EMG and MMG of agonist and antagonist muscles as a function of age and joint angle.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of elbow joint position on electromyographic (EMG) and mechanomyographic (MMG) activities of agonist and antagonist muscles in young and old women. Surface EMG and MMG were recorded from the triceps and biceps brachii, and brachioradialis muscles during isometric elbow extensions in young and old women. The measurements were carried out at an optimal joint angle (A(o)), as well as at smaller (A(s) = A(o) - 30 degrees ) and larger (A(l) = A(o) + 30 degrees ) angles. The normalized to force EMG amplitude (RMS-EMG/F) was smaller in old women compared to young in all muscles. The RMS-EMG/F of the triceps brachii muscle was not affected by muscle length while that of the biceps brachii and brachioradialis muscles increased at shortest muscle length in both groups. The normalized to force MMG amplitude (RMS-MMG/F) was smaller in old than in young in the triceps brachii muscle only. There was an increase in RMS-MMG/F with triceps brachii and biceps brachii muscle shortening in both groups, and in the brachioradialis muscle -- in young only. Compared to young, older women exhibited a bigger force fluctuation during maximum voluntary contraction, but these did not contribute significantly to the RMS-MMG. Skinfold thickness accounted for the RMS-EMG/F and RMS-MMG/F differences seen between old and young women in the biceps brachii muscle only. It is concluded that, the EMG and MMG response to muscles length change in agonist and antagonist muscles is generally similar in old and young women but the optimal angle shifts toward a bigger value in older women.     

Expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in normal pineal gland in children and young adult

Summary The Bcl family contains both pro and antiapoptotic proteins participating in the regulation of neuronal cell death in several pathological conditions. However, very little is known about physiological profiles of Bcl-2/Bax expression in normal brain. In this study, we examined expression profile of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in normal pineal gland in children. The material for analysis was obtained by biopsy of pineal parenchyma during surgery of pineal cysts. All specimens were labeled immunohistochemically and analyzed by means of confocal laser scanning microscope. We found only few Bcl-2 expressing (0.7%) and no Bax-immunopositive (0.0%) pinealocytes. Bcl-2-positive cells were mature neurons, neither young ones nor glia.     

Mutagenic activity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine

MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) is a neurotoxin, which can damage dopaminergic neurons. It causes symptoms resembling those observed in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease, and hence this toxin is widely used in studies on animal models of this disorder. Mutagenicity of MPTP was also reported by some authors, but results obtained by others suggested that this compound is not mutagenic. Interestingly, those contrasting results were based on the same assay (the Ames test). Therefore, we aimed to test MPTP mutagenicity by employing a recently developed Vibrio harveyi assay, which was demonstrated previously to be more sensitive than the Ames test, at least for some mutagens. We found that MPTP showed a significant mutagenic activity. Moreover, MPTP mutagenicity was attenuated by methylxanthines, compounds that are known to form complexes with aromatic mutagens.     

Activity Budgets of Captive Cape Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) Under a Training Regime

Ethograms and time budgets are crucial for the behavioral assessment of nonhuman animals in zoos, and they serve as references for welfare research. This study was conducted to obtain detailed time budgets of trained Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) in captivity, to evaluate variations of these patterns, and to determine whether abnormal behaviors had been displayed. Behavioral data for 3 Cape fur seals in the Wroclaw Zoo were collected, and more than 300 observation hours (during a 12-month period) per individual were analyzed. The studied animals exhibited a diversified repertoire of natural behaviors with apparent seasonal and daily patterns, and they did not present stereotypic behaviors. Significant differences of interaction rates between individuals suggest more frequent affiliative interactions among related animals. The absence of stereotypic behaviors, good health of individuals, and the presence of diversified natural behaviors indicated relatively good welfare of Cape fur seals kept in the Wroclaw Zoo.     

Relationship between paired cord blood and milk POPs levels as a tool for assessing perinatal exposure,a pilot study

The long-term health threats posed to humans exposed to pollutants acting as endocrine disruptors (EDs) is yet to be quantified. There is insufficient knowledge about the sources and magnitude of exposure to selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during the most sensitive period of fetal development, suggesting the need for a study. Organochlorine pesticides, classified as being persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and potential EDs, were also included in this analysis. Xenobiotics were measured in paired fetal cord blood and maternal breast milk samples. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of PCB-101, PBDE-47, and PBDE-99 between maternal milk and cord blood according to the Wilcoxon test, and the Spearman tests demonstrated significant correlations in β-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p'-DDE, and PCB-118 between maternal milk and cord blood from the same subjects. All others tested (HCB, β-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, PCB-101, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-170, PCB-180, PBDE-153) demonstrated significant differences in the same subject women with concentrations significantly higher in maternal milk than in cord blood. The presence of these compounds found in cord blood and maternal milk indicates that both are a source of perinatal exposure to these pollutants. This study opens up the opportunity for new research in estimating a prenatal exposure based on breast milk concentrations of organohalogen compounds.     

Role of FSH and triiodothyronine in Sertoli cell development expressed by formation of connexin 43-based gap junctions

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and triiodothyronine (T3) are known regulatory factors of spermatogenesis initiation. Connexin 43 (Cx43) is the most ubiquitous constitutive protein of gap junctions in the testis. This study evaluates the effects of the hyperstimulation of FSH and T3 during testicular maturation on Cx43 expression in the testis. The newborn, male Wistar rats were divided randomly into four experimental groups: FSH group-daily injections of FSH 7.5?IU/animal; T3 group-100?μg T3/kg body weight; FSH+T3 group-both substances; A control group-received vehicles in the same volume. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunohistochemistry and toluidine blue staining were used to determine the germ cell proliferation and degeneration. Cx43 immunolocalization was evaluated to find Cx43 maturational changes. Under FSH treatment, the proliferation rate was high so the total number of Sertoli cells increased with a low level of degeneration and lumen formation. T3 stimulation evoked a reduction in the proliferation rate and a decrease in Sertoli cell number but with intensive formation of lumen. T3+FSH inhibited the proliferation rate and stimulated lumen formation together with degeneration, which negatively influenced the number of germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium. We conclude that T3 action seems to be particularly connected with the maturation of Cx43 gap junctions. FSH stimulates maturation of Sertoli cell function, but this effect may take place regardless of the presence of Cx43-dependent intercellular communication. The hyperstimulation of both FSH and T3 damages Cx43 connections and hence evokes regressional changes in the seminiferous epithelium.