NO介导的Ca2+信号对渗透胁迫下紫花苜蓿幼苗光合特征及抗性的影响

以紫花苜蓿幼苗为材料,用聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)作为渗透介质人工模拟干旱条件,外源喷施NO供体硝普钠(SNP)、钙信号试剂CaCl₂、NO抑制剂亚甲基蓝(MB)和Ca²⁺通道阻断剂LaCl₃,对紫花苜蓿幼苗光合特征、抗氧化酶活性及过氧化物酶(POD)同工酶图谱进行研究,探讨了渗透胁迫下NO介导的Ca²⁺信号对紫花苜蓿幼苗光合作用及抗氧化能力的影响。结果表明:在渗透胁迫条件下,施加SNP、CaCl₂均能够有效缓解叶片叶绿素a、类胡萝卜素及总叶绿素含量降低,提高叶片净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)及气孔限制值(L_s),而对胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)没有缓解作用。SNP、CaCl₂及SNP+CaCl₂处理提高了幼苗叶片中抗氧化酶活性和脯氨酸含量,降低了丙二醛(MDA)含量。其中共处理时效果最为显著,第4天 SOD、POD、CAT活性较PEG处理升高了39.29%、30.41%和56.24%,脯氨酸含量增加了45.59%,MDA含量降低了45.59%。POD同工酶图谱在第4天时酶谱带数最多,POD活性最强,且SNP+CaCl₂共处理下出现新酶带。而添加外源NO的同时添加Ca²⁺通道阻断剂LaCl₃,紫花苜蓿幼苗光合速率、抗氧化酶活性及脯氨酸含量均降低,丙二醛含量增加,添加Ca²⁺信号的同时施加NO抑制剂MB也具有相同的作用,说明Ca²⁺信号参与NO信号转导过程并相互作用共同调节渗透胁迫下紫花苜蓿幼苗的生理应答响应。     

人工改造野生大豆GsDREB2基因对植物耐盐和耐渗透胁迫能力的影响

DREB (dehydration responsive element binding protein)转录因子是一个干旱应答元件的结合蛋白,它能特异结合启动子中含有DRE/CRT顺式元件,激活逆境诱导基因的表达,调控植物对干旱、低温、高盐、高温等胁迫的耐逆性。大量研究表明DREB转录因子在信号传导、作用机理及基因表达方面存在复杂性。为了野生大豆来源GsDREB2基因能更有效地发挥功能,人工突变该基因的负向调节结构域(negative regulatory domain, NRD,140~204),经改造命名为GsDREB2-mNRD。在酵母中比较全长基因(FLDREB2)和GsDREB2-mNRD转录激活和与DRE元件结合的能力,并验证GsDREB2-mNRD核定位情况。分别将FLDREB2和GsDREB2-mNRD转化拟南芥,通过拟南芥幼苗期盐胁迫和渗透胁迫试验,比较GsDREB2-mNRD和FLDREB2在提高植物耐盐和渗透胁迫方面的差异。结果表明,GsDREB2基因内部存在着负向调节结构域(NRD),抑制了GsDREB2转录激活功能和DRE元件结合的特性;经改造的GsDREB2基因依然能定位在细胞核;超量表达GsDREB2-mNRD基因的拟南芥耐盐和渗透胁迫能力明显强于非转基因对照,也高于FLDREB2基因超表达的拟南芥;野生大豆来源的GsDREB2基因NRD结构域的缺失可增强该基因在植物耐盐、渗透胁迫等逆境胁迫下的功能。     

Effect of dasatinib in a xenograft mouse model of canine histiocytic sarcoma and in vitro expression status of its potential target EPHA2

Canine histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is an aggressive and highly metastatic tumor. Previously, the kinase inhibitor dasatinib was shown to have potent growth inhibitory activity against HS cells in vitro, possibly via targeting the EPHA2 receptor. Here, the in vivo effect of dasatinib in HS cells was investigated using a xenograft mouse model. Moreover, the expression status of EPHA2 was examined in six HS cell lines, ranging from insensitive to highly sensitive to dasatinib. In the HS xenograft mouse model, dasatinib significantly suppressed tumor growth, as illustrated by a decrease in mitotic and Ki67 indices and an increase in apoptotic index in tumor tissues. On Western blot analysis, EPHA2 was only weakly detected in all HS cell lines, regardless of sensitivity to dasatinib. Dasatinib likely results in the inhibition of xenograft tumor growth via a mechanism other than targeting EPHA2. The findings of this study suggest that dasatinib is a targeted therapy drug worthy of further exploration for the treatment of canine HS.     

