Identification of cells in rat brain and peripheral tissues expressing mRNA for members of the nerve growth factor family

Cells expressing mRNA for hippocampus-derived neurotrophic factor (HDNF/NT-3) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were identified by in situ hybridization. In the rat brain, HDNF mRNA was predominantly found in pyramidal neurons in CA1 and CA2 of the hippocampus. Lower levels of HDNF mRNA were found in granular neurons of the dentate gyrus and in neurons of the taenia tecta and induseum griseum. BDNF mRNA-expressing cells were more widely distributed in the rat brain, with high levels in neurons of CA2, CA3, and the hilar region of the dentate gyrus, in the external and internal pyramidal layers of the cerebral cortex, in the claustrum, and in one brainstem structure. Lower levels were seen in CA1 and in the granular layer of the hippocampus, in the taenia tecta, and in the mammillary complex. In peripheral tissues, HDNF mRNA was found in glomerular cells in the kidney, secretory cells in the male rat submandibular gland, and epithelial cells in secondary and tertiary follicles in the ovary. Cells expressing BDNF mRNA were found in the dorsal root ganglia, where neurons of various sizes were labeled.     

1962—2010年甘肃省黄土高原区干旱时空动态格局

借助ArcGIS 9.3和SPSS软件平台,根据甘肃省黄土高原区33个气象站1962—2010年气象资料,利用综合气象干旱指数(CI)从干旱率、干旱强度和干旱频率三方面对甘肃省黄土高原区近50年的干旱时空变化特征进行了分析。结果表明:春、秋季干旱率呈现显著增加趋势,夏、冬季干旱率呈略微增加趋势;夏季干旱频率最大,春季、秋季次之,冬季最少;春、秋季干旱以2000年来最为严重,夏季干旱以2000年以来、20世纪70年代和90年代均较严重,冬季干旱以20世纪80年代最为严重;甘肃省黄土高原区逐年干旱持续日数和干旱强度存在明显的年际波动,线性变化趋势明显;从空间分布来看,春、夏和秋季干旱多发区主要集中在甘肃省黄土高原区西北部,而106°E以西"临洮-通渭-天水"一线和庆阳东南部是干旱多发区变幅最大的地方,冬季干旱多发区主要集中在甘肃省黄土高原区南部。     

In vivo and in vitro effects of cadmium on selected enzymes in different organs of the fish Barbus conchonius Ham. (rosy barb).

1. Enzyme modulation by cadmium in selected organs of the fish, Barbus conchonius (rosy barb), was investigated in vivo (48 hr exposure to 12.6 mg/l cadmium chloride) and in vitro (10(-6) M cadmium chloride). 2. The acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity was depressed in the gills but stimulated in the skeletal muscles and brain in vivo. The hepatic, branchial, and renal acid phosphatase (AcP) activity decreased marginally in vivo but it was significantly increased in the gut and ovary. In vitro, except for the liver, the AcP activity was depressed in the selected organs. Collaterally, gut alkaline phosphatase (AlP) was significantly inhibited but a pronounced stimulation was noted in the kidneys and ovary in vivo. In vitro, the AlP activity was conspicuously elevated in the kidneys and gut, and moderately in the gills. 3. Cadmium inhibited the glutamate-oxaloacetate and glutamate-pyruvate transaminases (GOT and GPT) in the liver, gills and kidneys in vivo. In vitro, the GOT and GPT activities were decreased in the liver, gills and kidneys. The lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was significantly stimulated by Cd in the heart in vivo but in vitro the metal inhibited the enzyme in the gills. 4. Enzymes in the liver, followed by those in the kidneys and gills seem to be most seriously affected by Cd poisoning in this fish.     

