Relationship between the chromatoid body and the acrosomal system in early spermatids of Myxine glutinosa L.

Summary A transient close relationship between the chromatoid body and the developing acrosome is demonstrated in early spermatids of Myxine glutinosa.This work was supported by the Norwegian Research Council for Science and Humanities (NAVF, Grant Nr. D 61.44) and the Austrian Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Projekt 2183     

Movement of neurosecretory product through the anatomical compartments of the neural lobe of the pituitary gland

Summary Electron microscopic studies of the carotid body of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus) have shown Type I and Type II cells combined with axons into compact groups. The many Type I cells in the depths of the organ had a body, containing the nucleus, and an elongated, flared process. Some of the Type I cells in the superficial regions tended to be spindle-shaped. Type I cells were characterised by membrane-bound, dense-cored vesicles about 120 nm in diameter. Type II cells invested the Type I cells and had axons embedded in them as in Schwann cells.The fine structure of the carotid body in the domestic fowl resembles that of the Lovebird (Uroloncha domestica) and of various amphibia and mammals. The possibility is discussed that the Type I cells may have a chemoreceptor or a general secretory function, or even both pathway for functions together. The main role of the Type II cells seems to be to provide a of these axons leading to or from Type I cells.The authors are grateful to Mr. R. P. Gould of the Department of Anatomy, Middlesex Hospital Medical School for permission to use some of his and Dr. Hodges' original material in the illustrations. Dr. Hodges also wishes to thank the A.R.C. and the University of London Central Research Fund for financial assistance. We are also most appreciative of the photographic assistance of J. Geary.     

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.     

Nuclear Division in the Ameboflagellate Adelphamoeba galeacystis

Nuclear division in synchronized cultures of the ameboflagellate Adelphamoeba galeacystis has been described. Division in this organism is typically promitotic. It occurs within an intact nuclear membrane and is characterized by the persistence of the nucleolus and its transformation into 2 polar masses. The nucleolus is stained with pyronin-Y by the methyl green pyronin-Y technic, and with Heidenhain's hematoxylin, but is unstained by the Feulgen reaction. The reaction with these stains is removed after digestion of the nucleolus by ribonuclease. During mitosis the nucleolus undergoes an orderly series of vacuolizations before forming the polar masses. The chromatin is Feulgen positive, stains with methyl green by the methyl green pyronin-Y technic and undergoes a series of characteristic changes during the division process. Synchronization of amebae grown on coverglasses was accomplished by transfer of cells from 30 to 38.5 C for a period of 100 min. A temporal sequence of nucleolar and chromatin participation in the nuclear division of this organism is suggested.     

Can size distributions of European lake fish communities be predicted by trophic positions of their fish species?

An organism''s body size plays an important role in ecological interactions such as predator–prey relationships. As predators are typically larger than their prey, this often leads to a strong positive relationship between body size and trophic position in aquatic ecosystems. The distribution of body sizes in a community can thus be an indicator of the strengths of predator–prey interactions. The aim of this study was to gain more insight into the relationship between fish body size distribution and trophic position in a wide range of European lakes. We used quantile regression to examine the relationship between fish species'' trophic position and their log‐transformed maximum body mass for 48 fish species found in 235 European lakes. Subsequently, we examined whether the slopes of the continuous community size distributions, estimated by maximum likelihood, were predicted by trophic position, predator–prey mass ratio (PPMR), or abundance (number per unit effort) of fish communities in these lakes. We found a positive linear relationship between species'' maximum body mass and average trophic position in fishes only for the 75% quantile, contrasting our expectation that species'' trophic position systematically increases with maximum body mass for fish species in European lakes. Consequently, the size spectrum slope was not related to the average community trophic position, but there were negative effects of community PPMR and total fish abundance on the size spectrum slope. We conclude that predator–prey interactions likely do not contribute strongly to shaping community size distributions in these lakes.     

我国不同地区烟蚜种群生殖特征研究

研究了我国4个地区3种生活史类型的烟蚜在烟草上的种群繁殖特征,并用Weibull模型对种群存活特征和生殖特征进行了分析。结果表明:25±1℃、14L:10D、70%±10%RH条件下,长春地区烟蚜的生殖前期和产仔高峰日分别为大于等于7d和第11d,而南京、湖南郴州和河南宜阳烟蚜的生殖前期和产仔高峰日分别为小于7d和第9d。烟蚜种群的R0、T和rm在同一地区不同体色之间以及不同地区同一体色之间均存在有差异显著性,平均寿命仅在不同地区的红色烟蚜和褐色烟蚜中有显著性差异,在黄绿色之间差异均不显著。     

Specific features of ex‐obese patients significantly influence the functional cell properties of adipose‐derived stromal cells

