维吾尔药神香草调节哮喘大鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴功能紊乱的实验研究

目的：观察维吾尔药（维药）神香草对哮喘大鼠模型神经内分泌免疫网络若干组分的影响。方法：取雄性健康Wistar大鼠50只,随机分为正常对照组,哮喘模型组,神香草低、中、高剂量治疗组。采用致敏和雾化的方法制备哮喘模型。采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）方法检测血清中白介素-4（IL^4）、白介素-6（IL-6）、干扰素-γ（IFN-γ）、皮质酮（CORT）水平;放免法检测血浆中促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）的含量;采用实时定量-聚合酶链反应（RT—PCR）法测定下丘脑促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）mRNA表达水平。结果：哮喘反复发作时,大鼠下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴紊乱,哮喘大鼠下丘脑CRHmRNA表达和血浆ACTH无明显变化,实验各组血清CORT水平升高（P〈0．05）,神香草高剂量组血清CORT含量高于低剂量组（P〈0．05）。细胞因子IFN-γ无明显变化,IL-6、IL-4有下降趋势（P〈0．05）。结论：哮喘反复发作的大鼠存在NEI网络的紊乱;神香草可以增强下丘脑．垂体．肾上腺皮质（HPA）轴的功能,改善细胞因子的平衡。这些可能是其治疗哮喘的机制之一。     

蒙药乌力吉-18对大鼠下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴相关激素及受体表达的影响

目的:探讨蒙药乌力吉-18对大鼠下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴相关激素及受体的影响。方法:选取40只健康雌性未孕SD大鼠,随机分为空白组、对照组、乌力吉-18高、低2个剂量组,每组10只。空白组灌胃等体积蒸馏水,对照组灌胃逍遥丸,高、低剂量组分别灌胃2.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1、1.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1乌力吉-18,连续给药31学艺术d。采用酶联免疫吸附法测定血清促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)、促卵泡生成素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)、雌二醇(E₂)及孕酮(PROG)的含量;免疫组化法检测下丘脑组织促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)、垂体组织促性腺激素释放激素受体(GnRHR)的表达;以蛋白免疫印迹技术检测卵巢组织促卵泡生成素受体(FSHR)、黄体生成素受体(LHR)蛋白表达量。以实时荧光定量PCR检测卵巢组织中FSHR、LHR基因表达量。结果:与空白组比较,乌力吉-18低剂量组可明显升高血清LH含量(P<0.05),上调下丘脑组织GnRH、垂体组织GnRHR表达及卵巢组织FSHR、LHR蛋白表达(P<0.05);乌力吉-18高剂量组可显著升高血清FSH、LH、E₂含量(P<0.05),上调下丘脑组织GnRH表达及卵巢组织FSHR表达量(P<0.05),并可显著升高卵巢组织中FSHR、LHR基因表达量(P<0.05);对照组可明显升高血清E₂含量(P<0.05)。结论:蒙药乌力吉-18可明显升高血清FSH、LH及E₂的含量,促进下丘脑组织GnRH、垂体组织GnRHR及卵巢组织中FSHR、LHR的表达,表明乌力吉-18能够对下丘脑-垂体-卵巢轴相关激素及受体表达产生影响。     

芹菜素对雌性大鼠生殖轴的影响

目的：探讨芹菜素在10-9mol/L浓度时对雌性大鼠生殖功能的影响。方法：应用侧脑室注射方法观察芹菜素对雌性大鼠生殖轴激素含量的影响。在侧脑室注射后第3天取血浆,采用放免技术测定血浆中促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）、卵泡刺激素（FSH）、黄体生成素（LH）、雌二醇（E2）、孕酮（P）的含量。结果：在给药后第3天血浆中促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）、卵泡刺激素（FSH）、黄体生成素（LH）的含量增加而雌二醇（E2）、孕酮（P）的含量降低,差异有显著性。结论：芹菜素抑制雌二醇（E2）合成中芳香化酶的活性实现对雌二醇（E2）、孕酮（P）分泌的抑制。芹菜素通过影响雌激素受体而使下丘脑的促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）和腺垂体的卵泡刺激素（FSH）、黄体生成素（LH）分泌增加。     

