EGb761对血管性痴呆大鼠海马突触可塑性的影响

目的：探讨银杏叶提取物（EGb761）对血管性痴呆（VD）模型大鼠海马突触可塑性的影响。方法：Morris水迷宫检测大鼠空间学习记忆能力;电生理学方法在体记录大鼠海马长时程增强。结果：各时间点模型组大鼠的逃逸潜伏期（EL）均较假手术组明显延长（P〈0.01）,药物组各亚组大鼠的EL均显著短于模型组（P〈0.01）,但仍长于假手术组（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）。模型组各亚组大鼠长时程增强（LTP）诱导率显著低于假手术组和药物组（P〈0.01）。模型组大鼠各时间点群发峰电位（PS）的相对幅值明显低于假手术组和药物组（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）。假手术组、模型组和药物组各时间点的PS潜伏期无显著差别。结论：VD模型大鼠长时间存在空间学习记忆障碍,EGb761能促进VD模型大鼠海马病理性突触可塑性的恢复,这可能是其促智作用的重要机制。     

大鼠血管性痴呆模型海马组织中线粒体的变化

目的:观察血管性痴呆模型(Vascular dementia,VD)大鼠海马组织内线粒体超微结构、线粒体膜电位与空间学习记忆能力的变化。方法:健康成年雄性Wistar大鼠30只,随机分为假手术组(SHAM)和血管性痴呆(VD)组,每组15只。VD组行双侧颈总动脉结扎手术制备血管性痴呆动物模型,SHAM组手术步骤同VD组,但不结扎颈总动脉。于术后第29天起行Morris水迷宫测试大鼠空间学习记忆功能,第1-5天为定位航行试验,评估大鼠空间学习能力,第6天进行空间探索试验,评估大鼠空间记忆功能。采用透射电镜技术、流式细胞学技术分别检测大鼠海马组织线粒体形态和功能变化。结果:与SHAM组相比,血管性痴呆模型组大鼠Morris水迷宫试验中逃避潜伏期明显延长(P0.01),在目标象限中停留时间显著缩短(P0.01),空间学习记忆能力受损,血管性痴呆模型组大鼠海马组织线粒体超微结构有明显损伤,线粒体膜电位明显下降(P0.01)。结论:线粒体损伤是血管性痴呆空间学习记忆功能障碍的重要机制之一。     

D-半乳糖合并Meynert基底核损毁对海马长时程增强和突触形态的影响

目的 :研究D 半乳糖合并Meynert基底核损毁Alzheimer病 (AD)大鼠模型海马突触可塑性的变化。方法 :通过0 .96 %D 半乳糖致亚急性损伤及鹅膏蕈氨酸损毁Meynert基底核建立AD动物模型 ,应用行为学测试、电生理学方法和电镜观察 ,研究AD模型大鼠海马突触形态结构和长时程增强现象 (long termpotentiation ,LTP)的变化。结果 :①AD模型大鼠在Morris水迷宫的学习记忆能力明显低于对照组 ;②AD大鼠海马CA1区突触的数密度、面密度明显减少 ;③AD模型大鼠海马齿状回产生的LTP较对照组明显降低。结论 :海马突触结构改变和功能可塑性的降低可能与AD大鼠的学习记忆能力下降有关     

丹参酮ⅡA对实验性血管性痴呆的预防作用

目的:研究丹参酮Ⅱ A(TⅡ A)对实验性血管性痴呆大鼠认知功能障碍的预防作用.方法:将48只雄性成年SD大鼠随机分为健康对照组、模型组、TⅡA治疗组.运用双侧颈总动脉结扎法复制实验性血管性痴呆模型,并给予TⅡA(10 mg/kg·d)治疗,采用Morris水迷宫实验检测实验各组大鼠学习、记忆能力,在脑片水平运用膜片钳技术检测海马CA1区长时程增强(LTP)水平.结果:(1)双侧颈总动脉结扎导致的慢性脑缺血可使大鼠逃避潜伏期明显延长(P＜0.05)、大鼠在目标象限的停留时间显著缩短(P＜0.05),TⅡA治疗后大鼠逃避潜伏期较模型组显著缩短(P＜0.05)、在目标象限的停留时间显著延长(P＜0.05).(2)各组均可见高频强直刺激(HFS)诱发的LTP,均可持续lh以上,但模型组较对照组LTP显著减弱(P＜0.05),TⅡA治疗后LTP较模型组显著增强(P＜0.05).结论:TⅡA可显著改善血管性痴呆大鼠认知功能障碍,该作用与TⅡA减轻血管性痴呆大鼠海马LTP抑制有关,但其具体机制尚有待于进一步研究.     

