不同林龄第2代杉木林枝叶凋落前的养分转移特征

利用会同杉木林25年的定位测定的基础数据,探讨了不同林龄杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata(lamb) Hook)枝叶凋落前的养分转移特征,为人工林经营管理提供科学依据。结果表明:杉木枝叶凋落前年均养分转移量为3.22—31.89 kg hm~(-2) a~(-1),其中,叶占71.31%—94.41%,枝占5.59%—28.69%。枝的养分转移量随林龄增加而增加。林分20年生以前,叶的养分转移量呈上升趋势,20年生以后,呈下降趋势。枝的养分转移率为20.97%—22.59%,叶是22.98%—26.06%,枝和叶的养分转移率都随林龄增加而增大。各林龄段的枝的养分转移率差异不显著(P0.05),叶的养分转移率除1—7年生与其他林龄段的差异显著(P0.05),其余各林龄段之间差异不显著(P0.05)。转移的元素量中,N和K占83.75%—84.25%,P、Ca、Mg占15.75%—16.25%。N、P、K、Ca、Mg的转移率分别为24.59%—34.53%,36.36%—46.64%,42.86%—51.27%,3.68%—7.35%,3.67%—9.56%。养分转移率主要受枝叶凋落前、后的养分浓度差值与枝叶凋落前的养分浓度控制,与凋落物量无关。养分的转移量不仅受枝叶凋落前、后的养分浓度差值的影响外,更多地取决于凋落物量,而且与杉木生长发育特征有很大的关联。     

不同生长阶段杉木人工林土壤C∶N∶P化学计量特征与养分动态

在福建省白砂国有林场选取幼龄林(5年)、中幼龄林(8年)、近熟林(21年)、成熟林(27年)和过熟林(40年)5个生长阶段的杉木人工林,测定不同土层(0～10、10～20、20～40 cm)土壤总碳(TC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)、全钾(TK)、全钙(Ca)、全镁(Mg)含量以及C∶N∶P化学计量比,探究杉木人工林土壤碳氮磷(C∶N∶P)化学计量特征与养分随林龄的变化规律。结果表明: 随着林分发育,TC、TN未发生显著变化,土壤C∶N保持不变。随着林分发育,0～20 cm土层土壤TP含量呈增加-降低-增加的变化趋势,其中在杉木成熟林达到最低,C∶P和N∶P最大,而20～40 cm土层土壤TP在各个林龄之间无显著变化。Ca、Mg含量在所有土层均在杉木成熟林达到最低。土壤TC与C∶P、N∶P、C∶N均呈显著正相关,TP与C∶P、N∶P呈显著负相关,土壤TP含量是调控土壤C∶P和N∶P的关键因子。杉木人工林发育到成熟期受到P的限制,为保证人工林正常发育,可在杉木速生阶段施加P肥,促进养分良性循环。适当提高杉木林的轮伐期可能会有利于土壤养分的恢复与保持。     

黄土丘陵区油松人工林与天然林养分分布和生物循环比较

对黄土丘陵区油松人工林和天然林的养分积累与分配以及养分循环特征进行了比较研究,结果表明：（1）油松林各组分养分含量的变化趋势为：针叶〉树枝〉树皮〉树根〉树干;地上部分的养分在针叶、树枝、树干和凋落物中呈：Ca〉N〉K〉Mg〉P（林型Ⅰ的针叶、枝干和林型Ⅳ的树枝N含量较其它元素含量高）,而在土壤层中呈：Ca〉K〉Mg〉N〉P;不同林型内各养分含量因林龄的不同而有差异。（2）油松林生态系统中养分总贮量的80．83％-98．81％集中在土壤组分中,乔木层养分量占总贮量的0．76％-5．52％,林下植被层和凋落物层的养分贮量分别占系统总贮量的0．05％-0．17％和0．38％～3．48％。人工油松林的养分贮量随抚育林龄的增加先升后降,30a时养分贮量最大,50a时养分贮量明显降低,其中N素衰减较其它养分快（30龄油松林是50龄油松林的4．23倍）。（3）油松林地上部分养分贮量主要集中在针叶,且随着抚育林龄的增加,针叶不但贮量增加而且占地上各组分总贮量比例也增大,树枝和树干只是绝对贮量增加,但所占地上总贮量的比例下降。（4）油松林地上部分养分的年积累量以30a人工林最高,变化趋势为Ⅱ〉Ⅲ〉Ⅳ〉Ⅰ。各组分养分的年积累量总的变化趋势为：针叶〉树枝〉根系〉树皮〉树干,同一组分各养分年积累量与各组分养分贮量变化顺序基本一致,即10年生幼林为N〉Ca〉K〉P〉Mg,人工成熟纯林Ca〉N〉K〉P〉M,天然林与人工成熟林相似。（5）天然林的吸收量、存留量明显高于人工林。人工林随着抚育林龄的增加,吸收量和归还量增大,存留量和循环系数先增后降。各林地油松利用系数为：Ca〉Mg〉N〉K〉P,但同一养分利用率,油松人工林随着林龄的增加而降低,油松天然林与人工成熟林的利用系数和周转期相似。     

