NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype glutamate receptors regulate the acute stress effect on hippocampal long-term potentiation/long-term depression in vivo

Behavioral stress facilitates long-term depression but impairs long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. Recent evidence in vitro demonstrates that the NIR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype glutamate receptor antagonist Ro25-6981 prevents the beh

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent long-term potentiation in CA1 region affects synaptic expression of glutamate receptor subunits and associated proteins in the whole hippocampus

Long term potentiation in hippocampus, evoked by high-frequency stimulation, is mediated by two major glutamate receptor subtypes, alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Receptor subunit compos

Low potential detection of glutamate based on the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH at thionine/single-walled carbon nanotubes composite modified electrode

A glutamate biosensor based on the electrocatalytic oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), which was generated by the enzymatic reaction, was developed via employing a single-walled carbon nanotubes/thionine (Th-SWNTs) nanocomposite as a mediator and an enzyme immobilization matrix. The biosensor, which was fabricated by immobilizing glutamate dehydrogenase (GIDH) on the surface of Th-SWNTs, exhibited a rapid response (ca. 5 s), a low detection limit (0.1 mu M), a wide and useful linear range (0.5-400 mu M), high sensitivity (137.3 +/- 15.7) mu A mM(-1) cm(-2), higher biological affinity, as well as good stability and repeatability. In addition, the common interfering species, such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, and 4-acetamidophenol, did not cause any interference due to the use of a low operating potential (190 mV vs. NHE). The biosensor can be used to quantify the concentration of glutamate in the physiological level. The Th-SWNTs system represents a simple and effective approach to the integration of dehydrogenase and electrodes, which can provide analytical access to a large group of enzymes for wide range of bioelectrochemical applications including biosensors and biofuel cells.

Synthesis and characterization of functional poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) as a hydrophobic precursor

Four kinds of functional poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) copolymers containing chloro, azido, allyl or propargyl groups on the side chains were synthesized through ester exchange reactions of PBLG with functional alcohols without any protection and de-protection process. Hydrolysis of PBLG, which was found during the ester exchange reaction under low ratios of alcohol to the repeat units of PBLG, was thoroughly investigated, and could be successfully depressed by addition of certain amount of benzyl alcohol to the reaction system. Click chemistry reactions of the azidized or propargylated copolymers, thiol-ene reaction of the allyllated copolymer were taken successfully, indicating that the functional groups on the copolymers were still reactive.

The Surface Modification of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles by the Ring Opening Polymerization of gamma-Benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride

The surface modification of hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles by the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride (BLG-NCA) was proposed to prepare the poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG)-grafted HA nanoparticles (PBLG-g-HA) for the first time. HA nanoparticles were firstly treated by 3-aminopropylthriethoxysilane (APS) and then the terminal amino groups of the modified HA particles initiated the ROP of BLG-NCA to obtain PBLG-g-HA. The process was monitored by XPS and FT-IR. The surface grafting amounts of PBLG on HA ranging from 12.1 to 43.1% were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that the ROP only underwent on the surface of HA nanoparticles without changing its bulk properties. The SEM measurement showed that the PBLG-g-HA hybrid could form an interpenetrating net structure in the self-assembly process.

Electrochemical study of ion channel behavior in incorporated poly L-glutamate bilayer lipid membranes

The lipid layer membranes were fabricated on the glassy carbon electrode (GC) and demonstrated to be bilayer lipid membranes by impedance spectroscopy. The formation of incorporated poly L-glutamate bilayer lipid membrane was achieved. The ion channel behavior of the incorporated poly L-glutamate membrane was determined. When the stimulus calcium cations were added into the electrolyte, the ion channel was opened immediately and exhibited distinct channel current. Otherwise, the ion channel was closed. The cyclic voltammogram at the GC electrode coated with incorporated poly L-glutamate DMPC film response to calcium ion is very fast compared with that at the GC electrode coated only with DMPC film. Ion channel current is not dependent on the time but on the concentration of calcium. The mechanism of the ion channel formation was investigated.