肝郁脾虚证模型大鼠下丘脑- 垂体- 肾上腺皮质的变化

目的：探讨复合造模法复制肝郁脾虚证大鼠模型的HPA轴变化及特点。方法：大鼠采用慢性束缚＋过度疲劳＋饮食失节法,连续三周,自然恢复一周。观察造模期间各不同时间点大鼠肾上腺重量及指数、下丘脑促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）、血浆促肾上腺皮质激素（ACTH）及皮质酮（CORT）的变化。结果：与正常组比较,模型大鼠肾上腺重量第一周显著增加（P〈0．001）,第三、四周显著减低（P〈0．001和P〈0．01）,其肾上腺指数在实验各周均显著高于正常组（P〈0．05和P〈0．01）;下丘脑CRH第三周显著低于正常组（P〈0．05）,第四周回升并显著高于正常组（P〈0．05）;血浆ACTH在第一、三、四周均显著降低（P〈0．05）;血浆CORT第一周显著降低（P〈0．05）,第二周有所回复,第三、四周仍显著降低（P〈0．05和P〈0．001）。结论：该肝郁脾虚证大鼠模型存在HPA轴的功能减低,垂体对上位激素调节的反应能力减低可能是该模型的一个重要的生物学特征。     

性早熟雌性Sprague-Dawle大鼠下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b表达异常

目的：研究正常雌性Sprague-Dawle（SD）大鼠不同性发育阶段及雌激素诱导性早熟后下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b的表达及意义。方法：1）于雌性SD大鼠出生后15日（postnatal day 15,PND15）、PND23、PND35荧光实时定量PCR分析下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b mRNA的表达,同时以ELISA法检测血清黄体生成素（LH）和雌二醇（E2）水平变化;2）苯甲酸雌二醇（estradiol benzoate,EB）诱导的性早熟大鼠随机分为EB-1组和EB-2组,分别于阴道开口（vaginal opening,VO）时及PND56两个时间点处死,相应的发育阶段的大鼠用无菌芝麻油（sesame oil,OIL）作为对照分为OIL-1和OIL-2组;荧光实时定量PCR分析下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b mRNA的表达,ELISA法检测LH和E2水平变化,并观察性早熟对大鼠阴道开口、体重、顶臀径、胫骨长等生长发育指标的影响。结果：1）PND15、PND23和PND35组下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b mRNA表达、血清LH和E2水平无统计学差异（P〉0.05）;2）EB-1组下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b mRNA表达高于OIL-1组（P〈0.05）,血清LH和E2水平与OIL-1组相比无统计学差异（P〉0.05）;EB-2组下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b mRNA表达高于OIL-2组（P〈0.05）,血清LH和E2水平低于OIL-2组（P〈0.05）;3）与OIL-2组比较,EB-2组VO时间明显提前（P〈0.01）,体重、顶臀长、胫骨长差异无统计学差异（P〉0.05）。结论：外源性雌激素引起的性早熟可能导致下丘脑Lin28a和Lin28b表达异常。     

大鼠下丘脑微量注射TRH对心功能的作用及其机制

目的：探讨下丘脑促甲状腺激素释放激素（TRH）对心功能活动的调节作用及其作用机制。方法：在SD大鼠下丘脑促垂体区埋管,微量注射TRH或预先注射一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L—NAME及M型乙酰胆碱受体阻断剂阿托品,记录给药前后左心室内压峰值（LVSP）、心率（HR）、室内压瞬时上升速率峰值（dp／dtmax）和瞬时下降速率峰值（-dp／dtmax）。结果：①与对照组相比,下丘脑促垂体区注射TRH可引起LVSP、HR、dp／dtmax及-dp／dtmax显著升高（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）。②单独注射L—NAME后只引起LVSP显著升高（P〈0．05或P〈0.01）,L-NAME预处理可抑制TRH引起的正向调节效应。③单独注射阿托品引起LVSP及dp／dtmax的显著升高（P〈0．05）,HR显著下降（P〈0．05）,阿托品预处理减弱了TRH加快心率和提高-dp／dtmax的效应。结论：①下丘脑TRH对心脏有正性变时、变力作用。②下丘脑内源性NO能降低LVSP,但对HR、dp／dtmax及-dp／dtmax明显影响,TRH的作用是经NO依赖通路的。③下丘脑内源性胆碱能递质对心脏有正性变时但负性变力的作用,下丘脑TRH调节心功能可能部分通过胆碱能M受体通路。     

