Reproduction mode of European Bitterling (Rhodeus amarus,Bloch, 1782) determined through rapid oocyte counts and size determination using digital imaging

This study focuses on assessing the reproduction mode of an important model species for evolutionary and behavioural ecology by using digital image analysis: the European bitterling Rhodeus amarus (Bloch, 1782). Specifications of mode of reproduction were determined using oocyte size distribution, seasonal dynamics in mean oocyte diameter and total number of oocytes in ovary samples gained from April to July 2007. The rapid oocyte count was enabled by using lucia image analysis software, which also provided measurement and colour estimations of oocytes. Bitterling ovaries showed features typical for indeterminate spawners, i.e. a continuous distribution of oocyte size over the reproductive season and recruitment of new pre‐vitelogenic oocytes in the second half of the reproductive season. These results are consistent with the view that the European bitterling is a batch spawning fish with indeterminate fecundity.     

Relation between the anion exchange protein in kidney medullary collecting duct cells and red cell band 3

Summary A membrane protein that is immunochemically similar to the red cell anion exchange protein, band 3, has been identified on the basolateral face of the outer medullary collecting duct (MCD) cells in rabbit kidney. In freshly prepared separated rabbit MCD cells, M.L. Zeidel, P. Silva and J.L. Seifter (J. Clin. Invest. 77:1682–1688, 1986) found that Cl^–/HCO ₃ ^- exchange was inhibited by the stilbene anion exchange inhibitor, DIDS (4,4-diisothiocyano-2,2-disulfonic stilbene), with aK ₁ similar to that for the red cell. We have measured the binding affinities of a fluorescent stilbene inhibitor, DBDS (4,4-dibenzamido-2,2-disulfonic stilbene), to MCD cells in 28.5 mM citrate and have characterized both a high-affinity site (K ₁ ^s =93±24 mM) and a lower affinity site (K ₂ ^s =430±260 nM), which are closely similar to values for the red cell of 110±51 nM for the high-affinity site and 980±200 nM for the lower affinity site (A.S. Verkman, J.A. Dix & A.K. Solomon,J. Gen. Physiol. 81:421–449, 1983). When Cl^– replaces citrate in the buffer, the two sites collapse into a single one withK ₁ ^s =1500±400 nM, similar to the singleK ₁ ^s =1200±200 nM in the red cell (J.A. Dix, A.S. Verkman & A.K. Solomon,J. Membrane Biol. 89:211–223, 1986). The kinetics of DBDS binding to MCD cells at 0.25 M^–1 are characterized by a fast process, =0.14±0.03 sec, similar to =0.12±0.03 sec in the red cell. These similarities show that the physical chemical characteristics of stilbene inhibitor binding to MCD cell band 3 closely resemble those for red cell band 3, which suggests that the molecular structure is highly conserved.     

The effects of mispair and nonpair correction in hybrid DNA on base ratios (G + C content) and total amounts of DNA

Base ratios and total DNA amounts can vary substantially between and within higher taxa and genera, and even within species. Gene conversion is one of several mechanisms that could cause such changes. For base substitutions, disparity in conversion direction is accompanied by an equivalent disparity in base ratio at the heterozygous site. Disparity in the direction of gene conversion at meiosis is common and can be extreme. For transitions (which give purine [R]/pyrimidine [Y] mispairs) and for transversions giving unlike R/R and Y/Y mispairs in hybrid DNA, this disparity could give slow but systematic changes in G + C percentage. For transversions giving like R/R and Y/Y mispairs, it could change AT/TA and CG/GC ratios. From the extent of correction direction disparity, one can deduce properties of repair enzymes, such as the ability (1) to excise preferentially the purine from one mispair and the pyrimidine from the other for two different R/Y mispairs from a single heterozygous site and (2) to excise one base preferentially from unlike R/R or Y/Y mispairs. Frame-shifts usually show strong disparity in conversion direction, with preferential cutting of the nonlooped or the looped-out strand of the nonpair in heterozygous h-DNA. The opposite directions of disparity for frame-shifts and their intragenic suppressors as Ascobolus suggest that repair enzymes have a strong, systematic bias as to which strand is cut. The conversion spectra of mutations induced with different mutagens suggest that the nonlooped strand is preferentially cut, so that base additions generally convert to mutant and deletions generally convert to wild-type forms. Especially in nonfunctional or noncoding DNA, this could cause a general increase in DNA amounts. Conversion disparity, selection, mutation, and other processes interact, affecting rates of change in base ratios and total DNA.      

