Oculomotor activities in monkeys with N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced syndrome of parkinsonism

In twoMacaca rhesus monkeys that received repeated N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) injections (single dose 0.2 mg/kg, i.m.; cumulative dose 11.2–13.3 mg), changes in characteristics of spontaneous saccadic eye movements and vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) were evaluated. With the development of severe behavioral disturbances, amplitude of spontaneous saccadic eye movements gradually decreased. Pronounced changes in duration of saccadic eye movements, frequency of spontaneous saccades, and their pattern were observed. No changes in parameters of VOR slow component were recorded, but high total MPTP doses suppressed fast phase of the reflex.Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 184–190, May–June, 1993.     

Ontogeny of head and caudal fin shape of an apex marine predator: The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)

How morphology changes with size can have profound effects on the life history and ecology of an animal. For apex predators that can impact higher level ecosystem processes, such changes may have consequences for other species. Tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) are an apex predator in tropical seas, and, as adults, are highly migratory. However, little is known about ontogenetic changes in their body form, especially in relation to two aspects of shape that influence locomotion (caudal fin) and feeding (head shape). We captured digital images of the heads and caudal fins of live tiger sharks from Southern Florida and the Bahamas ranging in body size (hence age), and quantified shape of each using elliptical Fourier analysis. This revealed changes in the shape of the head and caudal fin of tiger sharks across ontogeny. Smaller juvenile tiger sharks show an asymmetrical tail with the dorsal (upper) lobe being substantially larger than the ventral (lower) lobe, and transition to more symmetrical tail in larger adults, although the upper lobe remains relatively larger in adults. The heads of juvenile tiger sharks are more conical, which transition to relatively broader heads over ontogeny. We interpret these changes as a result of two ecological transitions. First, adult tiger sharks can undertake extensive migrations and a more symmetrical tail could be more efficient for swimming longer distances, although we did not test this possibility. Second, adult tiger sharks expand their diet to consume larger and more diverse prey with age (turtles, mammals, and elasmobranchs), which requires substantially greater bite area and force to process. In contrast, juvenile tiger sharks consume smaller prey, such as fishes, crustaceans, and invertebrates. Our data reveal significant morphological shifts in an apex predator, which could have effects for other species that tiger sharks consume and interact with. J. Morphol. 277:556–564, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A new role for PGRP-S (Tag7) in immune defense: lymphocyte migration is induced by a chemoattractant complex of Tag7 with Mts1

PGRP-S (Tag7) is an innate immunity protein involved in the antimicrobial defense systems, both in insects and in mammals. We have previously shown that Tag7 specifically interacts with several proteins, including Hsp70 and the calcium binding protein S100A4 (Mts1), providing a number of novel cellular functions. Here we show that Tag7–Mts1 complex causes chemotactic migration of lymphocytes, with NK cells being a preferred target. Cells of either innate immunity (neutrophils and monocytes) or acquired immunity (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ lymphocytes) can produce this complex, which confirms the close connection between components of the 2 branches of immune response.     

Screening of thermotolerant yeasts as producers of superoxide dismutase

Abstract A screening procedure for highly thermostable yeast superoxide dismutase was developed. Growth yields at various temperatures were estimated for ten mesophilic and thermotolerant strains, belonging to the genera Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces and Pichia . Higher yields at 45°C were obtained for K. lactis 90-3 and 90-4. A correlation between the ability to grow at higher temperature and the thermostability of the superoxide dismutase enzyme synthesized was observed. A comparison of the operational stability of the superoxide dismutase of all tested strains suggests that the enzyme of K. lactis strains was more thermostable than that of the other tested microorganisms.     

Aggregates of modified low density lipoproteins indicate accumulation of lipids in human aortic intima cells in vitro

Spontaneous aggregation of glycosylated, desialated, oxidized and malondialdehyde modified low density lipoprotein (LDL) as well as LDL of coronary heart disease patients has been discovered using methods for determination of light transmission fluctuations in suspensions and gel filtration. At the same time; LDL of healthy donors failed to aggregate under conditions of cellular culture. On the other hand, human aortic cells from unaffected intima incubated with modified LDL, but not native LDL of healthy donors, showed a rise in esterified cholesterol levels. There was a strong correlation between the degree of LDL aggregation and intracellular cholesterol ester accumulation (r-0.86, p 0.001, n-21). Removal of aggregates by passing preparations through and 0.1 um filter significantly inhibited the accumulation of cholesterol esters. The obtained data point to the essential, if not decisive, role of LDL aggregation in the processes of lipid accumulation by intimal cells in vitro.     

The economic valuation of biological resources and ecosystem services in the Sea of Okhotsk

The total monetary value of the harvestable stocks of commercial aquatic species in the Sea of Okhotsk, based on the Forecast of the Total Allowable Catch for 2014 and world prices for seafood, is estimated at $23.5 × 10⁹ USD/year. The potential value of all the surveyed biological resources in the sea (including potential ones) in the case of their more complete economic use, $58.5 × 10⁹ USD/year, is determined using the databases on macrofauna in the pelagic and benthic zones of the Far Eastern seas. Taking the mean value of ecosystem services per unit area in some parts of the World Ocean into account, the total value of ecosystem services for the Sea of Okhotsk may constitute $294.4 × 10⁹ USD/year. The ecosystem services whose market values cannot be determined have a much higher cost than the traditionally exploited biological resources. The value of ecosystem services expressed in monetary terms can be considered as a tool to enhance the conservation importance of natural complexes in the course of the implementation of various industrial projects.