大鼠中缝背核内γ-氨基丁酸加强针刺镇痛作用

本实验中,将γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)的受体激动剂异鹅羔胺(Mus)、受体拮抗剂荷苞牡丹碱(Bicu)、神经元摄取的阻断剂哌啶酸(Nip)和GABA合成酶抑制剂3-巯基丙酸(3-MPA)经埋植的引导管注入大鼠中缝背核,注射剂量均为 4μg/μl;并观察了上述注药对动物痛阈和针刺镇痛效应的影响。 脑内注射Mus和Nip 均能明显提高动物的痛阈( 20％— 40％,P<0.05和P<0.01)和加强针刺镇痛作用;这种增强作用至少能维持2h。脑内注射Bicu和3-MPA均不影响动物的痛阈(P>0.05),但是它们都能明显地降低针刺镇痛效应(P<0.05和P<0.01)。以上结果表明,中缝背核内的GABA递质在针刺镇痛中起着一定作用。     

不同浓度沙利度胺对大鼠慢性坐骨神经缩窄模型的镇痛效果及机制

目的:比较不同剂量沙利度胺对大鼠慢性坐骨神经缩窄(chronic sciatic nerve constriction,CCI)的镇痛效果及可能机制。方法:将50只大鼠随机分为S组、C组、L组、M组及H组,S组作为假手术组,其余四组建立CCI模型,术后分别用20 mg/kg、50mg/kg、100 mg/kg沙利度胺处理L组、M组、H组。于术后第1、2、3、4周测量和比较各组大鼠机械性痛阈与热痛阈,采用蛋白质印迹法(Western blot)及实时荧光定量PCR(Q-PCR)检测各组大鼠肿瘤坏死因子受体(TNFR)的mRNA和蛋白表达,并分析沙利度胺浓度与TNFR mRNA相对表达的相关性。结果:S组术前术后的机械性痛阈与热痛阈均无明显改变(P0.05),其余四组术后痛阈均较术前明显下降(P0.05);C组术后第4周时机械性痛阈明显升高(P0.05),而术后其他时间点的机械性痛阈与热痛阈无明显差异(P0.05);L组、M组、H组术后机械性痛阈、热痛阈随时间的延长呈上升趋势,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。术后,C组机械性痛阈与热痛阈对比S组明显降低(P=0.000),亦显著低于L组(P=0.000);而不同剂量组机械性痛阈、热痛阈相比,H组高于M组(P=0.000),M组高于L组(P=0.000)。相对于C组,L组、M组、H组术后第4周TNFR1 mRNA及蛋白相对含量显著下降(P0.05),其中H组下降最为明显,M组次之。Pearson相关性分析结果显示:沙利度胺浓度的增加与TNFR1表达水平的升高呈明显负相关关系(r=-0.497,P=0.036)。结论:沙利度胺可能通过影响TNFR表达水平对大鼠慢性坐骨神经缩窄发挥镇痛效应,其镇痛效应随剂量增加而加强,有望作为神经病理性疼痛的辅助镇痛药物之一。     

鞘内注射γ-氨基丁酸转运体抑制剂NO-711抑制坐骨神经慢性挤压伤大鼠神经病理性痛觉过敏

为研究γ-氨基丁酸转运体在神经病理性痛中的作用,实验用坐骨神经慢性挤压伤致神经病理性痛模型大鼠,以清醒大鼠分别对辐射热刺激和机械性触觉刺激的缩腿潜伏期和机械阈值为指标,分为NS组、N5组、N10组、N20组、N40组5组,分别在坐骨神经结扎前和结扎后第三天鞘内给予生理盐水或不同剂量的γ-氨基丁酸转运体特异性抑制剂NO-711(5、10、20、40μg),观察鞘内注射NO-711对大鼠热痛敏和触诱发痛的影响.结果表明,NO-711可显著抑制神经病理性痛大鼠的热痛觉过敏和触诱发痛(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),其抑制作用持续时间最长分别可达2 h(N40组)和4 h(N20组),其抗热痛敏作用呈剂量依赖性.坐骨神经结扎前鞘内给予不同剂量的NO-711可不同程度地延迟坐骨神经结扎所致的热痛觉过敏的发生,但不能延迟结扎所致的触诱发痛的发生.结果表明γ-氨基丁酸转运体抑制剂在神经病理性痛大鼠具有抗热痛敏和抗触诱发痛的作用.     

