Besprechungen/Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Rothstein, St. I (1978): Mechanisms of avian egg-recognition: additional evidence for learned components Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Nash, L. T. (1978): The development of the mother-infant relationship in wild baboons Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Preston, J. L. (1978): Communication systems and social interactions in a goby-shrimp symbiosis Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Wodinsky, J. (1978): Feeding Behaviour of broody female Octopus vulgaris Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Ridley, M. (1978): Paternal care Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Huber, F. (1978): The insect nervous system and insect behaviour Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Sandow, J. D. , und W. J. Bailey (1978): An experimental study of defensive stridulation in Mygalopsis ferruginea Redtenbacher Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Rohwer, S. , und F. C. Rohwer (1978): Status signalling in Harris Sparrows: Experimental deceptions achieved Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Perron, F. E. (1978): Locomotion and shell-righting behaviour in adult and juvenile Aporrhais occidentalis Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Platt, St. A. (1978): A re-examination of animal tropisms Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Wells, K. D. (1978): Territoriality in the green frog Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Stallcup, J. A. , und G. E. Woolfenden (1978): Family status and contributions to breeding by Florida scrub jays Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Wood-Gush, D. G. M. , und M. J. Gentle (1978): The hyperstriatum and nesting behaviour in the domestic hen Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Andersson, M. , und Ch. G. Wiklund (1978): Clumping versus spacing out: Experiments on nest predation in fieldfares Bücher/Books: Silver, R. , and H. H. Feder, eds. (1979): Hormones and reproductive behavior Bücher/Books: Lloyd, H. G. (1980): The red fox (Der Rotfuchs) Bücher/Books: Warner, L. J. (1979): Mammal Photography and Observation. A Practical Field Guide Bücher/Books: Miller, P. J., ed. (1979): Fish Phenology. Anabolic Adaptiveness in Teleosts Bücher/Books: Kraus, O., ed. (1978): 20. Phylogenetisches Symposion: Co-Evolution Bücher/Books: Frisch, K. v. (1980): Fünf Häuser am See—Der Brunnwinkl, Werden und Wesen eines Sommersitzes     

Fatty acids of some algae from the Bohai Sea.

The fatty acid compositions of 22 species of marine macrophytes, belonging to the Ceramiales, Cryptonemiales, Nemalionales, Laminariales, Chordariales, Scytosiphonales, Desmarestiales, Dictyosiphonales, Fucales, Dictyotales and Ulvales and collected from the Bohai Sea, were determined by capillary gas chromatography. The contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) in the Bohai Sea algae, in comparison with the same species from the Yellow Sea were found to be lower. Red algae had relatively high levels of the acids 16:0, 18:1(n-7), 18:1(n-9), 20:5(n-3) and 20:4(n-6), and those examined were rich in C(20) PUFAs, these chiefly being arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids. The major FAs encountered in the Phaeophyta were 14:0, 16:0, 18:1(n-9), 18:2(n-6), 18:3(n-3), 18:4(n-3), 20:4(n-6) and 20:5(n-3). C(18)PUFAs are of greater abundance in the brown algae than in the red algae examined. All three green algae from the Ulvales had similar fatty acid patterns with major components, 16:0, 16:4(n-3), 18:1(n-7), 18:2(n-6), 18:3(n-3), and 18:4(n-3). They contained 16:3(n-3) and more 16:4(n-3), were rich in C(18)PUFAs, chiefly 18:3(n-3) and 18:4(n-3) and had 18:1(n-7)/18:1(n-9) ratios higher than 1.     

Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Books: Trivers , R. L. (1985): Social evolution (Entwicklung des Sozialverhaltens) Books: Payne , R. B. (1984): Sexual selection, lek and arena behavior, and sexual size dimorphism in birds (Sexuelle Zuchtwahl, Arenaverhalten und Größengeschlechtsdimorphismus bei Vögeln) Books: Barnard , C. J., and D. B. A. Thompson , (1985): Gulls and plovers Books: Dobat , K. (1985): Blüten und Fledermäuse (Chiropterophilie) (Bats and flowers) Books: Fenton , M. B. (1985): Communication in the Chiroptera (Verständigung bei Fledermäusen) Books: Payne , R., ed. (1983): Communication and behavior of whales (Verständigung und Verhalten von Walen) Books: Roeder , J. J. (1985): Evolution des systèmes de communication chez les carnivores et les primates: organisation sociale et modalités de communication Books: Preuschoft , H., D. J. Chivers , W. Y. Brockelman & N. Creel, eds. (1984): The lesser apes. Evolutionary and behavioural biology (Die Gibbons. Evolutions- und Verhaltensbiologie) Books: Becker , C. (1984): Orang-Utans und Bonobos im Spiel (Orang-Utans and Bonobos in play) Books: Häßlin , J. H., und G. Nogge (1985): Der Kölner Zoo (The Cologne Zoo) Books: Hess , J. (1985): Tierkinder - Tiermütter (Animal mothers and children) Books: Obst , F. J. (1985): Die Welt der Schildkröten (The world of turtles) Books: Kästle , W. (1984): Echsen im Terrarium (Lizards in captivity)     

