Field evaluation of insect-resistant transgenic Populus nigra trees

The performance of insect-resistant transgenic poplar trees (Populusnigra) expressing a Cry1Ac gene from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Kurstaki HD-1 against poplar defoliators was evaluated in the field at the Manas Forest Station in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region during1994–1997. The results showed that the average percentage of highly damaged leaves on the transgenic trees was 10% while that on the control trees in nearby plantations reached 80–90%. The average number of pupae per m² of soil at 20cm depth in transgenic poplar plantation was 18 which was only 20% of that found in the non-transgenic control field. The number of pupae and the leaf-damage on transgenic trees described above are all far below the threshold set for chemical protection measures. The non-transformed poplar trees grown in the same plantation with the transgenic trees were also protected indicating that cross protection occurred between these two kinds of trees. Insect-resistant transgenic poplar trees have a potential application value in afforestation. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Doubled-haploid versus single-seed descent and S1-family variation for testcross performance in a maize population

Progress made in the in situ gynogenesis technique since 1990 now allows production of a high number of maize (Zea mays L.) doubled-haploid (DH) lines. The aim of the study was to compare DH lines versus selfing lines for testcross performance. DH and single-seed descent (SSD) lines were produced from random S₁ progenies of a broad-base population. For grain yield, kernel moisture, plant height, ear height and leaf length, the three population means were similar. Except for kernel moisture, the genetic variance of DH lines was nearly twice as high as the genetic variance of S₁ families, as expected. On the other hand, genetic variance among SSD lines was only 1.5 times higher than the genetic variance of S₁ families. This lower variance could be due to a selection bias in the method of production of SSD lines. However, for all traits, heritability of SSD or DH lines was higher than heritability of S₁ families. Epistasis effects in DH progenies were not significant. The consequence was a high correlation between S₁ testcross progenies and DH or SSD testcross progenies, meaning that the S₁ testcross value can be used to select the best families from which DH lines will be extracted. As a whole, the observed variation in DH lines appeared to be more in accordance with the observed variation among S₁ families than with the observed variation among SSD lines.     

Effects of isorhapontigenin on cell cycle arrest and down-regulation of cyclin D1 expression in bladder cancer cells

AIM：To explore the inhibitory mechanism of isorhapontigenin (ISO) on the proliferation, migration and invasion of UMUC3 bladder cancer cells. METHODS：Human UMUC3 bladder cancer cells were pretreated with ISO, and the proliferation of the cells was observed under phase-contrast microscope and by ATPase assay. The expression of cyclin D1 was determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The cell cycle alteration was detected by flow cytometry, and the cell migration was examined by wound-healing assay. RESULTS：Over 20 μmol/L of ISO significantly inhibited the proliferation of UMUC3 cells with the IC50 of (22.5±2.8) μmol/L. The mRNA and protein levels of cyclin D1 in UMUC3 cells were markedly decreased after treatment with ISO. Exposure of UMUC3 cells to low dose (5 μmol/L) of ISO led to significant induction of G0/G1 growth arrest at both 12 h (58.82%) and 24 h (63.94%), compared with the negative control cells (47.33%) without inducing obvious apoptosis. ISO at dose of 5 μmol/L also markedly inhibited the cell migration. CONCLUSION：ISO significantly exhibits inhibitory effects on the proliferation and migration of human bladder cancer cells by down-regulation of cyclin D1 expression accompanying with G0/G1 cell cycle arrest.     

Role of PPARα/PGC-1α in doxorubicin induced mouse dilated cardio-myopathy

AIM: To investigate the changes of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR)α/peroxisome proliferator activated receptor coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) in doxorubicin (DOX) induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and its effect on the energy metabolism and myocardial function in mice. METHODS: Forty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, DOX group, PPARα inhibitor group and PPARα agonist group. The DCM model was established by injection of DOX. The protein levels of PPARα/PGC-1α were detected. The PPARα inhibitor and PPARα agonist were used 2 weeks beforeinjection of DOX. The contents of adenine acid and phosphocreatine (Pcr) in the mitochondria were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ANT activity was analyzed by the atractyloside-inhibitor stop technique. The changes of the echocardiography and hemodynamics were also observed. RESULTS: DOX induced DCM model was successfully established. The protein levels of PPARα and PGC-1α in control group were significantly higher than those in DOX group (P<0.05). Both of the high-energy phosphate contents and the transport activity of ANT were decreased in DOX group (P<0.05), and the hemodynamic parameters were disordered (P<0.01). Compared with DOX group, PPARα inhibitor pre-treatment significantly reduced the PPARα/PGC-1α expression. Meanwhile, high-energy phosphate contents in the mitochondria and the ANT transport activity of the mitochondria decreased, as well as the left ventricular function (P<0.05). On the other hand, PPARα agonist significantly increased the expression of PPARα and PGC-1α, and improved the transport activity of ANT. In addition, the hemodynamic parameters were ameliorated, but the high-energy phosphate contents of the mitochondria did not significantly change. CONCLUSION: PPARα/PGC-1α plays an important role in the regulation of ANT transport activity in dilated cardiomyopathy induced by DOX, and the activation of PPARα/PGC-1α has protective effects on the DCM induced by DOX.     

