[Effect of electroacupuncture on expression of NF-κB and TNF-α in renal tissue of rats with acute cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on motor function, serum Cystatin C (Cys C) content, and expressions of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in renal tissue of rats with acute cerebral infarction (ACI), so as to explore its underlying mechanisms in protecting renal tissue after ACI. METHODS: Seventy-two male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation, model and EA groups which were further randomly allocated to 1 d, 3 d, 7 d and 14 d subgroups (n=6 per subgroup). The ACI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). Rats of the EA group received EA of "Neiguan" (PC6) and "Zusanli" (ST36) for 30 min, once daily for 1, 3, 7 and 14 days, respectively. The motor function and content of Cys C were determined on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th day after ACI. The expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the motor function scores and the content of Cys C increased significantly on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 14th d (P<0.01), while the numbers of TNF-α and NF-κB positive cells of the model group increased significantly on the 3rd, 7th and 14th d (P<0.01). After EA treatment, the motor function scores and the content of Cys C on the 7th, and 14th d, and the numbers of TNF-α and NF-κB positive cells on the 3rd, 7th and 14th d obviously decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA at PC6 and ST36 can improve motor function and alleviate renal injury in ACI rats, possibly by regulating the expression of TNF-α, NF-κB in renal tissue and Cys C in serum.

Wrinkled petals and stamens 1, is required for the morphogenesis of petals and stamens in Lotus japonicus.

Although much progress has been made in understanding how floral organ identity is determined during the floral development, less is known about how floral organ is elaborated in the late floral developmental stages. Here we describe a novel floral mutant, wrinkled petals and stamens1 (wps1), which shows defects in the development of petals and stamens. Genetic analysis indicates that wps1 mutant is corresponding to a single recessive locus at the long arm of chromosome 3. The early development of floral organs in wps1 mutant is similar to that in wild type, and the malfunction of the mutant commences in late developmental stages, displaying a defect on the appearance of petals and stamens. In the mature flower, petals and stamen filaments in the mutant are wrinkled or folded, and the cellular morphology under L1 layer of petals and stamen filaments is abnormal. It is found that the expression patterns of floral organ identity genes are not affected in wps1 mutants compared with that of wild type, consistent with the unaltered development of all floral organs. Furthermore, the identities of epidermal cells in different type of petals are maintained. The histological analysis shows that in wps1 flowers all petals are irregularly folded, and there are knotted structures in the petals, while the shape and arrangement of inner cells are malformed and unorganized. Based on these results, we propose that Wps1 acts downstream to the class B floral organ identity genes, and functions to modulate the cellular differentiation during the late flower developmental stages.

Isolation and characterization of flower-specific transcripts in Acacia mangium.

Acacia mangium Willd. is a legume tree species native to subtropical and tropical regions of Asia and Australia. Many features of its flower development are common to other legume tree species. To identify genes involved in its floral development, we constructed a subtractive flower cDNA library against vegetative tissues. The 1123 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) represented 576 unique genes. Macroarray analysis further identified 147 of these genes as specific to the early, late or whole flowering process. Eight percent of these flower-specific genes encode MADS-domain-containing transcription factors and MYB proteins. Four percent encode other transcription factors and 10% encode regulatory proteins such as G proteins, kinases and phosphatases. Flower-specific transcripts for gibberellic acid (GA) synthesis and GA-induced proteins, as well as other stress- and pathogenesis-related genes (9%), implicate their involvement in A. mangium flower development. Eighteen percent of the flower-specific genes encode hypothetical proteins and 18% encode proteins of unknown functions. The RNA blot hybridization confirmed and detailed the expression patterns of selected genes. Functions of the A. mangium flower-specific genes are discussed based on comparison with their Arabidopsis homologues, most of which have been implicated in Arabidopsis floral development. Our work suggests general conservation of floral development in A. mangium and Arabidopsis. Further characterization of the conserved and different flower-specific genes will delineate the flowering process of this important legume tree species and facilitate genetic modification of its reproduction.