Dynamic features of cells expressing macrophage properties in tissue cultures of dissociated cerebral cortex from the rat

Summary Two previously identified forms of macrophage were investigated in primary cultures of cerebral cortical cells. Dynamic features were revealed through time-lapse video recording and aspects of macrophage function were assessed. The two cell forms were shown to be different pre-mitotic stages of a single cell type. The cell cycle for these cells involved an initial large, flat, quiescent cell which retracted to yield a slightly rounded form with numerous processes. This latter form lost processes and developed profuse filopodia as it became very rounded just prior to division; both resulting daughter cells then regained the initial large flat appearance. These cells possessed several properties of macrophages, including phagocytosis, nucleoside diphosphatase enzyme, and CR3 receptors. These properties were transient, expressed just before and after mitosis, but subsequently down-regulated in the flat daughter cells. Because of this feature, it was difficult to determine the exact size of this cell population; however, the observed rate of proliferation suggests it may be substantial. It is suggested that these cells correspond to non-microglial macrophages of brain tissue and, because of their significant down-regulation, they may be difficult to detect. This may be important in studies of brain accessory immune cells in tissue culture.     

Bats in National Trust properties: a preliminary review

A preliminary analysis of the use by bats of National Trust properties revealed that all 14 resident species have been recorded. Comparison with a national database of records for Britain managed by English Nature (NCC Bat database) showed that the scarcer species are better represented roosting in buildings on Trust properties than in other buildings. In addition, survey of Trust properties has shown that a high proportion of buildings are used by bats. Bats provide unusual wildlife links between buildings, gardens and countryside through which the Trust can promote nature conservation, and resolve conflicts between building or landscape restoration and the bat habitat requirements. The role of the County Bat Groups in survey and promotion of bats on Trust properties is becoming increasingly important, especially if we are able to identify key properties for bats.     

不同类型城市快速扩张区域人工景观对自然景观的生态安全胁迫效应比较

城镇化进程中的建成区扩张会对区域自然生态安全格局造成胁迫效应.本文选取北京通州、河北正定、天津塘沽及福建厦门4个内陆和沿海城市为研究区,通过景观生态学原理构建区域景观胁迫分析指标,对比分析4个城市快速扩张区域在快速城镇化过程中表现出的景观格局特征,研究不同区域及城镇化背景下人工景观对耕地、绿/林地、水体和未利用地等自然景观生态安全格局的胁迫作用差异.结果表明: 2015年,通州、正定、塘沽和厦门4个城市扩张区的景观侵蚀指数分别为1.039、0.996、1.239和0.945,自然景观都表现出显著的被侵蚀程度;但不同城市区域的各类自然景观类型受威胁的程度不同,通州、正定和塘沽以未利用地和水域为主,厦门则以耕地和水域为主,4个城市水域威胁指数均超过0.743;内陆城市的水域和未利用地景观分离度指数均大于沿海城市,在空间上表现为沿海城市水体分布较内陆城市更聚集;相对于其他自然景观,未利用地和水域是受人工景观胁迫最大的两种自然景观.     

Low-dose Ad26.COV2.S protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in rhesus macaques

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Effects of antalarmin,a CRF receptor 1 antagonist,on fright reaction and endocrine stress response in crucian carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius carassius</Emphasis>)

The corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors show striking homogeneity throughout the vertebrate subphylum. In mammals, the CRF(1) receptor (CRFR(1)) plays an important role in mediating behavioral and endocrine responses to fear and stress. The specific roles of this receptor subtype in fear and stress reactions in non-mammalian vertebrates are largely unknown. Crucian carp displays the olfactory-mediated fright reaction, a stereotypic behavioral response to waterborne cues from damaged skin of conspecifics. This reaction shows several similarities to basic components of avoidance behavior in mammals. In the present study, we applied the non-peptide CRFR(1) antagonist, antalarmin, to crucian carp 1 h before exposure to conspecific skin extract. This treatment resulted in a suppression of the fright reaction. After skin extract exposure, antalarmin treatment also lead to lower plasma cortisol values, as compared to vehicle treatment. This suppression of the behavioral fright reaction and the stress induced rise in plasma cortisol in crucian carp suggests that the functions of the CRFR(1) are conserved by evolution.     

Brain evolution in Old World monkeys.

Sulcal patterns of 14 genera of Old World monkeys were analyzed from 107 endocasts. Colobines and cercopithecines differ in patterns of cerebral convolutions, and functional and evolutionary hypotheses are here proposed regarding those differences. The cercopithecine pattern seems to be the more derived since it suggests relative expansion of prefrontal, and inferior temporal integration cortices as compared to the colobine pattern.     

Variables Influencing the Effect of a Meal on Brain Tryptophan

Previous work from our laboratory points to plasma free tryptophan being a useful predictor of brain tryptophan concentration in many circumstances. Other work, in particular various studies on the acute effects of food intake, has emphasized the roles of plasma total tryptophan and of plasma large neutral amino acids that compete with tryptophan for transport to the brain. We have now studied associations between the above variables under different dietary conditions. Rats were allowed to feed for restricted periods during a 12-h light-12-h dark cycle. In the first study, rats were given access to a carbohydrate diet for 2 h midway through the light cycle and following an 18-h fast. The resultant rise of brain tryptophan was explicable largely by the associated fall in large neutral amino acids. In a second study, rats were adapted to a regimen whereby they were allowed access to the standard laboratory diet for 4 h during the dark cycle for 3 weeks. A postprandial decrease in brain tryptophan was associated with a fall in free tryptophan and of its ratio to competing amino acids. The brain change could be attributed neither to changes in plasma total tryptophan (which increased) nor to changes of its ratio to the competers (which remained unchanged). Results as a whole are thus consistent with changes of plasma free tryptophan and large neutral amino acid concentrations affecting brain tryptophan concentration under different dietary circumstances. It is suggested that these influences serve to maintain brain tryptophan when dietary supplies are defective.     

Deanol Affects Choline Metabolism in Peripheral Tissues of Mice

Abstract: The enzymatic hydrolysis of UDP-galactose in rat and calf brain was studied. The hydrolysis occurs in two steps: The first is the conversion of UDP-galactose to galactose-1-phosphate catalyzed by nucleotide pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.9), and the second is the conversion of the latter to free galactose by alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1). The overall conversion has a pH optimum of 9.0, but there is considerable activity at pH 7.4, which is the optimum for UDP-galactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase in the synthesis of cerebrosides. Preparations from cytosol from calf brain cerebellum or stem that were enriched in UDP-galactose hydrolytic activity inhibit cerebroside synthesis under conditions optimal for the synthesis. Microsome-rich and nuclear debris fractions contain the highest apparent specific activity among the subcellular fractions studied. Hydrolysis of UDP-galactose occurs in all areas of brain, brainstem having the highest activity. The apparent specific activity in jimpy mouse brain homogenate is nearly twice as high as in the control brain homogenate.