Biological half-lives of bromide and sodium in the rat are connected and dependent on the physiological state

The parallel course of the excretion rates of sodium and bromide ions was demonstrated in adult male rats administered simultaneously with ²⁴Na-sodium chloride and ⁸²Br-bromide. These excretion rates were inversely proportional to the magnitude of sodium intake in the animals. The biological half-life of bromide, as a substitute for sodium or chloride, was investigated with the aid of the radionuclide ⁸²Br in animals situated in very different physiological states (i.e., in lactating and nonlactating female rats as well as in young rats of varying ages [2,4,6, and 10 wk of age]). The ⁸²Br radioactivity retained in mothers and in whole litters was measured in vivo at appropriate time intervals (up to 240 h) after the application of ⁸²Br-bromide to the mothers. The time-course of the changes in the ⁸²Br radioactivity of the young was calculated as the difference between the rate of ⁸²Br intake in the mother's milk and the ⁸²Br excretion through the kidneys into the urine. The rate of ⁸²Br excretion through the kidneys of the dam could be calculated also. Nonweaned young rats (12 d) had the highest half-life (269 h) and lactating dams had the lowest (44 h). The determined values demonstrated that nonweaned young apparently conserve sodium, because of its relatively low concentration in mother's milk, whereas lactating dams, because of their large food intake, waste sodium. Presented in part at the 4th International Symposium on Trace Elements in Human: New Perspectives held in Athens (Greece) on 9–11 October 2003     

New antioxidant mixture for long term stability of serotonin, dopamine and their metabolites in automated microbore liquid chromatography with dual electrochemical detection

An automated microbore liquid chromatographic assay with dual electrochemical detection is described for the determination of serotonin, dopamine and their metabolites, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid. Due to the chemical instability of the compounds, the addition of an antioxidant is required for automated analysis over a long period of time (e.g., 20 h). Therefore, the time stability of these substances was tested with different antioxidants. The stability for serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was poor in acidic medium containing Na₂EDTA but could greatly be improved by the addition of

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-cysteine and ascorbic acid. Using this assay, the neurotransmitters and their metabolites could easily be determined in microdialysates obtained from different rat brain areas.     

Washing technique for monitoring mites in apple orchards

A shake-and-wash technique for monitoring the predatory phytoseiid mitesTyphlodromus pyri, Amblyseius finlandicus, and their prey,Panonychus ulmi, Tetranychus urticae andAculus schlechtendali in commercial apple orchards was developed. The removal and recovery of mites from leaves, shoots and spurs is based on agitating the plant material by hand in alcohol and subsequently removing the mites using a separating funnel. The mites are quickly killed and easily washed off the plant material, and are thus well preserved for further study. The technique is more efficient than directly counting the mites on plant material under a dissection microscope and can be easily employed both in the laboratory and in the field.     

Aquarium hitchhikers: attached commensals imported with freshwater shrimps via the pet trade

The keeping of home aquaria is one of the most popular hobbies globally. In contrast to the ornamental fish trade, decapod crustaceans such as shrimps, crayfish and crabs are relatively new to the pet trade. Nevertheless, the popularity of ornamental shrimp in freshwater aquaria has rapidly increased in recent years. Indonesia is one of the leading producers and exporters of ornamental aquatic animals globally and the Czech Republic is a gateway for these animals into the European Union territory. The pathway for introductions of organisms unintentionally moved in association with ornamental shrimps via the international trade has to date not been evaluated. We examined a small number of shrimps imported from Indonesia into the Czech Republic in May 2015 and found large numbers of the protozoan Vorticella sp., one species of scutariellid temnocephalidan (Caridinicola sp.), and one species of bdelloid rotifer, associated with two species of atyid shrimps, indicating an invasion risk from fauna carried unintentionally by this vector. Although our observations were limited in scale, we estimate the total number of commensal fauna imported into the Czech Republic with ornamental shrimps via the pet trade to be in the order of hundreds of thousands per month. As attached organisms can directly or indirectly cause diseases in certain species of decapod crustaceans, we recommend five steps to reduce risks of introduction of “hitchhikers” to aquaria and wildlife.     

Polyploidy and variation in theCampanula rotundifolia complex. Part II. (Taxonomic) I. Revision of the groupsSaxicolae,Lanceolatae andAlpicolae in Czechoslovakia and adjacent regions

A survey is given of three natural groups of the subsectionHeterophylla (Witas.)Fed. of the genusCampanula L. Within theSaxicolae four taxa of higher rank have been revealed:c. xylocarpa Kovanda (2n=34),C. gentilis Kovanda (2n=34),C. moravica (Spitzner)Kovanda subsp.moravica (2n=68), andC. moravica subsp.xylorrhiza (O. Schwarz)Kovanda (2n=102). BothAlpicolae andLanceolatae are represented by a single species: the first byC. cochleariifolia Lam. (2n=34), the latter byC. serrata (Kit. ap.Schult.)Hendrych (2n=34). Cytology, ecology and geographical distribution of all these taxa have been reviewed, and relationships to the other members of the complex discussed. Infraspecific variation within each species has also been examined.     

SERUM LEVELS OF COLONY STIMULATING FACTOR(S) AND THE GROWTH OF BONE MARROW CELLS IN DIFFUSION CHAMBERS

Fluctuations in the body fluids of long-ranged humoral substance(s) capable of stimulating the growth of bone marrow granulocytic and macrophage-like cells in diffusion chamber cultures in vivo, was observed after whole body irradiation of mice. The fluctuation pattern was similar to that of the in vitro colony stimulating factor(s) of the sera of irradiated mice which indicates a relation between in vivo and in vitro active factor(s).     

New taxa and combinations in the subsectionHeterophylla (Witas.) Fed. of the genusCampanula L

Two new species,Campanula gentilis andC. gelida, are described and two new combinations,C. moravica (Spitzner) comb. nova andC. moravica subsp.xylorrhiza (O. Schwarz) comb. nova, are proposed.     

Phytophagous and predatory mites (Acari: Tetranychidae,Eriophyidae, Phytoseiidae,Stigmaeidae) in South Moravian vineyards,Czechoslovakia, treated with various types of chemicals

Communities of phytophagous and predatory mites on vine can be influenced by the type of chemical treatment. Ten species of phytoseiid mites inhabit vines in the region of South Moravia. Populations ofTyphlodromus pyri Scheuten play leading roles in effective suppression of tetranychid and eriophyid mites in commercial vineyards sprayed with pesticides, except synthetic pyrethroids and mancozed, which are considered to be detrimental to the predatory phytoseiid mites.     

Acetobacter bacteriophage A-1

A bacteriophage ofAcetobacter suboxydans was isolated and found to correspond to type A phage according to Bradley's classification. The phage contains double stranded DNA. The length of the latency period and burst size could not be precisely determined because of apparent non-synchronous release of phage from single infective cycles. The host range was determined using 24 strains ofAcetobacter andGluconobacter species. Evidence for a probable occurence of host determined restriction and modification was obtained withAcetobacter suboxydans strain ATCC 621. The phage is designated A-1 and it is the first one to be reported forAcetobacter.Abbreviations pfu plaque forming units - PTA phosphotungstic acid - GC guanarine + cytosine