Occurrence of lysosomes and the differentiation of rat liver cells

Summary The occurrence of lysosomes has been investigated electron microscopically and cytochemically in cells of rat liver in the course of ontogenesis.It has been found that primary lysosomes occur during the whole period under investigation and that they originate from the Golgi complex. Some of them assume the appearance of multivesicular bodies. Acid phosphatase activity is lower at the prenatal stage than after the birth. The occurrence of secondary lysosomes proceeds in two stages. Secondary lysosomes appear in a high number at the beginning of differentiation of the liver diverticulum (10–12 day of embryonic life). On the subsequent days they are, with few exceptions, no more present. At the end of the embryonic period (starting with the 20th day) and especially after the birth, they progressively grow in number and move from the region of central cytoplasm peripherally towards the bile capillary.Differences in occurrence of secondary lysosomes are in connexion with reconstruction of the liver primordium at the beginning of liver development and with the change in metabolism of the liver cell after the birth.     

The Effect of Dominance Rank on the Distribution of Different Types of Male–Infant–Male Interactions in Barbary Macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

International Journal of Primatology - In several cercopithecine species males exhibit a specific type of male–infant–male interaction during which two males briefly manipulate an...     

Homogeneity of the 16S rDNA sequence among geographically disparate isolates of Taylorella equigenitalis

Background

At present, six accessible sequences of 16S rDNA from Taylorella equigenitalis (T. equigenitalis) are available, whose sequence differences occur at a few nucleotide positions. Thus it is important to determine these sequences from additional strains in other countries, if possible, in order to clarify any anomalies regarding 16S rDNA sequence heterogeneity. Here, we clone and sequence the approximate full-length 16S rDNA from additional strains of T. equigenitalis isolated in Japan, Australia and France and compare these sequences to the existing published sequences.

Results

Clarification of any anomalies regarding 16S rDNA sequence heterogeneity of T. equigenitalis was carried out. When cloning, sequencing and comparison of the approximate full-length 16S rDNA from 17 strains of T. equigenitalis isolated in Japan, Australia and France, nucleotide sequence differences were demonstrated at the six loci in the 1,469 nucleotide sequence. Moreover, 12 polymorphic sites occurred among 23 sequences of the 16S rDNA, including the six reference sequences.

Conclusion

High sequence similarity (99.5% or more) was observed throughout, except from nucleotide positions 138 to 501 where substitutions and deletions were noted.     

Functional effect of longitudinal heterogeneity in constricted airways before and after lung expansion

Heterogeneity in narrowing among individual airways is an important contributor to airway hyperresponsiveness. This paper investigates the contribution of longitudinal heterogeneity (the variability along the airway in cross-sectional area and shape) to airway resistance (R(aw)). We analyzed chest high-resolution computed tomography scans of 8 asthmatic (AS) and 9 nonasthmatic (NA) subjects before and after methacholine (MCh) challenge, and after lung expansion to total lung capacity. In each subject, R(aw) was calculated for 35 defined central airways with >2 mm diameter. Ignoring the area variability and noncircular shape results in an underestimation of R(aw) (%U(total)) that was substantial in some airways (～50%) but generally small (median <6%). The average contribution of the underestimation of R(aw) caused by longitudinal heterogeneity in the area (%U(area)) to %U(total) was 36%, while the rest was due to the noncircularity of the shape (%U(shape)). After MCh challenge, %U(area) increased in AS and NA (P < 0.05). A lung volume increase to TLC reduced %U(total) and %U(area) in both AS and NA (P < 0.0001, except for %U(total) in AS with P < 0.01). Only in NA, %U(shape) had a significant reduction after increasing lung volume to TLC (P < 0.005). %U(area) was highly correlated, but not identical to the mean-normalized longitudinal heterogeneity in the cross-sectional area [CV(2)(A)] and %U(shape) to the average eccentricity of the elliptical shape. This study demonstrates that R(aw) calculated assuming a cylindrical shape and derived from an average area along its length may, in some airways, substantially underestimate R(aw). The observed changes in underestimations of R(aw) with the increase in lung volume to total lung capacity may be consistent with, and contribute in part to, the differences in effects of deep inhalations in airway function between AS and NA subjects.