AIM:To determine which species of snake venoms contained protein c activator among 9 species of Chinese snake venoms. METHODS: Anticoagulant activity was examined by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) assay,and amidolytic activity was measured with activated protein c (APC) specific chromogenic peptide substrate-chromozy APC. RESULTS: Among 9 species of Chinese snake venoms,Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom and Agkistrodon halys venom were not only able to generate amidolytic activity from purified human PC, but also prolonged APTT strongly even at such a concentration as 1.5 mg/L.CONCLUSION: Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom and Agkistrodon halys venom contain protein c activator which activating human plasma PC into APC.

AIM:To determine which species of snake venoms contained protein c activator among 9 species of Chinese snake venoms. METHODS: Anticoagulant activity was examined by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) assay，and amidolytic activity was measured with activated protein c (APC) specific chromogenic peptide substrate-chromozy APC. RESULTS: Among 9 species of Chinese snake venoms，Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom and Agkistrodon halys venom were not only able to generate amidolytic activity from purified human PC, but also prolonged APTT strongly even at such a concentration as 1.5 mg/L.CONCLUSION: Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom and Agkistrodon halys venom contain protein c activator which activating human plasma PC into APC.

AIM To investigate the protection of plicamycin on apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) of rat. METHODS TUNEL, Hoechst 33258 staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and fluorescein diacetate staining were used to detect morphological and biochemical characteristics of apoptosis in primary rat CGN. RESULTS Being pre-incubated with plicamycin for 1 h and lasting for 24 h, rat CGN apoptosis induced by low potassium basal modified Eagle′s medium for 24 h was inhibited in a plicamycin concentration-dependent manner. This effective concentrations of plicamycin were from 50 to 200 nmol·L-1, and the maximum inhibitory rate of plicamycin on CGN apoptosis was near 80% at 200 nmol·L-1. CONCLUSIONPlicamycin inhibits rat CGN apoptosis induced by low potassium.

AIM: To observe the expression of neuronal Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2 (ARNT2) involved in neuronal apoptosis evoked by low K + and to investigate the relationship between ARNT2 and neuronal apoptosis. METHODS: After neuron apoptosis model was established, the changes of mRNA and protein of ARNT2 during apoptosis were investigated by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Immunofluorescence was analyzed by confocal microscopy to probe the subcellular localization of ARNT2. RESULTS: Induced by low K +, the expression of ARNT2 mRNA was up-regulated obviously at the point of 30 min, and peaks at the point of 1 h. This up-regulated expression lasted for 12 h, and the variation of ARNT2 protein was similar to that of mRNA. The results of immunofluorescence analyzed by confocal microscopy showed that the localization of ARNT2 protein was in the nucleus. CONCLUSION: ARNT2 locate in nuclei of normal cerebellar granule neurons of rat. During the process of apoptosis evoked by low K +, both mRNA and protein of ARNT2 are overexpressed.

AIM: To analyze the subcellular localization of Arnt2 in rat cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). METHODS: Based on the amino acids sequence of Arnt2 (LOCUS:NP_036913), the subcellular localization of Arnt2 in eukaryotic cells and the nuclear export signals (NES) of Arnt2 were predicted in CBS bioinformatics database. The subcellular localization of Arnt2 in rat cerebellar granule neurons was detected by the method of laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSM) analysis. RESULTS: It was predicted that Arnt2 located in nuclei of eukaryotic cells with the most probability, while located in cytoplasmic mitochondria with a slight possibility. A nuclear export signal was found in Arnt2 amino acids sequence, it was identified to be the leucine of No.143 that located in N-terminal of Arnt2 amino acids sequence. Finally, the result of LSM analysis shows nuclear localization of Arnt2 in rat CGNs. CONCLUSION: Arnt2 is located in nuclei of normal rat CGNs, it suggests that Arnt2 has the tendency to translocate into mitochondria after induced by some of inducible factors, for both the possibility of mitochondria localization and NES exist in Arnt2 amino acids sequence.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Anchang Decoction on intestinal microflora and faecal calprotectin (FC) in rats with severe ulcerative colitis based on probiotics.Methods:Totally 50 rats were taken to prepare a model of severe ulcerative colitis. The rats who successfully modeled were divided into model group, Anchang Decoction low-, medium-, high-dosage groups, Lizhu Changle group, and mesalazine group, with 5 rats in each group. Another 6 rats were set and the blank group. Lizhu Changle group received Lizhu Changle suspension (containing 50 million live bacteria/ml) for gavage; Anchang Decoction low-, medium-, high-dosage groups received Anchang Decoction 1, 5, 10 ml/(kg·d) for gavage; Mesalazine group received Mesalazine suspension (10.5 mg/100 g) for gavage. Rats in the blank group and model group were gavaged with the same volume of normal saline for 7 days. Body mass and disease activity index (DAI) before and after administration were measured. 16s rDNA of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in feces of rats was detected. FC content of rats was detected by ELISA.Results:Compared with the model group, the weight of rats in each administration group increased ( P<0.05), DAI score decreased ( P<0.05), and the level of calprotectin in feces decreased ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the levels of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in each administration group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Anchang Decoction can improve the intestinal micro-ecology by regulating the level of calprotectin in rats with severe ulcerative colitis, thereby playing a therapeutic role.