复方银杏胶囊镇痛作用及其机制的实验研究

目的:研究复方银杏胶囊的镇痛作用及其机制.方法:大鼠电刺激法测定痛阈;用试剂盒比色法测定脑组织中谷氨酸的含量;原子吸收光谱法测定脑组织中钙离子(Ca2 )浓度;免疫组织化学ABC法观察脑组织中N-甲基-D-天门冬氨酸Ⅰ型受体(NMDAR1)的分布.结果:复方银杏胶囊350 mg/kg可显著提高大鼠电刺激嘶叫阈(P＜0.05),700 mg/kg显著减少小鼠脑组织中谷氨酸的释放以及脑内钙离子浓度(P＜0.05);复方银杏胶囊700 mg/kg、350 mg/kg可明显减少疼痛模型小鼠大脑皮层NMDAR1阳性细胞数(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).结论:复方银杏胶囊具有良好的镇痛效应,其镇痛作用可能与拮抗NMDA受体从而抑制脑组织中谷氨酸的释放及钙离子内流有关.     

中枢催产素在电针镇痛中的作用

本工作以钾离子透入法引起大鼠甩尾反应的电流强度(mA)为痛反应指标,观察了侧脑室注射催产素(OT)及抗催产素血清(AOTS)对大鼠痛阈和电针镇痛效应的影响。注射50 ngOT 后80min 内,大鼠痛阈比注药前增加20—38%。与注射生理盐水组的痛阈相比有非常明显的增高(p<0.01—0.001),侧脑室注射 OT 后电针期内,痛阈增加139—234%,与生理盐水电针组相比,有显著差异(P<0.05—0.01)。OT 的剂量在25—100ng 范围内,其增强电针镇痛效应有明显的剂量-效应关系。注射 AOTS 后,电针镇痛应明显低于注射正常兔血清(NRS)组(p<0.05—0.01)。上述结果表明,侧脑室注射 OT,既可提高痛阈又可明显地增强电针镇痛效应,而用 AOTS消除内源性 OT 的作用后,电针镇痛效应明显降低。这提示,中枢神经系统内的 OT 在电针镇痛过程中,发挥一定的作用     

白细胞介素－2镇痛功能位点的研究

白细胞介素-2(IL-2)是重要的免疫调节因子,近来发现还有中枢镇痛作用,用不同IL-2突变体测定其对大鼠痛阈的影响,发现完全丧失免疫刺激作用的20Leu-IL-2(20Asp→Leu)仍能显著提高大鼠的痛阈,其作用强度与天然IL-2无显著差异,而另一突变体45Val-IL-2(45Tyr→Val)虽保留免疫学活性却不能提高大鼠的痛阈.这些结果证明IL-2分子中具有镇痛作用与具有免疫作用的功能位点是相互独立的;IL-2分子中第45位Tyr对IL-2镇痛作用的发挥起重要作用.     

家兔伏核—杏仁核神经通路在吗啡镇痛中的作用

用辐射热照射家兔鼻嘴侧部皮肤,测量其躲避反应潜伏期作为痛反应阈,简称痛阈。通过预先埋植的慢性套管向伏核或杏仁核内进行注射,结果表明:(1)在家兔的伏核内微量注射吗啡可产生镇痛作用,该作用可被杏仁核内注射纳洛酮所削弱,并有量效依从关系;在杏仁核内注射甲啡肽抗血清(ME AS)或β-內啡肽抗血清(β-EP AS)亦可削弱上述镇痛作用;(2)在杏仁核内微量注射吗啡可产生镇痛作用,此作用不能被伏核内注射纳洛酮所阻断;(3)在伏核内注射吗啡所产生的镇痛作用可被同一部位注射γ-氨基丁酸(GAEA)受体阻断剂氯甲基荷包牡丹碱所增强,被 GABA 受体激动剂异鹅羔胺所削弱。上述结果提示:在家兔脑内从伏核到杏仁核可能存在一条与镇痛有关的神经通路,伏核内的阿片样物质及杏仁核内的甲啡肽,β-内啡肽可能参与镇痛信息的传递,而伏核内的 GABA 可能有对抗吗啡镇痛的作用。     

