Aversive odorant causing appetite decrease downregulates tyrosine decarboxylase gene expression in the olfactory receptor neuron of the blowfly, Phormia regina

In the blowfly Phormia regina, exposure to d-limonene for 5 days during feeding inhibits proboscis extension reflex behavior due to decreasing tyramine (TA) titer in the brain. TA is synthesized by tyrosine decarboxylase (Tdc) and catalyzed into octopamine (OA) by TA ?-hydroxylase (Tbh). To address the mechanisms of TA titer regulation in the blowfly, we cloned Tdc and Tbh cDNAs from P. regina (PregTdc and PregTbh). The deduced amino acid sequences of both proteins showed high identity to those of the corresponding proteins from Drosophila melanogaster at the amino acid level. PregTdc was expressed in the antenna, labellum, and tarsus whereas PregTbh was expressed in the head, indicating that TA is mainly synthesized in the sensory organs whereas OA is primarily synthesized in the brain. d-Limonene exposure significantly decreased PregTdc expression in the antenna but not in the labellum and the tarsus, indicating that PregTdc expressed in the antenna is responsible for decreasing TA titer. PregTdc-like immunoreactive material was localized in the thin-walled sensillum. In contrast, the OA/TA receptor (PregOAR/TAR) was localized to the thick-walled sensillum. The results indicated that d-limonene inhibits PregTdc expression in the olfactory receptor neurons in the thin-walled sensilla, likely resulting in reduced TA levels in the receptor neurons in the antenna. TA may be transferred from the receptor neuron to the specific synaptic junction in the antennal lobe of the brain through the projection neurons and play a role in conveying the aversive odorant information to the projection and local neurons.     

气态甲醛暴露对神经生长因子表达影响的体内实验

为了探讨气态甲醛对小鼠组织中NGF表达的诱导作用,以小鼠肺和脑作为实验材料,应用RT-PCR方法检测甲醛染毒后小鼠肺和脑中NGF-mRNA的表达量.结果显示,小鼠脑中NGF表达量随着染毒时间的增加而增加;而肺中NGF在甲醛染毒1d后就达到最大,但随着时间的增加NGF表达量反而下降;故NGF在小鼠这2种组织中呈现不同的表达效应.为了进一步研究甲醛、NGF和哮喘之间的联系,构建了大鼠的哮喘模型,应用RT-PCR方法检测哮喘模型鼠肺中NGF的表达趋势.结果显示,在大鼠哮喘模型中,低浓度甲醛组(1.0mg·m-3)NGF表达量显著上调(p<0.01),而高浓度甲醛组(3.0mg·m-3)NGF表达量反而下降,仅略高于空白对照组(p>0.05).     

硒拮抗汞污染的粮食诱导大鼠中枢神经系统c-fos基因表达

为了从分子水平探讨硒与汞的拮抗效应和不同形态汞对脑的损伤 ,应用RT PCR方法和免疫组织化学方法研究了大鼠在汞污染粮食诱导下脑中c-fos mRNA表达和c-FOS蛋白表达 .结果表明 ,汞污染粮食能够显著诱导大鼠脑c-fos mRNA表达和c-FOS蛋白表达 ;硒能够拮抗汞在脑中的蓄积水平 ;硒能够拮抗汞诱导c-fos表达 .同时分析了硒汞拮抗的分子机制 .     

