Effects of Pro-Tex® on the expression of Hsp70 gene and immune response parameters in the Persian sturgeon fingerlings,Acipenser persicus,infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

The induction of Hsps (heat shock protein) recognized as a promising approach to limiting disease and improving health in aquaculture. This investigation aimed to study the impacts of Pro-Tex®, an extract from the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica), on the expression of Hsp70 gene and induction of immune response parameters in Acipenser persicus infected with Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC^®7966^TM. Fish were pretreated with 25, 50 and 100 mg/L of Pro-Tex and then injected in the intra-peritoneal cavity with A. hydrophila. The expression level of Hsp70 gene, lysozyme activity (LYZ) and complement C3 (C3), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels were assessed in liver, gill, and intestine on the days 3 and 7 post-infection. Tex-OE® increased expression of Hsp70 in a dose-dependent way in A. persicus, but this expression significantly reduced on the 7-days post-injection. The Hsp70 expression pattern was variable in each tissue, also, LYZ activity, C3, and IgM increased, depending on the concentration, and showed a decreasing trend in a time-dependent way. In conclusion, our data indicated that Pro-Tex as an Hsp70 inducer increases the resistance of sturgeon fry against fish pathogens by induction of different immunity factors.     

Dating the Lower to Middle Paleolithic transition in the Levant: A view from Misliya Cave,Mount Carmel,Israel

The transition from the Lower to the Middle Paleolithic in the Levant is a crucial event in human evolution, since it may involve the arrival of a new human population. In the current study, we present thermoluminescence (TL) dates obtained from 32 burnt flints retrieved from the late Lower Paleolithic (Acheulo-Yabrudian) and Early Middle Paleolithic (Mousterian) layers of Misliya Cave, Mount Carmel, Israel. Early Middle Paleolithic industries rich in Levallois and laminar products were assigned mean ages ranging from ∼250 to ∼160 ka (thousands of years ago), suggesting a production of this industry during MIS 7 and the early part of MIS 6. The mean ages obtained for the samples associated with the Acheulo-Yabrudian (strengthened by an isochron analysis) indicate a production of this cultural complex ∼250 ka ago, at the end of MIS 8. According to the Misliya TL dates, the transition from the Lower to the Middle Paleolithic in the site took place at the limit MIS 8/7 or during the early part of MIS 7. The dates, together with the pronounced differences in lithic technology strongly suggest the arrival of a new population during this period.     

Effects of sodium butyrate on oxidative stress and behavioral changes induced by administration of d-AMPH

Several evidences have demonstrated that oxidative stress has a central role in bipolar disorder (BD). Recently, studies have been suggested histone deacetylases (HDAC) as a possible target for new medications in treatment of mood disorders. In this study, we investigated the effects of sodium butyrate (SB, a histone deacetilase inhibitor) on oxidative stress in rats submitted to an animal model of mania induced by d-amphetamine (d-AMPH). Wistar rats were first given d-AMPH or saline (Sal) for 14 days, and then, between days 8 and 14, rats were treated with SB or Sal. Locomotor activity and risk-taking behavior were assessed by open-field test and oxidative stress was measured in prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus and striatum. The results showed that SB reversed and prevented d-AMPH-induced behavioral effects. The d-AMPH administration induced oxidative damage in all brain structures analyzed. Depending on the cerebral area and technique, SB was able to reverse this impairment. The present study reinforces the need for more studies of HDAC inhibitors as possible target for new medications in treatment for BD.     

P2X7 receptors regulate engulfing activity of non-stimulated resting astrocytes

We previously demonstrated that P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) expressed by cultured mouse astrocytes were activated without any exogenous stimuli, but its roles in non-stimulated resting astrocytes remained unknown. It has been reported that astrocytes exhibit engulfing activity, and that the basal activity of P2X7Rs regulates the phagocytic activity of macrophages. In this study, therefore, we investigated whether P2X7Rs regulate the engulfing activity of mouse astrocytes. Uptake of non-opsonized beads by resting astrocytes derived from ddY-mouse cortex time-dependently increased, and the uptaken beads were detected in the intracellular space. The bead uptake was inhibited by cytochalasin D (CytD), an F-actin polymerization inhibitor, and agonists and antagonists of P2X7Rs apparently decreased the uptake. Spontaneous YO-PRO-1 uptake by ddY-mouse astrocytes was reduced by the agonists and antagonists of P2X7Rs, but not by CytD. Down-regulation of P2X7Rs using siRNA decreased the bead uptake by ddY-mouse astrocytes. In addition, compared to in the case of ddY-mouse astrocytes, SJL-mouse astrocytes exhibited higher YO-PRO-1 uptake activity, and their bead uptake was significantly greater. These findings suggest that resting astrocytes exhibit engulfing activity and that the activity is regulated, at least in part, by their P2X7Rs.     

