抗黄体酮联合Aromatase抑制剂或iNOS终止恒河猴妊娠

[目的]评价抗黄体酮(mifepristone)联合Aromatase抑制剂(letrozole或aminoglutethimide)或iNOS抑制剂(aminoguandine)是否能有效终止恒河猴早期妊娠。[方法]将30只猴子随机分为5组(治疗组每组6只,对照组6只),并在妊娠30,31和32天进行如下处理:对照组,每只动物1ml安慰剂;A组,Mifepristone(1mg/kg,sc.);B组,Mifepristone(sc.)+Letrozole(2.5mg/只sc.);C组,Mifepristone(1mg/kg,sc.)+aminoglute-chimide(50mg/kgsc.,bid);D组,Mifepristone(1mg/kg,sc.)+aminoguanidine(150mg/kg,sc.,bid)。所有妊娠猴在妊娠29天通过超声波确认。[结果]在B、C、D组,所有的动物的妊娠都在妊娠早期被终止(6/6)。A组和对照组的妊娠终止率分别为3/6和2/6。同时,联合用药能够有效排空子宫腔和减少出血。[结论]该处理能有效地终止恒河猴早期妊娠。联合用药比用于女人的妊娠治疗更有效,并减少了流血时间,或许可以代替目前的终止妊娠的医疗方法。     

CELL DEATH,SURVIVAL AND PROLIFERATION IN TETRAHYMENA THERMOPHILA. EFFECTS OF INSULIN,SODIUM NITROPRUSSIDE, 8-BROMO CYCLIC GMP,NG-METHYL-L-ARGININE AND METHYLENE BLUE

Cells of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila produce compounds that act as autocrine (paracrine) survival and/or growth factors. 8-Bromo cyclic GMP, sodium nitroprusside, hemin, protoporphyrin IX, human recombinant and bovine insulin were tested for their ability to substitute for the cell-produced factors and stimulate cell survival and proliferation. The cells were inoculated into conical flasks in a nutritionally complete, chemically defined medium at known cell densities from 5 to 5000cells/ml. In unsupplemented medium cells at 5 to 500cells/ml (‘low initial cell density cultures’) died within 8h, whereas cells at 1000 and 5000cells/ml (‘high initial cell density cultures’) proliferated with lag phases lasting for up to 4h. In the presence of insulin compounds, hemin, protoporphyrin IX, or 8-bromo cyclic GMP, cells also proliferated at all low initial cell densities. Sodium nitroprusside was effective over two separate concentration ranges: at the nanomolar levels as well at low pico- to femtomolar levels. At initial population densities of up to 50cells/ml the cells at both concentrations of sodium nitroprusside survived about 4-fold longer than the controls. At 500 initial cells/ml, cells at thehigh concentrations of sodium nitroprusside survived about 4-fold longer than those of the control cultures; they proliferated in the low concentrations of sodium nitroprusside. Concentrations of hemin, too low to have any effects on their own, had synergistic effects with sodium nitroprusside. N^G-methyl-L-arginine inhibited proliferation at high initial cell densities. This inhibitory action was reduced by high concentrations of L-arginine, protoporphyrin IX, sodium nitroprusside, or 8-bromo cGMP, but not by insulin. Methylene blue inhibited cell proliferation at high initial cell densities. This inhibition was circumvented by addition of 8-bromo cGMP. The findings that insulin-related material may be released from Tetrahymena and that insulin and sodium nitroprusside increase intracellular cGMP in these cells are discussed in relation to the presented results. Together these observations suggest that cGMP is responsible for supporting cell survival in Tetrahymena and switching the cells into their proliferative mode, and that cell-produced signal molecules and insulin stimulate an NO-dependent guanylate cyclase into producing cGMP.     

Electrophysiological and biochemical responses of mouse vomeronasal receptor cells to urine-derived compounds: possible mechanism of action

Receptor cells of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) are thought to detect pheromone-like molecules important for reproductive physiology. Several compounds derived from male mouse urine have been demonstrated to affect endocrine events in female mice. In the present study, the ability of these compounds to affect VNO activity was tested. In dissociated VNO cells held under voltage clamp conditions, application of dehydro-exo-brevicomin (DHB) evoked an outward current at negative holding potentials and an inward current at positive holding potentials. Under current clamp, DHB reduced action potential firing. Since DHB application caused a decrease in membrane conductance, this compound appeared to act by reducing inward current through closing an ion channel. Biochemical experiments tested the effects of DHB and 2- (sec-butyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole (SBT) on cAMP levels in the VNO. A mixture of DHB and SBT decreased cAMP levels in VNO sensory tissue and had no effect on VNO non-sensory tissue. The results suggest that pheromones have an inhibitory influence on action potential generation and on cAMP levels in receptor cells of the VNO.      

