Differential metabolic capacity of mice selected for magnitude of swim stress-induced analgesia.

Maximum oxygen consumption (Vo(2)) elicited by swimming in 20 degrees C water or by exposure to -2.5 degrees C in helium-oxygen (Helox) atmosphere is higher in mice selected for low (LA) than for high (HA) stress-induced analgesia (SIA) produced by swimming. However, this line difference is greater with respect to swim- than to cold-elicited Vo(2). To study the relationship between the analgesic and thermogenic mechanisms, we acclimated HA and LA mice to 5 degrees C or to daily swimming at 20 or 32 degrees C. Next, the acclimated mice were exposed to a Helox test at -2.5 degrees C and to a swim test at 20 degrees C to compare Vo(2) and hypothermia (DeltaT). Cold acclimation raised Vo(2) and decreased DeltaT. These effects were similar in both lines in the Helox test but were smaller in the HA than in the LA line in the swim test. HA and LA mice acclimated to 20 or 32 degrees C swims increased Vo(2) and decreased DeltaT elicited by swimming, but only HA mice acclimated to 20 degrees C swims increased Vo(2) and decreased DeltaT in the Helox test. We conclude that the between-line difference in swim Vo(2) results from a stronger modulation of thermogenic capacities of HA mice by a swim stress-related mechanism, resulting in SIA. We suggest that the predisposition to SIA observed in laboratory as well as wild animals may significantly affect both the results of laboratory measurements of Vo(2) and the interpretation of its intra- and interspecific variation.     

Antidepressant-type effect of the NK3 tachykinin receptor agonist aminosenktide in mouse lines differing in endogenous opioid system activity.

The influence of the tachykinin NK3 receptor agonist, aminosenktide on the immobility in the forced swimming test was studied in mouse lines selectively bred for divergent magnitudes of stress-induced analgesia. The high analgesia (HA) line is known to display enhanced, and the low analgesia (LA) line displays reduced activity of the opioid system. Aminosenktide at doses of 125 microg/kg or 250 microg/kg intraperitoneally (IP) reduced, in naltrexone-reversible manner, the immobility more of opioid receptor-dense HA than of unselected mice, but was ineffective in the opioid receptor-deficient LA line. The effect of aminosenktide was quite similar to the antiimmobility action of desipramine (10 mg/kg IP), a prototypic antidepressant agent. None of the compounds increased animals' locomotion as found with an open field test; therefore their antiimmobility effect cannot be attributed to a change in general motility. The results claim that aminosenktide causes an antidepressant effect, and endogenous opioids are involved in this process.     

Antibody responses to sheep erythrocytes for White Leghorn chickens differing in haplotypes of the major histocompatibility complex (B)

Lines of White Leghorn chickens were developed by selection for high (HA) or low (LA) antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and then backcrossed to provide individuals segregating for haplotypes B13 and B21 of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) within each selected line. Although antibody response to SRBC was consistently higher in background genome HA than LA, there was a significant interaction between background genome and MHC haplotypes. The interaction resulted from higher antibody response in B13/B21 individuals of line HA and in B21/B21 individuals of line LA. Thus, response to SRBC was dependent on particular haplotype combinations present at the MHC as well as the background genome in which they were expressed.     

Antibody responses to sheep erythrocytes for White Leghorn chickens differing in haplotypes of the major histocompatibility complex (B)

Summary. Lines of White Leghorn chickens were developed by selection for high (HA) or low (LA) antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and then backcrossed to provide individuals segregating for haplotypes B ¹³ and B ²¹ of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) within each selected line. Although antibody response to SRBC was consistently higher in background genome HA than LA, there was a significant interaction between background genome and MHC haplotypes. The interaction resulted from higher antibody response in B¹³/B²¹ individuals of line HA and in B²¹/ B ²¹ individuals of line LA. Thus, response to SRBC was dependent on particular haplotype combinations present at the MHC as well as the background genome in which they were expressed.     

