Cell signaling pathways mediating epidermal growth factor stimulation of Na:K:2Cl cotransport activity in rabbit corneal epithelial cells

We characterized the signaling and ion transport pathways that mediate epidermal growth factor receptor physiological control in SV40-immortalized rabbit corneal epithelial cells (tRCEC). Our evaluation employed single-cell fluorescence imaging to measure the intracellular [Na⁺]_i in these cells loaded with the Na⁺ sensitive dye, SBFI. EGF (1 to 5 ng/ml) transiently increased [Na⁺]_i from 10 mm to as much as 35 mm after 25 min, which was followed by a decline towards its control value. These increases waned at higher EGF concentrations up to 50 ng/ml. Both inhibition of EGF receptor-linked tyrosine kinase activity (50 μm RG-13022) and cPLA₂ activity (10 μm AACOCF₃) obviated EGF-induced increases in [Na⁺]_i. In contrast, PGE₂ (10 μg/ml) and cAMP (2 mm) increased [Na⁺]_i by 25 mm. Inhibition of NKCC activity through exposure to either Cl-free Ringers or 300 μm furosemide in NaCl Ringers eliminated EGF-induced increases in [Na⁺]_i. Similarly, EGF failed to increase [Na⁺]_i following inhibition of: 1) PKA activity (10 μm H-89); 2) Erk1/2 (15 μm PD98059) or 3) p38 (15 μm SB203580) activity. Stimulation protein kinase C activity (0.1 μm PMA) transiently increased [Na⁺]_i followed by a decline towards its baseline value. EGF-induced increases in [Na⁺]_i were unaltered by inhibition of K⁺ conductance (100 μm 4-AP). Taken together, EGF stimulates Erk1/2; p38 and cPLA₂ activity. Their stimulation increases PGE₂ and cAMP levels resulting in PKA and NKCC activation. Received: 18 December 2000/Revised: 24 May 2001     

Fluctuations of the soil environment and fine root growth in a young Sitka spruce plantation

Summary From soil cores extracted at 5 day intervals from 3 May to 6 August it was found that the biomass of fine roots in a Sitka spruce plantation, 14 years old, fluctuated with maxima in late May and mid July. The earlier peak coincides with increasing soil temperatures during a period of high incident precipitation and the latter developed when the soil profile was rewetted. Fine root biomass and soil moisture tension (SMT) were significantly and negatively correlated in three of four soil horizons. Root mortality occurred whenever incident precipitation failed to maintain soil moisture tension near zero. In the very open pored horizons the critical SMT for root death was unexpected small, <0.1 bars; in the peat horizons it wasc 0.2 bars.     

Nitrogen deposition enhances moss growth,but leads to an overall decline in habitat condition of mountain moss‐sedge heath

Ecosystems are subject to multiple, natural and anthropogenic environmental influences, including nitrogen (N) deposition, land use and climate. Assessment of the relative importance of these influences on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is crucial for guiding policy and management decisions to mitigate global change; yet, few studies consider multiple drivers. In the UK, ongoing loss of the internationally important arctic/alpine moss‐sedge community, Racomitrium heath, has been linked to elevated N deposition, high grazing pressures and their combination; however, the relative importance of these drivers remains unclear. We used environmental gradients across the habitat's European distribution (UK, Faroes, Norway and Iceland) to investigate the relative impact of N deposition and grazing pressure, as well as climate, on the condition of the dominant moss species, Racomitrium lanuginosum. Key variables including tissue chemistry, growth and cover were measured at 36 sites, and multiple linear regressions were used to examine the relative importance of the drivers across sites. Our results clearly show that regional variation in the condition of R. lanuginosum across Europe is primarily associated with the impacts of N deposition, with climate (air temperature) and grazing pressure playing secondary roles. In contrast to previous experimental studies, we found moss growth to be stimulated by elevated N deposition; this apparent discrepancy may result from the use of artificially high N concentrations in many experiments. Despite increased growth rates, we found that moss mat depth and cover declined in response to N deposition. Our results suggest that this is due to increased decomposition of material in the moss mat, which ultimately leads to loss of moss cover and habitat degradation. This study clearly demonstrates both the key role of N deposition in degradation of Racomitrium heath and the importance of observational studies along natural gradients for testing predictions from experimental studies in the real world.     

