Effects of a Mutant Strain and a Wild Type Strain of Verticillium lecanii on Heterodera glycines Populations in the Greenhouse

A wild type strain ofVerticillium lecanii and a mutant strain with increased tolerance to the fungicide benomyl were evaluated in greenhouse experiments for effects on Heterodera glycines populations. Nematodes were applied at 300 eggs and juveniles per 4,550-cm³ pot (two soybean plants in 4,990 g loamy sand per pot) and at both 300 and 10,000 eggs and juveniles per 1,720-cm³ pot (one soybean plant in 2,060 g sand per pot). With 300 nematodes added per pot, both V. lecanii strains significantly reduced nematode populations in loamy sand (fungus applied at 0.02% dry weight per dry weight loamy sand) and sand (0.006% and 0.06% fungus application rates). The mutant strain applied at 0.002% to sand also significantly reduced cyst numbers. When 10,000 nematodes were added per pot, only the mutant strain at 0.06% significantly decreased population. Various media were tested for isolation of the fungus strains from prills, loamy sand, and sand, but the fungi were recovered from few of the greenhouse pots.     

Hydroxyl Radical-Mediated Oxidation of Serotonin: Potential Insights into the Neurotoxicity of Methamphetamine

Abstract: When incubated with a hydroxyl radical (HO^?)-generating system (ascorbic acid/Fe²⁺-EDTA/O₂/H₂O₂), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) is rapidly oxidized initially to a mixture of 2,5-, 4,5-, and 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (DHT). The major reaction product is 2,5-DHT, which at physiological pH exists as its keto tautomer, 5-hydroxy-3-ethylamino-2-oxindole (5-HEO). Rapid autoxidation of 4,5-DHT gives tryptamine-4,5-dione (T-4,5-D), which reacts with the C(3)-centered carbanion of 5-HEO to give 3,3′-bis(2-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxy-[3,7′-bi-1H-indole]-2,4′,5′-3H-trione (7). The latter slowly cyclizes to 3′-(2-aminoethyl)-1′,6′,7′,8′-tetrahydro-5-hydroxyspiro[3H-indole-3,9′-[9H]pyrrolo[2,3-f]quinoline]-2,4′,5′(1H)- trione (9). A minor amount of T-4,5-D dimerizes to give 7,7′-bi-(5-hydroxytryptamine-4-one) (7,7′-D). In the presence of GSH, the reaction of T-4,5-D with 5-HEO is diverted and, in the presence of sufficient concentrations of this tripeptide, completely blocked. This is because GSH preferentially reacts with T-4,5-D to give 7-S-glutathionyltryptamine-4,5-dione (11). The results of this investigation suggest that 5,6-DHT, 5-HEO, 7, and 9 are products unique to the HO^?-mediated oxidation of 5-HT. Thus, the observation of other investigators that 5,6-DHT is formed in the brains of rats following a large dose of methamphetamine (MA) suggests that this drug might evoke HO^? formation. However, the present in vitro study indicates that 5,6-DHT is a rather minor, unstable product of the HO^?-mediated oxidation of 5-HT and suggests that detection of 5-HEO, 7/9, and 11 in rat brain following MA administration could provide additional support for HO^? formation. Furthermore, one or more of the intermediates and major products of oxidation of 5-HT by HO^? might, in addition to 5,6-DHT, contribute to the MA-induced degeneration of serotonergic neurons.     

Ligand-Induced Translocation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor to the Nucleus of NR6/HER Fibroblasts Is Serum Dependent

Ligand-induced translocation of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-R) to the nucleus of NR6/HER fibroblasts has been studied by immunoelectron microscopy. Following treatment of NR6/HER cells with epidermal growth factor (EGF) for 1 h, there was a decrease in EGF-R labeling at the plasma membrane and a corresponding increase in EGF-R in the nucleus. This was preceded by a rapid and sustained increase in nuclear phosphotyrosine content, detectable within 2 min of EGF treatment. EGF-R translocation into the nucleus was completely prevented by 18 h serum starvation prior to treatment with EGF. These results indicate that translocation of EGF-R to the nucleus is a controlled process and they suggest theft EGF-R may directly influence nuclear function.     

