Electrical and adaptive properties of rod photoreceptors in bufo marinus. II. Effects of cyclic nucleotides and protaglandins

Substances known to alter cyclic nucleotide levels in cells were applied to the isolated toad retina and effects on rod electrical and adaptive behavior were studied. The retina was continually superfused in control ringer’s or ringer’s containing one or a combination of drugs, and rod activity was recorded intracellularly. Superfusion with cGMP, Bu(2)GMP, isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX; a phosphodiesterase inhibitor), or PGF(2α) (a prostaglandin) caused effects in rods that closely match those observed when extracellular Ca(2+) levels were lowered. For example, short exposures (up to 6 min) of the retina to these substances caused depolarization of the membrane potential, increase in response amplitudes, and some changes in waveform; but under dark-adapted or partially light-adapted conditions receptor sensitivity was virtually unaffected. That is, the position of the V-log I curve on the intensity axis was determined by the prevailing light level, not by drug level. These drugs, like lowered extracellular Ca(2+), also decreased the period of receptor saturation after a bright-adapting flash, resulting in an acceleration of the onset of membrane and sensitivity recovery during dark adaptation.

Long-term (6-15 min) exposure of a dark-adapted retina to 5 mM IBMX or a combination of IBMX and cGMP caused a loss of response amplitude and a desensitization of the rods that was similar to that observed in rods after a long-term low Ca(2+) (10(-9)M) treatment. Application of high (3.2 mM) Ca(2+) to the retina blocked the effects of applied Bu(2)cGMP. PGE(1) superfusion mimicked the effects of increasing extracellular Ca(2+). The results show that increased cGMP and lowered Ca(2+) produce similar alterations in the electrical activity of rods. These findings suggest that Ca(2+) and cGMP are interrelated messengers. We speculate that low Ca(2+) may lead to increased intracellular cGMP, and/or that applied cGMP, and/or that applied cGMP may lower cytosol Ca(2+), perhaps by stimulating Ca(2+)- ATPase pumps in the outer segment.

     

长爪沙鼠高胆固醇血症模型的建立与辛伐他汀的作用

目的探索长爪沙鼠高胆固醇血症模型建立及辛伐他汀的影响。方法在饲喂长爪沙鼠高脂饲料的同时给予不同浓度辛伐他汀抑制胆固醇生物合成,通过观察肝脏颜色,测量体重、肝重、TC、LDL-C及HDL-C等血脂和肝功能指标判断高脂饲料和辛伐他汀对血脂和肝脏功能的影响。结果动物体重、肝重和肝脏指数没有显著变化。高脂饲料能够促进脂肪在肝脏的沉积,但是对AST和ALT等肝脏功能指标影响不显著;辛伐他汀能够有效抑制TC、LDL-C、HDL-C、TBA和GLU的升高,但对其他指标影响不明显。结论高脂饲料能够快速建立长爪沙鼠高胆固醇血症模型;辛伐他汀能够抑制内源性胆固醇的合成从而有效抑制血浆胆固醇（TC）、LDL-C和HDL-C的升高。结果表明,特殊的反馈调节机制导致长爪沙鼠无法在大量摄入胆固醇时终止内源性胆固醇的合成。长爪沙鼠特殊的反馈调节机制可能是易发高胆固醇血症的一个主要原因。     

Phosphate Regulation of Nitrate Assimilation in Soybean

It is known that phosphorus deficiency results in alterationsin the assimilation of nitrogen. An experiment was conductedto investigate mechanisms involved in altered ¹⁵NO^–₃ uptake,endogenous ¹⁵N translocation, and amino acid accumulation insoybean (Glycine max L. Merrill, cv. Ransom) plants deprivedof an external phosphorus supply for 20 d in solution culture.Phosphorus deprivation led to decreased rates of ¹⁵NO^–₃uptake and increased accumulation of absorbed ¹⁵N in the root.Both effects became more pronounced with time. Asparagine, theprimary transport amino acid in soybean, accumulated in largeexcess in roots and stems. In roots of phosphorus-deprived plants,concentrations of ATP and inorganic phosphate declined rapidly,but dry weight accumulation was similar to or above that ofthe control even after 20 d of treatment. Arginine accumulationin leaves was greatly enhanced, even though ¹⁵N partitioninginto the insoluble reduced-N fraction of leaves was unaffected.The results suggest that decreases in NO^–₃ uptake in lowphosphorus plants could be caused by feedback control factorsand by limited ATP availability. The decline in endogenous Ntransport from the root to the shoot may be associated withchanges in membrane properties, which also result in paralleleffects on hydraulic conductance and the upward flow of waterthrough the plant. Key words: Phosphorus stress, nitrate uptake, nitrate translocation, arginine     

