Role of sodium in mitochondrial membrane depolarization induced by P2X7 receptor activation in submandibular glands

The effect of ATP on mitochondrial membrane depolarization in rat submandibular glands was investigated. Exposure of the cell suspension to high concentrations of ATP induced a sustained depolarization of mitochondrial membrane. This effect was blocked in the presence of magnesium and reproduced by low concentrations of 2',3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)adenosine 5'-triphosphate (BzATP), suggesting the implication of the P2X(7) purinergic receptor. This point was confirmed by comparison of the response to ATP by wild-type and P2X(7) knock-out (P2X(7)R(-/-)) mice. Mitochondria took up calcium after ATP stimulation but the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane by ATP was not affected by the removal of calcium from the extracellular medium. It was nearly fully suppressed in the absence of sodium and partially blocked by the mitochondrial Na/Ca exchanger inhibitor 7-chloro-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,5-dihydro-4,1-benzothiazepin-2(3H)-one (CGP-37157). Both ATP and monensin increased the uptake of extracellular sodium (as shown by the depolarization of the plasma membrane) but the sodium ionophore did not affect the mitochondrial membrane potential. It is concluded that the activation of P2X(7) receptors depolarizes the mitochondrial membrane. The uptake of extracellular sodium is necessary but not sufficient to induce this response.     

Carbonylation of cornified envelopes in the stratum corneum

Stratum corneum (SC), the outermost layer of the skin, is continuously exposed to oxidative stress via sunlight, lipid peroxidation, and is subsequently accompanied by oxidative modification. Previous studies have shown that major oxidative target proteins in the SC are keratins. However, it remains unclear to date whether cornified envelopes (CEs), protein envelopes of the corneocytes (cornified cells), would be oxidized. In this study, we first revealed oxidative modification of CEs using labeled hydrazide derivatives to detect carbonyl moieties. Carbonylation of CEs was confirmed by reaction with monoclonal antibodies against aldehyde-bound proteins, including anti-acrolein, anti-crotonaldehyde, anti-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal. The extent of carbonylation is stronger in CEs from the face, a sun-exposed area, than those from the inside of upper arm, an unexposed area. Carbonylation of CEs did not depend on their maturity, as evaluated by loss of involucrin antigenicity during maturation process, suggesting that CEs are carbonylated regardless of their maturation stage.     

Heterophils are associated with resistance to systemic Salmonella enteritidis infections in genetically distinct chicken lines

Heterophils mediate acute protection against Salmonella in young poultry. We evaluated susceptibility of genetically distinct lines of broilers to systemic Salmonella enteritidis (SE) infections. SE was administered into the abdomen of day-old chickens (parental lines [A and B]; F1 reciprocal crosses [C and D]) to assess modulation of leukocytes and survivability of chickens. Line A was more resistant to SE than line B; likewise cross D was more resistant than cross C. Significantly more heterophils migrated to the abdominal cavity post-infection in the resistant lines. These data indicate that increased heterophil influx to the infection site contributes to increased resistance against systemic SE infections in neonatal chickens.     

Effect of a commercial alcohol ethoxylate surfactant (C<Subscript>11-15</Subscript>E<Subscript>7</Subscript>) on

Biodegradation of poorly soluble polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been a challenge in bioremediation. In recent years, surfactant-enhanced bioremediation of PAH contaminants has attracted great attention in research. In this study, biodegradation of phenanthrene as a model PAHs solubilized in saline micellar solutions of a biodegradable commercial alcohol ethoxylate nonionic surfactant was investigated. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant and its solubilization capacity for phenanthrene were examined in an artificial saline water medium, and a type of marine bacteria, Neptunomonas naphthovorans, was studied for the biodegradation of phenanthrene solubilized in the surfactant micellar solutions of the saline medium. It is found that the solubility of phenanthrene in the surfactant micellar solutions increased linearly with the surfactant concentrations, but, at a fixed phenanthrene concentration, the biodegradability of phenanthrene in the micellar solutions decreased with the increase of the surfactant concentrations. This was attributed to the reduced bioavailability of phenanthrene, due to its increased solubilization extent in the micellar phase and possibly lowered mass transfer rate from the micellar phase into the aqueous phase or into the bacterial cells. In addition, an inhibitory effect of the surfactant on the bacterial growth at high surfactant concentrations may also play a role. It is concluded that the surfactant largely enhanced the solubilization of phenanthrene in the saline water medium, but excess existence of the surfactant in the medium should be minimized or avoided for the biodegradation of phenanthrene by Neptunomonas naphthovorans.     

