摘要：
Among all phthalate esters, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is only second to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in terms of adverse health outcomes, and its potential cerebral neurotoxicity has raised concern in recent years. DBP exposure has been reported to be responsible for neurobehavioral effects and related neurological diseases. In this study, we found that neurobehavioral changes induced by DBP may be mediated by oxidative damage in the mouse brain, and that the co-administration of Mangiferin (MAG, 50 mg/kg/day) may protect the brain against oxidative damage caused by DBP exposure. The results of ethological analysis (elevated plus maze test and open-field test), histopathological examination of the brain, and assessments of oxidative stress (OS) in the mouse brain showed that there is a link between oxidative stress and anxiety-like behavior produced by DBP at higher doses (25 or 125 mg/kg/day). Biomarkers of oxidative stress encompass reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and DPC coefficients (DPC). MAG (50 mg/kgiday),administered as an antioxidant,can attenuatetheanxiety-like behavior of the tested mice. (c) 2016 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.
摘要：
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common indoor pollutant in the world, which may cause lots of harmful effects in human including diabetes according to epidemiological studies. To explore the underlying role of DEHP in diabetes-like symptoms, Balb/c mice were chose to be the experimental animals in this paper. They were separated as eight groups as follows: (1) saline+normal diet (vehicle control), (2) 10 mg/kg.day DEHP+normal diet, (3) 50 mg/kg.day DEHP+normal diet, (4) 250 mg/kg.day DEHP+normal diet, (5) streptozotocin (STZ)+high fat diet (diabetes model), (6) 10 mg/kg.day DEHP+ STZ+high fat diet, (7) 50 mg/kg.day DEHP+STZ +high fat diet, (8) 250 mg/kg.day DEHP+STZ+high fat diet. The biomarkers of this experiment include four groups: (1) general indicates: body weight and drinking water, (2) blood biomarkers: serum insulin and fasting glucose, (3) pathological examination: pancreas section and kidney section, and (4) biomarkers of oxidative stress: reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver cells. Our study results demonstrate that: (1) at our treatment levels DEHP cannot directly induce diabetes, but reduce serum insulin level in DEHP-exposed non-STZ-treated animals, (2) pathological examination finds that these is a dose-dependent damage in the pancreas in DEHP- exposed STZ-treated groups, and (3) the oxidative mechanism may be involved in this pathological process.
摘要：
Genes encoding the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are excellent candidates for elucidating adaptive variation because of their essential role in immune function. Hypotheses for how genetic variations of MHC genes are maintained include balancing selection, diversifying selection and neutral events; however, which of these forces are dominant remains controversial. In this study, we determined the preliminary forces that shaped MHC geographical variation in Omei tree frog by comparing with neutral microsatellites. The results revealed high genetic diversity and significant population differentiation in MHC genes of this species. The differentiation patterns of MHC and microsatellites were uncorrelated. Stronger level of genetic differentiation in MHC genes compared with that in microsatellites (based on comparison in both genetic differentiation patterns and strength of isolation by distance patterns) indicates the effects of diversifying selection on the geographical variation of MHC genes. Considering the significant evidence of positive selection acting on antigen-binding sites, we presumed that selection pressures may be mainly from locally different pathogens when gene flow is restricted. The results of this study contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary forces that maintain MHC geographical variation among natural populations.
摘要：
The secondary cell wall in mature cotton fibers contains over 90% cellulose with low quantities of xylan and lignin. However, little is known regarding the regulation of secondary cell wall biosynthesis in cotton fibers. In this study, we characterized an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, GhMYB7, in cotton. GhMYB7 is expressed at a high level in developing fibers and encodes a MYB protein that is targeted to the cell nucleus and has transcriptional activation activity. Ectopic expression of GhMYB7 in Arabidopsis resulted in small, curled, dark green leaves and also led to shorter inflorescence stems. A cross-sectional assay of basal stems revealed that cell wall thickness of vessels and interfascicular fibers was higher in transgenic lines overexpressing GhMYB7 than in the wild type. Constitutive expression of GhMYB7 in Arabidopsis activated the expression of a suite of secondary cell wall biosynthesis-related genes (including some secondary cell wall-associated transcription factors), leading to the ectopic deposition of cellulose and lignin. The ectopic deposition of secondary cell walls may have been initiated before the cessation of cell expansion. Moreover, GhMYB7 was capable of binding to the promoter regions of AtSND1 and AtCesA4, suggesting that GhMYB7 may function upstream of NAC transcription factors. Collectively, these findings suggest that GhMYB7 is a potential transcriptional activator, which may participate in regulating secondary cell wall biosynthesis of cotton fibers.
