Influence of hypothyroidism on oxidative stress,c-Fos expression,cell cycle,and apoptosis in rats testes

The molecular basis of male reproduction for cross-regulation between androgen and thyroid hormone axes is still rudimentary. This study aims to define a possible mechanism of hypothyroidism-induced reproductive influence with respect to sex hormone, mineral, sperm motility, oxidative stress, c-Fos expression, cell cycle, and apoptosis in rat testes. The Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (NS) and hypothyroidism group [1 ml/100g BW/day, 0.1% propylthiouracil (PTU)] by intragastric gavage for 60 days. Blood samples were collected to measure the serum levels. The epididymis was excised to measure sperm motility and testes were excised to measure mineral, oxidative stress, c-Fos expression, cell cycle, and apoptosis. After 60 days, body weight, relative testes weight, triiodothyronine, and total thyroxine were all significantly decreased, whereas thyroid stimulating hormone was increased in the hypothyroidism group. A significant increase in sex hormone level of estradiol (E2) and significant decreases in testosterone (T) and T/E2 ratio were observed following PTU treatment. And sperm quality was also significantly changed. There were significant decreases in the contents of calcium (Ca²⁺) and zinc (Zn²⁺). On the other hand, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents significantly increased, whereas the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide content significantly decreased in hypothyroid rats. The mRNA and protein expressions of c-Fos decreased significantly. The cell percentage in G0/G1 phase increased significantly, whereas decreased significantly in S and G2/M phases. Also, a significant increase in testicular cell apoptosis was observed in hypothyroid-treated rats. These results suggested that hypothyroidism could affect reproductive function in the form of changed sex hormone levels, sperm motility and testicular Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺, and enhanced oxidative stress leading to c-Fos abnormal expression and increased apoptosis.     

Mass concentrations and temporal profiles of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 near major urban roads in Beijing

Mass concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ were measured near major roads in Beijing during six periods: summer and winter of 2001, winter of 2007, and periods before, during and after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Since the control efforts for motor vehicles helped offset the increase of emissions from the rapid growth of vehicles, the averaged PM_2.5 concentrations at roadsides during the sampling period between 2001 and 2008 fluctuated over a relatively small range. With the implementation of temporary traffic control measures during the Olympics, a clear “V” shaped curve showing the concentrations of particulate matter and other gaseous air pollutants at roadsides over time was identified. The average concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, CO and NO decreased by 31.2%, 46.3%, 32.3% and 35.4%, respectively, from June to August; this was followed by a rebound of all air pollutants in December 2008. Daily PM₁₀ concentrations near major roads exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (Grade II) for 61.2% of the days in the non-Olympic periods, while only for 12.5% during the Olympics. The mean ratio of PM_2.5/PM₁₀ near major roads remained relatively stable at 0.55 (±0.108) on non-Olympic days. The ratio decreased to 0.48 (±0.099) during the Olympics due to a greater decline in fine particles than in coarse-mode PM. The ratios PM₁/PM_2.5 fluctuated over a wide range and were statistically different from each other during the sampling periods. The average ratios of PM₁/PM_2.5 on non-Olympic days were 0.71.     

壬基酚和双酚A对雄性斑马鱼(Danio rerio)卵黄蛋白原mRNA的诱导效应

为了对野外环境中内分泌干扰物更快速有效地进行检测,运用逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)技术检测了17β-雌二醇(E2)、壬基酚(NP)和双酚A(BPA)对雄性成体斑马鱼肝脏合成卵黄蛋白原(VTG)mRNA的诱导作用,并初步探讨了VTGmRNA体内代谢动力学模式.结果表明,随着暴露浓度的升高(E2:20、100、250、500ng·L-1;NP:20、100、250、500μg·L-1;BPA:50、100、250、500、1000μg·L-1),VTGmRNA表达量均显著增加,VTGmRNA表达量与暴露浓度具有明显的剂量-效应关系.在10d的暴露期内,随着暴露时间的延长,VTGmRNA表达量均显著增加,VTGmRNA表达量与暴露时间呈明显的时间-效应关系;停止暴露后,VTGmRNA表达量迅速下降,E2诱导的表达消失得最快(4d),而NP、BPA诱导的表达持续时间相对较长(6d).     

广州市城市热岛时间变化特征及与大气总悬浮颗粒物关系的研究(英文)

文章研究了1985-2005年期间广州市城市热岛强度时间变化及与大气总悬浮颗粒物浓度的关系.结果表明.由于经济的快速增长和城市化进程不断加快,广州市城市热岛效应十分明显,年平均热岛强度在0.20～2.10℃之间波动.受季风等大范围气候背景及降雨的影响,月平均热岛强度具有明显的季节变化特征,总体上呈"U"字形变化,其中7月份热岛强度最低,11月份最高.不同时次(02:00,08:00,14:00和20:00)的热岛强度以08:00时最高,而以14:00最低.最低温度下的热岛强度呈现出稳定增长的趋势(平均值为1.09℃),显示出广州近地面平均气温上升以最低温度最为明显.自1994年之后广州市大气总悬浮颗粒物水平呈现出明显的下降趋势,然而1982年到1998年期间仍然超过了国家大气质量二级标准所规定的浓度限值0.200 mg/m3.研究还表明,广州城市年平均热岛强度与年平均大气总悬浮颗粒物浓度之间存在显著的负相关,负相关系数为-0.676.尽管市区大气总悬浮颗粒物可以反射太阳辐射,降低日照时间,最终产生致冷效应,但是广州城市热岛效应是全球气候变暖下的大气增温和悬浮颗粒物降温之间平衡作用的结果.     

