Biomedical subjects

Ning Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Ning Liu.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

[Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on protein kinase B activity and c-fos expression in CNE- I nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line].

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI 3-K/PKB) signal pathway was studied during the course of bFGF regulating carcinoma epithelioid cell lines- I (CNE- I ) nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell proliferation through altering time of bFGF treatment. METHODS: PKB activities were measured by advanced Takai method. C-fos expression was examined by Western Blot. RESULTS: bFGF (50 ng/ml) significantly stimulated PKB activity,After pretreatment of Wortmannin for 1 h, the PKB activity decreases to the basal levels(P < 0. 05),compared with control group. After treatment of bFGF (50 ng/ml) at various time, the expression of c-fos is increased. The expression of c-fos increases to the peak when the time of bFGF treatment is 30 min. After pretreatment of Wortmannin for 1 h, the expression of c-fos decreases 20% when the time of bFGF treatment was 30 min and when the time of bFGF treatment was 45 min, the expression of c-fos decreases 35%. CONCLUSIONS: 1. PI 3-K and PKB mediate bFGF-induced signal transduction in CNE- I nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line; PKB lies in downstream of PI 3-K. 2. bFGF induces the increased expression of c-fos through PI 3-K/PKB in CNE- I nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line.

Carcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of RSB-66, a novel round spermatid-specific protein.

Crystals of the RSB-66 protein have been grown at 291 K using NaCl as precipitant. In the refinement of the crystallization this protein, the crystallographic PCR method was used and was found to help in obtaining the best crystals more quickly and easily. The diffraction pattern of the crystal extends to 2.7 A resolution in-house. A full set of X-ray diffraction data were collected to 2.7 A from a single crystal. The crystals belong to space group P4212, with unit-cell parameters a = 90.4, b = 90.4, c = 122.2 A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees. The presence of two or three molecules per asymmetric unit gives a crystal volume per protein mass (V(M)) of 3.22 or 2.14 A(3) Da(-1), respectively.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[Transmaxillary approach for micro resection of clivus tumors, clinical analysis of 16 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the indications, key point, advantages, and disadvantages of transmaxillary approach for microsurgical removal of clivus tumors. METHODS: The clinical data of 16 consecutive patients with clivus tumors operated upon through transmaxillary approach, based on Le Fort I ostectomy, July 1999 to May 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients, 8 patients suffered from chordoma, 2 from angiofibroma, 1 from pituitary adenoma, 1 from chondroma, 1 from adenocarcinoma of grade II, 1 from mucoid cyst, 1 from myeloma, and 1 from fibrous dysplasia of bone. Four out of the 16 cases were with recurrent tumors after operation performed in other hospitals. The operation field of all 16 patients was satisfactorily exposed. The tumors of 10 cases were totally removed under microscope, and 6 tumors were subtotally removed. The complications included rhinorrhea in 1 case and malocclusion in 3 cases. There was no operative mortality. All patients were followed up for 6 approximately 40 months (ion average 20 months) with MRI. Four of them had local recurrence within 1 year, 1.5 years, 2 years, and 9 months respectively after operational and have lived with tumors till now. The remainders had resumed their normal life. CONCLUSION: An ideal approach, transmaxillary approach facilitates the resection of clivus tumors, with satisfying exposure and fewer complications.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2003

