Nighttime sap flow of Acacia mangium and its implications for nighttime transpiration and stem water storage

Aims Nighttime sap flow of trees may indicate transpiration and/or recharge of stem water storage at night. This paper deals with the water use of Acacia mangium at night in the hilly lands of subtropical South China. Our primary goal was to reveal and understand the nature of nighttime sap flow and its functional significance.Methods Granier's thermal dissipation method was used to determine the nighttime sap flux of A. mangium. Gas exchange system was used to estimate nighttime leaf transpiration and stomatal conductance of studied trees.Important findings Nighttime sap flow was substantial and showed seasonal variation similar to the patterns of daytime sap flow in A. mangium. Mean nighttime sap flow was higher in the less precipitation year of 2004 (1122.4 mm) than in the more precipitation year of 2005 (1342.5 mm) since more daytime transpiration and low soil water availability in the relatively dry 2004 can be the cause of more nighttime sap flow. Although vapor pressure deficit and air temperature were significantly correlated with nighttime sap flow, they could only explain a small fraction of the variance in nighttime sap flow. The total accumulated water loss (E L) by transpiration of canopy leaves was only ~2.6–8.5% of the total nighttime sap flow (E t) during the nights of July 17–18 and 18–19, 2006. Therefore, it is likely that the nighttime sap flow was mainly used for refilling water in the trunk. The stem diameter at breast height, basal area and sapwood area explained much more variance of nighttime water recharge than environmental factors and other tree form features, such as tree height, stem length below the branch, and canopy size. The contribution of nighttime water recharge to the total transpiration ranged from 14.7 to 30.3% depending on different DBH class and was considerably higher in the dry season compared to the wet season.     

基于光合系统参数建立马铃薯耐荫性综合评价体系

为构建便捷的马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)耐荫性综合评价体系并发掘耐荫种质, 以35个马铃薯品种(系)为实验材料, 测定块茎膨大期遮荫下植株叶片叶绿素含量、光合能力和叶绿素荧光等光合参数及收获后块茎单株产量和淀粉含量等指标。根据耐荫系数, 利用主成分分析法、隶属函数法、聚类分析法和逐步回归分析法进行综合评价。通过主成分分析将马铃薯耐荫性相关的13个单项光合指标转换为6个综合指标, 代表了全部信息的87.51%。以此计算各种质的隶属函数值, 并以主成分的贡献率进行加权, 最终获得所用材料耐荫性的综合评价值(D值)。根据D值聚类分析结果将35个马铃薯分为4类, 其中Eshu10和Lishu6分别为耐荫性最强和最弱的品种。通过逐步回归分析建立了马铃薯耐荫性评价数学模型: D=0.060+0.106G_s+0.214qP+0.143NPQ。同时, 用该评价体系鉴定为耐荫性强的品种(系)在遮荫后其产量和/或淀粉含量等指标减幅均低于耐荫性弱的种质, 表明该评价体系可用于快速评价和预测马铃薯种质的耐荫性。     

COX-2 is required to mediate crosstalk of ROS-dependent activation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling with pro-inflammatory response and defense-related NO enhancement during challenge of macrophage-like cell line with Giardia duodenalis

Giardia duodenalis, the causative agent of giardiasis, is among the most important causes of waterborne diarrheal diseases around the world. Giardia infection may persist over extended periods with intestinal inflammation, although minimal. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is well known as an important inducer of inflammatory response, while the role it played in noninvasive Giardia infection remains elusive. Here we investigated the regulatory function of COX-2 in Giardia-induced pro-inflammatory response and defense-related nitric oxide (NO) generation in macrophage-like cell line, and identified the potential regulators. We initially found that Giardia challenge induced up-regulation of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, prostaglandin (PG) E2, and COX-2 in macrophages, and pretreatment of the cells with COX-2 inhibitor NS398 reduced expressions of those pro-inflammatory factors. It was also observed that COX-2 inhibition could attenuate the up-regulated NO release and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression induced by Giardia. We further confirmed that Giardia-induced COX-2 up-regulation was mediated by the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2 MAPKs and NF-κB. In addition, inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by NAC was shown to repress Giardia-induced activation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling, up-regulation of COX-2 and iNOS, increased levels of PGE2 and NO release, and up-expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Collectively, in this study, we revealed a critical role of COX-2 in modulating pro-inflammatory response and defense-related NO production in Giardia-macrophage interactions, and this process was evident to be controlled by ROS-dependent activation of MAPK/NF-κB signaling. The results can deepen our knowledge of anti-Giardia inflammatory response and host defense mechanisms.     

