辽宁老铁山雀形目鸟类秋季迁徙初探

2000~2004年秋在辽宁旅顺老铁山自然保护区,通过鸟类环志和直接观察的方法,对该地区雀形目(Passeriformes)鸟类秋季迁徙规律进行了研究。5年共环志11 040只雀形目鸟类,发现8种保护区新记录种。结果表明,鸟类迁徙高峰大都集中在10月中下旬;气候条件与鸟类迁徙关系密切;不同年份优势种及种群数量均不同;鸟类的迁徙具有一定的顺序性和集群现象,但不同种类迁徙的种群大小又有差别;2004年雀形目鸟类的种类和数量都明显少于前4年,略有下降趋势。     

猴头菌丝多糖降血糖作用研究

目的:研究猴头菌丝多糖的降血糖作用。方法:以液体发酵生产的猴头菌丝体为原料,经热水浸提、浓缩、酒精沉淀获得菌丝粗多糖;以常规降糖药物格列本脲为阳性治疗对照,通过四氧嘧啶诱发小鼠糖尿病的预防试验,比较猴头菌丝多糖各剂量与格列本脲的降血糖效果。结果:猴头菌丝多糖得率为7.14%,粗多糖再经Sevage法去除蛋白质,获得猴头菌丝精多糖(HMP),得率为10.92%;猴头多糖高、中、低三个剂量均能有效的对抗四氧嘧啶诱发的高血糖;其中,高剂量的降血糖作用与格列本脲相比,差异极显著。结论:猴头菌丝多糖对四氧嘧啶型高血糖模型小鼠有降血糖作用,作用效果优于格列本脲,对糖尿病小鼠的胰腺具有一定的保护作用。     

Apelin activates L-arginine/nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide pathway in rat aortas

Apelin was recently found to be an inotropic polypeptide in isolated rat hearts, and intravenous injection of apelin can induce a transient decrease in blood pressure. To illustrate the mechanism of apelin-induced vasodilation, we observed the in vitro effects of apelin on the L-arginine (L-Arg)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway in the incubated, isolated rat aorta. Apelin stimulated vascular NO(2)(-) product and NOS activation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Compared with no apelin treatment, incubation with apelin (10(-9), 10(-8), and 10(-7)mol/L) increased NO(2)(-) product by 33%, 46%, and 69% (all p<0.01), respectively, and Ca(2+)-dependent constitutive NOS (cNOS) activity by 200%, 460%, and 550% (all p<0.01), respectively. However, Ca(2+)-independent NOS (iNOS) activity was not significantly altered (p>0.05). Apelin incubation (10(-9), 10(-8), and 10(-7)mol/L) increased L-Arg uptake by 130%, 180%, and 240% (all p<0.01), respectively. The mRNA level of cationic amino acid transporters, CAT-1 and CAT-2B, in rat aortic tissues treated with 10(-7)mol/L apelin was increased by 110% and 128%, respectively (both p<0.01). Incubation with 10(-7)mol/L apelin elevated eNOS mRNA and protein levels, by 53% (p<0.05) and 319% (p<0.01), respectively. Collectively, these results demonstrate that apelin directly activated the vascular L-Arg/NOS/NO pathway, which could be one of the important mechanisms of apelin-regulated vascular function.     

丁基苯酞对心力衰竭大鼠心房颤动的影响及作用机制

为探讨丁基苯酞(DL-3-N-butylphthalide,NBP)对心肌梗死诱导的心力衰竭(heart failure,HF)大鼠心房结构重塑和心房颤动形成的影响,本研究将心力衰竭模型大鼠随机分为丁基苯酞组(NBP)、模型组(Model)和假手术组(Sham)。将丁基苯酞用大豆油溶解,制成10 mg/mL的丁基苯酞溶液。丁基苯酞组按照80 mg/kg体重对SD大鼠进行灌胃,模型组和假手术组用等量的大豆油灌胃。假手术组大鼠接受相同手术但未结扎左前降支冠状动脉。分别检测大鼠的超声心动图、心房颤动诱导性试验及心房纤维化,并检测TNF-α、TGF-β1、NF-κB、Nrf2和HO-1的蛋白表达。研究显示,应用丁基苯酞治疗4周后,NBP组大鼠心功能显著改善(p<0.05);NBP组大鼠心房颤动诱导能力和持续时间显著降低(p<0.05);NBP组大鼠心房纤维化程度显著减轻(p<0.05)。丁基苯酞显著抑制TNF-α,NF-κB和TGF-β1的蛋白表达,并上调Nrf2和HO-1的蛋白表达。并且,NBP对TNF-α/NF-κB/TGF-β1和纤维化的抑制作用可能与Nrf2/HO-1信号通路的激活有关。因此,丁基苯酞有望成为预防房颤的上游治疗中的有效药物。     