bFGF对血管性痴呆大鼠海马神经干细胞的影响

目的皮下注射bFGF于血管性痴呆大鼠,研究用药前后对大鼠海马神经干细胞增殖能力的影响。方法制作VD大鼠模型,随机取用VD大鼠模型12只,分治疗组6只,痴呆组6只。另外,取假手术组6只。皮下注射bFGF于治疗组中血管性痴呆大鼠。治疗5周后,以Morris水迷宫定位航行试验和空间探索试验来检测大鼠的学习记忆能力,巢蛋白（nestin）免疫组织化学染色,观察海马nestin阳性细胞数的变化。结果治疗组大鼠海马nestin阳性细胞数较痴呆组明显增多。结论皮下注射bFGF后能迁移至海马,诱导海马产生nestin阳性细胞,刺激大鼠海马神经干细胞增殖,修复受损组织。     

通脉益智方对VD大鼠学习记忆行为和海马CA1区突触结构的影响

目的:观察通脉益智方对血管性痴呆模型大鼠学习记忆行为和海马CA1区突触超微结构的影响.方法:应用高脂血症大鼠,采用脑缺血再灌注的方法建立血管性痴呆动物模型,利用跳台实验和Y型迷宫实验检验大鼠的学习记忆能力,应用透射电镜和光镜观察分析海马CA1区神经细胞和突触形态结构的变化.结果:跳台实验和Y型迷宫实验表明模型大鼠学习记忆能力明显下降,而给予通脉益智方组学习记忆能力改善,与模型组相比有显著性差异(p＜0.05).形态学观察显示模型组大鼠海马CA1区神经细胞排列紊乱,核固缩、退化、变性、坏死、消失.突触结构不完整,突触小泡减少;突触间隙模糊,线粒体肿胀、空泡样变.通脉益智方组的神经细胞、突触的形态与模型组相比有明显改善.结论:通脉益智方通过减轻突触的损伤及对神经细胞的保护作用,从而改善了学习记忆能力.     

大鼠海马CA1区β受体参与长时程增强和空间学习

在离体海马脑片上, 激活CA1区β肾上腺素能受体(β受体)易化这一区域突触传递的长时程增强(LTP). 然而, 在体情况下, CA1区β受体是否参与LTP的调控, 是否参与海马依赖性的学习和记忆, 尚无实验证据. 为此, 观察了β受体激动剂异丙肾上腺素或拮抗剂心得安对在体CA1区LTP的调控作用以及对大鼠在Morris水迷宫中的空间学习的影响. 正常情况下对突触强度仅有微小调制作用的10 Hz的θ节律刺激(每串150个脉冲, 1串), 在CA1区局部给予L-异丙肾上腺素后, 显著地诱导出LTP, 这一效应被DL-心得安所阻断; 相反, 正常情况下对突触强度有显著调制作用的5 Hz的θ节律刺激(每串150个脉冲, 3串), 在CA1区局部给予DL-心得安后, 诱导出的LTP显著地被压抑. 相应地, 训练前20 min在CA1区注射DL-心得安, 大鼠在水迷宫中的学习速度显著地慢于对照组大鼠, 训练后24 h的空间记忆保持亦相应较差. 以上结果表明, β受体参与海马CA1区的突触可塑性, 且对空间学习重要.     

