D-半乳糖致衰老模型大鼠的学习记忆和行为学观察及中药干预作用

目的观察D-半乳糖致衰老模型大鼠学习记忆能力和行为学情况,并探讨中药的干预作用。方法大鼠每日一次颈背部皮下注射5%D-半乳糖100 mg/kg。诱导大鼠衰老模型,连续7周,观察衰老模型大鼠的自主活动次数、空间记忆能力、主动回避遭受电击能力、探究活动等行为学表现和学习记忆能力,并用抗衰老片与首乌延寿片进行干预,观察中药的干预作用。结果皮下注射D-半乳糖造模后,衰老模型大鼠自主活动次数显著减少（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,水迷宫试验探索路径长度和搜台潜伏期显著延长（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）,旷场试验移动路程长度和直立次数显著减少（P〈0.01）,穿梭回避试验平均潜伏期、进入错误区时间显著增加（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。给予抗衰老片与首乌延寿片干预后,衰老大鼠的自主活动次数显著增加（P〈0.01）,水迷宫试验探索路径长度和搜台潜伏期显著缩短（P〈0.01）,旷场试验移动路程长度和直立次数显著增加（P〈0.01）,穿梭回避试验平均潜伏期、进入错误区时间显著减少（P〈0.05,P〈0.01）。结论D-半乳糖致衰老模型大鼠的自主活动次数减少,对新环境探索能力下降,学习记忆力下降;抗衰老片与首乌延寿片等中药可有效增强衰老模型大鼠的行为活动,提高衰老模型大鼠的学习记忆能力。     

D-半乳糖致衰老模型大鼠体征和骨髓DNA含量的改变与中药干预作用

目的观察D-半乳糖致衰老模型大鼠的一般症状、皮肤状况、饮食嗜好及骨髓细胞DNA含量的变化,并探讨中药抗衰老的作用及其机制。方法大鼠每日一次皮下注射D-半乳糖,连续7周,建立衰老大鼠模型,观察衰老大鼠的一般症状和体重变化,测定其皮肤含水量、糖水消耗量和骨髓细胞DNA含量,并用抗衰老片和首乌延寿片进行干预,观察中药对衰老模型大鼠的干预作用。结果大鼠皮下注射D-半乳糖后,逐渐出现体重增长缓慢、行动迟缓、精神不振、嗜睡、被毛卷曲枯黄、光泽欠佳、尾部出现色素斑点等衰老症状,并在造模第5周出现体重下降,造模7周后,衰老大鼠的皮肤含水量和糖水消耗量明显减少（P〈0.05）,骨髓细胞的DNA含量亦明显减少（P〈0.01）;给予抗衰老片和首乌延寿片后,均可不同程度地延缓衰老症状,缓解体重的下降,显著提高皮肤的含水量和糖水消耗量（P〈0.01）,同时,明显提高骨髓细胞DNA含量（P〈0.05）。结论D-半乳糖致衰老大鼠模型的衰老体征明显,机体抗DNA损伤的能力下降,而抗衰老片和首乌延寿片等中药可明显改善衰老模型大鼠的衰老症状,其作用机制可能与提高机体修复DNA损伤的能力有关。     

ATP-mediated cell–cell signaling in the organ of Corti: the role of connexin channels

Connexin 26 (Cx26) and connexin 30 (Cx30) form hemichannels that release ATP from the endolymphatic surface of cochlear supporting and epithelial cells and also form gap junction (GJ) channels that allow the concomitant intercellular diffusion of Ca²⁺ mobilizing second messengers. Released ATP in turn activates G-protein coupled P2Y₂ and P2Y₄ receptors, PLC-dependent generation of IP₃, release of Ca²⁺ from intracellular stores, instigating the regenerative propagation of intercellular Ca²⁺ signals (ICS). The range of ICS propagation is sensitive to the concentration of extracellular divalent cations and activity of ectonucleotidases. Here, the expression patterns of Cx26 and Cx30 were characterized in postnatal cochlear tissues obtained from mice aged between P5 and P6. The expression gradient along the longitudinal axis of the cochlea, decreasing from the basal to the apical cochlear turn (CT), was more pronounced in outer sulcus (OS) cells than in inner sulcus (IS) cells. GJ-mediated dye coupling was maximal in OS cells of the basal CT, inhibited by the nonselective connexin channel blocker carbenoxolone (CBX) and absent in hair cells. Photostimulating OS cells with caged inositol (3,4,5) tri-phosphate (IP₃) resulted in transfer of ICS in the lateral direction, from OS cells to IS cells across the hair cell region (HCR) of medial and basal CTs. ICS transfer in the opposite (medial) direction, from IS cells photostimulated with caged IP₃ to OS cells, occurred mostly in the basal CT. In addition, OS cells displayed impressive rhythmic activity with oscillations of cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) coordinated by the propagation of Ca²⁺ wavefronts sweeping repeatedly through the same tissue area along the coiling axis of the cochlea. Oscillations evoked by uncaging IP₃ or by applying ATP differed greatly, by as much as one order of magnitude, in frequency and waveform rise time. ICS evoked by direct application of ATP propagated along convoluted cellular paths in the OS, which often branched and changed dynamically over time. Potential implications of these findings are discussed in the context of developmental regulation and cochlear pathophysiology.     

