Influence of red pepper and capsaicin on body composition and lipogenesis in rats

Inclusion of red pepper or its active principle ‘capsaicin’ in the diet led to a lowering of total lipids, particularly triglycerides in the liver. The total body fat was lowered in animals fed red pepper or capsaicin but not in animals fed paprika powder which had negligible capsaicin content. Hyperlipogensis and hypertriglyceridemia caused by fructose feeding were significantly were decreased in capsaicin-fed animals. Activities of the key lipogenic enzymes were reduced as reflected by decreased lipogenesis.     

The prevalence of benthic dinoflagellates associated with ciguatera fish poisoning in the central Red Sea

This study confirms the presence of the toxigenic benthic dinoflagellates Gambierdiscus belizeanus and Ostreopsis spp. in the central Red Sea. To our knowledge, this is also the first report of these taxa in coastal waters of Saudi Arabia, indicating the potential occurrence of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) in that region. During field investigations carried out in 2012 and 2013, a total of 100 Turbinaria and Halimeda macroalgae samples were collected from coral reefs off the Saudi Arabian coast and examined for the presence of Gambierdiscus and Ostreopsis, two toxigenic dinoflagellate genera commonly observed in coral reef communities around the world. Both Gambierdiscus and Ostreopsis spp. were observed at low densities (<200 cells g⁻¹ wet weight algae). Cell densities of Ostreopsis spp. were significantly higher than Gambierdiscus spp. at most of the sampling sites, and abundances of both genera were negatively correlated with seawater salinity. To assess the potential for ciguatoxicity in this region, several Gambierdiscus isolates were established in culture and examined for species identity and toxicity. All isolates were morphologically and molecularly identified as Gambierdiscus belizeanus. Toxicity analysis of two isolates using the mouse neuroblastoma cell-based assay for ciguatoxins (CTX) confirmed G. belizeanus as a CTX producer, with a maximum toxin content of 6.50 ± 1.14 × 10⁻⁵ pg P-CTX-1 eq. cell⁻¹. Compared to Gambierdiscus isolates from other locations, these were low toxicity strains. The low Gambierdiscus densities observed along with their comparatively low toxin contents may explain why CFP is unidentified and unreported in this region. Nevertheless, the presence of these potentially toxigenic dinoflagellate species at multiple sites in the central Red Sea warrants future study on their possible effects on marine food webs and human health in this region.     

Numerical responses by populations of red fox and mountain hare during an outbreak of sarcoptic mange

Summary During a severe outbreak of sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei vulpes) starting among red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Sweden in the 1970s, we studied: 1) the establishment and spread of the disease in northernmost Sweden (by inquiries), and 2) the 1970–84 bag records for foxes and mountain hares (Lepus timidus) (an alternative prey to the fox's main prey, voles). Since the first case of sarcoptic mange in 1975 the disease spread rapidly, with >50% of the hunting organizations having reported the disease in 1981 and >75% in 1983. Also the disease became more abundant within the areas affected. In areas with a low mange infection rate (index) the number of foxes killed in the 1980s did not deviate markedly from the average level in the 1970s. However, there was a slight tendency towards a decline in areas with a medium index and numbers declined markedly where the index was high. Hare harvests initially were low (after a tularemia epidemic) in the 1970s. In that decade harvests increased dramatically and stabilized, increased gradually or changed little, respectively, where mange infection rates were low, medium or high in the early 1980s. In areas with a low mange index hare harvests remained cyclical and at the same level in the 1980s as in most of the 1970s. However, in areas with a medium index harvests increased and seemed to begin to lose their cyclicity, and where the index was high the low and relatively stable hare harvests increased annually. A predator-prey hypothesis, assuming predators to synchronize alternative prey declines to those of the cyclic main prey, predicts that a predator reduction would cause a gradual disappearance of the cyclicity and increasing numbers among alternative prey. Our hare data are partially consistent with this prediction.     

Interaction of Cibacron Blue F3G-A and Procion Red HE-3B with sheep liver 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase

Cibacron Blue F3G-A, a probe used to monitor nucleotide binding domains in enzymes, inhibited sheep liver 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase competitively with respect to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and NADPH. TheK _i values obtained by kinetic methods and theK _d value for the binding of the dye to the enzyme estimated by protein fluorescence quenching were in the range 0.9–1.2 μM. Another triazine dye, Procion Red HE-3B interacted with the enzyme in an essentially similar manner to that observed with Cibacron Blue F3G-A. These results as well as the interaction of the dye with the enzyme monitored by difference spectroscopy and intrinsic protein fluorescence quenching methods indicated that the dye was probably interacting at the active site of the enzyme by binding at a hydrophobic region.     

Den distribution and den use by the red foxVulpes vulpes japonica in Kyushu

The distribution of dens and den use by the red fox was studied in Kumamoto Prefecture between 1968 and 1982. A total of 80 dens were classified into natal, residential, and temporarily-visited dens. Natal dens comprised 12.4% of all dens. Relative proportions were quite stable for a long period. This indicates a constant number of reproducing females in the area for a considerable length of time. Seasonally the utilization of den showed three peaks in February, May and October. The peaks coincided well with the peaks of reproductive activity of female foxes. The results of multiple regression analysis of distribution of dens with respect to selected environmental parameters around densites indicated that the fox selectively utilize open land, rather than densely vegetated areas. The persistence of dens, the selective utilization by foxes of open land and the sizes of dens were all related to the breeding activities of female foxes inhabiting the area. Reproductive females usually used plural dens (“den group”) in one reproductive season. The numbers of those females occuring in the area were maintained at a steady level for fairy long periods. These indicate that the existence of a stable social relationship between females mediated through occupancy of “den groups.”     