骨的压电性和压电膜对骨生长的影响

本文首先简单地介绍了骨的弯曲、剪切和拉伸应力引起的压电性的研究;然后,叙述了人造聚合物的压电特性的一些最近研究;最后,报告了植入聚四氟乙烯(Telflon),聚γ-甲基-L-谷氨酸酯(Poly-γ-methyl-L-glutamate),胶原(collagen)和聚偏氟乙烯(Polyvinylidene fluoride)膜的影响下,观察了骨生长的实验。脉动的离子流抵销了动物运动引起的压电极化电荷,这似乎促进了聚合物膜周围骨痂的形成。

Coupling between NMDA receptor and acid-sensing ion channel contributes to ischemic neuronal death

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) composed of ASIC1a subunit exhibit a high Ca2+ permeability and play important roles in synaptic plasticity and acid-induced cell death. Here, we show that ischemia enhances ASIC currents through the phosphorylation at Ser478 and Ser479 of ASIC1a, leading to exacerbated ischemic cell death. The phosphorylation is catalyzed by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activity, as a result of activation of NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptors (NMDARs) during ischemia. Furthermore, NR2B-specific antagonist, CaMKII inhibitor, or overexpression of mutated form of ASIC1a with Ser478 or Ser479 replaced by alanine (ASICla-S478A, ASIC1a-S479A) in cultured hippocampal neurons prevented ischemia-induced enhancement of ASIC currents, cytoplasmic Ca2+ elevation, as well as neuronal death. Thus, NMDAR-CaMKII cascade is functionally coupled to ASICs and contributes to acidotoxicity during ischemia. Specific blockade of NMDAR/CaMKII-ASIC coupling may reduce neuronal death after ischemia and other pathological conditions involving excessive glutamate release and acidosis.

Effects of aniracetam on extracellular levels of transmitter amino acids in the hippocampus of the conscious gerbils: an intracranial microdialysis study

The effects of aniracetam on extracellular amino acid levels in the hippocampus of conscious gerbils, with or without transient cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, were measured by microdialysis and reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography. Increased extracellular levels of aspartate and glutamate that were observed in the hippocampus of conscious gerbils during transient global forebrain ischemia were reversed by aniracetam. In contrast, the level of extracellular gamma-aminobutyric acid was increased, while taurine was maintained at a higher level than other amino acids by administration of aniracetam (100 mg/kg, p.o.) 60 min before ischemia. Further, in contrast to ischemic animals, administration of aniracetam (100 mg/kg, p.o.) enhanced the release of glutamate and aspartate in the normal gerbil hippocampus. The results suggest that these effects might be due to a partial calcium agonist activity of aniracetam, and that the effects of aniracetam on amino acid levels might be a mechanism of protection against delayed neuronal death in the ischemic hippocampus, thereby improving memory dysfunction induced by ischemia/reperfusion. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biosensors for fermentation process control

Two biosensors for fermentation process control have been introduced, which were developed in our lab recently. One is an enzyme electrode-based on-line monitoring system for glutamate fermentation process control and the other is an H+-ISFET-based ENFET for penicillin G fermentation process control.

