Adrenal hormones mediate melatonin-induced increases in aggression in male Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus)

Among the suite of seasonal adaptations displayed by nontropical rodents, some species demonstrate increased territorial aggression in short compared with long day lengths despite basal levels of testosterone. The precise physiological mechanisms mediating seasonal changes in aggression, however, remain largely unknown. The goal of the present study was to examine the role of melatonin, as well as adrenal hormones, in the regulation of seasonal aggression in male Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). In Experiment 1, male Siberian hamsters received either daily (s.c.) injections of melatonin (15 microg/day) or saline 2 h before lights out for 10 consecutive days. In Experiment 2, hamsters received adrenal demedullations (ADMEDx), whereas in Experiment 3 animals received adrenalectomies (ADx); control animals in both experiments received sham surgeries. Animals in both experiments subsequently received daily injections of melatonin or vehicle as in Experiment 1. Animals in all experiments were tested using a resident-intruder model of aggression. In Experiment 1, exogenous melatonin treatment increased aggression compared with control hamsters. In Experiment 2, ADMEDx had no effect on melatonin-induced aggression. In Experiment 3, the melatonin-induced increase in aggression was significantly attenuated by ADx. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrate that short day-like patterns of melatonin increase aggression in male Siberian hamsters and suggest that increased aggression is due, in part, to changes in adrenocortical steroids.     

A model of neutralization of Chlamydia trachomatis based on antibody and host cell aggregation on the elementary body surface

Humoral immunity is that aspect of specific immunity that is mediated by B lymphocytes and involves the neutralizing of pathogens by means of antibodies attaching to the pathogen's binding sites. Antibodies bind to and block ligand sites on the pathogen which prevents these sites from attaching to target cell receptors and so cell entry is inhibited. Many studies investigate the role of humoral immunity for protection against chlamydial challenge and they have shown that neutralization of the chlamydial body requires a large number of attached antibodies. Steric hindrance greatly influences the number of available sites that may be bound, reducing relative occupancy well below 100%. We model steric effects of antibody Fab fragment attachment indicating that they must be taken into consideration to accurately model valency, the number of available binding sites. We derive a partial differential equation for the number of antibody Fabs and host cell receptors that are aggregated to extracellular chlamydial elementary bodies. We consider steric effects in describing the size distribution of aggregates. Our theory is in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations of binding. We use our theoretical prediction for the valency in a model for the in-host population dynamics of a chlamydial infection and we fit our model to experimental data.     

Photoperiodic regulation of adrenal hormone secretion and aggression in female Syrian hamsters

Seasonal changes in the length of the daily photoperiod induce significant changes in social behavior. Hamsters housed in winter-like short photoperiods (SP) can express significantly higher levels of aggression than hamsters housed in long photoperiods (LP) that mimic summer. The mechanisms responsible for increasing aggressiveness in SP-exposed female hamsters are not well understood but may involve seasonal changes in the endocrine system. In experiment 1, the effects of SP exposure on the circulating levels of three adrenal hormones were determined. Short photoperiod exposure was found to significantly depress the circulating levels of cortisol and the adrenal androgen dehydropiandrosterone (DHEA) but significantly increased the circulating levels of the sulfated form of DHEA, DHEAS. Experiment 2 examined the effects of gonadal hormones on several different measures of aggression including its intensity in females housed in both long and short photoperiod. Exposure to SP resulted in high levels of aggression regardless of the endocrine state of the animal or the measure used to quantify aggression. In contrast, administration of estradiol to hamsters housed in LP significantly reduced aggression. The data of the present study support the hypothesis that SP-housed females are more aggressive than LP-housed females because SP exposure renders females insensitive to the aggression-reducing effects of ovarian hormones.     

