Ontogenetic change in effectiveness of chemical defence against different predators in Oxycarenus true bugs

Many prey species change their antipredator defence during ontogeny, which may be connected to different potential predators over the life cycle of the prey. To test this hypothesis, we compared reactions of two predator taxa – spiders and birds – to larvae and adults of two invasive true bug species, Oxycarenus hyalinipennis and Oxycarenus lavaterae (Heteroptera: Oxycarenidae) with life-stage-specific chemical defence mechanisms. The reactions to larvae and adults of both true bug species strikingly differed between the two predator taxa. The spiders were deterred by the defences of adult bugs, but the larval defences were ineffective against them. By contrast, birds attacked the larvae considerably less often than the adult bugs. The results indicate a predator-specific ontogenetic change in defence effectiveness of both Oxycarenus species. The change in defence is likely linked to the life-stage-specific composition of secretions in both species: whereas secretions of larvae are dominated by unsaturated aldehydes, secretions of adults are rich in terpenoids, which probably serve dual function of defensive chemicals and pheromones. Our results highlight the variation in defence between different life stages and the importance of testing responses of different types of predators.     

Environmental,geographical and time-related impacts on avian malaria infections in native and introduced populations of house sparrows (Passer domesticus), a globally invasive species

Aim

The increasing spread of vector-borne diseases has resulted in severe health concerns for humans, domestic animals and wildlife, with changes in land use and the introduction of invasive species being among the main possible causes for this increase. We explored several ecological drivers potentially affecting the local prevalence and richness of avian malaria parasite lineages in native and introduced house sparrows (Passer domesticus) populations.

Location

Global.

Time period

2002–2019.

Major taxa studied

Avian Plasmodium parasites in house sparrows.

Methods

We analysed data from 2,220 samples from 69 localities across all continents, except Antarctica. The influence of environment (urbanization index and human density), geography (altitude, latitude, hemisphere) and time (bird breeding season and years since introduction) were analysed using generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) and random forests.

Results

Overall, 670 sparrows (30.2%) were infected with 22 Plasmodium lineages. In native populations, parasite prevalence was positively related to urbanization index, with the highest prevalence values in areas with intermediate urbanization levels. Likewise, in introduced populations, prevalence was positively associated with urbanization index; however, higher infection occurred in areas with either extreme high or low levels of urbanization. In introduced populations, the number of parasite lineages increased with altitude and with the years elapsed since the establishment of sparrows in a new locality. Here, after a decline in the number of parasite lineages in the first 30 years, an increase from 40 years onwards was detected.

Main conclusions

Urbanization was related to parasite prevalence in both native and introduced bird populations. In invaded areas, altitude and time since bird introduction were related to the number of Plasmodium lineages found to be infecting sparrows.     

1,5-diamino-2-pentyne is both a substrate and inactivator of plant copper amine oxidases.

1,5-diamino-2-pentyne (DAPY) was found to be a weak substrate of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus, GPAO) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia, OVAO) amine oxidases. Prolonged incubations, however, resulted in irreversible inhibition of both enzymes. For GPAO and OVAO, rates of inactivation of 0.1-0.3 min(-1) were determined, the apparent KI values (half-maximal inactivation) were of the order of 10(-5) m. DAPY was found to be a mechanism-based inhibitor of the enzymes because the substrate cadaverine significantly prevented irreversible inhibition. The N1-methyl and N5-methyl analogs of DAPY were tested with GPAO and were weaker inactivators (especially the N5-methyl) than DAPY. Prolonged incubations of GPAO or OVAO with DAPY resulted in the appearance of a yellow-brown chromophore (lambda(max) = 310-325 nm depending on the working buffer). Excitation at 310 nm was associated with emitted fluorescence with a maximum at 445 nm, suggestive of extended conjugation. After dialysis, the color intensity was substantially decreased, indicating the formation of a low molecular mass secondary product of turnover. The compound provided positive reactions with ninhydrin, 2-aminobenzaldehyde and Kovacs' reagents, suggesting the presence of an amino group and a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic structure. The secondary product was separated chromatographically and was found not to irreversibly inhibit GPAO. MS indicated an exact molecular mass (177.14 Da) and molecular formula (C10H15N3). Electrospray ionization- and MALDI-MS/MS analyses yielded fragment mass patterns consistent with the structure of a dihydropyridine derivative of DAPY. Finally, N-(2,3-dihydropyridinyl)-1,5-diamino-2-pentyne was identified by means of 1H- and 13C-NMR experiments. This structure suggests a lysine modification chemistry that could be responsible for the observed inactivation.     

