The '3Rs' model and the concept of alternatives in animal research: a questionnaire survey

It has been 45 years since Russell and Burch first proposed the concept of the '3Rs', yet it remains unclear how those individuals involved in animal research view and implement these concepts. The authors used a questionnaire survey to determine how well-known experts judged issues related to the 3Rs.     

LIMK1 regulates Golgi dynamics, traffic of Golgi-derived vesicles, and process extension in primary cultured neurons

In this study, we examined the subcellular distribution and functions of LIMK1 in developing neurons. Confocal microscopy, subcellular fractionation, and expression of several epitope-tagged LIMK1 constructs revealed that LIMK1 is enriched in the Golgi apparatus and growth cones, with the LIM domain required for Golgi localization and the PDZ domain for its presence at neuritic tips. Overexpression of wild-type LIMK1 suppresses the formation of trans-Golgi derived tubules, and prevents cytochalasin D-induced Golgi fragmentation, whereas that of a kinase-defective mutant has the opposite effect. Transfection of wild-type LIMK1 accelerates axon formation and enhances the accumulation of Par3/Par6, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)1 receptors, and neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) at growth cones, while inhibiting the Golgi export of synaptophysin-containing vesicles. These effects were dependent on the Golgi localization of LIMK1, paralleled by an increase in cofilin phosphorylation and phalloidin staining in the region of the Golgi apparatus, and prevented by coexpression of constitutive active cofilin. The long-term overexpression of LIMK1 produces growth cone collapse and axon retraction, an effect that is dependent on its growth cone localization. Together, our results suggest an important role for LIMK1 in axon formation that is related with its ability to regulate Golgi dynamics, membrane traffic, and actin cytoskeletal organization.     

Synthesis of 4-amino-6-(hetero)arylalkylamino-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one derivatives as potent A(2A) adenosine receptor antagonists

In previous papers (Colotta, V. et al. Arch. Pharm. Pharm. Med. Chem. 1999, 332, 39. Colotta, V. et al. J. Med. Chem. 2000, 43, 1158) we reported the synthesis and binding affinity at bovine (b) A₁ and A_2A and human (h) A₃ adenosine receptors (ARs) of the 4-amino-6-benzylamino-2-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (compound A) which resulted in a potent and selective A_2A AR antagonist. Compound A provided the lead compound of a series of 6- or 8-(hetero)arylalkylamino-4-amino-2-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one derivatives (compounds 1–20) which are the object of this paper. Most of the newly synthesized compounds are inactive at hA₃ ARs while they possess both nanomolar bA_2A affinities and different degrees of bA_2A versus bA₁ selectivity. The binding data show that hydrophilic substituents on the benzyl moiety are the most profitable for bA_2A receptor affinity. Furthermore, their steric hindrance seems to play an important role for the bA_2A AR interaction, thus suggesting that the 6-aralkylamino moiety of these ligands interacts with a size-limited binding pocket of this AR subtype. Thus, the SAR studies provided us some new insights about the structural requirements of the bA_2A AR recognition site.     

Chromosomal and molecular characterization of Aethomys kaiseri from Zambia and Aethomys chrysophilus from Tanzania (Rodentia, Muridae)

Aethomys is a common and widespread rodent genus in the African savannas and grasslands. However, its systematics and taxonomy are still unclear as no study has covered the entire range. In fact it might not be a monophyletic genus and perhaps should be split into two subgenera, Micaelamys and Aethomys. In this paper, we present findings based on the cytogenetics and the entire cytochrome b sequence of two species from Zambia (A. kaiseri) and Tanzania (A. chrysophilus), and we compare them with the sequences of a South African species (A. namaquensis) and other allied muroid genera. Comparison of the banded chromosomes revealed complete G-band homology between the autosomes of the two species. However, the X and Y chromosomes clearly differ in size and in C- and G-banding, being much larger in A. kaiseri. Comparison of the cytochrome b sequences places the separation between A. kaiseri and A. chrysophilus at 4.49 Mya, a period of intense speciation in other African muroids. The resulting phylogeny strongly supports the idea of a paraphyletic group, suggesting the need to elevate the previously described subgenera to the genus rank.     