大鼠侧脑室注射精氨酸加压素对针刺镇痛的影响

以钾离子透入法引起大鼠甩尾反应为指标,测定动物的痛阈。由侧脑室注射精氮酸加压素(AVP)后,大鼠痛阈升高33.6％～68.5％,针刺镇痛效应明显加强,痛阈提高202.4％～302.7％。脑室注射抗精氨酸加压素血清,动物痛阈虽无明显变化,但针刺镇痛效应明显削弱,痛阈仅增加41.6％～71.0％。注射抗β-内啡肽血清和抗强啡肽A血清并不阻断AVP增强针刺镇痛效应。本工作的结果提示,脑内AVP参与针刺镇痛,这种作用与脑内内源性β-内啡肽和强啡肽的关系不甚密切。     

电针对糖尿病神经痛大鼠脊髓背角NF-κB p65蛋白的干预作用

目的观察电针对糖尿病神经痛(diabetic neuropathic pain,DNP)大鼠脊髓背角核转录因子κB(nuclear factor kappa B,NF-κB) p65蛋白的干预作用,以探讨电针对糖尿病神经痛的部分镇痛机制。方法将30只SD大鼠用完全随机分组法分为正常组(normal group)和造模型,分别用常规饲料和高脂高糖饲料喂养5周,喂养5周后造模组大鼠予以单次腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(streptozotocin,STZ)。将造模组中糖尿病神经痛模型成功的大鼠再进一步随机分为模型组(DNP group)和模型+电针组(DNP+EA group)。穴位选取双侧"足三里、昆仑穴",频率为2 Hz,强度为1 m A干预15 min后2 m A干预15 min,于第7周开始,每天1次,干预7次。观察各组大鼠的血糖、机械痛阈及热痛阈变化。采用苏木精-伊红(hematoxylin-eosin,HE)染色观察大鼠坐骨神经形态的变化,采用免疫印记法检测大鼠脊髓背角NF-κB p65蛋白的表达水平。结果高脂高糖喂养5周后予以STZ单次腹腔注射2周后大鼠血糖上升,机械痛阈、热痛阈下降,表明大鼠DNP模型造模成功;电针可上调DNP大鼠的机械痛阈和热痛阈,但对血糖没有明显的干预作用。HE染色结果显示DNP大鼠坐骨神经有髓神经纤维排列紊乱,轴索肿胀,髓鞘密度不均匀,空泡变性,电针干预对DNP大鼠坐骨神经形态无明显的作用。免疫印迹结果显示:DNP大鼠脊髓背角NF-κB p65蛋白表达明显增多,电针可下调DNP大鼠脊髓背角NF-κB p65蛋白表达。结论低频电针对DNP模型大鼠有良好的镇痛效果,其作用可能与其抑制糖尿病DNP大鼠脊髓背角NF-κB p65蛋白表达有关。     

