Comparative gastrointestinal morphology of the Kori bustard and secretary bird

Two secretary birds and three Kori bustards were studied to determine differences between their body size and gastrointestinal morphology. Body measurements were made on captive, live birds and gastrointestinal measurements on fresh postmortem specimens. For predator species, such as the Kori bustard and secretary bird, body size is a function of their ability to capture and destroy prey. While the secretary bird was clearly the taller of the two species, superior body weight, wing length, and therefore body size was noted for the Kori bustard. The size and length of the gastrointestinal tract varied between species. The secretary bird had the shorter, less complex digestive tract, with a foregut well adapted for consumption of large quantities of flesh. The large intestine was devoid of ceca. The gastrointestinal tract of the Kori bustard was markedly different from that of the secretary bird. The foregut was less complex and the large intestine possessed large, voluminous ceca.     

Observations on the fine structure,enzyme histochemistry,and innervation of parathyroid gland and ultimobranchial body of Chthonerpeton indistinctum (Gymnophiona,Amphibia)

Summary Fine structural and enzyme histochemical observations on ultimobranchial body and parathyroid gland of the caecilian Chthonerpeton are presented. The cell clusters and follicles of the ultimobranchial body consist mainly of granulated cells which are termed C-cells and obviously belong to the APUD cell series. In the larger follicles additional possibly exhausted degranulated cells and replacement cells occur. A rich supply of nerve fibres has been found in this gland. Frequently nerve terminals were observed to come into synaptic contact with the C-cells. Two categories of nerve fibres occur: a) fibres containing large polymorphic electron dense granules (probably purinergic fibres), b) fibres containing small electron transparent vesicles and a few electron dense granules (probably cholinergic fibres). The parathyroid gland consists of elongated cells (one cell type) poor in organelles and often containing fields of glycogen and lipid droplets. The cells are further characterized by fair amounts of lysosomal enzymes; they are interconnected by maculae adhaerentes and occludentes. No nerves and blood vessels have been found in the parathyroid gland of Chthonerpeton. This study has been supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft We 380/5.     

Identification and reciprocal introgression of a QTL affecting body mass in mice

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a QTL in different genetic backgrounds. A QTL affecting body mass on chromosome 6 was identified in an F₂ cross between two lines of mice that have been divergently selected for this trait. The effect of the QTL on mass increased between 6 and 10 weeks of age and was not sex-specific. Body composition analysis showed effects on fat-free dry body mass and fat mass. To examine the effect of this QTL in different genetic backgrounds, the high body mass sixth chromosome was introgressed into the low body mass genetic background and vice versa by repeated marker-assisted backcrossing. After three generations of backcrossing, new F₂ populations were established within each of the introgression lines by crossing individuals that were heterozygous across the sixth chromosome. The estimated additive effect of the QTL on 10-week body mass was similar in both genetic backgrounds and in the original F₂ population (i.e., ~0.4 phenotypic standard deviations); no evidence of epistatic interaction with the genetic background was found. The 95% confidence interval for the location of the QTL was refined to a region of approximately 7 cM between D6Mit268 and D6Mit123.     

Turnover of passerine birds on islands in the Aegean Sea (Greece)

