Roles of ionotropic glutamate receptors in early developing neurons derived from the P19 mouse cell line

We cultured a P19 mouse teratocarcinoma cell line and induced its neuronal differentiation to study the function of ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs) in early neuronal development. Immunocytochemical studies showed 85% neuronal population at 5 days in vitro (DIV) with microtubule-associated protein 2-positive staining. Thirty percent and 50% of the cells expressed the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isopropinonate (AMPA) receptor subunit, GluR2/3, and the kainate (kainic acid; KA) receptor subunit, GluR5/6/7, respectively. In Western blot analysis, the temporal expression of GluR2/3 began to appear at 3 DIV, whereas GluR5/6/7 was already expressed in the undifferentiated cells. P19-derived neurons began to respond to glutamate, AMPA and KA, but not to the metabotropic GluR agonist trans-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-decarboxylic acid, by 5 DIV in terms of increases in intracellular calcium and phospholipase C-mediated poly-phosphoinositide turnover. Furthermore, KA reduced cell death of P19-derived neurons in both atmospheric and hypobaric conditions in a phospholipase C-dependent manner. The common AMPA/KA receptor antagonist, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, but not the AMPA receptor antagonist, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-nitro-2,3-dioxo-benzo[f]quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide disodium, profoundly increased hypobaric insult-induced neurotoxicity. In a flow cytometry study, the nerve growth factor-mediated antiapoptotic effect was facilitated by AMPA, with an induction of TrkA, but not p75(NTR) expression. Therefore, AMPA and KA receptors might mediate neurotrophic functions to facilitate neurotrophic factor signaling to protect neurons against hypoxic insult in early neuronal development.     

Systematic position of Nannoglottis Maxim. s.l. (Asteraceae): karyomorphological data

This paper describes for the first time the karyomorphology of 4 populations of 2 species of Nannoglottis Maxim. s. l. The two species both show the resting nuclei of the complex chromocenter type and the mitotic prophase chromosomes of the interstitial type. The karyotype formula of N. gynura is 2n = 18 = 14m + 2sm + 2st(SAT) in two populations while that of N. carpesioides is 2n = 18 = 14m + 2sm(2SAT) + 2st in two populations. The two species under study represent two sections of Nannoglottis s. l. N. gynura, the only species of sect. Stenolepis, is considered as the most primitive member of the genus. Accordingly, the basic chromosome number of the genus might be x＝9. Karyomorphological data indicate that Nannoglottis should be placed in the tribe Astereaerather than in the Inuleae and the Senecioneae.     

Up‐Regulation and Redistribution of Bax in Ultraviolet B‐Irradiated Melanocytes

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation may activate or deteriorate cultured human epidermal melanocytes, depending on the doses and culture conditions. It is also reported that cultured human epidermal melanocytes derived from different pigmentary phenotypes showed different responses to UVB radiation. In this study, we examined whether apoptosis of melanocytes can be induced by physiologic doses of UVB irradiation using cultured human epidermal melanocytes derived from oriental males of skin types III and IV. Propidium iodide staining for DNA condensation and flow cytometric analyses demonstrated the apoptotic cell death of melanocytes following UVB irradiation (0–30 mJ/cm²). The levels of p53, Bax, and Bcl‐2, determined by immunoblotting, revealed a dose‐dependent increase in p53 and Bax, but the level of Bcl‐2 remained unchanged. Confocal microscopic examination showed that Bax moved from a diffuse to a punctate distribution after UVB irradiation. However, there were no changes in the pattern of distribution of Bcl‐2. These data suggest that the high constitutional level of Bcl‐2 may protect melanocytes from UVB‐induced injury, and that apoptotic death of melanocytes may be induced by the elevation and redistribution of Bax.     

心房钠尿肽对大鼠主动脉弓压力感受器活动的影响

在隔离灌流的大鼠主动脉弓－主动脉神经标本上,观察了心房肽Ⅲ（ａｔｒｉｏｐｅｐｔｉｎⅢ,ＡＰⅢ）对主动脉弓压力感受器活动的影响。主动脉弓内压保持１３．３ｋＰａ条件下向灌流液中加入ＡＰⅢ（２．０μｇ／ｍｌ）后,主动脉神经传入放电较对照值增加６４±２７％（Ｐ＜０．００１）;升降灌流压时,主动脉神经传入放电随之增减,饱和压（ＳＰ）由２２．５±０．５降至２１．３±０．５ｋＰａ（Ｐ＜０．０５）,工作范围（ＯＲ）由１２．１±０．４降至１０．６±０．４ｋＰａ（Ｐ＜０．０５）,阈压（ＴＰ）无明显变化;压力感受器机能曲线向左上方移位,曲线的最大积分值（ＰＩＶ）由５０８±６６％增至７３０±５２％（Ｐ＜０．０５）,曲线最大斜率（ＰＳ）由５５．６±７．５增至９３．２±６．８％·ｋＰａ－１（Ｐ＜０．０５）;冲洗掉ＡＰⅢ后,主动脉神经传入放电基本恢复至对照水平．主动脉弓内压保持在１３．３ｋＰａ条件下,向灌流液中加入硝普钠（ＮＰ,１．０μｇ／ｍｌ）,主动脉神经传入放电虽有所减少,但无统计学意义（Ｐ＞０．０５）;升降灌流压时,ＴＰ,ＳＰ,ＯＲ均无明显变化,对压力感受器机能曲线及ＰＳ也无显著影响,而ＰＩＶ由６６７±７８降至５０２±７４％（Ｐ＜     

Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Fifty microsatellite sequences (SSRs) were isolated from an enriched library of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) using a modified protocol. After screening, 10 polymorphic microsatellites were used to determine their usefulness in diversity analysis among 16 sesame accessions. The number of alleles ranged from three to six alleles per locus with an average of 4.6 alleles. The fragment size varied from 150 bp to 307 bp. Expected heterozygosites (H_E) and polymorphism information contents (PICs) ranged from 0.437 to 0.858 and 0.34 to 0.80, respectively, which indicates the highly informative nature of the microsatellites reported here. These microsatellite markers will be very useful in diversity analysis among a large germplasm collection of sesame present in our Korean gene bank and also in the establishment of its core collection.     

Characterization of new microsatellite markers in mung bean,Vigna radiata (L.)

The present work reports the isolation and characterization of new polymorphic microsatellites in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.). Of 93 designed primer pairs, seven were found to amplify polymorphic microsatellite loci, which were then characterized using 34 mung bean accessions. The number of alleles ranged from two to five alleles per locus with an average of three alleles. Observed and expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0 to 0.088 and from 0.275 to 0.683, respectively. All seven loci showed significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, whereas only one pairwise combination (GBssr‐MB77 and GBssr‐MB91) exhibited significant departure from linkage disequilibrium. These newly developed markers are currently being utilized for diversity assessment within the mung bean germplasm collection of the Korean Gene Bank.     

Transport of 14C-labelled Assimilates and 32P-labelled Phosphate in Salix viminalis in Relation to Phyllotaxis and Leaf Age

Autoradiographic techniques have been used to investigate thetransport of ¹⁴C-assimilates and ³²P-phosphate in relation tophyllotaxis and age of leaves in Salix viminalis. The leavesborne on the young shoots of S. viminalis are arranged in fiveorthostichies. Three of these orthostichies share one main transportchannel, a second channel being shared by the leaves on theremaining two orthostichies. Where two orthostichies are separatedby an angular distance of 72°, transport may occur betweenleaves on these orthostichies. In addition to the phyllotaxis of the leafy shoot, it has beendemonstrated that the age of the leaf is a factor which determinesthe distribution of materials between leaves.     

中国大陆的腐霉属菌物

综述了中国大陆腐霉属的研究进展,内容包括腐霉属菌物的发生、分布、分类鉴定、致病性、所致植物病害防治及腐霉的利用等方面.至今,中国已报道的腐霉属菌物有64个种,其中有13个种作为世界新种进行了描述,这13个新种分别为:顶生腐霉Pythium acrogynum,孤雌腐霉P.amasculinum,百色腐霉P.baisense,北方腐霉P.boreale,短枝腐霉P.breve,壁合腐霉P.connatum,镰雄腐霉P.falciforme,贵阳腐霉P.guiyangense,广西腐霉P.guangxiense,下雄腐霉P.hypoandrum,昆明腐霉P.kummingense,南宁腐霉尸nanningense和中国腐霉P.sinensis.瓜果腐霉Pythium aphanidermatum为优势种,在全国普遍引起多种植物严重的猝倒病和根、茎、叶、果腐烂病.其中,大多数腐霉种对植物具有致病性,44个种寄生植物,1个种:紫菜腐霉P.porphyrae寄生红藻和紫菜,2个种:卡地腐霉P.carolinianum 和贵阳腐霉P.guiyangense寄生蚊子幼虫,2个种:努氏腐霉P.nunn和寡雄腐霉P.oligandrum 是真菌的重寄生菌.相比之下,台湾报道的腐霉种有48种(其中新种1个:四季腐霉P.sukuiense),海南报道的腐霉种有28种.对中国大陆腐霉属的研究前景也进行了讨论.     

Effects of Ethylene and Sucrose on Translocation of Dry Matter and 14C-Sucrose in the Cut Flower of the Glasshouse Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) During Senescence

The translocation and distribution of dry matter were studiedin the floral and vegetative parts of the cut carnation duringsenescence. The change in dry weights of the tissues and theamount of radioactivity recovered from them after feeding with¹⁴C-sucrose were measured. Treatments with ethylene and sucrosewere used to alter the rate of senescence of the flowers. Sucrosemoved through the stem relatively unchanged but was rapidlyinverted and metabolized in the petals. During natural ageing,¹⁴C moved from the stem to the flower and the movement was enhancedby exogenous sucrose, which also reduced the loss of dry matterin the petals and promoted their growth. Treatment with ethylenecaused petals to wilt and lose dry weight, and ovaries to enlargeand increase in dry weight. The distribution of radioactivityin flowers fed with 14C-sucrose before and after ethylene treatmentsupported the observation that dry matter was translocated betweenthe flower parts. The results indicate that a change in thesource-ink relationships of the flower parts contributes tothe factors that determine the rate of flower senescence.