Two different sets of cis elements regulate scute to establish two different sensory patterns

Summary We have analysed the role of the achaete-scute gene complex in the development of the pattern of campaniform sensilla on the wing blade of Drosophila. We show that the complete pattern results from the superimposition of two independent subpatterns, one of which depends on the achaete gene and the other on scute. The scute subpattern comprises several clusters of sensilla, most of which seem to require the presence of control regions located upstream of the transcribed region. This is in contrast with the pattern of scute-dependent bristles, most of which depends on control elements located downstream of the transcribed region.     

Zinc acexamate reduces gastric damage induced by platelet-activating factor

We have tested the ability of zinc acexamate (ZAC) to prevent platelet-activating-factor (Paf) induced gastric damage in rats. Lesions were characterized by a vascular congestion affecting the entire mucosa, oedema, haemorrhage and frequent necrosis of the more superficial areas. The gastric damage appearing after Paf was accompanied by degranulation of gastric mast cells. Leukocytes were often seen at the submucosal level. Oral pretreatment with ZAC reduced in a dose-dependent manner both gastric damage and mast cell degranulation observed after Paf. ZAC administered orally at a dose of 100 mg kg-1 statistically inhibited (p less than 0.01) gastric damage and mast cell degranulation. ZAC did not affect the hypotension induced by Paf confirming that gastric damage and hypotension appearing in rats after Paf administration are two independent phenomena. The present findings indicate that the inhibitory effect of ZAC upon gastric lesions induced by Paf may be related to the different protective actions exhibited by this zinc compound in a wide variety of experimental models of gastric ulcer.     

Barium- and calcium-permeable channels open at negative membrane potentials in rat ventricular myocytes

Summary Ca²⁺- and Ba²⁺-permeable channel activity from adult rat ventricular myocytes, spontaneously appeared in the three single-channel recording configurations: cell-attached, and excised inside-out or outside-out membrane patches. Single-channel activity was recorded at steady-state applied membrane potentials including the entire range of physiologic values, and displayed no rundown in excised patches. This activity occurred in irregular bursts separated by quiescent periods of 5 to 20 min in cell-attached membrane patches, whereas in excised patch experiments, this period was reduced to 2 to 10 min. During activity, a variety of kinetic behaviors could be observed with more or less complex gating patterns. Three conductance levels: 22, 45 and 78 pS were routinely observed in the same excised membrane patch, sometimes combining to give a larger level. These channels were significantly permeable to divalent cations and showed little or no permeability to potassium or sodium ions. The inorganic blockers of voltage-gated Ca channels, cobalt (2mm), cadmium (0.5mm) or nickel (3mm), had no apparent effect on these spontaneous unitary currents carried by barium ions. Under 10^–5 m bay K 8644 or nitrendipine, the activity was clearly increased in about half of the tested excised inside-out membrane patches. Both dihydropyridines enhanced openings of the larger conductance level, which was only very occasionally seen under control conditions. When the single-channel activity became sustained under 5×10^–6 m Bay K 8644, it was possible to calculate the mean unitary current at different membrane potentials and show that the mean current value increased with membrane potential.     

Different Hoechst 33342 and DAPI fluorescence of the human Y chromosome in bivariate flow karyotypes

Summary The staining properties of AT-specific dyes Hoechst 33342 and DAPI as revealed by Hoechst 33342/mithramycin and mithramycin/DAPI bivariate human flow karyotype patterns are different for chromosomes rich in heterochromatin. The peak corresponding to chromosome Y of a given cell line is higher on the A/T axis with mithramycin/DAPI staining than with mithramycin/Hoechst. The chromosome 1 was found slightly more fluorescent in mithramycin/DAPI than in mithramycin/Hoechst as judged by the slight displacement of its area on the Hoechst-DAPI axis. The other peaks did not show major differences. On the same flow karyotypes, chromosomal rearrangements were detected.     

A revision of coregonine fish distribution and abundance in eastern James-Hudson Bay

Synopsis Recent sampling programs conducted in the estuaries of the Eastmain and La Grande rivers (James Bay) and the Great Whale, Little Whale, Innuksuac and Povungnituk rivers (Hudson Bay) revealed patterns of coregonine fish distribution that differ from previous observations. The relative abundance of cisco, Coregonus artedii, and lake whitefish, C. clupeaformis, varied among rivers but did not reveal a latitudinal cline. Previous sampling programs underestimated the abundance of cisco in the Little Whale River. In addition, cisco was the third most abundant species captured in the Povungnituk River, situated 200 km to the north of the previously proposed northern limit at Innuksuac River. As such, the low abundances of cisco in the Great Whale and Innuksuac rivers cannot be attributed to a physiological inability to cope with a reduced growing season. Immature cisco were almost totally absent from the estuaries of the Hudson Bay rivers following spring breakup whereas immature lake whitefish made up 100% of the catch in the Innuksuac River at the same time of year. Species-specific migration patterns in Hudson Bay that differ from those observed in James Bay and the existence of unique juvenile overwintering rivers are 2 hypotheses proposed to explain the discontinuous age-class distribution of cisco and lake whitefish observed in Hudson Bay.Contribution to the program of GIROQ (Groupe Interuniversitaire de Recherche Océanographique du Québec).     