[Expression of aFGF in ovarian epithelial cancer and its signal transduction pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and its receptor FGFR1 in ovarian epithelial cancer and observe the effects of aFGF and TPK inhibitor Genistein on intracellular PKC and ERK activity in ovarian epithelial cancer cells line CAOV3. METHODS: The expression levels of aFGF and FGFR1 were evaluated by RT-PCR and western blot in 40 cases of ovarian epithelial cancer. The activity of PKC and ERK in cells induced by different concentration of aFGF and Genistein were detected by incorporation of [gamma-(32)P]-ATP into exogenous substrate. RESULTS: The expression levels of aFGFmRNA and FGFR1mRNA in the ovarian epithelial cancer were 0.981 +/- 0.130 and 1.047 +/- 0.148, respectively. Compared with normal ovary, ovarian tumor like condition and benign ovary tumors, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The expression levels in stage III - IV were significantly higher than those in stage I - II (P < 0.05). There were overexpression of aFGF and FGFR1 in the ovarian epithelial cancer in western blot, too. The intracellular PKC and ERK activity increased with aFGF in a dose dependent manner, Genistein suppressed the intracellular PKC and ERK activity also in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSION: aFGF may play an important role in carcinogenesis, development and invasion of ovarian epithelial cancer. Its receptor in human ovarian cancer cell line CAOV3 possessed TPK activity. These tyrosine-specific protein phosphorylation may initiate a cascade of biochemical events, which may increase the intracellular PKC and ERK activity. PKC and ERK locate downstream of TPK in CAOV3 cell line.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Base pairing among three cis-acting sequences contributes to template switching during hepadnavirus reverse transcription.

Synthesis of the relaxed-circular (RC) DNA genome of hepadnaviruses requires two template switches during plus-strand DNA synthesis: primer translocation and circularization. Although primer translocation and circularization use different donor and acceptor sequences, and are distinct temporally, they share the common theme of switching from one end of the minus-strand template to the other end. Studies of duck hepatitis B virus have indicated that, in addition to the donor and acceptor sequences, three other cis-acting sequences, named 3E, M, and 5E, are required for the synthesis of RC DNA by contributing to primer translocation and circularization. The mechanism by which 3E, M, and 5E act was not known. We present evidence that these sequences function by base pairing with each other within the minus-strand template. 3E base-pairs with one portion of M (M3) and 5E base-pairs with an adjacent portion of M (M5). We found that disrupting base pairing between 3E and M3 and between 5E and M5 inhibited primer translocation and circularization. More importantly, restoring base pairing with mutant sequences restored the production of RC DNA. These results are consistent with the model that, within duck hepatitis B virus capsids, the ends of the minus-strand template are juxtaposed via base pairing to facilitate the two template switches during plus-strand DNA synthesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Radiolabeling morpholinos with 90Y, 111In, 188Re and 99mTc.

UNLABELLED: This laboratory is investigating morpholinos (MORF), a DNA analogue, for radiopharmaceutical applications. While we routinely radiolabel with (99m)Tc, we have now labeled MORFs with (111)In, (188)Re and (90)Y in anticipation of therapeutic studies. METHODS: A 25 mer MORF with a primary amine on the 3' equivalent end attached via a 10 member linker was conjugated with an isothiocyanate backbone derivative of DOTA (for labeling with (111)In and (90)Y) and with NHS-MAG(3) (for labeling with (188)Re and (99m)Tc). The in vitro stability of labeled MORFs were investigated and biodistribution was carried out in normal mice. RESULTS: As evident by size exclusion HPLC, ITLC and Sep-Pak analysis, all four radiolabeled MORFs were successfully radiolabeled. In each case, the labeled MORFs showed one sharp peak in HPLC that shifted completely to earlier retention times following addition of a polymer conjugated with the complementary MORF. In saline at room temperature and in 37 degrees C serum, the radioactivity profile of (111)In, (188)Re and (99m)Tc was unchanged over 48 h while over the same period, the (90)Y profile showed a pronounced lower molecular weight peak which did not shift and was shown to be most probably due to (90)Y-DOTA resulting from radiolysis. In addition, the recovery of (188)Re on HPLC decreased as samples aged probably due to oxidation to perrhenate which was retained by the HPLC column. The biodistributions at 1, 3 and 6 h in normal mice showed no important differences among all four labels with the exception that levels of radioactivity in stomach and thyroid were higher in the case of (188)Re due to in vivo oxidation of the radiolabel to perrhenate. CONCLUSIONS: When radiolabeled with DOTA, (90)Y-labeled MORF showed increased instabilities relative to that of (111)In and when radiolabeled with MAG(3), (188)Re showed in vitro and in vivo instabilities compared to (99m)Tc, but all labels were still largely intact after 48 h in saline or serum. Possibly because of the rapid clearance of MORFs, no important differences in biodistribution among (90)Y, (111)In and (99m)Tc labels were evident in normal mice. These strategies for labeling MORF with (90)Y and (188)Re therefore appear to be suitable for therapeutic applications although both show some evidence of instabilities.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[Effect of Zingiber OfficinaleRosc on lipid peroxidation in hyperlipidemia rats].

