The feeding habits of three Mediterranean sea anemone species,Anemonia viridis (Forskål),Actinia equina (Linnaeus) andCereus pedunculatus (Pennant)

The feeding habits of the Mediterranean sea anemonesCereus pedunculatus, Actinia equina andAnemonia viridis were examined mainly by analysing their coelenteron contents. The three species are opportunistic omnivorous suspension feeders. Main source of food forA. viridis andC. pedunculatus are crustaceans (mainly amphipods and decapods, respectively), while for the midlittoral speciesA. equina, it is organic detritus. Using the same method, the temporal and spatial changes in the diet ofA. viridis were examined. During the whole year, crustaceans seem to be the main source of food forA. viridis. The diet composition of this species, however, differs remarkably in space, possibly reflecting the different composition of the macrobenthic organismic assemblages in different areas. The data collected are compared with the limited bibliographical information.     

C-cell in vestiges of the ultimobranchial body in human thyroid glands.

Calcitonin-containing cells were demonstrated in the so-called solid cell nests of three human thyroid glands, which supports the theory of the ultimobranchial origin of these cell nests.     

Selection of flowering forbs for conserving natural enemies in rice fields

The diversity of natural enemies harboured by flowering forbs on rice field bunds was recorded. Ageratum conozoides with a maximum Shannon diversity index of 1.8 followed by Acmella uliginosa, Eclipta alba and Tridax procumbens are amenable for ecological engineering, providing nectar, pollen and alternate prey to natural enemies.     

Ion Permeabilities in Mouse Sperm Reveal an External Trigger for SLO3-Dependent Hyperpolarization

Unlike most cells of the body which function in an ionic environment controlled within narrow limits, spermatozoa must function in a less controlled external environment. In order to better understand how sperm control their membrane potential in different ionic conditions, we measured mouse sperm membrane potentials under a variety of conditions and at different external K⁺ concentrations, both before and after capacitation. Experiments were undertaken using both wild-type, and mutant mouse sperm from the knock-out strain of the sperm-specific, pH-sensitive, SLO3 K⁺ channel. Membrane voltage data were fit to the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation. Our study revealed a significant membrane permeability to both K⁺ and Cl⁻ before capacitation, as well as Na⁺. The permeability to both K⁺ and Cl⁻ has the effect of preventing large changes in membrane potential when the extracellular concentration of either ion is changed. Such a mechanism may protect against undesired shifts in membrane potential in changing ionic environments. We found that a significant portion of resting membrane potassium permeability in wild-type sperm was contributed by SLO3 K⁺ channels. We also found that further activation of SLO3 channels was the essential mechanism producing membrane hyperpolarization under two separate conditions, 1) elevation of external pH prior to capacitation and 2) capacitating conditions. Both conditions produced a significant membrane hyperpolarization in wild-type which was absent in SLO3 mutant sperm. Hyperpolarization in both conditions may result from activation of SLO3 channels by raising intracellular pH; however, demonstrating that SLO3-dependent hyperpolarization is achieved by an alkaline environment alone shows that SLO3 channel activation might occur independently of other events associated with capacitation. For example sperm may undergo stages of membrane hyperpolarization when reaching alkaline regions of the female genital tract. Significantly, other events associated with sperm capacitation, occur in SLO3 mutant sperm and thus proceed independently of hyperpolarization.     

A novel bufadienolide synthesis

A simple two-step synthesis of bufadienolides is reported. It consists in the addition of the dimethyl acetal of chloroketene to a steroidal 20-methylene 21-aldehyde and in the treatment of the resulting 2,2-dimethoxy 3-chloro 2,3-dihydropyran with sodium methoxide in dimethylsulfoxide. This method is exemplified by the synthesis of 3β-hydroxy-5α,14α-bufadienolide from 3β-acetoxy-20-methylene-5α-pregnan-21-al, prepared from 3β-acetoxy-5α-androstan-17-one. The new procedure represents the most efficient bufadienolide synthesis yet known.     

Performance,rumen fermentation,blood minerals,leukocyte and antioxidant capacity of young Holstein calves receiving high-surface ZnO instead of common ZnO

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to assess the effect of feeding high-surface ZnO instead of common ZnO on the performance, rumen fermentation, blood minerals, leukocytes and antioxidant capacity of pre- and post-weaning calves. Thirty male suckling Holstein calves were allotted to one of three experimental groups (10 replicates) in a completely randomised design. Calves received: (1) a low Zn diet without Zn supplementation (control diet), (2) a high Zn diet containing 50 mg supplementary Zn/kg dry matter (DM) as common ZnO or (3) a high Zn diet containing 50 mg supplementary Zn/kg DM as high-surface ZnO (nano-ZnO). The control diet contained a native Zn content of 35.5, 34.7 or 33.7 mg/kg DM for the age periods of 7 to 30, 31 to 70 and 71 to 100 d, respectively. Supplementation of the diet with Zn did not change the dry matter intake (DMI) of calves during d 7 to 30 but increased the ADG in this period (p < 0.05). During age periods of 31 to 70 and 71 to 100 d, DMI and ADG of the Zn supplemented calves were higher (p < 0.05) than the control animals. The nutrient digestibility and the concentration of rumen volatile fatty acids were positively affected (p < 0.05) and the rumen ammonia-N concentration decreased (p < 0.05) by dietary Zn supplementation. Furthermore, the incidence of diarrhoea and pneumonia was lower in calves receiving the Zn supplemented diets. Irrespective of ZnO source, the blood total antioxidant capacity, leukocyte and haematocrit levels significantly increased (p < 0.05) with the ZnO supplemented diets. The post-weaning DMI, nutrient digestibility and blood haematocrit levels were higher in calves receiving high-surface ZnO, compared to those supplemented with common ZnO. With inclusion of the Zn sources in pre- and post-weaning diets, the blood Zn concentration increased (p < 0.05), but the blood Cu, Fe, Ca, P and Mg levels remained unchanged. Regardless of source, dietary supplementation of young calves with ZnO improved the performance and decreased rumen ammonia-N and the incidence of diseases. Moreover, high-surface ZnO had advantages over common ZnO in increasing the post-weaning feed intake, digestibility and blood Zn concentration.     

Bioactive Molecules Derived from Snake Venoms with Therapeutic Potential for the Treatment of Thrombo-Cardiovascular Disorders Associated with COVID-19

The Protein Journal - As expected, several new variants of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged and have been detected around the world throughout this Coronavirus...