Long-term changes in the seasonality of selected diatoms related to grazers and environmental conditions

The decoupling of trophic interactions could be one of the severe consequences of climate warming in aquatic systems. The timing of phytoplankton blooms, in particular, can affect competition within the plankton community as well as food-web interactions with zooplankton and fish. Using long-term data from Helgoland Roads in the southern North Sea, we examine diatom seasonality, using three representative diatom species combined with environmental and copepod time series over the last four decades. The long-term annual abundances of Guinardia delicatula, Thalassionema nitzschioides and Odontella aurita exhibited interannual variations and dissimilar cyclic patterns during the time period under study (1962-2008). Of the three diatoms, G. delicatula showed a significant trend towards earlier bloom timings for 1962-2008 and a later decline of its abundance over time was found. Grazing and water transparency explained most of the bloom timing fluctuations of the diatoms considered. The annual timing of occurrences of each diatom species was correlated with their preceding concentrations. Earlier bloom timings occurred when autumn/winter concentrations were higher than average and later bloom timings occurred when autumn/winter concentrations were lower than average. Different environmental and predation variables related to the diatom bloom timings were found suggesting that climate warming might not affect the onset of the blooms of the three diatom species in the same manner. The results of the multiple linear regression analyses showed that the timings of decline of the three diatoms were mainly correlated with decreasing nutrient concentrations. Sunshine duration could prolong the duration of the blooms of T. nitzschioides and O. aurita provided that enough nutrients were available. In the case of G. delicatula, however, sunshine duration was negatively correlated with its end of the growth period. G. delicatula and T. nitzschioides showed later decreases in abundances under warmer spring and summer temperatures. Such species specific differences in the sensitivity to the forcing variables could lead to shifts in community structure and could ultimately have wider implications to the overall ecosystem health of the North Sea.     

Effects of three fungicides alone and in combination on glutathione S-transferase activity (GST) and cytochrome P-450 (CYP 1A1) in the liver and gill of brown trout (Salmo trutta)

In order to evaluate the gill glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity as a biomarker of effect of fungicide exposure in juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta), the fungicides propiconazole {(R,S)-1-[2-(2,4-diclophenyl)-4-propyl-1,3-dioolan-2-ylmetyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole} and fenpropimorph {(±)-cis-4-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-metyl propyl]-2,6 dimetylmorfolinc} were administrated in the water separately and together in a static system (80 μg/l for each pesticide) for 5 days. The combined fungicides gave a significant decrease in gill GST activity towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), whilst hepatic GST-activity was not significantly changed. Furthermore, continuous exposure to 540 ug/l thiabendazole{ 2-(thiazol-4′-yl)benzimidazole} in a flow-through system for 4 days significantly increased the gill glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity towards CDNB, whilst hepatic GST and cytochrome P450 (CYP 1A) activities were not increased by the treatment.     

肝郁型哮喘小鼠模型MAL、CADM1、IL-6、IL-8、IL-33、TSLP、STAT3表达的实验研究

目的：观察肝郁型哮喘小鼠模型中T细胞成熟相关蛋白（MAL）、细胞黏附分子1（CADM-1）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、白细胞介素-8（IL-8）、白细胞介素-33（IL-33）、胸腺基质淋巴细胞生成素（TSLP）、信号传导与转录激活因子（STAT3）的表达。方法：将Balb/c小鼠18只随机分为对照组（A组）、哮喘组（B组）、肝郁型哮喘组（C组）,每组各6只。按照慢性不可预知性温和刺激（CUMS）联合氢氧化铝及卵清蛋白（OVA）混合液腹腔注射致敏,OVA雾化激发的方式建立肝郁型哮喘小鼠模型与哮喘小鼠模型。观察造模前后各组小鼠体质量及糖水消耗量、强迫游泳不动时间等指标,以及肺组织病理改变情况。检测肺组织中MAL、CADM-1、IL-6、IL-8、IL-33、TSLP、STAT3蛋白及mRNA的表达。结果：A、C组体质量造模后第7、14、21、28天同时间节点组间比较,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。C组糖水消耗量造模前后比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。A、C组小鼠强迫游泳不动时间造模后组间比较,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。肺组织病理学结果显示,A组无炎症细胞浸润,B、C组有炎症细胞浸润。B、C组MAL、CADM-1、IL-6、IL-8、IL-33、TSLP的蛋白表达与A组比较,C组IL-6、IL-33的蛋白表达与B组比较,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05或P<0.01）。B、C组MAL、CADM-1、IL-6、IL-8、IL-33、TSLP的mRNA蛋白表达与A组比较,C组MAL、CADM1、IL-6、IL-8、TSLP的mRNA蛋白表达与B组比较,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05或P<0.01）。结论：本研究建立的肝郁型哮喘小鼠模型符合中医证候特点和哮喘病理特点,是较理想的肝郁型哮喘模型。肝郁型哮喘小鼠模型中MAL、CADM1表达下调,IL-6、IL-8、IL-33、TSLP表达上调。     