Biological quality of running waters in protected areas: the influence of size and land use

There are still substantial questions about whether protected areas affect the quality and biodiversity of surface waters within their borders. In this study, the size and land use of 19 protected areas of Latium Region (central Italy) were related to the biological quality of 32 streams running inside them. Additionally, the biological quality of 18 out of the 32 streams was compared with the quality recorded on the same streams outside the boundaries of the protected areas. The biological quality was assessed using the Extended Biotic Index, which indicates the macroinvertebrate community health. The quality of 32 study streams running through the protected areas was not related to the size of these areas, but it did reflect land use. On average, the 18 study sites inside protected areas had biological quality similar to external control sites. In the protected areas, the biological quality of streams was higher than for the same streams in the surrounding territory provided that anthropogenic changes were fewer. These data indicate that the creation of protected areas per se does not increase freshwater biodiversity and that land use has a major impact on the biological quality of the stream in a protected area. As a consequence, a higher number of reserves or landscape designations specifically created for aquatic conservation is necessary and recovery programs aimed at restoring physical habitats and reducing sources of impact to aquatic life have to be pursued. Also, where the anthropogenic impact is high (e.g., as in the case of strongly urbanised areas), the creation of effective protected areas might improve the biological quality of water courses.     

The Phototrophic Community Found in Lake Khilganta (an Alkaline Saline Lake Located in the Southeastern Transbaikal Region)

The structure of the phototrophic community found in Lake Khilganta (the Agin-Buryat Autonomous Area), a shallow saline soda lake (depth, 35–45 cm; water mineralization, 45 g/l; alkalinity, 30 mg-equiv/l; pH 9.5) has been studied. The bottom of the lake is covered with a 10- to 15-mm microbial mat, whose basis is formed by the filamentous cyanobacterium Microcoleus chthonoplastes. The mat exhibits pronounced layering and contains a significant amount of minerals. Six zones, which have characteristic colors and consistencies and are composed of intermittent layers, have been identified along the vertical profile. Live phototrophic bacteria have been found in the three upper zones. The bulk of the cyanobacteria is concentrated in the upper zone. In the lower zones, the development of purple bacteria has been observed. The diurnal dynamics of the vertical distribution of phototrophic microorganisms, which results from variations in the physicochemical environmental parameters, is described. Ectothiorhodospira sp. are dominant among the anoxyphotobacteria present. Their number, determined according to the inoculation method, is 10⁶–10⁷ cells/ml. The purple bacteria of the genera Allochromatium, Thiocapsa, and Rhodovulum are also present. Experiments with isolated pure cultures have shown that the anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria of Lake Khilganta are halotolerant and alkalitolerant or alkaliphilic. In liquid enrichment cultures, at pH 9.5, the ratio of anoxyphotobacteria species is close to that observed in the lake. When the pH is increased to 10.4, it is Ectothiorhodospira, which is the most adapted to life under increased mineralization and alkalinity, that predominantly develops. Photosynthetic activity has been observed in the three upper mat zones and constitutes, on average, 1.5 g C/(m²h); the share of anoxygenic photosynthesis accounts for 75–95% of the total productivity. The main role in sulfide oxidation belongs to the phototrophic anoxyphotobacteria and cyanobacteria. In terms of the physicochemical conditions and structure of the phototrophic community, Lake Khilganta is similar to shallow saline water bodies of marine origin. The main differences consist in the increased alkalinity and in the consequent prevalence of alkaliphilic and alkalitolerant microorganisms and in the absence of representatives of the neutrophilic group of green sulfur bacteria.__________Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 74, No. 3, 2005, pp. 410–419.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kompantseva, Sorokin, Gorlenko, Namsaraev.     

