Gpr54-/- mice show more pronounced defects in spermatogenesis than Kiss1-/- mice and improved spermatogenesis with age when exposed to dietary phytoestrogens

Mice with mutations in the kisspeptin signaling pathway (Kiss1(-/-) or Gpr54(-/-)) have low gonadotrophic hormone levels, small testes, and impaired spermatogenesis. Between 2 and 7 months of age, however, the testes of the mutant mice increase in weight and in Gpr54(-/-) mice, the number of seminiferous tubules containing spermatids/spermatozoa increases from 17 to 78%. In contrast, the Kiss1(-/-) mice have a less severe defect in spermatogenesis and larger testes than Gpr54(-/-) mice at both 2 and 7 months of age. The reason for the improved spermatogenesis was investigated. Plasma testosterone and FSH levels did not increase with age in the mutant mice and remained much lower than in wild-type (WT) mice. In contrast, intratesticular testosterone levels were similar between mutant and WT mice. These data indicate that age-related spermatogenesis can be completed under conditions of low plasma testosterone and FSH and that intratesticular testosterone may contribute to this process. In addition, however, when the Gpr54(-/-) mice were fed a phytoestrogen-free diet, they showed no age-related increase in testes weight or improved spermatogenesis. Thus, both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the improved spermatogenesis in the mutant mice as they age although the mice still remain infertile. These data show that the possible impact of dietary phytoestrogens should be taken into account when studying the phenotype of mutant mice with defects in the reproductive axis.     

铋和锡作为铅蓄电池正极添加剂的研究

研究了Ｂｉ２Ｏ３和ＳｎＯ对铅蓄电池正极活性物质的影响,结果发现Ｂｉ２Ｏ３和ＳｎＯ的复合物比分别加入它们更能提高电池正极活性物质的利用率,利用ＳＥＭ和Ｘ射线衍射研究认为,Ｂｉ２Ｏ３和ＳｎＯ的复合物能大大提高活性物质的导电能力,并改善活性物质的孔隙分布,从而导致活性物质利用率提高１０％。     

水性聚氨酯-SiO2/TiO2复合涂料的制备与研究

本文采用溶胶-凝胶法,用钛酸四丁酯与正硅酸乙酯制备了纳米级SiO2／TiO2复合微粒,将其分散在聚醚型水性聚氨酯中,制备了新型水性聚氨酯-SiO2／TiO2复合涂料。傅立叶变换红外光谱及透射电镜测试表明纳米TiO2颗粒表面成功地包覆上SiO2,在聚氨酯乳液中复合微粒粒径为60nm左右;分光光度法测试表明TiO2质量分数为20％的复合微粒在聚氨酯水乳液中具有良好的分散性能,而加入质量分数为1％的十二烷基磺酸钠后,对SiO2／TiO2纳米粉末的分散性能改善最大;力学性能测试表明加入SiO2／TiO2纳米复合微粒能有效提高水性聚氨酯的力学性能,当复合微粒质量分数为0.6％时,其力学性能达到最佳。     

A placebo-controlled study of liposome-mediated gene transfer to the nasal epithelium of patients with cystic fibrosis

The crystal structure of bovine neurophysin-II in its liganded state (Chen et al. [1991] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 4240-4244) indicates that the 1-6 sequence has a disordered conformation, lacks noncovalent contacts to other regions of the protein and is distant from the monomer-monomer interface. Cleavage of the 1-6 sequence by Staphylococcus protease V8 yielded a protein that, for the first time, crystallized in both liganded and unliganded states. Insights into the role of the 1-6 sequence in the unliganded state were obtained by NMR and related biophysical comparisons of the native and des-1-6 proteins. NMR spectra demonstrated that the environment and/or conformation of residues in the 1-6 sequence differed in liganded and unliganded states. Additionally, the unliganded des-1-6 protein exhibited a dimerization constant four to five times that of the native protein, potentially accounting for the observation that its peptide affinity was also increased. NMR studies further indicated that the increased dimerization constant of the des-1-6 protein correlated with the presence in the native protein of two isoenergetic forms of the monomer, in contrast to only a single form in the des-1-6 protein, as evidenced by signals from an internal dimerization-sensitive alpha-proton. Thus, the 1-6 sequence reduces the dimerization constant by stabilization of an alternative monomer conformation. A second product of Staphylococcus protease V8 digestion of the native protein was identified as the des-1-6 protein with an internal clip after binding site residue Glu-47, the clip presumably breaking the short 3,10 helix that most directly connects the interface to the interface to the binding site. This product, although unable to bind peptide, retained the dimerization constant of the des-1-6 protein, suggesting a lack of importance of the helix in dimerization and contrasting with the effects of the 1-6 sequence. A model is proposed in which the 1-6 sequence stabilizes the second conformation of the unliganded monomer via interactions affecting the loop region that separates the two neurophysin domains and which has been shown to influence neurophysin self-association.     

