Effect of cooking temperature on texture and flavour binding of braised sauce porcine skin

To investigate the effect of cooking temperature (55, 65, 75, 85 and 95 °C) on texture and flavour binding of braised sauce porcine skin (BSPS), sensory acceptance, microstructure and flavour-binding capacity were investigated during the processing of BSPS. Samples cooked at 85 and 95 °C showed better texture and aroma scores. Hardness and chewiness of BSPS were obviously improved at 85 and 95 °C than control group. Collagen structure was significantly destroyed over 85 °C. The porcine skin collagen heated at 85 and 95 °C showed relatively higher flavour-binding capacity than other samples. The improvement of texture of BSPS was mainly attributed to the degradation of collagen. Higher aroma scores of BSPS were related to intense binding abilities with aroma compounds at 85 and 95 °C. Cooking at 85 or 95 °C could be an optimal cooking temperature for BSPS.     

Immunolocalization of corneous proteins including a serine‐tyrosine‐rich beta‐protein in the adhesive pads in the tokay gecko

Adhesive pads of geckos contain many thousands of nanoscale spatulae for the adhesion and movement along vertical or inverted surfaces. Setae are composed of interlaced corneous bundles made of small cysteine‐glycine‐rich corneous beta proteins (CBPs, formerly indicated as beta‐keratins), embedded in a matrix material composed of cytoskeletal proteins and lipids. Negatively charged intermediate filament keratins (IFKs) and positively charged CBPs likely interact within setae, aside disulphide bonds, giving rise to a flexible and resistant corneous material. Using differernt antibodies against CBPs and IFKs an updated model of the composition of setae and spatulae is presented. Immunofluorescence and ultrastructural immunogold labeling reveal that one type of neutral serine‐tyrosine‐rich CBP is weakly localized in the setae while it is absent from the spatula. This uncharged protein is mainly present in the thin Oberhautchen layer sustaining the setae, although with a much lower intensity with respect to the cysteine‐rich CBPs. These proteins in the spatula likely originate a positively charged or neutral contact surface with the substrate but the influence of lipids and cytoskeletal proteins present in setae on the mechanism of adhesion is not known. In the spatula, protein‐lipid complexes may impart the pliability for the attachment and adapt to irregular surfaces. The presence of cysteine‐glycine medium rich CBPs and softer IFKs in alpha‐layers sustaining the setae forms a flexible base for compliance of the setae to substrate and improved adhesion.     

Long-Term Spinal Ventral Root Reimplantation,but not Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Treatment,Positively Influences Ultrastructural Synapse Recovery and Motor Axonal Regrowth

We recently proposed a new surgical approach to treat ventral root avulsion, resulting in motoneuron protection. The present work combined such a surgical approach with bone marrow mononuclear cells (MC) therapy. Therefore, MC were added to the site of reimplantation. Female Lewis rats (seven weeks old) were subjected to unilateral ventral root avulsion (VRA) at L4, L5 and L6 levels and divided into the following groups (n = 5 for each group): Avulsion, sealant reimplanted roots and sealant reimplanted roots plus MC. After four weeks and 12 weeks post-surgery, the lumbar intumescences were processed by transmission electron microscopy, to analyze synaptic inputs to the repaired α motoneurons. Also, the ipsi and contralateral sciatic nerves were processed for axon counting and morphometry. The ultrastructural results indicated a significant preservation of inhibitory pre-synaptic boutons in the groups repaired with sealant alone and associated with MC therapy. Moreover, the average number of axons was higher in treated groups when compared to avulsion only. Complementary to the fiber counting, the morphometric analysis of axonal diameter and “g” ratio demonstrated that root reimplantation improved the motor component recovery. In conclusion, the data herein demonstrate that root reimplantation at the lesion site may be considered a therapeutic approach, following proximal lesions in the interface of central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), and that MC therapy does not further improve the regenerative recovery, up to 12 weeks post lesion.     

