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Effects of osmotic stress on antioxidant enzymes activities in leaf discs of PSAG12-IPT modified gerbera
LAI Qi-xian, BAO Zhi-yi, ZHU Zhu-jun, QIAN Qiong-qiu, MAO Bi-zeng
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2007, 8(7): 458-464.
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0458
Leaf senescence is often caused by water deficit and the chimeric gene PSAG12-IPT is an auto-regulated gene delaying leaf senescence. Using in vitro leaf discs culture system, the changes of contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids, soluble protein and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and antioxidant enzymes activities were investigated during leaf senescence of PSAGl2-IPT modified gerbera induced by osmotic stress compared with the control plant (wild type). Leaf discs were incubated in 20%, 40% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6 000 nutrient solution for 20 h under continuous light [130 µmol/(m2·s)]. The results showed that the contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids and soluble protein were decreased by osmotic stress with the decrease being more pronounced at 40% PEG, but that, at the same PEG concentration the decrease in the transgenic plants was significantly lower than that in the control plant. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalases (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) were stimulated by PEG treatment. However, the increases were higher in PSAG12-IPT transgenic plants than in the control plants, particularly at 40% PEG treatment. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS content) was increased by PEG treatment with the increase being much lower in transgenic plant than in the control plant. It could be concluded that the increases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes including SOD, CAT, APX, GPX and DHAR were responsible for the delay of leaf senescence induced by osmotic stress.
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Qualitative and quantitative analysis of goat ovaries, follicles and oocytes in view of in vitro production of embryos
ISLAM M.R., KHANDOKER M.A.M.Y., AFROZ S., RAHMAN M.G.M., KHAN R.I.
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2007, 8(7): 465-469.
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0465
Goat ovaries were collected from the slaughterhouse and categorized as right, left, corpus luteum (CL)-present and -absent group and evaluated on the basis of weight (g), length (cm), width (cm), number of follicles, follicles aspirated and number and state of cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs). Comparatively higher weight [(0.66±0.02) vs (0.64±0.02) g], length [(1.17±0.02) vs (1.11±0.02) cm] and width [(0.77±0.02) vs (0.74±0.02) cm] were found in right ovaries than those of left. On the other hand significantly (P<0.05) higher weight [(0.71±0.03) vs (0.64±0.01) g] and width [(0.76±0.03) vs (0.75±0.01) cm] were found in CL-present group than those of CL-absent group of ovaries. The left ovaries contained comparatively higher number of normal COCs [(1.06±0.09) per ovary] than right ovaries [(1.03±0.10) per ovary] and the similar trend was found in total number of follicles [(4.51±0.25) vs (4.30±0.23) per ovary] and follicles aspirated [(2.55±0.14) vs (2.52±0.12) per ovary]. But the total COCs per ovary was almost similar in both ovaries [right and left: (1.85±0.12) and (1.85±0.11) per ovary, respectively]. Higher number of total COCs [(1.87±0.09) vs (1.76±0.16) per ovary], total number of follicles [(4.45±0.19) vs (4.16±0.37) per ovary], follicles aspirated [(2.55±0.10) vs (2.48±0.21) per ovary] and normal COCs [(1.12±0.07) vs (0.76±0.14) per ovary] were found in CL-absent group than those of CL-present group of ovaries.
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Interaction of salinity and cadmium stresses on mineral nutrients, sodium, and cadmium accumulation in four barley genotypes
HUANG You-zong, WEI Kang, YANG Juan, DAI Fei, ZHANG Guo-ping
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2007, 8(7): 476-485.
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0476
Interaction of salinity (NaCl) and cadmium (Cd) on growth, mineral nutrients, Na and Cd accumulation in four barley genotypes differing in salt tolerance was studied in a hydroponic experiment. Cd, NaCl and their combined stresses reduced Ca and Mg concentrations in roots and shoots, K concentration in shoots, increased K and Cu concentrations in roots relative to control, but had non-significant effect on micronutrients Cu, Fe and Mn concentrations in shoot. The three stresses reduced accumulation of most tested nutrients in both roots and shoots, except NaCl and NaCl+Cd stresses for root K and shoot Cu accumulation in salt tolerant genotypes. The salt tolerant genotypes did not have higher nutrient concentration and accumulation than the sensitive ones when exposed to Cd and NaCl stresses. In conclusion, the affecting mechanism of Cd stress on nutrients was to some extent different from salinity stress, and the NaCl+Cd stress was not equal to additional Cd and NaCl stresses, probably due to the different valence and competitive site of Na+ and Cd2+. NaCl addition in the Cd-containing medium caused remarkable reductions in both Cd concentration and accumulation, with the extent of reduction being also dependent on genotypes. The salt-tolerant genotypes had lower Na concentration than sensitive ones.