Construction of l-Isoleucine Overproducing Strains of Corynebacterium glutamicum

Corynebacterium glutamicum   is used for the industrial production of the amino acids l-glutamate (1×10⁶ tons/year) and l-lysine (300×10³ tons/year). The classical approach to obtain amino acid overproducing strains of C. glutamicum was mutagenesis and then a selection of mutants. In the past 10 years the genetic engineering and amplification of genes have become fascinating methods for studying metabolic pathways in greater detail and for constructing microbial strains with desired genotypes. To obtain l-isoleucine overproducing strains of C. glutamicum we therefore studied the l-isoleucine biosynthesis by overexpression of the various corresponding genes. To enable a flux increase in recombinant strains all genes specific for l-threonine and l-isoleucine biosynthesis were cloned from this bacterium. We demonstratet that amplification of the feedback inhibition insensitive homoserine dehydrogenase and homoserine kinase in a high l-lysine overproducing strain enable the channeling of the carbon flow from the intermediate l-aspartate semialdehyde towards homoserine, resulting in an accumulation of l-threonine. To obtain effective l-isoleucine overproduction a deregulated threonine dehydratase was overexpressed in l-threonine producing strains of C. glutamicum. In this way the l-threonine was converted to l-isoleucine, which was secreted up to 30 g/l into the culture medium. Received: 7 April 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 27 August 1998     

Modification of Glutamate Receptor Channels: Molecular Mechanisms and Functional Consequences

N  -methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) types] by phosphorylation and changes in subunit composition. AMPA- and kainate-activated receptors are modulated by adenosine 3, 5-monophosphate (cAMP) dependent protein kinase A (PKA) coupled via D₁ dopamine receptors. An increase in the intracellular concentration of cAMP and protein kinase A potentiates kainate-activated currents in α-motoneurons of the spinal cord by increasing the affinity of the ligand (glutamate) for the phosphorylated receptor protein (GluR6 and 7). The rapid desensitization of AMPA-evoked currents normally observed in horizontal cells of the retina is completely blocked by increasing the intracellular concentration of cAMP. The effects of changes in subunit composition were examined in rat hippocampal neurons. The subunit composition of the NMDA receptor determines the kinetic properties of synaptic currents and can be regulated by the type of innervating neuron. Similar changes also occur during development. An important determinant here is the activity of the system. Dynamic regulation of excitatory receptors by both mechanisms may well be associated with some forms of learning and memory in the mammalian brain.     

网湖沉积物正构烷烃分布特征及其记录的环境变化

通过对网湖沉积岩芯中正构烷烃含量和组成特征的分析,探讨了网湖近百年来的湖泊环境变化.结果表明,网湖沉积岩芯中正构烷烃的碳数范围在n-C14~n-C33之间,其中以高碳数组分为主,并具有明显的奇偶优势,反映了沉积物有机质以大型水生植物和陆生植物贡献为主,较低的2n-C31/(n-C27+n-C29)比值指示陆源输入中以木本植物输入为主.根据正构烷烃参数指示的沉积物有机质来源变化特征,近百年来网湖水体环境变化具有如下3个阶段:20世纪50年代以前,网湖与长江水体交换频繁,湖泊水体处于低营养环境状态,沉积物正构烷烃高/低分子量正构烷烃比值(H/L)和陆/水生类脂物比值(TAR)较高,沉积物有机质主要来源于陆生植物和大型水生植物,湖泊浮游藻类贡献少;20世纪50~80年代,H/L和TAR值明显下降,中、短链正构烷烃的比例略有升高,表明陆源植被对沉积物有机质的贡献降低,水生植物和浮游藻类贡献的有机质增加,但较低的2n-C17/(n-C23+n-C25)值表明浮游藻类有机质较低,此时湖泊水体较为稳定,湖泊受长江水位影响减小,湖泊营养水平有所升高;1980s以来,总体上湖泊受流域人类活动影响明显,湖泊水体营养水平升高,沉积物正构烷烃表现为H/L和TAR值升高后下降,正构烷烃总量和2n-C17/(n-C23+n-C25)比值显著升高,2000年后尤其明显,表明湖泊沉积物有机质输入增加,其中湖泊浮游藻类贡献明显增加.     

