若尔盖青海沙蜥——洞穴密度与深度的生态内涵

2002年9月,采用样方法和挖掘法分别对分布在若尔盖草原荒漠(东经102°29′04.1″,北纬33°43′25.0″,海拔3 464 m)上的青海沙蜥(Phrynocephalus vlangalii)的洞穴密度及深度进行了研究.结果表明①青海沙蜥的洞穴密度随植被盖度的升高而下降(r=-0.81,P<0.01),这说明青海沙蜥的生境选择是偏向于植被盖度较低的荒漠,因此可以把该物种作为草地荒漠化的一种指示生物.②青海沙蜥居住洞穴深度大于74 cm,在冻土层之下.青海沙蜥选择深度达到最大冻土之下的洞穴居住是它抵御低温的一种行为机制,而深度小于74 cm的洞穴则可能是用于逃避敌害的临时隐蔽所.     

恒河猴(Macaca mulatta)生殖周期内性类固醇激素分泌规律的研究

本文用放射免疫测定法对7只雌性恒河猴(Macaca mulatta)的20个月经周期进行了雌二醇、孕酮和睾酮的动态测定分析,其中15个月经周期的中期都有睾酮和雌二醇峰(其峰值分别为1010.7±411.3pg/ml和179.1±91.3pg/ml),孕酮在黄体期的峰值为2.54±0.65ng/ml。正常黄体期的血清孕酮水平不低于1ng/ml。20个月经周期的平均天数为28.6±5.4天,滤泡期和黄体期分别为11.9±2,6和19.2±6.3天。月经周期可用公式Y=18.92±0.03×X~2 (Y:月经周期,X:黄体期。R=0.9444)表示。实验结果表明,测定周期内三种性类固醇激素可以准确确定排卵。睾酮在生殖周期内的分泌调节机制还待进一步研究。     

三种龟鳖目动物性激素季节性变化的比较研究

本文研究了三种龟鳖目动物血浆性激素不同时期的变化,得到如下结果:1.雄性动物血浆性激素以黄喉水龟含量最高,均数为304.46±292.15ng/dl血浆;中华鳖含量最低,均数为122.31±64.44ng/dl血浆。2.雌性动物血浆性激素以中华鳖含量最高,均数为75.93±67.35pg/ml血浆;乌龟含量最低,均数为50.16±35.75pg/ml血浆。3.雄性动物在交配期血浆中睾酮含量较非交配期高,说明精子的形成与睾酮有关。4.雌性动物血浆中雌二醇含量随着卵巢发育的周期性而变化。     

人工雌核发育草鱼染色体倍性的鉴定

运用经典的红细胞及细胞核体积大小测量方法以及流式细胞仪,检测了人工诱导雌核发育草鱼染色体倍性与DNA含量.雌核发育草鱼红细胞体积为(333.5±41.94)μm3,细胞核体积为(20.7±2.378)μm3;与所测普通草鱼红细胞体积(343.8±50.1)μm3,细胞核体积(21.2±1.98)μm3,没有显著差异.雌核发育草鱼DNA含量(2C)平均为2.23pg,普通草鱼DNA含量(2C)2.20pg,两者无显著差异.研究结果表明,人工雌核发育草鱼与普通草鱼具有相同的染色体倍性.     

CpG ODN对呼吸道合胞病毒诱导的哮喘小鼠动物模型的免疫治疗作用

目的　探讨Cp G ODN对呼吸道合胞病毒诱导的哮喘小鼠动物模型的免疫治疗作用。方法　用紫外线灭活的呼吸道合胞病毒致敏30只BAL B/ c小鼠后,分别注射生理盐水、地塞米松和Cp G ODN,流式细胞仪检测小鼠的外周血T淋巴细胞亚群,EL ISA法检测小鼠的外周血IL - 4、IFN-γ和总Ig E的含量,并观察肺组织病理变化。结果　Cp G组CD4 +T细胞所占百分比为( 6 9.35±6 .15 ) % ,CD4 +/ CD8+的比值为2 .92±0 .35 ,与哮喘模型组相比显著降低( P<0 .0 5 )。Cp G组IL- 4的含量为( 88.96±9.89) pg/ ml,与哮喘模型组相比明显降低( P<0 .0 5 ) ;IFN-γ的含量为( 4 6 .83±8.84 ) pg/ ml,与哮喘模型组相比显著上升( P<0 .0 5 ) ;总Ig E的含量为( 3.72±0 .6 7) IU/ml,与哮喘模型组相比明显降低( P<0 .0 5 )。肺组织炎症反应明显减轻。结论　Cp G ODN对用紫外线灭活的呼吸道合胞病毒诱导的哮喘小鼠动物模型具有较好的免疫治疗作用     