非1B/1R类型小麦雄性不育系KTSP3314A败育的生化机制

为了揭示K型非1B/1R类型小麦不育系雄性败育的生化机制。利用K型非1B/1R类型小麦雄性不育系KTSP3314A,其同型保持系TSP3314B,以K型1B/1R类型小麦雄性不育系K3314A、其同型保持系3314B为对照,分别对其叶片和穗子在不同发育时期的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)的活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量的变化进行测定。结果表明,K型非1B/1R类型小麦不育系中SOD,POD及CAT活性变化与K型1B/1R类型小麦雄性不育系酶活性变化一致,K型非1B/1R类型雄性不育小麦叶片和穗子的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)后期则较低,过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)的活性后期较高,丙二醛(MDA)含量后期较高。说明二者的雄性败育生化机制基本一致,但前者比后者败育的时期较晚。且超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性与雄性育性有关。     

Identification of bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 in yaks (Bos poephagus grunniens) in the Himalayan region

Since cattle are widely infected by bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in India, we searched for pestivirus infection in yaks. Of 71 pure and crossbred yaks from Himalayan region, pestivirus antigen was detected by Ag-ELISA in three animals. Pestivirus in leukocyte and cell culture isolated virus samples originating from positive yaks was also confirmed by RT-PCR using panpestivirus specific primers selected from 5'-untranslated region (5' UTR). The 5' UTR, N(pro) and E2 regions were sequenced and used for genetic typing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that pestiviruses detected in three Himalayan yaks were similar genetically, belonging to BVDV-1. Antigenic characterisation of yak pestivirus also confirmed the typing as BVDV-1. This is the first report on the identification of BVDV type 1 in yaks.     

超高效液相色谱测定猪配合饲料中苯乙醇胺A的研究

研究建立了超高效液相色谱(ultra performance liquid chromatography,UPLC)—二极管阵列检测器(PDA)测定配合饲料中苯乙醇胺A的方法。通过应用0.1%甲酸甲醇溶液提取、混合阳离子固相萃取净化及样品基质校正外标定量方法进行测量。在优化条件下,苯乙醇胺A在0.1~20.0 mg/kg浓度范围内线性关系良好,线性相关系数(R²)达到0.9945;在1.0、5.0、10.0 mg/kg等不同添加浓度下,方法回收率高于90.36%,变异系数低于5.98%;方法检测限为0.06 mg/kg,定量限为0.10 mg/kg。结果表明,该方法灵敏度高、精密度好、准确可靠且操作简单,能够满足配合饲料中苯乙醇胺A的测定需要。     

Effect of Psammaplin A on in vitro Development of Bovine Aging Oocytes

To investigate the effect of histone deacetylation inhibitor Psammaplin A (PsA) on the development of bovine aging oocytes in vitro,oocytes were randomly divided into control group,aging group and 50 mmol/L PsA treated aging group (PsA group).Immunofluorescence staining and JC-1 were used to detect the blastocyst rate of bovine oocytes after parthenogenetic activation,the number of cells in blastocysts,apoptosis,reactive oxygen species (ROS),glutathione (GSH) and mitochondrial membrane potential intensity of embryos.The results showed that the blastocyst rate of the aging group was significantly lower than that of PsA and control groups (P<0.05).The blastocyst rate of PsA group was not significantly different from that of control group (P>0.05).The number of cells in the blastocysts of control group and PsA group were significantly higher than that of aging group (P<0.05).The number of cells in the blastocysts of PsA group was not significantly different from that of control group (P>0.05).The apoptosis rate in aging group was significantly higher than that of control and PsA groups (P<0.05),the apoptosis rate of PsA group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05).The GSH level of MⅡ oocytes in aging group was significantly lower than that of control and PsA groups (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in GSH level between control and PsA groups (P>0.05).The ROS level of the embryos in aging group was significantly higher than that of control and PsA groups (P<0.05).The ROS level in PsA group was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05).The mitochondrial membrane potential of early embryos of aging group 4-8 cells was significantly lower than that of control and PsA groups (P<0.05).The mitochondrial membrane potential intensity of control group was significantly higher than that of PsA group (P<0.05).In summary,PsA could effectively delay the aging of bovine oocytes and improve the quality of oocytes.     

Effects of ophthalmic disease on concentrations of plasma fibrinogen and serum amyloid A in the horse

Reasons for performing study: There is little scientific information available about the ability of ocular disease to cause a systemic inflammatory response. Horses are frequently affected with ocular disease and ensuring their systemic health prior to performing vision saving surgery under anaesthesia is essential for the successful treatment of ophthalmic disease. Hypothesis: Ocular disease will cause elevations in the concentration of the acute phase proteins fibrinogen and serum amyloid A in peripheral blood. Methods: Whole blood and serum samples were obtained from 38 mature horses with ulcerative keratitis or uveitis and no evidence of systemic disease, 9 mature horses with no evidence of ocular or systemic disease (negative controls) and 10 mature horses with systemic inflammatory disease and no evidence of ocular disease (positive controls). Blood samples were assayed for concentrations of the acute phase proteins fibrinogen and serum amyloid A. Results: Fibrinogen and serum amyloid A were significantly different in the positive control group compared to the negative control, corneal disease and uveitis groups (P<0.126). There was no significant difference between the negative control, corneal disease and uveitis groups (P<0.001). Conclusions: Ulcerative keratitis and anterior uveitis are not associated with elevated concentrations of the acute phase proteins fibrinogen and serum amyloid A in peripheral blood. Potential relevance: When the clinician is presented with a patient with ocular disease and elevated plasma fibrinogen or serum amyloid A concentrations, a nonocular inflammatory focus should be suspected.