Effect of hypoxia on generation of neurospheres from adipose tissue-derived canine mesenchymal stromal cells

Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AT-MSCs) are good candidates for cell therapy due to the accessibility of fat tissue and the abundance of AT-MSCs therein. Neurospheres are free-floating spherical condensations of cells with neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) characteristics that can be derived from AT-MSCs. The aims of this study were to examine the influence of oxygen (O₂) tension on generation of neurospheres from canine AT-MSCs (AT-cMSCs) and to develop a hypoxic cell culture system to enhance the survival and therapeutic benefit of generated neurospheres.AT-cMSCs were cultured under varying oxygen tensions (1%, 5% and 21%) in a neurosphere culture system. Neurosphere number and area were evaluated and NSPC markers were quantified using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Effects of oxygen on neurosphere expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1, α subunit (HIF1A) and its target genes, erythropoietin receptor (EPOR), chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were quantified by qPCR. Neural differentiation potential was evaluated in 21% O₂ by cell morphology and qPCR.Neurospheres were successfully generated from AT-cMSCs at all O₂ tensions. Expression of nestin mRNA (NES) was significantly increased after neurosphere culture and was significantly higher in 1% O₂ compared to 5% and 21% O₂. Neurospheres cultured in 1% O₂ had significantly increased levels of VEGF and EPOR. There was a significant increase in CXCR4 expression in neurospheres generated at all O₂ tensions. Neurosphere culture under hypoxia had no negative effect on subsequent neural differentiation. This study suggests that generation of neurospheres under hypoxia could be beneficial when considering these cells for neurological cell therapies.     

红叶石楠秋季扦插育苗试验

红叶石楠秋季扦插育苗试验结果表明,不同基质、不同生根剂浓度及浸泡时间对红叶石楠扦插生根率具有极显著影响。红叶石楠选用混合基质(黄心土∶粗河沙∶草木灰=1∶1∶1),萘乙酸(NAA)生根剂200 mg/kg浓度浸泡2 h的生根率最高,达96.2%,可在生产中推广应用。     

气象干旱-水文干旱传播过程特征及其影响因素——以贵州黔中水利工程区为例

为探究喀斯特区域气象干旱向水文干旱传播过程特征,使用SPI与SRI标准化指数识别区域干旱,采用交叉小波、小波相干、状态转移概率等方法探讨传播强度、响应率等干旱传播特征。结果表明:(1)上世纪60 s和70 s气象干旱、水文干旱的干旱持续时间较短,而80 s与21世纪初期区域干旱持续时间较长;SPI与SRI间呈显著的正相关关系,气象干旱向水文干旱传播的过程需要1.5个月。(2)喀斯特区域的干旱传播强度DPI>1,且响应率偏高,水文干旱对气象干旱的发生极为敏感,尤其是在地表切割深度较浅、岩溶发育较为强烈的区域。(3)传播过程主要受地表切割深度的影响较大,各下垫面条件对干旱传播过程的影响程度依次为地表切割深度>岩溶发育强度>高程>地形地貌,其中,干旱传播特征与地表切割深度呈显著的负相关,与岩溶发育强度、高程、地形地貌呈正相关;在浅切割、中等切割或海拔较低、岩溶发育强烈的区域,各等级间的DPI、Rr的转移较为活跃,整体上传播特征在57年间呈增强的趋势。研究结果旨在为区域干旱防治与监测提供理论依据,尤其是为喀斯特生态环境脆弱区的可持续发展规划提供理论参考。     

In vitro neuronal and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord blood

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the capabilities for self-renewal and differentiation into cells with the phenotypes of bone, cartilage, neurons and fat cells. These features of MSCs have attracted the attention of investigators for using MSCs for cell-based therapies to treat several human diseases. Because bone marrow-derived cells, which are a main source of MSCs, are not always acceptable due to a significant drop in their cell number and proliferative/differentiation capacity with age, human umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells are good substitutes for BMCs due to the immaturity of newborn cells. Although the isolation of hematopoietic stem cells from UCB has been well established, the isolation and characterization of MSCs from UCB still need to be established and evaluated. In this study, we isolated and characterized MSCs. UCB-derived mononuclear cells, which gave rise to adherent cells, exhibited either an osteoclast or a mesenchymal-like phenotype. The attached cells with mesenchymal phenotypes displayed fibroblast-like morphologies, and they expressed mesenchym-related antigens (SH2 and vimentin) and periodic acid Schiff activity. Also, UCB-derived MSCs were able to transdifferentiate into bone and 2 types of neuronal cells, in vitro. Therefore, it is suggested that the MSCs from UCB might be a good alternative to bone marrow cells for transplantation or cell therapy.     