体外诱导骨髓间充质干细胞向肝细胞样细胞方向分化

探讨成纤维生长因子-2(FGF-2)在体外定向诱导大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞(BM-MSCs)向肝细胞样细胞分化的作用及量化关系。体外分离培养大鼠BM-MSCs,将第3代BM-MSCs采用不同剂量的FGF-2诱导。诱导后,在显微镜下观察细胞形态学的改变;用免疫细胞化学法检测白蛋白和CK19的分泌;Shiff染色法检测糖原的分泌。诱导后BM-MSCs由梭形向多角形、卵圆形方向变化,白蛋白、CK19和糖原12 d即有阳性表达,以后随着诱导时间的延长阳性率逐渐升高。20 ng/mL FGF-2诱导比10 ng/mL FGF-2诱导细胞白蛋白、CK19和糖原的表达量均多。20 ng/mL FGF-2具有较强的诱导BM-MSCs向肝细胞样细胞分化的能力。     

不同浓度IBA、NAA对紫萼龙吐珠扦插生根的影响

以紫萼龙吐珠Clerodendrum speciosum为试材,采用单因素完全随机设计,研究不同浓度IBA、NAA混合溶液对紫萼龙吐珠扦插生根的影响。结果表明,当NAA为50 mg·L-1,IBA为150或200 mg·L-1时,紫萼龙吐珠插穗成活率和生根率最高,可达100%;根系数量、根长最大值分别是对照组的9.4倍和4.9倍;当NAA、IBA分别为50、150 mg·L-1时,根系效果指数在9、11月均较高,最高可达6.42。运用隶属函数法对9、11月扦插各处理组合的生根效果进行综合评价,认为NAA 50 mg·L-1、IBA 150或200 mg·L-1混合溶液处理紫萼龙吐珠插条均最有利于生根,可得到较高的生根质量。     

Decoupling Analysis of Four Selected Countries

We examine decoupling conditions of domestic extraction of materials, energy use, and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from gross domestic product (GDP) for two BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries (i.e., China and Russia) and two Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) countries (Japan and the United States) during 2000–2007, using a pair of decoupling indicators for resource use (D_r) and waste emissions (D_e) and the decoupling chart, which can distinguish between absolute decoupling, relative decoupling, and non‐decoupling. We find that (1) during 2000–2007, decoupling between environmental indicators and GDP was higher in the two OECD countries as compared with the two BRIC countries. The key reason is that these countries were in different development stages with different economic growth rates. (2) Changes in environmental policies can significantly influence the degree of decoupling in a country. (3) China, Japan, and the United States were more successful in decoupling SO₂ emissions from GDP than in decoupling material and energy use from GDP. The main reason is that, unlike resource use, waste emissions (e.g., SO₂ emissions) can be reduced by effective end‐of‐pipe treatment. (4) The decoupling indicator is different from the changing rate of resource use and waste emissions. If two countries have different GDP growth rates, even though they may have similar values using the decoupling indicator, they may show different rates of change for resource use and waste emissions.     

红松单木高生长模型的研究

１引言生长模型是定量研究树木生长过程的有效手段。它既可对林木生长作出现实的评价,也可用来预估将来各测树因子的变化;既是编制修订各种数表的基础,也是森林经营中各种措施实施的依据。在林学上,生长模型主要包括单木生长模型和林分生长模型,其中单木生长模型是林...     

玉米赤霉烯酮对膨胀青萍G_3生长与发育的影响

玉米赤霉烯酮(Zearalenone,以下简称ZEN)被证明具有动物雌性激素的作用(Mirocha等 1967),并且是某些真菌的一种性激素(Mirocha等1968)。李季伦等首次报道ZEN与高等植物的生长与发育有关(1980)。现已证实ZEN与植物的春化作用(孟繁静等1986)、短日光周期诱导(韩玉珍和孟繁静1990)、以及花器官的发生、分化乃至开花和受精等(阙月美等1990)     

水杨酸对小白菜抗铅胁迫的诱导

0.3 mmol/L铅胁迫下小白菜（Brassica rapa var. chinensis）生长受到显著抑制,0.1 mmol/L水杨酸（salicylic acid）诱导处理能显著缓解0.3 mmol/L铅胁迫对小白菜幼苗生长的抑制;并且水杨酸对铅胁迫下小白菜的生长存在“低促高抑”效应,当水杨酸处理浓度达到1.5 mmol/L时,不但不能缓解铅对小白菜的毒害,反而加重毒害,这可能与高浓度水杨酸与铅形成的复合伤害有关。     

长效肥料ENTEC对野生刺苋驯化栽培的影响

探讨了含有硝化抑制剂DMPP(3,4-二甲基吡唑磷酸盐)的长效肥料ENTEC对剌苋(Amaranthus spinosus L.)干物质积累及其氮素利用的影响. 结果表明: 与尿素处理相比,ENTEC对提高剌苋干物质积累作用不明显,其最大生长速率出现时间较晚; 施用ENTEC,土壤含氮量较高,且下降速度较慢,说明其具有较强的防止氮素流失的作用.同时,ENTEC有利于提高氮素的利用率,ENTEC处理的植株氮素利用率比尿素处理提高了41.56%.另外,ENTEC能促进剌苋对磷、钾素的吸收.