互花米草与短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程中碳氮磷化学计量学特征

为了揭示植物枯落物分解过程中元素生态化学计量学特征,对闽江河口湿地互花米草和短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程进行了测定.结果表明:整个分解期间内(2007年1-10月),在近潮沟生境和远潮沟生境,互花米草枯落物分解速率、氮磷养分含量低于短叶茳芏枯落物,但热值高于短叶茳芏枯落物;近潮沟生境,互花米草和短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程中平均C/N、C/P和N/P分别为70.5和34.7,2285.8和1210.7,32.8和35.4;远潮沟生境互花米草和短叶茳芏枯落物分解过程中平均C/N、C/P和N/P分别为72.7和33.2,2519.2和1167.0,34.0和35.9,两种生境下均表现为互花米草具有较高的C/N、C/P和较低的N/P;互花米草枯落物分解过程中具有较高的C/N和C/P,其分解速率较低.     

闽江河口芦苇与短叶茳芏空间扩展对湿地系统磷赋存特征的影响

本研究选择闽江河口鳝鱼滩芦苇和短叶茳芏空间扩展前的芦苇湿地、短叶茳芏湿地,以及二者空间扩展形成的交错带湿地为对象,探讨了两种植物空间扩展过程中植物-土壤系统的全磷(TP)赋存特征及其主要影响因素。结果表明: 在空间扩展影响下,湿地植物和土壤的TP含量均发生了明显变化。其中,交错带湿地土壤的TP含量比芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地土壤分别增加了20.0%和7.1%。这与芦苇和短叶茳芏空间扩展过程中土壤的颗粒组成以及植物的生物量、根冠比变化有关。除叶外,交错带芦苇不同器官的TP含量整体均低于短叶茳芏的相应器官。这与二者在交错带生境中对P养分吸收利用与转运方式的差异有关。另外,空间扩展导致的竞争作用使二者的P分配比也发生较大变化,与纯群落相比,交错带芦苇提高了根、叶的P分配比,而交错带短叶茳芏提高了根的P分配比。芦苇和短叶茳芏为了应对空间扩展过程中的竞争可能采取了不同的P养分利用策略,前者通过加强根部P养分吸收和提高叶片光合作用的方式来占据竞争优势,而后者通过提高根系生物量以增强对P养分吸收利用的方式来抗衡来自芦苇的竞争。     

黄土丘陵区刺槐与油松人工林生态系统生态化学计量特征

为阐明不同人工林生态系统间生态化学计量特征的差异,采用野外采样与室内分析相结合的方式分析了陕北黄土丘陵区落叶阔叶树种刺槐和常绿针叶树种油松人工林乔木、灌草、枯落物和土壤(土层深度0—100cm)C、N、P化学计量特征。结果表明:1)刺槐乔木各器官(叶、枝、干、皮、根)C含量显著低于油松,但N和P含量显著高于油松。因此,油松的C∶N和C∶P显著大于刺槐,而N∶P小于刺槐。2)刺槐林下枯落物N和P含量显著高于油松,但C含量显著小于油松。此外,油松林下枯落物C∶N(70.21)大于刺槐林下枯落物C∶N(19.71),说明油松林下枯落物分解较慢,有利于养分的存储。3)刺槐和油松人工林土壤C、N含量均随土壤深度增加而减少,P含量则基本保持不变。刺槐人工林土壤中C含量低于油松,N、P含量在两者之间无显著差异。4)刺槐人工林内乔灌草叶、枯落物与土壤C、N、P及其计量比的相关性多集中在10—20、20—30cm土层,而油松林中各组分与土壤营养元素的相关性相对较小,其中20—30cm土层中无显著相关性,说明相比刺槐人工林而言,油松人工林内土壤层N、P供应量对植物叶片N、P含量影响不显著。本研究为深入了解黄土丘陵区生态系统养分耦合循环机制奠定了基础,同时也为黄土丘陵区的植被恢复工作提供了一定的指导意义。     

