We studied the effects of three inorganic carbon sources, Na2CO3, NaHCO3 and CO2, and their initial concentrations on lipid production of Chlorella vulgaris. Chlorella vulgaris could utilize Na2CO3, NaHCO3 and CO2 to produce lipids. After 10-day cultivation with each of the three inorganic carbon sources, lipid yield of Chlorella vulgaris reached its peak with the concentration increase of the inorganic carbon source, but dropped again by further increase of the concentration. The pH value of the culture medium for Chlorella vulgaris increased after the cultivation on inorganic carbon source. The optimal concentration of both Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 was 40 mmol/L, and their corresponding biomass dry weight was 0.52 g/L and 0.67 g/L with their corresponding lipid yield 0.19 g/L and 0.22 g/L. When the concentration of CO2 was 6%, Chlorella vulgaris grew the fastest and its biomass dry weight was 2.42 g/L with the highest lipid yield of 0.72 g/L. When the concentration of CO2 was too low, the supply of inorganic carbon was insufficient and lipid yield was low. A too high concentration of CO2 caused a low pH and lipid accumulation was inhibited. Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 were more favorable for Chlorella vulgaris to accumulate unsaturated fatty acids than that of CO2.
Biofuels ; Carbon ; metabolism ; Carbon Dioxide ; pharmacology ; Carbonates ; pharmacology ; Chlorella vulgaris ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Lipids ; biosynthesis ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; pharmacology

Gene chip technology was employed to study gene expression in Tamarix androssowii under NaHCO3 stress. cDNAs from T. androssowii treated with NaHCO3 solution and that from control group were labeled with fluorescent dye CyS and Cy3 respectively. The two fluorescent cDNA probes were mixed and hybridized to gene chips containing T. androssowii genes, and the chips were scanned using biochip scanning system. Differential expression of genes was analyzed through calculation of the ratio of Cy5 to Cy3 signal intensities. Total of 89 genes differentially expressed were identified, among them, 27 showed down regulated expression and 62 showed up regulated expression. Blastx analysis showed that the function of the differentially expressed genes could be grouped into some categorizations such as photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species eliminated, regulation of osmotic potential, regulation of gene expression and signal transduction, metabolism, development, ribosomal protein, protein breakdown and recycling, transporter, water channel proteins and so on. Based on this research, some function-unknown or novel unreported genes that respond to salt stress were also identified, and these genes may have important functions in salt resistance of T. androssowii. Some important pathways of salt resistance in T. androssowii are revealed, and the gene expression profiling of T. androssowii under salt stress and without stress is obtained in this study.
DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Genes, Plant ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; Tamaricaceae ; drug effects ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the new method of monitoring and clearing organophosphate in blood during single or mixed organophosphate(OP) poisoning.

METHOD(1) Mixed equal volumes of blood of OP poisoned rat and healthy rat, then determine whole blood cholinesterase (ChE) activity. The descending range of ChE activity represents the level of residual OP in blood. (2) Poisoned rats by single or mixed OP pesticides were injected with 5% NaHCO3 15 ml/kg intraperitoneally, then the level of OP in blood was detected.

RESULTS(1) The monitoring results of blood residual OP by gas chromatography were similar to that by "Mixes blood method", which showed significant difference(P < 0.05) from that before OP administration. (2) NaHCO3 injection could not improve the toxic symptoms and whole blood or brain ChE inhibition in 10 CP poisoned rats, blood residual OP level was also not affected, but lung pathological changes by OP such as interstitial inflammation and oedema showed some relief.

CONCLUSIONThe monitoring of blood ChE by "mixed blood method" may reflect the general level of the blood residual OP within the range of exposure dose. The effect of NaHCO3 was not satisfactory, but it may improve OP-induced lung pathological changes.

Animals ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; poisoning ; Cholinesterases ; blood ; Chromatography, Gas ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Lung ; pathology ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; blood ; Rats ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; pharmacology

AIMTo clarify the relationship between bicarbonate and cAMP in the promoting effects on the sperm agglutination.

