Ornithologische Mittheilungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Teratogenicity of dimethoxyethyl phthalate and its metabolites methoxyethanol and methoxyacetic acid in the rat

It is hypothesized that the known teratogen di(2-methoxyethyl) phthalate (DMEP) acts by in vivo hydrolysis to 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME), also a known teratogen, which in turn is metabolized to methoxyacetic acid (MAA), the proximate teratogen. Teratological studies were conducted with Wistar rats, with the administration of these three agents on day 12 of gestation. On an equimolar dosage basis, DMEP, 2-ME, and MAA were equally potent, which is consistent with the hypothesis. There was a striking similarity in the defects produced by these agents, mainly hydronephrosis, heart defects, and short limbs and tails. In particular all three agents produced unusual heart defects (dilated ductus arteriosus and dilated aortic arch) not seen with other agents, as well as ventral polydactyly, a rarely seen defect, suggesting teratogenic action by a common mechanism or component; 4-methylpyrazole, an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, provided significant protection against 2-ME. This combination of effects strongly suggests that following the administration of DMEP, 2-ME, or MAA, MAA is the proximate teratogen.     

Inhibition of α-Glycosidase by Lippia dulcis Trevir. (Verbenaceae) Preparations,Quantification of Verbascoside,and Study of Its Molecular Docking

This study aimed to quantify verbascoside (VEB), perform molecular docking studies of VEB with the α-glucosidase (GL) of Bacillus stearothermophilus, and evaluate the inhibition of the enzyme by L. dulcis preparations. The substrate concentration and presence of reduced glutathione were evaluated for their effect on the in vitro inhibition of the GL enzyme. Assays were also performed in the presence and absence of simulated gastric fluid. The antidiabetic fractions 2 and 3 were the most inhibited GL, but their activity were significantly decreased in the presence of gastric fluid. Chromatographic analyses confirmed the predominant presence of VEB in the samples. The samples had VEB concentrations between 49.9 and 243.5 mg/g. Simulation of the molecular docking of VEB were consistent with its GL-inhibitory activity. It can conclude that the crude ethanol extract and fractions show inhibitory activity against the GL enzyme.     

Defensive behaviour and its inheritance in the anabantoid fish, Macropodus opercularis and Macropodus opercularis concolor

In this preliminary study defense behaviour patterns (fear responses) are described in two closely related, behaviourally different inbred labyrinth fish subspecies and in their F₁ generation. The subspecies M. opercularis (characterized briefly by “active escape”) and M. opercularis concolor (characterized by “passive escape”) showed specific differences in the manifestation of certain defense behaviour patterns. In the F₁ hybrid generation dominance and overdominance of M. opercularis was found in most defense behaviour patterns. Analysing the frequencies and sequences of movement patterns it could be shown that defensive behaviour is not a random or entirely “plastic” process but that there is sequential linkage between the patterns and they form characteristic clusters. Our results suggest that manifestations of different patterns are under genetic control and presumably, genetic determination of certain patterns is not very complex. Attempts were made to determine whole brain noradrenaline, serotonine and dopamine levels of the two subspecies and a significant difference was found in the noradrenaline content.     

Common polymorphism of peptidase A: Formal genetics and population data

Summary Peptidase A polymorphism was investigated in 83 mother-child pairs and in a population sample of 182 unrelated individuals from southwestern Germany. Hereby the formal hypothesis that there are two common alleles, PepA¹ and PepA⁸, at an autosomal locus PepA, was confirmed. The frequency of the PepA⁸ allele was calculated to be 0.27±0.02.     

Il4ra-independent vaginal eosinophil accumulation following helminth infection exacerbates epithelial ulcerative pathology of HSV-2 infection

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