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Potential production simulation and optimal nutrient management of two hybrid rice varieties in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
XIE Wen-xia, WANG Guang-huo, ZHANG Qi-chun
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2007, 8(7): 486-492.
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0486
Potential growth of two widely-grown hybrid rice varieties in the Jinhua district of Zhejiang Province, Shanyou63 for mid-rice and Xieyou46 for late rice, was simulated using a crop growth model of WOFOST. Parameters of the rice growth in WOFOST were calibrated through field experiments from 1999 to 2002 in Jinhua. The potential yield simulated with WOFOST was about 12 t/ha for Shanyou63 and 10 t/ha for Xieyou46, which are in good agreement with the highest recorded yield obtained in this area. Under farmers practice, current yield is about 7.5 t/ha for Shanyou63 and 6.5 t/ha for Xieyou46. There is a gap between the actual rice yield and the potential yield for these two hybrid rice varieties grown in this area. The attainable target yields were set to 70% to 75% of their potential yields for the two varieties. A recently developed software “Nutrient Decision Support System (NuDSS)” for irrigated rice was used to optimize nutrient management for these two rice varieties. According to NuDSS, the optimal fertilizer N requirement for the target yields was about 150 kg/ha for Shanyou63 and about 120 kg/ha for Xieyou46, which were only about 70% of the fertilizer N application under current farmers’ practice. Comparing with farmers’ practice, there is great potential to increase actual rice yields and to reduce fertilizer N use rates by improving rice crop management practice in Jinhua.
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Actin-based dynamics during spermatogenesis and its significance
XIAO Xiang, YANG Wan-xi
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2007, 8(7): 498-506.
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0498
Actin can be found in all kinds of eukaryotic cells, maintaining their shapes and motilities, while its dynamics in sperm cells is understood less than their nonmuscle somatic cell counterparts. Spermatogenesis is a complicated process, resulting in the production of mature sperm from primordial germ cell. Significant structural and biochemical changes take place in the seminiferous epithelium of the adult testis during spermatogenesis. It was proved that all mammalian sperm contain actin, and that F-actin may play an important role during spermatogenesis, especially in nuclear shaping. Recently a new model for sperm head elongation based on the acrosome-acroplaxome-manchette complex has been proposed. In Drosophila, F-actin assembly is supposed to be very crucial during individualization. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of the structure, function, and regulation characteristics of actin cytoskeleton, and a summary of the current status of research of actin-based structure and movement is also provided, with emphasis on the role of actins in sperm head shaping during spermiogenesis and the cell junction dynamics in the testis. Research of the Sertoli ectoplasmic specialization is in the spotlight, which is a testis-specific actin-based junction very important for the movement of germ cells across the epithelium. Study of the molecular architecture and the regulating mechanism of the Sertoli ectoplasmic specialization has become an intriguing field. All this may lead to a new strategy for male infertility and, at the same time, a novel idea may result in devising much safer contraception with high efficiency. It is hoped that the advances listed in this review would give developmental and morphological researchers a favorable investigating outline and could help to enlarge the view of new strategies and models for actin dynamics during spermatogenesis.
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Simultaneous determination of fluoride, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, monofluorophosphate, glycerophosphate, sorbate, and saccharin in gargles by ion chromatography
ZHANG Yan-zhen, ZHOU Yan-chun, LIU Li, ZHU Yan
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2007, 8(7): 507-511.
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0507
Simple, reliable and sensitive analytical methods to determine anticariogenic agents, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners contained in commercial gargles are necessary for evaluating their effectiveness, safety, and quality. An ion chromatography (IC) method has been described to analyze simultaneously eight anions including fluoride, chloride, sulfate, phosphate, monofluorophosphate, glycerophosphate (anticariogenic agents), sorbate (a preservative), and saccharin (an artificial sweetener) in gargles. In this IC system, we applied a mobile phased gradient elution with KOH, separation by IonPac AS18 columns, and suppressed conductivity detection. Optimized analytical conditions were further evaluated for accuracy. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the inter-day’s retention time and peak area of all species were less than 0.938% and 8.731%, respectively, while RSDs of 5-day retention time and peak area were less than 1.265% and 8.934%, respectively. The correlation coefficients for targeted analytes ranged from 0.999 7 to 1.000 0. The spiked recoveries for the anions were 90%~102.5%. We concluded that the method can be applied for comprehensive evaluation of commercial gargles.
