In vivo metabolism of 3H-testosterone in adult male rats: effects of estrogen administration.

The metabolism of testosterone (T) was studied in normal adult male rats using a constant infusion of trace amounts of the 3H-steroid into a tail vein for 3 h in order to attain a state of equilibrium. Samples of plasma, liver, kidney, prostate, seminal vesicles and muscle were analysed for 3H-testosterone, 3H-5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (5alphaDHT) and 3H-5alpha-androstanediol (Adiol). When compared to the 3H-T level in plasma there were high levels of 3H-T in kidney and of 3H-5alphaDHT in prostate and seminal vesicles. Intraperitoneal estradiol valerate administration (100 mug/day) for 4 days decreased and 3H-5alphaDHT levels in the prostate and seminal vesicles. The estrogen administration increased the T metabolic clearance rate from 17.5 1/24 h/100 g body wt to 22.6 1/24 h/100 g body wt.     

A radioimmunoassay of plasma estradiol-17beta with the use of polyethylene glycol to separate free and antibody-bound hormone

A radioimmunoassay for plasma estradiol-17β was developed using polyethylene glycol to separate free from antibody-bound hormone. Specificity for estradiol-17β was achieved by a modified celite microcolunm procedure in which estradiol was.separated from interfering estrogens, including estrone. Using trace ³H-estradiol to monitor procedural losses, the method was shown to be sensitive and accurate. Intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variation of the method was 8.7 and 10.6%, respectively. Polyethylene glycol used for antibody precipitation appears to be a generally applicable method for steroid hormone radioimmunoassays. The simplicity, precision and rapid analysis, coupled with its lack of time dependence and ease in automation, makes this a convenient and practical method.     

Chemical constituents from Saussurea licentiana Hand.-Mazz

Chemical investigation of Saussurea licentiana led to the isolation of ten compounds, and their structures were identified to be dia-aurantiamide acetate (1), (+)-pinoresinol 4-O-β-D-glucoside (2), encelin (3), apigenin (4), luteolin (5), jaceosidin (6), luteolin -7-O-β-D- glucopyranoside (7), α-amyrin (8), β-amyrin (9), taraxasterol (10) on the basis of mass and NMR spectra. This is the first report on the occurrence of compounds 1, and 2 in the genus Saussurea while 1 is reported for the first time from Asteraceae. This work also represents the first phytochemical work on the whole plants of S. licentiana.     

Toward a Reversible Mn4+/Mn2+ Redox Reaction and Dendrite‐Free Zn Anode in Near‐Neutral Aqueous Zn/MnO2 Batteries via Salt Anion Chemistry

Rechargeable aqueous Zn/MnO₂ batteries are very attractive large‐scale energy storage technologies, but still suffer from limited cycle life and low capacity. Here the novel adoption of a near‐neutral acetate‐based electrolyte (pH ≈ 6) is presented to promote the two‐electron Mn⁴⁺/Mn²⁺ redox reaction and simultaneously enable a stable Zn anode. The acetate anion triggers a highly reversible MnO₂/Mn²⁺ reaction, which ensures high capacity and avoids the issue of structural collapse of MnO₂. Meanwhile, the anode‐friendly electrolyte enables a dendrite‐free Zn anode with outstanding stability and high plating/stripping Coulombic efficiency (99.8%). Hence, a high capacity of 556 mA h g^?1, a lifetime of 4000 cycles without decay, and excellent rate capability up to 70 mA cm^?2 are demonstated in this new near‐neutral aqueous Zn/MnO₂ battery by simply manipulating the salt anion in the electrolyte. The acetate anion not only modifies the surface properties of MnO₂ cathode but also creates a highly compatible environment for the Zn anode. This work provides a new opportunity for developing high‐performance Zn/MnO₂ and other aqueous batteries based on the salt anion chemistry.     

A study on the potential reprotoxic effects of thimerosal in male albino rats

Thimerosal is ethyl mercury based compound which is being used as a preservative in vaccines since decades. Pharmaceutical products and vaccines that contain thimerosal are among the potential source of mercury exposure. Current research was intended to ascertain the reprotoxic effects of thimerosal on rat testes. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were sorted into four groups (n = 6). The first group was a control group. Rats of experimental Group 2, 3 and 4 were treated with various dosages of thimerosal (0.5, 10, 50 mg/kg) respectively. Rats were decapitated after thirty days of trial and different parameters were analyzed. Thimerosal exposure resulted in a significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSR) and increased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Different doses of thimerosal significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the concentration of plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Additionally, Daily sperm production (DSP) and efficiency of daily sperm production were significantly reduced followed by thimerosal exposure. Moreover, thimerosal significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, number of spermatogonia along with spermatids. Thimerosal induced adverse histopathological and morphological changes in testicular tissues such as decreased Leydig cells, diameter of seminiferous tubules, tunica albuginea height and epithelial height. On the other hand, the increase in tubular lumen and interstitial spaces was observed due to thimerosal. These outcomes indicated that thimerosal has potential reprotoxic effects in male albino rats.     

毛梗豨莶乙酸乙酯部位化学成分及生物活性研究

毛梗豨莶草(Siegesbeckia glabresce)的乙酸乙酯萃取部位具有显著的抑制细胞坏死性凋亡(necroptosis)的活性。为明确毛梗豨莶草的活性成分,该研究采用正相硅胶柱色谱谱(二氯甲烷:甲醇20:1～0:1)、反相ODS柱色谱(30%～100% 甲醇)、Sephadex LH-20柱色谱、重结晶等方法对毛梗豨莶草乙酸乙酯萃取部位进行了化学成分分离和纯化,并根据理化性质和波谱数据进行了结构鉴定。结果表明:从毛梗豨莶乙酸乙酯部位分离并鉴定了9个化合物,分别为3,7-二甲氧基槲皮素(1)、芹菜素(2)、奥卡宁(3)、okanin-4''-O-β-D-6″-trans-p-coumaroylglucoside(4)、1H-Indole-3-carbaldehyde(5)、对羟基苯甲醛(6)、3,5-二甲氧基-4-羟基苯甲醛(7)、3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran(8)、buddlenol D(9)。除化合物1和化合物6外,其余7个化合物均为首次从豨莶属植物中分离得到     

乙酸钠调控小球藻生长及代谢产物

【背景】小球藻是一种单细胞绿藻,在不同培养条件下可积累高附加值的代谢产物,这些产物可用于生产生物燃料、食品、保健品、药品等。然而这些代谢产物在藻细胞中的生产率较低且很难通过经济可行的方法将其分离,这使其工业化规模生产受到限制。【目的】研究乙酸钠对小球藻生物量的影响,并分析其对小球藻代谢产物的调控作用。【方法】通过在小球藻培养液中添加不同浓度的乙酸钠(1.0、2.0、3.0、4.0、5.0 g/L),研究其调控小球藻生长和代谢的作用机理。【结果】在添加3.0 g/L乙酸钠的培养液中,小球藻的生物量是对照组的5.2倍,尽管藻细胞中蛋白质含量无明显变化,但油脂和类胡萝卜素含量是对照组的2.4倍和1.2倍,多糖和叶绿素a含量却仅为对照组的54.6%和54.4%。【结论】乙酸钠不仅会影响藻细胞的生长,还会调控其代谢过程,这为深入探索乙酸钠在调控小球藻生长及代谢过程的作用机制提供了理论基础和技术资料。