崇明东滩湿地芦苇和互花米草N、P利用策略的生态化学计量学分析

测定了崇明东滩湿地典型植物群落内芦苇和互花米草各器官及土壤中的N、P含量和N∶P,揭示了它们的季节性动态,并对其N、P利用对策进行了生态化学计量学分析.结果表明:两种植物的N、P含量差异显著且芦苇＞互花米草;不同植物以及同一植物不同器官的N、P含量随生长节律发生明显变化;N、P含量的器官分配模式对于芦苇和互花米草均是叶＞茎＞根;两种植物地上部分和地下部分N、P含量5月＞9月＞7月;芦苇N、P积累量＞互花米草;2种植物地上部分N、P含量差异显著;互花米草生境土壤各月份N含量均高于芦苇生境土壤;P含量仅在5月份高于芦苇生境土壤,其它月份均低于芦苇生境土壤.芦苇叶片N含量与生境土壤N含量相关不显著,叶片P含量与土壤P含量显著正相关;互花米草叶片N含量与土壤N含量极显著正相关,叶片P含量与土壤P含量相关不显著.芦苇和互花米草叶片N∶P与土壤N、P含量及N∶P间相关均不显著.芦苇在生长初期和生长末期的N∶P＜14,表明其生长受到N限制;处于生长旺季时,14＜N∶P＜16,表明其受到N、P共同限制.互花米草在各月份的N∶P＜14,说明其主要受到N限制.总体而言,N素是芦苇和互花米草净初级生产力的主要而经常性的限制因子.     

干旱区湿地芦苇各器官生态化学计量对土壤因子的响应

了解植物养分浓度及其化学计量对土壤因子的响应,对预测脆弱而敏感生态系统对环境变化的响应至关重要。以敦煌阳关湿地优势种芦苇(Phragmites australis)为对象,通过野外调查与实验分析,研究芦苇不同器官生态化学计量特征及其影响因素。结果表明:芦苇各器官C、P含量为叶>根>茎,N含量及N∶P为叶>茎>根,C∶N为根>茎>叶,C∶P则为茎>根>叶。叶、根C含量显著高于茎(P<0.05),叶、根C含量之间无显著差异(P>0.05),根、茎和叶N、P含量及C∶N、C∶P和N∶P差异显著(P<0.05);芦苇根N∶P<14,叶片N∶P>16,茎N∶P介于14~16;C含量在各器官之间均无显著相关性(P>0.05),根与茎、叶N含量之间呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),根与茎P含量呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),茎与叶N含量呈显著正相关(P<0.05);土壤盐分与芦苇根和茎N含量呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),土壤P含量与茎P含量呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),土壤有效P与根、茎N含量呈极显著正相关(P<0.01);土壤P是影响芦苇根、茎化学计量的主要因素,土壤盐分是影响叶片化学计量的主要因素,芦苇趋向提高各器官N含量来应对高盐、低P的土壤环境。     

黄土高原子午岭地区人工油松林碳氮磷生态化学计量特征

分析人工植被重建背景下,森林植物、枯落物与土壤的碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征有助于深入理解森林生态系统养分循环规律和系统稳定机制。以黄土高原子午岭地区的3个林龄(10、25 a和40 a)的人工油松林为对象,通过测定油松林叶片、枯落物和土壤的碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量,研究人工油松林不同林龄叶片、枯落物和土壤的化学计量学特征。结果表明,不同林龄油松叶片C、N、P含量分别为538.85—560.54 g/kg、9.00—10.47 g/kg和1.04—1.13 g/kg。在3个林龄油松林中,除叶片C含量外,叶片N、P含量存在显著差异(P0.05);枯落物层以及土壤层的C、N、P含量均存在显著差异(P0.05),且枯落物层含量大于土壤层。随着林龄的增加,叶片C∶N比呈现先减小后增大的变化,N∶P和C∶P比呈显著增加趋势,而枯落物层C∶N、C∶P和N∶P比无显著差异。同时,随着林龄的增加,除10—20 cm土层的C∶N比外,土壤的C∶N比在0—10 cm土层和C∶P和N∶P比在0—10和10—20 cm皆呈显著增加趋势。研究区油松林叶片N∶P比平均值为9.13,低于14,表明油松林生长主要受氮的限制。土壤的N含量与叶片和枯落物层的N含量、以及三者间N∶P比呈显著线性相关(P0.05),充分体现了油松林植物、枯落物与土壤之间的互动关系。研究结果可为我国黄土高原脆弱生态区的生态功能恢复与植被重建提供科学依据。     