Adipose‐derived stromal cells (ADSC) are increasingly used in clinical applications due to their regenerative capabilities. However, ADSC therapies show variable results. This study analysed the effects of specific factors of ex‐obese patients on ADSC functions. ADSC were harvested from abdominal tissues (N = 20) after massive weight loss. Patients were grouped according to age, sex, current and maximum body mass index (BMI), BMI difference, weight loss method, smoking and infection at the surgical site. ADSC surface markers, viability, migration, transmigration, sprouting, differentiation potential, cytokine secretion, telomere length and mtDNA copy number were analysed. All ADSC expressed CD73, CD90, CD105, while functional properties differed significantly among patients. A high BMI difference due to massive weight loss was negatively correlated with ADSC proliferation, migration and transmigration, while age, sex or weight loss method had a smaller effect. ADSC from female and younger donors and individuals after weight loss by increase of exercise and diet change had a higher activity. Telomere length, mtDNA copy number, differentiation potential and the secretome did not correlate with patient factors or cell function. Therefore, we suggest that factors such as age, sex, increase of exercise and especially weight loss should be considered for patient selection and planning of regenerative therapies.     

环腺苷酸在灰盖鬼伞子实体发育中的效用研究

通过测试ｃＡＭＰ,子实体浸提液对灰盖鬼伞（Ｃｏｐｒｉｎｕｓ　ｃｉｎｅｒｅｕｓ）双核体菌丝的子实体诱导测试研究及通过用腺苷分别抑制ｃＡＭＰ在子实体发育各阶段的合成,对ｃＡＭＰ在灰盖克伞子实体发育中的影响进行了研究。结果表明：ｃＡＭＰ及子实体浸提液对灰盖鬼伞双核体菌丝的子实体形成并无诱导信号作用,阻止ｃＡＭＰ的合成延缓了子实体原基的发生,菌盖的形成,担孢子梗的形成,也延缓了质配和担孢子的发生,但菌柄的延长,子实体的成熟,担孢子的着色与释放则不受ｃＡＭＰ合成受阻的影响。     

SARS冠状病毒Nsp14基因的克隆与表达

对SARS冠状病毒的非结构蛋白Nsp14的基因全长进行了克隆表达。根据公布的SARS冠状病毒的非结构蛋白Nsp14的基因序列设计引物,用PCR的方法把该基因从SARS冠状病毒的cDNA片段中扩增出来,经限制性内切酶BamHI与XhoI双酶切后插入到原核表达载体pET30a( )中,建成重组载体pET30a-Exo。重组载体转化大肠杆菌并进行诱导表达,通过原核表达的方法得到了该蛋白。这为该蛋白的进一步研究奠定了基础。     

Does Isolated Unilateral Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis Lead to Adverse Changes in Extremity Composition?

BackgroundWhile muscle atrophy is a function of normal aging, loss of muscle in the setting of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) has been observed using radiographic studies. There is limited data available regarding changes in extremity composition using bioimpedance (BIA). The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in extremity composition in patients with isolated, unilateral hip or knee OA using BIA.MethodsPatients presenting to our institution’s adult reconstruction clinic from February 2020 to April 2021 were retrospectively reviewed to identify those with isolated, unilateral hip and knee OA. The InBody 770 Body Composition Analyzer (InBody USA, Cerritos, California) was used to perform a complete body composition assessment, per protocol. Lean extremity mass (LEM), fat mass (FM), intracellular water (ICW), extremity body water (EBW = ICW + extracellular water (ECW)) and phase angle (PA) were determined. Differences between the affected (OA) and unaffected (no OA) extremities were compared using t-tests.Results38 patients had isolated hip OA. The mean age was 60.8 (±11.7) years, mean BMI was 31.7 (±6.8) kg/m2, and 39.5% were female. LEM, FM, EBW, ICW, and PA were significantly decreased in the hip OA extremity (LEM: 20.0 vs. 20.4 kg, p=0.0008, FM: 8.8 vs. 8.9 kg, p=0.0049, EBW: 15.7 vs 16.0, p=0.0011, ICW: 9.5 vs. 9.7 L, p=0.0004, PA: 4.5 vs 4.9º, p<0.0001). There were 25 patients with isolated knee OA. Mean age was 62.8 (±11.3) years, mean BMI was 33.6 (±6.9) kg/m2, and 52.0% were female. FM and PA were significantly lower in the knee OA extremity (11.3 vs 11.4 kg, p=0.0291, 4.5 vs 4.9º, p<0.0001). There were no significant differences in LEM, EBW, and ICW between the knee OA extremity and the unaffected extremity.ConclusionPatients with isolated, unilateral hip OA had decreased LEM, FM, EBW, and ICW in the affected extremity. Both unilateral hip and knee OA was associated with decreased PA, suggestive of greater underlying dysfunction in muscle or cellular performance. Further study is needed to better define when these abnormalities develop, how they progress over time, and the impact of targeted interventions in reversing these changes. Level of Evidence: III