈显著、极显著正相关,与1～2mm团聚体含量、平均质量直径呈极显著负相关,说明土壤团聚体的分形维数越小,土壤大团聚体含量越高,土壤团聚体稳定性越强;团聚体的分形维数值能反映土壤性质的变化,通过对土壤分形维数特征的研究可以定量揭示不同巨桉模式下土壤质量的特点。     

狂犬病病毒核蛋白基因在大肠杆菌中稳定表达条件的优化及纯化

将狂犬病病毒SRV9株核蛋白基因按正确的读码框克隆至GST融合表达载体pGEX-4T-1中,转化至大肠杆菌Rosetta株,IPTG诱导表达。表达的融合蛋白经SDS-PAGE分析显示,相对分子量约为82 kD,与预期大小一致。Western-blot检测结果表明,融合蛋白能与多克隆阳性血清发生特异性反应。为获取大量ELISA包被用核蛋白,试验还借助SDS-PAGE方法对重组目的基因的表达条件进行了优化,比较了诱导温度、菌密度I、PTG浓度、诱导时间等参数对重组基因表达的影响,以确定最佳诱导表达条件。结果表明:27~32℃,OD5500.3~0.4,IPTG 0.06 mmol/L、诱导至OD550值不再增加时为最佳诱导表达条件。优化后经扫描分析显示,所表达融合蛋白占菌体总蛋白的20%以上。经包涵体纯化和亲和层析纯化,可获得纯度较高的GST融合蛋白。     

全放牧婆罗门牛和BMY牛的超数排卵效果及激素水平比较

为了比较婆罗门牛和BMY牛的雌二醇(E2)、孕酮(P4)水平及胚胎生产潜力,并探讨MOET技术在BMY牛扩繁中的应用前景,采用进口激素(日本产FSH 24~36 mg+美国产PG 35 mg)和国产激素(国产FSH 10~12 mg+国产PG 0.8 mg)对全放牧婆罗门牛和BMY牛进行超排,并于超排前(同期发情第7天)、超排开始、超排第3天、超排发情当天和胚胎回收当天采集血液,采用RIA法分析血浆中的E2和P4水平。结果表明,BMY牛的黄体数和获胚(卵)数、可用胚数分别较婆罗门牛高2.09个和0.95、0.36枚,但差异不显著(P>0.05);BMY牛的排卵率较婆罗门牛高18.46%(P<0.01),而可用胚率则较婆罗门牛低2.55%(P<0.01)。BMY牛在5个处理时段的E2和P4平均值分别较婆罗门牛高0.58 pg/mL(P<0.01)和1.44 ng/mL(P>0.05),在各处理时段的P4水平变化规律几乎与婆罗门牛一致,E2/P4值为婆罗门牛的5.16倍。结果提示,BMY母牛的E2和P4水平高于婆罗门牛,在激素水平和繁殖性能方面表现出一定的杂种优势;E2水平低是婆罗门牛发情微弱和排卵率低的主要原因之一;在同等放牧管理和超排处理条件下,婆罗门牛及其杂种BMY牛对外源激素的敏感性基本一致,具有同等的胚胎生产潜力。