IgG and IgM responses in high and low antibody-selected lines of chickens

Kinetics of IgG and IgM as measured by 2-mercaptoethanol-resistant (MER) and susceptible (MES) antibodies to sheep erythrocytes, respectively, were determined as correlated responses in lines of chickens selected for high (HA) and low (LA) antibody response to sheep erythrocytes. Primary response patterns for total, MER, and MES antibody differed according to the genetic line. Total antibody increased rapidly, peaked, and persisted at moderate levels in line HA, whereas both peak and persistency were lower in line LA. Levels of MES peaked and then declined in line HA chickens but persisted at low levels throughout in line LA. Titers of MER antibody were considerably greater in line HA than in line LA both on an absolute basis and as a proportion of total antibody titer. Secondary total titers were greater at five days after injection than at three days and greater for line HA than for line LA chicks. The pattern observed for MER and MES in line LA was similar to that for total antibody, as was MER in line HA. For MES the pattern was reversed in line HA.     

Effect of calcium concentration on textural properties of high and low acyl mixed gellan gels

Textural properties of 1% low and high acyl gellan gels and their mixtures were studied using compression tests and the microcentrifuge-microfiltration based water holding capacity (WHC) method. Low acyl (1% LA), high acyl (1% HA) gels and mixtures of 1% 25/75 LA/HA, 50/50 LA/HA, 75/25 LA/HA gels with calcium concentrations ranging from 2 to 80 mM were studied. HA or mixed gels with a lower LA/HA ratio had a greater WHC and failure strain than that of LA or mixed gels with a higher LA/HA ratio. Gellan gels with a higher LA/HA ratio had a larger initial Young's modulus. Our study also indicates that a higher LA/HA ratio does not necessarily result in a gel with a larger failure stress, although LA gels are generally firmer than HA gels. Gel strength and WHC of HA and LA/HA mixtures may reflect both stabilization and destabilization effects of glycerate groups positioned at one of the glucose residues in each repeating tetrasaccharide unit of HA gels.     

Influence of the genotype on the polytene chromosome puffing and bioelectrical properties of cellular nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster treated with ecdysone in vivo and in vitro experiments

Activity of polytene chromosome puffs at the 0-hour prepupae stage and bioelectric properties of cellular nuclei of salivary glands were investigated under the influence of the hormone 20-OH-ecdysone in vitro in highly inbred selected lines LA (low activity) and HA (high activity) and their F1 hybrids LA x HA and Ha x LA. The inadaptive line LA differs from the line HA by the smaller size of the puffs. The hybrids exceed the best parental line by the size of the majority of the investigated puffs. In the course of investigation of F1 hybrids Ha x LA chromosomes the phenomenon of heteropuffing has been revealed at the asinapsis sites. In vitro impact of ecdysone increases the electrokinetic potential of cellular nuclei; in hybrids this effect expressed more strongly than in parental lines. The data obtained indicate genetic differences in puffing activity in Drosophila polytene chromosomes as a result of inbreeding, destabilizing selection and heterosis effect, and they also confirm the correlation of bioelectric properties of the nuclear genome with regulation of genetic activity of a cellular nucleus.     

Effect of ethanol on the levels of dopamine and its metabolites in the brain of rats with different degree of sensitivity to stress

It was shown, that content of dopamine and its metabolites (DOPAC and HVA) are the same in two groups of rats with different time of immobilization in forced swimming test. One group of low active (LA) animals experienced the immobilization more than 300s, other high active (HA) rats for less than 120 s. Ethanol (2 g/kg per oris) increased the level of DA in the striatum and medial prefrontal cortex only in LA rats and besides, the concentration of dopamine after ethanol administration was higher in the n. accumbens of LA rats, than in that of HA rats. The authors suggest that differences in dopamine content between LA and HA rats are connected with different levels of voluntary alcohol consumption. The opportunity to use both groups of HA and LA rats for developing models of pathogenic heterogeneity of alcoholism is discussed.     

MIF-1 antagonizes warm-, but not cold-water stress-induced analgesia: Dissociation from immobility

Forced swimming in warm or cold water can lead to immobility and analgesia in mice. In this report we demonstrate that the peptide MIF-1 (Pro-Leu-Gly-NH₂) was able to attenuate the analgesia induced by swimming in warm water, but not that induced by swimming in cold water. In addition, we show that the analgesia and the immobility may be differentially mediated since MIF-1 was able to reduce the immobility at doses different from those necessary to reduce the analgesia. These results confirm previous research indicating that MIF-1 may act as an anti-opiate and further demonstrate that MIF-1 affects analgesia induced by stress.     

