Qiong Zhou — Page 2 | PubMed Health

PubMed2003

[Effect of plant alcohol extracts on vegetable aphids and their parasitoids].

The repelling and controlling effect of alcohol extracts from 8 common plant species on 3 major vegetable aphids (Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypii and Lipaphis erysimi) were studied in the laboratory, and the effect on their parasitoid was also studied. The results showed that the test 8 plant species had some effects on 3 aphids. The plant alcohol extracts from Tephrosia vogelli and Cinnamomum camphora had the most effect. The deterrent rate on Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypii and Lipaphis erysimi was 0.414, 0.729, 0.547 and 0.549, 0.690, 0.729, respectively. These 2 plants had the most controlling effect on 3 aphids, too. The alcohol extract of Cinnamomum camphora was safely for parasitoids (Aphidius gifuensis and Diaeretiella rapae).

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Variant PC12 cell line that spontaneously differentiates and extends neuritic processes.

The rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells differentiate into neuronal-like cells in response to treatment with neurotrophins. The cells have been extensively used for investigating neuronal differentiation and axonal growth. Here we report the isolation of a variant PC12 cell line, named PC12-N1, which spontaneously differentiates and extends neuritic processes. The PC12-N1 cells expressed many neuronal specific proteins, including the synaptosomal associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25), synaptotagmin, and synaptobrevin (also known as VAMP). The cells also expressed neurofilament protein of 68 kDa, a marker for differentiated neurons. In addition to the spontaneous neurite outgrowth, the PC12-N1 cells showed a marked increase in neurite outgrowth upon treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and cyclic AMP (cAMP). The activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases was examined by immunoblot analysis using phospho-specific antibodies. No overactivation was observed with ERK1/2 or p38. However, the c-Jun N-terminal kinase JNK/SAPK was activated approximately 10-fold over the parental PC12 cells. These results suggest that activation of JNK/SAPK may be involved in the spontaneous neurite extension in the PC12-N1 cells. Moreover, the PC12-N1 cells may be used as a model for investigating molecular signaling mechanisms underlying neuronal differentiation and axonal outgrowth.

Animals↗