大鼠睾丸雄激素受体表达的增龄变化

应用免疫细胞化学及图像分析等方法,对出生到生后25月龄各发育阶段SD大鼠睾丸内雄激素受体(AR)的表达变化进行了系统的研究。发现(1)睾丸间质细胞：从出生到生后3周龄,AR阳性表达强度较弱;到生后1月龄,AR阳性表达强度显著增强,并达到峰值;在生后2月龄,AR阳性表达强度显著减弱,此后AR阳性表达又呈增强趋势。(2)肌样细胞：从出生到生后2周龄,AR阳性表达强度较弱;到生后3周龄,AR阳性表达强度显著增强,并一直维持到生后2月龄;从生后3月龄,AR阳性表达强度呈减弱趋势,到生后25月龄达到最低水平。(3)血管内皮细胞：从生后3周龄到生后2月龄AR阳性表达较强;生后3月龄,AR阳性表达强度明显减弱;生后25月龄,AR阳性表达强度与生后3月龄相比变化不明显。(4)支持细胞：在生后1月龄出现AR阳性表达,到性成熟后,支持细胞AR阳性表达随生精周期变化而变化,在生后25月龄未见AR阳性表达的支持细胞。(5)生精细胞：出生组,前精原细胞内有AR阳性表达;生后2周龄,精子细胞开始出现AR阳性表达;生后1月龄,精原细胞开始出现AR阳性表达;生后2月龄出现阳性表达的精子,生后25月龄未见阳性表达的生精细胞。     

棕色田鼠睾丸和附睾胚后发育中的睾酮表达

应用免疫组织化学方法研究了产后1、10、25、45、60日龄(成体)5个发育阶段的棕色田鼠(Lasiopodomys mandarinus)睾丸和附睾组织内睾酮的免疫阳性反应.1日龄和10日龄,棕色田鼠睾丸生精小管内的前精原细胞胞质中有睾酮阳性表达.25日龄,有许多精子细胞产生,睾酮主要集中于精子细胞胞质表达.45日龄,精母细胞和精子中也有睾酮表达.成体精原细胞、精母细胞、精子细胞和精子中均有睾酮表达.1日龄至成体睾丸间质细胞和肌样细胞均有睾酮表达,25日龄时表达最强(P0.05).1日龄至成体附睾上皮细胞和连接组织有睾酮表达,成体附睾管内的大量精子有睾酮表达.这些结果说明,棕色田鼠从出生到性成熟过程中,在精子发生的各阶段,睾酮对生精细胞的分化增殖有直接的调控作用,这种调控作用随发育阶段不同具有可变性,同时,附睾的功能和精子的成熟也受到睾酮的调节.     

棕色田鼠睾丸和附睾雌激素α受体表达的增龄变化

应用免疫组织化学方法系统研究了初生（1日龄）到成体（60日龄）5个发育阶段各6只棕色田鼠睾丸和附睾内雌激素受体α（ERα）的表达。结果发现：①在生殖细胞中,1日龄组幼鼠的生殖母细胞和支持细胞有微弱的ERa阳性表达,10日龄组精原细胞中ERa有弱表达,25日龄组精子细胞出现了较强ERα阳性表达,发育到45日龄时精子细胞ERα阳性表达最强,成体组中各级生精细胞中均有ERα阳性表达。②在间质细胞中,1日龄组间质前体细胞有ERα阳性表达,10日龄表达减弱,而到25日龄增强,至45日龄达到峰值,而成体又减弱。③附睾中,1日龄附睾上皮细胞有ERα阳性表达,10和25日龄附睾管类肌细胞出现ERα阳性表达,45日龄和成体附睾管上皮细胞和类肌细胞中均有ERα阳性表达。上述结果表明,ERα可能作为一种特异性受体在棕色田鼠睾丸发育过程中影响睾丸间质细胞雄激素的分泌,进而调节生精过程和精子的发育成熟。     