全身稳恒磁场暴露对糖尿病性动脉粥样硬化大鼠血脂和血液流变学的影响

目的:探索全身暴露强度为4.0 m T中强度稳恒磁场对于糖尿病性动脉粥样硬化的血脂和血液流变学影响,以明确稳恒磁场对糖尿病性动脉粥样硬化的潜在作用效果。方法:选择3月龄雄性SD大鼠30只,随机等分至空白对照组、糖尿病组及糖尿病磁场暴露组。糖尿病和糖尿病磁场暴露组的大鼠采用链脲佐菌素+维生素D3+高脂饮食组合作用法建立糖尿病性动脉粥样硬化大鼠模型,对糖尿病磁场暴露组施加2小时/天、强度为4.0 m T的全身稳恒磁场暴露,连续刺激8周后,检测空腹血糖、血清胰岛素、血脂四项(血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇以及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇)以及血液流变参数(低切全血粘度、中切全血粘度、高切全血粘度以及血浆粘度)。结果:稳恒磁场暴露显著抑制了糖尿病动脉粥样硬化大鼠血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇的升高(P0.05),同时也显著降低了低切、中切和高切全血粘度以及血浆粘度(P0.05),但对血糖和血清胰岛素的影响不显著(P0.05)。结论:中强度稳恒磁场可显著降低糖尿病性动脉粥样硬化大鼠的血脂水平并改善其血液流变学。     

Dissecting the Heat Stress Response in Chlamydomonas by Pharmaceutical and RNAi Approaches Reveals Conserved and Novel Aspects

To study how conserved fundamental concepts of the heat stress response （HSR） are in photosynthetic eukaryotes, we applied pharmaceutical and antisense/amiRNA approaches to the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The Chlamydomonas HSR appears to be triggered by the accumulation of unfolded proteins, as it was induced at ambient temperatures by feeding cells with the arginine analog canavanine. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine strongly retarded the HSR, demonstrating the importance of phosphorylation during activation of the HSR also in Chlamydomonas. While the removal of extracellular calcium by the application of EGTA and BAPTA inhibited the HSR in moss and higher plants, only the addition of BAPTA, but not of EGTA, retarded the HSR and impaired thermotoler- ance in Chlamydomonas. The addition of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of cytosolic protein synthesis, abolished the attenu- ation of the HSR, indicating that protein synthesis is necessary to restore proteostasis. HSP90 inhibitors induced a stress response when added at ambient conditions and retarded attenuation of the HSR at elevated temperatures. In addition, we detected a direct physical interaction between cytosolic HSP90A/HSP70A and heat shock factor 1, but surprisingly this interaction persisted after the onset of stress. Finally, the expression of antisense constructs targeting chloroplast HSP70B resulted in a delay of the cell＇s entire HSR, thus suggesting the existence of a retrograde stress signaling cascade that is desensitized in HSP7OB-antisense strains.     

Cell Wall,Cytoskeleton, and Cell Expansion in Higher Plants

To accommodate two seemingly contradictory biological roles in plant physiology, providing both the rigid structural support of plant cells and the adjustable elasticity needed for cell expansion, the composition of the plant cell wall has evolved to become an intricate network of cellulosic, hemicellulosic, and pectic polysaccharides and protein. Due to its complexity, many aspects of the cell wall influence plant cell expansion, and many new and insightful observations and technologies are forthcoming. The biosynthesis of cell wall polymers and the roles of the variety of proteins involved in polysaccharide synthesis continue to be characterized. The interactions within the cell wall polymer network and the modification of these interactions provide insight into how the plant cell wall provides its dual function. The complex cell wall architecture is controlled and organized in part by the dynamic intracellular cytoskeleton and by diverse trafficking pathways of the cell wall polymers and cell wall-related machinery. Meanwhile, the cell wall is continually influenced by hormonal and integrity sensing stimuli that are perceived by the cell. These many processes cooperate to construct, maintain, and manipulate the intricate plant cell wall--an essential structure for the sustaining of the plant stature, growth, and life.     

