Titration of duration discrimination in behavioral pharmacology and toxicology

This study investigated a discrete-trial, titration duration discrimination procedure in behavioral pharmacology. Pentobarbital and d-amphetamine, measured with this procedure, selectively affected discrimination more than response tendencies. Pentobarbital also tended to affect selectively discrimination of longer durations, whereas d-amphetamine did not. Further experiments showed that (1) other algorithms for modulating stimulus duration are useful in behavioral pharmacology and toxicology, (2) threshold estimates are similar with the method of constant stimuli and the method of titration, and (3) this titration procedure permits the separate examination of drug effects upon discrimination and upon response tendencies; the fixed-interval procedure does not. Baseline variability was an important correlate of drug effects in that the endpoints with more variable baselines were also more sensitive to drugs.     

淀粉与丙烯酰胺接枝共聚物性质的研究

研究了小麦淀粉与丙烯酰胺的接枝共聚物的物理特性和结构特征,实验结果表明:该接枝共聚物在热性质上与原淀粉有明显的区别,其糊化温度比原淀粉略低,粘度热稳定性及溶解度较原淀粉均有提高。接枝共聚反应不仅发生在淀粉颗粒的表面上,而且也发生在颗粒结构的内部,但反应仅发生在淀粉的无定型区。     

亚慢性染毒丙烯酰胺对雄性大鼠生殖及睾丸内分泌功能的影响

目的:探讨亚慢性丙烯酰胺染毒对雄性大鼠生殖及睾丸内分泌功能的影响。方法:选择SD雄性成年大鼠40只,随机分成4组,每组10只,灌胃给予丙烯酰胺,剂量分别为0、4、10、18mg/(kg.d),染毒9周。染毒结束后,测量大鼠后肢支撑力,精子存活率、精子畸形率、睾丸匀浆中碱性磷酸酶(ALP)和酸性磷酸酶(ACP)活性、血清和睾丸匀浆中T及E2浓度。建立睾丸Leydig细胞体外原代培养模型,丙烯酰胺体外染毒剂量分为0、0.1、0.75、4、8mmol/L,通过CCK-8法观察Leydig细胞活性。结果:随着染毒剂量的增加,后肢展开距离显著加宽(P<0.01)。精子存活率分别为(76.86±5.46)%、(65.43±5.16)%、(60.86±4.26)%和(46.86±2.73)%,各剂量组与对照组比较显著下降(P<0.01);畸形率分别为(39.00±10.95)%、(35.43±7.54)%、(45.71±13.28)%和(56.71±17.01)%,10、18mg/(kg.d)剂量组明显上升(P<0.05)。ACP活性为(82.93±11.05)、(73.52±8.77)、(77.67±3.04)、(68.56±3.09)U/gprot,呈下降趋势;ALP活性为(0.96±0.15)、(1.07±0.22)、(1.12±0.22)、(0.74±0.10)U/gprot,呈现先上升后下降的趋势。两者的活性在18mg/(kg.d)剂量组与对照组比较差异显著(P<0.05)。血清T浓度分别为(13.44±4.76)、(7.69±3.84)、(5.23±1.42)、(1.36±0.86)ng/ml,睾丸匀浆中T浓度分别为(4.95±1.64)、(3.01±0.76)、(2.44±0.91)、(0.85±0.49)ng/mgprot,两者各剂量组与对照组比较都显著下降(P<0.01)。各剂量组E2水平无明显差异。丙烯酰胺染毒24h后,培养细胞A值分别为0.82±0.06、0.56±0.07、0.44±0.06、0.26±0.03和0.45±0.21,0.1、0.75、4、8mmol/L剂量组Leydig细胞活性受到显著抑制(P<0.01)。结论:亚慢性丙烯酰胺染毒,影响精子正常发育,引起睾丸一些生化酶活性改变;大鼠后肢运动协调性明显受到影响;丙烯酰胺对Leydig细胞有直接损伤作用,影响其内分泌功能。     

Isolation and immunochemical characterization of the major allergen of birch pollen (Betula verrucosa)

The classification of some of the extractable birch pollen antigens as allergens was established by crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis (CRIE). In CRIE the major allergen (antigen 23) exhibited the strongest “radiostaining” and only a few other components of birch pollen extract were visibly radiostained. The major allergen and a preparation containing mainly the minor allergens, antigens 25 and 19, were isolated from a crude aqueous birch pollen extract by a combination of anion-exchange, size-exclusion, and chelate chromatography. Antigen 23 was purified to near homogeneity. The molecular weights and the pIs of antigens 23, 25, and 19 were determined to be 17,000 daltons, pI 5.25 (5.5, 5.0); 25,000 daltons, pI 5.0 (4.9, 5.4); and 29,000 daltons, pI 6.2 (5.4), respectively. The classification of antigen 23 as the major allergen in birch pollen was supported by results of RAST inhibition experiments, RAST screening, and skin prick testing.     