Analysis of the natural infection of European horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) by Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi

Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi (Psa) is an emerging bacterial pathogen responsible for a recent epidemic of bleeding canker of European horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) in northwest Europe. Very little is known about the infection biology of this pathogen, which can cause lethal cankers in the branches and stem of its host. In this study, branches and whole trees of European horse chestnut naturally infected with Psa were subjected to detailed morphological and histological examination to identify the primary infection sites, the time of infection, and the patterns of subsequent lesion expansion within the host. Lesions developed during the host dormant season on the 2003–2009 extension growth increments and were centred mainly on lenticels, leaf scars and nodes. The oldest lesion developed in the 2004/2005 dormant season and the number of new lesions increased in each subsequent year. The lesions developed in the cortex and phloem and extended into the cambium to cause cankers, but there was no evidence of necrosis in the xylem. All lesions on the branches were discrete and apparently contained by a necrophylactic periderm, although there was evidence that Psa could survive within such periderms and subsequently breach them. Examination of two whole 30‐year‐old trees revealed extensive, continuous cankers in the phloem and cambium which had formed within a single growing season. Thus, the success of Psa as a tree pathogen and the causal agent of a large‐scale epidemic may in part reflect an ability to infect the aerial woody parts of its host directly.     

Rat mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into neuron-like cells induced by berberine in vitro

AIM: To investigate whether berberine can induce rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into neuron -like cells in vitro. METHODS: MSCs were separated from young rat femurs marrow and expanded in culture medium. MSCs were induced to differentiate by berberine. The morphological changes of MSCs were evaluated by light microscope.Neuron-spcific enolase (NSE), neurofilament (NF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Induced by berberine for 8 hours,MSCs exhibited neurotype . The expression of NSE and NF in the neuron-like cells was positive, but the glial astrocyte marker GFAP didn't express. CONCLUSION: Berberine may induce adult rat MSCs to differentiate into neuron-like cells in vitro.     

独蒜兰离体快繁技术研究

以野生独蒜兰成熟未开裂的蒴果为外植体,对独蒜兰离体快繁技术进行研究。结果显示:用清水冲洗后再用75%酒精消毒30s,0.1%升汞消毒10min,污染率低至26%。培养基VW+0.005mg·L^-1TDZ+0.3mg·L^-1NAA适宜于独蒜兰的种子萌发培养,在该培养基中独蒜兰种子的萌发率为39.3%;适宜独蒜兰芽增殖的培养基为VW+1.0mg·L^-16-BA+0.2mg·L^-1NAA,在该培养基中独蒜兰芽的增殖系数为7.6;在VW+0.2mg·L^-1NAA+0.2mg·L^-1IBA+0.3g·L^-1活性炭的培养基上,独蒜兰的生根率为92%。独蒜兰组织培养技术体系的建立,对于解决其生产用苗紧缺以及遗传改良有着重要的理论价值及实践意义。     

白菜薹新品种“雄心一号”及其制种技术要点

雄心一号是利用玻里玛细胞质雄性不育系BC-31-10-5-2-1-1作母本,早熟白菜2-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-1作父本的杂交一代白菜薹品种,不需要春化,生长势强,中早熟,抽薹整齐,商品综合性状好,每667 m²产量在1 500 kg以上。经过几年的试验示范,杂交一代种子生产技术逐渐成熟,种子繁殖技术要点包括亲本材料提纯复壮、亲本的扩繁、种子生产及质量控制等。     

兔胚胎的一些与分离胚胎干细胞有关的生物学特征

为获得具有发育全能性的胚胎干细胞（ＥＳ细胞）,对３日龄、３．５日龄和４日龄家兔胚胎的形态结构和免疫组化特征进行了观察。家兔胚胎的外围,不仅有透明带,还包有一层很厚的胶膜。３日龄兔胚为桑椹胚;３．５日龄胚胎已出现囊胚腔,囊胚腔较小,扩增内细胞团（ＩＣＭ）占据囊腔的１／２～２／３;４日龄为囊胚,囊腔扩大,ＩＣＭ与囊胚腔的体积比值缩小。桑椹胚的卵裂球和３．５日龄、４日龄胚胎的ＩＣＭ,以碱性磷酸酶染色和胚胎阶段特异性细胞表面抗原－１（ＳＳＥＡ－１）免疫荧光标记均呈强阳性,说明它们是由未分化的细胞构成。因此,从保证全能性的角度考虑,３日龄、３．５日龄和４日龄的家兔胚胎,均可用于ＥＳ细胞的分离。     

草坪草屑的加工与利用

我国每年修剪草坪产生大量的草坪草屑,对草坪草屑的加工利用,可以对我国能源、饲料、肥料及蛋白资源的短缺起到一定的缓解作用,因此如何对草坪草屑进行合理利用已成为一项重要的研究课题。本文综述了草坪草屑能源化、饲料化、肥料化和深加工4种利用方式,详细介绍了草坪草屑在发酵生产能源、饲喂家畜、堆肥还坪以及加工叶蛋白等方面的研究进展,指出禾本科草坪草屑和豆科草坪草屑应采用不同的处理方式,对各加工方式的投入和产出也应进行进一步的量化核算,同时总结并展望了草坪草屑利用方式的发展前景。