硒螺旋藻对大鼠肝叶切除术后肝细胞再生和抗氧化能力的影响

目的研究硒螺旋藻（Se—SP）对大鼠肝叶切除术后肝细胞再生和抗氧化能力的影响，以印证其生物利用价值。方法用Wistar大鼠复制67％肝叶切除动物模型，设Se—SP高剂量（H）和低剂量（L）治疗组，术前以Se—SP灌胃7d；另设生理盐水（C）及假手术对照组（S）。于手术前及其后24h取鼠肝细胞，检测硒（Se）、丙二醛（MDA）含量及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GPx）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性；利用免疫组化方法测定肝细胞增生核抗原（PCNA）表达指数，慧星实验检测过氧化氢诱导的肝细胞DNA损伤。结果与C，S组相比，H组、L组肝细胞中MDA水平明显降低（P〈0．05），而Se，GPx和SOD明显升高（P〈0．05）；肝细胞PCNA指数明显升高（P〈0．05），过氧化氢诱导的DNA损伤程度较轻。结论Se—SP对肝切除鼠肝细胞具有一定的抗氧化和促再生作用。     

Directed differentiation of Balb/C mouse embryonic stem cells into pancreatic islet-like cell clusters in vitro: observation by atomic force microscope]

OBJECTIVE: To observe the morphological changes of Balb/C mouse embryonic stem cells following directed differentiation into pancreatic islet-like cell clusters (PICC) in vitro using atomic force microscope (AFM). METHODS: Balb/C mouse embryonic stem cells were first cultured into embryonic bodies (EBs) and allowed to differentiate spontaneously for 4 days. The cells were then transferred to gelatin-coated dishes for the EBs to attach and spread on the tissue culture plates, in the course of which a series of cell growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and nicotinamide were added into the culture medium at specific time points to induce directed differentiation of the stem cells into PICC. Immunocytochemistry was employed to detect the cells positive for insulin and glucagon, which were observed with AFM. RESULTS: The embryonic stem cells developed into cell clusters of different sizes, in which the cells were tightly arranged. Islet B cells were numerous in the center of clusters and darkly stained, but fewer in the peripherals with lighter stains. Islet A cells expressing glucagon were relatively fewer in the cell clusters, found mainly in the peripherals. Scanning of the insulin-positive clusters by AFM revealed large quantity of tissue fibers resembling nerve fibers that formed a reticular structure in disorderly arrangement. Numerous round granules were observed in the cytoplasm of almost identical sizes ranging from 0.5 to 1.0 mum in diameter. CONCLUSION: The cell clusters obtained by directed differentiation are mature in both morphology and function with also well organized structures.     

ESP‐102, a combined extract of Angelica gigas,Saururus chinensis and Schizandra chinensis,protects against glutamate‐induced toxicity in primary cultures of rat cortical cells

It was reported previously that ESP‐102, a combined extract of Angelica gigas, Saururus chinensis and Schizandra chinensis, significantly improved scopolamine‐induced memory impairment in mice and protected primary cultured rat cortical cells against glutamate‐induced toxicity. To corroborate this effect, the action patterns of ESP‐102 were elucidated using the same in vitro system. ESP‐102 decreased the cellular calcium concentration increased by glutamate, and inhibited the subsequent overproduction of cellular nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species to the level of control cells. It also preserved cellular activities of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase reduced in the glutamate‐injured neuronal cells. While a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was observed in glutamate treated cells, the mitochondrial membrane potential was maintained by ESP‐102. These results support that the actual mechanism of neuroprotective activity of ESP‐102 against glutamate‐induced oxidative stress might be its antioxidative activity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Genetic diversity of the Leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (Lig) genes in pathogenic Leptospira spp.

