Embryo and Endosperm Function and Failure inSolanumSpecies and Hybrids

Although the importance of the endosperm as a food store inmany angiosperm seeds is well known, its significance duringearly embryogenesis has been neglected. In many interspecifichybrids, and in some other situations, embryos do not developfully and abort. It has often been stated that this is causedby the endosperm failing to conduct sufficient nutrients tothe embryo, but seldom has it been suggested that the endospermactively controls most of the early stages of morphogenesisof the embryo. Information gleaned from a broad survey of theliterature, combined with additional evidence presented here,obtained fromSolanum incanumand interspecific hybrids, indicatethat the endosperm is dynamic and very active in regulatingearly embryo development. This requires highly integrated geneticcontrol of rapidly changing metabolism in the endosperm. Ininterspecific hybrids, lack of coordination may cause unbalancedproduction of growth regulating substances by the endospermand hence abortion of the embryo, or even unregulated productionof nucleases and proteases resulting firstly in autolysis ofthe endosperm and then digestion of the embryo. The endospermmay thus serve to detect inappropriate hybridization of speciesor ploidy levels and so prevent waste of resources by producingseeds that would result in sterile hybrids or unthrifty subsequentgenerations. This discriminatory function of the endosperm hasdiminished during evolution and domestication of the crop plantSolanummelongenaL.Copyright 1998 Annals of Botany Company Solanum, embryo morphogenesis, endosperm, hybrid, seed development.     

Relative and combined effects of ethanol and protein deficiency on strontium and barium bone content and fecal and urinary excretion

To elucidate accumulation of minerals in human iliac arteries with aging, the content of minerals was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Bilateral common, internal, and external iliac arteries of 16 men and 8 women, ranging ages from 65 to 93 yr, were examined. It was found that an extremely high accumulation of calcium and phosphorus occurred in the common iliac artery at old age, being higher than that of the internal and external iliac arteries. It should be noted that the accumulation of calcium and phosphorus is the highest in the common iliac artery among the human arteries examined to date. Regarding sexual differences, the content of calcium and phosphorus in the common and internal iliac arteries was higher in women than in men, whereas their content in the external iliac artery was lower in women than in men.     

Astrocytes and Synaptosomes Transport and Metabolize Lactate and Acetate Differently

Astrocytes transport the monocarboxylate acetate, but synaptosomes do not. The reason for this is unknown, because both preparations express monocarboxylate transporters (MCT). The transport and metabolism of lactate, another monocarboxylate, was examined in these two preparations, and the results were compared to those for acetate. Lactate transport is more rapid in astrocytes than in synaptosomes, but of lower affinity (Kms of 17 and 4 mM, respectively). Lactate (0.2 mM) is metabolized to CO2 more rapidly in synaptosomes than in astrocytes (rates of 0.37 and 0.07 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively). The reason for this is unclear, but cellular differences in lactate dehydrogenase isotype expression may be involved. Acetate is metabolized to CO2 more rapidly in astrocytes than in synaptosomes (rates of 0.43 and 0.02 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1), respectively). This is likely due to cellular differences in the expression of monocarboxylate transporter subtypes.     

Rapporteur report: Basics and technology and metrology and standards

The first and second sessions of the Workshop focussed on the basics of ultrasound and infrasound, their applications in both industry and medicine, and metrology and protection standards for ultrasound applications.     

Neurosecretion and Salt and Water Balance in the Annelida and Crustacea

The possible role of the neurosecretory system in regulationof salt and water has been studied in the annelids and crustaceans.In the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, a brain factor influences'the salt and osmotic concentration of the blood and coelomicfluid. Removal of the brain results in the increase of waterinflux with a decrease in the salt and osmotic concentrationsof the body fluids. The decreases in salt and osmotic concentrationscan be prevented by the implantation of the brain or the injectionof brain homogenates. In the freshwater crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, a factor, presumablysecreted in the brain and released in the eyestalk, seems tomaintain the normal permeability of the body surfaces to water.Eyestalk removal, which eliminates the release site, resultsin the increased influx of water with a decrease in the saltconcentration of the blood. A brain factor also seems to beinvolved in maintaining the sodium and osmotic concentrationsof the blood. In the semi-terrestrial grapsid crab, Metopograpsus messor,the thoracic ganglion, under the control of an eyestalk element,secretes a factor involved in increasing the permeability ofthe body surfaces to water. The removal of the eyestalks, theimplantation of the thoracic ganglion, or the injection of extractsof thoracic ganglia, results in changes in the osmotic concentrationof the blood tending toward that of the medium. In all threespecies studied, the neuroendocrine factors seem to be involvedprimarily in the regulation of the permeability of the bodysurfaces to water.     