摘要：
Rab3, a member of the Rab GTPase family, has been found. to be involved in Innate immunity. However, the precise function of this GTPase in innate immunity remains unknown. In this study, we identified a Rab3 gene (Ha-Rab3) from the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera and studied its roles in innate immune responses. Expression of Ha-Rab3 was upregulated in the hemocytes of H. armigera larvae after the injection of Escherichia coil or chromatography beads. The dsRNA-mediated knockdown of Ha-Rab3 gene in H. armigera larval hemocytes led to significant reduction in the phagocytosis and nodulation activities of hemocytes against E. coil, significant increase in the bacterial load in larval hemolymph, and significant reduction in the encapsulation activities of hemocytes toward invading chromatography beads. Further-more, Ha-Rab3 knockdown significantly suppressed spreading of plasmatocytes. These results' suggest that Ha-Rab3 plays important roles in H. arrnigera cellular immune responses, possibly by mediating spreading of hemocytes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
摘要：
Previous studies of sexual dimorphism in the echolocation pulses of the constant frequency-frequency modulating (CF-FM) bat have been mainly concentrated on the difference in the frequency of the CF component of the predominant second harmonic while neglected other pulse parameters. However, recent studies have shown that other pulse parameters of the predominant second harmonic are also biologically significant to the bat hunting. To complement and advance these studies, we have examined sexual dimorphism of multiple parameters (e.g., duration, frequency, bandwidth of the FM component, and repetition rate of emitted pulses) of the echolocation pulses of the CF-FM bat, Hipposideros pratti. Our studies of the predominant second harmonic show that on average the male bat has higher frequency of the CF component, wider FM bandwidth, and higher pulse repetition rate while the female bat has longer duration of the CF and FM components. These observations suggest that bats may potentially use this sexual dimorphism in echolocation pulse parameters for social communication and species and sex identification.
作者机构：
[Wu Z.] School of Life Sciences, Lab. of Environmental Biomedicine, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China;[Li B.] National Centre for International Research of Low-carbon and Green Buildings, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China;[Ma P.] College of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China;[Li J.] School of Life Sciences, Lab. of Environmental Biomedicine, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China, National Centre for International Research of Low-carbon and Green Buildings, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400045, China;[Yang X.] School of Life Sciences, Lab. of Environmental Biomedicine, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China
通讯机构：
[Xu Yang] S;School of Life Sciences, Lab. of Environmental Biomedicine, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China<&wdkj&>College of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
摘要：
Diisononyl phthalate (DINP), considered to be an environmentally friendly plasticizer, is now widely used. However, the toxic effects of DINP need to be examined, particularly the effects of long-term dermal DINP exposure. Research into the mechanisms underlying these effects is urgently needed. In this study we examined the exacerbation effect of long-term dermal exposure to DINP in fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-induced contact hypersensitivity (CHS) in mice, and sought the potential molecular mechanisms. Forty-nine male Balb/c mice were subjected to a 40-day dermal exposure to saline or one of three concentrations of DINP and then three rounds of sensitization with vehicle or 0.5% FITC. The results of a histopathological examination and measurement of ear swelling as well as immunological and inflammatory biomarkers (total-immunoglobulin (Ig)E and Th cytokines) supported the notion that high doses of DINP may aggravate atopic dermatitis. We also showed that melatonin, an antioxidant, could decrease the levels of oxidative stress and alleviate FITC-induced CHS suggesting that oxidative stress may be one of the molecular mechanisms to explain the exacerbation effect induced by DINP.
作者机构：
[Li, Jun; Wu, Hua; Zhao, Mian; Luo, Zhenhua; Wei, Shichao] Cent China Normal Univ, Inst Evolut & Ecol, Sch Life Sci, Int Res Ctr Ecol & Environm, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.;[Wu, Hua] Cent China Normal Univ, Inst Evolut & Ecol, Sch Life Sci, Int Res Ctr Ecol & Environm, 152 Luoyulu, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Wu, Hua] C;Cent China Normal Univ, Inst Evolut & Ecol, Sch Life Sci, Int Res Ctr Ecol & Environm, 152 Luoyulu, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.
关键词：
Population genetic structure;Demographic history;Tectonic events;Pleistocene glaciations;Rhacophorus omeimontis;Southern China
摘要：
众所周知,"同频掩蔽大于异频掩蔽、高强度掩蔽大于低强度掩蔽",抗听觉前掩蔽的能力强意味着抗干扰能力强.先前的研究(Covey et a1.,1996；Backoff et al.,1997；Frisina,2001；Wehr&Zador,2005；Voytenko&Galazyuk,2010；付子英等,2013)表明,听觉中枢神经元的前掩蔽效应与神经抑制有关,并推测由掩蔽声激活的抑制性输入与探测声激活的兴奋性输入或/和抑制性输入,经过在突触部位相互作用和整合,产生前掩蔽.
