Montelukast abrogates prednisolone‐induced hepatic injury in rats: Modulation of mitochondrial dysfunction,oxidative/nitrosative stress,and apoptosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of montelukast (MTK) against prednisolone‐induced hepatic injury in rats. Twenty‐eight male albino rats were categorized into four equal groups. Group I served as the control group; group II: rats orally received prednisolone (5 mg·kg^?1·d^?1) for 30 days; groups III and IV: rats orally received MTK at 10 and 20 mg·kg^?1·d^?1, respectively, simultaneously with prednisolone for 30 days. Serum liver enzymes, hepatic mitochondrial function, oxidative/nitrosative stress, and inflammatory and apoptotic markers were evaluated, and the results were confirmed by histopathological examination. MTK showed significant hepatic protection evidenced by alleviated histological lesion and improvement of mitochondrial function, oxidative/nitrosative stress, and inflammatory and apoptotic changes induced by prednisolone, with more profound protection in higher MTK dose (20 mg·kg^?1). In view of these findings, we can conclude that MTK may have hepatoprotective potential, beyond its therapeutic value for asthmatic patients during their course of corticosteroid therapy.     

Tyroserleutide tripeptide affects calcium homeostasis of human hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402 cells

This study aimed to observe the effects of tyroserleutide (tyrosyl-seryl-leucine, YSL) on the growth of human hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402 that was transplanted into nude mice, and explore its anti-tumor mechanism preliminarily. YSL, at doses of 80 μg-kg^-1 · d^-1, 160 μg·kg^-1 ·d^-1 and 320 μg · kg^-1 · d^-1 significantly inhibited the growth of the human hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402 tumor in nude mice, producing inhibition of 21.66%, 41.34%, and 34.78%, respectively. Ultra structure of BEL-7402 tumor in nude mice showed that YSL could induce tumor cells apoptosis and necrosis, cell organelle mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum damage, and calcium overload. By confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry, we found that 10 μg/mL YSL rapidly induced an increase of the concentration of cytoplasmic free calcium in BEL-7402 cells in vitro, and maintained high concentrations of cytoplasmic free calcium for 1 h. Then the calcium concentration began to decrease after 2 h, and was lower than that of the control group at 4 h and 24 h (P< 0.05). YSL also decreased the mitochondrial transmembrane potential of BEL-7402 cells in vitro, but had no effect on the calcium homeostasis or mitochondrial transmembrane potential of Chang liver hepatocytes. So affecting calcium homeostasis, then inducing apoptosis and necrosis may be a mechanism by which YSL inhibits the tumor growth in animal model.     

硫肥对春油菜幼苗生理指标和土壤酶活性的影响

该研究以春油菜幼苗为材料,采用土壤盆栽试验,设7个不同施硫(0、35、70、105、140、175、210mg·kg^-1)处理,通过测定春油菜幼苗的株高、植株鲜重、叶绿素含量、MDA含量、SOD、POD、CAT活性、土壤全氮含量、pH、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性指标,分析不同施硫量对春油菜幼苗生理生化指标和土壤相关酶活性的影响。结果表明:在春油菜苗期施用硫肥对幼苗的农艺性状、生理生化指标和土壤酶活性均产生了一定影响。施硫量在35~105mg·kg^-1范围时,对植株鲜重有明显的促进作用;施硫量在70~105mg·kg^-1范围时,类胡萝卜素含量达到最高;施硫量在70~105mg·kg^-1范围时,叶片中POD和CAT的活性明显升高,而MDA含量明显下降;经相关分析,MDA含量与POD活性呈极显著负相关(r=-0.92,P<0.01),与CAT活性呈显著负相关(r=-0.72,P<0.05),说明叶片MDA含量受POD和CAT活性变化的影响;施硫量高于105mg·kg^-1时,土壤脲酶和蔗糖酶活性受到抑制;施硫量高于140mg·kg^-1时,土壤过氧化氢酶活性受到抑制;随着施硫量的增加,土壤pH值和叶片SOD活性逐渐下降;经相关性分析,土壤脲酶活性和全氮含量间呈极显著正相关(r=1,P<0.01),表明土壤全氮含量受土壤脲酶活性变化的影响。由此可知,在低硫(35~105mg·kg^-1)条件下对春油菜幼苗生理生化指标及土壤酶活性具有一定的促进作用,而在高硫(>105mg·kg^-1)条件下则产生抑制。     

