Group responses to parturition inMacaca arctoides

The birth of an infant to the highest ranking female in a captive social group of stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides) is described. Along with certain details of delivery behavior, the responses of group members to the birth are given. The alpha male and two juvenile males were sexually aroused just prior to and during parturition. Adult females paid no special attention to the birth. A subadult nulliparous female and a young adult primiparous female showed interest in the eating of the placenta by the female. The new mother's juvenile son was the monkey closest to her for about two hours after the birth; approaches by other monkeys, especially adult males were avoided. Time of delivery, signs of labor, and the behavior of the mother are also included.     

An autopsy case of malignant lymphogranulomatosis (so-called Hodgkin's disease) inCercopithecus aethiops

A spontaneous case of malygnant lymphogranulomatosis (so-called Hodgkin's disease) inCercopithecus aethiops was histologically diagnosed. The monkey had been imported from Uganda and died about 2 months after its arrival without recognizable clinical signs. Autopsy revealed swelling in the general lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and kidneys. The bone marrow was yellow-brown. The monkey was anemic and hydrothoracic with an increase of ascites. On the microscopic level, the granulomatous and sarcomatous patterns were recognized in each organ with the appearances of Hodgkin's cell and Sternberg-Reed's giant cell. The intranuclear inclusion body was recognized in the lymphoid cell and Hodgkin's cell seen in the spleen.     

Maternal rank and early social interactions of infant stumptail macaques,Macaca arctoides

The social interactions of six infant stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides) in a captive colony at the Yerkes Field Station in Lawrenceville, Georgia, were studied for the first six months of life. The social interactions of the infants are described and attention is paid to male care, or paternal behavior, directed toward infants. Episodes in which a male appears to use a baby to regulate his behavior with another monkey (“agonistic buffering”) are described. Maternal rank was found to influence the frequency of occurrence of certain of the interactions the infants experienced.     

Properties of arginase from liver of Macaca fascicularis: Comparison of normals with red blood cell arginase deficient monkeys

Deficiency of arginase (E.C. 3.5.3.1), the fifth enzyme of the urea cycle, was found in the red blood cells (RBCs) of Macaca fascicularis monkeys (<0.2 µmol arginine cleaved/g Hb/min; normal =49.2). Liver biopsies were obtained from two of these monkeys and from one monkey with normal levels of RBC arginase activity. Arginase from both groups of animals required Mn²⁺ for maximal enzyme activity and demonstrated a pH optimum of 10.2 in vitro. The activity of arginase in the livers of all three monkeys was 1.1 mmol arginine cleaved/g protein/min. The apparent K _m for arginine of arginase in the livers of the RBC-deficient monkeys was 7.4 and 5.9mm and in the normal monkey was 6.9mm. Similar patterns of heat denaturation were seen at 69 C without Mn²⁺ present and 79 C in the presence of 20mm Mn²⁺. No difference in mobility on either acidic or basic polyacrylamide gels for liver arginase from either RBC-deficient or normal monkeys was found. In addition, liver arginase from all three monkeys reacted similarly with anti-human liver arginase antibody. Liver arginases in RBC-deficient and normal monkeys were identical by ten criteria. These studies do not distinguish among several hypotheses for the genetic determination of arginase in different organs of this species and of man.     

The exotic and the mundane

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Haiti has often been referred to as a “mystery,” and “striking similarities” between patterns of disease in Haiti and in sub-Saharan Africa are often underlined. The occurrence of AIDS in Haitians has also led to the postulation of a number of theories positing a Haitian origin for AIDS and linking the syndrome in Haitians to voodoo. A review of the epidemiological data gathered and published in the early years of the pandemic suggests that these “exotic” theories are not necessary to explain the Haitian epidemic, which is clearly linked not to Africa but to the United States. Patterns of risk identified among many of the first Haitians with AIDS are similar to risk factors identified in North America and Europe (same-sex contact with an HIV-infected individual and blood transfusion). The Haitian epidemicsubsequently came to resemble patterns seen in sub-Saharan Africa, where AIDS is predominantly a heterosexually transmitted disease. Similarly shifting patterns are described for several other Caribbean nations, underlining the importance of a historical analysis of the Caribbean pandemic as well as the necessity to link analysis of local epidemiology of AIDS/HIV to larger considerations of political economy.     