黄土丘陵区不同植被根际土壤微量元素含量特征

为了解黄土高原不同植被土壤微量元素的根际效应,分析了该地区柠条、沙棘、沙打旺、柳枝稷、阿尔泰狗娃花和茵陈蒿6种植被根际与非根际土壤中有机碳、全氮、Mn、Cu、Fe、Zn含量.结果表明： 6种植被中,柠条、阿尔泰狗娃花和茵陈蒿根际土壤的有机碳、全氮含量高于非根际土壤;除柠条和沙棘外,其余4种植被非根际土壤pH值均显著高于根际土壤.6种植被根际土壤有效Mn含量均低于非根际;柠条、沙打旺和柳枝稷根际有效Cu含量显著高于非根际,表现出强烈根际富集现象.除沙打旺外,其他5种植被根际有效Fe含量均略高于非根际.沙打旺、柳枝稷、茵陈蒿和阿尔泰狗娃花表现出强烈的有效Zn根际富集现象.根际与非根际土壤有机碳、全氮与有效Mn、有效Zn,以及有效Mn与有效Zn呈极显著正相关.根际土壤pH值与有效Mn和有效Zn呈显著负相关.由于不同植物根系的生长特征、根际pH值及微生物种类等的差异,不同植被根际的微量元素含量不同,茵陈蒿根际4种微量元素含量高于其他植被.     

Distribution of immunoreactive mesotocin and vasotocin in the brain and pituitary of chickens

The distribution of vasotocin and mesotocin in the pituitary and central nervous system in male chickens was determined using radioimmunoassays. Neither peptide was detected in the pineal. Mesotocin, but not vasotocin, was detected in the cerebellum. Both peptides were found in the septal area, archistriatum, paleostriatum, optic lobe, anterior, medial and posterior hypothalamus, midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata, and the anterior and posterior pituitary. Equal amounts of the 2 peptides were present in the septal area, archistriatum and anterior hypothalamus whereas vasotocin was more abundant (2- to 10-fold) in the paleostriatum, optic lobe, midbrain, and pituitary. The amount of mesotocin was about twice that of vasotocin in the medulla oblongata and the medial and posterior hypothalamus. The wide distribution of vasotocin and mesotocin in extrahypothalamic sites in the central nervous system suggests that the peptides may, as in mammals, have a role in a variety of autonomic and endocrine regulatory processes in chickens.     

Morphological features of lipid droplet transition during porcine oocyte fertilisation and early embryonic development to blastocyst in vivo and in vitro

Lipid content in mammalian oocytes or embryos differs among species, with bovine and porcine oocytes and embryos showing large cytoplasmic droplets. These droplets are considered to play important roles in energy metabolism during oocyte maturation, fertilisation and early embryonic development, and also in the freezing ability of oocytes or embryos; however, their detailed distribution or function is not well understood. In the present study, changes in the distribution and morphology of porcine lipid droplets during in vivo and in vitro fertilisation, in contrast to parthenogenetic oocyte activation, as well as during their development to blastocyst stage, were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The analysis of semi-thin and ultra-thin sections by TEM showed conspicuous, large, electron-dense lipid droplets, sometimes associated with mitochondrial aggregates in the oocytes, irrespective of whether the oocytes had been matured in vivo or in vitro. Immediately after sperm penetration, the electron density of the lipid droplets was lost in both the in vivo and in vitro oocytes, the reduction being most evident in the oocytes developed in vitro. Density was restored in the pronculear oocytes, fully in the in vivo specimens but only partially in the in vitro ones. The number and size of the droplets seemed, however, to have decreased. At 2- to 4-cell and blastocyst stages, the features of the lipid droplets were almost the same as those of pronuclear oocytes, showing a homogeneous or saturated density in the in vivo embryos but a marbled or partially saturated appearance in the in vitro embryos. In vitro matured oocytes undergoing parthenogenesis had lipid droplets that resembled those of fertilised oocytes until the pronuclear stage. Overall, results indicate variations in both the morphology and amount of cytoplasmic lipid droplets during porcine oocyte maturation, fertilisation and early embryo development as well as differences between in vivo and in vitro development, suggesting both different energy status during preimplantation development in pigs and substantial differences between in vitro and in vivo development.     