Zingiber Officinale Rosc(ginger) is the food of rhizoma species as well as Chinese traditional medicine and has various pharmacological effects. The last researches showed that ginger not only reduced plasma lipid levels but also the mouse atherosclerotic lesion areas. The ginger antioxidative effect maybe pay an important role in attenuation of development of atherosclerosis. Antioxidative effect of Zingiber Officinale Rosc on hyperlipidemia rats have been studied and the changes of GSH-Px and LPO in their blood have been observed in this paper. Male adult Wistar rats were grouped into control, preventive and curative teams. The experimental teams were respectively fed on the test diet containing 2% ginger and 5% ginger, in order to measure the changes of plasma lipid peroxides (LPO) and glutathione (GSH-Px) after the experiment. The results show that ginger increased GSH-Px and reduced LPO in the rats' blood. Ginger could inhibit and/or scaving radicals of rat body in different degrees.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[Prospective randomized trial of prophylaxis of postoperative peritoneal carcinomatosis of advanced gastric cancer: intraperitoneal chemotherapy with mitomycin C bound to activated carbon particles].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the beneficial effect of intraperitoneally applied mitomycin bound to activated carbon particles (MMC-CH) in the prevention and treatment of intraabdominal recurrence after curative surgery for gastric cancer. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four patients with radically resected gastric cancer infiltrating the serosal surface were randomly divided into group receiving 50 mg mitomycin bound to a solution of 375 mg carbon adsorbent intraperitoneally before closure of the abdominal wound (n = 62) and a control group (n = 62). The patients with MMC-CH and the control group were received systemic chemotherapy 3 months or 3 weeks after operation respectively. The postoperative recurrence-free survival was evaluated to analyze the benefits of this treatment. RESULTS: After observation for 8 months (range, 2 - 65). The 3-, 5-year postoperative recurrence-free survival rates were significantly higher in the MMC-CH group (70.16%, 44.51%) than in the control group (27.09%, 14.45%), P < 0.01. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy of gastric cancer by mitomycin bound to activated carbon particles is effected by an increased postoperative recurrence-free survival rate.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed2003

[Effects of nandrolone phenylpropionate on the expression level of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen after burn in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of nandrolone phenylpropionate (NP) on the expression level of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen after burn in rats and the possible mechanism involved in the process. METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar rats with a deep second-degree scald injury and 20% of total body surface area were randomly divided into two groups to receive either 5 mg/kg NP(NP group) or normal saline (control group) every other day. We analyzed the mean integrated optical density(mIOD) of androgen receptor (AR) to determine the distribution and expression of AR in fibroblasts by immunohistochemistry, and measured expression level of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA by quantitative fluorescent RT-PCR to find the relation between expressions of AR and pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA. The total specimens were obtained from the scalded rats after 4, 7, 14 and 21 of after burn. RESULTS: The expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA in NP group was significantly higher than that in control group on the 7th, 14th and 21st days(P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference on the 4th day. The density of AR in fibroblasts had significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two groups after 4, 7, 14 and 21 days. A positive relationship existed between the expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA and quantity of AR in fibroblasts(r = 0.836). CONCLUSION: The nandrolone phenylpropionate increased the expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA and enhanced the density of AR in fibroblasts. The higher expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA had a relation with the change of quantity of AR in fibroblasts.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

[The application of SCGE-KIAS in monitoring of DNA damage in lymphocytes of tumor patients treated with cyclophosphamide].

