Array-A-Lizer: A serial DNA microarray quality analyzer

Background  

The proliferate nature of DNA microarray results have made it necessary to implement a uniform and quick quality control of experimental results to ensure the consistency of data across multiple experiments prior to actual data analysis.     

Influence of oxygen tension on myocardial performance. Evaluation by tissue Doppler imaging

Background

Endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic rabbits is usually evaluated ex vivo on isolated aortic rings. In vivo evaluation requires invasive imaging procedures that cannot be repeated serially.

Aim

We evaluated a non-invasive ultrasound technique to assess early endothelial function in rabbits and compare data with ex vivo measurements.

Methods

Twenty-four rabbits (fed with a cholesterol diet (0.5%) for 2 to 8 weeks) were given progressive infusions of acetylcholine (0.05–0.5 μg/kg/min) and their endothelial function was assessed in vivo by transcutaneous vascular ultrasound of the abdominal aorta. Ex vivo endothelial function was evaluated on isolated aortic rings and compared to in vivo data.

Results

Significant endothelial dysfunction was demonstrated in hypercholesterolemic animals as early as 2 weeks after beginning the cholesterol diet (aortic cross-sectional area variation: -2.9% vs. +4% for controls, p < 0.05). Unexpectedly, response to acetylcholine at 8 weeks was more variable. Endothelial function improved in 5 rabbits while 2 rabbits regained a normal endothelial function. These data corroborated well with ex vivo results.

Conclusion

Endothelial function can be evaluated non-invasively in vivo by transcutaneous vascular ultrasound of the abdominal aorta in the rabbit and results correlate well with ex vivo data.     

Intraspecific sexual selection on a speciation trait, male coloration, in the Lake Victoria cichlid Pundamilia nyererei

The haplochromine cichlids of Lake Victoria constitute a classical example of explosive speciation. Extensive intra- and interspecific variation in male nuptial coloration and female mating preferences, in the absence of postzygotic isolation between species, has inspired the hypothesis that sexual selection has been a driving force in the origin of this species flock. This hypothesis rests on the premise that the phenotypic traits that underlie behavioural reproductive isolation between sister species diverged under sexual selection within a species. We test this premise in a Lake Victoria cichlid, by using laboratory experiments and field observations. We report that a male colour trait, which has previously been shown to be important for behavioural reproductive isolation between this species and a close relative, is under directional sexual selection by female mate choice within this species. This is consistent with the hypothesis that female choice has driven the divergence in male coloration between the two species. We also find that male territoriality is vital for male reproductive success and that multiple mating by females is common.     

Isolation of glucosinolates and the identification of o-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzylglucosinolate from Reseda odorata

A method has been developed for the quantitative isolation of glucosinolates by ion-exchange chromatography and high voltage electrophoresis avoiding strongly alkaline and acidic conditions. The compounds were identified by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and through the products arising from enzymatic, acid and alkaline hydrolysis. The method is well suited for the isolation and identification of glucosinolates containing aglucone parts which produce non-volatile compounds on enzymatic hydrolysis. The method has been used in the isolation and identification of 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropylglucosinolate from Reseda alba, 2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylglucosinolate from R. luteola and a new glucosinolate, o-(α-l-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzylglucosinolate, occurring in R. odorata. The glucosinolate content in different parts of this plant has been determined and the metabolism of glucosinolates is briefly discussed.     

NO mediates downregulation of RBF after a prolonged reduction of renal perfusion pressure in SHR

The aim of the study was to investigate mechanisms underlying the downregulation of renal blood flow (RBF) after a prolonged reduction in renal perfusion pressure (RPP) in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We tested the effect on the RBF response of clamping plasma ANG II in sevoflurane-anesthetized SHR. We also tested the effect of general cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition and inhibition of the inducible COX-2. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of clamping the nitric oxide (NO) system. A prolonged period (15 min) of reduced RPP induced a downregulation of RBF. This was unchanged after clamping of plasma ANG II concentrations, general COX inhibition, and specific inhibition of COX-2. In contrast, clamping the NO system diminished the ability of SHR to downregulate RBF to a lower level. The downregulation of RBF was not associated with a resetting of the lower limit of autoregulation in the control group, in the ANG II-clamped group, or the NO clamped group. However, general COX inhibition and specific COX-2 inhibition enabled downward resetting of the lower limit of autoregulation. In conclusion, in SHR the renin-angiotensin system does not appear to play a major role in the downregulation of RBF after prolonged reduction of RPP. This response appears to be mediated partly by the NO system. We hypothesize that, in SHR, lack of downward resetting of the lower limit of autoregulation in response to a prolonged lowering of RPP could be the result of increased COX-2-mediated production of vasoconstrictory prostaglandins.     