Besprechungen/Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Reinhardt, V., und A. Reinhardt Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Losey, G. S. Jr. (1982): Ecological cues and experience modify interspecific aggression by the damselfish Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Sekulic, R. (1982): The function of howling in red howler monkeys Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Nijssen, A. (1982): The relation between the eating system and the grooming system in rats Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Sordahl, T. A. (1982): Antipredator behavior of American avocet and black-necked stilt chicks Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Muszalski Shy, M. (1982): Interspecific feeding among birds Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Burkhardt, D. (1982): Birds, berries and UV. A note on some consequences of UV vision in birds Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Beilharz, R. G. , und K. Zeeb (1982): Social dominance in dairy cattle Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Porter, F. L. , und G. F. McCracken (1983): Social behavior and allozyme variation in a captive colony of Carollia perspicillata Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Krebs, J. R. , und N. B. Davies (1981): Öko-Ethologie (Behavioural ecology) Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Voith, V. L. , and P. L. Borchelt, eds. (1982): Symposium on animal behavior     

A phylogenetic analysis of Prunus and the Amygdaloideae (Rosaceae) using ITS sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA

The economically important plum or cherry genus (PRUNUS:) and the subfamily Amygdaloideae of the Rosaceae have a controversial taxonomic history due to the lack of a phylogenetic framework. Phylogenetic analysis using the ITS sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) was conducted to construct the evolutionary history and evaluate the historical classifications of PRUNUS: and the Amygdaloideae. The analyses suggest two major groups within the Amygdaloideae: (1) PRUNUS: s.l. (sensu lato) and MADDENIA:, and (2) EXOCHORDA:, Oemleria, and PRINSEPIA: The ITS phylogeny supports the recent treatment of including EXOCHORDA: (formerly in the Spiraeoideae) in the Amygdaloideae. MADDENIA: is found to be nested within PRUNUS: s.l. in the parsimony and distance analyses, but basal to PRUNUS: s.l. in the maximum likelihood analysis. Within PRUNUS:, two major groups are recognizable: (1) the AMYGDALUS:-PRUNUS: group, and (2) the CERASUS:-LAUROCERASUS:-PADUS: group. The clades in the ITS phylogeny are not congruent with most subgeneric groups in the widely used classification of PRUNUS: by Rehder. A broadly defined PRUNUS: is supported.     

Besprechungen/Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Duncan, P. (1980): Time-budgets of Camargue horses Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Deputte, B. L. (1980): Le comportement de “renserrement” Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Vince, M. A. , und F. M. Toosey (1980): Posthatching effects of repeated prehatching stimulation with an alien sound Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Zahavi, A. (1980): Ritualization and the evolution of movement signals Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Todt, D. , und A. Fiebelkorn (1980): Display, Timing and function of wing movements accompanying antiphonal duets of Cichladusa guttata Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Las, A. (1980): Male courtship persistence in the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Simpson, M. J. A. , und S. Howe (1980): The interpretation of individual differences in Rhesus monkey infants Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Mock, D. W. (1980): Communication strategies of great blue herons and great egrets Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Regal, Ph. J. , und M. S. Connolly (1980): Social influences on biological rhythms Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Roeder, J.-J. (1980): Marking behaviour and olfactory recognition in genets Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Burley, R. A. (1980): Pre-copulatory and copulatory behaviour in relation to stages of the oestrous cycle in the female mongolian gerbil Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Schütz, E. (1980): Die Wirkung von Untergrund und Nestmaterial auf das Nestbauverhalten des Dreistachligen Stichlings Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Veith, W. J. (1979): Reproduction in the live-bearing teleost Clinus superciliosus Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Ribbink, A. J., A. C. Marsh, B. Marsh und B. J. Sharp (1980): Parental behaviour and mixed broods among cichlid fish of Lake Malawi Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Packer, W. C. (1980): Nestbuilding and activity patterns in four sympatric rodent species Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Peterson, E. L. (1980): The temporal pattern of mosquito flight activity Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Tomlinson, D. N. S. (1980): Aspects of the expressive behaviour of the waterbuck Kobus e. ellipsiprymnus in a Rhodesian Game Park Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Stobbs, R. E. (1980): Feeding habits of the giant clingfish Chorisochismus dentex Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Picker, M. (1980): Xenopus laevis (Anura: Pipidae) mating systems—A preliminary synthesis with some data on the female phonoresponse     