Effect of TLR4/MyD88/NF‐kB axis in paraventricular nucleus on ventricular arrhythmias induced by sympathetic hyperexcitation in post‐myocardial infarction rats

Sympathetic activation after myocardial infarction (MI) leads to ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), which can result in sudden cardiac death (SCD). The toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐kB) axis within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), a cardiac‐neural sympathetic nerve centre, plays an important role in causing VAs. An MI rat model and a PVN‐TLR4 knockdown model were constructed. The levels of protein were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence, and localizations were visualized by multiple immunofluorescence staining. Central and peripheral sympathetic activation was visualized by immunohistochemistry for c‐fos protein, renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) measurement, heart rate variability (HRV) analysis and norepinephrine (NE) level detection in serum and myocardial tissue measured by ELISA. The arrhythmia scores were measured by programmed electrical stimulation (PES), and cardiac function was detected by the pressure–volume loop (P‐V loop). The levels of TLR4 and MyD88 and the nuclear translocation of NF‐kB within the PVN were increased after MI, while sympathetic activation and arrhythmia scores were increased and cardiac function was decreased. However, inhibition of TLR4 significantly reversed these conditions. PVN‐mediated sympathetic activation via the TLR4/MyD88/NF‐kB axis ultimately leads to the development of VAs after MI.     

Acidic microenvironment enhances MT1-MMP-mediated cancer cell motility through integrin β1/cofilin/F-actin axis

Tumor acidic microenvironment is the main feature of many solid tumors.As a part of the tumor microenvironment,it has a profound impact on the occurrence and de...     

Nitrate increases cisplatin chemosensitivity of oral squamous cell carcinoma via REDD1/AKT signaling pathway

Although cisplatin is one of the chemotherapeutics most frequently used in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treatment,it exerts multiple side effects and poo...     

Pharmacological studies of the large-scaled purified genistein from Huaijiao (Sophora japonica – Leguminosae) on anti-osteoporosis

In this report, we used genistein that was extracted from a Chinese herbal medicine Huaijiao (Sophora japonica – Leguminosae) to evulate its pharmacological function on anti-osteoporosis. This genistein is purified in a large-scale production from Huaijiao by a state-of-art method as described by Tian et al. [2004. The preparation of genistein and LC-MS/MS on-line analysis. Drug Devel. Res. 61, 6–12]. Chemical structure of the isolated genistein was examined by using various techniques including nuclear magnetic resonant spectrum, infrared absorption spectrum, ultraviolet absorption spectrum and mass spectrum, and was proved to be identical to those purified from soybean in a small scale as previously reported. We randomly divided female SD rats into 6 groups, including control, ovariectomized model, Nilestriol-treated, and three level of dosages of genistein-treated. We evaluated the pharmacological effects of genistein against osteoporosis by measuring the bone density of femur and bone mineral group including calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium. The consequences of genistein treatment on bone histology and morphology were also determined by measuring the trabcular area, thickness and number. Our results indicated that treatment with a 4.5 or 9 mg/kg dosage of genistein could also prevent osteoporosis significantly at the 4th week after treatment. In comparison with the anti-osteoporosis effects of soybean genistein, the genistein extracted from Huaijiao has the same beneficial effect on anti-osteoporosis.     

Choice of hydrogen uptake (Hup) status in legume‐rhizobia symbioses

The H₂ is an obligate by-product of N-fixation. Recycling of H₂ through uptake hydrogenase (Hup) inside the root nodules of leguminous plants is often considered an advantage for plants. However, many of the rhizobium-legume symbioses found in nature, especially those used in agriculture are shown to be Hup⁻, with the plants releasing H₂ produced by nitrogenase activity from root nodules into the surrounding rhizosphere. Recent studies have suggested that, H₂ induces plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria, which may explain the widespread of Hup⁻ symbioses in spite of the low energy efficiency of such associations. Wild legumes grown in Nova Scotia, Canada, were surveyed to determine if any plant-growth characteristics could give an indication of Hup choice in leguminous plants. Out of the plants sampled, two legumes, Securigera varia and Vicia cracca, showed Hup⁺ associations. Securigera varia exhibited robust root structure as compared with the other plants surveyed. Data from the literature and the results from this study suggested that plants with established root systems are more likely to form the energy-efficient Hup⁺ symbiotic relationships with rhizobia. Conversely, Hup⁻ associations could be beneficial to leguminous plants due to H₂-oxidizing plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria that allow plants to compete successfully, early in the growing season. However, some nodules from V. cracca tested Hup⁺, while others were Hup⁻. This was similar to that observed in Glycine max and Pisum sativum, giving reason to believe that Hup choice might be affected by various internal and environmental factors.