Medium chain fatty acids in intrauterine growth restricted and small for gestational age pregnancies

Introduction

Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes in adult life. Fetal growth is determined by nutrient availability, which is related to placenta nutrient transport. Medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are a particular class of nutrients, known to be a readily available energy source. Until now no data are reported on these MCFAs in low birth weight fetus.

Aim

This is a prospective study conducted in a tertiary center of prenatal diagnosis to investigate the maternal and fetal MCFAs levels in appropriate for gestational age (AGA), intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR), and small for gestational age (SGA) pregnancies.

Method

The plasmatic levels of MCFAs in AGA, IUGR and SGA mother–infant pairs were quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The analytical method had a linearity range of 0.1–50 mg/L and a limit of quantification of 0.03 mg/L. Reduced fetal growth was defined as an estimated fetal weight below the 3rd–10th percentile for gestational age, with (IUGR) or without (SGA) fetal Doppler abnormalities.

Result

Maternal and fetal MCFAs plasma levels were significantly different among SGA, IUGR and AGA groups. Additionally, the observed MCFAs fetal to maternal ratio is >1 for IUGR group, whilst for SGA and AGA the fetal to maternal ratio is less than one.

Conclusion

Changes in MCFAs levels in fetal and maternal plasma are not related to placental functionality or nutrients availability, suggesting the presence of a de novo biosynthesis.

     

Different acclimatization mechanisms of two grass pea cultivars to osmotic stress in in vitro culture

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a legume crop known from its tolerance to various abiotic stresses, especially drought. In this study, we investigated: (1) the response of grass pea seedlings to osmotic stress generated in vitro by polyethylene glycol (PEG); (2) potential drought acclimatization mechanisms of two polish grass pea cultivars. Grass pea seeds of two cultivars were sown on media containing different PEG concentrations (0, 5.5, 11.0 mM) and cultivated for 14 days in controlled conditions. Plants’ dry matter increased under osmotic stress (regardless of PEG concentration). In turn, the highest dose of PEG caused a reduction in seedling growth in both cultivars. Furthermore, PEG caused the peroxidase activity increase in whole seedlings and catalase (CAT) activity in roots. However, differences between cultivars were noted in: CAT activity in shoots; while phenols and anthocyanin content as well as electrolyte leakage in shoots and roots. In turn, in both tested genotypes, accumulation of proline increased in shoots under osmotic stress. Obtained results indicate that the examined plants, although belonging to the same species, differ in acclimatization processes leading to elevated tolerance to osmotic stress.     

Attenuation of Axonal Degeneration by Calcium Channel Inhibitors Improves Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival and Regeneration After Optic Nerve Crush

Axonal degeneration is one of the initial steps in many traumatic and neurodegenerative central nervous system (CNS) disorders and thus a promising therapeutic target. A focal axonal lesion is followed by acute axonal degeneration (AAD) of both adjacent axon parts, before proximal and distal parts follow different degenerative fates at later time points. Blocking calcium influx by calcium channel inhibitors was previously shown to attenuate AAD after optic nerve crush (ONC). However, it remains unclear whether the attenuation of AAD also promotes consecutive axonal regeneration. Here, we used a rat ONC model to study the effects of calcium channel inhibitors on axonal degeneration, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival, and axonal regeneration, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved. Application of calcium channel inhibitors attenuated AAD after ONC and preserved axonal integrity as visualized by live imaging of optic nerve axons. Consecutively, this resulted in improved survival of RGCs and improved axonal regeneration at 28 days after ONC. We show further that calcium channel inhibition attenuated lesion-induced calpain activation in the proximity of the crush and inhibited the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway. Pro-survival signaling via Akt in the retina was also increased. Our data thus show that attenuation of AAD improves consecutive neuronal survival and axonal regeneration and that calcium channel inhibitors could be valuable tools for therapeutic interventions in traumatic and degenerative CNS disorders.     

QTL analysis of cotton fiber length in advanced backcross populations derived from a cross between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">G. mustelinum</Emphasis>

Key message

QTLs for fiber length mapped in three generations of advanced backcross populations derived from crossing Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium mustelinum showed opportunities to improve elite cottons by introgression from wild relatives.

