Winter food availability limits winter survival of Mongolian gerbils (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Meriones unguiculatus</Emphasis>)

Food availability is important to the dynamics of animal social organizations or populations. However, the role of winter food availability in animal population dynamics is still controversial. We carried out an experimental study to test Lack’s hypothesis that reduced food in winter limits survival and spring numbers of breeding individuals of social groups, using the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) as model species. We established 24 gerbil social groups in 24, 10 × 10 m, pens in September 2008. We provided wheat seeds as supplemental food in 12 enclosures from September 2008 to March 2009; the other 12 enclosures, not provided with supplemental food, served as controls. We live-trapped gerbils at a 2-week interval from September to April. Supplemental food during winter increased biweekly survival by 10% relative to that in control groups. Only four control social groups survived to the end of our study whereas all 12 food-supplemented social groups survived through our study period. Supplemental food also increased cumulative numbers of recruits and group sizes of gerbils. We conclude that winter food availability limits winter survival and spring social groups or population sizes of Mongolian gerbils.     

Effect of menthol on human temperature sensitivity

Application of 1% methol, which, along with cold, activates specific thermosensitive ionic channels, changes the number of functioning cold receptors on the skin of the forearm similarly to the cold exposure test; however, it does not affect the number of heat receptors and does not significantly change the threshold of cold sensation. Group variants of responses to menthol that indicate individual differences in the sensitivity of skin receptors to the effects of methol and cold have been found. The results obtained give grounds to suggest that, from the variant of response to menthol (a decrease, increase, or absence of changes in the number of functioning cold receptors 5 min after menthol application), it is possible to predict specific features of response to cold.     

A world of cytochrome P450s

The world we live in is a biosphere influenced by all organisms who inhabit it. It is also an ecology of genes, with some having rather startling effects. The premise put forth in this issue is cytochrome P450 is a significant player in the world around us. Life and the Earth itself would be visibly different and diminished without cytochrome P450s. The contributions to this issue range from evolution on the billion year scale to the colour of roses, from Darwin to Rachel Carson; all as seen through the lens of cytochrome P450.     

Method of sampling chorionic villi in first trimester of pregnancy under guidance of real time ultrasound.

Samples of chorionic villi were obtained in the first trimester by aspiration using a cannula passed transcervically under the guidance of real time ultrasound. In initial studies in 47 anaesthetised patients immediately before therapeutic abortion a method was developed giving a success rate of 89%. In 10 patients successful sampling was performed as an outpatient procedure without anaesthesia. In all, seven diagnostic procedures were undertaken and four of the five unaffected pregnancies continued. The technique of chorionic villous sampling using real time ultrasound is simple to learn and yields material for biochemical analysis and chromosomal study without the need for tissue culture. The exact obstetric risk, however, remains to be defined.     

Flow cytometric determination of basophils in whole blood with n-propyl Astra Blue iodide

Within the past year, it has become apparent, in connection with its use on automatic flow cytometers, that the quality of commercially available Alcian Blue has significantly declined. A homologous series of alkylated (C1-C7) Astra Blue quaternary ammonium halides was prepared, characterized, and evaluated for the detection of basophils in whole blood. On the Technicon H6000 flow cytometer, the resolution of the basophil cluster from the main population of unstained white blood cells was found to depend on the chain length of the quaternizing alkyl group. Optimal basophil resolution was observed for the n-propyl derivative. Correlation of the new method vs Alcian Blue as the reference on the H6000 was expressed as follows: %Baso (Astra Blue) = 0.89% Baso (Alcian Blue) + 0.12% for 180 fresh whole blood samples. Within-run precision at a basophil differential count of 0.73% was characterized by SD = 0.11, identical to that obtained for Alcian Blue. Aqueous solutions of n-propyl Astra Blue iodide, in contrast to Alcian Blue, are thermally stable. Heating the reagent for 1 h at 100 degrees C did not alter solubility or cytochemical behavior. In contrast, parallel treatment of Alcian Blue yielded insoluble material by hydrolysis of the isothiouronium groups. The reagent for basophil detection comprises n-propyl Astra Blue iodide, lanthanum chloride, sodium chloride, Tween 20, and cetylpyridinium chloride. The Astra Blue derivatives were characterized by uv-vis, ir, percentage halide, paper chromatography, and 13C NMR.     

Photolabeling of brain membrane proteins by lysergic acid diethylamide

³H-Lysergic acid diethylamide (³H-LSD) is irreversibly incorporated into bovine caudate membranes during ultraviolet light illumination. The incorporated radioligand apparently forms a covalent bond with a sub-population of the membrane proteins. Although the photolabeling pattern differs significantly from the Coomassie blue staining pattern on SDS gels, the photolabeling is apparently not specific for LSD binding sites associated with neurotransmitter receptors. ³H-LSD photolabeling can occur during prolonged exposure of membrane samples to room lighting and thus may introduce artifacts into receptor binding assays.