SEN病毒D亚型ORF1-C端基因的克隆、表达和鉴定

目的:获得SENV-D亚型ORF1-C端蛋白基因序列,并进行表达,为进一步研究及诊断、治疗应用奠定基础.方法:用PCR法从SENV阳性血清中获得SENV-DORF1C端基因,测序验证后,构建了pQE30-SENV-D重组表达质粒,并经过转化E.coli M15,IPTG诱导表达,Western blot分析表达结果.结果:获得了正确序列的SENV-D亚型ORF1-C端蛋白基因序列,表达出Mr约为38×103的蛋白.表达蛋白能与患者血清中相应的抗体结合,发生抗原抗体反应.结论:成功获得并表达了SENV-D-ORF1-C端蛋白,并经Western blot印迹法证实能与阳性血清中的抗体发生抗原抗体反应,有可能用于检测SENV-D抗体.为今后进一步研究有助于疫情监测及早期发现感染者的抗体奠定了坚实的基础.     

Effects of endurance exercise on the morphology of mouse neuromuscular junctions during ageing

Summary It has been suggested that age changes in the morphology of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) may reflect altered physical activity levels rather than the unique effects of ageing. Additionally, previous studies have indicated that the structure of the NMJ may be modulated with exercise. To investigate these questions, quantitative morphometry was determined on soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) nerve terminals stained with zinc iodide-osmium from C57BL/6NNia mice under control and endurance exercised conditions at 12, 18 and 24 months of age.As previously observed, the area, perimeter, extent length and branch number of nerve terminals increased with age in both soleus and EDL. The changes were similar between the muscle types, although the changes were more pronounced in the phasic EDL. In 12-month-old animals, 2 months of endurance exercise resulted in significantly larger nerve terminals in both soleus and EDL, suggesting a functional adaptation. Exercised 18- and 24-month-old nerve terminals were smaller than corresponding controls, which indicated that exercise minimized or prevented further age-related nerve terminal elaboration. At all ages the exercised nerve terminals comprised a more homogeneous population than corresponding controls, which indicates that uniform physical activity can modulate NMJ morphometry. The magnitude of the changes suggests that subtle alterations in normal cage activity with advancing age do not have a significant effect on the morphology of nerve terminals. However, the morphology of the NMJ does change significantly in response to physical exercise training.     

The genetics of alcoholisms and related disorders

The inheritance of alcohol abuse and other psychopathology in 862 men and 913 women adopted by non-relatives, was studied. Both male and female adoptees were at greater risk to develop alcohol abuse if their biological, but not their adoptive, parents were alcoholic. Three types of families with alcoholism were distinguished that differed in frequency of alcohol abuse, somatoform disorders in women and in relation to antisocial behaviour in male adoptees. The combination of both genetic and environmental risk factors was necessary for the development of alcoholism in the most common, milieu-limited type of alcoholism. In families with a less common, male-limited, type of vulnerability, alcohol abuse was highly heritable in men, but women had multiple somatic complaints and seldom abuse. In a third type of family the common vulnerability was expressed as antisocial behaviour with violent criminality and recurrent alcohol abuse in males, but as high frequency somatization in female relatives.     

A portable system for measuring cutaneous thresholds for warming and cooling.

Measurement of cutaneous thermal thresholds is a valuable technique for detecting small fibre neuropathy. A robust and portable microcomputer controlled system, which separately measures thresholds for warming and cooling, is described. Thresholds at three sites have been measured; the cheek, the dorsum of the hand and the sole of the foot. Regional variability and a correlation with age have been found, indicating the sensitivity of this system.     

Biopterin in Parkinson''s disease.

Tetrahydrobiopterin is an essential co-factor in the natural synthesis of dopamine. Oral tetrahydrobiopterin was given in small doses to four patients with early Parkinson's disease but had no discernible effect.     

Influence of acetylcholine on neuronal activity of monkey amygdala during bar press feeding behavior

Single neuron activity in the monkey amygdala was investigated during cue signalled conditioned bar press feeding behavior and the effects of electrophoretically applied acetylcholine (ACh) and atropine were analyzed. ACh increased the firing rate of one third of the neurons tested; these excitatory responses were inhibited by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. No characteristic location of ACh-sensitive neurons was found, cells were diffusely distributed throughout the amygdala. Activity of ACh-sensitive neurons did not correlate with any particular event during the bar press feeding task. However, continuous application of ACh at low current intensity during the task significantly enhanced the task-related excitatory firing patterns, or markedly attenuated the inhibitory responses. Continuous application of atropine elicited or enhanced inhibitory response patterns. These results suggest that the cholinergic system of the monkey amygdala facilitates neuronal excitation but attenuates inhibition related to various phases of feeding behavior, such as to cue recognition, food aquisition and rewarding process.