Existence of endogenous inhibitors of platelet-activating factor (PAF) with PAF in rat uterus

Two kinds of phospholipids in normal rat uterus were found to inhibit the aggregation of washed rabbit platelets induced by 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkylacetyl-GPC) and were named Inhibitor I and Inhibitor II and identified by mass spectrometry. Inhibitor I was a mixture of 1-acyl (16:0, 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, and 20:4)-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (acyllyso-GPC) and 1-alkyl (16:0, 18:0, and 18:1)-2-lyso-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkyllyso-GPC). 16:0 acyllyso-GPC was the most inhibitory, followed by 18:1, 18:2, 20:4, and 18:0 acyllyso-GPCs and 16:0 alkyllyso-GPC. Their IC50 values were in the range of 1-4 X 10(-5) M against the platelet aggregation induced by 1 X 10(-10) M 16:0 alkylacetyl-GPC, indicating that they were about 100 times weaker inhibitors than CV-3988. Inhibitor II was a mixture of N-acyl sphing-4-enyl phosphocholine (18:1/18:0, 18:1/20:0, 18:1/24:0, and 18:1/24:2). The most inhibitory of these components were 18:1/20:0 and 18:1/24:0, followed by 18:1/24:2 and 18:1/18:0, and their IC50 values were in the range of 4-5 X 10(-5) M against platelet aggregation induced by the alkylacetyl-GPC. Quantitatively, about 10(5) times higher concentrations of these inhibitors should be necessary to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by 1 X 10(-10) M 16:0 alkylacetyl-GPC. In fact, the contents of Inhibitors I and II, respectively, were approximately 10(5) times (4.7 X 10(-2) and 7.1 X 10(-2) mol/mol lipid-phosphorus of the original uterine phospholipids) than that of 16:0 alkylacetyl-GPC (1.4 X 10(-6) mol/mol lipid-phosphorus). The role of alkylacetyl-GPC in normal rat uterus is uncertain, but it coexists in situ with two kinds of endogenous inhibitors, choline containing lysoglycerophospholipids and sphingophospholipids.     

Characterization of heparin oligosaccharides binding specifically to antithrombin III using mass spectrometry

Heparan sulfate (HS) is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan attached to a core protein on the cell surface. Protein binding to cell surface HS is a key regulatory event for many cellular processes such as blood coagulation, cell proliferation, and migration. The concept whereby protein binding to HS is not random but requires a limited number of sulfation patterns is becoming clear. Here we describe a hydrophobic trapping assay for screening a library of heparin hexasaccharides for binders to antithrombin III (ATIII). The hexasaccharide compositions are defined with their building block content in the following format: (DeltaHexA:HexA:GlcN:SO 3:Ac). Of five initial compositions present in the library, (1:2:3:6:1), (1:2:3:7:1), (1:2:3:7:0), (1:2:3:8:0), and (1:2:3:9:0), only two are shown to bind ATIII, namely, (1:2:3:8:0) and (1:2:3:9:0). The use of amide hydrophilic interaction (HILIC) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry permitted reproducible quantitative analysis of the composition of the initial library as well as that of the binding fraction. The specificity of the hexasaccharides binding ATIII was confirmed by assaying their ability to enhance ATIII-mediated inhibition of Factor Xa in vitro.     

