从“豚”字说起

本文考证"豚"字的甲骨文形体,并从我国古代文化的角度考释"豚"字,证明其为"阉割后的小肥猪"之意,重新辨析了"豚"字家族中"豚"、"豕"、"彘"和"豬"四字。"魨"和"臋"在音义上和"豚"有密切的联系,"魨"、"臋"和"豚"是同源词。

戏说《勾践灭吴》中的“犬”和“豚”

《勾践灭吴》在描述勾践鼓励国民生育时写道:“生丈夫,二壶酒,一犬;生女子,二壶酒,一豚”这里有几个问题很值得玩味。第一,“生丈夫”,即生男孩,勾践为什么奖励一只犬,而不是鸡、羊或其他东西?第二,生女孩,勾践为什么奖励一只豚,而不是许多只犬,这不同样也可表贵“生女子”吗?第三,勾践奖励犬和豚到底用意何在?让我们先来分析一下勾践的一系列行为与政策当年,勾践兵困会稽山,穷途末路,但他临危不惧,号令三军日:“

Ethogram of Yangtze finless porpoise calves (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)

Underwater behavioral patterns of one Yangtze finless porpoise （Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis） calf in captivity and those performed on the water surface by two calves in semi-natural environment were focally followed and continuously recorded until one year postpartum to construct the ethogram. The results indicate that 1） the three calves could display diverse and active behavioral patterns; 2） soon after birth, patterns critical for survival appeared first; 3） playful and social patterns predominated the ethogram; 4） most of the patterns were alike across age classes; 5） most of the patterns appeared at the calves’ early life stage. It is possible that the above characteristics are adaptively shaped by the aquatic and social life of this subspecies.

Analgesic Effects of Tetrodotoxin Combined with Acetylsalicylic Acid on Acetic Acid-induced Abdominal Constriction and Formalin Test in Mice

Aim To study the effects of tetrodotoxin （TTX） combined with acetylsalicylic acid （ASA） on nociceptive stimulus in mice. Methods To assess the antinociceptive effects of TTX, ASA or TTX plus ASA, the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test and formalin pain test were used. Results TTX （0.5 - 4.0 μg· kg^-1 ） or ASA （25 - 200 mg· kg^-1 ） im produced a significant inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction. The median inhibitory doses （ID508） were 2.1 μg· kg^-1 for TTX（ and 64 mg· kg^-1 for ASA. TTX and ASA also showed a dose-dependent inhibition of the second phase response in the formalin pain model, the ID508, being 2.3μg·kg^-1 and 74.2 mg· kg^-1, respectively. The ihteraction between TTX and ASA was synergistic, as evidenced by the fact that （1） when ASA alone compared with the combination of TTX （0.79 μg · kg^-1 or 0.39μg· kg^-1 ） and ASA, the ID508, of ASA reduced from 64.0 mg· kg^-1 to 5.8 mg· kg^-1 or 12.6 mg· kg^-1, and from 74.2 mg· kg^-1 to 7.4 mg· kg^-1 or 13.0 mg· kg^-1 on tile two models of nociceptive tests, respectively; and that （2） synergism in the analgesic effects was shown by isobiolographic analysis. Conclusion TTX, ASA and the combination of the two drags produce analgesic effects in acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test and formalin-induced pain test. The interactions between TTX and ASA may be useful in developing novel analgesic agents.

The Research of Ecological Nutritional Organs of Invasive Plants Structural Characteristics

[Objective] The aim of this paper was to discuss the adaptability of ecological nutritional organs of invasive plants.[Method] By dint of high-definition display of plant tissue crystal method and paraffin section method,the vegetative organs root,stem and leaf cross-section of the organizational structure of Asteraceae Ambrosia trifida L.ragweed（Ambrosia trifida L.）in the suburbs of Changchun City in Jilin Province were inspected.[Result] The structural basis for ecological invasive plant Ambrosia trifida L.vegetative organs was mainly through strengthening the roots of water absorption and transporting function,increasing the water storage function of leaf and stem,reducing the water absorption of stem and leaf for plants to promote water absorption and to enhance the assimilation of leaves to achieve a variety of complex environmental conditions in the rapid growth and development in order to achieve an ecological invasion.[Conclusion] The study provided reference for the biological fundamental research of Ambrosia trifida L.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage and Histologic Characterization of Inhaled Heparin in Asthmatic Guinea Pigs

