BITC induces cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration

Mammalian cardiomyocytes have the ability to proliferate from the embryonic stage until early neonatal stage, with most of them being arrested from the cell cycle shortly after birth. Therefore, adult mammalian heart cannot regenerate myocardial injury. Despite much attention, pharmacological approaches for the induction of cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration have yet to be successful. To induce cardiomyocyte proliferation by drug administration, we focused on benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC). Firstly, we showed that BITC induces cardiomyocyte proliferation both in vitro and in vivo through the activation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) pathway. In addition, we demonstrated that BITC treatment induces heart regeneration in the infarcted neonatal heart even after the regeneration period. Furthermore, we administered BITC to adult mice in parallel with mild hypoxia (10% O2) treatment and showed that a combination of BITC administration and mild hypoxia exposure induces cell cycle reentry in the adult heart. The present study suggests that pharmacological activation of the CDK pathway with BITC concurrently with the activation of hypoxia-related signaling pathways may enable researchers to establish a novel strategy to induce cardiac regeneration in patients with heart disease.

Characteristics and Spatial Influencing Factors of Natural Regeneration within Aquaculture ponds in a Mangrove Forest

Regeneration is an important component of community succession and understanding regeneration dynamics is essential for forest protection and recovery management. Mangroves are distributed along coastlines and this unique habitat has resulted in very different regeneration process. This study took Dongzhaigang mangrove forest in Hainan, China as the study area, considered the 10 years regeneration process in 8 abandoned aquaculture ponds, and the spatial factors that influence the regeneration process are analyzed. The objectives were to: a) investigate the natural dynamics of the mangrove regeneration process in abandoned ponds, b) determine the main spatial factors affecting the natural regeneration process. The results showed that the number of species and individuals showed a tendency to initially rise and then decline, with the maximum occurring at 6–8 years. The results of a diversity index showed an initial rise, with stabilization then occurring over a 8 year period. Aegiceras corniculatum and Sonneratia apetala were typical pioneer mangrove species in the study area, while Bruguiera sexangula and Kandelia obovata were representative species of late regeneration period. Spatial factors, including pond area and shape, relative elevation, distance to a tidal creek and surrounding trees area played important roles in the regeneration of mangrove in ponds. Finally, the study considered the current situation regarding mangrove restoration in China and suggested that natural regeneration of mangroves is a good management option.

Characteristics and Spatial Influencing Factors of Natural Regeneration within Aquaculture ponds in a Mangrove Forest

Regeneration is an important component of community succession and understanding regeneration dynamics is essential for forest protection and recovery management. Mangroves are distributed along coastlines and this unique habitat has resulted in very different regeneration process. This study took Dongzhaigang mangrove forest in Hainan, China as the study area, considered the 10 years regeneration process in 8 abandoned aquaculture ponds, and the spatial factors that influence the regeneration process are analyzed. The objectives were to: a) investigate the natural dynamics of the mangrove regeneration process in abandoned ponds, b) determine the main spatial factors affecting the natural regeneration process. The results showed that the number of species and individuals showed a tendency to initially rise and then decline, with the maximum occurring at 6–8 years. The results of a diversity index showed an initial rise, with stabilization then occurring over a 8 year period. Aegiceras corniculatum and Sonneratia apetala were typical pioneer mangrove species in the study area, while Bruguiera sexangula and Kandelia obovata were representative species of late regeneration period. Spatial factors, including pond area and shape, relative elevation, distance to a tidal creek and surrounding trees area played important roles in the regeneration of mangrove in ponds. Finally, the study considered the current situation regarding mangrove restoration in China and suggested that natural regeneration of mangroves is a good management option.

