Abstract In order to develop a quick method for predicting fatty acid in rice storage, gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) was applied to detect and analyze volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at different rice storage stages, and partial least squares regression (PLSR) algorithm was used to establish a linear regression model between fatty acid values and characteristic VOCs. The results showed that rice fatty acid values increased gradually with extension of storage time. Odor components of rice mainly included alcohols and aldehydes. Except for 1-octene-3-alcohol, the content of other VOCs showed an overall downward trend during the storage period. After variable optimization using two different algorithms, the correlation coefficient of the PLSR cross validation model could reach 0.9544, and the corresponding root mean square error was 2.4093. In conclusion, fatty acid values of rice with different storage periods could be accurately predicted by using characteristic VOCs variables and chemometric tools, which would provide a rapid and nondestructive detection method for rice quality during storage based on odor information.

The genetic diversity of four protected indigenous chicken breeds was evaluated with 25 microsatellite markers. Polymorphism information content (PIC), heterozygosity with the estimator of genetic differentiation F ST and Nei's genetic distance were evaluated. The results showed that these four protected local chicken populations showed high levels of diversity. The proportion of inter-population subdivision among the four protected local chicken populations was 16.0%. The average heterozygosity was 0.514, 0.581, 0.567 and 0.589 in Dongan, Xuefeng black-bone, Xianghuang and Taoyuan chickens, respectively, while the average PIC estimates were 0.455, 0.581, 0.557 and 0.576. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using genetic distance and the neighbour-joining method. Its topology reflects the general pattern of genetic differentiation among the four chicken breeds. The results also showed high genetic diversity and genetic variation among all the breeds. The information about the four local breeds estimated by microsatellite analysis may be useful as an initial guide for the effective conservation of chicken genetic diversity and developing conservation strategies.

In order to explore the change rule of myoblast stem cells (satellite cells, SCs) in the denervated and re-innervated muscle and to investigate the cellular mechanism of the morphological and functional changes of the muscle, denervated muscle atrophy and nerve regeneration models were established in one-month-old rats. Postoperative indexes such as muscle wet weight, cell section areas, content of collagen fibers and DNA, electrophysiology, numbers of SCs in the triceps muscle of calf were dynamically tested. After denervation, the muscle wet weight and cell area reduced rapidly, and the collagen fiber content increased slowly. The number of SCs increased at first, and then declined suddenly two months later. From 4 to 5 weeks after re-neuralization, muscle action potentials could be evoked, but the best innervation effect was found in the groups, which received re-neuralization at 2 months and 3 months after denervation. Denervation causes a progressive progress of muscle atrophy. SCs proliferate within 3 months after denervation, and then atrophy becomes irreversible from 4 months. At 4 or 5 weeks after re-neuralization, muscle action potentials can be evoked. Re-neuralization at 2 months and 3 months after denervation can achieve a good effect on the functional recovery of the atrophic muscle.

Con el fin de explorar la regla de cambio de las células precursoras mioblásticas (células satélite, CSs) en el músculo denervado y re-inervado e investigar el mecanismo celular de los cambios morfológicos y funcionales del músculo, se establecieron, en ratas de un mes de edad, modelos de atrofia del músculo denervado y regeneración del nervio. Fueron examinados de manera dinámica índices postoperatorios tales como, el peso húmedo del músculo, áreas celulares de la sección, contenido de fibras de colágeno y ADN, electrofisiología, número de CSs en el músculo tríceps de las crías. Luego de la denervación, el peso del músculo húmedo y el área celular se redujeron rápidamente, mientras que el contenido de fibras colágenas aumentó lentamente. El número de CSs aumentó al inicio, pero más tarde, a los dos meses, disminuyó repentinamente. Entre las 4 a 5 semanas después de la reneuralización, los potenciales de acción muscular pudieron ser evocados, pero el mejor efecto de inervación se encontró en los grupos que recibieron reneuralización a los 2 y 3 meses después de la denervación. La denervación causó un avance progresivo de la atrofia muscular. Las CSs proliferaron dentro de los primeros 3 meses post-denervación, y luego de los 4 meses la atrofia fue irreversible. A las 4 o 5 semanas después de la reneuralizacón, los potenciales de acción muscular pueden ser evocados. La reneuralización a los 2 y 3 meses después de la denervación puede lograr un buen efecto en la recuperación funcional del músculo atrófico.

OBJETIVO: Metalotioneína 3 (MT-3) tem mostrado proteção contra a apoptose neuronal em cérebros de pacientes com doença de Alzheimer. Zinco é um potente inibidor da caspase-3, e sua deficiência pode promover a apoptose. No presente trabalho, foram dosados os níveis de zinco e cobre nos cérebros de camundongos PRONE8 com envelhecimento acelerado (SAMP8), visando investigar o efeito da MT-3 na apoptse dos neurônios da região hipocampal CA1 destes camundongos. MÉTODO: Os níveis de zinco e cobre em amostras cerebrais de camundongos SAMP8 e de controles normais SAMR1 foram determinados por absorção atômica em espectrofotometria. Foram administradas MT-3 ou MT-1 intraperitoneais durante quatro semanas, sendo em seguida avaliada a apoptose pelo método TUNEL , enquanto a expressão da proteína anti-apoptótica Bcl-2 e a proteína pró-apoptótica Bax foram avaliadas por imunohistoquímica. RESULTADOS: Em comparação aos camundongos SMAR1, o nível de zinco nas amostras cerebrais dos camundongos SAMP8 estava significativamente diminuído (P<0.05). Além disto, níveis significativos de apoptose foram observados no hipocampo dos camundongos SAMP8, o que, em comparação com os níveis em camundongos SMAR1, também mostrava níveis significativamente mais baixos de Bcl-2 e níveis mais altos de Bax (P<0.05). MT-3 aumentou a concentração de zinco no hipocampo dos camundongos SAMP8, além de diminuir significativamente a apoptose destes neurônios, de uma forma dose-dependente, ao mesmo tempo que aumentou níveis de Bcl-2 e diminuiu níveis de Bax. CONCLUSÃO: MT-3 pode atenuar a morte neuronal apoptótica no hipocampo de SAMP8, o que sugere que esta proteína possa diminuir a neurodegeneração.

OBJECTIVE: Metallothionein 3 (MT-3) has been shown to protect against apoptotic neuronal death in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Zinc is a potent inhibitor of caspase-3 and its deficiency was found to promote apoptosis. Here, we measured the zinc and copper content in the brains of senescence-accelerated mouse/PRONE8 (SAMP8) and sought to investigate the effect of MT-3 on the apoptosis of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region of these mice. METHOD: The zinc and copper content in the brain samples of SAMP8 and normal control SAMR1 mice were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mice were administered intraperitoneally for four weeks with MT-3 or MT1 and thereafter apoptosis was measured using the TUNEL method and the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and proapoptotic protein Bax was examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with that in SMAR1 mice, the content of zinc in the brains of SAMP8 mice was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Moreover, significant levels of apoptosis of neurons were observed in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice, which, compared with those in SMAR1 mice, also showed significantly lower levels of Bcl-2 and higher levels of Bax (P<0.05). MT-3 increased zinc concentration in the hippocampus of SAMP8 mice and also significantly decreased apoptosis in these neurons dose-dependently and increased the levels of Bcl-2 and decreased the levels of Bax. CONCLUSION: MT-3 could attenuate apoptotic neuron death in the hippocampus of SAMP8, suggesting that the protein may lessen the development of neurodegeneration.