Objective: To survey the effects of inhaled heparin on airway inflammation inguinea pigs with asthma and investigate the possible mechanism of inhaled heparin in the treatmentof asthma. Methods: The asthma in guinea pigs induced by ovalbumin was treated with inhaled heparin.The changes of cellularities in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and the airway walls wereexamined. Histologic examinations were also done in the guinea pig controls. Results: The number ofeosinophils, lymphocytes, and ciliated epithelial cells in the BAL fluid from the group treated withheparin was significantly lower than that of the group of asthma controls (P<0.01). Within theairway watts of the heparin treated group, the eosinophil infiltration was less prominent than thatof the group of asthma controls (P<0.001) and the number of mast cell was significantly higher thanthat of the group of asthma controls (P<0.01). Histologic examination showed that airway damages inthe heparin treated group were mild. Conclusion: Heparin can inhibit airway inflammation andalleviate airway damage in guinea pigs with asthma.

Discussion on Feasibility of Adjustment Program for Jiangmen Chinese White Dolphin Provincial Nature Reserve

From the protection of Chinese white dolphin and living environment,and considering the industrial development in coastal areas,we put forward adjustment program for Jiangmen Chinese White Dolphin Provincial Nature Reserve. Meanwhile we analyzed the feasibility of this program by systematically focusing the effect of adjusted functional regions on Chinese white dolphin.

Effects of IQ_23 on the Repolarization and Both Components of the Delayed Rectifier Potassium Current in Guinea Pig Ventricular Myocytcs

Using patch clamp whole cell recording techiques, we examined the effects ofIQ_23, a benzyl-isoquinoline derivative with antiarrhythmic activities, on the action potential (AP) andpotassium currents in single guinea pig ventricular myocytes. The results showed that IQ_23 at 10, 30and 100 μmol ·L_-1 slowed the repolarization in AP dose-dependently. The APD_90 were prolonged by15%, 28% and 31% respectively. This effect did not depend on the extracellular Ca^2+. In voltageclamp mode, IQ_23 effectively blocked both the components of the delayed rectifier potassium current(I_k), i.e., I_ks and I_kr. At concentrations of 30 and 100 μmol· L^-1, IQ_23 suppressed I_ks by 21% and 26%and suppressed I_kr by 67% and 86% respectively. But even at 100 μmol·L^-1, IQ_23 had little effect onthe inward rectifier potassium current (I_k1). It is concluded: 1. IQ_23 can dose-dependently prolongAPD in the ventriculas myocytes of guinea pig, the effect does not depend on the extracellular Ca^2+; 2.IQ_23 blocks both I_ks and Ikr in the ventricular myocytes without obvious specificities between them.

Effects of IQ23 on the Repolarization and Both Components of the Delayed Rectifier Potassium Current in Guinea Pig Ventricular Myocytcs

Using patch clamp whole cell recording techiques, we examined the effects ofIQ23, a benzyl-isoquinoline derivative with antiarrhythmic activities, on the action potential （AP） andpotassium currents in single guinea pig ventricular myocytes. The results showed that IQ23 at 10, 30and 100 μmol ·L-1 slowed the repolarization in AP dose-dependently. The APD90 were prolonged by15%, 28% and 31% respectively. This effect did not depend on the extracellular Ca2+. In voltageclamp mode, IQ23 effectively blocked both the components of the delayed rectifier potassium current（Ik）, i.e., Iks and Ikr. At concentrations of 30 and 100 μmol· L-1, IQ23 suppressed Iks by 21% and 26%and suppressed Ikr by 67% and 86% respectively. But even at 100 μmol·L-1, IQ23 had little effect onthe inward rectifier potassium current （Ik1）. It is concluded: 1. IQ23 can dose-dependently prolongAPD in the ventriculas myocytes of guinea pig, the effect does not depend on the extracellular Ca2+; 2.IQ23 blocks both Iks and Ikr in the ventricular myocytes without obvious specificities between them.