Bulb Dormancy In Vitro—Fritillaria meleagris: Initiation, Release and Physiological Parameters

In ornamental geophytes, conventional vegetative propagation is not economically feasible due to very slow development and ineffective methods. It can take several years until a new plant is formed and commercial profitability is achieved. Therefore, micropropagation techniques have been developed to increase the multiplication rate and thus shorten the multiplication and regeneration period. The majority of these techniques rely on the formation of new bulbs and their sprouting. Dormancy is one of the main limiting factors to speed up multiplication in vitro. Bulbous species have a period of bulb dormancy which enables them to survive unfavorable natural conditions. Bulbs grown in vitro also exhibit dormancy, which has to be overcome in order to allow sprouting of bulbs in the next vegetation period. During the period of dormancy, numerous physiological processes occur, many of which have not been elucidated yet. Understanding the process of dormancy will allow us to speed up and improve breeding of geophytes and thereby achieve economic profitability, which is very important for horticulture. This review focuses on recent findings in the area of bulb dormancy initiation and release in fritillaries, with particular emphasis on the effect of plant growth regulators and low-temperature pretreatment on dormancy release in relation to induction of antioxidative enzymes’ activity in vitro.

Cardiac regeneration in the axolotl is unaffected by alterations in leukocyte numbers induced by lipopolysaccharide and prednisolone

Objective Cardiac regeneration in the axolotl has been found to rely on the innate immune system, and especially macrophages have been demonstrated to play a vital role in regulating the regenerative process. In this study we wanted to induce a pro- and anti-inflammatory milieu in the axolotl during heart regeneration to test the resilience of the regenerative response. Results This was induced via repeated intrapericardial injections of lipopolysaccharide or prednisolone during a 40-day regeneration period in order to challenge the presumably fine-tuned inflammatory response that normally facilitates regeneration. We observed a local and systemic leucocyte response to pro- and anti-inflammatory stimulation, but we found cardiac regeneration to be structurally and functionally unaffected.

Urban policy: estate regeneration

This chapter examines the shifting rationales and funding for estate regeneration in Britain with a focus on London. It provides an overview of urban renewal in both its old slum clearance form and new estate regeneration/demolition form. The chapter identifies an early estate regeneration period (1980s-90s) that included substantial public funding. However, from the late 1990s onwards, the private sector was increasingly expected to finance regeneration, while New Labour also emphasised creating mixed-tenure communities. The New Deal for Communities’ programme is discussed within this context. Rationales for comprehensive redevelopment are examined, including the roles played by neighbourhood effects and ‘sink estate’ place myth. The concept of entrepreneurial borough is introduced in relation to London and the entrepreneurial city (Harvey). The penultimate section identifies a key shift between earlier regeneration schemes (e.g. Comprehensive Estates Initiative in Hackney), and contemporary schemes (e.g. Heygate) which are the book’s primary focus. Whereas the former produced mixed-tenure neighbourhoods including limited private housing, 21st century regeneration schemes are estate densification projects which have resulted in distinct mixed-tenure neighbourhoods weighted towards market housing for sale rather than social renting – estate regeneration masquerading as state-led gentrification. The final section examines the financial and health costs of estate demolition.

Dynamics of indicators of the endothelium morphofunctional state of the brain microcirculatory bed vessels in rats with nitrite-induced Alzheimer's type dementia on the background of mesenchymal stem cell administration

Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the vascular endothelium morphofunctional state of the brain microcirculatory bed in rats with nitrite-induced Alzheimer's type dementia on the background of stem cells administration. Methods. 14 days after the experiment's end, the endothelin-1, VEGF-A, eNOS, von Willebrand factor were determined in blood serum by the enzyme immunoassay and photometric methods in rats with a model of nitrite-induced dementia (14 and 28 days of sodium nitrite intraperitoneal introduction) with and without mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) administration. The brain slices were stained according to the Einarson's method and immunohistochemically by staging the reaction with antibodies to VEGF. Results. With an increase in the sodium nitrite administration period, the degree of damage of brain capillaries and neurons increased, dystrophy of "surviving" neurons developed and ability to produce VEGF decreased. After 14 days of "regeneration period" in groups without MSCs administration, further stimulation of VEGF production by endotheliocytes, cortex and hippocampus neurons of varying degrees was observed. In groups where stem cells were introduced, the number of capillaries increased, with endothelial hyperplasia in some cases. Conclusion. In animals with nitrite-induced dementia, dose-dependent damage to the endothelium of the capillary bed is noted. From the first day damage the vascular regeneration can be proved by VEGF expression. The stem cells administration more effectively stimulates capillary regeneration, as evidenced by a noticeable increase of the number of brain capillaries.