抑郁症模型大鼠学习记忆能力变化研究

为探讨抑郁症发生发展过程中学习记忆能力的变化模式及其可能机制．分别采用21天慢性非预见性刺激法和嗅球切除法建立的抑郁症模型大鼠．运用旷场行为实验（open—field behavior）检测大鼠主动性活动能力,用Morris水迷宫法检测大鼠空间学习记忆能力,HPLC—UV法测定大鼠血清皮质醇含量。电生理法记录海马CA1区LTP与LTD,观察海马神经元的突触可塑性。结果显示：与对照组相比,两种模型的自主活动性、空间探索兴趣和学习能力都明显降低,而记忆的反馈功能没有明显的变化。同时．两种模型大鼠海马神经细胞的突触可塑性显著下降,血清皮质醇的含量则明显上升。提示两种建模方法均导致大鼠产生抑郁症状和学习能力障碍．但对记忆反馈功能无明显影响。     

慢性复合应激性增强空间学习与记忆时突触素Ⅰ在大鼠海马中的表达

目的观察突触素Ⅰ在慢性复合应激性空间学习与记忆增强大鼠海马各亚区表达的变化及其意义.方法成年雄性Wistar大鼠随机分成应激组和对照组.采用垂直旋转、剥夺睡眠、噪音刺激和夜间光照4种应激原无规律交替应激动物6周,每天6 h,制作慢性复合应激动物模型.采用Morris水迷宫和Y-迷宫测试大鼠空间学习与记忆成绩,并用免疫组织化学技术显示突触素Ⅰ在慢性复合应激性空间学习与记忆增强大鼠海马中的表达变化.结果结果显示,应激组动物慢性复合应激后在Morris水迷宫内寻找隐蔽平台所需时间(潜伏期)比对照组的明显地短(P<0.05),在Y-迷宫内寻找安全区的正确率比对照组的明显地高(P<0.05);应激组动物慢性复合应激后,其海马齿状回(dentate gyrus,DG)和CA3区突触素I的免疫反应性明显地强于对照组(P<0.05), 两组CA1区突触素I的免疫反应性无明显差别(P>0.05).结论这些结果提示,慢性复合应激可增强大鼠空间学习与记忆能力,突触素Ⅰ在大鼠海马内表达的变化可能参与了大鼠空间学习与记忆增强的机制.     

寡聚体Aβ_(1-42)对大鼠海马突触可塑性的慢性影响

突触传递的长时程抑制(long-term depression,LTD)和长时程增强(long term-potentiation,LTP)是突触可塑性的两种重要形式,并且与学习记忆密切相关。本文探讨Sprague-Dawley(SD)大鼠在海马齿状回区(dentate gyrus,DG)注射36h孵育形成的寡聚体Aβ1-4230d后,在体海马前穿通纤维-齿状回通路(perforant path-dentate gyrus pathway,PP-DG)的突触可塑性和空间记忆能力的变化。2.5月龄SD大鼠随机分为寡聚体Aβ1-42注射组[即阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)模型组,n=12]和正常对照组(n=12),分别在双侧海马DG区注射5μg寡聚体Aβ1-42或生理盐水。应用Morris水迷宫检测大鼠空间记忆能力。同时运用神经电生理在体胞外记录技术,检测寡聚体Aβ1-42引起的海马双脉冲易化(paired pulse facilitation,PPF)、LTD、LTP等突触可塑性形式的变化。结果显示:(1)AD模型组大鼠空间记忆能力下降(P<0.05);(2)寡聚体Aβ1-42降低...     

