IL-11 and IL-11Rα immunolocalisation at primate implantation sites supports a role for IL-11 in placentation and fetal development

Embryo implantation, endometrial stromal cell decidualization and formation of a functional placenta are critical processes in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Interleukin (IL)-11 signalling is essential for adequate decidualization in the mouse uterus and IL-11 promotes decidualization in the human. IL-11 action is mediated via binding to the specific IL-11 receptor α (IL-11Rα). The present study examined immunoreactive IL-11 and IL-11Rα in cycling rhesus monkey endometrium, at implantation sites in cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys and in human first trimester decidua and defined distinct spatial and temporal patterns. In cycling rhesus monkey endometrium, IL-11 and IL-11Rα increased in both basalis and functionalis regions during the secretory compared with the proliferative phase, with changing cellular locations in luminal and glandular epithelium and stroma. The patterns were similar overall to those previously described in human endometrium. Differences were seen in immunostaining during implantation in cynomologus and rhesus monkey. In the cynomolgus, very little staining for IL-11 or IL-11Rα was seen in syncytio- and cyto-trophoblast cells in the villi between days 12 and 150 of pregnancy although there was moderate staining in cytotrophoblast in the shell between days 12 and 17 and in subpopulations of cytotrophoblast cells invading the arteries at day 17. By contrast in the rhesus monkey between days 24 and 35 of pregnancy and in human first trimester placenta, cyto- and syncytio-trophoblast in the villi but not cytotrophoblast in the shell were positively stained. The most intense staining for both IL-11 and IL-11Rα was present within the decidua in the maternal component of implantation sites in all three primates but moderate staining was also present in maternal vascular smooth muscle and glands perivascular cells and epithelial plaques. These results are consistent with a role for IL-11 both during decidualization and placentation in primates.     

Biodegradation of radiolabelled synthetic lignin (14C-DHP) and mechanical pulp in a compost environment

Mineralization of radioactive synthetic lignin (14C-DHP) was studied in a compost environment at 35, 50 and 58 degrees C. Compost samples were successively extracted with water, dioxane and alkali, and the molecular weight distribution of some extracts was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Biodegradation of lignin-containing spruce groundwood (SGW) and pine sawdust was concurrently determined in controlled composting tests by measuring evolved CO2. The temperatures were the same as in the 14C-DHP mineralization experiment and bleached kraft paper, with a lignin content of 0.2%, was used as a reference. The mineralization of 14C-DHP was relatively high (23-24%) at 35 degrees C and 50 degrees C, although the mixed population of compost obviously lacks the most effective lignin degraders. At 58 degrees C the mineralization of 14C-DHP, as well as the biodegradation of SGW and sawdust, was very low, indicating that the lignin-degrading organisms of compost were inactivated at this temperature. SGW was poorly biodegradable (<40%) in controlled composting tests compared with kraft paper (77-86%) at all temperatures, which means that lignin inhibits the degradation of carbohydrates. During the incubation, water-soluble degradation products, mainly monomers and dimers, and the original 14C-DHP were either mineralized or bound to humic substances. A substantial fraction of 14C-DHP was incorporated into humin or other insolubles.     

Mitochondrial DNA variability in the Canary Islands honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of individuals from 79 colonies of Apis mellifera from five Canary Islands was studied using the Dra I test based on the restriction of PCR products of the tRNAleu–COII intergenic region. Five haplotypes of the African (A) lineage and one of the west European (C) lineage were found. The haplotypes A14 and A15 are described for the first time. These haplotypes have a new P sequence named P₁. The wide distribution and high frequency of haplotype A15 suggest that it is characteristic of the Canarian Archipelago. Sources of haplotype variability of honeybee mtDNA in the Canary Islands (waves of colonization from Africa, queen importations, habitat diversification) are discussed.     