一氧化碳吸入对脂多糖诱导大鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用

血红素氧合酶(heme oxygenase,HO)降解血红素的主要代谢产物一氧化碳(carbon monoxide,CO)具有抗氧化、抗炎症和抑制细胞凋亡作用,而脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)诱导的肺组织过氧化、炎症性损伤及大量肺泡上皮和血管内皮细胞凋亡正是导致肺损伤(lung injury,LI)的关键.由此我们猜想,CO有可能通过上述机制对LI起保护作用.通过静脉注入LPS(5 mg/kg体重)诱导大鼠LI,观察吸入室内空气或2.5×10-4(V/V)CO 3 h后,肺氧化酶学、炎症细胞因子、细胞凋亡、HO-1表达及组织形态学变化.结果显示,静脉注入LPS诱导LI后,CO吸入组大鼠肺肿瘤坏死因子α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)、白细胞介素6(interlukin-6,IL-6)、丙二醛(maleic dialdehyde,MDA)、髓过氧化物酶(myeloperoxidase,MPO)和细胞凋亡分别为(0.91±0.25)pg/mg蛋白、(0.64±0.05)pg/mg蛋白、(1.02±0.23)nmol/mg蛋白、(7.18±1.62)U/mg蛋白、(1.60±0.34)%,均显著低于LI组的(1.48±0.23)pg/mg蛋白、(1.16±0.26)pg/mg蛋白、(1.27+0.33)nmol/mg蛋白、(8.16+1.49)U/mg蛋白、(3.18±0.51)%(P＜0.05).CO吸入组HO-1、白细胞介素10(interlukin-10,IL-10)表达和超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)活性分别为(5.43±0.92)、(0.26±0.07)pg/mg蛋白、(60.09±10.21)U/mg蛋白,它们均显著高于LI组的(3.08±0.82)、(0.15±0.03)pg/mg蛋白、(50.98±6.88)U/mg蛋白(P＜0.05).与LI组相比,CO吸入组肺损伤减轻.研究结果表明,低浓度CO吸入通过抗氧化、抗炎症、抑制细胞凋亡、上调HO-1表达而减轻LPS诱导的肺损伤.     

不同海拔两种沙蜥低温耐受性的比较

环境条件会对动物的生理和遗传特征产生重要的影响。然而,目前关于蜥蜴低温耐受的研究较少。为探究不同海拔沙蜥的低温耐受性,选取了青海省可可西里地区的红尾沙蜥Phrynocephalus erythrurus和甘肃省民勤县的荒漠沙蜥P.przewalskii作为研究对象。分别测定了2种沙蜥的过冷能力、对于接种结冰的抵抗能力、急性低温(4℃)条件下的心率和呼吸频率,以及体内一些可能作为抗冻物质存在的小分子渗透物质(如葡萄糖,尿素等)。结果表明:不同海拔2种沙蜥的过冷能力差异无统计学意义;而红尾沙蜥抵抗接种结冰能力明显优于荒漠沙蜥;在4℃条件下,红尾沙蜥的适应能力比荒漠沙蜥更强,其有更高的心率和呼吸频率;然而在4种可能作为抗冻保护剂存在的小分子渗透物质方面,2个物种之间并没有呈现出有规律的差异。     