Long-term therapy with the guanine nucleoside analog penciclovir controls chronic duck hepatitis B virus infection in vivo

Ducks congenitally infected with duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) were treated with the antiviral guanine nucleoside analog penciclovir for 12 or 24 weeks at a dosage of 10 mg/kg of body weight per day. By the completion of both 12 and 24 weeks of therapy, molecular hybridization studies of the liver tissue revealed that the viral DNA, RNA, and protein levels were significantly reduced compared to those in the placebo-treated controls. Penciclovir treatment for 12 or 24 weeks was not associated with any toxicity, establishing the efficacy and safety of long-term penciclovir therapy in chronic DHBV infection.     

Complementation of null CF mice with a human CFTR YAC transgene

We have made transgenic mice carrying a 320 kb YAC with the intact human cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene. Mice that only express the human transgene were obtained by breeding with Cambridge null CF mice. One line has approximately two copies of the intact YAC. Mice carrying this transgene and expressing no mouse cftr appear normal and breed well, in marked contrast to the null mice, where 50% die by approximately 5 days after birth. The chloride secretory responses in these mice are as large or larger than in wild-type tissues. Expression of the transgene is highly cell type specific and matches that of the endogenous mouse gene in the crypt epithelia throughout the gut and in salivary gland tissue. However, there is no transgene expression in some tissues, such as the Brunner's glands, where it would be expected. Where there are differences between the mouse and human pattern of expression, the transgene follows the mouse pattern. We have thus defined a cloned fragment of DNA which directs physiological levels of expression in many of the specific cells where CFTR is normally expressed.     

Mice deficient for the secreted glycoprotein SPARC/osteonectin/BM40 develop normally but show severe age-onset cataract formation and disruption of the lens

SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, also known as osteonectin/BM40) is a secreted Ca2+-binding glycoprotein that interacts with a range of extracellular matrix molecules, including collagen IV. It is widely expressed during embryogenesis, and in vitro studies have suggested roles in the regulation of cell adhesion and proliferation, and in the modulation of cytokine activity. In order to analyse the function of this protein in vivo, the endogenous Sparc locus was disrupted by homologous recombination in murine embryonic stem cells. SPARC-deficient mice (Sparctm1Cam) appear normal and fertile until around 6 months of age, when they develop severe eye pathology characterized by cataract formation and rupture of the lens capsule. The first sign of lens pathology occurs in the equatorial bow region where vacuoles gradually form within differentiating epithelial cells and fibre cells. The lens capsule, however, shows no qualitative changes in the major basal lamina proteins laminin, collagen IV, perlecan or entactin. These mice are an excellent resource for further studies on how SPARC affects cell behaviour in vivo.     

现场椭圆偏振方法对铜电极腐蚀及缓蚀的研究

应用现场反射式椭圆偏振技术和循环伏安法研究氯离子以及苯并三氮唑对铜电极腐蚀性能的影响,探索铜电极的腐蚀及缓蚀机理,为铜材料在含有氯离子的腐蚀介质（如一次锌锰干电池）中的使用和保护提供依据。研究结果表明：电解液中氯离子的存在将明显加速铜电极的腐蚀,在电解液中添加苯并三氮唑能够抑制铜的腐蚀,即使电解液中没有氯离子存在,苯并三氮唑也能够阻止铜的氧化;与电化学研究方法比较,椭圆偏振测量技术对于检测表面层的微小变化有其独特的优点,在研究抑制铜腐蚀时能弥补电化学研究方法灵敏度不足的缺陷;文中还提出了苯并三氮唑和氯离子参与形成铜表面保护膜层的模型,并结合该模型对铜腐蚀性能和缓蚀机制进行了解释。