P-glycoprotein induction: an antidotal pathway for paraquat-induced lung toxicity

The widespread use of the nonselective contact herbicide paraquat (PQ) has been the cause of thousands of deaths from both accidental and voluntary ingestion. The main target organ for PQ toxicity is the lung. No antidote or effective treatment to decrease PQ accumulation in the lung or to disrupt its toxicity has yet been developed. The present study describes a procedure that leads to a remarkable decrease in PQ accumulation in the lung, together with an increase in its fecal excretion and a subsequent decrease in several biochemical and histopathological biomarkers of toxicity. The administration of dexamethasone (100 mg/kg ip) to Wistar rats, 2 h after PQ intoxication (25 mg/kg ip), decreased the lung PQ accumulation to about 40% of the group exposed to only PQ and led to an improvement in tissue healing in just 24 h as a result of the induction of de novo synthesis of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The involvement of P-gp in these effects was confirmed by Western blot analysis and by the use of a competitive inhibitor of this transporter, verapamil (10 mg/kg ip), which, given 1 h before dexamethasone, blocked its protective effects, causing instead an increase in lung PQ concentration and an aggravation of toxicity. In conclusion, the induction of P-gp, leading to a decrease in lung levels of PQ and the consequent prevention of toxicity, seems to be a new and promising treatment for PQ poisonings that should be further clinically tested.     

Altered profile of secondary metabolites in the root exudates of Arabidopsis ATP-binding cassette transporter mutants

Following recent indirect evidence suggesting a role for ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in root exudation of phytochemicals, we identified 25 ABC transporter genes highly expressed in the root cells most likely to be involved in secretion processes. Of these 25 genes, we also selected six full-length ABC transporters and a half-size transporter for in-depth molecular and biochemical analyses. We compared the exuded root phytochemical profiles of these seven ABC transporter mutants to those of the wild type. There were three nonpolar phytochemicals missing in various ABC transporter mutants compared to the wild type when the samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. These data suggest that more than one ABC transporter can be involved in the secretion of a given phytochemical and that a transporter can be involved in the secretion of more than one secondary metabolite. The primary and secondary metabolites present in the root exudates of the mutants were also analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, which allowed for the identification of groups of compounds differentially found in some of the mutants compared to the wild type. For instance, the mutant Atpdr6 secreted a lower level of organic acids and Atmrp2 secreted a higher level of amino acids as compared to the wild type. We conclude that the release of phytochemicals by roots is partially controlled by ABC transporters.     

Linfoma pulmonar primario no Hodgkin con infiltración de miocardio

A case of primary pulmonary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is presented. On this occasion, the lymphoma invaded the myocardium, an event which has not previously been reported in the literature. These neoplasms spread by proximity, and invasion of the pericardium, thoracic wall and oesophagus have been described. Our patient died from heart failure. Tumour myocardial infiltration may well have been the determinant cause through various mechanisms, including a decrease in myocardial contractility. Spread into the myocardium may be facilitated by bulky tumour infiltrates in the pleural space.     

Prevalence of potentially pathogenic culturable bacteria on eggshells and in cloacae of female Pied Flycatchers in a temperate habitat in central Spain

ABSTRACT Bacteria grow on avian eggshells and thus can potentially cause diseases in developing embryos. Little is known about culturable bacteria colonizing avian eggshells in free‐living birds, with most studies restricted to poultry. Our objective was to examine the culturable bacterial array growing on eggshells during incubation that could negatively affect hatching success of Pied Flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in a temperate montane habitat in central Spain. Cloacal culturable bacteria of females were also analyzed because bacteria can be vertically transmitted from females to eggs. We used fecal samples as surrogates of cloacal samples due to the small size of sampled birds. We found that eggshells and female cloacae of Pied Flycatchers harbored 24 and 40 bacterial families and species, respectively, but only a few in each clutch and each cloaca. Rod‐shaped gram‐negative bacteria and bacteria in the family Pseudomonadaceae were the most common bacteria on eggshells during early and late incubation and in female cloacae. Although based on small sample sizes, we found that females with rod‐shaped gram‐negative bacteria in their cloacae laid eggs that also had these bacteria, providing possible evidence for vertical transmission. We found no evidence for vertical transmission of Pseudomonadaceae, suggesting a possible environmental source for these bacteria. The prevalence of bacterial morphological types and major taxonomical categories on eggshells did not vary from early to late stages of incubation, providing support for the hypothesis that incubation may have bacteriostatic effects on bacterial proliferation on eggshells. Despite being primary egg invaders in poultry, we detected no effects of culturable Pseudomonadaceae or Pseudomonas luteola on hatching success. Our study represents the first to examine the culturable bacteria growing on the eggshells of a wild bird in a temperate habitat and additional studies based on culture‐independent techniques are required to confirm our results.     