Similarities and Differences Among Prolactins and Growth Hormones and Their Receptors

SYNOPSIS. Data from the literature and from our own studieson the receptors for prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH)are reviewed and analyzed. Receptors for PRL have been studiedin a wider range of species and in a greater diversity of targetorgans than have the binding sites for GH. Although GHs arestructurally more highly conserved among the vertebrates thanare PRLs, the available data indicate that there is greaterdiversity among GH receptors than there is among PRL receptors.In general, GH receptors show greater species specificity butless hormone specificity than do PRL receptors. The reason forthe greater diversity among GH receptors as compared to PRLreceptors is unknown; it bears no relationship to phylogeny. Data on the binding of purified preparations of mammalian PRL,GH and placental lactogen (PL) to renal and hepatic receptorsfor PRL and GH, respectively, of several vertebrate speciesare reviewed. The species and hormone specificity of the bindingof the hormones to the two typesof receptors showed no consistentpattern. To explain this disarray, we propose that the receptorbinding domains of PRL and GH were present in their common ancestralgene and that they havebeen retained to variable degrees byall of the descendant members of the PRL-GH family. We furtherpropose that hormone and species specificity of binding is determinedby hindering features on the hormones and on the receptors,rather than by merely the presence or absence of the appropriatebinding determinants.     

Silybin and silymarin--new effects and applications

This article aims to review critically literature published mainly within this millennium on the new and emerging applications of silymarin, the polyphenolic fraction from the seeds of Silybum marianum and its main component silybin. Silymarin and silybin used so far mostly as hepatoprotectants were shown to have other interesting activities as e.g., anticancer and canceroprotective. These activities were demonstrated in a large variety of illnesses of different organs as e.g., prostate, lungs, CNS, kidneys, pancreas and others. Besides the cytoprotective activity of silybin mediated by its antioxidative and radical-scavenging properties also new activities based on the specific receptor interaction were discovered--e.g., inhibition and modulation of drug transporters, P-glycoproteins, estrogenic receptors, nuclear receptors and some others. New derivatives of silybin open new ways to its therapeutic applications. Pharmacology dealing with optically pure silybin diastereomers may suggest new mechanisms of its action.     

Microbial and bioconversion production of D-xylitol and its detection and application

D-Xylitol is found in low content as a natural constituent of many fruits and vegetables. It is a five-carbon sugar polyol and has been used as a food additive and sweetening agent to replace sucrose, especially for non-insulin dependent diabetics. It has multiple beneficial health effects, such as the prevention of dental caries, and acute otitis media. In industry, it has been produced by chemical reduction of D-xylose mainly from photosynthetic biomass hydrolysates. As an alternative method of chemical reduction, biosynthesis of D-xylitol has been focused on the metabolically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida strains. In order to detect D-xylitol in the production processes, several detection methods have been established, such as gas chromatography (GC)-based methods, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based methods, LC-MS methods, and capillary electrophoresis methods (CE). The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are compared in this review.     

HIFs and tumors--causes and consequences

For most organisms oxygen is essential fo life. When oxygen levels drop below those required to maintain the minimum physiological oxygen requirement of an organism or tissue it is termed hypoxia. To counter act possible deleterious effects of such a state, an immediate molecular response is initiated causing adaptation responses aimed at cell survival. This response is mediated by the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), which is a heterodimer consisting of an alpha- and a beta-subunit. HIF-1 alpha protein is stabilized under hypoxic conditions and therefore confers selectivity to this response. Hypoxia is characteristic of tumors, mainly because of impaired blood supply resulting from abnormal growth. Over the past few years enormous progress has been made in the attempt to understand how the activation of the physiological response to hypoxia influences neoplastic growth. In this review some aspects of HIF-1 pathway activation in tumors and the consequences for pathophysiology and treatment of neoplasia are discussed.     

白蚁与动物及微生物的共生类型及其机制

综述了白蚁螱客的主要种类、共生关系及相关机制的研究进展。白蚁螱客中,已报道的动物种类达170种。在与动物的共生关系中存在偏利共生（宾主共栖和异种共栖）、互利共生和无关共生三种;在与微生物的共生关系中,存在与内生菌（原生动物、细菌、真菌和放线菌）和外生菌（蚁巢伞菌等）间的互利关系。指出了白蚁与螱客研究中存在的问题,给出了解决方案,并提出了今后可能的研究热点或方向,为白蚁的综合利用（如纤维素酶）及今后研究物种间的协同进化提供了基础资料。     

Pragmatic Women and Body Politics and Maternities and Modernities: Colonial and Postcolonial Experiences in Asia and the Pacific

Pragmatic Women and Body Politics. Margaret Lock and Patricia A. Kaufert. eds. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1998. xii +364 pp.
Maternities and Modernities: Colonial and Postcolonial Experiences in Asia and the Pacific. Kalpana Ram and Margaret Jolly. eds. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1998. xiv. 305 pp.     

