Influence of Precocene II on the estimated changes within the haemocyte population of parasitized spodoptera littoralis larvae by microplitis rufiventris

Series of experiments were undertaken to investigate whether application of Precocene II (PII) to parasitized S. littoralis larvae can influence their THCs and DHCs. PII was applied in single dose treatments (70μg/5 μl/dose). Haemolymph samples were taken at daily intervals from day 3 to day 8 post‐treatments. Two distinct alterations were noted; first, PII‐treatments caused significant decrease in THCs. Once the parasitoid larvae emerge from either treated or untreated hosts, a sharp decline in THCs was observed. The second effect was changes in DHCs of S. littoralis larvae. In controls, haemocyte types could be arranged in descending order due to their relative occurrence into plasmatocytes (PLs), prohaemocytes (PRs), spherule cells (SPs), granular cells (GRs) and oenocytoids (OEs). This order changed in treated hosts to PLs, GRs, PRs, SPs and OEs, i.e., GRs that were less prevalent in the haemolymph of control larvae increased significantly in PII‐treated hosts. In the latters, sharp rise in GRs levels followed parasitoid emergence. OEs cells were scarce in both treated and untreated hosts. No significant difference was observed between the overall means of PLs in both types of host larvae. But GRs‐PRs was markedly altered in treated larvae.     

Sensitivity and selectivity of neurons in the medial region of the olfactory bulb to skin extract from conspecifics in crucian carp,Carassius carassius

To examine the functional subdivision of the teleost olfactory bulb, extracellular recordings were made from the posterior part of the medial region of the olfactory bulb in the crucian carp, Carassius carassius. Bulbar units classified as type I or type II were frequently and simultaneously encountered at a recording site. Type I units displayed a diphasic action potential (AP) with a relatively small amplitude, a short duration (rise time approximately 1 ms) and high spontaneous activity (2.5 per s). Type II units exhibited an AP with a rise time of approximately 1.8 ms and low spontaneous activity (1.5 per s). The AP of this latter unit was nearly always followed by a slow potential, a characteristic diphasic wave with a rise time of approximately 5 ms. Chemical stimulation of the olfactory organ with a graded series of conspecific skin extract induced an increased firing of the type I units. During the period of increased activity of the type I units, the activity of the type II units was suppressed. Stimulation with nucleotides, amino acids and taurolithocholic acid did not induce firing of the type I units of the posterior part of the medial region of the olfactory bulb. These results indicate that the posterior part of the medial region of the olfactory bulb is both sensitive to and selective for skin extract from conspecifics, which has been shown to be a potent stimulus inducing alarm behaviour. The results of the present study indicate that recording single unit activity from a particular region of the olfactory bulb is a suitable method for isolating pheromones or other chemical signals that induce specific activity in the olfactory system. The projection of the neurons categorized as type II was determined by antidromic activation of their axons by electrical stimulation applied to the medial bundle of the medial olfactory tract. The anatomical basis of the type I and type II units in the fish olfactory bulb is discussed.     

Sensory pathways and their modulation in the control of locomotion

Recent experiments have extended our understanding of how sensory information in premotor networks controlling motor output is processed during locomotion, and at what level the efficacy of specific sensory—motor pathways is determined. Phasic presynaptic inhibition of sensory transmission combined with postsynaptic alterations of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission from interneurons of the premotor networks contribute to the modulation of reflex pathways and to the generation of reflex reversal. These mechanisms play an important role in adapting the operation of central networks to external demands and thus help optimize sensory—motor integration.     

Using Adeno-associated Virus as a Tool to Study Retinal Barriers in Disease

Müller cells are the principal glial cells of the retina. Their end-feet form the limits of the retina at the outer and inner limiting membranes (ILM), and in conjunction with astrocytes, pericytes and endothelial cells they establish the blood-retinal barrier (BRB). BRB limits material transport between the bloodstream and the retina while the ILM acts as a basement membrane that defines histologically the border between the retina and the vitreous cavity. Labeling Müller cells is particularly relevant to study the physical state of the retinal barriers, as these cells are an integral part of the BRB and ILM. Both BRB and ILM are frequently altered in retinal disease and are responsible for disease symptoms.There are several well-established methods to study the integrity of the BRB, such as the Evans blue assay or fluorescein angiography. However these methods do not provide information on the extent of BRB permeability to larger molecules, in nanometer range. Furthermore, they do not provide information on the state of other retinal barriers such as the ILM. To study BRB permeability alongside retinal ILM, we used an AAV based method that provides information on permeability of BRB to larger molecules while indicating the state of the ILM and extracellular matrix proteins in disease states. Two AAV variants are useful for such study: AAV5 and ShH10. AAV5 has a natural tropism for photoreceptors but it cannot get across to the outer retina when administered into the vitreous when the ILM is intact (i.e., in wild-type retinas). ShH10 has a strong tropism towards glial cells and will selectively label Müller glia in both healthy and diseased retinas. ShH10 provides more efficient gene delivery in retinas where ILM is compromised. These viral tools coupled with immunohistochemistry and blood-DNA analysis shed light onto the state of retinal barriers in disease.     