Relationships of growth and mortality to enzymatic activity,and the relative mRNA expression of cultured scallops Patinopecten yessoensis in the Yellow Sea,China

The bottom aquaculture of yesso scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) has developed rapidly in the north of Yellow Sea, China, but not without accompanying productivity problems. We, therefore, conducted field surveys to investigate factors related to growth and mortality rates of bottom-cultured scallops after release. Specifically, we focused on the effects of total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and three key enzymes involved in antioxidant and metabolic function:glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Across summer and winter, we also measured the relative mRNA expression of GPT and SOD to understand their seasonal variation in the scallops, along with how such variation correlated to growth and mortality. Results show that bottom cultured scallops experienced mass mortality during the first six months post-release. During winter (December), scallops grew more rapidly and suffered less mortality than in summer (August). The observed lower performance probably resulted from less advantageous environmental factors during the summer seasons, such as high temperature and low dissolved oxygen. These environmental stressors enhance protein consumption while decreasing energetic resources in scallops. Furthermore, scallops in summer exhibited high antioxidant levels that probably competed for energy with process integral to growth and survival. These negative factors combined to elevate mortality rates. In conclusion, we provided evidence suggesting correlations between metabolic/antioxidant activity and growth and mortality of bottom-cultured yesso scallops. These correlations implied us an accurate method to estimate the performance of bottom culture system. Suggestions about innovative aquaculture techniques were also discussed in the study. Our results might provide a possible guideline to the improvement of bottom culture techniques for this commercially valuable seafood species.     

参苓白术散对NAFLD大鼠肝细胞、Kupffer细胞mTOR通路相关基因及蛋白表达影响的实验研究

目的：观察参苓白术散对非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）大鼠肝细胞、Kupffer细胞、哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白（mTOR）通路相关基因及蛋白表达的影响,以阐明参苓白术散抗NAFLD的作用机制。方法：将80只大鼠随机分为正常组,模型组及参苓白术散低、高剂量组。对模型组、各药物组连续8周喂养高脂饲料制备NAFLD大鼠模型。造模成功后采用油红O染色观察肝组织病理变化;Ⅳ型胶原酶离体循环灌注法分离肝细胞、Kupfer细胞;全自动生化仪检测血清总胆固醇（TC）、三酰甘油（TG）;酶联免疫吸附法测定肝细胞及Kupffer细胞血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、干扰素（IFN）-γ含量;实时荧光定量PCR及蛋白质印迹法（Western blot）检测大鼠肝细胞及Kupffer细胞脑内富含的小G蛋白Ras同系物（Rheb）、mTOR复合物1（mTORC1）、核糖体S6蛋白激酶1（S6K1）和真核细胞翻译起始因子4E-结合蛋白1（4E-BP1）mRNA和蛋白表达。结果：模型组大鼠肝组织存在严重的脂质蓄积。血清TC、TG,肝细胞、Kupffer细胞,VEGF、IFN-γ含量,以及Rheb、mTORC1、S6K1、4E-BP1 mRNA和蛋白表达水平较正常组显著升高（P<0.01）,说明造模成功。与模型组比较,各药物干预组血清TC、TG,肝细胞、Kupffer细胞,VEGF、IFN-γ含量,以及Rheb、mTORC1、S6K1、4E-BP1 mRNA和蛋白表达均有不同程度的下调（P<0.05或P<0.01）。其中参苓白术散高剂量组下调趋势最为显著,与低剂量组比较,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05或P<0.01）。结论：参苓白术散抗NAFLD的作用机制可能与抑制肝细胞及Kupffer细胞mTOR通路中Rheb、mTORC1、S6K1、4E-BP1基因及蛋白表达有关。