Ultrastructural and Photosynthetic Responses of Pod Walls in Alfalfa to Drought Stress

Increasing photosynthetic ability as a whole is essential for acquiring higher crop yields. Nonleaf green organs (NLGOs) make important contributions to photosynthate formation, especially under stress conditions. However, there is little information on the pod wall in legume forage related to seed development and yield. This experiment is designed for alfalfa (Medicago sativa) under drought stress to explore the photosynthetic responses of pod walls after 5, 10, 15, and 20 days of pollination (DAP5, DAP10, DAP15, and DAP20) based on ultrastructural, physiological and proteomic analyses. Stomata were evidently observed on the outer epidermis of the pod wall. Chloroplasts had intact structures arranged alongside the cell wall, which on DAP5 were already capable of producing photosynthate. The pod wall at the late stage (DAP20) still had photosynthetic ability under well-watered (WW) treatments, while under water-stress (WS), the structure of the chloroplast membrane was damaged and the grana lamella of thylakoids were blurry. The chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b concentrations both decreased with the development of pod walls, and drought stress impeded the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments. Although the activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCo) decreased in the pod wall under drought stress, the activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) increased higher than that of RuBisCo. The proteomic analysis showed that the absorption of light is limited due to the suppression of the synthesis of chlorophyll a/b binding proteins by drought stress. Moreover, proteins involved in photosystem I and photosystem II were downregulated under WW compared with WS. Although the expression of some proteins participating in the regeneration period of RuBisCo was suppressed in the pod wall subjected to drought stress, the synthesis of PEPC was induced. In addition, some proteins, which were involved in the reduction period of RuBisCo, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy metabolism, and related to resistance, including chitinase, heat shock protein 81-2 (Hsp81-2), and lipoxygenases (LOXs), were highly expressed for the protective response to drought stress. It could be suggested that the pod wall in alfalfa is capable of operating photosynthesis and reducing the photosynthetic loss from drought stress through the promotion of the C4 pathway, ATP synthesis, and resistance ability.

Frost risk indicator analysis in Sopron wine region (1961–2016)

A characteristic symptom of climate change is the modified distribution of frost events that has fundamental effect on agricultural production. To learn these changes in Sopron region, Hungary, we investigated daily minimum and maximum temperature data of the period 1961–2016 provided by the Hungarian Meteorological Service. The time interval 1961–2016 was split into two (1961–1990 and 1991–2016) in order to compare nearly two climate cycles statistically. We analyzed the 56-year trends of the last frosty day of spring and the first frosty day of autumn as well as the length of the longest yearly frost-free period. As for the winter period (October 16 – February 28), the frequencies of four different strengths of frosty days were examined. We analyzed how often an uninterrupted frost-free period (Tmin>0 °C) longer than 12 days developed between two frosty periods in spring and in autumn, exactly when it occurred (Julian day), and how many days it lasted for. Finally, we investigated the trends of the yearly numbers of spring frosty days and their variances. Amongst others, we show that the length of the longest uninterrupted frost-free periods has increased significantly over the past 56 years, with 70% of years in the recent climate cycle (1991–2016) having frost-free periods of more than 200 days. As an average change per 10 years, the last spring frost period ended four days earlier, while the onset of autumn frost shifted 2 days towards the end of the year. The number of days with minimum temperatures below -15 °C, -10 °C, -5 °C, and below 0 °C decreased significantly during the dormant period. These changes mean a prolongation of the growing season, partly a reduction of the winter regeneration period, and the potential higher overwintering success of the pests. The number of spring frost days also decreased significantly, while their variability has grown markedly.