刺槐人工林养分利用效率

目前普遍采用的短轮伐期萌生复壮的经营方式会使刺槐人工林在多代萌生以后地力衰退,生产力下降,其主要原因是由于树种对养分的选择吸收导致土壤养分平均失调。根据对黄土残塬沟壑区刺槐人工林地的研究表明,刺槐从土壤中年吸收养分量以Ca最多,N次之,K、Mg再次,P、S最少,且随树龄增长年吸收量增大,由速生期到杆材期年吸收量约增加1倍之多,由杆材期到成熟期N、P、K、Mg年吸收量缓慢增加,而Ca,S的吸收量有所下降,土壤养分年吸收系数以N最高,S、Mg次之,P、Ca再次,K最多,且随树龄的增长亦呈增大趋势,其均值分别可达N1．150％、P0．142％、K0．013％、Ca0．110％、Mg0.194%、S0．231％。刺槐对各养分的利用效率随树龄的增长而降低,生产1t树干材积约需从土壤中吸收N31．92－50．88kg,P1.32-2.01kg,K4.48-6.82kg,Ca71.57-78.79kg,Mg6.16-9.74kg,S1.07-1.09kg,立地条件好的林地养分吸收系数及养分利用效率均好于立地条件较差的林地。此外与杉木,油松相比,刺槐对养分的利用效率明显偏低。     

不同林龄杉木人工林的水分利用效率与叶片养分浓度

以亚热带不同林龄(3、8、14、21、46年生)杉木人工林为研究对象,探索不同叶龄(当年生、1年生、2年生和3年生)叶片氮、磷养分状况和水分利用效率的差异及其相互关系.结果表明: 不同叶龄水分利用效率差异显著,总体趋势为当年生>1年生>2年生>3年生,而林龄对水分利用效率影响不显著.叶片N/P为11.4～19.6,其中,幼龄林和老龄林叶片N/P高于速生期林分叶片N/P,氮、磷浓度随叶龄的变化趋势一致,为当年生>1年生>2年生>3年生.水分利用效率随林龄变化不显著,可能是因为叶片光合速率和气孔导度同时随林龄下降.水分利用效率与叶片氮浓度相关不显著,而与叶片磷浓度呈显著正相关,与N/P呈显著负相关,表明在氮沉降增加的背景下,亚热带森林中植物磷含量逐渐成为影响水分利用效率的重要因子.     

杉木人工林生物量与养分积累动态

基于中国科学院会同森林生态实验站30多年的定位观测数据,结合文献资料,分析了杉木人工林生物量和养分积累及其分配格局随时间的变化过程,以及不同轮伐期和收获强度对养分输入/输出的影响.结果表明:林龄是影响杉木人工林生物量和养分积累的主要因子,不同器官的生物量和养分贮量差异显著,二者对生物量与养分积累变异的解释量分别为37.1%和40.3%.随林龄增长,杉木人工林生物量和养分向树干分配比例增大,而向树叶分配比例减小;生物量和养分积累速率分别在17a和13a时达到最大值,即养分积累先于生物量积累达到最大值;在3～20a,杉木人工林生产单位干物质所需的营养元素量随着林龄增大持续快速下降,20a之后渐趋平稳,即养分的利用效率随林龄增大而增大.不同收获预案分析显示,延长轮伐期、降低利用强度可以减少养分输出.若仅收获树干,轮伐期从28a延长至56a,收获的生物量减少31.57%,但林分N、P、K、Ca、Mg输出分别减少42.02%、58.93%、27.70%、31.07%和45.26%.     

