Purification and characterization of an FSH releasing protein from porcine ovarian follicular fluid

A variety of hypophysiotropic peptides or proteins have been reported to be present in mammalian gonads. Inhibin, a hormone that under most circumstances selectively suppresses the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) but not luteinizing hormone (LH), has been isolated from the gonadal fluids of several species and characterized as a heterodimeric protein consisting of alpha- and beta-polypeptides associated by disulphide bonds. The complete amino-acid sequences of the precursors of porcine and human inhibin alpha-subunits and two distinct porcine inhibin beta-subunits (beta A and beta B) have been deduced from complementary DNA sequences. Gonadotropin releasing peptides have also been found in the gonad and have generally been shown to be active in radioreceptor assays for gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) but to exhibit different chromatographic and immunological characteristics from those of GnRH. During our purification of inhibin from porcine follicular fluid, we noted fractions that could stimulate the secretion of FSH by cultured anterior pituitary cells. We report here the purification of an FSH releasing protein (FRP) and its characterization by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-reducing and reducing conditions and by partial sequence analysis. Our results indicate that porcine gonadal FRP is a homodimer consisting of two inhibin beta A-chains linked by disulphide bonds. FRP is highly potent (50% effective concentration (EC50) approximately 25 pM) in stimulating the secretion and biosynthesis of FSH but not of LH or any other pituitary hormone. In contrast to the effects of GnRH and other reported gonadal gonadotropin releasing fractions, the action of FRP is not mediated by GnRH receptors.     

Complementary DNA sequences of ovarian follicular fluid inhibin show precursor structure and homology with transforming growth factor-beta

Inhibin, a specific and potent polypeptide inhibitor of the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), of gonadal origin and thus a potential contraceptive, may constitute a missing link in the mechanism controlling the differential secretion of the pituitary gonadotropins. Inhibin-like bioactivity has been reported in various fluids and extracts of testis and in ovarian follicular fluid. Although there have been several attempts to purify inhibin from seminal plasma, purification from follicular fluid has been more successful (refs 14-16; for review see ref. 17). We have previously isolated two forms (A and B) of inhibin from porcine follicular fluid. Each form comprised two dissimilar subunits of relative molecular mass (Mr) 18,000 (18K, referred to here as the alpha-subunit) and 14K (the beta-subunit), crosslinked by one or more disulphide bridge(s). Forms A and B differ in the N-terminal sequence of their 14K subunit. Preliminary structural characterization of porcine and bovine ovarian inhibins shows that they have similar properties. Here, we have used the N-terminal amino-acid sequence data on the subunits of each inhibin to identify cloned complementary DNAs encoding the biosynthetic precursors and report that inhibins are the product of a gene family that also includes transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and whose structural organization is similar to that of pituitary and placental glycoprotein hormones.     

成都市成人血、尿液重金属浓度及铅同位素比

在成都市城市及农村地区共采集了98份成人血液和42份成人尿液样品,利用ICP-MS分析了Pb、Cd、Cr、As、Sn等14种重金属浓度和铅同位素比.城市成人血液中重金属几何平均浓度(GM)为0.01～3 129.06μg/g胆固醇,城市成人尿液中重金属GM为n.d.～275.26μg/g肌酐,农村成人血液中重金属GM为0.02～3 353.58μg/g胆固醇.研究发现城市成人血液与尿液重金属浓度不存在显著相关,但同一介质各重金属之间存在一定的相关性.城市、农村成人血液中Cd、Pb、Sr、Tl、Co、Cu、Ni、V、Zn的浓度存在显著性差异(P0.05),城市成人血液、尿液,农村成人血液中大部分元素在性别方面不存在显著性差异(P0.05).主成分分析发现膳食是城市和农村血液重金属的重要来源,但来源也存在差别:城市成人血液重金属来源还有燃煤燃烧、合金制造和交通活动,农村的来源则是矿石开采,农药、化肥、油漆、电子产品等的使用.整体而言,四种同位素以~(208)Pb为主,~(206)Pb、~(207)Pb次之,~(204)Pb占比最低.     

咪唑-血红蛋白显色体系的研究及应用

建立了一种非氰化物测定血红蛋白的新方法。该方法用季铵盐型表面活性剂破坏红细胞膜，释放出血红蛋白，该血红蛋白与咪唑结合，形成的血红蛋白衍生物在535nm波长处有最在吸收，且在4h内稳定，可用于血红蛋白的测定。研究确定了该方法测定血红蛋白的条件，初步探讨了反应机理。通过对临床新鲜血样中血红蛋白的检测，并与氰化法所测结果对比，两者结果无显著性差异。采用该方法进行血红蛋白的测定，简便实用、结果准确、无毒无污染，具有广阔的应用前景。     

人血浆和脑脊液中地卡因的RP-HPLC法测定

建立人血浆和脑脊液中地卡因的检测方法.方法：用RP-HPLC法将地卡因同人血浆和和脑脊液中的杂质分离.结果：建立了用RP-HPLC法测定地卡因在血浆和和脑脊液中浓度的色谱条件.色谱柱为Lichrospher C18（4.6×250mm,5μm）,流动相为乙腈-水-冰醋酸（40∶60∶0.2）.在0.1-9.0mg.L^-1范围内地卡因峰面积与内标峰面积之比与浓度线性关系良好,最低检测浓度为0.03mg.L^-1,血浆回收率为90.3%-99.1%,日内RSD为1.8%-5.6%,日间RSD为3.1%-7.7%.脑脊液回收率为88.7%-96.2%,日内RSD为3.5%-5.9%,日间RSD为6.1%-10.5%.结论：样品处理简便快速,测定方法准确可靠,适合于地卡因的临床治疗药物监测及药代动力学研究.     

X-ray clusters of galaxies as tracers of structure in the Universe

Clusters of galaxies are visible tracers of the network of matter in the Universe, marking the high-density regions where filaments of dark matter join together. When observed at X-ray wavelengths these clusters shine like cosmic lighthouses, as a consequence of the hot gas trapped within their gravitational potential wells. The X-ray emission is linked directly to the total mass of a cluster, and so can be used to investigate the mass distribution for a sizeable fraction of the Universe. The picture that has emerged from recent studies is remarkably consistent with the predictions for a low-density Universe dominated by cold dark matter.     

超高效液相色谱-三重四极杆串联质谱法检测全血中常见安眠镇静类药物

建立了超高效液相色谱-三重四极杆复合线性离子阱质谱快速筛查确证全血中49种安眠镇静类药物.样品前处理采用固相支撑液液萃取法.色谱条件：色谱柱为Waters C18(2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.7μm),以5 mmol/L乙酸铵-(体积分数为0.1%)甲酸水溶液(A),甲醇(B)为流动相,进行梯度洗脱.在0.1～200.0 ng/mL内,49种常见药物展现出良好的线性关系(R²>0.99),最高检出限为0.1 ng/mL;最高定量限为0.5 ng/mL;全血基质中50、100、200 ng/mL 3个加标水平下回收率为65.9%～109.0%,日内精密度为2.0%～17.6%、日间精密度为2.0%～16.3%.该方法可应用于生物检材中49种常见安眠镇静物质的检测.