Neurofilament Protein Phosphorylation in Spinal Cord of Experimentally Diabetic Rats

This study was designed to determine if the known decrease in slow axonal transport of proteins in the sciatic nerve of experimentally diabetic rats is related to altered phosphorylation of neurofilament proteins (NFPs). Rats were rendered diabetic with 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin, i.p. At 3 and 6 weeks later, NFPs were prepared from spinal cord. The in vivo phosphorylation state of NFPs was examined by using phosphate-dependent (RT97) and -independent (RMd09) antibodies against high-molecular-mass NFPs on Western blots. Neurofilament-associated kinase activity was also measured in vitro by incubation of NFPs with [32P]ATP. Phosphorylation of all three NFPs (high, medium, and low molecular mass) occurred, as confirmed by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. At 30 min of incubation, protein-bound radioactivity in NFPs from diabetic animals was reduced to 86.7 +/- 3.4 and 54.3 +/- 19.6% of that in nondiabetic animals at 3 and 6 weeks of diabetes, respectively (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.05, respectively). NFPs were also incubated with acid phosphatase and rephosphorylated. Results showed that the increased in vivo phosphorylation contributed to the decreased in vitro phosphorylation. Extraction of protein kinases and addition back to the NFPs revealed, in addition, a reduced activity in the diabetic animals of the protein kinases measured in vitro.     

Size-dependent mortality in a Neotropical savanna tree: the role of height-related adjustments in hydraulic architecture and carbon allocation

Size-related changes in hydraulic architecture, carbon allocation and gas exchange of Sclerolobium paniculatum (Leguminosae), a dominant tree species in Neotropical savannas of central Brazil (Cerrado), were investigated to assess their potential role in the dieback of tall individuals. Trees greater than ∼6-m-tall exhibited more branch damage, larger numbers of dead individuals, higher wood density, greater leaf mass per area, lower leaf area to sapwood area ratio (LA/SA), lower stomatal conductance and lower net CO₂ assimilation than small trees. Stem-specific hydraulic conductivity decreased, while leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity remained nearly constant, with increasing tree size because of lower LA/SA in larger trees. Leaves were substantially more vulnerable to embolism than stems. Large trees had lower maximum leaf hydraulic conductance ( K _leaf) than small trees and all tree sizes exhibited lower K _leaf at midday than at dawn. These size-related adjustments in hydraulic architecture and carbon allocation apparently incurred a large physiological cost: large trees received a lower return in carbon gain from their investment in stem and leaf biomass compared with small trees. Additionally, large trees may experience more severe water deficits in dry years due to lower capacity for buffering the effects of hydraulic path-length and soil water deficits.     

Differential expression of genes participating in cardiomyocyte electrophysiological remodeling via membrane ionic mechanisms and Ca2+-handling in human heart failure

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Excitation–contraction coupling in normal cardiac function is performed with well balanced and coordinated functioning but with complex dynamic...     

重庆市生态风险预警等级划分及演化趋势模拟

生态风险预警等级评估和演化趋势模拟，可为生态风险管理提供可靠的辅助决策。以重庆市为研究对象，基于驱动力-压力-状态-影响-响应模型，构建重庆市生态风险预警指标体系，采用正态云模型和集对分析法，定量分析重庆市生态风险时空分异特征和演化趋势。研究结果表明：（1）2013-2019年，重庆市生态风险值呈"上升-下降"的波动趋势，综合生态风险隶属于重警等级，生态风险综合值从0.295下降到0.278，生态环境逐年好转；（2）重庆市生态风险有下降、不变、先上升后降低、先降低后上升以及一直升高5种演化趋势，分别占比39%、16%、5%、21%、24%；（3）重庆市生态风险转移分为两个方向，2013-2016年生态风险空间分异性增大，中警、轻警和无警风险等级不断向东北、东南和西部四周分散转移；2016-2019年生态风险分布格局变化较小，重警风险区在东部聚集；（4）演化趋势模拟结果表明，未来重庆市生态风险降低的区县有13个，占比34%，生态环境有向好发展的趋势；生态风险上升的区县有25个，占比66%，生态环境会有所恶化，但是恶化程度较低。将生态风险等级划分与预警演化趋势相结合，能为城市生态风险管理提供科学依据。     

