L'hématoxyline au plomb permet-elle l'identification des cellules corticotropes de l'hypophyse des téléostéens?

Conclusion La technique à l'hématoxyline au plomb de Mac Conaill permet l'identification d'un type cellulaire situé dans la pars distalis rostrale, en bordure des ramifications de la neurohypophyse dans l'hypophyse de plusieurs Poissons Téléostéens; il est également colorable par le bleu d'alizarine d'Herlant; toutefois, l'intensité de ces deux réactions tinctoriales est très variable selon les espèces. Chez l'Anguille, les Salmonidés et le Cyprin, la nature corticotrope de ces cellules est établie expérimentalement. La colorabilité par l'hématoxyline d'une autre catégorie cellulaire dans la pars intermedia laisse supposer l'existence de constituants communs aux deux types cellulaires, et peut-être même à leurs produits d'élaboration. Cette communauté de certains aminoacides entre l'ACTH et l'intermédine a déjà été démontrée chez divers Mammifères.     

Widespread and enduring demographic collapse of invasive common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis>) in the Upper Mississippi River System

Populations of invasive species that undergo rapid expansions after establishment in a new system can also be subject to collapse. Although the dynamics of the establishment and expansion phases and their ecological effects are well documented, substantially fewer studies document collapses despite their importance for understanding invasion dynamics. Two long-term fish monitoring programs sample the fish assemblage of the Upper Mississippi River System. These data provide an opportunity to document the collapse of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), a globally invasive freshwater fish species. Here we describe their population trajectory over several decades and examine several hypotheses to explain the decline, including: boom-bust population dynamics; suppression by native predators; resource exhaustion; improvements in environmental conditions; and disease. The observed trends appear to be most consistent with the hypothesis that disease was the most important factor contributing to the collapse. In particular, cyprinid herpesviruses have been shown to affect common carp in a manner consistent with the observed decreases in catch rates and increases in size distributions. The apparent role of a viral agent in causing the decline of common carp across one of the largest river basins in North America suggests similar collapses may occur elsewhere.     

CD44 standard and variant isoform expression in normal human skin appendages and epidermis

 CD44 isoforms have been implicated in tumor progression and metastasis formation. This study presents a thorough immunohistochemical analysis of CD44 standard and isoform expression in normal human skin appendages and epidermis applying monoclonal antibodies against CD44s, CD44v3, -v4, -v5, -v6, and -v9. An improved immunohistochemical protocol with microwave-based antigen retrieval in paraffin sections and heavy metal amplification of the diaminobenzidine reaction product provided enhanced resolution and sensitivity as compared to studies on frozen sections. The hair follicle, the seborrheic and eccrine sweat glands were strongly positive for all CD44 isoforms studied. In the latter, the clear cells but not the dark (intercalated) cells were positive. The sudoriferous ducts adjacent to the glands were weakly positive for all CD44 isoforms and strongly positive near the skin surface. In the apocrine glands, the basal cells showed only a moderate positivity. The myoepithelial cells expressed only CD44s. In the epidermis, all CD44 isoforms were detectable, with strongest CD44 immunostaining in the lower third of the stratum spinosum and weaker staining in the stratum basale and the upper two-thirds of the stratum granulosum. The stratum granulosum and corneum were unreactive. Thus, a regional and cell type-specific CD44 expression was revealed. Accepted: 10 May 1996     

A dimorphic Alu Sb-like insertion in COL3A1 is ethnic-specific

Alu elements are a class of repetitive DNA sequences found throughout the human genome that are thought to be duplicated via an RNA intermediate in a process termed retroposition. Recently inserted Alu elements are closely related, suggesting that they are derived from a single source gene or closely related source genes. Analysis of the type III collagen gene (COL3A1) revealed a polymorphic Alu insertion in intron 8 of the gene. The Alu insertion in the COL3A1 gene had a high degree of nucleotide identity to the Sb family of Alu elements, a family of older Alu elements. The Alu sequence was less similar to the consensus sequence for the PV or Sb2 subfamilies, subfamilies of recently inserted Alu elements. These data support the observations that at least three source genes are active in the human genome, one of which is distinct from the PV and Sb2 subfamilies and predates either of these two subfamilies. Appearance of the Alu insertion in different ethnic populations suggests that the insertion may have occurred in the last 100,000 years. This Alu insert should be a useful marker for population studies and for marking COL3A1 alleles.     

Metabolic effects of chronic obestatin infusion in rats

Obestatin is purported to be a peptide hormone encoded in preproghrelin. We studied the metabolic effects of continuous infusion of obestatin via subcutaneously implanted osmotic mini-pumps. Administration of up to 500nmol/kg body weight/day obestatin did not change 24h cumulative food intake or body weight in rats. Similarly, no effects were observed when obestatin was infused at 1000nmol/kg body weight/day for seven days. This dose of obestatin infused during a 24h fast did not alter weight loss, suggesting that obestatin has no effect on energy expenditure, and this dose did not alter glucose or insulin responses during an IPGTT. Obestatin was originally proposed to interact with GPR39 and subsequently the receptor for GLP-1. While both receptors are expressed in pancreatic islets, incubation with obestatin did not alter insulin release from islets in vitro. Moreover, obestatin did not bind to INS-1 beta-cells or HEK cells overexpressing GLP-1 receptors or displace GLP-1 binding to these cells. Our findings do not support the concept that obestatin is a hormone with metabolic actions.     

