Structure of the bank vole (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Myodes glareolus</Emphasis>) population cycles in the core and periphery of its species area

The results of long-term studies of two bank vole (Myodes glareolus) populations in stationary sites in the central part and periphery of its species area are described. Four phases of a multiannual population cycle and two of its structural parts have been detected for both populations. The first part of the cycle is “determined,” with the “peak” phase passing into a “depression” (population collapse). This transition is mainly determined by intrapopulation processes and is weakly dependent on the external conditions of each individual year. The second part is “stochastic,” starting from a stable point in the cycle in the depression phase. The duration of the second part is determined by the state of the population and its ability to increase its size, as well as by the weather and food factors, predation pressure, and location of the population within the species area. The transition from the peak phase to the depression phase (the determined part) for both populations takes place during one fall-winter-spring season and has no effect on the cycle duration. The duration of the stochastic part in the core of the species area (the period from depression phase to peak phase) is 1–3 years and in the periphery, 2–4 years.     

Distribution and parameters of genetic polymorphism in northern red-backed vole (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Clethrionomys rutilus</Emphasis>) and bank vole (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Clethrionomys glareolus</Emphasis>) in West Siberia

This article presents data on the genetic variability of the northern red-backed vole and the bank vole that live sympatrically in West Siberia. The two species of voles have comparable, relatively high indices of genetic variability of inter simple sequences repeats DNA. The proportion of polymorphic DNA markers is 95–98%, and the Nei’s genetic diversity index is 0.33–0.35. A total of 47–58% of allozyme loci in the voles are polymorphic, and the average heterozygosity per locus is 0.058 in the northern red-backed vole and 0.054 in the bank vole. Interpopulation differentiation is less pronounced in the red-backed vole (F _ST 0.293) compared to the bank vole (F _ST 0.475). Individuals of the hybrid line of the bank vole with the mitochondrial haplotype of the red-backed vole have been found by PCR typing of cytochrome b gene fragment of mtDNA. The distribution boundary of the hybrid line of bank voles goes farther to the northeast than was shown in earlier works. The proportion of hybrid specimens range from 2 to 34%. The indices of genetic variability in the hybrid line of the bank vole are lower than those of the parental species.     

Yellow-necked mice (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Apodemus flavicollis</Emphasis>) and bank voles (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Myodes glareolus</Emphasis>) as zoomonitors of environmental contamination at a polluted area in Slovakia

Background  

Free-living wild rodents are often used as zoomonitors of environmental contamination. In the present study, accumulation of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in critical organs of yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus) trapped in a polluted area in Nováky, Slovakia was investigated.     

Seasonal variation in hematological indices in bank vole (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Clethrionomys glareolus</Emphasis>) in different reproductive states

Hematological and hematopoietic indices were studied in various seasons in bank vole in different reproductive states. The seasonal variation in the indices demonstrated patterns typical of each state and reflecting the adaptive response to changed habitat conditions.     

Noninvasive assessment of stress in bank voles (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Myodes glareolus</Emphasis>, Cricetidae,Rodentia) by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

ELISA with antibodies to corticosterone was used to evaluate the possibility of estimating the level of adrenocortical activity in male bank voles, Myodes glareolus (Rodentia, Cricetidae), by determining the concentration of immunoreactive steroids (IRS) in their feces. The binding curves of dilutions of the corticosterone standard and the extracts from dried feces were shown to be parallel. The corticosteroid response was evoked by ACTH injection, blood sampling, or immobilization. The response to ACTH injection was highly significant both in the blood in and fecal samples (a delayed response after 4 h), with daily variation in the IRS level being insignificant. In the case of blood sampling, the increased level of fecal IRS was recorded after 4 h and remained high after 8 h. Immobilization did not result in any significant increase in blood corticosterone or fecal IRS level. Individual baseline concentrations of fecal IRS levels were found to be highly repeatable between days. Thus, the antibodies to corticosterone used in this study (IZW, Berlin, Germany) proved effective for the assessment of stress by measuring fecal IRS in bank voles.     

The Effect of Aluminum Exposure on Reproductive Ability in the Bank Vole (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Myodes glareolus</Emphasis>)

Human impact on the environment is steadily increasing the amounts of aluminum in the ecosystems. This element accumulates in plants and water, potentially exposing herbivores to its harmful effect. In heavily polluted sites, a decrease in the density of small rodent populations has been observed. This decline may be caused by many factors, including decreased fertility. The aim of the presented research was to determine how aluminum, administered at concentrations similar to those recorded in industrial districts (Al I = 3 mg/l, Al II = 200 mg/l), affects the reproductive abilities of small rodents. As the indicators of reproductive abilities, body weight, weight of the testes and accessory sex glands of males, and uterus weight of females were estimated. In females, the number of matured follicles (types 6, 7, and 8) was analyzed, while in males, the quantity and quality (matured, viable, swollen, motile, head abnormalities) of epididymal sperm cells were assessed. Moreover, the development of testes, measured by spermatogenic index, was determined. The model species was the bank vole. Our results have proven that aluminum impairs adult individuals’ reproductive abilities by decreasing the quality and quantity of sperm cells and by causing morphologically abnormal development of the gonads. However, no difference in male organometric parameters was found, and only in females treated with 3 mg/l Al, the uterus weight was higher than control. No differences were found in the total number of matured follicles. These results suggest that the decline in rodent numbers in industrial districts is due, at least in part, to poorer males’ reproductive abilities, resulting from exposure to aluminum contamination.     