摘要：
<正>频率分析是听觉系统的最基本的功能之一。先前的研究发现,在外周和较低位的中枢听觉结构内神经元的频率调谐曲线(FTC)的带宽均比较宽,而在进入较高位的中枢后,FTC变的越来越锐化(sharpness),频率分析也越来越精确(Suga,1995;Phillips et al.,1988),这提示听中枢有锐化神经元FT的能力和机制。后来的研究者沿用双声刺激方法在猫的听皮质(AC)(Sutter et
作者机构：
[Li, Li; Li, Jinquan; Yang, Xu; Wu, Yang; Wei, Chenxi; Li, Rui; Chang, Qing; Liu, Xudong] Cent China Normal Univ, Sect Environm Biomed, Coll Life Sci, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.;[Chen, Hanqing] Chinese Acad Sci, Inst High Energy Phys, CAS Key Lab Biomed Effects Nanomat & Nanosa, CAS Key Lab Nucl Analyt Tech, Beijing 100049, Peoples R China.;[Yeung, King Lun; Chang, Qing] Hong Kong Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Biomol & Chem Engn, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Peoples R China.;[Yeung, King Lun; Kwan, Joseph K. C.] Hong Kong Univ Sci & Technol, Div Environm, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Peoples R China.;[Xi, Zhuge] Inst Hlth & Environm Med, Tianjin 300050, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Yang, Xu] C;Cent China Normal Univ, Sect Environm Biomed, Coll Life Sci, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.
摘要：
The aggravating effects of zero-dimensional, particle-shaped nanomaterials on allergic asthma have been previously investigated, but similar possible effects of one-dimensional shaped nanomaterials have not been reported. More importantly, there are no available means to counteract the adverse nanomaterial effects to allow for their safe use. In this study, an ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized rat asthma model was established to investigate whether single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) aggravate allergic asthma. The results showed that SWCNTs in rats exacerbated OVA-induced allergic asthma and that this exacerbation was counteracted by concurrent administration vitamin E. A mechanism involving the elimination of reactive oxygen species, downregulation of Th2 responses, reduced Ig production, and the relief of allergic asthma symptoms was proposed to explain the antagonistic effects of vitamin E. This work could provide a universal strategy to effectively protect people with allergic asthma from SWCNTs or similar nanomaterial-induced aggravating effects.
期刊：
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE,2014年9(1):823-839 ISSN：1178-2013
通讯作者：
Yang, Xu
作者机构：
[Wu, Yang; Wang, Dong; Li, Jinquan; Li, Rui; Yang, Xu; Zhang, Yuchao; Liu, Xudong] Cent China Normal Univ, Coll Life Sci, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Lab Environm Biomed, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.;[Li, Yan] Hong Kong Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Biomol & Chem Engn, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Peoples R China.;[Lu, Zhisong] Southwest Univ, Inst Clean Energy & Adv Mat, Chongqing, Peoples R China.;[Yu, Samuel C. T.] Hong Kong Univ Sci & Technol, Div Environm, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Peoples R China.;[Yang, Xu] Cent China Normal Univ, Coll Life Sci, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.
通讯机构：
[Yang, Xu] C;Cent China Normal Univ, Coll Life Sci, Hubei Key Lab Genet Regulat & Integrat Biol, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.
摘要：
Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have shown increasing promise in the field of biomedicine, especially in applications related to the nervous system. However, there are limited studies available on the neurotoxicity of SWCNTs used in vivo. In this study, neurobehavioral changes caused by SWCNTs in mice and oxidative stress were investigated. The results of ethological analysis (Morris water maze and open-field test), brain histopathological examination, and assessments of oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species [ROS], malondialdehyde [MDA], and glutathione [GSH]), inflammation (nuclear factor κB, tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β), and apoptosis (cysteine-aspartic acid protease 3) in brains showed that 6.25 and 12.50 mg/kg/day SWCNTs in mice could induce cognitive deficits and decreased locomotor activity, brain histopathological alterations, and increased levels of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in mouse brains; however, 3.125 mg/kg/day SWCNTs had zero or minor adverse effects in mice, and these effects were blocked by concurrent administration of ascorbic acid. Down-regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis were proposed to explain the neuroprotective effects of ascorbic acid. This work suggests SWCNTs could induce cognitive deficits and decreased locomotor activity, and provides a strategy to avoid the adverse effects.
