Recognition of opioid agonist and antagonist in the opioid receptor binding site

By treating the rat crude synaptosomal fraction with 5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), DTNB, a marked decrease of stereo-specific binding of opioid agonist (dihydromorphine or D-Ala-D-Leu-enkephalin) was observed, but there was no effect in the case of the binding of opioid antagonist (naloxone or diprenorphine). The decrease of the agonist binding in the presence of 500 microM of DTNB was nearly equal to that of 100 mM of NaCl. The ability of opioids to inhibit 3H-naloxone binding in the absence of DTNB was compared to their inhibitory potency in the presence of 500 microM of DTNB to obtain DTNB response ratio. This ratio closely correlated with sodium index of each opioid. Potency of the inactivation of the agonist binding by congeners of DTNB changed with net charge of the reagents, and 2,2'-dithiobis-(5-nitropyridine), bearing a positive charge, was most effective. These results suggest that an aliphatic sulfhydryl group, being sensitive to DTNB is located to the active center of an anionic binding site for the agonist, and controls opioid agonist binding through a proton transfer mechanism.     

Angioarchitecture of the esophagogastric veins in portal hypertension

Based on our previous studies on the human normal venous angioarchitecture of the esophagogastric transition segment, we performed a similar analysis in 25 postmortem specimens obtained from subjects with a diagnosis of portal hypertension. The specimens were injected with India ink or barium sulfate and sectioned for histological examination. A 'weak' zone (point of lesser resistance) was described as being the most probable site of origin for the development of varicosities in the complex venous system of the esophagogastric junction. Such a system can be considered to be a physiological hemodynamic venous blockade mechanism interposed between the portal system and the systemic veins. The 'weak' zone is made up by the scarce submucous veins (shunt veins), by the submucous confluent and final confluent trunks, and by the true perforating veins of the tunica muscularis which compose a venous unity located about 3-5.5 cm above the Z (epithelioglandular) line.     

Decrease in the Time-Dependent Difference in Urinary Excretion of Furosemide with Age

The influence of age on the time-dependent difference in urinary excretion of furosemide, a loop diuretic agent, was examined in this longitudinal study. Male Wistar rats were maintained under conditions of light from 07:00 to 19:00 h and dark from 19:00 to 07:00 h. Furosemide (30 mg/kg) was given orally at 12:00 h (day trial) or 00:00 h (night trial) to rats at 3 months of age, and urine was collected for 8 h after dosage. Thereafter, the identical protocol was repeated using the same animals at 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 months of age. The urinary excretion of furosemide was significantly greater in the day than in the night trial at 3 months of age. Such a time-dependent difference was observed for up to 15 months, but disappeared at 18 and 21 months of age. The time-dependent difference in urinary excretion of furosemide (day trial — night trial) decreased gradually throughout the observation period of the study. These results suggest that the time-dependent difference in the urinary excretion of furosemide diminishes during the aging process and disappears by 18 months of age in male Wistar rats.     

术前胸部CT检查对食管癌手术切除的价值

胸部CT不仅可作为一种诊断食管癌的辅助检查方法,而且对肿瘤的外浸程度、与周围器官关系、判断手术切除可能性能提供有价值的参考依据,弥补上消化道钡透及纤维胃镜检查的不足.随着相关领域研究的不断深入,术前胸部CT对食管癌的可切除判断的参考价值也越发重要与可靠,我们就术前胸部CT检查对食管癌手术切除做一综述.     

Integration of the mouse sperm fertilization-related protein equatorin into the acrosome during spermatogenesis as revealed by super-resolution and immunoelectron microscopy

Spermatids must precisely integrate specific molecules into structurally supported domains that develop during spermatogenesis. Once established, the architecture of the acrosome contributes to the acrosome reaction, which occurs prior to gamete interaction in mammals. The present study aims to clarify the morphology associated with the integration of the mouse fertilization-related acrosomal protein equatorin (mEQT) into the developing acrosome. EQT mRNA was first detected by in situ hybridization in round spermatids but disappeared in early elongating spermatids. The molecular size of mEQT was approximately 65 kDa in the testis. Developmentally, EQT protein was first detected on the nascent acrosomal membrane in round spermatids at approximately step 3, was actively integrated into the acrosomal membranes of round spermatids in the following step and then participated in acrosome remodeling in elongating spermatids. This process was clearly visualized by high-resolution fluorescence microscopy and super-resolution stimulated emission depletion nanoscopy by using newly generated C-terminally green-fluorescent-protein-tagged mEQT transgenic mice. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed that mEQT was anchored to the acrosomal membrane, with the epitope region observed as lying 5–70 nm away from the membrane and was associated with the electron-dense acrosomal matrix. This new information about the process of mEQT integration into the acrosome during spermatogenesis should provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying not only acrosome biogenesis but also fertilization and male infertility.     

