The differential effect of abscisic acid onChenopodium rubrum L. in dependence on growth and developmental state

Biologia Plantarum - According to plant age at induction and rate of initial growth ABA leads either to stimulation or inhibition of growth and flowering in youngChenopodium rubrum plants. This...     

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)--pharmacology and clinical indications.

Extracts of the fruits of chaste tree (Vitex agnus castus = AC) are widely used to treat premenstrual symptoms. Double-blind placebo-controlled studies indicate that one of the most common premenstrual symptoms, i.e. premenstrual mastodynia (mastalgia) is beneficially influenced by an AC extract. In addition, numerous less rigidly controlled studies indicate that AC extracts have also beneficial effects on other psychic and somatic symptoms of the PMS. Premenstrual mastodynia is most likely due to a latent hyperprolactinemia, i.e. patients release more than physiologic amounts of prolactin in response to stressful situations and during deep sleep phases which appear to stimulate the mammary gland. Premenstrually this unphysiological prolactin release is so high that the serum prolactin levels often approach heights which are misinterpreted as prolactinomas. Since AC extracts were shown to have beneficial effects on premenstrual mastodynia serum prolactin levels in such patients were also studied in one double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Serum prolactin levels were indeed reduced in the patients treated with the extract. The search for the prolactin-suppressive principle(s) yielded a number of compounds with dopaminergic properties: they bound to recombinant DA2-receptor protein and suppressed prolactin release from cultivated lactotrophs as well as in animal experiments. The search for the chemical identity of the dopaminergic compounds resulted in isolation of a number of diterpenes of which some clerodadienols were most important for the prolactin-suppressive effects. They were almost identical in their prolactin-suppressive properties than dopamine itself. Hence, it is concluded that dopaminergic compounds present in Vitex agnus castus are clinically the important compounds which improve premenstrual mastodynia and possibly also other symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome.     

A suitable method for localization of IAA oxidase

The method for histochemical detection of IAA oxidase proposed by Sagi was tested, based on colour reaction of natural products of IAA oxidation with Ehrlich-like reagent.     

The formation of the upper leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as indicator of the course of development

D?ívěj?í práci, v ní? jsme hodnotili pr?běh vývoje podle fenologie a podle vzniku abnormit, jsme nyní doplnili mě?ením délky list?. Pr?běh vývoje jsme ovlivňovali fotoperiodiekou inhibicí v r?zné fázi vývoje vzrostného vrcholu. Ovlivnění pr?běhu vývoje se projevilo změnou délky pochvy a ?epele listu. ?epel byla ovlivněna více ne? pochva. V ?adě variant s r?zným za?átkem fotoperiodické inhibice do?lo k prodlou?ení nebo ke zkrácení pochvy a ?epele horních t?í list? proti p?íslu?ným list?m kontroly. Ke zkrácení do?lo u list?, které se vyvinuly nad obvyklý po?et z p?vodních základ? brakteí. Bylo to u variant s velmi ranou inhibicí. Varianty s pozděj?í inhibicí mají jednak abnormálně redukované listy so zakrnělými ú?labními klásky, jednak prodlou?ené listy, které svojí délkou p?ipomínají ontogeneticky mlad?í, ni??í listy. Ukázalo se, ?e i u tak obtí?ného materiálu jako je p?enice m??e být morfologie list? spolehlivým záznamem pr?běhu vývoje.     

Abnormities in the Inflorescence ofTriticum aestivum E. after a photoperiodic treatment at different stages of ontogeny

Metodikou fotoperiodických pokus? a analys vzrostných vrchol? jsme zjistili závislost typu výsledné morfologické abnormity na vývojovém stupni vzrostného vrcholu p?ed fotoperiodickým zásahem. Abnormálně velký po?et klásk? vznikal po zásahu u rostlin se zcela vegetativním vzrostným vrcholem. K větvení klasu do?lo nejvíce po zásahu v době prodlu?ování vzrostného vrcholu. Abnormální vývin podp?rných listen? odpovídal zásahu mezi zakládáním klásk? a zakládáním kvítk? v kláscích. ?ím d?ívěj?i byl tento zásah, tím ú plněji byly podp?rné listeny vyvinuty. První dvě odchylky p?edstavují nadpo?etný r?st osních ?lánk? v květenství, vývin podp?rného listenu je známkou posunutí korelace mezi r?stem listenu a generativním vývojem jeho ú?labního klásku. U poslední odchylky, ?ídkého klasu, která vzniká po zásahu v době zakládání ty?inek, ji? nedochází k takovému naru?ení vztahu mezi r?stem a vývojem. P?i fotoperiodickém zásahu dochází k indukci abnormální morfogenese, která pak m??e probíhat i po ukon?ení zásahu.     

