The accumulation of heavy metals in Typha latifolia L. grown in a stream carrying secondary effluent

Typha latifolia L. from aquatic plants is widely found throughout Kehli Stream (Elazig, Turkey). This study examined the uptake of some metals by T. latifolia and the transfer from roots to other plant parts. The accumulation of Mn in T. latifolia L. can be suggested as a tolerance strategy due to its transfer factor higher than 1.0. The enrichment coefficients in the leaves of T. latifolia L. were higher than 1.0 for Zn and Mn and often lower than 1.0 for other metals. Similarly, the enrichment coefficients of all metals, except for Cr, in roots of T. latifolia L. were higher than 1.0. This study demonstrated that T. latifolia L. could be considered as either a bio-indicator or a bio-accumulator for sediments and water polluted by metals.     

The mitochondrial and nuclear genetic structure of Myotis capaccinii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in the Eurasian transition, and its taxonomic implications

Allopatric isolation in glacial refugia has caused differentiation and speciation in many taxa globally. In this study, we investigated the nuclear and mitochondrial genetic differentiation of the long fingered bat, Myotis capaccinii during the ice ages in south-eastern Europe and Anatolia. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses indicated a suture zone similar to those recorded in other animal species, including bats, suggesting the association of more than one refugium with the region. Contrary to most of the other species where a suture zone was seen in Anatolia, for M. capaccinii the geographical location of the genetic break was in south-eastern Europe. This mitochondrial differentiation was not reflected in the nuclear microsatellites, however, suggesting that the lack of contact during the ice ages did not result in reproductive isolation. Hence taxonomically, the two mitochondrial clades cannot be treated as separate species.     

Differential expression of genes participating in cardiomyocyte electrophysiological remodeling via membrane ionic mechanisms and Ca2+-handling in human heart failure

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Excitation–contraction coupling in normal cardiac function is performed with well balanced and coordinated functioning but with complex dynamic...     

Effect of phenolic acids and phenolics from plant cell walls on rumenlike fermentation in consecutive batch culture

Information on the interaction between mixed populations in the rumen and plant phenolics is required to fully elucidate the limitations of phenolic compounds on forage digestibility. The objective of this study was to examine the degradation of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) hay incubated with mixed ruminal populations in consecutive batch culture (CBC) with or without phenolic acids or phenolic compounds extracted from plant cell walls. Each CBC consisted of a series of 10 cultures (3 replicates per culture) inoculated (10%, vol/vol) in sequence at 48-h intervals with microbial suspension from the previous set of cultures. All cultures were grown on a semidefined medium containing Italian ryegrass hay, and each CBC was initiated with an inoculum from the rumen. Rumenlike fermentation characteristics were maintained in control CBCs by repeated inoculum transfer. Treatment CBCs were transferred as described above, but cultures 5, 6, and 7 were incubated in the presence of trans-p-coumaric, cis-p-coumaric, or trans-ferulic acid or phenolics extracted from the cell walls of maize stem or barley straw. Mean apparent dry matter disappearance in control CBC cultures was 495 mg per g of hay, whereas the presence of phenolics reduced the initial dry matter disappearance by 6.3 to 25.6%. trans-p-Coumaric acid and, to a lesser extent, the phenolics from cell walls of maize stem were the most inhibitory compounds for dry matter disappearance and for the production of volatile fatty acids; trans-p-coumaric acid altered the molar ratio of acetate/propionate/butyrate. The CBC further showed variations in the ability of the rumen microbial population to adapt to phenolic compounds.     

Mixed fungal populations and lignocellulosic tissue degradation in the bovine rumen.

Anaerobic fungi in ruminal fluid from cows eating Bermuda grass hay plus a grain and minerals supplement were evaluated for diversity in sporangial morphotypes and colony growth patterns and for the degradation of various lignocelluloses. In selective cultures containing streptomycin and penicillin, an active population of ruminal fungi colonized leaf blades and degraded fiber at rates and extents almost equal to that of the total ruminal population. Three major sporangial morphotypes were consistently observed on leaf blades: oval, globose, and fusiform. Fungal colonies representing three distinct growth types consistently developed in anaerobic roll tubes inoculated with strained ruminal fluid. Sporangial morphotypes could not be matched to colony types due to multiple sporangial forms within a colony. Under identical growth conditions, one type exhibited a monocentric growth pattern, while two types exhibited polycentric growth patterns previously unreported in ruminal fungi. Mixed ruminal fungi in selective cultures or in digesta taken directly from the rumen produced a massive clearing of the sclerenchyma. Quantitation of tissue areas in cross sections by light microscopic techniques showed that fungal incubations resulted in significant (P = 0.05) increases in sclerenchyma degradation compared to whole ruminal fluid incubations. The mestome cell wall was at times penetrated and partially degraded by fungi; the colonization was less frequent and to a lesser degree than with the sclerenchyma. Conversely, ruminal bacteria were not observed to degrade the mestome sheath. Phenolic monomers at 1 mM concentrations did not stimulate to a significant (P = 0.05) extent the dry weight loss or fungal colonization of leaf blades; at 10 mM concentrations cinnamic and benzoic acids were toxic to ruminal fungi.     