1. 大鼠海马-前额叶回路在学习记忆中的作用2. 芬克罗酮改善恒河猴空间工作记忆的谷氨酸机制

一、大鼠海马-前额叶回路在学习记忆中的作用 解剖学研究证实大鼠和猴的海马结构（hippocampal formation, HF；本文‘海马 (hippocampus, Hip)’一词即指海马结构）和前额叶 (prefrontal cortex, PFC) 之间存在一条单向、同侧和单突触的神经回路，即海马-前额叶回路（Hip-PFC回路）。Hip和PFC均参与学习记忆等多种认知功能，PFC是工作记忆的关键脑区，而Hip是空间参考记忆的关键脑区。虽然人们已经对PFC和Hip进行了广泛深入的研究，但对Hip-PFC回路参与哪些认知功能还知之甚少。本研究的目的就是通过暂时阻断Hip-PFC回路，探讨其在学习和记忆中的作用。 在大鼠，Hip-PFC回路中的纤维主要从Hip腹部 (ventral hippocampus, VH)发出，投射到PFC的前边缘皮质(prelimbic cortex, PLC)、下边缘皮质 (infralimbic cortex, ILC) 和外侧前额叶 (lateral prefrontal cortex) 等亚区，其中PLC是Hip-PFC主要投射的区域。我们通过给动物安装慢性导管向脑内注射GABAA受体激动剂muscimol (MU) 阻断Hip-PFC回路。注射位点包括 ①双侧PLC，②双侧VH，③一侧VH和对侧PLC (VH-PLC)。我们首先观察了在PLC或VH局部注射MU对自由活动大鼠PLC和VH脑电功率的影响，并以此确定在行为实验中所用蝇蕈醇的剂量。然后采用T-迷宫空间交互延缓作业 (spatial delayed alternation task) 测试Hip-PFC回路被阻断的动物的空间工作记忆功能；采用被动回避作业 (passive avoidance task) 测试其情绪相关记忆的能力（训练前给药；24 h后重测试）；采用Morris水迷宫作业 (Morris water maze task) 测试其空间参考记忆的能力（每天训练前给药；训练期（3 d）结束24 h后重测试）。结果表明：在大鼠PLC或VH局部注射0.5 μg/0.25μl MU后30 min显著抑制VH 和PLC的脑电功率 (VH, p < 0.01; PLC, p < 0.05 vs. PBS/baseline)。注射MU (0.5 μg/0.25μl) 到 ①双侧PLC、②双侧VH、③VH-PLC均显著降低动物在空间交互延缓作业 (All p < 0.001, vs. PBS) 和空间Morris水迷宫作业中的成绩 (All p < 0.05, vs. PBS)，表明Hip-PFC回路在空间工作记忆（空间短时记忆）和在空间参考记忆（空间长时记忆）中均起重要作用。在空间交互延缓作业中，双侧PLC被抑制的大鼠的成绩显著低于双侧VH或VH-PLC被抑制的动物，说明PFC在空间工作记忆功能中占有主导地位。在被动回避作业中，双侧VH被抑制动物的回避反应的潜伏期显著短于对照动物 (p < 0.05 vs. PBS)，说明双侧VH被抑制动物的情绪记忆受损；而双侧PLC或VH-PLC被抑制的动物其回避反应的潜伏期与对照动物无显著差异 (PLC, p > 0.9; VH-PLC, p > 0.3 vs. PBS)，表明双侧PLC或VH-PLC被抑制的动物情绪记忆正常。被动回避作业的结果说明VH参与情绪记忆的形成，但Hip-PFC回路在情绪记忆形成中不起重要作用。 以上结果表明，大鼠Hip-PFC回路参与空间工作记忆和空间参考记忆而不是情绪记忆功能。情绪记忆的关键脑结构是杏仁复合体 (amygdala complex, AMC)，VH与AMC有密切的纤维联系。VH被抑制的大鼠情绪记忆受损，说明情绪记忆可能与AMC-Hip回路有关。情绪记忆与空间记忆（参考记忆和工作记忆）在解剖上的分离说明，对于不同类型的记忆来说，其在脑内的信息加工过程是并行的。神经回路内部的信息加工过程则是串行的，回路上任何一个结构的破坏均可导致回路功能的损伤。本研究的结果为学习记忆的“多重记忆系统”理论和记忆信息加工的串行并行机制提供了新的实验证据。 二、芬克罗酮改善成年恒河猴空间工作记忆的谷氨酸机制 芬克罗酮是中科院昆明植物所郝小江等合成的取代吡咯烷酮类化合物。中科院昆明动物所蔡景霞等发现芬克罗酮能改善东莨菪碱、育亨宾等导致的多种动物的不同类型的学习记忆障碍，提高老年动物的学习记忆能力，尤其是老年猴的空间工作记忆。已证实芬克罗酮为部分钙激动剂，可使脑缺血沙土鼠脑内升高的谷氨酸降低，而使正常的沙土鼠海马胞外谷氨酸释放增加。那么芬克罗酮能否提高正常动物的学习记忆，其对正常动物学习记忆的提高是否与其增加谷氨酸的释放有关？本研究采用空间延缓反应作业和谷氨酸NMDA受体拮抗剂MK-801在正常成年猴恒河猴上探讨了以上问题。 结果表明，口服芬克罗酮可显著提高成年猴的空间工作记忆，其量效曲线呈倒‘U’形，符合许多促智药的量效特点。0.25 mg/kg和0.5 mg/kg为芬克罗酮的最佳有效剂量 (p < 0.05 vs. 安慰剂)。肌注MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) 显著降低成年猴的空间工作记忆 (p < 0.01 vs. 安慰剂)，而口服2.0 mg/kg和4.0 mg/kg的芬克罗酮则显著改善MK-801导致的工作记忆障碍 (p < 0.05 vs. MK-801)。芬克罗酮的所有测试剂量不影响猴在作业中的反应时 (p > 0.05 vs. 安慰剂)，表明芬克罗酮在该剂量范围不影响动物的运动能力。 本研究结果提示，芬克罗酮可能通钙激动作用促进谷氨酸的释放，在一定剂量范围内提高胞外谷氨酸水平，提高正常动物的空间工作记忆等认知功能。 关键词：芬克罗酮，恒河猴，空间工作记忆，空间延缓反应作业，谷氨酸，MK-801

Biosensors for fermentation process control

Two biosensors for fermentation process control have been introduced, which were developed in our lab recently. One is an enzyme electrode-based on-line monitoring system for glutamate fermentation process control and the other is an H+-ISFET-based ENFET for penicillin G fermentation process control.