Monitoring physiological stress in semi-free ranging populations of an endangered Australian marsupial,the Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis)

Rapid and reliable physiological evaluation of stress is necessary for understanding the potential impacts of environmental changes on managed populations of threatened mammals. In situ populations of Australia’s iconic marsupial, the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), are nearing extinction due to the impacts of competition and predation by feral animals and unpredictable climatic events (summer heat waves). In this study, we focussed our aim to identify a non-invasive method to measure adrenal activity in the species and also to identify potential factors that should be considered when comparing physiological stress in semi-free ranging populations of the species. We validated an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for detecting fecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) from fresh fecal pellets taken from bilbies within four captive sites and two semi-free ranging populations around Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Our FCM EIA successfully detected the ‘raise and fall’ pattern of FCM levels within 3 days of exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge. Mean FCM levels differed significantly between the captive sites and between sexes. All male bilbies grouped outdoor in captivity expressed the highest mean FCM level in comparison to all captive males that were housed individually or as groups indoors. Also, semi-free ranging bilbies expressed higher mean FCM levels than the captive bilbies. Overall, our study successfully validated a non-invasive tool for monitoring physiological stress in the greater bilby. In the future, it will be worthwhile to consider factors such as housing conditions, sex and location when comparing the adrenal sensitivity to environmental changes, to help evaluate the success of management interventions (such as predator free enclosures) and support the survival of the species.     

Different effects of selenium on cyclic AMP metabolism in hepatoma cells and normal liver cells

Sodium selenite administered to normal and hepatoma (HA)-bearing mice sc (2 mg/kg) or ip (1 mg/kg) led to a significant increase in cyclic AMP (cAMP) level and a decrease in cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in HA cells. In contrast, in tumor host liver and normal liver the cAMP level was reduced, and the PDE activity was slightly elevated, whereas the cAMP adenylate cyclase (AC) was little affected by Na₂SeO₃, if at all. These results imply that selenite-induced changes in PDE activity play a decisive role in regulating intracellular cAMP level. Kinetic studies revealed that there were different forms of PDE. TheK _m value of PDE isozymes in normal liver and host liver were identical, but differed from those of HA. It seems likely that the selective responsiveness of PDE to selenite may be related to the difference in PDE isozyme patterns. Addition of DBcAMP to the culture medium resulted in an inhibition of³H-thymidine incorporation into hepatoma cells, indicating that the inhibition of HA cell proliferation was cAMP-mediated. Thus, selenium has been shown to exert a selective effect on cAMP metabolism of hepatoma cells, which may account for its inhibitory effects on cancer cells.     

Immune response in human subjects at high altitude

Levels of immunoglobulins were determined in persons exposed to high altitude. The individuals studied included high altitude natives, sea level residents at high altitude for 2 years, and recent arrivals at high altitude. Increased IgG and IgA levels were found in high altitude natives and sea level residents at high altitude for 2 years when compared with sea level residents. In recent arrivals marked increase of IgG and IgG levels and slight rise in IgM was seen. Recent arrivals who suffered from high altitude pulmonary oedema showed marked elevation of IgG, IgM, and IgA. Immunoglobulin responses to both primary and secondary TAB inoculation were of a higher magnitude and more sustained at high altitude than at sea level.     

Mutagenic effects of allylisothiocyanate inEscherichia coli WP 67

A mutagenic effect of allylisothiocyanate (AITC) onE. coli WP 67 (trp uvrA polA) was only found in a test with metabolic activationin vitro. Mixed function oxidases containing cytochrome P-450 are not responsible for the conversion of AITC to mutagenic products. Liver microsomal fractions of rat, mouse, chinese hamster, goat and monkey were used forin vitro metabolic activation. The mutagenic effect of AITC differed in individual animal species according to the protein content in the microsomel fraction. Allylamine (formed by hydrolysis of AITC) did not exhibit any mutagenic effect.     