Single cell gel electrophoresis assay (SCGE), also named as alkaline comet assay, was a simple, rapid and sensitive method to evaluate DNA damage. In this study SCGE technique was used to monitor DNA damage difference in tumor patients caused by chemotherapy, DNA damage distribution frequency and DNA damage characters were analyzed by komet image analysis system (KIAS). The results showed that cyclophosphamide greatly caused DNA damage in lymphocytes of tumor patients. There was significant difference of peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA damage between tumor patients and healthy controls. Tail length of lymphocytes were 33.69 +/- 7.56 micro m, and tail DNA% we re 31.51 +/- 5.4 6% in 10 cancer patients treated with cyclophosphamide, while Tail length were 1 6.2 +/- 1.5 micro m and tail DNA% were 7.46 +/- 1.15% in healthy controls. there was great significant difference on tail length and tail DNA% values between cancer patients and healthy controls (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the successful measurement of DNA damage caused by Cyclophosphamide treatment means that the alkaline comet assay as a valuable tool can be very useful in cancer epideminology study, and also be valuable to evaluate DNA damage status of patients in clinic.

Comet Assay↗

PubMed2003

[Expression of aFGF and bFGF in ovarian cancer and their effect on ovarian cancer cell proliferation].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: There was overexpression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) in many kinds of malignant tumors. Overexpression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been found in ovary cancer and there is no report about acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) in ovary cancer up to now. The aim of this study was to explore the expression of aFGF and bFGF in ovarian cancer, and the effects of exogenous aFGF and bFGF on the proliferation of ovarian cancer OVCA3 cells, to discuss the relationship between FGF and ovary cancer. METHODS: The expression levels of aFGF and bFGF were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 40 cases of ovarian epithelial cancer. MTT assay was used to determine the influence of aFGF and bFGF on the proliferation of ovarian cancer cell. RESULTS: The expression levels of aFGF mRNA and bFGF mRNA in the ovarian epithelial cancer were 0.981+/-0.130 and 1.023+/-0.131, respectively. Compared with normal ovary, ovarian tumor like lesion and benign ovary tumors, the difference was significant (P< 0.05). The expression levels in stage III-IV were significantly higher than those in stageI-II. Addition of exogenous aFGF and bFGF to OVCA3 cell line resulted in significant and reproducible increases in cell number in a dose-dependent manner. When the concentration of aFGF was at 1.2 microg/ml, the proliferative ratio of OVCA3 cell line was 1.51 times of the control group. When the concentration of bFGF was at 100 ng/ml, the proliferative ratio of OVCA3 cell line was 1.85 times of the control group. CONCLUSION: aFGF and bFGF may play important roles in carcinogenesis, development, and invasion of ovarian epithelial cancer, and they can be used as the important indices for biologic behavior of ovarian cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Identification and characterization of a novel replicative intermediate of heron hepatitis B virus.

We have identified and characterized a novel intracellular DNA replicative intermediate that is synthesized by heron hepatitis B virus (HHBV) and not by other avian hepadnaviruses. The new DNA form is synthesized in all host cells tested. The HHBV nucleic acid template, and not HHBV proteins, is responsible for the formation of the new form. The new form is comprised of a full-length minus-strand DNA and an incomplete plus-strand DNA whose 5' ends are mapped to DR2, predominantly. The 3' ends of its plus-strand are located between nucleotides 946 and 1046. Genetic analysis indicates that the sequences responsible for the formation of the new form lie between nucleotides 910 and 1364. The endogenous polymerase activity of capsids isolated from cells converted the new form into RC DNA. Intracellular capsids containing the new form are secreted inefficiently as virions, in comparison to RC- and DL DNA-containing capsids. Our analysis suggests that the new form is an incomplete RC DNA molecule that is due to a specific block or pause in the synthesis of plus-strand DNA. Our analysis also suggests that capsids become competent for efficient secretion sometime after the synthesis of 1500 nucleotides of plus-strand DNA.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Biosorption of 241Am by Rhizopus arrihizus: preliminary investigation and evaluation.

