Pterostilbene protects vascular endothelial cells against oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo

Vascular endothelial cell (VEC) apoptosis is the main event occurring during the development of atherosclerosis. Pterostilbene (PT), a natural dimethylated analog of resveratrol, has been the subject of intense research in cancer and inflammation. However, the protective effects of PT against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced apoptosis in VECs have not been clarified. We investigated the anti-apoptotic effects of PT in vitro and in vivo in mice. PT at 0.1–5 μM possessed antioxidant properties comparable to that of trolox in a cell-free system. Exposure of human umbilical vein VECs (HUVECs) to oxLDL (200 μg/ml) induced cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and cell apoptosis, but PT protected against such injuries. In addition, PT injection strongly decreased the number of TUNEL-positive cells in the endothelium of atherosclerotic plaque from apoE^−/− mice. OxLDL increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, NF-κB activation, p53 accumulation, apoptotic protein levels and caspases-9 and -3 activities and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and cytochrome c release in HUVECs. These alterations were attenuated by pretreatment with PT. PT inhibited the expression of lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) expression in vitro and in vivo. Cotreatment with PT and siRNA of LOX-1 synergistically reduced oxLDL-induced apoptosis in HUVECs. Overexpression of LOX-1 attenuated the protection by PT and suppressed the effects of PT on oxLDL-induced oxidative stress. PT may protect HUVECs against oxLDL-induced apoptosis by downregulating LOX-1-mediated activation through a pathway involving oxidative stress, p53, mitochondria, cytochrome c and caspase protease. PT might be a potential natural anti-apoptotic agent for the treatment of atherosclerosis.     

Bt rice expressing Cry1Ab does not stimulate an outbreak of its non-target herbivore, Nilaparvata lugens

In this study, the non-target effects of Bt rice “KMD2” expressing a Cry1Ab protein on the performance of the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, over multiple generations were evaluated under laboratory and field conditions. In the laboratory, BPH was reared to observe the impact of the Bt rice as compared to its parental non-Bt cultivar Xiushui 11, while the population dynamics and oviposition performance of BPH were investigated in the field. The survival of BPH nymphs fed Bt and non-Bt rice did not differ significantly. The nymph developmental duration of BPH was significantly delayed by the Bt rice by comparison with the non-Bt rice for the 1st and 2nd but not the 4th generation. Most importantly, the fecundity of BPH on the Bt rice was significantly decreased in every generation when compared with the non-Bt rice. In the field investigations, the population density of BPH nymphs was significantly lower in the Bt rice field. However, the temporal pattern of population dynamics of BPH adults was similar between the Bt and non-Bt rice, presumably due to migratory interference of the adults. In the Bt rice field, the percentage of tillers with eggs and the number of eggs per tiller were also significantly lower from tillering to mature stage. Additionally, Cry1Ab protein could not be detected in guts from single BPH adults. In general, our results suggest that the Bt rice “KMD2” could not stimulate an outbreak of BPH.     

杂交试验中的最佳样本含量

杂交试验是一项费时费钱的工作,因此在进行试验之前如能进行严密的设计,给出试验所需的样本大小是十分必要的,统计学中常见的估计样本容理的公式不宜应用于杂交试验,本文分两种情况给出了杂交试验中样本容量的估计公式,据此估计出的样本容量安排杂交试验,可在满足试验者要求的条件下,使试验的总成本最低或使试畜的总头数最少。     

华中五味子ISSR-PCR反应体系优化及引物筛选

系统研究了华中五味子ISSR PCR反应体系中的主要影响因子,确立华中五味子ISSR-PCR最适反应体系,并筛选出12条有效引物。单因子实验结果显示,华中五味子ISSR-PCR反应体系中各主要成分的适宜浓度范围为,Mg²⁺ 1.50~3.50 mmol·L^-1,dNTPs 0.10~0.35 mmol·L^-1,引物0.25~0.60 μmol·L^-1,Taq酶0.50~1.50 U。4因子3水平正交实验确立了最适反应体系,即20 μL体系中包含2.50 mmol·L^-1 Mg²⁺、0.20 mmol·L^-1 dNTPs、0.25 μmol·L^-1引物、1.50 U Taq酶、60 ng DNA模板、2.50 μL 10×PCR Buffer。本研究为华中五味子种质资源的评估及遗传多样性分析奠定基础。     

大鼠胰腺发育过程中AFP动态表达的意义

目的:探索大鼠胰腺发育过程中AFP动态表达的意义.方法:采用高密度寡核苷酸芯片对胚胎12.5天(E12.5)、E15.5、E18.5、初生和成年大鼠胰腺进行基因转录水平分析.结果:AFP显著高表达于E18.5大鼠胰腺,AFP在胚胎期的动态表达趋势与胰腺功能细胞标志物以及可能介导AFP促细胞增殖效应的有关信号系统成员的表达趋势一致.结论:AFP在大鼠胰腺发育过程中动态表达的生物学意义可能在于参与胰腺发育调控.     

