Distinct basolateral amygdala excitatory inputs mediate the somatosensory and aversive-affective components of pain

Pain is a multidimensional perception that includes unpleasant somatosensory and affective experiences; however, the underlying neural circuits that mediate different components of pain remain elusive. Although hyperactivity of basolateral amygdala glutamatergic (BLA^Glu) neurons is required for the somatosensory and emotional processing of pain, the precise excitatory inputs to BLA^Glu neurons and their roles in mediating different aspects of pain are unclear. Here, we identified two discrete glutamatergic neuronal circuits in male mice: a projection from the insular cortex glutamatergic (IC^Glu) to BLA^Glu neurons, which modulates both the somatosensory and affective components of pain, and a projection from the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MD^Glu) to BLA^Glu neurons, which modulates only the aversive-affective component of pain. Using whole-cell recording and fiber photometry, we found that neurons within the IC→BLA and MD→BLA pathways were activated in mice upon inflammatory pain induced by injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) into their paws. Optical inhibition of the IC^Glu→BLA pathway increased the nociceptive threshold and induced behavioral place preference in CFA mice. In contrast, optical inhibition of the MD^Glu→BLA pathway did not affect the nociceptive threshold but still induced place preference in CFA mice. In normal mice, optical activation of the IC^Glu→BLA pathway decreased the nociceptive threshold and induced place aversion, while optical activation of the MD^Glu→BLA pathway only evoked aversion. Taken together, our results demonstrate that discrete IC^Glu→BLA and MD^Glu→BLA pathways are involved in modulating different components of pain, provide insights into its circuit basis, and better our understanding of pain perception.     

含铬重组液激活部分缺失金属原子簇的钼铁蛋白的研究

棕色固氮菌（Ａｚｏｔｏｂａｃｔｅｒ ｖｉｎｅｌａｎｄｉｉ）固氮酶钼铁蛋白经邻菲口罗啉和Ｏ２ 处理后,变为部分缺失ＦｅＭｏｃｏ 和Ｐ－ｃｌｕｓｔｅｒ的失活蛋白。与由Ｋ２ＣｒＯ４、高柠檬酸铁、Ｎａ２Ｓ和二硫苏糖醇组成的重组液保温后,处理蛋白对乙炔和质子还原的活性都得以显著恢复;然而,它的吸收光谱和圆二色谱虽有明显恢复,但仍与还原钼铁蛋白有所不同。这表明,激活蛋白中也许存在功能与钼铁蛋白相似,而结构则有所差异的含铬（ＣｒＦｅ）蛋白     

哈尔滨二龙山水库浮游植物及水体污染状况的研究

报道了2000 年1 月、5 月、8 月、10 月四次对哈尔滨市境内的二龙山水库的浮游植物的调查结果。共发现浮游植物46 属55 种, 其中种类最多的是绿藻和硅藻。水库四季的平均浮游藻类数量为438.46 万个/升, 绿藻占46.98%, 硅藻占44.74%, 隐藻占6.76%。优势种是平裂藻、小环藻、直链藻、针杆藻、纤维藻、空星藻、十字藻、蹄形藻、栅藻、隐藻等。对8 月份水库及上游河流的水质进行了监测和分析。根据上述结果对水质进行了评价, 并对二龙山库区的水土保持及可持续性发展进行了探讨。     

Antitumor mechanism of Se-containing polysaccharide, a novel organic selenium compound

Recent studies on the inhibition of tumor growth by Se-containing polysaccharide were reviewed. Meanwhile, the possible molecular mechanisms of the inhibition of tumor cell growth through antioxidation, induction of tumor cell apoptosis, blockade of cell cycle, and enhancement of immunity by Se-containing polysaccharide were proposed. In the end, the potential application of Se-containing polysaccharide in the prevention and treatment of tumor was elucidated.     

广东省曲江县发现鳄蜥

报道了首次发现于广东的鳄蜥的形态结构特征,并将它与广西的鳄蜥进行了比较。     

The flexible interrelation between AOX respiratory pathway and photosynthesis in rice leaves.

Alternative respiratory pathway was investigated in rice seedlings grown under total darkness, light/dark cycle, or continuous light. The capacity of the alternative pathway was relatively higher in leaves that had longer light exposure. An analysis of rice AOX1 multigene family revealed that AOX1c, but not AOX1a and AOX1b, had a light-independent expression. The alternative oxidase (AOX) inhibitor, salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM, 1mM), inhibited nearly 68% of the capacity of the alternative pathway in leaves grown under different light conditions. The plants grown under different light periods were treated with SHAM and then were exposed to illumination for 4h. The transition from dark to 4h of light stimulated the capacity of alternative pathway in etiolated rice seedlings and in those grown under light/dark cycle, whereas the capacity of the alternative pathway was constant in seedlings grown under continuous light with additional 4h of illumination. Etiolated leaves did not show any CO(2) fixation after 4h of illumination, and the increase in chlorophyll content was delayed by the SHAM pretreatment. When seedlings grown under light/dark cycle were moved from dark and exposed to 4h of light, increases in chlorophyll content and CO(2) fixation rate were reduced by SHAM. Although these parameters were stable in plants grown under continuous light, SHAM decreased CO(2) fixation rate but not the chlorophyll content. These results indicate that the role and regulation of AOX in light are determined by the developmental stage of plant photosynthetic apparatus.     