Homeobox genes in axolotl lateral line placodes and neuromasts

 Gene expression has been studied in considerable detail in the developing vertebrate brain, neural crest, and some placode-derived organs. As a further investigation of vertebrate head morphogenesis, expression patterns of several homeobox-containing genes were examined using whole-mount in situ hybridization in a sensory system primitive for the vertebrate subphylum: the axolotl lateral lines and the placodes from which they develop. Axolotl Msx-2 and Dlx-3 are expressed in all of the lateral line placodes. Both genes are expressed throughout development of the lateral line system and their expression continues in the fully developed neuromasts. Expression within support cells is highly polarized. In contrast to most other observations of Msx genes in vertebrate organogenesis, expression of Msx-2 in developing lateral line organs is exclusively epithelial and is not associated with epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. A Hox-complex gene, Hoxb-3, is shown to be expressed in the embryonic hindbrain and in a lateral line placode at the same rostrocaudal level, but not in other placodes nor in mature lateral line organs. A Hox gene of a separate paralog group, Hoxa-4, is expressed in a more posterior hindbrain domain in the embryo, but is not expressed in the lateral line placode at that rostrocaudal level. These data provide the first test of the hypothesis that the neurogenic placodes develop in two rostrocaudal series aligned with the rhombomeric segments and patterned by combinations of Hox genes in parallel with the central nervous system. Received: 2 April 1997 / Accepted: 2 July 1997     

Roosting and foraging behaviour of Natterer's bats (Myotis nattereri) close to the northern border of their distribution

Seven nursery roosts and four roosts of male Myotis nattereri , Kuhl 1818 were found in central Scotland at latitude 56–57 N. Most were in crevices in the stonework of man-made structures other than occupied houses. Emergence occurred late in the evening, at an average light intensity of 3.5 lux and emerging bats circled in dark, sheltered areas outside roosts before departing along flyways towards foraging areas. Individuals departed from, and returned to, roosts in groups of 2-6, and circling behaviour was repeated on returning to the roost. During pregnancy, bats from anursery roost made one flight each per night. This increased to an average maximum of 1.84 early in lactation and then decreased again to one around weaning. Night roosts were situated in foraging areas and were used by M. nattereri for resting and grooming, for suckling volant but incompletely weaned young and also, possibly, for information transfer. Important foraging habitats were woodland edges, parkland, roadside vegetation and sheltered areas of water. Arthropod prey was captured both on the wing and by gleaning from foliage, and the bats were able to vary their diet according to arthropod availability. Overall, important prey included Diptera (both Nematocera and higher flies), Trichoptera, Coleoptera and non-flying groups such as Hemiptera, Dermaptera, Arachnida and Opiliones.     

Construct Validity of the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life Questionnaire

KOLOTKIN, RONETTE L, SUSAN HEAD, ALAN BROOKHART. Construct validity of the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life questionnaire. The Impact of Weight on Quality of Life questionnaire (IWQOL) is a 74-item self-report, condition-specific instrument that (1) assesses the effect of weight on quality of life in eight key areas, and (2) may be used as a treatment outcome measure and/or an evaluation tool for healthcare policy makers and third-party payers. This study explores IWQOL construct validity and provides new information on internal consistency, treatment effects, and differences between men and women. IWQOL total scores correlated highly with other measures of overall quality of life, and subscale scores correlated well with counterparts in the assessment battery. Internal consistency estimates for the IWQOL scales generally were high. For the women, 4-week participants, and the total sample, pretreatment-posttreatment differences were significant for all IWQOL scales and total score. For men, treatment differences were significant for the total score and all subscales except for Work and Mobility. Treatment differences for 2-week participants were significant for all scales except for Work. Consistent with previous IWQOL study results, the Comfort With Food scale scores reflected more discomfort at posttreatment as compared with pretreatment. The IWQOL, already translated into French and Italian, currently is demonstrating clinical and research utility as a quality-of-life outcome measure for clinical trials of antiobesity drugs and surgical treatments for patients with obesity.     

Effects of vigorous exercise training and beta -agonist administration on bone response to hindlimb suspension

Bloomfield, Susan A., Beverly E. Girten, and Steven E. Weisbrode. Effects of vigorous exercise training and -agonist administration on bone response to hindlimb suspension.J. Appl. Physiol. 83(1):172-178, 1997.The effectiveness of dobutamine (Dob) inpreventing bone loss during 14 days of hindlimb suspension (Sus) wastested in exercise-trained (Ex; n = 25) and sedentary (Sed; n = 22) rats(age 155 days). One-half of each group was given Dob (2 mg · kg¹ · day¹)or saline (Sal). Histomorphometric measurements at midfemur revealed a17% smaller cortical bone area (CBA) and a 32% lower periostealmineral apposition rate (MAR) in suspended vs. nonsuspended Sed/Salrats. Dob abolished this decline in CBA in Sed/Sus rats, probably via an attenuation of the decrease in periosteal MAR; similarbut nonsignificant effects on cross-sectional moment of inertia wereobserved. Nonsuspended Ex rats had no change in bone CBA when CBA isindexed to body weight. Sus appeared to uncouple the relationshipbetween soleus weight and CBA. Dob attenuated the 43% decline insoleus weight after Sus in Ex but not in Sed rats. In summary, vigorousEx before Sus does not affect loss of bone mass due to unloading; Dobeffectively maintains CBA in Sed rats subjected to suspension.