山药中的致痒物质及致痒机制研究（英文）

山药是一种传统中药,对人体有许多益处,如抗腹泻、抗炎、抗糖尿病、低胆固醇血症、抗氧化、抗肿瘤和免疫调节.山药黏液接触皮肤,常引起严重瘙痒.而山药中存在的致痒物质成分尚不清楚.我们采用乙醇提取、膜过滤、离子交换色谱、悬浮液滴法从新鲜山药中提取尿囊素晶体.从河南焦作山药中提取的尿囊素含量约为3.567 mg/g.活性实验结果表明,尿囊素引起的小鼠抓挠反应次数显著地高于对照组.尿囊素直接激活背根神经节神经元,诱导钙流入,还可以诱导神经元内向电流产生.我们首次在细胞水平证明尿囊素能够激活神经细胞,诱导痒觉信号传导.     

正交实验研究白刺种子尿囊素提取工艺

利用高效液相色谱法测定尿囊素的含量,本文采用正交实验,对白刺种子尿囊素的提取工艺进行了优化.结果表明各因素对尿囊素的提取效果的影响程度为乙醇浓度＞温度＞料液比＞提取时间＞提取次数.从而确定白刺种子中尿囊素的最佳提取工艺为乙醇浓度为60%,料液比为1∶12(W/V),提取温度为80℃,提取时间为1 h,重复提取3次.     

Rottlerin 通过抑制 PKCδ-ERK1/2 通路减轻6-羟基多巴胺所致多巴胺能细胞凋亡

近来发现新的蛋白激酶C δ亚型（PKCδ）的磷酸化激活与帕金森病（PD）中神经元的缺失有关.我们的前期研究发现, PKCδ 磷酸化参与6-羟基多巴胺引起的多巴胺能细胞的毒性作用,但其具体机制尚不清楚.本研究以TUNEL检测发现,6-羟基多巴胺引起较显著的细胞凋亡,PKC δ 抑制剂 Rottlerin 可减轻6-羟基多巴胺诱导的凋亡,总PKC抑制剂Bis、钙依赖性PKC（α和β）抑制剂Go6976对6-羟基多巴胺诱导的凋亡无影响.采用Western免疫印迹杂交实验发现,6-羟基多巴胺持续性激活 ERK 1/2 和PKC δ, Rottlerin既可抑制PKCδ的磷酸化激活,又可抑制ERK的磷酸化激活,而 MEK 抑制剂 U0126 仅能抑制 ERK 1/2 磷酸化激活,对 PKC δ 磷酸化却无显著影响.这说明 PKCδ 是6-羟基多巴胺持续性激活 ERK 1/2 的上游激酶.本研究结果提示,在凋亡过程中PKCδ仍然是ERK1/2激活的上游激酶,阻断PKCδ磷酸化可阻断ERK1/2持续激活.Rottlerin正是由于阻断PKCδ的激活,进一步阻断ERK1/2持续激活,减轻多巴胺能细胞的凋亡.因此, Rottlerin 可能对防治帕金森病患者神经元缺失有一定作用.     

Ghrelin对大鼠摄食的影响及orexins信号通路的调控

目的:探究Ghrelin对大鼠摄食的影响及orexins信号通路的调控作用。方法:采用免疫组织化学染色的方法观察Ghrelin免疫阳性神经元轴突末梢与orexin神经元的突触联系以及下丘脑外侧区(LHA)内c-fos的表达。侧脑室注射抗-orexin-A IgG和抗-orexin-B IgG混合液、抗-黑色素浓集激素(MCH)IgG、NPY-1受体拮抗剂后测量大鼠摄食量,观察其对ghrelin诱导摄食的影响。结果:Ghrelin免疫阳性神经元轴突末梢与orexin神经元的突触相接触。侧脑室注射ghrelin可诱导orexin神经元内c-fos表达,但是没有引起MCH神经元内c-fos的表达。预先注射抗-NPY IgG抗体,ghrelin仍然可诱导orexin神经元内c-fos表达。侧脑室预先注射抗-orexin-A IgG和抗-orexin-B IgG抗体可减弱ghrelin促摄食作用,但是预先注射抗-MCH IgG抗体对ghrelin诱导的摄食作用没有明显影响。注射NPY受体拮抗剂可进一步加强抗-orexin-A IgG抗体和抗-orexin-B IgG抗体对ghrelin诱导摄食的抑制效应。结论:ghrelin可能与orexin系统相互作用共同参与摄食和能量平衡的调控。     