Effect of phenolic acids and phenolics from plant cell walls on rumenlike fermentation in consecutive batch culture.

Information on the interaction between mixed populations in the rumen and plant phenolics is required to fully elucidate the limitations of phenolic compounds on forage digestibility. The objective of this study was to examine the degradation of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) hay incubated with mixed ruminal populations in consecutive batch culture (CBC) with or without phenolic acids or phenolic compounds extracted from plant cell walls. Each CBC consisted of a series of 10 cultures (3 replicates per culture) inoculated (10%, vol/vol) in sequence at 48-h intervals with microbial suspension from the previous set of cultures. All cultures were grown on a semidefined medium containing Italian ryegrass hay, and each CBC was initiated with an inoculum from the rumen. Rumenlike fermentation characteristics were maintained in control CBCs by repeated inoculum transfer. Treatment CBCs were transferred as described above, but cultures 5, 6, and 7 were incubated in the presence of trans-p-coumaric, cis-p-coumaric, or trans-ferulic acid or phenolics extracted from the cell walls of maize stem or barley straw. Mean apparent dry matter disappearance in control CBC cultures was 495 mg per g of hay, whereas the presence of phenolics reduced the initial dry matter disappearance by 6.3 to 25.6%. trans-p-Coumaric acid and, to a lesser extent, the phenolics from cell walls of maize stem were the most inhibitory compounds for dry matter disappearance and for the production of volatile fatty acids; trans-p-coumaric acid altered the molar ratio of acetate/propionate/butyrate. The CBC further showed variations in the ability of the rumen microbial population to adapt to phenolic compounds.     

Fortpflanzungsverhalten der Palmtaube (Streptopelia senegalensis): Paarbildung bis Eiablage

Zusammenfassung Die Fortpflanzungsperiode der Palmtaube (Streptopelia s. senegalensis L.) fängt in Diyarbakir/Türkei (37°55N/40°12E) schon Anfang Februar an und kann bis Mitte November dauern. In diesem Zeitraum kann ein Paar bis zu sieben Bruten beginnen (Tab. 1). Nach der Paarbildung fangen die Kopulationen an, die vor allem in der Woche vor der Eiablage stark zunehmen. Während des Brütens und der ersten Woche der Jungenaufzucht sind sie dagegen nicht zu beobachten. Sie werden vom im allgemeinen mit sog. Flügeltippen bzw. Scheinputzen eingeleitet. Nach der Begattung paradiert das um das , das auf der Stelle verharrt. Vor dem Tretakt fällt das dagegen in infantiles Verhalten und bettelt unter Flügelzittern den Partner um Futter an. Es bekommt auch tatsächlich Futter. Die Palmtauben sind zumindest für eine Fortpflanzungssaison monogam. U. a. spielen wechselseitige Gefiederpflege und Anschlußbruten sowie die Fütterung des durch das eine wichtige Rolle für das Zusammenleben und -bleiben der Partner. Der Nistplatz wird vom gezeigt, aber vom gewählt. Das Nistmaterial wird vom eingetragen und im allgemeinen vom alleine in das Nest eingefügt. Nur während des Brutwechsels bringt auch das hin und wieder Nistmaterial, das aber wahrscheinlich nur für den Partner, nicht für das Nest dient. In den späteren Phasen des Brütens gilt dies wahrscheinlich auch für das . 1–4 Tage nach dem Nestbaubeginn wird gegen Abend das erste Ei gelegt, womit auch das Brüten anfängt. Das zweite Ei folgt dann rund 38 Stunden später.

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On the reproductive behaviour of the Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis): pair-formation to egg-laying

Summary In Diyarbakr/Turkey, the reproductive season of the Laughing Dove begins in early February and lasts til mid November. One pair may start with breeding up to seven times a year. The frequency of copulations which could be observed only after pair formation increased considerably in the week before incubation starts. During incubation and during the first week of the nestling period no copulations could be observed. Usually copulations are initiated by the male pecking behind its folded wings (displacement-preening). Before mating, the female turns into infantile behaviour begging food from its partner by wing-twitching. Food is then delivered by the male. After mating the female parades around the male which stays motionless. Paired birds stay together at least during one reproductive season. Reinforcement of the pair bond will be achieved by mutual preening, courtship feeding of the female by the male, and successive broods. The male indicates the nest site which is successively chosen by the female. The nest material is brought by the male and usually placed by the female at the nest site. Only during change-overs the female sometimes brings nesting material, too. However, this material probably is for the partner, not actually for the nest. The same may be true for similar behaviour of the male in late stages of incubation. One to four days after nest building has started the first egg is laid, mostly in late afternoon. Incubation starts with the first egg; the second egg is laid about 38 hours later.

