Complete elimination of hostplant quinolizidine alkaloids by larvae of a polyphagous lycaenid butterfly,Callophrys rubi

Caterpillars of the lycaenid butterfly Callophrys rubi accept a variety of hostplants. When fed inflorescences or leaves of Genista tinctoria (a natural hostplant) or Lupinus polyphyllus (a non-host), the larvae completely eliminate quinolizidine alkaloids ingested from their food in their frass. No alkaloids are stored. Infestation by the parasitoid wasp Distatrix sancus (Braconidae) did not affect alkaloid elimination. The presence of an effective anti-toxin system is discussed with reference to the evolution of hostplant relationships in the genus Callophrys. There is no evidence that in the secondarily myrmecoxenous larvae of C. rubi hostplantderived chemical defense takes the place of former myrmecophily.     

In-vitro formation of a collagenous matrix upon previously diseased and experimentally treated cemental root surfaces

Summary A diseased and mechanically treated surface of root cementum is known, clinically, to favor periodontal regeneration. The present investigation was undertaken to test whether previously diseased and experimentally treated root surfaces can support the in-vitro formation of a new collagenous matrix. Three teeth extracted for advanced periodontitis were treated first with 5% sodium hypochlorite for 2 h to remove all organic material from the root surface. After the healthy, apical one third of the root was cut off, the roots were scaled with moderate pressure to remove visible calculus. Non-demineralized root discs were cut and placed on a co-culture of periodontal ligament- and alveolar bone-derived cells. After 7 weeks in culture, either one of two matrix types was found along the root surface. The most frequent matrix consisted of clusters of cells layered within densely aggregated collagen fibrils. The other, less frequent matrix consisted of loosely arranged collagen fibrils adjacent to the cemental surface. The findings support the notion that, in vitro, a collagenous matrix is formed in contact to diseased and experimentally treated root surfaces. However, the smooth, non-demineralized and scaled cemental surface does not appear to be a suitable substrate for interdigitation with newly produced collagen fibrils.     

A Longitudinal Study of Disability,Cognition and Gray Matter Atrophy in Early Multiple Sclerosis Patients According to Evidence of Disease Activity

New treatment options may make “no evidence of disease activity” (NEDA: no relapses or disability progression and no new/enlarging MRI lesions, as opposed to “evidence of disease activity” (EDA) with at least one of the former), an achievable goal in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The objective of the present study was to determine whether early RRMS patients with EDA at one-year follow-up had different disability, cognition, treatment and gray matter (GM) atrophy rates from NEDA patients and healthy controls (HC). RRMS patients (mean age 34 years, mean disease duration 2.2 years) were examined at baseline and one-year follow-up with neurological (n = 72), neuropsychological (n = 56) and structural MRI (n = 57) examinations. Matched HC (n = 61) were retested after three years. EDA was found in 46% of RRMS patients at follow-up. EDA patients used more first line and less second line disease modifying treatment than NEDA (p = 0.004). While the patients groups had similar disability levels at baseline, they differed in disability at follow-up (p = 0.010); EDA patients progressed (EDSS: 1.8–2.2, p = 0.010), while NEDA patients improved (EDSS: 2.0–1.7, p<0.001). Cognitive function was stable in both patient groups. Subcortical GM atrophy rates were higher in EDA patients than HC (p<0.001). These results support the relevance of NEDA as outcome in RRMS and indicate that pathological neurodegeneration in RRMS mainly occur in patients with evidence of disease activity.     

Resorption of unemitted gametes in Lithognathus mormyrus (Sparidae,Teleostei): a possible synergic action of somatic and immune cells

The resorption of unemitted gametes during the post-spawning period of the male and female reproductive cycles in Lithognathus mormyrus was studied by histochemical, histological and cytological methods. The resorption of residual spermatozoa involved the phagocytotic activity of Sertoli cells bounding the seminiferous cysts of spermatozoa, and those associated with spermatogonia lining the lobular lumen. Spermatozoa remaining in the sperm duct were phagocytozed by the lining epithelial cells. Eosinophilic granulocytes and macrophages were identified in the vicinity of residual spermatozoa. The remnants of oocytes underwent an atretic phenomenon in which follicle cells were firstly involved, inducing a progressive fragmentation of the oocyte cytoplasm. Subsequently, eosinophilic granulocytes invaded oocyte degenerative areas and clung to the remaining vitelline inclusions ensuring their biotransformation into waste products (brown bodies). The analogy of the resorption processes of both male and female unemitted gametes during the post-spawning period of natural reproductive cycle, involving first the enveloping somatic cells and then immune cells, is emphasized.     

A phylogenetic analysis of species in the Bufo crucifer group (Anura: Bufonidae), based on indolealkylamines and proteins from skin secretions

This research tested the utility of two classes of skin secretion compounds to the phylogeny of the Bufo crucifer group. Skin secretions from specimens of nine populations of B. crucifer group were obtained and submitted to qualitative analysis. We observed a clear difference in the composition of the skin secretion molecules obtained from the species of Bufo studied. Fifty-nine molecules, 16 indolealkylamines and 43 proteins, were used as characters, and 39 of these were parsimonious informative. The tree topology of the skin secretion combined data showed areas of congruence and conflict when compared to an mtDNA phylogeny of the B. crucifer group. We used the Templeton test to evaluate the heterogeneity between the skin secretion and mtDNA data. Although not recommended, we performed a combined analysis with the two partitions. The skin secretion characters from the species of Bufo studied have phylogenetic signal. These data are indicative, at least as a preliminary study, of the phylogenetic relationships among the B. crucifer group taxa.     

Durch Seitenwurzelbildung induzierte und spontane Mitosen in den Dauergeweben der Wurzel

Ohne ZusammenfassungDie wesentlichen Untersuchungsergebnisse wurden im Rahmen einer Doktorarbeit am Botanischen Institut der Universität Wien gewonnen. Für Anregung und förderliche Kritik danken wir Herrn Prof. Dr. L.Geitler bestens.