铁皮石斛对脾虚便秘小鼠肠道黏膜结构的影响

目的研究铁皮石斛对脾虚便秘小鼠肠道黏膜的保护作用。方法将18只SPF级KM小鼠随机分为正常组和脾虚便秘组,其中正常组6只,脾虚便秘组12只。脾虚便秘组小鼠灌胃1 g/mL番泻叶水煎液(0.8 mL/d,分2次灌胃),持续7 d;从第8天开始,脾虚便秘组小鼠停止使用番泻叶,改为隔天喂低纤维饲料生大米4～8 g,每天自由饮水1次,每次0.5 h,控制饮食持续8 d,致小鼠脾虚便秘。当造模成功之后,将脾虚便秘小鼠随机分为自然恢复组和铁皮石斛治疗组(每组6只)。铁皮石斛治疗组按3.5 g/(kg·d)灌胃0.1 g/mL铁皮石斛汤剂,每天2次,每次0.35 mL,共5 d。正常组和脾虚便秘自然恢复组灌胃等量的无菌水。结果铁皮石斛能改善因造模造成的小肠黏膜炎症细胞浸润,增加回肠、盲肠的杯状细胞数目。结论铁皮石斛能有效改善脾虚便秘小鼠肠道的黏膜结构。     

Metabolism of Collagen and Muscle Protein of Young Rats in Protein Depletion

The effect of protein depletion on the metabolism of body collagen and muscle protein has been investigated in young male rats fed with a protein-free diet for 14 and 28 days.

During the protein depletion, the protein content of the liver, intestine and skin decreased significantly, but the decrease of proteins was very little in the carcass, tail and bone (ossa cruris). An increase of tissue collagen in protein depletion was found in the carcass, bone, tail, skin and liver, while muscle protein in the carcass was evidently lost at a later stage of protein depletion. The increase of calcium in the bone was parallel to the increase of collagen, indicating continuous growth of the bones in spite of protein depletion. These results may indicate that the young animals continuously synthesize collagens of their special tissues from other tissue proteins even with severe protein deficiency. The metabolic responses of body collagens to dietary protein depletion in young rats have been discussed and compared with those in adult rats reported previously.     

Intracellular Localization and Characterization of Beef Liver Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Isozymes

Various physiological roles of mammalian aldehyde dehydrogenase had been anticipated because of its broad substrate specificity. In order to clarify roles of the enzyme and the regulation of aldehyde metabolisms in liver, the intracellular distribution and isozyme of beef liver aldehyde dehydrogenase were studied.

The presence of the mitochondrial, the microsomal and the cytoplasmic isozymes were proved by the isoelectric focusing. These isozymes were different from each other in pH-activity curve in the responces for steroid hormones and disulfiram.

It was suggested by comparing the reactivities of these isozymes for various aldehydes that particular aldehyde might be oxidized by a favorite isozyme at particular locality in the liver cells and that a share of physiological role among these isozymes is probable.     

Novel Secoiridoid Glucosides in Olea europaea Leaves Suffering from Boron Deficiency

From the methanol extract of boron deficient Olea europaea leaves, two secoiridoid glycosides, not detected in leaf extracts of untreated plants, 6′-E-p-coumaroyl-secologanoside and 6′-O-[(2E)-2,6-dimethyl-8-hydroxy-2-octenoyloxy]-secologanoside, were isolated together with three known secoiridoid glycosides, oleuropein, oleoside dimethyl ester, and secologanoside. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by means of NMR and MS spectral analyses. The above novel secoiridoids were synthesized by the plant as a physiological response to nutrient stress.     

Molecular characterization in a case of isolated growth hormone deficiency and further prenatal diagnosis of an unborn sibling

Familial isolated growth hormone deficiency (GHD) type 1 is characterized by an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance with varying degrees of phenotypic severity. We report a proband, with isolated GHD (IGHD) with very early growth arrest and undetectable levels of GH. Homozygous complete deletion of the GH1 gene was identified by real-time/quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT/q-PCR) and confirmed by an independent molecular genetic method; the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technique. Prenatal diagnosis was offered for the subsequent pregnancy in the mother of our proband. Identical heterozygous deletion of the GH1 gene was detected in both parents. The fetus had a similar homozygous deletion of the GH1 gene. We thus report a unique case with a confirmed mutation in GH1 gene in the proband followed by prenatal detection of the same mutation in the amniotic fluid which to our knowledge hitherto has not been documented from India.     

外源铁对铅污染土壤中宽叶香蒲铅积累的影响

采用温室盆栽方法,研究添加外源铁对不同铅浓度(0、100、500和1000 mg·kg^-1)污染土壤中宽叶香蒲铅积累的影响.结果表明： 各铅浓度条件下,与添加100 mg Fe·kg^-1相比,添加500 mg Fe·kg^-1处理的宽叶香蒲地上部和根的铅含量均增高.土壤铅浓度为1000 mg·kg^-1时,添加500 mg Fe·kg^-1处理根的铅含量比100 mg Fe·kg^-1处理增加33.7%,地上部铅含量增加50.5%.添加500 mg Fe·kg^-1处理的根际土壤中可交换态铅比100 mg Fe·kg^-1处理增加77.0%～114.6%.除500 mg·kg^-1铅浓度外,各铅浓度条件下添加500 mg Fe·kg^-1理根干质量均显著低于100 mg Fe·kg^-1处理.在铅污染的湿地环境中添加适量铁可以提高铅的有效性,促进铅积累.     

Inhibition of DNA demethylation enhances plant tolerance to cadmium toxicity by improving iron nutrition

Although the alteration of DNA methylation due to abiotic stresses, such as exposure to the toxic metal cadmium (Cd), has been often observed in plants, little is known about whether such epigenetic changes are linked to the ability of plants to adapt to stress. Herein, we report a close linkage between DNA methylation and the adaptational responses in Arabidopsis plants under Cd stress. Exposure to Cd significantly inhibited the expression of three DNA demethylase genes ROS1/DML2/DML3 (RDD) and elevated DNA methylation at the genome-wide level in Col-0 roots. Furthermore, the profile of DNA methylation in Cd-exposed Col-0 roots was similar to that in the roots of rdd triple mutants, which lack RDD, indicating that Cd-induced DNA methylation is associated with the inhibition of RDD. Interestingly, the elevation in DNA methylation in rdd conferred a higher tolerance against Cd stress and improved cellular Fe nutrition in the root tissues. In addition, lowering the Fe supply abolished improved Cd tolerance due to the lack of RDD in rdd. Together, these data suggest that the inhibition of RDD-mediated DNA demethylation in the roots by Cd would in turn enhance plant tolerance to Cd stress by improving Fe nutrition through a feedback mechanism.     

铁氧化菌耐砷机制及其砷污染修复应用的研究进展

砷污染作为全球性环境问题已经引起了人们的高度重视。无机砷化合物可与铁氢氧化物络合通过共沉淀作用去除。因此,利用具有砷耐性的铁氧化菌氧化环境中的铁元素去除砷化合物具有潜在的应用前景。目前已有利用铁氧化菌去除环境中砷污染物的报道。用于砷污染修复的铁氧化菌必须有一定的砷耐性才能在含砷环境中行使功能。微生物是否具有砷耐性往往取决于基因,并且不同的菌株具有不同的生理特征,适宜不同砷污染环境的修复。本文通过对8株代表性的铁氧化菌砷耐性基因的总结,阐述其耐砷机制、研究概况及应用前景,以期为铁氧化菌用于除砷新技术的开发提供参考。