Biomolecular investigation of human substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease by synchrotron radiation Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy

Synchrotron radiation based-Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy was used for preliminary investigation of the chemical composition and morphologies of the human substantia nigra of brain between normal and Parkinson's diseased tissues. The studies were carried out for thin tissue sections, focusing more particularly on nerve cell bodies, that are affected in Parkinson's disease (PD). The major spectral differences between normal (control) and PD tissues were identified at the following vibrational frequencies: 2930, 2850, 1655, 1380, 1236, 1173 and 1086 cm(-1). The infrared imaging of these biochemical markers show that for control cases the protein and nucleic acids functional groups (bands at: approximately 3300, approximately 3100, approximately 1655, approximately 1545, approximately 1240, approximately 1080 cm(-1)) are located mainly in the cell body. The spatial distribution of the band at 1740 cm(-1) (ester carbonyl stretching band) is quite dissimilar to the others, while it exhibits a minimal concentration in the cell body area. Contrarily, in PD samples, no clear evidence of variation of any of the vibrational fingerprint between cell body and the surrounding was noticed. Moreover, decrease of protein to lipid ratio as well as increase of amide I/amide II ratio were observed for PD case. The preliminary results strengthen the hypothesis that PD is a multietiological disorder. Moreover, the reported results clearly indicate that, in addition to a distinct visual observation, the diseased nerve cells exhibits change of their biochemical composition. It suggests that disturbances of normal functioning of SN neurons appear before their morphological atrophy.     

水稻对UV-B辐射增强的抗性遗传及其生理生化特性研究

本研究结果表明紫外线B(UVB,280～330nm)能严重影响水稻秧苗生长发育,从而引起植株矮化,叶片干枯,叶绿素含量降低,单株干物质减少甚至死亡。不同水稻基因型对紫外线的反应存在明显差异。在3个供试品种(HR、M63、Hr)中,HR最抗UVB危害。遗传分析表明水稻抗UVB的性状为数量遗传性状且受多对隐性基因控制,生化分析表明水稻秧苗经UVB处理后,在0～3d内,随着时间推移,秧苗保护酶活性明显增强,之后,保护酶活性逐惭下降,MDA含量相应增加。抗UVB品种HR比感UVB品种Hr保护酶活性一直较高,膜质过氧化程度较低,反映了保护酶对抵抗UVB危害的重要作用。     

Biochemical and morphological attributes of broiler kidney in response to dietary glucocorticoid,dexamethasone

Glucocorticoids (GCs) initiate oxidative stress and cause renal damage which lead to hypertension, heart failure and ultimately death. The current study aimed to investigate the alterations in serum biochemical parameters i.e. HDL and LDL; gross anatomy, histomorphology and histomorphometry of broiler kidney in response to dietary GC, dexamethasone (DEX). Day old chicks (DOCs) were randomly assigned into four groups: control and three treatment groups (T1, T2 and T3). The control group was fed commercial broiler type ration and the treated groups were fed commercial broiler type ration containing GC (Dexamethasone @ 3, 5 and 7 mg/kg in T1, T2 and T3 group respectively). To measure the biochemical parameters, blood samples were collected on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the experiment. For histological investigation, kidney (left) samples were collected from the individual birds after sacrificing on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the experiment. Histomorphological alterations of the kidney were assessed by routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Biochemical analysis showed significantly increased serum HDL and LDL level compared to the control. In gross study, dark congested kidney was found with significantly decreased weight, length and width. Treatment with DEX augmented congestion, inflammation and fibrosis in kidney, as evidence by histomorphometric study. Extensively degenerated and atrophied glomeruli, degenerated tubular epithelium with distorted tubules and inter tubular empty spaces were seen. Percentage of atrophied glomeruli increased significantly and maximum percentage of glomerular atrophy was seen at day 28. These changes were found more explicitly in the higher dose group. Histomorphometric study also revealed significant decrease in the diameter of glomerulus. The findings of this study suggest that DEX may alter the serum biochemical parameters as well as kidney gross and histomorphology.     

