Soil and rhizosphere microorganisms have the same Q10 for respiration in a model system

We compared the Q₁₀ relationship for root‐derived respiration (including respiration due to the root, external mycorrhizal mycelium and rhizosphere microorganisms) with that of mainly external ectomycorrhizal mycelium and that of bulk soil microorganisms without any roots present. This was studied in a microcosm consisting of an ectomycorrhizal Pinus muricata seedling growing in a sandy soil, and where roots were allow to colonize one soil compartment, mycorrhizal mycelium another compartment, and the last compartment consisted of root‐ and mycorrhiza‐free soil. The respiration rate in the bulk soil compartment was 30 times lower than in the root compartment, while that in the mycorrhizal compartment was six times lower. There were no differences in Q₁₀ (for 5–15°C) between the different compartments, indicating that there were no differences in the temperature relationship between root‐associated and non‐root‐associated organisms. Thus, there are no indications that different Q₁₀ values should be used for different soil organism, bulk soil or rhizosphere‐associated microorganisms when modelling the effects of global climate change.     

Identification of C31 and C32 Sterols in Pneumocystis carinii hominis-Infected Human Lungs

SUMMARY Two sterols in autopsied whole lung specimens obtained from Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia patients were detected by gas-liquid chromatography and their structures were elucidated by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Both were in the lanosterol series; the C₃₁ sterol, with a methyl group at C-24, was identified as euphorbol, and the more abundant C₃₂ sterol, with an ethyl group at C-24, is given the trivial name pnemocysterol.     

Neutral lipids of leaves and stems of Trifolium repens

The neutral lipids of white clover leaves and stems have been separated into wax esters, free fatty acids, free fatty alcohols, free sterols, triglycerides and hydrocarbons. The wax esters were mainly of C₁₈ di- and tri-unsaturated fatty acids and C₃₀ fatty alcohol. Linolenic acid was the predominant free fatty acid and triacontanol was the principal free fatty alcohol. Of the hydrocarbons, C₂₉ and C₃₁ were present in the largest amounts.     

Combination therapy with Coenzyme Q10 and creatine produces additive neuroprotective effects in models of Parkinson's and Huntington's Diseases

Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) and creatine are promising agents for neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases via their effects on improving mitochondrial function and cellular bioenergetics and their properties as antioxidants. We examined whether a combination of CoQ₁₀ with creatine can exert additive neuroprotective effects in a MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease, a 3-NP rat model of Huntington's disease (HD) and the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of HD. The combination of the two agents produced additive neuroprotective effects against dopamine depletion in the striatum and loss of tyrosine hydroxylase neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) following chronic subcutaneous administration of MPTP. The combination treatment resulted in significant reduction in lipid peroxidation and pathologic α-synuclein accumulation in the SNpc neurons of the MPTP-treated mice. We also observed additive neuroprotective effects in reducing striatal lesion volumes produced by chronic subcutaneous administration of 3-NP to rats. The combination treatment showed significant effects on blocking 3-NP-induced impairment of glutathione homeostasis and reducing lipid peroxidation and DNA oxidative damage in the striatum. Lastly, the combination of CoQ₁₀ and creatine produced additive neuroprotective effects on improving motor performance and extending survival in the transgenic R6/2 HD mice. These findings suggest that combination therapy using CoQ₁₀ and creatine may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and HD.     

Lipid and sterol composition of the pollen of the west african oilpalm, Elaeis guineensis

The lipid classes, fatty acid methyl esters and the sterols of oilpalm pollen were analysed. The neutral lipid fraction consisted of triglycerides, esterified and free sterols and trace amounts of hydrocarbons. Monogalactosyl and digalactosyl diglycerides, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl inositol and phosphatidyl ethanolamine represented the polar lipids. The major fatty acids were linoleic, palmitic and linolenic acids together with small to trace amounts of oleic, stearic, arachidic, myristic, lauric, palmitoleic and margaric acids. Unsaturated fatty acids predominated over saturated ones in the ratio of 3:2. The 4-desmethyl sterols were the major phytosterols in the free form but they constituted a lower proportion of the sterols in the esterified state. 28-Isofucosterol was isolated and characterized as the principal sterol.     

Free fatty acids, neutral and polar lipids in Hordeum vulgare exposed to long-term fumigation with SO2

Three 9-day-old cultivars of Hordeum vulgare L. (Barberousse, Gerbel and Panda) were exposed to low levels of SO₂ fumigation (40 ± 5 and 117 ± 20 ppb). After 48 days of treatment the seedlings were harvested for lipid analysis. In comparison to the control (plants exposed to charcoal-filtered air), the total lipid content of fumigated seedlings declined at 40 ppb SO₂ and even more so at 117 ppb in all three cultivars. A large reduction in diacylglycerols. polar lipids and free sterols was also observed after fumigations at both SO₂ concentrations, whereas the treatments resulted in an increase in triacylglycerols and free fatty acids. The percentage composition of total fatty acids and that of each lipid class were changed by the fumigations. resulting in an increase in the degree of unsaturation. No changes in the percentage composition of sterols occurred in the fumigated leaves. These results suggest that even if SO₂ may not directly oxidize unsaturated fatty acids at the low concentrations used here (which do not cause visible injury). it may alter lipid metabolism. This alteration. which was particularly evident in the polar lipids and sterols, could affect the functions associated with membrane stabilization, in which lipids plus sterols play a key part.     

