ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Inulin‐coated butyrate increases ileal MCT1 expression and affects mucosal morphology in the porcine ileum by reduced apoptosis

Carbohydrates, which were not digested in the jejunum, will be fermented by micro‐organisms to short chain fatty acids. These are transported by the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) through the gut wall and serve as fuels for colonic cells. To deliver butyrate to the distal part of the intestine, inulin with a low precaecal digestibility was chosen as a coating material. Approximately 150 g of inulin‐coated butyrate (containing 81 g butyrate) per day was fed to pigs (mean weight: 97 kg) over a period of 6 days after an adaptation period of 6 days with linear increasing amounts of butyrate. The following observations compared to controls were observed: (1) coating was digested microbially in the ileum; (2) MCT1‐mRNA showed a higher expression in the ileum; (3) apoptosis was reduced in the ileum but mitosis was not changed; and (4) length of villi increased by approximately 25% in the ileum. Feeding inulin‐coated butyrate resulted in an increased ileal surface. Delivery of butyrate to the colon requires a more resistant inulin‐coating.     

醋酸铅对小鼠卵巢颗粒细胞凋亡基因p53、Bax、Bcl-2表达的影响

将40只未成年雌性昆明系小鼠随机分成3个处理组和1个对照组,每组10只。处理组小鼠分别连续2 d腹腔注射铅10、20、40 mg/kg（按体质量给药）,对照组小鼠注射等体积的生理盐水。于注射后24、72 h分离卵巢,用原位末端标记法（TUNEL）测定卵巢颗粒细胞的凋亡率,同时用半定量RT-PCR方法检测凋亡基因p53、Bax、Bcl-2mRNA表达。结果表明,铅可促进颗粒细胞凋亡,且随剂量的增加和作用时间的延长,颗粒细胞中p53、Bax基因表达量逐渐增加,与对照组相比差异显著或极显著（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）;而Bcl-2基因表达量则逐渐减少（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）;表明铅可通过上调促细胞凋亡基因p53、Bax基因表达量,下调Bcl-2基因表达量,诱导卵巢颗粒细胞的凋亡。     

Histopathology of insulin-induced laminitis in ponies

Reasons for performing study: Ponies with laminitis associated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia lack systemic and/or intestinal inflammatory signs, suggesting a different pathogenesis potentially reflected in differing histopathology. Objectives: To describe the histological appearance and quantify morphological changes in primary and secondary epidermal lamellae (PEL and SEL) of laminitis lesions from ponies with insulin‐induced laminitis. Methods: Equine hoof lamellar tissue was obtained from 4 control ponies and 5 ponies with laminitis induced following infusion of insulin (1036 ± 55 µU/ml) while maintaining euglycaemia for 55.4 ± 5.5 h. Sections from all 4 hooves were stained and examined by a veterinary pathologist. Measurements of lamellar length (PEL and SEL) were made in mid‐dorsal sections of the right forefeet by 2 blinded observers. Immunolabelling for calprotectin was performed using a monoclonal antibody. Results: No lesions were detected in normal ponies. Lesions detected in ponies with laminitis were variable in severity between ponies. Within ponies, SEL lesions were more severe along the axial region of PEL. Lesions included swelling, disorganisation and abnormal keratinisation of epidermal cells, increased mitotic activity and apoptosis. Separation of basement membranes was minimal. Immunostaining revealed inflammatory cells within the lamellar dermis. SEL were significantly elongated in laminitic hooves relative to controls, with the greatest elongation in those attached to abaxial and middle regions of PEL. Conclusions: Laminitis induced by prolonged infusion of insulin lacked widespread basement membrane disintegration, and increases in epidermal cellular proliferation at axial aspects were marked for this acute stage of disease. Potential relevance: Defining equine laminitis entirely in terms of separation of the basement membrane may not be appropriate for laminitis associated with hyperinsulinaemia.     

Effects of Maternal Folic Acid Supplementation on Hepatic Apoptosis-Related Gene Expressions between Intrauterine Growth Restriction and Normal Body Weight Piglets

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) causes significantly negative effects on the methylation status of genes related to cell apoptosis compared with normal body weight (NBW) piglets. Thus, the objective of the present study was to examine the effects of maternal dietary folic acid supplementation on genes expression profile for hepatic apoptosis in IUGR and NBW piglets. Twenty four Yorkshire gilts were allocated randomly to one of the two diets: control (C, folic acid 1.3 mg/kg) or folic acid supplementation (FS, folic acid 30 mg/kg) after mating. Gene expressions in liver samples were determined and revealed that the mRNA expressions of p53, BCL-2 associated X protein (Bax), and Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) were upregulated in IUGR piglets compared with NBW piglets fed C diets, but could be reversed by maternal folic acid supplementation. The expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Serine-protein Kinase–Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM), and Cadherin-associated protein–beta-catenin 1 (CTNNB1) were influenced by maternal folic acid supplementation significantly, but were not influenced by birth weight. Expression of p53 binding protein–MDM-2 (MDM-2) remained unchanged. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that maternal folic acid supplementation could exert positive effects on genes related to apoptosis in IUGR and NBW piglets, which might facilitate their postnatal health and growth performance.     