Bioavailability and tissue distribution of Dechloranes in wild frogs (Rana limnocharis) from an e-waste recycling area in Southeast China

Dechlorane Plus(DP), a flame retardant used as an alternative to decabromodiphenylether, has been frequently detected in organisms, indicating its bioaccumulation and biomagnification potential in aquatic and terrestrial species. However, little data is available on the bioaccumulation of DP in amphibians. Dechlorane Plus and its analogs(DPs) were detected in the liver, muscle and brain tissues of wild frogs(Rana limnocharis), which were collected from an e-waste recycling site, Southeast China. DP, Mirex, Dec 602 and a dechlorinated compound of DP(anti-Cl11-DP) varied in the range of 2.01–291, 0.650–179, 0.260–12.4, and not detected(nd)–8.67 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. No difference of tissue distribution was found for syn-DP, Mirex and Dec 602 between the liver and muscle tissue(liver/muscle concentration ratio close to 1, p 0.05). However, higher retention was observed for anti-DP and anti-Cl11-DP in the frog muscle relative to the liver tissue(liver/muscle concentration ratio 1, p 0.05). Additionally, the blood-brain barrier was found to work efficiently to suppress these compounds entering brain tissues in this species(liver/brain concentration ratio 1, p 0.05), and the molecular weight was a key factor impacting the extent of the blood-brain barrier. Compared to levels in the muscle and brain tissue, a preferential enrichment of syn-DP was observed in the liver tissue, suggesting the occurrence of stereo-selective bioaccumulation in the wild frog.     

Pharmacological analysis of feeding in a caterpillar: different transduction pathways for umami and saccharin?

Neonate larvae of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), modify their behavior in the presence of saccharin, monosodium glutamate (MSG), or L(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4) by commencing their feeding earlier. Previously published pharmacological analysis demonstrated that phagostimulatory effects of MSG and L-AP4 (which elicit umami taste sensation in humans) are reversed by adenylate cyclase activator and phosphodiesterase inhibitor. In this study, by measuring the time needed to start ingestion of foliage treated with mixtures of phagostimulants and signal transduction modulators, we show that phagostimulatory effects of l-aspartate (the third hallmark umami substance) are also abolished by both adenylate cyclase activator and phosphodiesterase inhibitor, but not by phospholipase C inhibitor. However, stimulatory effects of hemicalcium saccharin were affected only by phospholipase C inhibitor. The results suggest that codling moth neonates use different transduction pathways for perception of hemicalcium saccharin and umami.     

稀有鮈鲫HMGR基因全长克隆及雄鱼经五氯酚暴露基因表达的分析

3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase,HMGR)是甲羟戊酸(mevalonic acid,MVA)途径中的第一个关键限速酶.克隆稀有鮈鲫HMGR基因全长,分析该基因在不同组织及雄鱼经不同浓度五氯酚(pentachlorophenol,PCP)暴露的表达差异,探索PCP对类固醇激素前体(胆固醇)合成水平基因转录调控的内分泌干扰机制.采用同源克隆策略及cDNA末端快速扩增技术(rapid-amplification of cDNA ends,RACE),从稀有鮈鲫肝脏中首次克隆得到3 101碱基(bp)的HMGR基因cDNA全长,基因命名为GrHMGR(GenBank accession No:KF885724).GrHMGR编码884个氨基酸,系统发育树分析表明,GrHMGR编码的蛋白与其他鱼类来源的HMGR氨基酸序列同源性较高.Real-time PCR分析表明GrHMGR的表达有组织特异性,在大脑,性腺和肝脏中均有表达,性腺中表达量最高.稀有鮈鲫雄鱼经不同浓度PCP暴露后,GrHMGR在大脑和性腺的表达随PCP浓度的增加显著下降,然而在肝脏组织中表达趋势有所不同.HMGR的表达下降会减少胆固醇的合成.说明PCP暴露会通过干扰稀有鮈鲫的胆固醇合成途径,进而对内分泌系统产生影响.     

