An improved HPLC assay for phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides (PCOOH) in human plasma with synthetic PCOOH as internal standard

Quantitative and qualitative analyses of 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine monohydroperoxide [PC 16:0/18:2-OOH] and 1-stearoyl-2-linoleoyl-phosphatidylcholine monohydroperoxide [PC 18:0/18:2-OOH] in human plasma were improved by chemiluminescence HPLC using synthetic 1-stearoyl-2-erucoyl-phosphatidylcholine monohydroperoxide (PC 18:0/22:1-OOH) as internal standard. The calibration curves of synthetic PC 16:0/18:2-OOH and PC 18:0/18:2-OOH, obtained by their direct injections with the IS into the HPLC system, were linear throughout the calibration range (10-1000 pmol). Within-day and between-day coefficients of variation were below 8%, and the recoveries were between 84% and 101%. Plasma concentrations of PC 16:0/18:2-OOH and PC 18:0/18:2-OOH were 102+/-59 nM (mean+/-SD) and 36+/-20 nM, respectively, in the 33 healthy volunteers. The present method might help understanding incompletely understood pathway of plasma phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides.     

A new species of Cisaris (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) with a key to the world species

A new species, Cisaris canaliculatus Sun & Sheng, sp. n., belonging to the tribe Phygadeuontini of the subfamily Cryptinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), collected from Jiangxi Province, China, is reported. A key to the species of the genus Cisaris Townes, 1970, is provided.     

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate linked to physiologic response against hot spring immersion

The steroid dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is associated with longevity and adaptation against external stress in humans. The aim of the study was to investigate the acute effect of a 30-min hot spring immersion at 41 °C on insulin resistance measures of 16 male subjects, in relation to DHEA-S level. To elucidate the role of DHEA-S in the coping against the heat stress, all subjects were evenly divided into lower and upper halves according to their baseline DHEA-S concentrations. The levels of glucose, insulin, blood pressure, and stress hormones (growth hormone, testosterone, and cortisol) in both groups were compared before and after hot spring immersion. The result shows that hot spring immersion significantly increased heart rate and reduced diastolic blood pressure, both of which were paralleled with a drop of DHEA-S concentration. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and area under curve of glucose (GAUC) of oral glucose tolerance test were significantly increased by the hot spring immersion only in the Low DHEA-S group. Likewise, hot spring immersion caused an opposing effect on cortisol changes for the Low and High DHEA-S groups (+95% vs. −33%, p < 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, hot spring bathing induced insulin resistance confined only to those Low DHEA-S individuals. This response may be associated with a stress response such as increased cortisol levels.     

昆虫内共生菌在昆虫防御中的作用

共生菌在昆虫体内的生长、繁殖过程中起着十分重要的作用,如营养功能、解毒作用、调控生殖及与寄主适应性等等。近些年,一些学者提出了共生菌在寄主抵御天敌等逆境的胁迫时也具有重要的作用。其在寄主防御中的作用可分为3类:(1)昆虫体内共生菌能产生具有抗真菌作用的代谢物,能够抵御病原真菌的入侵,提高寄主的适应性。(2)昆虫抵御寄生蜂的作用与其体内的共生细菌密切相关。(3)共生菌也能产生有毒物质保护寄主免于被捕食。昆虫共生菌在寄主防御中的作用机制除了产生抗菌物质和聚酮类等有毒物质外,还可能通过与水平传播的寄生物(horizontal transmission parasites,HTPs)竞争寄主资源来直接保护寄主。对共生菌的作用的深入研究将有可能进一步明确其功能,并加以利用。     

Analysis of the tip-to-base gradient of CaM in pollen tube pulsant growth using in vivo CaM–GFP system

Ca²⁺-CaM signaling is involved in pollen tube development. However, the distribution and function of CaM and the downstream components of Ca²⁺-CaM signal in pollen tube development still need more exploration. Here we obtained the CaM–GFP fusion protein transgenic line of Nicotiana tobacum SRI, which allowed us to monitor CaM distribution pattern in vivo and provided a useful tool to observe CaM response to various exogenous stimulations and afforded solid evidences of the essential functions of CaM in pollen tube growth. CaM–GFP fusion gene was constructed under the control of Lat52-7 pollen-specific promoter and transformed into Nicotiana tobacum SRI. High level of CaM–GFP fluorescence was detected at the germinal pores and the tip-to-base gradient of fluorescence was observed in developing pollen tubes. The distribution of CaM at apical dome had close relationship with the pulsant growth mode of pollen tubes: when CaM aggregated at the apical dome, pollen tubes stepped into growth state; When CaM showed non-polarized distribution, pollen tubes stopped growing. In addition, after affording exogenous Ca²⁺, calmidazolium (antagonism of CaM) or Brefeldin A (an inhibitor of membrane trafficking), CaM turned to a uniform distribution at the apical dome and pollen tube growth was held back. Taken together, our results showed that CaM played a vital role in pollen tube elongation and growth rate, and the oscillation of tip-to-base gradient of CaM was required for the normal pulsant growth of pollen tube.     

Species of the genus Lamachus F?rster (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae) parasitizing diprionid sawflies (Hymenoptera,Diprionidae) with descriptions of two?new species and a key to Chinese species

Four species of the genus Lamachus Förster 1869 belonging to the tribe Mesoleiini of the subfamily Ctenopelmatinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) are reported from China. Two of them are new to science, Lamachus nigrus Li, Sheng & Sun, sp. n. and Lamachus rufiabdominalis Li, Sheng & Sun, sp. n. were reared from Neodiprion huizeensis Xiao & Zhou, in Guizhou Province of the Oriental part of China. The biology of Lamachus rufiabdominalis is described. A key to the species of Lamachus known from China is provided.     

Effect of loganin on experimental diabetic nephropathy

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays a pathogenic role in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Loganin, an iridoid glucoside compound was isolated from Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of loganin on DN and to elucidate the potential mechanism. High glucose (HG) stimulated cultured human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) analyzed CTGF expression by Western blotting and investigated whether extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway was involved. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced experimental DN, randomized to receive intragastric (i.g.) of loganin. Renal tissue, blood and urine samples were collected to determine and analyze. In vitro study, loganin reduced CTGF excretion in HG-induced HK-2 cells through the ERK signaling pathway. In vivo study, I.g. of loganin 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg significantly ameliorated renal function and increased body weight. Meanwhile, loganin reduced renal CTGF expression by immunohistochemical staining, reduced serum levels of CTGF. Besides, there were no significant differences in blood sugar levels between the loganin groups compared to the STZ-treated group. Furthermore, loganin ameliorated renal pathology. These results suggested that loganin exerts an early renal protective role to DN. Inhibition of CTGF may be a potential target in DN therapy, which highlights the possibility of using loganin to treat DN.     

花生受精前后胚囊的超微结构研究

开花后１￣８ｈ,卵细胞合点端无壁,其质膜和中央细胞质膜之间有较宽间隙,两质膜均有间断处。细胞质主要分布在合点端,细胞器呈不活跃状态。一个助细胞合点端具不连续的壁,与卵细胞与中央细胞之间的“间隙”无直接联系;另一助细胞合点端仅有质膜,并通过质膜间断处与卵细胞和中央细胞之间的“间隙”相通。中央细胞珠孔端和合点端有壁内突,极核或次生核及大部分细胞质靠近卵器,内有大量淀粉粒。开花后２１ｈ,双受精已完成。合