[Genetic transformation of hairy roots in Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. by Ti and Ri plasmids]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a hairy root culture system by double transformation for Trichosanthes kirilowii.

METHOD

1. Crown galls were induced by direct infection of sterile seedlings of T. kirilonii with Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58, and then the hairy roots were obtained from the regenerated plants by infection with A. rhzogenes 15834; 2. Transformation of Ti and Ri plasmids was inspected by high-pressure-paper electrophoresis; 3. The protein contents in the tissues of T. kirilowii were inspected by spectrophotometer and SDS-PAGE.

RESULT

A hairy root culture system has been established successfully by double transformation with Ti and Ri plasmids in T. kirilowii.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the ordinary hairy roots, the double transformed hairy roots grow faster but retain similar protein contents.

Chronic pulmonary infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae leading to pulmonary arteriole remodeling and pulmonary hypertension in rats

The pulmonary arteriole remodeling in Wistar rats with respiratory infection induced by mycoplasma pneumoniae was observed using light microscopy and morphometry. The pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and index of right ventricular hypertrophy (RVHI) were measured. The intimal and medial hypertrophy can be seen in the pulmonary arterioles, leading to vessel wall thickening and narrowing of the lumina. The total number of the pulmonary arterioles decreased (P < 0.01), and both pulmonary hypertension (Ppa 4.11 +/- 0.19 kPa) and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVHI = 34.96 +/- 3.91%) occurred. In addition, an interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was found, in which the content of collagen in the lung tissue changed, i. e., type I collagen increased whereas type III one decreased, and the ratio of type I collagen to type III one increased. It suggested that respiratory infection induced by repeated MP may result in remodeling of pulmonary arterioles and are closely related to pulmonary hypertension.