Genus Aotus Q- and G-band karyotypes and and natural hybrids.

Q- and G-banding studies of Aotus trivigatus trivirgatus and Aotus trivirgatus griseimembra are presented. After the analysis of 8 specimens, 2 A.t. trivirgatus and 6 A.t. griseimembra and the review of the literature on the field we state the existence of two different karyotypes, 2n = 54 and 2n = 50, for A.t. trivirgatus and three different karyotypes, 2n = 54, 2n = 52 and 2n = 50, for A.t. griseimembra. It was found that Robertsonian translocations were the mechanism involved in the numerical reduction of the chromosomes. The data presented include the statement of two natural hybrids and the cross-breedings which originated them.     

Attack and defense in laboratory and wild Norway and black rats

Intra- and interspecific agonistic encounters in Long-Evans and field-trapped Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus showed a consistency in the form and character of attack and defensive behaviors. Colony alpha males exhibited high levels of lateral attack, on-top, and chasing behaviors which resulted in a high percentage of bites on the intruder's back. Bites directed to the back were countered by intruders through the utilization of boxing, on-back, and flight defense. These findings indicate that agonistic interactions in Rattus are underlined by back-attack and back-defense strategies. A sex difference in biting was also consistent across strains: males bit the back and flanks and females the head of an anesthetized stranger which suggest differences in the motivation of male and female attack.     

Oxidation and nitration of ribonuclease and lysozyme by peroxynitrite and myeloperoxidase

In spite of the many studies on protein modifications by reactive species, knowledge about the products resulting from the oxidation of protein-aromatic residues, including protein-derived radicals and their stable products, remains limited. Here, we compared the oxidative modifications promoted by peroxynitrite and myeloperoxidase/hydrogen peroxide/nitrite in two model proteins, ribonuclease (6Tyr) and lysozyme (3Tyr/6Trp). The formation of protein-derived radicals and products was higher at pH 5.4 and 7.4 for myeloperoxidase and peroxynitrite, respectively. The main product was 3-nitro-Tyr for both proteins and oxidants. Lysozyme rendered similar yields of nitro-Trp, particularly when oxidized by peroxynitrite. Hydroxylated and dimerized products of Trp and Tyr were also produced, but in lower yields. Localization of the main modified residues indicates that peroxynitrite decomposes to radicals within the proteins behaving less specifically than myeloperoxidase. Nitrogen dioxide is emphasized as an important protein modifier.     

Vascular volumes and hematology in male and female runners and cyclists

To examine the hypothesis that foot-strike hemolysis alters vascular volumes and selected hematological properties is trained athletes, we have measured total blood volume (TBV), red cell volume (RCV) and plasma volume (PV) in cyclists (n = 21) and runners (n = 17) and compared them to those of untrained controls (n = 20). TBV (ml x kg(-1)) was calculated as the sum of RCV (ml x kg(-1)) and PV (ml x kg(-1)) obtained using 51Cr and 125I-labelled albumin, respectively. Hematological assessment was carried out using a Coulter counter. Peak aerobic power (VO2peak) was measured during progressive exercise to fatigue using both cycle and treadmill ergometry. RCV was 15% higher (P < 0.05) in male cyclists [35.4 (1.0), mean (SE); n = 12] and runners [35.3 (0.98); n = 9] compared to the controls [30.7 (0.92); n = 12]. Similar differences existed between the female cyclists [28.2 (2.1); n = 9] and runners [28.4 (1.0); n = 8] compared to the untrained controls [24.9 (1.4); n = 8]. For the male athletes, PV was between 19% (cyclists) and 28% (runners) higher (P < 0.05) in the trained athletes compared to the untrained controls. The differences in PV between the female groups were not significant. Although the males had a higher (P < 0.05) TBV, RCV and PV than the females, no differences between cyclists and runners were found for either gender. Mean cell volume was not different between the athletic groups. VO2peak (ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) was higher (P < 0.05) in both male [68.4 (1.5)] and female [54.8 (2.1)] runners when compared to the untrained males [47.1 (1.0)] and females [40.5 (2.1)]. Although differences existed between the genders in VO2peak for both cyclists and runners, no differences were found between the athletic groups within a gender. Since the vascular volumes were not different between cyclists and runners for either the males or females, foot-strike hemolysis would not appear to have an effect on that parameter. The significant correlations (P < 0.05) found between VO2peak and RCV (r = 0.64 and 0.64) and TBV (r = 0.82 and 0.63) for the males and females, respectively, suggests a role for the vascular system in realizing a high aerobic power.     