Molecular Characterization of the Calvin Cycle Enzyme Phosphoribulokinase in the Stramenopile Alga Vaucheria litorea and the Plastid Hosting Mollusc Elysia chlorotica

Phosphoribulokinase （PRK）, a nuclear-encoded plastid-localized enzyme unique to the photosynthetic carbon reduction （Calvin） cycle, was cloned and characterized from the stramenopile alga Vaucheria litorea. This alga is the source of plastids for the mollusc （sea slug） Elysia chlorotica which enable the animal to survive for months solely by photoautotrophic CO2 fixation. The 1633-bp V. litorea prk gene was cloned and the coding region, found to be interrupted by four introns, encodes a 405-amino acid protein. This protein contains the typical bipartite target sequence expected of nuclearencoded proteins that are directed to complex （i.e. four membrane-bound） algal plastids. De novo synthesis of PRK and enzyme activity were detected in E. chlorotica in spite of having been starved of V. litorea for several months. Unlike the algal enzyme, PRK in the sea slug did not exhibit redox regulation. Two copies of partial PRK-encoding genes were isolated from both sea slug and aposymbiotic sea slug egg DNA using PCR. Each copy contains the nucleotide region spanning exon 1 and part of exon 2 of V litorea prk, including the bipartite targeting peptide. However, the larger prk fragment also includes intron 1. The exon and intron sequences of prk in E. chlorotica and V/itorea are nearly identical. These data suggest that PRK is differentially regulated in V. litorea and E. chlorotica and at least a portion of the V. litorea nuclear PRK gene is present in sea slugs that have been starved for several months.     

Identification,expression, and characterization of the highly conserved D-xylose isomerase in animals

D-xylose is a necessary sugar for animals. The xylanase from a mollusk, Ampullaria crossean, was previously reported by our laboratory. This xylanase can degrade the xylan into D-xylose. But there is still a gap in our knowledge on its metabolic pathway. The question is how does the xylose enter the pentose pathway？ With the help of genomic databases and bioinformatic tools, we found that some animals, such as bacteria, have a highly conserved D-xylose isomerase （EC 5.3.1.5）. The xyiose isomerase from a sea squirt, Ciona intestinali, was heterogeneously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to confirm its function. The recombinant enzyme had good thermal stability in the presence of Mg^2＋. At the optimum temperature and optimum pH environment, its specific activity on D-xylose was 0.331 μmol/mg/min. This enzyme exists broadly in many animals, but it disappeared in the genome of Amphibia-like Xenopus laevis. Its sequence was highly conserved. The xylose isomerases from animals are very interesting proteins for the study of evolution.     

The Response Difference of Mitochondria in Recalcitrant Antiaris toxicaria Axes and Orthodox Zea mays Embryos to Dehydration Injury

Long-term preservation of recalcitrant seeds is very difficult because the physiological basis on their desiccation sensitivity is poorly understood. Survival of Antiaris toxicaria axes rapidly decreased and that of immature maize embryos very slowly decreased with dehydration. To understand their different responses to dehydration, we examined the changes in mitochondria activity during dehydration. Although activities of cytochrome （Cyt） c oxidase and malate dehydrogenase of the A. toxicaria axis and maize embryo mitochondria decreased with dehydration, the parameters of maize embryo mitochondria were much higher than those of A. toxicaria, showing that the damage was more severe for the A. toxicaria axis mitochondria than for those of maize embryo. The state I and III respiration of the A. toxicaria axis mitochondria were higher than those of maize embryo, the former rapidly decreased, and the latter slowly decreased with dehydration. The proportion of Cyt c pathway to state III respiration for the A. toxicaria axis mitochondria was low and rapidly decreased with dehydration, and the proportion of alternative oxidase pathway was high and slightly increased with dehydration. In contrast, the proportion of Cyt c pathway for maize embryo mitochondria was high, and that of alternative oxidase pathway was low. Both pathways decreased slowly with dehydration.     