Redox Regulation of Arabidopsis Mitochondrial Citrate Synthase

Citrate synthase has a key role in the tricarboxylic （TCA） cycle of mitochondria of all organisms, as it cata- lyzes the first committed step which is the fusion of a carbon-carbon bond between oxaloacetate and acetyl CoA. The regulation of TCA cycle function is especially important in plants, since mitochondrial activities have to be coordinated with photosynthesis. The posttranslational regulation of TCA cycle activity in plants is thus far almost entirely unexplored. Although several TCA cycle enzymes have been identified as thioredoxin targets in vitro, the existence of any thioredoxin-dependent regulation as known for the Calvin cycle, yet remains to be demonstrated. Here we have investigated the redox regulation of the Arabidopsis citrate synthase enzyme by site-directed mutagenesis of its six cysteine residues. Our results indicate that oxidation inhibits the enzyme activity by the formation of mixed disulfides, as the partially oxidized citrate synthase enzyme forms large redox-dependent aggregates. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that thioredoxin can cleave diverse intraas well as intermolecular disulfide bridges, which strongly enhances the activity of the enzyme. Activity measurements with the cysteine variants of the enzyme revealed important cysteine residues affecting total enzyme activity as well as the redox sensitivity of the enzyme.     

Regulation of Cytokinesis by Exocyst Subunit SEC6 and KEULE in Arabidopsis thaliana

Proper vesicle tethering and membrane fusion at the cell plate are essential for cytokinesis. Both the vesicle tethering complex exocyst and membrane fusion regulator KEULE were shown to function in cell plate formation, but the exact mechanisms still remain to be explored. In this study, using yeast two-hybrid （Y-2-H） assay, we found that SEC6 interacted with KEULE, and that a small portion of C-terminal region of KEULE was required for the interaction. The direct SEC6-KEULE interaction was supported by further studies using in vitro pull-down assay, immunoprecipitation, and in vivo bimolecular florescence complementation （BIFC） microscopy, sec6 mutants were male gametophytic lethal as reported; however, pollen-rescued sec6 mutants （PRsec6） displayed cytokinesis defects in the embryonic cells and later in the leaf pavement cells and the guard cells. SEC6 and KEULE proteins were co-localized to the cell plate during cytokine- sis in transgenic Arabidopsis. Furthermore, only SEC6 but not other exocyst subunits located in the cell plate interacted with KEULE in vitro. These results demonstrated that, like KEULE, SEC6 plays a physiological role in cytokinesis, and the SEC6-KEULE interaction may serve as a novel molecular linkage between arriving vesicles and membrane fusion machin- ery or directly regulate membrane fusion during cell plate formation in plants.     

Perturbation of Auxin Homeostasis Caused by Mitochondrial FtSH4 Gene-Mediated Peroxidase Accumulation Regulates Arabiclopsis Architecture

Reactive oxygen species and auxin play important roles in the networks that regulate plant development and morphogenetic changes, However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between them are poorly understood. This study isolated a mas （More Axillary Shoots） mutant, which was identified as an allele of the mitochondrial AAA-protease AtFtSH4, and characterized the function of the FtSH4 gene in regulating plant development by medi- ating the peroxidase-dependent interplay between hydrogen peroxide （H2Oz） and auxin homeostasis. The phenotypes of dwarfism and increased axillary branches observed in the mas （renamed as ftsh4-4） mutant result from a decrease in the IAA concentration. The expression levels of several auxin signaling genes, including IAA1, IAA2, and IAA3, as well as several auxin binding and transport genes, decreased significantly in ftsh4-4 plants. However, the H202 and peroxidases levels, which also have IAA oxidase activity, were significantly elevated in ftsh4-4 plants. The ftsh4-4 phenotypes could be reversed by expressing the iaaM gene or by knocking down the peroxidase genes PRX34 and PRX33. Both approaches can increase auxin levels in the ftsh4-4 mutant. Taken together, these results provided direct molecular and genetic evidence for the interaction between mitochondrial ATP-dependent protease, H2O2, and auxin homeostasis to regulate plant growth and development.     