The biosorption of 241Am from solution by a fungus-Rhizopus Arrihizus (R. arrihizus), and the effect of experimental conditions on the adsorption were investigated. The preliminary results showed that the biosorption of 241Am by R. arrihizus is very efficient. An average of more than 99% of the total 241Am was removed by R. arrihizus of 1.3 g/l (dry weight) from 241Am solutions of 5.6-111 MBq/l (44.3-877.2 microg/l) (C0), with adsorption capacities (W) of 4.2-79.4 MBq/g biomass (dry weight) (33.2-627.5 microg/g). The biosorption equilibrium was achieved within 1 h and the optimum pH ranged from 1 to 3. No significant differences in 241Am biosorption were observed at 10-45 degrees C, or in solutions containing Au3+ or Ag+, even 2,000 times above 241Am concentration. The relationship between concentrations and adsorption capacities of 241Am indicated that the 241Am biosorption by R. arrihizus obeys the Freundlich adsorption equation.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2002

Nitriles form mixed-coligand complexes with (99m)Tc-HYNIC-peptide.

Using a 12-amino acid peptide conjugated with HYNIC as a model, we investigated nitriles as possible coligands for labeling with (99m)Tc. After the preparation of the (99m)Tc labeled HYNIC-peptide using tricine as coligand, the addition of acetonitile was found by reverse phase HPLC to block further coligand exchange with ethylenediamine diacetic acid (EDDA) at room temperature. The addition of this nitrile changed the pharmacokinetics of the (99m)Tc labeled peptide in normal mice towards faster clearance and significant differences in accumulation in most tissues sampled. By replacing acetonitrile with cyanoacetate, a nitrile not present in the HPLC eluant, it was possible to show the existence of a new, more hydrophilic, species by reverse phase HPLC. We conclude that nitriles can act as coligands for HYNIC-conjugated peptides labeled with (99m)Tc and tricine. Furthermore, the presence of acetonitrile during Sep-Pak or HPLC purification may inadvertently generate a mixed tricine/acetonitile coligand (99m)Tc-HYNIC-peptide complex.

Acetonitriles↗

PubMed2002

Induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 in T-47D human breast cancer cells by benzo[a]pyrene is diminished by arsenite.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals are often environmental cocontaminants, yet there have been relatively few studies of combined effects of PAHs and metals on cytochrome P450 (P450)-catalyzed metabolism. We examined the effects of NaAsO(2) in combination with benzo[a]pyrene (BAP) on CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 in T-47D human breast cancer cells by using estrogen metabolism as a probe of their activities. Exposure to BAP caused elevated rates of the 2- and 4-hydroxylation pathways of estrogen metabolism, indicating induction of both CYP1A1, an estradiol 2-hydroxylase, and CYP1B1, an estradiol 4-hydroxylase. BAP-induced metabolism peaked 9 to 16 h after exposure and returned to near-basal levels by 48 h. Concentration-response studies showed maximal induction of the 2- and 4-hydroxylation pathways at 3 microM BAP; higher levels caused reduced rates of metabolism due to inhibition of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1. NaAsO(2) caused pronounced decreases in the induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 by 3 microM BAP because cotreatment with 10 microM NaAsO(2) inhibited the rates of the 2- and 4-hydroxylation pathways by 86 and 92%, respectively. Western immunoblots showed diminished levels of BAP-induced CYP1A1 by coexposure to NaAsO(2). The levels of the CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNAs induced by BAP were not significantly affected by coexposure to NaAsO(2); however, heme oxygenase 1 mRNA levels were markedly induced by coexposure to BAP and NaAsO(2). These results indicate a post-transcriptional inhibitory effect of arsenite on the expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 in T-47D cells, possibly resulting from reduced heme availability.