基于芽苗砧嫁接油茶砧穗创伤后内源激素动态变化分析

为研究油茶(Camellia oleifera A)嫁接时穗条和砧木创伤后内源激素动态变化规律,解析影响砧穗嫁接面愈合的生理机制,为油茶砧穗愈合生长机理提供理论支持。以树龄6年的长林18号和53号的穗条和实生砧木为材料,按照芽苗砧嫁接方法切割穗条S0(0 min)、S10(10 min)、S40(40 min)和砧木茎段Z0(0 min)、Z10(10 min)后,利用液质联用法(HPLC-MS)测定吲哚乙酸(IAA)、脱落酸(ABA)、反式玉米素(TZR)、玉米素(Zeatin)、水杨酸(SA)和茉莉酸(JA)含量,分析不同时间段内源激素变化及品种间差异的关系。结果显示:创伤后18号的TZR、Zeatin和SA含量总体高于53号;18号IAA、SA和JA逐渐下降;TZR和Zeatin分别在S10和S0达最高值后下降;ABA在S10达最高值。53号IAA和JA爱S10达最高值后下降;TZR、Zeatin和SA在S10达低值后逐渐上升;ABA在S0达高值后逐渐下降。砧木茎段创伤前后激素含量除JA外18号高于53号;两品种Z0时激素含量下降,Z10后上升,仅53号ABA和SA含量在Z0达高值后下降。砧木茎段和根部激素含量在品种间除JA外18号高于53号,茎段的IAA、ABA高于根部,其他激素为根部高于茎段。激素比值在品种间和部位间差异明显;IAA/ABA、IAA/TZR、IAA/Zeatin和IAA/JA、ABA/TZR、ABA/Zeatin和ABA/JA比值为53号高于18号;穗条内SA/IAA为18号高于53号,SA/JA和SA/ABA为53号高于18号;砧木茎段均为18号高于53号;TZR/SA、TZR/JA比值在穗条和砧木茎段为18号高于53号。两品种创伤后IAA与JA极显著正相关,而IAA与SA,SA与JA在18号极显著正相关,53号极显著或显著负相关;53号TZR、Zeatin、SA间极显著或显著正相关,JA与TZR、Zeatin和SA极显著负相关。砧木茎段创伤后18号激素间为极显著或显著正相关;53号TZR和Zeatin与IAA、JA极显著正相关,与SA存在显著负相关,SA与JA有显著负相关。砧木茎段和根部间品种间仅在SA与各激素间相关性存在差异,其他激素间存在极显著正相关或负相关。综上所述,砧穗创伤后激素水平上18号在创伤面易于愈伤组织发育,而53号抗逆激素水平较高且与细胞分裂增殖类激素负相关,可能影响53号嫁接后愈合生长;嫁接应在创伤后10 min内较为适宜;砧穗间激素含量及比值的差异可能会影响后期嫁接部位形态重建以及穗条生长。     

啮齿动物作用下退耕地山杏种子扩散与贮藏的季节变化

啮齿动物对植物种子的取食和扩散影响种子的时空分布,继而影响种子的萌发和幼苗建成,因而在森林更新中起着重要作用.在国有济源市愚公林场,选择退耕地生境,于春季、夏季、秋季分别释放人工标记的山杏种子,观察啮齿动物扩散与埋藏山杏种子的季节性差异.结果表明：1）退耕地中的啮齿动物主要包括大林姬鼠、社鼠、黑线姬鼠;2）山杏种子扩散速率在春季显著慢于夏季,夏季显著慢于秋季;3）种子搬运量受季节和种子状态交互作用影响,春季显著少于夏季,夏季显著少于秋季;4）不同季节种子平均搬运距离不同,秋季不同状态种子的搬运距离均大于春季和夏季;5）啮齿动物对山杏种子的贮藏点大小多为1粒种子,少量为2、3粒种子,且贮藏点大小与季节间存在显著的交互作用,春季单粒种子的贮藏点数量显著少于夏季和秋季,而夏季与秋季的贮藏点则倾向于多粒种子;6）在夏季和秋季各有5枚（共释放1800枚）被啮齿动物分散贮藏的山杏种子建成幼苗.     