Cluster root formation and function vary in two species with contrasting geographic ranges

Plant and Soil - Southern South American Proteaceae can occupy soils that are rich in total phosphorus (P) but poor in available P (for example volcanic soils) thanks to their cluster roots (CR),...     

Understorey plant community assemblage of Australian Eucalyptus woodlands under elevated CO2 is modulated by water and phosphorus availability

水分和磷调控的澳大利亚桉树林林下植物群落组合对二氧化碳浓度升高的响应 鉴于林下植物群落具有的关键性功能作用和全球范围内巨大的森林覆盖面积,研究林下群落对 CO₂浓度升高(eCO₂)的响应以及土壤资源在这些响应中的作用,对于了解CO₂浓度升高对森林生态系统造成的影响非常重要。本研究评估了在澳大利亚东部磷有限的桉树林林下群落中,两种限制性的资源(即水分和磷)在发芽、物候、覆盖率、群落组成和叶片性状等方面对eCO₂响应的作用。我们收集了含有当地土壤种子库的土壤,在温室条件下种植实验性的林下植物群落。研究结果表明,添加磷提高了植物的总体覆盖率,特别是在生长期的最初4 周以及水分含量高的条件下,而且该响应是由植物群落中的类禾本科植物所驱动。然而,随着实验的进行,不同处理方法之间的差异逐渐减小,所有处理在大约11周后均达到了80%左右的植物覆盖率。相反,植物覆盖率并未受到eCO₂ 的影响。多元分析结果反映出植物群落组成随时间的变化,盆栽从以裸土为主变为以高覆盖率的多样化群落为主。但是在实验过程中,磷的添加以及水分可利用性和CO₂之间的相互作用都对植物群落随时间的变化轨迹有所影响。CO₂浓度的升高也增加了群落水平的比叶面积,这表明植物群落对eCO₂的功能适应可能发生在成分响应开始之前。鉴于我们用种子库培育的林下群落对eCO₂ 的响应随着时间的推移而有 所变化,并且受到与磷和水分可利用性的相互作用的调节。我们的结果表明,在水分含量有限的系统中, 特别是在土壤养分可利用性低所导致的生产力响应受限的情况下,CO₂浓度的升高在塑造植物群落方面作用有限。     

Comparative internal structure of dorsal lips and radiolar appendages in sabellidae (Polychaeta) and phylogenetic implications

Fan worms (Sabellidae) possess paired modified prostomial structures at the base of the radiolar crown, dorso‐lateral to the mouth, called dorsal lips. The dorsal lips are involved in the sorting of particles collected by the radiolar crown. The range of variation in the morphology of dorsal lips is extensive, and probably this is not only due to adaptations to different environments and feeding preferences but also due to phylogenetic constraints. In this study, we describe and compare the morphology of dorsal lips in a range of sabellid taxa based on histological cross‐sections of these structures, and compare our data and terminology with those of previous studies. Dorsal lips are maintained erect in most taxa by a modified radiole fused to them known as dorsal radiolar appendage. We suggest that dorsal radiolar appendages with an internal supporting axis (cellular or acellular) and probably also the ventral lips are synapomorphies of the family. J. Morphol., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.