前列腺素与雄性生殖生理

小剂量前列腺素(PGs)作用于下丘脑,增加LHRH释放,后者促使垂体分泌LH、FSH,从而刺激睾酮分泌。睾丸间质细胞的功能还直接受PGs的调节,睾酮也显著影响雄性生殖道中PGs水平。PGs可增加大鼠睾丸重量,刺激生精过程,增加精子细胞数目,提高精子活力,维持生殖道中平滑肌的收缩,参与射精过程,促进精子在雌体生殖道内的运行,故利于受精。大剂量PGs抑制雄性生殖,使血中LH、FSH、睾酮水平下降,使睾丸动脉收缩,导致睾丸萎缩,减少睾丸及副性腺的重量,抑制生精作用,降低附睾精子活力,增加畸精率。     

前列腺素与雄性生殖生理

小剂量前列腺素(PGs)作用于下丘脑,增加LHRH释放,后者促使垂体分泌LH、FSH,从而刺激睾酮分泌。睾丸间质细胞的功能还直接受PGs的调节,睾酮也显著影响雄性生殖道中PGs水平。PGs可增加大鼠睾丸重量,刺激生精过程,增加精子细胞数目,提高精子活力,维持生殖道中平滑肌的收缩,参与射精过程,促进精子在雌体生殖道内的运行,故利于受精。大剂量PGs抑制雄性生殖,使血中LH、FSH、睾酮水平下降,使睾丸动脉收缩,导致睾丸萎缩,减少睾丸及副性腺的重量,抑制生精作用,降低附睾精子活力,增加畸精率。     

大鼠和小鼠睾丸表皮生长因子表达的免疫组织化学定位观察

为了了解大鼠和小鼠睾丸是否产生ＥＧＦ及其细胞定位,本实验用ＥＧＦ单克隆抗体对大鼠和小鼠睾丸进行了免疫细胞化学定位研究,结果显示：（１）出生后,大鼠和小鼠睾丸即开始产生ＥＧＦ,分泌活动主要位于睾丸间质细胞。（２）至性成熟期,少数精原细胞、精母细胞及个别圆形精子细胞和管周肌样细胞也产生ＥＧＦ,使生精小管尤其是血睾屏障管腔小室侧的ＥＧＦ分泌增加。（３）在本实验中,睾丸支持细胞未见明显ＥＧＦ阳性染色。结果表明,大鼠和小鼠睾丸是可以产生ＥＧＦ的,间质细胞是其主要的ＥＧＦ分泌细胞。进入性成熟期后,少数精原细胞、精母细胞及个别圆形精子细胞和管周肌样细胞也产生ＥＧＦ。大鼠和小鼠睾丸在发育过程中ＥＧＦ分泌量呈上升趋势,至性成熟期达分泌高峰     

人参皂苷Rg1拮抗D-半乳糖致睾丸间质细胞雄激素分泌障碍的机制研究

该文重点探讨人参皂苷Rg1拮抗D-半乳糖(D-gal)致小鼠睾丸间质细胞分泌雄激素障碍的机制。采用D-gal构建小鼠衰老模型,体内注射Rg1干预衰老过程,观察睾丸组织细胞衰老的病理学改变;体外构建D-gal致睾丸间质细胞(TM3细胞株)衰老模型,在培养体系加入Rg1拮抗D-gal的致衰老作用。衰老相关半乳糖苷酶(SA-β-Gal)染色观察小鼠睾丸组织细胞和体外培养TM3细胞的衰老情况;ELISA法检测TM3细胞分泌睾酮水平和细胞氧化应激损伤水平;荧光探针DCFH-DA检测细胞活性氧(ROS)水平;Western blot检测TM3细胞合成睾酮的关键酶和Nrf2/ARE抗氧化通路相关蛋白表达;qRT-PCR法检测相关炎症因子及睾酮合成关键酶基因的mRNA表达。结果显示,注射Rg1拮抗D-gal致小鼠衰老过程,衰老的睾丸间质细胞数量明显减少。Rg1体外拮抗D-gal致TM3细胞衰老作用后,细胞分泌睾酮水平无显著降低;IL-1、IL-6、IL-8等炎症因子的基因表达受到抑制;细胞内GSH-Px和CAT表达活性提高同时细胞产生丙二醛(MDA)与活性氧(ROS)能力受到抑制;StAR、3β-HSD及P450scc等睾酮合成关键酶基因及蛋白表达上调;Nrf2、HO-1等抗氧化蛋白表达上调,Keap1蛋白表达下调。研究提示,Rg1可能通过激活Nrf2/ARE抗氧化信号通路,拮抗D-gal对睾丸间质细胞的氧化应激损伤,进而调控睾丸雄激素的分泌功能。     