Variation in the levels and composition of the sterols and sterol esters of Phycomyces blakesleeanus with age of culture

Comparisons of the fatty acid composition of the sterol esters, triglycerides and phospholipids and the sterol composition of the esterified and uneste     

辅酶Q10联合金凤丸对体外授精-胚胎移植患者卵巢功能及子宫内膜容受性的影响

目的:探讨辅酶Q10联合金凤丸对体外授精-胚胎移植患者卵巢功能及子宫内膜容受性的影响。方法:选择2017年7月～2017年10月接诊的185例体外授精-胚胎移植患者进行研究,通过随机数表法将其分为观察组(n=95)和对照组(n=90)。对照组采用金凤丸进行治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上加用辅酶Q10进行治疗。治疗后,比较两组血清卵泡刺激素(FSH)、促黄体生成素(LH)、睾酮(T)、雌二醇(E_2)、胰岛素(INS)、子宫内膜厚度、孕激素(P)水平、获卵数、受精率及妊娠率。结果:治疗后,两组患者血清FSH、LH、T、E_2、INS水平均较治疗前明显下降,且观察组以上指标水平均显著低于对照组(P0.05);两组患者子宫内膜厚度和血清P水平均较治疗前明显升高,且观察组以上指标均显著高于对照组(P0.05);两组患者获卵数无明显差异,观察组患者受精率、妊娠率均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:辅酶Q10联合金凤丸可明显增加子宫内膜厚度,提高妊娠率。     

Utilization of Uniformly Labeled 13C-Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Synthesis of Long-Chain Fatty Acids and Cholesterol Accumulating in the Neonatal Rat Brain

Abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acids are needed for normal neonatal brain development, but the degree of conversion of the 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid precursors consumed in the diet to their respective 20-and 22-carbon polyunsaturates accumulating in the brain is not well known. In the present study, in vivo ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to monitor noninvasively the brain uptake and metabolism of a mixture of uniformly ¹³C-enriched 16-and 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters injected intragastrically into neonatal rats. In vivo NMR spectra of the rat brain at postnatal days 10 and 17 had larger fatty acid signals than in uninjected controls, but changes in levels of individual fatty acids could not be distinguished. One day after injection of the U-¹³C-polyunsaturated fatty acid mixture, ¹³C enrichment (measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry) was similar in brain phospholipids, free fatty acids, free cholesterol, and brain aqueous extract; ¹³C enrichment remained high in the phospholipids and cholesterol for 15 days. ¹³C enrichment was similar in the main fatty acids of the brain within 1 day of injection but 15 days later had declined in all except arachidonic acid while continuing to increase in docosahexaenoic acid. These changes in ¹³C enrichment in brain fatty acids paralleled the developmental changes in brain fatty acid composition. We conclude that, in the neonatal rat brain, dietary 16-and 18-carbon polyunsaturates are not only elongated and desaturated but are also utilized for de novo synthesis of long-chain saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol.     

Identification of Ca2+-Activated Neutral Protease in the Peripheral Nerve and Its Effects on Neurofilament Degeneration

Rat sciatic nerve segments were incubated in five different media. Disappearance of neurofilament (NF) triplet proteins (200K, 160K, and 68K MW) occurred in medium containing Ca²⁺ and was inhibited by the addition of E-64-c or leupeptin. Therefore, the presence in the peripheral nerve of an enzyme whose properties are similar to those of Ca²⁺-activated neutral protease (CANP) is suggested. The extraction of crude CANP from rat sciatic nerve was performed. CANP activity was completely recovered (0.129 ± 0.008 U/g) in the precipitate salted out by the addition of 0 to 50% saturated ammonium sulfate to the soluble fraction of the peripheral nerve (crude CANP). Properties of the crude CANP were examined using NF as a substrate and were found to be similar to those of the CANP extracted from skeletal muscle. Identification of the crude CANP with the CANP extracted from rat skeletal muscle was performed using the immunoreplica method. Bands corresponding to 73K were detected in both CANPs.     

Effect of Unilateral Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury in the Rat on Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptors and Uptake Sites: A Quantitative Autoradiographic Study

The effect of a unilateral perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury on dopamine D1 and D2 receptors and uptake sites was investigated in rats by using in vitro quantitative binding autoradiography, 2-3 weeks after the insult. We observed significant decreases in the Bmax and KD for [3H]SCH 23390-labeled D1 and in the Bmax for [3H]spiperone-labeled D2 receptors in the lesioned caudate-putamen in rats with moderate brain injury (visible loss in hemispheric volume ipsilateral to the injury) compared with the nonlesioned contralateral caudate-putamen or with control rats. Changes in [3H]SCH 23390 and [3H]spiperone binding predominated in the dorsolateral part of the lesioned caudate-putamen. Pronounced reduction in [3H]SCH 23390 binding was also observed in the substantia nigra pars reticulata on the side of the lesion. In contrast, we did not observe any significant change in Bmax or KD for [3H]mazindol-labeled dopamine uptake sites. Similarly, no significant changes in the levels of dopamine or its metabolites were found on the side of the lesion. The observed reductions in striatal dopamine D1 and D2 receptors are a reflection of striatal cell loss induced by the hypoxic-ischemic injury. The absence of changes in [3H]mazindol binding or dopamine levels in the lesioned caudate-putamen indicates that the dopaminergic presynaptic structures are preserved.