Differences in chemical composition of plants grown at constant relative growth rates with stable mineral nutrition

Summary Leaf chemistry of a willow clone (Salix aquatica Smith) differed significantly when grown at constant relative growth rates depending upon the relative availability of nutrients and light. Concentration of amino acids and nitrate were high in plants grown with a relative surplus of nutrients. Concentrations of starch, tannin, and lignin, on the other hand, were high in plants grown with a relative surplus of carbon. Photosynthetic rates, expressed per unit leaf area, were similar when plants were grown under high light conditions, regardless of nutrient availability. Dark respiration was much higher in plants supplied with abundant nutrients than in those with a more limited supply, reflecting differences in nitrogen concentration of the tissue. The experimental approach allows plants to be grown to a standard size with differing, but highly uniform chemistry. Plants grown in such a manner may provide good experimental material to evaluate interactions between herbivores or pathogens and their hosts.     

Effects of iron deficiency and exercise on myoglobin in rats

The effects of iron deficiency and endurance training on muscle myoglobin (Mb), body weights, and blood lactic acid concentration were studied in rats. Fifty animals were divided into four groups: anemic trained (AT), normal trained (NT), anemic sedentary (AS), and normal sedentary (NS). Following 5 weeks of dietary control, the mean hemoglobin values for the AT and AS rats were 0.013 +/- 0.002 mmol X l-1 (8.7 +/- 1.4 g X dl-1) and 0.014 +/- 0.003 mmol X l-1 (9.2 +/- 1.7 g X dl-1) respectively, and did not significantly change throughout the study. AT and NT rats were run on a motor driven treadmill 4 days/week for 6 weeks up to a pre-established time of 90 min. Following the training, body weights of the AT (157 +/- 13 g) and NT (153 +/- 13 g) rats were lower than their respective sedentary groups AS (172 +/- 9 g) and NS (176 +/- 15 g). Resting blood lactic acid concentration following training was lower in both trained groups, AT (3.3 +/- 2.0 mM) and NT (2.3 +/- 1.9 mM) compared to AS (8.2 +/- 2.6 mM) and NS (3.8 +/- 1.6 mM). Training increased Mb concentration in hearts of both the anemic and normal trained groups (AT, 0.66 +/- 0.13 mg X g-1; NT, 0.95 +/- 0.08 mg X g-1) compared to the sedentary groups (AS, 0.44 +/- 0.08 mg X g-1; NS, 0.70 +/- 0.13 mg X g-1). Only the AT rats showed an increase in skeletal muscle Mb. This study provides evidence that myoglobin may limit aerobic metabolism.     

酸敏感离子通道与脑梗死

急性脑梗死约占全部脑卒中的70%,病死率和致残率高,且极易复发。但目前针对急性脑梗死在时间窗内溶栓、抗凝等治疗手段不能从根本上切实有效地修复受损脑组织,且伴有出血等风险。寻找脑梗死形成发展的原因并予以治疗迫在眉睫。酸中毒是引起缺血性脑损伤的重要机制。大量实验研究表明,酸中毒能加重神经元的缺血性损伤,且其梗死面积与酸中毒的程度直接相关。但缺血产生的酸中毒如何引起神经元损伤的确切机制尚不明确。最近研究发现酸中毒能激活一种在中枢及周围神经中广泛存在的膜通道,即酸敏感离子通道,它对Ca2+通透,能引起细胞内Ca2+超载,同时能激活胞内酶引起细胞内蛋白质、脂类及核酸的降解,加重缺血后脑损伤。本文就酸敏感离子通道1a与脑梗死做一综述。     

The Wilderness Society's WildCountry Program

The WildCountry program boldly aims to offer 'a future for Australia's wilderness and biodiversity throughout and beyond the 21st Century'. This is to be achieved through building partnerships — one of the most important being a formal partnership with ecologists.