Estimation of aboveground biomass in conserved areas of Stipa tenacissima L. stands in the high steppes of western Algeria by mean of the Landsat 8 imagery‐based vegetation indices

The main aim of this paper was to evaluate the use of OLI spectral data as a tool to assess the steppe vegetation in a conservation context. The field sampling was conducted for two specific areas of treatment (a) an exclosure area and (b) a free grazing area. After testing several vegetation indices (VIs), the optimal results were obtained for the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)‐based aboveground biomass model with r² = 0.61 and r² = 0.72 for total and perennial biomass, respectively. No difference between observed and predicted total and perennial biomass was found (p = 0.700 and p = 0.306, respectively). The comparison between the two treatments using the field sampling revealed a significant difference on total plant cover (p = 0.016) and total biomass (p = 0.005), with a plant cover of 50.6% and a biomass of 325.771 kg dry matter per hectare (kg DM ha^?1) on average in grazed area and 66.9%, 1,407.869 kg DM ha^?1 in exclosure. Finally, a concordance is noted between the results obtained by the NDVI‐based biomass model and the field sampling‐based biomass.     

Validated spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric methods for the determination of brimonidine tartrate in ophthalmic solutions via derivatization with NBD‐Cl. Application to stability study

Two simple, selective and accurate methods were developed and validated for the determination of brimonidine tartrate (BT) in pure state and pharmaceutical formulations. Both methods are based on the coupling of the drug with 4‐chloro‐7‐nitro‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole in borate buffer (pH 8.5) at 70 °C and measurement of the reaction product spectrophotometrically at 407 nm (method I) or spectrofluorimetrically at 528 nm upon excitation at 460 nm (method II). The calibration graphs were rectilinear over the concentration ranges of 1.0–16.0 and 0.1–4.0 µg/mL with lower detection limits of 0.21 and 0.03, and lower quantification limits of 0.65 and 0.09 µg/mL for methods I and II, respectively. Both methods were successfully applied to the analysis of commercial ophthalmic solution with mean recovery of 99.50 ± 1.00 and 100.13 ± 0.71%, respectively. Statistical analysis of the results obtained by the proposed methods revealed good agreement with those obtained using a comparison method. The proposed spectrofluorimetric method was extended to a stability study of BT under different ICH‐outlined conditions such as alkaline, acidic, oxidative and photolytic degradation. Furthermore, the kinetics of oxidative degradation of the drug was investigated and the apparent first‐order reaction rate constants, half‐life times and Arrhenius equation were estimated. The proposed methods are practical and valuable for routine applications in quality control laboratories for the analysis of BT. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of age on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Apodemus sylvaticus at Merja Zerga lagoon,Morocco

The influence of age and sex on the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Apodemus sylvaticus was studied in Merja Zerga lagoon in northern Morocco. Five trace metal elements (Zn, Pb, Cr, Cu and Fe) were quantitatively analyzed by Varian AA 240 atomic absorption spectroscopy with graphite furnace in three organs (Liver, Kidney and Heart) from animals of different age and sex. The maximum metal level of the analyzed samples was recorded in adults and was limited to 46.62 μg/g for Pb and 35.1 μg/g for Cu, while it reached 22.69 μg/g, 7.59 μg/g and 6.78 μg/g for Cr, Zn and Fe, respectively. Highly significant differences were found for bioaccumulation of heavy metals according to animal ages and no significant differences were observed between the two sexes among the studied animals. Our results revealed also the existence of a strong correlation (r > 0.65) between the majority of biometric parameters and the trace element concentrations. In general, we found that age is a critical factor in estimating the level of heavy metal pollution. Other characteristics such as habitat, feeding habits and anti-predator behavior of the species need to be studied.     

Human metapneumovirus Induces Reorganization of the Actin Cytoskeleton for Direct Cell-to-Cell Spread

Paramyxovirus spread generally involves assembly of individual viral particles which then infect target cells. We show that infection of human bronchial airway cells with human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a recently identified paramyxovirus which causes significant respiratory disease, results in formation of intercellular extensions and extensive networks of branched cell-associated filaments. Formation of these structures is dependent on actin, but not microtubule, polymerization. Interestingly, using a co-culture assay we show that conditions which block regular infection by HMPV particles, including addition of neutralizing antibodies or removal of cell surface heparan sulfate, did not prevent viral spread from infected to new target cells. In contrast, inhibition of actin polymerization or alterations to Rho GTPase signaling pathways significantly decreased cell-to-cell spread. Furthermore, viral proteins and viral RNA were detected in intercellular extensions, suggesting direct transfer of viral genetic material to new target cells. While roles for paramyxovirus matrix and fusion proteins in membrane deformation have been previously demonstrated, we show that the HMPV phosphoprotein extensively co-localized with actin and induced formation of cellular extensions when transiently expressed, supporting a new model in which a paramyxovirus phosphoprotein is a key player in assembly and spread. Our results reveal a novel mechanism for HMPV direct cell-to-cell spread and provide insights into dissemination of respiratory viruses.