Carrion flies of forensic interest: a study of seasonal community composition and succession in Lisbon,Portugal

Information on Diptera community, seasonality and successional patterns in every geographical region is fundamental for the use of flies as forensic indicators of time of death. In order to obtain these data from the Lisbon area (Portugal), experiments were conducted during the four seasons of the year, using piglet carcasses as animal models. Five stages were recognized during the decomposition process. The stages, besides visually defined, could be separated taking into account the occurrence and abundance of the specific groups of Diptera collected. In general, the bloated stage recorded higher abundance and species‐richness values. Seventy‐one species were identified, belonging to 39 families, in a total of 20 144 adult Diptera collected. Autumn yielded the highest values of species richness, whereas winter had the lowest. In all seasons of the year, Calliphoridae was the dominant family; Muscidae and Fanniidae were very abundant as well. Calliphora vicina Robineau‐Desvoidy, Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Lucilia ampullacea Villeneuve, Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus), Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Calliphoridae), Hydrotaea ignava (Harris), Muscina prolapsa (Harris), Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp) (Muscidae), Piophila megastigmata McAlpine, Stearibia nigriceps (Meigen) (Piophilidae) and Nemopoda nitidula (Fallén) (Sepsidae) were revealed to be very important members of the Diptera community collected. The necrophagous behaviour, demonstrated by their immatures, using carrion as a food source makes them useful forensic indicator species. Also of relevance is the presence of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), S. nudiseta and P. megastigmata, foreign species established in the local carrion communities. This study also marks the first record of S. nudiseta in Portugal.     

Ultrastructural Studies of Spermiogenesis of Conocephalus saltator (Saussure)

The acrosome of the spermatozoa is the organelle involved in its penetration through the ova membranes during the fertilization process. Several features of this process are considered to be related to the fertilization events e.g. some substance coats outside the membrane. During the maturation process the spermatozoa of Conocephalus saltator develop a coat of tubules and filaments which overly some membrane regions in a specific array. The mature spermatozoa are seen to adhere in these regions and form threads of 20 cells long and five to six wide. It is suggested that the external coat plays a role in this 'sticking' phenomenon.     

INCORPORATION OF TRITIATED THYMIDINE INTO THE SKIN AND HAIR FOLLICLES

Diurnal fluctuations in incorporation of tritiated uridine and tritiated thymidine are reported for full thickness skin and its two proliferative populations, the epidermal basal layer and the hair follicle germ or matrix. Recently developed techniques whereby these two populations can be studied independently were utilized. Resting (unplucked) skin and skin in the middle of the hair growth cycle (10 days after plucking) was studied. the diurnal fluctuations differed at these two stages of the hair cycle. Generally a single minimum level of activity was observed shortly after the beginning of the dark period of the day, i.e. after 18.00 hours.     

Correlation of prostaglandin E1 receptor binding with evoked uterine contraction: Modification by disulfide reduction

Both reversible (K₃ = 0.72 × 10⁸ 1/mole) and irreversible (K = 0.62 × 10⁸ 1/mole) binding of PGE₁-H³ was observed in rat uterus and was correlated with induced myometrial contraction. Each binding process consisted of a fast and slow component. In the binding that occurred prior to the onset of the uterine response (≤60 sec), the fast reversible component ( ) represented 80%, the slow reversible component ( ) represented 15% and the remaining 5% was associated with the combined fast and slow irreversible components ( and 155 sec respectively). Reversible and irreversible binding were PGE₁-H³ concentration-dependent, sensitive to competition by PGE₁ and modified by inhibitors of prostaglandin-induced uterine contraction. This modification was reflected as a significant reduction in the velocity of PGE₁-H³ binding. Only the above characteristics associated with PGE₁ binding fully satistified the physiological requirements of receptor interaction. In addition, a critical role for disulfide groups in the receptor binding site was indicated.     

Ultraviolet light modification of the prostaglandin receptor

Prostaglandin E₁ elicits minimal inhibition of ultraviolet lightinduced platelet aggregation. Exposure to ultraviolet light progressively inhibits prostaglandin-induced responses in both the ADP-aggregating platelet and in uterine smooth muscle. This effect, which is cumulative and lasting, may be prevented or fully reversed by a sulfhydryl-oxidizing agent. Ultraviolet light may, therefore, initiate reduction of critical disulfide groups in the vicinity of the prostaglandin receptor. The technique of ultraviolet irradiation may serve as a useful tool in the specific determination of prostaglandins in biological systems.