Rank relations among sisters in semi-free-ranging Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Although semi-free-ranging Barbary macaque females are able to outrank older females from lower-ranking matrilines (matrilineal rank acquisition), they do not systematically outrank their older sisters, as is known to be the case for semi-free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). We test the hypothesis that differences in the support received by younger sisters against their older sisters and against older lower-ranking females might account for this interspecific difference. Thirty-one sister dyads, members of a group of 109 Barbary macaques living at La Montagne des Singes, France, were observed during 16 months. The results indicate that (1) all females were dominant to their younger sisters, and the latter were never observed to challenge their older sisters; (2) younger sisters received as much kin support against their older sisters as against older lower-ranking females; (3) only very young females received support from their kin against their older sisters; (4) younger sisters received much more support from nonkin females against lower-ranking females than against their older sisters; and (5) Barbary macaque females appear to be supported against their older sisters less frequently than rhesus macaque females are. We conclude that the lack of nonkin support is the main factor accounting for the failure of younger sisters to outrank their older sisters in Barbary macaques. Initially this might result from kin support not being sufficient to induce younger sisters to challenge and to solicit support against their older sisters.     

L’Equipement chromosomique du spermatozoïde

Cytogenetics of human sperm chromosomes has been developped by few laboratories during the last decade, in order to investigate dysfuncitons of meiosis in normal men and in carriers of chromosomal abnormalities. On the basis of pooled data, it can be established that normal men produce almost 10% of abnormal spermatozoa, including a majority of structural aberrations (6.5%). Frequency of hyperhaploïdies, resulting from chromosome malsegregations, seems to be equally distributed among all chromosome groups. A study of in vivo recently irradiated patients demonstrates that despite a high incidence of multiple rearrangements, the sperm fertilizing ability is not reduced. Segregation of additional chromosomes can also be studied in fertile carriers; such as study has demonstrated that, in a mosaic patient, 47 XXY germ cells are able to complete meiosis. Finally the major application of the technique consists in direct segregation analysis of structural chromosome rearrangements. The sperm of such carriers exhibits a higher proportion of unbalanced spermatozoa than generally expected in offsprings.     

Synthesis and evaluation of the antidepressant activity of the enantiomers of bupropion

The synthesis of the enantiomers of bupropion, (rac)-2-tert-butylamino-3′-chloropropiophenone 1 (Wellbutrin®) is described. The enantiomers were compared with the racemate in both the tetrabenazine-induced sedation model and the inhibition of uptake of biogenic amine assay. No significant differences were found in their potencies to reverse tetrabenazine-induced sedation in mice or in their IC₅₀ values as inhibitors of biogenic amine uptake into nerve endings obtained from mouse brain. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Vigilant Behaviour: Predictability or Randomness? Spectral Analysis of Series of Scan Durations and their Relationship with Inter-scan Intervals

While feeding, many animals frequently look up and visually scan their environment. Using spectral analysis of continuous series of scan durations from a purple sandpiper Calidris maritima and Barbary doves Streptopelia risoria, we show that there are sequential non-random patterns and significant periodicities in all the examined series such that the birds cycled regularly between short and long scans. The cycles are comparable to those for the continuous series of inter-scan intervals of the same behavioural sequences. We suggest a re-examination of the functional costs and benefits of instantaneous randomness versus sequential predictability in alternating between feeding and scanning and a revision of the models of the way animals alternate between these behaviour patterns.     

Marine macroalgae as a source for osmoprotection for Escherichia coli

At elevated osmolarity of the mineral medium M63, marine macroalgae constitute important osmoprotectants and nutrients sources for Escherichia coli. Growth of bacterial population (16 strains) was improved by supplementing M63 salts medium with either aqueous or ethanolic algal extracts obtained from Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus serratus, Enteromorpha ramulosa, Ulva lactuca, and Palmaria palmata. In their presence, growth was still observed even at 1.02 m NaCl. Furthermore, the E. coli ZB400 growth in presence of whole macroalgae thalli in M63/0.85 m NaCI reached its maximum within 24 h (5 × 10⁷ – 5 × 10⁸ colony-forming units [CFU] per milliliter). In the presence of A. nodosum, bacterial growth was inhibited. In the same experimental conditions, ethanolic extracts improved E. coli growth significantly, because the yield reached 10¹¹ CFU per milliliter. Ulva lactuca and P. palmata allowed the better growth. The Dragendorff-positive compounds extracted from bacterial cells growing on each ethanolic extract exhibited an osmoprotective effect as proved by a disk-diffusion assay. On the other hand, the -onium compounds (quaternary ammonium [betaines] and tertiary sulphonium) and total free amino acid contents of U. lactuca ethanolic extracts were higher than in others. Fucaceae extracts demonstrated especially high protein content. Algal extracts constitute not only an appreciable osmoprotection source for E. coli but also nutrient sources. Correspondence to: J. Minet     

Allosteric-type control of synaptobrevin cleavage by protect tetanus toxin light chain

The light chain of tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT L chain)has been shown to be endowed with zinc endopeptidaseactivity, selectively directed towards theGln⁷⁶–Phe⁷⁷ bond of synaptobrevin, avesicle-associated membrane protein criticallyinvolved in neuroexocytosis. In previous reports,truncations at the NH₂- and COOH-terminus ofsynaptobrevin have shown that the sequence 39–88 ofsynaptobrevin is the minimum substrate of TeNT,suggesting either the requirement of a well-definedthree-dimensional structure of synaptobrevin or a rolein the mechanism of substrate hydrolysis for residuesdistal from the cleavage site. In this study, theaddition of NH₂- and COOH-terminal peptides ofsynaptobrevin, S 27–55 (S₁) and S 82–93(S₂), to the synaptobrevin fragment S 56–81allowed the cleavage of this latter peptide by TeNT tooccur. This appears to result from an activationprocess mediated by the simultaneous binding ofS₁ and S₂ with complementary sites presenton TeNT as shown by surface plasmon resonanceexperiments. All these results favor anexosite-controlled hydrolysis of synaptobrevin by TeNTprobably involving a conformational change of thetoxin. This could account for the high degree ofsubstrate specificity of TeNT and, probably, botulinumneurotoxins.     

Clinical phenotype of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in females heterozygous for a vasopressin type 2 receptor mutation

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) usually shows an X-linked recessive mode of inheritance caused by mutations in the vasopressin type 2 receptor gene (AVPR2). In the present study, three NDI families are described in which females show clinical features resembling the phenotype in males. Maximal urine osmolality in three female patients did not exceed 200 mosmol/kg and the absence of extra-renal responses to 1-desamino-8-d-arginine vasopressin was demonstrated in two of them. All affected females and two asymptomatic female family members were shown to be heterozygous for an AVPR2 mutation. Skewed X-inactivation is the most likely explanation for the clinical manifestation of NDI in female carriers of an AVPR2 mutation. It is concluded that, in female NDI patients, the possibility of heterozygosity for an AVPR2 gene mutation has to be considered in addition to homozygosity for mutations in the aquaporin 2 gene.