不同起源秋茄林湿地沉积物重金属污染与健康风险评价

秋茄(Kandelia obovata)林生态系统的重金属污染是滨海湿地研究的重要组成.为探究闽东不同起源秋茄林湿地的健康风险与重金属污染的状况,运用污染负荷指数法和人体健康风险评价法分析闽东不同起源秋茄林湿地表层沉积物重金属的含量特征并评估其健康风险.结果表明:(1)秋茄天然林湿地表层沉积物重金属平均含量排序为Zn(...     

Caffeine antagonizes several central effects of diazepam

In spinal cats, caffeine (3–30 mg·kg^?1 i.v.) reduced the increase of dorsal root potentials (DRPs) caused by diazepam (0.1–1 mg·kg^?1 i.v.) without affecting the prolongation of DRPs evoked by phenobarbitone (10–20 mg·kg^?1 i.v.). Caffeine antagonized the depression by diazepam, but not that by phenobarbitone, of the ventral root-evoked Renshaw cell discharge. In unrestrained cats, 50 mg·kg^?1 caffeine i.p. abolished the elevation induced by 1 mg·kg^?1 diazepam i.p. of the threshold for eliciting a rage reaction by stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus, but was ineffective against the threshold increase caused by 20 mg·kg^?1 phenobarbitine i.p. In the horizontal wire test in mice, caffeine was more potent in reversing the depression of performance induced by diazepam that that by phenobarbitone (ED50 1.8 mg·kg^?1 and 139 mg·kg^?1 p.o., respectively). The reduction of skeletal muscle tone in mice produced by diazepam was antagonized by low doses of caffeine (ED50 0.53 mg·kg^?1 p.o.). While caffeine at low doses (0.3-3 mg·kg^?1 p.o.) abolished the anticonflict effect of diazepam in rats, high doses (ED50 160 mg·kg^?1 p.o.) were necessary to antagonize the anticonvulsant effect of diazepam on pentylene-tetrazole-induced seizures in mice. The interaction between caffeine and diazepam is not due to a competition at the benzodiazepine receptors but may involve purinergic mechanisms.     

Intermittent lead‐induced stress on antioxidant enzyme activity and subcellular distribution of Pb in Pogonatherum crinitum seedlings

• Pogonatherum crinitum is a promising lead (Pb) hyperaccumulator due to its high Pb tolerance and accumulation ability. However, the mechanisms that support Pb accumulation and tolerance in P. crinitum are not yet clearly understood.
• An indoor hydroponic experiment was conducted by cultivating P. crinitum seedlings exposed to intermittent Pb stress for 60 days, divided into four stages (T1, T2, T3 and T4), with a 15‐day duration per stage. The following concentrations of Pb were used: 0, 500, 0, 500 mg·l^?1 and 0, 1000, 0, 1000 mg·l^?1). Antioxidant enzyme activity, Pb concentration and subcellular distribution of Pb were measured at each of the above stages.
• The results showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in shoots, and SOD, peroxidase (POD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in shoots and roots significantly increased from T1 (no Pb stress) to T2 (Pb stress) in both 500 mg·l^?1 and 1000 mg·l^?1 treatments; however, no significant difference was noted between stages T3 (no Pb stress) and T4 (Pb stress). There was no obvious effect of Pb stress on catalase (CAT) activity in shoots and roots among different stages. The Pb concentration in shoots was up to 5090.90 mg·kg^?1 and 7573.57 mg·kg^?1, and the bioconcentration factor (BFC) was 10.18 and 7.57 for the 500 mg·l^?1 and 1000 mg·l^?1 treatments, respectively, which confirmed the Pb hyperaccumulator characteristics of P. crinitum. For plants under Pb stress, most of the Pb was fixed in the cell walls, with a smaller amount in leaves and root vacuoles.
• Both SOD and POD scavenging of reactive oxygen radicals and fixing and compartmentalisation of Pb in the cell wall might play important roles in detoxification of P. crinitum seedlings in response to Pb stress. There was no phased response of P. crinitum to intermittent Pb stress and the physiological response to Pb stress may be contiguous.

