Single nucleotide polymorphism in avian uncoupling protein gene is associated with thermoregulation in chicks

Avian uncoupling protein (av-UCP) is a key protein for thermoregulation in poultry. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the av-UCP gene has been reported in chickens. The purpose of the current study was to clarify the association between this av-UCP gene mutation and thermoregulation in chickens. Wild and mutant type chicks for the av-UCP gene SNP (g. 1270 of the av-UCP gene exon 3 with C to T substitution and amino acid substitution) were exposed to high ambient temperature. Rectal temperature, radiation temperature on the body surface, and the expression of heat dissipation behavior (wing drooping and panting) during heat exposure were measured. In addition, oxygen consumption rate in the thermoneutral zone in wild and mutant type chicks was measured. Changes in wing temperature during heat exposure in wild-type chicks were lower than those in mutants. The latency of continuous wing drooping during heat exposure in wild-type chicks was shorter than in mutant chicks. It was also found that the SNP in the av-UCP gene caused reduced oxygen consumption. These results suggest that the av-UCP gene mutation affects thermoregulation, especially heat production, in chickens.     

Effect of different inspired fractions of oxygen on F-shunt and arterial partial pressure of oxygen in isoflurane-anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated Shetland ponies

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂) on intrapulmonary shunt fraction as measured by F-shunt in ponies during isoflurane anaesthesia.Study designProspective, randomized clinical study.AnimalsA group of 23 adult Shetland ponies undergoing a total of 32 anaesthetic procedures.MethodsPonies were premedicated intravenously (IV) with detomidine (0.01 mg kg^–1) and either morphine (0.1 mg kg^–1) or butorphanol (0.02 mg kg^–1). Anaesthesia was induced with ketamine (2.2 mg kg^–1) and midazolam (0.07 mg kg^–1) administered IV. Ponies were randomly allocated to maintenance of anaesthesia with isoflurane in oxygen (group TH; FiO₂ = 0.95) or a mixture of oxygen and medical air (group TL; FiO₂ = 0.65); all ponies were given a constant rate of infusion of detomidine. Animals were mechanically ventilated to maintain PaCO₂ between 40 and 50 mmHg. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed every 30 minutes. The F-shunt equation was calculated for each time point T0, T30, T60 and T90. Data were analysed using linear mixed model analysis and presented as mean ± standard deviation (p < 0.05).ResultsPaO₂ was greater in group TH than in group TL (TH: 406 ± 90, 438 ± 83, 441 ± 69 and 464 ± 53 mmHg versus TL: 202 ± 90, 186 ± 84, 172 ± 85 and 191 ± 98 mmHg at T0, T30, T60 and T90, respectively; p < 0.0001). In TH, F-shunt was < TL. Significant differences were found at T60 (TH: 13.2% ± 4.3 versus TL: 19.4% ± 8.3; p = 0.016) and T90 (TH: 11.7% ± 3.5 versus TL: 18.6% ± 9.5; p = 0.036).Conclusions and clinical relevanceOur findings do not support a beneficial effect of using a reduced FiO₂ to improve oxygenation in anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated Shetland ponies.     

A HIERARCHICAL CONTROL METHOD FOR REACTIVE POWER OPTIMIZATION IN LARGE-SCALED INTERCONNECTED POWER SYSTEMS

This paper presents a new hierarchical and coordinative control method for reactive power optimization in large-scale interconnected power systems. It combines the interconnection forecast method for hierarchical control in large-scale steady state industrial systems with the incremental linear programming method for reactive power optimization in real time. The results of applying the method to power system examples show that the method not only solves the problem of high dimension in order, but also keeps the advantages of the incremental linear programming method. The proposed method is also suitable for the security analysis of reactive power correction in large-scale interconnected power systems.     

暗期间断对光敏感雌性不育苎麻活性氧代谢的影响

在短日照(10 h/d)处理的光敏感雌性不育苎麻的暗期进行红光和远红光间断暗期的处理,并对叶片和雌性花器官的活性氧相关酶的活性和膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)含量测定。结果表明,红光处理诱导雌性败育,远红光处理则雌性可育。败育株叶片的过氧化物酶(POD)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性均高于可育株,但败育节位的MDA含量较低;败育株各节花蕾中POD活性较高,正在发育雌蕾的SOD和CAT活性亦高于可育株,但在败育节位下降到可育株水平,MDA含量则升高并超过可育株。暗示光敏色素调节了雌花活性氧代谢的失衡,而且与诱导雌性败育相关。     

Sulodexide protects against hyperglycemia-induced retinal vascular injury via suppressing NOX4/NLRP3 pathway

AIM To investigate the effect of sulodexide (SDX) on high glucose-induced damage in retinal microvascular endothelial cells. METHODS (1) High-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin were used to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) followed by injection of saline or SDX in C57BL/6J male mice. Retinal microvascular leakage and density, and the protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) were measured. (2) Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) were treated with normal glucose or high glucose with or without SDX, and were further transfected with siRNA to knock down NOX4, or infected by adenovirus to over-express NOX4. The protein levels of ZO-1, VE-cadherin (VE-Cad), NOX4 and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins as well as the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected. RESULTS Treatment with SDX increased the protein level of ZO-1, attenuated retinal leakage and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and enhanced the density of microvasculature and the number of ganglion cells in diabetic retinas. The protein levels of ZO-1 and VE-Cad were decreased, while the levels of NOX4, NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins and ROS generation were increased in high glucose-treated HRMECs. Silencing of NOX4 inhibited high glucose-induced increases in NLRP3 inflammasome and ROS generation, and decreases in the protein levels of ZO-1 and VE-Cad. Over-expression of NOX4 significantly increased the levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins and ROS generation in HRMECs, and reduced the protein levels of ZO-1 and VE-Cad. Treatment with SDX partly reversed NOX4 over-expression-induced changes. CONCLUSION SDX alleviates hyperglycemia-induced retinal microvascular endothelial injury via inhibiting NOX4/ROS/NLRP3 pathways.     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy activates CREB/BDNF signaling pathway to reduce synaptic damage in hippocampal neurons of Alzheimer disease mice