The daidzein- and estradiol- induced anorectic action in CCK or leptin receptor deficiency rats

We investigated the effect of daidzein feeding and estradiol treatment on food intake in cholecystokinin-1 receptor (CCK1R) deficiency, leptin receptor (ObRb) deficiency rats and their wild-type rats. These rats underwent an ovariectomy or a sham operation. For the 5 week experiment, each rat was divided in three groups: control, daidzein (150 mg/kg diet), and estradiol (4.2 μg/rat/day) groups. In both CCK1R+ and CCK1R? rats, daidzein feeding and estradiol treatment significantly decreased food intake. Daidzein feeding significantly reduced food intake in ovariectomized ObRb? rats, although not in ObRb+ rats. Estradiol treatment significantly lowered food intake in ovariectomized ObRb+ and ObRb? rats. In the ovariectomized rats, estradiol treatment significantly increases uterine weight, while daidzein feeding did not change it, suggesting that daidzein might have no or weak estrogenic effect in our experiment. These results suggest that CCK1R and ObRb signalings were not essential for the daidzein- and estradiol-induced anorectic action.     

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis of native mountain ponies of Britain and Ireland reveals a novel rare population

The conservation of unique populations of animals is critical in order to preserve valuable genetic diversity and, where populations are free‐living, maintain their irreplaceable influence upon habitat ecology. An accurate assessment of genetic diversity and structure within and between populations is crucial in order to design and implement conservation strategies in natural and domesticated species. Moreover, where it is possible to identify relic populations that are related to a structured breed an ideal opportunity presents itself to model processes that reveal historical factors that have shaped genetic diversity. The origins of native UK mountain and moorland ponies are uncertain, but they may have directly descended from prehistoric populations and potentially harbour specific adaptations to the uplands of Britain and Ireland. To date, there have been no studies of population structure and genetic diversity present within a free‐living group of ponies in the Carneddau mountain range of North Wales. Herein, we describe the use of microsatellites and SNPs together with analysis of the mitochondrial control region to quantify the extent and magnitude of genetic diversity present in the feral Carneddau pony and relate this to several recognised British and Irish pony breeds. Our results establish that the feral Carneddau ponies represent a unique and distinctive population that merits recognition as a defined population and conservation priority. We discuss the implications for conservation of this population as a unique pool of genetic diversity adapted to the British uplands and potentially of particular value in maintaining the biodiversity of these habitats.     

Prognostic Significance of Promoter DNA Hypermethylation of cysteine dioxygenase 1 (CDO1) Gene in Primary Breast Cancer

Using pharmacological unmasking microarray, we identified promoter DNA methylation of cysteine dioxygenase 1 (CDO1) gene in human cancer. In this study, we assessed the clinicopathological significance of CDO1 methylation in primary breast cancer (BC) with no prior chemotherapy. The CDO1 DNA methylation was quantified by TaqMan methylation specific PCR (Q-MSP) in 7 BC cell lines and 172 primary BC patients with no prior chemotherapy. Promoter DNA of the CDO1 gene was hypermethylated in 6 BC cell lines except SK-BR3, and CDO1 gene expression was all silenced at mRNA level in the 7 BC cell lines. Quantification of CDO1 methylation was developed using Q-MSP, and assessed in primary BC. Among the clinicopathologic factors, CDO1 methylation level was not statistically significantly associated with any prognostic factors. The log-rank plot analysis elucidated that the higher methylation the tumors harbored, the poorer prognosis the patients exhibited. Using the median value of 58.0 as a cut-off one, disease specific survival in BC patients with CDO1 hypermethylation showed significantly poorer prognosis than those with hypomethylation (p = 0.004). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model identified that CDO1 hypermethylation was prognostic factor as well as Ki-67 and hormone receptor status. The most intriguingly, CDO1 hypermethylation was of robust prognostic relevance in triple negative BC (p = 0.007). Promoter DNA methylation of CDO1 gene was robust prognostic indicator in primary BC patients with no prior chemotherapy. Prognostic relevance of the CDO1 promoter DNA methylation is worthy of being paid attention in triple negative BC cancer.