鼠疫F1抗原和V抗原双组分候选疫苗的免疫学评价

目的通过由提取的鼠疫F1抗原和重组鼠疫V(rV)抗原组成的鼠疫候选疫苗免疫豚鼠,对其免疫效果进行评价。方法将豚鼠随机分成5个试验组,在免疫后不同时间点采血进行抗体检测、MTT法淋巴细胞增殖试验以及皮肤迟发型超敏反应(DTH)检测。结果抗体检测结果显示,双组分鼠疫候选疫苗能诱导较强的体液免疫应答;MTT细胞增殖结果显示,脾脏淋巴细胞特异性增殖不明显;中剂量组、高剂量组针对F1和rV抗原DTH阳转率均为100%。结论双组分鼠疫候选疫苗能诱导豚鼠体液免疫和细胞免疫应答,该疫苗有希望成为我国新一代鼠疫疫苗。     

罗非鱼免疫学研究进展

罗非鱼是我国主要的养殖鱼类之一,近年来频繁爆发的罗非鱼病害给罗非鱼产业造成了巨大的经济损失。鉴于免疫防治技术在水环境保护、食品安全等方面的优势,探讨鱼体免疫系统特性和免疫应答机制逐渐成为学术界的热点。就罗非鱼的非特异性免疫、体液免疫和细胞免疫等方面的研究成果作一综述,旨在为今后深入研究罗非鱼病害的免疫防治技术提供一些可行的思路和有效的依据。     

Determinants of immunity to murine salmonellosis: studies involving immunization with lipopolysaccharide-lipid A-associated protein complexes in C3H/HeJ mice

Abstract We have earlier demonstrated that the C3H/HeJ Salmonella hypersusceptible mouse can be protected against infection with this organism by prior immunization with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-lipid A-associated protein (LAP) complexes, but not with LPS alone. In the current studies, protection has been shown to correlate with the induction of LPS-specific antibody in immunized mice. LPS was demonstrated to be a relevant target antigen for Salmonella immunity since C3H/HeJ mice were afforded higher survival rates when they were challenged with Salmonella that shared the same LPS O-antigen as the vaccine. Although low levels of LPS-specific antibody can be detected 14 days after immunization with LAP-LPS, significant antibody is present only after 21–28 days. In addition, anti-LAP specific antibodies can be detected after 14 days of immunization with LAP-LPS. Adoptive transfer of either day 28 anti-LAP-LPS immune serum or day 28 LAP-LPS immune splenocytes alone to naive recipients affords mice minimal, if any, survival against lethal S. typhimurium LT2 challenge. In contrast, transfer of day 28 anti-LAP-LPS immune serum and day 28 LAP-LPS immune splenocytes together is able to transfer Salmonella immunity to naive C3H/HeJ mice. Further, equivalent transfer of only day 28 anti-LAP-LPS immune serum to C3H/HeJ mice immunized 7 days previously with LAP-LPS provides protection similar to that found in mice adoptively transferred with immune cells and serum. These results suggest that a host cellular factor or factors responsive to LAP-LPS, in addition to day 28 anti-LAP-LPS immune serum, may contribute to the protection afforded C3H/HeJ mice following immunization with LAP-LPS.     

凝结芽胞杆菌对免疫功能影响的实验研究

目的 研究凝结芽胞杆菌（TQ33）对实验动物免疫功能模型的影响。方法 以鸡红细胞混悬液对小鼠腹腔注射,观察TQ33对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬功能的影响;制备绵羊红细胞（SRBC）,观察血球凝集程度,测定血清溶血素;以靶细胞（YAC-1细胞）与脾细胞（效应细胞）的反应检测TQ33。对小鼠NK细胞活性的影响;采用淋巴细胞转化法观察TQ33对细胞免疫的影响;计算小鼠胸腺／体重及脾脏／体重为脏器系数观察TQ33对小鼠脏器的影响。结果 与对照组比较,TQ33显著增加小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬功能;对小鼠体液免疫功能有一定的增强作用;可增强小鼠NK细胞活性;对ConA诱导下的小鼠淋巴细胞转化有增强作用;对脏器系数没有显著的影响。结论 凝结芽胞杆菌具有明显的免疫调节作用,预示有良好的应用前景。     

体液免疫抗白念珠菌感染的研究

探讨抗白念珠菌IgY及其免疫血清对多种动物模型感染白念珠菌的保护作用。制备烧伤继发感染白念珠菌大鼠、白念珠菌性阴道炎小鼠及免疫功能低下小鼠多种动物感染模型 ,分别应用抗白念珠菌IgY、鼠免疫血清和生理盐水对照 ,观察比较各自的作用。抗白念珠菌IgY对烧伤继发感染白念珠菌大鼠及白念珠菌性阴道炎小鼠均有明显的保护作用 ;鼠免疫血清则对阻止远程靶器官的白念珠菌扩散有较好的作用。体液免疫成份抗白念珠菌IgY及其免疫血清对烧伤继发感染白念珠菌大鼠、白念珠菌性阴道炎小鼠及免疫功能低下小鼠均有良好的保护作用。     