Fetal nicotine exposure produces postnatal up-regulation of adenylate cyclase activity in peripheral tissues

Gestational exposure to nicotine has been shown to affect development of noradrenergic activity in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. In the current study, pregnant rats received nicotine infusions of 6 mg/kg/day throughout gestation, administered by osmotic minipump implants. After birth, offspring of the nicotine-infused dams exhibited marked increases in basal adenylate cyclase activity in membranes prepared from kidney and heart, as well as supersensitivity to stimulation by either a beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, or by forskolin. The altered responses were not accompanied by up-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors: in fact, [125I]pindolol binding was significantly decreased in the nicotine group. These results indicate that fetal nicotine exposure affects enzymes involved in membrane receptor signal transduction, leading to altered responsiveness independently of changes at the receptor level.     

Regulation of beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated processes in fetal rat lung: selective desensitization caused by chronic terbutaline exposure

Fetal lung beta-receptors become effectively coupled to lung fluid reabsorption and enzymes involved in surfactant synthesis on the day before birth, a period when circulating catecholamine levels are high. Accordingly, we examined the effects of repeated maternal terbutaline exposure on beta-receptor binding capabilities and beta-receptor-mediated processes in the fetal rat lung. Administration of terbutaline to pregnant rats on gestational day 17-20 produced significant reductions in beta-receptor binding to membrane preparations. Similarly, beta-receptor-mediated stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity and ornithine decarboxylase activity showed marked desensitization in the terbutaline-exposed fetuses. However, the linkage of beta-receptors to lung fluid reabsorption and phosphatidic acid phosphatase, an enzyme involved in surfactant synthesis, did not desensitize with chronic terbutaline pretreatment; both of these processes displayed the normal onset of responsiveness on gestational day 21 in the treated animals, as well as a normal magnitude of response. Hence, beta-receptor-mediated events in the developing lung may be differentially regulated during exposure to agonists, allowing the selective expression or depression of function when circulating catecholamine levels are high.     

Redescription de Proteocephalus paraguayensis (Rudin, 1917) (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) parasite de Hydrodynastes gigas (Dum., Bibr. & Dum., 1854) du Paraguay

Redescripción de Proteocephalus paraguayensis (Rudin, 1917) (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae), parásito de Hydrodynastes gigas (Dum., Bibr. & Dum., 1854) de Paraguay. Se describe esta especie notable, considerada por Freze (1965) como species inquirenda. Si comparamos esta especie con otras especies de Proteocephalidea, veremos que ella presenta caracteres anatomo-morfológicos propios. Esta especie se caracteriza por: vitelógenos de posición dorsal, adosados a la musculatura interna longitudinal, desbordando en parte sobre el córtex y la médula; formación particular del útero; posición cortical del tronco uterino y medular de los divertículos uterinos; esfínter vaginal proximal; cirro muy alargado; glándula de Mehlis muy desarrollada. Consideramos P. paraguayensis como una especie válida y presumimos que el huesped-tipo es Hydrodynastes gigas (Dum., Bibr. & Dum., 1854). A pesar de las características que posee P. paraguayensis, pensamos que no es oportuno clasificar esta especie en un nuevo género monotípico. Proteocephalus paraguayensis, considered by Freze (1965) as a species inquirenda, is redescribed and figured. When compared with other members of the Proteocephalidea, the species shows the following morpho-anatomical characters: the vitelline follicles in a dorsal position, attached to the internal longitudinal musculature and extending into both the cortex and medulla; a characteristic formation of the uterus; the uterine stem in a cortical position and uterine branches in a medullary position; a proximal vaginal sphincter; a very elongate cirrus; and very large Mehlis' glands. The specific status of Proteocephalus paraguayensis is confirmed. Our specimens were taken from Hydrodynastes gigas (the host according to Rudin was Coluber sp.). Even though the species differs significantly from other proteocephalideans, its systematic and phylogenetic position is not yet clearly demonstrated, and it is decided to refrain from attributing it to a new genus.