蓝狐消化道内分泌细胞的免疫组化研究

蓝狐又名北极狐(Alopex lagopus),属于食肉目(Carnivora),犬科(Canidae),北极狐属(Alopex).     

Comparative analysis of allele polymorphism of three short tandem repeats in the Russian, Uzbek and Georgian populations

The allele polymorphism of the AGC short tandem repeat (STR) of exon 1 of the androgen receptor (AR) gene located in Xq11-12, ATCT STR of intron 40 of the von Willebrand factor (vWF) gene located in chromosome 12p12, and AGAT STR of an anonymous DNA sequence (STRX1) from the short arm of the X chromosome was analyzed in the Georgian, Uzbek, and Russian populations. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with DNA of unrelated persons revealed 14 AR, 7 vWF, and 7 STRX1 alleles in Georgians; 14, 8, and 6 alleles, respectively, in Uzbeks; and 16, 8, and 9 alleles, respectively, in Russians. The heterozygosity at these STR was 0.61, 0.78, and 0.46 in Georgians; 0.60, 0.83, and 0.44 in Uzbeks; and 0.80, 0.70, and 0.58 in Russians. The correspondence of genotype frequencies to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed with AR STR in Russians and Uzbeks, STRX1 STR in Georgians, and vWF in all three populations. A significant deviation from the equilibrium was found for STRX1 in Russians and Uzbeks and AR in Georgians. The potential of individualization was 0.05 for AR, 0.13 for vWF, and 0.18 for STRX1 in Georgians; 0.04, 0.09, and 0.13, respectively in Uzbeks; and 0.05, 0.14, and 0.07, respectively, in Russians. The allele and genotype frequency distributions of each STR were analyzed in all three populations. Allele frequencies in the populations were compared by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The Russian population significantly differed in allele frequencies of the three STR from Uzbeks and in those of STRX1 and AR from Georgians. Georgians and Uzbeks significantly differed in vWF and STRX1 frequencies. The possibility of using the three STR in molecular diagnosis of the corresponding monogenic diseases, population genetic studies, and personal identification is discussed.     

中国东北典型森林生态系统植物叶片的非结构性碳水化合物研究

植物叶片的非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)不仅可以反应植物的碳供应状况,也能反应植物对外界环境的适应策略。利用传统的蒽酮比色法测定了东北3个典型森林生态系统(呼中、凉水和长白山)242种常见植物叶片的非结构碳水化合物,探讨了温带主要森林植物叶片NSC沿纬度梯度的变化趋势及其在物种-生活型-群落间的分布规律。实验结果表明:3个典型森林生态系统植物叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量均呈偏正态分布,多数物种的含量偏中低水平;242种植物叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC的平均含量分别为63.31、65.66和128.96 mg/g。在所调查的森林生态系统中,叶片可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量在不同生活型中表现各异。此外,乔木植物叶片的可溶性糖、淀粉和NSC含量从北到南呈递增趋势,呼中最低,凉水次之,长白山最高。乔木淀粉含量均表现为落叶树种大于常绿树种,可溶性糖和NSC含量变化趋势复杂。研究结果不仅为阐明东北主要森林生态系统植被碳代谢和生长适应对策提供数据基础,而且对理解植物对未来气候变化的响应机理提供数据支撑。     

中国细石核类型和工艺初探——兼谈与东北亚、西北美的文化联系

通过中国十个重要细石器遗址中细石核的观察,对中国细石核的类型和工艺技术作一初步的区分和综合的比较,以探讨中国细石器传统在时间和空间上的分布特点。同时与发现于东北亚、西北美的细石核进行对比,从它们之间的异同来看这一地区在文化上的传承关系。     

A comparative study of zygotic twinning and triplet rates in eight countries, 1972-1999

