[Cloning and polymorphism analysis of intron 2 of the GH gene in Takifugu].

Size and nucleotide polymorphisms of intron 2 of the growth hormone (GH) gene was studied in 82 individuals from Takifugu obscurus, Takifugu rubripes and Takifugu niphobles with PAGE, SSCP and cloning. Results showed that there were nine length variants (A~I) in these fishes, ranging from 271351 bp, with a frequency of variation of 24.22%. Sequence analysis of the 9 length variants showed the average percentages of the four bases (ATG and C) were 17.15, 20.77, 37.38 and 24.70, respectively, and the difference between GC content (45.47) and AT content (54.53) was not remarkable. Length variation was mainly due to the variable number of microsatellite TCTG repeats (N=20 approximately 40). Further sequence comparison revealed 4 substitution sites: a (C-->A) transversion at nucleotide 103 and 3 transitions 83(C-->T), 101(A-->G) and 296(G-->A), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of these length variants placed DD and II into one group first, which was subsequently joined by GG and AA, BB and CC, EE and HH were then clustered together, FF was joined last. Thus, intraspecific variations were much smaller than interspecific variations for the intron 2 of the GH gene.

[Experimental study of protective effects of Xuebijing injection on stress-induced organ damage in rabbit].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine Xuebijing injection on stress-induced organ damage in rabbits. METHODS: Forty rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, the model group, the western medicine group, and the Xuebijing group. The stress-induced organ damage model was replicated by soak the rabbits in water, the animals in the western medicine group and Xuebijing group received injection of lytic cocktail and Xuebijing, respectively. The changes in cortisol (Cor), thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)), endothelin (ET), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) were determined at different time points in all the groups. The pathologic changes of the gastric mucosa, the adrenal gland and the cardiac muscle cell were observed. RESULTS: The content of Cor increased significantly in model group (P<0.01). The content of Cor decreased in the western medicine group and Xuebijing group, the changes showed no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). The contents of ET, TXA(2) decreased and NOS increased in Xuebijing group compared with the western medicine group, the differences were significant (all P<0.05). The pathological changes of the gastric mucosa, the adrenal gland and the cardiac myocyte were less marked in Xuebijing group, compared with the western medicine group, the difference was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Xuebijing has better protective effects on stress-induced organ damage.