Distinct subcellular localization of β-tubulin epitopes in the adult mouse brain

 A panel of monoclonal antibodies specific of α-tubulin (TU-01, TU-09) and β-tubulin (TU-06, TU-13) subunits was used to study the location of N-terminal structural domains of tubulin in adult mouse brain. The specificity of antibodies was confirmed b immunoblotting experiments. Immunohistochemical staining of vibratome sections from cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and corpus callosum showed that antibodies TU-01, TU-09, and TU13 reacted with neuronal and glial cells and their processes, whereas the TU-06 antibody stained only the perikarya. Dendrites and axons were either unstained or their staining was very weak. As the TU-06 epitope is located on the N-terminal structural domain of β-tubulin, the observed staining pattern cannot be interpreted as evidence of a distinct subcellular localization of β-tubulin isotypes or known post-translational modifications. The limited distribution of the epitope could, rather, reflect differences between the conformations of tubulin molecules in microtubules of somata and neurites or, alternatively, a specific masking of the corresponding region on the N-terminal domain of β-tubulin by interacting protein(s) in dendrites and axons. Accepted: 11 November 1996     

Body mass changes in waders (Charadrii) in a high arctic area at northern Taimyr, Siberia

Body mass data were collected for 5 species of tundra waders during 6 breeding seasons to study variation in nutrient reserves relative to high arctic climatic conditions and the stage of reproduction. Structural size was accounted for by the 1st Principal Component of external linear measurements: wing length, bill length and tarsus length. SandpipersCalidris spp. were on average lighter in phenologically late seasons, while mass of Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) was similar in all years. Mass of waders was lower during brood-rearing than during incubation. Body mass during pre-nesting was most variable between years, reflecting the unpredictable weather conditions in this period. Monogamous species (KnotsCalidris canutus and Turnstones) began to breed earlier, and were on average, as heavy during the pre-nesting period as during incubation. In contrast, species with a proven or suspected rapid double-clutch breeding system (Little StintsC. minuta and SanderlingsC. alba) began to breed later and had during the laying period masses close to those of adults attending broods, and lower than during incubation. Body mass of the two latter species and Curlew Sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea) varied during incubation, reaching peak at 7 to 13 days after clutch completion.

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Zusammenfassung Von fünf Tundra-Watvogelarten wurden in sechs Brutperioden Daten zur Körpermasse gewonnen, um die Dynamik der Energiereserven in Abhängigkeit von den klimatischen Bedingungen der Hocharktis und vom Fortpflanzungsstadium zu analysieren. Der Einfluß der Körpermaße auf die Masse wurde bei der statistischen Auswertung durch die Einbeziehung der 1. Hauptkomponente von Flügel-, Schnabel- und Tarsuslänge berücksichtigt. StrandläuferCalidris spec. erwiesen sich in späten Jahren als leichter, während in der Körpermasse von Steinwälzern (Arenaria interpres) keine Unterschiede festgestellt werden konnten. Die Körpermasse aller untersuchter Arten war während der Betreuung der Jungvögel geringer als während Brütezeit. Die Masse in der Zeit vor der Brut variierte in Übereinstimmung mit den wechselnden Wetterbedingungen in den einzelnen Jahren am stärksten. Monogame Arten (KnutCalidris canutus und Steinwälzer) begannen früher mit der Fortpflanzung; ihre Körpermasse in der Phase von der Brut und während der Brütezeit war im Mittel etwa gleich. Im Gegensatz dazu begannen Arten, bei denen ein Doppelbrutsystem nachgewiesen wurde oder vermutet wird (ZwergstrandläuferC. minuta und SanderlingC. alba), später mit dem Nestbau, wobei die Körpermasse auf ein Niveau absinkt, das dem während der Betreuung der Jungvögel nahekommt und geringer ist, als das während der Brütezeit. Bei den beiden letzten Arten sowie beim Sichelstrandläufer (Calidris ferrugunea) veränderte sich die Körpermasse während des Brütens und erreichte ein Maximum zwischen dem 7. und dem 13. Tag nach Beendigung der Eiablage.