How puffers (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) swim

Two species of marine Indo-Pacific puffers, Arothron meleagris and A. nigropunctatus , were filmed with a high-speed motion picture camera while swimming in a Brett-type water tunnel at speeds of 1-3.5 body lengths (BL) s⁻¹. The puffers generated thrust by use of their pectoral fins in addition to their dorsal and anal fins; the long axis of the body tilted, mouth upwards, by 3–10) while the fishes swam; antero-ventral body profiles of the fishes changed as swimming speeds increased; pectoral fins undulated and moved 180) out of phase from each other, while dorsal and anal fins oscillated in phase with each other; frequencies of fin movements ( F ) increased linearly in relation to swimming speeds ( Uc(rel) ) and were described by the equation F =1.48 Uc(rel) +1.66; stride lengths also increased at higher Uc(rel) ; and, at swimming speeds above 3.0 BL s⁻¹ puffers began to move their tails in sub carangiform-like modes of burst swimming. These results modify significantly the accepted view of the tetraodonti form mode of median and paired fin swimming.     

Expression of stress-evoked analgesia, connected with activity of animals in a forced swimming test]

The influence of forced swimming on the development of stress-induced analgesia was studied in 35 SHR mice, 65 NMRI mice, and 23 white outbred male rats. Mice were subjected to swimming conditions (at a temperature of 11 degrees C) for a period of 4 minutes and rats for 6 minutes. Pain thresholds were measured by a footshock. It was shown that behavioral response to acute stress is associated with a change in the pain tolerance threshold: activity of an animal under test conditions positively correlated with stress-induced analgesia. The response to stress and parameters of stress-induced analgesia depend on the genetic factor and age, however, the correlation between the activity during exposure to stress and the extent of stress-induced analgesia conserves in all cases.     

Immunolocalization of the Plasma Membrane H+ -ATPase in Minor Veins of Vicia faba in Relation to Phloem Loading

The phytotoxin fusicoccin (FC), after binding to a plasma membrane-localized receptor, causes higher plant cells to excrete protons. Ligand-binding analysis has been used to show that the plasma membrane of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) hypocotyls contains both high-affinity (HA) and low-affinity (LA) binding sites for FC. The effect of tissue maturation on these sites was determined on isolated membrane vesicles from the meristematic region (hook) and the elongation zone and from mature hypocotyl tissues. In the meristematic region the HA:LA ratio was 1:20. As hypocotyl tissues matured, the site density of HA increased and there was no change in LA density, so that the HA:LA ratio increased to 1:2 in maturet issues. FC-induced proton excretion correlates with the HA density, not the LA density. When sections isolated from each region were incubated with FC prior to isolation of membranes, there was an apparent conversion of LA to HA sites during the first 90 min in all regions. During the next 1 to 3 h there was a further 2.5- to 3- fold increase in binding sites in all regions, accompanied by a slight decline in dissociation constant. The increase in binding sites, but not the apparent conversion of LA to HA, was partly blocked by cycloheximide. These data suggest that FC alters FC-binding protein activity in two ways: first, by causing an increase in affinity for FC of preexisting LA receptors, and second by inducing the synthesis of additional FC receptors. This apparent up-regulation of a phytotoxin receptor by its ligand in plants has not previously been reported.     

A melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) polymorphism is associated with performance traits in divergently selected Large White pig populations

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) has a vital role in the control of energy balance and the genetic basis of obesity. A polymorphism, which results in the replacement of aspartic acid with asparagine at position 298 of the porcine MC4R gene, within the seventh transmembrane domain, has previously been described. In the current study, allele frequencies for this Asp298Asn polymorphism were investigated in lines of Large White pigs which had been divergently selected for seven generations based on lean food conversion (LFC), lean growth with ad libitum feeding (LGA), lean growth with restricted feeding (LGS) and daily feed intake (DFI). The association of the Asp298Asn polymorphism with performance traits in these lines was assessed. The frequency of Asp298 was higher (P < 0.001) in the LFC high line (0.48) than the low line (0.00), while the frequency of Asn298 was higher (P < 0.01) in the LGA high line (0.22) than the low line (0.04). When analysed across all lines, the Asp298Asn polymorphism was significantly associated with ultrasonic backfat depth, average daily gain and daily feed intake (P < 0.05). Asp298 homozygous animals had mean values of 13.3 mm, 733 g and 1933 g for backfat, average daily gain and daily feed intake respectively, compared with 14.7 mm, 805 g and 2098 g for Asn298 homozygotes. Therefore, the data support a role for the MC4R Asp298Asn polymorphism in the genetic basis of economically important traits in Large White pigs.     

