l‐Citrulline Supplementation‐Increased Skeletal Muscle PGC‐1α Expression Is Associated with Exercise Performance and Increased Skeletal Muscle Weight

Scope

l ‐citrulline has recently been reported as a more effective supplement for promoting intracellular nitric oxide (NO) production compared to l ‐arginine. Here, the effect of l ‐citrulline on skeletal muscle and its influence on exercise performance were investigated. The underlying mechanism of its effect, specifically on the expression of skeletal muscle peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), was also elucidated.

Methods and results

Six‐week‐old ICR mice were orally supplemented with l ‐citrulline (250 mg kg^?1) daily, and their performance in weight‐loaded swimming exercise every other day for 15 days, was evaluated. In addition, mice muscles were weighed and evaluated for the expression of PGC‐1α and PGC‐1α‐regulated genes. Mice orally supplemented with l ‐citrulline had significantly higher gastrocnemius and biceps femoris muscle mass. Although not statistically significant, l ‐citrulline prolonged the swimming time to exhaustion. PGC‐1α upregulation was associated with vascular endothelial growth factor α (VEGFα) and insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) upregulation. VEGFα and IGF‐1 are important for angiogenesis and muscle growth, respectively, and are regulated by PGC‐1α. Treatment with NG‐nitro‐l ‐arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l ‐NAME), a nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor, suppressed the l ‐citrulline‐induced PGC‐1α upregulation in vitro.

Conclusion

Supplementation with l ‐citrulline upregulates skeletal muscle PGC‐1α levels resulting in higher skeletal muscle weight that improves time to exhaustion during exercise.

     

采前氯吡脲处理对‘秦美’猕猴桃贮藏期间果实硬度及细胞壁降解的影响

以‘秦美’猕猴桃果实为试材,于盛花期后28 d分别采用0（对照,清水）、5、10、20 mg/L 4 个质量浓度的氯吡脲（1-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-3-phenylurea,CPPU）溶液进行蘸果处理,蘸果时间3～5 s,研究采前CPPU处理对‘秦美’猕猴桃贮藏期间果实硬度及细胞壁降解酶活力的影响。结果表明：CPPU处理加速了果实硬度、原果胶和纤维素质量分数的下降,提高了可溶性果胶质量分数及多聚半乳糖醛酸酶（polygalacturonase,PG）、果胶甲酯酶（pectin methylesterase,PME）、纤维素酶（cellulase,Cx）和β-半乳糖苷酶（β-D-galaetosidase,β-Gal）细胞壁降解活力。各处理组果实硬度与可溶性果胶质量分数和PG、Cx活力呈极显著负相关（P＜0.01）,与原果胶、纤维素质量分数呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）;20 mg/L CPPU处理组果实的β-Gal活力与硬度呈显著负相关（P＜0.05）。CPPU处理提高了果实细胞壁降解酶的活力,促进了细胞壁的降解,加速了贮藏期间果实的软化,降低了果实的耐贮藏性。为维持猕猴桃采后果实硬度,延长贮藏期,生产中不宜使用CPPU处理,或使用的质量浓度不宜超过5 mg/L。     

纳米乳涂膜和1-甲基环丙烯处理对枇杷果实保鲜效果的影响

以‘白砂’枇杷果实为实验材料,以清水处理为对照,研究了纳米涂膜保鲜剂（nanoemulsion coating,NC）-1处理、1-甲基环丙烯（1-methylcyclopropene,1-MCP）处理、NC-1＋1-MCP处理对枇杷在低温（4 ℃）贮藏30 d过程中品质和生理代谢的影响。结果表明：NC-1＋1-MCP处理对枇杷的贮藏品质保持效果最佳,除VC含量外,贮藏结束时,该组果实硬度、腐烂率、质量损失率都显著低于其他处理组,且NC-1＋1-MCP处理更显著抑制了枇杷在贮藏过程中苯丙氨酸解氨酶的活力,从而抑制了木质素的积累;同时抑制了多酚氧化酶和过氧化物酶的活力,从而延缓了果实的褐变衰老。研究结果表明,相比于单一的NC-1或1-MCP处理,NC-1＋1-MCP处理对枇杷保鲜效果更好。     

黄曲霉毒素B1致肝脏损伤作用机制的研究进展

黄曲霉毒素B1(aflatoxin B1, AFB1)是一种毒性极强的真菌毒素, 也是诱发肝癌的重要危险因素之一。AFB1与乙肝病毒两者协同致癌作用比单因素乙肝病毒诱发肝癌高约30~60倍。AFB1进入体内后主要通过引发DNA损伤发挥毒性作用, 其中DNA-加合物是最常见的损伤形式, 而表观遗传修饰的改变在其致肝脏损伤中也发挥着显著的作用。本文综述了近年来AFB1致肝脏损伤的相关研究进展, 总结出AFB1可能的致癌机制, 以期为防治黄曲霉毒素引起的肝脏损伤提供理论依据。     

Improving storability,physiological disorders,and antioxidant properties of ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d’Anjou’ pears (Pyrus communis L.) by pre-harvest 1-methylcyclopropene spraying

Ethylene continues to be a major factor influencing quality of European pears during storage. Although research has been done on the effect of pre-harvest 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on physiological characteristics in pears, a full understanding of cultivar response and antioxidant metabolism remains elusive. Spraying 1-MCP on ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d’Anjou’ pears was studied with respect to physiology, storage and eating quality, disorders, and antioxidant properties at two harvest date (H1 and H2) during storage and ripening. Treatment with 1-MCP extended the harvest window of ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d’Anjou’ pears 3 and 4 days, respectively, without reducing storage or eating quality. Treatment with 1-MCP reduced ethylene production (EPR) and respiration rates (RR), maintained fruit firmness and green colour during storage and retarded development of desirable melting texture in both cultivars. Additionally, 1-MCP lowered the incidence of disorders by alleviating membrane lipid peroxidation, retaining high total flavonoids (TF) and antioxidant capacity, and enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity in both cultivars. Overall, pre-harvest 1-MCP applications could extend storage time of ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d’Anjou’ pears to 5 and 6 months, respectively, at −1.1 ± 0.5 °C, by reducing ethylene synthesis and enhancing antioxidant metabolism.