Simultaneous determination of m-nisoldipine and its three metabolites in rat plasma by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

A simple, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of m-nisoldipine and its three metabolites in rat plasma has been developed using nitrendipine as an internal standard (IS). Following liquid–liquid extraction, the analytes were separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reverse phase C₁₈ column and analyzed by MS in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. To avoid contamination by residual sample in the injection syringe, a special injection protocol was developed. We found that m-nisoldipine, metabolite M1 and IS could be ionized under positive or negative electrospray ionization conditions, whereas metabolite M and M2 could only be ionized in the positive mode. The mass spectrometry fragmentation pathways for these analytes are analyzed and discussed herein. The total analysis time required less than 5 min per sample. We employed this method successfully to study the metabolism of m-nisoldipine when it was orally administered to rats at a dose of 9 mg/kg. Three metabolites of m-nisoldipine and an unknown compound of molecular weight 386 were found for the first time in rat plasma. The concentration of the potentially active metabolite was approximately equal to its parent compound concentration.     

Effect of chronic treatment with Rosiglitazone on Leydig cell steroidogenesis in rats: <Emphasis Type="Italic">In vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex vivo</Emphasis> studies

Background  

The present study was designed to examine the effect of chronic treatment with rosiglitazone - thiazolidinedione used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus for its insulin sensitizing effects - on the Leydig cell steroidogenic capacity and expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) in normal adult rats.     

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria do not pose any deleterious effect on cowpea and detectable amounts of ethylene are produced

Summary The use of trap crops such as cowpea could reduce the effects of the root parasitic weed, Striga hermonthica and its subsequent constraints on the growth of cereals. Certain bacteria could augment the trap crop stimulatory effect. We studied the effect of three bacteria introduced to the rhizosphere of three cowpea varieties at planting. Number of days to cowpea flowering was noted and at harvest, data were collected on pod characteristics and biomass. Means of data subjected to ANOVA were compared using Tukey’s Studentized Range Test. We analysed bacterial headspace volatiles for ethylene by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Bacterial type significantly influenced the cowpea varieties with better performance over the non-inoculated control. Average pod weight (g) with bacterial treatment was 37.97 for Enterobacter sakazakii 8MR5, 34.38 for Pseudomonas 44MS8 and 27.46 for Pseudomonas 10M3. Non-inoculated control had an average weight of 20.98 g. Bacteria promoted a significant increase in pod weight (≥30.89%), fresh biomass (≥24.22%), and improved pod number (≥20.54%) and pod wall thickness (≥7.33%) with no deleterious effect on plant health. Ethylene released by the bacteria ranged from trace concentrations in Pseudomonas sp. to 210 nmoles/10⁸ c. f. u./ml in Ent. sakazakii 8MR5.     

The role of organic matter and microbial community controlling nitrate reduction under elevated ferrous iron concentrations in boreal lake sediments

Hydrobiologia - The nitrogen availability, that affects the greenhouse gas emission and the trophic level of lakes, is controlled mainly by microbial processes. We measured in a boreal nitrate and...     

抗肿瘤药阿霉素诱导Wnt通路抑制因子的表达

研究抗肿瘤药阿霉素对Wnt通路抑制因子FrpHE(frizzled-related protein)和DKK-1(Dickkopf-1)表达的作用.将抗肿瘤药阿霉素加入到人肝癌HepG2(HepG2,含野生型p53;Hep3B,p53缺失)、人大肠癌(Lovo,含野生型p53)和人神经胶质瘤细胞(U251,p53突变)细胞株中.以RT-PCR技术检测阿霉素对Wnt通路抑制因子FrpHE和DKK-1的表达调节作用,以流式细胞术检测在肿瘤细胞中Wnt通路的关键调节因子β-catenin的表达.在加入阿霉素24h后FrpHEmRNA表达水平在人肝癌细胞(HepG2,含野生型p53;Hep3B,p53缺失)中与对照组相比表达水平显著增加.在人大肠癌细胞(Lovo,含野生型p53)和人神经胶质瘤细胞(U251,p53突变型)细胞中,未见FrpHE mRNA表达.DKK-1mRNA表达水平在人肝癌细胞(HepG2,含野生型p53;Hep3B,p53缺失)、人大肠癌细胞(Lovo,含野生型p53)和人神经胶质瘤细胞(U251,p53突变型)中与对照组相比表达水平显著增加.β-catenin的阳性细胞百分比强度和平均荧光量强度与对照组相比,表达水平降低.提示化疗药阿霉素能明显诱导抑制剂FrpHEmRNA和DKK-1mRNA的表达.