秋葵籽油对高强度运动所致肝损伤的保护作用

本研究考察了秋葵籽油对高强度运动所致肝损伤的保护作用及机制。研究显示,对昆明小鼠灌胃不同剂量(10 mg/kg,20 mg/kg和50 mg/kg)的秋葵籽油4周后,秋葵籽油以剂量依赖性方式提高了小鼠的力竭游泳时间(p<0.05)。秋葵籽油降低了小鼠血清乳酸和尿素氮水平,并升高了血清游离脂肪酸和肝糖原水平(p<0.05)。秋葵籽油以剂量依赖性方式提高了小鼠肝脏组织中SOD、CAT和GSH-Px活性,并抑制了MDA的合成(p<0.05)。秋葵籽油抑制了力竭游泳诱导的小鼠血清CK、AST和ALT水平及肝脏组织NO水平的升高(p<0.05)。此外,苏木精和伊红(HE)染色证实了秋葵籽油减轻了力竭游泳诱导的肝脏病理改变。因此,本研究初步结论表明,在高强度运动过程中,秋葵籽油可通过抑制乳酸和尿素氮的积累、增加脂肪动员、降低糖原消耗、减弱氧化应激损伤等多种途径来对肝脏发挥保护作用。     

First Occurrence of Platycladus from the Upper Miocene of Southwest China and Its Phytogeographic Implications

Platycladus Spach is native to Central China, but its natural occurrences are very difficult to establish. According to molecular phylogenetic data, this genus might have originated since the Oligocene, but no fossil record has been reported. Here, we describe eight foliage branches from the upper Miocene in western Yunnan, Southwest China as a new species, P. yunnanensis sp. nov., which is characterized by foliage branches spread in flattened sprays, and leaves decussate, imbricate, scale-like and dimorphic. The leaves are amphistomatic, and the stomata are elliptical or oblong, haplocheilic, and monocyclic type. Based on a detailed comparison with the extant genera of Cupressaceae sensu lato, our fossils are classified into the genus Platycladus. The occurrence of P. yunnanensis sp. nov. indicates that this genus had a more southernly natural distribution in the late Miocene than at present. Molecular phylogeny and fossil records support a pre-Oligocene common ancestor for the genera Platycladus, Microbiota and Calocedrus. The separation of the three taxa was most likely caused by the arid belt across Central China during the Oligocene. In addition, the cooling down of the global temperature and the strengthening of Asian monsoon since the Miocene will further promote the migration of these genera.     

Oxymatrine Inhibits Bocavirus MVC Replication,Reduces Viral Gene Expression and Decreases Apoptosis Induced by Viral Infection

Oxymatrine(OMT), as the main active component of Sophoraflavescens, exhibits a variety of pharmacological properties,including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-viral activities, and currently is extensively employed to treat viral hepatitis; however, its effects on parvovirus infection have yet to be reported. In the present study, we investigated the effects of OMT on cell viability, virus DNA replication, viral gene expression, cell cycle, and apoptosis in Walter Reed canine cells/3873 D infected with minute virus of canines(MVC). OMT, at concentrations below 4 mmol/L(no cellular toxicity), was found to inhibit MVC DNA replication and reduce viral gene expression at both mRNA and protein levels, which was associated with the inhibition of cell cycle S-phase arrest in early-stage of MVC infection.Furthermore, OMT significantly increased cell viability, decreased MVC-infected cell apoptosis, and reduced the expression of activated caspase 3. Our results suggest that OMT has potential application in combating parvovirus infection.     

Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training Ameliorates Motoneuronal Hyperexcitability by Increasing GAD-65/67 and KCC2 Expression via TrkB Signaling in Rats with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Neurochemical Research - Spasticity is a typical consequence after spinal cord injury (SCI). The critical reasons are reducing the synthesis of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), glycine and potassium...     

Natural interploidy hybridization among the key taxa involved in the origin of horticultural chrysanthemums

Understanding hybridization and introgression between natural plant populations can give important insights into the origins of cultivated species. Recent studies suggest differences in ploidy might not create such strong reproductive barriers as once thought, and thus studies into cultivated origins should examine all co-occurring taxa, including those with contrasting ploidy levels. Here, we characterized hybridization between Chrysanthemum indicum L., Chrysanthemum vestitum (Hemsley) Ling and Chrysanthemum vestitum var. latifolium (Zhou & Chen), the most important wild species involved in the origins of cultivated chrysanthemums. We analyzed the population structure of 317 Chrysanthemum accessions based on 13 microsatellite markers and sequenced chloroplast trnL-trnF for a subset of 103 Chrysanthemum accessions. We identified three distinct genetic clusters, corresponding to the three taxa. We detected 20 hybrids between species of different ploidy levels, of which 19 were between C. indicum (4x) and C. vestitum (6x) and one was between C. indicum and C. vestitum var. latifolium (6x). Fourteen hybrids between C. indicum and C. vestitum were from one of the five study sites. Chrysanthemum vestitum and C. vestitum var. latifolium share only one chloroplast haplotype. The substantially different number of hybrids between hybridizing species was likely due to different levels of reproductive isolation coupled with environmental selection against hybrids. In addition, human activities could play a role in the different patterns of hybridization among populations.