     

铊和镉胁迫对芦竹生长及光合特征的影响

芦竹(Arundo donax)对多种重金属都有较好的耐受性,是植物修复技术较理想的选择,而关于芦竹对Cd和Tl胁迫生理反应的相关研究却较少,为了有效治理Cd和Tl的污染,本研究以芦竹为材料,通过添加不同浓度重金属Tl(4,10和20 mg·kg~(-1))、Cd(50,100和200 mg·kg~(-1))进行芦竹盆栽试验,测定芦竹的株高、分蘖数、叶绿素含量、光合生理指标以及Tl和Cd在芦竹中的累积量,探讨芦竹对Tl和Cd胁迫的响应机制。结果表明:Tl(4~20 mg·kg~(-1))和Cd(50~200 mg·kg~(-1))对芦竹株高、分蘖数以及叶绿素含量均无显著影响(P0.05);芦竹体内Tl和Cd含量随着Tl和Cd浓度的升高呈上升趋势,芦竹体内Tl含量的分布规律为根茎叶,Cd含量的分布规律:Cd浓度50 mg·kg~(-1)时为茎叶根,Cd浓度100和200 mg·kg~(-1)时为根茎叶,表明Tl和Cd主要分布在根部,芦竹对Tl、Cd有一定的富集能力。Cd和Tl处理均显著降低芦竹叶片的胞间CO2浓度,在Tl浓度为10 mg·kg~(-1)时,净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率得到显著提高,当Cd浓度为50 mg·kg~(-1)时,净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率得到显著提高。这表明芦竹对重金属Cd和Tl有较强的耐受性,可为Cd和Tl污染土壤的治理和修复提供参考。     

Corrections by melatonin of liver mitochondrial disorders under diabetes and acute intoxication in rats

The aim of the present work was to investigate the mechanisms of oxidative damage of the liver mitochondria under diabetes and intoxication in rats as well as to evaluate the possibility of corrections of mitochondrial disorders by pharmacological doses of melatonin. The experimental (30 days) streptozotocin‐induced diabetes mellitus caused a significant damage of the respiratory activity in rat liver mitochondria. In the case of succinate as a respiratory substrate, the ADP‐stimulated respiration rate V₃ considerably decreased (by 25%, p < 0·05) as well as the acceptor control ratio (ACR) V₃/V₂ markedly diminished (by 25%, p < 0·01). We observed a decrease of the ADP‐stimulated respiration rate V₃ by 35% (p < 0·05), with glutamate as substrate. In this case, ACR also decreased (by 20%, p < 0·05). Surprisingly, the phosphorylation coefficient ADP/O did not change under diabetic liver damage. Acute rat carbon tetrachloride‐induced intoxication resulted in considerable decrease of the phosphorylation coefficient because of uncoupling of the oxidation and phosphorylation processes in the liver mitochondria. The melatonin administration during diabetes (10 mg·kg^‐1 body weight, 30 days, daily) showed a considerable protective effect on the liver mitochondrial function, reversing the decreased respiration rate V₃ and the diminished ACR to the control values both for succinate‐dependent respiration and for glutamate‐dependent respiration. The melatonin administration to intoxicated animals (10 mg·kg⁻¹ body weight, three times) partially increased the rate of succinate‐dependent respiration coupled with phosphorylation. The impairment of mitochondrial respiratory plays a key role in the development of liver injury under diabetes and intoxication. Melatonin might be considered as an effector that regulates the mitochondrial function under diabetes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