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Extremely high frequency of autoimmune-predisposing alleles in medieval specimens
WITAS H.W., JĘDRYCHOWSKA-DAŃSKA K., ZAWICKI P.
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2007, 8(7): 512-514.
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0512
The precise etiology and reasons for the increase in incidence of autoimmune disorders still remain unclear, and although both genetic and environmental factors have been proven to shape individual predisposition, it is not known which of the factors, if not both, is responsible for the boom observed during the last decades. In order to establish whether a higher frequency of autoimmune-predisposing alleles may explain this increase we took advantage of ancient DNA methodology to establish the genetic predisposition, conferred by cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA4) +49A/G and human leukocyte antigens (HLA) DQB157, in population inhabiting Poland in the Middle Ages. After successful typing of 42 individuals from a 12th~14th’s century archeological burial site, we found that frequencies of the predisposing alleles in the medieval population were higher than they are at present, suggesting thus that the recently observed incidence increase results most probably from factors of other than genetic nature.
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Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for Down syndrome pregnancy
ZHANG Yu, XU Chen-ming, ZHU Yi-min, DONG Min-yue, QIAN Yu-li, JIN Fan, HUANG He-feng
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2007, 8(7): 515-521.
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0515
Objective: To evaluate the effect of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) conducted for women who had Down syndrome pregnancy previously. Methods: Trisomy 21 was diagnosed by using fluorescence in site hybridization (FISH) before embryo transfer in two women who had Down syndrome pregnancies. Each received one or two PGD cycles respectively. Results: Case 1: one PGD cycle was conducted, two oocytes were fertilized and biopsied. One embryo is of trisomy 21 and the other of monosomy 21. No embryo was transferred. Case 2: two PGD cycles were conducted, in total, sixteen oocytes were fertilized and biopsied. Four embryos were tested to be normal, six of trisomy 21, and one of monosomy 21. Five had no signal. Four normal embryos were transferred but no pregnancy resulted. Conclusion: For couples who had pregnancies with Down syndrome previously, PGD can be considered, and has been shown to be an effective strategy.
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Anesthetic management of emergent critical tracheal stenosis
ZHOU Yang-feng, ZHU Shao-jun, ZHU Sheng-mei, AN Xiao-xia
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2007, 8(7): 522-525.
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0522
Two case reports of emergent anesthesia of critical tracheal stenosis are presented. The use of extracorporeal circulation may be a lifesaving method for these patients. Two patients both with severe lower tracheal stenosis were admitted with severe inspiratory dyspnea. The first patient had a tracheal tube inserted above the stenosis in the operating room, but ventilation was unsatisfactory, high airway pressure and severe hypercarbia developed, therefore extracorporeal circulation was immediately initiated. For the second patient, we established femoral-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass prior to induction of anaesthesia, and intubated above the tracheal tumor orally under general anesthesia, then adjusted the endotracheal tube to appropriate depth after the tumor had been resected. The patient was gradually weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. The two patients all recovered very well after surgery. Surgery is lifesaving for patients with critical tracheal stenosis, but how to ensure effective gas exchange is crucial to the anesthetic management. Extracorporeal circulation by the femoral artery and femoral vein cannulation can gain good gas exchange even if the trachea is totally obstructed. Therefore, before the induction of anesthesia, we should assess the site and degree of obstruction carefully and set up cardiopulmonary bypass to avoid exposing the patient to unexpected risks and the anesthesiologist to unexpected challenges.
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Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of some potent 5,6-bis aryl 1,2,4-triazines
MALLIKARJUNA B.P., SURESH KUMAR G.V., SASTRY B.S., NAGARAJ, MANOHARA K.P.
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine & Biotechnology), 2007, 8(7): 526-532.
https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.2007.B0526
In the present research, a series of 5,6-bis aryl 1,2,4-triazines 5a~5f were synthesized by condensation of various benzils 4a~4f with aminoguanidine bicarbonate and were screened in vivo, for their anticonvulsant and neurotoxicity studies. Compounds 5a, 5b and 5d were found to be potent molecules of this series, when compared with the reference drugs phenytoin sodium, diazepam and lamotrigine. The structures of these compounds were established by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectroscopic data.
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13 articles
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