Substance P-containing nerve fibres in large peripheral blood vessels of the rat

Substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibres were localized by the indirect immunohistochemical method in the adventitia and the adventitial-medial border of large peripheral arteries and veins of the rat. Arteries showed a richer substance P-containing innervation than veins. The superior mesenteric artery was densely innervated, whereas no substance P-containing fibres were found around the carotid artery. Substance P produced a vasoconstriction of the veins, but was basically without effect on arteries, although with the carotid artery a dose-dependent relaxation was observed. The absence of a correlation between the degree of innervation of the blood vessels and their responsiveness to exogenous substance P suggests that there nerves do not subserve a vasomotor function. The depletion of substance P immunoreactivity from nerves in arteries and veins by capsaicin suggest that substance P-containing vascular nerves are primarily sensory in nature.     

Cytokines involved in monocyte mediated tumor cell death and growth inhibition in serum-free medium.

In a serum-free culture system, the release of TNF, lI-1, lI-6, IFN-alpha, and IFN-beta during interaction of elutriated human monocytes (MO) with human tumor cells (TC) was studied by ELISA-technique. Contributions of these cytokines to inhibition of TC-growth and to induction of TC-death by supernatants (SU) gained from such MO/TC-interaction cultures were investigated using affinity chromatography for removal of individual cytokines. Although the TC used are relatively insensitive to recombinant human TNF, withdrawal of TNF causes 50% to 75% reduction of SU-induced TC-death rates, suggesting that susceptibility to TNF is raised during MO/TC-interaction by the other cytokines. Individual removal of other cytokines does not cause reduction of SU-mediated TC-death. However, combined withdrawal of lI-1 and IFN-alpha/beta causes in 2 of 4 TC-lines significant reduction of TC-death. Combined removal of TNF, IFN-alpha/beta, lI-1, and lI-6 leads to complete prevention of SU-mediated growth inhibitory and lytic effects, suggesting that besides these cytokines other signals are not involved significantly. SU-effects can be mimicked by appropriate combinations of authentic cytokines. The response of TC to SU- or cytokine-exposure is strikingly dependent on TC-density, leading at subconfluent TC-density exclusively to inhibition of growth and at postconfluent TC-density to induction of cell death. The principal effect of SU or cytokine combinations in this context seems to be the activation of growth inhibitory signal transduction pathways leading to TC-death in postconfluent TC-populations exclusively if growth stimulatory pathways are activated at the same time. Mouse L cells do not follow this reaction pattern: Their death is exclusively dependent on the presence of TNF in SU and they die upon SU-exposure at postconfluent as well as at subconfluent cell density.     

MR弥散加权成像对鉴别诊断良恶性椎体压缩性骨折的临床价值研究

目的：探讨MR弥散加权成像（DWI）鉴别诊断良恶性椎体压缩性骨折的临床价值。方法：对57例经临床或病理证实的椎体良恶性压缩性骨折患者行矢状位T1M、T2WI、T2WI／FS及DWI扫描,研究其在常规序列和DWI序列上的表现,将常规MR序列和DWI序列检出率进行比较,测量正常椎体及病变椎体的表观弥散系数（ADC）值,并进行统计学分析。结果：（1）MR常规序列和DWI序列（b=500s／mm2）表现：良性椎体压缩性骨折呈长T1长或等T2改变,T2WI／FS呈高信号,DWI可以呈高信号、等信号及低信号;恶性椎体压缩性骨折呈长T1长T2信号,大部分病灶T2WUFS及DWI呈高信号,少数变现为低信号;（2）MR常规序列和DWI序列（b=500s／mm2）病灶检出率的比较：T1WI、T2WI／FS及DWI序列病灶检出率均高于T2WI序列,其间的差别有显著性意义（P〈0．01）,T1WI、T2WI／FS及DWI序列病灶检出率之间无显著性差异（P〉0．01）;（3）ADC值比较：在DWI（b=500s／mm2）上,良性组ADC值为（2．03±0．83）×10^3mm^2/s,恶性组ADC值为（1．37±0．75）×10^-3mm^2/s,正常组ADC值为（0．36±0．21）×10^-3mm^2／s,成像条件相同时,良性组高于恶性组,两组间有明显的统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：DWI可较好的反映椎体的弥散特征,ADC值作为量化指标可对良恶性椎体压缩性骨折进行可靠鉴别。     

Optimization of bovine satellite cell-derived myotube formation in vitro

Post-natal myogenic satellite cells, isolated from the sternomandibularis muscles of bovine at slaughter were used for primary culture studies. Isolated satellite cells tended to differentiate into multinucleated myotubes more efficiently if initially plated on to a fibronectin substratum. Bovine-derived satellite cells displayed greater fused cell numbers when exposed to Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) supplemented with horse serum than similar supplementation with fetal calf serum (P less than 0.05) or sheep serum (P less than 0.05). In addition, differentiation appeared nearly complete after 4 days exposure to DMEM-1% horse serum as verified by beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-cytosine addition to cultures. Collectively, these data provide the first evidence that satellite cells can be isolated from a bovine skeletal muscle. Furthermore, these data indicate that bovine-derived satellite cells can be induced to undergo substantial morphological differentiation in vitro.     

Haemosporidian Parasites of Antelopes and Other Vertebrates from Gabon,Central Africa

Re-examination, using molecular tools, of the diversity of haemosporidian parasites (among which the agents of human malaria are the best known) has generally led to rearrangements of traditional classifications. In this study, we explored the diversity of haemosporidian parasites infecting vertebrate species (particularly mammals, birds and reptiles) living in the forests of Gabon (Central Africa), by analyzing a collection of 492 bushmeat samples. We found that samples from five mammalian species (four duiker and one pangolin species), one bird and one turtle species were infected by haemosporidian parasites. In duikers (from which most of the infected specimens were obtained), we demonstrated the existence of at least two distinct parasite lineages related to Polychromophilus species (i.e., bat haemosporidian parasites) and to sauropsid Plasmodium (from birds and lizards). Molecular screening of sylvatic mosquitoes captured during a longitudinal survey revealed the presence of these haemosporidian parasite lineages also in several Anopheles species, suggesting a potential role in their transmission. Our results show that, differently from what was previously thought, several independent clades of haemosporidian parasites (family Plasmodiidae) infect mammals and are transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes.     

