Better to Live with Allogenerics Than to Live Alone? The Case of Single Male Cercopithecus pogonias in Troops of Colobus satanas

We report the integration of single male crowned guenons (Cercopithecus pogonias) into troops of black colobus (Colobus satanas). We observed one male Cercopithecus pogonias in three troops of Colobus satanas on 30% of observation days (n = 231). Activities of single males guenons did not differ significantly from those of the colobus with which they associated. Moreover, both species performed simultaneously the same activities more often than expected by chance. Interspecific grooming occurred on several occasions. Furthermore, single male guenons spent as much in time social activities when part of a colobus troop, as they typically do when part of a conspecific group. Unlike solitary male crowned guenons, which are silent, a male that is integrated into a troop of colobus is vocal and emits social alarm calls to which colobus monkeys respond. During the single file movements of colobus troops, single male crowned guenons were integrated in the core of the troop and used the same branches at the same height with the colobus. Thus, the life of a single male crowned guenon with black colobus was social. We suggest that the main benefits that he gained is the possibility to live in a social context. Social interactions could be the key element to explain why single males Cercopithecus pogonias join troops of monkeys so different from their natal groups.     

Diterpenes from the leaves of Croton zambesicus

Two new trachylobane- and one isopimarane-type diterpenoids: ent-18-hydroxy-trachyloban-3-one; ent-trachyloban-3-one; isopimara-7,15-dien-3beta-ol, were isolated from the leaves of Croton zambesicus, together with trans-phytol, beta-sitosterol, alpha-amyrin and stigmasterol. The structures were determined by extensive NMR techniques and X-ray analysis. The cytotoxicity of these compounds has been evaluated on cancer and non-cancer cell-lines.     

RGD Surface Functionalization of the Hydrophilic Acrylic Intraocular Lens Material to Control Posterior Capsular Opacification

Posterior Capsular Opacification (PCO) is the capsule fibrosis developed on implanted IntraOcular Lens (IOL) by the de-differentiation of Lens Epithelial Cells (LECs) undergoing Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Literature has shown that the incidence of PCO is multifactorial including the patient''s age or disease, surgical technique, and IOL design and material. Reports comparing hydrophilic and hydrophobic acrylic IOLs have shown that the former has more severe PCO. On the other hand, we have previously demonstrated that the adhesion of LECs is favored on hydrophobic compared to hydrophilic materials. By combining these two facts and contemporary knowledge in PCO development via the EMT pathway, we propose a biomimetically inspired strategy to promote LEC adhesion without de-differentiation to reduce the risk of PCO development. By surface grafting of a cell adhesion molecule (RGD peptide) onto the conventional hydrophilic acrylic IOL material, the surface-functionalized IOL can be used to reconstitute a capsule-LEC-IOL sandwich structure, which has been considered to prevent PCO formation in literature. Our results show that the innovative biomaterial improves LEC adhesion, while also exhibiting similar optical (light transmittance, optical bench) and mechanical (haptic compression force, IOL injection force) properties compared to the starting material. In addition, compared to the hydrophobic IOL material, our bioactive biomaterial exhibits similar abilities in LEC adhesion, morphology maintenance, and EMT biomarker expression, which is the crucial pathway to induce PCO. The in vitro assays suggest that this biomaterial has the potential to reduce the risk factor of PCO development.     