不同地理来源头花蓼的遗传多样性与没食子酸含量相关性分析

应用ISSR-PCR和HPLC方法研究了头花蓼的遗传多样性与没食子酸之间的关系。ISSR结果显示居群总的遗传变异较大(Ht=0.2746),居群内的遗传变异较小(Hs=0.0804),居群间的遗传分化大于居群内的遗传分化。没食子酸含量经SPSS17.0分析显示,各居群间和居群内个体的没食子酸含量差异较大,居群间没食子酸含量范围在0.1738%～0.3306%,其中云南腾冲县,贵州台江县、纳雍县、余庆县、晴隆和毕节县居群间没食子酸含量差异均达到显著水平。通过对头花蓼48个地理居群的遗传多样性与没食子酸含量的相关分析,表明云南腾冲,贵州台江、毕节市亮岩镇、晴隆、盘县居群的遗传多样性指数、没食子酸含量较高,不仅可以作为人工育种的选育材料,而且对于头花蓼种植适生地区划研究具有很好的参考价值。     

颈交感神经阻滞对严重烧伤大鼠肾脏的保护作用及其机制研究

目的:观察颈交感神经阻滞(CSB)对严重烧伤大鼠肾脏的保护作用,并对其可能机制进行初步探讨。方法:制作放烧严重烧伤伤大鼠大鼠模型,在伤后即刻及连续4天内进行双侧颈交感神经阻滞,观察生命体征、肾功能指标、肾脏组织学改变、血流灌注、抗氧化能力、肾组织Bcl-2表达改变。结果:经过颈交感神经阻滞处理后,伤后各时相点动物肾功能均较对照组为好,组织学病变减轻,器官血流量下降幅度减小,总抗氧化能力好于对照组,免疫组化显示CSB组肾组织中Bcl-2的表达较严重烧伤组明显增高。结论:颈交感神经阻滞可改善严重烧伤大鼠肾脏血液灌注,增强抗氧化能力,预防伤后肾脏功能损害。     

Inhibitors of foot and mouth disease virus targeting a novel pocket of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Background

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) is a picornavirus that infects cloven-hoofed animals and leads to severe losses in livestock production. In the case of an FMD outbreak, emergency vaccination requires at least 7 days to trigger an effective immune response. There are currently no approved inhibitors for the treatment or prevention of FMDV infections.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Using a luciferase-based assay we screened a library of compounds and identified seven novel inhibitors of 3Dpol, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of FMDV. The compounds inhibited specifically 3Dpol (IC₅₀s from 2-17 µM) and not other viral or bacterial polymerases. Enzyme kinetic studies on the inhibition mechanism by compounds 5D9 and 7F8 showed that they are non-competitive inhibitors with respect to NTP and nucleic acid substrates. Molecular modeling and docking studies into the 3Dpol structure revealed an inhibitor binding pocket proximal to, but distinct from the 3Dpol catalytic site. Residues surrounding this pocket are conserved among all 60 FMDV subtypes. Site directed mutagenesis of two residues located at either side of the pocket caused distinct resistance to the compounds, demonstrating that they indeed bind at this site. Several compounds inhibited viral replication with 5D9 suppressing virus production in FMDV-infected cells with EC₅₀ = 12 µM and EC₉₀ = 20 µM).

Significance

We identified several non-competitive inhibitors of FMDV 3Dpol that target a novel binding pocket, which can be used for future structure-based drug design studies. Such studies can lead to the discovery of even more potent antivirals that could provide alternative or supplementary options to contain future outbreaks of FMD.