Identification and expansion of pancreatic stem/progenitor cells

Pancreatic islet transplantation represents an attractive approach for the treatment of diabetes. However, the limited availability of donor islets has largely hampered this approach. In this respect, the use of alternative sources of islets such as the ex vivo expansion and differentiation of functional endocrine cells for treating diabetes has become the major focus of diabetes research. Adult pancreatic stem cells /progenitor cells have yet to be recognized because limited markers exist for their identification. While the pancreas has the capacity to regenerate under certain circumstances, questions where adult pancreatic stem/progenitor cells are localized, how they are regulated, and even if the pancreas harbors a stem cell population need to be resolved. In this article, we review the recent achievements both in the identification as well as in the expansion of pancreatic stem/progenitor cells.     

Effects of water depth and hydrodynamics on the growth and distribution of juvenile cyprinids in the littoral zone of a large pre-alpine lake

In enclosure experiments in the littoral zone of Lake Constance, Germany, juvenile cyprinids showed significantly reduced somatic growth in the shallow eulittoral zone (0·5 m depth) compared to the sublittoral zone (1·6 m depth). Growth was especially reduced in larger and more deep-bodied fish groups, providing evidence that this is due to increased hydrodynamic stress, induced by ship and wind waves, in the shallow habitats compared to the deep habitat. Other factors such as water temperature and food availability seemed to be of minor importance for the observed growth differences. Gillnet catches at the experimental site and an adjacent site showed that most juvenile cyprinids, including the species from the enclosure study, bream Abramis brama and dace Leuciscus leuciscus , nonetheless prefer shallow habitats compared to deeper sublittoral habitats. Juvenile cyprinids in Lake Constance may prefer these shallow habitats as refuges against larger piscivorous predators, mainly perch Perca fluviatilis , despite the cost in terms of reduced somatic growth indicating that juvenile cyprinids first of all optimize survival rate instead of somatic growth rate.     

外源植物生长调节物质对烟草根中烟碱含量和烟碱合成酶活性变化的生理效应

水培法研究烟草打顶和喷施外源生长调节物质的结果表明:打顶的比不打顶的烟草根中鸟氨酸脱羧酶(ODC)、腐胺N-甲基转移酶(PMT)和N-甲基腐胺氧化酶(MPO)活性升高,烟叶中烟碱含量剧增;打顶喷施ABA和6-BA烟叶中烟碱含量升高,喷施IAA和GA3的下降,IAA的效果更明显.     

Mechanism of high susceptibility of iron-overloaded mouse to Vibrio vulnificus infection

Vibrio vulnificus produces fulminant septicemia in humans with underlying conditions, particularly those with diseases that elevate the iron level. The effect of a high iron level on the virulence of V. vulnificus was therefore investigated in mice treated with iron dextran. The mice loaded with iron became highly susceptible to V. vulnificus infection, the LD50 (50% lethal dose) decreased five logs when infected per peritoneum. However, when infected via the oral route, the LD50 was affected little unless the mouse was treated with an additional drug such as cyclophosphamide or D-galactosamine. Mice with or without iron-overloading died when the bacterial concentration in the blood reached 10(5) cfu/ml or above. Iron increased the growth rate of the bacteria, both inside and outside of the animal, quickly reaching a lethal concentration in the iron-overloaded mouse. V. vulnificus, grown with or without the addition of iron, showed strong cytotoxicity on the isolated cells or within the animal at high bacterial concentration. Iron overload stimulated the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a major factor of septic shock, in mice upon infection with the bacteria, probably caused by the endotoxin; however, the neutrophils, whose migration is effected by TNF-alpha, appeared to be less active. Taken together, the major virulence factor of V. vulnificus appeared to be the accelerated growth of bacteria to quickly reach the lethal level and the lower activity of immune cells including neutrophil as a result of iron-overloading. These two effects manifest other virulence factors, the host's as well as bacterial. Such factors, other than TNF-alpha stimulated by the endotoxin, enhanced cytotoxicity, which kills the host cells including the host's immune cells.     

窝雏数处理对两种雀形目幼鸟生长的影响

基于 1 997～ 1 999年野外实验 ,对高寒草甸小云雀和黄嘴朱顶雀两种雀形目鸟的窝雏数进行增减处理。结果表明 ,对照组的幼鸟生长率和离巢体重都大于增加组 ,说明窝雏数增加后 ,幼鸟质量下降。随着窝雏数增加 ,这两种幼鸟生长率显著下降 (小云雀 :r =-0 965 ,P =0 0 3 5 <0 0 5 ;朱顶雀 :r =-0 82 8,P =0 0 2 2 <0 0 5 )。窝雏数改变对小云雀幼鸟出飞重影响不显著 (r =-0 41 8,P =0 5 2 8>0 0 5 ) ,而对黄嘴朱顶雀有显著的影响 (r=-0 90 1 ,P =0 0 1 4<0 0 5 )。     

Biotechnological challenges of bioartificial kidney engineering

With the world-wide increase of patients with renal failure, the development of functional renal replacement therapies have gained significant interest and novel technologies are rapidly evolving. Currently used renal replacement therapies insufficiently remove accumulating waste products, resulting in the uremic syndrome. A more preferred treatment option is kidney transplantation, but the shortage of donor organs and the increasing number of patients waiting for a transplant warrant the development of novel technologies. The bioartificial kidney (BAK) is such promising biotechnological approach to replace essential renal functions together with the active secretion of waste products. The development of the BAK requires a multidisciplinary approach and evolves at the intersection of regenerative medicine and renal replacement therapy. Here we provide a concise review embracing a compact historical overview of bioartificial kidney development and highlighting the current state-of-the-art, including implementation of living-membranes and the relevance of extracellular matrices. We focus further on the choice of relevant renal epithelial cell lines versus the use of stem cells and co-cultures that need to be implemented in a suitable device. Moreover, the future of the BAK in regenerative nephrology is discussed.     

