Phenotypic and genetic variation in male genitalia in the seedbug, Lygaeus equestris (Heteroptera)

Male genitalia evolve through sexual selection and, in insects, tend to show negative static allometry, low phenotypic variation, and are usually relatively small. Much less is known about the genetic variation and heritability of male genitalia. Additionally, in instances where the intromittent organ is greatly elongated, it is unclear whether typical patterns of genital scaling and variation also apply. In the present study, we investigated the allometry, variation, and heritability of male genital length in the seedbug, Lygaeus equestris , a species with a greatly elongated intromittent organ (i.e. almost as long as male body size). We found that genital length was negatively allometric, in spite of its great length, and was no more variable than nongenital traits. Additionally, genital length was significantly heritable and had considerable evolvability.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 98 , 400–405.     

Histopathological effects of cisplatin,doxorubicin and 5-flurouracil (5-FU) on the liver of male albino rats

Cisplatin, doxorubicin and fluorouracil (5-FU), drugs belonging to different chemical classes, have been extensively used for chemotherapy of various cancers. Despite extensive investigations into their hepatotoxicity, there is very limited information on their effects on the structure and ultra-structure of liver cells in vivo. Here, we demonstrate for the first time, the effects of these three anticancer drugs on rat liver toxicity using both light and electron microscopy. Light microscopic observations revealed that higher doses of cisplatin and doxorubicin caused massive hepatotoxicity compared to 5-FU treatment, including dissolution of hepatic cords, focal inflammation and necrotic tissues. Interestingly, low doses also exhibited abnormal changes, including periportal fibrosis, degeneration of hepatic cords and increased apoptosis. These changes were confirmed at ultrastructural level, including vesiculated rough endoplasmic reticulum and atrophied mitochondria with ill-differentiated cisternae, dense collection of macrophages and lymphocytes as well as fibrocytes with collagenous fibrils manifesting early sign of fibrosis, especially in response to cisplatin and doxorubicin -treatment. Our results provide in vivo evidence, at ultrastructural level, of direct hepatotoxicity caused by cisplatin, doxorubicin and 5-FU at both light and electron microscopi. These results can guide the design of appropriate treatment regimen to reduce the hepatotoxic effects of these anticancer drugs.     

Characterization of PR-10 genes from eight Betula species and detection of Bet v 1 isoforms in birch pollen

Background  

Bet v 1 is an important cause of hay fever in northern Europe. Bet v 1 isoforms from the European white birch (Betula pendula) have been investigated extensively, but the allergenic potency of other birch species is unknown. The presence of Bet v 1 and closely related PR-10 genes in the genome was established by amplification and sequencing of alleles from eight birch species that represent the four subgenera within the genus Betula. Q-TOF LC-MS^E was applied to identify which PR-10/Bet v 1 genes are actually expressed in pollen and to determine the relative abundances of individual isoforms in the pollen proteome.     

Test of an environmental flow release in a British Columbia river: does more water mean more fish?

1. Water managers must make difficult decisions about the allocation of streamflows between out‐of‐channel human uses and environmental flows for aquatic resources. However, the effects environmental flows on stream ecosystems are infrequently evaluated. 2. We used a 13‐year experiment in the regulated Bridge River, British Columbia, Canada, to determine whether an environmental flow release designed to increase salmonid productivity was successful. A hierarchical Bayesian model was used to compare juvenile Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) abundance before and after the flow release. 3. We found that the total number of salmonids did increase after the release, but most of the gains could be attributed to the rewatering of a previously dry channel located immediately below the dam. In reaches that had flowing water during the baseline period, the response of individual salmon species to the increase in flow was variable, and there was little change in total abundance after the flow release. Our results were inconsistent with both habitat modelling, which predicted a decrease in habitat quality with increasing flow, and holistic instream flow approaches, which imply greater benefits with larger flows. 4. We question whether biotic responses to flow changes can be predicted reliably with currently available methods and suggest that adaptive management or the use of decision tools that account for the uncertainty in the biotic response is required for instream flow decisions when the competing demands for water are great.     

Natural Inhibitors in Normal and Dwarf Peas

Extracts of light- and dark-grown, normal and dwarf pea seedlings(Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska and Radio respectively) were purifiedby solvent partitioning, column, paper and thin layer chromatography.Conventional acid-base partitioning was modified because thelarge volumes of material processed caused considerable crosscontamination between neutral and acidic phases. At each stepof the purification, fractions were tested for inhibitory activitywith the wheat coleoptile and pea section tests. Recovery ofabscisic acid was monitored using ¹⁴C-abscisic acid. Estimatesof abscisic acid content were marie using gas-liquid chromatographyand the wheat coleoptile bioassay. Two main inhibitors were found; one of these was identifiedas (+)-abscisic acid, the other (inhibitor Y) has not been identifiedbut displays chromatographic properties which suggest that itis neutral in nature. Abscisic acid was found in both rootsand shoots of light- and dark-grown pea seedlings. InhibitorY was found in trace amounts in the roots of dark-grown plantsbut could not be detected in the shoots. Growth in light induceda manifold increase in inhibitor Y concentration compared withdark-grown plants. The level of Y was threefold greater in light-growndwarf shoots than in comparable light-grown tall shoots. Therewas, thus, a correlation between the concentration of inhibitorY and the light-induced inhibition of stem elongation.     

Chemoprevention of rat liver toxicity and carcinogenesis by Spirulina

Spirulina platensis (SP) is a filamentous cyanobacterium microalgae with potent dietary phyto-antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous properties. The present study aimed to investigate the chemopreventive effect of SP against rat liver toxicity and carcinogenesis induced by dibutyl nitrosamine (DBN) precursors, and further characterized its underlying mechanisms of action in HepG2 cell line. Investigation by light and electron microscopy showed that DBN treatment induced severe liver injury and histopathological abnormalities, which were prevented by SP supplementation. The incidence of liver tumors was significantly reduced from 80 to 20% by SP. Immunohistochemical results indicated that both PCNA and p53 were highly expressed in the liver of DBN-treated rats, but were significantly reduced by SP supplementation. Molecular analysis indicated that SP treatment inhibited cell proliferation, which was accompanied by increased p21 and decreased Rb expression levels at 48hrs post-treatment. In addition, SP increased Bax and decreased Bcl-2 expression, indicating induction of apoptosis by 48hrs. This is the first report of the in vivo chemopreventive effect of SP against DBN-induced rat liver cytotoxicity and carcinogenesis, suggesting its potential use in chemoprevention of cancer.