Idiotype stimulation of T lymphocytes from Trypanosoma cruzi-infected patients

Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote antibodies (anti-epi) from pooled and individual sera from patients with chronic Chagas' disease were purified on immunoaffinity columns of epimastigotes antigens (epi) coupled to activated Sepharose 4B. SDS-PAGE analysis of purified anti-epi preparations showed only the presence of human IgG H and L chains. These antibodies preparations showed similar Western blotting profiles as the sera pools from which they originated. The main polypeptides recognized by anti-epi had apparent molecular masses 31, 46, 51, 75 and 85 kDa. No difference in these patterns were detected between anti-epi from pooled sera of cardiac (anti-epiC) and indeterminate (anti-epiI) clinical forms. Anti-epi preparations (20 to 60 micrograms/ml) of pooled and individual sera stimulated proliferation of homologous and autologous PBMN or T-lymphocyte-enriched population. The stimulatory ability was dependent upon the PBMN-anti-epi combinations. There is no direct correlation between the level of PBMN response to epi and anti-epi stimuli. Comparison of the stimulatory activities of anti-epiC vs anti-epiI on PBMN of either cardiac or indeterminate group of patients indicate that anti-epiC is significantly more active than anti-epiI (p less than 0.025). These data demonstrate the presence of auto-anti-idiotypic-T cells in chagasic patients and lead to the possibility that idiotype/anti-idiotype interactions may play a role in determining the pathogenesis of chagasic cardiopathy.     

数种昆虫5S rRNA结构特点的比较

比较已知结构的昆虫5S rRNA的核苷酸顺序,发现同科、同目的昆虫比不同科、不同目的昆虫有较少的核苷酸差别.根据Kimura和Ohta(1972)提出的经验公式,绘制了数种昆虫的系统发育图.结果表明,从分子进化得到的结论和经典分类基本上是一致的.根据DeWachter等(1982)提出的二级结构模型,归纳分析这些昆虫5S rRNA,发现保守位点与半保守位点(同一位点仅出现二种核苷酸残基)之和几乎占整个5S rRNA分子的100%.     

陕西省棘蝇属一新种(双翅目:蝇科)

整理近年来采自我国秦岭山区的蝇科标本中,发现棘蝇属Phaonia R.-D.一新种。模式标本保存于沈阳师范学院生物系。     

桑蚕促前胸腺激素的作用与前胸腺分泌活动的某些特点

本工作以前胸腺的体外器官培养技术和蜕皮激素的放射免疫分析法(MH-RIA)相结合,研究了桑蚕(Bombyx mori)促前胸腺激素(PTTH)的作用与前胸腺分泌的某些特点。结果表明,被PTTH激活后的前胸腺,在一定的时相过程内合成并分泌脱皮甾类激素;前胸腺本体不积累蜕皮甾类激素;PTTH对前胸腺的作用是积累性的;五龄不同天数的前胸腺合成分泌脱皮甾类激素的能力不同,并有不同的剂量反应。     

兔边缘系统隔区呼吸相关神经元

本实验在42只家兔给与 Urethane 半量麻醉,在边缘系统隔区用玻璃微电极方法记录了60个自发的呼吸相关神经元单位放电:吸气型30个单位;呼气型16个单位;跨时相型14个单位。断双侧迷走神经,静脉注入尼克刹米后,呼吸相关神经元单位放电与呼吸节律变化具有伴随性,呈正相关。窒息可以诱发隔区神经元呼吸节律放电。延髓第四脑室局部注入2%Sod。pentothal 后,随呼吸节律抑制、隔区呼吸相关神经元单位放电立即消失。上述结果提示:到达边缘系统隔区的呼吸信息在自主功能及情绪活动的协调方面,可能被认为是有意义的。     

家兔中脑导水管周围灰质中注射八肽胆囊收缩素(CCK-8)拮抗吗啡镇痛和电针镇痛

家兔单侧PAG内注射CCK-83ng,能使静脉注射4mg/kg吗啡引起的镇痛作用降低73％或使电针镇痛效果降低67％。在1.5—6.0ng范围内呈量效关系。无硫的CCK-8无此作用。PAG内注射CCK受体拮抗剂proglumide 4μg可翻转CCK-8的抗吗啡镇痛作用。说明PAG部位注射外源性CCK-8可通过CCK受体对抗阿片镇痛。 PAG内注射CCK-8抗血清可显著增强静脉注射2mg/kg吗啡的镇痛效果。PAG内注射CCK抗血清本身也能引起痛阈轻度升高。说明PAG内有内源性的CCK-8发挥紧张性的抗阿片镇痛作用。