Postembryonic Development of Electrophysiological Characteristic of Primordial Hippocampus in Bufo bufo gargarizans

[Objective] The aim was to probe into developing changes of spontaneous electrical activities of primordial hippocampus in Bufo bufo gargarizans in postembryonic phase. [Method] Microelectrode technique was used to record extracellularly spontaneous electrical activities of neurons in primordial hippocampus of B.bufo gargarizans in postembryonic phase. [Result] Single, consecutive single, burst, consecutive burst and anomalous spontaneous firing were recorded in primordial hippocampus, in which four kinds of spontaneous firings were recorded in forepart of postembryonic development except the anomalous spontaneous firing, and the burst spontaneous firing and consecutive burst spontaneous firing were predominant. The five kinds of spontaneous firings mentioned were recorded in anaphase of postembryonic development and the single and burst spontaneous firing were predominant.Following with the development of primordial hippocampus, the amplitudes of action potential of single firing and consecutive firing enhanced gradually, and it reaches the maximum in the metamorphosis phase; the differences of the frequencies of consecutive single firing and consecutive burst firing were not significant. [Conclusion] Following with the development of primordial hippocampus, the neuronal electrical activities showed diversification, the developmental degree of the primordial hippocampus in the metamorphosis phase was close to the subadult and adult.

Spontaneous firing in olfactory bulb neurons of Bufo bufo gargarizans in and after hibernation

Microelectrode technique was used to record the spontaneous electrical activities of the neurons in olfactory bulb of the Bufo bufo gargarizans, both in hibernation and after hibemation. This study investigated the electrophysiological characteristics of amphibian olfactory bulb in the period of hibernation and after hibernation and its effects on the start of hibernation and spontaneous awakening. The research showed four forms of spontaneous firings： single spontaneous firing, burst spontaneous firing, irregular spontaneous firing and consecutive single spontaneous firing. The single spontaneous firing includes slow depolarized spontaneous firing and fast depolarized spontaneous firing, and the slow depolarized spontaneous firing occurs only during the hibernation period. In hibernation, the low amplitude and low frequency firing with a longer duration may be relevant to maintaining the tonicity of the central nervous system in toads that are in hibernation, and this kind of firing may also provide an excited basis for their arousal from hibernation. After hibernation, the amplitude and frequency of firing increase, but the firing duration gets shorter. This form of short-term firing, which may be a phenomenon of sensory neurons fast adapting, is one of the neuronal mechanisms for the arousal of hibernating animals.

New cytotoxic C-3 dehydrated bufadienolides from the venom of Bufo bufo gargarizans

Three new C-3 dehydrated bufadienolides were isolated from the venom of Bufo bufo gargarizans. Their structures were elucidated as 5β,12β-12,14-dihydroxy-11-oxobufa-3,20,22-trienolide （1）, 5β,12β- 12,14-dihydroxy-11 -oxobufa-2,20,22-trienolide （2）, and 5β,12β-12,14-dihydroxy-11 -oxobufa-2,20,22- trienolide （3） on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, especially 1D NMR and 2D NMR data. In addition, all three compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activities against A549 and HepG2 cancer cell lines. Compounds 2 and 3 showed significant cytotoxicities with IC50 values less than 10 μmol/L on both cancer cells.

Two new bufotoxins from the skin of Bufo bufo gargarizans

Two new bufotoxins,tolocinobufagin-3-succinoylarginine ester and tolocinobufagin-3-hemisuberate, were isolated from the skin of Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor.Cinobufagin-3-hemisuberate was also isolated from the natural source for the first time.Their structures were established using spectroscopic methods.

孕酮诱发蟾蜍卵母细胞成熟作用部位的探讨

冬眠蟾蜍长足卵母胞胞,经手工剥除其卵巢膜、滤泡膜、透明带和质膜,包埋在琼脂块里,孕酮作用3小时(18±1℃)后,该细胞质团块中出现促成熟活性物质(MPF);将含有此MPF的微量卵质(约50毫微升),注入未经激素处理的卵球,能诱发后者恢复减数分裂,胚泡破裂,排出第一极体,正常抵达第二次成熟分裂中期。如果在去除上述卵外和卵表膜层结构的同时,剔除其细胞核(胚泡),然后包裹在琼脂中,经孕酮处理3小时左右,照样能够诱发产生促成熟活性物质;微量细胞质的转移,照样能使未经激素处理的受体卵正常成熟。随着供体卵质块与孕酮接触时间的延长,其诱发受体卵成熟的百分率逐渐增高。孕酮处理后9小时的供体卵质块,几乎全部能使受体卵正常成熟。上述结果表明,在本实验处理的条件下,孕酮诱发中华大蟾蜍卵母细胞形成促成熟活性物质的过程,既不依赖于卵表透明带与质膜,也不依赖于细胞核,而是细胞质自身活动的结果;显然,孕酮诱发蟾蜍卵母细胞成熟的初始作用部位是在细胞质。