Seasonal infertility in sows: A five year field study to analyze the relative roles of heat stress and photoperiod

The objective of this study was to analyze the relative roles of high temperature and photoperiod as environmental factors of seasonal infertility in swine. The results of five years (2003-2007) of ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis carried out in 266 indoor farms were analyzed. For all farms, the data covered the entire study period. The farms were situated in four French regions. The data of 22,773 batches and 610,117 sows were included. Seasonal infertility was defined as the relative difference between the fertility rate in ‘summer’ (inseminations in weeks 25-42) and ‘winter’ (inseminations in weeks 1-18 of the same year). In each region, two meteorological variables were defined, based on the data of a reference weather station: the number of hot days (maximum temperature ≥ 25 °C) and tropical days (maximum temperature ≥ 32 °C and minimum temperature ≥ 18 °C). The mean fertility was 85%. The median seasonal infertility was 2.8% and more than 7.1% for a quarter of farms. Seasonal infertility did not vary with areas or baseline fertility (defined for each studied farm as the average winter fertility over five years). Seasonal infertility differed with the year (p < 0.001). Seasonal infertility was significantly higher during 2003 than in the other four years, which did not differ among each other. In the four regions, 2003 was the year with the highest number of hot days and 2007 with the least. Our study strengthens the hypothesis of a prominent role of photoperiod in seasonal infertility and of an additional role of heat stress the hottest years.     

五步蛇毒对小鼠免疫功能的影响

目的 探索五步蛇毒对正常小鼠免疫功能的影响.方法 将KM小鼠随机分为5组,分别为空白组、五步蛇毒安全范围内低剂量组(30 mg/kg)、五步蛇毒安全范围内中剂量组(60 mg/kg)、五步蛇毒安全范围内高剂量组(120 mg/kg)(以下简称五步蛇毒低、中、高剂量组)以及西洋参组(30 mg/kg),每组10只.各组小...     

人巨细胞病毒调控免疫逃逸相关基因的功能及其机制研究

人巨细胞病毒（HCMV）是一个广泛传播的机会致病原,也是不断利用和操控机体免疫系统致慢性持续性病毒感染的典型代表。在病毒与宿主共同漫长进化过程中,HCMV产生了许多逃避宿主免疫系统识别的机制,其基因组编码了大量产物,通过抑制自然杀伤细胞和树突细胞功能,下调被感染细胞表面主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）Ⅰ类和Ⅱ类分子表达以减少病毒抗原呈递,损伤IgG介导的体液免疫,调节多种趋化因子和细胞因子的作用,从而控制宿主天然免疫应答和适应性免疫应答的核心功能。本文就HCMV的免疫逃避机制进行综述,探讨病毒与宿主相互作用的发生、发展与结局。     

百日咳免疫保护相关机制及评价指标的研究进展

百日咳是目前世界上普遍采用疫苗可进行免疫预防策略的疾病之一。近十年来包括中国在内的许多国家出现的百日咳发病率上升的现象已引起了全球极大关注。其主要原因可能与疫苗接种尤其是无细胞百日咳疫苗(acellular pertussis vaccine, APV)诱导产生的免疫力不断衰减有关。血清中的抗百日咳毒素特异性IgG抗体检测是最重要的免疫力评价方法之一,但到目前为止,感染百日咳菌或接种百日咳疫苗后的免疫力保护相关机制及评价指标尚无统一的标准。现就国内外百日咳相关研究进展作一概述。     

哺乳动物季节性繁殖的内源年生物钟及光敏神经环路研究进展

生活在温带和寒带的哺乳动物在长期的进化过程中形成了季节性繁殖的生活史特征。哺乳动物的繁殖功能主要受到下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴(hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis,HPGA)的调控。视交叉上核(suprachiasmatic nucleus,SCN)能够自发振荡并响应光周期信号的变化,引发褪黑素分泌的改变,并介导下游通路中下丘脑甲状腺激素、Kisspeptin和RF酰胺相关肽(RF amide-related peptide,RFRP)的节律性表达变化,从而调控哺乳动物的季节性繁殖。本文综述了哺乳动物季节性繁殖的内源年生物钟调控,并强调了光敏通路中包括甲状腺激素、Kisspeptin和RFRP在季节性繁殖调控中的重要作用。     