METHODSSpermatozoa were collected from mature boars, washed and resuspended in a modified Krebs-Ringer HEPES lacking calcium chloride (mKRH). The sperm suspensions were incubated in a water bath (38.5 degrees C) for 60 min and then the percentage of head-to-head agglutinated spermatozoa was determined.

RESULTSSupplementation of the mKRH with sodium bicarbonate (5-10 mM) significantly raised the percentage of head-to-head agglutinated spermatozoa in the samples. The addition of selective inhibitors for calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterases (type 1: 8-methoxymethyl-IBMX and vinpocetine, 25-50 micro M) or for cAMP-specific phosphodiesterases (type 4: Ro20-1724 and rolipram, 25-50 microM) enhanced the effect of bicarbonate on sperm agglutination as highly as did the addition of non-selective inhibitors for phosphodiesterases (IBMX and papaverine, 25-50 microM). A calmodulin antagonist (W-7, 2 microM), that potentially blocks the stimulator of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterases, significantly enhanced the effect of bicarbonate on sperm agglutination. Moreover, a phosphodiesterase-resistant cAMP analogue (cBiMPS, 0.1 mM) markedly induced agglutination in more spermatozoa (76%) after the incubation without bicarbonate and phosphodiesterase inhibitors than did a less potent cAMP analogue (dibutyryl cAMP, 1 mM) (21%), while three kinds of cGMP analogues (0.1-1 mM) had no effect on sperm agglutination. In addition, a cAMP antagonist (Rp-cAMPS, 1 mM) significantly reduced the sperm agglutination resulting from the actions of bicarbonate and IBMX. On the other hand, the effect of bicarbonate was abolished by a change of incubation temperature from 38.5 degrees C to 25 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONThese findings demonstrate that the bicarbonate-induced agglutination of boar spermatozoa is controlled via the cAMP-mediated, temperature-dependent signaling cascade. This cascade is suppressed by the action of the phosphodiesterase (at least types 1 and 4).

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Bucladesine ; pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP ; physiology ; Cyclic GMP ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Male ; Papaverine ; pharmacology ; Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists ; Sodium Bicarbonate ; pharmacology ; Sperm Agglutination ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sperm Head ; drug effects ; physiology ; Swine ; Theophylline ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

The objective of this study was to develop an experimental animal model of fulminant hepatic failure to test the efficacy of the bioartificial liver system. The portal vein and the hepatic artery were clamped intermittently and then the hepatic artery was ligated (ligation group, n=5). Pigs whose hepatic arteries were not ligated after clamping were assigned to the non-ligation group (n=5). The biochemical changes in blood, histologic alterations of the liver and neurologic examination for pigs were checked up. All animals died within 17 hr in the ligation group. On the other hand, all animals survived more than 7 days in the non-ligation group. In the ligation group, the levels of ammonia, lactic acid and creatinine showed a progressively increasing pattern. Prothrombin time was also prolonged gradually. Cytoplasmic condensation and nuclear pyknosis of hepatocytes were detected histologically at autopsy. Neurologic findings such as decreased pain sensation, tachypnea and no light reflex of pupils were observed. The findings shown in the ligation group are similar to the clinical features of fulminant hepatic failure in human and this animal model is reproducible. Therefore, this can be a suitable animal model to evaluate the efficacy of the bioartificial liver system for treating fulminant hepatic failure.
Acidosis/etiology/prevention & control ; Ammonia/blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Bilirubin/blood ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Comparative Study ; Creatinine/blood ; *Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hepatic Artery/surgery ; Lactic Acid/blood ; Ligation/adverse effects ; Liver Failure, Acute/blood/*pathology ; Portal Vein/surgery ; Potassium/blood ; Prothrombin Time ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Sodium Bicarbonate/pharmacology ; Swine