OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) lesion on the initiation and expression of sodium appetite in sodium-deficient rats. METHODS: Three groups of SD rats (n=6 in each group) were treated with bilateral CeA lesion, sham lesion or no lesion. After the recovery, the rats were fed with low-sodium diets for 14 days to establish a sodium-deficient rat model. The double-bottle selection in single cage test was used to observe the intake of 0.3 mol/L NaCl and DW in 5 timepoint with 24 hours in sodium-deficient rats. Immunofluorescence staining of aldosterone-sensitive neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS)was used to investigate the effect of CeA lesion or not on the activity of aldosterone-sensitive neurons in rats with or without sodium deficiency. RESULTS: After fed with low-sodium diet for14 days, the volume and preference rate of 0.3 mol/L NaCl intake of the rats within 24 h were significantly increased compared with those before low-sodium diet (P＜0.01). The intake volume and the preference rate of 0.3 mol/L NaCl in CeA lesion rats were significantly decreased than those in CeA sham lesion rats and normal rats in the sodium-deficient condition (P＜0.01). The CeA lesion had no effects on the activity of aldosterone-sensitive neurons in NTS in rats with low-sodium diet. CONCLUSION Low-sodium diet induces an increase in the expression of sodium appetite in rats. CeA lesions inhibit the behavioral expression of sodium appetite in sodium-deficient rats but have no effects on the initiation of sodium appetite in rats with sodium-deficient rats.
Amygdala ; pathology ; Animals ; Appetite ; Diet, Sodium-Restricted ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium ; Sodium, Dietary ; pharmacology

The aim of the present paper was to study the role of sodium calcium exchanger (NCX) in the generation of action potentials (APs) in cardiomyocytes during early developmental stage (EDS). The precisely dated embryonic hearts of C57 mice were dissected and enzymatically dissociated to single cells. The changes of APs were recorded by whole-cell patch-clamp technique before and after administration of NCX specific blockers KB-R7943 (5 μmol/L) and SEA0400 (1 μmol/L). The results showed that, both KB-R7943 and SEA0400 had potent negative chronotropic effects on APs of pacemaker-like cells, while such effects were only observed in some ventricular-like cardiomyocytes. The negative chronotropic effect of KB-R7943 on ventricular-like cardiomyocytes was accompanied by shortening of AP duration (APD), whereas such an effect of SEA0400 was paralleled by decrease in velocity of diastolic depolarization (Vdd). From embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) to E10.5, the negative chronotropic effects of KB-R7943 and SEA0400 on ventricular-like APs of embryonic cardiomyocytes gradually disappeared. These results suggest that, in the short-term development of early embryo, the function of NCX may experience developmental changes as evidenced by different roles of NCX in autorhythmicity and APs generation, indicating that NCX function varies with different conditions of cardiomyocytes.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Mice ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Sodium/metabolism* ; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger ; Thiourea/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVETo explore the best pretreatment condition of inorganic salting on volatile oil-bearing water body of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix before membrane separation.

METHODThe simulative system of volatile oil-bearing water body of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix was pre-treated before membrane separation by salting. The best conditions of salting were determined by selecting types and amounts of inorganic salt as investigate factors and comparing membrane flux and oil retention rate.

RESULTThe best pretreatment condition of inorganic salting on volatile oil-bearing water body of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix before membrane separation was to add 2% sodium chloride (NaCl) according to the amount of oil-bearing water body. Gas chromatographic fingerprint showed that inorganic salting did not affect the active ingredient of volatile oil.

CONCLUSIONAdding NaCl to volatile oil-bearing water body of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix before membrane separation can optimize membrane processes by improving membrane flux.

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; isolation & purification ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology

The removal of Ca2+ from the cardioplegic solutions could cause the danger of inducing a "calcium paradox" during reperfusion. Since intracellular Ca2+ activities are coupled to Na+ activities via Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange, an increase in intracellular Na+ activities during the cardioplegia could cause an abrupt Ca2+ influx when reperfused. To study the effects of Na+ and Ca2+ concentrations in cardioplegic solutions on intracellular Ca2+ activities during the cardioplegia and subsequent recovery period, the membrane potential and intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ activities of guinea pig ventricular papillary were measured. 1) A cardioplegia with low Ca2+ cardioplegic solution significantly decreased the overshoot and duration of the first action potential after cardioplegia, but the changes in action potential configuration were minimized after a cardioplegia with Ca2+ concentration adjusted according to the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange mechanism. 2) Intracellular Na+ activity was continuously decreased during the cardioplegia, and the intracellular Na+ activity 20 minutes after cardioplegia was the highest with low Ca2+ cardioplegic solution. 3) Intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ activities were continuously decreased during the cardioplegia with Ca2+ concentration adjusted according to the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange mechanism. 4) During a reperfusion of Tyrode solution after cardioplegia intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ activities were increased. Intracellular Ca2+ activity was increased more rapidly than intracellular Na+ activity. 5) The rate of increase in intracellular Ca2+ activity with reperfusion of Tyrode solution was dependent upon intracellular Na+ activity during cardioplegia, in such a way that the higher the intracellular Na+ activity was, the faster the intracellular Ca2+ activity increased. These data suggest that Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange mechanism may play an important role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ activity during recovery after cardioplegia.
Animal ; Calcium/*pharmacology ; Cardioplegic Solutions/*pharmacology ; Ions ; *Myocardial Reperfusion ; Osmolar Concentration ; Papillary Muscles/cytology/*drug effects ; Sodium/*pharmacology ; Solutions/pharmacology

