The Modulatory Effect of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Type-1α on Spike-Wave Discharges in WAG/Rij Rats

Modulatory function of metabotropic glutamate type 1 (mGlu1) receptors plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of some neurological disorders, including schizophrenia and epilepsy. In this study, the expression of mGlu1α receptors in the thalamic nuclei was assessed during development of absence seizures in the WAG/Rij rats, a valid genetic animal model of absence epilepsy. In addition, the effect of pharmacological modulation of mGlu1α receptors in the laterodorsal (LD) nucleus of the thalamus on the characteristic features of bioelectrical brain activities in the WAG/Rij rats was assessed. The expression of mGlu1α receptors in the LD was assessed in four experimental groups of both WAG/Rij and Wistar rats with 2 and 6 months of age. Agonist and antagonist of mGlu1α receptors were infused in LD in the six months old WAG/Rij (epileptic) rats. The protein level of mGlu1α receptors in the thalamus of the 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats was lower than non-epileptic animals. In addition, the distribution of mGlu1α receptors in different thalamic nuclei was lower in the 6-month-old WAG/Rij compared to age-matched Wistar rats. The gene expression of mGlu1α receptor was also significantly lower in 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats in the LD compared to other animal groups. The microinjection of mGlu1α receptors agonist and antagonist in the LD reduced the duration of spike-wave discharges (SWDs) and increased the amplitude and duration of SWDs, respectively, in 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats. The alterations of mGlu1α receptors expression in the thalamus of epileptic WAG/Rij rats as well as its modulatory effects in the generation of SWDs suggest the potential of mGlu1 receptors as a therapeutic target in absence epilepsy.     

Incubation of antigen-sensitized T lymphocytes activated with bryostatin 1 + ionomycin in IL-7 + IL-15 increases yield of cells capable of inducing regression of melanoma metastases compared to culture in IL-2

Regression of established tumors can be induced by adoptive immunotherapy (AIT) with tumor draining lymph node (DLN) lymphocytes activated with bryostatin and ionomycin (B/I). We hypothesized that B/I-activated T cells cultured in IL-7 + IL-15 might proliferate and survive in culture better than cells cultured in IL-2, and that these cells would have equal or greater anti-tumor activity in vivo. Tumor antigen-sensitized DLN lymphocytes from either wild-type or T cell receptor transgenic mice were harvested, activated with B/I, and expanded in culture with either IL-2, IL-7 + IL-15 or a regimen of alternating cytokines. Cell yields, proliferation, apoptosis, phenotypes, and in vitro responses to tumor antigen were compared for cells grown in different cytokines. These T cells were also tested for anti-tumor activity against melanoma lung metastases established by prior i.v. injection of B16 melanoma cells. IL-7 + IL-15 or alternating cytokines resulted in much faster and prolonged proliferation and much less apopotosis of B/I-activated T cells than culturing the same cells in IL-2. This resulted in approximately tenfold greater yields of viable cells. Culture in IL-7 + IL-15 yielded higher proportions of CD8+ T cells and a higher proportion of cells with a central memory phenotype. Despite this, T cells grown in IL-7 + IL-15 had higher IFN-γ release responses to tumor antigen than cells grown in IL-2. Adoptive transfer of B/I-activated T cells grown in IL-7 + IL-15 or the alternating regimen had equal or greater efficacy on a “per-cell” basis against melanoma metastases. Activation of tumor antigen-sensitized T cells with B/I and culture in IL-7 + IL-15 is a promising modification of standard regimens for production of T cells for use in adoptive immunotherapy of cancer.     