Arsenites↗

PubMed2002

Suppressive effects of rosmarinic acid on mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Rosmarinic acid is known to be a natural phenolic compound widely distributed in Labiatae herbs such as rosemary, sweet basil, and perilla. In the present study, we evaluated the suppressive effects of rosmarinic acid on mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis in vivo, which was induced by intravenous injection of rabbit anti-rat thymocyte serum (ATS) to rats. METHODS: Rosmarinic acid was orally administered to the rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day from the day of ATS injection (day 0) to day 8 when rats were sacrificed. The degree of mesangial cell proliferation and matrix accumulation were evaluated by trichrome staining and by immunostaining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), fibronectin, type IV collagen and fibrin. Superoxide dismutase (SOD)-activity in the homogenate of renal cortex was also evaluated. RESULTS: The number of PCNA-positive cells, staining areas of trichrome, fibronectin, collagen IV and fibrin in the glomerulus were significantly decreased, and SOD-activity of renal cortex homogenate was significantly augmented in rosmarinic acid-treated group. CONCLUSION: Rosmarinic acid would suppress the proliferation of mesangial cells and glomerular matrix expansion in vivo by its fibrinolytic and anti-oxidative activity.

Albumins↗

PubMed2002

Tumor pretargeting in mice using (99m)Tc-labeled morpholino, a DNA analog.

UNLABELLED: Over the past several years, investigators in this laboratory and elsewhere have been studying tumor localization by pretargeting with streptavidin and biotin or with avidin and biotin. Despite encouraging results, difficulties related to endogenous biotin and the immunogenicities of streptavidin and avidin have made a search for alternative strategies sensible. Recently, we have considered the use of DNAs and peptide nucleic acids for this purpose because oligomers can have hybridization affinities equivalent to that of biotin for streptavidin or avidin without the associated difficulties. We now report on the use of a morpholino (MORF), another commercially available synthetic oligomer, for pretargeting applications. MORFs support the nitrogenous bases by nonionic phosphorodiamidate linkages and, besides being nuclease resistant, can display good water solubility. METHODS: An 18mer MORF and its 18mer complementary MORF (cMORF) were obtained with a primary amine through a 3-member alkyl linker on the 3' equivalent end. An anti--carcinoembryonic antigen IgG antibody (MN14) was conjugated with MORF, whereas cMORF was conjugated with N-hydroxysuccinimide-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) to permit radiolabeling with (99m)Tc. The biodistribution of labeled cMORF was first evaluated in normal CD-1 mice. Subsequently, nude mice bearing LS174T tumors received 50 microg conjugated antibody 48 h before the administration of 1.0 microg (7.4 MBq) (99m)Tc-MAG3-cMORF. Control animals received the labeled cMORF without prior administration of the antibody. A clearing step was not used. RESULTS: Biodistributions in normal mice showed that (99m)Tc-MAG3-cMORF was excreted rapidly through the kidneys, with only 7 percentage injected dose (%ID) remaining within the whole body (excluding urine) at 3 h. In tumor-bearing mice at 24 h, only 11 %ID of the radioactivity remained in the whole body of study animals, and of this amount, 2 %ID/g was in tumor tissue. The sites with the highest %ID were the kidneys, at 4 %ID/g, and the blood, at 0.5 %ID/g; all other organs had <1 %ID/g. At the same time, values for the control animals were 5 %ID (whole body), 0.05 %ID/g (tumor), and 3 %ID (kidneys). All images reflected high uptake in the tumors and low uptake in the normal tissues of the study mice. CONCLUSION: Pretargeting using MORFs was effective in a mouse tumor model.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

[Ecological adaptability of Pennisetum centrasiaticum clones on farmland-sand dune ecotone of Keerqin sandy land].

The individual growth, morphology and population biomass of Pennisetum centrasiaticum clones at two different habitats of farmland-sand dune ecotone on Keerqin sandy land of Inner Mongolia were compared in this study. P. centrasiaticum clones had significant morphological plasticity and different biomass distribution pattern at different habitats. Compared with P. centrasiaticum clones on semi-fixed sand dunes, those on farmland-sand dune transitive zone had a greater leaf elongation, longer rhizomes and internodes, more adventitious buds, larger amount of biomass, and deeper distribution of underground biomass, which were closely associated with the loose texture of the upper soil and the rather favorable water condition of the lower soil. It is believed that the population can well adapt itself to the farmland-sand dune ecotone habitats, and thus, play an important role in fixing mobile sand in succession of arenaceous vegetation.

Adaptation, Biological↗