信号分子对类球红细菌(Rhodobacter sphaeroides)碳源利用的影响

类球红细菌拥有cer群体感应系统.它既有细胞间信息传递的功能,也对碳源利用进行调节.为调查自诱导物对碳源利用的影响,在仅少量EDTA作唯一能源物的培养基中加入N-(tetradecanoyl)-DL-homoserine lactone,通过测定活菌数变化观察这种类球红细菌自诱导物的结构类似物对碳源利用的影响.然后利用Biolog-GN鉴定板,在加入外源信号分子和对照的条件下,研究了类球红细菌正常培养与饥饿培养下对95种单一碳源的不同利用情况.结果表明,在存在信号分子的饥饿情况下,细菌能更好的利用EDTA维持活菌数量.当培养到6h的时候,加入信号分子培养的鉴定板中,正常培养情况下细菌对碳源的利用丰富度指数最高;而在饥饿培养情况下细菌能利用更多种类的碳源.     

温度对小叶海金沙生长的影响

用野外调查测定和室内模拟的方法研究了温度对小叶海金沙生长的影响.结果表明,小叶海金沙疯狂生长群落中的温度比正常生长群落高,且温度与其净光合速率呈极显著正相关,而这两种类型群落内大气相对湿度以及光照差异较小.此外,土壤养分和土壤pH与小叶海金沙的生长速度无明显的关联性.根据研究结果推测:温度可能是小叶海金沙疯狂生长原因之一.     

镉对南美蟛蜞菊光合特性的影响

镉(Cd)积累是造成土壤重金属污染的重要因素之一,它是一种对植物生理代谢过程产生诸多影响的环境胁迫因子,光合作用的变化可以直接反映植物对Cd胁迫的适应特性.通过对外来植物南美蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc.)生长过程不同程度的Cd胁迫处理,利用光合气体交换与叶绿素荧光技术,初步观测盆栽土壤中不同质量分数的Cd对南美蟛蜞菊叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率、叶绿素质量分数与荧光特征等光合特性的影响.结果显示:①当土壤中Cd质量分数达到5 mg·kg-1时,叶片净光合速率Pn明显降低,但蒸腾速率Tr和气孔导度gs降幅较小,水分利用率WUE则没有表现出明显差异;②随着土壤中Cd的增加,叶绿素a质量分数与叶绿素a/b降低,但叶绿素b变化不明显;③ Cd质量分数达到2 mg·kg-1时,初始荧光Fo与光化效率Fv/Fm变化明显,光系统Ⅱ电子传递速率ETR和量子效率ΦPSⅡ从Cd质量分数为0.5 mg·kg-1起有明显变化.由此看出,Cd对叶绿素有一定程度的破坏作用,其中光反应中心对Cd胁迫尤为敏感,叶片光合速率和光能转化效率的下降与此密切相关.     

Photodegradation of acetochlor in water and UV photoproducts identified by mass spectrometry

The sunlight photodegradation half-lives of 20 mg/L acetochlor were 151, 154 and 169 days in de-ionized water, river water and paddy water, respectively. When exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, acetochlor in aqueous solution was rapidly degraded. The half-lives were7.1, 10.1, and 11.5 min in de-ionized water, river water and paddy water, respectively. Photopreduets of acetochlor were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(GC/MS) and found at least twelve photoproducts resulted from dechlorination with subsequent hydrtrxylation and cyclization processes. The chemical structures of ten photoproducts were presumed on the basis of mass spectrum interpretation and literature data. Photoproducts are identified as 2-ethyl-6-methylaniline; N, N-diethylaniline ; 4, 8-dimethyl-2-oxo- 1,2,3,4- tetrahydroquino-line; 2-oxo-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(ethoxymethyl) acetamide; N-(ethoxymethyl)-2‘-ethyl-6‘-methylformanilide; 1-hydroxyaeetyl-2-ethoxyl-7-ethylind ole; 8-ethyl-l-ethoxymethyl-2-oxo-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroquinoline; 4, 8-dimethyl-l-ethoxymethyl-2-oxo-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroquinoline; 2-hydroxy-2‘-ethyl-6‘-methyl-N-(ethoxymethyl) acetanilide and a compound related to acetochlor. The other two photoproducts were detected by GC/MS although their chemical structure was unknown.     

Air pollution characteristics and their relationship with emissions and meteorology in the Yangtze River Delta region during 2014–2016

With rapid economic growth and urbanization, the Yangtze River Delta(YRD) region in China has experienced serious air pollution challenges. In this study, we analyzed the air pollution characteristics and their relationship with emissions and meteorology in the YRD region during 2014–2016. In recent years, the concentrations of all air pollutants, except O_3,decreased. Spatially, the PM_(2.5), PM_(10), SO_2, and CO concentrations were higher in the northern YRD region, and NO_2 and O_3 were higher in the central YRD region. Based on the number of non-attainment days(i.e., days with air quality index greater than 100), PM_(2.5) was the largest contributor to air pollution in the YRD region, followed by O_3, PM_(10), and NO_2.However, particulate matter pollution has declined gradually, while O_3 pollution worsened.Meteorological conditions mainly influenced day-to-day variations in pollutant concentrations. PM_(2.5) concentration was inversely related to wind speed, while O_3 concentration was positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with relative humidity.The air quality improvement in recent years was mainly attributed to emission reductions.During 2014–2016, PM_(2.5), PM_(10), SO_2, NO_x, CO, NH_3, and volatile organic compound(VOC)emissions in the YRD region were reduced by 26.3%, 29.2%, 32.4%, 8.1%, 15.9%, 4.5%, and0.3%, respectively. Regional transport also contributed to the air pollution. During regional haze periods, pollutants from North China and East China aggravated the pollution in the YRD region. Our findings suggest that emission reduction and regional joint prevention and control helped to improve the air quality in the YRD region.