花椒主效化感物质分离鉴定及化感作用研究

近年来，随着对作物重茬障碍原因的深入研究，植物的化感作用越来越受到国内外众多学者的重视。花椒（Zanthoxy piperitum.）为芸香科植物，是一种收益早、用途广、价值高的经济树种，是川西干旱河谷地区的重要经济作物，其连作障碍也倍受关注，系统研究花椒化感作用将有助于理解和最终解决花椒连作障碍问题。本文首先通过萃取、层析等方法分离花椒主效化感成分；通过外加不同浓度的花椒叶水浸液研究了对土壤氮素养分循环的影响；研究了花椒叶水浸液对苜蓿生理生化、光合作用、氮素养分吸收的影响，并对外施氮肥对这种化感影响的缓解作用做了研究；研究了花椒化感潜力对全球变化——UV-B增强辐射的响应。主要研究结果如下： 1．用不同极性的有机溶剂对花椒叶水浸液浓缩浸膏萃取、柱层析，结合生物活性检测，分离得到主效化感作用组分的一种化感物质——对甲氧基苯酚。采用该物质纯品进行生物活性检测，证明其具有化感作用。 2．花椒叶水浸液处理土壤30天后，土壤硝态氮、铵态氮、无机氮（硝态氮＋铵态氮）与对照相比，随着花椒叶水浸液浓度的增加呈现降低的趋势，其中土壤铵态氮含量显著降低，而硝态氮含量的变化则不显著，无机氮含量也显著降低。土壤脲酶和蛋白酶的活性与无机氮含量的变化趋势相同。随着花椒叶水浸液浓度的增加，氨化细菌数量显著降低，固氮菌的数量变化不显著，硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量有减少的趋势。60天后，硝态氮含量、铵态氮含量、无机氮随水浸液浓度增加的变化趋势与30天时相似；随着花椒叶水浸液浓度的增加，氨化细菌、固氮菌的数量显著减少，硝化细菌数量、反硝化细菌数量仍呈减少趋势；土壤脲酶、蛋白酶活性与第30天的变化趋势相同。第60天与第30天的结果相比，相同水浸液浓度处理的硝态氮、铵态氮、无机氮均有下降的趋势，但除了25g.L－1水浸液处理的外，其它相同浓度的处理间差异均不显著；除了12.5 g.L的处理外土壤脲酶活性均呈增强的趋势；蛋白酶活性都有不同程度的增加；花椒叶水浸液处理的土壤硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量呈增加趋势。 3．随着花椒叶水浸液浓度的增加，显著抑制了苜蓿根长、地上地下生物量、叶绿素含量、叶片中可溶性蛋白的含量，净光合速率。苜蓿体内四种抗氧化酶（POD、SOD、CAT、APX） 活性随着水浸液浓度的增加而降低，而丙二醛含量则增加。苜蓿氮初级同化相关酶硝酸还原酶（NR）、谷氨酰合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸脱氢酶（GDH）的活性随着水浸液浓度的增加受到不同程度的影响。总的来说，苜蓿硝酸还原酶、谷氨酰合成酶的活性受到抑制，而谷氨酸脱氢酶活性的变化则比较复杂，根呈先降低后增加的趋势，叶片则无显著变化。外施两种不同浓度的硝酸铵氮肥后，对12.5、25 g.L－1花椒叶水浸液处理的苜蓿化感作用有显著的缓解作用，表现在株高、生物量、光合作用等方面，大多达到与对照（0 g.L－1）未施氮肥无显著差异的水平，而对50 g.L－1水浸液处理的苜蓿幼苗，虽有一定的缓解作用，但这种作用均未达到与对照（0 g.L－1）未施氮肥时无显著差异的水平。 4． UV-B增强辐射处理花椒后，花椒的化感潜力显著增强。花椒叶片内UV-B吸收物质的含量和总酚含量均显著增加。 In recent years, with profound research on the reasons of continuous cropping obstacles, allelopathy received increasing attention to many scholars at home and abroad. Zanthoxy bungeanum as a Rutaceae plant is a high economic value species which gains early and uses widely. Zanthoxylum is an important economic crop in the arid valley of western Sichuan region, and its not even has received much concern for the continuous cropping obstacles. The systematic study of allelopathy of Zanthoxylum will contribute to the understanding and final settlement of this issue. The major allelopathic composition was separated through the extraction, chromatography combined with other methods. The impact on soil nutrient cycling was also studied through the addition of different concentrations of water extracts of Zanthoxylum. Furthermore, the effects of water extracts of Zanthoxylum leaves on alfalfa leaf physiological and biochemical indexes, photosynthesis, soil enzymes and nutrient uptake of nitrogen and the mitigation of allelopathy through using external fertilizer were studied to put forward scientific resolvent for Zanthoxylum continuous cropping obstacles .The response of allelopathic potential of Zanthoxylum to global change - UV-B enhanced radiation was studied . The main findings are as follows: 1. Through extraction with different polar organic solvents on concentrated water extract of Zanthoxylum leaf and then using column chromatography combined with detection of biological activity, one of the main allelopathic components- methoxy-phenol was isolated. The biological activity testing of the pure material of methoxy-phenol proved that it does have allelopathic potential. 