Synchronization of estrus after treatment with Luprostiol in beef cows and in beef and dairy heifers

Four trials were conducted to study synchronous estrous response in beef cows and in beef and dairy heifers to Luprostiol (13, thia-PG-F(2)alpha analog) in comparison with other prostaglandin products. In Trial 1, 60 virgin beef heifers were observed for estrus for 5 d and artificially inseminated. Heifers not observed in estrus within 5 d were randomly assigned to receive 15 mg Luprostiol or 25 mg Lutalyse. In Trial 2, 75 multiparous, lactating beef cows were randomly assigned to receive either 15 mg Luprostiol, 25 mg Lutalyse or 500 mcg Estrumate. All cows received a second injection of the respective treatment 11 d later. In Trial 3, 96 multiparous, lactating beef cows were randomly assigned to receive 15 mg Luprostiol or 25 mg Lutalyse. All cows received a second injection of the respective treatment 11 d later. In Trial 4, virgin dairy heifers were palpated per rectum. Seventy-seven heifers with a palpable corpus luteum (CL) were randomly assigned to receive 15 mg Luprostiol or 500 mcg Estrumate. In all trials animals were artificially inseminated 12 h following observed estrus. Estrous response during the 5-d synchronized period was 44% for Luprostiol and 42% for Lutalyse treated heifers in Trial 1. It was 52, 56 and 60%, respectively, for Luprostiol, Lutalyse and Estrumate treated cows in Trial 2; 23% for Luprostiol and 19% for Lutalyse treated cows in Trial 3; and 68% for Luprostiol and 70% for Estrumate treated heifers in Trial 4. Treatment with Luprostiol results in a similar synchronous estrous response as with the other prostaglandin products used in these studies.     

Solubilization and Mineralization of Lignin by White Rot Fungi

The white rot fungi Lentinula edodes, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pleurotus sajor-caju, Flammulina velutipes, and Schizophyllum commune were grown in liquid media containing ¹⁴C-lignin-labelled wood, and the formation of water-soluble ¹⁴C-labelled products and ¹⁴CO₂, the growth of the fungi, and the activities of extracellular lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase were measured. Conditions that affect the rate of lignin degradation were imposed, and both long-term (0- to 16-day) and short-term (0- to 72-h) effects on the production of the two types of product and on the activities of the enzymes were monitored. The production of ¹⁴CO₂-labelled products from the aqueous ones was also investigated. The short-term studies showed that the different conditions had different effects on the production of the two products and on the activities of the enzymes. Nitrogen sources inhibited the production of both products by all species when differences in growth could be discounted. Medium pH and manganese affected lignin degradation by the different species differently. With P. chrysosporium, the results were consistent, with lignin peroxidase playing a role in lignin solubilization and manganese peroxidase being important in subsequent CO₂ production.     

High frequency differences between high and low voltage electrocorticograms in the ovine fetus

Dawes (1986) has stated that, "The difference between high and low voltage activity depends solely on the presence in the latter of higher amplitude oscillations with relatively low frequency superimposed on the low voltage components as shown by spectral analysis". We have tested the constancy of the high frequency section of the power spectrum of the electrocorticogram in 7 near-term sheep fetuses. Under sterile conditions we implanted biparietal electrodes in the dura and a ground lead subcutaneously on the scalp. Five days after the surgery, with the animal standing quietly in the laboratory, we acquired the fetal electrocorticograms. Data were acquired during several high and low voltage electrocorticographic cycles in each animal. Two hundred power spectra were obtained during high and low voltage fetal electrocortical activity and statistically analyzed by paired t-test to discern differences in power between the high and low voltage pattern at each frequency (n = 7). We found that at all frequencies between 4 and 12 cycles/s the high voltage electrocorticogram had significantly more power than the low voltage electrocorticogram (P less than 0.05). This is in accordance with the established literature. We also observed that from 17 through 24 cycles/s the low voltage electrocorticogram is significantly higher than the high voltage electrocorticogram (P less than 0.05). In this frequency range the power of the high voltage expressed as a percentage of the power of the low voltage were respectively, 80, 74, 71, 66, 64, 64, 67, 64. These differences are of considerable magnitude and may be physiologically important.     

Identification of a serum-inducible messenger RNA (5B10) as the mouse homologue of calcyclin: tissue distribution and expression in metastatic, ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells

A mouse mRNA, provisionally designated 5B10, has been cloned based on its inducibility by serum in quiescent murine fibroblasts. Here we report the full-length complementary DNA sequence and a partial characterization. There are about five copies of the gene in the mouse genome. Sequence analysis of the 5B10 coding region reveals 94 and 97% amino acid identity to human and rat calcyclin, respectively. Although the coding region has been highly conserved during evolution of the rodent and human genomes, the untranslated flanking sequences differ significantly. A protein of Mr about 8000 was produced by in vitro translation of the mRNA transcribed in vitro from 5B10 complementary DNA in a riboprobe vector. An antiserum raised against a portion of the predicted human calcyclin protein cross-reacted with this mouse protein. 5B10 mRNA was found in greatest amount in organs containing proliferating cells, e.g., epidermis, skin, stomach, uterus of pregnant mouse, placenta, and decidua. Brain, liver, mature thymus, and skeletal muscle had little or no detectable 5B10 mRNA. 5B10 mRNA levels were higher in cells treated with 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate than in their normal counterparts, suggesting a role in tumorigenesis. In addition, high 5B10 mRNA levels were associated with metastatic ability in a series of ras-transformed cells, in proportion to levels of ras p21 expressed by the cells, implicating 5B10 even more deeply in carcinogenesis.     