肠道病毒71型致神经元病变的机制研究进展

中枢神经系统感染是由病原体侵犯中枢神经系统引起的一类具有较高的发病率和死亡率的疾病。病毒是引起中枢神经系统感染的重要病原体之一,其中肠道病毒71型在继发神经系统症状的重症手足口病患儿中较为常见。EV71致神经元病变是其感染中枢神经系统的基础,阐明肠道病毒71型致神经元病变的机制,不仅可以促进基础病毒学研究,也能为抗病毒药物的开发提供思路,对临床肠道病毒71型致中枢神经系统感染的治疗提供支持。本文主要从肠道病毒71型侵入神经元的受体途径、损伤神经元的线粒体途径、诱导凋亡与自噬、感染胶质细胞后对神经元的旁观者效应、免疫病理机制以及病毒自身因素等多个方面,对肠道病毒71型致神经元病变机制展开综述。     

酒精诱导突触发生期神经元凋亡的分子机理

在突触发生时期,酒精诱导的神经元凋亡可能是胎儿酒精综合征产生的原因之一。酒精可能通过增加自由基的产生,影响神经递质受体的功能、干扰神经营养因子信号通路、激活内源性的细胞凋亡信号途径等分子机制,促进发育过程中的神经元凋亡。酒精影响发育的另一个重要机制是抑制蛋白质合成。新近的研究显示,双链RNA激活的蛋白激酶介导酒精引起的蛋白翻译受阻和神经元死亡。     

钾通道在培养大鼠海马神经元凋亡性容积减少中的作用

为探讨钾通道参与神经元凋亡的可能机制,在星形孢菌素（STS)诱导的培养海马神经元凋亡模型上,研究了凋亡时神经细胞容积的动态变化及钾通道在其中的作用.实验结果显示,钾通道阻断剂四乙铵或升高细胞外K⁺均能够明显抑制STS诱导的神经元凋亡,并且大电导钙激活钾通道（BK）选择性阻断剂iberiotoxin和paxilline具有同样程度的抗细胞凋亡作用,表明钾通道（可能主要是BK通道）参与了STS诱导的培养海马神经元凋亡.在STS诱导神经元凋亡的早期就出现了细胞容积的显著减少,而钾通道阻断剂或升高细胞外K⁺均可阻断该细胞容积减少.研究结果提示细胞内钾离子的外流可能参与了凋亡性细胞容积减少,这也可能是钾通道介导细胞凋亡的重要机制之一.     

NMDA受体激活引起的突触活动对Wnt非经典通路的影响

目的探讨NMDA受体激活引起的突触活动诱导Wnt非经典通路的活化。方法构建C57BL/6J胎鼠大脑皮层神经元原代培养体系,用NMDA处理神经元细胞,并结合Western blotting、双免疫荧光染色等技术,检测神经元细胞内Wnt非经典通路的相关蛋白的变化。结果免疫荧光染色显示成功建立了C57BL/6J胎鼠大脑皮层神经元体外培养体系,原代神经元细胞在体外培养10d生长良好,且纯度达90%;体外培养的神经元细胞内存在Wnt5a神经递质,经NMDA的刺激,发现Wnt非经典通路的两个标志性蛋白CaMKII和JNK的磷酸化水平显著增加,且Wnt非经典通路的一种受体Frizzled-5的蛋白表达水平也显著增加。进一步的研究显示,用NMDA竞争性抑制剂DAP5能够阻断NMDA引起的CaMKII和JNK蛋白的磷酸化水平的提高。结论 NMDA受体的激活会诱导Wnt非经典通路的活化。     

水杨酸诱导植物抗性的研究进展

水杨酸是一种重要的内源信号分子,能够激活一系列植物抗性防卫反应.为了研究这种抗性反应,对水杨酸诱导植物抗病性、抗旱性、抗盐性及与乙烯作用的新进展作了概述,并从水杨酸与过氧化氢及其代谢酶类相互作用的角度探讨了水杨酸诱导植物抗性生理的分子机理.     

