Retention of low-fitness genotypes over six decades of admixture between native and introduced tiger salamanders

Background  

Introductions of non-native tiger salamanders into the range of California tiger salamanders have provided a rare opportunity to study the early stages of secondary contact and hybridization. We produced first- and second-generation hybrid salamanders in the lab and measured viability among these early-generation hybrid crosses to determine the strength of the initial barrier to gene exchange. We also created contemporary-generation hybrids in the lab and evaluated the extent to which selection has affected fitness over approximately 20 generations of admixture. Additionally, we examined the inheritance of quantitative phenotypic variation to better understand how evolution has progressed since secondary contact.     

Quantification of human spermatogenesis: germ cell degeneration during spermatocytogenesis and meiosis in testes from younger and older adult men

Germ cell degeneration during spermatocytogenesis and meiosis was investigated to explain the age-related decline in daily sperm production (DSP). Numbers of Types A-dark, A-pale, and B-spermatogonia, potential daily sperm production per g parenchyma (PDSP) based on type B-spermatogonia, early primary spermatocytes, and late primary spermatocytes, and DSP per g based on early spermatids were determined in 15 men aged 20 to 48 yr (mean +/- SEM, 33 +/- 2 yr) and 15 men aged 52 to 90 yr (65 +/- 3 yr). Testes obtained within 15 h of death (largely due to trauma or heart failure) were perfused vascularly with glutaraldehyde. The number of each cell type per g parenchyma was calculated as the product of the percentage of nuclei in the parenchyma times a correction factor for section thickness and nuclear diameter divided by the volume of a single nucleus of that cell type. Paired testicular weight was lower (p less than 0.01) in older men (33 +/- 3 g) than in the younger men (49 +/- 3 g). Younger and older men had similar numbers of A-dark, A-pale, and B-spermatogonia per g parenchyma. PDSP based on late primary spermatocytes and DSP based on early spermatids were lower (p less than 0.01) in older men than in younger men. In younger men, PDSP was similar (p greater than 0.05) between B-spermatogonia and late primary spermatocytes, whereas DSP measured at the spermatid level was abruptly lower than that estimated from younger cell types. Older men showed reduction in PDSP between early and late primary spermatocytes, with further reduction occurring in DSP at the spermatid level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Attitudes Toward Weight Gain in Pregnancy

Recently, there has been increased interest in the influence of maternal prenatal nutrition on the course and outcome of pregnancy. Evidence has accumulated that a woman''s weight before pregnancy and the weight gained during pregnancy directly affect infant birth weight, incidence of neonatal mortality, and growth and development of the infant during the first year of life. Although recent recommendations for weight gain in pregnancy have been liberalized, a survey of 195 pregnant women who had prenatal visits in both clinic and private offices showed deficiencies in their understanding of the subject. Some 37 percent of women believed they should gain 20 pounds (9 kg) or less during pregnancy. Eight percent admitted to dieting before at least one antenatal visit and 54 percent thought their doctor would not be concerned about too little weight gained during pregnancy. This suggests that many women and some doctors are still ignorant of current concepts of proper nutrition during pregnancy. Apparently, increased lay and professional educational efforts are needed.     

Efficacy of feverfew as prophylactic treatment of migraine.

Seventeen patients who ate fresh leaves of feverfew daily as prophylaxis against migraine participated in a double blind placebo controlled trial of the herb: eight patients received capsules containing freeze dried feverfew powder and nine placebo. Those who received placebo had a significant increase in the frequency and severity of headache, nausea, and vomiting with the emergence of untoward effects during the early months of treatment. The group given capsules of feverfew showed no change in the frequency or severity of symptoms of migraine. This provides evidence that feverfew taken prophylactically prevents attacks of migraine, and confirmatory studies are now indicated, preferably with a formulation controlled for sesquiterpene lactone content, in migraine sufferers who have never treated themselves with this herb.     

Cyclic GMP as the second messenger in helper cell requirement for gamma-interferon production

Cyclic GMP and activators (acetylcholine, E. coli heat-stable toxin) of guanylate cyclase were capable of completely replacing the helper cell or interleukin 2 requirement for gamma-interferon (IFN gamma) production by Lyt-1-,2+ cells from C57BL/6 mouse spleen cells. The cyclic GMP help was independent of DNA synthesis or proliferation in the IFN gamma-producing cells, because cyclic GMP reversed mitomycin C blockage of IFN gamma production but did not reverse the inhibition of DNA synthesis. Thus, the findings presented here are unrelated to the question of the second messenger role of cyclic GMP in the activation of lymphocytes for DNA synthesis and cellular proliferation. The cyclic GMP help for IFN gamma production was antagonized by cyclic AMP and inducers (isoproterenol) of adenylate cyclase.