Efficient separation and purification of allophycocyanin from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Spirulina</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Arthrospira</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type=Italic>platensis</Emphasis>

Allophycocyanin (APC) is a minor component of phycobiliproteins in cyanobacteria and red algae. This paper describes a simple and inexpensive extracting method for isolating APC from Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis with high efficiency. The crude phycobiliprotein extract was pretreated by ammonium sulfate fractionation. Then, by adding hydroxylapatite into crude phycobiliprotein extract dissolved in 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), APC was selectively adsorbed by hydroxylapatite but C-phycocyanin (C-PC) was not. The hydroxylapatite was collected and APC was extracted from the crude phycobiliprotein extract. Then, the enriched APC was washed off from the hydroxylapatite using 100 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). In this simple extracting method it was easy to remove C-PC and isolate APC in large amounts. The absorbance ratio A ₆₅₀/A ₂₈₀ of extracted APC reached 2.0. The recovery yield was 70%, representing 4.61 mg · g⁻¹ wet weight. The extracted APC could be further purified by a simple anion-exchange chromatography with a pH gradient from 5.6 to 4.0. The absorbance ratio A ₆₅₀/A ₂₈₀ of the purified APC reached 5.0, and the overall recovery yield was 43%, representing 2.83 mg · g⁻¹ wet weight. Its purity was confirmed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE.     

Cryopreservation of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Robinia</Emphasis><Emphasis Type=Italic>pseudoacacia</Emphasis>

Cryopreservation of Robinia pseudoacacia explants by vitrification achieved 78% survival following the stepwise preculture of shoot tips in (0.3 + 0.5 + 0.7 M) sucrose with a 80 min incubation in PVS2; compared to 87% survival after desiccation of explants to 30% water content, following 3 days alginate bead (with glycerol and sucrose treatments) preculture in 0.7 M sucrose.     

Habitat,density, and spatial distribution of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Rivulus giarettai</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Actinopterygii</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type=Italic>Cyprinodontiformes</Emphasis>) in southeastern Brazil

We present data on the habitat, density, and spatial distribution of Rivulus giarettai, and discuss some biotic and abiotic variables related to its abundance in Free Flowing Waters (FFW) and Dam Reservoirs (DR) in palm grove (Mauritia flexuosa) marshes (Veredas) in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The mean density (individuals/plot) of R. giarettai was about 13 times higher in FFW than in DR. In FFW, the density of R. giarettai was highest at intermediate amounts of substrate (plant mass) and it was positively rank-correlated with the depth, and the number of arthropods. Individuals occurred in an aggregated distribution. The aggregated pattern could be related to a concentration of individuals in microhabitats neither too much exposed nor completely saturated by plants. R. giarettai was relatively abundant and tolerant to slight man-made habitat modifications. Damming appeared to be especially problematic by negatively affecting its density.     

Sexual dimorphism,asymmetry, and the effect of reproduction on pelvis bone in the bank vole, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myodes glareolus</Emphasis>

Sexual dimorphism in anatomical traits has been widely studied in animals. Although pelvis dimorphism was mostly studied in humans, it occurs also in many other mammalian species. Here, we investigated sexual dimorphism in the pelvis of the bank vole Myodes glareolus using individuals with known sex and reproductive status of females (parous vs nulliparous). The analyses revealed that the size and shape of pelvis differed significantly between sexes, as well as between nulliparous and parous females. In comparison with males, females had a significantly longer pelvis and pubis bones and a longer obturator foramen length, but a smaller pubis width. Interestingly, the difference between parous and nulliparous females resembles that between females and males: parous females had bigger pelvis, which probably resulted from changes during pregnancy and after birth. Left bones were on average larger than right ones, but the magnitude of directional asymmetry was not different between sex and reproduction group. Moreover, we noticed that fluctuating asymmetry of pelvis and pubis length was higher in females than in males and higher in parous than in nulliparous females, what is presumably associated with locomotor performance. A discriminant function analysis performed for the four bone size traits showed that the traits can be effectively used for a nearly perfect recognition of sexes and also a quite reliable recognition of the reproductive status of females.     