罗非鱼对盐碱池塘围隔浮游生物群落的影响

本文报道了单养尼罗罗非鱼 (Orecohromisniloticus)对施肥处理下盐碱池塘围隔生态系统浮游生物群落的影响。结果表明 ,罗非鱼的放养使浮游植物丰度、叶绿素a含量和初级生产力增大 ,浮游植物小型化 ,生物量以小型硅藻和绿藻占优势 ,裸藻占有相当比重 ;浮游动物生物量也增大 ,桡足类占优势 ,枝角类小型化 ,原生动物密度增大。施肥特别是施有机肥能显著地提高浮游植物生物量 ,使透明度降低 ,但施无机肥对初级生产力和浮游动物生物量影响不大。施有机肥围隔浮游植物和浮游动物密度、浮游动物生物量和浮游生物多样性指数高于其他有鱼围隔 ,罗非鱼的生长最好。文后讨论了罗非鱼滤食和施肥对浮游生物群落结构的影响 ,并与鲢鱼的实验结果 (赵文 ,1999)进行了比较     

On the fraction of habitat allocated to marine reserves

The case for marine reserves is strengthening, and both deterministic and stochastic calculations show that fisheries management using reserves may achieve harvests comparable with management without reserves. Thus, depending upon the metric used, reserves need not disadvantage harvest. Reserves provide a buffer that increases the chances of sustainability of the stock, and thus the fishery. In this paper, I develop methods (deterministic and stochastic) that allow one to determine how much habitat needs to be set aside as reserve, once societal decisions concerning the goals of reserves are made. The answer to the question: "how much habitat needs to be allocated to reserves" is not a simple single number. Rather, it is a procedure that can be employed once biological, operational and social information are provided. The methods also apply to reserves used to aid stock recovery.     

The integration of Artificial Night-Time Lights in landscape ecology: A remote sensing approach

High-biodiversity landscapes around the globe are under immense pressure due to the expansion of human activities. To ensure effective monitoring and management of such landscapes, it is necessary to integrate landscape composition and the associated socio-economic processes in the conservation schemes. Artificial Night-Time Light (ANTL) pollution is a recent but striking environmental alteration due to human interventions. It is a major threat for species and communities which co-evolved with invariant natural light patterns over geological times. In spite of its potential key role in re-shaping natural systems, ANTL is seldom considered in macroecology. Remote sensing provides a unique set of tools to integrate ANTL in macroecological studies. In this work, we used remote sensing data of night-time lights along with Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) to study the effects and extent of ANTL in the night-time landscape (nightscape) of two protected areas in Italy. Our results showed that a considerable number of semi-natural vegetated patches suffer from ANTL pollution with varying magnitude. We observed a decline in highly suitable patches for biodiversity while the remaining patches were found concentrated in the innermost part of the parks. By simulating an exponential decrease in ANTL we showed that a moderate reduction in ANTL pollution would result in regaining a substantial amount of highly suitable patches for biodiversity. The decline in homogeneous dark patches in vegetated landscapes has negative impacts on biodiversity as well as on the ecosystem services it provides. Therefore, it is high time that the scientific community and the policy-makers increase their efforts to monitor and mitigate the ecological impacts of ANTL on ecosystems. The integration of light pollution in landscape ecology could combine remote sensing with other aspects of light pollution like indirect propagation and spectral composition.     

Testing the use of specimen collection data and GIS in biodiversity exploration and conservation decision making in Guyana

This paper presents the results of a study conducted at the request of the Government of Guyana by the Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity at the University of Guyana, and the Smithsonian Institution. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the utility of using systematic collections in identifying areas with a high priority for conservation. A biodiversity database and a gazetteer were assembled and interpreted primarily through the use of maps generated in ARC/INFO and ArcView. The data were examined to determine coverage and completeness, and while in general the results support a continued use of the methodology for making informed decisions in conservation related issues, several recommendations are offered in order to enhance the data. The primary use of the results of this study is in the identification of areas of interest for conservation and in the location of eleven areas covering most ecoregions in Guyana that are in need of additional study. The eleven areas have been chosen to avoid areas that are already allocated to logging and mining concessions or Amerindian lands. While it is true that this study would benefit from additional data and further analysis of those data, it is also true that decisions concerning areas for conservation in Guyana are being made in the near future, and if any data are to be used in this process, it will be those data presented in this paper.