Reproductive life history of ocelotsLeopardus pardalis in southern Texas

The ocelotLeopardus pardalis Linnaeus, 1758 is an endangered felid in the United States currently restricted to southern Texas. The objectives of our study were to obtain data on ocelot parturition dates, fecundity, sex ratios, den characteristics, and first year survival, all of which are critical in development of population viability models. Sixteen parturition events were recorded ranging from mid-April to late December for 12 wild ocelots. Cumulatively, litters consisted of 1 or 2 kittens (ˉ = 1.2 ± 0.44 SD). Cumulative sex ratio was 1∶2.5 (male:female); however, there was no significant difference between the observed sex ratio and a 1∶1 sex ratio. Ten den sites were in close proximity (≤ 10 m) to dense thornshrub. Adult female ocelots used 2 to 4 den sites for each litter with distance between consecutively occupied dens ranging from 110 to 280 m (ˉ = 158 m ± 93 SD). An estimated annual survival for ocelots 0 to 1 year of age was 0.68. Evidence suggests that ocelots in the wild may breed more frequently than had been previously hypothesized.     

The leukotriene B4 paradox: neutrophils can, but will not, respond to ligand-receptor interactions by forming leukotriene B4 or its omega-metabolites.

Leukotriene B4 (5S,12R-dihydroxy-6,14-cis,8,10-trans-eicosatetraenoic acid, LTB4) is released from neutrophils exposed to calcium ionophores. To determine whether LTB4 might be produced by ligand-receptor interactions at the plasmalemma, we treated human neutrophils with serum-treated zymosan (STZ), heat-aggregated IgG and fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLP), agonists at the C3b, Fc and fMLP receptors respectively. STZ (10 mg/ml) provoked the formation of barely detectable amounts of LTB4 (0.74 ng/10(7) cells); no omega-oxidized metabolites of LTB4 were found. Adding 10 microM-arachidonate did not significantly increase production of LTB4 or its metabolites. Addition of 50 microM-arachidonate (an amount which activates protein kinase C) before STZ caused a 40-fold increase in the quantity of LTB4 and its omega-oxidation products. Neither phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 200 ng/ml) nor linoleic acid (50 microM), also activators of protein kinase C, augmented generation of LTB4 by cells stimulated with STZ. Neither fMLP (10(-6) M) nor aggregated IgG (0.3 mg/ml) induced LTB4 formation (less than 0.01 ng/10(7) cells). Moreover, cells exposed to STZ, fMLP, or IgG did not form all-trans-LTB4 or 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid; their failure to make LTB4 was therefore due to inactivity of neutrophil 5-lipoxygenase. However, adding 50 microM-arachidonate to neutrophil suspensions before fMLP or IgG triggered LTB4 production, the majority of which was metabolized to its omega-oxidized products (fMLP, 20.2 ng/10(7) cells; IgG, 17.1 ng/10(7) cells). The data show that neutrophils exposed to agonists at defined cell-surface receptors produce significant quantities of LTB4 only when treated with non-physiological concentrations of arachidonate.     

Book Review

International Journal of Primatology -     

A genetic linkage map of chromosome 17

We have developed a genetic linkage map of 19 markers (including nine genes) on human chromosome 17, providing 13 reference points along virtually the entire length of this chromosome. The map covers an estimated 149 cM in length (sex-averaged), with a total length of 214 cM in females and 95 cM in males. This sex difference appears to be significant along virtually the entire length of the map. This map will be useful both for providing reference points for fine structure genetic and physical mapping and for genetic linkage studies of diseases, including von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.     

Colchicine inhibits ionophore-induced formation of leukotriene B4 by human neutrophils: the role of microtubules

Neutrophils which ingest particles (serum-treated zymosan, monosodium urate crystals) or are exposed to calcium ionophore A23187 generate leukotriene B4 (LTB4). Earlier work has shown that cells exposed to colchicine before exposure to monosodium urate crystals produce less LTB4; the formation of 5-HETE is unaffected. To determine whether inhibition by colchicine of LTB4 generation was stimulus-specific and was mediated by microtubule integrity, the effects of colchicine (10 microM, 60 min) on the release of lipoxygenase products from neutrophils exposed to ionophore A23187 (10 microM, 5 min) were examined. In the presence of exogenous arachidonic acid (100 microM, 15 min), colchicine decreased LTB4 to 48% +/- 11.7 of control and 5-HETE to 60.5% +/- 5.7 of control (mean +/- SEM); 15-HETE was also decreased to 61% +/- 10.3 of control. In the absence of exogenous arachidonate, LTB4 was decreased to 22.2% +/- 11.7 of control and 5-HETE to 13% +/- 4.8 of control. Lumicolchicine did not significantly affect formation of 5-HETE or LTB4. However, vinblastine sulfate (20 microM, 60 min), another microtubule-disruptive agent, decreased the formation of both 5-lipoxygenase products. The effects of colchicine and vinblastine were not due to impairment of cell viability because the release of cytoplasmic lactic dehydrogenase was unaffected. Ultrastructural analysis of centriolar microtubules showed that decrements in microtubule numbers of colchicine- and vinblastine-treated cells paralleled decrements in 5-lipoxygenase products. These pharmacologic manipulations suggested that functional microtubules might be required for optimal lipoxygenase activity. Consequently, we prepared neutrophil-derived cytoplasts, devoid of an intact microtubule system. No significant decreases in the 5- or 15-lipoxygenase products were found when cytoplasts were exposed to colchicine in the presence of exogenous arachidonate and A23187. The data show that colchicine inhibits the formation of lipoxygenase products from neutrophils stimulated with A23187, most likely via its effect on microtubules, the integrity of which appears necessary for full expression of 5- and 15-lipoxygenases.     