Transcervical (TC) and transabdominal (TA) CVS for prenatal diagnosis in rotterdam: Experience with 3611 cases

Data from 3611 consecutive CVS (TC, N= 1780; TA, N= 1831) were analysed with emphasis put on influence of maternal and gestational age at CVS on the fetal loss rate < 28 weeks. For TC-CVS the gestational age varied from 9.3–11.6 weeks, for TA-CVS from 9.3–20 weeks. Sampling efficacy at first attempt was 86.5 per cent and 95 per cent respectively. In 4.6 per cent an abnormal result was established. In older mothers (N=2362) the fetal loss rate was significantly higher (p = <0.05) when sampled before 12 weeks (TC-CVS 6.2 per cent, TA-CVS 5.8 per cent). When the CVS (TA) was performed after 12 weeks the fetal loss rate decreased to 2.4 per cent. In 1079 younger women the fetal loss rate remained low (TC 2.8 per cent; TA < 12 weeks 1.8 per cent; TA > 12 weeks 1.7 per cent) and was not influenced by gestational age at the time of sampling. We concluded both methods safe and reliable when the choice of application considers maternal age.     

甲醛吸入致小鼠蛋白质氧化损伤作用的研究

为了探讨在气态甲醛中暴露后小鼠的脑、心和肝组织蛋白质的氧化损伤程度及其发生机制,用不同剂量的气态甲醛对小鼠进行连续动态染毒处理72h ,用2 ,4-二硝基苯肼比色法测定小鼠脑、心和肝组织蛋白质的羰基含量,用以判断蛋白质的氧化损伤程度.结果显示:吸入0. 68mg·m- 3甲醛后,小鼠的脑、心和肝蛋白质的羰基含量下降(P <0 0 1,P <0 . 0 1,P <0. 0 5 ) ;吸入3 0mg·m- 3甲醛后,小鼠的心和肝的蛋白质羰基含量均显著升高(P <0 . 0 1) ,而脑的蛋白质羰基含量与对照组相比无显著差异(P >0 . 0 5 ) .以上结果表明,小鼠蛋白质的氧化损伤与气态甲醛的浓度有关,气态甲醛在较低浓度时,不引起小鼠蛋白质的氧化损伤,而在中等浓度时对小鼠心和肝的蛋白质氧化损伤作用显著,而对脑的蛋白质没有明显损伤作用.     

R-PFR与CSTR厌氧消化餐厨垃圾运行效率及微生物群落结构对比

以中温餐厨垃圾(FW)厌氧消化反应器为研究对象,结合稳定运行过程中的微生物群落结构特征,考察了两种常见的厌氧消化反应器—完全混合式反应器(CSTR)和有回流的推流式反应器(R-PFR)的运行效率和稳定性.结果表明,两种构型的反应器均能在3.0 kg·m-3·d-1(以VS计)负荷下稳定高效地运行.R-PFR具有更稳定的稳定性指数,如总碱度(TA)和挥发性脂肪酸比TA值(VFA/TA),以及更低的氨氮(TAN)和游离氨(FAN)浓度,但产气效率(如比甲烷产率(SMP))不及CSTR.R-PFR中以Chloroflexi门(37.35%)和Firmicutes门(31.22%)为优势细菌,而CSTR中以Bacteroidetes门(31.14%)与Firmicutes门(44.41%)为优势细菌.CSTR和R-PFR均以Methanosaeta属为优势产甲烷菌(98.72%和84.90%),乙酸型产甲烷途径为主要的产甲烷途径.但CSTR中除Methanosaeta属以外还有一定丰度的混合营养型的Methanosarcina,以及氢营养型Methanospirillum和Methanolinea.CSTR中具有对VFA和TAN更具耐受性的产甲烷菌群,更有利于餐厨垃圾产甲烷过程的稳定进行.由于R-PFR的敏感性较低,有利于处理剧烈变化的底物,但R-PFR容易出现严重的局部酸化现象,不利于长期处理过高负荷的易降解底物(如餐厨垃圾).这些结果可为优化餐厨垃圾厌氧消化工艺设计提供基础依据.     