自发性高血压大鼠心肌胶原与血管紧张素Ⅱ的关系

目的　观察成年 (16周龄 )自发性高血压大鼠 (spontaneouslyhypertensiverat,SHR)与同龄对照组 (WKY)大鼠之间细胞外基质成分的差异及血管紧张素Ⅱ (AngiotensinⅡ ,AngⅡ )在SHR大鼠左室肥厚形成过程的作用。方法　用尾袖法间接测定大鼠血压 ;检测左心室组织及血浆中的血管紧张素转化酶 (angiotensinconvertingenzyme ,ACE)活性 (紫外分光光度法 ) ;放免法测定左室心肌AngⅡ含量。免疫组化测定左室心肌胶原含量 ,用3H -Proline掺入量测定体外培养心肌成纤维细胞 (cardiacfibroblast,CFB)胶原的合成率。结果　 (1) 16周龄SHR大鼠血压明显高于对照组 (WKY)大鼠 ,分别为 (2 7.6 3± 2 .6 7)kPa和 (16 39± 0 54)kPa ,P <0 .0 5;(2 )SHR大鼠左室心肌AngⅡ含量明显高于WKY组 ,分别为 (2 6 6± 75)pg/ 10 0mg和 (134± 4 1)pg/ 10 0mg ,P <0 .0 5;(3)左室重量 (Leftventricalarmass,LVM)SHR明显高于WKY组 ,分别为 (10 14.3± 6 2 .1)mg和 (895.7± 86 .4 )mg ,P <0 .0 5;(4 )心体比 (Letventricrlarmass/bodyeight,LVM/BW )SHR明显高于WKY组 ,分别为 (3.4 4± 0 .15)mg/g和 (2 .17± 0 .11)mg/g ,P <0 .0 5;(5)体外细胞培养的心肌成纤维细胞3H -Proline掺入量随着AngⅡ浓度升高而增加 ,1μmol/L的AngⅡ使SH     

环境温度对荒漠沙蜥和密点麻蜥体温的影响及其对环境温度的选择

荒漠沙蜥(Phrynocephalus przewalskii strauch)和密点麻蜥(Eremias multiocellata Guenther)的体温都随环境温度的变化而变化,相关非常显著(P<0.001)。在相同环境温度条件下,荒漠沙蜥的体温约高于密点麻蜥3℃,荒漠沙蜥集中选择38—40℃的环境,密点麻蜥选择35—37℃的环境。荒漠沙蜥的热僵死阈值为44—48℃,致死温度(T_(L50))为48℃,密点麻蜥的热僵死阈值为42—46℃,致死温度(T_(L50))为46℃。两种蜥蝎对低温的耐受性基本相似,冷僵温度为0——3℃,致死低温(T_(L50)):荒漠沙蜥为-2.3℃,密点麻蜥为-2.5℃。两种蜥蜴的这些差异与种的特征、栖息环境及体形的大小有关。     

GABA对大鼠下丘脑正中隆起LHRH释放调节的研究

本研究应用大鼠下丘脑正中隆起(ME),观察 γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)和去甲肾上腺素(NA)对下丘脑促黄体生成激素释放激素(LHRH)神经元末梢分泌作用的影响。结果发现:GABA(10~(-6)mol/L)可显著促进 ME 的 LHRH 和 NA 的释放,即 LHRH 释放量由27.3±2.5pg/100ul 增加至150.4±27.9pg/100μl;NA 释放量由50.9±4.2pg/100μl 增加至105.5±19.1pg/100ul,两者与对照组相比有显著差异(P<0.01)。GABA 这些作用可被受体拮抗剂荷包牡丹碱(Bicuculline)所翻转。当荷包牡丹碱和 GABA(10~(-6)mol/L)同时存在于 ME 的培灌液中,LHRH 的分泌量下降为18.2±1.9pg/100μl,而 NA 分泌量下降为43.9±3.4pg/100μl。在内源性 NA 被利血平耗竭时,LHRH 的释放量仅增加26.5%,而 GABA 能使正常大鼠 LHRH 释放量增加451.9%。本研究提示:GABA 可促进下丘脑 ME 释放 LHRH,这一作用可能通过 NA 中介。     

Circadian rhythms of melatonin release from chicken pineal in vitro: modified melatonin radioimmunoassay