Effect of rhubarb on contractile response of gallbladder smooth muscle strips isolated from guinea pigs

AIM: To investigate the effect of rhubarb on contractile response of isolated gallbladder muscle strips from guinea pigs and its mechanism.METHODS: Guinea pigs were killed to remove the whole gallbladder. Two or three smooth muscle strips (8 mm×3mm) were cut along the longitudinal direction. The mucosa on each strip was carefully removed. Each longitudinal muscle strip was suspended in a tissue chamber containing 5 mL Krebs solution (37 ℃), bubbled continuously with 950 mL/L O2 and 50 mL/L CO2. The resting tension (g), mean contractile amplitude (mm),and contractile frequency (waves/min) were simultaneously recorded on recorders. After 2-h equilibration, rhubarb (10, 20, 70, 200, 700, 1 000 g/L) was added cumulatively to the tissue chamber in turns every 2 min to observe their effects on gallbladder.Antagonists were given 3 min before administration of rhubarb to investigate the possible mechanism.RESULTS: Rhubarb increased the resting tension (from 0 to 0.40±0.02, P＜0.001), and decreased the mean contractile amplitude (from 5.22±0.71 to 2.73±0.41,P＜0.001). It also increased the contractile frequency of the gallbladder muscle strips in guinea pigs (from 4.09±0.46to 6.08±0.35, P＜0.001). The stimulation of rhubarb on the resting tension decreased from 3.98±0.22 to 1.58±0.12by atropine (P＜0.001), from3.98±0.22 to 2.09±0.19 by verapamil (P＜0.001) and from 3.98±0.22 to 2.67±0.43by phentolamine (P＜0.005). But the effect was not inhibited by hexamethonium (P＞0.05). In addition, the action of mean amplitude and frequency was not inhibited by the above antagonists.CONCLUSION: Rhubarb can stimulate the motility of isolated gallbladder muscle strips from guinea pigs. The stimulation of rhubarb might be relevant with M receptor,Ca2+ channel and α receptor partly.

PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PUFFERFISH OF GENUS TAKIFUGU BY RAPD ANALYSIS

Amplifications with 300 10 base primers under predetermined optimal reaction yielded 2762 reproducible amplified fragments ranging from 200 to 3000 bp. Genetic distances among five species of Takifugu and Lagocephalus spadiceus as outgroup were calculated based on the presence/absence of the amplified fragments. Topological phylogenic trees of the 5 species of Takifugu and the outgroup were generated by Parsimony and Neighbor Joining analysis based on RAPD data set. The genetic distance between T. rubripes and T. pseudommus was almost the same as that between individuals within each species, but was much smaller than that among T. rubripes , T. pseudommus and the other species. The molecular data from RAPD analysis convincingly showed that T. rubripes and T. pseudommus should be the same species.

Recovery of gonadal development in tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes after exposure to 17β-estradiol during early life stages

The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term effects of 17l）-estradiol （E2） exposure on gonadal development in the tiger puffer （Taktfugu rubripes）, which has a genetic sex determination system of male homogametic XY-XX. Tiger puffer larvae were exposed to 1, 10 and 100 μg/L E2 from 15 to 100 days post-hatch （dph） and then maintained in clean seawater until 400 dph. Changes in sex ratio, gonadal structure and gonadosomatic index （GSI） were monitored at 100, 160, 270 and 400 dph. Sex-associated single nucleotide polymorphism （SNP） markers were used to analyze the genetic sex of samples, except those at 100 dph. Exposure had a positive effect on the conversion of genetically male gonads into phenotypically female gonads at 100 dph. However, gonads from 60% of genetic XY males in the 1-μg/L E2 group and 100% in the 10-μg/L E2 group developed intersexual gonads at 160 dph; gonads of all genetic XY males in the two treatment groups reverted to testis by 270 dph. While 38%, 57% and 44% of gonads of XY fish in the 100-gg/L E2 group reverted to intersexual gonads at 160, 270 and 400 dph, respectively, none reverted to testis after E2 treatment. In addition, E2 exposure inhibited gonadal growth of both genetic sexes, as indicated by the clear dose-dependent decrease in GSI at 270 and 400 dph. The results showed that exposure to E2 during the early life stages of tiger puffer disrupted gonadal development, but that fish recovered after migration to clean seawater. The study suggests the potential use of tiger puffer as a valuable indicator species to evaluate the effects of environmental estrogens on marine fish, thereby protecting valuable fishery resources.