Fecal Bacterial Composition of Sichuan Snub-Nosed Monkeys (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhinopithecus roxellana</Emphasis>)

The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in maintaining the health of its host, including human and nonhuman primates. Little is known about the intestinal bacterial composition of the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana), which has been classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List since 2003. We evaluated the fecal bacterial compositions of 11 Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys, including six young captive individuals (one sample from each), three adult captive individuals (four samples each), and two adult provisioned free-ranging individuals (four samples each). We also quantified fecal Bacteroides vulgatus, Bifidobacterium spp., and Lactobacillus spp., which are defined as probiotics in humans, using real-time polymerase chain reaction. We identified five major phyla in the collected samples, including Firmicutes (32.4 %), Bacteroidetes (14.7 %), Verrucomicrobia (8.8 %), Actinobacteria (4.4 %), and unclassified microbacteria (39.7 %). Fecal bacteria composition varied with age and different seasons. The fecal bacterial composition of the captive monkeys was less variable than that of provisioned free-ranging monkeys. B. vulgatus amounts were almost 100 times higher in the provisioned free-ranging monkeys (10¹²) than in the captive monkeys (10¹⁰). Our results provide an initial catalogue of gut microbiota in the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey, which helps to enrich our knowledge of gut microbiota in nonhuman primates.     

Prominent spermoderm patterns of Poaceae

Scanning electron microscopy studies of 60 genera and 118 species of the Poaceae revealed prominent spermoderm patterns. The most common patterns observed (with percent occurrence) were simple reticulate with straight walls (48.3%), simple reticulate with wavy walls (14.4%), and verrucate without pubescence (13.6%). No other pattern occurred in more than 10% of the species observed. Some genera possess common spermoderm patterns among species while others do not.     

Modulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and cardiovascular responses during static exercise following iNOS antagonism within the ventrolateral medulla

Previous reports indicate that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) blockade within the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) differentially modulated cardiovascular responses, medullary glutamate, and GABA concentrations during static skeletal muscle contraction. In the current study, we determined the role of iNOS antagonism within the RVLM and CVLM on cardiovascular responses and iNOS protein expression during the exercise pressor reflex in anesthetized rats. Following 120 min of bilateral microdialysis of a selective iNOS antagonist, aminoguanidine (AGN; 10 µM), into the RVLM, the pressor responses were attenuated by 72 % and changes in heart rate were reduced by 38 % during a static muscle contraction. Furthermore, western blot analysis of iNOS protein abundance within the RVLM revealed a significant attenuation when compared to control animals. In contrast, bilateral administration of AGN (10 µM) into the CVLM augmented the increases in mean arterial pressure by 60 % and potentiated changes in heart rate by 61 % during muscle contractions, but did not alter expression of the iNOS protein within the CVLM. These results demonstrate that iNOS protein expression within the ventrolateral medulla is differentially regulated by iNOS blockade that may, in part, contribute to the modulation of cardiovascular responses during static exercise.     

Distribution of axon diameters in cortical white matter: an electron-microscopic study on three human brains and a macaque

The aim of this study was to obtain information on the axonal diameters of cortico-cortical fibres in the human brain, connecting distant regions of the same hemisphere via the white matter. Samples for electron microscopy were taken from the region of the superior longitudinal fascicle and from the transitional white matter between temporal and frontal lobe where the uncinate and inferior occipitofrontal fascicle merge. We measured the inner diameter of cross sections of myelinated axons. For comparison with data from the literature on the human corpus callosum, we also took samples from that region. For comparison with well-fixed material, we also included samples from corresponding regions of a monkey brain (Macaca mulatta). Fibre diameters in human brains ranged from 0.16 to 9  \(\upmu \hbox {m}\) . Distributions of diameters were similar in the three systems of cortico-cortical fibres investigated, both in humans and the monkey, with most of the average values below 1  \(\upmu \) m diameter and a small population of much thicker fibres. Within individual human brains, the averages were larger in the superior longitudinal fascicle than in the transitional zone between temporal and frontal lobe. An asymmetry between left and right could be found in one of the human brains, as well as in the monkey brain. A correlation was also found between the thickness of the myelin sheath and the inner axon diameter for axons whose calibre was greater than about 0.6  \(\upmu \hbox {m}\) . The results are compared to white matter data in other mammals and are discussed with respect to conduction velocity, brain size, cognition, as well as diffusion weighted imaging studies.     