Structure of myosin heavy chain in avian muscular dystrophy

We have studied the structure of myosin heavy chain (MHC) in the pectoralis muscle of genetically dystrophic (Connecticut Strain) and White Leghorn chicks. MHC was alkylated with N-ethylmaleimide, purified by Sepharose-4B chromatography, and cleaved with cyanogen bromide. The MHC CNBr peptides were analyzed by one-dimensional and two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/sodium dodecyl sulfate gradient gels and by amino acid sequencing. Specific changes were detected in the gel patterns which could be correlated with the loss of muscle function as measured by the exhaustion score (the ability of chicks to rise from a reclining position) in three experimental groups (exhaustion scores: less than 3, 10-20, greater than 30). We have also examined the amino acid sequence of a 3-methyl-histidine-containing peptide which originates from the 20-kDa fragment of pectoralis muscle MHC in dystrophic chicks: Val-Leu-Asn-Ala-Ser-Ala-Ile-Pro-Glu-Gly-*Gln-Phe-*Ile-Asp-Ser-Lys-Lys- Ala-Ser-Leu-Gln-Lys-Leu-Gly-Ser-Ile-Asp-Val-(Asp, 3-methylhistidine, Gln). Comparison of the homologous MHC sequences shows two positions at which MHC from dystrophic chicks differs from that of the White Leghorn chicks *(Glu----Gln and Met----Ile). Thus, both the peptide map and sequence analyses demonstrate that in avian muscular dystrophy an abnormal pectoralis MHC is synthesized. It is not yet clear whether the "dystrophic" MHC is a variant MHC or if it arises from the abnormal expression of an earlier developmental form (embryonic or neonatal) of pectoralis muscle MHC.     

Epidemiological characteristics of platelet aggregability.

The epidemiological characteristics of platelet aggregability were established in 958 participants in the Northwick Park Heart Study. The main analyses were based on the dose of adenosine diphosphate at which primary aggregation occurred at half its maximum velocity. Aggregability increased with age in both sexes, was greater in whites than blacks (particularly among men), and tended to decrease with the level of habitual alcohol consumption. Aggregability was, however, greater in women than men and in nonsmokers than smokers. There was no relation between aggregability on the one hand and obesity, current or past oral contraceptive use, menopausal state, or blood cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations on the other. Aggregability was somewhat, though not significantly, higher in men with a history of ischaemic heart disease and in those with electrocardiographic evidence of ischaemia than in those without. There was a strong association between the plasma fibrinogen concentration and aggregability. The widely held concept of platelet aggregability and its implications is probably an oversimplification. In the prevention of thrombosis it may be as useful to consider modifying external influences on platelet behaviour, such as plasma fibrinogen concentration or thrombin production, as it is to rely solely on platelet active agents.     

Leukotriene B4 synthesis and metabolism by neutrophils and granule-free cytoplasts.

Copper-deprived sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) cells do not excrete molecules of active laccase in their culture medium. In the range of 2-100 micrograms of copper initially present per litre of nutrient solution, the total laccase activity measured in the cell suspensions at the end of the exponential phase of growth was closely proportional to the amount of added copper. However, copper-deprived cells excreted the laccase apoprotein (laccase without copper) at the same rate as copper-supplied cells excreted the active, copper-containing, laccase. When the culture medium was initially supplied with limiting amounts of copper, the active laccase was excreted until all copper molecules were metabolized. Thereafter, the laccase apoprotein was excreted. Consequently, at the end of the exponential phase of growth, the cell supernatants contained a mixture of apoprotein and copper-containing laccase. After purification and concentration, this mixture of copper-containing laccase (blue) and laccase apoprotein (slightly yellow) showed a yellow-green colour. Under copper-limiting culture conditions an equivalent decrease of Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 Cu2+ was observed. Addition of copper to copper-deficient enzyme solutions does not result in a recovery of the enzyme activity. However, when added to copper-deficient sycamore-cell suspensions, copper induced a recovery of the excretion of active enzyme, at a normal rate, within about 10 h. The first molecules of active laccase were excreted after 3-4 h.     

A fatal poisoning from an amatoxin containing Lepiota

The mushroom Lepiota josserandii Bon and Boif. has been identified as the cause of an unintentional, fatal intoxication in New York. The course of the symptoms, beginning with a 9 h latent period, was similar to what would be expected in a case of Amanita phalloides-type intoxication. Despite supportive medical care the victim expired 110 h after ingestion. Thin layer chromatography detected the presence of alpha- and gamma-amanitin and radioimmunoassay confirmed a level of 3.5 mg/gm dry weight of amatoxins in mushrooms from the same location.Published as New York State Museum Journal Series No. 440.