异落新妇甙的结构研究

从百合科菝葵属植物土茯苓(Smilaxg labra Roxb.)根茎的乙醇提取物中分得一个新的天然化合物(I),命名为异落新妇甙(isoastilbin)。根据元素分析,UV,IR,¹H-NMR,¹³C-NMR,2DNMR及FAB-MS,确定化合物I的结构为5,7,3',5'-四羟基二氢黄酮醇-3-O-α-L-鼠李糖甙。     

Cholinesterases and peanut agglutinin binding related to cell proliferation and axonal growth in embryonic chick limbs

Embryonic cholinesterases are assigned important functions during morphogenesis. Here we describe the expression of butyrylcholinesterase and acetylcholinesterase, and the binding of peanut agglutinin, and relate the results to mitotic activity in chick wing and leg buds from embryonic day 4 to embryonic day 9. During early stages, butyrylcholinesterase is elevated in cells under the apical ectodermal ridge and around invading motoraxons, while acetylcholinesterase is found in the chondrogenic core, on motoraxons and along the ectoderm. Peanut agglutinin binds to the apical ectodermal ridge and most prominently to the chondrogenic core. Measurements of thymidine incorporation and enzyme activities were consistent with our histological findings. Butyrylcholinesterase is concentrated near proliferative zones and periods, while acetylcholinesterase is associated with low proliferative activity. At late stages of limb development, acetylcholinesterase is concentrated in muscles and nonexistent within bones, while butyrylcholinesterase shows an inverse pattern. Thus, as in other systems, in limb formation butyrylcholinesterase is a transmitotic marker preceding differentiation, acetylcholinesterase is found on navigating axons, while peanut agglutinin appears in non-invaded regions. These data suggest roles for cholinesterases as positive regulators and peanut-agglutinin-binding proteins as negative regulators of neural differentiation.     

一些保肝药物对原代培养大鼠肝细胞糖原合成功能的影响

本文参照PO Seglen的方法并加以修改,建立了原代培养大鼠肝细胞糖原合成功能的测定体系。观察到联苯双酯既能使正常肝细胞合成糖原增加88%,又能保护肝细胞完全拮抗四氯化碳对其功能的损伤;银耳多糖能使四氯化碳对肝细胞糖原合成功能的损伤减轻57%;去甲斑蝥素10μg/ml能增加肝细胞糖原合成,浓度增加到100μg/ml时,此作用减弱,1000μg/ml则明显抑制糖原的合成,而且在10～100μg/ml浓度时,即能加强四氯化碳的损伤作用;100μg/ml CL₁₅₀₀和熊果酸二钠单独应用可增加肝细胞糖原合成,但与四氯化碳同时应用,反而加重对糖原合成的抑制作用。     

Treatment simulation approaches for the estimation of the distributions of treatment quality parameters generated by geometrical uncertainties

Geometric uncertainties arise during treatment planning and treatment and mean that dose-dependent parameters such as EUD are random variables with a patient specific probability distribution. Treatment planning with highly conformal treatment techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy requires new evaluation tools which allow us to estimate this influence of geometrical uncertainties on the probable treatment dose for a planned dose distribution. Monte Carlo simulations of treatment courses with recalculation of the dose according to the daily geometric errors are a gold standard for such an evaluation. Distribution histograms which show the relative frequency of a treatment quality parameter in the treatment simulations can be used to evaluate the potential risks and chances of a planned dose distribution. As treatment simulations with dose recalculation are very time consuming for sufficient statistical accuracy, it is proposed to do treatment simulations in the dose parameter space where the result is mainly determined by the systematic and random component of the geometrical uncertainties. Comparison of the parameter space simulation method with the gold standard for prostate cases and a head and neck case shows good agreement as long as the number of fractions is high enough and the influence of tissue inhomogeneities and surface curvature on the dose is small.     

Secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor from human luteinized granulosa cells is human chorionic gonadotrophin dependent

Vascularization is a prominent event during corpus luteum formation, providing low density lipoproteins for steroid biosynthesis and enabling transport of secreted steroids. The process of vascularization is controlled by specific regulators. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), otherwise named vascular permeability factor (VPF), induces endothelial cell proliferation as well as angiogenesis in vivo and increases capillary permeability. Here we report the expression of VEGF/VPF mRNA by cultured human luteinized granulosa cells (GC) for at least 10 days. Without HCG VEGF/VPF expression declined after day 4 and by day 10 was reduced to approximately 30% of the value at day 4. However, after culture in the presence of 1 U/ml human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), expression of VEGF/VPF mRNA by GC was four times greater than control experiments by day 10, and increased 100% from day 4 to day 10. Simultaneously, HCG supplementation increased VEGF/VPF secretion by GC. Medium VEGF/VPF on day 3 was 13 pM without and 11 pM with HCG. Medium VEGF/VPF on day 10 was 6 pM without HCG and 29 pM with HCG. These results suggest that vascularization of the corpus luteum is induced by HCG-mediated effects of VEGF/VPF.      

The UTX gene escapes X inactivation in mice and humans

We recently have identified a ubiquitously transcribed mouse Y chromosome gene, Uty , which encodes a tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) protein. A peptide derived from the UTY protein confers H-Y antigenicity on male cells. Here we report the characterization of a widely transcribed X-linked homologue of Uty , called Utx , which maps to the proximal region of the mouse X chromosome and which detects a human X-linked homologue at Xp11.2. Given that Uty is ubiquitously transcribed, we assayed for Utx expression from the inactive X chromosome (Xi) in mice and found that Utx escapes X chromosome inactivation. Only Smcx and the pseudoautosomal Sts gene on the mouse X chromosome have been reported previously to escape inactivation. The human UTX gene was also found to be expressed from Xi. We discuss the significance of these data for our understanding of dosage compensation of X-Y homologous genes in humans and mice.      

Tissue and lineage-specific variation in inactive X chromosome expression of the murine Smcx gene

To understand how gene expression patterns are established on the inactive X chromosome during development, we have studied the murine gene Smcx, which is expressed from both the active and inactive mouse X chromosomes. In all tissues assayed, Smcx only partially escapes X inactivation, with expression levels from the inactive X allele approximately 30-65% that of the active X allele. Additionally, inactive X expression levels differed between extraembryonic and embryonic tissues and among different tissues from newborn and adult mice. Imprinted extraembryonic tissue had the lowest levels of inactive X Smcx expression, whereas the highest levels were in heart. These data suggest that the chromosomal basis of X inactivation differs among tissues, perhaps reflecting differences in the timing or regulation of inactivation in these cell lineages.