Lectin binding characterstics of mouse epididymal fluid and sperm extracts

Glycoproteins from luminal fluid of the mouse cauda epiciidymidis have been compared with glycoproteins from Triton X-100 extracts of mouse spermatozoa from varying regions of the epididymis, using lectins with specific affinity for different sugar residues. Concanavalin A recognizes 11 glycocomponents on Western blots of fractionated caudal fluid; wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) binds 12 proteins; Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA) binds seven; and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) recognizes nine. Several of these glycoproteins display an affinity for more than one lectin, indicating a diversity in their exposed carbohydrate residues; whereas other proteins bind only one of the four lectins used. The results also show that some glycoproteins exhibit a higher affinity for particular lectins. Eight glycoproteins of similar mobility and lectin-binding characteristics are detected in Triton X-100 extracts of spermatozoa from different regions of the epididymis and in caudal fluid. The lectin affinity of some proteins appears or increases in spermatozoa from distal epididymal regions (54 kD, 32 kD), whereas the lectin affinity of others decreases (29 kD, 40 kD). There are differences in lectin affinities between proteins in sperm extracts and in caudal fluid. Some proteins show an affinity for three or four lectins in caudal fluid, but proteins of similar electrophoretic mobility in sperm extracts bind only one or two of the lectins. These data show that glycoproteins of similar mobility are present in caudal fluid and in Triton-X-100 sperm extracts, implying a potential interaction between caudal fluid components and epididymal sperm.     

Altérations morphologiques des spermatozoïdes en microscopie électronique: indications, phénotypes, fécondance, et pronostic de fertilité

Conventional semen analysis (sperm count) is limited to examination of spermatozoa at a magnification of x1,000, which may be insufficient in rare situations. Electron microscopy sperm examination allows high-power (x 100,000) analysis of sperm organelles and quantification of abnormalities of the constituents involved in sperm mobility and fertility potential. Electron microscopy sperm morphology examination is rarely indicated and is reserved to: 1) severe monomorphic and stable teratospermia (globozoospermia = spermatozoa with a round head and no acrosome, pinheads = decapitated spermatozoa), 2) partial (asthenospermia) or total (akinetospermia) alteration of sperm mobility and/or quality of sperm movement. All of these anomalies are associated with primary infertility. Globozoospermia and pinheads can be detected by light microscopy. Electron microscopy sperm morphology examination precisely identifies and quantifies sperm abnormalities. Pathological phenotypes have a heterogeneous expression. The organelles of spermatozoa other than those primarily involved in the pathological phenotype may also present alterations. Globozoospermia is generally characterized by the absence of elongation of the nucleus, and absence of the acrosome and the post-acrosomal region. The implantation fossa and basal plate are generally missing in decapitated spermatozoa. Asthenospermia may be an indication for electron microscopy sperm examination when it is not associated with necrospermia. Sperm with fibrous sheath dysplasia (FSD) generally present a short flagella and very low overall mobility, less than 5%. The various phenotypes are characterized by abnormal arrangements of the constituents of the fibrous sheath and 20% of patients also present respiratory tract disease. In primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), spermatozoa are often immobile and present a normal morphology on light microscopy. Apart from the complete form with absent axoneme, incomplete forms are also observed with absence of the dynein arms, peripheral doublets, microtubules. These phenotypes have a low prevalence in the population of infertile men. A familial incidence, parental consanguinity, and a high incidence in certain geographical regions are frequently reported, suggesting the existence of one or several genetic mechanisms. Despite the limited state of knowledge at the present time, couples must be informed about the possible transmission of the phenotype to their descendants. All men with these phenotypes are spontaneously infertile. The only alternative fertilization technique is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). According to the literature and our own experience, the results of ICSI with sperm presenting these phenotypes are poorer than those of ICSI in general. Electron microscopy is not only a diagnostic tool in severe male infertility, but also a prognostic indicator of the success of management by ICSI, which must be evaluated for each case.     