内质网应激在氟暴露致小鼠睾丸损伤中的作用

探讨了内质网应激在亚慢性氟暴露致小鼠睾丸损伤中的作用及分子机制.选用健康初断乳ICR雄性小鼠30只,随机分为对照组（C）、低氟组（LF）和高氟组（HF）,分别饮用自来水、5、30 mg·L^-1氟化钠水溶液90 d.亚慢性氟暴露结束后,以睾丸脏器系数、睾丸组织氧化/抗氧化酶和形态结构、精子质量、睾丸细胞凋亡、葡萄糖调节蛋白78（GRP78）、CCAAT/增强子结合蛋白同源蛋白（CHOP）、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶12（CASPASE-12）、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3（CASPASE-3）为观测点.结果表明,与对照组比,LF组和HF组LDH、SOD、T-AOC活性下降,MDA含量上升,HF组GSH-PX活性下降,差异有统计学意义（p<0.05或p<0.01）;LF组可见细胞层次减少、间隙变大,成熟精子数量减少,HF组细胞溶解、层次紊乱,空泡化严重,少见成熟精子;LF组和HF组小鼠的精子活力降低,HF组小鼠精子数量下降,畸形率上升,差异有统计学意义（p<0.05或p<0.01）;LF组和HF组睾丸细胞凋亡指数上升,差异有统计学意义（p<0.01）;LF组和HF组Grp78、Caspase-12、Caspase-3基因表达水平上升,差异有统计学意义（p<0.05或p<0.01）.结果提示,除氧化应激以外,Caspase-12和Caspase-3基因表达异常可能是氟暴露致小鼠睾丸细胞凋亡异常的分子机制之一.     

纳米二氧化钛对金鱼脑组织的氧化应激损伤

为探讨光催化型nano-TiO₂(纳米二氧化钛)对金鱼(Carassius auratus L.)脑组织的氧化应激损伤效应,以5 nm的锐钛型钛白粉为试验材料,分别在ρ(nano-TiO₂)为0、16、32、64、128 mg/L下对金鱼进行处理,测定金鱼脑组织MDA(丙二醛)、PC(羰基化蛋白)和H₂O₂含量,SOD(超氧化物歧化酶)和GPx(谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶)活性以及Cu/Zn-SOD蛋白表达量. 结果表明:ρ(nano-TiO₂)从0 mg/L升至128 mg/L,金鱼脑组织Cu/Zn-SOD活性从1.70×10-3 kat/kg(以鲜质量计,下同)降至0.35×10-3 kat/kg,再回升至0.46×10-3 kat/kg; Mn-SOD活性呈降—升—降趋势,MDA含量从0.85 nmol/g升至2.83 nmol/g,之后降至2.54 nmol/g;PC含量一直上升;H₂O₂含量从4.32 μmol/g升至9.28 μmol/g,之后降至8.38 μmol/g. 随着ρ(nano-TiO₂)的加大,Cu/Zn-SOD蛋白表达量逐渐减少. 研究表明,nano-TiO₂对金鱼脑组织具有很强的氧化损伤作用,MDA与PC含量升高与Cu/Zn-SOD和GPx活性下降相关,H₂O₂含量升高与GPx活性下降等因素有关.      

Gustatory receptor neuron responds to DEET and other insect repellents in the yellow-fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti

Three gustatory receptor neurons were characterized for contact chemoreceptive sensilla on the labella of female yellow-fever mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti. The neuron with the smallest amplitude spike responded to the feeding deterrent, quinine, as well as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide and other insect repellents. Two other neurons with differing spikes responded to salt (NaCl) and sucrose. This is the first report of a gustatory receptor neuron specific for insect repellents in mosquitoes and may provide a tool for screening chemicals to discover novel or improved feeding deterrents and repellents for use in the management of arthropod disease vectors.     