柠檬香蜂草对铜的耐性及其积累特征研究

以柠檬香蜂草(Melissa officinalis)幼苗为材料,设置不同浓度Cu~(2+)胁迫(CK、200、400、800和1 000mg·kg~(-1))盆栽实验,测定胁迫0、7、14、21、28d后植物生物量、叶绿素含量、抗氧化酶活性、可溶性蛋白含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量以及植物体内Cu含量等指标,探讨柠檬香蜂草对Cu~(2+)的耐受性及其积累特征。结果表明:(1)相同处理时间下,柠檬香蜂草除MDA含量外其他所有指标均随着Cu~(2+)胁迫处理浓度的增加呈低浓度促进、高浓度抑制的变化趋势,且高浓度组(800和1 000mg·kg~(-1))与低浓度组(200和400mg·kg~(-1))之间差异显著(P0.05);MDA含量在1 000mg·kg~(-1)浓度下持续增长至第14天后开始下降。(2)柠檬香蜂草体内Cu的积累量随Cu胁迫浓度的升高呈先增加后减少的趋势,并在浓度为400mg·kg~(-1)时达到最高值(0.71mg/盆)。(3)在整个胁迫过程中,柠檬香蜂草植株的铜富集系数及其耐性系数均随Cu浓度的增加而减小,各处理浓度对Cu的耐性系数均大于0.5,富集系数均大于1。研究发现,柠檬香蜂草对Cu胁迫具有一定耐受性和富集能力,具有成为铜污染土壤修复植物的潜力。     

外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸对NaCl胁迫下酸枣光合特性的影响

以2年生酸枣幼苗为试验材料,探讨不同浓度NaCl(0、4、8、12g·kg-1)胁迫下喷施5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA,75、150mg·L~(-1))对酸枣光合特性的影响。结果显示:(1)不同浓度NaCl胁迫下,外源ALA对酸枣叶片的净光合速率(Pn)、胞间二氧化碳浓度(Ci)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)及叶绿素含量等具有明显促进作用。(2)在不同浓度NaCl胁迫下,喷施75mg·L~(-1)的ALA仅在NaCl浓度为4和8g·kg-1处理下对酸枣Tr值具有显著提高作用,而喷施150mg·L~(-1) ALA在各NaCl浓度胁迫下对其Pn、Ci和Tr均具有显著促进作用。(3)在重度NaCl胁迫(12g·kg-1)下,喷施150mg·L~(-1) ALA对酸枣叶片叶绿素含量具有显著提高作用,而喷施75mg·L~(-1)浓度ALA却无明显提高。研究表明,在NaCl胁迫条件下,外源ALA能有效改善酸枣叶片光合气体交换参数,提高叶绿素含量,从而缓解NaCl胁迫的伤害,提高其光合能力,并以喷施150mg·L~(-1) ALA的缓解效果更好。     

Assessment of EDDS and vermicompost for the phytoextraction of Cd and Pb by sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The effects of Ethylenediamine disuccinic acid (EDDS) (0 and 5?mmol·kg^?1) as a synthetic chemical amendment, vermicompost (0 and 5%w/w) as an organic amendment and their combined application were evaluated for the phytoextraction by sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) at three artificial contamination levels in soils (0, 50, and 100?mg·kg^?1 for Cd and 0, 100, and 200?mg·kg^?1 for Pb). The results showed that the application of EDDS was the most effective method to increase Pb and Cd concentrations in both parts of the plant. The results also showed that the application of EDDS increased 9.27% shoot Pb content at 200?mg·kg^?1 but decreased 15.95% shoot Cd content at 100?mg·kg^?1 contamination level with respect to the respective controls. The bioavailable concentrations of Cd at 100?mg·kg^?1 and Pb at 200?mg·kg^?1 contamination level in the soil at the end of experiment increased 25% and 26%, respectively after the application of EDDS but vermicompost decreased 43.28% the bioavailable Pb concentration relative to their controls. Vermicompost increased the remediation factor index of Cd, thus making it the best treatment for the phytoextraction of Cd. The combined application of EDDS and vermicompost was the best amendment for Pb phytoextraction.     