2. Thirty days after treating soil with water extract of Zanthoxylum leaf, as compared with the control, the contents of soil nitrate, ammonium, nitrate plus ammonium nitrogen showed a trend of decrease with the increase of the concentration of water extract whereas the content of ammonium nitrogen showed a significant reduction, and the content of nitrate did not change significantly, the content of nitrate plus ammonium nitrogen also showed a significant (P <0.05) redction. The activity of soil urease and protease showed the same trend as the content of nitrate nitrogen plus ammonium nitrogen. With the increase in the concentration of water extract, the number of ammonification bacteria significantly reduced but nitrogen-fixing bacteria did not change significantly and there was a decreasing trend in the number of nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria. Sixty days after the treatment, with the increase in solution concentration of water extract of Zanthoxylum leaf, the content of nitrate、 ammonium nitrogen, nitrate plus ammonium nitrogen showed a similar change trend to 30 days’; the number of ammonification bacteria, nitrogen-fixing bacteria significantly reduced ; the number of nitrifying bacteria, denitrifying bacteria was still an downward trend; the activity of soil urease and protease showed the same trend as the 30th days’. Compared to the results of the 30th days’, the content of nitrate, ammonium, nitrate plus ammonium nitrogen showed a decrease trend between the treatment of same concentration, but there was no significant difference except the treatment of 25g.L-1 between the same concentration; the activity of soil urease showed enhanced trend except the treatment of 12.5 g.L-1; the activity of protease increased to varying degrees; the number of ammonification bacteria、 nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria were growing while nitrogen-fixing bacteria reduced.. 3. With the increase of the concentration of water extract of Zanthoxylum leaf, the water extract significantly inhibited the root length, aboveground biomass, content of chlorophyll and soluble protein in leaf and net photosynthetic rate. The activity of four antioxidant enzymes (POD, SOD, CAT, APX) reduced with the increase in concentration of the water extract but the content of MDA increased. The activity of enzymes related to primary nitrogen assimilation such nitrate reductase (NR), glutamyl synthetase (GS), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) were subject to different degrees with an increase in the concentration of water extracts. In general, the activity of nitrate reductase, glutamyl synthetase were inhibited, while change in the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase was more complex. The activity of glutamate dehydrogenase in leaf was first reduced and then increase,but did not change significantly in root. After using two external different concentrations of nitrogen fertilizer, there was a significant mitigation in inhibiton in plant height, biomass, photosynthesis, etc. in the treatment of 12.5,25 gL-1 of water extract of Zanthoxylum leaf, and most of these indexes showed no significant difference with the control (0 g.L-1, no external fertilizer was added) .Although there showed a certain degree of ease in the treatment of 50 g.L-1 , there was still a significant difference compared with the control (0 gL-1) in which no external fertilizer was used. 4.The allelopathic potential of Zanthoxylum positively responded to enhanced UV-B significantly. The content of UV-B absorbing compounds and the total phenol also significant increased.

