Postnatal growth in the Long-fingered Bat,Miniopterus schreibersii pallidus,in Iran (Chiroptera: Miniopteridae)

This study describes the postnatal development of body mass, forearm length and epiphyseal phalangeal gap in a free ranging population of the Long-fingered Bat, Miniopterus schreibersii pallidus Thomas, 1907, in a maternity roost in the Mahidasht cave in western Iran. The pups at birth had a mean body mass of 3.74?±?0.09 g and forearm length of 24.3?±?0.31mm. The length of forearm and body mass increased linearly during first two weeks, and thereafter maintained an apparent stability. The epiphyseal gap of the fourth metacarpal phalangeal joint increased until the thirteenth day, then decreased linearly until the 70th day and thereafter fused. The rate of body mass gain and forearm growth during the first 13 days was 0.54 g/day and 1.39 mm/day, respectively. Initiation of flight occurred three weeks after birth. A method of estimating age was derived from the values of the forearm length and the total gap of the fourth metacarpal-phalangeal joint during the pre-flight and post-flight periods.     

Design and synthesis of new fused carbazole-imidazole derivatives as anti-diabetic agents: In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition,kinetic, and in silico studies

Twenty three fused carbazole–imidazoles 6a–w were designed, synthesized, and screened as new α-glucosidase inhibitors. All the synthesized fused carbazole-imidazoles 6a-w were found to be more active than acarbose (IC₅₀?=?750.0?±?1.5?µM) against yeast α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values in the range of 74.0?±?0.7–298.3?±?0.9?µM. Kinetic study of the most potent compound 6v demonstrated that this compound is a competitive inhibitor for α-glucosidase (K_i value?=?75?µM). Furthermore, the in silico studies of the most potent compounds 6v and 6o confirmed that these compounds interacted with the key residues in the active site of α-glucosidase.     

Tumor microenvironment: Interactions and therapy

Tumor microenvironment (TME) is a host for a complex network of heterogeneous stromal cells with overlapping or opposing functions depending on the dominant signals within this milieu. Reciprocal paracrine interactions between cancer cells with cells within the tumor stroma often reshape the TME in favor of the promotion of tumor. These complex interactions require more sophisticated approaches for cancer therapy, and, therefore, advancing knowledge about dominant drivers of cancer within the TME is critical for designing therapeutic schemes. This review will provide knowledge about TME architecture, multiple signaling, and cross communications between cells within this milieu, and its targeting for immunotherapy of cancer.     

Anti-cancer study and whey protein complexation of new lanthanum(III) complex with the aim of achieving bioactive anticancer metal-based drugs

In this study, a new lanthanum (III)-amino acid complex utilizing cysteine has been synthesized and characterized. The anticancer activities of the prepared La(III) complex against MCF-7 cell lines were studied. Results of MTT assay showed that at all three incubation times, the cytotoxic effect of prepared La(III) complex on MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines displays a time- and dose-dependent inhibitory effects. The interactions of the La(III) complex with two whey proteins (bovine serum albumin, BSA, and Bovine β-lactoglobulin, βLG) have been explored by using spectroscopic and molecular dicking methods. The obtained results indicated that La(III) complex strongly quenched the fluorescence of two carrier proteins in static quenching mode and also, BSA hah stronger binding affinity toward studied complex than βLG whit binding constant values of K_{BSA-La?Complex}?～?0.11?×?10⁴ M^?1 and K_{βLG-La?Complex}?～?0.63?×?10³ M^?1 at 300 K. The thermodynamic parameters revealed the contribution of hydrogen bond and Vander Waals interactions in both systems. The distances of the La(III) complex whit whey proteins were calculated using Förster energy transfer theory and proved existence of the energy transfer between two proteins and prepared La(III) complex with a high probability. FT-IR and UV–Vis absorption measurements indicated that the binding of the La(III) to BSA and βLG may induce conformational and micro-environmental changes of the proteins. The docking results indicate that the La(III) complex bind to residues located in the site II of BSA and second site of βLG.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Sperm status and DNA dose play key roles in sperm/ICSI‐mediated gene transfer in caprine

