Stereoselectivity in mammalian chemical communication: Male mouse pheromones

Two male mouse pheromones, 3,4-dehydro-exo-brevicomin (DHB) and 2-sec-butyldihydrothiazole (SBT), are chiral molecules which were previously tested in their respective bioasays as racemic mixtures. The focus of this study has been to determine the absolute configuration of their natural forms and its relation to stereospecific biological action. DHB was established as the R,R-enantiomer possessing biological activity. Due to an extremely easy racemization of SBT under very mild conditions, enantioselectivity of its transmission and its action at the receptor site appear to be of secondary importance.     

Molecular genetic basis for the rhino mouse from Chinese KM subcolony

Both the rhino mouse and hairless mouse resulted from hairless gene mutation, but they show different phenotypes of skin physiology. The rhino mouse has more similar histological characters to human papular alopecia.Therefore rhino mouse is a good experimental animal model for human papular alopecia. This study reports a hairless mouse named rhino KIZ, arose from KM colony in Kunming Institue of Zoology, by systematic studies on morphology,skin histopathology, gene sequence, pedigree and protein domain analysis. The results demonstrate that a C-to-T transition in exon 11 of hr gene (The mutant gene has been applied for a Chinese patent (patent No. 03135280)) results in the rhino KIZ. The rhino KIZ with clear genetic mechanism will be a useful animal model.     

Nuclear localization of mouse fibroblast growth factor 2 requires N-terminal and C-terminal sequences

In vertebrates, different isoforms of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) exist, which differ by their N-terminal extension. They show different localization and expression levels and exert distinct biological effects. Nevertheless, genetic inactivation of all FGF2 isoforms in the mouse results in only mild phenotypes. Here, we analyzed mouse FGF2, and show that, as in the human, mouse FGF2 contains CTG-initiated high molecular-weight (HMW) isoforms, which contain a nuclear localization signal, and which mediate localization of this isoform to the nucleus. Using green fluorescent protein-FGF2 fusions, we furthermore observed, that C-terminal deletions disable nuclear localization of the short low-molecular-weight (LMW) 18-kDa isoform. This loss of specific localization is accompanied by a loss in heparin binding. We therefore suggest that, first, localization of mouse FGF2 is comparable to that in other vertebrates and, second, FGF2 contains at least two sequences important for nuclear localization, a nuclear localization sequence at the N terminus which is only contained in the HMW isoform, and another sequence at the C terminus, which is only required for localization of the LMW 18-kDa isoform. Received 1 July 2003; accepted 14 August 2003     

Topography of acoustic response characteristics in the midbrain inferior colliculus of Kunming mouse

Topography of acoustic response characteristics of the midbrain inferior colliculus(IC)of the Kunming mouse was studied by using extracellular recording techniques.The characteristic frequency(CF)range represented in the different divisions of the IC differed markedly:4-15 kHz in the dorsal cortex(DC),10-70 kHz in the central nucleus(CN),and 4-35kHz in the external cortex(EC).The CF in the CN increased from dorsal and lateral to ventral and medial,higher CFs represented at its ventromedial part and lower CFs at its dorsal part.The isofrequency contours of CFs were incurvate.Minimum thresholds(MT)of the auditory neurons in DC and the central part of CN were lower(about 10dB SPL),but considerably higher in the dorsal and ventral region of EC.Results suggest that each of the divisions in the mouse IC may have different auditory functions.     

Expression of recombinant human lysozyme in the milk of transgenic mice

Human lysozyme is a 130-aa (amino acid) alkaline polypeptide, and has both anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties which make it an important component of human natural immunity system. As a first step toward the ultimate goal of improving the anti-bacterial properties of bovine and ovine milk, a transgenic mouse that contains the genomic DNA sequence of the human lysozme gene has been generated for the first time. From 83 mice generated by microinjection, a total of 6 positive transgenic mice were identified by PCR and Southern blot. F1 mice positive for transgene in lines were also detected by PCR. This shows that transgene could be transmitted from founder transgenic mice to their offspring. Recombinant human lysozyme (rHlys) was found in the whey of 3 female positive transgenic mice by Western blot. The highest concentration of rHlys for transgenic mice was 0.2mg/mL. The antibacterial activity of the whey for transgenic mice was highly enhanced up to 0.4 times as much as that of human, while that of non-transgenic mouse was very low. Although the lysozyme activity of transgenic mice is still lower than that of human, the rHlys exhibits the same specific activity as that of human lysozyme. It provides a strong basis for further studies into the possible application of rHlys express in mammary gland.     

