The eosinophil ribonucleases

The eosinophil ribonucleases, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN/RNase 2) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP/RNase 3) are two closely related proteins with intriguing functional and evolutionary properties. While both EDN and ECP maintain the structural and catalytic residues typical of the RNase A superfamily, the role of ribonuclease activity in the physiologic function of these proteins remains unclear. The biochemistry and physiology of EDN, ECP and the recently discovered ribonuclease k6 (RNase 6) will be reviewed in this chapter.     

生境破碎化对非人灵长类生存影响的研究

生境破碎化是生物多样性研究的热点之一．综合论述了生境破碎化的概念、成因和以景观生态学、异质种群学说、岛屿生物地理学组成的理论基础,并着重论述了生境破碎化对非人灵长类的影响现状．     

猴椅保定训练对恒河猴应激的影响

目的 考察恒河猴猴椅保定 30 min 连续 5 次适应性对应激激素水平的影响。 方法 约 3 岁恒河猴,雌雄各15 只,分 3 组,每组 10 只,雌雄各半进行猴椅保定适应性训练,每间隔 1 d 训练 1 次,每次训练 30 min。 组 1:不进行适应性训练组,组 2:单纯适应性训练组,组 3:给予零食和安抚训练组。 共训练 5 次,每次训练结束对 3 组所有动物采血分析。 结果 与组 1 相比,组 2 和组 3 在多次猴椅保定适应性训练后可见猴血清皮质酮( CROT) 显著性降低(P<0. 05 或 P<0. 01) ,组 3 的猴 β-内啡肽(β-EP)显著降低(P<0. 05 或 P<0. 01) ,组 3 于第 1 和第 5 次适应性训练后 5-羟色胺(5-HT)升高(P<0. 01) 。 结论 进行猴椅保定的适应性训练能显著降低恒河猴的应激压力,让动物趋于习惯或适应坐猴椅保定的操作。 在适应性训练中,给予正向强化的训练方式让受试者在减少应激和攻击性表现更显著,适应性保定训练 3 ~ 4 次就可以让应激压力降到恒定水平。     

Towards progress on DNA vaccines for cancer

Cancer immunotherapy faces many obstacles that include eliciting immune reactions to self antigens as well as overcoming tumor-derived immunosuppressive networks and evasion tactics. Within the vaccine arsenal for inhibiting cancer proliferation, plasmid DNA represents a novel immunization strategy that is capable of eliciting both humoral and cellular arms of the immune response in addition to being safely administered and easily engineered and manufactured. Unfortunately, while DNA vaccines have performed well in preventing and treating malignancies in animal models, their overall application in human clinical trials has not impacted cancer regression to date. Since the establishment of these early trials, progress has been made in terms of increasing DNA vaccine immunogenicity and subverting the suppressive properties of tumor cells. Therefore, the success of future plasmid DNA use in cancer patients will depend on combinatorial strategies that enhance and direct the DNA vaccine immune response while also targeting tumor evasion mechanisms. Received 2 April 2007; received after revision 14 May 2007; accepted 21 May 2007     

非人灵长类性激素水平变化与性行为关系的研究进展

目的探究性激素与非人灵长类性行为的关系。方法文献比较与分析。结果性激素调节着大部分哺乳动物的交配能力,但是非人灵长类的交配能力并不完全受性激素的调控。对雄性进行睾酮抑制或去势会减少雄性的性冲动,但不能消除其交配能力。虽然大部分雌性的性行为同雌性激素水平显示有一致性,但在非繁殖季节仍然有交配行为发生。结论非人灵长类存在性激素和性行为不相关的现象,这种相脱离的状况在很大程度上是为了改善雌雄关系,保证生殖成功以及子代的成活率。