Asexually produced Cape honeybee queens (Apis mellifera capensis) reproduce sexually

Unmated workers of the Cape honeybee Apis mellifera capensis can produce female offspring including daughter queens. As worker-laid queens are produced asexually, we wondered whether these asexually produced individuals reproduce asexually or sexually. We sampled 11 colonies headed by queens known to be the clonal offspring of workers and genotyped 23 worker offspring from each queen at 5 microsatellite loci. Without exception, asexually produced queens produced female worker offspring sexually. In addition, we report the replacement of a queen by her asexually produced granddaughter, with this asexually produced queen also producing offspring sexually. Hence, once a female larva is raised as a queen, mating and sexual reproduction appears to be obligatory in this subspecies, despite the fact that worker-laid queens are derived from asexual lineages.     

Trypanosoma brucei has two distinct mitochondrial DNA polymerase beta enzymes

In higher eukaryotes, DNA polymerase (pol) beta resides in the nucleus and participates primarily in DNA repair. The DNA polymerase beta from the trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata, however, was the first mitochondrial enzyme of this type described. Upon searching the nearly completed genome data base of the related parasite Trypanosoma brucei, we discovered genes for two pol beta-like proteins. One is approximately 70% identical to the C. fasciculata pol beta and is likely the homolog of this enzyme. The other, although approximately 30% identical within the polymerase region, has unusual structural features including a short C-terminal tail and a long N-terminal extension rich in prolines, alanines, and lysines. Both proteins, when expressed recombinantly, are active as DNA polymerases and deoxyribose phosphate lyases, but their polymerase activity optima differ with respect to pH and KCl and MgCl2 concentrations. Remarkably, green fluorescent protein fusion proteins and immunofluorescence demonstrate that both are mitochondrial, but their locations with respect to the mitochondrial DNA (kinetoplast DNA network) in this organism are strikingly different.     

Role of glomerular proteoglycans in IgA nephropathy

Mesangial matrix expansion is a prominent feature of the most common form of glomerulonephritis, IgA nephropathy (IgAN). To find molecular markers and improve the understanding of the disease, the gene and protein expression of proteoglycans were investigated in biopsies from IgAN patients and correlated to clinical and morphological data. We collected and microdissected renal biopsies from IgAN patients (n = 19) and from healthy kidney donors (n = 14). Patients were followed for an average time of 4 years and blood pressure was according to target guidelines. Distinct patterns of gene expression were seen in glomerular and tubulo-interstitial cells. Three of the proteoglycans investigated were found to be of special interest and upregulated in glomeruli: perlecan, decorin and biglycan. Perlecan gene expression negatively correlated to albumin excretion and progress of the disease. Abundant decorin protein expression was found in sclerotic glomeruli, but not in unaffected glomeruli from IgAN patients or in controls. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), known to interact with perlecan, decorin and biglycan, were upregulated both on gene and protein level in the glomeruli. This study provides further insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in mesangial matrix expansion in IgAN. We conclude that perlecan is a possible prognostic marker for patients with IgAN. In addition, the up-regulation of biglycan and decorin, as well as TGF-β itself, indicate that regulation of TGF-β, and other profibrotic markers plays a role in IgAN pathology.     

PHYLOGENYAND HISTORICAL ECOLOGY OF THE DESMARESTIACEAE (PHAEOPHYCEAE) SUPPORT A SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ORIGIN1

Phylogenetic relationships in the Desmarestiales (Phaeophyceae) were inferred among the monotypic Arthrocladia (Arthrocladiaceae) and 27 isolates from Desmarestiaceae, representing 17 taxa of Desmarestia and the monotypic Antarctic genera Himantothallus and Phaeurus. Phaeurus and Arthrocladia were used as outgroups. Parsimony analyses of nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) sequences, in which gaps were both included and excluded, yielded well-resolved trees with a consistent general branching pattern. A parallel analysis of nine morphological and life-history characters and three ecological characters yielded a similar tree but provided little resolution in the terminal clades. The position of the monotypic Arthrocladia villosa within the Desmarestiales is consistent with monophyly for the order, but its position as the most primitive desmarestialean is not resolvable from the molecular data set. The basal position of Phaeurus, the Antarctic Desmarestia species, and Himantothallus is consistent with the hypothesis of a Southern Hemisphere origin for the family Desmarestiaceae. The more recent Northern Hemisphere “aculeata” clade evolved from an Antarctic ancestor. A “D. aculeata-like” species was ancestral to a lineage characterized by annual sporophytes with high sulfuric acid content, which radiated into many species, widely distributed in both hemispheres. Mapping of morphological and ecological characters onto the molecular tree confirm the informativeness of sulfuric acid-containing vacuoles and unilocular sporangial types. There is good congruence between phylogenetic tree topology and temperature impints in relation to biogeographic distribution, supporting the theory that temperature tolerance is a conservative trait.     

Gender effects on trapezius surface EMG during delayed onset muscle soreness due to eccentric shoulder exercise.

The purpose of this study was to investigate gender-specific motor control strategies during eccentric exercise and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the shoulder region. Twelve healthy males and females participated in the study. Eccentric shoulder exercises were conducted on the dominant shoulder while the other side served as control. The exerted force, range of shoulder elevation, rating of perceived exertion, pain intensity, and surface electromyography (EMG) from the trapezius muscles were recorded and analyzed. A significant decrease in exerted force during exercise was only found in males despite similar rating of perceived exertion among genders. During eccentric exercise: males showed increasing root mean square (RMS) of the EMG while a decrease occurred for females, no difference between genders in mean power frequency of the EMG were seen. During static and dynamic contractions: no differences between genders in pain intensity or RMS were observed; RMS of the exercised side were lower than that of the control side (P<0.05) at 24 h after exercise. The results indicated a more prominent muscle fatigue resistance in females compared with males and mobilization of different muscle activation strategies during eccentric exercise. A protective adaptation to DOMS, i.e. decrease in RMS values was found with no gender differences.