全氟辛烷磺酸钾对小鼠肾脏的氧化性损伤

目的:以小鼠肾脏细胞中的活性氧(ROS)、丙二醛(MDA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活力为指标,探讨全氟辛烷磺酸钾(PFOS-K)对小鼠肾脏的氧化性损伤作用。方法:以剂量为6mg/kg·bw、12 mg/kg·bw、24 mg/kg·bw 3个浓度的PFOS-K混悬液,每天分别给小鼠经口灌胃一次,连续染毒20天后检测肾脏脏器系数,以及肾脏中ROS、MDA、GSH含量的变化和SOD、GSH-Px、CAT活性的改变。结果:与阴性对照组相比,在6-24 mg/kg·bw剂量范围内,PFOS-K使小鼠体重下降、肾脏重量增加、肾脏脏器系数增大,且表现出一定的剂量-效应关系(r小鼠体重=-0.905,r肾脏湿重=0.938,r脏器系数=0.936)。PFOS-K使小鼠肾脏内活性氧(ROS)及丙二醛(MDA)含量增多(rROS=0.990,rMDA=0.997)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量减少(rGSH=-0.994),超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活力降低(rSOD=-0.917,rGSH-Px=-0.986,rCAT=-0.991)。结论:本试验条件下,PFOS-K致使小鼠肾脏肿大,影响了肾脏的发育;造成了肾脏的氧化性损伤,肾组织内抗氧化酶系统遭到破坏,氧化应激反应增强,具有氧化损伤作用。     

The effects of BmNPV on biochemical changes in primary cultures of Bombyx mori embryonic tissue

The effect of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) on biochemical changes of TC-100 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) in embryonic primary cultures of silkworm was investigated. The primary cultures that reached 60% confluence were infected by 0.5, 1, and 2-ml viral inoculums (diluted with TC-100 medium representing multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.25, 0.5, and 1). Glucose, uric acid, urea, total protein, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase were measured in the medium of BmNPV-infected primary cultures. All biochemical compounds showed significant changes. Glucose decreased considerably by about 55 mg/ml, while different concentrations of the virus inoculums did not demonstrate significant differences among them. Total protein had only increased in 2 ml concentration and there were no changes in other concentrations. Uric acid as a by-product accumulated dramatically in all concentrations, while the amount of urea reduced in all treatments and this reduction was more evident in lower concentrations. Cholesterol consumption was high in cultures postinfection, while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity decreased in infected cells.     

Plant functional traits and soil carbon sequestration in contrasting biomes

Plant functional traits control a variety of terrestrial ecosystem processes, including soil carbon storage which is a key component of the global carbon cycle. Plant traits regulate net soil carbon storage by controlling carbon assimilation, its transfer and storage in belowground biomass, and its release from soil through respiration, fire and leaching. However, our mechanistic understanding of these processes is incomplete. Here, we present a mechanistic framework, based on the plant traits that drive soil carbon inputs and outputs, for understanding how alteration of vegetation composition will affect soil carbon sequestration under global changes. First, we show direct and indirect plant trait effects on soil carbon input and output through autotrophs and heterotrophs, and through modification of abiotic conditions, which need to be considered to determine the local carbon sequestration potential. Second, we explore how the composition of key plant traits and soil biota related to carbon input, release and storage prevail in different biomes across the globe, and address the biome-specific mechanisms by which plant trait composition may impact on soil carbon sequestration. We propose that a trait-based approach will help to develop strategies to preserve and promote carbon sequestration.     

Effects of nitrogen starvation on the photosynthetic physiology of a tropical marine microalga Rhodomonas sp. (Cryptophyceae)

