Pathogenic mechanisms of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus

Goats infected with caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) show chronic arthritis and cachexia, which are progressive in nature. The immunopathogenic mechanisms responsible for these progressive clinical symptoms have not been fully elucidated. Various haematological and immunological parameters were evaluated in experimentally-infected goats showing typical signs of CAEV-induced disease. Infected goats showed recurrent lymphocytosis that may be due to constant presentation of antigen by infected cells of a monocyte/macrophage lineage. The serum alkaline phosphatase and -glutamyl transferase concentrations were elevated in infected goats, a characteristic of hepatic and bone disorders. All other serum chemistry parameters were similar between infected and control goats. Importantly, the serum tumour necrosis factor- (TNF-) levels were higher in infected goats. The cachexia seen in infected goats may be at least partly due to altered metabolism as a result of prolonged elevation of serum TNF- levels. Depressed natural killer cell activity was observed in infected goats and may contribute towards the establishment of a persistent infection with CAEV.Abbreviations AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - CAEV caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus - GGT -glutamyl transferase - HBSS Hanks' balanced salt solution - HIV human immunodeficiency virus - NK natural killer - PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells - PCR polymerase chain reaction - SAP serum alkaline phosphatase - TNF tumour necrosis factor     

In ovo embryotoxicity of α-endosulfan adversely influences liver and brain metabolism and the immune system in chickens

There is a lack of laboratory-based embryonic chicken toxicity studies with the ecologically relevant low dose/s of endosulfan that utilizes a more practical approach such as the chorioallontoic membrane (CAM) injection. In this investigation, 2μg AR grade α-endosulfan/egg (40% of LD₅₀ for embryos) was injected through the CAM in 12-day-old chicken embryos and the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase, EC 3.1.3.9), fructose 1,6-diphosphatase (FDPase, EC 3.1.3.11), adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase, EC 3.6.1.3) and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH, EC 1.3.99.1) and DNA and RNA content in liver and brain tissues and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) in the latter were determined at 24, 48, and 72 h post-exposure. The wet weight of the embryos did not differ between groups. Following endosulfan exposure, except increase in the hepatic ATPase activity (P < 0.01), there was a significant decrease in the following parameters: G6Pase activity in both the liver and brain (P < 0.01), SDH activity in the brain (P < 0.01), brain overall DNA and RNA concentration (P < 0.05), brain AChE activity (P < 0.01). Exposure of 18-day-old embryos to 2-μg endosulfan for 24 h caused decrease (P < 0.01) in the lymphocyte count and IgG content. Histopathology of thymus and bursa of Fabricius revealed a reduction in the population of thymic follicles, smaller thymocytes with the clear vacuoles in cytoplasm and fewer bursocytes accompanied by infiltration of erythrocytes in lymphoid follicles of the endosulfan-treated embryos. It was inferred that in ovo injection of 0.041 μg/g egg weight of α-endosulfan suppress gluconeogenesis (main energy source in embryonic life), nerve transmission, and immunity.     

马铃薯渣酶法水解液制备单细胞蛋白饲料的研究

本文研究了酶法水解马铃薯渣制备膳食纤维后的滤液制备单细胞蛋白的可行性。试验结果表明,单细胞蛋白边糖化边发酵的摇瓶培养的较优工艺条件为:底物浓度为8%(添加8%的麸皮水)、初始pH值为4.5、接种量为15%、葡萄糖淀粉酶加入量为100U/g(原料中淀粉)、青霉素加入量为80U/g(原料)、培养温度为28℃、培养时间为6h、转速为250r/min。在此条件下,干酵母产量最高为19.920g/L,单细胞蛋白中的蛋白质含量达12.27%。     

酵母蛋白饲料培养条件的研究

对啤酒酵母进行发酵试验,结果表明:该酵母最优的培养条件是麦芽汁培养基稀释倍数2.5,培养时间20h,蔗糖添加量10Brix,尿素添加量0.02%,且酵母菌耐酸耐铜的性能好。     