耐低温产甲烷菌的分离及其产气活性的初探

在青藏高原地区的低温条件下通过滚管技术分离了一类耐低温产甲烷菌,并利用气相色谱法测定了产气活性。结果表明:这类甲烷菌最低产气温度为8℃,甲烷气体产生的高峰期在厌氧培养的第7 d;pH值与盐浓度对其产气活性均有影响,最佳条件为pH值7.0、盐度4%。     

CD19‐CAR engineered NK‐92 cells are sufficient to overcome NK cell resistance in B‐cell malignancies

Many B‐cell acute and chronic leukaemias tend to be resistant to killing by natural killer (NK) cells. The introduction of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) into T cells or NK cells could potentially overcome this resistance. Here, we extend our previous observations on the resistance of malignant lymphoblasts to NK‐92 cells, a continuously growing NK cell line, showing that anti‐CD19‐CAR (αCD19‐CAR) engineered NK‐92 cells can regain significant cytotoxicity against CD19 positive leukaemic cell lines and primary leukaemia cells that are resistant to cytolytic activity of parental NK‐92 cells. The ‘first generation’ CAR was generated from a scFv (CD19) antibody fragment, coupled to a flexible hinge region, the CD3ζ chain and a Myc‐tag and cloned into a retrovirus backbone. No difference in cytotoxic activity of NK‐92 and transduced αCD19‐CAR NK‐92 cells towards CD19 negative targets was found. However, αCD19‐CAR NK‐92 cells specifically and efficiently lysed CD19 expressing B‐precursor leukaemia cell lines as well as lymphoblasts from leukaemia patients. Since NK‐92 cells can be easily expanded to clinical grade numbers under current Good Manufactoring Practice (cGMP) conditions and its safety has been documented in several phase I clinical studies, treatment with CAR modified NK‐92 should be considered a treatment option for patients with lymphoid malignancies.     

Heavy drinking relates to positive valence ratings of alcohol cues

A positive family history of alcohol use disorders (FH) is a robust predictor of personal alcohol abuse and dependence. Exposure to problem-drinking models is one mechanism through which family history influences alcohol-related cognitions and drinking patterns. Similarly, exposure to alcohol advertisements is associated with alcohol involvement and the relationship between affective response to alcohol cues and drinking behavior has not been well established. In addition, the collective contribution that FH, exposure to different types of problem-drinking models (e.g. parents, peers) and personal alcohol use have on appraisal of alcohol-related stimuli has not been evaluated with a large sample. We investigated the independent effects of FH, exposure to problem-drinking models and personal alcohol use on valence ratings of alcohol pictures in a college sample. College students (n = 227) completed measures of personal drinking and substance use, exposure to problem-drinking models, FH and ratings on affective valence of 60 alcohol pictures. Greater exposure to non-familial problem-drinkers predicted greater drinking among college students (beta = 0.17, P < 0.01). However, personal drinking was the only predictor of valence ratings of alcohol pictures (beta = -0.53, P < 0.001). Personal drinking level predicted valence ratings of alcohol cues over and above FH, exposure to problem-drinking models and demographic characteristics. This suggests that positive affective responses to alcohol pictures are more a function of personal experience (i.e. repeated heavy alcohol use) than vicarious learning.     

实验动物屏障系统微生物动态状况

目的研究运行中的实验动物屏障系统微生物的情况。方法采用沉降菌法、棉拭子法等方法,研究运行中的屏障系统不同区域、不同环境指标下屏障系统内微生物的状况。结果动态下的屏障系统微生物情况与国标GB14925-2001中静态环境有较大不同,动物饲养室和动物实验室沉降菌浓度远高于静态要求;辅助区域在规范化消毒及严格管理的情况下,能达到国标要求。屏障系统的微生物情况存在一定的昼夜变化规律,在晚间出现峰值。结论合适的换气次数可有效控制实验动物屏障系统的沉降菌浓度;加强消毒及硬件的管理,是屏障系统内环境稳定的保障。