Effect of benazepril and pimobendan on serum angiotensin‐converting enzyme activity in dogs

To support their combined use, the objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of benazepril and pimobendan on serum angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) activity in dogs. A total of 48 healthy beagle dogs were randomized into four groups (n = 12 per group) in a parallel‐group design study: A (control, placebo twice daily (BID)); B (0.5–1.0 mg/kg benazepril once daily (SID) in the morning, placebo in the evening); C (0.25–0.5 mg/kg benazepril BID); D (0.25–0.5 mg/kg benazepril and 0.125–0.25 mg/kg pimobendan, both BID). The test items were administered orally for 15 days. Serum ACE activity was measured on days 1 and 15. Groups B, C and D had significantly lower average serum ACE activity compared to baseline and to the control group, on both days 1 and 15. There were no significant differences in average ACE activity between groups B, C and D. Noninferiority of group C to B was demonstrated. In conclusion, 0.25–0.5 mg/kg benazepril administered BID produced noninferior inhibition of serum ACE activity compared to 0.5–1.0 mg/kg benazepril dosed SID. Pimobendan had no significant effect on benazepril's action on serum ACE activity. The results support the use of benazepril BID in dogs and in combination with pimobendan.     

Integration of pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic for dose optimization of doxycycline against Haemophilus parasuis in pigs

The aims of this study were to establish optimal doses of doxycycline (dox) against Haemophilus parasuis on the basis of pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK‐PD) integration modeling. The infected model was established by intranasal inoculation of organism in pigs and confirmed by clinical signs, blood biochemistry, and microscopic examinations. The recommended dose (20 mg/kg b.w.) was administered in pigs through intramuscular routes for PK studies. The area under the concentration 0‐ to 24‐hr curve (AUC_0–24), elimination half‐life (T_½ke), and mean residence time (MRT) of dox in healthy and H. parasuis‐infected pigs were 55.51 ± 5.72 versus 57.10 ± 4.89 μg·hr/ml, 8.28 ± 0.91 versus 9.80 ± 2.38 hr, and 8.43 ± 0.27 versus 8.79 ± 0.18 hr, respectively. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of dox against 40 H. parasuis isolates was conducted through broth microdilution method, the corresponding MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀ were 0.25 and 1 μg/ml, respectively. The Ex vivo growth inhibition data suggested that dox exhibited a concentration‐dependent killing mechanism. Based on the observed AUC_24 hr/MIC values by modeling PK‐PD data in H. parasuis‐infected pigs, the doses predicted to obtain bacteriostatic, bactericidal, and elimination effects for H. parasuis over 24 hr were 5.25, 8.55, and 10.37 mg/kg for the 50% target attainment rate (TAR), and 7.26, 13.82, and 18.17 mg/kg for 90% TAR, respectively. This study provided a more optimized alternative for clinical use and demonstrated that the dosage 20 mg/kg of dox by intramuscular administration could have an effective bactericidal activity against H. parasuis.     

Effects of the sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor velagliflozin,a new drug with therapeutic potential to treat diabetes in cats

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are used in the treatment of human diabetics. They increase glucose excretion and correct hyperglycemia. We examined the investigational SGLT2 inhibitor velagliflozin in two groups of six neutered adult obese cats (equal gender distribution). Placebo (Pl) or drug (D; 1 mg/kg) was administered for 35 days. Routine blood examinations, fructosamine, beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucagon, adiponectin, and leptin were measured before and after treatment, also water intake, and urinary electrolytes, glucose, and volume. Indirect calorimetry, an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT; 0.8 g/kg) and insulin tolerance test (IVITT) were conducted. All cats tolerated treatment well. Significant changes with D included a decrease in the respiratory exchange ratio, an increase in cholesterol, a small increase in albumin, and a rise in BHB and NEFA. Glucose clearance was unaltered, although less insulin was secreted during the IVGTT (p = .056) suggesting improved insulin sensitivity. IVITT was unchanged. Treatment did not affect glucagon, leptin, or adiponectin. Water intake, urine output, urinary glucose excretion, and the glucose/creatinine ratio but not urinary electrolytes were significantly higher post‐D. We conclude that velagliflozin is a promising drug, which increases urinary glucose excretion in cats and could thereby be beneficial for the treatment of hyperglycemia.