Fire affects wood formation dynamics and ecophysiology of Pinus pinaster Aiton growing in a dry Mediterranean area

The increase in frequency and intensity of wildfires is seriously affecting forest ecosystems, especially in drought-prone areas. Trees’ recovery after fire is related to direct tree damage and is influenced by climate conditions, such as warm temperature and water shortage. In this study, we evaluate the post-fire effects on a Pinus pinaster Aiton forest growing in a hot and dry area of the Mediterranean region by comparing burned trees with severe crown reduction against unburned and not-defoliated trees. Inter-annual analyses of dendrochronology and stable isotopes in tree rings were combined with xylogenesis monitoring to investigate the effects of fire on tree growth, ecophysiological processes and wood formation. Tree-ring and isotope data showed a growth reduction and a decrease in photosynthetic activity in the burned trees, compared to control individuals, in the three years after fire. Further, the monitoring of cambial activity demonstrated a negative influence of warm and dry periods on wood formation, low xylem production, a delay in phenology and a reduction in xylem plasticity in burned trees. Our findings suggest that substantial photosynthetic limitations caused by crown defoliation and recurrent drought events could lead to severe growth decrease and reduction of trees ability to regain the pre-disturbance productivity rates.     

Description of Chytridiopsis Trichopterae N. Sp. (Microspora, Chytridiopsidae), A Microsporidian Parasite of the Caddis Fly Polycentropus Flavomaculatus (Trichoptera, Polycentropodidae), With Comments On Relationships Between the Families Chytridiopsidae and Metchnikovellidae

ABSTRACT. The microsporidium Chytridiopsis trichopterae n. sp., a parasite of the midgut epithelium of larvae of the caddis fly Polycentropus flavomaculatus found in southern Sweden, is described based on light microscopic and ultrastructural characteristics. All life cycle stages have isolated nuclei. Merogonial reproduction was not observed. the sporogony comprises two sequences: one with free spores in parasitophorous vacuoles, the other in spherical, 5.6-6.8 μm wide, sporophorous vesicles which lie in the cytoplasm. the free sporogony yields more than 20 spores per sporont. the vesicle-bound sporogony produces 8, 12 or 16 spores. the envelope of the sporophorous vesicle is about 82 nm thick and layered. the internal layer is the plasma membrane of the sporont; the surface layer is electron dense with regularly arranged translucent components. Both spore types are spherical. They have an ～ 35-nm thick spore wall, with a plasma membrane, an electron-lucent endospore, and an ～ 14-nm thick electron-dense exospore. the polar sac is cup-like and lacks a layered anchoring disc. the polar filament is arranged in two to three isofilar coils in the half of the spore opposite the nucleus. the coupling between the polar sac and the polar filament is characteristic. the surface of the polar filament is covered with regularly arranged membraneous chambers resembling a honeycomb. There is no polaroplast of traditional type. the cytoplasm lacks polyribosomes. the nucleus has a prominent, wide nucleolus. the two spore types have identical construction, but differ in dimensions and electron density. Free living spores are about 3.2 μm wide, the diameter of the polar filament proper is 102-187 nm, the chambers of the honeycomb are 70-85 nm high, and the polar sac is up to 425 nm wide. Living spores in the vesicle-bound sporogony are about 2.1 μm wide, the polar filament measures 69-102 nm, the chambers of the honeycomb are about 45 nm high, and these spores are more electron dense. Comparisons of cytology (especially the construction of the spore wall and the polar filament and associated structures) and life cycles reveal prominent differences among the Chytridiopsis-like microsporidia, and close relationships between the families Chytridiopsidae and Metchnikovellidae.     

Defining null expectations for animal site fidelity

Site fidelity—the tendency to return to previously visited locations—is widespread across taxa. Returns may be driven by several mechanisms, including memory, habitat selection, or chance; however, pattern-based definitions group different generating mechanisms under the same label of ‘site fidelity’, often assuming memory as the main driver. We propose an operational definition of site fidelity as patterns of return that deviate from a null expectation derived from a memory-free movement model. First, using agent-based simulations, we show that without memory, intrinsic movement characteristics and extrinsic landscape characteristics are key determinants of return patterns and that even random movements may generate substantial probabilities of return. Second, we illustrate how to implement our framework empirically to establish ecologically meaningful, system-specific null expectations for site fidelity. Our approach provides a conceptual and operational framework to test hypotheses on site fidelity across systems and scales.     

