Characterization of the phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-released form of rat osseous plate alkaline phosphatase and its possible significance on endochondral ossification

S-2-(3 aminopropylamino) ethylphosphorothioic acid (WR-2721) shown to surpass radical scavenging thiols in their radioprotective efficacy in cancer-type diseases has been tested for its protective potential in the reperfused heart. We investigated the radical scavenger properties of the compound in a radical generating systemin vitro as well as in isolated rat hearts subjected to 30 min ischaemia and 30 min reperfusion with the electron-paramagnetic resonance spin trap technique. The action on high-energy phosphates is observed by means of phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy while its influence on left ventricular systolic segmental length change (SSLC) during 60 min reperfusion following 60 min regional ischaemia was assessed with a fibreoptic system in anaesthetized open-chest rats. WR-2721 (0.1 mM) reduced the vascular concentration of radical adduct in isolated hearts by up to 78% (275±84% of pre-ischaemic baseline values vs 1260±413%, p<0.05) between 5 and 12.5 min reperfusion. This was accompanied by a reduction of the left ventricular end diastolic pressure to pre-ischaemic values at 30 min of reperfusion (9±6 mmHg vs 42±8 mmHg in the absence of WR-2721, p<0.02). An accelerated recovery of creatine phosphate levels (78±5% of pre-ischaemia values vs 41±5% within 60 min reperfusion; p<0.05) was observed under similar conditions with NMR-spectroscopy, although the post-ischaemic tissue content of adenosine triphosphate was not affected. The administration of WR-2721 (0.5 mmol/kg body weight) ledin situ to an accelerated restoration of contractile activity in the post-ligated left ventricular area reflected by the post-ischaemic recovery of SSLC (64±10% of pre-ischaemic values compared with 27±6% in control animals 60 min following reperfusion; p<0.02). The present data confirm an effective reduction in the exposure of the reperfused heart to endogenously released free radicals by WR-2721, a partial preservation of high-energy phosphates and an improvement in post-ischaemic contractility and encourage further investigation of such favourable action in injured myocardium.     

Parental care in the rocky intertidal: a case study of adaptation and exaptation in Mediterranean and Atlantic blennies

Summary The main features of the behavioural ecology of rocky intertidal species are compared both within families — though concentrated on blennies — and between habitats. It is suggested that, at the behavioural level, the reduction of vertical and swimming elements in the male sexual and agonistic displays of Blennioidei may constitute an adaptation to typical intertidal conditions, especially in those species that inhabit areas exposed to strong wave action. The other aspect which is discussed is the prevalence of parental care in rocky intertidal fishes. In these fishes parental care is much more frequent than for marine fishes as a whole. Taken alone, this could also suggest that guarding evolved as an adaptation during the process of colonization of these habitats. The hypothesis proposed in this paper is that guarding was already present in the ancestors of the resident species, at least in the majority of cases. Many differences in interhabitat studies may express the action of the environment, not as an agent of natural selection, but as a filter, which prevented some groups from invading a given habitat and, at the same time, made colonization easier for other groups. When a number of taxa that colonized a given habitat display clear similarities in their behaviour and their biology, adaptation is not necessarily demonstrated. There is evidence in the literature to support the hypothesis that those traits were already present in the ancestors of the rocky intertidal resident fishes, thus being best viewed as exaptations.     

Puffing activity in the salivary gland chromosomes of Rhynchosciara under experimental conditions

By using the techniques of ligation of the larvae (brain and endocrine glands extirpation) and salivary gland implantation, the hormonal dependence of the activity of certain puffs of Rhynchosciara was investigated. Our results have shown that the puffing behaviour — activation and deactivation — varies according to the developmental stage in which the larvae were ligated. When the larvae were ligated just before the drastic changes in the puffing pattern, which occur prior to pupation, these changes fail to occur. When the larvae were ligated after the onset of these changes we have observed: a) some of the puffs active at the time of the ligature regress promptly, earlier than their normal timing observed in controls; b) others remain active indefinitely and c) there are still some which regress accordingly to the normal timing.The puff B2 which behaves as those in b was double checked by means of implantation experiments. Salivary glands which had puff B2 at its maximum expansion were implanted into younger larvae and that puff also remained active in the body cavity of these larvae. Hypotheses to explain the results obtained are discussed.     

Effects of caffeine on growth and metamorphosis of moth fly Telmatoscopus albipunctatus (Diptera, Psychodidae)

Caffeine causes severe retardation of growth and development and high mortality of larvae Telmatoscopus albipunctatus. In general, sensitivity to caffeine is inversely proportional to the age of the treated larvae. Adults originating from treated larvae show lower fertility. Treatment of pupae results in elongated abdomens, abnormal wings and reduced fertility in adults. Caffeine also affects adversely polytenization of chromosomes. It is suggested that effects on larval growth and polytenization of chromosomes are due to retardation of DNA synthesis. Other possible mechanisms of action of caffeine are discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Koffein verursacht starke Verzögerung von Wachstum und Entwicklung sowie hohe Mortalität der Larven von Telmatoscopus albipunctatus. Im allgemeinen ist die Empfindlichkeit genenüber Koffein umgekehrt proportional zum Alter der behandelten Larven. Adulte, die als Larven damit behandelt wurden, zeigen verminderte Fertilität. Behandlung von Puppen ergibt Adulte mit verlängertem Abdomen, anormalen Flügeln und verminderter Fertilität. Koffein beeinflußt auch die Polytänisierung der Chromosomen ungünstig. Es wird angenommen, daß die Beeinflussung des Larvenwachstums und der Polytänisierung der Chromosomen zurückzuführen ist auf verzögerte DNS-Synthese. Es werden sodann andere mögliche Mechanismen der Wirkung des Koffeins diskutiert.

