Nitric oxide produced by cumulus cells stimulates maturation of mouse oocytes

The effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a donor of nitric oxide, on meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes was studied by injecting N^w-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) intra-peritoneal (ip), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, or culturing oocytes in the medium supplemented with L-NAME or hypoxanthine (HX) to arrest the spontaneous oocyte maturation in vitro. The results showed that the inhibitory effect of L-NAME by injecting 10 mg/kg ip on extrusion of the first polar body only could be reversed by injecting 2.5 mg/kg SNP with L-NAME simultaneously (P < 0.05). Half an hour later ten mice died when given 10 mg/kg SNP ip. The treatment of some concentrations of SNP (10^–7, 10^–6, 10^–5mol/L) significantly stimulated meiotic maturation to metaphase Ⅱ stages in cumulus enclosed oocytes in the presence of HX. However, other concentrations of SNP (10^–8, 10^–4, 10^–3 mol/L) had no effect on HX-arrested oocyte meiotic maturation. The optimal concentration of SNP on CEOs had no effect on DOs. The dose of 10^–3 mol/LL-NAME demonstrated a significant suppression in formation of PB₁, but not in GVBD. This inhibition was reversed by the addition of SNP. These results indicated that the physiological levels of NO produced by cumulus cells could stimulate meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes both in vivo and in vitro.     

Study of β—amyloid adsorption and aggregation on graphite by STM and AFM

The scanning tunneling microscopy(STM) and the atomic force microscopy(AMF) have been applied to the direct study of the adsorption and aggregation of β-amyloid(1-42)(Aβ42)on the hydrophobic graphite surface.It was found that Aβ42 were preferentially adsorbed on graphite defects such as the edges.Aβ42 peptides self-assembled into intermediate protofibrils,which in turn self-associated to form fibrils.Usually,two or more fibrils intertwined to form the helical structure.These results will provide an important clue to studying the aggregation process of β-amyloid.     

A weak El Nio event in 2002 detected by the astronomical observation

Using the length-of-day (LOD) data series derived from astronomical observations made by various modern space techniques, southern oscillation index (SOI) and anomalies of sea surface temperature (SST) in tropical Pacific Ocean, the inter-annual components of these data series are obtained by the technique of band filtering from January 1962 to October 2002. It is found that a new ENSO event has already occurred in 2002 and been detected by the interannual LOD. It is shown by the wavelet analysis that the component with a period of about 4-6 years and the quasi-biennial component are out of phase during 2001-2002, which consequently suggests that the new ENSO event cannot be a strong one.     

Cardiac protective role of a novel erythrocyte-derived depressing factor on rats and its Ca^2＋ mechanism

The cardiac protective role of a novel erythro-cyte-derived depressing factor (EDDF) on spontaneous hy-pertensive rats (SHR), calcium overload (CaO) rats and Wistar rats and its mechanism was evaluated. Mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and LVdp/dtmax were measured by physiological recorder. The effect of EDDF on the Ca2+-ATPase activity in myocardial sarcoplasmic reticu-lum (SR) of CaO rats was determined by inorganic phos-phate assay. Calcium transport in myocytes was measured by 45Ca2+ radioactive isotope measurement. The phosphoryla-tion levels of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) in myocardial tissue of SHR and CaO rats were measured by Western blot method. And the ultrastructures of cardiac muscle cells were observed with the transmission electron microscope. The results indicated that EDDF could significantly decrease MAP, HR and LVdp/dtmax in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.05). It seems that the mechanism might relate with activating the Ca2+-APTase, enhancing the uptake and release of Ca2+ from SR (P < 0.05), decreasing the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 of myocytes (P < 0.01) and lightening the ultrastructural lesion of cardiac muscle cells. In CaO rats, the Ca2+-ATPase activity decreased clearly com-pared to control (64.99 7.16 vs 94.48 7.68 nmol·min-1 ·mg-1 protein, P < 0.01), while EDDF (100 mg/mL) could significantly increase the activity (87.93 ?9.54 vs 64.99 ?7.16, P < 0.05, n = 7). Both uptake and release rate of Ca2+ (祄ol 45Ca2+/g protein/min) from myocardial SR of CaO rats re-markably decreased compared to control (32.40 ?2.70 and 15.46 ?1.49 vs 61.09 ?10.89 and 25.47 ?4.29, P < 0.05); EDDF (100 mg/mL) could significantly stimulate their activi-ties (50.48 6.76 and 21.76 2.75 vs 32.40 2.70 and 15.46 1.49, P < 0.05). EDDF could evidently down-regulate the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in myocardial tissue from SHR and CaO rats (P < 0.01), lighten the ultrastructural lesion of cardiac muscle cells of SHR as well. It is concluded that EDDF seems to play protective roles on both structure and function of heart, which closely related with amelioration of Ca2+ transport and inhibition of Ca2+-MAP kinase pathway.     