Effects of desertification on the C:N:P stoichiometry of soil,microbes, and extracellular enzymes in a desert grassland

为探讨荒漠草地沙漠化对“土壤-微生物-胞外酶”系统生态化学计量的影响机理, 该研究采用空间序列代替时间演替的方法, 研究了宁夏盐池荒漠草地沙漠化过程中土壤、土壤微生物及土壤胞外酶碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)生态化学计量的变异特征。结果表明: (1)随着荒漠草地沙漠化的不断加剧, 土壤C、N、P含量和土壤C:P、N:P均呈降低趋势, 而土壤C:N逐渐增加。(2)荒漠草地沙漠化过程中, 土壤微生物生物量C (MBC):微生物生物量P (MBP)、微生物生物量N (MBN):MBP和土壤β-葡萄糖苷酶(BG):N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)逐渐降低, 而土壤BG:磷酸酶(AP)和NAG:AP基本表现为增加趋势。(3)随着荒漠草地沙漠化程度的加剧, 土壤微生物C利用效率CUE_C:N和CUE_C:P与土壤微生物N利用效率NUE_N:C和土壤微生物P利用效率PUE_P:C的变化趋势相反。(4)荒漠草地土壤、土壤微生物生物量和土壤胞外酶C:N化学计量(C:N, MBC:MBN, BG:NAG)与土壤、土壤微生物生物量和土壤胞外酶N:P化学计量(N:P, MBN:MBP, NAG:AP)显著负相关, 而土壤和胞外酶C:N化学计量(C:N, BG:NAG)与土壤和胞外酶C:P化学计量(C:P, BG:AP)显著正相关。土壤N:P与土壤MBN:MBP显著正相关, 而与土壤NAG:AP显著负相关。分析表明, 荒漠草地沙漠化过程中土壤微生物生物量及胞外酶活性随着土壤养分的变化而发生变化; 微生物-胞外酶C:N:P生态化学计量与土壤养分存在协变关系, 为理解荒漠草地土壤-微生物系统C、N、P循环机制提供理论依据。     

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in the South American opossum (Didelphis marsupialis) from the city of São Paulo, Brazil

Antibodies to Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii were assayed in sera of 396 opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) from the city of S?o Paulo, Brazil. Antibodies to N. caninum were assayed using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Antibodies (IFAT, approximately 1:25) to N. caninum were found in 84 opossums (D. marsupialis) in titers of 1:25 in 46, 1:50 in 20, 1:100 in 17, and 1:400 in 1. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed with the modified agglutination test (MAT) and the IFAT. Antibodies to T. gondii (MAT, approximately 1:25) were found in 82 (20.4%) of the 396 opossums, in titers of 1:25 in 24, 1:50 in 26, 1:100 in 18, 1:200 in 13, and 1:800 in 1. The IFAT antibodies to T. gondii were found in 148 of 396 opossums, in titers of 1:16 in 41, 1:32 in 23, 1:64 in 13, 1:128 in 6, 1:256 in 20, 1:512 in 17, 1:1,024 in 10, 1:2,048 in 10, 1:4,096 in 7, and 1:8,192 in 1. This is the first report of N. caninum and T. gondii infections in D. marsupialis.     

Besprechungen/Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Zeitschriften: Maynard Smith, J. (1977): Parental investment: a prospective analysis Zeitschriften: Goss-Custard, J. D. (1977): Optimal foraging and the size selection of worms by Redshank Zeitschriften: Halliday, T. R. (1977): The effect of experimental manipulation of breathing behaviour on the sexual behaviour of the Smooth Newt Zeitschriften: Young, G. , und Th. G. Décarie (1977): An ethology-based catalogue of facial/vocal behaviour in infancy Zeitschriften: Sternglanz, S. H., J. L. Grey und M. Murakami (1977): Adult preferences for infantile facial features Zeitschriften: Bertram, B. C. R. (1977): Variation in the wing-song of the flappet lark Zeitschriften: McFarland, D. J. (1977): Decision making in animals Bücher: Heiligenberg, W. (1977): Principles of Electrolocation and Jamming Avoidance in Electric Fish Bücher: Löhrl, H. (1976): Der Mauerläufer. A. Ziemsen-Verlag, Wittenberg/Luther-stadt Bücher: Meyer, P. (1976): Taschenlexikon der Verhaltenskunde Bücher: Tembrock, G., ed. (1978): Wörterbücher der Biologie: Verhaltensbiologie, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Physiologie des Verhaltens Bücher: Heymer, A. (1977): Ethologisches WoUrterbuch — Ethological Dictionary — Vocabulaire Ethologique     

Different metabolic behavior of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in human platelets

