甘肃鼢鼠哈氏腺组织结构及其抗氧化能力

为探讨甘肃鼢鼠(Myospalax cansus)哈氏腺的结构特征及其在低氧应激下的抗氧化能力,用组织解剖学方法观察甘肃鼢鼠哈氏腺整体及其显微结构,分光光度计测定哈氏腺低氧应激前、后超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量。结果显示,甘肃鼢鼠哈氏腺肥大,包围在眼周,位于颧骨下的颞窝,为管泡状腺体,由柱状细胞构成,依胞质中分泌物含量分为厚细胞和薄细胞。常氧下,甘肃鼢鼠超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性显著高于SD大鼠(Rattus norvegicus),但谷胱甘肽还原酶活性显著低于SD大鼠;在低氧应激4 h后,甘肃鼢鼠超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性迅速升高,显著高于SD大鼠,谷胱甘肽还原酶的活性在低氧2、4和6 h无显著性变化,但均显著低于SD大鼠;在低氧8 h后,甘肃鼢鼠谷胱甘肽还原酶的活性较低氧2~6 h显著升高。甘肃鼢鼠丙二醛含量在常氧和低氧应激中均显著低于SD大鼠。结果说明,甘肃鼢鼠在低氧应激后,哈氏腺通过提高抗氧化酶超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性,清除低氧诱导产生的多余自由基,谷胱甘肽还原酶在抗氧化中不起主要作用。地下鼠甘肃鼢鼠抗氧化模式与地面鼠明显不同。     

镉胁迫对家蚕脂肪体脂质过氧化物含量及抗氧化酶活性和mRNA表达的影响

【目的】探讨鳞翅目模式昆虫家蚕Bombyx mori作为重金属污染的监测指示生物在镉胁迫下的酶反应及相关的基因表达。【方法】给家蚕幼虫期全龄添食镉(Cd²⁺), 调查不同性别家蚕5龄幼虫脂肪体中脂质过氧化物丙二醛（MDA）的含量, 超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、 过氧化氢酶（CAT）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）的活性及其基因表达水平的变化。【结果】Cd²⁺胁迫对雌雄家蚕MDA 含量均具有浓度效应关系, MDA含量随Cd²⁺胁迫浓度的升高而增加。Cd²⁺胁迫下, SOD和CAT活性表现为先升后降的变化趋势, Pearson相关性分析显示SOD和CAT活性变化有显著相关性(雄: R=0.770, P=0.001; 雌: R=0.854, P=0.000）。雌性家蚕脂肪体中CAT活性变化和Cat mRNA水平的表达具有正相关性（R=0.712, P=0.003）。雄性家蚕脂肪体中GSH-Px活性随Cd²⁺胁迫浓度的升高而增加, 显示浓度 效应关系, 12.5~50 mg/kg Cd²⁺胁迫组GSH-Px活性与对照相比有显著差异（P<0.05）, 其活性和GSH-Px mRNA水平的表达具有正相关性（R=0.834, P=0.000）; 雌性家蚕脂肪体中GSH-Px活性表现为先升后降的变化趋势, 12.5 mg/kg Cd²⁺胁迫组GSH-Px活性与对照相比有显著增加（P<0.01）。【结论】结果表明, 急性镉胁迫对家蚕脂肪体有明显的毒性作用, 其作用机制与脂质过氧化加剧和抗氧化酶活性变化有关。家蚕对重金属镉的解毒机制有性别相关性。     

Potential chemoprevention of N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis by polyphenolics from Acacia nilotica bark

Chemopreventive potential of Acacia nilotica bark extract (ANBE) against single intraperitoneal injection of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA, 200 mg/kg) followed by weekly subcutaneous injections of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄, 3 ml/kg) for 6 weeks induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats was studied. At 45 day after administration of NDEA, 100 and 200 mg/kg of ANBE were administered orally once daily for 10 weeks. The levels of liver injury and liver cancer markers such as alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), total bilirubin level (TBL), α-feto protein (AFP) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were substantially increased following NDEA treatment. However, ANBE treatment reduced liver injury and restored liver cancer markers. ANBE also significantly prevented hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and reduced glutathione (GSH) in NDEA-treated rats which was dose dependent. Additionally, ANBE also increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes viz., catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in the liver of NDEA-administered rats. Eventually, ANBE also significantly improved body weight and prevented increase of relative liver weight due to NDEA treatment. Histological observations of liver tissues too correlated with the biochemical observations. HPLC analysis of ANBE showed the presence of gallic, protocatechuic, caffeic and ellagic acids, and also quercetin in ANBE. The results strongly support that A. nilotica bark prevents lipid peroxidation (LPO) and promote the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense system during NDEA-induced hepatocarcinogenesis which might be due to activities like scavenging of oxy radicals by the phytomolecules in ANBE.     

