Gq-coupled receptors as mechanosensors mediating myogenic vasoconstriction

Despite the central physiological function of the myogenic response, the underlying signalling pathways and the identity of mechanosensors in vascular smooth muscle (VSM) are still elusive. In contrast to present thinking, we show that membrane stretch does not primarily gate mechanosensitive transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels, but leads to agonist-independent activation of G(q/11)-coupled receptors, which subsequently signal to TRPC channels in a G protein- and phospholipase C-dependent manner. Mechanically activated receptors adopt an active conformation, allowing for productive G protein coupling and recruitment of beta-arrestin. Agonist-independent receptor activation by mechanical stimuli is blocked by specific antagonists and inverse agonists. Increasing the AT(1) angiotensin II receptor density in mechanically unresponsive rat aortic A7r5 cells resulted in mechanosensitivity. Myogenic tone of cerebral and renal arteries is profoundly diminished by the inverse angiotensin II AT(1) receptor agonist losartan independently of angiotensin II (AII) secretion. This inhibitory effect is enhanced in blood vessels of mice deficient in the regulator of G-protein signalling-2. These findings suggest that G(q/11)-coupled receptors function as sensors of membrane stretch in VSM cells.     

The role of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products in oviposition and host-plant finding by cabbage webworm, Hellula undalis

The cabbage webworm, Hellula undalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a tropical pest on crucifers (Brassicaceae), differentiated among host‐plant species for oviposition in laboratory and field tests. White mustard, Sinapis alba (L.) var. Selinda, was the preferred host‐plant, followed by Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et. Coss var. Canadian brown mustard, and pak‐choi, Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. Joi Choi, Black Behi and Bai Tsai. Glucosinolates (GS), secondary plant compounds characteristic to the Cruciferae plant family, and their breakdown products were analyzed by using HPLC and GC‐MS‐techniques. Species differed in GS composition and concentration. Content of GS was highest in S. alba with progressively lower contents detected in B. juncea and B. chinensis. The aromatic GS, 4‐hydroxybenzyl‐GS and benzyl‐GS, were detected in S. alba. In B. juncea the alkenyl GS, allyl‐GS, dominated, whereas in varieties of B. chinensis indolyl and alkenyl GS predominated. Oviposition of H. undalis females on the non‐host‐plant Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Fruwirth was stimulated by application of GS extracts from the crucifer species; the extract from S. alba was preferred, followed by extracts from B. juncea and B. chinensis. Hydrolysis of GS in the plant extract from B. chinensis causes loss of the oviposition stimulatory effect of the extract. Application of the GS, allyl‐GS, and benzyl‐GS also stimulated oviposition by H. undalis. Significantly more eggs were laid on leaves treated with the aromatic GS, benzyl‐GS, than with the alkenyl GS, allyl‐GS. Host‐plant odor attracted H. undalis females but not males, in behavioral assays conducted in a Y‐tube olfactometer. Low concentrations of the GS hydrolysis product, allyl‐isothiocyanate, induced anemotaxis of females, but a high concentration of allyl‐isothiocyanate was repellent. Oviposition by H. undalis females was not stimulated by host‐plant volatiles. Females laid eggs on inserted traps and the walls of the Y‐tube regardless of presence or absence of host‐plant odor. The relevance of these results in the context of crucifer‐insect interactions is discussed.     

Chemical defense of brown algae (Dictyopteris spp.) against the herbivorous amphipod Ampithoe longimana