     

The effect of lanthanum on the mechanical function of the isolated perfused rat heart at different extracellular calcium concentrations.

The effects of 50 microM lanthanum (La3+) on the contractile force, rate and coronary flow of rat hearts perfused with solutions containing 2.5, 5, 7.5 mM calcium (Ca2+) have been investigated. La3+ produced a rapid and marked decrease in contractile force within 1-3 min ("early La(3+)-effect"). The inhibition of contractility by La3+ was reduced progressively when the Ca2+ ion concentration in the perfusion fluid was raised from 2.5 to 7.5 mM. However, after 10-80 min of La3+ perfusion the contractile force was increased significantly ("late La(3+)-effect"). Elevation of Ca2+ during exposure to La3+ increased its effect. During the late La(3+)-effect, a marked decrease in heart rate and a significant increase in time to reach peak tension, time for half relaxation and twitch duration was observed. High concentrations of perfusate Ca2+ decreased the chronotropic response to La3+, in contrast, elevated Ca2+ potentiated La(3+)-induced increase in time to reach peak tension, time for half relaxation and twitch duration. La3+ produced a significant decrease in coronary flow. High Ca2+ augmented the decrease coronary flow. The findings indicate that La3+ may produce marked effects on myocardial function. High extracellular Ca2+ reduces the La(3+)-induced initial decrease in force of contraction, but potentiates the late increase in contractile force by La3+. Elevated external Ca2+ also increases the effects of La3+ on twitch parameters, heart rate and coronary flow.     

Microbial Delignification with White Rot Fungi Improves Forage Digestibility

Three wild-type white rot fungi and two cellulase-less mutants developed from Phanerochaete chrysosporium K-3 (formerly Sporotrichum pulverulentum) were tested for their ability to delignify grass cell walls and improve biodegradation by rumen microorganisms. Fungal-treated and control stems of Bermuda grass were analyzed for their content of ester- and ether-linked aromatics by using alkali extraction and gas chromatography, for in vitro dry weight digestion and production of volatile fatty acids in in vitro fermentations with mixed ruminal microorganisms, for loss of lignin and other aromatics from specific cell wall types by using microspectrophotometry, and for structural changes before and after in vitro degradation by rumen microorganisms by using transmission electron microscopy. P. chrysosporium K-3 and Ceriporiopsis subvermispora FP 90031-sp produced the greatest losses in lignin and improved the biodegradation of Bermuda grass over that of untreated control substrate. However, C. subvermispora removed the most lignin and significantly improved biodegradation over all other treatments. Phellinus pini RAB-83-19 and cellulase-less mutants 3113 and 85118 developed from P. chrysosporium K-3 did not improve the biodegradation of Bermuda grass lignocellulose. Results indicated that C. subvermispora extensively removed ester-linked p-coumaric and ferulic acids and also removed the greatest amount of non-ester-linked aromatics from plant cell walls. Microscopic observations further indicated that C. subvermispora removed esters from parenchyma cell walls as well as esters and lignin from the more recalcitrant cell walls (i.e., sclerenchyma and vascular tissues). C. subvermispora improved in vitro digestion and volatile fatty acid production by ruminal microorganisms by about 80%, while dry matter loss due to fungi was about 20% greater than loss in untreated control stems. The chemical and structural studies used identified sites of specific fungal attack and suggested mechanisms whereby improvement occurred.     

The protective effect of arbutin against potassium bromate-induced oxidative damage in the rat brain

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of arbutin (ARB) against brain injury induced in rats with potassium bromate (KBrO₃). The rats were divided into four groups as Group 1: Control (0.9% NaCl ml/kg/day p.), Group 2: KBrO₃ (100 mg/kg (gavage), Group 3: ARB (50 mg/kg/day p.), and Group 4: KBrO₃ + ARB (100 mg/kg (gavage) + 50 mg/kg/day p.). At the end of the fifth day of the study, the rats in all groups were killed, and their brain tissues were collected. In the collected brain tissues, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels were measured, and routine histopathological examinations were made. The MDA levels in the group that was exposed to KBrO₃ were significantly higher than those in the control group (p ˂ 0.001). In comparison to the KBrO₃ group, the MDA levels in the KBrO₃ + ARB group were significantly lower (p ˂ 0.001). It was observed that SOD and CAT enzyme activity levels were significantly lower in the KBrO₃ group compared to the control group (p ˂ 0.001), while these levels were significantly higher in the KBrO₃ + ARB group than in the KBrO₃ group (p ˂ 0.001). Additionally, the group that was subjected to KBrO₃ toxicity, as well as ARB administration, had much lower levels of histopathologic signs than the group that was subjected to KBrO₃ toxicity only. Consequently, it was found that KBrO₃ exposure led to injury in the brain tissues of the rats, and using ARB was effective in preventing this injury.