闽江河口湿地植物枯落物立枯和倒伏分解主要元素动态

采用分解袋法,对闽江河口湿地2种挺水植物——芦苇(Phragmites australis)和互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)花和叶枯落物的立枯和倒伏分解过程及C、N、P元素动态进行研究。结果表明:(1)立枯分解是2种湿地盐沼植物重要的分解阶段,干物质损失率在13.26%—31.89%之间。多项式模型能较好描述2种植物花和叶的枯落物分解残留率动态。(2)立枯分解阶段,芦苇花和叶的C含量主要为波动下降,互花米草较为稳定;倒伏阶段后期,2种植物都以升高为主。立枯分解阶段2种植物枯落物N含量略有下降,而倒伏阶段逐渐上升。分解过程中枯落物P含量的波动较大。(3)2种植物花和叶C、N的NAI值在分解过程中<100%。芦苇的花和叶中P的NAI值在立枯和倒伏分解阶段都经历了明显下降和升高的过程,而互花米草在立枯阶段变化不大,倒伏阶段下降较为明显。(4)与芦苇相比,互花米草的花和叶枯落物C库较高,N库较低,P库差异不大。     

鄱阳湖湿地优势植物叶片-凋落物-土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征

2013年11月初在鄱阳湖南矶湿地国家级自然保护区,采集芦苇(Phragmites australis)、南荻(Triarrhena lutarioriparia)、菰(Zizania latifolia(Griseb.))、灰化苔草(Carex cinerascens)、红穗苔草(Carex argyi)和水蓼(Polygonum hydropiper)等6种优势植物新鲜叶片、凋落物及表层0—15cm土壤样品测定了碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量,以阐明不同物种、不同生活型间C、N、P化学计量差异,探讨化学计量垂直分异。结果表明:1)C、N、P含量变化范围分别为:叶片380.6—432.2 mg/g,15.3—32.6 mg/g和1.3—2.0 mg/g;凋落物345.4—416.1 mg/g,10.8—20.8 mg/g和1.1—1.7 mg/g;土壤15.0—38.1 mg/g,1.2—3.1 mg/g和0.7—1.1mg/g,不同物种间叶片、凋落物及土壤C、N、P含量差异显著,且叶片C、N、P含量显著高于凋落物与土壤。2)土壤C∶N、C∶P及N∶P值显著低于叶片与凋落物,且土壤C、N、P化学计量关系与凋落物更为密切,凋落物的C∶N、N∶P分别能解释土壤C∶N、N∶P变异的35%、18%。3)挺水植物与湿生植物之间叶片C∶N、N∶P值差异显著,C∶P则差异不显著,凋落物C∶N、C∶P与N∶P均未达到显著性差异。     

闽江河口湿地枯落物分解及主要影响因子

以闽江河口湿地挺水植物本地种芦苇和入侵种互花米草的花和叶枯落物为研究对象,采用分解袋法分析其分解过程及主要影响因素.结果表明:立枯分解(0～90 d)是2种湿地盐沼植物重要的分解阶段,芦苇和互花米草的花和叶质量损失率分别为(15.0±3.5)％、(13.3±1.1)％和(31.9±1.1)％、(20.8±1.4)％.倒伏分解阶段(91 ～210 d),芦苇和互花米草的花和叶质量损失率分别为(69.5±0.6)％、(71.5±2.5)％和(76.8±1.9)％、(67.5±2.1)％.在立枯分解阶段,2种挺水植物枯落物的分解速率与C/N呈正相关,与N/P呈负相关,分解过程受到P的限制程度较大.倒伏分解阶段,枯落物C/N、C/P和N/P的影响降低,而大气温湿度、土壤水分、酸碱度、盐度和沉积物特性等的影响加大.不同分解阶段枯落物分解影响因子的差异主要与其所处的微域环境和潮汐因素有关.     