LARVAL AND PUPIL BEHAVIOUR IN CULISETA LONGIAREOLATA (MACQUART, 1838) (CULICIDAE,DIPTERA)

SUMMARY

Six larval and two pupal activities could be distinguished. The larval activities are medium filter-feeding (MFF), surface filter-feeding (SFF), browsing and gnawing (BRG), swimming (SS), surface hanging (HA) and grooming (GR). The pupal activities are limited to surface hanging (HA) and swimming (SS). The percentage value of each activity from eclosion to emergence of the adults was established by means of a six-channel manual recorder. In larvae HA is the predominant activity, shows an inverse relation with all other activities, and attains peak percentage values prior to each ecdysis. BRG is the most important method of feeding, and is followed by MFF and then by SFF in order of importance. SS accounts for a low percentage value. Initially it is depth-independent in first stage larvae, but later becomes depth-dependent. In pupae the HA percentage values are high, since the pupal stage is a period of quiescence. The SS percentage values are very low and could have been escape reactions to extraneous stimuli. No circadian rhythm could be detected in any of the activities.     

鲤幼鱼标准代谢率的个体差异与运动性能和摄食代谢的关系

为考察鲤科鱼类种内个体标准代谢率的差异及其与运动性能和摄食性能的内在关联,本研究以我国广泛分布的鲤(Cyprinids cardio)幼鱼[体重(4.79±0.08)g,n=36]为实验对象,在(25.0±1.0)℃下分别测量实验鱼的标准代谢率(SMR),随后测定单尾鱼的特殊动力作用(SDA)、自发运动、临界游泳速度以及活跃代谢率(MO2active)。实验鱼标准代谢率(SMR)的变幅为76.7~317.6 mg/(kg·h),其变异系数(CV)达24.4%;实验鱼在10 min内的尾鳍摆动次数(P0.05)和摄食代谢峰值(P0.05)均与标准代谢率(SMR)呈正相关;活跃代谢率(MO2active)(P0.05)与摄食代谢峰值以及活跃代谢范围与摄食代谢范围(P0.05)均呈正相关。然而,鲤幼鱼的标准代谢率(SMR)与相对临界游泳速度、活跃代谢率(MO2active)、特殊动力作用(SDA)时间和特殊动力作用(SDA)总量均不相关(所有P0.05)。研究表明,较高标准代谢率(SMR)的鲤幼鱼个体表现较高的活跃性和较强的摄食代谢能力,可能有助于其更易发现食物、逃避天敌以及加快食物处理。     

玉米叶夹角形成的遗传基础与分子机制解析*

玉米产量取决于植株捕获光能和固定CO₂合成有机化合物的效率。叶夹角是株型重要性状之一,较小叶夹角有利于提高玉米植株光合作用效率和种植密度,因而有利于提高玉米产量。研究表明玉米叶夹角为多基因控制的复杂数量性状,其遗传力较高,主要受基因的加性效应调控。目前,利用数量性状位点(quantitative trait loci, QTL)定位和全基因组关联分析(genome-wide association study, GWAS)等方法已鉴定数百个玉米叶夹角相关QTL;结合突变体分析等方法,已克隆数十个调控叶夹角关键基因,这为了解玉米叶夹角遗传机制提供了重要参考。由于前人研究所采用群体、分析方法及参考基因组版本不同,各研究之间所鉴定QTL差异较大,因此无法客观揭示叶夹角性状的遗传规律。为此,通过总结前人所定位叶夹角相关QTL和单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)位点并构建一致性图谱,鉴定出叶夹角性状定位热点区间,并对调控叶夹角的已知基因进行功能分类。这不仅为了解玉米叶夹角的遗传结构、推动叶夹角相关重要基因克隆提供数据支撑,也对进一步开发叶夹角相关分子标记,指导玉米分子育种和提高玉米产量提供有益指导。     

