Effects of Ca2+concentrations on accumulations of mineral elements in the components of Pteroceltis tatarinowii

The bark of Pteroceltis tatarinowii is a raw material for manufacturing Xuan Paper. The effects of Ca2+ concentrations on the accumulation of mineral elements in the bark, leaf and root of Pteroceltis tatarinowii were studied under controlled condi-tions. The types of Hoagland nutrient solution with three Ca2+ concentrations levels (200, 400 and 600 靏g-1) and a control (without Ca2+) were designed to culture Pteroceltis tatarinowii. After 6 months, contents of seven mineral elements including Ca, K, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu and Na in the root, leaf and bark were analyzed. The results indicated that Ca accumulations content in the root, leaf and bark had positively relation with Ca2+ concentrations (200, 400, 600 靏g-1), and the order of the Ca content in the three components was root】leaf】bark. Ca content in the root treated with 600 靏g-1 Ca2+ concentrations was 5.5 times as high as that of the control, and about 1.4 times as high as that of the root treated in 200 and 400 靏/g Ca2+ concentrations respectively. On the contrary, K and Mg contents in the root, leaf and bark were negatively related to Ca2+ concentrations, especially in the bark, and their accumulation trend followed the order of leaf】root】bark. K content in the bark treated with 600 靏g-1 Ca2+ con-centrations was 39.3% of that of the control, and was 79.0% and 91.8% of that of the bark treated with 200 靏g-1 and 400靏g-1 Ca2+ concentrations respectively; Mg content in the bark treated with 600 靏g-1 Ca2+ concentrations was 23.4% of that of the control, and was 27.1% and 35.4% of that of the bark treated with 200 and 400 靏g-1 Ca2+ concentrations respectively. Com-pared with the control, the general tendency of Mn, Zn and Cu content decreased with increasing of Ca2+ concentrations and their contents were in the order: root】leaf】bark. Based on the results of this study, the experiment has been useful for providing academic bases in improving the bark quality of Pteroceltis tatarinowii on non-limestone soil.

FOLLICULO-STELLATE CELLS OF THE RAT ANTERIOR PITUITARY RESPONDED TO ANGIOTENSIN Ⅱ BY INCREASING INTRACELLULAR Ca^(2+) CONCENTRATION

Objective The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether the folliculo stellate cells (FSC) respond to angiotensin(Ang)Ⅱ by increasing intracellular free Ca 2+ concentration ([Ca 2+ ]i),and where the origin of Ca 2+ mobilization is if that has occurred.Methods Pituitary cells in primary culture were prepared from male Wister rats(250g) by a conventional method and cultured in MEM supplemented with 4% normal rat serum.After 2 days in culutre,cells were loaded with 1 μmol/L fura PE3/AM for 1 h and subjected to a Ca 2+ imaging experiment with Quanti Cell 700 system.Excitation wavelengths of 340 and 380 nm were selected by means of a computer controlled filterwheel.Results The [Ca 2+ ]i of FSC in the rat anterior pituitary was elevated by Ang Ⅱ.The elevation of [Ca 2+ ]i of FSC induced by 0.1,1.0,10 and 100 nmol/L Ang Ⅱ was (56.33±6.18)( ±s ),(117.07±36.07),(175.59±40.01) and (216.02±11.52) nmol/L,respectively.The increase of [Ca 2+ ]i of FSC induced by 100 nmol/L Ang Ⅱ was not influenced by the medium without Ca 2+ (0Ca),but significantly suppressed by thapsigargin(TG),an inhibitor of ATPase.The rate of responsive FSC to Ang Ⅱ (100 nmol/L) was 61.84% which was obviously higher than that of pituitary endocrine cells(43.49%).Conclusion The present experiment demonstrates that the FSC in the rat anterior pituitary responds to Ang Ⅱ by increasing [Ca 2+ ]i,which raises the possibility that Ang Ⅱ released from either lactotrophs or gonadotrophs affects FSC through paracrine mechanism.The elevation of [Ca 2+ ]i induced by Ang Ⅱ presents a dosage dependent relation, and is possibly because of the release of Ca 2+ from an intracellular Ca 2+ pool(s).Fashions of Ca 2+ release are relative to the concentration of Ang Ⅱ.The results indicate that Ang Ⅱ functions as a paracrine factor among pituitary cells including FSC.

Bioelectrochemical control mechanism with variable-frequency regulation for skeletal muscle contraction-Biomechanics of skeletal muscle based on the working mechanism of myosin motors(Ⅱ)

This paper presents a bioelectrochemical model for the activation of action potentials on sarcolemma and variation of Ca2+ concentration in sarcomeres of skeletal muscle fibers.The control mechanism of muscle contraction generated by collective motion of molecular motors is elucidated from the perspective of variable-frequency regulation,and action potential with variable frequency is proposed as the control signal to directly regulate Ca2+ concentration and indirectly control isometric tension.Furthermore,the transfer function between stimulation frequency and Ca2+ concentration is deduced,and the frequency domain properties of muscle contraction are analyzed.Moreover the conception of "electro-muscular time constant" is defined to denote the minimum delay time from electric stimulation to muscle contraction.Finally,the experimental research aiming at the relation between tension and stimulation frequency of action potential is implemented to verify the proposed variable-frequency control mechanism,whose effectiveness is proved by good consistence between experimental and theoretical results.

Mechanisms of peroxynitrite-induced [Ca^(2+)]_i increase in single neuronal cell

The mechanism of peroxynitrite (ONOO -)induced [Ca 2+ ] i increase in single MN9D cell (Dopaminergic neuroblastoma cell line) was studied by using Fura2 microfluorometric technique. The results show that ONOO - caused a rapid increase of [Ca 2+ ] i when ONOO - was puffed to the cell. Removing Ca 2+ from the bath or using calcium channel antagonist (CdCl 2, Nifedipine) greatly inhibited the [Ca 2+ ] i increase induced by ONOO -, suggesting that the opening of LCa 2+ channel makes a great contribution to the [Ca 2+ ]\-i increase. The effect of sulfhydryl reductive agent (DTT) on ONOO -induced [Ca 2+ ]\-i increase suggests that ONOO -activating LCa 2+ channel is partly related to its oxidative speciality.