Aim We wish to determine the effect of migratory status on turnover rates in island birds. Because turnover is influenced by factors other than migratory status, we also considered the influence of body size and physical characteristics of the islands inhabited on the probabilities of extinction and immigration. Location The Mediterranean islands of Delos, Astypalea, Paros, Naxos and Lesvos in the Aegean Sea, Greece. Methods The passerine birds of these islands were surveyed between 1954 and 1961 by G.E. Watson, and were resurveyed between 1988 and 1992. The effects of migratory status and body size on the probabilities of extinction and immigration were examined by G‐tests of linear trend in proportion, and analysis of variance, respectively. A combined analysis of migratory status, body size and physical characteristics of the islands was carried out using logistic regressions of the probabilities of extinction and immigration on these factors. Results Species number on each island changed little between surveys, with no island's species number changing by more than one species. Twelve population extinctions and 11 immigrations were recorded. The smallest island, Delos (6 km²), had the highest annualized relative turnover rate (1.08), while the four larger islands (96–1614 km²) had lower and mutually similar rates (0.21–0.27). Populations on higher elevation islands were less likely to go extinct. There is no evidence for an effect of body size on the probabilities of extinction or immigration. Migratory status affected extinction and immigration probabilities differently: migratory species were more likely to immigrate, but less likely to go extinct. Main conclusions The position of the Aegean islands along a major north–south flyway may account for the observed effects of migratory status. The annual passage of large numbers of migrants may, via the rescue effect, decrease the chances of extinction, while at the same time increasing the chances of colonization of unoccupied islands. The likelihood of both extinction and immigration involves a complex interaction between life‐history traits and island characteristics. The effects of migratory status will depend not only on consideration of vagility, vulnerability and stochasticity identified by previous authors, but also upon the location of the islands in relationship to migratory pathways.     

The R453Q and D151A polymorphisms of hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (H6PD) influence the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity

Hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH) influences 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity, a key enzyme in the peripheral metabolism of cortisol that modulates insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue. To study the associations of R453Q and D151A polymorphisms in the H6PDH gene (H6PD) with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their influence on clinical and metabolic variables, we genotyped 237 patients with PCOS and 135 control women for the R453Q (rs6688832) and D151A (rs34603401) variants in H6PD. The R453Q genotypes were distributed differently in patients and controls (χ(2)=9.55, P=0.002). Genotypes of D151A were distributed evenly in women with PCOS and controls, but showed a different distribution in non-obese and obese women (χ(2)=3.95, P=0.047), especially within the PCOS subgroup (χ(2)=4.65, P=0.031). A backward stepwise likelihood ratio logistic regression model (Nagelkerke's R(2)=0.490; χ(2)=164; P<0.0001) retained free testosterone (OR=1.13; 95% CI: 1.10-1.17) and H6PD Q453 alleles (OR=0.46; 95% CI: 0.27-0.79) as statistically significant predictors for PCOS, whereas homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and the H6PD D151A variant were excluded by the model. Both H6PD variants were associated with several phenotypic variables, including fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and androstenedione levels. In summary, the R453Q and D151A variants of the H6PD gene are associated with PCOS and obesity, respectively, and may contribute to the PCOS phenotype by influencing obesity, insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism.     

A-FABP基因多态性与肉鸡生长和体组成性状的关联

为探讨A-FABP基因多态性对肉鸡生长和体组成性状的影响,文章选用肉鸡高、低脂双向选择品系第十世代肉仔鸡为实验材料,采用测序、PCR-RFLP、PCR-LP、DHPLC方法进行基因多态性检测和个体基因型分析,通过对8个SNPs进行连锁不平衡分析并选择5个标签SNPs构建单倍型,进而利用单位点和单倍型分别与鸡生长和体组成性状进行关联分析。结果表明,7个SNPs(除SNP 5以外)及单倍型同时对鸡肌胃重、肌胃率有显著影响(P<0.05),而对生长和其他体组成性状无显著影响(P>0.05)。鉴于不同物种A-FABP基因现有的功能研究均没有发现其对消化系统有重要作用,因此该基因是否为影响肉鸡肌胃重和肌胃率的主效基因还有待于进一步研究。     