The effect of prey density on the functional and numerical reponses of three species of predatory mites

Functional and numerical responses of the predators:Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot,Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt), andAmblyseius chilenensis (Dosse) [Acarina, Phytoseiidae] were observed at prey (Tetranychus urticae Koch [Acarina, Tetranychidae]) densities up to 300 prey/6.45 cm². Neither functional nor numerical response curves revealed any prey-predator interference effects, i.e.: the dome-shaped response curves (Holling, 1961), did not occur.     

Size class homogeneity of repeat lengths and evolutionary divergence of ribosomal RNA genes in fishes as studied by restriction fragment length analysis

Fish ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) have been compared by restriction endonuclease digestion followed by Southern hybridization using rRNA or cloned rRNA genes as labelled probes. In several species belonging to the orders Cypriniformes and Perciformes, the simple restriction patterns revealed a high degree of size class homogeneity among the rDNA repeats and similar restriction map within a species. Different species have different restriction patterns and fragment lengths arising mostly out of different length of the nontranscribed spacer. Polymorphic restriction sites are present in some species. The species-specific differences in fragment lengths produced in rDNA by some restriction enzymes can thus be used to study interspecific fish hybrids.     

Physiological and mutagenic effects of N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in populations of chlorococcal algae

The suitability was evaluated of MNNG as a mutagen inducing increased frequencies of mutations in the cell populations of three strains of chlorococcal algae for the purposes of selection. MNNG has proved to be highly toxic to those algae as it produces severe physiological responses of the affected cells. The mutagenic effect of MNNG was relatively small in comparison with the recorded toxic effect. From these results it has been concluded that in reverse to NEU, MNNG can hardly be applied with such good an effect in the mutation breeding of chlorococcal algae that are suitable for mass cultivation.     

The electrical responses of the retinal receptors and the lamina in the visual system of the fly musca

Slow electrical responses were recorded from receptors and from the lamina of the visual pathway of the fly Musca.

1. Receptors 1 to 6 in the retinal ommatidia are identified by their response dichroic sensitivity planes. The half-width of their angular sensitivity distributions is estimated 2.5° in dark adaptation, and found not to vary with ambient illumination. The retinula cells are only excited by light that enters the eye through their overlying corneal facets.
2. The responses of the lamina show no detectable dichroic sensitivity, though in favourable cases their angular sensitivity distributions may be as narrow as those of the receptors. It is shown that these responses are excited by light that enters the six facets of the corneal projection of the single lamina cartridge synapse. The retinula fibres of passage through the lamina, originating from ommatidial cells 7 and 8, evidently do not contribute excitation to the responses.
3. It is shown that the separate responses contributed by the individual receptors of the projection are added linearly at the lamina response compartment over a wide range of light intensities.

     

Insights into resistome and stress responses genes in Bubalus bubalis rumen through metagenomic analysis

Buffalo rumen microbiota experience variety of diets and represents a huge reservoir of mobilome, resistome and stress responses. However, knowledge of metagenomic responses to such conditions is still rudimentary. We analyzed the metagenomes of buffalo rumen in the liquid and solid phase of the rumen biomaterial from river buffalo adapted to varying proportion of concentrate to green or dry roughages, using high-throughput sequencing to know the occurrence of antibiotics resistance genes, genetic exchange between bacterial population and environmental reservoirs. A total of 3914.94 MB data were generated from all three treatments group. The data were analysed with Metagenome rapid annotation system tools. At phyla level, Bacteroidetes were dominant in all the treatments followed by Firmicutes. Genes coding for functional responses to stress (oxidative stress and heat shock proteins) and resistome genes (resistance to antibiotics and toxic compounds, phages, transposable elements and pathogenicity islands) were prevalent in similar proportion in liquid and solid fraction of rumen metagenomes. The fluoroquinolone resistance, MDR efflux pumps and Methicillin resistance genes were broadly distributed across 11, 9, and 14 bacterial classes, respectively. Bacteria responsible for phages replication and prophages and phage packaging and rlt-like streptococcal phage genes were mostly assigned to phyla Bacteroides, Firmicutes and proteaobacteria. Also, more reads matching the sigma B genes were identified in the buffalo rumen. This study underscores the presence of diverse mechanisms of adaptation to different diet, antibiotics and other stresses in buffalo rumen, reflecting the proportional representation of major bacterial groups.