Abstract

The molecular basis of cotton fiber length in crosses between Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium mustelinum was dissected using 21 BC₃F₂ and 12 corresponding BC₃F_2:3 and BC₃F_2:4 families. Sixty-five quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected by one-way analysis of variance. The QTL numbers detected for upper-half mean length (UHM), fiber uniformity index (UI), and short fiber content (SFC) were 19, 20, and 26 respectively. Twenty-three of the 65 QTLs could be detected at least twice near adjacent markers in the same family or near the same markers across different families/generations, and 32 QTLs were detected in both one-way variance analyses and mixed model-based composite interval mapping. G. mustelinum alleles increased UHM and UI and decreased SFC for five, one, and one QTLs, respectively. In addition to the main-effect QTLs, 17 epistatic QTLs were detected which helped to elucidate the genetic basis of cotton fiber length. Significant among-family genotypic effects were detected at 18, 16, and 16 loci for UHM, UI, and SFC, respectively. Six, two, and two loci showed genotype?×?family interaction for UHM, UI and SFC, respectively, illustrating complexities that might be faced in introgression of exotic germplasm into cultivated cotton. Co-location of many QTLs for UHM, UI, and SFC accounted for correlations among these traits, and selection of these QTLs may improve the three traits simultaneously. The simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers associated with G. mustelinum QTLs will assist breeders in transferring and maintaining valuable traits from this exotic source during cultivar development.

     

Biotic Potential of a Short-Horned Grasshopper, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oxya hyla hyla</Emphasis> Serville (Orthoptera: Acrididae) to Assess Its Biomass Producing Capacity

The growth of fishery and animal husbandry is being hindered by the scarcity of protein rich feed ingredients. Being rich in protein grasshoppers may be an alternative source of protein rich feed ingredients and hence rearing of these insects is essential for sustainable supply of insect biomass to the feed industry. The success of biomass production through insect rearing depends on the reproductive potentiality, rate of survival and growth of that particular insect. This study examines the biotic potential, fecundity, fertility, nymph mortality, life span and biomass production ability of a multivoltine grasshopper, Oxya hyla hyla (Serville, 1931) under semi-controlled condition. The grasshoppers are reared in 35 ± 2 °C temperature and 12L: 12D photoperiod and provided with food as fresh leaves of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. to nymphs and Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. to the adults. The result shows that a single pair of O. hyla hyla can lay on average 69.87 eggs in 4.96 ± 0.43 egg pods of which 7.37 ± 0.92 % eggs and 8.26 ± 0.99 % nymphs do not survive. The remaining survived nymphs metamorphose to 27.8 ± 3.35 male and 32.6 ± 3.21 female adults which produce a biomass of 18.48 ± 1.67 g wet weight. Thus a mass scale rearing of this insect may produce good amount of insect biomass which may be usable for fish and animal feed.     

Surface display of ACC deaminase on endophytic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterobacteriaceae</Emphasis> strains to increase saline resistance of host rice sprouts by regulating plant ethylene synthesis

Background

Most endophytic bacteria in consortia, which provide robust and broad metabolic capacity, are attractive for applications in plant metabolic engineering. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of engineered endophytic bacterial strains on rice sprout ethylene level and growth under saline stress. A protocol was developed to synthesize engineered strains by expressing bacterial 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase gene on cells of endophytic Enterobacter sp. E5 and Kosakonia sp. S1 (denoted as E5P and S1P, respectively).

Results

Results showed that ACC deaminase activities of the engineered strains E5P and S1P were significantly higher than those of the wild strains E5 and S1. About 32–41% deaminase was expressed on the surface of the engineered strains. Compared with the controls without inoculation, inoculation with the wild and engineered strains increased the deaminase activities of sprouts. Inoculation with the engineered strains increased 15–21% more deaminase activities of sprouts than with the wild strains, and reduced the ethylene concentrations of sprouts more significantly than with wild strains (P < 0.05). Inoculation with the wild and engineered strains promoted the growth of sprouts, while the promoting effects were more profound with the engineered strains than with the wild strains. The engineered strains improved saline resistance of sprouts under salt concentrations from 10 to 25 g L^?1. The engineered strains promoted longer roots and shoots than the wild strains under the salt stresses, indicating that the ACC deaminases on the endophytic bacterial cells could result in plant-produced ACC degradation and inhibit plant ethylene formation.