Interaction of thromboxane A2 and leukotrienes in guinea pig airways in vivo.

Effects of a thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist (S-1452) on bronchoconstriction induced by inhaled leukotriene C4 and a leukotriene receptor antagonist (AS-35) on bronchoconstriction caused by inhalation of a thromboxane A2 mimetic (STA2) were studied in anesthetized, artificially ventilated guinea pigs in order to examine the interaction of thromboxane A2 and leukotrienes in airways. 0.01-1.0 mu g/ml of leukotriene C4 and 0.1-1.0 mu g/ml of STA 2 inhaled from ultrasonic nebulizer developed for small animals caused dose-dependent increase of pressure at the airway opening (Pao) which is considered to be an index representing bronchial response. Pretreatment of the animals with inhaled S-1452 (0.01, 0.033 mg/ml) significantly reduced the airway responses produced by 0.01,0.033,0.1,0.33 and 1.0 mu g/ml of leukotriene C4 in a dose dependent manner. While pretreatment with inhaled AS-35 (1mg) did not affect the STA2 dose-response curve. These findings suggest that leukotriene C4 activates thromboxane A2 generation while thromboxane A2 does not influence 5-lipoxygenase pathway in the airways.     

Mass changes in migrating birds: the evidence for fat and protein storage re-examined

The fact that one cannot kill a bird twice makes it very difficult to determine the relative contributions of fat and non-fat components to increases in body mass before migratory flights in individual birds. Knowing the relative contributions of these components is of obvious energetic interest since fat yields about eight times as much energy as fat-free muscle tissue. Several recent studies have failed to demonstrate convincingly, due to flaws in their analyses, that fat-free mass in addition to fat is accumulated before long-distance flights. We point out that regressions of fat or the non-fat component on total body mass cannot yield reliable estimates of the composition of individual mass changes in view of inter-individual variation in structural size, reserve levels or timing of storage. We suggest that studies over time of synchronous populations or marked individuals will give better answers. A re-analysis of published data indicates the widespread existence of fat-free tissue deposition during migration, whereas in some species fat alone explained the increase in total body mass. Larger species tend to incorporate a relatively higher proportion of non-fat components when increasing in mass. However, the comparative data set is not yet of sufficient quality to allow general statements on why, and to what extent in different individuals and species, non-fat tissue in addition to fat is deposited before take-off on migratory flights.     

雪灾后粤北山地常绿阔叶林优势树种幼苗更新动态

对遭受2008年雪灾破坏的车八岭山地常绿阔叶林进行连续3 a(2008-2010年)的监测,研究在冠层恢复过程中优势树种的林下幼苗动态,旨在了解幼苗灾后的更新规律及其对冠层结构变化(以叶面积指数LAI的变化来表示)的响应。结果表明,12个优势种的林下幼苗对冠层恢复有明显的响应。非参数的多元方差分析(perMANOVA)显示,优势种幼苗的组成和分布存在着极显著的年际差异(P<0.001);其中2008年与2009年及2010年的差异均极显著(P<0.001);2009年与2010年的差异不显著。这与冠层LAI的变化情况相应:2008年LAI最低,2009年LAI值迅速增加;2010与2009年相比LAI增长缓慢,并逐渐趋于稳定。不同的优势树种幼苗对样方中LAI变化的响应不同,阳性树种幼苗的相对多度和频度一般会随林分郁闭度的增加而锐减,阴性及耐阴树种幼苗数量则随冠层恢复而增加。随着冠层恢复,林下指示种截然变化。2008年的林下幼苗指示种为8个喜光的种类,而2010年则仅见较耐阴的香楠Randia canthioides 为指示种。指示种分析从另一个角度反映了幼苗对冠层恢复的响应。     

3种海拔高度茶园中2种害虫与其天敌间的数量和空间关系

用灰色系统分析法和生态位分析法对安徽省潜山县高、中、低3种海拔茶园中2种主要害虫与其天敌在数量和空间上的相互关系进行研讨,经综合排序得出:低海拔茶园假眼小绿叶蝉的主要天敌是锥腹肖蛸、茶色新圆蛛和鞍型花蟹蛛,中海拔茶园为八点球腹蛛、锥腹肖蛸和鞍型花蟹蛛,高海拔茶园为锥腹肖蛸、茶色新圆蛛和草间小黒蛛。低海拔茶园柑橘粉虱的主要天敌是八点球腹蛛、茶色新圆蛛和异色瓢虫,中海拔茶园为鞍型花蟹蛛、八点球腹蛛和茶色新圆蛛,高海拔茶园为锥腹肖蛸、八点球腹蛛和斑管巢蛛。上述几种天敌与2种主要害虫在数量和空间上有显著的追随关系。不同海拔高度茶园中2种主要害虫的主要天敌种类存在差异。