Terpenoids, polyphenols, and C₁₁ metabolites are broadly distributed among brown seaweeds. Terpenoids and polyphenols have often been investigated as chemical defenses against herbivores, while there are only few investigations of the fatty-acid-derived C₁₁ hydrocarbons and C₁₁ sulfur compounds as potential defenses. We investigated effects of C₁₁ sulfur metabolites from the cosmopolitan brown alga Dictyopteris membranacea on feeding and fitness of the herbivorous amphipod Ampithoe longimana. In choice tests between freshly collected thalli of D. hoytii (which lacks C₁₁ sulfur compounds) and D. membranacea (which contains C₁₁ sulfur compounds) amphipods consumed about 4 times more of the species lacking the C₁₁ sulfur compounds. The same feeding preference was observed when these plants were finely ground and embedded in an agar matrix to destroy morphological differences. When a diet made from field-collected thalli of D. membranacea containing C₁₁ sulfur compounds was tested against a diet made from a laboratory culture of D. membranacea that had lost the ability to produce C₁₁ sulfur compounds, the same magnitude of preference was observed for the population lacking the sulfur compounds. In addition to the C₁₁ sulfur compounds, a water-soluble C9-oxo acid that appears to be a by-product in the biosynthesis of the C₁₁ metabolites also suppressed amphipod feeding to a comparable extent. Both classes of compound may contribute to the effective chemical protection of D. membranacea. When juvenile amphipods were reared for 28 days on artificial diets containing the above compounds, their survivorship (⢪%) closely resembled that of a starved treatment, but differed dramatically from a control treatment (60%) consisting of the same food, but without the metabolites. Most other classes of brown algal secondary metabolites are defensive against a broad spectrum of larger herbivores, but relatively ineffective against the amphipod studied here. In contrast, the fatty-acid-derived sulfur compounds and the C9-oxo acid strongly deter Ampithoe-like mesograzers but appear less effective against other herbivores, suggesting that these metabolites could be ecologically important in defending zygotes and germlings against these small consumers.     

River dynamics as a forest process: Interaction between fluvial systems and alluvial forests in large European river plains

This paper corresponds to an overview of the impacts of the inundations on gallery forest processes, with examples of the upper Rhine valley, France. The geomorphic pattern of big river plains, the particularities of the nutrient cycle, the adaptations of the flora, the specificities of the sylvigenetic cycles are detailed, with examples of the upper Rhine valley.

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Résumé  Cet article se propose de passer en revue les impacts majeurs des rivières sur les forêts riveraines, en s’appuyant sur les écosystèmes alluviaux de la vallée du Rhin, en France. Les adaptations de la flore et les spécificités des cycles sylvigénétiques sont mis en relation avec les particularités géomorphologiques et celles des cycles biogéochimiques particuliers au milieu alluvial tempéré.

     

Düngeversuche an der Riveristalsperre

Zusammenfassung In der Riveristalsperre bei Trier wurden von März 1967 bis Oktober 1968 Düngeversuche mit Phosphat und Nitrat durchgeführt. Plastiksäcke wurden mit jeweils 70 1 Talsperrenwasser gefüllt und nach Nitrat- und Phosphatzugabe im See exponiert.Bei reiner Nitrat-Düngung konnte keine Vermehrung des Phytoplanktons gegenüber dem ungedüngten Wasser festgestellt werden. Dagegen vermehrte sich das Phytoplankton in den mit Phosphat gedüngten Säcken, und zwar konnte meist eine Abhängigkeit von der Stärke der Düngung festgestellt werden. Eine zur Phosphat-Düngung zusätzliche Nitrat-Düngung hatte nur in einigen Fällen eine Planktonvermehrung zur Folge.Diese Ergebnisse zeigen, daß in der Riveristalsperre das Phosphat Minimumfaktor für das Phytoplankton ist.

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Summary From March 1967 to October 1968 enrichment experiments with phosphate and nitrate were carried out in the Riveris reservoir near Trier (Fed. Rep. Germany). Plastic bags were filled with 70 liters of the reservoir water and placed into the lake after nitrate and phosphate was added.When only nitrate was added no propagation of the phytoplankton compared to the original water could be established. On the other hand the phytoplankton propagated in those bags to which phosphate was added; in most cases an increase according to the amount of phosphate could be noticed. Only in a few cases an increase of plankton could be seen when nitrate and phosphate were added.These results show that in the Riveris reservoir phosphate is a minimumfactor for the phytoplankton.

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Die Arbeit wurde durch ein Promotionsstipendium der Stiftung Volkswagenwerk gefördert.

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Aus dem Zoologischen Institut der Universität Bonn (Hydrobiologische Arbeitsgruppe Prof. Dr. H. Bick).     

Collicular responses to the frequency modulated final part of echolocation sounds in Rhinolophus ferrum equinum

Summary Collicular evoked potentials in Rhinolophus ferrum equinum show very prominent responses to the final frequency modulated part of a acoustic stimulus, simulating the natural echolocation sound.