Morphological plasticity of Parrotia persica leaves in eastern Hyrcanian forests (Iran) is related to altitude

Variation in leaf characters of Parrotia persica in relation to their position in the canopy along an altitudinal gradient were studied. Genetic and phenotypic characters make P. persica one of the most noteworthy plants in the five floristic regions of Iran. It is an endemic species of the Hyrcanian forests, and occurs naturally from sea level to over 900 m a.s.l. on the north side of the Mountain Ranges of Alborz, northern Iran. There was a significant effect of altitude only on few leaf features [width of lamina, base angle (internal angle of lamina), number of pair vein (number of principal veins of lamina) of leaf, top and end of leaf figure]. Among different geographical sides of the crown, there was no significant difference in the plasticity of leaf features, but leaf figure (both top of leaf figure and end of leaf figure) showed the lowest plasticity among the different leaf characters. Of all characters measured, the lowest plasticity among the three populations was found for base angle and number of vein pairs. A PCA analysis showed that leaf petiole and maximum width of lamina in 0.9 of its length, together with leaf figure and width of lamina, accounted for the greatest variation in difference of populations.     

Monitoring of co-infection virus and virus-like naturally in sweet pepper plant

Eight sweet pepper plant samples showing viral and viral like symptoms were collected from open field and used for detecting viral infections through biological, serological and biochemical methods. DAS-ELISA, DBIA and TPIA have relative effectiveness for detecting parenchymal viruses (CMV, TMV and PVY) and vascular virus (TYLCV), and the DAS-ELISA and TPIA are found more efficient (87.5%) than DBIA (78.1%). The examined leaf samples were found co-infected with different mixed types of viruses including (CMV, TMV, PVY and TYLCV), (CMV, PVY and TYLCV), (TMV, PVY and TYLCV) and (TMV and TYLCV) that enhanced different degrees of severe external symptoms. There are 2 out of 8 samples infected with Phytoplasma sp. by Diene’s stain and PCR using generated 16S rDNA gene primer with expected amplicon size of 680?bp. The co-infections with various viruses and phytoplasma has 12.5% frequency that reduced the levels of protein content, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity quantitatively and qualitatively in 2 samples in comparison with other mixed categories. The sweet pepper plant can be considered as a reservoir for parenchymal and vascular viruses and Phytoplasma sp. due to the synergistic and antagonistic effects causing unusual and unpredictable biological and epidemiological, viral and viral-like via host biochemical effects.     

Performance evaluation of potent phosphate solubilizing bacteria in potato rhizosphere

Three phosphate solubilizing bacterial isolates identified as Pantoea agglomerans strain P5, Microbacterium laevaniformans strain P7 and Pseudomonas putida strain P13 were assessed for mutual relationships among them, competitiveness with soil microorganisms and associations with plant root using luxAB reporter genes for follow-up studies. Synergism between either P. agglomerans or M. laevaniformans, as acid-producing bacteria, and P. putida, as a strong phosphatase producer, was consistently observed both in liquid culture medium and in root rhizosphere. All laboratory, greenhouse and field experiments proved that these three isolates compete well with naturally occurring soil microorganisms. Consistently, the combinations of either P. agglomerans or M. laevaniformans strains with Pseudomonas putida led to higher biomass and potato tuber in greenhouse and in field trials. It is conceivable that combinations of an acid- and a phosphatase-producing bacterium would allow simultaneous utilization of both inorganic and organic phosphorus compounds preserving the soil structure.     

Synthesis of 13C7-labeled iodoacetanilide and application to quantitative analysis of peptides and a protein by isotope differential mass spectrometry

¹³C₇-Labeled iodoacetanilide has been synthesized for specific labeling of sulfhydryl groups of cysteine residues and has been successfully applied to quantitative analysis of peptides and a commercial protein in combination with ¹³C-unlabeled iodoacetanilide and a MALDI mass spectrometer. Subsequent tandem mass spectrum analysis revealed that ¹³C₇-labeled iodoacetanilide remained intact during the collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions.     

Synthesis and dopaminergic activity of some E-3-(piperidin-1-yl)-1-(4-substituted phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one derivatives

A convenient route for the synthesis of some 2-propen-1-one derivatives with E isomeric configuration is described. The activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated through behavioral studies of apomorphine-induced licking in animal models. It was demonstrated that most of the synthesized compounds showed moderate activity in inhibition of lickings, among which 6a, was the most active compound at 30 mg/kg.