Recent serologic, immunoprotection, and pathogenesis studies identified the Lig proteins as key virulence determinants in interactions of leptospiral pathogens with the mammalian host. We examined the sequence variation and recombination patterns of ligA, ligB, and ligC among 10 pathogenic strains from five Leptospira species. All strains were found to have intact ligB genes and genetic drift accounting for most of the ligB genetic diversity observed. The ligA gene was found exclusively in L. interrogans and L. kirschneri strains, and was created from ligB by a two-step partial gene duplication process. The aminoterminal domain of LigB and the LigA paralog were essentially identical (98.5 ± 0.8% mean identity) in strains with both genes. Like ligB, ligC gene variation also followed phylogenetic patterns, suggesting an early gene duplication event. However, ligC is a pseudogene in several strains, suggesting that LigC is not essential for virulence. Two ligB genes and one ligC gene had mosaic compositions and evidence for recombination events between related Leptospira species was also found for some ligA genes. In conclusion, the results presented here indicate that Lig diversity has important ramifications for the selection of Lig polypeptides for use in diagnosis and as vaccine candidates. This sequence information will aid the identification of highly conserved regions within the Lig proteins and improve upon the performance characteristics of the Lig proteins in diagnostic assays and in subunit vaccine formulations with the potential to confer heterologous protection.     

运动对大鼠腓肠肌一氧化氮含量和铁转运蛋白表达的影响

目的观察游泳运动后大鼠腓肠肌一氧化氮(NO)含量及铁转运相关蛋白表达的变化,探讨运动对骨骼肌铁代谢的调节机制。方法20只雌性SD大鼠随机分为对照组和运动组(每天游泳1.5小时,6次/周),每组10只。实验10周后分别采用试剂盒测定两组大鼠腓肠肌和血清一氧化氮合酶(NOS)活性及NO含量,免疫组织化学方法测定腓肠肌二价金属离子转运体1(DMT1)、膜铁转运蛋白1(FP1)和转铁蛋白受体1(TfR1)的表达,分析其平均光密度变化。结果(1)运动组大鼠血清和腓肠肌NO含量和NOS活性均显著高于对照组(P<0.05);(2)运动组大鼠腓肠肌DMT1(IRE)和TfR1表达较对照组显著增加,FP1表达显著减少(P<0.05),而DMT1(non-IRE)表达无明显变化。结果提示运动可能通过增加NOS活性刺激NO合成增加,进而调节腓肠肌铁转运蛋白的表达,提高腓肠肌摄铁能力,以满足运动中机体对铁的需求。     

125I-抑制素在大鼠垂体和下丘脑的放射自显影研究

目的研究抑制素（INH）在体条件下能否通过大鼠的血脑屏障及在垂体或下丘脑的分布。方法采用颈静脉灌流和放射自显影技术，将20只SD大鼠分为4组，每组5只，第1～3组（实验组）颈静脉注射^125 I-INH50μl，第4（对照）组注射等量的生理盐水。第1，2，3组分别于注射后30，60和120min断头处死，取出垂体、下丘脑，以生理盐水洗涤，测量放射性计数，取放射性最大组的垂体与下丘脑组织行放射自显影分析。结果第1组垂体的放射性最高[（1008．00±5．78）Bq]，而第2和3组分别为（723．00±4．95）和（491．00±4．90）Bq；1～3组的下丘脑放射性分别为（20．00±1．01），（22．00±0．95）与（19．00±0．73）Bq。第4组垂体与下丘脑的放射性分别为（16．00±1．40），（15．00±0．98）Bq。各实验组大鼠垂体的放射性与对照组差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01），且在注射后30min放射性最大（第1组），60和120min后逐渐降低；而实验组与对照组大鼠的下丘脑放射性差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；放射自显影结果示，实验组大鼠的垂体组织上有明显的银颗粒，而对照组没有；实验组和对照组大鼠的下丘脑组织上均未见明显的银颗粒。结论^125I-INH能通过大鼠血脑屏障，垂体在注射后30min放射性最大，在大鼠垂体上有INH结合位点或受体，而在其下丘脑没有。     

方格星虫酶解物成分分析及其抗氧化作用

用木瓜蛋白酶对方格星虫（Sipunculus nudus）进行酶促水解,并对酶解物冻干粉的成分进行了分析,其中粗蛋白质量分数为69.02%,多肽质量分数为60.60%,肽的平均链长为3.73个氨基酸残基,肽分子的平均相对分子质量为447.6;游离氨基酸占5.27%。氨基酸分析结果显示,方格星虫酶解物含有17种氨基酸（色氨酸未测）,其中人体必需氨基酸含量较高,占总氨基酸数的30.62%。方格星虫酶解物中还含有P、Fe、Mg、Mn、Zn、Cu、Se等至少12种矿质元素,以及含有抗氧化作用的营养成分,并通过动物试验证明了方格星虫酶解物具有显著的抗氧化作用。方格星虫酶解物可用于食品添加或用作功能性食品。