神经元对于高频电刺激的动态响应

深部脑刺激(deep brain stimulation,DBS)在许多神经系统疾病的临床治疗上都展现出良好的应用前景,然而,其作用机制尚不明确.常规DBS采用高频刺激(high frequency stimulation,HFS)的脉冲序列,这种窄脉冲最容易激活神经元结构中的轴突部分,通过轴突的投射,将HFS的作用传播至下游神经元.因此,为了探讨DBS的作用机制,并鉴于海马脑区是治疗癫痫和痴呆症等疾病的重要靶点,我们研究了海马区轴突HFS对于下游神经元的作用.对麻醉大鼠的海马CA1区传入神经通路Schaffer侧支施加1 min的100 Hz高频刺激,记录并提取下游CA1区锥体神经元和中间神经元的单元锋电位.计算锋电位的发放率,以及它们与刺激脉冲之间的锁相值(phase-locking value,PLV)和潜伏期,以定量分析HFS期间神经元动作电位发放的变化趋势.结果显示,在传入轴突上施加HFS时,初期会诱发下游神经元群体同步产生动作电位(即群峰电位).在HFS后期(群峰电位消失之后),两类神经元的单元锋电位发放仍然持续,并且发放率较稳定.但是,锋电位与刺激脉冲之间的锁相性逐渐减弱、潜伏期逐渐延长.而且,与中间神经元相比较,锥体神经元锋电位的锁相性更弱、潜伏期更长.这些结果表明,持续的轴突HFS可以诱导下游神经元产生非同步的活动,高频脉冲刺激引起的不完全轴突传导阻滞可能是导致该现象产生的主要原因.本文的研究为揭示脑刺激的作用机制提供了重要信息.     

Plasma glucose-lowering action of allantoin is induced by activation of imidazoline I-2 receptors in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Allantoin, an active principle of yam, is documented to lower plasma glucose in diabetic rats. However, action mechanisms of allantoin remain obscure. It has been indicated that metformin shows ability to activate imidazoline I-2 receptors (I-2R) to lower blood sugar. Allantoin has also a chemical structure similar to metformin; both belong to guanidinium derivative. Thus, it is of special interest to know the effect of allantoin on I-2R. In the present study, the marked plasma glucose-lowering action of allantoin in streptozotocin-induced type-1 like diabetic rats was blocked by specific I-2R antagonist, BU224, in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the increase of β-endorphin release by allantoin was blocked by BU224 in the same manner. Otherwise, amiloride at the dose sufficient to block I-2AR abolished the allantoin-induced β-endorphin release and inhibited the blood glucose-lowering action of allantoin markedly but not completely. The direct effect of allantoin on glucose uptake in isolated skeletal muscle was also blocked by BU224. Also, the phosphorylation of AMPK in isolated skeletal muscle was raised by allantoin in a concentration-dependent manner. More-over, insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats was markedly increased by allantoin and this action was also blocked by BU224. These results suggest that allantoin has an ability to activate imidazoline I-2R while I-2AR is linked to the increase of β-endorphin release and I-2BR is related to other actions including the influence in skeletal muscle for lowering of blood glucose in type-1 like diabetic rats. Thus, allantoin can be developed to treat diabetic disorders in the future.     

Activation of imidazoline I-2B receptors by allantoin to increase glucose uptake into C₂C₁₂ cells

Allantoin, an active principle of the yam, belongs to the group of guanidinium derivatives and has been reported to lower plasma glucose in diabetic animals. Recent evidence indicates that activation of the imidazoline I(2B) receptor (I(2B)R) by guanidinium derivatives also increases glucose uptake; however, the effect of allantoin on I(2B)R is still unknown. Glucose uptake into cultured C?C?? cells was determined using 2-[1?C]-deoxy-D-glucose as a tracer. The changes in 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) expression were also identified by Western blotting analysis. The allantoin-induced glucose uptake action was dose-dependently blocked by BU224, a specific I?R antagonist, in C?C?? cells. Moreover, AMPK phosphorylation by allantoin was found to be dose-dependently increased in C?C?? cells using AICAR treatment as a reference. In addition, both actions of allantoin, the increases in glucose uptake and AMPK phosphorylation, were dose-dependently attenuated by amiloride in C?C?? cells. Moreover, compound C at concentrations sufficient to inhibit AMPK blocked the allantoin-induced glucose uptake and AMPK phosphorylation. Thus, we suggest that allantoin can activate I(2B)R to increase glucose uptake into cells, and propose I(2B)R as a new target for diabetic therapy.     