Rab13 GTPase在大鼠睾丸中的表达及其与生精上皮周期的关系

目的初步明确Rab13 GTPase在大鼠精子发生及成熟过程中的表达情况和可能发挥的作用。方法首先通过RT-PCR技术检测了Rab13 GTPase在不同日龄大鼠睾丸组织中的表达,又利用RT-PCR和Western-blot检测了Rab13在大鼠不同组织中的表达情况,最后采用免疫组化技术检测Rab13 GTPase在大鼠不同期别生精上皮中的分布。结果 RT-PCR显示Rab13 GTPase mRNA水平在40日龄大鼠睾丸组织中表达达到最高峰;在40日龄大鼠,Rab13 GTPase在心、脑、肺、脾、睾丸等5种组织中均有表达,在肺组织中表达量最多;在精子细胞成熟过程中,Rab13在生精上皮基底部及生精细胞周围都有分布,在精子释放前则主要集中分布于生精上皮基底部。结论 Rab13 GTPase的分布,可能随生精上皮周期的变化而对精子发生过程具有一定的调节作用。     

棕色田鼠睾丸和附睾雄激素受体表达的增龄变化

应用免疫组织化学方法研究了1、10、25、45及60日龄（成体）5个发育阶段的棕色田鼠（Lasiopodomys mandarinus）睾丸和附睾中雄激素受体（androgen receptor,AR）的表达。结果发现：①睾丸间质细胞中：1日龄有AR表达,至10日龄和25日龄AR表达减弱,45日龄AR表达最强,至成体AR表达又减弱（P＜0.05）;②肌样细胞中：从1日龄至成体均有AR表达,25日龄AR表达最弱,45日龄AR表达最强,至成体AR表达又减弱（P＜0.05）。③1日龄前精原细胞偶有AR表达,10日龄精原细胞没有AR表达;25日龄精子细胞有AR表达,45日龄精子细胞和部分精母细胞有AR表达,成体精原细胞和精母细胞及精子中有AR表达。④支持细胞中：性成熟前AR表达不明显,成体有AR表达。⑤从1日龄到成体,附睾中均有AR表达。这些结果表明,雄激素在棕色田鼠睾丸间质细胞、肌样细胞和生精细胞的表达随个体的发育阶段而变化;雄激素可促进青春期棕色田鼠间质细胞的功能与分化,肌样细胞在精子发生过程中有重要作用;同时,雄激素对附睾功能有调控作用。     

Smads蛋白在大鼠睾丸发育不同阶段的表达和定位

探讨转化生长因子－β超家族肽类的细胞内信号转导分子Smads蛋白在发育不同阶段大鼠睾丸的表达及在精子发生中的作用机理。分别选用出生后3、7、14和28d以及成年大鼠,应用蛋白质免疫印迹杂交技术及免疫组织化学ABC法结合葡萄糖氧化酶－DAB－硫酸镍铵增强技术,检测Smad1、Smad2、Smad4和Smad5蛋白在大鼠睾丸的表达、定位和发育变化,并通过图像分析技术对免疫组织化学结果进行统计学分析。免疫印迹杂交发现,Samd1、Smad2和Smad4在3、7、14和28d以及成年大鼠睾丸的生精细胞中即可见免疫阳性反应;Smad2和从7d起开始表达,免疫阳性产物位于各级生精细胞的胞质内;Smad4在发育的各个阶段的间质细胞中均有较强的表达;Smad5仅在28d和成年大鼠的间质细胞中有弱的表达。结果提示：Smads蛋白在睾丸中的分布不同,表达量存在差异,为揭示TGF－β超家族在粗子发生和发育过程中的分子机制提供了直接证据。     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.