The effects of nitrogen starvation on biomass composition and photosynthetic function were examined in the marine cryptophyte Rhodomonas sp. Batch-cultured cells in N-sufficient medium showed a 2.5-fold increase in total carbohydrate content, and a 33% increase in cell volume when the cultures reached the stationary growth phase. These cultures also increased the ratio of phycoerythrin (PE)/hydrosoluble proteins from 6 to 22% by the 4th and 10th day of culture, respectively. In contrast, light-saturated photosynthetic activity (P_m) progressively decreased, and the value obtained at the beginning of the stationary phase was about 45% of that obtained for cells in the late exponential growth phase. Transfer to N-lacking medium caused a 3.2-fold increase in cell volume. N starvation also triggered a rapid decline in N-containing compounds such as hydrosoluble proteins and photosynthetic pigments, causing an almost complete loss of PE. The ratio of PE/hydrosoluble proteins decreased from 6 to 1% after 6 d of N deprivation. Furthermore, the PSII fluorescence capacity declined under N-starved conditions, which caused a pronounced decrease in both the P_m (circa 90%) and the apparent photosynthetic efficiency (circa 55%). Under these conditions, photosynthetically fixed carbon was used to synthesize large amounts of carbohydrates. We suggest that, in addition to the role of phycoerythrin as a light-harvesting pigment, Rhodomonas sp. responds to N-depleted conditions by mobilizing combined nitrogen from biliproteins.     

A flow injection analysis system with encapsulated high-density <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> cells for rapid determination of biochemical oxygen demand

The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) determination was studied using a novel flow injection analysis (FIA) system with encapsulated Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and an oxygen electrode and was compared with conventional 5-day BOD tests. S. cerevisiae cells were packed in a calcium alginate capsule at a dry cell weight of 250 g/l of capsule core. The level of dissolved oxygen (DO) was reduced due to the enhanced respiratory activity of the microbial cells when the injected nutrient passed through the bioreactor. The decrease in DO (ΔDO) was intensified with the amount of microbial cells packed in the bioreactor. However, the specific ΔDO decreased as the amount of cells loaded in the bioreactor increased. The ΔDO value was dependent on the pH and temperature of the mobile phase and reached its maximum value at 35°C and pH 7–8. Also, ΔDO became larger at longer response times as the flow rate of the mobile phase decreased. The measurement of ΔDO was repeated more than six times consecutively using a 20-ppm standard glucose and glutamic acid solution, which confirmed the reproducibility with a standard deviation of 0.95%. A strong linear correlation between ΔDO and BOD was also observed. The 5-day BOD values of actual water and wastewater samples were in accordance with the BOD values obtained by this FIA method using encapsulated S. cerevisiae cells. Unlike the cell-immobilized bead system, there was no contamination of the bioreactor resulting from any leak of yeast cells from the sensor capsules during BOD measurements.     

Predicting ultimate methane yields of Jatropha curcus and Morus indica from their chemical composition

In this study, all the components of Jatropha curcus and Morus indica were chemically characterized and their biochemical methane potentials (BMP) were determined. From the variables that showed strong influence on the ultimate methane yield (B_o) of J. curcus, a multiple regression Jatropha model was developed. This model comprised of total carbohydrates, protein, lipid, acid-detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose and ash in ADF as independent variables, with r² value of 0.943. The Jatropha model was validated on 7 samples of M. indica parts and wastes from silkworm rearing trays of this study and 13 samples of heterogeneous organic wastes of earlier studies, to judge the prediction quality. It was found that most of the predicted values differed by less than 15% of their experimental B_o.     

SPF级封闭群SD大鼠血清生化值及凝血酶原时间值的测定

目的建立SPF级（屏障系统）封闭群SD大鼠血液生化及凝血酶原时间正常参考值,为药物长期毒性试验研究者提供参考。方法采用全自动血液生化分析仪检测19周和31周大鼠血液生化值,采用紫外可见分光光度计检测K＋、Na＋、Cl-值和凝血酶原时间值。结果取得19周和31周龄SD大鼠血清生化值和凝血酶原平均值。CR、TG、TC生化指标受年龄及性别因素影响,CR、TG、TC随年龄增长而逐步升高。TBIL、CR、TG、TC、CK、TP、BUN、ALB、AST、K＋、ALP指标雌雄间差异显著（P＆lt;0.05）。结论在药物长期毒性试验中,同一周龄雌、雄SD大鼠K＋、Cl-、Na＋、凝血酶原时间值可合并统计;雌、雄SD大鼠血液生化指标不宜合并统计。在比对正常参考值时应考虑到性别与年龄的因素。