Anti-diabetic effects of emodin involved in the activation of PPARγ on high-fat diet-fed and low dose of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Rheum palmatum Linn has been widely applied in the clinical treatment of diabetes mellitus. It has been found that emodin as the major bioactive component of R. palmatum L exhibits the competency to activate peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) in vitro. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of emodin through the activation of PPARγ on high-fat diet-fed and low dose of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The diabetic mice were intraperitoneally injected with emodin for three weeks. No changes of food consumption and the body weight in emodin-treated mice were monitored daily during the entire experiment. At the end of experiment, the levels of blood glucose, triglyceride and total cholesterol in serum were significantly decreased after emodin treatment. However, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) concentration was significantly elevated. The glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in emodin-treated group were significantly improved. Furthermore, the results of quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that emodin significantly elevated the mRNA expression level of PPARγ and regulated the mRNA expressions of LPL, FAT/CD36, resistin and FABPs (ap2) in liver and adipocyte tissues. No effects on the mRNA expressions of PPARα and PPARα-target genes were observed. Taken together, the results suggested that the activation of PPARγ and the modulation of metabolism-related genes were likely involved in the anti-diabetic effects of emodin.     

Adiposity and adiponectin in dogs: investigation of causes of discrepant results between two studies

Although one study showed lower adiponectin concentrations in obese dogs, other recent studies indicate that adiponectin might not be decreased in obese dogs, raising the possibility that the physiology of adiponectin is different in dogs than in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate possible causes of the discrepancy between the two largest studies to date that assessed the association between adiposity and adiponectin concentration in dogs, including the validity of the assay, laboratory error, and the effects of breed, sex, and neuter status on the relationship between adiposity and adiponectin concentrations. Adiponectin concentrations measured with a previously validated adiponectin ELISA were compared with those estimated by Western blotting analysis of reduced and denatured plasma samples. The possibility of laboratory error and the effect of EDTA anticoagulant and aprotinin were tested. Adiponectin concentration was measured by ELISA in 20 lean dogs (10 male and 10 female, 5 neutered in each sex). There was close correlation between adiponectin concentrations measured by ELISA and those estimated by Western blotting analysis (r = 0.90; P < 0.001). There was no substantial effect of EDTA, aprotinin, or laboratory error on the results. There was confounding by neuter status of the relationship between adiposity and adiponectin concentrations, but adiponectin concentrations were not significantly lower in male than in female lean dogs (females, 36 mg/L; males, 26 mg/L; P > 0.20) and were not significantly lower in intact than in neutered lean male dogs (intact, 28 mg/L; neutered, 23 mg/L; P = 0.49). We conclude that the adiponectin ELISA previously validated for use in dogs appears to be suitable for determination of canine adiponectin concentrations and that testosterone does not appear to have a strong effect on plasma adiponectin concentrations in dogs. Obesity might decrease adiponectin concentrations in intact but not in neutered dogs.     

Histamine receptors mediate contraction of reticular groove smooth muscle of adult goats

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of histamine and to characterise its receptor subtypes in reticular groove (RG) smooth muscle of adult goats. The studies were done using floor and lip regions of RG. We used tension experiments on smooth muscle of RG isolated from adult goat for functional characterisation of H₁ and H₂ receptors. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry experiments were conducted for molecular characterisation of these receptors. Histamine evoked concentration-dependent contraction of isolated RG circular and longitudinal smooth muscle preparation. Pyrilamine antagonised the action of histamine. Histamine did not induce any relaxant effect on RG preparations. Additionally, cimetidine did not produce any significant effect on histamine-induced response. Non-selective histaminic receptor antagonist cyproheptadine attenuated the contraction response to histamine in the smooth muscle. Molecular characterisation and localisation of H₁ and H₂ receptor proteins confirmed the presence of these receptors in RG. It is most likely that histamine-induced contractile effect in RG smooth muscle of goats is mediated by H₁ histaminic receptors.     

大鼠发情周期的子宫组织雌激素受体定位的初步研究

本试验选用 SD 系大鼠,用常规阴道抹片法鉴定发情。采用免疫组织化学的过氧化物酶—抗过氧化物酶复合物(PAP)法,进行雌激素受体(ER)定位。在子宫的内膜固有层、肌层和浆膜层,发现抗雌二醇抗体的免疫反应阳性细胞,而在内膜上皮细胞内无阳性染色。这种阳性染色可以被乙烯酚所阻断,不加抗雌二醇抗体的结果使染色呈阴性。发情周期4个不同时期的子宫组织中免疫反应阳性细胞表现出量的变化,以发情间期为基础,发情前期较多,发情期和发情后期依次减少,其动态变化与前人报道发情周期中雌二醇在血浆中的浓度变化是对应的。并发现发情周期中子宫组织的肥大细胞与雌激素受体的分布和变化有着相似的特点。     

牛A型巴氏杆菌高、低毒力株LPS激活RAW264.7细胞TLR4信号通路的比较分析

本研究旨在比较牛A型多杀性巴氏杆菌高毒力株(PmCQ2)和低毒力株(PmCQ6)脂多糖(LPS)对小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7内TLR4信号通路的影响。选用体外培养RAW264.7细胞,经LPS刺激后检测细胞内TLR4信号激活及对TNF-α和IL-12p40表达的影响;并利用Western blot检测LPS对IκBα磷酸化及NF-κBp65活化的影响。结果显示,高毒力株LPS_PmCQ2和低毒力株LPS_PmCQ6分别刺激RAW264.7细胞后,均能显著提高TLR4的表达,并诱导细胞因子TNF-α和IL-12p40的分泌表达;LPS_PmCQ2和LPS_PmCQ6均能诱导IκBα磷酸化,促进NF-κBp65核转位,但二者没有显著差异(P>0.05)。本研究表明牛A型多杀性巴氏杆菌高、低毒力株LPS均能参与TLR4介导的小鼠巨噬细胞免疫应答,且二者对TLR4介导的IκBα-NF-κB信号通路的作用无显著差异,暗示牛A型多杀性巴氏杆菌对小鼠巨噬细胞的毒力与LPS无明显相关性,可能由其他毒力因子决定。     

