Blockage of glucocorticoid receptors during memory acquisition, retrieval and reconsolidation prevents the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preferences in mice

Association between the reward caused by consuming drugs and the context in which they are consumed is essential in the formation of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Glucocorticoid receptor (GRs) activation in different regions of the brain affects reward-based reinforcement and memory processing. A wide array of studies have demonstrated that blockage of GRs in some brain areas can have an effect on reward-related memory; however, to date there have been no systematic studies about the involvement of glucocorticoids (GCs) in morphine-related reward memory. Here, we used the GR antagonist RU38486 to investigate how GRs blockage affects the sensitization and CPP behavior during different phases of reward memory included acquisition, retrieval and reconsolidation. Interestingly, our results showed RU38486 has the ability to impair the acquisition, retrieval and reconsolidation of reward-based memory in CPP and sensitization behavior. But RU38486 by itself cannot induce CPP or conditioned place aversion (CPA) behavior. Our data provide a much more complete picture of the potential effects that glucocorticoids have on the reward memory of different phases and inhibit the sensitization behavior.     

New fossil hangingflies (Insecta: Mecoptera: Raptipedia: Cimbrophlebiidae) from the Middle Jurassic of Inner Mongolia,China

Abstract: Two new genera with six new species of hangingflies (Mecoptera: Raptipedia: Cimbrophlebiidae) are described. They were collected from the Middle Jurassic nonmarine sedimentary strata of the Jiulongshan Formation in Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, north‐eastern China. This report of Cimbrophlebiidae from the Yanliao Biota provides detailed morphological information and evidence of a broad diversity of Cimbrophlebiidae during the Middle Jurassic. A key to the known species of Cimbrophlebiidae is provided.     

Effects of drip irrigation on deep root distribution, rooting depth, and soil water profile of jujube in a semiarid region

Aims

Aimed to understand how soil water was depleted by deep roots, the effects of drip irrigation and stand age on the deep root distribution, rooting depth, and soil water profile dynamics were investigated in a jujube (Ziziphus jujube Mill. CV. Lizao) plantation.

Methods

A soil coring method with a LuoYang shovel was used for sampling until no more roots were found.

Results

It showed that the maximum fine rooting depth (<2 mm in diameter) increased with stand age and it extended deep into the soil rapidly during the first 4 years, but more slowly in the subsequent 4 years. The maximum rooting depth reached 5 m in a 9-year-old jujube plantation, but it stabilized and did not increase thereafter. However, it was 10 m in a 12-year-old jujube plantation that lacked irrigation.

Conclusions

We found that the application of 33.3 mm of irrigation water (equivalent to 7 % of the local annual precipitation) could halve the maximum rooting depth, thereby reducing deep soil water depletion. Our results showed that a low-volume water supply reduced the maximum rooting depth in jujube and prevented the depletion of the deep soil water. Appropriate drip irrigation is an effective water management strategy for sustainable artificial forest development in semiarid regions.     

崇明东滩鸟类栖息地优化区越冬水鸟的栖息地利用及影响因子

阐明水鸟栖息地利用与环境因子的关系有助于制定针对性的水鸟保护对策。本研究在2012~2013年冬季对崇明东滩鸟类栖息地优化区内越冬水鸟的种类、数量以及6种环境因子(植被面积比例、裸地面积比例、水深、地形变异、栖息地结构多样性和干扰)进行调查,以了解水鸟对人工湿地的栖息地利用及其影响因子。野外调查共记录到水鸟24种9 018只,其中优势种为斑嘴鸭(Anas poecilorhyncha)和绿头鸭(A.platyrhynchos);栖息地优化区内水鸟休息的个体数量占总数量的79.2%,这表明优化区是大多数水鸟的休息地,而小(Tachybaptus ruficollis)、白骨顶(Fulica atra)、黑水鸡(Gallinula chloropus)、白琵鹭(Platalea leucorodia)和黑脸琵鹭(P.minor)的觅食个体数量超过60%,说明优化区也为这些鸟类提供了觅食地。逐步回归分析表明,裸地面积比例是影响越冬水鸟种类分布的最主要因子;尽管游禽在地形变异较大、植被面积比例较低的区域数量较多,但在休息时游禽更偏好于裸地面积比例较高的区域,而涉禽休息时偏好于地形变异较大的区域。为增加栖息地优化区内的水鸟多样性,建议在优化区内种植水鸟可食的沉水植物以增加水鸟的食物资源,同时增加裸地面积比例和地形变异程度,更好地为水鸟提供栖息地。     

宁夏10种观赏灌木叶片解剖结构及其抗旱性综合评价

采用显微制片技术,对宁夏10种主要灌木树种叶片的解剖结构进行了观察,分别测定了叶片厚度、上下角质层厚度、栅栏组织、海绵组织、气孔密度等15个与抗旱性相关的指标,并对15个指标进行主成分分析,用隶属函数法对10种灌木的抗旱性进行了综合评价。结果表明:10种灌木的叶片具有典型的旱生结构,大多数具有表皮毛,且具有明显的角质层结构;上、下表皮细胞及叶肉细胞排列紧密。15个指标在各灌木树种间的差异均极显著,其中叶片厚度、上角质层、栅栏组织厚度、气孔密度和主脉维管束直径为叶片旱性结构的主要因子。通过5个主要因子的综合评价,10种灌木的抗旱性大小顺序依次为:沙冬青>花棒>蒙古莸>金叶莸>互叶醉鱼草>蒙古扁桃>鞑靼忍冬>葱皮忍冬>金花忍冬>台尔曼忍冬。     