     

Nociceptive atrophy of the rat soleus muscle induced by bone fracture: a morphometric study

Zachaová, Gisela, HelenaKnotková-Urbancová, Pavel Hník, andTomá Soukup. Nociceptive atrophy of the rat soleus muscle induced by bone fracture: a morphometric study.J. Appl. Physiol. 82(2): 552-557, 1997.Reflex atrophy of the soleus muscle induced by ipsilateralmetatarsal bone fracture in Sagatal-anesthetized adult male rats wasstudied by using two-dimensional stereological methods 7 days after theoperation. When compared with contralateral solei, the wet weight ofthe experimental soleus muscles was decreased by ~24% and the areaof the entire muscle section by ~29%. In atrophied solei, the numberof type 1 fibers was lower by ~8%, resulting in lower total numberof fibers (by ~6%). This indicates that slow motor units might bemore sensitive to nociceptive stimulation. However, with respect to thefiber area, the reflex atrophy induced by metatarsal bone fracture inthe rat soleus muscle resembles simple atrophy after 7 days, as themean muscle fiber area was decreased by ~26% with no significantdifference between atrophy in type 1 and type 2a fibers (by 27.3 and23.0%, respectively).

     

Centrifugal cell hybridization

Centrifugation of cell suspensions containing two or several cell types at forces up to 2 million g results in several basic events in succession: 1. Intracellular stratification. 2. Extrusion of the most dense cell parts (nuclei or cytoplasmic components) and their penetration into an adjacent cell in the compact sediment. Such introduction of protoplasmic elements from one cell into another is considered as centrifugal hybridization and fusion of cells. It differs from other methods of cell hybridization by its selectivity for cell components. 3. Further intermingling and mixing of cells into a fused protoplasmic mass. 4. With continuing increase of centrifugal force fractions of subcellular components are formed from the protoplasmic mass. These components are presumably viable since cells are not exposed to chemical treatment. Morphological demonstration of hybridization is based on centrifuging microscopy and on labeling donor cells or recipient cells by staining or fluorescence. Genetic evidence can be provided by cultivation of hybrid cellsin vitro and their cloningin vivo.     

Cytotaxonomic study ofTragopogon L. in czechoslovakia

Karyotypes ofTragopogon orientalis L. subsp.orientalis, T orientalis L. subsp.leiocarpos (Sauter)Trnka,T. pratensis L.,T. minor Miller,T. dubius Scop. subsp.dubius andT. dubius Scop. subsp.major (Jacq.)Vollmann were studied. The occurrence in Slovakia ofT. pratensis was karyologically proved.     

Vasotocin, melatonin and narcolepsy: Possible involvement of the pineal gland in its patho-physiological mechanism

Both the pineal nonapeptide hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) (2.5 μg) administered intra-nasally and the pineal indole melatonin (50 mg) administered intravenously to three male narcoleptics (two with auxiliary symptoms and one with sleep attacks only), dramatically increased the amount of REM sleep and decreased REM sleep latency. The duration of the sleep onset REM periods in the two narcoleptics with auxiliary symptoms increased by more than 100 percent after AVT and melatonin administration. In the narcoleptic with sleep attacks only both AVT and melatonin induced REM periods at sleep onset. The hypothesis is advanced that narcolepsy represents an impairment of the melatonin-AVT control in the induction and circadian organization of REM sleep associated with an immaturity of REM triggering centers.     

Effect of serum,fibronectin, and laminin on adhesion of rabbit intestinal epithelial cells in culture

Rabbit intestinal epithelial cells, obtained after a limited hyaluronidase digestion, were incubated in medium with or without calf serum, on bacteriological plastic dishes. The dishes, either plain or coated with an air-dried type I collagen film, were pretreated with medium alone or with medium containing purified laminin or purified fibronectin. Cells did not attach in significant numbers to untreated bacteriological plastic, even in the presence of serum. Cells did attach to collagen-coated dishes, and were judged viable on the basis of their incorporation of radiolabeled leucine into cell protein. Cell adhesion to the collagen substrate increased in proportion to the concentration of serum in the medium, with maximal attachment at 5% serum or greater. Pretreatment of plain or collagen-coated dishes with increasing amounts of fibronectin enhanced cell adhesion in a concentration-dependent manner. Either serum, or fibronectin-free serum in the medium enhanced cell attachment to substrates pretreated with cither fibronectin or laminin. Thus, intestinal epithelial cells appear to possess surface receptors for both laminin and fibronectin. The evidence further suggests that calf serum may contain factors, other than fibronectin, capable of enhancing intestinal epithelial cell attachment to collagen substrates.