Heme oxygenase is involved in nitric oxide- and auxin-induced lateral root formation in rice

Lateral root (LR) development performs the essential tasks of providing water, nutrients, and physical support to plants. Therefore, understanding the regulation of LR development is of agronomic importance. In this study, we examined the effect of nitric oxide (NO), auxin, and hemin (Hm) on LR formation in rice. Treatment with Hm [a highly effective heme oxygenase (HO) inducer], sodium nitroprusside (SNP, an NO donor), or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA, a naturally occurring auxin) induced LR formation and HO activity. LR formation and HO activity induced by SNP and IBA but not Hm was reduced by the specific NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide. As well, Hm, SNP, and IBA could induce OsHO1 mRNA expression. Zn protoporphyrin IX (the specific inhibitor of HO) and hemoglobin (the carbon monoxide/NO scavenger) reduced LR number and HO activity induced by Hm, SNP, and IBA. Our data suggest that HO is required for Hm-, auxin-, and NO-induced LR formation in rice.     

Cloned hepatitis delta virus cDNA is infectious in the chimpanzee.

A head-to-tail trimer of a full-length cDNA clone of the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) genome was examined for infectivity by direct inoculation into the liver of a chimpanzee that was already infected with hepatitis B virus. Five weeks after inoculation, a marked elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase activity was observed, followed by the appearance of high levels of HDV RNA and antigen in both liver and serum and a high level of viral particles in the serum. A transient suppression of hepatitis B virus replication was evident during the acute phase of HDV infection. Seroconversion for antibodies to delta antigen occurred 3 weeks after the onset of the disease. These results demonstrate that a typical HDV infection can be initiated by inoculation of a susceptible animal with recombinant HDV cDNA.     

Identifying Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque in Rabbits Using DMSA-USPIO Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Investigate the Effect of Atorvastatin

BackgroundRupture of an atherosclerotic plaque is the primary cause of acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular syndromes. Early and non-invasive detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques (VP) would be significant in preventing some aspects of these syndromes. As a new contrast agent, dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) modified ultra-small super paramagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) was synthesized and used to identify VP and rupture plaque by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodsAtherosclerosis was induced in male New Zealand White rabbits by feeding a high cholesterol diet (n = 30). Group A with atherosclerosis plaque (n = 10) were controls. VP was established in groups B (n = 10) and C (n = 10) using balloon-induced endothelial injury of the abdominal aorta. Adenovirus-carrying p53 genes were injected into the aortic segments rich in plaques after 8 weeks. Group C was treated with atorvastatin for 8 weeks. Sixteen weeks later, all rabbits underwent pharmacological triggering, and imaging were taken daily for 5 d after DMSA-USPIO infusion. At the first day and before being killed, serum MMP-9, sCD40L, and other lipid indicators were measured.ResultsDMSA-USPIO particles accumulated in VP and rupture plaques. Rupture plaques appeared as areas of hyper-intensity on DMSA-USPIO enhanced MRI, especially T2*-weighted sequences, with a signal strength peaking at 96 h. The group given atorvastatin showed few DMSA-USPIO particles and had lower levels of serum indicators. MMP-9 and sCD40L levels in group B were significantly higher than in the other 2 groups (P <0.05).ConclusionAfter successfully establishing a VP model in rabbits, DMSA-USPIO was used to enhance MRI for clear identification of plaque inflammation and rupture. Rupture plaques were detectable in this way probably due to an activating inflammatory process. Atorvastatin reduced the inflammatory response and stabilizing VP possibly by decreasing MMP-9 and sCD40L levels.