c‐erbB‐2 and p53 expression in breast cancer fine needle aspirates

The aim of this study was to co‐evaluate c‐ erbB ‐2 and p53 protein expression in breast cancer fine needle aspirates (FNA) and to compare this with histological variables and the immunohistochemical phenotype of the tumours. Furthermore, we assessed the relationship of c‐ erbB ‐2 and p53 immunocytochemical expression to tumour prognostic factors. We examined 124 breast cancer FNAs and 79 matched surgical specimens using the avidin–biotin complex (ABC) and the alkaline phosphatase immunocytochemical techniques. C‐ erbB ‐2 immunopositivity was detected in 37.9% of the FNAs, while 31.7% were positive for p53. A statistically significant correlation was observed between p53 negativity and absence of c‐ erbB ‐2 immunostaining in the FNAs ( P =0.0007). Smears from infiltrating ductal carcinomas tended to be more frequently positive for p53 (36.7%) than those from lobular carcinomas (11.7%) ( P =0.054). In matched tumour tissues, c‐ erbB ‐2 was positive in 16.7% and p53 in 19% of cases. The immunocytochemical results for both c‐ erbB ‐2 and p53 were significantly correlated with the immunohistochemical results. There was no correlation between c‐ erbB ‐2 and p53 immunostaining, in both FNAs and tissues, and patients' menopausal status, tumour size, grade and lymph node status.     

The Evolution of Neuroanatomical Substrates of Reproductive Behavior: Sex Steroid and LHRH-Specific Pathways Including the Terminal Nerve

Fairly recent anatomical methods have made possible the mappingof neurobehavioral systems involving two types of reproductivehormones, gonadal steroids and the peptide luteinizing hormonereleasing hormone (LHRH). Brain sites of steroid uptake aredetected using autoradiography; LHRH is localized in cells andfibers using immunocytochemical procedures. Both hormone typesare known to strongly influence sex behavior and it can reasonablybe assumed that these effects are mediated in large part viasystems identified using the anatomical procedures. Analysisof the comparative anatomy of these systems should thereforeprovide information useful in the construction of models concerningthe evolution of neurohormonal control of reproductive behavior.The results of such a study are reported. Sex steroid and LHRHsystems in cyclostomes, teleosts, amphibians, reptiles, birdsand mammals are considered in detail. A synthesis of this informationhas led to the following ideas. Androgenic control of male reproductivesystems has evolved in a number of nonhomologous motor systemscontrolling male reproductive behavior. Sex steroid and LHRHsystems may interact at several different levels of the neuraxisbut the most obvious overlap of the systems occurs in the septaland POA areas. The latter especially is a fairly constant andperhaps primitive feature. LHRH secretion into the systemiccirculation was most likely the earliest means for LHRH modulationof both pituitary function and neural systems controlling reproductivebehavior.Pathways for more direct delivery of LHRH to pituitarycells and brain nuclei probably developed in the early gnathostomes.The terminal nerve appears to be a rather conservative LHRH-containingpathway connecting olfactory systems with septal-preoptic nuclei.A function in pheromonal control of sex behavior is suggested.The general distribution of steroid concentrating cells andLHRH pathways in tetrapods seems to be rather constant. Absenceof the systems in neocortical areas and their homologs is conspicuous.     

Integrative taxonomy,or iterative taxonomy?

The recently introduced term ‘integrative taxonomy’ refers to taxonomy that integrates all available data sources to frame species limits. We survey current taxonomic methods available to delimit species that integrate a variety of data, including molecular and morphological characters. A literature review of empirical studies using the term ‘integrative taxonomy’ assessed the kinds of data being used to frame species limits, and methods of integration. Almost all studies are qualitative and comparative – we are a long way from a repeatable, quantitative method of truly ‘integrative taxonomy’. The usual methods for integrating data in phylogenetic and population genetic paradigms are not appropriate for integrative taxonomy, either because of the diverse range of data used or because of the special challenges that arise when working at the species/population boundary. We identify two challenges that, if met, will facilitate the development of a more complete toolkit and a more robust research programme in integrative taxonomy using species tree approaches. We propose the term ‘iterative taxonomy’ for current practice that treats species boundaries as hypotheses to be tested with new evidence. A search for biological or evolutionary explanations for discordant evidence can be used to distinguish between competing species boundary hypotheses. We identify two recent empirical examples that use the process of iterative taxonomy.     

Electrical Stimulation of the Shark Brain

Early studies using various means to electrically activate portionsof the brain in immobilized elasmobranchs are critically reviewed.The results of brain stimulation experiments using modern techniquesare then considered in light of this background material. Preliminaryexperiments on anesthetized-immobilized sharpnose and bonnetheadsharks are given as an outline of the types of responses thatcan be studied using acute preparations of pelagic sharks. Theresponses evoked can be grouped into the following categories:arousal and swimming; body, fin and eye movements suggestiveof circling and loss of equilibrium; possible components ofagonistic and reproductive behavior; head, mouth and respiratorymovements and possible color changes. Chronic studies on free-swimmingsharpnose sharks are discussed with respect to potential areasfor future study. Responses suggestive of portions of agonisticand feeding behavior were evoked but no attempt was made tolocalize the areas stimulated. The behavioral effects of electricalstimulation of 85 electrodes in free-swimming juvenile nursesharks are presented in some detail. The anatomical distributionof sites from which the following responses have been elicitedare plotted on representative sections of the brain: arousalescape;coughing; head shaking; barbel movement; eye retraction; bitingor mouthing food; snapping up gravel; slow dragging of the barbelsacross the substrate; circling; rolling about the long axis;continuous swimming and interrupted swimming. Several possiblefunctional-anatomical systems are suggested to account for someof these results.     

Restriction fragment length polymorphism of ovine casein genes: close linkage between the αs1-,αs2-,ß- and k-casein loci

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of ovine casein genes was investigated. Genomic DNA from 56 rams was digested with 10 restriction endonucleases and Southern blots probed with the four ovine casein cDNAs (alpha s1-, beta-, alpha s2- and kappa-Cn). Five enzymes, namely, BglI, PvuII, RsaI, TaqI and HindIII revealed nine different RFLPs. The inheritance of six of these polymorphisms was studied by segregation analysis of gametes in nine rams' families, and each of them could be related to the existence of alleles at the relevant casein locus. A close linkage between the four ovine casein genes was demonstrated since no recombination within the four pairs of loci examined, alpha s1-beta-Cn, alpha s1-kappa-Cn, beta-kappa-Cn and alpha s2-kappa-Cn, was observed in the progeny of double heterozygous rams. The casein genes are thus clustered in the ovine species as in the case of other mammals.     

The macroinvertebrates and fish of a Colorado stream during a period of fluctuating discharge

SUMMARY. 1. During a 2-year study of the fish and macroinvertebrates of a third-order montane stream, a severe drought in the first year resulted in a temporary cessation of surface flow. Flow was continuous during the second year.
2. Some taxa (e.g. Ophiogomphus severus ) exhibited higher density during the drought year, others declined in abundance during low flow (e.g. Baetis spp.), whereas a few (e.g. Tricorythodes minutus ) appeared unaffected. Total macroinvertebrate density decreased by 50% during the low flow year compared to the normal flow year. Mayflies were most severely affected, but also exhibited the most dramatic recovery.
3. The collector-gatherer functional feeding group was abundant only during the normal flow year, whereas shredders and predators exhibited increased relative abundance during low flow.
4. Fish populations were severely reduced in the low flow year. However, fishes rapidly invaded the area following resumption of normal flow.