Metabolic shift in liver: Correlation between perfusion temperature and hypoxia inducible factor-1α

AIM: To study at what temperature the oxygen carried by the perfusate meets liver requirements in a model of organ perfusion. METHODS: in this study, we correlated hypoxia induciblefactor(Hi F)-1α expression to the perfusion temperature and the hepatic oxygen uptake in a model of isolated perfused rat liver. Livers from Wistar rats were perfused for 6 h with an oxygenated medium at 10, 20, 30 and 37 ℃. Oxygen uptake was measured by an oxygen probe; lactate dehydrogenase activity, lactate release and glycogen were measured spectrophotometrically; bile flow was gravitationally determined; p H of the perfusate was also evaluated; Hi F-1α m RNA and protein expression were analyzed by real time-polymerase chain reaction and ELi SA, respectively. RESULTS: Livers perfused at 10 and 20 ℃ showed no difference in lactate dehydrogenase release after 6 h of perfusion(0.96 ± 0.23 vs 0.93 ± 0.09 m U/min per g) and had lower hepatic damage as compared to 30 and 37 ℃(5.63 ± 0.76 vs 527.69 ± 45.27 m U/min per g, respectively, P s < 0.01). After 6 h, tissue ATP was significantly higher in livers perfused at 10 and 20 ℃than in livers perfused at 30 and 37 ℃(0.89 ± 0.06 and 1.16 ± 0.05 vs 0.57 ± 0.09 and 0.33 ± 0.08 nmol/mg, respectively, P s < 0.01). No sign of hypoxia was observed at 10 and 20 ℃, as highlighted by low lactate release respect to livers perfused at 30 and 37 ℃(121.4 ± 12.6 and 146.3 ± 7.3 vs 281.8 ± 45.3 and 1094.5 ± 71.7 nmol/m L, respectively, P s < 0.02), and low relative Hi F-1α m RNA(0.40 ± 0.08 and 0.20 ± 0.03 vs 0.60 ± 0.20 and 1.47 ± 0.30, respectively, P s < 0.05) and protein(3.72 ± 0.16 and 3.65 ± 0.06 vs 4.43 ± 0.41 and 6.44 ± 0.82, respectively, P s < 0.05) expression.CONCLUSION: Livers perfused at 10 and 20 ℃ show no sign of liver injury or anaerobiosis, in contrast to livers perfused at 30 and 37 ℃.

CELLULOSE DECOMPOSTION IN TROPICAL PEAT SWAMPS

Given that organic soil is a complex substrate and there are many environmental factors which directly or indirectly control its decomposition processes, the use of standard substrate simplify the system in that the effect of substrate quality could be eliminated and influence of certain environmental conditions such as edaphic factors, acidity and moisture could be focused on. In addition to the forest floor, decomposition potential down the peat profile can also be examined. Cotton strip assay was used to estimate decomposition potentials in tropical peat swamp occupied by different Shorea Albida peat swamp forest communities, The' Alan Batu' , the ' Alan Bunga' , the' Alan Padang' and the 'mixed Alan'forest communities. Greatest decay rates on the peat surface took place during the wet period. The moist condition of the wet months appeared to favour the growth and stimulate activities of decomposer population and soil invertebrates.Generally, 50% of cotton tensile loss is achieved after four weeks of exposure. The results suggest that cellulose decomposition is influenced by the environmental variables of hydrological regime, water-table fluctuation, aeration, moisture availability,waterlogging and the resultant anaerobiosis, peat depths, and micro-sites characteristics. Decomposition of cellulose is inhibited by waterlogging and the resultant anaerobiosis in thelower segment of the cotton strip during wet periods and under dry conditions in the surface segment of the cotton strip during periods of less rain.

MicroRNA Regulation in Extreme Environments: Differential Expression of MicroRNAs in the Intertidal Snail Littorina littorea During Extended Periods of Freezing and Anoxia

Several recent studies of vertebrate adaptation to environmental stress have suggested roles for microRNAs （miRNAs） in regulating glo- bal suppression of protein synthesis and/or restructuring protein expression patterns. The present study is the first to characterize stress- responsive alterations in the expression of miRNAs during natural freezing or anoxia exposures in an invertebrate species, the intertidal gastropod Littorina littorea. These snails are exposed to anoxia and freezing conditions as their environment constantly fluctuates on both a tidal and seasonal basis. The expression of selected miRNAs that are known to influence the cell cycle, cellular signaling pathways, carbohydrate metabolism and apoptosis was evaluated using RT-PCR. Compared to controls, significant changes in expression were observed for miR-la-1, miR-34a and miR-29b in hepatopancreas and for miR-la-1, miR-34a, miR-133a, miR-125b, miR-29b and miR-2a in foot muscle after freezing exposure at -6 ~C for 24 h （P 〈 0.05）. In addition, in response to anoxia stress for 24 h, significant changes in expression were also observed for miR-la-1, miR-210 and miR-29b in hepatopancreas and for miR-1 a-1, miR-34a, miR-133a, miR-29b and miR-2a in foot muscle （P 〈 0.05）. Moreover, protein expression of Dicer, an enzyme responsible for mature microRNA processing, was increased in foot muscle during freezing and anoxia and in hepatopancreas during freezing. Alterations in expression of these miRNAs in L. littorea tissues may contribute to organismal survival under freezing and anoxia.