Male Ornamentation in the European Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) Signals Swimming Performance

The association between male secondary sexual ornamentation and male quality has been under intensive study for decades. It has been shown that male ornaments in fish indicate a variety of physical and genetic qualities. However, only few studies have investigated whether male ornaments signal locomotor performance, a trait that is expected to be vital for individual fitness in the nature. In this study, we sampled two populations of European minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus), a cyprinid fish species with spectacular and colourful male breeding ornamentation, and examined the association between male ornaments (tubercle number, lateral darkness and abdominal redness), swimming performance, and three fitness‐related traits, body length (L_T), condition factor (K) and gonadosomatic index (GI). We found that male tubercle number and abdominal redness were positively correlated with their swimming performance. In addition, these two ornaments were correlated with male fitness‐related traits, which in turn were also directly associated with the swimming performance. In general, these results suggest that in the European minnow male ornamentation may act as an honest signal of several fitness‐related traits and locomotor performance in the nature.     

Stressors and pain sensitivity in CFW mice. Role of opioid peptides.

Effects of several environmental situations on pain threshold were studied in CFW male mice. Immobilization induced significant and naloxone reversible analgesia. Isolation produced analgesia which was partially reversed by naloxone. One minute swimming in + 4 degrees C or + 42 degrees C water increased naloxone reversible analgesia. Isolation produced analgesia which was partially reversed by naloxone. One minute swimming in 4 degrees C or + 42 degrees C water increased naloxone irreversible pain threshold. Other situations: drinking 2% NaCl solution, disturbance of light-dark cycle or social aggregation did not produce analgesia. The role of these situations as stress-inducers, as well as the role of endogenous opioid peptides in stress-induced analgesia, were discussed.     

Adaptation and acclimation of aerobic exercise physiology in Lake Whitefish ecotypes (Coregonus clupeaformis)

The physiological mechanisms underlying local adaptation in natural populations of animals, and whether the same mechanisms contribute to adaptation and acclimation, are largely unknown. Therefore, we tested for evolutionary divergence in aerobic exercise physiology in laboratory bred, size‐matched crosses of ancestral, benthic, normal Lake Whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) and derived, limnetic, more actively swimming “dwarf” ecotypes. We acclimated fish to constant swimming (emulating limnetic foraging) and control conditions (emulating normal activity levels) to simultaneously study phenotypic plasticity. We found extensive divergence between ecotypes: dwarf fish generally had constitutively higher values of traits related to oxygen transport (ventricle size) and use by skeletal muscle (percent oxidative muscle, mitochondrial content), and also evolved differential plasticity of mitochondrial function (Complex I activity and flux through Complexes I–IV and IV). The effects of swim training were less pronounced than differences among ecotypes and the traits which had a significant training effect (ventricle protein content, ventricle malate dehydrogenase activity, and muscle Complex V activity) did not differ among ecotypes. Only one trait, ventricle mass, varied in a similar manner with acclimation and adaptation and followed a pattern consistent with genetic accommodation. Overall, the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying acclimation and adaptation to swimming activity in Lake Whitefish differ.     

Prolonged negative selection of Drosophila melanogaster for a character of adaptive significance disturbs stress reactivity.

The metabolism of juvenile hormone by JH-esterase and JH-epoxide hydrolase, and octopamine by tyrosine decarboxylase were studied under normal and stress conditions in flies of two related lines of D. melanogaster. One was selected for high (HA line) and another for low (LA line) male sexual activity for more than 700 generations. It was demonstrated that prolonged selection for low male sexual activity results in considerable changes in both systems. Tyrosine decarboxylase activity in males and females of the LA line was sharply reduced as compared with those of the HA and control Canton-S lines; JH-esterase and JH-epoxide hydrolase activities were decreased in females, and not in males, of the LA line. It was demonstrated that the response of both metabolic systems to heat stress is impaired in individuals of the LA line: the system of juvenile hormone metabolism does not respond to stress, and that of octopamine metabolism is decelerated. The role of juvenile hormone metabolism in male reproductive function is discussed.