AIM To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on synaptic damage of hippocampal neurons in APP/PS1 transgenic (TG) mice and its possible mechanism. METHODS The 6-month-old male APP/PS1 TG mice were randomly divided into TG group, HBO group and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) inhibitor H89 group, with 10 mice in each group. Ten male wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice of the same age were used as negative control group (WT group). The mice in HBO and H89 groups were treated with HBO for 6 cycles, while the mice in WT group and TG group were not treated. The learning and memory abilities were observed by Morris water maze. The nesting ability of the mice was detected by nesting test. The Nissl bodies in hippocampal neurons were observed by Nissl staining. The mRNA expression of CREB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus was detected by real-time PCR. The protein levels of synapsin (SYN), postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), CREB, phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) and BDNF in the hippocampus were determined by Western blot. RESULTS Compared with WT group, the learning and memory abilities of the mice in TG group were signilficantly reduced (P<0.05). In addition, the nesting score, the number of Nissl bodies in the hippocampal neurons, the mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF, and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with TG group, the learning and memory abilities of the mice in HBO group were improved (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the nesting scores of the mice were significantly increased (P<0.05), the neurons in the hippocampus were arranged neatly, and the number of Nissl bodies, the relative mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF,and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with HBO group, the mice in H89 group had poor learning and memory abilities, lowered nesting scores and decreased number of Nissl bodies. Futhermore, the relative mRNA expression of CREB and BDNF, and the protein levels of SYN, PSD95, GAP43, p-CREB and BDNF were also decreased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION HBO improves the learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 TG mice, and its mechanism may be related to activating the CREB/BDNF signaling pathway to reduce synaptic damage of hippocampal neurons in mice.     

九连山国家森林公园负氧离子浓度时空变化及影响要素研究

负氧离子不仅对空气质量具有改善作用,而且对人体健康起到重要的影响。通过连续观测九连山国家森林公园空气负氧离子浓度,分析负氧离子浓度的时空变化规律及与各气象要素之间的相互关系。结果表明,九连山国家森林公园负氧离子浓度水平达到Ⅰ级标准,对人体健康极有利。原始阔叶林中负氧离子浓度明显高于人工林中负氧离子的浓度,且原始阔叶林和人工林中负氧离子浓度都呈现夏秋高于冬春,夏季最高,冬季最低;早晚浓度明显高于白天浓度的规律。因此九连山国家森林公园适合出游时间为夏秋季,且上午或傍晚最佳。此外,负氧离子的浓度与空气温度、湿度以及降水量都有明显的相关性,同时也受其他气象因素的影响。这些结果可以为推进森林旅游业的建设提供科学支持,特别是自然保护区内负氧离子资源和旅游产品的开发。     

饥饿和再投喂对日本黄姑鱼代谢率和消化器官组织学的影响

采用封闭式呼吸仪测定日本黄姑鱼(8.14±1.07 g)在饥饿和恢复投喂过程中的耗氧率;用石蜡切片法观察和分析饥饿和再投喂对日本黄姑鱼消化器官形态结构和组织学的影响。结果表明:随着饥饿时间的延长,其耗氧率逐渐降低;恢复投喂之后,其耗氧率开始逐步上升。从组织结构看,食道无明显变化,而胃、肠和肝胰脏则随着饥饿时间的延长出现不同程度的损伤;饥饿5 d组无明显变化,而饥饿15 d组变化明显,表现为胃腺细胞收缩,皱壁和上皮细胞高度减少,分泌颗粒减少,肠胃绒毛退化,肝组织致密,肝细胞内脂滴减少,胰腺泡缩小,排列不规则;饥饿10 d组介于饥饿5 d组和饥饿15 d组之间,再投喂各主要结构均有恢复。     

中国对虾亲虾的能量代谢研究

本试验测定了中国对虾亲虾在禁食和静息状态下的耗氧率、二氧化碳排出率和氨氮排泄率,研究了它们的呼吸商、氧氮比、能源的化学本质及其消耗量之比。结果表明,体重为85.1±14.8克的亲虾,在水温19～22℃时的耗氧率为0.25±0.08毫克/克·小时,二氧化碳排出率为0.28±0.09毫克/克·小时,氨氮排泄率为8.86±3.53微克/克·小时;亲虾以蛋白质、脂肪和碳水化合物的混台物为能源,其中以蛋白质为主,脂肪次之,碳水化合物的利用最少;亲虾的耗氧率(Y)与体重(W)呈负相关,Y=1.89W~(-1.3),而与性腺发育的影响则相反,性腺发育好的亲虾代谢率高,性腺发育差的亲虾代谢率低。