In relation to the growing recent interest in the establishment of sperm‐mediated gene transfer (SMGT) technology as a convenient and effective method for the simple production of transgenic animals, in this study the possibility of using SMGT to produce transgenic caprine embryos was investigated for the first time. Buck sperm were directly incubated with different concentrations (0–500 ng) of pcDNA/his/Lac‐Z plasmid and used for IVF or ICSI. Sperm used for ICSI were categorized into motile or live‐immotile group before being injected into oocytes. In a separate experiment, dead sperm prepared by repeated freezing/thawing were used for DNA‐incubation before ICSI. Sham injection was carried out by intracytoplasmic injection of approximately the same volume of media containing different doses of DNA using an ICSI needle. Transgene expression and transmission were detected by X‐Gal staining and PCR analysis of developed embryos, respectively. A reasonable blastocyst rate was observed in all the groups. Only embryos in the sham group were negative for transgene transmission. Transgene expression was completely dependent on the delivery technique and status of sperm, and was only observed in the live‐immotile and dead ICSI groups. The results of this study showed that the technique (IVF vs. ICSI vs. sham injection), sperm status (motile vs. live‐immotile vs. dead) and to some extent DNA concentration affect embryo development, transgene transmission and expression. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 77:868–875, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effects of Increased Salinity on Growth,Development and Survival in Early Life Stages of the Green Toad Bufotes variabilis (Anura: Bufonidae)

This study examined the effects of increased salinity on growth,development and survival of the Green toad,Bufotes variabilis during embryonic,hatching and early larval periods.Eggs from a single cohort of B.variabilis were subjected to acute and chronic toxicity tests for water salinity ranging from 0.20 to 10 g of salt per liter.Results obtained from this study showed that salinity over 3.70 g/l increased embryonic mortality and reduced percentage of hatching and survival rate of larvae.As larvae tolerated salinity 0.20 to 3.70 g/l with highest survival,but salinity of 10 g/l caused mortality of all individuals within 12 h,7.70–8.70(g/l)within 4.5 days,5.70–6.70 g/l within 10 days and 4.70(g/l)were tolerated within 14 days.Salinity less than 0.70 g/l did not affect survival and hatching success of the embryos.After a 3-week experiment,size of larvae exposed to salinities over 0.70 g/l was lower compared to larvae reared at lower salinity levels.Meanwhile increases in salinity more than 3.70 g/l caused extension in the hatching period.Larvae reared at salinity of 3.70 to 4.70 g/l had morphological abnormalities,such as distortion of tail.     

Ontogenetic changes in spot configuration (numbers,circularity, size and asymmetry) and lateral line in Neurergus microspilotus (Caudata: Salamandridae)

Coloration in three of four species of the genus Neurergus including N. microspilotus is characterized by the presence of yellow spots on a dark skin, but there is no available information about changes in spot configuration, speed of development and degree of association between melanophore‐free region and the lateral line. In this study, spot numbers, spot circularity, spot size and spot asymmetry were studied during larval to adult growth in N. microspilotus during July 2012 to June 2015. The mean numbers of spots increased during the late larval stage till postmetamorphic period from 13.33 ± 3.77 to 22.53 ± 4.09 and reached 42.62 ± 4.06 in adults. At the same time, the extent of spots gradually decreased in size from 5.80 ± 1.00 to 3.57 ± 0.97 mm² and reached 3.55 ± 1.42 mm² in adults, but the spot circularity increased from 0.48 ± 0.23 to 0.78 ± 0.49 and reached 0.80 ± 0.15 in adults. In adults, the numbers, circularity, size and asymmetry of spots remain stable with little but non‐significant changes during the study period. Histological study shows that formation of a melanophore‐free region correlates with the development of the lateral line receptors. This study demonstrates that the effects of lateral line on chromatophores persist through middle larval stages but diminish as metamorphosis completes.     

Variation in food availability mediate the impact of density on cannibalism,growth, and survival in larval yellow spotted mountain newts (Neurergus microspilotus): Implications for captive breeding programs

In this study, we examined cannibalistic behavior, growth, metamorphosis, and survival in larval and post‐metamorph endangered yellow spotted mountain newts Neurergus microspilotus hatched and reared in a captive breeding facility. We designed a 2 × 2 factorial experiment, crossing two levels of food with two levels of density including high food/high density, high food/low density, low food/high density, and low food/low density. The level of cannibalistic behavior (including the loss of fore and hind limbs, missing toes, tail, gills, body damage, and whole body consumption) changed as the larvae grew, from a low level during the first 4 weeks, peaking from weeks 7 to 12, and then dropped during weeks 14–52. Both food level and density had a significant effect on cannibalism. The highest frequency of cannibalism was recorded for larvae reared in the low food/high density and lowest in high food/low density treatments. Growth, percent of larval metamorphosed, and survival were all highest in the high food/low density and lowest in low food/high density treatment. Food level had a significant effect on growth, metamorphosis, and survival. However, the two levels of density did not influence growth and metamorphosis but showed a significant effect on survival. Similarly, combined effects of food level and density showed significant effects on growth, metamorphosis, and survival over time. Information obtained from current experiment could improve productivity of captive breeding facilities to ensure the release of adequate numbers of individuals for reintroduction programs. Zoo Biol. 35:513–521, 2016. © 2016 The Authors. Zoo Biology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.