Knights in Action： Lectin Receptor-Like Kinases in Plant Development and Stress Responses

The Receptor-Like Kinase （RLK） is a vast protein family with over 600 genes in Arabidopsis and 1100 in rice. The Lectin RLK （LecRLK） family is believed to play crucial roles in saccharide signaling as well as stress perception. All the LecRLKs possess three domains： an N-terminal lectin domain, an intermediate transmembrane domain, and a C-terminal kinase domain. On the basis of lectin domain variability, LecRLKs have been subgrouped into three subclasses： L-, G-, and C-type LecRLKs. While the previous studies on LecRLKs were dedicated to classification, comparative structural analysis and expression analysis by promoter-based studies, most of the recent studies on LecRLKs have laid special emphasis on the potential of this gene family in regulating biotic/abiotic stress and developmental pathways in plants, thus mak- ing the prospects of studying the LecRLK-mediated regulatory mechanism exceptionally promising. In this review, we have described in detail the LecRLK gene family with respect to a historical, evolutionary, and structural point of view. Furthermore, we have laid emphasis on the LecRLKs roles in development, stress conditions, and hormonal response. We have also discussed the exciting research prospects offered by the current knowledge on the LecRLK gene family. The multitude of the LecRLK gene family members and their functional diversity mark these genes as both interesting and worthy candidates for further analysis, especially in the field of crop improvement.     

Genotoxicity biomarkers in aquatic bioindicators

Pollution of the aquatic environment is an ever-growing problem, as waters are the ultimate sink for the large number of xenobiotics from multiple sources. DNA damaging agents have a significant ecological relevance since they are implicated in many pathological processes and exert effects beyond that of individual being active through following generations. A large number of methods have been applied to evaluate genotoxic damage in different aquatic species. Comet assay, as method for de- tecting DNA alterations, and micronucleus test, as an index of chromosomal damage are the most widely applied and validated methods in field studies. These methods were applied in different vertebrate and invertebrate aquatic species, but only mollusk and fish species have been employed in routine biomonitoring programs. Mussels, due to their widely geographical distribution and the suitability for caging represent the bioindicator of choice in field studies. Mytilus species is the most used marine mussel. The use of fish is limited to specific geographic areas. The present review mainly focuses on the application of comet assay and micronucleus test in mussels. A number of biomonitoring studies in mussels, using comet assay or micronucleus test, revealed exposure to different classes of genotoxic compounds with a good discrimination power. The different evidence from the two as- says, reflects different biological mechanisms for the two genetic endpoints, DNA damage and chromosomal damage, suggesting their combined application in the field. Different endogenous and exogenous factors have been shown to modulate the genotoxic responses in mussels, acting as confounding factors in environmental monitoring. The use of standardized protocol for caging, sampling and genotoxity evaluation is critical in biomonitoring studies. The use of a multimarker approach coupling genotoxicity biomarkers with physiological and biochemical factors allows to have a complete picture of the environmental pollution [Current Zoology 60 （2）： 273-284, 2014].     

Organelle pH in the Arabidopsis Endomembrane System

The pH of intracellular compartments is essential for the viability of cells. Despite its relevance, little is known about the pH of these compartments. To measure pH in vivo, we have first generated two pH sensors by combining the improved-solubility feature of solubility-modified green fluorescent protein （GFP） （smGFP） with the pH-sensing capabil- ity of the pHluorins and codon optimized for expression in Arabidopsis. PEpHluorin （plant-solubility-modified ecliptic pHluorin） gradually loses fluorescence as pH is lowered with fluorescence vanishing at pH 6.2 and PRpHluorin （plant- solubility-modified ratiomatric pHluorin）, a dual-excitation sensor, allowing for precise measurements. Compartment- specific sensors were generated by further fusing specific sorting signals to PEpHluorin and PRpHluorin. Our results show that the pH of cytosol and nucleus is similar （pH 7.3 and 7.2）, while peroxisomes, mitochondrial matrix, and plastidial stroma have alkaline pH. Compartments of the secretory pathway reveal a gradual acidification, spanning from pH 7.1 in the endoplasmic reticulum （ER） to pH 5.2 in the vacuole. Surprisingly, pH in the trans-Golgi network （TGN） and mul- tivesicular body （MVB） is, with pH 6.3 and 6.2, quite similar. The inhibition of vacuolar-type H＋-ATPase （V-ATPase） with concanamycin A （ConcA） caused drastic increase in pH in TGN and vacuole. Overall, the PEpHluorin and PRpHluorin are excellent pH sensors for visualization and quantification of pH in vivo, respectively.