锰致鸡睾丸DNA-蛋白质交联的研究

目的:探讨锰致鸡睾丸DNA-蛋白质交联效应。方法:在饲料中添加500、800、1 700 mg/kg MnCl2建立亚慢性锰中毒模型,分别在试验30 d、60 d、90 d剖杀鸡只取睾丸组织,进行DPC(DNA-蛋白质交联)的检测,并在90 d进行生精细胞的凋亡检测。结果:与对照组相比,各染毒组睾丸组织DPC系数显著增大,凋亡指数升高。结论:锰能使睾丸组织DPC系数增大,生精细胞凋亡指数升高,导致DNA损伤,进而引起细胞凋亡。     

小鼠脊髓挫伤型损伤后caspase-3、bax、bcl-2和c-kit基因的表达

为揭示凋亡相关基因和c-kit基因在脊髓损伤(spinal cord injury,SCI)后的相互关系,利用RT-PCR和免疫组化技术,分别检测了caspase-3、bax、bcl-2、c-kit的mRNA和蛋白在小鼠脊髓损伤后的表达。结果显示:在SCI后4 h开始出现大量的神经元和胶质细胞凋亡,其中促凋亡因子表达增加,而抑制凋亡因子表达量减少。caspase-3的mRNA和蛋白的表达在SCI后开始增加,并在72 h时达到峰值,bax表达规律与之基本一致,但是其峰值出现在24 h。随着时间的变化,bcl-2与c-kit的表达均表现为升高—降低—升高的变化趋势,与caspase-3和bax的变化趋势相反,且其调控作用均发生在caspase-3之前。此外,SCI后c-kit基因也呈现抑制凋亡的作用。表明:损伤是导致脊髓发生凋亡的因素之一;bcl-2是凋亡抑制因子,与bax共同控制细胞凋亡,并直接作用于下游caspase-3的表达。     

乳酸对酵母凋亡及某些相关基因表达的影响

采用终浓度为200、250、300 mmol.L-1的乳酸作用酵母细胞200 min,同时,采用终浓度为250mmol.L-1的乳酸分别作用酵母细胞120、200、260 min后,通过DAPI染色、PI染色和TUNEL染色法检测酵母细胞的凋亡。结果表明,随着乳酸终浓度的增加,酵母的死亡率随之增加。死亡的细胞出现DNA断裂和染色质凝聚现象,但没有显示膜损伤,所以乳酸引起的酵母细胞死亡是以凋亡的形式进行。200 mmol.L-1乳酸处理酵母200 min,可引起约不到30%的凋亡,当终浓度增加到300 mmol.L-1时,凋亡率可达80%以上,乳酸引起的死亡率和凋亡率具有剂量依赖性,但无时间依赖性。RT-PCR检测结果表明,随着凋亡程度的增加,Fis1、Bir1、SOD1、SOD2基因的表达随之降低。     

Induction of apoptotic lesions in liver and lymphoid tissues and modulation of cytokine mRNA expression by acute exposure to deoxynivalenol in piglets

Six 1-month-old piglets were intravenously injected with deoxynivalenol (DON) at the concentration of 1 mg/kg body weight, with three pigs each necropsied at 6 and 24 h post-injection (PI) for investigation of hepatotoxicity and immunotoxicity with special attention to apoptotic changes and cytokine mRNA expression. Histopathological examination of the DON-injected pigs revealed systemic apoptosis of lymphocytes in lymphoid tissues and hepatocytes. Apoptosis of lymphocytes and hepatocytes was confirmed by the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method and immunohistochemical staining against single-stranded DNA and cleaved caspase-3. The number of TUNEL-positive cells in the thymus and Peyer''s patches of the ileum was increased at 24 h PI compared to 6 h PI, but the peak was at 6 h PI in the liver. The mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the spleen, thymus and mesenteric lymph nodes were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and elevated expression of IL-1β mRNA at 6 h PI and a decrease of IL-18 mRNA at 24 h PI were observed in the spleen. IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA expressions increased significantly at 6 h PI in the thymus, but TNF-α decreased at 6 h PI in the mesenteric lymph nodes. These results show the apoptosis of hepatocytes suggesting the hepatotoxic potential of DON, in addition to an immunotoxic effect on the modulation of proinflammatory cytokine genes in lymphoid organs with extensive apoptosis of lymphocytes induced by acute exposure to DON in pigs.     

Etoposide通过线粒体路径诱导Hela细胞凋亡

目的研究Etoposide诱导Hela细胞凋亡的分子机制.方法 Etoposide处理含有10%胎牛血清DMEM培养液培养的Hela细胞;Caspase-3活性检测试剂盒检测Etoposide处理Hela细胞Caspase-3活性;激光共聚焦显微镜和Western blot技术检测细胞色素C从线粒体的释放.结果 Etoposide能够导致Hela细胞凋亡;Etoposide处理Hela细胞内的Caspase-3活性增加;Etoposide诱导细胞色素C从线粒体释放到细胞质.结论 Etoposide通过线粒体路径诱导Hela细胞凋亡.