Altered corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor immunoreactivity in the gerbil hippocampal complex following spontaneous seizure

Considerable attention has been focused on the role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases including epilepsy. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the temporal and spatial alteration of CRF receptor in the gerbil hippocampal complex in order to characterize the possible changes and associations with different sequelae of spontaneous seizure in these animals. Thirty minutes postictal, a decline in CRF receptor immunoreactivity was observed in the granule cells and hilar neurons. In the subiculum, CRF receptor immunoreactivity was also significantly decreased at this time point. Twenty-four hours after seizure onset, the immunoreactivity in these regions recovered to the pre-seizure level. Moreover, 30 min after seizure in the entorhinal cortex, the density of CRF receptor immunoreactivity began to decrease, particularly in the layers II and III, compared to pre-seizure group. Nevertheless, 24h after seizure onset, CRF receptor immunodensity had recovered to its seizure-sensitive (SS) level. These results suggest that altered CRF receptor expression in the hippocampal complex may affect tissue excitability and seizure activity in SS gerbils.     

The effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on brucellosis of rats

It is believed that an infection is more common and runs a more protracted course in people with diabetes. In clinical practice, it is important to be aware of these associations, as the prognosis is often dependent upon prompt recognition and appropriate treatment. To show the course of brucellosis in the diabetic state, a model of Brucella melitensis infection was used in the setting of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rat. B. melitensis infection proceeded more severely in diabetic rats and the severity of diabetes affected the prognosis. However, no association was found between B. melitensis and insulin using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Our study illustrates that B. melitensis infection in diabetes should be taken seriously.     

Effect of diets rich in N-3 polyunsatured fatty acids on muscle lipids and fatty acids in Belgian Blue double-muscled young bulls

The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of duration and time of feeding n-3 fatty acids on the fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat and adipose tissue of bulls at slaughter. Four groups of bulls were given during three periods different diets, mainly differing in the presence of linseed as the predominant n-3 fatty acid source in the concentrate either or not in combination with grass (silage) as the roughage. The results show that the fatty acid composition of the feed during the earlier periods of life of the animal were important and influenced the final intramuscular fatty acid composition. Feeding n-3 PUFA during the phases before the finishing diet increased the long chain n-3 PUFA (C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3 and C22:6n-3) compared to animals which were fed only a C 18:3n-3 rich concentrate in the finishing period. The cis-9,trans-11CLA content was increased by feeding linseed in the fattening period and was mainly deposited in the triacylglycerol fraction of the intramuscular fat.     

低氧预处理小鼠脑及血液中糖原与乳酸含量的变化

采用昆明小鼠为实验对象,将实验动物随机分为H4组（重复低氧4次,低氧预适应组）、H1组（只低氧1次,低氧对照组）和H0组（正常对照组,即不低氧组）,分别测定全脑及不同脑区（端脑、间脑、中脑、脑桥、小脑和延髓）糖原、乳酸的含量,同时测定血液中乳酸的含量。结果：H4组全脑糖原含量显著高于H1及H0组,其中H4组端脑、间脑和脑桥内糖原含量显著高于H1组及H0组相应的脑区,H1组全脑糖原含量显著低于H0组,其中H4组端脑、间脑和脑桥内糖原含量显著高于H1组及H0组相应的脑区,H1组全脑糖原含量显著低于H0组,但各个脑区糖原含量的差别无显著意义。H4、H1组全脑乳酸含量无显著差异,但均显著高于H0组,而H4组血液中乳酸的含量则显著低于H1组及H0组。结果提示,在低氧预适应过程中,脑糖原增加与脑乳酸降低同时发生,脑有氧代谢参与低氧预适应或低氧耐受的形成。     

ProTherm, version 2.0: thermodynamic database for proteins and mutants

ProTherm 2.0 is the second release of the Thermo-dynamic Database for Proteins and Mutants that includes numerical data for several thermodynamic parameters, structural information, experimental methods and conditions, functional and literature information. The present release contains >5500 entries, an approximately 67% increase over the previous version. In addition, we have included information about reversibility of data, details about buffer and ion concentrations and the surrounding residues in space for all mutants. A WWW interface enables users to search data based on various conditions with different sorting options for outputs. Further, ProTherm has links with other structural and literature databases, and the mutation sites and surrounding residues are automatically mapped on the structures and can be directly viewed through 3DinSight developed in our laboratory. The ProTherm database is freely available through the WWW at http://www.rtc.riken.go.jp/protherm.html