睾酮对日本鳗鲡离体下丘脑-脑垂体复合物GtH合成与分泌的影响

用离体孵育的方法研究了睾酮（T）对日本鳗鲡（Anguilla japonica)完整的正丘脑-脑垂体复合物（hypothalamus-pituiary complex,HPC)、分离的下丘脑（hypothalamus,H)加脑垂体（pituitary,P)以及单独的脑垂体（pituitary,P)促性腺激素（GtH)合成与释放的影响,在不加T的孵育液中孵育,HPC组的孵育液及其脑垂体中的GtH含量最高,H P组次之,而P组最低,表明下丘脑通过GnRH直接刺激脑垂体GtH的合成与释放,在加入T的孵育液中孵育,P组的孵育液及脑垂体中的GtH含量显著增加,并且和孵育液中的T呈剂量依存的正反馈作用,当T和H与P一起孵育时,低浓度的T（0.1和1μmol/L)刺激HPC组和H P组的GtH释放,呈现正反馈作用,而高浓度的T（10μmol/L)则抑制HPC组和H P组的GtH释放,表现负反馈作用。这些结果直接证明日本鳗鲡下丘脑对脑垂体GtH分泌的调控以及性类固醇激素（如雄鳗的睾酮）对脑垂体GtH分泌的反馈作用。     

胰岛素诱导的低血糖大鼠下丘脑增食欲素-A的表达

目的：探讨急性低血糖应激对大鼠下丘脑增食欲素-A（orexin—A）的表达影响。方法：胰岛素皮下注射建立急性低血糖大鼠模型,检测外周血中葡萄糖和胰岛素水平的变化。采用免疫组织化学染色观察下丘脑orexin-A表达的改变和灰度值测量,观察其染色强度。结果：低血糖禁食组大鼠下丘脑orexin-A的表达明显增加（P〈0．05）,而低血糖进食组orexin-A表达无明显改变。灰度分析显示低血糖禁食组染色强度最高,与对照组比较有明显统计学差异（P〈0．05）。结论：急性血糖的降低可以增强大鼠下丘脑orexin-A的表达,而摄食行为可抑制此效应。     

虎纹蛙促性腺激素释放激素分泌调节的离体研究

利用离体静态孵育系统和放射免疫测定法,研究了性成熟的虎纹蛙雌蛙离体的视前－下丘脑－正中隆起（P－H－ME）片段促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH)的分泌调节。结果表明：γ－氨基丁酸（GABA）对成熟前期蛙离体P－H－ME片段的哺乳类GnRH（mGnRH)的释放有显著的刺激作用;随着GABA作用浓度的增加,刺激作用逐渐增强。100μmol/L的多巴胺（DA）及1μmol/L和10μmol/L的雌二醇(E2）则显著抑制鸡ⅡGnRH(cGnRH-Ⅱ)的释放。10μmol/L和100μmol/L的睾酮（T）以及10μmol/L的E2显著刺激冬眠期蛙P－H－ME片段mGnRH的释放。这些结果表明,GABA,DA及E2和T对虎蚊蛙GnRH的释放有直接的调节作用。     

NO前体对高肺血流时肺动脉胱硫醚-γ-裂解酶基因表达的调节作用

目的：研究一氧化氮（NO）前体L-精氨酸（L—Arg）对高肺血流时肺动脉胱硫醚-γ-裂解酶（内源性硫化氢生成酶）的调节作用,以探讨NO体系对高肺血流肺动脉高压及肺血管结构重建调节作用的机制。方法：30只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组,分流组和分流＋L—Arg组。对后两组大鼠行腹主动脉-下腔静脉分流术。观察术后11周大鼠肺动脉平均压（mPAP）、右心室肥厚和肺动脉相对中膜面积的改变,用竞争逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）对肺组织CSEmRNA表达进行定量分析,同时用化学法测定肺组织硫化氢产出率。结果：分流组大鼠mPAP及肺动脉相对中膜面积明显高于对照组（P〈0．01）,而分流＋L—Arg组大鼠mPAP及肺动脉相对中膜面积明显低于分流组（P〈0．01）。分流组CSEmRNA表达与对照组相比明显降低（P〈0．01）,而分流组＋L—Arg组CSEmRNA表达又明显高于分流组（P〈0．05）：分流组大鼠肺组织硫化氢产出率明显低于对照组（P〈0．01）,而分流组＋L—Arg组大鼠肺组织硫化氢产出率及血浆硫化氢含量明显高于分流组（P〈0．01）。结论：高肺血流可致肺动脉CSEmRNA下调,外源性NO能够缓解CSEmRNA的改变,从而对高肺血流所致肺血管结构重建和肺动脉高压起调节作用。     

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.