Whereas numerous studies deal with the effects and metabolism of eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5(n - 3)) in platelets, very few concern docosahexaenoic acid (22:6(n - 3)), although both acids are consumed in equal amounts from most fish fat. The present paper reports the modulation of 22:6(n - 3) oxygenation as well as that of endogenous arachidonic acid (20:4(n - 6)) in 22:6(n - 3)-rich platelets. Like the oxygenation of 20:5(n - 3), the lipoxygenation of 22:6(n - 3) occurred at a low level when incubated alone, but was markedly increased in the presence of 20:4(n - 6), suggesting a similar peroxide tone dependency. 20:5(n - 3) could not replace 20:4(n - 6) in the increasing 22:6(n - 3) lipoxygenation, whereas 22:6(n - 3) shared the potentiating effect of 20:4(n - 6) on both the cyclooxygenation and the lipoxygenation of 20:5(n - 3). On the other hand, 20:5(n - 3), 22:6(n - 3) or 20:5(n - 3) + 22:6(n - 3) enrichment of platelet phospholipids inhibited the formation of cyclooxygenase but not lipoxygenase products from endogenous 20:4(n - 6) in thrombin-stimulated platelets. In doing so, 22:6(n - 3) appeared even more potent than 20:5(n - 3), although it was not liberated after acylation in phospholipids, the opposite of what was observed with 20:5(n - 3). Therefore, it seems that, in contrast to 20:5(n - 3), which may compete with endogenous 20:4(n - 6) at the cyclooxygenase level, 22:6(n - 3) would affect the latter enzyme activity in a different way. We conclude that 20:5(n - 3) and 22:6(n - 3) behave differently and might act synergistically on the inhibition of platelet functions after fish fat intake.     

Besprechungen/Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Bossema, I. (1979): Jays and oaks: An eco-ethological study of a symbiosis Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Beer, C. G. (1979): Vocal communication between laughing gull parents and chicks Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Moermond, T. C. (1979): The influence of habitat structure on Anolis foraging behavior Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Raw, A. , und Ch. O'Toole (1979): Errors in the sex of eggs laid by the solitary bee Osmia rufa Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Gorton, R. E. jr. , und K. M. Gerhardt (1979): The comparative ontogeny of social interactions in two species of cockroach Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Barhuis, W. L. , und J. C. M. van de Nes (1979): The causal organization of climax behaviour in the domestic fowl Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Jouventin, P., M. Guillotin und A. Cornet (1979): Le chant du Manchot Empereur et sa signification adaptive Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Menzel, E. W. jr. , und Ch. R. Menzel (1979): Cognitive, developmental and social aspects of responsiveness to novel objects in a family group of marmosets Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Mineau, P. , und F. Cooke (1979): Rape in the lesser snow goose Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Kruk, M. R., A. M. van der Poel und Th. P. de Vos-Frerichs (1979): The induction of aggressive behaviour by electrical stimulation in the hypothalamus of male rats Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Robertson, Ch. M. (1979): Aspects of sexual discrimination by female Siamese fighting fish Bücher/Books: Jacobs, W. , und F. Seidel (1975): Systematische Zoologie: Insekten (A dictionary of insect systematics, morphology, anatomy, and embryology) Bücher/Books: Nachtigall, W. ed. (1980): Instationäre Effekte an schwingenden Tierflügeln — Beiträge zu Struktur und Funktion biologischer Antriebsmechanismen Bücher/Books: Bäßler, U. (1979): Sinnesorgane und Nervensystem Bücher/Books: Immelmann, K. (1979): Einführung in die Verhaltensforschung Bücher/Books: Alcock, J. (1979): Animal Behavior. An evolutionary approach Bücher/Books: Yates, A. J. (1980): Biofeedback and the Modification of Behavior Bücher/Books: Heinroth, K. (1979): Mit Faltern begann's. Mein Leben mit Tieren in Breslau, München und Berlin Bücher/Books: Thorpe, W. H. (1979): The origins and rise of ethology — the science of the natural behaviour of animals     

Two Aspects of Play-fighting in a Captive Group of Oriental Small-clawed Otters Amblonyx cinerea