闽江河口潮汐湿地二氧化碳和甲烷排放化学计量比

为了阐明河口潮汐湿地碳源温室气体排放的化学计量比特征,对闽江河口潮汐湿地二氧化碳和甲烷排放进行了测定与分析。结果表明:芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地二氧化碳与甲烷排放均呈现正相关;涨潮前、涨落潮过程和落潮后芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地CO2∶CH4月平均值分别为55.4和185.0,96.3和305.5,68.7和648.6,3个过程芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地CO2∶CH4差异均不显著(P>0.05),2种植物湿地CO2∶CH4对潮汐的响应并不一致,但均在涨潮前表现为最低;涨潮前、涨落潮过程和落潮后均表现为芦苇湿地CO2∶CH4低于短叶茳芏湿地(P<0.05);河口潮汐湿地CO2∶CH4为空间变异性>时间变异性,潮汐、植物和温度均对CO2∶CH4的变化具有一定的调节作用。     

Preparation of hair for measurement of elements by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

The preparation of hair for the determination of elements is a critical component of the analysis procedure. Open-beaker, closedvessel microwave, and flowthrough microwave digestion are methods that have been used for sample preparation and are discussed. A new digestion method for use with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been developed. The method uses 0.2 g of hair and 3 mL of concentrated nitric acid in an atmospheric pressurelow-temperature microwave digestion (APLTMD) system. This preparation method is useful in handling a large numbers of samples per day and may be adapted to hair sample weights ranging from 0.08 to 0.3 g. After digestion, samples are analyzed by ICP-MS to determine the concentration of Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, I, Cs, Ba, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, and U. Benefits of the APLTMD include reduced contamination and sample handling, and increased precision, reliability, and sample throughput.     

A phylogenetic analysis of 100+ genera and 50+ families of euasterids based on morphological and molecular data with notes on possible higher level morphological synapomorphies

 A data matrix of 143 morphological and chemical characters for 142 genera of euasterids according to the APG system was compiled and complemented with rbcL and ndhF sequences for most of the genera. The data were subjected to parsimony analysis and support was assessed by bootstrapping. Strict consensus trees from analyses of morphology alone and morphology + rbcL + ndhF are presented. The morphological data recover several groups supported by molecular data but at the level of orders and above relationships are only superficially in agreement with molecular studies. The analyses provide support for monophyly of Gentianales, Aquifoliales, Apiales, Asterales, and Dipsacales. All data indicate that Adoxaceae are closely related to Dipsacales and hence they should be included in that order. The trees were used to assess some possible morphological synapomorphies for euasterids I and II and for the orders of the APG system. Euasterids I are generally characterised by opposite leaves, entire leaf margins, hypogynous flowers, “early sympetaly” with a ring-shaped corolla primordium, fusion of stamen filaments with the corolla tube, and capsular fruits. Euasterids II often have alternate leaves, serrate-dentate leaf margins, epigynous flowers, “late sympetaly” with distinct petal primordia, free stamen filaments, and indehiscent fruits. It is unclear which of these characters represent synapomorphies and symplesiomorphies for the two groups, respectively, and there are numerous expections to be interpreted as reversals and parallelisms. Received August 28, 2000 Accepted August 7, 2001     

外泌体在白血病中的重要调控作用

目前,白血病复发是患者死亡的主要原因之一。肿瘤细胞和微环境的相互作用,以及隐匿在骨髓中的肿瘤干细胞,促进了白血病的复发和向淋巴组织的转移,因此白血病的治疗、转移和复发问题受到广泛关注。外泌体是由绝大多数细胞分泌的双层脂质膜囊泡,可以调控细胞间的交流和信息传递。在白血病细胞、基质细胞和内皮细胞之间的相互联系中都涉及到外泌体,白血病细胞来源的外泌体存在于白血病患者的血浆中,能把其携带的白血病相关抗原及微小RNA呈递给靶细胞,促进白血病肿瘤细胞的增殖,有助于肿瘤细胞实现免疫逃避,保护白血病细胞抵抗化疗药物导致的细胞毒性作用,促进血管生成及肿瘤细胞的迁移。因此,外泌体与白血病的转移、治疗及预后密切相关,可以用来检测和监测白血病的进展。本文综述了外泌体的来源、形成与分泌机制,以及外泌体在白血病发生前、发展中、预后和免疫治疗中所扮演的重要角色。     