Chloroplast Proteomics and the Compartmentation of Plastidial Isoprenoid Biosynthetic Pathways

Recent advances in the proteomic field have allowed high-throughput experiments to be conducted on chloroplast samples. Many proteomic investigations have focused on either whole chloroplast or sub-plastidial fractions. To date, the Plant Protein Database （PPDB, Sun et al., 2009） presents the most exhaustive chloroplast proteome available online. However, the accurate localization of many proteins that were identified in different sub-plastidial compartments remains hypothetical. Ferro et al. （2009） went a step further into the knowledge of Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplast proteins with regards to their accurate localization within the chloroplast by using a semi-quantitative proteomic approach known as spectral counting. Their proteomic strategy was based on the accurate mass and time tags （AMT） database approach and they built up AT_CHLORO, a comprehensive chloroplast proteome database with sub-plastidial localization and curated information on envelope proteins. Comparing these two extensive databases, we focus here on about 100 enzymes involved in the synthesis of chloroplast-specific isoprenoids. Well known pathways （i.e. compartmentation of the methyl erythritol phosphate biosynthetic pathway, of tetrapyrroles and chlorophyll biosynthesis and breakdown within chloroplasts） validate the spectral counting-based strategy. The same strategy was then used to identify the precise localization of the biosynthesis of carotenoids and prenylquinones within chloroplasts （i.e. in envelope membranes, stroma, and/or thylakoids） that remains unclear until now.     

Response of Chinese Wampee Axes and Maize Embryos to Dehydration at Different Rates

Survival of wampee （Clausena lansium Skeels） axes and maize （Zea mays L.） embryos decreased with rapid and slow dehydration. Damage of wampee axes by rapid dehydration was much less than by slow dehydration, and that was contrary to maize embryos. The malondialdehyde contents of wampee axes and maize embryos rapidly increased with dehydration, those of wampee axes were lower during rapid dehydration than during slow dehydration, and those of maize embryos were higher during rapid dehydration than during slow dehydration. Activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, ascorbate peroxidase （APX） and catalase （CAT） of wampee axes markedly increased during the early phase of dehydration, and then rapidly decreased, and those of rapidly dehydrated axes were higher than those of slow dehydrated axes when they were dehydrated to low water contents. Activities of SOD and APX of maize embryos notable decreased with dehydration. There were higher SOD activities and lower APX activities of slowly dehydrated maize embryos compared with rapidly dehydrated maize embryos. CAT activities of maize embryos markedly increased during the early phase of dehydration, and then decreased, and those of slowly dehydrated embryos were higher than those of rapidly dehydrated embryos during the late phase of dehydration.     

Methods for Analysis of Protein Glutathionylation and their Application to Photosynthetic Organisms

Protein S-glutathionylation, the reversible formation of a mixed-disulfide between glutathione and protein thiols, is involved in protection of protein cysteines from irreversible oxidation, but also in protein redox regulation. Recent studies have implicated S-glutathionylation as a cellular response to oxidative/nitrosative stress, likely playing an important role in signaling. Considering the potential importance of glutathionylation, a number of methods have been developed for identifying proteins undergoing glutathionylation. These methods, ranging from analysis of purified proteins in vitro to large-scale proteomic analyses in vivo, allowed identification of nearly 200 targets in mammals. By contrast, the number of known glutathionylated proteins is more limited in photosynthetic organisms, although they are severely exposed to oxidative stress. The aim of this review is to detail the methods available for identification and analysis of glutathionylated proteins in vivo and in vitro. The advantages and drawbacks of each technique will be discussed as well as their application to photosynthetic organisms. Furthermore, an overview of known glutathionylated proteins in photosynthetic organisms is provided and the physiological importance of this post-translational modification is discussed.     

Effects of Glycerol on the Fluorescence Spectra and Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Phaeodactylum tricornutum （Bacillariophyta）

Responses of the photosynthetic activity of Phaeodactylum tricornutum （Bacillariophyta） to organic carbon glycerol were investigated. The growth rate, photosynthetic pigments, 77 K fluorescence spectra, and chloroplast ultrastructure of P. tricornutum were examined under photoautotrophic, mixotrophic, and photoheterotrophic conditions. The results showed that the specific growth rate was the fastest under mixotrophic conditions. The cell photosynthetic pigment content and values of Chl a/Chl c were reduced under mixotrophic and photoheterotrophic conditions. The value of carotenoid/Chl a was enhanced under mixotrophic conditions, but was decreased under photoheterotrophic conditions. In comparison with photoautotrophic conditions, the fluorescence emission peaks and fluorescence excitation peaks were not shifted. The relative fluorescence of photosystem （PS） Ⅰ and PS Ⅱ and the values of F685/F710 and F685/F738 were decreased. Chloroplast thylakoid pairs were less packed under mixotrophic and photoheterotrophic conditions. There was a strong correlation between degree of chloroplast thylakoid packing and the excitation energy kept in PS Ⅱ. These results suggested that the PS Ⅱ activity was reduced by glycerol under mixotrophic conditions, thereby leading to repression of the photosynthetic activity.     