Supplement effects of ions, sugars, and amino acids on the thermostability of liquefying type alpha-amylase from Bacillus subtilis were examined. The addition of 1 mmol/L Ca2+ or about 50 mmol/L Na+ remarkably stimulated the thermostability of this enzyme among ions examined. The thermostability of the enzyme was enhanced and reduced by the extrinsic addition of 50 mmol/L acidic amino acid such as glutamic acid and alkaline amino acid of the concentrations of sugars from 0 to 1000 mmol/L the thermostability of alpha-amylase increased almost such as arginine, respectively. With the increases linearly. By the co-existence of Na+ or K+ with some amino acids or sugars the thermostability of this enzyme was fairly increased. The changes in the fluorescence intensity of alpha-amylase were examined as a function of the incubation temperature on the enzyme, which showed a good agreement with those of residual activities.
Amino Acids ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; pharmacology ; Carbohydrates ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Stability ; Protein Conformation ; Sodium ; pharmacology ; Temperature ; alpha-Amylases ; chemistry ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of putative bacteriocin immunity proteins on the growth mode of Streptococcus mutans (Sm). To observe the differences of antimicrobial sensitivity in planktonic Sm wild-type strains and mutant strains caused by the inactivation of bacteriocin immunity proteins and their influence on the biofilm formation.

METHODSSm wild-type strains (WT) and its knockout mutants defective in immA and immB (ΔimmA(-) and ΔimmB(-) mutants) coding putative bacteriocin immunity proteins were cultured in brain heart infusion (BHI) and selected by erythromycin at the concentration of 10 mg/L. Optical density was detected by spectrophotometer every hour and growth curve was drawn. WT, ΔimmA(-) and ΔimmB(-) mutants were treated with ampicillin (0.04, 0.05, 0.06, 0.07, 0.08 mg/L), sodium fluoride (50, 100, 150, 200, 250 mg/L) and sodium hypochlorite (0.078%, 0.156%, 0.313%, 0.625%, 1.250%) for 24 hours. Optical density was detected by multifunctional micro plate reader. WT and the mutants were cultured in MBEC(TM) P&G Assay for 24 hours. The minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of chlorhexidine against Sm was determined by serial dilution method. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to visualize the biofilm architecture, depth and ratio of live to dead bacteria.

RESULTSGrowth curve showed that it took about 3 hours to reach exponential phase and about 7 hours to stationary phase for WT, while 4 hours to exponential phase and 8 hours to stationary phase for mutants. Optical density of mutants were lower than WT in the presence of various antimicrobial agents (P < 0.01). In 0.06 mg/L ampicillin group, optical density value of WT, ΔimmA(-) and ΔimmB(-) mutants were 0.334 ± 0.016, 0.027 ± 0.016 and 0.047 ± 0.018. In 150 mg/L sodium fluoride group, optical density value of WT and mutants were 0.254 ± 0.018, 0.129 ± 0.011 and 0.167 ± 0.010. In 0.313% sodium hypochlorite group, optical density value of WT and mutants were 0.467 ± 0.008, 0.017 ± 0.006 and 0.050 ± 0.006. The MBEC of chlorhexidine against Sm WT, ΔimmA(-) and ΔimmB(-) mutants were 6.25, 1.57, and 3.13 mg/L. The results by CLSM showed a noticeable difference in biofilm architecture. The depth of WT biofilm was higher than the mutants biofilm (P < 0.01). The ratio of live to dead bacteria of WT biofilm was higher than ΔimmA(-) mutants in all layers (P < 0.05) and ΔimmB(-) mutants in the outer and intermedium layer (P < 0.01). There is no significant different between the inner layers of WT and ΔimmB(-) mutants (P = 0.191).

CONCLUSIONSPutative bacteriocin immunity proteins have influence on the growth mode of Sm. The antimicrobial sensitivity of planktonic Sm can be up-regulated by the inactivation of immA or immB. The MBEC of chlorhexidine against ΔimmA(-) and ΔimmB(-) mutants is lower than WT. The inactivation of immA or immB affects the biofilm formation.

