The alteration of PLCζ protein expression in unexplained infertile and asthenoteratozoospermic patients: A potential effect on sperm fertilization ability

Failed oocyte activation has been observed in unexplained infertile (UI) and asthenoteratozoospermic (AT) men. The deficiency of phospholipase C‐zeta (PLCζ) could be a possible reason for such failures and has not been studied yet. We investigated the expression and localization of PLCζ protein in the sperms of patients with UI and AT conditions. The relationships between PLCζ‐related parameters with male age, sperm characteristics, DNA integrity, and cellular maturity were assessed. Semen samples were collected from fertile (n = 40), UI (n = 40), and AT (n = 40) men. Subsequently, semen analysis, DNA fragmentation, hyaluronic acid‐binding ability, and PLCζ level along with its distribution were evaluated using computer‐assisted sperm analyzer, sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), hyaluronic acid‐binding assay (HBA), western blot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy, respectively. Unlike SCSA, the values of HBA, and PLCζ expression were significantly reduced in UI and AT patients compared to fertile men, whereas no significant differences were observed among the experimental groups in terms of PLCζ localization patterns. The regression analysis also showed that HBA is the only variable associated with PLCζ levels. Furthermore, the correlation of male age with PLCζ localization in postacrosomal, equatorial, and acrosomal+postacrosomal+equatorial (A+PA+E) patterns, as well as the relation of normal morphology, with the (A+PA+E) pattern, remained in the regression model. Our findings indicated that reduced PLCζ level along with the increased DNA fragmentation and impaired maturation may be possible etiologies of decreased fertilization in the studied subjects.     

Evaluation of Effects of Harvest on Alligator Populations in Louisiana

Biologists with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana, USA, have managed statewide annual harvest of alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) for 35 years (1981–present). We collected and analyzed harvest data for Louisiana alligators to determine the effects of harvest on the population structure, focusing on the larger size classes (≥274 cm) of this slow-growing species. Linear regression analyses revealed that body size-class structure, based on overall average size and the percentage of animals harvested in the larger size classes was relatively stable. Annual aerial alligator nest counts indicated a continual growth of the population, and over time harvested alligators maintained a constant average size. Analyses of population size (based on number of nests and population modeling) indicated that the current annual harvest represents approximately 3% of the population. Linear regression analysis showed that annual hunter success declined only slightly during the study period, and the scheduling of the hunt season after the hatch period and recommended hunting in areas not frequented by breeding females provides economic opportunities for hunters to participate in a sustainable harvest that preserves the larger size classes of alligators in the population. Strict enforcement of existing laws was a key factor responsible for the success of this harvest program. Comparison of alligator population size and number of harvest-related citations indicated that illegal harvest did not have a negative effect on population size, and linear regression analyses revealed that the rate of increase in citations was lower than the increase in populations over the study period. The results of this harvest program indicated that alligators can be hunted in a sustainable manner if hunting is conducted after the hatch period and occurs in areas that primarily exclude the harvest of adult females, and strict law enforcement curbs illegal activities that negatively affect populations. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society.     

Minocycline attenuates depressive-like behaviors in mice treated with the low dose of intracerebroventricular streptozotocin; the role of mitochondrial function and neuroinflammation

Molecular Biology Reports - Neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are suggested as mechanisms which are implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Streptozotocin (STZ) is known to...     

Short-term disturbance by a commercial two-dimensional seismic survey does not lead to long-term displacement of harbour porpoises

Assessments of the impact of offshore energy developments are constrained because it is not known whether fine-scale behavioural responses to noise lead to broader-scale displacement of protected small cetaceans. We used passive acoustic monitoring and digital aerial surveys to study changes in the occurrence of harbour porpoises across a 2000 km² study area during a commercial two-dimensional seismic survey in the North Sea. Acoustic and visual data provided evidence of group responses to airgun noise from the 470 cu inch array over ranges of 5–10 km, at received peak-to-peak sound pressure levels of 165–172 dB re 1 µPa and sound exposure levels (SELs) of 145–151 dB re 1 µPa² s⁻¹. However, animals were typically detected again at affected sites within a few hours, and the level of response declined through the 10 day survey. Overall, acoustic detections decreased significantly during the survey period in the impact area compared with a control area, but this effect was small in relation to natural variation. These results demonstrate that prolonged seismic survey noise did not lead to broader-scale displacement into suboptimal or higher-risk habitats, and suggest that impact assessments should focus on sublethal effects resulting from changes in foraging performance of animals within affected sites.     

A role for CITED2, a CBP/p300 interacting protein, in colon cancer cell invasion

A thorough understanding of histone acetyltransferase CBP/p300-mediated regulation of gene expression and cell growth is essential to identify mechanisms relevant to the development of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor-based preventive and therapeutic strategies. We found that knockdown of CBP/p300 interacting coactivator with glutamic acid/aspartic acid-rich tail 2 (CITED2) increased colon cancer cell invasiveness in vitro. Gene expression profiling revealed that CITED2 knockdown induced matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) gene expression in colon cancer cells. Butyrate, a naturally occurring HDAC inhibitor, induced CITED2 expression and downregulated MMP-13 expression in RKO cells. Additionally, ectopic expression of CITED2 arrested RKO cell growth. Thus, CITED2 regulates colon cancer invasion and might be a target for HDAC inhibitor-based intervention of colon cancer.     

Two case reports of unusual phimosis in rhesus monkeys (Macaca Mulatta)

Phimosis is the inability of the penis to protrude from the prepuce. In the present report, we present two cases of phimosis in two rhesus monkeys. Surgical enlargement of preputial orifice was performed for unrestricted movement of penis. The exact cause of this condition is unknown to us.     

Detection of Change to SSVEPs Using Analysis of Phase Space Topological Features: A Novel Approach

Neurophysiology - A novel method based on EEG nonlinear analysis and analysis of steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) has been processed. The EEG phase space is reconstructed, and some...     

Evidence for Fas-dependent and Fas-independent mechanisms in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

To determine whether Fas or Fas ligand (FasL) plays a role in susceptibility to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we bred a TCR transgenic mouse specific for the Ac1-11 peptide of myelin basic protein to mice with inactivating mutations in Fas (lpr) or FasL (gld). Disease induction by peptide immunization in such mice produced similar disease scores, demonstrating that Fas/FasL interactions were not necessary to generate EAE. However, adoptive transfer experiments showed evidence that these interactions can play a role in the pathogenesis of EAE, shown most dramatically by the absence of disease following transfer of cells from a normal myelin basic protein TCR transgenic mouse into a Fas-deficient lpr recipient. Furthermore, transfer of cells lacking FasL (gld) into normal or gld recipients gave a diminished disease score. Thus, Fas/FasL interactions can play a role in the pathogenesis of EAE, but they are not required for disease to occur.