An improved and simplified radioimmunoassay for measuring pineal, serum, and in vitro cultured medium melatonin is described. Using 2-[125I]iodomelatonin as radiolabeled ligand and a polyclonal rabbit antimelatonin antiserum, melatonin concentrations were determined in all three types of samples by a 2-day direct equilibrium double-antibody assay method without prior extraction. Serial dilutions of pineal homogenates, serum, and cultured medium all gave parallel displacement curves. Cross-reactivity of the antisera with other indoles was negligible. Intraassay coefficients of variation (n = 3) were 5.09, 3.32, and 5.05% at 7.81, 62.5, and 500 pg/tube, respectively, and the interassay coefficients of variation (n = 20) were 12.18% at 62.5 pg/tube. A characteristic diurnal rhythm of melatonin was observed using this direct assay for measuring daytime and nighttime chicken pineal and serum samples. An in vitro incubation of chicken pineal glands with a lighting cycle of 12-hr light:12-hr dark showed that the diurnal rhythm of melatonin secretion into the cultured medium was maintained. The direct assay method described in this report for measuring chicken melatonin using 2-[125I]iodomelatonin as radiolabeled ligand coupled with the in vitro cultured chicken pineal gland clearly offers great potential for studying the chicken pineal circadian oscillator and its underlying mechanism.     

Melatonin radioimmunoanalysis: evaluation of the pineal function in hyperprolactinemic male rats and controls

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for melatonin quantification in rat pineal and biological fluids is described. The assay utilizes a specific antibody and H3-melatonin as tracer. Bound and free fraction were separated by a saturated sulphate ammonium solution. The sensitivity of the method is 9 pg/ml. The intra and interassay variation coefficient were 10.4 and 13.6% respectively. By means of this RIA the content of melatonin in the pineal gland in male rats made hyperprolactinemic on day 30 of life and their respective sham-operated controls has been evaluated. The results showed that the melatonin content measured at 2 a.m. was reduced in the transplanted animals when compared to control group, not only shortly (48 hours) after the transplant operation, but also in the chronic situation; though suggesting that further investigations are necessary to deepen and understand the interrelationships between prolactin and pineal gland and their effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.     

Relationship of atypical melatonin rhythm with two circadian clock outputs in B6D2F(1) mice

Circadian rhythms in body temperature, locomotor activity, and the circadian changes of plasma and pineal melatonin content were investigated in B6D2F(1) mice synchronized by 12 h of light and 12 h of darkness. During 8 wk continuous recording, activity and temperature displayed a marked stable and reproducible circadian rhythm, with both peaks occurring near the middle of darkness. Both 24- and 12-h rhythmic components were also significantly detected. Mean plasma melatonin concentration rose steadily during the light span and reached a maximum (30.6 +/- 10.0 pg/ml) at 11 h after light onset (HALO), then gradually decreased after the onset of darkness to a nadir (4.7 +/- 0.4 pg/ml) at 20 HALO. Mean pineal content followed a pattern parallel to that of plasma concentration (peak at 11 HALO: 17.7 +/- 1.0 pg/gland; trough at 17 HALO: 4.7 +/- 1.0 pg/gland). In addition, a second sharp peak was observed at 21 HALO (20.2 +/- 3.5 pg/gland). Plasma and pineal contents displayed large and statistically significant circadian changes, with a composite rhythm of period (24 + 12 h). This mouse model has predominant production and secretion of melatonin during the day. This possibly contributes to a similar coupling between chronopharmacology mechanisms and the rest-activity cycle in these mice and in human subjects.     

Determination of rat pineal gland melatonin content by a radioimmunoassay.

Melatonin content in individual rat pineal glands was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The RIA used can very reliably detect as little as 50 pg of melatonin. The various precursors, analogues, and the metabolite of melatonin (6-hydroxymelatonin) which were tested for cross-reactivity were not recognized by the antibody. The effects on melatonin levels in rat pineal glands following the administration of L-tryptophan, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, melatonin and pargyline are also presented.     