丹参对毛细支气管炎患儿体液免疫调节作用的观察

目的:探讨丹参佐治毛细支气管炎的疗效及其可能的机理。方法:73例毛细支气管患儿随机分为常规组和丹参组,均用常规方法治疗,但后者加用复方丹参静脉滴注。在治疗前、后用全自动散射比浊法测定并比较两组患儿血清IgE、IgG、IgA、补体C3和C4水平。结果:丹参组和常规组总有效率依次为94.44%和78.38%,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗后,丹参组患者血清IgE、C3和C4水平下降,IgG、IgA水平上升,与治疗前相比均有一定程度差异(P<0.01-0.05)。治疗后,常规组患者仅IgE水平下降(P<0.01),但其余指标与治疗前差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:丹参佐治毛细支气管炎,临床效果较好,且可调节机体的体液免疫应答,增强机体的抗感染能力。     

肝癌患者体液免疫和细胞免疫的变化情况

目的:探讨肝癌患者体液免疫和细胞免疫功能状况。方法:选取2012年1月20日至2015年3月25日在西宁市第一人民医院就诊的126例肝癌患者和87名健康者作为研究对象,采用免疫透射比浊法测定血清IgA、IgG水平,采用流式细胞术检测外周血T淋巴细胞亚群CD3~+、CD4~+、CD8~+和CD4~+/CD8~+水平。结果:与健康对照组相比,肝癌组患者血清中IgA和IgG水平显著升高(P0.05),外周血中T淋巴细胞亚群CD3~+、CD4~+和CD4~+/CD8~+显著降低(P0.05),CD8~+显著升高(P0.05)。结论:肝癌患者体液免疫功能增强,细胞免疫功能降低,外周血T细胞亚群和血清免疫球蛋白的检测对了解肝癌患者的病情、预后以及免疫治疗具有一定的临床指导意义。     

光周期—褪黑素信号调控高原鼠兔精原细胞分化和季节性精子发生

高原鼠兔是青藏高原特有的小型哺乳动物,其繁殖活动呈现明显的季节性。成年雄性高原鼠兔在繁殖期睾丸重量显著增加,精子发生正常进行,而在非繁殖期睾丸退化,精子发生阻断在未分化精原细胞阶段。光周期控制实验显示,长光照(16 h∶8 h)诱导非繁殖期高原鼠兔重新启动精原细胞分化和精子发生;而短光照(8 h∶16 h)显著抑制繁殖期高原鼠兔精子发生。酶联免疫分析发现,褪黑素分泌水平在长日照条件下降低而在短日照条件下升高。非繁殖期高原鼠兔连续注射褪黑素拮抗剂能诱导生殖细胞发育和精子发生恢复。促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)与黄体生成素(LH)在繁殖期鼠兔下丘脑垂体显著升高,促卵泡素(FSH)水平无显著差异。注射GnRH可以促进非繁殖期高原鼠兔精原细胞分化和精子发生,而褪黑素注射后抑制GnRH的分泌进而负调控性腺轴。综上,高原鼠兔季节性精子发生受光周期—褪黑素信号控制,后者主要通过控制GnRH、LH水平影响精原细胞分化。本研究对理解季节性动物精子发生的调控机制有重要借鉴意义。     

爬行动物的体液免疫

爬行动物针对颗粒性和可溶性抗原,能够快速、有效的产生抗体。爬行动物血清中的抗体主要包括高分子量的免疫球蛋白（HMWIg）和不止一种的低分子量免疫球蛋白（LMWIg）,爬行动物中还有在亲代和子代间传递的免疫球蛋白Ig Y。目前爬行动物免疫球蛋白的纯化方法主要有：硫酸铵沉淀法、联合凝胶过滤层析和离子交换层析法、Protein A亲和层析法。研究爬行动物体液免疫对研究动物免疫的进化及对病原控制具有重要意义。