Ammonium improves iron nutrition by decreasing leaf apoplastic pH of sunflower plants (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis> L. cv. Frankasol)

The effect of nitrogen form on pH and concentration of soluble iron (Fe) in leaf apoplast was investigated in hydrophonically grown sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Frankasol), and the mechanism underlying the improved Fe nutrition by ammonium (NH₄) supply was also elucidated. Ammonium supply ameliorated Fe nutrition of plants grown without Fe through decreasing apoplastic pH and increasing soluble Fe concentration in apoplastic fluid of young leaves. The soluble Fe concentration in apoplastic fluid and cell sap of young leaves, and xylem exudates of NH₄ fed-plants was higher than that of nitrate (NO₃) fed-plants, and no typical Fe-deficiency chlorosis in young leaves was observed in NH₄, fed plant without Fe supply. The apoplastic pH was 6.15 and 5.94 in young leaves of Fe-deficient plants fed respectively with NO₃ and NH₄, while in Fe-sufficient plants, the apoplastic pH was 6.43 with NO₃, and 5.50 with NH₄ supply. In primary leaves, the apoplastic pH was around 6.25 irrespective of nitrogen form and Fe supply. The pH of xylem exudate was 5.72 in Fe-deficient plants fed with NO₃ and 5.49 with NH₄. Iron nutrition increased the pH of xylem exudate by 0.27 and 0.16 unit under NO₃ and NH₄ supply respectively.     

NMR study on self-assembled cage complex of hexamethylenetetramine and cucurbit[n]urils

Self-assembled complexes between cage com-pounds cucurbit[n = 5—8]urils and hexamethylenetetramine were studied by using NMR techniques. Experimental results reveal that hexamethylenetetramine can lid cucurbit[5]uril to forming self-assembled capsules in which nothing is encap-sulated yet; the cavity of the cucurbit[7]uril can accommo-date a hexamethylenetetramine molecule to form a self- assembled host-guest inclusion. Moreover, both the cavity interaction of the cucurbit[7]uril with hexamethylenetetra-mine稨Cl and the portal interaction of the dipole carbonyl of the cucurbit[7]uril with hexamethylenetetramine稨Cl lead to form self-assembled capsules in which the hexamethylene-tetramine稨Cl are encapsulated in the hexamethylenetetra-mine稨Cl lidded cucurbit[7]uril. Although the structures of the portal and cavity to cucurbit[5]uril are similar, there is no obvious interaction between decamethylcucurbit[5]uril and hexamethylenetetramine, and also between cucurbit [6]uril or cucurbit[8]uril and hexamethylenetetramine.     

‘Classical’ and ‘new’ diabetogens—comparison of their effects on isolated rat pancreatic islets in vitro

This study compares functional and morphological alterations caused by application of alloxan, streptozotocin, xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine (generation of reactive oxygen species), or S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP, liberation of nitric oxide) to isolated rat pancreatic islets in vitro. In perifusion experiments, membrane leakage—detected by non-stimulated insulin release—was found after application of all drugs, but showed a substance-specific time pattern. Twenty-four hours after application of the classical diabetogens (alloxan or streptozotocin), potassium chloride- and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were markedly reduced, while a persistent reduction was observed neither after exposure to xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine, nor to SNAP. Morphological analysis of the islets revealed that nearly all β-cells were destroyed following alloxan or streptozotocin treatment, while the majority of β-cells were configured regularly after application of xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine or SNAP. Necrotic cells found after xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine usually differed in morphology from those observed after application of the classical diabetogens. While the former cells were characterised by swollen nuclei, the latter had shrunken nuclei with irregular condensed chromatin. Apoptosis was found only following nitric oxide exposure. Due to these differences, it seems unlikely that alloxan, streptozotocin, xanthine oxidase/hypoxanthine, and nitric oxide have a common major feature in their toxic action. Received 16 September 1999; received after revision 15 November 1999; accepted 26 November 1999     

浅析可持续发展的城市形态

通过对国内外一些学者对"紧缩"城市的研究,对城市形态和可持续发展之间的关系进行了探讨.     

CDMA无线图像传输技术在消防应急通信中的应用

通过论述消防应急平台的定义、组成及建设模式,介绍应急指挥系统的特点及功能等,来论述CDMA无线图像传输技术在消防工作中的应用。     

浅析可持续发展的城市形态

通过对国内外一些学者对＂紧缩＂城市的研究,对城市形态和可持续发展之间的关系进行了探讨。