Annual changes in twinning and triplet rates by zygosity were investigated in eight countries during the period 1972-1999 using vital statistics. The monozygotic (MZ) twinning rates in Denmark, Switzerland and the Slovak Republic remained more or less constant throughout this period, whereas those in England and Wales, the Federal Republic of Germany (Germany), the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Japan increased significantly year by year. With the exception of the Slovak Republic, the dizygotic (DZ) twinning rate increased significantly year by year in each country. It was 2.9 times higher in Denmark and 1.5 times higher in Germany in 1999 than in 1972, and within the same range in the other countries. With two exceptions, the MZ triplet rates remained more or less constant in each country. On the other hand, the DZ and trizygotic (TZ) triplet rates increased significantly year by year in each country. The TZ rate increased 30-fold in Germany, 16.6-fold in Japan, 11.7-fold in Switzerland, 9.7-fold in the Czech Republic, 8.7-fold in the Netherlands, 6.4-fold in Denmark, 5.6-fold in England and Wales and 3.5-fold in the Slovak Republic. The higher DZ twinning rate and higher DZ and TZ triplet rates since 1983 have been attributed to the higher proportion of mothers being treated with ovulation-inducing hormones and in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Denmark, England and Wales, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Japan. After the introduction of fertility drugs and IVF, variations in the DZ twinning and triplet rates and the TZ triplet rates were not only due to biological factors, but also depended on the popularity of fertility drugs and IVF in each country. In the Slovak Republic, where human fertility might not be affected by some adverse environmental factors, the DZ:MZ ratio remained constant during the period 1972-1999.     

Developmental Changes in the NGF Content in the Brain of Young,Growing, Low-Birth-Weight Rats

The NGF content in each region of the brain of four-week-old rats was ranked in the decreasing order of cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, midbrain/diencephalon, and pons/medulla ob-longata, and the NGF concentration, in the decreasing order of hippocampus, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, midbrain/diencephalon, and pons/medulla oblongata in both AFD and SFD groups. The NGF content and concentration in the cerebral cortex were about the same value at each age between those in the AFD and SFD groups. Those in the hippocampus were a little higher in the SFD group than in the AFD group at the ages of three and four weeks, unlike those in the other regions, where the values for the cerebellum, midbrain/diencephalon and pons/medulla oblongata tended to be somewhat higher in the AFD group than in the SFD group. The NGF concentrations in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex increased with growth: the concentration in the hippocampus at four weeks of age was about 4-fold of that at one week in the AFD group and about 5.7-fold of that at one week in the SFD group; and likewise the concentration in the cerebral cortex at four weeks of age was about 5.3-fold in the AFD group and about 7-fold in the SFD group. The NGF concentrations in the cerebellum decreased, and those in midbrain/diencephalon and pons/medulla oblongata hardly changed with growth in either AFD or SFD group. From these results NGF may have stronger implications for the neuronal growth in the hippocampus compared with those in the lower brain regions of the SFD rats.     

Expressions of amyloid precursor protein, synaptophysin and presenilin-1 in the different areas of the developing cerebellum of rat

This study reveals the expressions of Alzheimer's disease-related amyloid precursor protein, presenilin-1, and a presynaptic marker protein, synaptophysin, in the archi-, paleo- and neocerebellum during the postnatal development of the rat. The Western blot results demonstrate a gradual increase in the soluble amyloid precursor protein level in the archicerebellum during the first 3 weeks, while in the neo- and paleocerebellum the levels reach a plateau as early as the 1st week. Immunohistochemically, the protein is present in the deep part of the external granule cell layer and the internal granule cell layer in the newborn animal, while in 3-week-old animals the staining appears mainly in the perikarya and dendrites of the Purkinje cells. The level of synaptophysin increases progressively from postnatal day 7 up to 3 weeks in the archi- and paleocerebellum, and up to 6 weeks in the neocerebellum. Immunohistochemically, the amyloid precursor protein staining appears first in the inner part of the molecular layer and in the internal granule cell layer. In a 3-week-old animal, synaptophysin staining is present in all areas of the cerebellar molecular layer and in the internal granule cell layer. The presenilin-1 immunohistochemical reaction appeared equally in the archi-, paleo- and neocerebellum. Much of the staining is present in the glial cells and Purkinje cells. Less immunoreactivity is observed in the Golgi cells and granule cells. It is concluded that the postnatal expressions of soluble and membrane-bound amyloid precursor protein, synaptophysin and presenilin-1 are regulated differently during the ontogenetical development of the archi-, paleo- and neocerebellum of rat. Further, the amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1 may be present in cells which do not degenerate in Alzheimer's disease.     

