New microsatellite markers developed from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Urochloa humidicola</Emphasis> (Poaceae) and cross amplification in different <Emphasis Type="Italic">Urochloa</Emphasis> species

Background

Urochloa humidicola is a forage grass that grows in tropical regions and is recognized for its tolerance to seasonal flooding. It is a polyploid and apomictic species with high phenotypic plasticity. As molecular tools are important in facilitating the development of new cultivars and in the classification of related species, the objectives of this study were to develop new polymorphic microsatellite markers from an enriched library constructed from U. humidicola and to evaluate their transferability to other Urochloa species.

Findings

Microsatellite sequences were identified from a previously constructed enriched library, and specific primers were designed for 40 loci. Isolated di-nucleotide repeat motifs were the most abundant followed by tetra-nucleotide repeats. Of the tested loci, 38 displayed polymorphism when screened across 34 polyploid Urochloa sp. genotypes, including 20 accessions and six hybrids of U. humidicola and two accessions each from U. brizantha, U. dictyoneura, U. decumbens and U. ruziziensis. The number of bands per Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) locus ranged from one to 29 with a mean of 11.5 bands per locus. The mean Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) of all loci was 0.7136, and the mean Discrimination Power (DP) was 0.7873. Six loci amplified in all species tested. STRUCTURE analysis revealed six different allelic pools, and the genetic similarity values analyzed using Jaccard's coefficient ranged from 0.000 to 0.913.

Conclusions

This work reports new polymorphic microsatellite markers that will be useful for breeding programs for Urochloa humidicola and other Urochloa species as well as for genetic map development, germplasm characterization, evolutionary and taxonomic studies and marker-assisted trait selection.

     

Storage protein profiles in Spanish and runner market type peanuts and potential markers

Background  

Proteomic analysis has proven to be the most powerful method for describing plant species and lines, and for identification of proteins in complex mixtures. The strength of this method resides in high resolving power of two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), coupled with highly sensitive mass spectrometry (MS), and sequence homology search. By using this method, we might find polymorphic markers to differentiate peanut subspecies.     

Initiation of Bone and Amnion Banking in Turkey

There is a growing demand in Turkey for human tissue to use in surgery and wound healing. However, our country does not have facilities for local production of tissue grafts and generally depends on imported products. Under a multi-year project initiated in 1997, the International Atomic Energy Agency has provided main equipment for tissue processing and experts on Tissue Banking as well as training on tissue processing methods.In this presentation, information on various stages of the project implementation is given. Details of lay out for the process laboratories and equipment are given. Donor selection and testing criteria, processing procedures for bone and amnion, setting up product design, implementation of quality system and radiation sterilisation are described briefly. Quality procedures included preparation of quality manual, record forms, document control, non-conformance and corrective actions, training records, equipment maintenance and calibration are all in line with GMP/GLP Standards. Clinical applications of tissue grafts and medico-legal position of organ and tissue donation in Turkey are also discussed briefly.     

A histopathological and stereological study of liver damage in female rats caused by mercury vapor

We examined the possible effects of elemental mercury vapor on the liver of the female rats. We divided the animals into an untreated control group and an experimental group that was exposed to mercury vapor for 45 days. Liver samples were obtained for histological and stereological analysis. The total liver, parenchyma and sinusoid volumes were increased significantly in the mercury vapor treated group compared to controls. Also, the mean density, total number and mean nuclear diameter of hepatocytes, except for binucleated hepatocytes, was decreased in the experimental group compared to controls. Light and electron microscopy revealed alterations of liver structure of the experimental animals compared to controls.     

The transport of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis through saturated aquifer materials

Aims:  To investigate the processes controlling the transport of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis ( Map ) through aquifer materials.
Methods and Results:  We measured two important surface characteristics known to affect bacterial attachment to sediment surfaces: surface charge and hydrophobicity. We then measured the transport of Map through laboratory columns packed with aquifer sand with varying ionic strength solutions and sediment surface charge. We found that Map has a strong negative charge and is highly hydrophobic and that the transport of Map through positively charged Fe-coated sands was reduced compared with transport through negatively charged clean quartz sand, although Map transport for all treatments was low compared with the transport behaviour reported in the literature for other bacteria.
Conclusions:  Our results suggest that the potential for groundwater contamination by Map is low; however, the organism may remain bound to the soil near the surface where it can be ingested by grazing animals or be released during run off events.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This is the first study looking at the surface characteristics and transport behaviour of Map through aquifer materials and therefore provides important information for understanding the movement of Map in the environment.     

Rethinking leptin and insulin action: therapeutic opportunities for diabetes

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that primarily acts in the hypothalamus and plays a key role in the regulation of food intake, body weight, energy expenditure and neuroendocrine function. Leptin has direct peripheral effects on several tissues, and it may be independently involved in insulin secretion and action besides its effects on body weight regulation. Basal plasma leptin and insulin concentrations correlate with each other. Insulin and glucose appear to increase leptin secretion. In turn, leptin increases peripheral insulin sensitivity while decreasing insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Leptin increases skeletal muscle glucose uptake and oxidation, and suppresses hepatic glucose output. Effects of leptin on lipid metabolism might reduce lipotoxicity and therefore contribute to the improvement of hepatic, skeletal and whole body insulin sensitivity. Leptin is the first adipokine used in the treatment of hypoleptinemic clinical disorders. Although leptin therapy has limited success in common obesity, it has impressive effects in congenital leptin deficiency, lipoatrophic diabetes and syndromes of severe insulin resistance. Leptin has been reported to ameliorate hyperinsulinemia and diabetes in the clinical setting of congenital leptin deficiency. It also improves hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in lipoatrophic diabetes. These promising results warrant clinical trials to test the hypothesis that leptin alone or with classical antidiabetic agents may potentially be beneficial in the treatment of hypoleptinemic non-obese individuals with glucose intolerance and diabetes. This review summarizes the clinical applications of leptin, particularly emphasizing the effects of leptin on glucose homeostasis.     

Effects of prenatal exposure to diclofenac sodium and saline on the optic nerve of 4- and 20-week-old male rats: a stereological and histological study

We investigated the effects of diclofenac sodium (DS) on development of the optic nerve in utero. Pregnant female rats were separated into three groups: control, saline treated and DS treated. Offspring of these animals were divided into 4-week-old and 20-week-old groups. At the end of the 4th and 20th weeks of postnatal life, the animals were sacrificed, and right optic nerves were excised and sectioned for ultrastructural and stereological analyses. We demonstrated that both DS and saline produced structural and morphometric changes in the total axon number and density of axons, but decreased the myelin sheath thickness in male optic nerves. All ultrastructural and morphometric features were well developed in 20-week-old rats. We showed that development of the optic nerve continues during the early postnatal period and that some compensation for exposure to deleterious agents in utero may occur during early postnatal life.     

Histomorphometric changes in the placenta and umbilical cord during complications of pregnancy

Pregnancy complications may cause morphological changes and circulation defects in the placenta, which may lead to morbidity and mortality in fetuses and newborns. We investigated structural changes in the placenta and umbilical cord under various abnormal maternal conditions. Placenta and umbilical cord specimens were obtained from pregnant women during labor at 37 ? 42 weeks gestation. Volumetric measurements were made for each placenta and umbilical cord using the Cavalieri method. Significant differences were observed for volumetric densities of total villi, syncytial knots, intervillous vessels and perivillous fibrin deposition. We observed particular increases in the volumetric parameters of the pre-eclampsia group compared to the other groups. The tunica media of the umbilical arteries was increased significantly with intrahepatic cholestasis.