重金属递进胁迫对黑麦草初期生长的影响

通过研究Cu²⁺、Zn²⁺、Cd²⁺与Pb²⁺胁迫对黑麦草初期生长的影响,结果表明：4种重金属对种子发芽率抑制效应相对较小,尤其Cu²⁺与Zn²⁺的抑制作用最小。高浓度Cu²⁺、Cd²⁺胁迫对株高、根系长度、地上生物量的抑制作用相对较大,尤其Cu²⁺对根系生长的抑制效应最大,在300 mg·L^-1下,与对照相比,根长最高下降了 85.48%。高浓度Cd²⁺胁迫显著降低了叶绿素含量,在300 mg·L^-1时比对照降低了45.51%;与对照相比,Cu²⁺与Zn²⁺所有处理都增加了叶绿素含量。从递进胁迫进程看,一些重金属对某一生长指标的影响往往表现在低浓度具有促进作用,而高浓度又存在明显的抑制效应。     

转基因抗虫棉对棉铃虫及其内寄生蜂的双重效应

以含1%转基因（Cry1A+CpTI）抗虫棉“中抗310”棉叶粉的人工饲料为基础,建立一套抗虫棉 棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera 棉铃虫幼虫内寄生蜂中红侧沟茧蜂Microplitis mediator和棉铃虫齿唇姬蜂Campoletis chlorideae的三级营养关系的研究系统,研究了转基因抗虫棉对棉铃虫及内寄生蜂的双重效应,分析比较了6种状态的棉铃虫生长发育动态,以及寄生蜂的生长状况。结果表明,无论是否被寄生,抗虫棉对棉铃虫生长发育的抑制作用都非常显著;寄生取食抗虫棉饲料的棉铃虫的寄生蜂,其出茧率和茧重都显著下降,对于中红侧沟茧蜂,出茧率和茧重分别下降了26.1%和1.0 mg;对于棉铃虫齿唇姬蜂,分别下降了17.9%和5.1 mg。解剖寄主发现,两种寄生蜂在取食抗虫棉饲料的寄主体内发育缓慢并出现部分畸形幼蜂。棉铃虫幼虫血淋巴总蛋白含量和血淋巴蛋白SDS-PAGE电泳分析表明,取食抗虫棉饲料后,棉铃虫血淋巴总蛋白含量低于相应的对照,推测寄主血淋巴蛋白含量降低是导致寄生蜂生长缓慢、发育不正常的一个重要原因。     

火炬树雌雄母株克隆生长差异及其光合荧光日变化

火炬树(Rhus typhina Linn.)是兼有雌雄异株和克隆生长特性的外来木本植物。分别探讨火炬树雌雄母株克隆繁殖扩散能力的特点,分析其光合荧光反应的差异。采用CIRAS-2光合仪和FMS-2便携调制式荧光仪,并结合样圆调查法,比较火炬树雌雄母株的克隆分株数量和形态生长指标、光合生理参数的日变化特征,揭示火炬树雌雄异株的资源利用效率和对午间强光缓冲保护能力的雌雄差异。研究结果表明:1)火炬树雄性母株的克隆分株形态生长指标及数量均超过了雌性母株,且雄性母株形成克隆分株的年龄早于雌性母株1a;2)火炬树雄性母株的光能、水分和CO2利用效率和净光合速率均高于雌性母株,此结果为雄性母株克隆生长奠定了较为充足的营养基础;3)在晴天自然光的条件下,火炬树雄性母株未出现光抑制,而雌性母株出现了光抑制现象,非光化学猝灭系数(qN)日变化特征显示雌性母株的热耗散程度较高。因此,火炬树雄性母株的克隆生长力强于雌性母株。     

入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花对土壤水分变化的生态学响应

以盆栽的入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花为材料,在100%(CK)、80%(W_80)、60%(W_60)和40%(W_40)土壤田间持水量条件下,研究了该植物的生长、生物量分配和光合生理特征,以探讨其入侵机制.结果表明:(1)加拿大一枝黄花的生长速率、株高、叶面积(叶长、叶宽)等均随土壤含水量的降低而下降;总生物量及根、茎、叶各器官生物量积累均随土壤含水量的减少而呈不同程度降低,根生物量比、叶生物量比和根冠比则表现出逐渐增大趋势,并在W_40处理下达到最大;克隆生长在W_40处理下受到严重抑制,表现为无克隆分株和二级根茎,分枝强度低、根茎直径小等特征.(2)随着土壤含水量减少,植株叶绿素a、叶绿素b和叶绿素总量逐渐下降,叶绿素a/b比值却升高,同期的净光合速率、最大净光合速率、光饱和点下降,而光补偿点却上升,其光适应范围逐渐变小.研究发现,加拿大一枝黄花具有较强的抗旱性和耐旱性,但重度干旱仍严重影响其正常生长,其适宜的水分生态位是中偏湿的土壤环境;其通过一系列形态和生理上的可塑性变化来适应和占据各种异质性生境,表型可塑性可能是其成功入侵的重要机制.