麦棉套作棉花根际非根际土壤微生物和土壤养分

在麦棉套作栽培模式下,设置不隔根、纱网隔根和塑膜隔根3种麦棉套种方式,研究麦棉套作对棉花根际和非根际土壤微生物数量、活性和土壤养分（全氮、有效磷和速效钾）含量的影响,结果表明：麦棉套作有利于棉花根际与非根际土壤细菌的增殖,盛蕾期不隔根处理棉花根际土壤与非根际土壤细菌数量分别是塑膜隔根处理的2.57和2.81倍.但麦棉套作不利于土壤真菌和放线菌的增殖.细菌在土壤微生物区系中占99.9%.所以,麦棉套作显著提高了棉花土壤微生物数量,同时也增强了微生物活性.麦棉共处期纱网隔根处理棉花土壤全氮、有效磷、速效钾含量显著高于不隔根处理和塑膜隔根处理,证明麦棉套作系统中小麦根系分泌物与脱落物的存在对棉花土壤养分含量的增加有明显的促进作用,即存在种间营养补偿效应.而共处期不隔根处理套作棉土壤养分含量总体上显著低于隔根处理的现象则反映出小麦根系对棉花土壤养分的竞争作用大于其对棉花土壤养分的促进作用.小麦收获后,小麦根系对棉花养分的竞争作用解除,不隔根处理棉花土壤养分含量显著高于塑膜隔根和纱网隔根处理.     

The effect of oestradiolum benzoicum and progesterone on AChE activity in the nerves of the female reproductive system of immature pigs

The present paper describes the effect of exogenous oestradiol and progesterone on the AChE activity in nerves of the ovary, oviduct, uterus, and vagina, and on morphological features of the AChE-positive nerves of these organs in sexually immature pigs. Studies were carried out on 30 sexually immature pigs, 37 to 43 kg in weight, at the age of 115 to 125 d, of the BWP (Big White Polish) race. The animals were divided into 4 groups. Group I (n = 6) constituted the control. Animals in group II (n = 8) received oestradiolum benzoicum. Those in group III (n = 8) were given progesterone, and in group IV (n = 8) oestradiol and progesterone. Oestradiol injections resulted in a 1.2-fold increase of AChE activity in the ovary, 1.3-fold in the oviduct, 1.7-fold in the uterine horn, and a 1.2-fold decrease of this activity in the cervix, while no differences were noted in the vagina. Progesterone injections did not affect AChE activity in the ovary, while a 1.1-fold increase was observed in the oviduct, 1.2-fold in the uterine horn and 1.1-fold in the cervix compared to the control. A 1.1-fold decrease of this activity was observed in the vagina. Joint injections of oestradiol and progesterone resulted in about a 1.4-fold increase of AChE activity in the ovary, 1.3-fold in the oviduct, 1.4-fold in the uterine horn, 1.6-fold in the vagina, while no changes were observed in the cervix. The results suggest the effect of the administered hormones upon AChE activity in the organs under study, mainly in the oviduct, uterine horn, and vagina. They also point to the possibility of a synergic effect of oestradiol and progesterone as regards to an increase of the activity.     

