Effects of carvacrol upon the liver of rats undergoing partial hepatectomy

The present study aims to investigate the possible effects of carvacrol obtained from origanum oil upon the regenerative feature of the liver subsequent to partial hepatectomy in rats.Male Wistar Albino rats, weighing 230±30 g, were divided into three experiment groups. Group I (n=8) were used as sham operation group. Group II (n=8) were applied saline solution and hepatectomy. Carvacrol and hepatectomy (73 mg/kg) were applied to Group III (n=8). One dose of test material was injected 1 h before 68% partial hepatectomy. At the end of the experiments, blood and organs were removed. The liver regeneration rate of the rats was calculated measuring the weights of their liver before and after the hepatectomy. Hematoxylin and eosin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) treatments were applied to liver sections. Aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-6 levels were determined in serum samples.The liver regeneration, mitotic index and PCNA index increased significantly in rats of Group III over the Group II at the 72nd hour after partial hepatectomy. Histological evaluations were also similar with these results of PCNA and mitotic indexes. In AST, ALT, TNF-α and IL-6 levels, there was no statistically significant difference.According to these results, it is concluded that carvacrol increases the liver regeneration rate.     

The Protective Effect of Dexanabinol (HU-211) on Nitric Oxide and Cysteine Protease-Mediated Neuronal Death in Focal Cerebral Ischemia

We hypothesized that dexanabinol can prevent neuronal death by protecting neuronal lysosomes from nitric oxide (NO)-mediated toxicity, and in turn, by suppressing the release of cathepsins during cerebral ischemia. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in two sets of animals by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. The first set was used to monitor NO concentration and cathepsin activity, while the second was used for histological examination with hematoxylin and eosin, and TUNEL staining. In post-ischemic brain tissue, NO content and cathepsin B and L activity increased (p < 0.05). Dexanabinol treatment reduced NO concentration and cathepsin activity to the control level (p > 0.05). The number of eosinophilic and apoptotic neurons increased in the post-ischemic cerebral cortex (p < 0.05). However, dexanabinol treatment lowered both of these (p < 0.05). We conclude that dexanabinol might be a useful agent for the treatment of stroke patients.     

濒危植物浮叶慈姑遗传多样性的RAPD分析

采用RAPD分子标记技术,对内蒙古二卡河(EK)和黑龙江库都尔(KDE)的浮叶慈姑居群进行了遗传多样性分析。 从60个随机引物中筛选出14个引物对2个居群共48个样品进行扩增,得到93条清晰的条带,其中70条具有多态性,即物 种水平上的多态位点百分率(PPB)为75.27%。POPGENE分析结果表明:二卡河居群的PPB为66.67%,库都尔居群的PPB 为72.04%。两个居群间基因分化系数(Gst)为0.0628,即遗传变异有很大一部分是来自居群内(93.72%)。结合相关的分析 表明生态学因素可能是浮叶慈姑濒危的主要原因。     

Changes in hemorheological parameters due to lead exposure in female rats

Lead is an ubiquitous metal in the environment that induces a broad range of physiological, biochemical and behavioral dysfunctions. The purpose of this study was to investigate its effects on blood parameters and blood viscosity. Female rats (14 Wistar-Albino type) were divided into a control and a lead exposed group. Both groups were fed with the same standard food, but lead acetate was added to the drinking water of the experimental group for 5 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were drawn from the abdominal aorta of the anaesthetized animals. Hematocrit (Hct %), hemoglobin (Hb), and the number of erythrocytes were determined, blood viscosity was measured with a rotational viscometer, and the lead concentration in blood was analyzed by means of flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The erythrocyte count, Hb and Hct % of the lead exposed group were found to be significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.01). The blood viscosity level was significantly higher compared to the control group (p<0.01). It can be concluded that increased lead concentrations in blood impair certain hemorheological mechanisms and increase blood viscosity.     

Spontaneous formation of DPPC monolayers at aqueous/vapor interfaces and the impact of charged surfactants

Surface tensiometry and vibrational sum-frequency spectroscopy were used to examine the structure and organization in phospholipid monolayers at the aqueous/vapor interface in the absence and in the presence of simple, charged surfactants. 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) was the phospholipid employed in these studies and surfactants included sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB). DPPC spontaneously spreads on a pure water (pH = 5.5) surface to form monolayers as evidenced by an equilibrium spreading pressure (ESP) of 7.9 ± 2.3 mN/m and a clearly resolved vibrational spectrum. Low concentrations of surfactants inhibit the spreading of DPPC and result in significantly lower ESP values. Anionic and cationic surfactants at higher concentrations have opposite effects on monolayer organization; SDS creates well-organized monolayers while DTAB leads to poor organization of lipid molecules. Surface-specific vibrational spectra showed that high concentrations of charged surfactants (≥ 100 µM) lead to accumulation of net surface charges as evidenced by destructive and constructive interferences. Selectively deuterating surfactants results in changes in vibrational band intensities and phases enabling assignment of relative orientations of equivalent functional groups belonging to the lipid and surfactant.     

Effects of Aminoguanidine on Lipid and Protein Oxidation in Diabetic Rat Kidneys

Nonenzymatic glycation of tissue and plasma proteins may stimulate the production of oxidant and carbonyl stress in diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aminoguanidine (AG) on lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and nitric oxide (NO) release in diabetic rat kidneys. After induction of diabetes with streptozotocin, female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups. Group DAG (n=9) rats were given AG hydrogen carbonate (1 g/L) in drinking water and group D (n=8) was diabetic control rats given only tap water. Group H (n=8) was followed as healthy controls. At the end of an 8 week period, NO release, lipid and protein oxidation were determined in kidney tissues. NO release was significantly lower in diabetic rats compared with healthy controls (p<0.05). Lipid peroxidation was significantly high in group D (3.9 ± 0.3 nmol MDA/g tissue) compared with the group DAG (2.6 ± 0.1 nmol MDA/g tissue, p<0.01) and group H (2.4 ± 0.2 nmol MDA/g tissue). Protein oxidation was significantly higher in diabetics than healthy controls (563.8 ± 23.9, 655.8 ± 7.2 , 431.5 ± 8.8 mmol carbonyl / g tissue for group DAG, D and H, respectively, p< 0.05). A positive correlation between albuminuria and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels (r= 0.54,p<0.005) and carbonyl content (r=0.70, p<0.0005) in kidney homogenate were observed. Although AG treatment had no effect on NO release, it significantly decreased lipid peroxidation in diabetic rat cortices. Consequently increased lipid peroxidation -as well as- protein oxidation could be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic albuminuria.     

Early Mixed Farming of Millet and Rice 7800 Years Ago in the Middle Yellow River Region,China

The Peiligang Culture (9000-7000 cal. yr BP) in the Middle Yellow River region, North China, has long been considered representative of millet farming. It is still unclear, however, if broomcorn millet or foxtail millet was the first species domesticated during the Peiligang Culture. Furthermore, it is also unknown whether millet was cultivated singly or together with rice at the same period. In this study, phytolith analysis of samples from the Tanghu archaeological site reveals early crop information in the Middle Yellow River region, China. Our results show that broomcorn millet was the early dry farming species in the Peiligang Culture at 7800 cal. yr BP, while rice cultivation took place from 7800 to 4500 cal. yr BP. Our data provide new evidence of broomcorn millet and rice mixed farming at 7800 cal. yr BP in the Middle Yellow River region, which has implications for understanding the domestication process of the two crops, and the formation and continuance of the Ancient Yellow River Civilization.