Conclusions

The protocols of expressing enzymes on endophytic bacterial cells showed greater potentials than those of plant over-expressed enzymes to increase the efficiency of plant metabolic pathways.

     

Defining the importance of landscape metrics for large branchiopod biodiversity and conservation: the case of the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands

The deficiency in the distributional data of invertebrate taxa is one of the major impediments acting on the bias towards the low awareness of its conservation status. The present study sets a basic framework to understand the large branchiopods distribution in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. Since the extensive surveys performed in the late 1980s, no more studies existed updating the information for the whole studied area. The present study fills the gap, gathering together all available information on large branchiopods distribution since 1995, and analysing the effect of human population density and several landscape characteristics on their distribution, taking into consideration different spatial scales (100 m, 1 km and 10 km). In overall, 28 large branchiopod taxa (17 anostracans, 7 notostracans and 4 spinicaudatans) are known to occur in the area. Approximately 30% of the sites hosted multiple species, with a maximum of 6 species. Significant positive co-occurring species pairs were found clustered together, forming 4 different associations of large branchiopod species. In general, species clustered in the same group showed similar responses to analysed landscape characteristics, usually showing a better fit at higher spatial scales.     

Detecting Multiple States of Trophic Connectivity Between Mangroves and Salt Marshes

The productivity gradient between adjacent habitats can fluctuate over time due to seasonal cycles and lead to both habitats being alternately subsidized. Although this process is well known for prey subsidies in stream-riparian forest ecotones, few studies are available for other systems or subsidy types. Moreover, the effects of transport intensity on this expected alternate subsidy exchange are still poorly understood. We assessed whether subsidy input and allochthonous carbon assimilation by resident benthic invertebrates alternated between adjacent mangroves and salt marshes during peaks of detritus productivity (summer and winter, respectively) in a subtropical estuary, by using detritus trapping techniques and stable isotope ratios. Sampling was performed simultaneously in the sheltered (inner sector) and exposed (outer sector) regions of the estuary to assess the influence of different physical conditions on the intensity of subsidy flow. Transport of mangrove litter into the salt marsh occurred mainly in the summer in both sectors; however, most of the litter remained trapped in the marsh boundary. The mixing model also showed that there was little influence of allochthonous carbon in the diet of salt marsh benthic invertebrates. Marsh litter supply to mangroves did not vary significantly between seasons but was significantly higher in the outer than in the inner sector. Likewise, the mixing model showed great contribution of salt marsh carbon to the diet of benthic invertebrates from the outer-sector mangroves, whereas autochthonous carbon predominated in those from the inner mangroves. Our findings reinforce the model that trophic connectivity relies on the relative proportion of allochthonous (subsidy) and autochthonous resources rather than only on asymmetric productivity between habitats. Differences in the proportion of resources result from interaction among productivity, permeability, and transport vectors that lead to many states of trophic connectivity.     

Isolation of DNA for RAPD analysis from dry leaf material of some<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hesperis</Emphasis> L. specimens

An improved protocol for the isolation of DNA from dry material of someHesperis specimens is described. The isolated DNA is suitable for random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Different DNA extraction protocols were examined to determine which might yield DNA from dry leaf tissue ofHesperis specimens. The methods examined include the protocols with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) described by Doyle and Doyle (1987); sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by Dellaporta et al. (1983); and CTAB and SDS, the modified minipreparation, by Dellaporta et al (1983). None of these procedures yielded DNA of suitable purity for RAPD assay. We established an improved procedure involving CTAB and enzymatic digestion of proteins and RNA. The recovery of DNA with an average yield of 25 mg/g of leaf material was possible with this procedure. RAPD bands, which could be used to distinguish amongHesperis specimens, were generated.