Alpha-Phenyl-Tert-Butyl-Nitrone (PBN) Attenuates Hydroxyl Radical Production During Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of Rat Brain: An EPR Study

-phenyl-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN) a spin adduct forming agent is believed to have a protective action in ischemia-reperfusion injury of brain by forming adducts of oxygen free radicals including ±OH radical. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has been used to both detect and monitor the time course of oxygen free radical formation in the in vivo rat cerebral cortex. Cortical cups were placed over both cerebral hemispheres of methoxyflurane anesthetized rats prepared for four vessel occlusion-evoked cerebral ischemia. Prior to the onset of sample collection, both cups were perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) containing the spin trap agent -(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert butylnitrone (POBN 100 mM) for 20 min. In addition 50 mg/kg BW of POBN was administered intraperitoneally (IP) 20 min prior to ischemia in order to improve our ability to detect free radical adducts. Cup fluid was subsequently replaced every 15 min during ischemia and every 10 min during reperfusion with fresh POBN containing CSF and the collected cortical superfusates were analyzed for radical adducts by EPR spectroscopy. After a basal 10 min collection, cerebral ischemia was induced for 15 or 30 min (confirmed by EEG flattening) followed by a 90 min reperfusion. -OH radical adducts (characterized by six line EPR spectra) were detected during ischemia and 90 min reperfusion. No adduct was detected in the basal sample or after 90 min of reperfusion. Similar results were obtained when diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (100 μM; DETAPAC) a chelating agent was included in the artificial CSF. Systemic administration of PBN (100 mg/kg BW) produced a significant attenuation of radical adduct during reperfusion. A combination of systemic and topical PBN (100 mM) was required to suppress -OH radical adduct formation during ischemia as well as reperfusion. PBN free radical adducts were detected in EPR spectra of the lipid extracts of PBN treated rat brains subjected to ischemia/reperfusion. Thus this study suggests that PBN's protective action in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury is related to its ability to prevent a cascade of free radical generation by forming spin adducts.     

Second messenger and protein phosphorylation mechanisms underlying opiate addiction: Studies in the rat locus coeruleus

We have studied the role of second messenger and protein phosphorylation pathways in mediating changes in neuronal function associated with opiate addiction in the rat locus coeruleus. We have found that chronic opiates increase levels of the G-protein subunits Gi and Go, adenylate cyclase, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, and a number of phosphoproteins (including tyrosine hydroxylase) in this brain region. Electrophysiological data have provided direct support for the view that this up-regulation of the cyclic AMP system contributes to opiate tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal exhibited by these neurons. As the adaptations in G-proteins and the cyclic AMP system appear to occur at least in part at the level of gene expression, current efforts are aimed at identifying the mechanisms, at the molecular level, by which opiates regulate the expression of these intracellular messenger proteins in the locus coeruleus. These studies will lead to an improved understanding of the biochemical basis of opiate addiction.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Paul Greengard     

Evidence for the presence of a receptor for the cytolethal distending toxin (CLDT) of Campylobacter jejuni on CHO and HeLa cell membranes and development of a receptor-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of CLDT

Abstract Using ligand blotting, it was found that partially purified cytolethal distending toxin prepared from and enterotoxigenic strain of Campylobacter jejuni , bound to two peptides of molecular masses of approximately 59 kDa and 45 kDa and to a single peptide of 59 kDa in protein blots prepared from HeLa and CHO cell membranes, respectively. In contrast, labile toxin of Escherichia coli and cholera toxin bound to a single peptide of the same molecular mass (15 kDa) on protein blots prepared from both CHO and HeLa cell crude membranes resolved by gel electrophoresis. This banding pattern was identical using SDS-solubilized membrane, with or without heat treatment, but no band was obtained when reduced (treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol) samples were used for the gel electrophoresis. The differences between receptors of cytolethal distending toxin and cholera toxin/labile toxin were exploited to develop a receptor-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of cytolethal distending toxin which involved the consecutive addition of either solubilized CHO or HeLa membranes, antigen and antibody. This enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay consistently detected crude cytolethal distending toxin diluted up to 16-fold. The receptor-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of cytolethal distending toxin developed in this study is a suitable alternative assay which can be performed easily in laboratories with minimal facilities and, more importantly, the results are available within a few hours as compared to times of up to 5 days in the conventional tissue culture detection of cytolethal distending toxin.     

脉叶罗汉松化学成分的研究

从脉叶罗汉松(Podocarpus neriifolius D.Don)的枝叶中分离到11种化合物,根据光谱数据和物理常数测定,分别鉴定为正三十四烷醇(1)、β-谷甾醇硬脂酸酯(2)、β-谷甾醇(3)、金松双黄酮(sciadopitysin,3)、罗汉松双黄酮 B(podocarpusflavone B,12)、罗波斯塔黄酮-7″-甲醚(robustaflavone-7″-methyl ether,13)罗汉松双黄酮 A(podocarpusflaveone A,14)、罗波斯塔黄酮(robustaflavone,15)、对羟基苯甲酸(p-hydroxyl-benzoic acid,16)、2″-O-鼠李糖扫帚黄甙(2″-O-rhamnosylscoparin,23)和2″-O-鼠李糖牡荆黄甙(2″-O-rhamnosylvitexin,24)。其中,化合物23和24为首次从罗汉松科分得的化合物,化合物8、13和15首次从该植物分离到。