Population Genetic Structure and Genetic Differentiation of the Pufferfish Takifugu Rubripes and Takifugu Pseudommus Revealed by RAPD Analysis

RAPD analysis is used to assay the population genetic structure and genetic differentiation of pufferfish T. rubripes and T. pseudammus. One hundred and twenty fragments are amplified with 21 random sequence 10-mer primers. The proportion of polymorphic fragments of T. rubripes populations from the coast of China (TRC), the coast of Japan (TRJ), general population of T. rubripes both from China and Japan (TRCJ), and the population of T. pseudommus are 31.7%, 33.3%, 35.0% and 39.2 % respectively. The mean expected heterozygositiee of the four populations are 0. 116, 0. 125, 0. 126, and 0. 144, respectively. Low genetic distances (ranging from 0.0118 to 0.0309) and Fst estimates (0.020 to 0.024) among the populations in-dicated that there is no significant differentiation between T. rubripes and T. pseudommus and suggested that only one species is involved.

Effects of unsaturated fatty acids on calcium-activated potassium current in gastric myocytes of guinea pigs

AIM: To investigate the effects of exogenous unsaturated fatty acids on calcium-activated potassium current [IK(Ca)] in gastric antral circular myocytes of guinea pigs. METHODS: Gastric myocytes were isolated by collagenase from the antral circular layer of guinea pig stomach. The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record /K(Ca) in the isolated single smooth muscle cells with or without different concentrations of arachidonic acid (AA), linoleic acid (LA), and oleic acid (OA). RESULTS: AA at concentrations of 2,5 and 10 μmol/L markedly increased IK(Ca) in a dose-dependent manner. LA at concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L also enhanced /K(Ca) in a dose-dependent manner. The increasing potency of AA, LA, and oleic acid (OA) on /K(Ca)at the same concentration (10μmol/L) was in the order of AA>LA>OA. AA (10 μmol/L)-induced increase of Ik(ca) was not blocked by H-7 (10 μmol/L), an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), or indomethacin (10 μmol/L), an inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase pathway, and 17-octadecynoic acid (10 μmol/L), an inhibitor of the cytochrome P450 pathway, but weakened by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (10μmol/L), an inhibitor of the lipoxygenase pathway. CONCLUSION: Unsaturated fatty acids markedly increase Ik(Ca), and the enhancing potencies are related to the number of double bonds in the fatty acid chain. The lipoxygenase pathway of unsaturated fatty acid metabolism is involved in the unsaturated fatty acid-induced increase of IK(Ca) in gastric antral circular myocytes of guinea pigs.

Daily Ambrosia Pollen Concentration in the Air of Ankara,Turkey (1990-1999)

The airborne ragweed pollen spectrum was investigated in the air of Ankara, Turkey for aperiod of ten years (1990-1999) using a Burkard seven-day volumetric recording trap. In our study period,long distance transported Ambrosia pollen has been registered. Daily pollen levels varied from low to highin Burge抯 system. In last three years, the pollen concentration of Ambrosia showed a clear increasingtendency. Our results prove that ragweed pollen may be an important threat for ragweed sensitive patientsin Ankara city in near future.

Can pigment gallstones be induced by biliary stricture and prevented by medicine in Guinea pigs?