Book reviewed in this article: Bücher/Books: Barnard, C. J. (1983): Animal behaviour: ecology and evolution (Verhalten der Tiere: Ökologie und Evolution). Gwynne, D. T., and G. K. Morris, eds. (1983): Orthopteran mating systems. Brian, M. V. (1983): Social insects, ecology and behavioural biology (Soziale Insekten: Ökologie, Lebensweise, Verhalten). Hasler, H. D., und A. T. Scholl (1983): Olfactory imprinting and homing in salmon (Duftprägung und Heimfinden bei Lachsen). Papi, F., and H. G. Wallraff, eds. (1982): Avian navigation (Orientierungsverhalten von Vögeln). Simons, D. (1984): Problemverständnis und Problemlöseverhalten bei Primaten (Cognitive skills and problem solving in primates). Wolf, G., und J. Hess (1983): Seele oder Programm? (Soul or program?). Koenig, O. (1980): Tier und Mensch (Animals and men). Rensch, B. (1979): Lebensweg eines Biologen in einem turbulenten Jahrhundert (Life of a biologist in a troublesome century). Herter, K. (1979): Begegnungen mit Menschen und Tieren. Erinnerungen eines Zoologen 1891–1978 (Memories of a zoologist). Mohr, H. (1983): Biologische Wurzeln der Ethik (The natural roots of ethics).     

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats and pigs from rural Western Amazon, Brazil

Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were assayed in sera of 63 cats and 80 pigs from 71 farms located at Rond?nia State, Western Amazon, Brazil, by the modified agglutination test (MAT) and the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Antibodies (MAT > or = 1: 25) were found in 55 of 63 cats (87.3%) with titers of 1:25 in 2, 1:50 in 2, 1:100 in 7, 1:200 in 1, 1:400 in 2, 1:800 in 9, 1:1,600 in 6, and 1:3,200 or higher in 26 cats. By IFAT, antibodies were found in 55 cats (87.3%) with titers of 1:25 in 2, 1:50 in 1, 1:100 in 4, 1:200 in 4, 1: 400 in 1, 1:800 in 13, 1:1,600 in 12, and 1:3,200 or higher in 18 cats. In pig sera, by MAT, antibodies were found in 30 of 80 pigs (37.5%) with titers of 1:25 in 2, 1:50 in 3, 1:100 in 2, 1:200 in 8, 1:400 in 3, 1:800 in 5, 1:1,600 in 3, and 1:3,200 or higher in 4 pigs. By using the IFAT (titers > or = 1:64), antibodies were found in 35 (43.7%) pigs. The ingestion of undercooked tissues of infected pigs can be a source of T. gondii infection for humans and cats. However, the high seroprevalence of T. gondii in cats from the Amazon seems most likely to be indicative of high contamination of the environment by oocysts.     

Performances, meat quality and boar taint of castrates and entire male pigs fed a standard and a raw potato starch-enriched diet

In Europe there is increasing concern about the common practice of surgical castration of piglets without anaesthesia. One possible alternative to completely avoid castration is entire male pig production. Thus, the objective of the study was to compare the growth performance, carcass characteristics, organ weights, meat quality traits, fat score and boar taint compounds in the adipose tissue of group-penned entire male pigs and castrates. Furthermore, the effect of raw potato starch (RPS) fed for 7 days prior to slaughter was determined. Pigs (n = 36) were blocked by BW into 12 blocks (3 littermates/block) and assigned to three experimental groups: surgical castrates (C); entire males (EM); and entire males offered RPS (30 g RPS/100 g diet) for 7 days prior to slaughter (EM+). Pigs had ad libitum access to the feed from 22 to 107 kg, individual feed intake was recorded daily and BW once a week. Entire males grew slower (EM: 771, EM+: 776 v. C: 830 g/day; P < 0.01), consumed less feed (EM: 1.87, EM+: 1.89 v. C: 2.23 kg/day; P < 0.01) and were more efficient (feed conversion ratio: EM: 2.42, EM+: 2.44 v. C: 2.69 kg/kg; P < 0.01) than C. Compared to C, carcass dressing percentage was lower (EM: 79.4, EM+: 79.4 v. C: 81.6%; P < 0.01) and percentage of valuable cuts was higher (EM: 57.3, EM+: 56.5 v. 52.6%; P < 0.01) in entire males. The hearts (EM: 426, EM+: 425 v. C: 378 g), kidneys (EM: 387, EM+: 378 v. C: 311 g), bulbourethral (EM: 200, EM+: 195 v. C: 7 g) and salivary glands (EM: 99, EM+: 94 v. C: 42 g) were heavier (P < 0.001) in entire males than in C. Meat quality traits did not (P > 0.05) differ among experimental groups but the adipose tissue was more unsaturated in entire males than in C as indicated by the higher fat scores (EM: 69.1, EM+: 67.2 v. C: 63.6; P < 0.01). Feeding RPS reduced (P = 0.04) the skatole tissue concentrations (expressed in μg/g lipid) in EM+ (0.22) compared to EM (0.85), whereas androstenone and indole levels were not (P 0.60) affected (EM: 1.7 and 0.10, EM+: 2.0 and 0.09, respectively). Although the current results confirmed the high efficiency of entire males compared to castrates, the observed high androstenone levels represent a major challenge to implement entire males production.     