化感物质香豆素对苜蓿种子萌发及幼苗初级氮同化的影响

香豆素类物质是苯丙酸内酯（环酯）类化合物，绝大部分高等植物通过次生代谢途径都能合成。研究表明，香豆素类物质是花椒体内最重要的化感物质，系统研究香豆素类物质的作用机理有助于理解和最终解决花椒连作障碍。本文通过研究香豆素对几种植物种子特别是苜蓿种子萌发、苜蓿幼苗初级氮同化的影响，从生理生化角度揭示香豆素的作用方式，为花椒连作障碍的解决和化感作用机制的深入理解提供依据。主要研究结果如下：1. 研究了香豆素对6 种常见作物种子萌发的影响，并对一组数据采用4个不同的指标进行评价，对生物测定化感作用中存在的问题进行了讨论。结果发现1.0mM的香豆素对采用的6 种作物的种子萌发均表现出一定的化感作用，4 个指标的敏感程度依次为S (发芽速度)＞AS(累积发芽速度)＞CRG(发芽指数)＞GT(最终发芽率)。种子萌发实验是化感作用研究中最重要、应用最广泛的生物测定方法之一，应根据不同的研究目的合理采用指标和实验方法。2. 采用培养皿试纸法进行种子萌发试验，研究了香豆素水溶液在苜蓿种子萌发过程中对其吸水、电导率及抗氧化保护酶活性的影响。结果表明，影响苜蓿种子发芽的香豆素浓度阀值为0.3mM。香豆素在1.0mM 的浓度下降低了苜蓿种子吸水阶段Ⅱ的吸水速度，使其外渗物质增多，电导率增大，并显著抑制了超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性，同时种子体内丙二醛（MDA）的含量显著增大。高浓度香豆素破坏了膜的结构、影响了抗氧化保护酶的活性是香豆素降低苜蓿发芽率的原因之一，也可能是影响花椒-苜蓿间作的关键因素之一。3. 不同浓度（0、25 μM、50 μM、0.1 mM、1.0 mM）化感活性物质香豆素对10 日龄苜蓿幼苗初级氮同化的影响的结果表明25 µM～50 µM 的香豆素加快了苜蓿幼苗对硝态氮的吸收。高浓度的香豆素导致苜蓿根系和叶片内可溶性蛋白含量降低、鲜重减小、地下鲜重/地上鲜重（R/S）的比值升高，根系中初级氮同化的关键酶硝酸还原酶（NR）、谷氨酸胺合成酶（GS）、谷氨酸脱氢酶（GDH）的活性降低，叶片中NR、GS 的活性减低、叶绿素含量减少，而GDH 的活性升高。香豆素影响苜蓿幼苗氮代谢和氨同化的关键酶，导致体内养分的缺失是香豆素抑制苜蓿幼苗生长的机理之一。Coumarins are lactones of o-hydroxycinnamic acid, and are allelopathiccompounds that originate in the phenylpropanoid pathway. They are synthesized byalmost all higher plants. According to previous studies, coumarins were mostimportant allelochemicals in Chinese prickly ash. Systematically research of theeffect of coumarin could help to comprehend the continuous cropping impediment.The effects of coumarin on seed germination and primary nitrogen assimilation ofalfalfa were studied. The main results showed that:1. We compared four common germination indices (S, AS, CRG, GT)preciously calculated with the same date. The results showed that, at theconcentration of 1.0 mM, coumarin inhibited seeds germination. Among all indices,the S index was most sensitive, followed by the AS and CRG indices. Andsuggestions on the expression of bioassay results were also provided.2. At concentrations above 0.3 mM, coumarin inhibited seed germination in aconcentration-dependent manner. During seed imbibitionⅡ, coumarin at 1.0 mMsignificantly reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT),peroxidase (POD), while the content of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) in alfalfa seedssignificantly increased. The higher concentration coumarin destroyed structure ofmembrane and influenced activities of antioxidant enzymes, which might be one ofthe reasons that coumarin decreased germination rate of alfalfa, and one of the keyfactors influencing Chinese prickly ash-alfalfa intercropping.3. Alfalfa plants were exposed to different concentration of coumarin (0、25μM、50 μM、0.1 mM、1.0 mM) grown for 10 days on control medium. Coumarin, in the range of 25 μM～50 μM, significantly stimulated the net nitrate uptake.Increasing coumarin concentration led to a decrease of protein contents in theleaves and roots. The root to shoot (R/S) FW ratio was increased by increasingcoumarin concentration. Under high coumarin concentration, the activities of nitratereductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) were repressed in the roots andleaves. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) was inhibited in the roots, while enhancedin the leaves. Chlorophyll contents in the leaves were also decreased under highcoumain concentration. Coumarin decreased alfalfa growth by (i) nutritionaldeficiencies shown by the decrease of nitrate, (ii) lowered N compound synthesisvia inhibition of nitrate reduction and ammonium assimilation.