Interfamily pregnancy and expression of CD57, CD68 in deciduas between golden hamster and mouse

Pregnancy between different species is one of the key steps to interspecific somatic cell cloning. Although interspecific clone embryos have been constructed, they could not develop to birth after being transferred to recipi-ents. In order to clarify the mechanism of this phenomenon, interfamily pregnancy between golden hamste (Mesocricetus auratus) and mouse (Mus musculus) was studied. Co-culture results indicated that the adhesion ratios of golden hamster blastocysts on mouse uterine epithelia monolayer 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after co-culture were all significantly lower than those of mouse blastocysts. The outgrowth ratios of golden hamster blastocysts on mouse uterine epithelia monolayer 48, 72 h after co-culture were both significantly lower than those of mouse blastocysts (P < 0.01). Golden hamster抯 blastula could be implanted and develop to D 11 of pregnancy after being transferred to mouse uterus (the 7th day after embryo transfer). Compared to the transfer of mouse embryo to mouse uterus, the successful ratio of interfamily embryo transfer was lower and the bulk of fetus was smaller than that of intraspecific fetus. Compared to intraspecific preg-nancy of mouse, the remote decidual tissue of interfamily pregnancy on D8 is looser. At the same time, expressions of CD57 and CD 68 in remote deciduas were both higher than those in the secondary deciduas in both intraspecific and interfamily pregnancy. However, expressions of the two molecules in interfamily pregnancy were lower than those in intraspecific pregnancy. These results showed that interfam-ily pregnancy could be established between golden hamster and mouse. But the development of fetus in interfamily pregnancy was slower than that in intraspecific pregnancy. The expression difference of CD57 and CD68 indicates the difference of immunoreaction between interfamily and in-traspecific pregnancy, which may be one of the reasons lead-ing to interfamily pregnancy termination.     

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.     

5种食药用真菌复合提取物抗衰老的研究

用栎金钱菌、茶树菇、云芝、松茸和灵芝等5种食药用真菌复合活性提取物灌胃衰老模型小鼠, 观察其对小鼠SOD、脂褐素、脾指数和脑指数的影响,探讨其抗衰老作用.结果表明:800 mg/(kg·d)的5种食药用真菌复合活性提取物能使雄性小鼠血清SOD活性提高78.87%, 肝脂褐素含量减少21.56%,脾指数增加33.33%,脑指数增加21.43%. 这说明5种食药用真菌复合活性提取物具有良好的抗衰老作用.     

Differential binding of conA and WGA on the cell surface,the role of sialic acid in their expression and the increased activity of sialidase after cis-Platin treatment

Summary It is reported that concanavalin A (conA) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) have a differential binding pattern on normal mouse spleen lymphocytes and the surface of Dalton's lymphoma cells. It is suggested that sialic acid on the cell surface controls the expression of lectin binding sites. Further, it has been observed that the increased release of sialic acid from cell surfaces aftercis-dichlorodiammine platinum (II) (cis-Platin) treatment is due to the increased activity of sialidase.To whom reprint requests should be addressed.     

百麦外用中药制剂对小鼠乳腺增生的实验研究

目的:观察外用中药制剂对小鼠乳腺增生的预防作用并探讨其机理。方法:采用苯甲酸雌二醇腹腔注射造模,分对照组、模型组与预防组。模型组与预防组腹腔注射苯甲酸雌二醇,隔天1次,并且预防组小鼠乳房涂抹百麦外用中药制剂,每天1次,共30天;对照组小鼠腹腔注射生理盐水,隔天1次,共30 d。测定各组小鼠体重变化,乳晕及乳头直径变化,血清雌激素(E2)、孕激素(P)指标,并取小鼠第二对乳房组织病理切片检查。结果:预防组与模型组小鼠体重、乳晕及乳头直径比较均有显著性差异(P0.05);预防组与模型组比较,E2水平明显降低(P0.05),P水平明显升高(P0.05);预防组小鼠增生的乳腺小叶、腺泡数、腺泡腔直径、导管直径以及胞浆面积较模型组降低。结论:百麦外用中药制剂具有预防乳腺增生的作用,其机理可能是通过抑制血清雌二醇水平而实现。