Gene and protein expression in the epididymis of infertile c-ros receptor tyrosine kinase-deficient mice

Transgenic male mice bearing inactive mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase c-ros lack the initial segment of the epididymis and are infertile. Several techniques were applied to determine differences in gene expression in the epididymal caput of heterozygous fertile (HET) and infertile homozygous knockout (KO) males that may explain the infertility. Complementary DNA arrays, gene chips, Northern and Western blots, and immunohistochemistry indicated that some proteins were downregulated, including the initial segment/proximal caput-specific genes c-ros, cystatin-related epididymal-spermatogenic (CRES), and lipocalin mouse epididymal protein 17 (MEP17), whereas other caput-enriched genes (glutathione peroxidase 5, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase [ADAM7], bone morphogenetic proteins 7 and 8a, A-raf, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta, PEA3) were unchanged. Genes normally absent from the initial segment (gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, prostaglandin D2 synthetase, alkaline phosphatase) were expressed in the undifferentiated proximal caput of the KO. More distally, lipocalin 2 (24p3), CRISP1 (formerly MEP7), PEBP (MEP9), and mE-RABP (MEP10) were unchanged in expression. Immunohistochemistry and Western blots confirmed the absence of CRES in epididymal tissue and fluid and the continued presence of CRES in spermatozoa of the KO mouse. The glutamate transporters EAAC1 (EAAT3) and EAAT5 were downregulated and upregulated, respectively. The genes of over 70 transporters, channels, and pores were detected in the caput epididymidis, but in the KO, only three were downregulated and six upregulated. The changes in these genes could affect sperm function by modifying the composition of epididymal fluid and explain the infertility of the KO males. These genes may be targets for a posttesticular contraceptive.     

Identification and quantification of concentration-dependent biomarkers in MCF-7/BOS cells exposed to 17β-estradiol by 2-D DIGE and label-free proteomics

This paper reports the identification of biomarkers resulting from the exposure of MCF-7/BOS cells to 17β-estradiol (E(2)). The biomarkers were identified using 2 independent and complementary techniques, 2-D DIGE/MALDI-TOF peptide mass fingerprint, and 2-D UPLC-ESI MS/MS. They were identified from the cytosolic fractions of cells treated for 24h with mitogenic concentrations of 1, 30 and 500 pM of 17β-estradiol. Five biomarkers were up-regulated proteins, namely HSP 74, EF2, FKBP4, EF1 and GDIB and one was a down-regulated protein, namely K2C8. Three of these proteins, EF2, FKBP4 and K2C8 are implicated in a network centered on the estrogen receptors ESR1 and ESR2 as well as on AKT1. After the discovery phase, three biomarkers were selected to test the presence of estrogens using selected reaction monitoring (SRM). They were monitored using SRM after incubation of MCF-7/BOS in the presence of E(2) for confirmation or selected xenoestrogens. Daidzein, coumestrol and enterolactone induced an up-regulation of EF2 and FKPB4 proteins, while tamoxifen and resveratrol induced a down-regulation. The exposure of all phytoestrogens induced the down-regulation of K2C8. These markers form a preliminary molecular signature that can be used when testing the estrogenic activity of xenobiotics, either pure or in mixtures.     

Experimental demonstration of close-range olfaction and contact chemoreception in the Brazilian harvestman, Iporangaia pustulosa

We studied the ability to detect food by close-range olfaction and contact chemoreception in the harvestman Iporangaia pustulosa Mello-Leitão (Opiliones: Laniatores: Gonyleptidae). We first tested the reaction of individuals towards tasteless (pure agar), aversive (agar with salt), and food-intake stimulating substrates (agar with saccharose). Only the substrate containing saccharose was consumed. Contact (mainly with legs II) was necessary for detection of the agar and, before ingestion, the stimulus was always tapped with legs I. In the second experiment, we observed the behavior of individuals in an arena with a screened plastic box containing pieces of Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae. Individuals spent more time on the box containing food than on the control. In the third experiment, in an arena identical to that used in Experiment 2, we introduced a live but motionless T. molitor larva in the box. There was no difference between experimental and control treatments. We also observed the behavior of I. pustulosa in an arena containing live isopods. In first capture attempts, isopods were only detected upon contact, mainly with legs I. Our results suggest that (i) I. pustulosa is capable of detecting food only by its chemical properties; (ii) food with weak odor may not be detected by close-range olfaction; and (iii) legs I and II are important for food detection but, before ingestion, legs I are used to examine potential food items.