OBJECTIVEDynamic changes of quality and growth of Whitmania pigra were investigated to provide theoretical basis for quality control and determination of optimal harvest time.

METHODThe contents of moisture, ethanol-soluble extractive, total ash, and acid-insoluble ash, as well as antithrombin activity were determined according to Chinese pharmacopoeia (2005 edition).

RESULTQualities of W. pigra collected from different growth stages met the standards of Chinese pharmacopoeia (2005 edition). The highest amount of ethanol-soluble extract was found in 9-month-old, W. pigra, followed by 6-month-aged ones. And there was significant difference between 9-month-old and 4-month-old, 7 month-old and 11 month-old (P < 0.05). The highest antithrombin activity was detected in 6 month-old W. pigra, followed by 10 month-old. Significant differences of antithrombin activity were found between 6-month-old and 4 month-old ones, and 5 month-old (P < 0.05), however, there were no significant difference between 6 month-old ones with other samples. Eleven-month-old W. pigra got the most dry weight, and there were significant difference between 11 month-old ones with other samples (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNovember, namely for 6 month old artificial cultivated W. pigra was the best harvest time in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

Animals ; Antithrombin III ; Antithrombins ; analysis ; China ; Leeches ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Peptide Fragments

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationship between Whitmania pigra Whitman and Hirudo nipponia Whitman.

METHODBy the sequences of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) the molecular phylogenetic tree was constructed by MP method using software MEGA 4.0.

RESULTThe average length of ITS was 857.2-861.2 bp. The A, T, G and C contents in this fragment were 25.12%, 28.28%, 17.34%, 29.29%, respectively. The GC content was higher than the AT content. Little sequence variation was observed in ITS gene fragments with in species, and transition in only 45 loci was revealed in 14 populations. 14 W. pigra and H. nipponia populations were clustered into 2 groups by MP phylogenetic tree.

CONCLUSIONThe results also showed that the intraspecific variation was dominated in variation types of W. pigra and H. nipponia. The classification result of W. pigra and H. nipponia and its adulterants based on DNA sequences are not totally consistent with those based on classification. It showed that a little of mutation of base in ITS sequences had occurred in the process of evolution, such as transition cites, transvertion cites among base or base gap.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; chemistry ; Leeches ; classification ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo examine the quality of Whitmania pigra from the different populations to provide the basis for new species selection.

METHODThe contents of the moisture, alcohol extractive, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and the activity of antiplatelet aggregation enzyme of wild and the breeding W. pigra were determined by the methods were determined in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005 edition). The contents xanthine and hypoxanthine by HPLC.

RESULTIt showed that the contents of the alcohol extractive, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, antiplatelet aggregation enzyme, and xanthine and hypoxanthine content of the breeding population in Nanjing are lations. Many quality indexes of the breeding in Zhejiang Tongxiang base were beffer than the wild.

CONCLUSIONThe breeding W. pigra are good in quality, It suggested large-scale promotion of aquaculture.

Animals ; Breeding ; Female ; Hypoxanthine ; analysis ; Leeches ; chemistry ; physiology ; Male ; Xanthine ; analysis

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the altered pathways and genes associated with freezing damage in human sperm during cryopreservation by multiomics analysis. Materials and Methods: Fifteen fresh human semen samples were collected for transcriptomic analysis, and another 5 fresh human semen samples were obtained for metabolomic analysis. For each semen sample, 1 mL was cryopreserved, and another 1 mL was left untreated for paired design. The results were then combined with previously published proteomic results to identify key genes/pathways. Results: Cryopreservation significantly reduced sperm motility and mitochondrial structure. Transcriptomic analysis revealed altered mitochondrial function, including changes in tRNA-methyltransferase activity and adenosine tri-phosphate/adenosine di-phosphate transmembrane transporter activity. Metabolomic analysis showed that the citrate cycle in mitochondria was significantly altered. Combining transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses revealed 346 genes that were altered in at least two omics analyses. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that metabolic pathways were significantly altered and strongly associated with mitochondria. Five genes were altered in all three omics analyses: COL11A1, COL18A1, LPCAT3, NME1, and NNT. Conclusions Five genes were identified by multiomics analysis in human cryopreserved sperm. These genes might have specific functions in cryopreservation. Explorations of the functions of these genes will be helpful for sperm cryopreservation and sperm motility improvement or even for reproduction in the future.

Objective To explore the gender heterogeneity of depression and thyroid hormone and homocysteine levels in infertile patients.Methods Totally 250 patients with infertility were selected in Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital affiliated to North China University of Science and Technology from December 2015 to April 2017.The Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS) was used to evaluated the patients's depression.The patients with infertility and depression were divided into infertility and depression group,and the patients with infertility but without depression were infertile and non-depressed group,patients with infertility and depression were divided into male infertility and depression group and female infertility group with depression,and the levels of thyroid hormone and homocysteine were measured respectively.Results ①The thyroid stimulating hormone and homocysteine levels in infertility patients with depression were significantly higher than those without depression ((2.045± 1.253) uIU/ml,(2.412± 1.236) uIU/ml,t=-2.287,P=0.023;(15.411 ±9.143) mmol/L,(19.129± 13.087) mmol/L,t=-2.467,P=0.014).②There was no statistically significant difference in the degree of depression between male and female infertility patients (x2=0.483,P=0.785).③ The levels of triodothyronine,thyroxine and homocysteine in male infertility patients with depression were significantly higher than those in female patients ((1.926±0.648)nmol/L,(1.712 ±0.416) nmol/L,t=2.457,P=0.015;(117.86± 19.311) nmol/L,(110.185± 18.999) nmol/L,t=2.434,P=0.016;(15.575±4.139) mmol/L,(12.277±3.921) mmol/L,t=4.982,P＜0.01),and the TSH was lower than that in the female group((2.496± 1.329) uIU/ml,(3.057± 1.583) uIU/ml,t=-2.303,P=0.023).④The TSH and Hcy levels of male and female infertility patients were significantly positively correlated with SDS indexes,and had a significant positive predictive power to SDS score.Conclusion The levels of thyroid hormone and homocysteine are different in gender in infertile patients with depression,and the thyroid hormone and homocysteine are related to the depression.so we should pay attention to the depression symptoms of infertility patients and the changes of their biological levels,especially the gender heterogeneity.