Immunolocalization of allatostatin-like neuropeptides and their putative receptor in eyestalks of the tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon

Allatostatin (AST)-like immunoreactivity (IR) was localized in the eyestalk of Penaeus monodon by immunohistochemistry using four anti-AST antibodies. Depending on the antisera, AST-like immunoreactivity was detected in neuronal bodies of the lamina ganglionalis, cell bodies anterior to the medulla externa and cell bodies on the anterior and posterior of the medulla terminalis. Neuronal processes in neuropiles of the medulla externa, medulla terminalis, sinus gland and nerve fibers in the optic nerve were also recognized. No IR in cell bodies or in nerve fibers was found in the medulla interna. Strong AST-like immunoreactivity was found in hundreds of cells of the X organ. The localization of AST-like peptides suggests that they function as neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators. Antiserum to the Drosophila AST receptor (Dar-2) recognized a single protein in P. monodon eyestalk protein extracts that was identical in size to that found in Drosophila protein extracts. Using this antiserum the putative P. monodon AST receptor was localized to the sinus gland in both juvenile and adult eyestalks. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of a neuropeptide receptor localized to the crustacean sinus gland. This suggests that ASTs may function directly on the sinus gland as a neuromodulator. In juvenile eyestalks, the putative AST receptor was also localized to neuronal X organ cells of the medulla terminalis in males but not in females. The significance of this sex-specific receptor localization is unclear but emphasizes that ASTs function within the nervous system of the eyestalk.     

A simple and rapid immunochromatographic test strip for detection of pathogenic isolates of Vibrio harveyi

Mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and rabbit polyclonal antibody (PAb) against Vibrio harveyi were generated from immunization of mice and rabbits with highly virulent isolate of V. harveyi. Two MAbs specific to virulent isolates of V. harveyi were obtained and one of them (VH4) was selected to conjugate with colloidal gold as the detector antibody was laid on a sample pad. Rabbit polyclonal antibody was used as the capture antibody at the test line (T) and goat anti-mouse IgG antibody (GAM) was used as the capture antibody at the control line (C) of nitrocellulose strip. The ready-to-use strip was held in a plastic case and then stored in a desiccated plastic bag. A sample volume of 100 microl of bacterial suspension from various sources mixed with application buffer was applied to the sample chamber at one end of the strip and allowed to flow by chromatography through the nitrocellulose membrane to the other end. In test samples containing virulent isolates of V. harveyi, the bacteria would bind to the monoclonal antibody conjugated with colloidal gold and the resulting complex would be captured by the antibodies at the test line to give a reddish-purple band. Any unbound monoclonal antibody conjugated with colloidal gold moved across the test line would be captured by the GAM and form a band at the control line (C). In sample without V. harveyi or with V. harveyi below the limit (<10(6) CFU/ml) of detection for the kit, only the control line band was observed. If the test sample was pre-enriched in tryptic soy broth (TSB) for 6 h before application to the strip, the sensitivity would increase to 1-10 CFU/ml which is comparable to that of PCR. This method could be used to detect pathogenic isolates of V. harveyi in pond water or infected shrimp in order to monitor and to reduce the risk of V. harveyi outbreak in the shrimp culture. The beneficial features of this kit are that simple, convenient and quick results (within 15 min) can be obtained without the requirement of sophisticated tools or special equipments and skills.     

The effect of opiate receptor ligands on emotional cardiovascular reactions in lower primates

Intravenous naloxone injection (0.1 mg/kg) facilitated blood pressure increase in response to conditioned sound stimulus followed by electrocutaneous shock in conscious chair-restrained baboons (Papio hamadryas). Naloxone at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg had an opposite effect and led to the decrease in blood pressure and heart rate in conditioned fear reflex. Naloxone microinjections (50 microM) into the periventricular hypothalamus led to a significant diminution of blood pressure and heart rate increment in response to electrocutaneous shock; naloxone microinjections into tractus solitarius nuclei suppressed blood pressure and heart rate reactions both to conditioned (sound) and unconditioned (electrocutaneous shock) stimuli. Microinjections of equimolar morphine quantities in these brain regions facilitated such reactions. It is concluded that endogenous opioid system participates in the formation of cardiovascular reactions to emotional stimuli in monkeys, with multiple opioid receptors of periventricular hypothalamus and tractus solitarius nuclei involved in the generation of such reactions.     

On the composition of talassobathyal ichthyofauna and commercial productivity of Mozambique Seamount (the Indian Ocean)

Ichthyofauna of the Mozambique Seamount of the Indian Ocean, judging from the results of YugNIRO from the 1970s to the 1980s numbers about 130 species of bathyal and bathyal-pelagic fish that belong to 44 families. Most species belong to the families Macrouridae (16), Alepocephalidae (14), Ophidiidae (13), Squalidae (8), and Gempylidae (6). Among them, the greatest numbers and prospects of commercial importance, as over other seamounts, have about ten species: Centroscymnus coelolepis (Somniosidae), Etmopterus granulosus (Etmopteridae), Diastobranchus capensis and Synaphobranchus oregoni (Synaphobranchuidae), Alepocephalus australis, A. productus, and Rouleina attrita (Alepocephalidae), Cetonurus globiceps (Macrouridae), and Allocyttus verrucosus (Oreosomatidae); to the number of potential items of fishery one can also assign Hydrolagus africanus (Chimaeridae), Chlamydoselachus anguinus (Chlamydoselachidae), Apristurus indicus (Scyliorhinidae), Halosaurospis microchir (Halosauridae), Bathytyphlops marionae (Ipnopidae), Coelorhinchus acanthiger, and Coryphaenoides striatura (Macrouridae), Antimora rostrata (Moridae), Lamprogrammus niger and Selachophidium guentheri (Ophidiidae), and Holostethus atlanticus (Trachichthyidae). Pelagic deep-water fish (Gonostomatidae, Sternoptychidae, Myctophidae, etc.) apparently do not form aggregations having a commercial importance.     

Beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity of the blood plasma of hamadryas baboons and its changes

It was established that plasma level of beta-endorphin-like IR in baboons (Papio hamadryas) was 8 +/- 1 fM/ml, and of beta-lipoprotein-like IR- 9 +/- 1 fM/ml. Ratio between beta-endorphin-like and beta-lipoprotein-like IR was 0.9 +/- 0.1. Under the electrical stimulation of the periventricular-perifornical area of hypothalamus, the level of beta EP-IR reached 26 +/- 9 fM/ml while the level of beta LP-IR fell. On the mamillary hypothalamic area stimulating, no similar changes were observed. A considerable increase in the beta EP-IR level, up to 53 +/- 2 fM/ml, was recorded in hemorrhagic shock. Levels of plasma beta EP-IR in baboons and in men are concluded to be close and the increase of them associated with the stress status of baboons.