Aspirin inhibits osteoclast formation and wear-debris-induced bone destruction by suppressing mitogen-activated protein kinases

Excessive osteoclast recruitment and activation is the chief cause of periprosthetic osteolysis and subsequent aseptic loosening, so blocking osteolysis may be useful for protecting against osteoclastic bone resorption. We studied the effect of aspirin on titanium (Ti)-particle-induced osteolysis in vivo and in vitro using male C57BL/6J mice randomized to sham (sham surgery), Ti (Ti particles), low-dose aspirin (Ti/5 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹ aspirin), and high-dose aspirin (Ti/30 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹ aspirin). After 2 weeks, a three-dimensional reconstruction evaluation using micro-computed tomography and histomorphology assessment were performed on murine calvariae. Murine hematopoietic macrophages and RAW264.7 lineage cells were studied to investigate osteoclast formation and function. Aspirin attenuated Ti-particle-induced bone erosion and reduced osteoclasts. In vitro, aspirin suppressed osteoclast formation, osteoclastic-related gene expression, and osteoclastic bone erosion in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanically, aspirin reduced osteoclast formation by suppressing receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand-induced activation of extracellular signal-related kinase, p-38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Thus, aspirin may be a promising option for preventing and curing osteoclastic bone destruction, including peri-implant osteolysis.     

Determination of GA3 in Chara vulgaris by capillary electrophoresis system

Method for simultaneous measurement of gibberellic acid was applied using capillary zone electrophoresis. Gibberellic acid was identified in extracts of apical part of thallus of Chara vulgaris L. The amount of gibberellins measured on the basis of activity determined by the micro-drop bioassay (59.8 mg·kg⁻¹; with gibberellic acid as a standard) was comparable with that estimated by capillary electrophoresis (54.9 mg·kg⁻¹).     

杭州西湖北里湖沉积物氮磷内源静态释放的季节变化及通量估算

通过采集北里湖不同季节的柱状芯样,在实验室静态模拟沉积物氨氮(NH+4-N)和可溶解性磷酸盐(PO3-4-P)的释放,同时研究了沉积物间隙水中NH+4-N及PO3-4-P的垂直分布特征.结果表明,沉积物间隙水NH+4-N随深度的增加有上升的趋势,PO3-4-P随深度的增加呈先升后降的趋势.氮、磷营养盐在沉积物—水界面均存在浓度梯度,表明存在自间隙水向上覆水扩散的趋势.沉积物NH+4-N在春季、夏季、秋季、冬季的释放速率分别为0.074 mg·m-2· d-1、0.340mg· m-2· d-1、0.087 mg· m-2· d-1、0.0004 mg·m-2·d-1,pO3-4-P的释放速率则分别为0.340 mg·m-2·d-1、0.518 mg·m-2·d-1、0.094 mg·m-2·d-1、-0.037 mg· m-2·d-1.不同采样点表现出明显的季节和空间差异性,释放速率表现为夏季＞春季、秋季＞冬季.根据静态模拟出的不同季节下内源氮、磷释放速率计算,全湖内源氮、磷营养盐的贡献分别为0.0037、0.0057t/a.该研究可为北里湖富营养化及内源污染的治理提供基础数据.     

Effect of Total Alkali in Leonuri Herba on rat ear acne model of serum IL-6 level,Thymus and Spleen Tissue Morphology

To investigate the effect of Total Alkali in Leonuri Herba (TALH) on rat ear acne model of serum IL-6 level, Thymus and Spleen Tissue Morphology. The rats were divided into the TALH group at high, medium and low doses (200 mg kg⁻¹, 100 mg·kg⁻¹, 50 mg·kg⁻¹), the tanshinone group (360 mg·kg⁻¹), model group and the blank group. All the rats were administrated once a day for 14 days. At the same time on the first day, the rats in the blank group were injected normal saline in the stomach and also had intradermal injection of sterile saline in the auricle. The rats in other groups (model group were lavaged with physiological saline) were injected intradermally auricle spare Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria liquid. After the injection, the rat ear swelling rate was calculated for 5 consecutive days in terms of rat auricle thickness measurement. 1 h after the last administration, the eyeball blood was removed, centrifuged to separate serum, and measured to be at serum IL-6 level; The tissue sections of thymus and spleen were observed according to morphology criteria. Compared with the blank group, the level of IL-6 in serum of the rats in the model group was remarkably higher, and those in the thymus and spleen groups were remarkably lower, indicating the rat ear acne model is successful. Compared with the model group, the rats in the TALH group can remarkably make serum IL-6 level decrease, causing significant thymus cortical thickening and increased spleen sections, and remarkably increasing the lymphocytes of thymus and spleen. The effect of large dose in the TALH group is the best and increases with the increase of the dose and curative effect. The TALH treatment of acne may be related to the reduction of serum IL-6 levels and the resistance of the atrophy of the thymus and spleen on the rat ear acne model.     

