Sex-related dimorphism of the morphofunctional characteristics of the epiphysis in newborn children subjected to hypoxic impairment and asphyxia

In 72 newborn children (37 boys and 35 girls) who suffered from prenatal hypoxia and were born in an asphyxic state, we measured the level of melatonin in the umbilicial blood and observed clinical manifestations of the adaptation/stress syndrome. These data were compared with the results of morphological examination of the epiphyses from 27 stillborns (15 boys and 12 girls) who perished because of heavy prenatal hypoxia. The level of melatonin in the blood of ill newborn girls was much higher than that in boys, and both these indices were about two times higher than those in respective groups of healthy newborn children. At the same time, the pathomorphological examination showed that active epiphyseal cell units in the male fetuses were much more numerous. The results show that the epiphysis plays a significant role in determination of the sex-related dimorphism of the adaptation/stress syndrome in newborn children suffering from hypoxia- and asphyxia-evoked heavy CNS damage. The reasons and consequences of more intensive morphofunctional loading of the epiphyseal system in the male fetuses are discussed.     

The assessment game in sand fiddler crab contests for breeding burrows

The single enlarged claw of male sand fiddler crabs, Uca pugilator, is used in contests for control of breeding burrows. The larger of the two contestants has the larger claw and usually wins. Males use one or more of 10 agonistic elements that vary in intensity from a no-contact extension of the claw to the flip of an opponent. We used the sequence of elements employed and the duration of unstaged, naturally occurring contests in a South Carolina salt marsh to evaluate three models of extended contests: (1) energetic war of attrition, (2) cumulative assessment and (3) sequential assessment. Contests usually began with elements of low action intensity and often proceeded to elements of high intensity. Elements of higher intensity were correlated with both contest duration and the number of contest elements. Contest duration increased as opponents became more evenly matched in size, a result consistent with both cumulative and sequential assessment models. Variation in duration increased as the relative sizes of opponents increased, also in accordance with sequential assessment. The absolute size of the smaller contestant had no effect on contest duration, in contrast to predictions based on cumulative assessment or energetic war of attrition models. Contestants that lost a fight were more likely to engage immediately in another fight without loss of contest intensity, if their previous fight had been long and intense. This result is inconsistent with contests of endurance, such as the energetic war of attrition or the cumulative assessment game, but it is consistent with the ritualized display of strength and fighting skill. Thus, sequential assessment appears to best explain ritualized fiddler crab contests. Cumulative assessment, however, may be the appropriate model for extended, nonritualized, all-out fights. Cumulative assessment may also explain the tenure of individuals on breeding grounds where multiple engagements are likely to test endurance and tolerance to damage over a period of days. Copyright 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.      

Global introductions of salmon and trout in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus</Emphasis>: 1870–2007

The purpose of this review is to provide a global perspective on Oncorhynchus salmonine introductions and put-and-take fisheries based on modern stocking programs, with special emphasis on freshwater ecosystems. We survey the global introductions of nine selected salmonines of the genus Oncorhynchus: golden trout, cutthroat trout, pink salmon, chum salmon, coho salmon, masu/cherry salmon, rainbow trout/steelhead, sockeye salmon/kokanee, and chinook salmon. The information is organized on a geographical basis by continent, and then by species and chronology. Two different objectives and associated definitions of ‘success’ for introductions are distinguished: (a) seed introduction: release of individuals with the purpose of creating a wild-reproducing, self-sustaining population; and (b) put-and-take introduction: release of individuals with the purpose of maintaining some level of wild population abundance, regardless of wild reproduction. We identify four major phenomena regarding global salmonine introductions: (1) general inadequacy of documentation regarding introductions; (2) a fundamental disconnect between management actions and ecological consequences of introductions; (3) the importance of global climate change on success of previous and future introductions; and (4) the significance of aquaculture as a key uncertainty in accidental introductions. We conclude this review with a recognition of the need to terminate ongoing stocking programs for introduced salmonines worldwide.     

Proteinases of small intestine enterocytes of swine. Purification and properties of aspartyl proteinase similar to cathepsin D

A new aspartic proteinase was isolated from porcine intestine mucosa by affinity chromatography on pepstatin-Sepharose 4B and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. The enzyme was purified 1600-fold and appeared homogeneous upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The proteinase has a Mr 60 000 +/- 4000 Da. During sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the enzyme produced a single protein band (Mr 30 000 +/- 3000 Da). Isoelectric focusing revealed that the enzyme has several multiple forms (pI 6.9, 7.5, 8,0). The enzyme is a glycoprotein containing 5.9% of carbohydrates; the mannose to galactose ratio is 1:3. The amino acid composition of the enzyme was studied. The proteinase splits an oxidized insulin B-chain and synthetic substrates. The pH optimum is 3.2. The enzyme is immunologically identical to porcine spleen cathepsin D.     

Selection of HLA compatible donors for patients with HLA antibodies

A strain of 1,507 typised donors enables 15.97 average donors to be selected for a thrombocyte transfusion in one of 75 patients selected at random with HLA antibodies being previously determined (1 to 66 donors per patient). HLA compatible donors were found for 72 patients (97.33 per cent). More than 5 HLA compatible donors could be found for 58 patients. The high number of compatible donors is based on the fact that among 1,507 donors there were 156 HLA homozygotes and 556 donors with 3 HLA-A or B-antigens respectively. Compatibility in the ABO-system was not taken into account.     

Circadian organization and photoreception in an Australian dasyurid marsupial (Sminthopsis macroura)

Much is known about the formal properties of circadian rhythm regulation and the physiological substrates underlying rhythmicity in nocturnal rodents, but relatively few studies have addressed circadian rhythm regulation in other mammalian taxonomic groups. In this study, some formal and functional aspects of circadian organization in a nocturnal dasyurid marsupial, the stripe-faced dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura), were analyzed. To determine phasic responses to discrete pulses of light, dunnarts were placed in constant darkness (DD) and were periodically administered pulses of bright light at different times of the animals' circadian day. Analysis of phase shifts in response to light indicated a phase response curve that was similar to responses observed in nocturnal rodents. To determine the possibility of extraretinal photoreception mediating photic entrainment, dunnarts were anesthetized and orbitally enucleated while maintained in a light-dark regimen (LD 14:10). All blinded dunnarts free-ran with periods (tau) that were similar to those observed in DD, indicating that entrainment is mediated through ocular photoreception. However, the data also indicated a decrease in activity in blind dunnarts during the last 3-5 hr of the dark phase, raising the possibility of some retention of photoreceptive capacities.