Why western spruce budworms travel so far for the winter

1. Conifer‐feeding budworms (Choristoneura) hibernate in sheltered locations on their host trees from late summer of 1 year to spring of the next. During this period, they do not feed but rely on sustenance provided in the egg. Overwinter survival is dependent on the rate of consumption of these limited reserves. 2. A process model was developed that quantifies the relationship between the rate of consumption and survival at variable temperatures and exposure times for western spruce budworm. The model supported physiological evidence that warm weather conditions early in the diapause period have a dominant influence on overwinter survival. Output compared favourably with field observations of poorer budworm survival at lower elevations where late‐summer and autumn temperatures were warmer compared to those overwintering at cooler, higher elevations. 3. Field experiments demonstrated these weather‐dependent rates of survival were modulated significantly by the degree of shelter experienced by hibernating budworms. 4. Dissection of whole trees harbouring overwintering western spruce budworms showed a significant portion of the population had travelled a considerable distance from the periphery of the tree canopy where eggs were laid to overwinter successfully on the tree bole where sheltered niches are common. 5. Thus, budworms will travel relatively long distances and risk increased mortality during this dispersal to find adequate shelter to overwinter.     

The estimation of crop evacuation rates in Chaoborus larvae (Diptera: Chaoboridae) using natural prey

SUMMARY. 1. Crop evacuation rates were estimated for the first time in Chaoborus larvae, using natural prey.
2. Fourth instar C. americanus Matheson digested copepods (Diaptomus leptopus S.A. Forbes) 48.7% faster than daphnids (Daphnia rosea Leydig) of similar size; meal size did not significantly affect the instantaneous rate of digestion (IRD) within each prey type. Prey specific IRD has not been reported before for zooplankton.
3. Prey specific differences in IRD require the use of natural prey when digestion experiments are to be used to estimate natural rates of food consumption of animals.     

Tannic acid-stained microtubules with 12, 13, and 15 protofilaments

Subunit structure in the walls of sectioned microtubules was first noted by Ledbetter and Porter (6), who clearly showed that certain microtubules of plant meristematic cells have 13 wall protofilaments when seen in cross section. Earlier, protofilaments of microtubular elements had been described in negatively stained material, although exact counts of their number were difficult to obtain. In microtubular elements of axonemes, some success has been achieved in visualizing protofilaments in conventionally fixed and sectioned material (8, 10); much less success has been achieved in identifying and counting protofilaments of singlet cytoplasmic microtubules. By using glutaraldehyde-tannic acid fixation, as described by Misuhira and Futaesaku (7), Tilney et al. (12) studied microtubules from a number of sources and found that all have 13 protofilaments comprising their walls. These authors note that "...the number of subunits and their arrangement as protofilaments appear universal...". Preliminary studies of ventral nerve cord of crayfish fixed in glutaraldehyde-tannic acid indicated that axonal microtubules in this material possess only 12 protofilaments (4). On the basis of this observation, tannic acid preparations of several other neuronal and non-neuronal systems were examined. Protofilaments in microtubules from these several cell types are clearly demonstrated, and counts have been made which show that some kinds of microtubules have more or fewer protofilaments than the usual 13 and that at least one kind of microtubule has an even rather than an odd number.     

THE EFFECT OF ADDED NITROGEN ON THE RATE OF DECOMPOSITION OF ORGANIC MATTER

(1) N added to decomposing organic matter often has no effect or a negative effect on microbial activity, at least in the long term. More than 60 papers are cited in support of this statement.
(2) The negative effect of N is mainly found with recalcitrant organic matter with a high C/N ratio (straw, wood, etc.), whereas a positive effect of N is common for easily degradable organic material with low C/N ratio.
(3) The negative effect of N could be explained by: (i) N disturbs the outcome of competition between potent and less potent decomposers; (ii) through 'ammonia metabolite repression', N blocks production of certain enzymes, at least in basidiomycetes, and enhances breakdown of the most available cellulose, whereby recalcitrant lignocellulose accumulates; (iii) amino compounds condense with polyphenols and other decomposition products, forming 'browning precursors' which are toxic or inhibitory.
(4) The effect of adding N may depend on the microflora present.
(5) There are indications that some microorganisms have a 'luxury uptake' of N when it is present in sufficient amounts, thereby delaying N mineralization.
(6) The addition of N seems to increase the formation of water-soluble , brown, recalcitrant compounds, but to decrease the amount of humus formed.     

The age of major monocot groups inferred from 800+ rbcL sequences

Phylogenetic research on monocots has been extraordinarily active over the past years. With the familial interrelationships being sufficiently understood, the question of divergence times and crown node ages of major lineages comes into focus. In this study we present the first attempt to estimate crown and stem node ages for most orders and families of monocots, based on rbcL sequence data and comprehensive taxon sampling. From our analysis it is obvious that considerable monocot diversification took place during the Early Cretaceous, with most families already present at the Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary. Araceae, Arecaceae and Orchidaceae are among the oldest families with crown node ages reaching back into the Early Cretaceous. We comment on possible error sources and the necessity for methodological improvement in molecular dating.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 385–398.