Seasonal changes in the pigments, carbohydrates and growth of red spruce as affected by ozone

Two-year-old red spruce seedlings were exposed to various levels ot ozone, from 0.4 to 3 times ambient levels, in open-top chambers in Ithaca, NY, USA. Exposures, which varied with changes in day length, commenced on May 30, 1987 and continued until December 14, 1987. Seedling biomass, carbohydrate contents, pigment contents, and rate of electron transport were assessed twice monthly during the fumigation period. Orthogonal quadratic or cubic polynomials were used to model the response through time each variable measured. A one-way analysis of variance model was fitted to every regression coefficient in each polynomial model to test for ozone effects on seasonal physiological patterns. Ozone did not influence growth, foliar pigment content, foliar starch content, root carbohydrate content, or rate of electron transport. The seasonal change of needle raffinose content differed between exposed to low (0.4 ×, 1×) and high (2×, 3×) ozone levels. There was also a trend towards reduced total soluble sugar content foliage during late autumn in higher ozone treatments.     

Patch clamping corn protoplasts

Summary Cell wall regeneration around protoplasts from Black Mexican Sweet corn suspension cells has been observed using scanning electron microscopy. A coherent array of cellulose microfibrils can be seen around protoplasts two hours after they have been isolated. This array does not form in the presence of 15 mg/l Congo Red. The frequency and electrical resistance of seals made between patch clamp pipettes and the plasmalemma around corn protoplasts is not significantly affected by the presence or absence of these fibrils (p₀=0.75); it remains relatively low. Some single channel records from BMS corn protoplasts are shown.     

Ultrastructure of vegetative organization and cell division in the freshwater red algaCompsopogon

Summary Uniseriate filaments of the freshwater red algaCompsopogon coeruleus were examined by transmission electron microscopy for details of vegetative organization and cell division with the goal of providing useful taxonomic characters. Each cell's single, complex chloroplast contains a peripheral encircling thylakoid, and unlike the vast majority of red algae, the cis-regions of dictyosomes are not consistently juxtaposed with mitochondria. These subcellular features, which are present in all examined genera in theCompsopogonales, Erythropeltidales, andRhodochaetales, along with certain unique reproductive characteristics, unify these three orders. During mitosis in uncorticated axial cells, a small, ring-shaped nucleus associated organelle (NAO) is located at each division pole, an intranuclear spindle comes to a moderately acute focus at the flattened, fenestrated metaphase-anaphase division poles and perinuclear ER partially encloses dividing nuclei, including a well-developed interzonal midpiece. The cleavage furrow penetrates the large, central vacuolar region to separate daughter nuclei. These cell division features most closely resemble the pattern described for the orderCeramiales. Our observations of vegetative and dividing cells ofC. coeruleus supplement the growing volume of evidence in favour of uniting all red algae into a single class without subclass designations.Abbreviations ER endoplasmic reticulum - IZM interzonal midpiece - MT microtubule - MTOC microtubule organizing center - NAO nucleus associated organelle - NE nuclear envelope - PER perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum     

Interaction of allosteric effectors (ATP,CO2, H+) modulating oxygen affinity of the hemoglobin in the carp,Cyprinus carpio,in vitro

Summary The interaction of allosteric effectors (CO₂, ATP, H⁺) with respect to the oxygen affinity of carp hemoglobin was analyzed by determining oxygen binding curves spectrophotometrically in dilute solutions of stripped hemoglobin at 20°C. The pH range studied was 6.8–8.2.P _CO2 was 0, 10 and 70 mmHg (0, 1.33 and 9.3 kPa). ATP/Hb₄ was 0, 8 and 24. In the presence of either CO₂ or ATP, the effects of the cofactors onP ₅₀ were as expected over the whole pH range. In contrast to other published data, each cofactor also had a significant effect onP ₅₀ in the presence of the other cofactor. Evidence was obtained that oxylabile carbamate is formed by carp hemoglobin and that the formation of carbamate persists at a lower level in the presence of ATP. The results support the view that the binding of ATP to carp hemoglobin requires only one terminal amino group, leaving the other N-terminal of the -chain free to react with CO₂.     

异育淇鲫及其双亲同工酶的比较研究

用4.5％聚丙烯酰胺凝胶平板电泳研究了异育淇鲫及其母本淇鲫和父本兴国红鲤的肌可溶性蛋白以及肾、肝、眼、背白肌和心等五种组织的乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)和酯酶(EST)。结果发现:异育淇鲫的肌可溶性蛋白以及同工酶的电泳图谱与母本淇鲫相同而与父本兴国红鲤显著不同,因而认为异育淇鲫是淇鲫雌核发育的产物,父本基因对子代基本无影响。在此基础上,本文对异源精子在雌核发育中所起的生物学作用进行了初步探讨。