Biology of Lysiphlebus fabarum following cold storage of larvae and pupae

Cold storage is one means of preserving parasitoids prior to release in augmentation biological control programs. This study examined the feasibility of storing larval and pupal stages of a sexual population of Lysiphlebus fabarum Marshall (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) at 6 ± 1 and 8 ± 1 °C, 50–60% r.h., and L14:D10 photoperiod. These life stages were stored for periods of 1, 2, and 3 weeks under fluctuating thermal regimes (2 h daily at 21 ± 1 °C). Generally, pupae gave better results than larvae, and 6 °C was better than 8 °C, considering wasp survival, wasp size (tibial and antennal lengths), egg load, and egg size. The best results were obtained with pupae stored for 2 weeks under a fluctuating temperature regime at 6 °C. Females emerging from this treatment did not differ from controls (developing directly at 21 °C) in body size, egg size, or progeny sex ratio, and suffered less than 20% mortality. Egg loads were reduced in these wasps, but the reductions were substantially less than occurred in other 2‐week‐storage treatments. Wasps stored in this manner successfully parasitized similar numbers of aphids as controls and produced similar progeny sex ratios. These results reveal a suitable set of low‐temperature conditions that can be used to delay the development of L. fabarum for 2 weeks with minimal impact on wasp fitness.     

A reliable body condition scoring technique for estimating condition in African buffalo

Evaluating animal body condition is a necessary component of many ecological studies. Although many methods for assessing animal body condition have been developed, relatively few can be used for estimating condition on live animals. Noninvasive body condition scoring techniques have been developed for assessing condition in livestock and more recently such techniques have been applied to wild ungulates. In this study, we examined the reliability of a body condition scoring technique for assessing condition in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer). We compared a body condition score (BCS) based on visual assessment and manual palpation of an animal’s body to two standard metrics of condition widely used in mammals: kidney fat index (KFI) and haematocrit (HCT). Across all buffalo, BCS was significantly and positively correlated with both KFI and HCT. For HCT, this pattern was observed among adults, juveniles, males and females; and in the wet season but not in the dry season. For KFI, BCS was significantly and positively correlated with KFI among adults, juveniles and males, but not in females. Overall, our results suggest that the BCS technique can serve as a useful method for estimating body condition in buffalo.     

Beta-adenosine, a bioactive compound in grass chaff stimulating mushroom production

Fructification and yield of the edible mushrooms Pleurotus pulmonarius and Stropharia rugosoannulata are clearly enhanced when wheat straw is supplemented with 30% Lolium perenne grass chaff. The bioactive compound in the methanol extract of grass chaff was identified as beta-adenosine. In vitro biological activity tests showed that 0.012 mg of beta-adenosine per ml of medium stimulated earlier fructification of Pleurotus pulmonarius. Mushroom fruiting trials showed that when 12 mg beta-adenosine was added to 1 kg wet wheat straw, primordia of Pleurotus pulmonarius appeared two days earlier and primordia of Stropharia rugosoannulata appeared 18 days earlier when compared to pure wheat straw substrate. This concentration of beta-adenosine had no impact on the mushroom yield of Pleurotus, but resulted in a 2.2 fold increase in yield for Stropharia. beta-Adenosine at 25 mg per kg wet wheat straw increased the yield of Pleurotus with 52% and the yield of Stropharia with 258%, but this concentration delayed primordial formation in Pleurotus.     

Influence of confounding factors on plasma Mid-Regional pro-Adrenomedullin and Mid-Regional pro-A-type Natriuretic Peptide concentrations in healthy individuals

Background: MRproADM and MRproANP can be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers in heart failure.

Aim: The objective was to identify confounding factors for the interpretation of plasma MRproADM and MRproANP concentrations.

Methods: A total of 518 healthy volunteers with a mean age of 60.84?±?7.41 years were analyzed. We evaluated the influence of demographic factors, renal function and echocardiographic indices on the candidate peptides.

Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that age (P?<?0.001), BMI (P?<?0.001) and eGFR (P?<?0.001) were independent predictors for MRproADM concentrations in healthy subjects. The independent predictors for MRproANP were age (P?<?0.001), female gender (P?<?0.001), heart rate (P?<?0.001) and eGFR (P?=?0.039).

Conclusion: The interpretation of both peptides is multifaceted due to confounders. Knowledge of these factors will further our understanding of how these peptides behave in health and in disease.