不同年龄日本落叶松人工林生物量、碳储量及养分特征

以7、17、30和40年生4个发育阶段(幼龄、中龄、近熟和成熟阶段)的日本落叶松人工林为对象,研究了林龄对生物量、碳储量和养分特征的影响.结果表明: 在单木水平上,不同发育阶段干、枝、皮、叶、根生物量和养分浓度差异显著.随年龄增加,各器官生物量呈增大趋势,N、P、K浓度呈下降趋势,Mg浓度先降后升,Ca浓度持续升高.优势木、平均木和劣势木的各器官生物量之间差异显著,但养分浓度差异不显著,表明竞争对各器官养分浓度影响不大.在林分水平上,总生物量、碳储量和养分储量随林龄增加呈增大趋势,与幼龄林相比,成熟林分别增加217.9%、218.4%和56.4%,表明日本落叶松林生长后期能以较少的养分生产较多的干物质,养分利用效率较高.5种元素的积累量除P和K在近熟林(30年生)略有降低外,其他元素都随林龄增加而增加.N集中在叶中,Ca集中在树干,K和Mg主要集中在根,P在不同器官中的分配较均匀.日本落叶松林分年均生物量积累率、固碳率和养分积累率均随林龄的增加而降低,从幼龄林每年7.16 t·hm^-2、3.40 t·hm^-2、104.64 kg·hm^-2降低到成熟林的3.99 t·hm^-2、1.89 t·hm^-2、28.64 kg·hm^-2,表明日本落叶松林幼、中龄阶段固碳潜力大,但养分消耗也高.     

森林土壤动物对凋落物早期分解及养分释放的影响

采用野外缩微实验方法,研究了会同林区常绿阔叶林和杉木人工林土壤动物对凋落物早期分解的影响。结果表明:孔径为2mm的网筒内试验土壤和凋落物中大型土壤动物的类群数和多度均明显少于孔径为4mm的网筒;排除大型土壤动物后,常绿阔叶林中凋落物C、K、Ca、Mg养分浓度显著增加,杉木林中凋落物Mg浓度显著增加,2个样地中的凋落物失重率以及凋落物C、P、Ca、Mg等养分元素的释放率均极显著降低(P0.01);大型土壤动物对不同元素释放率的影响不同,2个样地中对凋落物Ca、Mg元素释放率的影响均较大,杉木人工林中对N和K释放率的影响较小,常绿阔叶林中对P释放率的影响最小。     

广西不同林龄杉木、马尾松人工林根系生物量及碳储量特征

为了解不同林龄杉木、马尾松人工林地地下根系生物量及碳储量特征,以广西杉木、马尾松主产区5个不同林龄阶段(幼龄林、中龄林、近熟林、成熟林、过熟林)的人工林为研究对象,采用全根挖掘法和土钻法获取标准木根系生物量、灌草根系生物量和林分细根生物量,并测定其碳含量,分析其不同林龄阶段地下根系生物量和碳储量分配特征。结果表明:杉木、马尾松林地下根系总生物量分别在9.06—31.40Mg/hm~2和7.91—53.40Mg/hm~2之间,各林龄阶段根系总生物量总体上呈现随林龄增加而增加的趋势,杉木林细根生物量随林龄的增加呈现出先减后增的趋势,马尾松呈现出逐渐减小的趋势;林分各层次根系碳含量表现为乔木灌木草本、细根;杉木、马尾松地下根系碳储量变化趋势与生物量变化趋势相同,杉木、马尾松林不同林龄阶段各层次根系和土壤细根总碳储量分别在7.56—21.97Mg/hm~2和8.86—29.95Mg/hm~2之间;地下根系碳储量总体上以乔木根系占优势,且随林龄的增大其比例呈增加的趋势。     

福建省马尾松和杉木针叶中7种营养元素含量特征

为了解福建省马尾松和杉木人工林养分需求特征,选取25个马尾松(Pinus massoniana)林和31个杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)林,测定了针叶中7种主要营养元素(C、N、P、S、K、Ca、Mg)含量。结果表明,马尾松针叶K、Ca、Mg含量显著低于杉木,分别是杉木的68%、14%、50%,表明杉木对矿质养分尤其Ca的需求远高于马尾松,提示马尾松比杉木更能适应矿质养分尤其Ca较贫瘠的立地。两树种针叶C、N、P、S含量及其化学计量比均表现出相似的内稳态特征,而Ca、Mg、K含量及其化学计量比的变异大,表明这3种矿质元素受立地条件的影响较大。两树种对N、P、K需求表现为协同正相关关系,N与Ca含量则为负相关关系,暗示持续N沉降或营林实践中长期施N肥可能抑制Ca的吸收。     

Changes in catalase activity and hydrogen peroxide concentration in plants in response to low temperature