Increased cold tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana transformed with Choristoneura fumiferana glutathione S-transferase gene

A glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene cloned from the lepidopteran spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana Clem. was transformed into the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The CfGST-transgenic and wild-type A. thaliana were subjected to 4 and 10 °C for 48 h and their cold resistance was studied. The GST activity of the transgenic plants was 46.6 and 35.7 % higher than that of the wild-type plants after 48 h under 4 and 10 °C, respectively. Relative membrane permeability and malondialdehyde content in the transgenic plants were lower while contents of the chlorophyll and proline were higher than those in the wild-type plants under 4 and 10 °C. The survival rate of the transgenic plants was 43.7 % for 24 h under 0 °C, while survival rate of wild-type plants was 28.3 %. The results indicated that the insect GST could enhance cold resistance in the transgenic A. thaliana.     

双丹胶囊对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤保护作用研究

目的：观察双丹胶囊对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注损伤的脑梗死体积、自由基变化的影响,探讨双丹胶囊对脑缺血损伤的保护作用。方法：复制大鼠中动脉缺血再灌注模型,分别给药干预,在给药后观察行为学、脑梗死率、脑指数、脑含水量、SOD、MAD等指标。结果：双丹胶囊可改善动物的神经行为学评分,明显降低动物的脑梗死率、脑指数、脑含水量、提高脑组织SOD活性、降低MDA含量,并成剂量依赖。结论：双丹胶囊对脑缺血再灌注损伤具有保护作用。     

Reactive carbonyl compounds (RCCs) cause aggregation and dysfunction of fibrinogen

Fibrinogen is a key protein involved in coagulation and its deposition on blood vessel walls plays an important role in the pathology of atherosclerosis. Although the causes of fibrinogen (fibrin) deposition have been studied in depth, little is known about the relationship between fibrinogen deposition and reactive carbonyl compounds (RCCs), compounds which are produced and released into the blood and react with plasma protein especially under conditions of oxidative stress and inflammation. Here, we investigated the effect of glycolaldehyde on the activity and deposit ion of fibrinogen compared with the common RCCs acrolein, methylglyoxal, glyoxal and malondialdehyde. At the same concentration (1 mmol/L), glycolaldehyde and acrolein had a stronger suppressive effect on fibrinogen activation than the other three RCCs. Fibrinogen aggregated when it was respectively incubated with glycolaldehyde and the other RCCs, as demonstrated by SDS-PAGE, electron microscopy and intrinsic fluorescence intensity measurements. Staining with Congo Red showed that glycolaldehyde- and acroleinfibrinogen distinctly formed amyloid-like aggregations. Furthermore, the five RCCs, particularly glycolaldehyde and acrolein, delayed human plasma coagulation. Only glycolaldehyde showed a markedly suppressive effect on fibrinogenesis, none did the other four RCCs when their physiological blood concentrations were employyed, respectively. Taken together, it is glycolaldehyde that suppresses fibrinogenesis and induces protein aggregation most effectively, suggesting a putative pathological process for fibrinogen (fibrin) deposition in the blood.     

不同低氧训练模式对大鼠力竭运动后骨骼肌线粒体抗氧化能力及呼吸链酶复合体活性的影响

本研究旨在观察4种低氧训练模式对大鼠骨骼肌线粒体抗氧化能力及呼吸链酶复合体活性的影响。将雄性Wistar大鼠40只随机均分为5组(n=8):常氧训练组(LoLo)、高住高练组(HiHi)、高住低训组(HiLo)、低住高练组(LoHi)和高住高练低训组(HiHiLo)。各组大鼠分别在常氧(海拔1500m,大气压632mmHg)或/和低氧(模拟海拔3500m,大气压493mmHg)环境中居住及递增负荷训练5周,每周训练6天。各组大鼠在最后一次训练后,在常氧环境恢复3天,然后进行力竭运动,之后即刻取骨骼肌样本,用差速离心法提取骨骼肌线粒体,分光光度法测定丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(su-peroxide dismutase,SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px)和过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)活性及呼吸链酶复合体Ⅰ～Ⅲ(CⅠ～Ⅲ)活性。结果显示,与LoLo组相比,HiHi和HiHiLo组骨骼肌组织MDA含量均显著升高(P<0.01),SOD、GSH-Px和CAT活性均显著升高(P<0.05或P<0.01)。与LoL...     

