Estimating recent growth in the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis: are nucleic acid-based indicators for growth and condition the method of choice?

A laboratory calibration study was undertaken with juvenile Sepia officinalis (80-85 g initial wet weight) to investigate the effects of different food rations and different starving intervals on RNA/dry weight (DW) ratios and RNA/DNA ratios in cephalopod mantle muscle at two different temperatures. The digestive gland index was also used as an additional indicator of recent growth. High food rations and low temperature went along with high RNA/DW ratios and high RNA/DNA ratios. Starving resulted in a linear decline in growth performance and a concomitant decrease in RNA/DW and RNA/DNA ratio, with RNA/DNA ratios representing the growth data better. RNA/DNA ratios decreased faster at higher temperatures. A fluorimetric assay for nucleic acid analysis was optimized for cephalopod mantle tissues and yielded reproducible RNA/DNA ratios with a relative variance below 10%. Thus, it may be possible to use this estimator of recently encountered feeding regime for the evaluation of mortality rates of early teuthid paralarvae to eventually support stock management. Also, log relative digestive gland weight showed a strong relationship with starving time, but, surprisingly, not with temperature. Data from the two temperatures analyzed could be combined to form a common regression line of relative digestive gland index with starving time. This indicator for recent growth might be especially suitable for large specimens with a well-developed digestive gland.     

In vitro metabolism or testosterone by breast microcysts

Breast microcysts are considered to be a normal findings in the adult female breast without any increased risk of developing carcinomatous change. Breast cysts fluid contains steroid but not studies have been reported on the ability of breast microcysts to metabolise steroid hormones. It was, therefore, the aim of this study to identify the metabolites formed on incubation of radiolabelled testosterone with microcysts. In all instances dihydrotestosterone and androstenedione were formed. Oestrogens were not identified. Tis study, therefore, provides evidence for th presence of 5-alpha-reductase and 17-oxidoreductase enzyme systems in breast microcysts.     

Variations in the anterior patellar groove of the human femur

An analysis of the anterior patellar groove of the human femur shows considerable variation in its medial and lateral spects. The groove itself, measured by the angle it encloses, shows considerably less variation than its individual components. The suggested functional relationship between bicondylar angle and lateral elevation of the patellar groove does not obtain for this sample.