Ampicillin ; pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacteriocins ; genetics ; immunology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Cariostatic Agents ; pharmacology ; Chlorhexidine ; pharmacology ; Disinfectants ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mutation ; Plankton ; drug effects ; Sodium Fluoride ; pharmacology ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; pharmacology ; Streptococcus mutans ; drug effects ; genetics

Histopathological effects due to elevation of blood pressure induced by norepinephrine and sodium chloride, and due to high cholesterol feeding were studied upon the arteries and various organs of rats for the evaluation of relationship between arteriosclerosis and hypertension. Blood pressure was generally elevated in all groups, but rose significantly, particularly in the groups receiving sodium chloride. This was especially abrupt at the end of 3 months. No particular gross nor histopathologic changes were found in the aorta, but variable alterations in the coronary and renal arteries including hypertrophic and proliferative changes were characteristically identified. Variable interesting changes of myocardium, kidneys and adrenal glands were also observed. The hypertrophic changes were especially due to hyalinosis in the vascular wall, and the proliferative changes in several cases were similiar to that noted in malignant hypertension. Induction of hypertension by norepinephrine and sodium chloride caused arterial changes such as hypertrophic changes, mainly hyalinosis, and proliferative and necrotizing changes especially in the renal and coronary arteries of rats.
Animals ; Arteries/*pathology ; Hypertension/*pathology ; Male ; Norepinephrine/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Sodium Chloride/*pharmacology

In order to investigate the effects of Na(2)SeO(3) on expression of VEGF in K562/ADR cells, K562 and K562/ADR cells were treated with Na(2)SeO(3) at dose of 5 and 10 micromol/L. The expressions of VEGF in K562 and K562/ADR cells were detected by ELISA before and at the different time point after treatment. The mutiplie of reversion of resistance was detected by MTT method. The results showed that Na(2)SeO(3) at dose of 10 micromol/L could increase the sensitivity of K562/ADR cell to adriamycin, the multiple of reversion was 3.48. The expression levels of VEGF in K562 and K562/ADR cells increased with prolongation of time cultured, and the VEGF expression levels in K562/ADR cells at the different time points were higher than that in K562 cells (P < 0.05); 5 and 10 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) did not suppress expression of VEGF in K562 cells at 72 hours (P > 0.05), and the VEGF level in K562 cells at 96 hours decreased without statistical significance; 5 and 10 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) acting for 48 hours did not show suppressive effect on expression of VEGF in K562/ADR cells (P > 0.05), 5 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) could decrease the expression of VEGF in K562/ADR cell after treatment for 96 hours, while 10 micromol/L Na(2)SeO(3) could significantly decrease the expression of VEGF in K562/ADR cells treated for 72 hours and 96 hours (P < 0.01). It is concluded that VEGF would be involved in the multidrug resistance of leukemia. Na(2)SeO(3) decreasing expression of VEGF in leukemic cells may be one of the mechanisms reversing multidrug resistance.
Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Sodium Selenite ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore a sampling method which could reflect iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) status at provincial level and discover risk areas with non-iodized salt problem.

METHODBaseline data of Iodized salt from Gansu and Fujian provinces were analyzed with Monte Carlo method both at county and prefecture levels respectively. True positive rate and false positive rate were also calculated.

RESULTSWith data from 7 - 8 villages or 4 - 5 townships counties at risk could be discovered. The true positive rate was around 80% and false positive rate was around 20%. At prefecture level, when randomly selecting and checking 3 counties, the samples would satisfy the discovery of all the risk areas with non-iodized salt problem.

CONCLUSIONSWe suggested that the sampling method of iodized salt investigation in national IDD surveillance as follows: to randomly choose 3 counties at each prefecture, 4 townships at each county, 2 villages at each township and 10 salt samples by household survey. The coverage rate of iodized salt in a province could be calculated by post-weighted method with population number.

China ; Drug Monitoring ; methods ; Humans ; Iodine ; deficiency ; pharmacology ; Monte Carlo Method ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; pharmacology

The Conus venom is secreted by the duct and theca of venom. Most of conotoxins are composed of 10-40 amino acid residues with several disulfide bridges. They can specifically target neurotransmitter receptors including nAChRs, calcium ion channels, sodium ion channels and potassium ion channels, etc. Some conotoxins, such as that target N-Ca2+ channels, nAChR alpha9alpha10 subtype, TTX-R Na+ channels or NMDA receptors, have potent antinociceptive activities, omega-MVIIA, an Ca2+ channels blocker was approved by FDA in December, 2004 for marketing. Because of lower molecular weight and high specificity, conotoxins are the powerful pharmacology tools and potent analgesics without addiction. This review briefly summarizes the research progress of antinociceptive conotoxins and addresses on their targets and structure-activity relationships.
Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; Conotoxins ; pharmacology ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects ; Structure-Activity Relationship