Influence of light intensity on plasma melatonin and locomotor activity rhythms in tench

Melatonin production by the pineal organ is influenced by light intensity, as has been described in most vertebrate species, in which melatonin is considered a synchronizer of circadian rhythms. In tench, strict nocturnal activity rhythms have been described, although the role of melatonin has not been clarified. In this study we investigated daily activity and melatonin rhythms under 12:12 light-dark (LD) conditions with two different light intensities (58.6 and 1091 microW/cm2), and the effect of I h broad spectrum white light pulses of different intensities (3.3, 5.3, 10.5, 1091.4 microW/cm2) applied at middarkness (MD) on nocturnal circulating melatonin. The results showed that plasma melatonin in tench under LD 12:12 and high light conditions displayed rhythmic variation, where values at MD (255.8 +/- 65.9 pg/ml) were higher than at midlight (ML) (70.7 +/- 31.9 pg/ml). Such a difference between MD and ML values was reduced in animals exposed to LD 12: 12 and low light intensity. The application of 1 h light pulses at MD lowered plasma melatonin to 111.6 +/- 3.2 pg/ml (in the 3.3-10.5 microW/cm2 range) and to 61.8 +/- 18.3 pg/ml (with the 1091.4 microW/cm2 light pulse) and totally suppressed nocturnal locomotor activity. These results show that melatonin rhythms persisted in tench exposed to low light intensity although the amplitude of the rhythm is affected. In addition, it was observed that light pulses applied at MD affected plasma melatonin content and locomotor activity. Such a low threshold suggests that the melatonin system is capable of transducing light even under dim conditions, which may be used by this nocturnal fish to synchronize to weak night light signals (e.g., moonlight cycles).     

Influence of Light Intensity on Plasma Melatonin and Locomotor Activity Rhythms in Tench

Melatonin production by the pineal organ is influenced by light intensity, as has been described in most vertebrate species, in which melatonin is considered a synchronizer of circadian rhythms. In tench, strict nocturnal activity rhythms have been described, although the role of melatonin has not been clarified. In this study we investigated daily activity and melatonin rhythms under 12∶12 light‐dark (LD) conditions with two different light intensities (58.6 and 1,091 µW/cm²), and the effect of 1 h broad spectrum white light pulses of different intensities (3.3, 5.3, 10.5, 1,091.4 µW/cm²) applied at middarkness (MD) on nocturnal circulating melatonin. The results showed that plasma melatonin in tench under LD 12∶12 and high light conditions displayed rhythmic variation, where values at MD (255.8±65.9 pg/ml) were higher than at midlight (ML) (70.7±31.9 pg/ml). Such a difference between MD and ML values was reduced in animals exposed to LD 12∶12 and low light intensity. The application of 1 h light pulses at MD lowered plasma melatonin to 111.6±3.2 pg/ml (in the 3.3–10.5 µW/cm² range) and to 61.8±18.3 pg/ml (with the 1,091.4 µW/cm² light pulse) and totally suppressed nocturnal locomotor activity. These results show that melatonin rhythms persisted in tench exposed to low light intensity although the amplitude of the rhythm is affected. In addition, it was observed that light pulses applied at MD affected plasma melatonin content and locomotor activity. Such a low threshold suggests that the melatonin system is capable of transducing light even under dim conditions, which may be used by this nocturnal fish to synchronize to weak night light signals (e.g., moonlight cycles).     

A 15-minute light pulse during darkness prevents the antigonadotrophic action of afternoon melatonin injections in male hamsters

When adult male Syrian hamsters were maintained under 14 h light and 10 h darkness daily (lights on from 0600-2000 h), peak pineal melatonin levels (705 pg/gland) were attained at 0500 h. When the dark phase of the light:dark cycle was interrupted with a 15 min pulse of light from 2300–2315 h (3 h after lights out), the highest melatonin levels achieved was roughly 400 pg/gland. Finally, if the 15 min pulse of light was given at 0200–0215 h (6 h after lights out) the nocturnal rise in pineal melatonin was completely abolished. Having made these observations, a second experiment was designed to determine the ability of afternoon melatonin injections to inhibit reproduction in hamsters kept under an uninterrupted 1410 cycle or under the same lighting regimen where the dark phase was interrupted with a 15 min pulse of light (0200–0215 h). In the uninterrupted light:dark schedule the daily afternoon injection of 25 g melatonin caused the testes and the accessory sex organs to atrophy within 11 weeks. Conversely, if the dark phase was interrupted with light between 0200–0215 h, afternoon melatonin injections were incapable of inhibiting the growth of the reproductive organs. The findings suggest that exogenously administered melatonin normally synergizes with endogenously produced melatonin to cause gonadal involution in hamsters.     