Taxicity of oxygen species such as free radicals and H₂O₂ has been invoked to explain a number of degradative processes in plants, most involving photo-oxidation. Since catalase is a major protectant against accumulation and toxicity of H₂O₂, we examined alterations in catalase activity in several plant species ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Greenfeast, Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilcz, Cucumis sativus L. cv. Heinz Pickling, and Passiflora spp.) during chilling, and compared this change to change in H₂O₂ content. Catalase activity was reduced in a range of chilling sensitive and tolerant species by exposure to low temperature. This reduction in catalase activity correlated better with the onset of visible symptoms than with the treatment itself. Visible injury in turn was dependent on light and temperature differences. Hydrogen peroxide concentrations invariably decreased with low temperatures.
Reduction in catalase activity therefore does not necessarily imply accumulation of H₂O₂ to damaging levels. The absence of a clear inverse relationship between catalase activity and H₂O₂ concentration suggests the continued activity of other reactions that remove H₂O₂ and these may be important in the tolerance of plants to oxidative attack. Loss of catalase activity may result from the inability of damaged peroxisomal membranes to transport catalase precursors into the peroxisome.     

Multiple deficiencies in antioxidant enzymes in mice result in a compound increase in sensitivity to oxidative stress

To examine the effect of compound deficiencies in antioxidant defense, we have generated mice (Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/−) that are deficient in Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1) by breeding Sod2^+/− and Gpx1^−/− mice together. Although Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/− mice showed a 50% reduction in MnSOD and no detectable Gpx1 activity in either mitochondria or cytosol in all tissues, they were viable and appeared normal. Fibroblasts isolated from Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/− mice were more sensitive (4- to 6-fold) to oxidative stress (t-butyl hydroperoxide or γ irradiation) than fibroblasts from wild-type mice, and were twice as sensitive as cells from Sod2^+/− or Gpx1^−/− mice. Whole-animal studies demonstrated that survival of the Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/− mice in response to whole body γ irradiation or paraquat administration was also reduced compared with that of wild-type, Sod2^+/−, or Gpx1^−/− mice. Similarly, endogenous oxidative stress induced by cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury led to greater apoptosis in heart tissue from the Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/− mice than in that from mice deficient in either MnSOD or Gpx1 alone. These data show that Sod2^+/−/Gpx1^−/− mice, deficient in two mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes, have significantly enhanced sensitivity to oxidative stress induced by exogenous insults and to endogenous oxidative stress compared with either wild-type mice or mice deficient in either MnSOD or Gpx1 alone.     

Ontogenetic changes in potassium transport in xylem of tomato

The influence of plant ontogeny on xylem exudate K⁺ concentrations and K⁺ transport to the shoot was studied in both nutrient-solution and field-grown tomato plants ( Lycopersicon esculentum ).
K⁺ concentrations in xylem exudate from decapitated plants decreased during tomato plant development from a high of 12 m M to a low of 5 m M . In the nutrient-solution plants, the most rapid decline occurred during the vegetative growth phase, while in field-grown plants, the xylem K⁺ concentrations remained high during an-thesis and then subsequently declined. The rapid decline in nutrient-solution plants might be related to a decrease in the absorptive efficiency of the root system. In field-grown plants, a reduction in the availability of assimilates to the root might account in part for the decrease in xylem exudate K⁺ concentrations. The volume (ml h⁻¹ plant⁻¹) and the net rates of K⁺ exudation (mmol h⁻¹ plant⁻¹) decreased dramatically as the fruits approached maturity. Since only a small reduction in xylem exudate K⁺ concentrations occurred during fruiting, the hydraulic conductivity of the root system decreased as the tomato plants aged. It is proposed that the ontogenetic changes in xylem transport of K⁺ contribute to a reduction in leaf free space K⁺ concentration which would explain the decline in tomato leaf K⁺ concentrations.     

Nicotine increases dopamine clearance in medial prefrontal cortex in rats raised in an enriched environment

Environmental enrichment results in differential behavioral and neurochemical responsiveness to nicotine. The present study investigates dopamine clearance (CL_DA) in striatum and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using in vivo voltammetry in rats raised in enriched (EC) or impoverished conditions (IC) and administered nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) or saline. Baseline CL_DA in striatum or mPFC was not different between EC and IC. Across repeated DA application, striatal CL_DA increased in saline-control EC and IC. CL_DA increased in mPFC in saline-control IC; CL_DA did not change in saline-control EC. Thus, enrichment differentially alters dynamic responses of the dopamine transporter (DAT) to repeated DA application in mPFC, but not in striatum. In EC, nicotine increased mPFC CL_DA compared to saline-control, but had no effect on CL_DA in IC; nicotine had no effect in striatum in EC or IC. Compared to respective saline-controls, nicotine increased dihydroxyphenylacetic acid content in striatum and mPFC in EC, but not in IC. Nicotine also had no effect on DA content in striatum or mPFC in EC or IC. Results indicate that enrichment eliminated the dynamic response of mPFC DAT to repeated DA application in saline-control and augmented the nicotine-induced increase in DAT function in mPFC, but not in striatum.     

