Effects of chilling tolerance induced by spermidine pretreatment on antioxidative activity,endogenous hormones and ultrastructure of indica-japonica hybrid rice seedlings

Spermidine（Spd） is known to be involved in the regulation of plant responses to chilling stress and counteract the adverse effect of stress conditions.Antioxidant activities,endogenous hormones and ultrastructure change under chilling stress were investigated in indica-japonica hybrid rice seedlings.12-d-old seedlings were subjected to exogenous Spd（1 mmol L^（-1）） and then a chilling stress（6℃,4 d） was induced,followed by a subsequent recovery（25℃,4 d）.Results showed that malondialdehyde（MDA） and proline content were enhanced significantly,whereas shoot fresh and dry weights decreased during chilling stress and after recovery;chlorophyll content of chilling-stressed seedlings increased slightly but declined after recovery;additionally,total soluble sugar,sucrose,fructose and starch contents increased significantly during chilling stress,and only soluble sugar and fructose contents were observed in increase after recovery;chilling stress-induced increases in superoxide dismutase（SOD）,peroxidase（POD） and catalase（CAT） activities,but declined after recovery,and the level of ascorbate peroxidase was lower during chilling stress and after recovery;however,endogenous indole-3-acetic acid（IAA）,zeatin riboside（ZR）,gibberellic acid（GA_3）,and abscisic acid（ABA） levels were induced decreased compared with Spd pretreatment.The microscopic analysis revealed that chilling stress-induced destruction of the chloroplast envelope during chilling stress and increased the number of plastoglobuli along with aberrations in thylakoid membranes after recovery.In contrast,exogenous Spd protected rice seedlings from chilling-induced injuries in terms of lower malondialdehyde,proline and carbohydrates accumulation coupled with increased endogenous hormones metabolism.After recovery,Spd pretreatment chilling-exposed seedlings showed higher activities of antioxidant enzymes and normal physiological function of chloroplasts.These results suggest that Spd could promote effectively chilling tolerance which might be largely attributable to the integrity of cell structure and normal metabolism of endogenous hormones in indica-japonica hybrid rice seedlings.

Effect of thyroid hormone on serum NO concentration and iNOS activity of intestinal mucosa in septic rats

Objective To investigate the effect of exogenous thyroid hormone on serum NO and iNOS activity of intestinal mucosa in septic rats. Methods Septic model was established by cecal ligation puncture (CLP) in male SD rats. Triiodothyronine ( T3 ) was administered intraperitoneally to correct the low T3 syndrome of septic rats. Blood was collected to examine serum NO and thyroid hormone concentration. Intestinal mucosa iNOS activity was assayed using immunochemical stain. Results Mortality rate in the prevention group was significantly lower than the septic group (Log rank = 3. 85, P 【 0.05). Serum NO concentration was significantly lower in the prevention group (F=19.6,F【0.01). The degree of inflammatory injury of intestinal mucosa was much milder in the prevention group than in the septic group (x2 = 5.303,P【0. 05). Mucosa iNOS activity was also significantly lower in the prevention group (x2 = 4. 876, P【0. 01). Conclusion Thyroid hormone protects the intestinal mucosa barrier inhibiting the expression of

Effects of hormone replacement therapy on platelet activation in postmenopausal women

Objective To assess the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on platelet activation in postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women. Methods The expressions of CD41 and CD62P in fifteen postmenopausal women before and after HRT were detected using flow cytometry (FCM),with fifteen premenopausal women with a mean age of 47 years as controls.Results The expressions of CD41 and CD62P in postmenopausal women were higher than those in the control group. CD62P(%),CD62P(I) and CD41 were reduced from 36.40±5.9,37.75±5.8,and 470.11±74.0 to 27.97±5.6,26.64±4.9,and 303.23±72.8 after six months of HRT ( P <0.05). Conclusions Platelet activation in postmenopausal women was higher than in premenopausal women and was reduced significantly after six months of HRT. HRT may have a favorable effect on reduction of platelet activity.