Temporal-spatial distribution,environmental significance and release risks of phosphorus in the sediments of a tropical mountain’s deep drinking water reservoir in southeastern China

In this study, the fractionation and distribution of phosphorus (P) in the core sediments of the Shanmei reservoir were investigated by using the chemical extraction method in directions for the first time in order to understand its bio-availability, adsorption characteristics, potential release and environmental significance. The results of the study showed that P in the sediments mainly consisted of inorganic phosphorus (IP) and that IP mainly consisted of non-apatite phosphorus (NAIP). The horizontal and temporal distributions of the P fractions were different from each other, but the vertical distribution was similar, which indicated a trend of stabilization after falling. The content of total phosphorus (TP), IP, organic phosphorus (OP), NAIP, apatite phosphorus (AP), and bio-available phosphorus (BAP) in the sediments during the three seasons ranged from 193.85 to 1664.05 mg·kg^?1, 126.90 to 1127.70 mg·kg^?1, 43.74 to 669.29 mg·kg^?1, 57.62 to 937.07 mg·kg^?1, 32.58 to 250.71 mg·kg^?1, and 41.06 to 871.82 mg·kg^?1, respectively. NAIP contents in the sediments accounted for more than 50% of TP. Using an analysis from three aspects, the eutrophication risk index (ERI) could be used to assess the potential release of P in the sediments, and there was a high release risk of P in the sediments in the Shanmei reservoir.     

中国沙棘幼苗对土壤镉生理耐性和富集转运特征的性别差异

为探究中国沙棘对土壤镉(Cd)胁迫的性别响应差异,该研究以中国沙棘2年生幼苗为材料,利用盆栽试验研究在不同浓度Cd处理下(0(CK)、25、50、100和200 mg·kg^-1)雌、雄株幼苗的生长、叶片生理特性以及Cd富集特征的差异。结果表明：(1)Cd处理下中国沙棘幼苗雌、雄株的株高和基径生长以及各器官生物量均表现出低浓度(<50 mg·kg^-1)促进,高浓度(> 100 mg·kg^-1)抑制的现象;低浓度Cd处理下雌株的株高、基径增长率和生物量的增幅均高于雄株;高浓度Cd处理下(200 mg·kg^-1)雄株株高增长率、叶生物量和总生物量分别较CK显著降低,而雌株均未显著下降。(2)随着Cd浓度升高,雌、雄株叶片光合色素含量和抗氧化酶活性呈先升后降的变化趋势,丙二醛(MDA)和渗透调节物质含量呈上升趋势;Cd浓度为50～200 mg·kg^-1时,雌株叶片的光合色素含量、抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质含量均高于雄株,而MDA含量始终低于雄株。(3)随着Cd浓度升高,雌、...     