鸡卵清蛋白食物过敏大鼠中药口服治疗的实验研究

目的：建立鸡卵清蛋白（OVA）食物过敏大鼠模型,利用中药复方 Formula-3对食物过敏大鼠进行治疗,探讨其治疗效果及其机制。方法将24只 BN 大鼠按随机数字表法分为 PBS 对照组、OVA 模型组及中药复方 For-mula-3治疗组,每组8只。OVA 模型组与中药复方 Formula-3治疗组在前6周和第7、9、11、13周分别予 OVA（1 mg·mL－1）灌胃致敏,每天1次;于第13周末以 OVA（100 mg·mL－1）进行激发,建立大鼠 OVA 食物过敏模型。其中中药复方 Formula-3治疗组于第7周开始同时给予1 mL 中药复方 Formula-3（150 mg·mL－1）灌胃治疗,每天1次;OVA 模型组则以1 mL 的0．1 mmol· L－1 PBS 灌胃治疗。PBS 对照组致敏、激发和治疗均予以浓度为0．1 mmol·L－1的 PBS 1 mL 灌胃。激发24 h 后处死大鼠,测定3组大鼠血清中 OVA 特异性 IgE 水平、计算肥大细胞脱颗粒的百分比、观察肠道组织超微结构病理变化等,对治疗效果进行评价。结果 OVA 模型组血清中OVA 特异性 IgE 抗体显著高于 PBS 对照组、脱颗粒肥大细胞数量显著多于 PBS 对照组（均 P ＜0．01）;中药复方Formula-3治疗组血清中 OVA 特异性 IgE 水平显著低于 OVA 模型组、肥大细胞脱颗粒显著少于 OVA 模型组（均P ＜0．01）。OVA 模型组肠黏膜微绒毛变形,细胞内细胞器损伤,细胞间连接破坏,炎性细胞浸润增多;中药复方Formula-3治疗组微绒毛均匀整齐,细胞器基本正常,细胞间连接紧密,与 OVA 模型组相比病变明显轻微。结论中药复方 Formula-3能有效地降低食物过敏大鼠血清中 OVA 特异性 IgE,减少肥大细胞脱颗粒并减轻肠道的病理改变,对食物过敏有良好的治疗效果。     

极危孑遗蕨类中华水韭叶结构的系统学意义

水韭属是濒危的孑遗植物,是研究古生态及其物种演化的活化石。本文用扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜观察了中华水韭叶片的结构特征,首次报道了:(1)通气道横隔细胞在同一平面以5~7个放射状短臂相互连接,且细胞表面有数百个微纤毛;(2)叶表皮为复表皮;(3)光合细胞以5~7个短臂在3D空间相互连接;(4)叶脉不分支,管胞的环纹与初生壁间另有连接结构,管胞周围有薄壁细胞紧密包围;(5)舌足与叶肉嵌合处各有表皮;(6)自气孔下室观察了气孔器的内侧结构,为气孔研究拓展了视野。认为水韭属叶片的超微3D结构具有稳定的特殊性和复杂性,与近源的石松科及卷柏科相差甚远,证明水韭有孤立的演化路线。     

The discovery of the synovial lymphatic stomata and lymphatic reabsorption in knee effusion

To illustrate the mechanism of lymphatic reabsorption in knee joint effusion. The current investigation employed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques to reveal the ultrastructure of the knee synovial membrane in New Zealand rabbits and human. Ultrastructural changes of the synovial lymphatic stomata were observed by using trypan blue absorption and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) digestion methods, and the animal models of synovitis. New Zealand rabbits and human synovial membranes were composed of two types of synovial cells: type A and type B. No lymphatic stomata were found among type A synovial cells, whereas lymphatic stomata with the diameters ranging 0.74–3.26 µm were found in type B synovial cells, and some stomata were closed. After the NaOH digestion, a number of sieve pores, similar to lymphatic stomata in size and shape, were observed in the dense fibrous connective tissue underneath the type B synovial cells. After injecting trypan blue into the rabbit knee joint cavity, absorption of trypan blue through the lymphatic stomata was observed, suggesting the absorption function of the synovial lymphatic stomata. In the rabbit knee joint synovitis models, the synovial lymphatic stomata diameter enlarged. Some macrophages migrated from the lymphatic stomata, indicating that the synovial lymphatic stomata were involved in the joint effusion absorption and inflammatory response. Our study is the first to report the existence of synovial lymphatic stomata in the New Zealand rabbits and human knee joints. Lymphatic stomata may have an important role in the reabsorption of joint effusion. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:479–484, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High concentration of phosphorus is a distinctive feature of myelin. An X‐Ray elemental microanalysis study using freeze‐fracture scanning electron microscopy of rat sciatic nerve

We have used rat sciatic nerves submitted to freezing and freeze‐fracture to determine the elemental composition of small domains of the peripheral nerve studied at high resolution by scanning electron microscopy. We found that myelin of Schwann cells is unique in its high content in phosphorus (P) that was more than 10 times higher than P measured in any other cells. This high concentration in P makes myelin chemistry suitable of monitoring at the subcellular level using the herein described methodology. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:537–539, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ultrastructure of male reproductive system of Eurydema ventrale Kolenati 1846 (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

The male reproductive system of Eurydema ventrale Kolenati 1846 is studied morphologically and histologically by using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The reproductive system of the male E.ventrale consists of a pair of testis, a pair of vas deferens, a pair of seminal vesicles, accessory glands, a bulbus ejaculatorius, a pair of ectodermal sacs, and a ductus ejaculatorius. The testicular follicles have three different development zones (growth zone, maturation zone, and differentiation zone). The testes are connected to the seminal vesicles by the vas deferens that is a specialized in sperm storage. Sperm have an elongated head and a tail (flagellum) with an axonema and two mitochondrial derivatives. Vas deferens and seminal vesicles are fine, long, and cylindrical. The seminal vesicle is connected with bulbus ejaculatorius, which is balloon shaped and surrounded with accessory glands. The bulbus ejaculatorius is continuous with ductus ejaculatorius which is connected to the aedeagus. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:643–653, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.