Staining protocols for human pancreatic islets

Estimates of islet area and numbers and endocrine cell composition in the adult human pancreas vary from several hundred thousand to several million and beta mass ranges from 500 to 1500 mg. With this known heterogeneity, a standard processing and staining procedure was developed so that pancreatic regions were clearly defined and islets characterized using rigorous histopathology and immunolocalization examinations. Standardized procedures for processing human pancreas recovered from organ donors are described in part 1 of this series. The pancreas is processed into 3 main regions (head, body, tail) followed by transverse sections. Transverse sections from the pancreas head are further divided, as indicated based on size, and numbered alphabetically to denote subsections. This standardization allows for a complete cross sectional analysis of the head region including the uncinate region which contains islets composed primarily of pancreatic polypeptide cells to the tail region. The current report comprises part 2 of this series and describes the procedures used for serial sectioning and histopathological characterization of the pancreatic paraffin sections with an emphasis on islet endocrine cells, replication, and T-cell infiltrates. Pathology of pancreatic sections is intended to characterize both exocrine, ductular, and endocrine components. The exocrine compartment is evaluated for the presence of pancreatitis (active or chronic), atrophy, fibrosis, and fat, as well as the duct system, particularly in relationship to the presence of pancreatic intraductal neoplasia. Islets are evaluated for morphology, size, and density, endocrine cells, inflammation, fibrosis, amyloid, and the presence of replicating or apoptotic cells using H&E and IHC stains. The final component described in part 2 is the provision of the stained slides as digitized whole slide images. The digitized slides are organized by case and pancreas region in an online pathology database creating a virtual biobank. Access to this online collection is currently provided to over 200 clinicians and scientists involved in type 1 diabetes research. The online database provides a means for rapid and complete data sharing and for investigators to select blocks for paraffin or frozen serial sections.     

A Microplate Assay to Assess Chemical Effects on RBL-2H3 Mast Cell Degranulation: Effects of Triclosan without Use of an Organic Solvent

Mast cells play important roles in allergic disease and immune defense against parasites. Once activated (e.g. by an allergen), they degranulate, a process that results in the exocytosis of allergic mediators. Modulation of mast cell degranulation by drugs and toxicants may have positive or adverse effects on human health. Mast cell function has been dissected in detail with the use of rat basophilic leukemia mast cells (RBL-2H3), a widely accepted model of human mucosal mast cells^3-5. Mast cell granule component and the allergic mediator β-hexosaminidase, which is released linearly in tandem with histamine from mast cells⁶, can easily and reliably be measured through reaction with a fluorogenic substrate, yielding measurable fluorescence intensity in a microplate assay that is amenable to high-throughput studies¹. Originally published by Naal et al.¹, we have adapted this degranulation assay for the screening of drugs and toxicants and demonstrate its use here.Triclosan is a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent that is present in many consumer products and has been found to be a therapeutic aid in human allergic skin disease^7-11, although the mechanism for this effect is unknown. Here we demonstrate an assay for the effect of triclosan on mast cell degranulation. We recently showed that triclosan strongly affects mast cell function². In an effort to avoid use of an organic solvent, triclosan is dissolved directly into aqueous buffer with heat and stirring, and resultant concentration is confirmed using UV-Vis spectrophotometry (using ε₂₈₀ = 4,200 L/M/cm)¹². This protocol has the potential to be used with a variety of chemicals to determine their effects on mast cell degranulation, and more broadly, their allergic potential.     

Genetic Manipulation in Δku80 Strains for Functional Genomic Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii

Targeted genetic manipulation using homologous recombination is the method of choice for functional genomic analysis to obtain a detailed view of gene function and phenotype(s). The development of mutant strains with targeted gene deletions, targeted mutations, complemented gene function, and/or tagged genes provides powerful strategies to address gene function, particularly if these genetic manipulations can be efficiently targeted to the gene locus of interest using integration mediated by double cross over homologous recombination.Due to very high rates of nonhomologous recombination, functional genomic analysis of Toxoplasma gondii has been previously limited by the absence of efficient methods for targeting gene deletions and gene replacements to specific genetic loci. Recently, we abolished the major pathway of nonhomologous recombination in type I and type II strains of T. gondii by deleting the gene encoding the KU80 protein^1,2. The Δku80 strains behave normally during tachyzoite (acute) and bradyzoite (chronic) stages in vitro and in vivo and exhibit essentially a 100% frequency of homologous recombination. The Δku80 strains make functional genomic studies feasible on the single gene as well as on the genome scale^1-4.Here, we report methods for using type I and type II Δku80Δhxgprt strains to advance gene targeting approaches in T. gondii. We outline efficient methods for generating gene deletions, gene replacements, and tagged genes by targeted insertion or deletion of the hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HXGPRT) selectable marker. The described gene targeting protocol can be used in a variety of ways in Δku80 strains to advance functional analysis of the parasite genome and to develop single strains that carry multiple targeted genetic manipulations. The application of this genetic method and subsequent phenotypic assays will reveal fundamental and unique aspects of the biology of T. gondii and related significant human pathogens that cause malaria (Plasmodium sp.) and cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium).     