AIM: To determine the relationship between biliary stricture and pigment gallstone formation, and the prevention of pigment gallstones with medicine. METHODS: One hundred and eighteen male guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups: stricture group (S, n = 30) underwent partial ligation of common bile duct, and fed on regular chow; S plus medicine group (S+M, n = 27) underwent the same operation but fed on medicinal chow (0.3 g chenodeoxycholic acid, 0.5 g glucurolactone, and 0.5 g aspirin were mixed up in 1.2 kg regular chow); medicinal control group (C+M, n = 30) was free of operation, and fed on medicinal chow; and control group (C, n = 31) was free of operation and fed on regular chow. One week later, laparotomy was performed, and the bile of gallbladder was collected, measured, and cultured. RESULTS: Gallstones were identif ied. Pigment gallstones were induced by biliary stricture in 95% (22/23) of S group. In the S+M group, the incidence of gallstone was reduced to 55% (11/20, vs S group, P < 0.01). The changes of indirect bilirubin and ionized calcium in the bile were consistent with gallstone incidences. CONCLUSION: Biliary stricture can cause pigment gallstone formation in guinea pigs, and the medicines used can lower the incidence of gallstones. The bilirubin and ionized calcium play important roles in pigment gallstone formation.

Simultaneous identification and quantification of tetrodotoxin in fresh pufferfish and pufferfish-based products using immunoaffinity columns and liquid chromatography/quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry

In this study, we established a comprehensive method for simultaneous identification and quantification of tetrodotoxin （TTX） in fresh pufferfish tissues and pufferfish-based products using liquid chromatography/quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry （LC-QqLIT-MS）. TTX was extracted by 1% acetic acid-methanol, and most of the lipids were then removed by freezing lipid precipitation, followed by purification and concentration using immunoaffinity columns （IACs）. Matrix effects were substantially reduced due to the high specificity of the IACs, and thus, background interference was avoided. Quantitation analysis was therefore performed using an external calibration curve with standards prepared in mobile phase. The method was evaluated by fortifying samples at 1, 10, and 100 ng/g, respectively, and the recoveries ranged from 75.8%--107%, with a relative standard deviation of less than 15%. The TTX calibration curves were linear over the range of 1-1 000 ~tg/L, with a detection limit of 0.3 ng/g and a quantification limit of 1 ng/g. Using this method, samples can be further analyzed using an information- dependent acquisition （IDA） experiment, in the positive mode, from a single liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry injection, which can provide an extra level of confirmation by matching the full product ion spectra acquired for a standard sample with those from an enhanced product ion （EPI） library. The scheduled multiple reaction monitoring method enabled TTX to be screened for, and TTX was positively identified using the IDA and EPI spectra. This method was successfully applied to analyze a total of 206 samples of fresh pufferfish tissues and pufferfish-based products. The results from this study show that the proposed method can be used to quantify and identify TTX in a single run with excellent sensitivity and reproducibility, and is suitable for the analysis of complex matrix pufferfish samples.

Evaluation of Biological Characteristics of Bacteria Contributing to Biofilm Formation

Biofilm-associated microorganisms play crucial roles in terrestrial and aquatic nutrient cycling and in the biodegradation of environmental pollutants. Biofilm formation was determined for a total of 18 bacterial isolates obtained from the biofilms of wastewater treatment systems and of little carpolite in soil. Among these isolates, seven showed strong biofilm-forming capacity. The phylogenetic affiliation of the isolates showing high biofilm formation capacity was determined through 16S rDNA sequencing and the isolates were grouped into 7 bacterial species including Pseudornonas sp., Pseudomonas putida, Aeromonas caviae, Bacillus cereus, Pseudornonas plecoglossicida, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Comamonas testosteroni. The biofilm-forming capacity was closely related with flagella, exopolysaccharide, and extracellular protein. According to the coefficient of determination, the relative importance of the five biological characteristics to biofilm formation was, in order from greatest to least, exopolysaccharide 〉 flagella 〉 N-acyl-homoserine lactones （AHLs） signaling molecules 〉 extracellular protein 〉 swarming motility.

Study on the sex-related AFLP marker of the Yangtze finless porpoise

The sex-related molecular marker of the Yangtze finless porpoise was screened using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique combined with the bulked segregant analysis. Totally 36 AFLP primer combinations were used to detect the genome DNA bulks of the female and male porpoises, and one sex-related AFLP marker was finally obtained. The marker can be applied to sex identification, and provides a base for further cloning of sex-related genes and analyzing of Y chromosome haplotypes of the Yangtze finless porpoise.