Effects of diazepam and its metabolites on nocturnal melatonin secretion in the rat pineal and Harderian glands. A comparative in vivo and in vitro study

We investigated the effects of diazepam (DZP) and its three metabolites: nordiazepam (NZP), oxazepam (OZP), and temazepam (TZP) on pineal gland nocturnal melatonin secretion. We looked at the effects of benzodiazepines on pineal gland melatonin secretion both in vitro (using organ perifusion) and in vivo in male Wistar rats sacrificed in the middle of the dark phase. We also examined the effects of these benzodiazepines on in vivo melatonin secretion in the Harderian glands. Neither DZP (10^-5-10^-6 M) nor its metabolites (10^-4-10^-5 M) affected melatonin secretion by perifused rat pineal glands in vitro. In contrast, a 10^-4 M suprapharmacological concentration of DZP increased melatonin secretion of perifused pineal glands by 70%. In vivo, a single acute subcutaneous administration of DZP (3 mg/kg body weight) significantly affected pineal melatonin synthesis and plasma melatonin levels, while administration of the metabolites under the same conditions did not. DZP reduced pineal melatonin content (-40%), N-acetyltransferase activity (-70%), and plasma melatonin levels (-40%), but had no affects on pineal hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase activity. Neither DZP nor its metabolites affected Harderian gland melatonin content. Our results indicate that the in vivo inhibitory effect of DZP on melatonin synthesis is not due to the metabolism of DZP. The results also show that the control of melatonin production in the Harderian glands differs from that observed in the pineal gland.     

Pineal organs in deep demersal fish

We studied ten species of demersal fish from depths of 1500-4800 m, i.e. regions of the abyss outside the reach of sunlight. A pineal window in the skin and/or the skull, often found in mesopelagic fish, was never observed in demersal specimens. Nine species had a well-developed pineal organ, with light- and electron-microscopic features, well known in other teleosts living in surface waters, including photoreceptor cells with inner and outer segments, synaptic ribbons, neuronal perikarya, and (radial) glial cells. One species ( Bathypterois dubius) showed signs of regression; it also had reduced eyes. We observed considerable morphological variation in location, size, microscopic structure and ultrastructural organisation, including the frequency of photoreceptor cells, size of outer segments and the number of myelinated and unmyelinated axons. No systematic trend in the sense of an increase of sensitivity with greater depths was observed. Melatonin contents varied between 4 pg and 92 pg per pineal in the grenadier Coryphaenoides ( Nematonurus) armatus and between 2 pg and 70 pg per pineal in the eel Synaphobranchus kaupi. Differences between day and night values and between autumn and spring suggest that pineal melatonin acts as neurochemical signal mediating rhythmic processes and behaviour. The role of an alternative non-solar zeitgeber in the demersal environment is discussed.     

Does melatonin modulate beta-endorphin, corticosterone, and pain threshold?

Converging lines of evidence suggest that the pineal hormone, melatonin, may regulate changes in pain threshold by modulating fluctuations in opioid receptor expression and levels of beta-endorphin (beta-END). This study investigated whether the circadian oscillation in plasma melatonin is involved in the modulation of plasma beta-END immunoreactivity (beta-END-ir), and whether fluctuations in pain threshold measured using the hotplate test are contingent upon the fluctuation of these two hormones in Rattus Norvegicus. The role of melatonin was explored using light-induced functional pinealectomy (LFPX) to suppress nocturnal melatonin release. Pinealectomized rats were found to have significantly elevated levels of beta-END-ir compared to control animals at both photophase (398 +/- 89 pg/ml versus 180 +/- 23 pg/ml) and scotophase (373 +/- 45 pg/ml versus 203 +/- 20 pg/ml) test-periods, thus supporting the putative melatonin-opioid axis. Similarly, latency to pain threshold of LFPX rats was significantly longer when compared to control animals at photophase (7.3 +/- 1.4 sec versus 4.8 +/- 0.7 sec) and scotophase (6.3 +/- 0.7 sec versus 5.1 +/- 0.7 sec). Previous studies have produced conflicting data regarding the role of the pineal system in modulating levels of corticosterone (CORT). We observed a moderate, but non-significant, increase in the CORT concentration of LFPX rats during the photophase test period.