黑皮质素受体-4调节通路的研究进展

黑皮质素系统来自阿片-促黑素细胞皮质素原,在中枢摄食行为和能量平衡代谢中起到重要作用,此系统生理功能的发挥主要通过与下丘脑神经元细胞上特定膜受体（黑皮质素受体）结合完成。黑皮质素受体（MCR）有五种亚型（MC1R-MC5R）,其中参与体重调节的受体主要是黑皮质素受体3（MC3R）和黑皮质素受体4（MC4R）。MC4R属于G蛋白耦联受体,具有七次跨膜结构。作为一种膜受体,MC4R发挥体重调节作用,一方面受外界激动剂或拮抗剂的调节;另一方面,此受体活化后会影响到细胞内的信号调节通路。研究MC4R的功能首先要了解受体的结构,本文对G蛋白耦联受体的结构进行了较详细的叙述,MC4R经信号调节通路,激活腺苷酸环化酶,增加cAMP的浓度,最终通过影响细胞内基因的转录和翻译,来调节体重和能量的消耗。     

血液磁极化疗法对糖尿病兔胰岛功能的影响

目的观察血液磁极化疗法(简称血磁治疗)对糖尿病(DM)的治疗效果和对胰岛功能的影响。方法制备了四氧嘧啶DM兔模型20只,随机分为两组,即DM模型血磁治疗组及DM模型未治疗组,同时设立正常对照组10只,分别测定治疗前后空腹血糖(FPG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、胰岛素(INS)及C-肽(C-P),并于观察期结束后处死动物取胰腺组织常规石蜡包埋切片,行HE及Mallory三色法特殊染色观察3组胰岛形态学变化。结果血磁治疗显著降低DM兔的FPG(P<0.001)。DM治疗组INS及C-P水平较治疗前明显升高(P<0.01),与未治疗组相比差异显著(P<0.05)。胰岛病理改变可见治疗组β细胞数量明显多于DM未治疗组,提示血磁疗法具有促进胰岛修复,改善胰岛功能的作用。结论血磁疗法能够促进DM时受损胰岛组织的修复,改善胰岛β细胞分泌功能,降血糖作用明显。     

Frameshift Suppression in SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE VI. Complete Genetic Map of Twenty-Five Suppressor Genes

Five previously unmapped frameshift suppressor genes have been located on the yeast genetic map. In addition, we have further characterized the map positions of two suppressors whose approximate locations were determined in an earlier study. These results represent the completion of genetic mapping studies on all 25 of the known frameshift suppressor genes in yeast.—The approximate location of each suppressor gene was initially determined through the use of a set of mapping strains containing 61 signal markers distributed throughout the yeast genome. Standard meiotic linkage was assayed in crosses between strains carrying the suppressors and the mapping strains. Subsequent to these approximate linkage determinations, each suppressor gene was more precisely located in multi-point crosses. The implications of these mapping results for the genomic distribution of frameshift suppressor genes, which include both glycine and proline tRNA genes, are discussed.     

基于ISSR标记的辽宁4个东北林蛙种群遗传多样性分析

辽宁是东北林蛙Rana dybowskii主要分布地之一,种群数量巨大,其群体遗传多样性有待评估.本研究应用ISSR标记技术对东北林蛙4个种群105个样本进行研究,5个引物共获得44条清晰谱带,4个种群的多态位点率均大于75%,Nei's基因多样性为0.2851,Shannon信息指数为0.4476,显示了较高的遗传多样性.对遗传分化系数、Nei's遗传距离、AMOVA分子变异巢式方差分析和F-统计量等遗传参数的统计结果表明,辽宁东北林蛙种群间已经出现一定程度的遗传分化,分析认为,自然屏障(高山和平原等)以及栖息地片段化是其遗传分化形成的主要因素.     

Prophylactic treatment of BALB/c mice with cyclosporine A and its analog B-5-49 enhances resistance to Leishmania major

The effect of cyclosporine A (Cs A) and its analog B-5-49 on Leishmania major in vitro and in vivo in the highly susceptible BALB/c mouse strain has been investigated. In vitro, both of these drugs showed significant toxicity toward L. major, but only at relatively high levels (greater than 25 micrograms/ml). However, at 5 and 10 micrograms/ml, levels which correspond more closely to physiologically achievable concentrations, no growth-inhibitory effect in vitro was observed. On administration of the drugs to animals with established lesions, no beneficial effect was observed and, in fact, some exacerbation of lesion development and disease progression was noted. Surprisingly, a majority of the mice treated prophylactically with Cs A for a period of 7 consecutive days beginning 1 day before infection with L. major did not develop ulcerated cutaneous lesions, although some footpad swelling was observed 10 days to 2 wk after infection. These resistant animals displayed a sustained DTH after infection, and were resistant to further challenge with virulent L. major. Prophylactic treatment with the B-5-49 analog of Cs A was also effective in enhancing resistance to L. major infection in BALB/c mice, although to a somewhat lesser degree. Because the cyclosporines tested do not appear to be directly toxic nor inhibitory in vivo for established L. major infections, it appears that these drugs may be effective in modulating the induction stage of the immune response toward the parasites in the BALB/c mouse in such a way as to allow a protective immunity to develop.