Plasma membrane lipids in the resurrection plant Ramonda serbica following dehydration and rehydration

Plants of Ramonda serbica were dehydrated to 3.6% relative water content (RWC) by withholding water for 3 weeks, afterwards the plants were rehydrated for 1 week to 93.8% RWC. Plasma membranes were isolated from leaves using a two-phase aqueous polymer partition system. Compared with well-hydrated (control) leaves, dehydrated leaves suffered a reduction of about 75% in their plasma membrane lipid content, which returned to the control level following rewatering. Also the lipid to protein ratio decreased after dehydration, almost regaining the initial value after rehydration. Lipids extracted from the plasma membrane of fully-hydrated leaves were characterized by a high level of free sterols and a much lower level of phospholipids. Smaller amounts of cerebrosides, acylated steryl glycosides and steryl glycosides were also detected. The main phospholipids of control leaves were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, whereas sitosterol was the free sterol present in the highest amount. Following dehydration, leaf plasma membrane lipids showed a constant level of free sterols and a reduction in phospholipids compared with the well-hydrated leaves. Both phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine decreased following dehydration, their molar ratio remaining unchanged. Among free sterols, the remarkably high cholesterol level present in the control leaves (about 14 mol%) increased 2-fold as a result of dehydration. Dehydration caused a general decrease in the unsaturation level of individual phospholipids and total lipids as well. Upon rehydration the lipid composition of leaf plasma membranes restored very quickly approaching the levels of well-hydrated leaves.     

Expression of Drosophila Ten-a,a dimeric receptor during embryonic development

Ten-a and Ten-m are the two Drosophila members of the newly discovered Ten-m family of dimeric type II transmembrane proteins. Here, we report complete cDNA cloning and protein expression patterns of Ten-a. The Ten-a protein, a dimeric receptor of about 500 kDa is mainly expressed on axons of the embryonic central nervous system and on muscle attachment sites.     

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer detection of synaptophysin I and vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 interactions during exocytosis from single live synapses

To investigate the molecular interactions of synaptophysin I and vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2)/synaptobrevin II during exocytosis, we have used time-lapse videomicroscopy to measure fluorescence resonance energy transfer in live neurons. For this purpose, fluorescent protein variants fused to synaptophysin I or VAMP2 were expressed in rat hippocampal neurons. We show that synaptophysin I and VAMP2 form both homo- and hetero-oligomers on the synaptic vesicle membrane. When exocytosis is stimulated with alpha-latrotoxin, VAMP2 dissociates from synaptophysin I even in the absence of appreciable exocytosis, whereas synaptophysin I oligomers disassemble only upon incorporation of the vesicle with the plasma membrane. We propose that synaptophysin I has multiple roles in neurotransmitter release, regulating VAMP2 availability for the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor complex and possibly participating in the late steps of exocytosis.     

Enzymatic activity and degradation of different kinds of organic wastes by Saccobolus saccoboloides (Fungi,Ascomycotina)

The ability to degrade organic solid wastes by the fungus Saccobolus saccoboloides was studied. The organism, unusual in such studies, was cultivated in synthetic liquid media with agitation, and on day 8 of growth the mycelium was passed to flasks with trimming. On day 16 of growth, the trimming degradation was assesed by carboxymethylcellulase, xylanase, and amylase activities evaluation, and NaOH 1% hydrolysis. Later on, the type of waste was modified (trimming, filter paper, newspaper, cardboard, sawdust and wood shaving were used) as well as the mass (300-1800 mg/flask). In these cases the enzymatic activities increased between 300 and 600 mg/flask. The total separation of the cellular components in all types of paper and cardboard was observed, together with a high loss of weight. S. saccoboloides was not able to degrade the wood wastes