The Earliest Normal Flower from Liaoning Province,China

The early evolution of angiosperms has been a focus of intensive research for more than a century. The Yixian Formation in western Liaoning yields one of the earliest angiosperm macrofioras. Despite multitudes of angiosperm fossils uncovered, including Archaefructus and Sinocarpus, no bona fide normal flower has been dated to 125 Ma （mega-annum） or older. Here we report Callianthus dilae gen. et sp. nov. from the Yixian Formation （Early Cretaceous） in western Liaoning, China as the earliest normal flower known to date. The flower demonstrates a typical floral organization, including tepals, androecium, and gynoecium. The tepals are spatulate with parallel veins. The stamens have a slender filament, a globular anther, bristles at the anther apex, and in situ round-triangular pollen grains. The gynoecium is composed of two stylate carpels enclosed in a fleshy envelope, and develops into a ＂hip＂ when mature. Since the well-accepted history of angiosperms is not much longer than 125 Ma, Callianthus together with Chaoyangia, Archaefructus and Sinocarpus from the Yixian Formation demonstrate a surprisingly high diversity of angiosperms, implying a history of angiosperms much longer than currently accepted.     

The Translational Apparatus of Plastids and Its Role in Plant Development

Chloroplasts （plastids） possess a genome and their own machinery to express it. Translation in plastids occurs on bacterial-type 70S ribosomes utilizing a set of tRNAs that is entirely encoded in the plastid genome. In recent years, the components of the chloroplast translational apparatus have been intensely studied by proteomic approaches and by reverse genetics in the model systems tobacco （plastid-encoded components） and Arabidopsis （nucleus-encoded components）. This work has provided important new insights into the structure, function, and biogenesis of chloroplast ribosomes, and also has shed fresh light on the molecular mechanisms of the translation process in plastids. In addition, mutants affected in plastid translation have yielded strong genetic evidence for chloroplast genes and gene products influencing plant develop- ment at various levels, presumably via retrograde signaling pathway（s）. In this review, we describe recent progress with the functional analysis of components of the chloroplast translational machinery and discuss the currently available evidence that supports a significant impact of plastid translational activity on plant anatomy and morphology.     

Vegetation Mapping of the Mond Protected Area of Bushehr Province （South-west Iran）

Arid regions of the world occupy up to 35% of the earth＇s surface, the basis of various definitions of climatic conditions, vegetation types or potential for food production. Due to their high ecological value, monitoring of arid regions is necessary and modern vegetation studies can help in the conservation and management of these areas. The use of remote sensing for mapping of desert vegetation is difficult due to mixing of the spectral reflectance of bright desert soils with the weak spectral response of sparse vegetation. We studied the vegetation types in the semiarid to arid region of Mond Protected Area, south-west Iran, based on unsupervised classification of the Spot XS bands and then produced updated maps. Sixteen map units covering 12 vegetation types were recognized in the area based on both field works and satellite mapping. Halocnemum strobilaceum and Suaeda fruticosa vegetation types were the dominant types and Ephedra foliata, Salicornia europaea-Suaeda heterophylla vegetation types were the smallest. Vegetation coverage decreased sharply with the increase in salinity towards the coastal areas of the Persian Gulf. The highest vegetation coverage belonged to the riparian vegetation along the Mond River, which represents the northern boundary of the protected area. The location of vegetation types was studied on the separate soil and habitat diversity maps of the study area, which helped in final refinements of the vegetation map produced.