Comparative distribution of substance P (SP) and cholecystokinin (CCK) binding sites and immunoreactivity in the brain of the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

Specific binding sites for cholecystokinin (CCK) and substance P (SP) were detected in the brain of a marine teleost fish, the sea bass, after in vitro incubation of tissue sections with the tritiated peptides and light microscopic autoradiography. Specific binding sites for [3H]-CCK were detected in the dorsal and ventral telencephalon, in the preoptic, tuberal and posterior hypothalamus, in the optic tectum, in the valvulla cerebelli, in the vagal lobe and further in a dorsal location in the medulla oblongata. Areas rich in [3H]-SP binding were located in the ventral telencephalon, in the entire hypothalamic and thalamic region, in the midbrain tegmentum, in the optic tectum, in the valvulla cerebelli and in the medulla oblongata. The distribution of these binding sites seemed to match fairly well with the location of the corresponding immunoreactive elements, although some minor mismatches could be observed. These autoradiographic findings provide the first anatomical evidence for the presence of CCK-like and SP-like binding sites in the brain of a teleost fish.     

Histochemical, immunofluorescence, and ultrastructural differences in fetal cartilage among three genetically distinct chondrodystrophic mice

The severe lethal chondrodystrophies in man result in a common clinical syndrome including shortening of the face, mandible, and limbs. Studies of three lethal chondrodystrophic mutants in mice, viz., chondrodysplasia (cho), cartilage matrix deficiency (cmd), and disproportionate micromelia (Dmm), which share this syndrome, were performed with the aim of identifying histochemical, immunofluorescence, or ultrastructural differences which might exist among these hereditary cartilage disorders. We examined limb cartilage epiphyses from day 18 normal and mutant fetuses and observed repeatable, mostly qualitative differences. All observations were made relative to the normal control. Histochemical staining of matrix proteoglycan was moderately decreased in cho and Dmm cartilage and markedly decreased in cmd when compared to the normal control. Staining of matrix collagen was irregular in distribution in cho, increased in cmd, and decreased in Dmm. Immunofluorescence of proteoglycan was increased in the matrix of cho and Dmm and decreased in cmd. Immunofluorescence of type II collagen was heterogeneous and moderately decreased in the matrix of cho, increased in cmd, and markedly decreased in Dmm. Immunofluorescence of link protein in cho was localized in the cellular-pericellular region as in the normal and appeared increased in the matrix of cmd and Dmm. Immunofluorescence of chondronectin was localized in the cellular-pericellular region and appeared normal in all three mutants. Major differences in cellular and matrix ultrastructure were observed among the mutants, including a decreased frequency of small-diameter collagen fibrils in cho and Dmm, increased density of collagen fibrils in cmd, and dilated RER in Dmm. These observations demonstrate that distinct structural and possibly molecular differences exist among the chondrodystrophies. In the case of cmd, the differences correlated with a previously reported molecular defect, viz., absence of core protein of cartilage specific proteoglycan in the cartilage of this mutant. It is anticipated that the methods used in the present study can be applied to humans in case classification and in identifying potential mouse-human correlates.     

Seasonal changes in the red blood cell indices in Arabian brood mares and their foals

In 34 pure-bred Arabian horses, divided into four groups (Gr. I, 10 pregnant mares; Gr. II, seven barren mares; Gr. III, 10 foals born in 1981; Gr. IV, seven foals born in 1982), seasonal changes in haemoglobin level, haematocrit value, sedimentation rate, red blood cell number and diameter, percentage of erythroblasts and reticulocytes, and index F were studied. Seasonal cyclicity was found in all groups in the haemoglobin level, haematocrit value and RBC diameter. It was also found in the sedimentation rate (PCV) and in index F, but not for the youngest foals (Gr. IV). For the RBC number the cyclicity is given in both groups of foals, and the erythroblast and reticulocyte percentage only in the older foals (Gr. III). Out of eight indices studied cyclicity was found in all foals in Gr. III, in five of the mares in Groups I and II, and in four of the youngest foals in Gr. IV. There is no difference in the cyclicity of indices studied between pregnant and barren mares.