His-234是毛白杨对香豆酸 ∶ CoA连接酶的重要酶催化活性残基

对香豆酸∶CoA连接酶(4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase,4CL)是植物苯丙烷类代谢途径中的一个重要的酶．4CL以肉桂酸衍生物(香豆酸、咖啡酸、阿魏酸等)、ATP和CoA为底物合成相应的酰基-CoA酯,这些酰基-CoA酯是一系列重要化合物(如木质素)的前体．4CL的酶催化反应分两步进行：第一步以肉桂酸衍生物和Mg² -ATP为底物合成酰基-AMP,第二步用CoA取代AMP,产生酰基-CoA酯,催化过程中酶的构象产生明显的变化．因为4CL在木质素的合成中所起的作用,这个酶是通过蛋白质工程方法改进林产品质量的重要靶标．我们通过X射线衍射技术,解析了毛白杨对香豆酸∶CoA连接酶1(Pt4CL1)与其中间产物对香豆酰-AMP的复合物晶体结构,与同家族成员结构比对,确定所获得的蛋白质结构为Pt4CL1催化第二步反应,即酰基-CoA酯合成的构象．结构分析表明：His-234残基在Pt4CL1的酶催化机理中起着多重作用,即通过侧链与AMP磷酸基团形成氢键,降低磷酸基团的负电荷,催化CoA的亲核取代反应;侧链可以采取两种不同的构象以调节CoA进入Pt4CL1的催化中心;His-234的侧链还可能夺取CoA巯基的质子,从而增强CoA的亲核反应活性．突变体酶活数据结果也显示His-234对Pt4CL1的活性非常重要,是Pt4CL1催化中心的活性残基．     

高寒草地狼毒与阴山扁蓿豆种群的空间格局

不同的格局类型和空间关联性可以反映出干扰状态下天然草地植物种群的资源环境适应对策.采用草地群落学调查与点格局分析方法,分析了祁连山北坡高寒草地优势种群更替过程中狼毒和阴山扁蓿豆种群的空间格局及其种间关联关系.结果表明:随着草地退化程度加剧,狼毒种群地上生物量、密度、植株高度持续增加,空间分布类型由聚集分布转变为非聚集分布,阴山扁蓿豆种群高度逐渐降低,种群密度和地上生物量先增大后减小,空间分布类型由均匀或聚集分布转为随机分布;狼毒和阴山扁蓿豆的空间关联性由显著正关联区间不断增大转为关联性不显著.草地退化过程中群落上层禾草西北针茅种群的衰退以及狼毒和阴山扁蓿豆的植株高度差异,导致了植物对光资源的非对称性竞争,使二者的资源分配策略发生了调整,并影响了空间分布格局和种间关联性.     

Synergistic antitumor activity of reversine combined with aspirin in cervical carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

A recent report showed that reversine treatment could induce murine myoblasts dedifferentiation into multipotent progenitor cells and inhibit proliferation of some tumors, and other reports showed that apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells could be induced by aspirin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the synergistic antitumor effects of reversine and aspirin on cervical cancer. The inhibition rate of reversine and aspirin on cervical cancer cell lines’ (HeLa and U14) was determined by MTT method, cell cycle of HeLa and U14 cells was analyzed by FACS, mitochondrial membrane potential of HeLa and U14 was detected using a JC-1 kit. HeLa and U14 colony formation was analyzed by soft agar colony formation assay. The expression of caspase-3, Bcl-2/Bax, cyclin D1 and p21 was detected by qRT-PCR and Western Blotting. Moreover, tumor weight and tumor volume was assessed using a murine model of cervical cancer with U14 cells subcutaneously (s.c.) administered into the neck, separately or combined with drug administration via the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. The inhibition rate of cells in the combination group (10 μmol/L reversine, 10 mmol/L aspirin) increased significantly in comparison to that when the drugs were used alone (P < 0.05); moreover, this combination could synergistically inhibit the proliferation of five cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, U14, Siha, Caski and C33A). In the therapeutic mouse model, tumor weight and tumor volume of cervical cancer bearing mice was more reduced when compared with the control agents (P < 0.05) in tumor-bearing mice. The combination of reversine and aspirin exerts synergistic growth inhibition and apoptosis induction on cervical cancers cells.     

Proteomic analysis of kidney and protective effects of grape seed procyanidin B2 in db/db mice indicate MFG-E8 as a key molecule in the development of diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy, as a severe microvascular complication of diabetic mellitus, has become the leading cause of end-stage renal diseases. However, no effective therapeutic strategy has been developed to prevent renal damage progression to end stage renal disease. Hence, the present study evaluated the protective effects of grape seed procyanidin B2 (GSPB2) and explored its molecular targets underlying diabetic nephropathy by a comprehensive quantitative proteomic analysis in db/db mice. Here, we found that oral administration of GSPB2 significantly attenuated the renal dysfunction and pathological changes in db/db mice. Proteome analysis by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) identified 53 down-regulated and 60 up-regulated proteins after treatment with GSPB2 in db/db mice. Western blot analysis confirmed that milk fat globule EGF-8 (MFG-E8) was significantly up-regulated in diabetic kidney. MFG-E8 silencing by transfection of MFG-E8 shRNA improved renal histological lesions by inhibiting phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1?2), Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3β) in kidneys of db/db mice. In contrast, over-expression of MFG-E8 by injection of recombinant MFG-E8 resulted in the opposite effects. GSPB2 treatment significantly decreased protein levels of MFG-E8, phospho-ERK1/2, phospho-Akt, and phospho-GSK-3β in the kidneys of db/db mice. These findings yield insights into the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, revealing MFG-E8 as a new therapeutic target and indicating GSPB2 as a prospective therapy by down-regulation of MFG-E8, along with ERK1/2, Akt and GSK-3β signaling pathway.