3种土壤类型下红椿幼苗对铅胁迫的光合响应

采用盆栽试验,研究钙质紫色土、酸性紫色土和冲积土3种土壤类型上生长的红椿幼苗在不同浓度(0、200、450、2 000mg·kg-1)铅(Pb)胁迫下的光合生理响应,探讨红椿在不同土壤类型下Pb污染的生态适应性,为木本植物的重金属修复提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)3种土壤类型下,红椿幼苗叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b及叶绿素总量随Pb胁迫浓度的增大呈总体降低的趋势,叶绿素含量在钙质紫色土上受Pb胁迫的影响不大,而在酸性紫色土和冲积土上降低明显。(2)不同土壤类型的红椿光合响应曲线变化趋势十分相似,红椿幼苗叶片的净光合速率均随Pb胁迫程度的加大呈先增加后降低的趋势且差异显著,并在Pb浓度为200和2 000mg·kg-1时光合速率分别达到最大值和最小值。(3)随着Pb胁迫浓度的增大,红椿的最大光合速率、表观量子利用效率、光补偿点等光合生理指标都发生了显著改变,说明Pb胁迫严重影响红椿幼苗的光合作用。研究表明,高浓度的铅抑制红椿幼苗叶片叶绿素的合成,从而抑制光合作用的强度,且铅胁迫的浓度越高,叶绿素含量越低,光合作用受到的抑制越强;较低浓度的Pb处理(200和450mg·kg-1)对酸性紫色土和冲积土上红椿的净光合速率影响很小,而对钙质紫色土上红椿的最大净光合速率的抑制最为明显。     

Interaction between Connexin 43 and nitric oxide synthase in mice heart mitochondria

Connexin 43 (Cx43), which is highly expressed in the heart and especially in cardiomyocytes, interferes with the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms. Conversely, Cx43 gene expression is down‐regulated by nitric oxide derived from the inducible NOS. Thus, a complex interplay between Cx43 and NOS expression appears to exist. As cardiac mitochondria are supposed to contain a NOS, we now investigated the expression of NOS isoforms and the nitric oxide production rate in isolated mitochondria of wild‐type and Cx43‐deficient (Cx43^{Cre‐ER(T)/fl}) mice hearts. Mitochondria were isolated from hearts using differential centrifugation and purified via Percoll gradient ultracentrifugation. Isolated mitochondria were stained with an antibody against the mitochondrial marker protein adenine‐nucleotide‐translocator (ANT) in combination with either a neuronal NOS (nNOS) or an inducible NOS (iNOS) antibody and analysed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The nitric oxide formation was quantified in purified mitochondria using the oxyhaemoglobin assay. Co‐localization of predominantly nNOS (nNOS: 93 ± 4.1%; iNOS: 24.6 ± 7.5%) with ANT was detected in isolated mitochondria of wild‐type mice. In contrast, iNOS expression was increased in Cx43^{Cre‐ER(T)/fl} mitochondria (iNOS: 90.7 ± 3.2%; nNOS: 53.8 ± 17.5%). The mitochondrial nitric oxide formation was reduced in Cx43^{Cre‐ER(T)/fl} mitochondria (0.14 ± 0.02 nmol/min./mg protein) in comparison to wild‐type mitochondria (0.24 ± 0.02 nmol/min./mg). These are the first data demonstrating, that a reduced mitochondrial Cx43 content is associated with a switch of the mitochondrial NOS isoform and the respective mitochondrial rate of nitric oxide formation.     

Does midazolam inhibit the development of acute tolerance to the analgesic effect of alfentanil?

Alfentanil-midazolam analgesic interactions were studied in rats with continuous infusions or bolus injections of the drugs. Analgesia was determined by measuring the threshold of motor response to noxious pressure. The continous constant-rate infusion of alfentanil demonstrated that after an initial peak, the analgesia profoundly declined due to the development of acute tolerance. When alfentanil (250 μg·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹) was given together with midazolam (3 mg·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹), the decline in the analgesic effect of alfentanil was attenuated. Following the 4 h period of the constant-rate (250 μg·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹) infusion of alfentanil, when acute tolerance was already developed, midazolam (3 mg·kg⁻¹) given as a bolus injection enhanced the alfentanil-induced anesthesia. At the same time, when alfentanil was given as a bolus injection (30 μg·kg⁻¹) with or without midazolam (3 mg·kg⁻¹) also by bolus injection, no changes were seen to indicate an enhancement of the analgesic effect of alfentanil by midazolam. The results suggest that midazolam attenuates the development of acute tolerance to the analgesic effect of alfentanil.