Endothelin-1 Up-Regulates p115RhoGEF in Embryonic Rat Cardiomyocytes During the Hypertrophic Response

In cardiomyocytes, certain extracellular stimuli that activate heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can induce hypertrophy by regulating gene expression and increasing protein synthesis. We investigated if rat embryonic cardiomyocytes (H9c2) underwent variations in the expression levels and subcellular distribution of key components of GPCR-activated signaling pathways during endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced hypertrophic response. A significant increase of p115RhoGEF protein level was evident in ET-1-treated cells. Real-time quantitative PCR showed RhoGEF mRNA levels were significantly increased. Inhibition of the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) caused a significant decrease of p115RhoGEF protein in the nuclear fraction, whereas an inhibitor of PKC induced a redistribution of the protein between membrane/organelle and nuclear fractions. The ROCK inhibitor also decreased H9c2 cell hypertrophic response. These results indicate that ROCK and its downstream target molecules, which are involved in inducing the hypertrophic response, are also implicated in signaling the up-regulation of the p115RhoGEF protein.     

A cryptic invasion within an invasion and widespread introgression in the European water frog complex: consequences of uncontrolled commercial trade and weak international legislation

In Western Europe, many pond owners introduce amphibians for ornamental purposes. Although indigenous amphibians are legally protected in most European countries, retailers are circumventing national and international legislation by selling exotic nonprotected sibling species. We investigated to what extent non‐native species of the European water frog complex (genus Pelophylax) have become established in Belgium, using morphological, mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers. A survey of 87 sampling sites showed the presence of non‐native water frogs at 47 locations, mostly Marsh frogs (Pelophylax ridibundus). Surprisingly, at least 19% of all these locations also harboured individuals with mitochondrial haplotypes characteristic of Anatolian water frogs (Pelophylax cf. bedriagae). Nuclear genotyping indicated widespread hybridization and introgression between P. ridibundus and P. cf. bedriagae. In addition, water frogs of Turkish origin obtained through a licensed retailer, also contained P. ridibundus and P. cf. bedriagae, with identical haplotypes to the wild Belgian populations. Although P. ridibundus might have invaded Belgium by natural range expansion from neighbouring countries, our results suggest that its invasion was at least partly enhanced by commercial trade, with origins as far as the Middle East. Also the invasion and rapid spread of Anatolian lineages, masked by their high morphological similarity to P. ridibundus, is likely the result of unregulated commercial trade. We expect that Anatolian frogs will further invade the exotic as well as the native range of P. ridibundus and other Pelophylax species elsewhere in Western and Central Europe, with risks of large‐scale hybridization and introgression.     

外源氮输入和水分变化对荒漠草原凋落物分解的影响

全球气候变化背景下,大气氮沉降和降水变化日益显著,其对荒漠草原凋落物分解的影响存在很大的不确定性.采用裂区设计,设置主区为自然降雨、增雨30%和减雨30% 3个水分处理,副区为0(N₀)、30(N₃₀)、50(N₅₀)和100 kg·hm^-2·a^-1(N₁₀₀)4个氮素水平,经过21个月(2016年1月—2017年10月)水氮处理,研究水氮共同作用对荒漠草原常见物种猪毛菜、短花针茅和木地肤3种植物凋落物分解的影响.结果表明: 3种凋落物干物质残留率随时间增加而减少,用Olson负指数衰减模型拟合效果较好,凋落物分解系数(k)大小为猪毛菜>短花针茅>木地肤.增雨30%N₁₀₀处理分解系数最高,为0.028.单因素处理下,增雨30%和N₅₀的凋落物分解最快.水氮共同作用下,增雨 30%N₁₀₀处理凋落物分解最快.3种凋落物初始化学全氮含量大小为猪毛菜>短花针茅>木地肤,猪毛菜和短花针茅k值与全氮含量呈显著正相关;全碳含量、纤维素含量、木质素含量、C/N、木质素/N和纤维素/N大小为木地肤>短花针茅>猪毛菜,猪毛菜k值与各指标均呈显著负相关,短花针茅和木地肤k值与C/N、木质素/N和纤维素/N均呈显著负相关.猪毛菜分解最快,木地肤分解最慢.适量的水、氮添加有利于荒漠草原凋落物的分解,可以促进土壤养分循环,对荒漠草原可持续发展及生态平衡有积极作用.     

THE ENUMERATION OF FAECAL STREPTOCOCCI IN FOODS, USING PACKER'S CRYSTAL VIOLET SODIUM AZIDE BLOOD AGAR

SUMMARY: Packer's crystal violet sodium azide blood agar (Packer, 1943) used in poured plates at 36·1°, gave satisfactory recovery of pure cultures of Lancefield group D streptococci and completely inhibited the growth of 11 other species of aerobic and anaerobic food bacteria, including Strep. lactis (5 strains). Later, however, one group N streptococcus was obtained which did grow in Packer's agar at 36·1°. To eliminate this organism the incubation temperature had to be increased to 39·5°, using agar strips (Stirling et al. 1950) incubated in a water bath to secure strict temperature control. Under these conditions the recovery of typical group D streptococci was never consistently below 50% of the count in tryptone dextrose yeast extract agar at 31·1°.     

Ecdysteroids： the overlooked sex steroids of insects？ Males： the black box

The paradigm, still around in textbooks, that ＇in insects sex is strictly genetic, thus that they do not have sex hormones＇, is mainly based on a wrong interpretation of the ＇gynandromorph argument＇. It is no longer tenable. Given the fact that vertebrates and invertebrates probably had a common, sexually reproducing ancestor, there is no reason to assume that only vertebrates need sex hormones. The major function of sex hormones is to inform the somatoplasm about developmental changes that take place in the gonads. In contrast to juvenile hormone and neuropeptides, ecdysteroids meet all criteria to act as sex hormones, which was probably their ancient role. Their much better documented role in moulting and metamorphosis was a secondary acquisition that enabled arthropods to cope with growth problems, imposed by a rigid cuticle. Female insects use 20-hydroxyecdysone （20E）, secreted by the follicle cells of the ovary, in a similar way as females of egg-laying vertebrates use estrogens. For a variety of reasons, the possibility that ecdysteroids, in particular ecdysone （E）, might also act as sex hormones in male insects, thus as the counterpart of testosterone of vertebrates, has been very much overlooked. Thanks to the recent discovery of the molecular basis of the haploid-diploid system of sex determination in the honeybee, the characterization of Halloween genes, proteomics, RNAi and so on, it now becomes possible to verify whether in insects, as with vertebrates, males are the endocrinologically default gender form.