用荧光物质浸泡标记胭脂鱼仔、稚鱼耳石

用茜素络合物和盐酸四环素溶液分别对胭脂鱼（Myxocyprinus asiaticus）仔、稚鱼浸泡标记,结果表明,100～200mg／L的茜素络合物溶液浸泡24h对胭脂鱼仔、稚鱼耳石有很好的标记效果。相同浸泡浓度下,随着日龄的增长,耳石上的荧光反应强度降低。三对耳石中,微耳石和矢耳石对茜素络合物较敏感,星耳石敏感性则较低。盐酸四环素溶液对仔、稚鱼耳石的标记效果很差,浸泡液浓度为100mg／L和120mg/L时,仅能在微耳石上检测到较弱的荧光标记,而150mg／L及以上浓度的浸泡液对稚鱼有较高的致死作用。因此,茜素络合物是对胭脂鱼早期鱼苗进行化学标记比较合适的荧光物质,而盐酸四环素不适于标记该鱼的耳石。在对标记鱼进行荧光检测时,矢耳石和微耳石是适合的材料。     

一个离散单种群动力系统的超临界Flip分支和Hoph分支(英文)

文中考虑一个非线性的具有年龄阶段结构的单种群离散模型,致力于揭示该系统的动力学行为,说明了系统在分支阈值附近会出现超临界Flip分支和Hoph分支.与一些文献不同的是文中用数学工具给出证明过程而不是用数值模拟的结果说明.     

LPA induces osteoblast differentiation through interplay of two receptors: LPA1 and LPA4

The bioactive phospholipid, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), acting through at least five distinct receptors LPA1–LPA5, plays important roles in numerous biological processes. Here we report that LPA induces osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells hMSC‐TERT. We find that hMSC‐TERT mostly express two LPA receptors, LPA1 and LPA4, and undergo osteoblastic differentiation in serum‐containing medium. Inhibition of LPA1 with Ki16425 completely abrogates osteogenesis, indicating that this process is mediated by LPA in the serum through activation of LPA1. In contrast to LPA1, down‐regulation of LPA4 expression with shRNA significantly increases osteogenesis, suggesting that this receptor normally exerts negative effects on differentiation. Mechanistically, we find that in hMSC‐TERT, LPA induces a rise in both cAMP and Ca²⁺. The rise in Ca²⁺ is completely abolished by Ki16425, whereas LPA‐mediated cAMP increase is not sensitive to Ki16425. To test if LPA signaling pathways controlling osteogenesis in vitro translate into animal physiology, we evaluated the bones of LPA4‐deficient mice. Consistent with the ability of LPA4 to inhibit osteoblastic differentiation of stem cells, LPA4‐deficient mice have increased trabecular bone volume, number, and thickness. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 794–800, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

社会等级研究现状及存在的问题

对国内外有关社会等级形成原因、表现形式及功能的研究进行了综述。目前,多数对社会等级的研究集中在社会等级的表现形式和功能2个方面,而对社会等级形成原因的了解比较少,今后应加强此方面的研究,有利于对社会等级进化意义的深入理解。     

中国土地利用多功能性动态的区域分析

当前,国际学术界针对土地利用的研究正由土地利用格局变化向土地空间多功能变化及其可持续性的方向发展,其宗旨是确定和度量土地多元化利用所提供的产品、服务和功能,及其带来的环境和社会经济效应,实现对土地利用的科学管理。基于可持续发展三维度的理念及其指标体系,界定并定量评价了我国区域土地利用的10项功能,深入研究了在经济快速发展、生态环境保护紧密相随的过去20a间,各项功能的时空变化特征。研究表明,我国土地多功能性的10项功能中,就业支持功能表现出区域增减不一的特点,生态过程维持功能具有高度的稳定性。健康保障、交通功能、居住家园、生物性土地生产、人工化土地生产、资源供给与维持、污染接收器、景观与文化支持功能在各个区域得到了不断改善与提高,但各个功能变化的强势区和弱势区在时空分布上表现出了很强的区域性特点。区域自然条件禀赋、社会经济条件以及土地利用政策在功能变化中起着关键作用。研究结果揭出中国区域土地多功能性尚存在巨大的提升空间;土地政策应具有系统性、功能针对性和时空针对性,并应关注土地利用功能变化的链发效应。