模拟降雨格局变化对亚热带地区两树种液流特征的影响

在全球变化的影响下, 中国亚热带地区近几十年降水格局发生了急剧变化。这种变化对亚热带常绿阔叶林植物的生长和森林水分平衡的影响尚不清楚。为此, 该研究从植物整树蒸腾角度出发, 通过在天然次生林中进行人工隔除降雨模拟降水格局变化, 研究降水变化对植物水分利用的影响。试验于2012年9月至2014年12月在广东鹤山森林生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站内的常绿阔叶林内进行, 通过林下搭建遮雨棚, 截留干季(10月至次年3月)的降雨, 并在湿季(次年4至9月)等量返还到样地中, 在保证总降水量不变的前提下模拟干季更干、湿季更湿(DD)的降雨格局变化。在此期间对样地内的木荷(Schima superba)与火力楠(Michelia macclurei)树干液流特征进行连续监测。运用独立样本t检验对对照组(AC)两个树种间的平均最大液流通量密度(¯J_S)差异性进行分析, 并将DD处理下两个树种的¯J_S与AC进行对比, 来检验隔除降雨对森林蒸腾的效应。结果表明: 当光合有效辐射(PAR)大于1 100 μmol·m ^-2·s ^-1时, 对照样地火力楠和木荷的¯J_S分别为(49.5 ± 1.7)和(43.6 ± 2.0) mL∙m ^-2∙s ^-1, 且前者表现出对光合有效辐射(PAR)更强的敏感性。截留降雨处理开始后(2012-10), 两个树种DD与AC处理的¯J_S比值(DD:AC)均先减小后增加, 其中木荷的比值从处理前的0.74下降到了第1次截留降雨处理期(2012-10至2013-03)的0.68, 增加到了第2次截留降雨处理期(2013-10至2014-03)的0.93以及第3次截留降雨处理期(2014-10至2014-11)的1.04; 火力楠则从处理前的1.00下降到了第1次截留降雨处理期的0.94, 在第2次截留降雨处理期增长到1.06, 变化幅度小于木荷。此外, 在第3次截留降雨处理期, 木荷在相同的水汽压亏缺及PAR下能够保持更高的¯J_S。这些结果表明, 短期干旱事件会促使森林蒸腾急剧下降, 然而在长期干旱下, 植物会通过提高¯J_S来弥补干旱带来的损失, 而木荷由于具有较大的¯J_S可塑性, 从而使其在干旱条件下维持更高的水分传输速率。     

Changes in nitrogen source modify distribution of excitation energy in the cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum

In an attempt to clarify the interactions between the available nitrogen source and the photosystems in cyanobacteria, O₂ exchange and fluorescence emission were monitored in spheroplasts and intact cells of the non N₂-fixing cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum (strain OH-1-p.Cl₁) growing on different nitrogen sources or in the absence of nitrogen. Short-term (time scale of seconds to minutes), NH⁺₄ addition to NO⁻₃-growing or N-starved cells and, to a minor extent, NO⁻₃addition to N-starved cells, induced state 2 transitions both in light and dark. Long term (time scale of days), the fluorescence yield of PSII relative to that of PSII at 77 K was higher in NO⁻₃- than in NH⁺₄ growing cells, and even higher in N-starved cells. In the dark, the plastoquinone pool was more reduced in NH⁺₄- than in NO⁻₃-growing cells. Both PSII and PSI activities and the degree of linking between both photosystems were affected in the long term, so that non-cyclic electron transport decreased in parallel to the ferredoxin requirement to assimilate each nitrogen source. Results indicate that nitrogen metabolism exerts short- and long-term control over the photosynthetic apparatus, which acclimates to the energy requirement of the available nitrogen source.     

Variability in rate of human perspiration in european populations

1. 1. In the consideration of ergonomic tasks the attempt is often made to combine the results of physiological research on human perspiration with technical factors such as the transfer of moisture through specific materials.