Besprechungen/Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Dienske, H. (1979): The importance of social interactions and habitat in competition between Microtus agrestis and M. arvalis Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Lazarus, J. (1979): Flock size and behaviour in captive red-billed weaverbirds Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Slater, P. J. B. , und S. A. Ince (1979): Cultural evolution in chaffinch song Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Jansson, A. , und T. Vuoristo (1979): Significance of stridulation in larval Hydropsychidae Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Boy, V. , und P. Duncan (1979): Time-budgets of Camargue horses Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Brockmann, H. J. , und R. Dawkins (1979): Joint nesting in a digger wasp as an evolutionary stable preadaptation to social life Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Turner, D. C. (1979): An analysis of time-budgeting by roe deer Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Kreutzer, M. (1979): Etude du chant chez le bruant zizi Zeitschriften/Periodicals: Alcock, J. (1979): The behavioural consequences of size variation among males of the territorial wasp Hemipepsis ustulata Bücher/Books: Habermehl, K.-G. (1980): Die Altersbestimmung bei Versuchstieren Bücher/Books: Johnson, N. K. (1980): Character variation and evolution of sibling species in the Empidonax difficilis-flavescens complex Bücher/Books: Stebbins, G. L. (1980): Evolutionsprozesse (Processes of organic evolution) Bücher/Books: Kull, U. (1977/79): Evolution. Studienreihe Biologie Band 3 Bücher/Books: Kämpfe, L., ed. (1980): Evolution und Stammesgeschichte der Organismen (Evolution and phylogeny of organisms). Bearbeiter: D. BERNHARDT, F. FUKAREK, E. GÜNTHER, L. KÄMPFE     

Changes of Phosphatidylcholine and Fatty Acids in Germ Cells during Testicular Maturation in Three Developmental Male Morphotypes of Macrobrachium rosenbergii Revealed by Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Testis maturation, germ cell development and function of sperm, are related to lipid composition. Phosphatidylcholines (PCs) play a key role in the structure and function of testes. As well, increases of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), especially arachidonic acid (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential for male fertility. This study is the first report to show the composition and distribution of PCs and total fatty acids (FAs) in three groups of seminiferous tubules (STs) classified by cellular associations [i.e., A (STs with mostly early germ cells), B (STs with mostly spermatids), and C (STs with spermatozoa)], in three morphotypes of Macrobrachium rosenbergii, [i.e., small male (SM), orange claw male (OC), and blue claw male (BC)]. Thin layer chromatography exhibited levels of PCs reaching maxima in STs of group B. Imaging mass spectrometry showed remarkably high signals corresponding to PC (16:0/18:1), PC (18:0/18:2), PC (18:2/20:5), and PC (16:0/22:6) in STs of groups A and B. Moreover, most signals were detected in the early developing cells and the intertubular area, but not at the area containing spermatozoa. Finally, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated that the major FAs present in the testes were composed of 14:0, 16:0, 17:0, 18:0, 16:1, 18:1, 18:2, 20:1, 20:2, 20:4, 20:5, and 22:6. The testes of OC contained the greatest amounts of these FAs while the testes of BC contained the least amounts of these FAs, and there was more EPA (20:5) in the testes of SM and OC than those in the BC. The increasing amounts of FAs in the SM and OC indicate that they are important for spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis. This knowledge will be useful in formulating diets containing PUFA and HUFA for prawn broodstocks in order to improve testis development, and lead to increased male fecundity.     

Factors Associated with Myopia in School Children in China: The Beijing Childhood Eye Study

Purpose

To assess factors associated with myopia in school children in rural and urban parts of Greater Beijing.

Methods

The Beijing Pedriatic Eye Study was a population-based cross-sectional study, in which one school of each level (primary, junior high, senior high) was randomly selected from nine randomly selected districts out of 18 districts of Greater Beijing. The children underwent non-cylcoplegic refractometry and their parents an interview.