Changes in the anatomical structure of the shoot apex ofSenecio vulgaris L. during ontogenis in relation to the formation of leaves and inflorescence

An investigation was made of the anatomical structure of the shoot apex ofSenecio vulgaris L. a photoperiodically neutral plant, and compared with the formation of successive leaf primordia along the axis up to the initiation of the terminal inflorescence. In the shoot apex of a germinating plant a central zone can first be distinguished from the peripheral zone which is composed of small and intensely stained cells. Later, a rib meristem appears. At the time of the initiation of the middle (the largest) leaves, the shoot apex has a distinct small central zone and a well developed peripheral zone and rib meristem. Between these zones there is a group of cells dividing in all directions, the subcentral zone. At the time of initiation of the last leaves, the central zone extends to the flanks and gradually ceases to be distinguishable. At the same time, the subcentral zone increases in size. This is caused first by cell division and later, with the initiation of the last, most reduced leaves, by enlargement of the cells. Vacuolization in the inner part of the apex and the arrangement of the superficial cells in rows parallel to the surface of the apex, is a preparatory step to the initiation of the inflorescence.     

Morphology of leaves of cyanus segetum LAM (Centaurea cyanus L.) after photoperiodic inhibition at different stages of ontogeny of the shoot apex

Cyanus segetum LAM. was transferred from a long to a short photoperiodic regime at various stages of ontogenesis and the development of the plant investigated. The morphology of the leaves ofCyanus segetum was dependent on the photoperiodic regime. On a short photoperiodic regime, pinnately sected leaves were formed, but only if development was inhibited while the shoot apex still had a structure characteristic for the vegetative plant. The ability to influence the shape of the leaves by a short day ends before the morphological differentiation of the inflorescence at the time of the disappearance of the vegetative structure and the formation of the meristematic mantle. After this time all leaves were smooth-edged like those of the controls on a long day. Although the ability to influence leaves was limited to the period of initiation of the leaf primordia, it was not restricted to the primordia then being initiated. The conditions of development also affected leaves whose primordia had already been initiated. This was evidently due to the action of photoperiodic conditions via ontogenesis. The position of the axils was also changed in dependence on the photoperiodic regime.     

Time-dependence of auxin and ethrel effects on flowering in chenopodium rubrum L.

IAA, NAA and ethrel (1 × 10^-4M and 3 × 10^-4M) was applied to the plumula of Chenopodium plants at different time after the start of photoperiodic treatment and the flowering response was investigated. The inhibitory effect was found with all the applications during the first two days, whereas a stimulatory one on the third and fourth day. We assume this dual effect reflects the differences attained in developmental phase and in the degree of shoot apex differentiation.     

Silymarin is a selective estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) agonist and has estrogenic effects in the metaphysis of the femur but no or antiestrogenic effects in the uterus of ovariectomized (ovx) rats

Silymarin is a widely used standardized mixture of flavonolignans and its major component Silybinin binds to cytosolic estrogen receptors. Here, we demonstrate that this binding is exclusive to the estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta). Treatment of ovariectomized (ovx) rats with silymarin or estradiol (E2) may allow differentiation of biological effects mediated by the ERalpha or ERbeta. E2 inhibited serum LH, cholesterol, LDL and HDL concentrations in the blood and increased gene expression of IGF1, HbEGF and C3 in the uterus, while silymarin was totally ineffective or antagonistic in altering these parameters. Both, E2 and silymarin inhibited expression of uterine ERbeta gene. Hence, in the pituitary, liver (where the lipoproteins are synthesized) and uterus E2 acts primarily via the ERalpha. Exclusive estrogenic effects of silymarin were observed in the metaphysis of the femur (MF), on osteoblast parameters (gene expression of IGF1, TGFbeta1, osteoprotegerin, collagen-1alpha1, osteocalcin (OC)) and on the osteoclast activity marker tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) gene expression of adult ovx rats. Our RT-PCR method detects ERbeta gene expression in all organs including developing bones but not in the MF of adult ovx rats. We conclude therefore, that the effects of silymarin in this part of the bone cannot be exerted via the ERalpha because it does not bind to this receptor subtype. Despite the failure to detect ERbeta mRNA in the MF of our animals the possibility exists that ERbeta protein is present and may mediate the effects of silymarin. Another possibility may be that the effect of silymarin and therefore possibly also of E2 in the MF may be mediated via other possibly not yet identified receptors or via an ERbeta splice variant which is not detected by our PCR-method.     

Promotive effect of abscisic acid in flowering ofChenopodium rubrum as the result of decreasing apical dominance

Abscisic acid (ABA) was applied in a concentration of 1. 10^?3 M and 1. 10^?4 M to the quantitative SD plantChenopodium rubrum under various light regimes. ABA did not influence flowering in plants under continuous illumination, enhanced flowering in plants subjected to long days and inhibited it in plants induced by short days. It was concluded that ABA can not substitute for inductive treatment but its action may be additive to initial stages of reproductive morphogenesis (enhanced growth rate and branching of the apical meristem) as evoked by long days.