2. 2. The result of such attempts is often unsatisfactory due to the fact that the percentiles and frequency distribution of perspiration rates are often unknown or not taken into consideration.

3. 3. Further, the interaction between the human user and a particular environmental situation remains unaccounted for.

4. 4. This interaction can produce totally different reactions in both the user and the materials depending upon the specifics of the situation.

5. 5. In response to this deficit we tested 738 persons from various areas in Europe under laboratory conditions to determine perspiration rates and their statistical distribution.

6. 6. Despite the climatic differences existing within Europe, a uniform picture characterized by an extremely skewed distribution resulted.

7. 7. However, it was also shown that these values, including their statistical distribution and percentile ranks, can be strongly influenced by specific external conditions.

8. 8. In the design of human working and living environments it is necessary to examine the situation with research subjects whose perspiration rates are known in order to gain insight into the interactions existing between the human user and the material or technical aspects of the particular environment in question.

Changes in axial hydraulic conductivity along elongating leaf blades in relation to xylem maturation in tall fescue

Xylem maturation in elongating leaf blades of tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ) was studied using staining and microcasting. Three distinctive regions were identified in the blade: (1) a basal region, in which elongation was occurring and protoxylem (PX) vessels were functioning throughout; (2) a maturation region, in which elongation had stopped and narrow (NMX) and large (LMX) metaxylem vessels were beginning to function; (3) a distal, mature region in which most of the longitudinal water movements occurred in the LMX. The axial hydraulic conductivity ( K _h) was measured in leaf sections from all these regions and compared with the theoretical axial hydraulic conductivity ( K _t) computed from the diameter of individual inner vessels. K _t was proportional to K _h throughout the leaf, but K _t was about three times K _h. The changes in K _h and K _t along the leaf reflected the different stages of xylem maturation. In the basal 60 mm region, K _h was about 0.30±0.07 mmol s⁻¹ mm MPa⁻¹. Beyond that region, K _h rapidly increased with metaxylem element maturation to a maximum value of 5.0±0.3 mmol s⁻¹ mm MPa⁻¹, 105 mm from the leaf base. It then decreased to 3.5±0.2 mmol s⁻¹ mm MPa⁻¹ near the leaf tip. The basal expanding region was observed to restrict longitudinal water movement. There was a close relationship between the water deposition rate in the elongation zone and the sum of the perimeters of PX vessels. The implications of this longitudinal vasculature on the partitioning of water between growth and transpiration is discussed.     

Calcification in aquatic plants

Abstract. The CaCO₃ deposits of aquatic plants may be intra-, inter- and extracellular. Calcification is mainly the result of photosynthetic CO₂ or HCO⁻₃ assimilation. This raises the local pH and CO²⁻₃ concentration resulting from shifts in the dissolved inorganic carbon equilibrium, due to either net CO₂ depletion as in Halimeda or localized OH⁻ efflux (or H⁺ influx) as in Chara. The plant cell wall may be important in CaCO₃ nucleation by acting as an epitaxial substratum or template, or by creating a microenvironment enriched in Ca²⁺ compared to Mg²⁺. Hypotheses on the reason for the lack of calcification in many aquatic plants are presented.     

Deficiency in inducible nitric oxide synthase results in reduced atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) present in human atherosclerotic plaques could contribute to the inflammatory process of plaque development. The role of iNOS in atherosclerosis was tested directly by evaluating the development of lesions in atherosclerosis-susceptible apolipoprotein E (apoE)-/- mice that were also deficient in iNOS. ApoE-/- and iNOS-/- mice were cross-bred to produce apoE-/-/iNOS-/- mice and apoE-/-/iNOS+/+ controls. Males and females were placed on a high fat diet at the time of weaning, and atherosclerosis was evaluated at two time points by different methods. The deficiency in iNOS had no effect on plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, or nitrate levels. Morphometric measurement of lesion area in the aortic root at 16 wk showed a 30-50% reduction in apoE-/-/iNOS-/- mice compared with apoE-/-/iNOS+/+ mice. Although the size of the lesions in apoE-/-/iNOS-/- mice was reduced, the lesions maintained a ratio of fibrotic:foam cell-rich:necrotic areas that was similar to controls. Biochemical measurements of aortic cholesterol in additional groups of mice at 22 wk revealed significant 45-70% reductions in both male and female apoE-/-/iNOS-/- mice compared with control mice. The results indicate that iNOS contributes to the size of atherosclerotic lesions in apoE-deficient mice, perhaps through a direct effect at the site of the lesion.