Changes in phytohormones and oxidative stress markers in buried seeds of Vellozia alata

Little information is still available on the mechanisms underlying seed persistence in the soil in several species, and most particularly in vegetation of the rupestrian fields of the Espinhaço Range in Brazil, where ca. 90% of their species are endemic and are of interest for conservation biology. Here we aimed at examining the putative physiological and biochemical changes seeds of one of this species (Vellozia alata L.B.Sm., Velloziaceae) may experience after burial under natural conditions. Endogenous concentrations of phytohormones and oxidative stress markers were measured in seeds buried in the soil for 12 months. Buried seeds experienced a significant loss of germination capacity, which decreased from 58 to 29% during the first 6 months. This was associated with a decline in gibberellins (by 65%), abscisic acid (by 98%), cytokinins (up to 75%) and jasmonic acid (by 97%) during the first 3 months, while salicylic acid increased at 6 months of burial. Malondialdehyde and tocopherol levels also decreased dramatically to non-detectable values during this period, while all tocotrienol homologues decreased by 30%. By contrast, germination capacity remained constant around 30% between 6 and 12 months of burial. During this period, concentrations of all phytohormones examined remained unaltered, except for salicylic acid, whose levels returned to initial values. Tocotrienols decreased significantly, particularly between 9 and 12 months of burial, while the extent of lipid peroxidation remained constant. It is concluded that in V. alata, (i) seed burial causes dramatic changes in phytohormones and in the extent of lipid peroxidation, while the potential for germination decreases; (ii) after 6 months of burial, seed germination capacity remains constant, at least until one year, which is associated with absence of oxidative damage.     

Photosynthesis is improved by exogenous calcium in heat-stressed tobacco plants

Effects of exogenous calcium chloride (CaCl₂) (20 mM) on photosynthetic gas exchange, photosystem II photochemistry, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in tobacco plants under high temperature stress (43 °C for 2 h) were investigated. Heat stress resulted in a decrease in net photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomatal conductance as well as the apparent quantum yield (AQY) and carboxylation efficiency (CE) of photosynthesis. Heat stress also caused a decrease of the maximal photochemical efficiency of primary photochemistry (F_v/F_m). On the other hand, CaCl₂ application improved P_n, AQY, and CE as well as F_v/F_m under high temperature stress. Heat stress reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), whereas the activities of these enzymes either decreased less or increased in plants pretreated with CaCl₂; glutathione reductase (GR) activity increased under high temperature, and it increased more in plants pretreated with CaCl₂. There was an obvious accumulation of H₂O₂ and O₂⁻ under high temperature, but CaCl₂ application decreased the contents of H₂O₂ and O₂⁻ under heat stress conditions. Heat stress induced the level of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), while CaCl₂ pretreatment enhanced it. These results suggested that photosynthesis was improved by CaCl₂ application in heat-stressed plants and such an improvement was associated with an improvement in stomatal conductance and the thermostability of oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), which might be due to less accumulation of reactive oxygen species.     

Plant aging and excess light enhance flavan-3-ol content in Cistus clusii

Physiological studies on aging in perennials are mainly focused either on the primary metabolism or the hormonal regulation of the process. However, to our knowledge, the involvement of the secondary metabolism in this process has not yet been explored. Cistus clusii, a Mediterranean sclerophyllous evergreen bush, shows considerable amounts of flavan-3-ols in leaves. In the present study, we aimed at determining the impact of environmental conditions and plant aging in the flavan-3-ol content in C. clusii plants grown in field conditions, which included summer drought and recovery periods. Six-year-old plants suffered more from photo-oxidative stress, especially during excess light periods, and showed lower maximum photosynthetic rates than 1-year-old plants. C. clusii leaves accumulated (−)-epigallocatechin gallate in early summer, in a strong positive correlation with both the photon flux density and the photoperiod, but not with the plant water status. Moreover, C. clusii plants accumulated proanthocyanidins (polymeric flavan-3-ols) in leaves during summer. Older plants showed higher levels of proanthocyanidins and (−)-epicatechin, but only during late spring and summer. From the result of the present study, we conclude that excess light enhances flavan-3-ol content in C. clusii, a process enhanced as plants age due to increased excess light stress.