     

Neolignans from an Aniba species

The trunk wood of an Amazonian Aniba (Lauraceae) species contains, besides dillapiol and the benzodioxane-type neolignan eusiderin, four bicyclo(3.2.1)octanoid neolignans. These comprise representatives of the canellin-type: the known methoxycanellin-A and the novel compounds characterized as (1R, 3S, 4S, 5S, 6S, 7R)-1-allyl-4-hydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxy-7-methyl-6-(3′-methoxy-4′, 5′-methylenedioxyphenyl)-8-oxo-bicyclo(3.2.1)octane; (1R, 3S, 4S, 5S, 6S, 7R)-1-allyl-4-hydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxy-7-methyl-6-(3′, 4′, 5′-trimethoxyphenyl)-8-oxobicyclo(3.2.1)octane and (1R, 4R, 5R, 6S, 7R, 8S)-1-allyl-4, 8-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-7-methyl-6-(3′-methoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-oxobicyclo(3.2.1)octane.     

Dihydroisocoumarins and phthalide from wood samples infested by fungi

Wood samples, infested by fungi during storage, were shown to contain, besides the known 5-methyl-mellein, additional (3R)-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins substituted by 7-methyl, 5-formyl, 5-carboxy, 5-hydroxy, 5-methoxy, 6-methoxy-5-methyl and 6,7-dimethoxy-5-methyl groups, as well as 6-formyl-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-4-methylphthalide. Several 2-methylchromanones were synthesized in order to show that this class of compounds can be distinguished from 3-methyl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins by MS.     

Neoflavonoids and the cinnamylphenol kuhlmannistyrene from Machaerium kuhlmannii and M. Nictitans

The trunkwood of Machaerium kuhlmannii contains methyl palmitate, 3-O-acetyloleanolic acid and sitosterol; the benzene derivatives 2,3-dimethoxyphenol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenol, 2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde and methyl 3-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-propionate; the isoflavonoids formononetin and (6aS,11aS)-medicarpin; the neoflavonoids (R)-3,4-dimethoxydalbergione, (R)-3,4-dimethoxydalbergiquinol, kuhlmanniquinol [(R)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(5-hydroxy-2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)-propene], dalbergin, kuhlmannin (6-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxy-4-phenylcoumarin) and kuhlmannene (6-hydroxy-7,8-dimethoxy-4-phenylchrom-3-ene), as well as the cinnamylphenol kuhlmannistyrene [Z-1-(5-hydroxy-2,3,4-trimethoxybenzyl)-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-ethylene]. Five of these compounds, in addition to (R)-4′-hydroxy-3,4-dimethoxydalbergione, were also isolated from a trunkwood extract of M. nictitans. Structural assignments were confirmed by chemical interconversion and by the synthesis of (±)-kuhlmanniquinol.     

Spatial and temporal gene expression patterns occur during corm development.

We investigated gene expression patterns that occur during taro corm development. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identified several different prevalent proteins that accumulate during corm development. Microsequencing studies indicated that some of these proteins are related to taste-modifying proteins, such as curculin and miraculin, and proteins found in other storage organs, such as sporamin and the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor. A curculin-encoding cDNA clone, designated as TC1, was identified that corresponds to a highly prevalent 1-kb corm mRNA. The TC1 mRNA accumulates during corm development, is more prevalent in corm apical than basal regions, and is either absent, or present at low concentrations, in other vegetative organs such as the leaf and root. In situ hybridization experiments showed that the TC1 mRNA is highly concentrated in corm storage parenchyma cells and is absent, or present in reduced concentrations, in other corm cells and tissues. Our results show that corm development is associated with the differentiation of specialized cells and tissues, and that these differentiation events are coupled with the temporal and spatial expression of corm-specific genes.     

The planktonic rotifers of the estuarine lagunar complex of Suape (Pernambuco,Brazil)

We studied spatial and temporal distribution, abundance, diversity, equitability and species associations of the rotifers of the estuarine area of Suape (Pernambuco-Brazil), based on plankton samples collected according to the tidal regime at 11 fixed stations in Suape Bay and the estuaries of Massangana, Tatuoca and Ipojuca Rivers, during February (dry season) and July (rainy season) of 1978. Concurrent hydrological and climatological data were taken. Eight species groups were established. In general, rotifers dominated in the Ipojuca River estuary and stations subject to its influence. Greatest community similarities were observed among nearby stations, during the same tide and season. Hydrological factors influenced the occurrence and distribution of some species, and a close correlation between phytoplankton and rotifers was observed. Pollution in Ipojuca River contributed to diversity.     

Dyes as fungal inhibitors: effect on colony diameter.

The effects of a wide range of concentrations of 13 dyes on the colony diameters of nine fungal strains (including members of the Deuteromycetes and Zygomycetes) were evaluated. Auramine at a concentration of 50 ppm (50 micrograms/ml), methylene blue at a concentration of 500 ppm, gentian violet at a concentration of 5 ppm, and phenol red at a concentration of 50 ppm performed as well as the commonly used dyes dichloran at a concentration of 2 ppm and rose bengal at a concentration of 50 ppm in that they allowed adequate colony development of the Deuteromycetes strains tested and controlled rapidly spreading fungi.