Floristic and structural variation in the Tamaulipan thornscrub,northeastern Mexico

Abstract. A generalized research strategy is presented for identifying the ecological effects of the physical environment and management in a poorly known region of subtropical, semiarid thornscrub in northeastern Mexico. Vegetation samples were stratified across a small number of climatic subregions, substrate types and topographic situations. Classification analysis and PCo A of the species x site matrix of incidence data after application of the Information Statistic were used. The analyses suggested that the regional variation in climate, substrates and topography was responsible for the major floristic differences in the vegetation. The distributions of most plant species were related to the variation in the physical environment. PCo A of the species x site cover data after application of the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity metric revealed evidence of vegetation change due to overgrazing in each major floristic group, but not to selective cutting for timber and firewood.     

The results of 2-year pollen monitoring of an urban network in Perugia,Central Italy

Continuous pollen monitoring of an urban network consisting of three stations has been undertaken for a period of 2 years in Perugia, central Italy. The aim has been to establish whether the Perugia pollen trap, active since 1983, is still representative of the area following recent urbanisation. Quantitative differences were found between the stations, reflecting different vegetational areas, but only slight differences were detected in relation to the timing of the principal period of pollination. Therefore, although individual pollen traps are necessary to characterize fully the different areas, one trap is sufficient to determine the key allergenic thresholds in the studied area.     

The results of 2-year pollen monitoring of an urban network in Perugia,Central Italy

Continuous pollen monitoring of an urban network consisting of three stations has been undertaken for a period of 2 years in Perugia, central Italy. The aim has been to establish whether the Perugia pollen trap, active since 1983, is still representative of the area following recent urbanisation. Quantitative differences were found between the stations, reflecting different vegetational areas, but only slight differences were detected in relation to the timing of the principal period of pollination. Therefore, although individual pollen traps are necessary to characterize fully the different areas, one trap is sufficient to determine the key allergenic thresholds in the studied area.     

Diet and feeding ecology of the diving petrels Pelecanoides georgicus and P. urinatrix at South Georgia

 The diet of the diving petrels Pelecanoides georgicus and P. urinatrix was studied during 1986 (P. georgicus) and 1987 (both species) by lavaging adults as they returned to feed chicks on Bird Island, South Georgia. The diet of both species was dominated by crustaceans, in particular euphausiids (mainly Euphausia superba and some Thysanoessa), which contributed 47–76% of the biomass of crustaceans in the diet of P. georgicus, and copepods, which contributed 71% of the biomass of crustaceans in the diet of P. urinatrix. Calanoides acutus was the most numerous copepod in the diet of both species; however, Rhincalanus gigas was more common in P. urinatrix than in P. georgicus. The dominant amphipod in the diet of P. georgicus, Primno macropa, was absent from the diet of Pelecanoides urinatrix, in which Themisto gaudichaudii (rare in Pelecanoides georgicus) dominated. Dietary differences were maintained in the period (2 weeks of a total of 10 weeks) when both species were simultaneously rearing chicks. Knowledge of the prey species and of the diving abilities and foraging habits of diving petrels suggests that at South Georgia Pelecanoides urinatrix feeds closer inshore and dives deeper than Pelecarnoides georgicus. Received: 24 August 1995/Accepted: 10 February 1996     

High-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels; Structure,pharmacology, and function

High-conductance calcium-activated potassium (maxi-K) channels comprise a specialized family of K⁺ channels. They are unique in their dual requirement for depolarization and Ca²⁺ binding for transition to the open, or conducting, state. Ion conduction through maxi-K channels is blocked by a family of venom-derived peptides, such as charybdotoxin and iberiotoxin. These peptides have been used to study function and structure of maxi-K channels, to identify novel channel modulators, and to follow the purification of functional maxi-K channels from smooth muscle. The channel consists of two dissimilar subunits, and . The subunit is a member of theslo Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel gene family and forms the ion conduction pore. The subunit is a structurally unique, membrane-spanning protein that contributes to channel gating and pharmacology. Potent, selective maxi-K channel effectors (both agonists and blockers) of low molecular weight have been identified from natural product sources. These agents, together with peptidyl inhibitors and site-directed antibodies raised against and subunit sequences, can be used to anatomically map maxi-K channel expression, and to study the physiologic role of maxi-K channels in various tissues. One goal of such investigations is to determine whether maxi-K channels represent novel therapeutic targets.     

Differential IAA dose response relations of the axr1 and axr2 mutants of Arabidopsis

In comparison to wild type Arabidopsis thaliana, the auxin resistant mutants axr1 and axr2 exhibit reduced inhibition of root elongation in response to auxins. Several auxin-regulated physiological processes are also altered in the mutant plants. When wild-type, axr1 and axr2 seedlings were grown in darkness on media containing indoleacetic acid (IAA), promotion of root growth was observed at low concentrations of IAA (10^?11 to 10^?7M) in 5-day-old axr2 seedlings, but not in axr1 or wild-type seedlings. In axr1 there was little or no measurable root growth response over the same concentration range. In wild type, root growth was inhibited at concentrations greater than 10^?10M and no detectable root growth response was observed at lower concentrations. In addition, production of lateral roots in response to IAA increased in axr2 seedlings and decreased in axr1 seedlings relative to wild type. Promotion of root elongation and initiation of lateral roots in axr2 seedlings in response to auxin indicate that axr2 seedlings are able to perceive and respond to IAA.