Cognitive skills and bacterial load: comparative evidence of costs of cognitive proficiency in birds

Parasite-mediated selection may affect the evolution of cognitive abilities because parasites may influence development of the brain, but also learning capacity. Here, we tested some predictions of this hypothesis by analyzing the relationship between complex behaviours (feeding innovations (as a measure of behavioural flexibility) and ability to detect foreign eggs in their nests (i.e. a measure of discriminatory ability)) and abundance of microorganisms in different species of birds. A positive relationship would be predicted if these cognitive abilities implied a larger number of visited environments, while if these skills favoured detection and avoidance of risky environments, a negative relationship would be the prediction. Bacterial loads of eggshells, estimated for mesophilic and potentially pathogenic bacteria (i.e. Enterococcus, Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae), were used as a surrogate of probability of contact with pathogenic bacteria. We found that bird species with higher feeding innovation rates and rejection rates of experimental brood parasitic eggs had higher density of bacteria on their eggshells than the average species. Since the analysed groups of microorganisms include pathogenic bacteria, these results suggest that both feeding innovation and ability to recognize foreign eggs are costly and highlight the importance of parasite-mediated selection in explaining the evolution of cognitive abilities in animals.     

慢性氟暴露致小鼠海马损伤及L-型钙拮抗剂的干预作用

探讨了慢性氟暴露致小鼠海马损伤及L-型钙通道拮抗剂的干预作用.将140只初断乳ICR雄性小鼠随机分为7组：对照组（C组）、高氟组（HF组,饮用30 mg·L^-1 NaF溶液）、低氟组（LF组,饮用5 mg·L^-1 NaF溶液）、高/低氟+L-型钙通道激动剂组（FPL64176）（HF/LF+FPL）、高/低氟+L-型钙通道拮抗剂组（Nifedipine）（HF/LF+NIF）.染氟6个月,染氟结束前1周,HF/LF+FPL和HF/LF+NIF组分别每天腹腔注射激动剂或拮抗剂（5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）.用TUNEL法检测小鼠海马CA₁区细胞凋亡水平,用Western Blot法检测细胞膜L-型钙通道Cav1.2、Ca²⁺信号通路分子和下游凋亡调节相关分子蛋白表达水平等.结果表明,与对照组比,HF/LF组小鼠海马组织抗氧化能力显著降低（p<0.05或p<0.01）,细胞凋亡水平极显著上升（p<0.01）,Cav1.2与Bcl-2蛋白表达水平显著下降（p<0.05或p<0.01）,Ca²⁺信号转导通路CaM、CaMKII和促凋亡Bax、Bax/Bcl-2蛋白表达水平显著上升（p<0.05或p<0.01）.注射FPL64176的小鼠海马细胞和上述分子指标的损伤加剧,而注射NIF对海马细胞和上述分子蛋白表达有一定的逆转作用.提示L-型钙离子通道介导了氟暴露致小鼠海马损伤,氟暴露致海马细胞膜L-型钙离子通道Cav1.2蛋白、细胞内Ca²⁺信号转导通路分子和下游凋亡调节相关蛋白表达异常是其分子机制之一,而L-型钙通道拮抗剂NIF可能是一种新型有效的抗氟药物.     

Cu2+和Cu-EDTA对鲫鱼脑组织应激蛋白HSP70诱导的影响

以鲫鱼(Carassius auratus)作为实验对象,经过40d不同浓度铜(Cu²⁺)及其配合物(Cu-EDTA)的暴露后,运用SDS-PAGE和Western Blotting方法检测鱼脑组织内应激蛋白HSP70的诱导表达情况.结果表明:在实验浓度下,与对照组相比,Cu²⁺和Cu-EDTA对鱼脑内HSP70有显著的诱导(p<0.05),而将Cu²⁺和Cu-EDTA实验组相对比,络合剂EDTA一定程度上改变了Cu的生物可利用性,从而降低了其毒性.实验还发现,Cu²⁺浓度在国家渔业水质标准0.01mg/L下时,鱼脑组织内HSP70已经有明显的表达,说明运用分子生物学指标要比传统的环境监测指标更敏感,具有对污染物早期预警的作用.