Complete chloroplast genome sequence of Mucuna prurien and its phylogenetic position.

Mucuna pruriens is traditional medicinal plant originated in South Africa. We characterize the complete plastid genome of M. pruriens, which is a circular-mapping molecule 152,119 bp in length. The genome has a large single-copy region (LSC) of 78,258 bp and a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,735 bp, respectively. Additionally, the overall GC content of the chloroplast genome was 35.37%. The genome contains 138 genes, including 96 protein-coding, 38 tRNA, and four rRNA genes. The gene content and structure are conserved compared to other species in the genus Glycine. The chloroplast genome and existing data were used to infer its phylogenetic position. The results showed that M. pruriens clustered together with Glycine max and G. soja. These findings provide potential genetic markers that can aid in understanding the genetic diversity of M. pruriens.

Cardioprotective effects of galectin-3 inhibition against ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is caused by the restoration of the coronary blood flow following an ischemic episode. Accumulating evidence suggests that galectin-3, a ß-galactoside-binding lectin, acts as a biomarker in heart disease. However, it remains unclear whether manipulating galectin-3 affects the susceptibility of the heart to IR injury. In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis identified that Lgals3 (galecin-3) plays an indispensable role in IR-induced cardiac damage. Immunostaining and immunoblot assays confirmed that the expression of galectin-3 was markedly increased in myocardial IR injury both in vivo and in vitro. Echocardiographic analysis showed that cardiac dysfunction in experimental IR injury was significantly attenuated by galectin-3 inhibitors including pectin (1%, i.p.) from citrus and binding peptide G3-C12 (5.0 mg/kg, i.p.). Galectin-3 inhibitor-treated mice exhibited smaller infarct sizes and decreased tissue injury. Furthermore, TUNEL staining showed that galectin-3 inhibition suppressed IR-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) levels were well-preserved and IR-induced changes of mitochondrial cyto c, cytosol cyto c, caspase-9, caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax in the galectin-3 inhibitor-treated groups were observed. Our findings indicate that the pathological upregulation of galectin-3 contributes to IR-induced cardiac dysfunction and that galectin-3 inhibition ameliorates myocardial injury, highlighting its therapeutic potential.

[Effects of embryonic lead exposure on food intake and bowel movement in offspring rats and possible mechanisms].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of embryonic lead exposure on food intake and bowel movement in offspring rats and possible mechanisms. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were given 0.1% (low-dose lead exposure group) or 0.2% (high-dose lead exposure group) lead acetate freely during pregnancy to establish an animal model of embryonic lead exposure. A blank control group was also established. The male offspring rats were enrolled in the study, and 10 male offspring rats from each group were selected to observe the changes in food intake, bowel movement, gastric emptying, intestine propulsion, and pathological inflammatory response in the gastric mucosa. Eight offspring rats were selected from each group, and electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the changes in the ultrastructure of jejunal microvilli and cell junction and the expression of cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) and motilin (MTL) in the feeding center, in order to reveal the possible mechanisms for abnormal gastrointestinal motility in offspring rats induced by embryonic lead exposure. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the low- and high-dose lead exposure groups had a significant reduction in daily food intake, a significant increase in water content of feces, a significant reduction in fecal pellet weight, and a significant increase in small intestine propulsion (P<0.05). The high-dose lead exposure group had a significant reduction in gastric emptying ability compared with the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the lead exposure groups had significantly greater pathological inflammatory changes in the gastric mucosa (P<0.05), significant reductions in the number and length of the jejunal microvilli and the number of epithelial desmosome junctions (P<0.05), a significant increase in the macula densa gap (P<0.05), and significant increases in the expression of MTL and CCK-8 in the feeding center (P<0.05), in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of gastrointestinal structural injury and expression levels of MTL and CCK-8 in the feeding center are lead dose-dependent, which may be important mechanisms for changes in food intake, bowel movement, and digestive functions in offspring rats induced by embryonic lead exposure.

[Effects of Xuesaitong Soft Capsule on hemodynamics and cardiocyte apoptosis of rats after myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Xuesaitong Soft Capsule, a compound traditional Chinese medicine, on hemodynamics and cardiocyte apoptosis of rats after myocardial infarction (MI) in different time and areas, and to explore its mechanism in inhibiting cardiac ventricle reconstitution and muscle remodeling. METHODS: Except rats in sham-operated group, MI was induced by ligaturing the left coronary artery main stem of rats' hearts. Then, rats were divided into untreated group and Xuesaitong group. Ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS), hemodynamics, ratio of heart weight to body weight (HW/BW ratio), and pathological changes of cardiac tissue were analyzed to assess cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy status 48 hours and 5 weeks after MI. Cardiocyte apoptosis in different areas was detected by fluorescently labeled TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and DNA ladder method. RESULTS: Comparing with the untreated group, EF and FS in the Xuesaitong group were significantly increased, and the apoptosis index was significantly decreased (P<0.01); 48 hours after MI, left ventricular systolic pressure and maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise were obviously increased, while left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and heart weight to body weight ratio were decreased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.01); LVEDP in the Xuesaitong group was decreased, while maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise and fall were increased as compared with the untreated group 5 weeks after MI (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Xuesaitong can efficiently treat reconstitution and remodeling of cardiac ventricle of rats after myocardial infarction by improving the heart function and inhibiting the cardiocyte apoptosis.

[The responses of photosynthesis to strong light in the medicinal plants Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher and Rheum tanguticum Maxim. on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau].

Photosynthetic electron transport and light energy allocation were studied in the alpine plants Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher and Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by using gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence. The results indicated that apparent quantum yield (AQY) of leaves of A. tanguticus was marginally higher than that of R. tanguticum although it had a lower maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax). The net photosynthetic rate (P(n)) of A. tanguticus was higher than R. tanguticum within the range of middle photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). However, the P(n) in R. tanguticum increased concomitantly with PPFD and did not appear to show light saturation of P(n) even under 2000 micromol m(-2) s(-1) which is similar to full light in summer (Fig.1). Increasing the PPFD to 1200 micromol m(-2) s(-1) decreased the ratio of carboxylation rate to total photosynthetic electron flow rate (J(C)/J(F)) although increased the ratio of photorespiration (J(O)/J(F)) for both species. Both J(C)/J(F) and J(O)/J(F) stabilized with a PPFD of more than 1200 micromol m(-2) s(-1) (Fig.2). The changes in the ratios of Rubisco oxygenation to carboxylation (V(O)/V(C)) were similar to changes to J(O)/J(F) (Fig.3). The increase of thermal energy dissipation (D) in A. tanguticus was higher than R. tanguticum with increased PPFD (Fig.4). It can be concluded that the two species adopt different mechanisms to cope with increased solar radiation. Increasing the fractions of PSII thermal energy dissipation and electron transport through photorespiration were the main adaptations in A. tanguticus. Enhancement of photosynthetic capacity with increased PPFD to balance the higher light energy absorbed by leaves is considered the main adaptation for R. tanguticum.