成年(黄占)鹿耳皮肤成纤维细胞的分离与培养

本试验对1头黄占鹿的耳缘皮肤组织采用0.1%胶原酶(Ⅰ型)消化组织块法进行原代培养,反复传代纯化,获得了成纤维细胞,进行了生物学特性观察,并对各代细胞进行了常规冷冻保存。利用Photoshop软件对F12代细胞染色体进行了核型分析,结果表明该黄占鹿的染色体数目为68,常染色体中1号和7号为M染色体,其余的均为A常染色体;X染色体是最大的A染色体,Y染色体是最小的M染色体;该黄占鹿的核型式为4(M)+62(A),XY(A,M);对部分冷冻细胞进行了解冻培养,解冻存活率和贴壁率分别为61.04%、38.85%。     

Protective effect of onychin on the human umbilical vein endothelial cells injured by menadione

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of onychin on the endothelial cells injured by oxidative stress. METHODS: The injured model was established by endothelial cells treated with menadione. The growth inhibitory rate of endothelial cell was determined by MTT assay; NO₂^-／NO₃^- concentration in the medium was determined by nitrate reductase assay; eNOS and caveolin-1 protein levels were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Onychin significantly decreased the growth inhibitory rate of endothelial cells injured by menadione, increased NO₂^-／NO₃^- concentration in the medium and eNOS activity and up-regulated caveolin-1 expression. CONCLUSION: Onychin possesses a protective effect against endothelial cell injury induced by menadione via caveolin-1/eNOS pathway.     

Inhibitory effects of LDL-ACM complex on subcutaneous implanted tumors in nude mice()

AIM: In order to evaluate the applicable value of LDL as a targeted vehicle for chemotherapeutic agents, we investigated and compared the inhibitory effects of LDL-ACM complex and free ACM on nude mice's subcutaneous implanted tumors derived from gastric cancer cell lines, SGC-7901 and NKM-45. METHODS: LDL-ACM complex was prepared and the tumor model of nude mice was established by subcutaneous implantation of SGC-7901 and NKM-45. Then, the groups of nude mice developed subcutaneous implanted tumors were received either LDL-ACM complex or free ACM. Subsequently, the tumor size, weight and leukemia cell counts were measured and the rates of tumor-inhibition and the survival were compared among the groups. RESULTS: The inhibitory effects of LDL-ACM complex on the tumors, especially on SGC-7901 implanted tumors were much more obvious than that of free ACM. It was also indicated that the action of LDL-ACM complex was mediated by LDL receptor. CONCLUSION: These results showed that LDL-ACM complex had significant inhibitory effects on the implanted tumors and the effect might be mediated by LDL receptor.     

Serum contents of E-selectin,sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 in patients with acute coronary syndrome

AIM:To explore the serum levels of certain adhesion molecules and its significance in acute coronary syndrome(ACS). METHODS:The subjects included 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and 40 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Among the 80 patients, 60 patients accepted a follow-up 4 months. At the same time we selected 40 controls from people who attended a routine health check in the university. Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were measured by ELISA.RESULTS:Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 were significantly higher in the ACS group(AMI or UAP) than in the control group. Four months later, the levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1 became significantly lower in the follow-up group than in the ACS group, while sVCAM-1 showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION:Serum levels of E-selectin, sICAM-1 may have certain diagnostic value for ACS, and can be a useful marker reflecting the stability of the disease.     

Ultrastructural Localization of Hydrogen Peroxide in Host Leaves Treated with AK-toxin I Produced by Alternaria alternata Japanese Pear Pathotype

The rapid generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), called the oxidative burst, is one of the earliest host responses to pathogen infection or elicitor treatments. Therefore, we looked for the induction of ROS generation in Japanese pear leaves by the host-specific toxin, AK-toxin I using a cytochemical method for detecting H₂O₂. A small amount of non-specific generation of H₂O₂ was found in the cell walls in toxin- and water-treated susceptible and resistant leaves. Thus, the generation of H₂O₂ at cell walls appears to be caused by wounding stress during sampling. Specific generation of ROS, however, was found only in the membrane fragments and extended desmotubules characteristic of modified sites of the plasma membrane in the toxin-treated susceptible leaves. In addition, generation of H₂O₂ at plasma membranes was observed with higher frequency in toxin-treated susceptible leaves. This result indicates that the H₂O₂ generation was associated with damaged sites in the plasmalemma after toxin treatment and perhaps with the formation of membrane fragments from altered portions of the invaginated plasma membrane. Received 21 September 2001/ Accepted in revised form 25 October 2001