丙烯腈/丙烯酰胺/苯乙烯三元共聚超滤膜材料的制备和表征

以偶氮二异丁腈为引发剂,采用溶液聚合法制备了丙烯腈、丙烯酰胺、苯乙烯三元共聚物,并用红外光谱(IR)、示差扫描量热(DSC)、热重分析(TG)等手段对共聚物进行了结构和性能表征。结果表明:苯乙烯的加入使得参加环化反应的氰基和酰胺基的数目减少,保留了更多作为功能基团的酰胺基。用相转化法制备得到超滤平板膜,膜的渗透通量为2.63 mL/(cm2.h),对聚乙二醇20000(PEG 20000)的截留率为96.95%。     

油炸及烧烤食品中丙烯酰胺的HPLC测定

目的了解市售及家庭自制油炸烧烤食品中丙烯酰胺的含量,为食品安全研究提供实验数据。方法采用紫外吸收光谱确定检测波长,运用高效液相色谱(high performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)技术,结合溶剂提取的摇床振摇、萃取脱脂、低温浓缩等前处理方法。结果22种油炸烧烤食品中均检测到丙烯酰胺,含量范围为2.09×10-1~1.86×10μg/g。结论采用中国人习惯的油炸,烧烤的方式加工富含淀粉、蛋白质的食品同样易产生人类可能致癌物丙烯酰胺,长期食用此含量的食品将对人体产生怎样的危害值得进一步研究。     

Design,synthesis, and cytotoxic evaluation of novel scopoletin derivatives

A series of scopoletin derivatives were designed and synthesized by introducing α‐aminoacetamide, acrylamide and β‐aminopropamide, respectively, to 3‐position of scopoletin, and their chemical structures were confirmed by ESI‐MS, IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectra. All target compounds were evaluated in vitro against four human cancer cell lines (MDA‐MB‐231, MCF‐7, HepG2, and A549) by MTT method. Cytotoxic assay showed that compounds 7a , 7b , 7e , 7f , 8a , and 8e exhibited more potent cytotoxicities compared to scopoletin. Besides, we have further evaluated the growth inhibitory activities of these selected compounds against normal tissue cell lines HFL‐1. Although compound 8a showed the strongest antiproliferative activity in vitro, it exhibited strong cytotoxicity on normal cells HFL‐1, which limited its further study. Compound 7a and 7b exhibited higher antiproliferative activity against MDA‐MB‐231 and HepG2 cells and weak cytotoxicity on HFL‐1, which suggested that 7a and 7b might be ideal anticancer candidates. The SARs showed that the introduction of the acrylamide and its analogues β‐aminopropamide could significantly improve activity, while the α‐aminoacetamide failed to enhance potency obviously. Therefore, the mechanism of compound 7a and 7b is worthy of further research and the structure of compound 8a should be further optimized.     

Genotoxicity studies of glycidol fatty acid ester (glycidol linoleate) and glycidol

Glycidol fatty acid esters (GEs) are found in refined edible oils. Safety concerns have been alleged due to the possible release of glycidol (G), an animal carcinogen.     

A New Method for in Vitro Calcification Using Acrylamide Gel and Bovine Serum

To investigate the mechanism of biological calcification in vitro a model system consisting of an acrylamide gel block (1×3×3 mm) and fetal bovine serum was developed. Mineral deposition was induced in gel blocks which were immersed in 300 μl of fetal bovine serum at 37°C for 7 days in a CO₂ incubator. X-ray diffraction indicated that the mineral was hydroxyapatite with low crystallinity. Effects of the concentration of acrylamide gel, the partial pressure of CO₂ and matrix proteins within the gel on the mineral formation were investigated. In the gel concentration range of 10–60%, the largest amount of crystal grew in 40% acrylamide gel, where the serum protein did not penetrate. With an increase in the partial pressure of CO₂ the Ca content in the gel block increased, reached the highest level at about 3.5% CO₂ and then began to decrease. In 40% gel and at 5% CO₂ the mineral formation was enhanced by phosvitin, phosphophoryn, demineralized dentin powder and alkaline phosphatase. Mineral deposition occurred around the collagen fibers immobilized in 40% acrylamide gel. These results indicate that 1) a putatively serum-derived inhibitor of calcification with high-molecular weight was prevented from penetrating into the 40% acrylamide gels, 2) immobilized polyanionic proteins and alkaline phosphatase were able to increase mineral deposition and 3) the partial pressure of CO₂ greatly influenced the mineral deposition. It was concluded that this gel system is useful to investigate the mechanism of biological calcification in vitro.     

Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract attenuate acrylamide induced testicular damage in albino rats

Acrylamide is a proved toxin for testicular function, found in food when heated for long period of time. Green tea (Camellia sinensis) is a potent antioxidant; the aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of green tea extract against the toxic effects of acrylamide in rat testes. Methods: acrylamide was administered orally to rats in different doses and also the extract of green tea was administered orally to different groups of animals in combination with the acrylamide. The weight of animals, testosterone hormone level and histopathological effect upon testicles were evaluated. Results: Testosterone hormone level in serum, and histopathological findings were significantly improved with the co‐administration of green tea extract with the acrylamide. Green tea extract reversed all the toxic effects of acrylamide even in high dose for long period (90 days). Conclusion: Green tea extract is a potent antioxidant antidote for the acrylamide toxic effects upon testicular function. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 1155–1161, 2014.