A highly selective and colorimetric assay of lysine by molecular-driven gold nanorods assembly

In this contribution, a simple, rapid, colorimeteric and selective assay for lysine was achieved by a controllable end-to-end assembly of gold nanorods (AuNRs) in the presence of Eu(3+) and lysine. This one-pot end-to-end assembly of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) modified AuNRs was occurred in Britton-Robinson buffer of pH 6.0, which involves the coordination binding between Eu(3+) and COO(-) groups as well as the electrostatic interaction of the COO(-) groups of MUA with the -NH(3)(+) group of lysine. As monitored by absorption spectra, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement, the end-to-end chain assembly results in large red-shift in the longitudinal plasmon resonance absorption (LPRA), giving red-to-blue color change of AuNRs. Importantly, it was found that the red-shift of LPRA is linearly proportional to the concentrations of lysine in the range of 5.0×10(-6)-1.0×10(-3)M with the limit of detection (LOD) being 1.6×10(-6)M (3σ/k). This red-shift of LPRA is highly selective, making it possible to develop a rapid, selective and visual assay for lysine in food samples.     

Cytisine attenuates bone loss of ovariectomy mouse by preventing RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis

Postmenopausal Osteoporosis (PMOP) is oestrogen withdrawal characterized of much production and activation by osteoclast in the elderly female. Cytisine is a quinolizidine alkaloid that comes from seeds or other plants of the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family. Cytisine has been shown several potential pharmacological functions. However, its effects on PMOP remain unknown. This study designed to explore whether Cytisine is able to suppress RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis and prevent the bone loss induced by oestrogen deficiency in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. In this study, we investigated the effect of Cytisine on RAW 264.7 cells and bone marrow monocytes (BMMs) derived osteoclast culture system in vitro and observed the effect of Cytisine on ovariectomized (OVX) mice model to imitate postmenopausal osteoporosis in vivo. We found that Cytisine inhibited F‐actin ring formation and tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining in dose‐dependent ways, as well as bone resorption by pit formation assays. For molecular mechanism, Cytisine suppressed RANK‐related trigger RANKL by phosphorylation JNK/ERK/p38‐MAPK, IκBα/p65‐NF‐κB, and PI3K/AKT axis and significantly inhibited these signalling pathways. However, the suppression of PI3K‐AKT‐NFATc1 axis was rescued by AKT activator SC79. Meanwhile, Cytisine inhibited RANKL‐induced RANK‐TRAF6 association and RANKL‐related gene and protein markers such as NFATc1, Cathepsin K, MMP‐9 and TRAP. Our study indicated that Cytisine could suppress bone loss in OVX mouse through inhibited osteoclastogenesis. All data provide the evidence that Cytisine may be a promising agent in the treatment of osteoclast‐related diseases such as osteoporosis.     

Synchronized oviposition triggered by migratory flight intensifies larval outbreaks of beet webworm

Identifying the reproductive consequences of insect migration is critical to understanding its ecological and evolutionary significance. However, many empirical studies are seemingly contradictory, making recognition of unifying themes elusive and controversial. The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L. is a long-range migratory pest of many crops in the northern temperate zone from 36 °N to 55 °N, with larval populations often exploding in regions receiving immigrants. In laboratory experiments, we examined (i) the reproductive costs of migratory flight by tethered flight, and (ii) the reproductive traits contributing to larval outbreaks of immigrant populations. Our results suggest that the beet webworm does not initiate migratory flight until the 2nd or 3rd night after emergence. Preoviposition period, lifetime fecundity, mating capacity, and egg hatch rate for adults that experienced prolonged flight after the 2nd night did not differ significantly from unflown moths, suggesting these traits are irrelevant to the severity of beet webworm outbreaks after migration. However, the period of first oviposition, a novel parameter developed in this paper measuring synchrony of first egg-laying by cohorts of post-migratory females, for moths flown on d 3 and 5 of adulthood was shorter than that of unflown moths, indicating a tightened time-window for onset of oviposition after migration. The resulting synchrony of egg-laying will serve to increase egg and subsequent larval densities. A dense population offers potential selective advantages to the individual larvae comprising it, whereas the effect from the human standpoint is intensification of damage by an outbreak population. The strategy of synchronized oviposition may be common in other migratory insect pests, such as locust and armyworm species, and warrants further study.