Imidacloprid resistance and its mechanisms in field populations of brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stål in China

Imidacloprid is a key insecticide universally used for control of brown planthopper (BPH), and its resistance had been studied previously with laboratory selected strains. When the failure in field control happened in China in 2005, imidacloprid resistance in field populations of BPH (AQ, NJ, GL and WJ) was monitored and studied. The results demonstrated that the BPH of field populations had developed moderate to high level of resistance to imidacloprid. This resistance is attributed mainly to the enhanced P450 monooxygenases detoxification and could be enhanced in the same growing season if the insecticide was sprayed over and over. Further studies revealed that imidacloprid resistant hoppers did not show cross-resistance to all the neonicotinoid insecticides and high level of imidacloprid resistance in BPH was very unstable. Thus, efficient substitute neonicotinoids could be selected and “window control” could be implemented in resistance management. For checking the resistance mutation previously reported in laboratory selected strains, new corresponding target subunit genes were cloned and sequenced, but no mutations were found associated consistently with resistance.     

杀虫剂分子靶标烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体研究进展

昆虫烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(nicotinic acetylcholine receptors,nAChRs)广泛分布于昆虫中枢神经系统,是杀虫剂作用的主要靶标。目前昆虫中该受体的天然亚基组成尚不完全明确。果蝇的任意α亚基与脊椎动物的一个β亚基共表达是目前最好的异源表达模型,但仍然急需新的研究工具,研究表明一些与受体相关的蛋白质影响着表达。胞内磷酸化的调节作用为今后受体药理学特性的研究提供了新方向。受体亚基上一些关键氨基酸在新烟碱杀虫剂对受体的选择作用中起重要作用。在对吡虫啉抗性的褐飞虱种群中找到了与抗性相关的突变位点,这为新烟碱类杀虫剂靶标不敏感性研究提供了直接证据。对昆虫烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体的分子多样性、功能表达、胞内调节机制、受体与杀虫剂的选择作用及其抗性分子机理等的研究进展进行了综述。     

花生凝集素受体在兔子宫内的分布与激素调节

采用组织化学方法对花生凝集素(peanut aggutinin,PNA)受体在兔发情周期和早期妊娠子宫内的分布以及雌、孕激素对其表达的影响进行了研究.结果显示,PNA受体主要存在于兔子宫内膜腔上皮和腺上皮,其表达量随妊娠阶段的不同而发生变化,PNA受体在休情期、发情期及妊娠第1天的兔子宫内未见表达,在妊娠第2至第4天时表达量逐渐增加,且在妊娠第3至4天时表达量最高,此后,在妊娠第5至7天时表达量逐渐减少,妊娠第7天时,着床区子宫内PNA受体的表达量略高于非着床区.假孕兔子宫内PNA受体的表达与正常妊娠时相似.注射孕酮可促进卵巢切除后兔子宫内膜PNA受体的表达,而注射雌激素对其表达有明显抑制作用.结果表明,PNA受体在兔子宫内的分布与着床前胚胎与子宫内膜之间的黏附有关,PNA受体在兔子宫内的表达受母体分泌的孕酮和雌激素所调节.     

新烟碱类杀虫剂的结构修饰及相关作用机制研究进展

新烟碱类化合物主要作用于昆虫的烟碱乙酰胆碱受体(nAChRs)。概述了新烟碱类杀虫剂的结构特征,阶段性地总结了近几年基于昆虫nAChRs结构,对新烟碱类化合物的杂环部分和功能基团进行结构修饰和改造的代表性研究成果,概要介绍了这些新化合物与昆虫nAChRs之间的相互作用机制,有助于进一步探索和开发高活性的新烟碱类化合物。     

Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) integrins αvβ3 and αvβ6 as FMDV receptors: Molecular cloning, sequence analysis and comparison with other species

Integrins are heterodimeric adhesion receptors that participate in a variety of cell–cell and cell–extracellular matrix protein interactions. Many integrins recognize RGD sequences displayed on extracellular matrix proteins and the exposed loops of viral capsid proteins. Four members of the αv integrin family of cellular receptors, αvβ3, αvβ6, αvβ1 and αvβ8, have been identified as receptors for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in vitro, and integrins are believed to be the receptors used to target epithelial cells in the infected animals. To analyse the roles of the αv integrins from a susceptible species as viral receptors, we have cloned Bactrian camel αv, β3 and β6 integrin cDNAs and compared them to those of other species. The coding sequences for Bactrian camel integrin αv, β3 and β6 were found to be 3165, 2289 and 2367 nucleotides in length, encoding 1054, 762 and 788 amino acids, respectively. The Bactrian camel αv, β3 and β6 subunits share many structural features with homologues of other species, including the ligand binding domain and cysteine-rich region. Phylogenetic trees and similarity analyses showed the close relationships of integrin genes from Bactrian camels, pigs and cattle, which are each susceptible to FMDV infection, that were distinct from the orders Rodentia, Primates, Perissodactyla, Carnivora, Galliformes and Xenopus. We postulate that host tropism of FMDV may in part be related to the divergence in integrin subunits among different species.