Chemokines and cytokines: axis and allies in asthma and allergy

Allergic asthma can be precipitated by many factors. For the atopic person, fungus, pollen, dust mites, cockroach antigens, and diesel exhaust are all agents that may trigger an allergic attack. Cytokines and chemokines are integral mediators of fungal asthma. From the earliest time points, they recruit and activate the cells required for the clearance of fungus as well as being critical factors involved in the immunopathology of this disease. In the final analysis, it is clear that these mediators can act to the benefit or the detriment of the host.     

Glucose and lactate turnover and gluconeogenesis in chronic metabolic acidosis and alkalosis in normal and diabetic dogs

The turnover rate of glucose, the irreversible disposal rate of lactate, and the rate of gluconeogenesis from lactate were calculated by tracer methods in four normal and four alloxan-diabetic dogs under control conditions as well as in chronic, stable metabolic acidosis and alkalosis. Acidosis was produced by feeding dogs 0.8-1 g.kg-1.day-1NH4Cl over 1 week, alkalosis was produced by feeding dogs a chloride-free diet and injections of furosemide. Mean plasma pH in the three states were 7.28 +/- 0.013, 7.40 +/- 0.024, and 7.51 +/- 0.015 in normal dogs, and 7.22 +/- 0.025, 7.42 +/- 0.009, and 7.49 +/- 0.002 in the diabetic dogs. Respective mean plasma bicarbonate levels were 14.6 +/- 0.88, 22.0 +/- 0.80, and 32.4 +/- 1.88 mequiv. in normal dogs, and 12.3 +/- 1.30, 22.6 +/- 0.66, and 35.0 +/- 1.14 mequiv. in diabetic animals. In normal dogs shifts in acid-base balance had no effect on the level of plasma glucose or the turnover rate of glucose. In diabetic dogs plasma glucose level was significantly elevated by alkalosis. Plasma lactate was positively correlated with plasma pH (r = 0.69, p less than 0.01) and was in general higher in diabetic than in normal animals. The increment in concentration was due to a decreased clearance of lactate from the plasma. The irreversible disposal rate was not changed by the acid-base status. Whereas a larger fraction of lactate removed from the plasma appeared in glucose in diabetic animals, this fraction was not changed significantly by shifts in the acid-base status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Release of prostaglandins and monohydroxy and trihydroxy metabolites of linoleic and arachidonic acids by adult and fetal aortae and ductus arteriosus

The conversion of arachidonic acid (20:4) to prostaglandins by vascular tissue is important in the adult because of the antithrombotic effect of prostacyclin and in the fetus because of the vasodilatory effect of prostaglandin (PG) E2 on the ductus arteriosus. We have shown that vascular tissue converts various polyunsaturated fatty acids to monohydroxy and trihydroxy metabolites derived from hydroperoxides, which may be involved in regulating prostaglandin synthesis. We have now measured the amounts of these hydroperoxide metabolites, as well as those of prostaglandins, released from slices of rat, rabbit and bovine aortae, as well as from fetal calf aorta and ductus arteriosus. The major oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolite formed by rat and bovine blood vessels was 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha. Fetal calf aorta and ductus arteriosus produced about five times as much 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha as adult bovine aorta. Much smaller amounts of the cyclooxygenase products, PGE2, 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid, 11-hydroxy-5,8,12,14-icosatetraenoic acid (11-hydroxy-20:4), and 15-hydroxy-20:4, were released by aortae. Small amounts of the lipoxygenase product, 12-hydroxy-20:4, were also detected. Substantial amounts of free and esterified monohydroxy and trihydroxy metabolites of linoleic acid (18:2) were detected, especially in rat and rabbit aortae. Rabbit aorta, which had low cyclooxygenase activity, formed more oxygenated 18:2 metabolites than 20:4 metabolites. Indomethacin did not inhibit the formation of the 18:2 metabolites, indicating that cyclooxygenase was not involved. Neither exogenous 13-hydroxy-18:2 nor trihydroxyoctadecenoic acid was incorporated to a large extent into lipids from vascular endothelial or smooth muscle cells, suggesting that the esterified 18:2 oxygenation products had arisen mainly via direct oxygenation of lipids.     

Of pigs and men and research

A review of the role of pigs as an ideal experimental animal in human medical research is given, covering applications and analogies of sus scrofa in general medicine encompassing space medicine. It is also a report of some investigations carried out on Danish Landrace pigs that emphasize the similarities of swine and men. The musculoskeletal system, respiration, circulation, blood, lymph, digestion, metabolism, nutrition, excretion, endocrines, dermatological problems, and eyes are discussed along with other aspects to show the value of the pig when a large, human-like biomedical research animal is needed.Most of the findings and work reported here was carried out while Senior Research Scientist at the Danish Meat Research Institute, Roskilde, Dermark. Reprint requests should be directed to Postbox 67, DK-1003 Copenhagen K, Denmark.