Cyclooxygenase-2 contributes to elevated renin in the early postnatal period in rats

We asked whether cyclooxygenase (COX) activity controls the renin-angiotensin system in the postnatal period. During kidney development, renin peaked at postnatal days 0-1 at the mRNA, tissue protein [renal renin concentration (RRC)], and plasma renin concentration (PRC) levels and was widely expressed along preglomerular vessels. PRC and renin mRNA expression was elevated until weaning in the 4th postnatal week compared with adult rats. Renocortical COX-2 was restricted to Tamm-Horsfall protein-positive cells in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, and cortical COX-2 mRNA and protein expression were elevated along with PRC in the 2nd and 3rd postnatal weeks. In contrast, cortical COX-1 expression was constant, but medullary COX-1 expression increased eightfold from the 1st to 4th postnatal week. A COX-2-selective blocker, parecoxib, and a nonselective blocker, indomethacin, given in a period with COX-2 induction from postnatal day 6 to day 12, markedly decreased PRC, but not renin mRNA or RRC. Inhibition of angiotensin AT(1) receptors by candesartan from postnatal day 1 to day 5 increased COX-2 mRNA (2.5-fold), protein, and distribution, renin mRNA (7-fold) and PRC (20- to 70-fold), but had no influence on COX-1 mRNA. Thus, due to very low levels of expression, COX-2 is unlikely to be responsible for the birth peak of renin, but COX-2 activity supports renin secretion later in the suckling period. ANG II negatively feeds back on renocortical COX-2 expression in the 1st postnatal days with high activity of the renin system. We suggest that suckling in the rat is correlated to an enhanced, COX-2-mediated, secretory activity of renin-producing juxtaglomerular cells.     

The structure of bovine lysosomal alpha-mannosidase suggests a novel mechanism for low-pH activation

Lysosomal alpha-mannosidase (LAM: EC 3.2.1.24) belongs to the sequence-based glycoside hydrolase family 38 (GH38). Two other mammalian GH38 members, Golgi alpha-mannosidase II (GIIAM) and cytosolic alpha-mannosidase, are expressed in all tissues. In humans, cattle, cat and guinea pig, lack of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase activity causes the autosomal recessive disease alpha-mannosidosis. Here, we describe the three-dimensional structure of bovine lysosomal alpha-mannosidase (bLAM) at 2.7A resolution and confirm the solution state dimer by electron microscopy. We present the first structure of a mammalian GH38 enzyme that offers indications for the signal areas for mannose phosphorylation, suggests a previously undetected mechanism of low-pH activation and provides a template for further biochemical studies of the family 38 glycoside hydrolases as well as lysosomal transport. Furthermore, it provides a basis for understanding the human form of alpha-mannosidosis at the atomic level. The atomic coordinates and structure factors have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank (accession codes 1o7d and r1o7dsf).     

Capillaries within compartments: microvascular interpretation of dynamic positron emission tomography data

Measurement of exchange of substances between blood and tissue has been a long-lasting challenge to physiologists, and considerable theoretical and experimental accomplishments were achieved before the development of the positron emission tomography (PET). Today, when modeling data from modern PET scanners, little use is made of earlier microvascular research in the compartmental models, which have become the standard model by which the vast majority of dynamic PET data are analysed. However, modern PET scanners provide data with a sufficient temporal resolution and good counting statistics to allow estimation of parameters in models with more physiological realism. We explore the standard compartmental model and find that incorporation of blood flow leads to paradoxes, such as kinetic rate constants being time-dependent, and tracers being cleared from a capillary faster than they can be supplied by blood flow. The inability of the standard model to incorporate blood flow consequently raises a need for models that include more physiology, and we develop microvascular models which remove the inconsistencies. The microvascular models can be regarded as a revision of the input function. Whereas the standard model uses the organ inlet concentration as the concentration throughout the vascular compartment, we consider models that make use of spatial averaging of the concentrations in the capillary volume, which is what the PET scanner actually registers. The microvascular models are developed for both single- and multi-capillary systems and include effects of non-exchanging vessels. They are suitable for analysing dynamic PET data from any capillary bed using either intravascular or diffusible tracers, in terms of physiological parameters which include regional blood flow.     

Processing of seminal plasma hCAP-18 to ALL-38 by gastricsin: a novel mechanism of generating antimicrobial peptides in vagina

The human cathelicidin, hCAP-18, is expressed both in neutrophils and in epithelial cells. hCAP-18 is processed to the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 by proteinase 3 in neutrophils. hCAP-18 is highly expressed in the epididymis with a subsequent high concentration in seminal plasma where the protein is present in its unprocessed and antimicrobially inactive form. We report here that hCAP-18 in seminal plasma is processed to generate a 38-amino acid antimicrobial peptide ALL-38 by the prostate-derived protease gastricsin when incubated at a pH corresponding to the vaginal pH. In accordance with this, seminal plasma derived hCAP-18 was found in its processed form in the vagina following sexual intercourse. The antimicrobial activity of ALL-38 against a variety of microorganisms tested is equal to that of LL-37. This enzymatic activation of a proantimicrobial substance in seminal plasma following exposure to the vaginal milieu represents a novel mechanism to prevent infection following sexual intercourse.