Results

Of 16,771 eligible students, 15,066 (89.8%) children (7,769 (51.6%) girls) participated, with 8,860 (58.8%) participants living in the rural region. Mean age was 13.2±3.4 years (range:7–18 years). In multivariate analysis, prevalence of myopia (defined as ≤−1.00 diopters) was associated with higher age (Odds ratio(OR):1.37; 95% confidence interval(CI):1.35,1.39), female gender (OR:1.35;95%CI:1.25,1.47), key school type (OR:0.77;95%CI: 0.70,0.85), higher family income (OR:1.04;95%CI:1.01,1.07), parental myopia (OR:1.46;95%CI:1.40,1.53), dim reading illumination (OR:0.93;95%CI: 0.88,0.98), longer daily studying duration (OR:1.10;95%CI:1.06,1.15), shorter duration of watching television (or computer) (OR:0.93;95%CI:0.89,0.97), higher self-reported protein intake (OR:0.94;95%CI:0.90,0.99), feeling well about life and status (OR:0.93;95%CI:0.89,0.98), and feeling tired or dizzy (OR:0.94;95%CI:0.91,0.97). Prevalence of high myopia (defined as ≤−6.00 diopters) was associated with higher age (OR:1.43;95%CI:1.38, 1.48), key school type (OR:0.61;95%CI:0.49,0.74), family income (OR:1.07;95%CI:1.02,1.13), parental myopia (OR:1.65;95%CI:1.54,1.76), dim reading illumination (OR:0.86;95%CI:0.77,0.96), less rest during studying (OR:1.18;95%CI:1.10,1.27), feeling well about life and studying (OR:0.88;95%CI: 0.81,0.96) and feeling dizzy or tired (OR:0.93;95%CI:0.87,0.99). Prevalence of high myopia (defined as ≤−8.00 diopters) was significantly associated with higher age (OR:1.39;95%CI:1.31,1.48;), key school type (OR:0.61;95%CI:0.42,0.88) and parental myopia (OR:1.87;95%CI:1.66,2.12).

Conclusions

Myopia in school children in Greater Beijing was associated with higher age, female gender, school type, parental myopia, higher socioeconomic background, dim reading illumination, longer daily studying duration, less rest during study, shorter duration of watching television (or computer), higher self-reported protein intake, feeling well about life and status, and feeling tired and dizzy.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acid status of Dutch vegans and omnivores

We compared the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status of Dutch vegans and omnivores to investigate whether disparities can be explained by different diets and long chain PUFA (LCP) synthesis rates. Dietary intakes and fatty acid compositions of erythrocytes (RBC), platelets (PLT), plasma cholesterol esters (CE) and plasma triglycerides (TG) of 12 strict vegans and 15 age- and sex-matched omnivores were determined. Vegans had higher omega 6 (CE, TG), 18:2 omega 6 (RBC, CE, TG), 18:3 omega 6 (TG), 20:3 omega 6 (TG), 22:4 omega 6 (TG), 22:5 omega 3 (RBC, PLT), 22:5 omega 3/22:6 omega 3 (RBC, PLT) and 22:5 omega 6/22:6 omega 3 (RBC, PLT), and lower 22:4 omega 6 (RBC, PLT), 22:4 omega 6/22:5 omega 6 (RBC, PLT), omega 3 (CE), LCP omega 3 (CE, TG), 20:5 omega 3 (RBC, PLT, CE), 22:5 omega 3 (TG) and 22:6 omega 3 (all compartments). Vegans had lower 20:4 omega 6 (TG) after normalization of PUFA to 100%, and normalization of eicosanoid precursors to 100% revealed similar 20:4 omega 6 (all), higher 20:3 omega 6 (TG) and lower 20:5 omega 3 (all). High omega 6 (notably 18:2 omega 6) and low omega 3 (notably 20:5 omega 3, 22:6 omega 3) status in Dutch vegans derives from low dietary LCP omega 3 and 18:3 omega 3/18:2 omega 6 ratio. Higher 18:3 omega 6 and 20:3 omega 6 in their TG may reflect higher hepatic 20:4 omega 6 production rate, whereas higher 20:4 omega 6 and 22:4 omega 6 in omnivores indicates 20:4 omega 6 intake from meat.