Induction and inhibition of the allantoin permease in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Allantoin uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is mediated by an energy-dependent, low-Km, active transport system. However, there is at present little information concerning its regulation. In view of this, we investigated the control of alloantoin transport and found that it was regulated quite differently from the other pathway components. Preincubation of appropriate mutant cultures with purified allantoate (commercial preparations contain 17% allantoin), urea, or oxalurate did not significantly increase allantoin uptake. Preincubation with allantoin, however, resulted in a 10- to 15-fold increase in the rate of allantoin accumulation. Two allantoin analogs were also found to elicit dramatic increases in allantoin uptake. Hydantoin and hydantoin acetic acid were able to induce allantoin transport to 63 and 95% of the levels observed with allantoin. Neither of these compounds was able to serve as a sole nitrogen source for S. cerevisiae, and they may be non-metabolizable inducers of the allantoin permease. The rna1 gene product appeared to be required for allantoin permease induction, suggesting that control was exerted at the level of gene expression. In addition, we have shown that allantoin uptake is not unidirectional; efflux merely occurs at a very low rate. Allantoin uptake is also transinhibited by addition of certain amino acids to the culture medium, and several models concerning the operation of such inhibition were discussed.     

Allantoin and allantoic acid titre in the faeces and tissues of the developing larva of the moth, Orthaga exvinacea Hampson

Allantoin and allantoic acid are investigated in the faeces and tissues of the developing sixth instar larva of the moth, Orthaga exvinacea. The nitrogen excreted as allantoin and allantoic acid is compared with nitrogen excreted as uric acid and ammonia. The larva excretes 2.35–5.14 μmol/g allantoin and 0.74–1.34 μmol/g allantoic acid which account for 0.83 to 2.39% and 0.23 to 0.53%, respectively, of the excreted total nitrogen. Allantoin and allantoic acid are found to be minor nitrogenous end-products of the larva. Allantoin and allantoic acid are also present in the haemolymph and fat body of the larva in varying concentrations. The level of allantoin in the haemolymph shows a negative correlation with the allantoin concentration of faeces and fat body. The allantoin is found to be stored in the fat body at a low level. The results of the present study also indicate the coexistence of uric acid storage and uricolysis.     

Biological functions of allantoin

A historical review of allantoin research is presented. An increased allantoin level in the trophoblast and serum of pregnant women has been demonstrated. Allantoin concentration decreased in placental tissues and increased in the serum in developing placental insufficiency.     

Allantoin transport in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Allantoin uptake in both growing and resting cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae occurs by a low-Km (ca. 15 micrometer) transport system that uses energy that is likely generated in the cytoplasm. This conclusion was based on the observation that transport did not occur in the absence of glucose or the presence of dinitrophenol, carbonyl cyanide-m-chloro-phenyl hydrazine, fluoride, or arsenate ions. Normal uptake was observed, however, in the presence of cyanide. The rate of accumulation was maximal at pH 5.2. In contrast to the urea transport system, allantoin uptake appeared to be unidirectional. Preloaded, radioactive allantoin was not lost from cells suspended in allantoin-free buffer and did not exchange with exogenously added, nonradioactive allantoin. Treatment of preloaded cells with nystatin, however, released the accumulated radioactivity. Allantoin accumulated within cells was isolated and shown to be chemically unaltered.     

Incorporation of 15N into allantoin in nodulated soybean plants supplied with 15N2

Incorporation of ¹⁵N into allantoin and allantoic acid in noduleswas higher than that in roots. This confirms that nodules produceallantoin. The ¹⁵N concentration in allantoin was slightly higherthan that in allantoic acid, suggesting that allantoin decomposedto allantoic acid. Allantoin and allantoic acid in nodules weretranslocated rapidly to roots. (Received August 25, 1976; )     

Enzymic racemization of allantoin

Allantoin racemase was isolated from cells of Candida utilis, and purified by chromatography on columns of DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100. Using this purified enzyme, the racemization of allantoin in deuterium oxide was investigated. Polarimetric and PMR spectroscopic analyses showed that racemization of allantoin by the enzyme proceeded in parrallel with release of the hydrogen atom (5-H) attached to the asymmetric carbon (C-5) of allantoin. Non-enzymic racemization of allantoin, which was examined for comparison, however, was accompanied by much less or almost no release of allantoin 5-H. This indicates that the mechanism of racemization by the enzyme differs from that of non-enzymic racemization.     

A device for the retrenchment of coupling enzymes for demonstration of creatine kinase on polyacrylamide gel.

We have established several optimal conditions for qualitative and quantitative allantoin determination by applying Ehrlich's reagent. The limit of detection for allantoin determination amounts to 5 × 10^?6 mm. Allantoin is determined quantitatively by measuring the absorbance at 440 nm (from 300 to 1000 μg/ml). The color of the complex becomes stable by standing for 10 min at room temperature. We have used these conditions for allantoin determination in Agrostemma githago seed.