Functional Analysis of the Larval Feeding Circuit in Drosophila

The serotonergic feeding circuit in Drosophila melanogaster larvae can be used to investigate neuronal substrates of critical importance during the development of the circuit. Using the functional output of the circuit, feeding, changes in the neuronal architecture of the stomatogastric system can be visualized. Feeding behavior can be recorded by observing the rate of retraction of the mouth hooks, which receive innervation from the brain. Locomotor behavior is used as a physiological control for feeding, since larvae use their mouth hooks to traverse across an agar substrate. Changes in feeding behavior can be correlated with the axonal architecture of the neurites innervating the gut. Using immunohistochemistry it is possible to visualize and quantitate these changes. Improper handling of the larvae during behavior paradigms can alter data as they are very sensitive to manipulations. Proper imaging of the neurite architecture innervating the gut is critical for precise quantitation of number and size of varicosities as well as the extent of branch nodes. Analysis of most circuits allow only for visualization of neurite architecture or behavioral effects; however, this model allows one to correlate the functional output of the circuit with the impairments in neuronal architecture.     

Radioimmunotherapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: from the 'magic bullets' to 'radioactive magic bullets'

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of lymphoma with Zevalin and Bexxar was approved by FDA in 2002 and 2003, respectively, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory CD20+ follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin′s lymphoma. In 2009, Zevalin was also approved for consolidation therapy in patients with follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that achieve a partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy. For follicular lymphoma patients, the overall response and progression-free survival rates have significantly improved since the implementation of RIT. The predominant complication of RIT is hematological toxicity that is usually manageable. There are ongoing trials to further define the expanding role of RIT as first line or concomitant therapy in the treatment of lymphoma as well as for certain antibiotic resistant infections and aggressive malignancies. There is also growing interest in the development of newer protocols for increased and more uniform dose delivery resulting in better outcomes and improved patient survival. This review will primarily focus on the role of RIT in treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is of established clinical utility and FDA approved. The mechanism of RIT, available radionuclides and pharmacokinetics, therapy administration, clinical utility and toxicities, and future directions would be discussed.     

Assessing burrowing, nest construction, and hoarding in mice

Deterioration in the ability to perform "Activities of daily living" (ADL) is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Preclinical behavioural screening of possible treatments for AD currently largely focuses on cognitive testing, which frequently demands expensive equipment and lots of experimenter time. However, human episodic memory (the most severely affected aspect of memory in AD) is different to rodent memory, which seems to be largely non-episodic. Therefore the present ways of screening for new AD treatments for AD in rodents are intrinsically unlikely to succeed. A new approach to preclinical screening would be to characterise the ADL of mice. Fortuitously, several such assays have recently been developed at Oxford, and here the three most sensitive and well-characterised are presented. Burrowing was first developed in Oxford. It evolved from a need to develop a mouse hoarding paradigm. Most published rodent hoarding paradigms required a distant food source to be linked to the home cage by a connecting passage. This would involve modifying the home cage as well as making a mouse-proof connecting passage and food source. So it was considered whether it would be possible to put the food source inside the cage. It was found that if a container was placed on the floor it was emptied by the next morning., The food pellets were, however, simply deposited in a heap at the container entrance, rather than placed in a discrete place away from the container, as might be expected if the mice were truly hoarding them. Close inspection showed that the mice were performing digging ("burrowing") movements, not carrying the pellets in their mouths to a selected place as they would if truly hoarding them. Food pellets are not an essential substrate for burrowing; mice will empty tubes filled with sand, gravel, even soiled bedding from their own cage. Moreover, they will empty a full tube even if an empty one is placed next to it. Several nesting protocols exist in the literature. The present Oxford one simplifies the procedure and has a well-defined scoring system for nest quality. A hoarding paradigm was later developed in which the mice, rather than hoarding back to the real home cage, were adapted to living in the "home base" of a hoarding apparatus. This home base was connected to a tube made of wire mesh, the distal end of which contained the food source. This arrangement proved to yield good hoarding behaviour, as long as the mice were adapted to living in the "home base" during the day and only allowed to enter the hoarding tube at night.