Thidiazuron Promotes <Emphasis Type=Italic>In Vitro</Emphasis> Plant Regeneration of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Arachis correntina</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Leguminosae</Emphasis>) via Organogenesis

Arachis correntina (Burkart) Krapov. & W.C. Gregory is a herbaceous perennial leguminous plant growing in the Northeast of the Province Corrientes, Argentina. It is important as forage. The development of new A. correntina cultivars with improved traits could be facilitated through the application of biotechnological strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the plant regeneration potential of mature leaves of A. correntina in tissue culture. Buds were induced from both petiole and laminae on 0.7% agar-solidified medium containing 3% sucrose, salts and vitamins from Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 0.5–25 M thidiazuron (TDZ). Shoot induction was achieved by transference of calli with buds to MS supplemented with 5 M TDZ. Fifty-four percent of the regenerated shoot rooted on MS + 5 M naphthaleneacetic acid. Histological studies revealed that shoots regenerated via organogenesis.     

Life cycle of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Aylax hypecoi</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Insecta: Hymenoptera: Cynipidae</Emphasis>), a gall inducer on <Emphasis Type=Italic>Hypecoum</Emphasis> ssp. (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Papaveraceae</Emphasis>)

The life cycle and developmental stages of Aylax hypecoi (Trotter, 1913, Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Aylacini) were studied in detail. Aylax hypecoi is known to induce galls in fruits of two Hypecoum species — H. imberbe and H. geslini (Papaveraceae) and the larva develops in host plant fruits. The morphology and development of egg, larva and pupa were investigated, which has previously not been done. The shape and size of terminal-instar larvae and associated galls are sex-specific. Overwintering stage, adult emergence and flying periods, and egg productivity were studied also.     

Presence of <Emphasis Type=Italic>C. albidus</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type=Italic>C. laurentii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>C. uniguttulatus</Emphasis> in Crop and Droppings of Pigeon Lofts (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Columba livia</Emphasis>)

Columba livia is an important reservoir and carrier of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus uniguttulatus, Cryptococcus laurentii and Cryptococcus albidus. Upper digestive tract of this species is also known as a habitat for Cryptococcus neoformans. Given the increasing clinical interest of this microorganism, 331 swabs from crop and 174 dropping samples from pigeon lofts in Grand Canary Island have been studied. The obtained results show an extensive presence samples 81 positive (24.47%) of Cryptococcus spp. in analysed crops: 32 (9.66%) for C. neoformans, 24 (7.2%) for C. uniguttulatus, 23 (6.9%) for C. albidus and 2 (0.6%) for C. laurentii. In the same way, Cryptococcus spp was also isolated in 82 (47.13%), dropping samples: C. neoformans in 59 (33.9%), C. uniguttulatus, in 9 (5.17%), C. laurentii in 8 (4.59%) and C. albidus in 6 (3.44%) of the investigated samples, respectively. The cryptococcosis produced by species of cryptococci other than C. neoformans has become more important during the last decade, supporting the study on the role of pigeon in the epidemiology of this disease.     

Attenuation of fibrosis <Emphasis Type=Italic>in vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>in vivo</Emphasis> with <Emphasis Type=Italic>SPARC</Emphasis> siRNA

Introduction  

SPARC is a matricellular protein, which, along with other extracellular matrix components including collagens, is commonly over-expressed in fibrotic diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine whether inhibition of SPARC can regulate collagen expression in vitro and in vivo, and subsequently attenuate fibrotic stimulation by bleomycin in mouse skin and lungs.     

Synthesis of orthogonally protected (<Emphasis Type=Italic>3R</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type=Italic>4S</Emphasis>)- and (<Emphasis Type=Italic>3S</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type=Italic>4S</Emphasis>)-4,5-diamino-3-hydroxypentanoic acids

Summary.  The paper describes two methods of the synthesis of ethyl (3R,4S)- and (3S,4S)-4-[(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino]-5-[(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)amino]-3-hydroxypentanoates, useful for the syntheses of edeine analogs. Differently N-protected (S)-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid was used as a substrate in both procedures. The absolute configuration of newly generated asymmetric carbon atoms C-3 in β-hydroxy-γ,δ-diamino products was assigned by means of ¹H NMR spectroscopy after their transformation into corresponding piperidin-2-ones. Received May 24, 2002 Accepted October 10, 2002 Published online December 18, 2002 Acknowledgment The authors are indebted to the Faculty of Chemistry, Technical University of Gdańsk for financial support. Authors' address: Zbigniew Czajgucki, M. Sc., Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Technical University of Gdańsk, 11/12 Narutowicza St., 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland, Fax +48 58 347 11 44, E-mail: zmczaj@wp.pl     

Acoustic communication in the mandarin vole (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Lasiopodomys mandarinus</Emphasis>, Rodentia)

Acoustic communication in the mandarin vole is described, including sharp and quiet squeals (in males and females) and male songs. All vocal signals show individual variation, which can be used for recognizing individual animals. Female quiet squeals and male songs are emitted not only during sexual behavior but also during friendly interactions, forming a dialogue between the animals. The role of social organization of the species in imparting communicative significance to these vocal signals is discussed.